Yes He does. [Psalm 34 ]

We recently bought a new tumble drier,but we brought it home we found
it hard fitting it into the space where the old one had been.I prayed to the reminding Him of the camel and the eye of a needle.Well the thing is He did help us to fit in our new tumble drier,for which I am thankful.I have seen three definite answers to prayer this week.Remember God answers prayer,it is not just an exercise of words when we pray.I still preach ,it would concern me greatly if I was not given opportunities to minister Gods
word.So what can I do,it is not my habit of asking for speaking engagements,no I pray,and trust God to open doors.Again let me stress this truth  ,God answers prayer,I could say other things about prayer,but I will not,God answers prayer,have faith to believe this. Read Psalm 34v4/ I sought the Lord, and He answered me/v6./ This poor man called, and the Lord heard him,he saved him out of all his troubles./v15/The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears, are attentive to their cry/.v17/ The righteous cry out,and the Lord hears them,He delivers them from all their troubles./
                                  A prayer.
Dear God we praise You for hearing and answering our prayers,in Jesus name Amen.

The church and the Christian. [ Malachi 3v 16-17]

I read this recently in what had been  a church building,this written on a plaque ,/ To the memory of James Gayler minister of the gospel in this place,of the genuine religion.He had the sweetest disposition,in 1702 he fell asleep in Jesus/.Sometimes I think we make to much of the church building,
we call it the house of God,but of course God does not dwell within bricks and mortar,but within every Christian,in fact we are called the temple of God,CP. 2 Corinthians 6 v16.This is important as I continually read how
many church buildings are being destroyed in lands of Islam,it was the same under Communism in the former Soviet Union. The fact of the matter is ,the church is the people of God,buildings can and are destroyed,but no force on earth ,or hell can destroy the church of Christ. Now returning to the minister of that church, James Gayler,as I read the words about that brother,yes the
building is no longer used,but as the book of the Proverbs 10v 7,tells us,the memory of the just is blessed,Psalm112 v6, tells us,the righteous  shall be in everlasting remembrance.How often I have been blessed as I have read the
lives of dear saints,who have gone to Glory,and those dear Christians,I have personally known, who are now in heaven.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear God as we read of church buildings being destroyed,we praise You that Your church will never and can never be destroyed.We ask that when
we leave this life that the memory we leave,will be a blessing,to those left behind,in Jesus name Amen.

Strange Gift. [ 1 Peter 1 v 6- 8]

Yesterday we talked about gifts,well say you have accepted that gift,how would you feel about what I read recently/Martyrdom is consider  by the Egyptian Church to be one of the highest gifts that God can bestow on
His faithful followers./Can we take those words in,what do you thing?
Consider the words of Philippians 1 v29,/For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for Him./ these are very challenging words, martyrdom seen as the highest gift,suffering seen as a privilege,well that's the way it is,none of us want to
suffer in any way,but let us remember,our suffering,be it martyrdom or
imprisonment,is for  Jesus sake.If we bear that in mind them it is bearable,and brings a glory into our suffering[ Acts 7 v55-56] My study Bible writes of four benefits in relation to suffering for Christ.  [ 1] It
takes our eyes of earthly comforts. [2] It weeds out superficial believers.
 [ 3]It strengthens the faith of those who endure. [4] It serves as an example to others who may follow us.
                                        A  prayer.
Dear Lord have mercy upon those who are experiencing suffering,grant unto them grace ,peace and hope in Your name we ask this Amen.
.

The greatest gift [Romans 6 v23 ]

I wonder how many gifts you have received? ,I can think of so many,that I
have received,can you remember the first gift you received?,or the last?What would you consider the most important gift,or even the most precious gift?. Recently I was offered a sum of money as a gift,which I could not
accept,the thing about gifts, they are freely given,you do not pay for a gift,
no they are free.The greatest gift anyone can receive is summed up in a verse of  scripture, it reads,/For the wages of sin is death,but the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord [Romans 6 v23] Consider the purpose of this gift ,three things are mentioned,wages,sin and then death.
Sin costs,make no mistake about this,death natural , we die,we were not
created to die,but sin changed all that.Here death must be seen as even more than the physical,but also the spiritual,that death, does not mean the end, no it means an eternal existence,in that unmentionable place. So God in His mercy has sent His son to die on the cross,that our sins may be forgiven.
The result our sins can be forgiven,if,yes if,we accept the gift that He is offering us ,Jesus Christ.He offers us it, freely,no charge,freely,the question
is will you receive this most precious gift?,eternal life,by accepting Jesus as your Saviour?
                                              A  prayer.
Dear God you give us so much,and we are thankful,and yet sad to say,so
many of us refuse the greatest gift of all,that gift of eternal life through Jesus your son, help us to accept this wonderful gift ,of Jesus, Amen]

Dare to leap higher [Hebrews 11]

While looking in the window of a book shop,I noticed the title of one book,
which read,/The salmon who dared to leap higher/Hebrews 11 is a wonderful account of people who like that salmon dared to leap higher.They are people who believed God,trusted God ,and obeyed God,and in so doing they leaped higher.They dared to go where others would not go, attempted
what others thought was folly.Their vision was on the eternal realms,and they lived in light of that vision.They were prepared to give up kith and kin,to step out not knowing their destination.They  were prepared to sacrifice that which was dearest to them,believing that even death could not hold its prey.They were prepared to gamble everything for their God no half measures.They saw the riches of this world for what they are,of limited value,so they choose the riches that is found in Christ there saviour.In
summing up these people ,one could truly say,by faith in God they dared to leap higher.
                                    A  prayer.
                      Lord lift me up,and let me stand ,
                      By faith, on heaven's table land;
                      Where love,and joy,and light abound,
                       Lord ,plant my feet on higher ground.
                   [Words by  Johnson Oatman,Jr/Ada R. Habershan]

Cannot be destroyed. [ Matthew 16 v18]

Recently while on holiday we visited a craft fair,it was held in a large building.As I walked up the stairs in the building I noticed a plaque on the wall,and what I read made me  realise that the building had been a church
building. This building reminded me of the sad fact ,of the decline of the Christian church,and how a country like England has moved away  from
God.We live in a secular society,where Christian beliefs are scorned on,
where people have raised up other gods,the god of evolution,the god of sex
gods of pleasure,gods of false security,gods who can give no security. Thankfully there is a church still in this land,God has not ,nor will He ever forsake His church.Yet I have stood in the ruins of Ephesus,and am reminded that places and countries that once were so called Christian,are no longer so.And yet in these countries there is still a remnant according to grace.As I  read the OT I see that in spite of apostasy,in spite of the temple,
and Jerusalem being destroyed there remained a remnant,and so it will
always be.The church of Christ cannot be destroyed,as our Saviour said,/
/I will build my church.and the gates of Hell will not overcome it[ Matthew 16 v18]
                                          A prayer.
Dear God in the name of Your dear Son Jesus,build Your church ,Amen.

Are you normal? [ Isaiah 44v3 ]

I had to smile as I read the following, /Remember as far as everyone else is concerned,we are a nice normal family/. I am sure we can all identify with those words,as they apply to our families and even to ourselves. When I worked with mentally ill,the point was made, as to what is normal. In other words what we consider as normal , is not the same for everyone,your family life may be orderly,other families may not be.Because people don't conform to your norm does not mean that they are abnormal.I remember a
lady I knew telling how she baked a lovely cake,for a friend,and to her
friends husband,put a slice of corn beef between his piece of cake and ate it.
I don't think the lady baked them any more cakes,it went against her norm,
I am sure there is behaviour that is abnormal.The church family is full of all
sorts of individuals whose norm differs with each other,and here is the important thing ,in the words of song I just heard on the radio,/My God loves me,His faithful love endures/.Yes He loves us all ,even though we may not act in the so called norm, for that's the way He is.
                                       A prayer.
Dear God help us to Your norm ,in holiness,love,and faithfulness,in Jesus name Amen.

Toxic. [ John 14 v16 ]

Gardening is a very popular activity ,every year we have the Chelsea flower show,is a major event.The Queen is one of the first to see this major event,
it is open for anyone to go,many thousands do visit,it is also shown on the TV.Well just recently my wife and I visited a lovely garden centre,with some lovely gardens,as I admired the lovely  flowers,and noticed a bee,and I thought ,this is bee heaven. Bee heaven, and this got me thinking about that  place where the rose's never die,here they last but for a season soon their beauty is decayed, I am going to a city where the rose's never fade.So
 goes the old gospel hymn,and of course it is not to be taken literally,but it is
making a point between ,the realms of time and the eternal realms.This world where not only roses die,we all die,there is a saying old soldiers never
die,they just fade away.But it is not true, all of us die,but not all of us will be going to that wonderful place called heaven,where no one dies.It was Milton who wrote Paradise lost,yes as to this world paradise is lost,someone said that since we were expelled from heaven, we have been trying to create
a paradise on earth. The fact of the matter ,it is the impossible dream,we are
building on toxic waste,in which we will all suffer the consequence of sin.
                                                  A  prayer.
Dear God open our eyes from the change and decay we view all around us,to that greater faith vision,that You have prepared for all who trust Jesus as their Saviour.in Jesus name. Amen.

Trials [Psalm 13 ]

Psalm 13 by David,is about a man that is suffering,yes he may have been a
great man,but he would still experience suffering.Envy no one,be they a great person,a queen, a big personality,for behind that so called greatness
there may be a hidden suffering. The Psalm starts with the words ,/How long/,he is growing weary in his suffering,and feels the Lord has forgotten
him. The continual suffering has clouded his judgement,and the man of God
feels like he has had enough. Trials comes in all sorts of sizes, and durations
,we are having work done in our home,the person who is doing the work is taking a long time,and my wife is finding this a trial,to me this can be classed as a small trial.A lady in our church is caring for a husband who has
Parkinson's disease,then she informed me that her daughter has cancer,now
what she is going through is a major trial. What ever trial you may be suffering it is real to you,and painful,but God has not forgotten you,you may think He has ,but it is not so. To remind us of this fact ,God speaks to us in ways we can understand,and so He tells us,/Can a woman forget her nursing child,and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget,yet I will not forget you. See I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands,your walls are continually before Me.[Isaiah 49 v 15-16 ]
                                   A prayer.
Dear God I trust in your unfailing love,my heart rejoices in your salvation,
I will sing to the Lord,for He has been good to me, in Jesus name Amen.

Flee. [ Acts 17v 31-32 ]

I remember my granny telling, how during the war, when the German where bombing Belfast they used to run for safety, yes there is time to run
away from trouble.Joseph ran away from temptation,when we pray lead us not into temptation,then we shouldn't go to places and situations that could cause us to fall spiritually.David time after time had to flee from King Saul
who continually wanted to kill him,because he saw him as a threat to his
position as king. Lot and his family had to flee from the Judgement that came upon Sodom and Gororrah.Yes there is time to flee to get away from those situations and people that would do us harm.It is John the Baptist who challenged the religious groups ,he asked them who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come[ Matthew 3 v7] . Make no mistake ,there is a day of wrath coming upon this world,you may not have given it a thought,or dismissed it ,God is love,He knows nothing about wrath,its against His nature,wrong,He is the righteous judge,and in a coming day,In Acts 17 v31 we  read,/He[God] has set a day when the entire human race will be judged and everything set right.And He has already appointed the judge[ Jesus].
                                      A  prayer
Dear God help us to see our sinful condition and our great need of being forgiven by Your Son Jesus,before it is to late. Amen.
    [I will return to my blog Saturday DV,every blessing]

One day [ Revelation 22 v 7-21 ]

I was struck by two words I read,/one day/,as a Christian these words conjure up  different things.For instance I was watching the news on TV and there was report of a man who battered his little child to death, I became very upset at hearing this.I know life is not all bad there is much that is good,but I also know that we live in a fallen world,we are sinners,yes even the best of people.Even the best of people can surprise us by the wrong things they do,I am glad you cannot see the Billy that's inside.Then we think
of Nepal,the Ebola crises,Islam,divorce,greed,need I go on.But here is the good news for all who love Christ, one day all will be changed,when He will burst through the line between time and eternity and the word I think will sum it up is, enough.One day He will bring in a new heaven and a new earth,yes one day ,He will make all things new, By His grace I will be part of it,the question is, will you?.
                                         A prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus hasten the day of Your coming again Amen

Influenced. [ 2 Corinthians 10 v 3-5 ]

The present Prime Minister of India, Narenda Modi in a recent interview of
his  early childhood. Speaking on poverty,he said it touched his deepest core
that he was born into a poor family.He spoke about his mother  doing housework,in the homes of others, to earn a living.He further went on to say
,I  have lived in poverty,as a child,my entire childhood was steeped in poverty.For me,poverty,in a way, was the first inspiration of my life. I
decided that I would not live for myself, but would live for others./
 I found his remarks interesting,I suppose we are all to some degree shaped
by our past,not just poverty, I am reading a book on the young Stalin, did his past shape him,seemingly he could sing like an angel,was a gifted poet.
His background was rough,a drunken father who beat him,his mother who loved him intensely,she also beat him,did these things shape his life?
they may have had a degree of shaping him.All his life he read,and I believe
there were two books that had an influence on him,the first was ,The origin of the spices by Charles Darwin,after reading that he stopped believing in God. next one was by the Italian philosopher  Niccolo Machiavelli,on how those in power should rule,the basic idea appears to be, the end justifies the
means.These two books changed Stalin's whole life,and not for the better,as millions would testify, who lived and died under his godless rule.
                                       A  prayer.
God there are so many things that can influence us,what we read,what  we view on the TV,or the Internet.evil people have influenced millions to commit so much evil,preserve us God from being influenced by the evils without,and the evil within,in Jesus name we ask this Amen.
   

Something better. [ Luke 9 v57-62 ]

It was said of a famous explorer, that for all his human faults he was always
looking for something better.None of us are perfect but we can always have aspirations, for that something better.some of our aspirations,we may never
achieve, some we can achieve .Wilberforce had a dream as regards ending the trade of slavery. As member of parliament ,he battled on for practically a life time  trying to have a bill passed,banning this wicked practice,in the end he succeeded. Dr M.Luther had a dream of equality for black people, in the end his dream came to pass,even though he paid the price ,by loosing his life.Something better ,I have  looked at this world,and on those dying without Christ,bound by sin,going to a lost eternity. God has something better to offer people,never let us who know Christ, never forget this,as to this life and as to eternity. Jesus came to people,He looked them in the eye,and said follow Me, I will give you something better.
                                      A  prayer.
Dear God help us, whoever we are,living in squalor,or luxury,to respond
to Jesus Your son,as He offers them something better,Amen.

Our task. [ Luke 6 v 26-35]

 In  India Christians protested against  church attacks,they said what have we done wrong?/Is serving the poor a crime, feeding the hungry a
crime,visiting the prisoners a crime?....We are not going to stop doing good/
Of course none of these are wrong ,in fact in so doing they are following in the footsteps of their master, Jesus, who went about doing good [Acts 10 38 ].In Galations 6 v10,we read,,/Let us do good to all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith./. So we praise our Christian family
in India for the good they are doing,they are an example to us all. So why are they suffering?,surely they should be commended for what they are doing,not persecuted. Why indeed? our Saviour who healed the sick fed the
poor was crucified, why ?.there are different reasons,but I suppose the one is to be found in His words,and His death. Consider His words,I am the way the truth and the life no one cometh unto the Father,but by Me[ John 14 v6].In other words He is saying all other religions are wrong.Acts 4 v12
tells us,/Neither is there salvation in any other name under heaven given among men,whereby we must be saved./ Consider how those of other religions may feel,they would not be to happy in fact they may be filled with hatred,and in India and in may other country ,this is so. Yes let us do
good,but let us remember,those Indian believers,and of course Jesus.
                                    A  prayer.
Dear God help us to do good,and help us also to be faithful to our Saviour
Amen.

The real reason. [ Isaiah 53 ]

The Jews have been called the waiting people ,why?, and for whom ?,well we have a very clear, clue in the book of Micah. It is a verse that Christians have read to them every Christmas,and it is the words of that verse that the religious leaders ,quoited to Herod.[ Matthew 2 v5-6]. In Micah 5 v2, we read,/But thou Bethlehem Ephratah,though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me,that is going to to a ruler in Israel,whose goings have been from old,from everlasting/.This is why the Jews are called the waiting people they are still waiting for this ruler who will come. Now the whom,a ruler,when Herod was told about a king of the Jews being born,he immediately felt threatened,because like the Jews ,he only saw the coming one as a ruler.The religious leaders it seems were thinking in earthly terms,a ruler,who would set his throne up in Jerusalem,and deliver the nation from those who oppressed them.That is why I suppose they rejected Jesus the Messiah,they failed to appreciate,as the world likewise fails to appreciate,that  Jesus the Messiah came to free people not from political oppression,but from Satan, Sin, and Hell.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God we ask that in Your mercy You would open the eyes of Jews and gentiles alike, as to Jesus is and the real reason He came. Amen.

There is stil hope. [ Micah 7 v18]

Following on in the book of Micah ,consider the spiritual deterioration that
took place ,we see it in the book of judges,when ever man did that which was right in their own eyes [Judges 21v25].Then into the beginning of rule
by the kings,some where good ,but many were bad,and some were very bad.So often the prophets brought Gods word,only to see the people refuse
to listen, consider the words of  Stephen,/ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears,ye do always resist the Holy Ghost,as your Fathers did,so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted.[Acts 7 v51-52]. Consider the very sad and challenging words of our Saviour spoken to the Jews,/O Jerusalem,Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest
them which are sent unto thee,how often would I have gathered thy children
together,even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,and ye would not[Matthew 23 v37]Returning to the book of Micah,and as we read that book,we see so much evil being perpetrated , yet within this book we read these words,/Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity........He retaineth not his anger for ever,because He delighteth in mercy[7v18]
    In spite of their gross sin God will show mercy,He has not changed,He is
still a pardoning God,who delights to show mercy.No matter how bad we are no matter how far we have strayed,there is hope,there is forgiveness,if we but seek Jesus,
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God truly who is a pardoning God like You we thank You that through
Jesus we can experience forgiveness Amen

What God requires Micah 6 v8 ]

The prophet Micah was called to speak to Israel the divided nation,known as the northern kingdom,Samaria being its capital,and the southern kingdom
Jerusalem being its capital.From the very start of the nations split, the northern kingdom under king Jeroboam,forsook the worship of God for false worship,God continually spoke to that nation,but it never changed,and spiritually and morally ,things became worse .The Southern kingdom had the advantage of the temple reminding them of Gods presence continually,
but they also gradually forsook God and became just as evil and at times even worse than the northern kingdom. Micah was called to challenge the sinfulness of both nations,reminding them how God hates sin,and as the righteous judge would would punish their sinful  behaviour,if they did not turn back from their sinful ways.He points out what God required from them and indeed from us chapter 6v8,/  To do what is right,to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with their God/.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God help us to rise to the challenge of Your word,to seek always to do what is right,to show mercy to all,and to walk humbly with You, in Jesus
name Amen.

A levels in prayer. [ Psalm 42 ]

 I was listening to a CD in my car and I heard these words ,
                       At the end of  day I stop and pray,
                        Thank you Lord for my work and play,
                       I've tried to be good for I know that I should,
                       That's my prayer at the end of the day.

 Such simple words,you even may think they are childish,possible they are,
I  like  them, if you have children maybe you could teach them that prayer.
  None of us have  A levels in prayer,we are all limited in one way or another,that does not mean ,that our prayers will not be acceptable to God,
of course not.My confidence is not in the so called quality of my prayers,
but in God who reminds us that so often we do not know how to pray.[ Romans 8 v26]  ,but in mercy assists us by His Spirit.May be that little prayer in its simplicity can be a help to all of us.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father we confess our inadequacies when it comes to praying,we listen to others who seem to have it all together as regards
praying,and wish we could rich that level.Them we hear You telling us it is not reaching a level, but rather it is reaching Your heart that matters,help us to never loose sight of that truth,in Jesus Name Amen.

A general election. [1 Timothy 2 v 1-4 ]

 A general election has just taken place and there have been a good deal of surprises, the people have spoken. Yet as I view life I wonder has God spoken,or what is He saying,for He is saying something. As a Christian  I
am called to pray for those in authority cp 1 Timothy 2v1-2. that one of the outcomes may be that we may as Christians live a peaceable life.
    My heart goes out to those people who live under oppressive governments, there are so many of them. We do need to pray about these government's,who appear to be immune as regards the suffering they are causing. Why not make a point of praying for one of these governments,that God may change them or remove them. Why not involve others in this prayer ministry,the more the better. Remember prayer can bring change,
never underestimate what God can do in response to our prayers, and as you pray God may bring you into a deeper aspect of prayer.You may then begin to pray for a spiritual breakthrough within that particular nation,starting with the government.
     I know we know that God is sovereign, well let us pray to Him who alone can change things,change the hearts and minds of those who rule.Likewise He can change a nation, turning them from idolatry,and godless practise's,all things are possible,let us rise up in faith,to God, the one with whom all things are possible.
                                           A  prayer.
Sovereign God,You who have whole world in your hands move in the hearts  of rulers and nation in Jesus name Amen.

Why me. [ Psalm 22]

 Why me? ,you can say this with two different meanings in mind,the first
meaning is when difficulties befall us,we cry out why me.The other time is when we consider the way God has blessed us,and we say why me.
   Why did Job experience ,such terrible suffering? he was a good godly person,yes good godly people suffer.I am continually reading of good godly people suffering,why  them, and not me,one often feels ,Christians who are not suffering persecution ,feel guilty,that they are escaping such suffering.
Should they?, no I don't believe so. We do not need to take on guilt,but we do need to help those who are suffering ,by what ever means necessary. In
 Hebrew.13 v3, we read, /Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them.Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you/[ TM]
    Why me?,now what may be happening to you ,may be infair,again as we read the Bible we read of many people who suffered unfairness.Take Joseph
he may have acted a bit unwisely with what he said,but surely he did not
deserve the hatred his brothers showed him,they wanted him dead,but instead they sold him into slavery,later he is falsely accused of a sexual
crime he did not do,and was put into prison.
   The fact of the matter there are many things in life that are unfair,what can we do?well if we are a Christian,we may cry out to God why me?.We may not get an answer,but  God promises us something that does not apply to non-Christians,that all things are working together for our good[Romans 8 v28]
                                           A prayer.
Dear God help us to remember the many of your dear children who are suffering,and help us in our suffering ,to trust in You ,knowing that all we are going through will ultimately work out for our good,in Jesus name Amen

I would trust you with my life. [ Acts 4 v12 ]

My wife works in a residential home as a support clinical worker,it is  a very  responsible position,peoples lives depend on her,and of course on other  worker.Recently a senior worker said to my wife, I would trust you
with my life. What a challenging thing to be told, yet consider how many
people we trust with our lives,surgeons,train drivers,air plane pilots.When one thinks about it there are a lot of people we trust with our lives,a bit scary isn't it.
  Here is something you may never have thought of,there is only one person
you can trust to save you,only one,His name is Jesus. Now consider how many people are trusting others to save them and take them to heaven,and indeed how many people are trusting in themselves to save themselves.
    Consider how serious all this is,when your life's gone its gone,but gone where,it is not the end,indeed it is just the beginning.there we meet two extremes,heaven ,hell.Recently a person asked me a question regards heaven whats it like?,people never ask you about hell,whats it like?.Well what can one say about heaven,well we believe it will be indescribably
wonderful. The other is real ,and is indescribably awful, no one in their right mind would want to go there.
    The consequences of whom we are trusting to save us ,is is not negotiable,because Jesus is Gods answer,we can with confidence,say to Him, I can trust You with my souls salvation.
                                   A prayer.
 Dear God we thank You for Jesus Your son the one we can trust to save our souls. Amen

Conformed to the image. [ Romans 8 v29 ]

In the book of Revelation 3v8, the risen Lord Jesus speaks to the church at Philadelphia the following,I know thy works.J B. Ramsey these words as referring to their character,their motives, and the lives.When we thing of people we often speak as to Character,we say he is a shady character,Judas who betrayed Jesus was a thief,we may say ,so and so is a weak character.
  If Jesus was to speak about you or I what would He say, as to our character ?.What is He looking for?,and what should we be aiming at?,a holiness of life,a life that is different,and separate, what do you think that means for you?,seperated from ungodliness,and unto righteousness,that's a challenge,for all of us. To reflect to some degree a likeness of Christ ,a life of love,kindness,a life of hope,not despair,a life of service.
    One day a little lad spoke to a missionary and said, are you Jesus?,now of course he made it clear that he wasn't. We read in Romans 8 v29,/for whom he did foreknow,he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image  of his Son./ The little chorus goes,/Be like Jesus this my song in the home and in the throng,be like Jesus all day long I would be like Jesus/
                                            A  prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,help us to be conformed to the image of Your dear son Jesus Amen.

I love those words. [ Isaiah 40 29-31]

Pray ,pray,pray,this is vital,for our well being,there are so many things we need to pray about,let prayer be our first port of call. See prayer not as prison sentence, but as a privilege,not just for the few,but for all of us.My son Brian is in prayer ministry,we all can be in a prayer ministry,you do not
need any qualifications,just a willingness to pray to God ,who delights to meet with His children.Problems will be resolved,needs will be met,plus the fact as you wait upon God ,He will renew your strength ,I love those words in Isaiah 40v 29-31 ,here they are,
                         He giveth power to the faint
                         and to them that hath no strength
                          He increaseth strength.
                         Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
                          And the young men shall utterly fail.
                          But they that wait upon the Lord
                           shall renew their strength;
                           they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
                           they shall run ,and not be weary;
                           and they shall walk,and not faint.
                                   A prayer.
Dear God let us not be overwhelmed by the thought of praying, grant us
,that we may grow in our relationship with You as we pray ,in Jesus name Amen.
                         

Misunderstood. [1 Peter 2 v 21-23 ]

It is so easy to be misunderstood you do some action with the best of motives,and people twist the things you say.Yet you know  what you did or said was not meant to harm or hurt. It is hard to cope with, but the fact is it does happen,consider the scriptures and the many who suffered at the hands of people who put the worst possible interpretation on others actions,and words.Think of dear Jeremiah how he suffered,Joseph who was hated by his brothers. Consider how much our Lord was misunderstood,his words,and actions brought upon him the wrath of so many,which ended by Him being nailed to a cross.We want everybody to think well of us,but people being what they are, this will not be always possible. Consider the
following,/ There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others,saying what flatters them,doing what indulges them.Popularity
contests are not truth contests look how many scoundrel preachers were
approved by your ancestors,your task is to be true,not popular./ [TM]
So let us commit all things to God who knows our motives,who will
always judge our actions and words in a right manner.
                                        A  prayer.
Dear God forgive us when our words and actions are not as they should be,
and help us to rise above all criticism ,when our actions and words are
misunderstood in Jesus name Amen

                                             

The door is open [Revelation 3 v [John 11v 40]

Something simple like opening and shutting a door reminded me of a spiritual truth,I  [ Jesus] have set before thee,an open door,and no man can shutteth[Revelation 3 v8]What challenges lie before you?,you believe God
wants you to move forward,then move forward and trust in His word.You cry out to God I cannot go forward and God replies,you can my child, I have set an open door before you,and no person can shut that door,even the Devil himself cannot shut it.Why do you hesitate?, fear, unbelief,remember I honour faith ,remember how a generation in the wilderness ,lost the blessing ,the promised land lay before them.God was saying go,but they were saying no.How often they must have looked back with regret ,and wished they had gone through that open door. But you say I am weak,I
 cannot venture forth,do you not think God knows this,He knows everything there is to know about you. Your weakness is not the problem,the problem is you,God has spoken,He says I know that you have not much strength.
It will always be so,you will always be weak,but  through His strength,
you will overcome gaints.And the biggest gaints you will need to face, are within you. Said I not unto you,that if thou wouldest believe,thou shouldest
see the glory of God.
                                          A  prayer.
 Dear God give us grace to follow where you lead in Jesus name Amen.

Spiritual matters,matter. [ 2 Peter 5 v 6 ]

Joyce Baldwin writes,/ Our twentieth-century generations are especially
prone to ask for quick results,whereas in spiritual matters long growth is
called for./ Beware of those who come with instant answers,in relation to the growth of a soul,and beware of those who promise a troubled free life.
  It takes often years to have a nice garden,and it takes a lifetime of care,
weeding ,cutting the grass,pruning,like so many things it is ongoing. Such is the Christian life,it is ongoing,and we who have been on the way,for a long time,know  the importance of persevering ,in our daily walk with Christ.
    I have two rose bushes ,they continually need watched over,the dreaded black spot needs eradicated, also they need pruning.God is like a gardener
He is continually working in our lives,watching over us,seeking to eradicate
the wrongful tendencies,the bad habits,the wrong attitudes.The question we
often ask is why?,why am I experiencing the difficulties in my marriage  with my children?.There are a lot of things that we would rather not have in our lives,yet in Gods sovereignty,he allows unpleasant,painful things in,they are Gods teacher's. I thought I had finished with school 56years ago,but not so, the great teacher God the Holy Spirit is using all sorts of things and
experiences to  educate us,not with an head knowledge, but a transforming knowledge.
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God have Your own perfect way and will in our lives,that we may be transformed into the image of Your dear Son Jesus. Amen

Medicine a monster [ Matthew 10 v28 ]

I read this recently, Medicine is a monster-it will take everything you have and still want more.  In this country we have a wonderful health service,
 the whole population can be served by it,irrespective of cost. As a senior
citizen I receive free medication,I thank God for it,it is paid for out of taxes.
It does appear a bit of a monster one can imagine the cost of running it,and the demands on the staff.
    I  read of places in the world were there is such a need,and the few who are trying to meet that need,with limited resources.meeting the need can
become all consuming,and it is the same all over the world. While I
appreciate the medical needs of people everywhere ,people have other needs
spiritual needs.As one person puts it,/ It is also possible for Christians to be consumed with the pressure of caring for sick and injured bodies and have little left for the spirit of the sick/
     Whatever ones physical requirements mans greatest need is Christ,that
will never change,our body will one day die,but that is not the end.A lady
I know, spoke how her neighbour came to her one day,and said she was afraid of death.The only sure hope of not fearing death is by knowing Jesus
as ones Saviour,that is one need no doctor can provide.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God we thank for the help we receive for medical fraternity,but we
pray that people will look  beyond their physical needs to their spiritual needs,which can only be met in Jesus. Amen