Good Friday.[ Luke 23 v39-43 ]

For every one looking on , at Christ on the cross it,it appeared the end for Jesus, after all death has that meaning to it, the disciples felt it was the end for them also , no more Jesus to teach them , no more witnessing His miracles, no more listening to his words, no more anything just memories, they had hoped for so much more. Then there were those who must have felt relief at his death , glad even, that this trouble maker was at last out of the way, things could settle down, He would no longer be a pain in their side. But there was one exception, just one, we read of, a thief, a thief who in his darkest hour, had a sudden revelation, a saving revelation, for he saw not just another victim, but one who was dying for him, dying for his sins, he called on Jesus and was granted eternal life, amazing but true. [Father on this good friday I simple want to thank you, for Jesus, for His dying for me, on that cross, for my sins ,Amen.]

Bread. [ Mark 14 v26-38 ]

I like bread, my favourite is soda farls, a Northern Ireland speciality, best fried, I suppose thats one of the reasons why they have a very high rate of heart problems. Bread has been seen as the staff of life, a vital part of mans diet, somthing we feel we cannot live without, to me it is symbolic, of many things. Consider the many things you feel , that you cannot live with out?, now consider if those things were withdrawn from you. This is what happened to Israel they went hungry, God permitted this to happen, Why? here is the answer, that they would understand , that they should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God [Matthew 4 v4 ] , so dont be surprised if God withdraws certain things from your life, in order to teach you valuable lessons. [ Father I know you love me so much, and I know you have a loving purpose for my life,as You teach me lessons, help me not to rebel,but to trust you in all things, I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen ]

Sensitive. [Ephesians 6 v10-18 ]

I wonder am I sensitive?, I suppose I am a mixture , sensitive and insensitive, often I get the balance wrong, as indeed we all do. The word of God tells me that I have within me the Holy Spirit , we are told that our bodies are temples. We are told we can grieve Him, that we can even resist Him, yet He continues with us, convicting, guiding,and comforting us. Today let us yield ourselves afresh to Him , let us be sensitive to His presence in our lives, we need to be filled afresh ,daily, for it is only in His strength , will we be able, to live as we should, in obedience to the word of God, and so glorify our Saviour. [Father fill me afesh with your Spirit,and so accomplish in me today, some new work of loving grace, unreservedly have your way, I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.]

So many burdens. [Isaiah 41 v 10 ]

Burdens , so many people are carrying them, behind many a smile there is often a burdened person, mybe as you read this you are carrying a burden, a financial burden, the burden in your marriage, with your children, a burden of ill health. The world is a burdened place , what can one do , despair? turn to drink, or comfort eating, or shop till we drop,when Iwas a child, I loved going to the cinema , it was a little world I could loose myself in, but I am no longer a child , So what does one do ? Well I have found one who first of all took my burden of sin , He removed that awful burden , no one else could, His name is Jesus, then I found in Jesus one who undertakes in every situation, one who says cast your burden upon Me and I will sustain , and support you. [Father thank You that You see all our burdens, burdens that could so easily destroy us, burdens that can crush us , thank you , that you are not just a spectator but one who involves Himself in our situations, one who tells us not to despair, so in the name of Jesus, we cast all our burdens upon You, Amen.]

A Maze.[Psalm 23.]

Life is sometimes like a maze in which we dont know the way out, sometimes we dont know which way to go for the best, so we need to fix our minds on Gods word, which continually reminds us that , there is one who goes before us leading the way. There are times in which I look back and I am amazed how God has lead me, the hymn writer wrote ,[All the way my Saviour leads me, what have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy who through life has been my guide. Life in its very nature is uncertain ,but for us who are children of God, we have this wonderful assurance that we are being lead, I read these two verses , the first in Psalm31v15 it reads [ My future is in Your hands.]the next is in Psalm 32v8. [The Lord says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.] , so in all your ways ackowledge Him and He will direct your paths. [Lord sometimes I am fearful about the future, thank you that you do not leave us to flounder in uncertainity, but gentle remind us, that you will lead and guide us all the days of our lives, thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.]

Change. [ 2 Corinthians 5 v17 ]

Life is full of change , the weather, our bodies,circumstances, etc, it means so often we have to adopt to those changes . This is Palm Sunday the day our Savior rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, the crowds cheered Him but there was also those who feared Him, why should they fear Jesus , because He was seen as a threat, one who threatened the status quo, they did not want what He offered, change . Let us ask the question, are we prepared to accept the challenge of change in our lives, to accept Christ as our Saviour ?, this is a decision that will trully change our lives, and will be a change for the better. [ Father thank you for Jesus, who will always change our lives for the better, Amen. ]

Blindness [ Hebrews 11v6 ]

Many years ago I had a workmate who was blind ,he sought to live an independant life, but he still needed someone at times to help him, the simple fact is he could not see , so at times ,he had to trust himself to others. Many people want to see what lies ahead, but the fact of the matter is ,they cant, the Bible says we walk by faith, that simply means we trust God to lead and guide us, there is no crystal ball, there is simply trust,consider these words from Hebrews 11,[ By an act of faith,Abraham said yes to Gods call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. T M.] To the natural man this can appear madness, but it is Gods way for His children, and is the best way.[ Father I come to you in faith, you are invisible to the natural eye, help me to trust , your leading, help me to see were my true security lies, help me to trust in You at all times, in Jesus name I pray this, Amen.]