Let your name be held holy. ( Exodus 20 v 7 )

''Hallowed be your name'',one translation has, ''Let your name be held holy''so what do you think this means?, let it be seem as something that should be above the common use,it is special.Let us remember that Gods name is not just a label,but it speaks of the whole person.The one who is awesome in holiness, who expects to be treated with deep reverence and respect. It should not roll of   our lips as a swear word,or a word that is of no consequence.It is sad to hear Christians taking Gods name in vain,Exodus 20 v 7 reminds us that there is consequences ,it displeases God.In Psalm 9 v 10 we read, 'Those who know your name put their trust in you', ''It means that those  who know what God is like,those who know the nature and character of God, will put their trust in Him'.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Jehovah-jireh    .......The Lord will provide.                                                                                              Jehovah- rapha.........The Lord that healeth.                                                                                              Jehovah-Shalom.......The Lord our peace                                                                                                  Jehovah- ra-ah...........The Lord our Shepherd.                                                                                          Jehovah-shammah.....The Lord is present.

The Lords prayer (Matthew 6 v 9 - 13 )

The most well known prayer in Christendom, is known as the Lords prayer, I see no harm in praying it, on a regular bases.But I feel that people who pray may not be aware of the deep meaning to this  wonderful prayer.I have a book by the Puritan Thomas Watson on this prayer, he says that'' the Lord's  prayer is the pattern  of our prayer.and  that when our Saviour said after this manner pray,He was saying,let this be the rule and model according to which you frame your prayers''.It starts with the words, 'Our Father', The term Father,implies the whole Deity, Father,Son and Holy Spirit,no where in scripture is it taught that that we pray to anyone else but God.. Father implies a relationship ,it is in Galatians 3 v 26, that we read,'Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.It also tell us in John 1 v 12 ,''To all who received him,to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become  children of God.'' This is very important , it emphasises that if we are to know God as our Father,we must be born into His family.I want to leave a number of things Thomas Watson says about God the Father.                                                                                                                                                                               God is the best Father,because He is perfectly good.                                                                                 God is the best Father in respect to wisdom.                                                                                             God is the best Father ,because He is most loving.                                                                                   God is the best Father,because He has enough riches                                                                               for all His children.                                                                                                                                   God is the best Father, because He can reform His children.                                                                   God is the best Father, because He never dies.

Whose world is it. ?. ( Genesis 1 v 1 )

A young girl was with her mother walking in the countryside ,when she saw some wild flowers ,she asked her mother,do you think God would mind if I picked some of His flowers ?. In Psalm 24 v 1 we read, 'The earth is the Lords and everything in it', yes this is Gods world, and everything in it, we are all only the stewards of this world,and everything we possess is only loaned to us.And like any good steward we will be held accountable,by the owner of this world.This world experiences so much abuse from mankind,we are raping this world,destroying it,exploiting its resources ,with scant regard for our fellow human beings,and no thought for the animal kingdom.Let us all give thought for the world we live in,and thank the one, who it belongs to.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 All things bright and beautiful                                                                                                                   All creatures great and small,                                                                                                                     All things wise and wonderful                                                                                                                   The Lord God made them all.                                                                                                                              ( C.F.Alexander )

Encouragement . ( Isaiah 41 v 1 0 )

We all need encouragement no matter who we are,for we all without exception are very fragile,your pastor needs encouragement,the elderly,the sick,let us all determine to be an encourager. Read the Bible, so full of encouragement   , for God knows more than anyone else, how easily we become discouraged  ,it can be a simple thing,and it can be a serious thing.Behind the smiling face there may be a burden soul ,never judge the book by its cover ,is a truth we need to remember..In Gods word we have reassurance given ,that God will meet our needs,we are told that God will guide us,protect us. When we face the inevitable reality of death,we are told that we need not be afraid,even in that dark hour, for He will be with us,and for those who are sorrowing, He promises to comfort.Remember whatever we have to face and cope with in life ,God will be there to help us through. Remember Child of God ,you have a loving heavenly Father, and you are the apple of His eye. So let be like our heavenly Father and encourage others by our words and deeds.

Open your eyes. .( 2 Corinthians 4 v 13 - 18 )

I ministered recently in a church, that is situated on a private estate ,oh my ,those beautiful homes, I observed. What did I think of the people living there?, well they are very well off,very rich,so they all must be happy and loving,full of the joys of spring. I do not thing so,in fact they are not so different than you and I Oh yes they are just like us,no different, for all their  money they have times of sadness, and joy,disappointments,,but in the end  where will they spend eternity? . Our wonderful Saviour said whats the point of gaining the whole world and loosing your soul  ( Mark 8 v 36 )It is of vital importance, that we realise that  without Jesus,Hell beckons,  with Jesus all will be well.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            O happy day, that fixed my choice,                                                                                                            On Thee my Saviour and my God;                                                                                                                           ( Philip Doddridge )

Old age ( Psalm 23 )

The fact is people are living longer in our society, I am 74 I would have been considered an old man years ago, not now ,many people are much older. There is a record number of people living to a 100 plus,but of course ,old age is wonderful if you are healthy in mind and body.In Ecclesiastes 12 gives a description of getting old, and it is not a very happy description, of course it is not the most happy of book,it speaks of eyes dimming, the body no longer serving us,joints stiffening,feeling the cold,unable to go on those walks one used to go on. A fragile and impotent matchstick body.Is that it?, my goodness there must be something better to look forward to, and the good news is that for those who know Jesus the best is yet to be.We are promised a wonderful eternity,where we will never grow old ,we will  have a body that will never deteriorate ,in fact nothing will deteriorate. And our dwelling place will be with Jesus,for ever and ever, and ever, and ever.. So let us face the challenges of old age full of hope,for the  future that is bight.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Why not join us.

What if?. ( Psalm 18 v 30 )

I read this recently, ''Speculation about the might - have - been' or the ' what if' 'is always unprofitable, it might surprise us all as to how many people, think like that. No wonder we are told to  not dwell to much in the past of uncertainties, we can of course learn from the past,  When Hitler came into power,it is thought that if we had stood up to him, things would have been different, a what if. Looking  back we consider what might have been if we had a different person, or chose not to have children. I was in the army boy service ,having spoke to an officer called lieutenant Herd, that I was unhappy as a boy soldier, I received my discharge.What if I had stayed on ?,well I will never know, I was glad at the time.Later on in my life my wife and I applied to be missionaries in Brazil, it did not happen, but what if it had?.There are so many what-might-have been's,and what if''s in all our lives,   speaking personally,I look back not with disappointment, or full of regrets, but with gratitude for Gods sovereign providential working in my life. Without faith in Christ in my life , life would have no meaning,and no future, but with Him in ones life,we know a greater truth,all will be well both now and for the next life.                                                                                                                                                                                          All the way my Saviour leads me;                                                                                                            What have  I, to ask beside?                                                                                                                      Can I doubt His tender mercy,                                                                                                                    Who through life has been my guide.                                                                                                             ( Fanny J. Crosby  )

Serious ( John 3 v 16 )

While in a restaurant in Northern Cyprus, I over heard a conversation of a waiter and some Hindu people, the subject of religion came up.Then the young water said,that they where not taking it serious,what he was saying,he asked them about heaven and hell,later as we were about to leave I had an opportunity to speak to him. I said that I take it serious and I believed in heaven and hell,and so followed a short conversation,when I spoke to Him ,pointing that Jesus was more than a prophet but a Saviour. As I left him I offered him a Christian booklet in Turkish, he took it ,and we shook hands and parted. Sad to say some Christians do not take the doctrine of hell serious,but I do,and my prayer is that the young Muslin will come to know Christ and to be saved from wrath to come.

Going and coming ( Luke 19 v 10 )

The holiday we went on to northern Cyprus was fine ,we stayed in two hotels and both were fine,it was the getting there and coming back that was the problem.It took us 11 to 12 hours getting there , and for some it cast a shadow over their holiday.Coming back was better few hold ups but for my wife and  I  two things happened that were upsetting.My wife injured her finger in the luggage trolley , and then one of our luggage bags went missing.We reported  our loss,filled in the necessary forms,and then went home. My wife kept checking to see it had been found, the Lord said to me, ''Trust Me'',and I thought or prayed that the Lord is good at finding lost things.We kept mentioning it to the Lord,and where delighted to receive the good news that our luggage had been found,and was on its way to us.Yes the Lord is good at finding that which is lost,something of greater value than a suit case, Jesus declared He had come , to seek and to save that which was lost  ( Luke 1 9 v 10 ).In case you did not know who the lost is, look in the mirror,yes that means all of  us, there are no exceptions, none.                                                                                                                                                                                                   I once was lost, but now am found.                                                                                                                       ( John Newton )

Pray please ( 2 Corinthians 1 v 11 )

I have just returned from a holiday in northern Cyprus, it is a lovely place, very warm,in fact it becomes so warn that for two month,many cannot work in the heat. I did not know much about N/Cyprus before I went,but one thing I did know ,it is a place where Islam is practised.So I thought I could be even for a short time be a  missionary that I wanted to be ,when I was younger in the faith. So I phoned Scripture Gift Mission requested for them to send me some suitable tracts in Turkish for that is the language they speak in N/C .When I arrived in Cyprus I divided the literature up for each day,I  stayed there.In the end I accomplished  my task,with much prayer. Sometimes I just gave the booklets out with a short word ,other times I left a booklet  praying that someone would pick it up and read it ,but other times I was able to speak about Jesus and leaving  them a booklet. I had a sense of God being in it,and every thing went so smooth,I have sown ,I have prayed that God would bless my weak efforts.I would ask you to pray also for Gods blessing on the witness that has gone forth.

Tell the children. ( Matthew 19 v 14 )

Back to the holiday in Northern Cyprus, my wife and I ,and friends where walking along beside the sea, when I saw two young boys fishing,so I went over to see if they had caught anything. They could speak English, and had just recently come to live in N/C  . I asked them where they missing their friends  ,they said they were and I managed to tell them about Jesus. We must never forget that children need the Saviour,parent your child needs Christ. I was very fortunate that I  went to Sunday school and to children's meetings  , where I heard of Jesus and His love, and trusted Him. Every day I pray for my grandchildren that they may come to know Jesus.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 A prayer.                                                                                                                            Dear Lord Jesus have mercy on the children                                                                                            in our family, in our street,in our churches ,                                                                                                                       Amen.

I hurt the one I love. ( Isaiah 53 )

We were just returning from our holiday in Northern Cyprus , as we made our out of airport with our luggage on the luggage trolley I pulled on the brakes,but unfortunately  my wife had her hand on the trolley and her finger was badly crushed .fortunately it does not appear to be broken.It was all very traumatic  and painful for painful for my wife and painful for me who had caused pain to the one I love. I hurt the one I love, It reminds me of a great mystery in scripture in Isaiah 53 v 4 ,''Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows ; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.'' We view the suffering inflicted on Christ by man and that's where many people stop,but the words ,''smitten by God'', go deeper far deeper, it is telling us as ,Delitzsch puts it ''Jesus was pierced and crushed for our sins....ours, which He had taken upon Himself .....they were the cause of His having to suffer so cruel and painful death''. If He had not suffered, then the whole of the human race would have had to suffer the consequence for our sin . So  God was making him a substitute for all who trust Jesus ,so enabling them to be forgiven all their sins.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Man of sorrows what a name                                                                                                                     For the son of God, who came                                                                                                                   Ruined sinners to reclaim,                                                                                                                         Hallelujah ,what a Saviour.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Bearing shame and scoffing rude,                                                                                                             In my place condemned he stood,                                                                                                             Sealed  my pardon with His blood,                                                                                                           Hallelujah , what a Saviour.                                                                                                                            ( Philipp Bliss )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         For God so loved us He hurt the one                                                                                                                          He loved.

Don't know ( 1 Corinthians 13 )

One of my sons is struggling spiritually,so I am trying to help him,of course I am praying for him,and my prayer for him is simple,and yet for us all. It is that he may come through to a stronger faith, and trust God for the ,'don't knows', Paul wrote of knowing in part,or as J.B.Phillips ,''At present all I know is a little fraction of the truth'' ( 1 Corinthians 13 v 9 ),it is the trusting that is important .It is Selwyn Hughes ; writing on Job ,says ,''God never answered Job's questions ,instead he answered the real need of the questioner and provided a deeper knowledge of Himself. .....what Job needed-was to know God deeply, closely. Job had heard about God ,but now he sees Him.'I will not give answers', said God to Job; rather, it seems as if God were saying to Job,'I will give you something better - I will give you Myself'.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   A prayer.                                                                                                                       Dear God grant us a faith that will trust you when the                                                                                   'don't knows' come into my life, In  Jesus name                                                                                                   we ask this. Amen                                                                                                         
                                                           

Intercession ( Romans 8 v 26 - 29 )

Oswald Chambers wrote,   ''The circumstances of a saint's life are ordained of God . In the life of a saint there is no such thing as chance. God  by His providence brings you into circumstances that you cannot understand at all, but the Spirit of God understands. God is bringing you into places and among people and into conditions in order that the intercession of the Spirit in you may take a particular line. Never put your hand in front of the circumstances and say- I am going to be my ownprovidence here, I must watch this, and guard that. All your circumstances are in the hand of God, therefore never think it strange concerning the circumstances you are in. Your part in intercessory  prayer is not to enter into the agony of intercession, but to utilize the common sense circumstances God puts you in, and the common -sense people He puts you amongst by His providence, to bring them before God's throne and give the Spirit in you a chance to intercede for them. In this way God is going to sweep the whole world with His saints.''                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        From,' My UTMOST for His HIGHEST'                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Preparing Gods people for service. ( Ephesians 4 v 11- 16 )

I know a minister who complained  about having to preach every Sunday,and yet he had able ministers in his church,and he rarely uses them.It was Moses father-in law Jethro, who noticed how he was doing to much, and gave him wise advice (you can read about in Exodus 18).He advised that he should appoint people to help, and the good news is, he took his father-in - laws advice. It is a sad fact of course that often the few carry to much of the burden within churches,and the majority let them.I suppose what I am high lightening that if ministers have capable people in their churches, they should use them, and be grateful for them. Likewise the church should be a place of helpers ,there is a saying which every service man knows, it is , never volunteer .But in the church of Christ we are all in it together, we have to pull our weight,and not leave it to the few.And as for the minister, it is up to him ,to use those who can minister,and develop the gifts of all Gods children.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    A  prayer                                                                                                                         Dear Lord  prepare all your people for service within                                                                               your kingdom,help those in leadership to feel secure                                                                               in you,that may use those gifted people in your church.                                                                                                      Amen                                                                                                   

Under His wings ( Psalm 17 v 8 )

The vastness of the universe, and a God who is so awesome, can make us feel insignificance, do we matter?, is God who is so great,really concerned about humanity?.Taking it further,is he really interested in me, as an individual?,the answer is yes, I mentioned to someone ( it was to a young man who was cutting my hair in my local barbers) how the very hairs of or our head are known to God.. Oswald Chambers wrote,'' Things that make God to us are not so much His great blessings, as the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us as the tiny things, because they show His intimacy with us; He  knows every detail of our individual lives''.All humanity is important to God the creator,as we are told in Matthew 5 v 4 5, ''He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous''.This is His general care to all ,but it is only as we enter  the new birth by trusting Jesus do we enter that special relationship , then we can call God our heavenly Father,then we fully realise that we have a God who is always watching over us,He is no absentee land lord, or absent father.                                                                                                                                                              Under His wings I am safely abiding;                                                                                                       Though the night deepens and tempests                                                                                                     are wild,                                                                                                                                                     Still I can trust Him,I know He will keep                                                                                                  me                                                                                                                                                              He has redeemed me, and I am His child.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Under His wings,Under His wings,                                                                                                             Who from His love can sever?                                                                                                                   Under His wings my soul shall abide,                                                                                                        Safely abide for ever.                                                                                                                                    (William Orcutt Cushing )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Mind blowing John 10 v 1 - 21 )

When voyager one, was billions of miles away from earth, it took a picture of earth ,it was so very tiny,one could hardly see it. The vastness of the universe is hard to take in,and yet in the midst of those billion's of planets and stars,we are the jewel in Gods crown. While the the size of the universe is mind blowing,we read in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth .( Genesis 1 v 1 ),and  that by Jesus, who is the word ,all things where created by Him and for Him,and all things are held together by Him . We are told that  in Jesus all the fullness of God dwells ( Read Colossians 1 v 15 - 20) This is the greatness of Jesus , all this is truly wonderful, mind blowing, but it does not stop there, for we are told that being in the very nature of God,He entered into earth as a human being (Truly human and truly  Divine ) That is amazing, but it did not stop there , He became obedient unto death even the death on a cross.it all takes ones breath away,but it does not stop there,He did all that  in order that we could have  our sins forgiven,for although we are a very very ,small planet,and we who live on this very, very small planet,we are the crown of His creation, to precious, to important ,to be lost for all eternity.                                                                                                                                                                                       Jesus came to seek and  to save                                                                                                                  that which is lost,that means you.

Faith and death . ( Psalm 90 )

''Im  holding on by one finger to my faith'', these are the words spoken by Simon Thomas, a young man who suddenly lost his wife,very quickly from cancer.He has lost his darling wife,but he has not lost his faith. One of the last things his wife wanted him to promise was, that he would not give up on his faith. He spoke of that peace that passeth all understanding, he never understood what those words meant until he lost his wife. Who knows how any of us would react to the death of someone we love, It could be that is what you are experiencing ,and you are wondering ,how you are going to cope , you will even if it appears you are holding on by one finger. God has not ,nor will He ever forsake you at this time.He will be with and all his  children in the darkest of valleys. Not only is He with you, He will comfort you, He will strengthen you even though you feel so very weak and helpless.He will pour into you His grace, that amazing grace which we sing about .yes He will give unto you a song in the night.

Symbols ( Isaiah 53 )

I read this recently, 'To the ancient Chinese,peonies and cranes signified wealth and good fortune.The Japanese used cherry blossom to symbolise kindness.Persians and Hindus used the lotus to represent peace and transcendence.' In the Song of Solomon chap 2 v 1 ,we read,''I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valley''.It is dear old Matthew Henry who writes,''Christ is the rose of Sharon'', I do remember George Bev singing ,about the rose of Sharon sweetest flower that grows,in that song it is about Christ. The rose of course is a lovely flower, to the world there is no beauty in Jesus that they should desire Him,in fact they despise and reject Him.But when a persons eyes are opened in Salvation they see Him as altogether lovely,lovely in His life, and lovely in His speech,lovely in His suffering,lovely in His death, lovely in His resurrection ,lovely in every way.For in Him there is no defects,he truly is altogether lovely, the rose of Sharon.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Jesus the very thought of Thee                                                                                                                  With sweetness fills my breast;                                                                                                                  But sweeter far Thy face to see                                                                                                                  And in Thy presence rest.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame                                                                                                   Nor can the memory find                                                                                                                           A sweeter sound than Thy blest name,                                                                                                      O, Saviour of mankind.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   O hope of  every contrite heart,                                                                                                                 O joy of all the meek;                                                                                                                                 To those who fall , how kind Thou art,                                                                                                     How good to those who seek.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       But what to those who find? Ah this,                                                                                                        Nor tongue nor pen can show;                                                                                                                  The love of Jesus ,what it is                                                                                                                      None but His loved ones know.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Jesus, our only joy be thou,                                                                                                                        As  Thou our prize will be;                                                                                                                        Jesus be Thou  are glory now,                                                                                                                    And through eternity.                                                                                                                                ( Bernard of Clairvaux                                                                                                                                Edward Caswall )                                       

Remind me ,dear Lord. ( Luke 12 v 15 - 21 )

Leon Morris writes,''The values of God are not the values of men'', the fact is God is not like us,we value the things of time, while God is eternal ,His ways are not our ways,we are told there is a way that seems right unto a man,but its end leads to death.(Proverbs 14 v 12 ).Mankind lives for the here and now,the Christian is told to set their minds on things above,not on earthly things .( Colossians  3 v 2 ), we are if we are to progress, we must fix our sights on heaven.All the glories of this earth will fade and pass away, but the eternal glories will never fade or pass away (  i  Corinthians 9 v 25 ) We must not put to much emphasises on those things we possess,they are only loaned to us, the fact is we will leave all that we have one day.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              The things that I love and hold dear to my heart                                                                                        Are just borrowed, they're not mine at all;                                                                                                 Jesus only let me use them to brighten  my life ,                                                                                       So remind me, remind me dear Lord.                                                                                                                  ( Dottie Rambo)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Seeking but never finding. ( Revelation 21 v 1 - 7 )

Tom  Gledhill writes of ''mans futile attempt to recapture the bliss of Eden'',this statement rings a chord with me, for it appears that mankind has a want, that they never seem to find. No matter how much money, possessions, or power,it fail to satisfy. Alexander the Great, sums it up when he said when he said,no more worlds to conqueror. People even look beyond this world to space the final frontier ,emphasising the cravenness that lies deep in the heart of every individual, to satisfy that want,everything is related to earthly concepts, the doing of the lottery,drugs, polygamy,the paradise of Islam promises 72 virgins,so earthbound their paradise.But then most of mankind even though they do not realise it, are seeking an earthly paradise. Mankind as Tom Gledhill, pointed out ,they are involved in a futile attempt ,to recapture the bliss of Eden.The Bible speaks of a new heaven and a new earth,to continually seek an earthly paradise, a paradise that no longer exists, is truly futile. Jesus said I make all things new.Revelation 21 v 5, and  that new heaven and earth, will be peopled with a new humanity,We are told that those who trust Jesus as their Saviour,become new creations,who will forever live in that new heaven and earth,why don't you  stop looking back to Edens bliss, and trust Jesus,and have a wonderful hope,in  glorious eternal bliss.