Its a gift. [ Romans 6 v23 /Ephesians 2 v8-10]

Michael Wilcock,commenting on the religious leaders rejection of Christ and salvation ,writes ''When they found that salvation was a gift and not a
right,they were offended,and refused it''.To a people who lived by rules and regulations,it did not make sense,there are many people like those religious leaders,who feel that they must observe certain practices,in order to merit salvation.Even though the Bible clearly tells us that the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ[Romans 6 v23]It is illustrated
throughout the gospels,we hear Jesus saying ,blessed are you who are poor,for yours is the Kingdom of God[Luke 6v20]It is not that God did not
declare that Salvation is a free Gift in  OT,in Isaiah 55v1, God declares that the people can be blessed ,freely.I remember trying to help a couple who were in need financially,I wanted to give them a gift,but the wife would not accept it, in the end the wife agreed to accept the money as a loan.People are proud ,and such a pride can cause us to miss out on that glorious gift of
salvation,that God offers us, when we accept Jesus as our Saviour.
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God it is truly amazing that salvation is a gift,that they can receive by simply trusting  Jesus .Amen.

Perfect. [Romans 3 v 10-23 ]

I admire many people,but no matter how much I admire them ,I know that they are not perfect.A  well known couple in the film industry,were considered the perfect couple,then the reality broke in and we are told they are going to get divorced.A famous athlete,admired by many is reported in the papers,for his infidelities,yet while pointing out these things we are conscious of our own imperfections.Lets be very clear the people that we set up as idols,are not ,nor ever will be perfect.Be they politicians,royalty,
entertainers,popes,priests,and so on,and so on,the fact is ,we are all imperfect.Let us carry that a bit further,we are all sinners,that does not mean
that we never do anything that is right,no many people do a lot of good.
Entertainers bless us,be it on the stage,movies,hospitals are filled with kind nurses,doctors,many people raise money for charity,people write books that we all enjoy.So we could go on but no one can escape the truth that we are all sinners,whatever good we may do,commendable though it be,we come short in a big way of Gods glory.Let us not be blind to this reality,and turn
to God for mercy and forgiveness,and trust Jesus the only person who ever lived who was perfect,and the only one that can save us.
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God open all our eyes to the reality that we are sinners,and need to be saved,by trusting Jesus Amen

For the Glory. [John 21 v15-22]

'For the Glory',is the title of a recent publication,on the life of Eric Liddle,
a lovely man of God.He was a strict sabbatarian.When he went to partake
in the 1924 Olympics,he found himself faced with a dilemma,for he was to run in the 200meters,but refused to,as it was being held on the Sabbath.
So instead he ran in the 400 meters,and against  all expectations he not only won but also set a new world record.Eric was not only a great runner,but also a very good rugby player,he played for Scotland.He  gave up playing Rugby,because athletics was more important,but there came a moment when he gave up athletics ,for something more important,a call to serve God in China.Now there is nothing wrong with participating in sport,the question is what is of first importance?. We read of a rich man who came to Jesus,who was faced with the challenge ,by Jesus,as what was most important in his life,it turned out his riches took first place  [Matthew 19 v16ff].Now it is not wrong to have riches,but it is wrong for your riches to be first in ones life.The Jews rejected Christ because their religion was first in there lives,yes even religion can be a sin if it takes first place in our lives,Jesus says to all of us ,as He said to Peter,lovest thou me more than these?[John 21v15],what would you reply to that question?.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear Lord help us to see that You must be of first importance in our lives
Amen

We can make it ,if.[ John 15 v 5 ]

Fifty two years following the Lord ,so it easy for me,I have it all made,no ,
Dick Lucas writes,''Not until death shall we be free from evil desires''.It was
George Muller who prayed that he might not become a wicked old man,and that is why we must all stay close to our Saviour.It was when Solomon was an old man he committed his greatest folly,we read his pagan wives turned his heart after other gods[ 1 Kings 11 v 4].We are warned,'' let him who thinketh he standeth  take heed lest he fall.''[1 Corinthians 10 v12 ].Who is sufficient for this ongoing life,none of us,but by Gods grace we can,be more than conquerors through Him[Christ] who loved us.[Romans 8 v37]. How did those great saints ,Spurgeon,Calvin,Moody,and many others ,manage
to live and finish victorious?,their great abilities,personalities,no,they had no more advantages ,than you or I.They had to seek daily unto their God,for the power ,and protection,to live and finish their Christian journey.
Today you may be saying I cannot go on,God says you can,He says to us all.''Do not fear,for I am with you,be not dismayed,for I am your God.I will
strengthen you and help you,I will uphold you with my righteous right hand''.[Isaiah 41 v10]
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God forgive us for our self reliance,grant us the grace to persevere,the
humility to recognise ,that without you we can do nothing,in Jesus name we pray this Amen.

There is. [ Isaiah 1 v18 ]

I recently took someone to see the film,'' Big friendly Giant'',the two main characters in this film,is a young girl called Sophie and ,BFG.BFG, collects dreams,and puts them in glass containers,there is a point in the film where he lifts one the containers up and Sophie, asks him about it,he tells her,that it is bad,for it reminds us of  all the bad things we have done,and there is no forgiveness.As I heard these words I felt those words are among the saddest I have ever heard.Let me say emphatically  Gods word tells us,clearly that no matter what we have done in the past,no matter what it was, there is forgiveness for we read that,Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,and the worst of sinners.  [ 1 Timothy 1 v15 ]
                                    A prayer for forgiveness.
Dear God I come unto you and ask Jesus into my heart,I acknowledge all
my sins,turning from them,please forgive me all my sins. Amen.

Is this Hell?. [ Acts 16 v31 ]

There is a lot of suffering in this world,sickness,death,injustice,oppression,
disasters ,starvation,drought,crime,and so we could on.Some people because of what they are experiencing,see this life as hell,for they cannot imagine it being any worse than what they are experiencing now. Well lets consider this world,and why we have so much suffering,if we go to Genesis 1-3 we find the answer as to why so much suffering.In chapter 1,we read,''God saw all he had made and it was good''[v31].Everything was perfect,but in chapters 2-3,we read that something awful happened,I use the word awful,
, I wonder how you would describe it?, catastrophe ,ruinous,tragic,these words don't even begin to describe what happen.So what happened? man sinned,and from that one solitary action,paradise was lost,and instead of living happily ever after,we enter the experience we have now.this earthly existence ,for all, there will be degrees of suffering,and for many it can be described as a hell on earth,but it is not hell.Hell is a diffident place,and so is Heaven,the vital question is,have you trusted Jesus,that your sins are forgiven?,if you have ,then the very, very good news is ,you are going to heaven and not to Hell.
                                              A  prayer.
Dear God we thank that you have given us all,a great escape,from Hell,by sending Jesus your son,that if we believe in Him we will not go to Hell,
but to Heaven. Amen.

Him first. [ Matthew 6 v 33]

Godliness with contentment is great gain.For we brought nothing into the world,and we can take nothing out of it.But if we have food and clothing,we
will be content with that.People who want to get rich,fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into
ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,eager for money,have wandered from the faith and pierced
themselves with many griefs.But you ,man of God,flee from all this,and
pursue righteousnee,godliness,faith,love,endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
                                       [  1 Timothy 6 v 6-12]
                                            A  prayer.
Dear Lord help us to put you first in our lives,and then everything else will
fall into place ,we ask this in your name Amen.

Drifting [Hebrews 2 v 1-3 ]

The book of Hebrews was written to people who had become Christians,but
where in danger of turning back  .There were reasons for this, possible they had and were experiencing difficulties[ 10v32-33/12 v4-12]The writer
of Hebrews in chapter 2 v1ff ,exhorts and warns them of the consequence
of turning back.In verse one,he writes, ''We must pay more careful attention
therefore,to what we have heard,so that we do not drift away''.It is the last part of that  verse that W. Barclay,tells us the Greek word Pararrein is used,and has many meanings.It can be used for a ring slipping of ones finger,and it is regularly used of something which has carelessly or
thoughtlessly allowed to slip away and become lost..Those words drifting away remind us not of a sudden action but rather a slow casual experience,
in other words we are not alert to the danger we are in,that of making shipwreck of our faith,As W. Barclay comments, ''There are few people who deliberately and in a moment turn their backs on God;there are many who day by day drift farther and farther away from Him'.This is serious,
and has serious consequences as the writer of Hebrews points out,when he
writes,''How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation''.[2 v3]
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God help us by your grace to follow our Lord and Saviour Amen.
[I will return to my thought for the day Saturday, every blessing]

Mine. [ John 3 v 1-16 ]

I write about many things,hopefully guided by Gods Spirit,but what I must
never forget,that I must proclaim Christ.Seems obvious,but it is easy to mention many legitimate things,but it is Christ ,people need to hear about,as ,the one who ,forgives us our sins,and the one who free's us from its power.I can tell you what Christ means to me,what does He mean to you.
Our Lord asked his disciples,''Who do people say the Son of Man is?''.They replied,''Some say John the Baptist,others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.Then Jesus asked,''But what about you?,
''Who do you say I am?''.[Matthew 16 v13-15].William Barclay wrote,''Our
discovery of Jesus Christ must be a personal discovery.Our knowledge of Jesus can never be second hand.A man might know every verdict that has ever been passed on Jesus;he might know every Christology that the mind
of man had ever thought out; he might be able to give a competent summary of the teaching about Jesus of every great thinker and theologian-and still not be a Christian. Christiantity never consists in knowing about Jesus;it
always consists in knowing Jesus.He demands a personal verdict'

                                  Dear Saviour,Thou art mine,
                                  How sweet the thought to me,
                                  Let me repeat Thy name,
                                  And lift my heart to Thee.

                                 Mine,Mine,Mine, I know Thou art
                                 mine;
                                 Saviour,dear Saviour,I know that Thou
                                 art mine.
                                             [Words Anna Hudson ]
                                    

I am far from perfect. [Psalm 51]

I am not a know all,I do not have all the answers,I have been following the Lord for 52years,Yet there times I act in an immature way,I say the right things,at times,but not always in the right way,I find myself judging others
but am pulled up by the Holy Spirit who reminds me that I am not to judge.
I get angry,but the Same Holy Spirit reminds me,that my anger is not acceptable.I could go telling you about my immature ways,yes I am a work in progress,and although it is painful to admit it,I know it is true.While God will perfect that which concerns me,I have a responsibility,to respond,to what He is telling me about myself,and seek by Gods grace to change.I must be teachable,and learn from others,who are more wise ,mature and
knowledgeable than I am,even if they are younger than I am,This process
called sanctification continues for all our lives,until we reach glory.
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God from the depths of our hearts we pray that you will help us to change,help us to be honest ,humble,and obedient,we thank You for the changes You have made in our lives,O God continue the process in Jesus name we ask this Amen.

No. [ 1 Corinthians 13 ]

As I began to read my Bible reading I read,''Husbands,love your wives and do not be harsh with them''[ Colossiams3 v19].My sense of humor took over
as I heard myself saying,no,I laughed at what I had said.Yet it is no laughing matter,because it challenges us to obedience,obedience to God.
Marriage we are told is not to be entered into lightly,because after the honey
-moon period,reality will begin to kick in.Husbands we do marry perfect wives,no more than our wives marry perfect husbands.In many cultures it is
the husband that rules,and often that rule can be harsh,can be severe with wives receiving a beating.The word of God challenges such behaviour,and
such an attitude,and challenges us all to love,if you want to know what that means ,consider the following,''Husbands, love your wives,juat as Christ loved the church,and gave himself up for her''[Ephesians 5 v25]
                                        A  prayer.
Dear God and Father help us love each other ,as Christ loved us. Amen.

Conscience. [ 1 Timothy 1 v 5 ]

Following on from yesterday,Eric Liddle is remembered as a man who followed his conscience.He refused to run on Sunday or as many call it
the Sabbath,and in doing so he forfeited a sure gold medal.Our conscience
is not a perfect guide  ,but often it would help many of us to follow are conscience.How many marriages would have saved if people had followed their conscience,this applies to so many things,Consider  how Joseph followed his conscience,by refusing to sleep with another mans wife,even though it cost him so much ,a period in prison.[Genesis 39 v6ff].Duncan Hamilton,writes,''In everything Lidell followed his conscience, choosing to do what was right because to do anything else, he felt,would sully the gift God had given him to run fast.''
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God let us learn from those who have acted wrongly,ignoring their
conscience,and paid the price,and let us follow in the footsteps of those  who have heeded their consciences,in Jesus name Amen.

                              

Joint citizenship [Matthew 22 v 21 ]

He was a superstar of his day,admired by many,had his own fan club,he
lived at a time when amateurism was popular,in other words you performed
just for the love of it. His name was Eric Liddell,known as the flying Scots
man,he was actually born in China,and the Chinese claim him as theirs,and the one who won their first gold medal at the Paris Olympics. In a sense this may have been true,but in another sense he had a higher calling,that was to serve God in China,As Dungan Hamilton writes,Eric considered athletics as an addendum to his life,rather than his sole reason for living it.Like every Christian we have two citizenship's,one heavenly[Philippians 3 v20],the other earthly[Acts 16v37].Both are important, as a citizen of earth ,I should
 honour and obey,the laws of the country I live in,our Saviour never advocated rebellion,but to gave to those who rule the honour due to them then he added,and to give God the honour due to Him[  Matthew 22 v21].There was never a time that Eric did not carry both these truths out,he was a fine citizen of Scotland but he was above all a fine and devoted citizen of  Gods kingdom.
                                    A prayer.
Dear God and Father help us to be good citizens of the country we live in ,and citizens of Heaven, in Jesus name Amen .

Pray. [ Psalm 91 ]

There are so many situations in the world that  are beyond control,dictators who do what they want,and nobody appears able or willing stop them.Then there is ,and you can add a lot of other things,wars,and the suffering they cause.There are countries where many of the population go hungry,drought has ravaged these countries.One could go on and on,plus I have not mentioned,personal problems that you may be experiencing,so many things to cope with.As a Christian I am called not to ignore these things,but to respond,by the most important weapon we have, prayer.The old hymn speaks of taking everything to God in prayer,for only in God is their hope,only through God can these problems whatever they are, be solved. Time after time I read in Gods word ,how God hears and answer  prayer. Psalm 50 v15,tells us to call upon God in the day of trouble ,when we go to God in faith and in the name of Jesus,God will respond.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God we bring all things to you through your Son Jesus,in faith,Amen

The only safe thing to do .[Galations 6 v11-16]

Dick Lucas writes,''The world cannot do without religion.But since it rejects the truth of Christ it must find its religion elsewhere.The  elemental spirits of the universe are glad to oblige: their leader considers himself the prince of this world,and therefore is happy to provide a religion that can seem to satisfy people while keeping them from God. the closer in language his
religion can be to the truth ,while yet being quite different,the better this wily prince is pleased.He has his emissaries as closely involved with established religious institutions as possible''Consider Islam believes in a virgin birth,and that Jesus is coming again,but they do not believe that Christ is the Son of God,and that He died on the cross.The cults speak of a Christ who is not a Biblical Christ,Gandhi honoured Jesus,but not as Saviour.I want to quote D.Lucas again,what he writes is very Important ''The only safety seems to lie in a faith which glories only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.To trust Only in that cross for forgiveness of our sins,to know only Christ crucified as our message to the world,and daily take up our cross,is to live as those who no longer belong to the world,nor expect to be honoured by the world''.
                                     
                                Jesus keep me near the cross,
                                There a precious fountain,
                                Free to all,a healing stream,
                                Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.

                                In the cross ,in the cross,
                                Be my Glory ever;
                                Till my raptured soul shall find
                                 Rest beyond the river.
                                    [Words F.J. Crosby ]

Unpayable debt. [ Romans 12 v1- 2 ]

Debt is not a new thing,but it appears to be a massive thing now,most countries appear to survive on what they can borrow,and so their debt increases.In the rich West borrowing is a way of life,and for many this way of  life brings many into great difficulties,which can lead to bankruptcy.
Many are filled with despair,and do not know where to turn to,there is hope,
organisations like CAP,Christians against poverty,are helping many,to resolve their difficult circumstances.Now at this time in my life my wife and I are not in debt,and I give God thanks for that.Yet there is a sense I will always be in debt,and it is a debt which one has called an 'unpayable debt'.The apostle Paul wrote of being a debtor,the fact is when we have been to the cross,and experienced the love of God and when we consider all that this means,forgiveness,freedom and a wonderful future,and being saved from wrath to come we are blest.We  are debtors,but it is not a debt that we can pay,but it demands a response,the question we must each ask ourselves is,how are we responding?
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God we owe you so much,it leaves us stunned,at the extent of your love to us,yet challenged ,as to how we can respond,thank you in the name of Jesus who loved so very much by dying on Calvary Amen.

Jesus is Lord. [John 20 v 28 ]

In Philippians 2 v 11,we read there is coming a time when every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.For a vast multitude this realisation
that Jesus is Lord,will not mean that they are saved,but that simply they will
be faced with a reality that can no longer be denied.For those who are saved it will be that moment of glory which they have long waited for,for they have acknowledge that Christ is Lord during there earthly existence
Now what does it mean that Jesus is ones Lord?.William Barclay writes the following, '' He means that for him[or her] that Jesus Christ is unique,that they are prepared to give to Jesus an obedience he is prepared to give to no one else;that they are prepared to give Jesus a love,a loyalty,an allegiance
that they will give to no other person in all the universe''.He points out this all comes about,out of a heart of love,because Christianity consists less in the minds understanding than it does in the heart's love.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus ,we bow before you and proclaim that You are our Lord Amen.
                                                  

Hard toil.[ 2Timothy 2 v15] AV.

Dick Lucas in his book on Colossians,writes of those who were causing trouble in the church,of their dissatisfaction with scriptural patterns. ''He writes how as Christians we can begin to rebel against the hardness of the way.questioning the toil involved in Christian service,is there no better way
by which God would do His work among us?'' When C.T.Studd went to Africa,he prayed for the gift of tongues,so he would not have to learn the language.We all want short cuts,but it is not to be,in Psalm 81 v10,we read,
''open wide your mouth and I will fill it''. Good says someone, I don't have to prepare for my preaching engagements,not so the Word of God instructs us to study[2 Timothy 2 v15],which demands effort,and causes us to be weary.[Ecclesiastes 12 v12].While there are times I have had to preach without study,the general rule must be a giving oneself to study.A young man boasted how he rarely prepared for what he was going to preach,and an older wise brother who heard him preach,replied,'yes I thought so'.
                                         A prayer.
Dear God ,grant us grace to do what you call us to do,even though it will usually mean effort,in Jesus Name Amen.

He giveth [ 2 Corinthians 12 v 7-10 ]

Annie Flint was born in dear old USA,at the age of six she lost both her parents,and was adopted by a childless couple.In her teens she suffered from severe arthritis's,she aspired to be a composer,and concert pianist,but was prevented from this by ill health.She went on to write over a hundred hymns,her hand became so arthritic she used her knuckles to type out the words and music.One of her most popular hymns was,''He giveth more grace'',based on James 4 v6,it is a lovely hymn.The story is told how a person sent a lady sent a record to a missionary with this hymn on it.Now in case you may not know the old records could easily get scratched,and so the needle would often stick ,and keep repeating itself.Now the missionary began to listen to this lovely hymn,the needle stuck on the words,''He giveth more grace'',repeating and repeating these words.This missionary was struggling,and these words spoke to her ,in her exhaustion they spoke to her heart,and blessed her,and enable her by Gods grace to carry on.
                                
                       He giveth more grace when the burdens grow
                       greater,
                       He sendeth more strength when the labours
                       increase.
                       To addeth affliction He addeth His mercy,
                       To multiplied trials, His multipled peace.

The great fire. [john 3 v16]

In 1666 on  Sunday,2nd September the great fire of London broke out,it started in Pudding lane, in a bakery,the first victim of the fire was the maid,who was so afraid to move,with those who did escape.Many places have been destroyed by fire the most famous was that of Sodom and Gomorrah[Genesis 19]. The wickedness of these cities was so great that God choose to destroy them, there are a number of sad things we can highlight in this event.[1]The judgement itself,need not have been if only they like Nineveh had repented ,turned from their sin,and turned to God,it did not happen,and so they perished.There were those who were personally warned,but they treated the warning as a joke,the saddest case of someone who should have saved was a lady who disobeyed God by looking back.Only three people escaped the fire Lot and his two daughters,It is in 2 Peter 3,we are told of a day when the whole universe will be destroyed by fire.there will be many who will be saved,those who take judgement as a joke,which is seen by the cartoon of a poor wee man holding up a board with the words ,''The end is nigh'',will discover that the joke will be on them. Gods judging is not a matter of earthly ethics,but the wrath of a Holy God,who is just.[2]Disobedience is a very serious thing,we disobey God at a cost.[3] Three people were saved because they obeyed,God is merciful He would desire that all would be saved,and has provided a way,in which that can happen.John 3 v16,reads,''That God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God we pray for the lost,in your mercy save,in Jesus name Amen.

All of them [Galations 5 v22-23 ]

I read these words the following,''The incorruptible beauty of  a gentle and quite spirit.[1 Peter 3v4]''.There is so much noise in the world,there is a saying that goes about those shout the most get heard .Yet this is contrary
to those words from 1Peter,the world is full of brawlers and shouters,often unfortunate I am one of them.Our Saviour is known as the lamb of God,so many of us our Rottweiler's,Think of how much violence is perpetrated every day,the physical violence,but also the violence that comes from the
tongue.That is why those words from 1 Peter challenge me,for I long that
such a spirit would be mine.And yet let us broaden it out to what we read
in Galations,the fruit of the Spirit,''Love ,joy,peace,patience,kindness,
goodness,faithfulness,gentleness and self-control[[Galations 5 v22-23].
Someone was asked which of the fruit of the Spirit they would like,they replied,''all of them''.
                                         A Prayer.
Dear Lord you said people would be know by their fruits,dear Saviour
grant to us all , a greater longing for a life that truly glorifies You.Amen.

Hope. [ 1 Corinthians 15 v19- 22]

In Colossians 1v27,  we read these profound words,''Christ in you the hope of glory''. Dick Lucas,writes the following,''The greatest gift of Christ in the present is hope for the future. Since Christ is in heaven our hopes are inevitably cantered there.For this life ,grace is sufficient,Glory[Paul'second blessing]belonged to the age to come''The fact is if we do not  know Christ as Saviour we do not have hope,and if we no have hope we are left with what?so it does us well to think about eternal things,The hope the Christian has, is a sure and certain hope,for it is a hope built upon Christ the solid rock.The old hymn tells us all other hope is but sinking sands,it relates to those things that are temporal.The rich flaunt their riches,but the fact is,they may loose them,and they most diffidently will  leave them.Everything relating to this life cannot be perminate.will not last,no amount of wishing,
can alter that fact. Things die, plants,planets,and us,but there is one who came who died,but defeated death when He rose from the dead, He looked upon death ,which the Bible depicts as an enemy,and He said I will defeat that enemy and He did,his name is Jesus,the only true hope for mankind.

                          Abide with me,fast falls the eventide;
                          The darkness deepens;Lord wth me abide;
                          When other helpers fail,and comforts flee,
                           Help of the helpless ,O abide with me.

                           I fear no foe,with Thee at hand to bless;
                           I'II have no weight,and tears no bitterness;
                           Where is death's sting,? where grave ,thy victory?
                           I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

                            Keep Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes,
                            Shine through the gloom,and point me to the skies;
                            Heaven's morning breaks,and earth's vain shadows flee
                            In life ,in death,O Lord ,abide with me.
                                          [Words by H.F.Lyte]

Unil then. [ Revelation 21 v1-4 ]

There is a Christian song that has been on my mind ,and so I want to leave it
with you,it was written by Stuart Hemblen,its called,
                                               Until Then.

                             My heart can sing,when I pause to remember,
                            That a heart-ache down here is just a stepping stone.
                            Along life's trail that's winding ever upward.
                            This troubled old world,its not my final home,
                            But until then, my heart,will go singing,
                            Until then with joy,I'll carry on,
                            Until that day when my eyes,behold that city,
                             Until the day when God calls me  home.


                             And the things of earth,will dim,they'll lose their value,
                             When we re-call they're borrowed for a while,
                             And the things of earth that cause the heart to tremble,
                             remembered there,will only bring a smile.
                             So until then, my heart,will go on singing.
                             Until then with joy I'll carry on,
                             Until that day when my eyes,behold that city,
                             Until the day when God calls me home.

                       [ I will return to my Blog Monday, every blessing]
                       

Maintain [Colossians 3 v1-4 ]

Dick Lucas writes,''The chief business of the Christian is to maintain his relationship with Christ .When this is  unsatisfactory ,the other relationships of life cannot succeed'' He goes on to say ''The Christian is,simply ,a man who has been granted a relationship with the exalted Christ at Gods right
hand.The relationship he is vigorously to pursue and develop by seeking the things above[Colossians 3 v1]''.While I believe in the sovereignty I must never forget that this never rules out my being responsible in all things,
especially in my maintaining an ongoing relationship with my God.
Contrary to what they say we must be heavenly minded,and heavenly focused.No relationship will last if we neglect it,be it marriage,or as a parent,neglect kills.I have 13 grandchildren,5 sons and their wives,we
remember their birthdays,and send them a card with a gift in it.In this simple act I am maintaining to some extent my relationship with my family.
So how are you maintaining your relationship with God?.
                                   
                         Take time to be holy,speak
                          oft with thy Lord.
                         Abide in Him always,and feed on
                         His word;
                         Make friends of Gods children,
                         help those who are weak;
                         Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
                               [Words by W.D, Longstaff.]