Be still. ( Psalm 27 ) 4

                                            ' Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;

                                             do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when

                                             they carry out their wicked schemes.'

                                                                    Psalm 37 v 7

Rudyard Kipling the poet wrote,'If you can keep your head when all about are losing theirs and blaming it on you,'it is not easy to do that,so let us take a moment to consider the writer of psalm 37, David a man who found himself in many a tight spot. When king Saul ruled, David became a fugitive and a  wanted man,in that Saul wanted to kill him.So often it was not just a matter of panicking,that would not have helped,but he learned a very important lesson,that of resting in God and waiting patiently for God to act on his behalf. He is telling us to not to press the panic button,even though everything is against us,even though our enemies have the upper hand. Their success was a false dawn, the reality was  that God was against them and would deal with them,and would rescue David out of their clutches.The apostle Paul wrote  .'If God be for us ,who can be against us'  (Romans 8 v 31),you cannot be beaten if God is for you,you cannot loose,so be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.

                                                     'A mighty fortress is our God,

                                                      A mighty shield and weapon'

                                                               Matin Luther

                                                    

Keep in step.( Psalm 119 v 105 )3

                                                       ' Commit your way  to the Lord;

                                                        trust in Him and He will do this; 

                                                                    Psalm 37 v 5   

Whatever way we should go, and whatever works or enterprises we are involved in,committ them to God,it may be a great venture  or a small venture,it matters not,commit it all to God,leave nothing to chance.My favourite commentary on the Psalms is by William S.Plumer it is no longer published,and I would like to share with you some of his comments on this verse,.'Trust also in Him,' 'If God favors an enterprise,it will not fail if we build a house ,it will stand.The error  against which we are here warnerd is reliance on our own strength or wisdom,The encouragement here given is to renounce  all self confidence and to look to God alone, that He will graciously undertake our case, bear our burdens,and accomplish  for us that which we could never bring to pass, David had a beautiful illustrtion of the truth here urged, in his coming into full and peaceable possession of the throne'. Remember our way should be His way,then all will be well,if we are in step with God He will guide our footsteps,make sure you are not out of step with God  or you may fall flat on your face/He will open doors no one can shut,He will lead us in the right way,and His way is perfect ,He never makes a mistake,He is the perfect guide.

                                'O let me see Thy footmarks, and in them plant mine own;

                                 My hope to follow duly is in Thy strength alone.

                                 O guide me,call me,draw me,uphold me to the end;

                                 And then in heaven receive me,my Saviour and my Friend'

                                                        Words John E.Bode.

                                 

                                                             

         

Delight ( Matthew 7 v 7) 2

                                                                  'Psalm 37 v4 '

                                         'Take delight in the Lord,and He will give you

                                          the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37 v 4)

So many people delight in vain things,things of no accord,the list is endless,My friend was on the pastorial team in a hospice,he visted a man  who told him that he didn't want anything  to do with God.My friend asked him what did he want,? he wanted to hear a certain group singing,my friend got him a recording of the group.  That  was what he delighted in,vain vanites,let us lift our desires to a higher level,our desires,can be our requests,petitions,and in keeping with God's will he will give us them.Plumber writes ,'Moses had a great desire to see God's glory;and the Lord showed him as much as he could bear. Solomon had a quenchless thirst  after knowledge and wisdom,and Jehovah made him the wisest of mere men'I remember when I worked in the grain terminal,it was to say the very least a very dusty job,I really wanted out of it,and I wanted a job that I could wear nice clothes,and God got me that job. I also wanted to  serve God in Christian  ministry and God got me that job.

                                            ' This is the confidence we have in appoaching

                                              God; that if we ask anything according to his

                                               will,He hears us,And if we know that He hears 

                                                us whatever we ask,we know that we have what

                                                 we asked for'

                                                                     (1 John 5 v 14- 15)

                                                    

                                             .

Trust , (Isaiah 12 v 2) 1

 There are very instructive verses in Psalm 37  the first one reads,

                                                  'Trust in the Lord and do good;

                                                   dwell in the land and enjoy 

                                                   safe pature' v 3

What God desires from us is trust,we honour Him when we trust Him ,Israel's history so often was filled with fretting and fearfulness,with the result they didn't always trust and obey, so they suffered because of their rebelliousness, and unbelief in God .Peter walked on water but faith deserted him,and Jesus had to save him from drowning.( Matthew 14 v 25-31)Jesus asked him ,''why did you doubt?,'' doubt will put a spanner in the works all the time,it did for Peter,and it will do the same for you and me.Trust in the Lord and then he adds,'do good',it was said of our dear Saviour that He went about doing good, ( Acts 10 v 38)let us follow in his footsteps,there are so many people doing bad things, let us be people who do good things.The last part of the verse  reads,'dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture',one commentator puts it like this,'So shalt thou dwell in the land and live securely',let the Lord be your security ,the result will be,'The Lord will keep you from all harm ,He will watch over your life,He will watchover your coming and going both now and forever more.(Psalm 121 v 7-8 ) Lastly 'and enjoy safe pasture',in other words God would provide for his children,so let us not dwell in doubting castle,

                                                    'Be gone unbelief!my Saviour is near

                                                    And for my relief  will surely appear..

                                                    By prayer let me wrestle and He will perform;

                                                    With Christ in the vessel I smile at the storm'.

                                                                      'John Newton'

All our lives. ( Psalm 37 v 25 )

                                                   ' All my life you have been faithful,

                                                    All my life you have been so,so good,

                                                    With every breath, that I am able,

                                                    I will sing of the goodness of God''

God is faithful, no one in all of history is as faithful as God, why oh why has He not given up on planet  earth. Well the Word of God says,that He is a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4 v19),that means He has not given up on  planet earth,it belongs to Him and to Him alone,as He promised'As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest,cold and heat,summer and winter,day and night will never cease ',(Genesis 8 v 22) He is faithful to His Word, but Peter reminds us that the end is coming of this present world at a time appointed by God,yes there is a reason why it is delayed, His divine patience,and mercy,and love desires that all should  come to repentance, and faith in Christ, so the earth continues.We who are His Children are not forsaken,  He is a faithful loving Heavenly Father,many of  His children have suffered throughout history ,and many at this present time are suffering,He will loose none of them. (John 10 v 28 -30 ).Whatever our experience in life,we can with  Jeremiah declare ,great has been God's faithfulness. (Lamentations 3 v 23) ,and we can all say.

                                                    'All our lives you have been faithful                         

                                                     All our lives you have been so,so good'

                                                       Words by 'Ben Fielding/Brian Johnson'

We are all one.{ Revelation 4 v 9 )

 I visited a church recently ,and one of  the leaders said to me ,that they had at least 42 different nationalities attending their church. I said that was wonderful it is what the church is all about,as John 3 v16 tells us,'that God so loved the world'.Sad it is ,that down through history , there were groups who raised barriers ,excluding people on the bases of colour and race.In Romans 16 v 1-23,Paul sends greetings to the saints in Rome naming 26 individuals, diverse in race and gender.At that time there were Jewish believers who really wanted the status quo to continue,and of course that was wrong, it was weakening the idea of a universal church.It is also weakens it, when we exclude people on the bases of social standing or whatever .Yet it still goes on,we hear people referring to a church as a' black church',the little childrens song goes,'Jesus loves the little children all the children of the world,red and yellow,black and white all our precious in His sight'  That's the way it should be,everyone should be accepted equally into the Church of Chirst.Our Saviour said ,'There shall be one flock and one shepherd.' (John 10 v16)and in Galatians 3 v28 we read,'There is neither Jew nor Gentile,neither slave nor free,nor is there male and female,for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

                                                        ' Salvation is indiscriminate'

A mind at peace with God.( Romans 8 v14 -17)

                                              'But now in Christ Jesus you who 

                                              once were far away have been 

                                               brought near by the blood of                           

                                                           Christ'

                                                    'Ephesians 2 v 13'

                                    'A mind at peace with God,O what a word is this!

                              A sinner reconciled through blood; this,this indeed is peace.

                                    By nature and by practice far,so very far from God!

                             Yet now by grace brought near to Him,through faith in Jesus blood.

                                      So near,so very near to God,I cannot nearer be;

                                      For in the person of His Son, I am as near as He.

                                     So dear, so very dear to God,more dear I cannot be;

                               The love with which He loves His Son,such is His love for me.

                                Why should I ever be anxious be,when kept by power divine?

                                  This is my God who says to me,that all He has is mine.'

                                                            'Words Catesby Pagent'

                                       

                                    

                                      

Deliver us from all evil. (Philippians 4 v 11-13 )

                 The words of Agur in Proverbs 30 v 7- 9 are very helpful,it is a prayer, it reads,

                                  'Two things I ask of you,Lord; do not refuse me before I die;

                                   Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty 

                                   nor riches,but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may

                                   have to much and disown you and say.''Who is the Lord?''

                                   Or I may become poor and steal,and so dishonour the name

                                   of my God

Hear is a man who wants to honour God ,he sees the evil in falsehood and lies,so he asks God for his help,it is good to recognise our weaknesses,and how easily it is to sin,Shakespeare wrote ,'Man know thyself', Yes even as Christians we can easily loose our way,and fall into practices that our wrong,in the light of that we need Gods help everyday,as the song goes,'I need Thee every hour'.The next two things he touches on is poverty and riches,D  Atkinson write  ,'We need help to use both poverty and wealth appropriately'.  As regards  prosperity read Deuteronomy 6 v10-12,which shows clearly,the dangers to our spiritual life,as regards prosperity,even to the place of forgetting God.Leupold writes'To cope with prosperity may be more difficult,than to cope with poverty'.As  regards poverty,no one likes to be poor,and in that condition  we can be tempted to steal, Poverty does not give us a right to commit wrongs.Agur pleads with God to keep him from the extremes ,and to have enough to live on.

                                           '  Whatever state we find ourselves in,may

                                              we glorify God'

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.