Dont give up [2 Corinthians 4 v 8-18 ]

I met a chap ,someone I have known for a long time, he is a Christian,but he is having problems in his marriage, and it is obivious that he is struggling spiritually. The very nature of life will bring problems for we live in a fallen world, there will always be something that will challenge us. For that dear brother its his marriage,for others its a disability, physical, mental, financial, we must face reality, some Christians believe everything can be solved, sickness can be healed , the dead can be raised, and so on, and of course all things are possible with God. But it seems that for most of us we will have to cope with difficulties of one kind or another. The good news is we dont have to cope on our own, Jesus is with us ,in our deepest trials, not only as a spectator, but as one who will comfort us, grant us the grace we need, and in it all make us better people.[ Dear God help us to cope with our on going problems, problems that cause us pain, and sometimes even to dispair,grant us the grace we need to not give up in Jesus name Amen]

Family [1John 2 v7-11 ]

One of the important aspects of Christmas is family, which makes it rather painful for those who have no family or no relationship with their family.I thankfully have a resonable relationship with my children and grandchildren, I also manage to keep in touch with my brothers and sister. If we are Christians we are part of a family, the family of God, and that is very, very ,important, and yet, for many, to many that relationship is not what it should be, what should be?.Well it should be loving, it should be a place of acceptance for all members of that family, it should be a place of love, it should be a place of generosity , and so we could go on, it should reflect all that it means in being a Christian, and its not just for Christmas.[ Dear Heavenly Father we thank You That in Your great love that You have brought us into Your family, help to love our Christian family, in Jesus name Amen ]

Gifts [ Romans 6 v23 ]

Well I have opened my Christmas presents, did I get what I was hoping for?, yes, my dear wife bought me a lovely camcorder, I just have to learn to use it. She bought me a camcorder years ago, I used it for a while, then stopped, I have passed it unto my son. When God saves us it is through His son Jesus, Romans 6v23 reads ,/ The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord/, Here is the all important question , have you recieved that gift? I spoke to ,two of my brothers yesterday wishing them a happy Christmas, many years ago they recieved that gift from God, but for whatever reason they neglected it, like so many unused gifts, To some extent I did the same, but the Lord graciously restored me to Himself, that was 45yrs ago, we cannot afford to neglect Christ, there are no advantages in neglecting Gods gift ,only disadvantages.[ Dear God we pray for all those who recieved Your most precious gift , and have neglected Him, have mercy and restore them once again, in Jesus name Amen ]

A favourite Carol.[luke 2 v8-14]

Do you have a favourite carol, I have a number, Silent night, O Little town of Bethlehem, Away in a manger,now I know it is easy to criticise some of these carols, the one thing I would say is they dont lead anybody astray,for they are all without exception about Jesus. Christmas in the west is a far cry from what it should be, yet we hope and pray that in spite of this, some will be led to the truth of knowing Christ as their Saviour. To retun to the subject of carols one carol I am very fond of is,/ In the bleak mid -winter/, I know that it is obvious Christ was not born in the bleak mid-winter, but somehow it appears to ring true as we look out at this Christmas, this year.It is the last verse that to me is the most meaningful, and challenging,/What can I give Him poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb, If I were a wise man, I would do my part, yet what I can I give Him- give my heart./[Dear God , we thank You that You so loved the world, that You gave your only begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Amen ]

How long , O Lord.[Habukkuk 2v4]

I am glad I am not the only one who becomes impatient with God, the prophet Habakkuk was impatient , he kept praying for things to change, and yet nothing appeared to be happening.I am sure that there are many dear Christians who are like Habakkuk, praying for children who have gone astray, praying for a change in circumstances,praying.The good news was God was going to answer Habakkuks prayer, but here is the twist in it,not in the way he imagined,and the answer would come in Gods time. Let us not limit God, He will answer , our prayers not always in the way we think, but He will answer, and in His time, His timing is perfect.In chapter 2v4 we have one of the most important verses in the Bible, it tells us that the just shall live by faith, in our impatience,in our lack of understanding what God is doing let us hold on in faith.[ Dear God help us to live by faith, to trust in You, and Your will , for our lives, in Jesus name Amen ]

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 ]