Shame. [ Matthew 26 v69-75 ]

The dictionary meaning of the word shame is,/Dishonour and disgrace, to loose the respect of others because of improper behaviour/. We live in a time when wrong is seen as right, and right is seen as wrong,there appears to be no feeling of shame, by so many. In Leviticus 21v6, God says to Israel,/that they were set apart to be holy and that they must never bring shame on the name of God/. I love the writings of Oscar Wilde, but he brought great shame on himself, and his family ,by his actions. Life will bring us into situations when we have to make a moral choice, if we make the wrong choice we will bring shame on ourselves, our families, and our God, if we make the right choice we avoid so much that is painful, and in particular, the pain of shame. A shameful act can stay with us for the rest of our lives, we will never regret making the right choice, but we most certainty will regret making the wrong choice.[ Dear God help us to make right choices in our lives,help us never to bring shame on ourselves, our families, and on You, in Jesus name Amen ]

He will make a way.[ Exodus 14 ]

Sometimes we are faced with situations and circumstances , and there appears to be no way out, the Israelites were in such a situation /Exodus 14/, in their case, God had brought them into this place. They were trapped, their enemy, it seemed ,was about to destroy them, those who survived would be taken back to Egypt as slaves.The situation was desperate, they were facing a well trained army, they were no match for them, the game was up, or so it seemed.Yet God had a plan and a purpose ,He was going to receive great glory, by delivering His people, and this He did,Moses declares,/ The Lord Himself will fight for you, just stay calm[14v14]/, and He did, and they were delivered, God made a way. There is a modern song which tells us that God will make a way were there appears to be no way, what ever difficulty we may be facing in our lives , God can make a way, so stay calm ,He can deliver, He can provide, He can make a way. [Dear God we bring our situation to You, and ask that You would make a away, in Jesus name Amen ]

We have a choice.[ Psalm 118 v24]

Monday morning again, some people would like Monday mornings removed, but what can we replace it with?. As we start our working week we can either face it with joy, or depressing thoughts, the choice is ours. Life can be seen as meaningless,[Ecclesiastes 2v11], or we can look at it as a gift from God, an opportunity to serve the Lord by helping others.We can begin this day with sadness, or we can say in the words of the Psalmist,/ This is the day that the Lord has made ,we will rejoice and be glad in it [118v24]/, whats it going to be? I know what I am going to choose, so roll on Monday morning.[ Dear Heavenly Father help us to rejoice in You today in Jesus name Amen ]

Love is. [ 1 Corinthians 13 ]

On this valentines day we turn our thoughts to the subject of love ,not romantic love, but Christian love.We become upset when certain Christians , we call them liberals do not accept certain doctrines, or people dont use the translation that Paul used, but we fail to rise to the challenge of Christian love.Now of course Christian doctrine is important , we need to hold fast to truth, but if I have not Christian love, if I am unforgiving, if I am not patient, if I am proud,rude, boastful, demanding my own way, irritable, keep a record of wrongs done to me, can I say I am loving?. And if I am not loving then ,no matter about my soundness in doctrine, my Christianity does not amount to much. Our Saviour was faced with people who held a mixture of truth and tradition, they majored in those things, but they failed in love[Matthew 23][ God of truth and love we ask that You would help us to be people of truth and love, in Jesus name Amen ]

How thoughtful [ Romans 8 v 31-39]

I love reading a good book, I have my favourite author, and just recently I thought that I would like to read about a certain politician, and just yesterday I was passing a charity shop when I noticed the book I desired, it cost me one pound. What a bargain and how thoughtful God was in helping me get that book,God is thoughtful in so many ways , sometimes I think He spoils me. I have experienced so many blessings from God, jobs ,cars, clothes and so on. In Romans 8 v32, we read,/He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things/. In stating this Paul is comparing the greater and the lesser, the greatest blessing that we have recieved is Jesus, He is Gods unspeakable gift, in Him we are blessed beyond measure, everything else is the lesser.I wanted a book He give me a book, let us remember God is most thoughtful, and kind.[ God and Father we thank You for your thoughtfulness towards us ,in Jesus name Amen ]

You are more kind.[1 Corinthians 13 v4]

Friends of mine have two grandchildren, and they have looked after them , while their mum and dad worked, the childrens other grandparents have also looked after them ,they are not Christians.[ my friends are]. One of the grandchildren speaking to his Christian gran, said that there was difference between them and their other grandparents,she asked what the difference was, he replied,/you are more kind/.This challenged me as I heard this, I asked myself how kind am I ?there is so much that is needed in this world , and one of the things we need more of is kindness, we can never be to kind. William Faber wrote,/There,s a wideness in Gods mercy like the wideness of the sea, theres a kindness in His justice which is more than liberty/ For the love of God is broader than the measure of mans mind, and the heart of Eternal is most wonderfully kind/.[ Father we thank You for being kind to us continually, help us to be like You ,to all we meet this day in Jesus name ,Amen ]

His way is best. [Psalm 18v30 av ]

Guidance is one of the most important things in our Christian life, so often I have sought to know what to do, and it is not easy. I remember my Bible college days, and how I sought to know Gods will, and how many doors shut in my face. I had one thing in my heart to serve God, to be a missionary,but above all else to preach, the door to so called missionary service did not open, but I have been able to preach . None of this has been easy, but I have had the promise that all things are working together for my good,I really believe that God guides, but in certain situations it is hard to see this,one thing I am glad about, God holds the key, and I am glad , so very glad. Of course guidance takes in all of our lives, the people we will marry, the ongoing decisions we have to make, we are told to ackowledge God in all our ways and He will direct our paths, I believe He will,but it will not necessary be the way we think, it will be His way,and His way is best.[ Dear God and Father lead us in the way we should go, in Jesus name Amen ]