I was not perfect. ( Philippians 1 v 6 )

A young lad was singing a song about his dad who had died recently,some of the words went like this,' No need to forgive,no need to forget,I know your mistakes and you know mine'.I attended a funeral recently of someone I have known for a long time,we were joint leaders in a certain church. The service was full of tributes to that brother,and I was impressed by what was said,every thing was very positive,as you would expect it to be.  I am a father of  five son's, I have been married twice,my first wife died of cancer. I am eighty years of age and looking back back on my life as a husband I wasn't perfect ,likewise as a father,I made mistakes. When it comes to my funeral  I hope they will point out that I was far from perfect,as a husband I was faithful I loved both my wives,but I was not the perfect husband ,likewise I loved my children, but I was not a perfect father,I made mistakes,and they made mistakes,but I have  loved them greatly.Let us remember that there are no perfect husbands, and no perfect children,but  this I know if God had not saved me early in my life, I would have been a worse person,I can quarantee that.I exalt the grace of God,and the mercy of God , and the love of God ,for saving a wretch like me when I trusted Jesus as my Saviour.

                                                    'Amazing grace! how sweet the sound

                                                     That saved a wretch like me!

                                                      I once was lost, but now am found;

                                                       Was blind but now I see.'

                                                                  John Newton.

                                                          

Only one sin. ( Numbers 32 v 23 )

When the Bible tells us that all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God,(Romans 3 v23) that's a fact,how serious does one take that?,and how serious do we take sin?. I heard a person say,as regards something that was being done,'that's not a big sin', I think a lot of people categorise sin ,from a human point ,we see murder ,child abuse,rape as being very severe ,and then other things as not so serious.But how does God look on sin ?, well He takes all sin very seriously,even sins of ignorance.I was talking to  a friend recently,and he mentioned about his mother,whom he loved,she was not saved .When he spoke to her as regards salvation,like many people she said the usual thing ,she went to church,and didn't do very much wrong.Her son said this to her,'one sin will take to you to hell,'he went on to say how he invited his mother to go to church with him,which she did, it was snowing so not many people were there.My friend went and spoke to the preacher before the meeting began,he said to him,that there was only one unsaved person in the meeting,and that was his mother.He said to him that in his message say,'that even one sin will take you to hell',and the preacher did that.At the end of the message he made an appeal for anyone who wanted Jesus as their Saviour to put up their hand,and my friends mother did,she became a Christian, and when she died ,she didn't go to hell, she went to heaven.

Image ( John 1 v 14)

 I have just read an article by Melanie Reid,she is tetraplegic and is partial paralysed and gets about on a wheel church.It was a very frank articial,she confessed she did not like to see herself in a mirror because she didn't like the image she saw,after all she said,'I'm someone in a wheelchair, that's my distinguishing characteristic,how can anyone be proud of that'. She confessed'The cruel rider is I've never lost my vanity.being in a chair just makes conceit more poignant'Recently I saw a photo of myself  with my wife Daphne,and I did not like what I saw,I looked old,which I am,I am eighty,I no longer have a good side,I think I shall go to the body shop.Alright I'm not the man I used to be,but in another sense that's good,what do I mean by that?.In 2 Corinthians 4 v16,we read,'   Though outwardly we are wasting away,yet inwardly we are renewed day by day'.Man looks on the outward appearance we see this in so mamy things,but God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16v7) .Paul must have being shown the wear and tear of all the trials and difficulties he had come through.So he reminds us that we must see ourselves not just from a physical point of veiw,but from a spiritual point of veiw,what is the quality of my being inwardly? that is what is important,how are we developing spiritually?,an old saint once said,'yes I am old,but I'm still growing',and becoming more like Jesus.You cannot take a photo of that,but we can manifest it in our live s.Isaiah wrote 53 v 2 about the coming Messiah Jesus,and he said the following, ' He had no form nor comeliness ; and when we shall see Him,there is no beauty that we should desire him,' and yet he was alltogether lovely.

                                                'His words were beautiful,His life 

                                                 life was beautiful,and His death

                                                 was beautiful'

Therefore (Romans 12 v 1-2 )

In that wonderful book of Romans, Paul hammers out so many wonderful truths,having done that, in chapter 12 ,it starts with the word ,'Therefore ', in the light of the great truths of  salvation,to both Jews and Gentiles, the fact that we are no longer condemned,and the tremendous security we have  in Christ,and that nothing seperates us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (8 v 35-39) there should be a response to that,Paul first of all reminds us,'In veiw of God's mercy,we should offer our bodies as a living ssacrifice,holy and pleasing to God,this is our true proper worship'.One word I use continually is mercy,and I rejoice that God in his mercy saved me,not only that,he give me a new life.When the hymn writer wrote of the cross he said ,'Love so amazing so divine demands my soul ,my life ,my all'.That is what we are challenged with in these opening words of Romans 12, to offer our bodies as living sacrifice, yes our bodies,'holy and pleasing to God'. John Stott writes the following,'No worship is pleasing to God which is purely inward,abstract and mystical; it must express its self  in concrete acts of service performed by our bodies'.We all must all become motherTeresa's,again as John Stott writes,' That our feet will walk in His paths,our lips will speak the truth and spread the gospel,our tongues will bring healing,our hands will lift up those who have fallen, performing many mundane tasks; our arms will embrace the lonely and unloved,our ears will listen to the cries of the distressed,and our eyes will look  humbly and patiently  towards God'.

A word in season ( Lamentations 3 v 22-23)

 I was speaking to a young man ,who was unsettled as regards his employment situation, I said to  him that as I  looked back I could see how God in His providental care,had undertook for me.He said that's in the past, but what about now?,yes what about now,is God just the God of the past?,I did my best to encourage that that young man how God would undertake for him now.Coninciding with this I was concerned about something,my dear wife was travelling on the following day to our son's home,I wanted to go with her,but was unable to.The weather forecast said there would be heavy rain,and also strong winds.Also  there were road works in place,possible diversions,it  created a degree of concern for us both. The next day before she went on her journey I read  a devotional about a man going on a journey,and how the Lord undertook. The verse at the top of the devotional read,'The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and evermore' (Psalm 121 v8) That to me was a word in season,it came just at the right time,and encouraged me greatly, God's providental care for us His children is ongoing,not just in the past,but also in present,and also in the future. 

                                                  'Consider what you owe to God's providence'

Faith. ( Romans 4 v 18- 24 )

Are there as one person say's 'degrees in faith'? I am sure that is true,as I  think back in my Christian life I have been  influenced by George Muller of Bristol who had great faith. He was the founder of a work among children, raising up many orphanages,many children were rescued from dire poverty.It was a work of faith, George never made pleas for money, he prayed and God provided,his life is worth reading. He had a deep sense that God had called him to that work, that's a very important point to make.If God calls you to a work ,whatever it may be,then He will aid and guide you to accomplish that work,and He will honour your faith. He honoured George's faith, and that was a confirmation that his calling was of God. There are people I know who have started ministries and and yet they never came to anything. When our Saviour came it was to accomplish the will of God ,He never wavered from that at anytime, nor should we,wondrous things will happen,if it is not the will of God it won't happen,it is as simple as that. A great example is Abraham,who responded to God's call on his life, God blessed him,as He responded to God's  call on His life. his response was an act of faith,and obedience to God , Whether it was to leave his homeland,to marry Sarah,or to sacrifice his son,he acted in faith,and God abundantly honoured his faith.  The life of a Christians commences by faith in Christ,what follows is a life of faith, that faith will surely be tried,and in those trials we can grow in faith, or we can diminish in faith, whatever trial we may face it is a call to exercise faith,Charles Wesley wrote,

                                                       'In hope,against all human hope

                                                       Self-desperate,I  believe...

                                                       Faith,mighty faith,the promise sees

                                                            And looks to that alone;

                                                            Laughs at impossibilites

                                                          And cries; it shall be done!

                                                 

A closer walk with God.( Philippians 3 v 7-14)

 William Cowper was a great poet,a great hymn writer,a very close friend of John Newton,who helped him as a friend with his mental illness.My favourite hymn is ,'God moves in mysterious ways', written by WC , it is a very profound hymn.Another hymn that shows him as being concerned with his walk with God,and aspects of it that many of us can identify with,I know I can ,consider the godliest people,they are not perfect,none of us are,our walk is not all it should be,and  as the opening verse begins there is a longing for a closer walk with God.

                                  'O for a closer walk with God,a calm and heavernly frame; 

                                  A light  to shine upon the road,that leads me to the Lamb!

                                  Where is the blessedness I knew, when first I saw the Lord?

                                  Where is the soul refreshing view,of Jesus and His word?

                                  What peaceful hours I once enjoyed,how sweet there memory still!

                                  But now I feel an aching void,the world can never fill.

                                  The dearest idol I have known,whate'er that idol be,

                                  Help me to tear it from Thy throne,and worship only Thee.

                                  So shall my walk be close with to God,calm and serene my Frame;

                                  So purer light shall mark the road,that leads me to the Lamb.'

The only sacrifice,the only meadiator.( Hebrews 9 v11 -28)

 In the New Teastament Christians are called saints,but in the NIV Christians they are called God's 'Holy people', the meaning is one who is set apart,I wonder if NIV use  those words to clarify a confused situation. Caused by the Church of Rome and its unbiblical  teaching that saints are limited to some special group who they appoint  whereas the the Bible teaches that all Christians are saints,and then these special group whom the Church of Rome exalt to the position of  mediators for all those who pray to God,because it is not what the Bible teaches,1 Timothy 2 v5 reads 'For there is one God and one mediator between God and  mankind,the man Christ Jesus'.There is no bases for making others mediators that includes so called saints or Mary. .As there where many sacrifices under the Old Covenat these sacrifices could never take away sin (Hebrews 10 v 11),but Christ sacrifice put and end to them, by His one never to be repeated sacrifice  ,sin would be finally dealt with, Hebrews 10 v14 reads,' For by one sacrifice He has made perfect for ever those who are being made perfect.' So it is was that under the Old Covenant there many who mediated for the people of God, again that was only a temporary measure, there was a new priesthood promised (Psalm110 v4).Jesus was that person ,no other mediators would be needed,he alone qualified for that role ,no one should can  usurp His position as our great High Priest.

                                                        'It is all about Jesus'

hebrews 7 

A better world. ( Hebrews 11 v 13- 16 )

A Captian Henry Wasknow was mortally wounded in the second world,before he died he behind a letter for his family ,of akind which many young men wrote;here is part of it,' I would liked to have lived. But, since God  has willed otherwise,do not grieve too much,dear ones, for life in the other world must be beautiful, and I have lived with that in mind all along'.What lovely words they are,yet so many people live just for this world ,living with that other beauiful world in mind,does not mean escapism ,for Henry in his letter also wrote,' I have done my best to make the world a better place',and he did that by paying the ultimate price.Let us follow Henry's example, let us always keep in mind that other beautiful world, which we know as heaven,in Colossians 3 v 1 we read,'Set your hearts on things above ,where Christ is'. But let us until Christ callls us home do our best to make this world a better place.

To deny these truths.( John 20 v 31)

 Malcolm Muggeridge who professed to be a Christian wrote the following as regards the virgin birth,did he believe it?,his reply was,he did,and then he said.''but as regards a particular female,without anything else happening,concieved and bore a child and that child was Jesus.In other words, I see it as an artistic  truth rather than an historical truth'. He may have professed to be Christian,but that statement puts a big question over the reality of that. There are many people who believe in a Christ,but it is not the Christ of the Bible,Islam believes in a Christ,Mormons,Jehovah witnesses also believe in a Christ ,but the Christ that they have is far removed from the Christ in the Bible. To be a true Christian  means that we only believe what the Bible teaches, and nothing else,to stray from that brings into question any profession that we may make .We must accept the truth that He was born of Mary who was a virgin ,and that He was the Son of God (Luke 1 v34 -35/Isaiah 7 v 14). That he was truly human but also truly God (Isaiah 9 v 6/ John 1 v 1//Philippians 2 v 8.) .That He was sinless ( Hebrews 4 v15),and that He came for the purpose of saving sinners (Matthew 1v 22 ) that His death on the cross was a sacrifice for sin,that meant he who was sinless would take the sinners place,paying for our sin,that meant taking the punishment for our sins (Isaiah 53v10 /Romans 3 v25/1John 2v2/4v10) ,that means no add -ons,We must believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ .(1 Corinthians 15 ).We must believed that he ascended to heaven  and will return again (Acts 1v9 -11) To deny these truths is to deny you are a Christian.

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I will not fail you.( Isaiah 26 v3 )

 A woman read from what her fatther had written as regards his experience in the 2nd world war,he said everyone was praying,and he found a bit of paper with these words on it, 'Let not your heart be trouble'. These words are, from John 14 v1,our Saviour spoke those words to His disciples,just before He was going to die,for them it would have been a very troubled time. It didn't make sense to them, that He who they believed was the Messiah, should die and die on a cross of all things,But they would eventially understand,and they would remember His words, and how they failed to let them take root. 'Let not your heart be troubled'but it doesn't stop there,it goes unto say,'ye believe in God , believe also in me'.He is saying to saying to them ,'you trust in God' well ,'Trust also in Me', God won't fail you,nor will I,you can trust me for whatever lies ahead,all will be well ,this will not be the end,it will be the beginning of a glorious future ,an eternal future.The future may seem dark now but there will be light at the end of the tunnel.Yes I will die but death will not have the last say,I  go to prepare a place for all my children,I will not fail you.Today He says to all of us who have put their trust in Him,'Let not your heart be troubled',I will not fail you.

                                                'Peace perfect peace,our future all unknown?

                                                Jesus we know , and He is on the throne'

                                                            Words E.H.Bickersteth

The sin of omission. ( 2 Samuel 11 v 14 - 17 )

 Silence is not always is not always golden, there is a time to be quite and a time to speak ,in these later years we have heard of  the horrendous abuse of children ,which was allowed to go on and on for a long ,long time. It took place possible all over the world in the Roman Catholic Church,many knew about it,those in authority just hushed it all up, they simple moved the person to another place ,where he would continue his abuse. Just recently a well known minister in the Anglican Church otherwise known as the Church of England died,and now it has it been revealed that for 40 yrs he was an abuser of young boys,he abused hundreds  of young people.The former owner of  Harrods Mohamed Al-Fayed,who died in 2023 abused many women,many people knew about it,including the police,and they did nothing .Silence is not always golden,far from it, those people who did nothing to stop it are guilty of the sin of omission, whatever the reasons for being silent and not dealing with the abusers they were wrong. Someone I know was harassed and threatened by someone he worked with ,he reported him,yet there was those who winessed what had happened but they did not want to get involved,so they kept silent.

                                                           'There is a time to be silent

                                                            and a time to speak'

                                                              Ecclesiastes 3 v 7.

Have Confidence ( Romans 8 v 31)

 Are you a confident person?,I am to some extent,it is easy to loose confidence,and affect one's performance if you are involved in sport.There are people who can speak words that can give us confidence,think of Winston Churchill how he spoke words that encourage a nation to hold on and not give up,when threatened by the might and power of Germany.Often I feel very inadequate and its then I look to God for a word that will encouage me to go on. Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter,the writer is the apostle Paul,a man who faced so many difficulties,yet God give him wonderful words of encouragement for God's children, Let me just highlight some of these words, v31 reads,'If God be for us,who can be against us'.It is John Stott who clarifies the 'if 'to  'since',so that right away should give us confidence that God is for us. That means no matter who or what is against us we have God with us to help us.Consider our foes the 'World', the world is no friend of God, or God's children. expect no favours from this world,be not surprised when they persecute the church,which they are doing in so many countries.Then there is the flesh described by one person as indwelling sin,our sinful tendencies, God who is for us can help us to overcome them,be they sexual,anger,lying ,love of the wrong things.Then there is the devil,he is a strong foe, who will do his best to pull us down,by hook or by crook. Self confidence is not the answer , it is confidence in our God who is for us,and that's all we need to know.

                                             ' We rest on Thee our shield and our defender!

                                               We go not forth alone against the foe;

                                               Strong in Thy strength ,safe in Thy keeping tender,

                                               We rest on Thee,and in Thy name we go.'

                                                                Words Edith G.Cherry.                                              

                                                   

                                                        

He makes all the difference. ( Psalm 23 v1)

I was in the chemist shop to collect my wifes medication,and I was asked what is your wife's birth date,and I looked at her,and said(Wait for it),'you must be joking'.I am not good at remember birthday's even though I have the task of sending birthday cards,to my five sons and their wives ,plus a mulitude of grandchildren and some great grandchildren, how do I remember their birthdays?very simple,I write  them down on a calender. Let me  just add  I have been married 40yrs,shame on me for not remembering her birth date,then I thought mybe I should have the date of her birth tattooed  on my arm. Well it was just a mad thought,I do not like pain, so no tattoo.Enough of this tom foolery ,as regards myself  I do remember my own birth date,just to prove it,oh I forget,not really.There is something I do remember ,what happened 60 yrs ago, it was a week before my 20th birthday.when I went to church with a neighbour and his wife.I do not remember what was preached,and I even thought the preachers voice sounded funny, but as he progressed I felt a deep need in my heart for Christ,that is somehing I will never forget,and life has never been the same.Oh the sixty yrs have not been all fun and laughter,but I have had the abiding presence of Christ with me all the time,and He makes all the difference.

He makes all things new. ( 2 Peter 3 v 3 - 14)

 I'm sure I don't have to remind you that our planet is very,very small,and when we come to consider the vastness of the the universe,very,very small does not describe it.The universe is made of galaxies,how many galaxies are there?,we do not know the exact number,but there could be between ioo billion and 2 trillion. Our galaxy is called the ,'Milky Way',and within that there are 100-400 billion stars,100 billion planets.If one studies the universe it is to say the least overwhelming,it really is very difficult to take it in,it truly is incomprehensible.Here is the amazing truth that is also mind blowing, God made it all, but He made a special planet which we call earth,it  is unique, in His eyes  it is the most important of all the planets in the universe,he made it beautiful,and He made it for us human beings to live in.We were the crowning glory of His creation,we are different from all other creatures,for we were made in the image of God. The crew of Apollo 8  described this planet,''as the most beautiful thing  there was to see in all the heavens''.But a disaster of monumental importance occured ,we sinned,and everything changed, this little planet was infected by a virus called sin,from space it looks lovely,but that is deceptive, a darkness had decended on this planet.But God had a plan personified in the person of Jesus who make us fallen human being,  new creations ,and through His his death on the cross, would bring spiritual life into all those who would trust Him as their Saviour.Eventually He will make a new creation a new heaven and a new earth, free from the absence of sin,where we will reign with Him for all eternity.

                                                 'Where will you spend eternity?'

Hurdles ( Philippians 3 v14 )

It was the apostle Paul who likened the Christian life as a race  ( 2 Timothy 4 v 7) ,in relation  to it being a race ,one could add to that, and see it as a race with hurdles. If you have been a Christian as long as I have you will realise that there will always be hurdles you have to get over.Disappointments are hurdles that all of us have to face, how do we overcome our disappointments  ? , bring them to God ,and leave them with God,and focus as to what He says in His word,that all things are working together for our good .(Romans 8 v28)yes even our disappointments.Then there are trials ,they are hurdles not ones we have to get over ,but to get through.The question is how do we get through them? ,faith, Peter tells us that trials will prove the genuineness of our faith . (1 Peter 1 v 7)There are many who when trials come fall away, (13 v 21) they are only rice Christians. If our faith is genuine it will show it in our perseverance,in our faithfulness,in our stedfastness.Make no mistake our faith will be tried one way or the other, may we be found faithful,as we go through that hurdle.The next hurdel we will consider ,is when a crisis comes,an extreme example of a man who experienced one crisis after another was Job,how did he deal with what was happening to him. James 5 v 11 reads ,'Ye have heard of the patience of Job'.some translations have perseverance,I am sure those two things are complimentry,In Job 1v20- 22 we read that he worshipped, and he did not sin by charging God with wrong doing.

                                                     'So Spirit, come, put strength in every stride,

                                                      Give grace with every hurdle,

                                                      That we may run with faith to win the prize

                                                       Of a  servant good and faithful'

                                                             StuartTownend  @Keith  Getty

Our chief aim.(Philippians 4 v 20)

 We must remember that those great men like Spurgeon and John Calvin  ,where but men,and they suffered from various illnesses, Spurgeon suffered from gout,rheumatism,Bright disease,and also contacted smallpox.  John Calvin  suffered from migraine,digestive problems,hemorrhoids,chest and psychological pains,kidney stones,gout,and fevers.In spite of all these thing they achieved much  for  God.We know that the apostle Paul suffered from a thorn in the flesh plus all the other things he went through,floggings,stoning,danger from bandits,hunger thirst,shipwreck,being cold and naked.Yet in spite of all that he achived so much,like Spurgeon and Calvin. I'm sure that Spurgeon,and Calvin like Paul proved that the grace of God was sufficient for them and they bore evidence of that. they are examples that God's power was made perfect in their weaknesses.A thought struck me that most people want a quick  fix,  I know I do,yes mircales do happen now and again,but often there are things that must be borne.They may be physical complaints,psychological complaints,and so many other things.In my own life I prayed for many years for a problem to be solved,but it didn't happen. These trials happen for many reasons,one is that we may glorify God  in all our trials and afflictions,for that is the impotant thing in all our lives, it was in our dear Saviours life. ( John 17 v 1-5 )

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Turning back.( Matthew 13 v 1ff)

 Recently my friend met his former Pastor and his wife,it was with sadness when his wife said,they did not believe in God anymore.Many years ago I had a similar experience when someone I knew who had been a bright Christian,was no longer following the Lord.It is very sad when we hear that,there are many, sadly to say, who fall by the wayside,they all have their many reasons, we can read about them,in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13 v 1ff/ Mark 4 v 1ff/ Luke 8 v5ff)Most of us know this parable told by our Lord, that illustrates the different reactions,to those who hear the word of God.that includes those who turn away .In v11 we see how the devil is actively engaged in turning  people away from God.Satan tempts us in many ways  to turn back from following Christ ,in Exodus 32 the people of Israel turned from God to worship a golden calf,imagine leaving God for a golden calf,Peter Lewis writes the following,'Where would we be without the gracious presence of the Lord in our lives? God knows, but you may have an inkling! So,when Satan offers you the golden calf or an alternative loyalty, when you are tempted to turn your back on all the kindness and grace of the One God,when  you are tempted by the world to 'chuck' Christianity, remember it is a thousand times better to 'chuck' the golden calf'.

The whole council of God.( Luke 16 v 19 - 31)

 We had a heavy storm with thunder and some lightening recently,later on I jokingly said to my wife,'I thought it was the end of the world'.It is interesting that Noah and the ark is often depicted in a lighthearted  manner, like  the man holding up a placard,with the words ,'The end is nigh',is not taken seriously.When Lot went and told his sons-in-law that judgement was going to fall on Sodom and that they should leave that place,they treated it as a joke. Genesis19 v 14.It is sad that even ministers shun preaching on the time when God will destroy this world (2 Thessalonians 1 // 2Peter 3 v10). This teaching is totally excluded by most preachers,why?,because they don't want to offend.Recently I read in a devotional ,that when Paul preached at Athens,the center of  Greek philosophy, he didn't preach hell,it appeared the writer was given those who dare to preach about hell a rebuke, its as if he was saying,we should'nt offend people with such a thing. It appears that it takes a brave man  to tell people about hell and judgement,and the end of the world.I wonder how those who play down the coming end of this world,of sin,judgement, and hell will fare when they stand before the great judge Christ?. It was Paul the apostle in his farewell speech to the elders of  the Ephesian church said, 'Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all ,for I did not shrink from declaring the whole council of God'.

Make me a channel.( John 3 v30)

 Piet Mondrian said ,'The position of the artist is humble.He is essentially a channel, 'it reminded me of a hymn we used to sing,it really is a prayer ,which we could all pray. .

                                          'Make me a channel of your peace.

                                          Where is hatred,let me bring your love

                                         Where there is injury, your pardon Lord;

                                         And where there is doubt,true faith in you;

                                         Make me a channel of your peace.

                                         Where there's despair in life,let me bring hope;

                                         Where there is darkness,only light;

                                         And where there's sadness, ever joy;

                                         Make me a channel of your peace.

                                         It is in pardoning,that we are pardoned

                                         In giving to all men that we receive ,

                                         And in dying that we're  born to eteraal life

                                         O Master,grant that I may never seek

                                         So much to be console as to console;

                                         To be understood as to understand;

                                          To be loved,as to love with all my soul'

                                           

                                        

                                         

Are you in debt?.( Isaiah 1 v18)

In Matthew 6 v 12 we read,'Forgive us our debts', there used to be a time when people would not get into debt,they would save up enough money to buy what they wanted.But today it is different now, most people get into debt ,and also get into trouble,and they have to declare themselves bankrupt. That's when their borrowing stops,until the next time. In the 14th century debtors could end up in the debtors prison,where they would stay until the debt was repaid.(we have it mentioned also in Matthew 18 v 34) According to one commentator the words,'Forgive us our debts', can be translated ,'forgive us our sins',we are told that all  have sinned and come short of the glory of God,(Romans 6 v23). That means  everyone is in debt, and it is a debt that we can't pay,it is impossible for us to pay that debt, be it a large debt or a small debt.The debt must be paid to God,and yet none of us can pay that debt. Charles Spurgeon asks the following  question. 'How much do you owe to my Lord? Has He forgiven you your sin?'well has He?,do you think that he has forgotten your sins?,or ignored your sins?.The answer is no ,if we die with that debt unpaid,we will carry that debt with us into eternity. The wonderful thing is, God is prepared to pay your debt, the way He does this is by His dear Sons death on the Cross.when He shed his precious blood .Right now you can have your debt(sins) paid if you ask Jesus to be your Saviour, you will be debt free,you will be released from the debtors prison.

                                              

                                              '  He paid the debt He did not owe

                                                 I own the debt I could not pay.

                                                 I needed someone to wash my sins away

                                                 And now I sing a brand new song

                                                                Amazing Grace

                                                 Jesus paid the debt I could never pay'.

                                                                 Conrad Fisher.

Not my will. ( Psalm27 v 11)

Corrie  Ten Boom  and her family lived in the Netherlands,during the occupation by the German's ,the family chose to hide Jews from going to the  concentration camps.Someone informed on them,the result was Corrie and Betsie were taken to Ravensbruck where Betsie died ,but Corrie survived she was released ,it turned out it was a clerical error.A week after she was released,all the women of Corrie's age group were sent to the gas chamber.It reminds me how we will not go until God  permits, our times are in God's hands,and that has been delegated to the Son of God (Revelation 1 v 17). The question one may ask why did the Lord  not permit Betsie to live?, because  it was not His will for Betsie to live,we must all accept that,   though it may be very painful,and we argue ,but they were so young,so gifted,you needed them, you loved them, remember these words,'His good,pleasing and perfect will.(Romans 12 v2) Corrie was spared, God had an important ministry to for her to fulfill,it was a world wide ministry,and she lived to the grand age of 91.God did not use an angel to rescue Corrie ,but a simple clerical error. He does not always rend the heavens,He uses what He our soverign God chooses to use,and His timing is perfect.

                                      '  My will is not my own till Thou hast made it Thine;

                                        If it would reach the monarch's throne, it must its crown resign;

                                        It only stands unbent, amid the clashing strife,

                                       When on Thy bosom it has leant,and found in Thee its life.'

                                                                George Matheson

                                        

Abba Father ( Romans 8 v14- 16)

 There are scriptures clearly tell us that God is other than us,He is holy,and we are not,take Exodus 33 v 20,God is speaking to Moses and He tells him that he cannot see His face and live, and in fact no one can see His face and live.Other scriptures bear this out,(John 1 v18/ 1 Timothy 6 v14 v 16/ 1 John 4 v 12).It is in Exodus 12 v that God spoke to Moses face to face, it was a unique degree of intimacy. Of course God does not have  a body, He is Spirit  John 4 v24,and so He communicates to us in ways we can relate to,but it is only as when we get to  heaven,and we have our spiritual bodies  ( 1 Corinthians 15 v44),will we be able see God fully. God is not like us He is holy, when Isaiah had a vision of God  he was overwhelmed by His holiness he cried out ,'  Woe is me....I am ruined! for I am a man of unclean lips... and my eyes have seen the King,the Lord Almighty' (Isaiah 6 v5). Yes like Isaiah we are right to be fearful of a holy God, so how can we know this fearful being personallly?. Well God had the answer ,Jesus would come and  bring into being the means of dealing with sin that seperates us from God  (Isaiah 59 v2 ),He accomplished this,through His death on the Cross,sin could be forgiven  ,and we could know  God in the most personal way, as a heavenly Father. That brings us to consider the word which our Saviour used,'Abba , it was an everyday word ,a homely family word(John Stott),like the word daddy,oh yes He is a personal loving and friendly God, But God must also be held in reverence we cannot be familiar with Him. Let not this  detract from the fact that He is your loving heavenly Father.

                                          'Abba Father,let me be, Yours and Yours alone,

                                           May my will forever be ever more your own.

                                           Nerver let my heart grow cold,never let me go,

                                           Abba Father let me be Yours and Yours alone'

                                                          Words Dave Bilbrough.

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All without exception. (John 3 v16)

 The world is full of needy people and as Christians we cannot ignor that,yes the hungry need fed, and clothed,the homeless need somewhere to live, the sick need medical care. Then we have the better off people ,who can afford to live comfortably,they always have something to eat ,nice clothes to wear,and homes to live in, they even have a nice car,and can afford private medical care.Then there is the very rich, they have it all ,a life of luxury.So what's the conclusion of all this?,well I put it this way,mankinds greatest need goes beyond ,being poor,better of,or even being rich.God looks beyond these groups of people,for they all have one thing in common,the poor are lost,the middle class are lost,the rich are lost.They all suffer from the same condition, they are sinners,the poor person is a sinner, the middle class are the same,likewise the rich .God  looks on people differently ,He is not swayed by any of these things,he is no respector of persons in regard to all distinctions of social rank,or wealth, or knowledge.He offers to one and all the forgiveness of their sins through Jesus Christ His Son. God so loved the world that means all its inhabitants,without exception,let us remember that,and let us reach out to all with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peace. ( Numbers 6 v 24 -26 )

 When I was a young boy,and our mother was finding things hard,,she would say, 'give my head peace', we look out at the world,we see so many conflicts,so many disturbing things.I read this recently that there are 92 places in this world where there is comflict and no peace.  That's only part of the story,so many people  would say  what my mother said,'give my head peace'.The Bible speaks of two types of peace,'Peace with God, and the Peace of God'.In our unsaved state we are at war with God, look to Calvary that's the Son of God hanging on the cross.The way for things to change comes when we lay down our arms and surrender to Jesus,'Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith,we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.'Let us consider the  ,'Peace of God'. what a precious gift that is. if you are a Christian  you have that gift within you a gift from Jesus John 14 v27.It is called a peace that passeth all understanding(Philippians 4 v7)  I want to leave you with two verses, Isaiah 26 v 3-4,'You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the  Lord for ever, for the Lord, himself,is the Rock eternal'.

                                                                     A Prayer

                                             ' Dear Lord help our minds to be steadfast,

                                              our trust to be unwavering,because you 

                                              are our eternal Rock.Amen

God's in the Dock ( Romans 5 v 12 )

There is a famous actor called Stephen Fry,he is often voicing his opinion  as regards God,and why He created such an evil world,basically he blames God,its all His fault,and why should he believe in such an evil being. What can one say to such accusations,?.In other words no one is responsible for the evil they do,the murderer,the rapist,the thief,the adulterar, and so on.Twice I have heard him say  these things, no one has given him an answer,so what is the answer?.It all began in a garden ,nature and man were  one,they dwelt in total harmony,likewise Adam and Eve peace reigned. Now when it came to God and man,all was fine no conflict,no sin,perfection ruled, We do not know how long this lasted,but suddenly and unexpectantly everything changed,and I mean everything.Eve and Adam sinned ,they didn't have to sin ,no one forced them,it was there free choice.It had an effect on all creatures great and small, and also mankinds relationship with each other.And most serious of all ,it involved  humanities relationship with God.Why God permitted this evil to happen I don't know,but one explanation is  that God granted them the freedom of making a choice.Adam and Eve knew what they were doing ,and the consquence of disobedience (Genesis 2 v 16-17),so they ignored that,from that time on ,the floodgates opened, nothing  would never be the same again . We are in the dock,not God ,we are the guilty ones. God's wrath and Judgement came upon us, but God is merciful, and He has made a way back to Him from the dark paths of sin,He  opened a door that we may go in,Calvary cross is where we begin ,when we come as a sinner to Jesus'.

                                                           'We all have a choice'

What God requires ( Micah 6 v 8)

 We look at certain religions and our horrified at the brutality they engage in,but sad to say as one looks back in history there were those who came under the banner of Christianity,and they acted very cruel.How can one defend Henry the V111 ,and how he treated his wives,in his pursuit to have a male heir.Someone has said that so much of Christianity is good but often it has been unkind.How can one justify torturing people, and burning people at the stake.Philip the second of Spain was a very religious person yet he founded the Spanish Inquisition with all its hideousness. In my own country women who had children outside of marriage ,were treated like criminals put into institutions and abused one way or the other.The men who fathered the children got off scot free, we could also mention the abuse that many dear children  suffered at the hands of religious people.and the cover up by religious authorities As Christians we must never condon sin, we want to see sinners saved,repenting of their sins and trusting Jesus,we are not against the wrong doer being punished, every society should have just laws,but not cruel laws.

                                                                  W. Barclay  

                              'So many good Church people would have sided with the rulers

                               and not with Jesus if they had had to deal with the woman taken 

                               in adultery'

Holiness. ( 2 Timothy 1 v 9-10)

 Someone asked how would you de scribe holiness?the answer John Stott gives is Christlikeness,yes I would agree with that,in Romans 8 v 29,we read,'That God has predestined us tobe conformed to the image of His Son'. Is it possible to be like Jesus?,we can, but how? in ourselves it is impossible, in Romans 8 v 26 we read,'The Spirit helps us in our weakness'.the fact is the Christian life is not a do it yourself religion,some people say Christianity is not religion,it is a relationship.I believe that is so ,while we do religious activities,but it's my  relationship with God that is the core being of my life.It is understood if one considers an Old Testament saint Enoch, who we are told, that he walked faithfully with God (Genesis 5 v 21) and in that walk he pleased God. (Hebrews 11 v 5) Was he perfect? the answer is no,there are people who believe  that one can experience sinless perfection,it is impossible. I have only met one person who was perfect,Jesus, we read in Hebrews 7 v26, that He was ''Holy,harmless, '',undefiled separated from sinners''He claimed to be perfectly sinless (John 8 v46), We must always remember that Jesus was truly man and truly God, so it follows that He was sinless. Here is the wonderful thing,  one day we will be sinless ,perfectly conformed to the image of Jesus'.Just a footnote ,holiness of the saints is an evidence,just as works are.

                                                   'There is no sin in heaven;

                                                    Behold that blessed throng,

                                                    All holy is their spotless robe,

                                                     All holy is there song'

                                                                F.M.Knollis

                                                                          

Grief and pain, ( Psalm 55 v 22)

                                In the musical ,'Miserables', two lines from one of the songs goes,

                                               'There's a grief that can' t be spoken,

                                                Ther's a pain that goes on and on'

Those words,that experience could be written over many peoples lives, the context of those words concern those who died in an uprising against a goverment,The song expresses the feelings of one of their  comrades who didn't die,he feels guilt that he hadn't died with them,and now he's left with the grief and pain that will not go away. People die in wars,in accidents,a mother looses a new born baby, and so it goes on.But its not just in relation to death ,marriage breakups that can affect children for the rest of their lives. So many get hurt in  many ways that leave them with a grief and pain that won't go away.We  forget  that we live in a broken world full of broken people.It was never meant to be this way but all  changed when sin entered into this world.Job who knew his fair share of troubles wrote,'How  frail is humanity!How short is life,how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither.Like a passing shadow,we quickly disappear'. (Job 14 v 1) One way or another we all will experience pain and grief,that will not leave us. I love those words that Jesus spoke in Matthew 11 v 28,' Come to Me, all of you  who are weary and carry heaven burdens,and I will give you rest'.He alone can only meet the needs of the human heart  and give peace,in our sorrows he can be our comforter in our darkest moments, He can be our healer in our grief and pain. .Remember He has walked the road that we are walking and experienced what  we are going through,and so He says ,'come to Me.'

                                                      'No one understands like Jesus'

Honour God. ( 1 Samuel 2 v 30 )

Just recently one of my grandsons wives had a baby boy, he told me it's weight , and its name,'Judah, William, Heasley.I was emotional ,to think that he honoured me in this way,for my name is William,One of my other sons called one of his sons William in honour of me.One of the commandments has a promise attached to it, it is the 5th commandment'Honour your father and your mother,so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you'. Thomas Watson writes,'Honour is shown to parents in relieving their wants'.This is something that is pleasing to God, I have known children who have treated their elderly parents badly,God is not pleased with that. God is the Christians heavenly Father and we should always honour Him in all things in our obedience,in our service.You may have heard of Eric Lidell a great athlete,his parents where Scottish,and where missionaries in China,that was were Eric  was born. but he was brought up in Scotland. He played rugby for Scotland, but he excelled in athletics ,he was chosen to run in the 1924 Paris Olympics.He was a 100m runner but that created a problem for it was to be held on Sunday/Sabbath,and his Christians convictions would not allow him to run on that day.So he choose to run the  400m.On the morning of the event someone handed him a slip of paper with these words on it,'In the old book it says; 'He that honours Me I will honour them'.he won the race.

                                                       'In all things let us honour God'

More than Conquerors. ( Ephesians 6 v 10- 18)

Some religions are very violent we read about them everyday, I could give you many examples of the awful things they do to people,Dr Lloyd Jones wrote the following,'There is no violence in Christianity,no one should ever be forced or even bribed to become a Christian .Likewise  there should be no threats made to anyone who leaves Christianity,,that's their choice. It is not by the sword we conquer,so how do we conquer?by love,by the Word of God, and by the Spirit of God. Love is expressed and seen in many ways, when a mother gives the last food in the house to her children,and she goes without.Love is when you give out of your poverty ,love is when you give your life for another,Such was the love manifested by Jesus, when he not only died on that cross,but He also bore the punishment for our sins,yes He did it out of love. We conquer by God's word,'The writer of the Message makes these telling remarks on Hebrews 4 v12, 'His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel,laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it,no  matter what'Yes we conquer by God's Word.We also conquer by God's Spirit,every child of God has the Spirit of God within them.By God's Spirit we live the Christian life,and by that Spirit we can be overcomers,by that Spirit God can use us in His kingdom, and by that Spirit God can use us in His service and our efforts to win the lost.

Trust ( Luke 18 v 13 )

 In 1956 in the United States congress an act was passed,that on the dollar these words would be  displayed,''In God we trust'' these are very commendable words , There are millions of people who handle dollar notes everyday, and they possible never look at those words.Of course there are many who don't believe in God,and their trust is in so many other things. Think of all the things people trust in ,self is one,it was Ernest Henly who wrote ,  ''I am the master of my fate,and the captain of my soul'', it means as one person said,''I'm in the driving seat''. or I am in control of my life . Trust is very important in marriage and in our dealings with people, when trust is broken it can be very serious.What about trust in God how important is that? those who put those words on the dollar must have thought so,but times have changed.Yet in another sense times have not changed,people are still the same as they always were,wars still rage,crime has not gone away.The meaning of life has not gone away ,and mankinds fallen nature has not gone away,and believe it or not God has not gone away ,or our need of Him. Why do we need God?, the answer is very simple,we are sinners,not just imperfect,but sinners,the fruits of that manifest itself in a multitude of ways .I often say to people what we most need is a Saviour,everyone of us.Brokenness,and evil abounds, there are none of us who are truly innocent, none, and it doesn't end when we die,hell is real.It can all change for the better when we trust in God, and ask Jesus to be our Saviour.

                                     'I heard the voice of Jesus say, I am this dark world's light,

                                     Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,and all thy days be bright,

                                     I looked to Jesus and I found in Him my Star and Sun;

                                     And in that light of life I'll walk,till travelling days are done'

                                                                Words H.Bonar.

A God led day.( Exodus 33 v15 )

 The word of God says,'Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring'.( Proverbs 27 v1), The world is full of people making boasts about what they are going to do as regards tomorrow. The Christian should know better, yet even Christians  fall into the trap of boasting about tomorrow, knowing a truth does not mean that we live up to it.We are clearly told ,'that in all our ways acknowledge God ,and He will direct our paths' (Proverbs 3 v 6) Charles Bridges comments,' Take one step at a time,every step under Divine  authority.Every plan for yourself in simple dependence on God, He loves to be consulted'.Run not bfore Him ,let Him be your guide, for He will lead you in the right way,as sure as He led Israel to the promised land. God's way will always be perfect he makes no mistakes,even though it be a difficult way,it will be the best way.Make every day a 'God led day',may you not be guilty of vain  boasting,let your boasting be of God and His faithfulness in leading you in the path of life.

                                              'Hold Thou my hand! so weak I am,and helpless;

                                               I dare not take one step without Thy aid!

                                               Hold Thou my hand! for then,O loving Saviour,

                                               No dread of ill shall make my soul afraid'

                                                              Words , Grace J. France

They sacked him ( 1 Timothy 1 v 15)

A friend told me of how he was before he became a Christian, he told how he was in a position of authority where he worked.He described himself as not being a very nice person,especially to those under him,one could describe him as being a hard taskmaster, he didn't show much kindness to  the people he worked with.The company didn't mind for he got results,but things changed when he became a Christian, he became a different person,more kind and more understanding.But the company we're not pleased they wanted him back the way he was before he became a Christian,but that was not to be,so they sacked him.This is not made up,the bible says if any person be in Christ he is new creation; old things pass away; behold all things become new.  (2 Corinthians 5 v17).God is still in the buisness of changeing people yes even the worst of people,remember what Paul wrote,'For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation'.( Romans 1 v16)He spoke from his own experience,in 1 Timothy 1 v 13, ''I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man'',but mercy was shown to him when Christ became his Saviour.

                                       'Someone has said, go for sinners, and go for the worst'

Remember who you are. (1 John 3 v 1 )

 Alexander the great spoke to someone who had a bad reputation,he was also called Alexander, he said to him, 'you either change your name or your behaviour'. He felt that person  with the same name as his  reflected on him.  When we become Christians we nobodies are honoured and privileged . Someone asked the question,'How do you get from being a nobody to being a somebody?'The answer is become a Christian, It is John who writes ,'Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us,that we should be called Children of God' ( 1 John 3 v 1)  John is filled with an awesome amazment at such a thing, it was beyond anything  John  could take in,mind blowing. Of course we bear another noble name we are called Christians,how important that we reflect who we our.When the Duke of Windsor the incrowned Kung Edward V111 died, a television programme rehersed the main events of his life  .One of those events shown was of him answering a question as regards his upbringing,brief reign,and abdication. Recalling his boyhood as Prince of Wales,he said; 'My father (King George V) was a strict disciplinarian. Sometime when I had done something wrong,he would admonish me saying,  '' My dear boy,you must always remember who you are''.May our lives as Children of God  always reflect who we are.

God leads. ( John 21v 22)

 The words of hymn comes to mind,'God leads the way through,the wilderness all I have do  is follow',and then their is another hymn.' Guide me oh Thou great Jehovah.  What is the difference between God leading,and God guiding ?,is there any difference?.Well here is one explanation,' To lead' means to take someone along with you in a direction or  destination while they follow you,you are showing them the way.' To guide' on the other hand can mean, to provide direction or instruction to someone.Lets consider Israel's experience ,when they came out of Egypt ,God did not leave them to themselves  ,to wander  aimlessly about,He had a destination for them to go to,the promised land that God promised Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 15 v18 -21). All Israel had to do was to follow God  nothing else,but they did not do that,when difficulties arose ,they spoke as if they wanted to go back to Egypt ( Exodus 14 v11-12).Even when they were about to go into the promised land,they drew back in unbelief.( Numbers 13 v 26ff-/ Num 14 v 1-4).Yes all they had to do was follow Him,so it is  like them ,all we have to do is follow our dear Lord,oh yes there will be testing and trials ,losses and crosses,but He won't forsake us ,

                                        'I traveled down a lonely road,and no one seemed to care,

                                        The burden on my weary back,had bowed me to despair;

                                         I oft complained to Jesus,how folks were treating me,

                                                    And then I heard Him say so tenderly;

                                                    My feet were also weary upon the

                                                               Calvary road,

                                                   The cross became so heavy I fell

                                                            beneath the load;

                                                     be faithful weary pilgrim,the 

                                                            morning I can see,

                                                     Just lift your cross, and follow

                                                                close to Me'    (Words I F.Stanphill)

                                                     

                                                          

                                                     

Change . ( Philippians 4 v 8 /Colossians 3 v1 -2)

 It was Reinhold Niebuhr who wrote what is known as the Serenity Prayer, it is a very popular prayer  ,here are the words                                         

                                               'God grant me the serenity,to accept the things

                                               I cannot change,the courage to change the things

                                               I can,and the wisdom to know the differnce'

Yes there is much wisdom in that prayer, there are things we cannot change ,death,yes it obivious it is inevitable,but we can rejoice in a Saviour who died and rose again,and said ,'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who beleves in Me will live, even though they die'. (John 11 v25 ) Yes we cannot change death but we can have peace and serenity when our time comes,as David the Psalmist tells us ,'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me'.(Psalm 23 v 4) There are many things we cannot change,we cannot change our past,the abuse we may have suffered,the mistakes we made,the hurts we have experienced,the failed marriage,the missed opportunities. All these things and more may hunt us ,but we cannot change the past ,but we don't have to be prisoners of the past,yes we may never forget them,Think of the people Jesus dealt with and how He healed them,how he gave them hope,He sets the prisoners free ,He can set you free from the past,that's why He came.Then the prayer says there are things that won't change,the apostle Paul had an affliction ,like all of us he prayed and prayed,and prayed that God would heal him but God said no,but he promised him grace to bear it.(2 Cor 12 v 9) One writer puts Paul's  response in the following words,'I quit focusing on the handicap ,whither they are,abuse,accidents,oppositionns,bad breaks'.Yes change by the grace of  God  can happen if we stop focusing on the past ,by God's grace we can,it is possible.

                                              

                                              

We die twice. ( Romans 6 v 1- 14 )

 When we think of dying we automaticly think of dying once,but in actual fact a Christian dies twice,now what do I mean by that?. We need to turn to Romans 6 to get the answer,the apostle is dealing with those who are saying if we are saved by grace alone ,it does not matter how we live. Paul was exalting the grace of God,he wrote ,''Where sin abounded,grace superabounded'', William Barclay writes that their argument would be something like this, ' The objector; You have just said that God's grace is great enough to find forgiveness for every sin.  Pual; That is so. The Objector; You are in fact,saying that God's grace is the greatest and most wonderful thing in all this world. Paul; That is so. The Objector; Your argument is that sin produces grace; therefore sin is bound to be a good thing if it produces the greatest thing in the world'. Of  course Paul is not saying that,and that he is horrified at such a thing,and replies ,'What a ghastly thought' (J P Phillips trans)Then Paul raises the issue of Baptisim and its meaning, v 3 ff ,Again W B writes,Baptism was by total immersion that was symbolically like dying and rising again, in which we die to the old life of sin and rise to a new life of grace.' as WB goes unto say we underwent '' a voluntary death''. We are now dead to sin,it is not that we won't sin,it is obvious we do,yes we fall into sin but we do not live in sin .We take no pleasure in sin,we are dead to it, Martyn Lloyd Jones says ,'that being dead to sin ,means,'That we died to the realm and to the rule and to the reign of sin'. 

                                                  ''Called unto holiness'' Church of our God,

                                                    Purchase of Jesus,redeemed by His blood;

                                                    Called from the world,and its idols to flee,

                                                     Called from the bondage of sin to be free''

                                                                     Words Mr . Morris.

Walking in the darkness.( Luke 15 v11- 31)

 I sometimes think back to the days when  I was away from the Lord,I was like a man stumbling along in the darkness.Not knowing where I was going, and I felt so lost,not realising the danger I was in ,not knowing where I was going, or whom to turn to.The darkness like a fog enveloped me,life was just a dark hole in which there was no escape. In that darkness of evil that beckoned me,the moral walls began to crumble ,I was blind to what was right and what was wrong, I who once knew the right way,had strayed from the one person I used to follow 'Jesus' I had lost sight of Him, and in doing that I  found myself walking in the darkness,I was often looking for a friend ,I felt a lonliness within my heart,it is said that one can be lonley even within a crowd. There is no darkness that can be compared to  the darkness of the soul, who knows where it will end up,one goes on in blind ignorance,yet one can see ,but it is only a short sightedness, one is fixiated in the temporal,the transient,that which is fleeting and of no lasting value,I was searching but not finding,because I did not grasp what I really needed.The word of God tells us that the world and its desires pass away,in my confusion and darkness,I couldn't see that,the lust of eyes ,and the pride of life was what mattered to me.Then one evening standing on a street corner lonely and forlorn,God interviened,that evening I found myself or should I say  God found me,and I found Him,and all things were changed.

                                                 'Like a blind man who walks in the darkness,

                                                  I had longed,I had searched for the light,

                                                  Then I met the Master,now I walk no more

                                                  in the night.

                                                  For all thigs were changed when He found me,

                                                  A new day broke through all around me,

                                                  For I met the Master ,now I belong to Him,

                                                              Words ,'The Booth Brothers.'

                                                  

Safe am I. ( John 3 v 36 )

 When I was a young boy I went to the local swimming pool,it was my first visit,I could not swim,and as I stood on the edge of pool someone pushed me in,I remember it so well, I actually was drowning but an  attendant jumped in and rescued me.God is merciful ,I could say why me?,I don't know, but I will always be eternally grateful that he did. I am reminded of another young boy his name was John Wesley he was aged five, he was asleep in his bed ,when a fire broke out in his home,and in the confusion and panic ,he was overlooked. John woke from his sleep he could see that the staircase was on fire so he  dragged a chest up to the window,climbed on to  it,and fortunately he was rescued.Later on his mother Susannah had a painting of John done,and these words were written on it,'''A brand pluked from the burning''. Every soul who is saved are brands pluked from the burning of hell ,it is as serious as that,this is not scare mongering, there is a hell as there is heaven. We are told that the wrath of God abides on every unbeliever,  John and myself had  people who were rescued us from death, so it is that God has provided one who can rescue sinners from God's wrath, his name is Jesus the word of God clearly teaches that if we call upon Him ,he will save us.

                                           'I was sinking dep in sin, sinking to rise no more,

                                           Overwhelmed by guilt within,mercy I did implore.

                                           Then the Master of t from he sea heard my desparing cry,

                                            Christ my Saviour lifted me,now safe am I.

                                                 Love lifted me......Love lifted me!

                                                When no one but Christ could help,

                                                            LOVE LIFTED ME.  

                                                              (Words J Rowe)

                                            

Waiting on God( Psalm 40 v1)

Let me ask you a question, are you good at waiting ?,years ago as childrem we would say to our mother when's the dinner going to be ready?,and she would reply, 'it's in the hottest place in the house'. Children can be very impatient, and so can adults,my wife gets impatient often when we are in a queue ,and she will say to me,'look there's only two people on the till.' But what about waiting on God?,now that's a challenge, for  often it means literally waiting maybe a long time and still we wait. My experience of getting into the ministry was praying and waiting,praying and more waiting. I looked up a poem by a  man call Russel  Kelfer on waiting,it is a very long poen but is it well worth reading, I leave you with some of the verses from it.

                  'Desperately, helplessly, lovingly, I cried. Quietly , patiently, lovingly,He replied,

                      I pleaded ,and I wept for a clue to my fate, ,and the Master so gently said,

                                                             ''Child,you must wait''

                  ''Wait?.you say wait?''my indignant reply''Lord ,I need answers,I need to know why'

                   Is your hand shortened?Or have you not heard? By faith I have asked,and I'm 

                                                                claiming your word.

                  My future,snd all to which I can relate.hangs in the balance,and you tell me to wait?.

                  I'm needing a 'yes'a go-ahead sign,or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

                 'And Lord,you have promised that if we believe,We need but ask,and we shall receive,

                 And Lord I've been asking,and this is my cry,''I'm weary of asking, I need a reply''

                Then quietly,softly,I learned my fate,As my Master replied once again,''You must wait''

                So I slumped in my chair,defeated and taut,and grumbled to God. ''So I'm waiting for what?''

                He seemed to kneel,and His eyes met mine,and He tenderly said,''I could give you a sign''.

                I could shake the heavens,darken the sun,raise the dead,cause the mountains to run.

               ''So be silent my child,and in time you will see,that the greatest gifts is to get to know Me.

                And though oft' may my answers seem terribly late,My most precious answer of all.....

                                                                   is still....Wait

                             'The  only thing harder than waiting on God,is wishing you had'

                                                               

                                                                  

                  

                      

                                                               

                                                                 

             

 

The only certainity. ( John 11 v 25)

 I heard this recently,' Certainty is a grave for little children', lets face it,we live in a very uncertain world, I'm sure you know the saying that the only certainty in life is ,'death and taxes'.I don't want to unsettle any of you, but we have to face the fact we live in an uncertain world. Sport has examples,one that gives me much pleasure ,when a little cricket team in Sion Mills in Northern Ireland routed the great West Indies for 25 runs,in  Jan 1969. Many people have been ruined by  betting on that horse,that investment, the South Sea Bubble in the 18th century ruined thousands of  investers,it was the worlds first financial crash,the first of many. No matter how careful you are in life,there are no guarantees, of a life free from uncertaity. The Goliath's in this world can be defeated,even by a young lad,one has said,'People cannot control,understand,or anticipate what life will bring'.Let us rerturn to one certainity I mentioned death,now that is a certainity,I can guarantee that,people look at death in different ways,billions  believe there is an after life,and so they place their hope in dare I say false religions,that is a false hope. In Hebrews 6 v19, we read,'We have this hope as an anchor for the soul,firm, and secure', that hope is in Christ and what He has done,by His life,death,resurrection,and ascension. He is the certainity and the only certainity we can build our hopes on.

                                                       'Upom a life I have not lived,

                                                        Upon a death I did not die,

                                                        Another's life,another's death

                                                        I stake my whoe eternity.

                                                        Jesus,O Son of God,I build

                                                        On what Thy cross has done 

                                                        for me'

                                                              Words Haratius Bonasr