Many people suffer from allergies,often there are warnings on certain food
products,that the food one is buying ,may contain nuts.My sister in law is allergic to certain green vegetables,some of these allergies can have serious consequences.I was surprised to hear of a person who was allergic to gold,
if only more of us were allergic to gold,one of the James Bond movies was called gold finger,one of the main characters in the movie,was addicted to gold.
People have murdered for gold,there is a famous fairy tale about a king
who desired gold,one day he was granted a wish,every thing he touched would turn to gold. It was for him a dream come true,until he touched his beloved daughter,and the dream became an nightmare.
Recently the price of gold has rocketed,with the result brokers were wanting to buy peoples gold.On a recent holiday I met a lady who wanted to
place a time capsule ,in a certain place,so she put gold items within it,things
that were of great value.This lady made light of this,stating that there where more important things even than gold.
This ladies attitude challenged me,as to whats most important in my life,
gold ,money,sport,I belong to a kingdom ,the kingdom of God. As a citizen
of that kingdom, then I am called to have kingdom values,which are so
different from the kingdom of man.
Jesus said to a disciple,lovest thou Me more than these?,[John 21 v15 ],what is my answer to that question?, what is your answer?.
A prayer.
Dear God help us to live and keep Your kingdoms values always first in our
lives in Jesus name Amen
Tuesday, 31 March 2015
Monday, 30 March 2015
Hold fast to the vision. [ Acts 16 v 9]
While on holiday recently in the county of Norfolk,which is known as Nelson's county,we stayed in a chalet on the grounds of what had been ,a priory. A place where those of a religious order lived,it is set in a 35 acre site,when king Henry reigned,he cause a lot of these places to close.
The site is now owned by a couple,and they have for a number of years,
spent time,effort,and money in restoration.There is a large structure called the gate house which is nearing completion,it was interesting to see pictures of what it looked like before the restoration began,how it was so dilapidated, but now what a difference.
This had all come about at a cost,financially,and as the couple both confessed,many sleepless nights.Before we left I wrote in the guests comments book,praising them for what they had accomplished,and encouraging them to hold fast to the vision they had.
Hold fast to the vision,what vision has God placed in your hearts?,as a young man God placed a vision in my heart to serve Him.In fulfilling that vision there was a cost,but it seems to me there would have been a greater cost if I had not .I would have missed out in so many ways,and I have discovered, that one never looses out when they obey the vision that God has placed in their hearts.
A prayer
Dear God help us not to be disobedient to that vision that You have placed in our hearts, in Jesus name Amen .
The site is now owned by a couple,and they have for a number of years,
spent time,effort,and money in restoration.There is a large structure called the gate house which is nearing completion,it was interesting to see pictures of what it looked like before the restoration began,how it was so dilapidated, but now what a difference.
This had all come about at a cost,financially,and as the couple both confessed,many sleepless nights.Before we left I wrote in the guests comments book,praising them for what they had accomplished,and encouraging them to hold fast to the vision they had.
Hold fast to the vision,what vision has God placed in your hearts?,as a young man God placed a vision in my heart to serve Him.In fulfilling that vision there was a cost,but it seems to me there would have been a greater cost if I had not .I would have missed out in so many ways,and I have discovered, that one never looses out when they obey the vision that God has placed in their hearts.
A prayer
Dear God help us not to be disobedient to that vision that You have placed in our hearts, in Jesus name Amen .
Sunday, 29 March 2015
The church is not the building. [ Romans 15v 2-3]
Last night I was attending our house group,this involves discussion ,based on his Sunday message.I felt that last night things were becoming difficult
and I was aware that I may say the wrong things, inwardly I was praying for God to help me in what I should say,so that I would not stir things up.
As a Christian of many years I have witnessed and experienced difficulties within church situations,and the one thing I don't want,and I say this with all my heart,I do not want to cause trouble in any church.I do not want to be striving with people ,but striving for the spirit of unity, We must take serious what our Saviour said,that we might be one.
The New Testament church was not a perfect church,the apostles had to deal with those who were causing trouble[ CP 2 Corinthians 12 v20/ 2 John v9-10./Philippians 4 v2].Things have not changed people have not changed.
I remember seeing a Charlie Brown cartoon and in it ,the character,was taking credit for the building of the church building,simply because he had paid for a couple of bricks. May be we are like that person we see the church as a building,instead of a body of Gods children, and when we cause division,we are effecting Gods people ,and the importance of unity.
A prayer.
Dear Lord help us to strive for unity within Your church ,Amen.
.
and I was aware that I may say the wrong things, inwardly I was praying for God to help me in what I should say,so that I would not stir things up.
As a Christian of many years I have witnessed and experienced difficulties within church situations,and the one thing I don't want,and I say this with all my heart,I do not want to cause trouble in any church.I do not want to be striving with people ,but striving for the spirit of unity, We must take serious what our Saviour said,that we might be one.
The New Testament church was not a perfect church,the apostles had to deal with those who were causing trouble[ CP 2 Corinthians 12 v20/ 2 John v9-10./Philippians 4 v2].Things have not changed people have not changed.
I remember seeing a Charlie Brown cartoon and in it ,the character,was taking credit for the building of the church building,simply because he had paid for a couple of bricks. May be we are like that person we see the church as a building,instead of a body of Gods children, and when we cause division,we are effecting Gods people ,and the importance of unity.
A prayer.
Dear Lord help us to strive for unity within Your church ,Amen.
.
Saturday, 21 March 2015
A cult. [John 14 v6]
Following Jesus ever day by day,so goes the old hymn,and that's the challenge,there can be no days when this is not so.What does that mean for
us today?,being faithful,how vital that is in our Christian life,faithful to truth
,yes truth,we may change with the years,but truth does not. There is a world famous evangelist,who I respect,but am concerned that he may in his old age, is loosing sight of being faithful to truth.His son took exception to Mormonism being classed as cult.He said that using such terms is name calling,of course name calling is wrong,but the fact of the matter is they are a cult. Their religion is based on a falsehood the book of Mormon,the Christ they believe is not the Christ of the Bible,likewise many other things which they believe.
Now in writing about this ,I am not nit picking,I am concerned that if we
are not clear on this,then the issue becomes unclear,people are drawn into
something that will not take them into heaven but to hell,it is as serious as that.
I do not hate Mormon's,Moslem's,JW's, etc,but I do hate the error which they teach,my heart,and prayers go out to all mankind,that they may come to know Him who alone is the way the truth and the life,even Jesus.
A prayer
Dear God of truth as revealed in Your word,have mercy upon those ensnared in false religions,and deliver them,and bring them into Thy
kingdom, in Jesus name Amen.
us today?,being faithful,how vital that is in our Christian life,faithful to truth
,yes truth,we may change with the years,but truth does not. There is a world famous evangelist,who I respect,but am concerned that he may in his old age, is loosing sight of being faithful to truth.His son took exception to Mormonism being classed as cult.He said that using such terms is name calling,of course name calling is wrong,but the fact of the matter is they are a cult. Their religion is based on a falsehood the book of Mormon,the Christ they believe is not the Christ of the Bible,likewise many other things which they believe.
Now in writing about this ,I am not nit picking,I am concerned that if we
are not clear on this,then the issue becomes unclear,people are drawn into
something that will not take them into heaven but to hell,it is as serious as that.
I do not hate Mormon's,Moslem's,JW's, etc,but I do hate the error which they teach,my heart,and prayers go out to all mankind,that they may come to know Him who alone is the way the truth and the life,even Jesus.
A prayer
Dear God of truth as revealed in Your word,have mercy upon those ensnared in false religions,and deliver them,and bring them into Thy
kingdom, in Jesus name Amen.
Friday, 20 March 2015
Eugenics. [ Acts 17 v 24- 31]
In the 1930s America was infatuated with the pseudoscience of eugenics ,the science of improving a population by controlled breeding
in such a way as to increase the occurrence of desirable mental and physical characteristics. Now many in Britain were taken up with this also,but we will stick to USA,it is Laura Hillenbrand who writes the following ,/with its
promise of strengthening the human race,by culling the unfit,from the genetic pool. Along with the feeble minded,insane,and criminal,those so classified included women who had sex outside of wedlock[ considered mental illness],orphans,the disabled,the homeless,epileptics,blind,
masturbators.Some eugenicists advocated euthanasia,and in mental hospitals,this was carried out on scores of people, forced sterilisation
was carried on about 20,000 people.
We sit in judgement on the Nazis who considered Jew's sub-human,
likewise the Japanese who considered the Chinese sub-human,but it
appears that many other nations considered much of humanity as sub-human.
All this is far removed from Gods teaching,which teaches that,everyone is made in the image of God,and are precious in his sight,and it is in, we read ,that God loves the world[ Jn3v16].That means all the world, feeble minded,disabled,etc,all are precious in His sight.Jesus died for
the whosoever,that means you and me,whatever our condition.
A prayer.
Dear God we praise for your non discriminatory love ,that reaches out to all,with the wonderful promise of forgiveness through accepting Jesus as Saviour,Amen.
in such a way as to increase the occurrence of desirable mental and physical characteristics. Now many in Britain were taken up with this also,but we will stick to USA,it is Laura Hillenbrand who writes the following ,/with its
promise of strengthening the human race,by culling the unfit,from the genetic pool. Along with the feeble minded,insane,and criminal,those so classified included women who had sex outside of wedlock[ considered mental illness],orphans,the disabled,the homeless,epileptics,blind,
masturbators.Some eugenicists advocated euthanasia,and in mental hospitals,this was carried out on scores of people, forced sterilisation
was carried on about 20,000 people.
We sit in judgement on the Nazis who considered Jew's sub-human,
likewise the Japanese who considered the Chinese sub-human,but it
appears that many other nations considered much of humanity as sub-human.
All this is far removed from Gods teaching,which teaches that,everyone is made in the image of God,and are precious in his sight,and it is in, we read ,that God loves the world[ Jn3v16].That means all the world, feeble minded,disabled,etc,all are precious in His sight.Jesus died for
the whosoever,that means you and me,whatever our condition.
A prayer.
Dear God we praise for your non discriminatory love ,that reaches out to all,with the wonderful promise of forgiveness through accepting Jesus as Saviour,Amen.
Thursday, 19 March 2015
Agape [1 Corinthians 13 ]
We have a cushion with words from 1 Corinthians 13 printed on it,as I was having a time of waiting upon God,my eyes focused on the following,/Love beareth all things, other translations read,love bears up under anything and everything,or it bears everything with triumphant fortitude. George Matheson,who lost his sight,and who was disappointed in love,wrote in one of his prayers that he might accept Gods will./Not with dumb resignation but with holy joy,not only with the absence of murmur, but with a song of praise./a writer adds to this by saying,because a fathers hand will never cause his child a needless tear.
The Christian life brings with it a unique challenge,in a marriage that is difficult,with child that is rebellious,and so the list goes on,and in all the
challenges,we are called on to love. That special love which we Christians call agape,a love we undeserving people have received from a loving God.
This love is manifested when we look on Christ,nailed to cross,we must make much of that love,but we are challenged,likewise to manifest such love.
So today Jesus is calling us to bear all things ,in love,even if it means a cross.
A prayer.
Dear Lord we confess that to bear any difficulty is hard and yet You are challenging us to bear all things in love,help us by your grace to face this challenge Amen.
The Christian life brings with it a unique challenge,in a marriage that is difficult,with child that is rebellious,and so the list goes on,and in all the
challenges,we are called on to love. That special love which we Christians call agape,a love we undeserving people have received from a loving God.
This love is manifested when we look on Christ,nailed to cross,we must make much of that love,but we are challenged,likewise to manifest such love.
So today Jesus is calling us to bear all things ,in love,even if it means a cross.
A prayer.
Dear Lord we confess that to bear any difficulty is hard and yet You are challenging us to bear all things in love,help us by your grace to face this challenge Amen.
Wednesday, 18 March 2015
Shaddai. [ Isaiah 54v 7-8]
The Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me,declares Naomi,but the question is this, was she bitter?. It is a good question,it is D Atkinson who
points out that the word used for Almighty is Shaddai,and that in Genesis17 v1, God reveals Himself as God Almighty.He reveals Himself as the God
who can transform man's helplessness into blessing,for mans good and His glory/.
Again what D A. writes,/ It is as if Naomi is saying,/ You can see the bitterness I have experienced,the famine,the bereavements,the questions,the partings,the apparent hopelessness,but I know God as Shaddai,and I can leave the explanation, and even the responsibility,for this bitterness.
We only can rise to this by faith,or we can let the bitterness blind us,
control us,if we do this every day will be called lemon day.So whats it to be?,only you can answer this question,if we choose to let the bitter things
make us bitter,we will never move on from it,we will be stuck in that groove for the rest of our lives,it will in fact be a life sentence.
Let us turn our thoughts towards Shaddai,the one who can transform
our helplessness into blessing,for our good and His glory. He understands how we feel ,not only understands but desires to bless us, There is a hymn
written by the blind preacher George Matheson,it reads, Oh love that wilt not let me go,yes He loves us even in our bitterness, Matheson goes on to write,/O joy that seekest me through pain. I cannot close my heart to Thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain.And feel the promise is not vain. That morn shall tearless be./
A prayer.
Dear God our Shaddai,we come to you,and ask for Grace ,to not become bitter,when experiencing bitter things,in Jesus name Amen.
points out that the word used for Almighty is Shaddai,and that in Genesis17 v1, God reveals Himself as God Almighty.He reveals Himself as the God
who can transform man's helplessness into blessing,for mans good and His glory/.
Again what D A. writes,/ It is as if Naomi is saying,/ You can see the bitterness I have experienced,the famine,the bereavements,the questions,the partings,the apparent hopelessness,but I know God as Shaddai,and I can leave the explanation, and even the responsibility,for this bitterness.
We only can rise to this by faith,or we can let the bitterness blind us,
control us,if we do this every day will be called lemon day.So whats it to be?,only you can answer this question,if we choose to let the bitter things
make us bitter,we will never move on from it,we will be stuck in that groove for the rest of our lives,it will in fact be a life sentence.
Let us turn our thoughts towards Shaddai,the one who can transform
our helplessness into blessing,for our good and His glory. He understands how we feel ,not only understands but desires to bless us, There is a hymn
written by the blind preacher George Matheson,it reads, Oh love that wilt not let me go,yes He loves us even in our bitterness, Matheson goes on to write,/O joy that seekest me through pain. I cannot close my heart to Thee.
I trace the rainbow through the rain.And feel the promise is not vain. That morn shall tearless be./
A prayer.
Dear God our Shaddai,we come to you,and ask for Grace ,to not become bitter,when experiencing bitter things,in Jesus name Amen.
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Every joy or trial. [Job 2 v 10 ]
I was visiting a friends home,and my friends wife had made marmalade, a
preserve made usually from oranges It is a favourite with people in this country, especially at breakfast time,on toast.Well I tasted some of my friends wife marmalade,but it was bitter,it appears she had added lemon to the marmalade,I do not like bitter,my taste buds prefer a less bitter taste.
I am reading the book of Ruth at this time,and of course one of the main characters in the book is Naomi. Now she is a lady who experienced a great
deal of suffering,having to leave her home,live in a heathen land,her husband died,and then her two sons died.She returns home after a period of 10years,and when she returns,the folk there ,asked,are you Naomi?,and she replied call me not Naomi[ meaning pleasant] call me Marah[which means
bitter].
Then she gives an interpretation , / For the Lord has dealt very bitterly with me,/she did not put her suffering down to chance but to a sovereign God. Every joy or trial falleth from above,traced upon our dial,by the Sun of Love,so wrote the hymn writer.It was the godly Job who declared,shall we
receive good at the hand of God,and shall we not receive evil,and then it adds,in all this Job did not sin with his lips.[ Job 2 v10]
A prayer
Dear God we thank You that your will is perfect even though it may mean
a painful experience Amen.
preserve made usually from oranges It is a favourite with people in this country, especially at breakfast time,on toast.Well I tasted some of my friends wife marmalade,but it was bitter,it appears she had added lemon to the marmalade,I do not like bitter,my taste buds prefer a less bitter taste.
I am reading the book of Ruth at this time,and of course one of the main characters in the book is Naomi. Now she is a lady who experienced a great
deal of suffering,having to leave her home,live in a heathen land,her husband died,and then her two sons died.She returns home after a period of 10years,and when she returns,the folk there ,asked,are you Naomi?,and she replied call me not Naomi[ meaning pleasant] call me Marah[which means
bitter].
Then she gives an interpretation , / For the Lord has dealt very bitterly with me,/she did not put her suffering down to chance but to a sovereign God. Every joy or trial falleth from above,traced upon our dial,by the Sun of Love,so wrote the hymn writer.It was the godly Job who declared,shall we
receive good at the hand of God,and shall we not receive evil,and then it adds,in all this Job did not sin with his lips.[ Job 2 v10]
A prayer
Dear God we thank You that your will is perfect even though it may mean
a painful experience Amen.
Monday, 16 March 2015
The dark side. [ Isaiah 50 v 10 ]
It is David Atkinson who writes of the dark side of Gods providence-that some of our pains seem unbearable,some of the circumstances so unjust,
some of our questions stay without answers./ A local couple I know lost there sixteen year boy,a lovely Christian lad,another couple I know lost their only boy doing a paper round.Many Christians are been wiped out by
Islamic groups,and so we could gone on,these are the dark sides of Gods providence.
I feel that these things are not dealt with by many ministers,and in some ways these things are Gods mysterious ways,which we may this side of
eternity never fully understand.This little verse touches on this......
Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall explain the reason why
The dark threads are so needful
In the weavers skillful hand-
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
D Atkinson writes of Naomi[ in the book of Ruth],who suffered s great deal, he writes , / Faith,we are to learn from Naomi,sometimes means a willingness to leave such questions in the mystery of God,in the confidence that in the brighter days he has shown Himself trustworthy/.
A prayer.
Dear God grant us grace to trust You in the dark times in Jesus name Amen.
some of our questions stay without answers./ A local couple I know lost there sixteen year boy,a lovely Christian lad,another couple I know lost their only boy doing a paper round.Many Christians are been wiped out by
Islamic groups,and so we could gone on,these are the dark sides of Gods providence.
I feel that these things are not dealt with by many ministers,and in some ways these things are Gods mysterious ways,which we may this side of
eternity never fully understand.This little verse touches on this......
Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall explain the reason why
The dark threads are so needful
In the weavers skillful hand-
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.
D Atkinson writes of Naomi[ in the book of Ruth],who suffered s great deal, he writes , / Faith,we are to learn from Naomi,sometimes means a willingness to leave such questions in the mystery of God,in the confidence that in the brighter days he has shown Himself trustworthy/.
A prayer.
Dear God grant us grace to trust You in the dark times in Jesus name Amen.
Sunday, 15 March 2015
Providence [ Romans 8 v28 ]
I am thinking these days on the providence of God,and how important it is never to loose sight of it..David Atkinson in his commentary on Ruth,says a number of helpful things,as to Gods providence. He contrasts the worlds view of things,whose eyes see only the flow and counter-flow of events and experience's,their minds can discern no pattern or meaning ,they have lost hold of,or never reached out to grasp,the hand of an unseen God who rules all,plans all, and whose purposes give meaning to history both on world and individual level.
He continues,/Christians have believed that God not only created the world so that we His creatures are dependent on Him for our exsistence,He also sustains and rules His world, so that we are continuously dependent on Him for life and breath and everything.
Now it is a wonderful truth,that as Christians we need to hold unto to,if we do we never feel that Jesus fails,but that He never, never fails.If we truly believe in Gods providence as revealed in scriptures,then we as David
Atkinson says,we will believe that God cares, rules,and provides.
A prayer
Dear God we worship You,we rejoice in sovereign power ,in working all things according to Your will,and for the good of Your people, in Jesus name Amen
He continues,/Christians have believed that God not only created the world so that we His creatures are dependent on Him for our exsistence,He also sustains and rules His world, so that we are continuously dependent on Him for life and breath and everything.
Now it is a wonderful truth,that as Christians we need to hold unto to,if we do we never feel that Jesus fails,but that He never, never fails.If we truly believe in Gods providence as revealed in scriptures,then we as David
Atkinson says,we will believe that God cares, rules,and provides.
A prayer
Dear God we worship You,we rejoice in sovereign power ,in working all things according to Your will,and for the good of Your people, in Jesus name Amen
Saturday, 14 March 2015
Blinded by the storm [1Peter 5 v7 ]
At our home group we were discussing Mark 4 v35-41,it tells how Jesus and the disciples were in a storm.First consider ,that fact Jesus was with them in the storm.Let us remember that Jesus is with us in all the storms of life,we may feel that we are alone as things crowd in upon us,but we are not,Jesus is with us,and that makes all the difference.
Now this was not just a storm,it was a great storm,the boat was swamped
these men were seasoned fishermen,they had been in many a storm. We never get used to storms,especially if they are great ones,no matter how experienced we are.
Next we see that they were afraid,all the disciples,they thought they were going to perish, Fear is a common trait,we have imagined fears,there are irrational fears,there are real fears. If you are faced with a lion ,now one would be a afraid,if one was in a storm such as the disciples were in,that would be a real fear.
Now we have said that Jesus was with them,but He was fast asleep,He
must have been very, very tired,in becoming a man,Jesus was tempted in all things just like us[but He never sinned],but having experienced life,He
understands how we feel,so come to Him,He truly understands,what we are going through.
Well they go to Jesus, wake Him up, and accuse Him of not caring,do
You not care that we are perishing?.Nothing could be further from the truth.
A prayer
Dear Lord have mercy upon us Your children, help us not to blinded by the storms of life,to the fact that You are with us,and that You care for us Amen
Now this was not just a storm,it was a great storm,the boat was swamped
these men were seasoned fishermen,they had been in many a storm. We never get used to storms,especially if they are great ones,no matter how experienced we are.
Next we see that they were afraid,all the disciples,they thought they were going to perish, Fear is a common trait,we have imagined fears,there are irrational fears,there are real fears. If you are faced with a lion ,now one would be a afraid,if one was in a storm such as the disciples were in,that would be a real fear.
Now we have said that Jesus was with them,but He was fast asleep,He
must have been very, very tired,in becoming a man,Jesus was tempted in all things just like us[but He never sinned],but having experienced life,He
understands how we feel,so come to Him,He truly understands,what we are going through.
Well they go to Jesus, wake Him up, and accuse Him of not caring,do
You not care that we are perishing?.Nothing could be further from the truth.
A prayer
Dear Lord have mercy upon us Your children, help us not to blinded by the storms of life,to the fact that You are with us,and that You care for us Amen
Friday, 13 March 2015
The dream lives on.[1 John 3 v 1-3]
I read this in a book on the civil rights movement in America,
The dream lives on.
There's so many things,
That have changed.
And so many things,
That's still the same.
I am assured in Gods word that Jesus loves me unconditionally,but it has been said,that He loves us to much to leave us as we are.We often sing /Jesus You are changing me,by Your Spirit You're making me like You./ In some ways it takes ones breath away,that God has that aim for all of His children,which includes you and I.[ 2 Corinthians 3 v18/ 1 John 3 v2/
Does that dream live on in our hearts?do we not long to be like Him?,or have we lost the vision, lost the desire?
Consider the first part of that saying,/There are so many things that have changed/,as a Christian of many years,I praise God, for the change God has made me in my life,I no longer habitually use bad language,my mind is no longer habitually thinking dirty thoughts,my temper is not as severe as it once was,for this I praise God.
Consider the second part of that saying,/And so many things,that's still the same/,Yes there is still much that needs to change,I truly am a work in progress.Yes at times I despair at my imperfections,but I have not lost the dream,that He will perfect that which concerneth me.
A prayer.
Dear God we all are but sinners,but by Your grace we are forgiven,and
accepted through Jesus. We ask that by Your grace You will perfect that which concerneth us,in Jesus name Amen .
The dream lives on.
There's so many things,
That have changed.
And so many things,
That's still the same.
I am assured in Gods word that Jesus loves me unconditionally,but it has been said,that He loves us to much to leave us as we are.We often sing /Jesus You are changing me,by Your Spirit You're making me like You./ In some ways it takes ones breath away,that God has that aim for all of His children,which includes you and I.[ 2 Corinthians 3 v18/ 1 John 3 v2/
Does that dream live on in our hearts?do we not long to be like Him?,or have we lost the vision, lost the desire?
Consider the first part of that saying,/There are so many things that have changed/,as a Christian of many years,I praise God, for the change God has made me in my life,I no longer habitually use bad language,my mind is no longer habitually thinking dirty thoughts,my temper is not as severe as it once was,for this I praise God.
Consider the second part of that saying,/And so many things,that's still the same/,Yes there is still much that needs to change,I truly am a work in progress.Yes at times I despair at my imperfections,but I have not lost the dream,that He will perfect that which concerneth me.
A prayer.
Dear God we all are but sinners,but by Your grace we are forgiven,and
accepted through Jesus. We ask that by Your grace You will perfect that which concerneth us,in Jesus name Amen .
Thursday, 12 March 2015
A walk of faith. [ Hebrews 11 v 8]
I use a sat-nav in my car,recently when I was driving and using it,the picture
disappeared and all I could hear was the voice giving directions.This reminded me of the Christian, that on our journey to Glory,we are guided,by Gods word, Psalm 119 v105 reads,/Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,and a light unto my path/.We so often want to see,the whole picture,the reason for things happen,but instead of seeing we are instructed to listen, to what God has to say ,take comfort,from what we hear,to be guided in what we do.The scripture declares if today you hear his voice [Psalm 95v 7-8],
harden not your heart.
The Bible is full of people who were not prepared to listen,hardened their hearts,and suffered as a consequence.Likewise we have people who neglect
to listen as to what God has to say,they are to busy,or they just don't do it,so they rush on. I am sure we have all said, I wish I had listened,yes there
are many ,who seeing the mess they have got into,are saying those words.
We are not going to see the whole picture ,but as we listen for the voice of God,we will be guided a step at a time,it is called a walk of faith.
A prayer.
Dear God and Father help us to listen to Your voice,granted unto us discernment,and obedience,in Jesus name Amen.
disappeared and all I could hear was the voice giving directions.This reminded me of the Christian, that on our journey to Glory,we are guided,by Gods word, Psalm 119 v105 reads,/Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,and a light unto my path/.We so often want to see,the whole picture,the reason for things happen,but instead of seeing we are instructed to listen, to what God has to say ,take comfort,from what we hear,to be guided in what we do.The scripture declares if today you hear his voice [Psalm 95v 7-8],
harden not your heart.
The Bible is full of people who were not prepared to listen,hardened their hearts,and suffered as a consequence.Likewise we have people who neglect
to listen as to what God has to say,they are to busy,or they just don't do it,so they rush on. I am sure we have all said, I wish I had listened,yes there
are many ,who seeing the mess they have got into,are saying those words.
We are not going to see the whole picture ,but as we listen for the voice of God,we will be guided a step at a time,it is called a walk of faith.
A prayer.
Dear God and Father help us to listen to Your voice,granted unto us discernment,and obedience,in Jesus name Amen.
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
Remember.[ Hebrews 11v 36-38]
I attend a little group once a month where we pray for persecuted Christians,at Christmas and Easter we send cards to such.I had in my car 8 such cards,and was going to post them,in the car I was carrying a passenger,and I told them what the cards were for,and he was surprised,he
did not realise that each of these cards were going to 8 people in prison in
Iran. Our group sent of 84 such cards,they are but a drop in the bucket,and represent a vast number of Christians through out the world who are suffering for following Christ.
We must not be surprised at this,Jesus told us no less, in the world you shall have tribulation John 16 v33,He told us to take up our cross,and follow Him.The cross,was an instrument of suffering,for those dear Christians who
are experiencing imprisonment, beatings,rape,death,they are walking the way,of that cross.
I leave the words of Hebrews 13 v 3 with you,/Remember those in prison
,as if you were there yourself. Remember also those ,being mistreated,as if you felt their pain in your body./
A prayer
Dear God have mercy upon the many of Your dear children,who are suffering,for their Saviour Your Son, Amen.
did not realise that each of these cards were going to 8 people in prison in
Iran. Our group sent of 84 such cards,they are but a drop in the bucket,and represent a vast number of Christians through out the world who are suffering for following Christ.
We must not be surprised at this,Jesus told us no less, in the world you shall have tribulation John 16 v33,He told us to take up our cross,and follow Him.The cross,was an instrument of suffering,for those dear Christians who
are experiencing imprisonment, beatings,rape,death,they are walking the way,of that cross.
I leave the words of Hebrews 13 v 3 with you,/Remember those in prison
,as if you were there yourself. Remember also those ,being mistreated,as if you felt their pain in your body./
A prayer
Dear God have mercy upon the many of Your dear children,who are suffering,for their Saviour Your Son, Amen.
Sunday, 8 March 2015
The bigger biblical picture [ Job 2 v 10]
Sometimes when one is driving the road signs are obscured by whatever,when Toad mole where lost in the dark wood,and heavy snow was falling,they as it were by accident discovered the home of Badger,which had been obscured by the snow.[From Wind and the Willows]. I thought of this as I looked at a framed plaque I have,which reads ,/ Jesus never fails /,sitting in front of it was an object, which obscured the words never,so it read ,Jesus fails. When my first wife died,her father was sitting in my living room,and he pointed to that plaque,as if to say,Jesus fails.The loss of his daughter was an obstacle,it blotted out the true meaning of those words,
to him Jesus had failed
Consider, that if we have a mind set ,that being a Christian,will mean,we will never have poverty,pain,bereavement,then it will be easy to say Jesus
fails.The Bible is a very honest book,it tell us ,how godly people lost all they had[ Job 1-2],it tells of a man who was imprisoned ,for something he did not do,that same man was hated by his brothers[Genesis39].The great apostle Paul,suffered the most terrible of things,from others,plus an incurable affliction.[1 Corinthians 11v23-12v7-9]
In spite of all that they suffered they did not think that Jesus had failed,
so it is what ever you and I suffer,it does not mean that Jesus has failed.We
must hold unto the truth that God will never cause His children needless pain,even though it may be severe.
There are many reason why we suffer, it is then we must trust in a
God and Saviour who loves us.
A prayer
Dear God many ,many times we have failed You, but we know that You have never failed us,nor ever will,help us to see the bigger biblical picture,
in Jesus name Amen.
[ I will return to my Blog in a couple of days,every blessing ]
to him Jesus had failed
Consider, that if we have a mind set ,that being a Christian,will mean,we will never have poverty,pain,bereavement,then it will be easy to say Jesus
fails.The Bible is a very honest book,it tell us ,how godly people lost all they had[ Job 1-2],it tells of a man who was imprisoned ,for something he did not do,that same man was hated by his brothers[Genesis39].The great apostle Paul,suffered the most terrible of things,from others,plus an incurable affliction.[1 Corinthians 11v23-12v7-9]
In spite of all that they suffered they did not think that Jesus had failed,
so it is what ever you and I suffer,it does not mean that Jesus has failed.We
must hold unto the truth that God will never cause His children needless pain,even though it may be severe.
There are many reason why we suffer, it is then we must trust in a
God and Saviour who loves us.
A prayer
Dear God many ,many times we have failed You, but we know that You have never failed us,nor ever will,help us to see the bigger biblical picture,
in Jesus name Amen.
[ I will return to my Blog in a couple of days,every blessing ]
Saturday, 7 March 2015
The little we have,take it,use it.[ John 6 v9]
Do you ever wish that you were more gifted,or that you had more resources?,well I am sure we all feel like this at times.If only I had more I
could accomplish so much more,consider Moses who was being called
of God to accomplish a great task. God said this to him, what is that in thine hand ?,and he said a rod[Exodus 4 v2].We want more,we feel we have so little, let us consider if God has truly called one,then He makes no mistakes.
He will equip,He will enable us to accomplish what He has given us to do.
C T Studd a famous missionary accomplished great things for God in Africa even though he suffered from a number of diseases. Whatever gifts we have they will not be a magic wand,we will have to work hard,develop
out gifts,be they few or many,maybe just one.
Remember our weakness is there for a purpose,that God will be glorified,and that should always be our chief end.
A young lad give his lunch,surrendered it up to our Saviour,only a little lunch,but thousands were fed,thousands.
A few very imperfect followers of Jesus turned the world upside down,so what have you got in your hand?
A prayer.
Dear God we are so weak,so limited,but we surrender all to You,and in that surrendering,we pray that You will be glorified,in Jesus name Amen.
could accomplish so much more,consider Moses who was being called
of God to accomplish a great task. God said this to him, what is that in thine hand ?,and he said a rod[Exodus 4 v2].We want more,we feel we have so little, let us consider if God has truly called one,then He makes no mistakes.
He will equip,He will enable us to accomplish what He has given us to do.
C T Studd a famous missionary accomplished great things for God in Africa even though he suffered from a number of diseases. Whatever gifts we have they will not be a magic wand,we will have to work hard,develop
out gifts,be they few or many,maybe just one.
Remember our weakness is there for a purpose,that God will be glorified,and that should always be our chief end.
A young lad give his lunch,surrendered it up to our Saviour,only a little lunch,but thousands were fed,thousands.
A few very imperfect followers of Jesus turned the world upside down,so what have you got in your hand?
A prayer.
Dear God we are so weak,so limited,but we surrender all to You,and in that surrendering,we pray that You will be glorified,in Jesus name Amen.
Friday, 6 March 2015
The shadow hanging over me [ 1 John 1 v7 ]
One of the items on the news,is about a portrait of ex-President Clinton,he has taken exception to this portrait because the artist has painted a shadow.There is speculation that this shadow represents a dark incident in Mr Clinton's past. While it is denied that this may be so,the fact of the matter is ,that wrong adulteress relationship that he had with a certain lady ,will always throw a shadow over his life. When men of high office
commit wrongs,it follows them as a dark shadow,Peter Pan lost his shadow,but that is just fiction,real life is different,the shadow of our wrongs
remain,even long after we have gone.
So that's it?,no its not it,behold I show you a better way,Gods way,forgive-
ness,restoration,mercy,if,yes if,when we fall we seek the mercy of God,our
sins will be forgiven,not only forgiven ,but forgotten.It is as if we had never sinned,it is called justification,the scriptures tells us,/Therefore being justified by faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ[Romans 5 v1]/.The scriptures tell us who shall let any charge against Gods elect,it is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?,it is Christ that died,yea rather that is risen again,who is even at the right hand of God,who also maketh intercession for us[Romans 8 v33-34]
A prayer
Dear God we thank you that through Christ we need not live in shadow land,through Him we can walk daily in the light. Amen
commit wrongs,it follows them as a dark shadow,Peter Pan lost his shadow,but that is just fiction,real life is different,the shadow of our wrongs
remain,even long after we have gone.
So that's it?,no its not it,behold I show you a better way,Gods way,forgive-
ness,restoration,mercy,if,yes if,when we fall we seek the mercy of God,our
sins will be forgiven,not only forgiven ,but forgotten.It is as if we had never sinned,it is called justification,the scriptures tells us,/Therefore being justified by faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ[Romans 5 v1]/.The scriptures tell us who shall let any charge against Gods elect,it is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?,it is Christ that died,yea rather that is risen again,who is even at the right hand of God,who also maketh intercession for us[Romans 8 v33-34]
A prayer
Dear God we thank you that through Christ we need not live in shadow land,through Him we can walk daily in the light. Amen
Thursday, 5 March 2015
Jesus [John 14 v6 ]
Who do you believe when you go to buy a second hand car,the seller?,the reports you read? ,your own instinct.I recently purchase a second hand car,and at the same time a man had come to pick up my old one. He asked
me what I had bought?,when I told him,well by the time he had finished,I needed,well you get the picture,I am still recovering,the doctor has prescribed totally rest. Of course I exaggerate,but I have to confess ,it has to say the least, for me, buying a second hand car, is a teeny weeny bit stressful.
Who do you believe when it comes to religion?is it take your pick,is one religion as good as another,no . I remember something that Tozer,that if you were in a desert ,if one got the direction wrong,one was lost,and would perish,sincerity would make no difference.
It makes no difference who you are, sometimes who we are,makes a difference,but when it comes to finding the way the truth,and the life, it makes absolutely no difference.
What can make the difference,?,maybe we should ask the question,who can make a difference,well consider Jesus,who he was, and what He did.
Who He was ,the Son of God,who became the son of man,He performed
miracles,He spoke like no one ever spoke,He was tempted ,but was the victor over every temptation.He was compassionate,merciful,forgiving.
What He did,He died out of love for sinners,although He was sinless Himself,and He says come unto me all Ye who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest
A prayer
Dear God we praise You that in the person of Your son, Jesus,we can be
saved . Amen .
me what I had bought?,when I told him,well by the time he had finished,I needed,well you get the picture,I am still recovering,the doctor has prescribed totally rest. Of course I exaggerate,but I have to confess ,it has to say the least, for me, buying a second hand car, is a teeny weeny bit stressful.
Who do you believe when it comes to religion?is it take your pick,is one religion as good as another,no . I remember something that Tozer,that if you were in a desert ,if one got the direction wrong,one was lost,and would perish,sincerity would make no difference.
It makes no difference who you are, sometimes who we are,makes a difference,but when it comes to finding the way the truth,and the life, it makes absolutely no difference.
What can make the difference,?,maybe we should ask the question,who can make a difference,well consider Jesus,who he was, and what He did.
Who He was ,the Son of God,who became the son of man,He performed
miracles,He spoke like no one ever spoke,He was tempted ,but was the victor over every temptation.He was compassionate,merciful,forgiving.
What He did,He died out of love for sinners,although He was sinless Himself,and He says come unto me all Ye who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest
A prayer
Dear God we praise You that in the person of Your son, Jesus,we can be
saved . Amen .
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
Sowing [Galations 6 v7]
A man high in government,committed financial fraud ,he was sent to prison
,in prison he was given work to do, sewing mailbags. A friend visited him,commented on his sewing,and he replied ,I am not sewing, I am reaping
The Word of God continually reminds us that what we sow we will reap,
and we will reap more than we sow.When David committed his sin ,he reaped a very painful harvest[2 Samuel 11/ 18v33]
Consider the following,/ Sow a thought,reap an act.Sow an act,and you reap a habit. Sow a habit, and you reap a character. Sow a character,and reap a destiny/.
The challenge for this day is,to sow good things ,kind acts,loving words,
to be faithful ,to those tasks God has given us to do.We can also sow the good seed,the word of God,it will bear fruit,for it will accomplish Gods purposes.[Isaiah 55 v8-11]
A prayer.
Dear God help us to remember that as we sow so we will reap,in Jesus name. Amen.
,in prison he was given work to do, sewing mailbags. A friend visited him,commented on his sewing,and he replied ,I am not sewing, I am reaping
The Word of God continually reminds us that what we sow we will reap,
and we will reap more than we sow.When David committed his sin ,he reaped a very painful harvest[2 Samuel 11/ 18v33]
Consider the following,/ Sow a thought,reap an act.Sow an act,and you reap a habit. Sow a habit, and you reap a character. Sow a character,and reap a destiny/.
The challenge for this day is,to sow good things ,kind acts,loving words,
to be faithful ,to those tasks God has given us to do.We can also sow the good seed,the word of God,it will bear fruit,for it will accomplish Gods purposes.[Isaiah 55 v8-11]
A prayer.
Dear God help us to remember that as we sow so we will reap,in Jesus name. Amen.
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
It is no secret [ Jeremiah 32 v27]
One of my favourite songs is,/It is no secret what God can do,I have just finished reading the book of Esther. The main teaching of this book is the providence of God,although God is not mentioned in it.The books tells us
how the whole Jewish race were going to be annihilated,but it did not happen
God wonderfully delivered His people.Consider the life of David the dangers he had to face,a lion,a bear,a giant,Saul,the Philistines,and Absolam
,yet God delivered him,from all these.
Consider Samson,Gideon,Elijah,Joseph, God delivered them,provided for them,lead them,fed them.Now consider the words of that hymn,/It is no secret what God can do,what He's done for others,He can do for you./
God has not changed,His power has not diminished,His ability to rescue,is still the same,with Him nothing has changed,He is the same yesterday,today and for ever.
You my be facing,financially difficulties,family problems,dangers,
these are sent ,that you and I can prove His power,and to remind us that there is nothing to hard for our God and Saviour.
A prayer.
Dear God in our difficulties and trials we lift our eyes to You,and ask You to undertake, in Jesus name Amen.
how the whole Jewish race were going to be annihilated,but it did not happen
God wonderfully delivered His people.Consider the life of David the dangers he had to face,a lion,a bear,a giant,Saul,the Philistines,and Absolam
,yet God delivered him,from all these.
Consider Samson,Gideon,Elijah,Joseph, God delivered them,provided for them,lead them,fed them.Now consider the words of that hymn,/It is no secret what God can do,what He's done for others,He can do for you./
God has not changed,His power has not diminished,His ability to rescue,is still the same,with Him nothing has changed,He is the same yesterday,today and for ever.
You my be facing,financially difficulties,family problems,dangers,
these are sent ,that you and I can prove His power,and to remind us that there is nothing to hard for our God and Saviour.
A prayer.
Dear God in our difficulties and trials we lift our eyes to You,and ask You to undertake, in Jesus name Amen.
Monday, 2 March 2015
Uncaring .[1 Peter 5 v7]
I have a callender with pictures of lovely religious paintings,one in particular caught my attention,of Christ in the house of Martha andMary by Henryk Siemiradzki.Jesus is depicted as speaking to Mary ,and in the background we see Martha carrying a jar but see is looking on at her sister.
One can imagine whats she is thinking, and what was building up in side of her,and of course we know what she finally said to Jesus.about her sister.
Lord she said,do You not care,consider those words ,is it possible that you may thinking those words,troubles have come into your . We look at others who are seemingly getting of lightly,we are experiencing pain,divorce,being unjustly accused,unemployment,whatever.
Does Jesus not care? and the answer is He does ,consider the words of 1 Peter 5 v7,/Casting all your care upon Him,for He careth for you/.What ever we may experience,painful though it be,remember He cares, more that we could ever realize.
A prayer.
Dear Saviour we ask that we may never loose sight of the fact that You care for us,because You love us,to bits. Amen.
One can imagine whats she is thinking, and what was building up in side of her,and of course we know what she finally said to Jesus.about her sister.
Lord she said,do You not care,consider those words ,is it possible that you may thinking those words,troubles have come into your . We look at others who are seemingly getting of lightly,we are experiencing pain,divorce,being unjustly accused,unemployment,whatever.
Does Jesus not care? and the answer is He does ,consider the words of 1 Peter 5 v7,/Casting all your care upon Him,for He careth for you/.What ever we may experience,painful though it be,remember He cares, more that we could ever realize.
A prayer.
Dear Saviour we ask that we may never loose sight of the fact that You care for us,because You love us,to bits. Amen.
Sunday, 1 March 2015
Labourers wanted. [Matthew 9 v 37-38]
I help run a group each week,it is rewarding and hard work,putting out tables and chairs, and generally keeping things ticking over.Some of the clients who attend do help,with the washing up,and clearing,but most of them liked to be served rather than serve.Recently one of the clients who helps ,became upset because he felt many were not helping,I had to speak to him and try to help him not to take it to heart. The words of our Saviour came to mind in Matthew 9 v37-38./ The harvest truly is plenteous,but the labours are few;pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,that he will send forth labourers into the harvest/.
In the west it does not appear to be harvesting time,but in many other places there is harvest of precious souls,waiting for those who will gather them in. God asks the question,whom shall I send?,who indeed ,do you feel God call upon your life to say here am I ,send me?.
Our Saviour tells us what we need to do,pray that the Lord of the harvest,the one who is in charge of recruitment,will send forth those of His choosing,to the work and place of His choosing.
So let us obey our Saviour and pray to that end,and leave the results to him,but of course we may be the answer to our own prayers.
A prayer.
Dear God we pray that you will send forth labourers ,to harvest precious souls ,into Your kingdom,in Jesus name Amen.
In the west it does not appear to be harvesting time,but in many other places there is harvest of precious souls,waiting for those who will gather them in. God asks the question,whom shall I send?,who indeed ,do you feel God call upon your life to say here am I ,send me?.
Our Saviour tells us what we need to do,pray that the Lord of the harvest,the one who is in charge of recruitment,will send forth those of His choosing,to the work and place of His choosing.
So let us obey our Saviour and pray to that end,and leave the results to him,but of course we may be the answer to our own prayers.
A prayer.
Dear God we pray that you will send forth labourers ,to harvest precious souls ,into Your kingdom,in Jesus name Amen.
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