Philippians 4:11

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Paul learned how to be content in all circumstances. And not because he had a cushy life. Quite the opposite really. In comparison the things that worry and concern me are but a drop in the ocean. I suppose I could put it down to things being simpler in the olden days, but I don't think that was true.

Song of Songs 2:11-12

See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.

For those who have been waiting for the rain to end this verse is for you. It reminds me of a young people's holiday club where I helped with the catering long ago. It was in the spring and one day it snowed and the next day it was so warm that you could wear t-shirts. This was the passage that was taught on. It again reminds me of God's blessing and that there are different seasons.

Deuteronomy 11:13-14

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today--to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul-- then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil.

I like rain. It reminds me of God's blessings. I like the fact that rain is a blessing when it is in season. Rain is often seen as a bad thing and that gives me encouragement that if what we are going through seems bad, but we're still faithfully trying to obey God, that rain will be a blessing.

Luke 4:1-2

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

Again the bible talks of the Holy spirit being part of the time Jesus spent in the wilderness. A comforter and guide. I should remember to involve him more when I feel I am experiencing trials. I often ask God for help, but generally expect a tangible solution, but here we see Jesus getting his help merely from the Spirit's presence. And at the end of it he was, as you would expect, hungry. The consequences of the trial had not been negated. But he had been given the ability to bear it.

Matthew 4:1

I have had a bit of a break from this blog. I think the main reason is that I have found it hard to publish a verse when such tragic things have happened to friends of ours. Death is always a shock and when it is a child it is much worse - and although I could find comfort for myself in Bible passages I could not presume that they they would similarly comfort others.

I'm not sure why I feel that now is a good time to continue. Perhaps because it is the start of Lent and the celebration of Easter. Starting with Jesus' time in the wilderness.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit. But he was tempted by the devil. We know that Jesus overcame and did not give in to that temptation. But for forty days leading up to that test how did Jesus feel? The bible goes on to give some examples of how he was tempted. We are tempted in many ways - to doubt God, to not acknowledge his love, grace and mercy. Even when times are hard and we can't always see the way through it is good to remember that Jesus is with us and he has experienced the same sort of things.