Graduation [ Philippians 3 v12-14]

I was at the graduation of my daughter-in-law yesterday, at Southampton university,it was lovely to see all those young people, graduating. I thought about the cost of it all, the hard work, the financial cost, the discipline involved, but the joy that comes with having accomplished, that given task. If we are to be the Christians we should be ,it will mean hard work, it will cost ,it will mean discipline. Being a Christian presents to us all the greatest challenge in life,we will have to continually study Gods word, and,pray, we will have to live not with rules and regulation , but under the law of love, and to keep our eyes on the goal, not looking back, always seeking to go forward and upward, for the heavenly prize, heaven and home. We are not saying we are saved by our efforts, but rather simply that the Christian life involves effort, and a focus on our goal.[ Dear Lord help us to stay focused on the challenge of being a Christian, help us give ourselves fully to You, each day, help us to graduate with honours, for Your glory, Amen ]

Our Guide [ Psalm 48v14]

In Psalm 32 v8, we read,/ The Lord says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life/, God does not save us and then let us get on with it, no He remains with us. We are being told three things,[1] the person who is speaking ,the Lord, consider what those words means, His character, Holy, loving,one who cannot lie. [2] His interest in you personally, God says , I will guide you. [3] The best pathway, I often say to myself as to my present employment, God choose what was best for me, and I rejoice in that daily. [ Dear God we praise You for your constant care for us, and that You are leading us,and that You make no mistakes,help us today to rest in You today, in Jesus name Amen ]

The future [Matthew 6 v 25-34]

Crystal balls,horoscopes, remind us of mankinds desire to know the future,the future can fill us with anxiety, there are many,anxious people at this time. We are in a recession, will I loose my job?,will I be able to manage if I do?, so many things to worry about, people facing a divorce, the list is endless.I read these words in Psalm 31v 15,/ My future is in your hands/, as I was writing this blog I was playing some gospel songs, and I heard these words,/ Many things about tomorrow I dont seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand/. If we are a child of God ,all will be well, because our future is in Gods hands,nothing can harm us, other than what God permits, He will guide, provide,and overrule in all things, goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives. [ Father in heaven, help us not to worry about the future, because our future is in Your hands,help us to rest in Your love, and in the knowledge that You will care for us, in Jesus name. Amen ]

A great challenge. [ 1 Corinthians 13 ]

Lets srike a blow, even a medal, for marriage, so read the headlines in an article in a national newspaper,the writer went on to say that ,/marriage is gruellingly hard , astonishing, a feat of true endurance/. It sounds pretty grim, but it was not meant to to be , it was just being realistic, reminding us of the challenge that marriage presents.Bob Gass in Word for the day,writes about the myth of a perfect marriage, marriage is a mixture of so many things, and lets be honest it is one of lifes great challenges. A work colleague said to me that marriage is full of compromises,true, you do have to give up the TV control, you do have to go shopping when you would rather play golf or watch the football.There should be romance in marriage,give and take,I heard someone say, to us men,when you are wrong admit it, and when you are right, say nothing.For all its challenges, marriage can be tremendously rewarding, and fullfilling, we may not recieve a medal, but we will find so much, that will bless us. [Dear God we thank You, for marriage, we acknowledge that it is a challenge,grant us the grace we need to be faithful, and loving,in our marriages in Jesus name Amen .]

Listening [ Psalm 95 ]

Sometimes I am told , by she who must be obeyed, that I am not listening, if truth was told, she may be right, oh yes I hear her , but it does not register, my mind is on more important things , like the football. I suppose I have another reason, I am a senior citizen,and my hair is going,my teeth is going, and I can make the excuse that my hearing is going also, or mybe it is I dont want to hear what she is saying. I read these words in Psalm 27v8,/ My heart has heard you say, Come and talk with me. And my heart responds , Lord , I am coming/.Here is a person who is really listening, really focused on what God is saying, he listened with his heart, and He reponds from the heart. God often is speaking, but we are not really listening,because our minds are on other things,or we really dont take time to listen,or we may not want to face up to what God is saying, so we dont listen. Today let us listen from our hearts, to what God is saying, and respond from our hearts. [ Dear God,help us to listen to Your voice , from our hearts, and to respond from our hearts , in Jesus name Amen ]

Keep your eyes fixed [Hebrews 12 v1-3]

In Luke 4v4 we read how our Saviour was praised by everyone, and then we read shortly after this how a crowd sought to kill Him[v28-30]. People can be so fickle, so changeable, one day they may cheer you, the next day blame you, one day they may love you , the next day hate you. So let us take to heart the words of Hebrews 12v2, which exhorts us ,/to look unto Jesus/,if we dont we will stumble, we will become discouraged,and give up. This day and everyday lets keep our eyes on Jesus, it is the only way we will get through the Christian life, this may seem an obvious thing to say, but it is important for all that., more important than we realize, it is absolutely vital that we keep our eyes on Jesus.For in Him we recieve grace,mercy, and continual encouragement, in Him we have a friend that sticks closer than a brother, in Him we will be safe, though a storm around is raging, in Him and in Him alone we will experience the peace of God that passeth all understanding , so today fix your eyes on Jesus. [ Dear Lord Jesus help us to keep our eyes fixed on You. Amen ]

Your hearts desires. [ Psalm 37 ]

In Psalm 20, we read /May He grant your hearts desires[v4 ]/ and in the following Psalm 21, we read,/For You have given him his hearts deires [v2]. God does give us our hearts desires,and again in the Psalms we have this expanded in Psalm 37 v1-5, which reads/ Dont worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong, for like grass, they soon fade away, like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you, your hearts desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord,trust Him, and He will help you/. I will not comment on these wonderful words , I would just leave them with you, and pray that they will bless you. [ Dear God we commit all our hearts desires to Your Sovereign will, and trust You to undertake for us in everything, in Jesus name Amen ]