Dangers [ Psalm 121 ]

Our road is very dangerous ,it is a side road,the snow has turned to ice, better to skate on ,than to drive on. There are many dangers in life, the obvious ones, the hidden ones,so we must be careful, the dangers ,the Christian faces, are the world, the flesh, and the devil.The world has its standards ,they are opposed to Gods standard, the flesh ,just read how the godly king David fell[2 Samuel 11], the devil, he wants you to fall. These are the dangerous , they are real, so we must take then seriously, and we must overcome them prayerfully, let him who thinks he stands , take heed lest he falls[1 Corinthians 10v12]. We are not to live in fear of the dangers but we must live with an awareness of our weakness,and the importance of relying upon our God. [Dear God we ask that You would preserve and protect us from the dangers that are ever present, in Jesus name Amen]

It will happen. [ 2 Peter 3 ]

As I looked at the nativity scene in my home, I thought of the of that first promise of a Saviour in Genesis3v15, and its fulfillment, it was along a time coming, a long time . I was talking to someone recently who is not a believer and he was saying that the apostle Paul appeared to believe that Jesus would come back soon, and it had not happened.Let me say, that the apostle Paul believed and taught ,that the Lord could come back anytime,all believers believe this, but when we do not know.[Matthew 24v36ff]. We are in the waiting game, and only God has the final throw of the dice, so until that moment let us keep holding unto the promise of His coming, and live in the light of it, it will happen.[ Dear God we thank You that Jesus came the first time, that the promise of His coming was fulfilled, help us to keep hold of the promise of His second coming, that it will happen, and help us to live in the light of it, in Jesus name Amen ]

Gone [ Psalm 103v 12 ]

I found myself singing an old chorus which goes,/ Gone, gone,gone, gone ,yes my sins are gone, now my soul is free and in my heart a song. Buried in the deepest sea , yes thats good enough for me, I shall live eternally , Praise God, my sins our gone/. I was talking to a person recently who was troubled by their past,things they had done,we all have a past , there are things I have done of which I am ashamed . I cannot change the past, I wish I could, but I dont have to live with it, because I met Jesus, who forgive me all, my sins, everyone of them, and they really are gone. I love that verse in Isaiah 1v18, / Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,though they be red like crimson,they shall be as wool./[ Dear God we thank You for the miracle of forgivness through Your Son Jesus Amen ]

The Future [ 2 Peter 3 ]

The future is orange, so the advert reads, as to life on planet earth the future is uncertain the nations representives are meeting to try to work out an agreement ,to try and save the future of this little speck of a planet. As a Christian I believe that we should all do our beat to preserve life, and yet as a Christian I see beyond this present world to a time when all things will be made new, a new exsistence,were there will be no pollution,no plundering, no poor, no politics, no people who will cause havoc, when heaven and earth will be one. Our present situation on earth could and may turn into a nightmare, but I have a dream of something more wonderful, an eternal dream , I am looking forward to the new heavens and earth Christ has promised, a world filled with Gods righteousness.[ 2 Peter 3 v13][ Dear God help us to do all we can to make this world a better place, enviromentally, morally, and spiritually, but help us to keep our eyes on a greater glory. in Jesus name Amen ]

Thirsty. [John 4v 1-26]

As I read something the morning,it touched my heart, and I felt tears coming,for it was about people in great need, not material need, spiritual need, people who were drinking at the wrong well, drinking the wrong sort of water.The fact of the matter is ,people can have good health,can be wealthy, can have fame, and still have a hole that cant be filled, the present example is Tiger Wood, the world is full of people like him. The only one who can trully meet the need of the human heart is Jesus, He said,that those who drink of the water that He would give would never thirst again. [John 4v13]. Are you thirsty? come to Jesus, accept Him as your Saviour and He will meet the deepest need of your heart. [ Dear Saviour we thnk You ,that You can meet the need of the human heart Amen ]

Salt. [Matthew 5 v13]

In John Blanchards excellent book,/ Does God believe in Atheists?,he writes that Voltaire said,/ I want my lawyer, tailor, valets, even my wife to believe in God. I think if they do, I shall be robbed less and cheated less/. A belief in God should make a difference in peoples lives, that is a general statement, I want to narrow it down to a belief in Christ. If we are Christians then it should follow that people are able to trust us with their money, their children,their wives, our Lord expects nothing less. Our Saviour said that we are the salt[Matthew 5v13], that is the challenge we are faced with everyday, if we loose that , if we fail to be the salt then we are of little value to God.[ Dear God help us to be the salt of the earth today, to make a difference for good, to be trustworthy, loving ,and faithful in Jesus name.]

Scarred[ Isaiah 53 ]

Scars of honour and scars of shame, on my left leg I have a scar, it was caused by a firework, I have carried that scar for all of my life , it is a reminder of a painful experience. I was listening to the wireless[ that word shows my age], and I heard the reader speak of having no childhood scars, he is very fortunate, for many ,many, people have scars from their childhood, they are not physical, but they are real and lasting, and cannot be removed by plastic surgery.they are scars of shame.Many in Ireland have them ,it was with great sadness ,that I read the news of the terrible, horrendous, awful abuses by priests,on children. Today let us pray for those dear people in Ireland who have suffered abuse, and indeed for all such people, people who been scarred by others.[ Dear God we bring to You all those who have been scarred by others, that You would grant healing, in Jesus name Amen]