Home [John 14 v 1-6 ]

I read the following quotes in the Readers Digest about home life/, A home keeps you from living with your parents/ Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in /, Margaret Thatcher said,/Any woman who understands the problems of running a home will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country/. I wonder what you think of ,when you think of home?, which reminds me of the old hymn , which says /, this world is not my home, I am just passing through/. Our homes here are important, but they are temporary dwelling places, in John 14, our Saviour tells His followers that He is preparing a home for them, I wonder what that home will be like? [Father sometimes we get homesick for our heavenly home, that dwelling place,which is being prepared for us , by our Saviour,help us to hold lightly to the the things of this life, and to keep our eyes firmly on our eternal destination, in Jesus name we ask this ,Amen .]

Gain [ Hebrews 12 v 1-12 ]

We all know the saying ,there is no gain without pain, it may appear an uncaring thing to say, especially to those who are suffering pain. If we are a Christian, the word of God tells that God is causing all things to work together for our good [Romans 8 v28 ], that means even the pain. Pain is not something any of us wants, be it physical, or emotional,but I do believe that we are gaining something from our pain, in fact I believe it is a very effective instrument in Gods hands, to make us better people. In 1 Peter 1v 6-7 , trials are seen as a purifying experience ,that shows that our faith is genuine,also in 1 Corinthians 1 v 4, because we have recieved comfort from God in our troubles, so we are then enabled to comfort others who are suffering ,we can identify with others in their suffering, there is, a gain from pain . [ Dear loving heavenly Father help us in our pain not to rebel against You, grant us the grace to trust You, and not to become bitter, we ask this in Jesus name Amen. ]

The power of words.[ James 3 v 1-12 ]

In Proverbs 12 v 6, [NLT ] we read,/The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the Godly save lives/. Let us be very clear, words are important, as this verse tells us ,they have an affect , for bad or good, we can literally kill someone with our words, sad to say Christians are not immune from doing this. It is easy to speak without thinking, but it is so sad when we do think , and use our words in a calculating way to really hurt someone. The verse also reminds of the good we can do with our words, we all need to hear positive words spoken to us , many dear people are carrying burdens, whiich we do not see, let us not add to their burden, by speaking unkind , and hurtful words. There is a world out there that needs to hear the word of life about Jesus, let us ask God to help us with our words today. [Father forgive us for those hurtful ,painful words that we have spoken to others, help us to change, touch our hearts in such a way that our words would be healing words, comforting words, saving words, we ask this in the name of Jesus , Amen ]

Shine [ Matthew 5 v14-16 ]

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam , to shine for Him each day ,in everyway try please Him, at home at work , at play, so goes the little childrens chorus, we used to sing. There is so much darkness in this world, so many are stumbling around, involved in so many things that are wrong, so Jesus tells us to let our light shine, [Matthew 5 v 16 ]. The little chorus stresses three places were we need to shine, [ 1 ] Home, am I the light in my home ? I often think, the home is the hardest place to shine, [ 2 ] Work, your workmates are watching, so shine, [3 ] Play,a legitimate activity,but even there we can move into the darkness, pornography. Today the challenge is, to shine, to be a sunbeam for Jesus. [Oh God of light, and holiness, help us to shine, to say , ill be a sunbeam for Jesus, grant it Lord, Amen ]

I was reminded [ Matthew 17 v 20 ]

I had a visit from one of my sons and family, ane he reminded me of how God had answered a need, many years ago. It was a time when as a family we needed a car, as a family we prayed together ,so one evening the boys and I prayed about our need, when we finished praying, my oldest boy said , I believe God can give us a car in fifteen minutes. Well I left the boys and went down to the living room ,and there was a knock on our door, a fellow Christian was there, and he said I have a car for you. [Father we thank You for answering our prayers, in the past, help us to believe that You will answer our prayers in the present, we ask this in Jesus name, Amen ]

Do it.. [ Matthew 7 v 24-27 ]

In Ezekiel 12 v 7, we read these words, /So I did as I was told/, and he was called to do strange things,called to speak difficult words , to a difficult people. Most parents have said to their children, why do you not do what I tell you. As you read the history of Israel , a disasterous history in many ways, a nation that at time prospered, but more often than not, they didnt, and the reason was, very simple, they didnt do what God said. Time after time God spoke to them ,but they just did not listen, they continually , resented what God said to them, the result was they suffered untold misery. This disobedience came to a head when their Messiah came , did they listen?, no,we all know what happened, they crucified the Lord of glory, if only they had listened and believed, they would have spared themselves so much pain . Today let all of us see the importance of not only listening , but of obeying what God says to us. [ Dear Lord Jesus help us to obey you in all things ,Amen ]

A Gideon moment [ Judges 6 ]

I was meeting with some lovely Christians recently, yes there are some about, and one of them used the term, it was a Gideon moment. Gideon became a leader of Israel at a time when his people were being oppressed, and it was then God called him, to challenge and fight the oppressers. Gideon was a cautious person, needed reassurance from God, and God give him it, God is very understanding , more than we give Him credit for. But Gideons faith was challenged , he was faced with a enormous task, yet God appeared to strip him of the needed resources, humanally speaking defeat stared Gideon in the face. Inspite of the size of the task and his limited resources Gideon obeyed God and won a great victory, Gideon was honoured and God was glorified. When any of us are faced with God given tasks remember let us remember that Gideon moment. [Dear God thank you for the story of Gideon, a story that reminds us that You can use us, even with our weaknesses, the main thing being is that You recieve the glory, we pray this in Jesus name ,Amen .]