Darkness.[ John 8 v12

In Genesis 1v2, we read,/The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water/ ,darkness still appears to cover the earth. In 1 John 5 v19 we read,/the world around us is under the control of the evil one/,John is not exaggerating ,the fact of the matter if one does not know Christ ,then one is in darkness. My study Bible declares , there is no middle ground, it is as simple as that, it is black and white,light and darkness. As I consider these things I sometimes despair, as I think of so many dear people who are in darkness,so many going into eternal darkness, all because they are in darkness, a darkness they love, [John 3 v19].Yet God is merciful, let us not give up in despair, let us pray and shine, and who knows God may have mercy and save those who are in danger of perishing. [Jonah 3][ Dear God we see the darkness that so many are in, we pray that You would move in mercy, and save in Jesus name Amen ]

Falling [Psalm 121]

I dont mind the snow. it is when it turns to ice, thats when I dont like it, it becomes a bit of a nightmare to drive on , and to walk on. As I have gingerly walked on the icy footpath , I am praying, [well I suppose it is a good thing if it causes us to pray], that I will not fall. I think life is like walking on ice ,it is so easy to fall, I am so conscious of the dangers to my soul,[Do once in your life read Pilgrims Progress it is still very applicable to our spiritual life in the 21st century] yes we are vunerable, but we are not on our own, there is one with us who is able to keep us from falling.[Jude v24], Paslm 121, reminds us afresh that we need to keep our eyes fixed on our God,and v3, reads,/He will not let you stumble. So let us step into each day with confidence in our God and Saviour, the one who will keep us from falling.[ Dear Savior keep us form falling Amen ]

Let it be. [Psalm 9 ]

The words of a Beatle song comes to mind,/ Let it be/, it raises the question ,when do you interfere and when do you let it be. There is a time to say ,and do something, but often more often than we realize there is a time ,to let be, and pray, and trust in God, to work things out.Take the account of David and Saul, Saul treated David very badly ,sought to kill him time after time, David was hunted like a criminal. In the midst of all this trouble David had two opportunities to kill Saul but he didnt,[ 1Samuel24/26], he let it be, and trusted God to deal with the situation, and He did.It is so easy to act, and it may be that we have just cause to act ,to speak that word, or to strike out on our own,but it may not be what God wants us to do. Let us remember that God sees all things, He is just, and if we act in keeping with His will, He will honour that.[ Dear God and Father ,help us to do the right thing, to know when to act and to know when to let it be, in Jesus name Amen ]

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 ]