Clay. [ Romans 8 v29 ]

While on holiday we visited a place where you could try your hand in making a clay pot, I ended up with something that may pass for an egg cup. Making pots from clay has been around for a long time , you throw a piece of soft clay unto a moveable surface, as it moves round you apply water and work the clay with your hands, shaping it , making it to your desired shape. It is in Jeremiah 18, and Romans 9, that God is seen as a potter, His people are the clay, His purpose is to make them,and shape them, to become like His Son,[ Romans 8 v29 ]. This making and shaping can be a painful experience, but is necessary, for all of us, if we are going to be like Jesus.[ Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way , Thou art the potter , I am the clay,mould me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting , yielded and still, Amen ]

Peace [Romans 5 v1 ]

It was prime minister Chamberlain, who returned from negotiating with Hitler, who declared as he waved the piece of paper that he and Hitler had signed , that this insured peace in our time. It was not to be, soon after this, war was declared, and the promised peace was no more. There is an old hymn that has these words , peace perfect peace, in this dark world of sin, the blood of Jesus whispers peace within, I wonder do you know this peace, peace with God?, you can, by simple trusting in Jesus to be your saviour., if you have a Bible do read Romans 5 v1-11. [Father we live in a world that is at war with You , we thank You that Jesus came , in order that we can all know peace with You, by simply trusting Him to be our Saviour, Amen ]

What is in a name? [Romans 11 v 33 ]

Guardian,distinguished,good-natured, intelligent,hard working, organised,and reliable, that is the meaning of my name, which is William, I wonder do I live up to my name?. It is remarkable that there was a man called Jacob ,whose name means deciever,[ and he lived up to his name], that this person was chosen by God, and blessed by God,he became Israel, who had twelve sons, and from them the nation of Israel came, and from that nation our Saviour came. What ever your name or reputation,take encouragement from Jacob, Gods choice, a man changed and transformed by the grace of God, and one who became a blessing to this world,in Christ we all can be transformed and be a blessing to this world. [Father thank You for the wonder of Your grace , through your Son Jesus, that saves us, transforms us, and even makes us a blessing to others, Amen ]

Saints [ Romans 1v7 ]

I have returned from a holiday in Cornwall , which I enjoyed, we stayed at Saint Ives, a lovely little town, it lies in the bay of St Ives. There are a number of towns named after saints, St Austell, St Just, St Mawes, I dont know much about these saints,but it got me thinking about saints. I wonder what your idea of a saint is?. There are three ideas in relation to saints, someone who is very good,loving and kind. Next there is the idea of someone who people pray to,[ of course the Bible clearly teaches that this is wrong], and it is to the bible we turn to for the true meaning of saints, and this is a term used for all Christians, [ C.P= Ephesians 1v1,15, 18. ] in other words all those saved by the grace of God .[ Father we thank You that You have called us Saints, help us by your grace to show a saintliness in our lives , in Jesus name we ask this. Amen ]

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 ]