Was it by chance? [Genesis 24 v 27 [A V]

Was it by chance I met an old friend while on holiday ? someone I had not seen for many years, no it was not by chance, I believe in the providence of God. What is the providence of God ? it is not fatalisim, it is a belief that God is sovereign, and as one writer puts it,/ that everything in the world and in our lives down to the minutest details is ordered by God/. I commend a book to you , it is , /The mystery of providence, by John Flavel, [ Banner of Truth ]. As I look back on my life I see the hand of God, clearly in my life, ruling and overruling, and causing all things to work together for my good [ Romans 8 v28 ] [Mighty Sovereign God we thank You for your providential workings in our lives, in Jesus name we pray this , Amen ]

Trust. [ Proverbs 3v 5-6 ]

I am going on holiday this morning will return in a weeks time, just a little thought, yesterday a friend showed me an American dollar, and I read these words on it ,/ in God we trust/. Think upon those words they are important ,remember the Lord is totally trustworthy , he will not fail those who trust in HIM. [ Father help us to trust in You, for salvation, for guidance, for provision, to trust in you with all our hearts, we ask this in Jesus name ,Amen. ]

With the Lord [ John 11 v 25 ]

I recieved a phone call from a friend informing me that a dear Christian we both know has gone to be with the Lord, he did not say he had died, he used that term , he is with the Lord. How do you view death? a good question, a friend of mine, told me how his uncle would say to people, can you tell me how to get to heaven?, he knew how to get to heaven, he just wanted to challenge that person to think about the most important question in life. Have you thought about how do you get to heaven? well in case you dont know, let me tell you. The first thing to consider is Jesus, the second is to trust Him, let me repeat this , trust Him, to save you, that rules out everything else, even self. [Father we thank you that you so loved us that you gave Jesus,to save us, and take us to heaven. Amen ]

Stay focused [Matthew 14 v 22- 32 ]

I love football, yet I can appreciate other sports, I have played different sports, but I have never played cricket, I would like to have played it, but it never happened. As I have observed cricket I admire the batsman, for his bravery,and from what I have read , Donald Bradman was the greatest batsman ever, he scored a tremendous lot of runs, for Australia .He had tremendous ability, and most important he had wonderful powers of concentration, in other words he stayed focoused, he kept his eye on the ball. As a Christian of many years I believe it is so very important to stay focused, why did Peter begin to sink ?, [Matthew 14 v 22-32 ] because he did not stay focused on Christ, today stay focused on Jesus. [Father help us to stay focused on Jesus today, grant us this grace, in His name we ask this, Amen . ]

The Christians vital breath. [ Matthew 6 v 5 - 14 ]

On the 1st May1873 David Livingstone , who was ill, was found kneeling as if in prayer,dead, he was aged 60.The hymn writer wrote, Prayer is the Christians vital breath, the Christians native air , his watchword at the gates of death, he enters heaven with prayer. The challenge of prayer is so important , most Christians know this, I know it, and yet we can so easily neglect it, it takes time to pray , it often takes effort. Whatever it takes , it is important, that we pray, it is important that we pray about everything, that we seek to acknowledge God in all our ways. Our Saviour taught that we should always pray and never give up [Luke 18 v1 ]my study Bible says,/ As we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith , and hope./ [ Dear Lord Jesus, help us to pray , fill our hearts with a burning desire, to pray, Amen. ]

A weakness offering. [ 2 Corinthians 12v 9 ]

This year is the 400th anniversary of the birth of the poet John Milton [1608-1674 ], John was the penman for the commonwealth,that was led by Oliver Cronwell. John became blind,but still served the Lord, he was a Christian, he wrote many things, and in a poem related to his blindness, he penned these words ,/ They also serve who only stand and wait/.Of all the things he wrote , those words are remembered the most. Many people can find themselves with a handicap ,age and infirmities catch up with us all,and with this ,there also can come feelings of frustration, of uselessness,so take encouragement from the words of the blind poet, remember God loves us in our weaknesses .[ Loving Heavenly Father, we come to You in our weakness , and offer it up to you as an offering,please accept it, for the sake of Jesus, Amen ]

Because they care. [James 5 v 16 - 18 ]

I am sure I am not the only person who struggles at times, many of us struggle, there are moral struggles, financial struggles, health struggles, struggles within marriage, one could on, what are you struggling with?. I recieved a letter recently and in it the person wrote, I pray for you each day, that is an encouragement to me, it reminds me that I am not on my own in my struggles. I am sure whatever struggle you are involved in ,there are those faithful people who are praying for you. It is so easy to feel isolated and alone in life,and this can drive us to despair, do take encouragement from the fact that you are supported by the prayers of those who care for you. [Father we thank you for those dear people who pray for us, because they care, thank you in the name of Jesus. Amen. ]