Ask God for grace.[2 Corinthians 12 v1-10]

Have you got that Monday morning feeling?well you are not on your own , many people are like you, so what is the answer? To ask God for grace , this is always the answer, because whither it is Monday morning, or whatever, the grace of God is the answer. So just were you are, bow your head ,and ask God for grace, the word grace means favour, when we ask, we are admitting we need help from God, that is a very healthy attitude. We are dependant children, and we always will be, depending on our loving heavenly Father, so let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we find grace to help us when we need it most.[ Hebrews 4 v16 ] [Father be pleased to grant us , the grace we need , in Jesus name we ask this, Amen.]

I dont understand.[Psalms. 42-43. ]

There are many things we dont understand, I was reading Psalm 45, it is a prayer ,offered up to God, by a man who didnt understand why Israel was suffering. You see he believed they were doing what was right, so why were they suffering?. Why did Job a good man suffer? he was a godly person, prayed ,and sacrificed, yet he suffered greatly. there are many reasons for suffering, many. Let us go back to the two previous Psalms, 42-43, the writer is going through a trial, he is discouraged, and in the midst of his trial he prays, I will put my hope in God,like him, we may not understand why we are suffering, but we can and should hope in God, by faith.[ Father have mercy upon us, help us to trust You , to hope in you, in the midst of our trials, in Jesus name.Amen.]

Honour.[Romans 12 v1 ]

There is a lovely story in John 12 of a lady called Mary, who honoured Jesus, by pouring very expensive perfume over Jesus feet. This word honour has a number of meanings, in the Hebrew, it can mean beauty, in English, it can mean worship. Often the things people do in the name of honour are far from beautiful, but what Mary did was beautiful, let us ask this question, are we prepared to honour Jesus in a manner that could be considered beautiful, even if we are criticised, like Mary was?. Next in honouring Jesus make it an act of worship, an act that pleases Jesus. [ Father , help us to copy Mary, to honour You , in ways that are beautiful, in Jesus name , Amen .]

Forgiveness [Matthew 6v9-15 ]

I was struck with something I read recently, by my favourite writer, Philip Yancey on forgiveness, he wrote, [forgiveness is achingly diffiicult, and long after you are forgiven, the wound lives on in the memory. Forgiveness is an unnatural act].Why should anyone forgive? in the Old Testament, the Lord commanded Israel, to provide cities of refuge, were those guilty of manslaughter could go and be safe from the avenger, if they stepped out side that refuge they could legally be put to death. I read someone recently saying about having vengeance on those who were guilty for the death of his son, vengeance is the natural reaction, getting even appears the right way, the natural way, but then we look on the cross, we see Gods Son , nailed to that cross, we hear Him speak the words , forgive them, this is not the natural thing to say , but it is Gods way, so today are we going to choose the natural way or Gods way?.[ Father we find it hard to forgive those who hurt us, or hurt those we love, help us forgive as we have been forgiven in Jesus name we ask this, Amen.]

Noise [Isaiah 40v 28-31 ]

I remember a person saying God likes noise, I somehow dont think so, oh yes He loves to hear our praise, but noise, I cant see that. As I grow older I do not appreciate noise, I prefer quite soothing music, when we get to heaven the volume will be perfect, and no one will complain about the noise, we will all have perfect neighbours. As you go through this day try to find a place of quietness, turn the music off and the T.V. and sit quietly and commune with God. [Dear God and 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 we ask this, Amen.]

Looking at others.

In John 21v 21, Peter asks a question to Jesus, what shall this man do?, he was speaking of John, our Saviour answered, what is that to you? in the A.V. He also says, follow thou Me. It is so easy to look at others, for many reasons, they become the focus of our vision, this is a very negative road to go down, and even a potentialy dangers for us. Today and every day we must keep focused on Jesus, that is what He told Peter, an old testament saint said these very challenging, and instructive words, he is speaking to Israel, here is what he says,choose you this day whom you will serve, ...... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. [Joshua 24v 15 ] [Father God we get so easy distracted at times, we are so busy looking at others, we loose our way, become critical, help us today to focus our vision on our Saviour, and follow Him.Amen.]

God keeps His word. [2 Corinthians 1v 20 ]

In Joshua 21v45, we read, Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfufilled, everything He had spoken came true.There is something that God cannot do, He cannot lie,[ Titus 1v2 ] God is a person of His word, what He says He will do, He does. Everything depends on God keeping His word ,our salvation, our relationship,our hope in Christ, the saints in the bible took God at his word, they believed it, acted on it, and found it to be true, so will we, you can depend on it , my study Bible says ,There is no duplicity in God. [ Father God thank you for all your wonderful promises, which you have fulfilled in our lives, and for those promises you will fulfill, in Jesus name ,Amen.]