The enemy at the gate [Romans 4 v18 -21 ]

In Isaiah 36-37, we read how the Assyrian army invaded Judah, and where at the gates of Jerusalem, Assyria was a world power, Judah a small nation. Assyria had conqured many nations, as they stood outside the gates of Jerusalem, they boasted what they would do to the Jews. What do you do when the enemy is at the gate? , for Hezekiah and his subjects things could not have been worse. I wonder is that your situation? , the enemy is at the gate, certain defeat is staring you in the face, take hope today, for Judah survived, for God helped them. [God of ancient Isreal, you delivered your people from their enemies, you delivered them when there was no way out, we look to You, to make a way for us where there is no way, to provide where there is no means, to help where there is no help,we ask this in the name and for the sake of Jesus your Son and our Saviour, Amen. ]

How to cope.[Psalm 121 ]

Lets face it, sometimes it is hard to cope with life, circumstances , problems, that appear to difficult for us to cope with, press in upon us, so this raises the question, how can we cope?. There is a book called, Napoleons glance,[By W Duggan ] it highlights that sudden insight, that Napoleon had ,that enabled him to act in ways that brought victory in the many battles he fought. Life can be a battle and just like Napoleon, we as Christians, can recieve insight from God, wisdom from God that can enable us to know victory . Let us today ,have that upward glance, like the Psalmist in Psalm 121, who said, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help, My help cometh from the Lord , and in doing this we will be enabled to cope, for God will respond, and help us. [ Father help us today to look up to You, and help us to believe, that whatever difficulty we may be facing, You will help us, and enable us to cope , we ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen ]

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 ]