No Glib answers. [ Psalms 119 v 105]

I have just found an old book in my library called,/ A mute Christian under the rod,/ by Thomas Brooks a puritan writer. The thing I like about the Puritans is how they dealt with lifes problems, they did not, give trite answers,or write glibly about suffering. We dont need trite answers when we are suffering, we need answers that will help us,that will instruct us. The puritans had Biblical answers, they were people who thought much of what Gods word taught, they meditated much on the word. They lived in different times, but there is nothing new under the sun, suffering, trials, difficulties, and death still happen, how are we to facing them?how can we cope?, are we murmuring, complaining?. Read godly mens writing, read and meditate on Gods word,and pray much. [Dear God we thank You for godly peoples ministries, help us hold fast to the truths that are taught to us by them, in Jesus name Amen ]

Past finding out.[ Isaiah 55 v 8-9 ]

I wonder what you think of the this statement ,/There are no second causes/, only God, He is the first cause in everything. Now I know I cannot fully explain this, and yet I believe it to be true, because God is sovereign, my study Bible says,/Hebrew writers do not always distinguish between primary and secondary causes/. In Romans11v33-34 the writer declares,/How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways. For who can know the Lords thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice/. All we can do is bow to His sovereign will in our lives, we are the clay , He is the potter, and the safest ground is to submit to His will in all things. [ Dear God we acknowledge that your ways are past finding out,but we also acknowledge Your way is perfect, and pray that Your will be done in our lives, in Jesus name Amen ]

Grace. [ Ephesians 2 v 8-9 av ]

The Bible tells us continually the importance of giving thanks, and just recently I found myself thinking about the grace of God, I am really grateful that I am saved by grace. I know this is something we are grateful for continually, but sometimes it becomes more meaningful, especially when we consider our failures. Yes we try to be consistant, try and try to be holy,but we inevitably fail, or even fall, and its then one realizes the importance of the Grace of God,we will always only ,be sinners saved by grace. The apostle Paul wrote, But by the grace of God I am what I am[1 Corinthians 15v10 ]. In the song by Gerrit Gustafson ,Only by grace can we enter,it ends with these words,/Lord, if You mark our transgressions, Who would stand? Thanks to Your grace we are cleansed,By the blood of the Lamb. [Dear God we praise You from the depths of our hearts for Your saving and keeping grace, in Jesus name Amen ]

No more sin.[ Revelation 21 v1-8]

As I was praying a thought came , as regards sin, that there will come a time when there will be no more sin. Consider what that means , no more murders, rapes,lies and so the list goes on, it is hard to imagine, we are so conditioned to accept the imperfect,thats the way it is ,it will never change. When God made us He did not program us to sin, He made us perfect, to live in perfect harmony with creation, and most of all with Him,Through the death of Jesus all things will one day be as they where meant to be,no disease ,no sin, it is my dream to be part of that new and perfect exsistance, a dream that will come true, for nothing can stop Gods plan and purpose. We can all be part of this wonderful eternal future by accepting Christ as our Saviour.[ Dear Father sometimes the sinfulness of our hearts, and in the world overwhelms us,but we thank You that there is coming a day in which there will be no more sin, thank You for Jesus who has made this possible Amen ]

Do it. [ Acts 1 v 8 ]

Years ago there was a program on the TV called opportunity knocks, so it is today, for many opportunity will knock, job opportunities, etc. It is in Luke 21 our Lord speaks of a time of great persecution, and He says it will be an opportunity to tell others about Him.I have just read of a Pastor Truong from Vietnam who was put into a mental hospital for being a Christian, and in that situation he was still able to witness about his Saviour.It goes without saying that what people need to hear about is Jesus, and it is our responsiblity to tell them, how shall they hear without a preacher? they wont.I remember being told by a manager in work years ago ,as I didthered about a certain task, /Do it./ So many of us our dithering as regards telling others about Jesus, lets just do it,we can. [ Dear Lord help us to tell others about Jesus Your Son Amen ]

Be careful [ Galations 5 v1 ]

I wonder how sensitive we are to the Holy Spirit?, to His prompting,to the fact that we can grieve Him and even quench Him. As Christian we resent rules , after all whom the Son sets free is free indeed, yet that freedom is a freedom to resist and over come evil, and reject those things that could cause us harm. In 1 Corinthians 6v12, the apostle Paul is writing on freedom, he writes,/You say, I am allowed to do anything- but not everything is good for you. And even though , I am allowed to do anything, I must not become a slave to anything./ My study Bible comments,/Be careful that what God has allowed you to enjoy doesnt grow into a bad habit that controls you./ Let us be sensitive to what God is saying, even about the legitimate things, that we do not become slaves to them. [ Dear God we thank You for setting us free , help us to remain free, in Jesus name Amen ]

Everything to God in prayer.[ Matthew 7 v 7 -11 ]

Sometimes we may be reluctant to pray about something, we may think it is being selfish,after all ,there are so many people God has to look after. The hymn writer wrote of carrying everything to God in prayer,prayer of course is not just about my needs, when we pray we should be praying for others needs as well.Yet having said that, we are at liberty to pray about those things that concern us, with a confidence, and not be filled with condemnation. Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, and present our petitions and requests, to our loving heavenly Father, the hymn writer wrote,/ If earthly parents hear their children when they cry, if they, with love sincere, their childrens wants supply. Much more wilt thou Thy love display, and answer when Thy children pray./[ Dear loving Father grant us confidence to bring everything to You in prayer, in Jesus name Amen ]