Hymns

There are some hymns that really bless, think of that hymn ,Amazing Grace, I love that old hymn it touches my heart, reminds me of the wonderful grace of God that saves ,keeps, and is all sufficent for my every need. Are you struggleing? well look to the God of all grace, He will supply your need, whatever trial you are facing , God promises to enable us to cope and to know victory, and if you are not saved, let me remind you that it by grace that we are saved , through faith in Jesus, not of works lest anyone should boast[ Ephesians 2v8-9] [ Father thank you for your grace , I am so very grateful , thank you for Jesus, who has made this all possible, Amen.]

Are you sinking ?

I like the account in Matthhew 14 v 22ff, of Jesus walking on the sea, and dear old Peters response, Peter also walked on the sea , he started but he could not finish, he began to sink, his faith shrunk, so what did the Lord do,did he let him drown ? no, he saved him, and after that he spoke to him, challenged him. Like Peter we fail , we start out with the best intentions, full of faith, but then we struggle, our faith shrinks ,we feel like we are drowning, well do what Peter did, call out to the Lord ,be assured He will not let you drown, but he will challenge you. [Father renew my faith in you today ,and in your Son Jesus, Amen]

Doubts

God loves the doubter but honours those who exercise faith, because our relationship is made possible by the grace of God, He loves all his children, I dont know where you are at today, you may be filled the joys of spring, or you may be filled with doubt .The fact of the matter is we are all changeable , in our moods, it is part of the human situation, but be assured of this important truth, God loves you, rest in that love, today. [Father I thank you for the truth that I am loved, by you, you know the best about me and the worst , yet you still love me, thank you in Jesus name, Amen.]

I wish

You have three wishes , so goes the fairy tale , I remember visiting the Giants Cause-way in N-Ireland. a rock formation, , sitting on the giants chair and making a wish, yet I felt convicted about this, it didnt seem right to me, the Holy Spirit was speaking to me. Make this a day in which you will listen to the Spirit of God, If today you hear His voice harden not your heart. [ Father help me to realize that I am a temple in which dwells the Spirit of God, help me not to grieve Him, or to silence Him ,when He speaks, in Jesus name, Amen.]

I felt such a fool.

Mybe I am begining to show my age, I seem to becoming more absent minded,while visiting someone recently I looked down and to my dismay I saw that I was wearing two different shoes, also while in local supermarket, I failed to take note of a notice on a door,informing me that what I was trying to use was out of order, I felt such a fool. I am sure no one likes being a fool , or thought of as a fool , but you know when you become a Christian, you are entering into territory that for many appears foolish, believing on someone you cant see, believing on a person who died on a cross, for your sins, believing the resurrection from the dead, to many appears foolish.[ Father I thank you for Jesus your Son who died for my salvation, the preaching of the cross maybe foolishness to those who are perishing, but to all who believe it is the power of God unto salvation. Amen]

Come home

I found myself singing an old Gospel song , the theme of it is ,come home, this is what God is saying to everyone, for we were created for God to live in his presence, the moment sin entered the world, we left home, God has been seeking us out ever since, speaking to us, His voice has gone round the earth, how?the poet R . Duncan, wrote,{Everything Speaks to me], creation has a voice , but because of sin men do not hear it, but God who is merciful, still speaks,still cries out to everyone , come home, how?. from a cross on which his Son died. Earnestly ,tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me .... ye that are weary come home.[ Father thank you for not giving up on this old sinful world, thank you for so loving this world that you give your Son to die on a cross for sin, thank you in Jesus name, Amen]

It is hard.

Psalm 46v10 tells us to be still, and know that I am God, so many of us are so very busy ,I look at so many people and they are so busy and so burdened with so much. As a preacher I often try to encourage people to take time to pray, yet for some even their quite time can become a clock watching exercise , I believe God understands all the pressure that people live under,[ consider how busy God is yet even He rested], yet nevertheless He knows whats best for you and I, so this day try to be still in Gods presence. [ Dear Father, drop Thy still dews of quietness,till all our strivings cease, take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace, in Jesus name. Amen.]