Detour. [I Samuel 15 v1-23]

If one drives a car ,one knows about detours, suddenly instead of getting to your destination, quickly, you have to go a longer way, often it is not convenient, and above all else it goes against our natural desire to get to our chosen destination as soon as possible. In the Bible we read of one of the longest detours ever recorded, Israel had come out of Egypt ,heading for the promised land, a journey that should have taken eleven days, but instead it took forty years, now thats a long detour. Reasons for this was, disobedence, one of the most important lessons, they had to learn was ,obedience, as with them so with us, no matter who you are ,the main thing God wants from you and I ,is very simply, obedience. [Father forgive us for our disobedience, not loving as we should , not doing what you command, please help us to be your obedient children, in Jesus name we ask this, Amen .]

A bargain [Roman 6 v23 ]

Most of us like a bargain, one of my boys likes shopping at charity shops, because of the bargains he is able to pick up, just this week I bought another jacket in my favourite store. I liked it , and it was at a bargain price, I have not yet told my wee wife, she does not understand me, I will keep it my little secret. Anyway it is nice to get a bargain, and of course the greatest bargain is the Gospel, it is freely offered, although it cost God everything, anyone can recieve it, and I mean anyone, yes even you. The Gospel means good news, of a Saviour, who died for sinners, like you and me, through receiving Him we can know forgiveness,and recieve eternal life, now that trully is a bargain. [ Father thank You for the greatest bargain there is, in Jesus your Son, thank You that He is freely offered to everyone, Amen ]

Im not God. [Philippians 2v 5- 11]

It was Cromwell who said , consider young man you may be wrong,and it was W. Churchill, who said of an M.P. there goes God but for the grace of God, man know your place. I was listening to some scientists on the radio,speaking as if they were God, they spoke as if they have arrived at the fullness of knowledge, instead of realizing they are on a journey. We are all on a journey, it is were we arrive at, thats what, is important.The Christian is one who is not alone on that journey,for God in his Son Jesus is with them, and on that journey they are to do right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with their God [Micah 6v 8 ] [ Father forgive us for our lack of humility, forgive us for usurping your place ,and help us to be more like Jesus, even though He was God,He manifested supreme humility, Amen.]

Old Friends.[John 15v12-17 ]

During my life time God has blessed me with dear friends, many I have lost contact with, I heard recently that two old friends have become Christians, mybe you need to pray for your old friends, God just may answer your prayer. Friendship is so important to me, I trully value my friends, and hope to make new ones, God always seems to bring someone into my life, even just for a season, or longer. My dearest and closest friend is Jesus, I really mean this, I talk to Him every day, and He talks to me, but often we dont say much to each other, I just know He is there, sometime those quite times are the best times, as the old Gospel song says ,He is my forever friend, I do hope you Know Him, as your friend, and Saviour. [ Father thank you for the gift of friends, thank you also for your friendship in Jesus. Amen ]

Successful. [Judges 7v1-8]

When I was born, Im told a neighbour cried when she saw me, I was so small, but I survived. The Bible has much to say about smallness , why? simply this ,God gets the glory . Yet if you are a preacher, you want success, you want to see the church full to overflowing, but it seems that it does not happen, this is the day of small things, when was the last time you heard of people being saved? it rarely seems to happen, we remain small, working in our weakness. So what can we learn from this?, for in all of the experiences of life, there are lessons to be learnt. God is working his purpose out, and it so often through the small, the weak, that He is doing this. [ Father often we struggle with our weaknesses, we feel, if only we were free from them , we would be more successful, even more fufilled, help us to see that all things are in your Sovereign hands, even our weaknesses, in Jesus name I ask this ,Amen.]

A special day [Luke 15v11-32 ]

For me Easter Sunday is a special day , as a youngster I had trusted the Saviour, in a childrens meeting, the speaker was known as the Hallelujah milkman, I remember the story he told about sin and I believed on Jesus to save me, and He did. My Christian life began, but as I grew up , my Christian life stopped and started, when I had reached my late teens, it had stopped,until that Easter Sunday, standing at the corner of a street, I asked two neighbours who were on their way to church, could I go with them, they agreed, and that evening God spoke to me, once again ,I felt my need of Christ, and I surrendered my life afresh to Him, that was Forty Three Years ago, I have never forgotten that special day. [ Dear Lord Jesus thank You for salvation that free gift, thank you for loving us even when are love for you is weak, even when we stray from you, Amen. ]

Are you feeling the squeeze?. [Mark 4 v1-20.]

More and more those reminders to all of us ,of Spiritual realities are being squeezed out of life, Christmas has become a consumer binge, Easter is for many just a reason to escape, and gradually consumerism is taking over. Now I like shopping ,we all are consumers, nor am I trying to dictate to anyone , but I am saying this , dont let whatever, squeeze out those Spiritual realities in our lives. Enjoy the things of life , but dont let them consume you, be they sport, habits, buying, selling, whatever, as a J.P.Phillips translation of Romans 12v2, reads ,[ Dont let the world squeeze you into its mould ] [Father I thank you for the many blessings of life I enjoy, for every good and perfect gift, please help me to see beyond the gifts ,to you the Giver, may nothing take Your place in my life. in Jesus name I ask this, Amen.]