A needful reminder [ Revelation 19 v 6 av ]

As I looked at the news this morning, and as I consider so much in life in general, and my own life, I need to constantly remind myself of that precious doctrine, the sovereignty of God. It is a doctrine that we need to grasp by faith, I say by faith ,because if we look at life through natural eyes we will struggle to accept this doctrine. That is why the unbeliever will reject this doctrine, we need not be surprised at this as 1 Corinthians 2v14, tells us,/People who aren,t spiritual cant recieve these thruths/. But what about us who are spiritual?,can we accept this doctrine ,our circumstances may be difficult,we may have experienced pain and hurt, job loss, an injustice,,there are so many things that can effect us,and cause us to doubt Gods sovereignty. It was a dear saint of God who was suffering,who wrote the following words,/Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth [Revelation 19v6]/. Let us take encouragement from the words of an old chorus, /God is still on the throne and He will remember His own, though trials may press us ,and burdens distress us, He never will leave us alone, His promise is true, He will not forget you ,God is still on the throne/. [ Dear God Help us this day no matter how difficult our circumstances are ,to believe in Your Sovereignty, in Jesus name . Amen ]

Yesterdays people. [ Philippians 3 v12-16 ]

Keep the vision burning, as we become older things begin to wear out, that goes for our sight,we eventually need glasses, so it is in the spiritual ,we begin to lessen in our spiritual desires, and the vision lessens. The desire begins to wane, we become comfortable, and set in our mould, our relationship with the Lord, grows distant, the vision,the love, the desire,is not what it should be. It is not how long we have been a Christian that matters, what is important ?,what do you think is important?, well it seems to me the important thing is, am I still pressing on, am I still sensitive to the Spirits prompting,is my love for Jesus still burning bright, is the vision still burning?. These are things that only we personally can answer,and it is vital we take them seriously.[ Dear God help us not to be yesterdays people, but to be those who are daily following after our Saviour, that our relationship is contiually up to date. Amen ]

Certainties. [ John 11]

When the great English physicist Michael Faraday was dying , some friends gathered at his bedside, and they asked him,/What are your speculations, he answered, Speculations, I have none, I am resting on certainties/. When a Christian is being buried it is with the following words,/ In sure and certain hope of the resurrection from the dead ,to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ/. In this uncertain world the Christian has a certainty ,that the world knows nothing about,a certainty for life and for death.This is based upon a person who not only said He was the resurrection and the life ,but manifested the reality of those words by conquering death Himself. The question dear reader is this ,are you resting on a certainty as to your eternal destiny?,or are you resting on spectulations?.[ Dear God we thank for Your Son Jesus , and the wonderful truth that He defeated death, and now lives in the power of an endless life, and if we but trust Him as our Saviour, we can rest on certainties, Amen ]

Relax. [ Psalm 23 ]

We appear to live in an uptight world, there is an ad on the TV, that shows people manifesting a lot of aggression as they walk along, the ad is trying to challenge drivers road behaviour. It is a very meaningful ad,and for us who drive if we have ears to hear it may do some good. Driving appears to put people under so much pressure, there are of course many things that put us under pressure. If you are a Christian find time to relax in the presence of Your Lord, read a Psalm, meditate upon it,ask the Lord to restore His peace to your inner being.Stop being hard on yourself, I believe that there are so many believers who are living under a cloud of guilt, and condemnation, even though the Bible tells us that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ, today let us all relax, let us all make the words of John G Whitter are prayer today.[Dear Lord/Drop thy still dews of quiteness,till all our strivings cease, take from our souls the strain and stress, and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of Thy peace,Amen]

Led by the Spirit. [ Romans 8 v 14 ]

One of the great blessings of being a Christian is ,we have the Spirit of God dwelling in us, not just some Christians but all Christians.Having the Spirit ,all Christians are led by Him,Leon Morris writes, / The work of the Spirit is not an option or an extra for the advanced Christian. Being led by the Spirit is a mark of all Gods people/. So today do not feel excluded, take comfort from the comforter the Holy Spirit, and follow His leading in your life, it is a mark as a man called Earle puts it,/that we not only belong to Gods family, but we also act like we do/. Today keep in tune with the Spirit, be sensitive to His prompting, restraining,and guiding in all things./ I love that hymn by Henriette Auber/, Our blest Redeemer , ere He breathed His tender last farewell, a guide , a comforter bequeathed,with us to dwell. And His that gentle voice we hear, soft as the breath of even, that checks each fault, that calms each fear, and speaks of heaven. And every virtue we possess, and every victory won, and every thought of holiness, are His alone./ [Dear God we give You thanks that we have Your Spirit in us ,to lead, guide,comfort and strengthen us, we give You thanks in Jesus Name Amen. ]

Are we growing? [Colossians 3v1-17 ]

There are days that are significant in our lives, this is such a day for me, fo it is the anniversary of my first wifes death. It brings backs many memories of a lovely lady, who continued to grow in her Christian life, till the day she died, and now she is trully perfect. This brings a challenge to me , am I growing in my Christian life?, I rejoice in all Christ has done in my life in saving me, but what progress am I making now?,it is not wrong to ask these questions, it is wrong if we refuse to face up to them. Let us remember our Christian life is not a history lesson, but a living letter for all to read[2 Corinthians 3 v 2-3], all the failures ,trials, whatever, are sent for this one purpose, that we may grow to be more like Jesus. [ Dear God grant us the grace to accept all that comes into our lives as an opportunity to grow more like Your son Jesus. Amen ]

Sunshine. [ 1 Thessalonians5 v16-18]

Yesterday and today have been sunny, as I am at home recovering I am benefiting from the lovely sunshine. We spend a lot of time in this country ,talking about the weather and many people are affected by it,especially those who suffer from mental illness. In that well known hymn,/ All things bright and beautiful, verse three reads, The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun........He made them everyone,/ Yes He made the dark days,and the sunny days, there are some things we cannot change, the weather is one of them. The story is told of a minister who was forever giving thanks, one dark and dreary day as he stood up preach, the congregation were wondering what he would give thanks for, so the minister prayed ,we thank You Lord that all days are not like this one. [ Dear God we we give you thanks for sunny days in Jesus name Amen]