Burdens. [ Philippians 4 v 6 - 7 ]

It is in 1Peter 5 v 7, we read , /Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you/, these words are both a challenge, and a comfort, the challenge is to give all our worries, and cares to God.The story is told of a man who was walking along carrying a heavy load, a friend stopped in his car and offered him a lift, which he accepted, but he still held unto his load, his friend suggested putting the load in the boot, but he refused saying ,he didnt want to take advantage of his friends kindness, so he continued to carry it. Today let us take advantaged of what God says and cast all our cares upon Him. Often we feel no one cares ,but that is not so ,God cares,and He desires us to rest in Him,and trust in Him, and as we do this we will know peace, and we will see Him undertaking for us. [Dear God help us to obey Your word, help us to cast our burdens upon You, knowing that You care for us , we ask this in Jesus name, Amen ]

Childlikeness. [ Mark 10 v13 - 16 ]

I spoke to someone yesterday, about the importance of being childlike, in order to come to Christ. My 10yr old grandson just recently trusted Christ as Saviour and it bore in upon me what our Saviour said,in Mark 10 v 15, / Anyone who doesnt recieve the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it/. We live in an time when Children are pressed into adult-hood, from an early age, they are it seems to me mini- adults. Children see so much on the T V that robs them of their chilhood, so many of them never have the opportunity to develop in a normal way. And yet there is a child in all of us, and it is that which Christ appeals to, that simple trusting, which takes hold of the Saviours outstretched hand, and when that happens, forgiveness follows,eternal life follows, and best of all Christ becames our friend. [Father in heaven help us to never loose that childlike trust in You, in Jesus name we ask this Amen ]

Sweet hour of prayer.[ Psalm 34 ]

Before Calvary our Saviour prayed , one of the most important things we can do today and indeed everyday, is pray. A lot of people struggle with prayer,none of us are experts, we will always be in the primary school of prayer, but that is not a reason to despair, or give up. We must remember its not what we think of our prayers, its what God thinks that matters, sometimes our prayers seem like a bundle of rags, yet God may see them as very precious, and acceptable.Prayer is act of faith,we will see answers now, but we may not see answers until we get to heaven, I believe prayer is an act of sowing, and there will be a reaping, when I get to heaven, all will be revealed. God desires His Children to pray, and the world needs those who pray, God is calling us to pray. John Newton wrote the following, /Come my soul, thy suit [ pleading ] prepare, Jesus loves to answer prayer, He has bid thee pray, Therefore will not say thee nay. Thou art coming to a King, Large ,petitions with thee bring, For His grace and power are sure, None can ever ask too much. [Dear God thank you for the privllege of prayer, help us to see how vital it is, in Jesus name we ask this Amen ]

Peter. [Mark 14 v 41 ff ]

Peter was very privlleged,as was James and John,cp Matthew 17, Jesus was giving them particular training, for future service. Peter was an obvious leader,he was a confident person, there is much to admire in him, but he had a weakness, in some ways he was a coward, and this is shown in a number of places,/ cp Galatians 2 v11-21, the apostle Paul calls him a hypocrite, because he was afraid of criticism from people who insisted on the necessity of being circumcised to be saved. The other place He showed his cowardice was when Jesus, was betrayed , and arrested,[ Mark 14v 41 ff ] as they were taking Jesus away we read that Peter followed at a distance, there are many Christians who are following Jesus at a distance, just like Peter. From walking at a distance , we next read, of Peter denying Jesus, not once but three times, and thats serious. Like Peter we all have weaknesses, and failings, let us not gloss over them, help us to learn from Peter, but let us not be like him. [ Dear Lord Jesus help us not to follow You at a distance, like Peter Your servant, we have our weaknesses just like him, keep us this day by Your grace, that we may not betray or deney You ,in word , deed ,or thought, Amen ]

It is only a game. [ Matthew 6 v 33 ]

My favourite football side were defeated yesterday, I am a sad man this morning , but it will pass,anyway it is only a game, I dont agree with the late and great Bill Shankley, that football is more important than life. As I reflect on life I watched a mother with a lovely young boy, in a cafe, he was unable to feed himself, he was in a wheel chair, my heart went out to them. These things makes one realize whats important in life, sport is important but its not that important, love is important, and all that love means. Holiness is important, consider the damage sin inflicts upon life, upon the sinner and the sinned against, and most of all against God. Let us all ask the question today what is really important, what would God have us focus on?.Let us all spend a few moments , each day, asking God to show us what is what is most important for us to prioritize in our lives. [God and Father help us today to focus on what is most important in our lives, what You want us to focus on, in Jesus name we ask this Amen ]







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Sometimes. [ Matthew 9 v 37 - 38 ]

Sometimes I have feelings of nostalgia for my home land, this happened yesterday as I listened to that lovely song about the mountians of Mourne that sweep down to the sea, it brought back memories of times spent there on holidays. We can never leave our past , it is part of us, and will remain with us as long as we live. I thank God that I was born in Ulster, for it is a land of churches,and grants great opportunity to hear the gospel, which I did hear from an early age, and accepted the Saviour. As I consider England I am sad ,for so many people have never heard the gospel, and with the decline of Christianty , spiritual darkness is increasing in our young peoples lives, so many people are going to a lost eternity.[ Dear God we cry unto You that in Your mercy You may move in this dear land of England, and bring the lost to Your son Jesus, grant this prayer , please, in Jesus name we ask this Amen ]

God is working His purpose out.[ Ephesians 1 v 19 - 23 ]

To say that God is working His purpose out is a statement of faith,for as we look out on this world, it is so easy, to feel that evil is on the throne, and things are a mess.Islam appears so strong and inpenetrable, people appear to have no desire to seek God, the money markets show how morally bankrupt things are, the rich build fortresses around themselves. We also see goverments that are cruel , many people are suffering, at their hands, history is littered with such goverments, and then there is global warming. It is in the book of Revelation, a book that is full of suffering, of plagues, and of severe persecution of Christians, John who wrote this book was suffering, yet we read in, chapter 19 v 6 [av], / The LORD GOD omnipotent reigneth/. Child of God look up to your Sovereign God , your God reigns, God is working His Sovereign purposes out ,in this world , and in the lives of His children, all will be well. [God and Father, help us by faith to lay hold of the truth, that You reign over this world, and are working Your purposes out , in Jesus name we ask this Amen ]