The challenge[ Matthew 5 v38-48 ]

I wonder if my team did not win the league would I rejoice with the team that did?, The word of God tell us to rejoice with those who rejoice, or to be happy with those who are happy [Romans 12 v15 ]. How positive are we at others success? especially if we are honest, we are not particularly fond of that person.The challenge of being a Christian involves us moving out of our natural feelings ,and into the realm of the Spirit, and as we do we are following in the way of the cross. This needs to be broadened out in relation to all of life, to bless those who are not nice ,to love the unlovely, again let me say we cannot do this in ourselves, we must be so filled with the Spirit, so that we are changed from what we once where, to what we should be, like Jesus, who continually blesses the most undeserving.[ Dear Lord help us to be more like You in relation to those people we naturally dont like, fill us with Your Spirit , so that we will rise above our natural selves, Amen]

There is a cost[ Galations5v13 ]

There is a cost when we help people, my wife and I are employed to work with needy people, people who are suffering in different ways. We both love our work but there is a cost my dear wife finds it hard to let go of work when she comes home, she carries her work home in her mind. Yes there is a cost to helping people, doctors, nurses, social workers,police, ambulance drivers, firemen,foster parents, they often pay a price that many dont see, emotionally, yes and physically. So today let us remember all those who are involved in such work , pray for them.[ Dear God we thank You for all the care that You shower upon us, day by day You care and watch over us, as we follow in Your footsteps give us the grace we need to cope, in Jesus name Amen ]

Dont despair. [ Roman 8v31-39 ]

The Christian life is very challenging , it is ongoing and sometimes we struggle if we are honest, it was in this frame of mind, that I started to read the word of God, and I read these wonderful words in 1John4v4,/ He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world/.When waves of tiredness sweep over you, when you are faced with problems, when the enemy is at the gate, when you think there is no hope, take those word from John, use them as shield, as an encouragement . We are not in this on our own, there is one who is with us, to strengthen, protect,provide,to help us, dont believe the enemy, believe God and His word.[ Dear God we give You thanks that we are not on our own, that You are with us, and if You are with us, who can be against us, in Jesus name. Amen.]

What we shall be. [ 1 John 3v1-3]

The people we put up as our heroes often become our Gods, but we soon discover that they are flawed. I read this morning that the church of Tiger Woods has been disbanded,how serious it was a church I am not sure,it seems Mr Perfect is not so perfect,so his worshippers have forsaken him. I pointed out a while back what Oswald Chambers said, that we should always when looking at people take into account sin, and it is so true, all our heroes are flawed, they are inspite of their gifts, sinners, as we all are. As we all are,yes, I am flawed,but one day, all that will change, in 1 John 3v2,we read,/Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him/. What a glorious hope for every dear child of God, we shall be like Jesus, think on those words today.[ Dear God often we are so conscience of our faults ,and failings, help us not to despair and help us to press on to what we shall be when our Saviour returns, Amen ]

What manner of love [1 John 3v1-3]

In his letter the apostle John writes,/ Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God[1 John 3 v1. nkjv]. John Stott says,/It is as if the Fathers love is so unearthly, so foreign to this world, that he wonders from what country it may come. The word always implies astonishment[Plummer]/.There are many things that can fill us with wonder and astonishment, to look on our children when they are born,to see their perfect little fingers and toes , the wonder of a starry sky, the wonder of technology, but the wonder of wonders is as John put it, the Fathers love, bestowed upon us sinners, not only forgiving us but also making us His children, it trully is astonishing.[ Dear Father we thank You for such love shown to sinners such as us, in making us Your children, through Your dear son Jesus, Amen]

It is good to listen.[Hebrews 3 v 7-8]

It is good to talk, but sometimes one finds it hard to know what to say, someone said God has given us two ears and one mouth in order that we listen more than we speak. I am sure God wants us to listen to Him more than we do, if we are talking all the time we will not hear Him, and if we dont hear Him, we are missing out spiritually.In the Revelation 2-3, we have these words spoken a number of times,/ Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying/. Mybe our prayer should be,Lord help me to listen, I am convinced many of us are not listening, oh yes we meet with Gods people, [although less than we used to], that is the easy part, but the hard part is for us on our own, to listen, to what God is saying to us. God is speaking in so many ways, through circumstances, by what others say to us, through His word, the question is are we listening?. [ Dear God we are sorry that so often we are not listening to what You are saying, so today we ask that You would help us to listen, in Jesus name, Amen ]

He will help [Hebrews 13v6]

Another sermon to prepare,what am I going to speak on?,it can sometimes be a bit overwhelming, life is like that, each new day brings demands .The to do list gets bigger and bigger , we got a new recordable box for the TV , the initial feeling was how am I going to work this, modern technology is great but sometimes it is bit overwhelming, life can be like that in so many areas, and in so many ways. Here is a word from God to us all,/Dont be afraid, for I am with you,Dont be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.[ Isaiah 41 v 10] In the midst of life with all its demands, God will help us, He will give us all the help we need, just take time today to seek His help, He will be true to His word. [ Dear God thank you for all Your past help, we ask for present help , in all the challenges of this a new day, in Jesus name , Amen ]