We are to be different. [ Acts 4 v13 ]

In Colossians 4v5-6, we read/ Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive, so that you will have the right response for everyone./ My study Bible says ,/ We should be wise in our contacts with non-believers, making the most of our opportunites to tell them the good news of salvation/. My son was telling me of where he worked, the foul and filthy language which is common, we can by our language and manner speak to such people, but in speaking ,we also need to manifest a godliness, that will affect them. So today wherever we find ourselves, may God enable us to count for Him and His kingdom. [Dear God, in this fallen world help us to manifest a godliness, that will count for Your glory in Jesus name Amen]

The place of safety. [ Psalm 46 ]

The life of faith is the only safe life, so wrote Thomas Case,I wonder do you agree? I believe it to be so, and yet there are times one may want it different. The believers security is not in winning the lottery, having perfect health , but simply to have faith in our God. Let us ask the question ,are the rich secure because of their riches?, no, are the philosophers secure because of their philosophy?,no, are the nations secure because of their armaments?no. The life of faith is the only safe place to be ,it saved Noah , and his family from drowning[Hebrews 11v 7], the scriptures tell us ,/ By faith the harlot perished not with them that believed not[Hebrews 11v31]/ . Faith in Christ alone saves, from sin,and satan, it saves us from Hell ,and takes us to heaven,and the life of faith will bring us safely through ,difficulties and dangers, and will cause the Lords favour to rest upon us. [ Dear God help us to walk more by faith and less by sight in Jesus name Amen ]

Jungle and grace . [Ephesians 2 v1-8 ]

As Tarzan said to Jayne, its a jungle out there,sad to say for many people ,out there is a jungle,life can be dirty ,damaging, and dangerous. Some of us are sheltered from the excesses, but we live in a sinful world,were one only has to scratch the surface, to reveal its real nature. Come to think of it I am a bit like that, as one man wrote ,we have the same blood running through our veins as those in Hell. Am I being a bit extreme?, read the lives of David and his son Solomon, read what Paul said in Romans 7 v 18-25 ,I know that nothing good lives in me, that is , in my sinful nature, but then he goes unto say, O wretched man that I am, Who shall deliver me from this body of death. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. William Plummer writes,/How amazing is that grace, which shall take away his divided heart, and gives him one heart, one mind, one will,as He has now one God , one Redeemer, one comforter..... Christ is our Salvation./[ Dear God thank You for saving us through Your Son Jesus Amen ]

A good day. [ Numbers 6 v24-26 ]

There is a song by Don Williams which I like ,it goes, /Lord I hope this day is good,Im feeling empty and misunderstood.I should be thankful, Lord I know I should, but Lord I hope this day is good/. If we are honest I am sure we all can identify with those words,there are days when we do feel empty and misunderstood, the important thing is , the Lord understands. The Psalmist felt like this[cp Psalm 42/43], so we are in good company, so let us pray our prayer of honesty,and grant it that the Lord ,may lift up the light of His countenance upon us, and bless us with a good day.[ Dear Lord Jesus we love You, and we know You love us,we ask that You would bless us with a good day today, Amen ]

No turning back. [ John 21 v20 -22 ]

Run with your vision,that is one of the great lessons of the Christian life, I am sure I have been judged as being foolhardy, in my time as I stepped out ,into the vision God had placed on my heart. To go where others to not see ,or do not want to be, but thats what one has to do, follow what God has put on ones heart. Our Saviour was rebuked by Peter, because He had told his disciples, of his forthcoming suffering, and death [Mark 8v31ff], you see that was Christ vision,consider the consequences of Him not fullfilling it,for the whole world, for you for me. In following Gods vision we will need courage and faith ,we must follow that star,and in doing so,we will be will be wise in the sight of God. May our prayer be,[ I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back. Though none go with me,I still will follow, no turning back, no turning back.Amen ]

Forgetting. [ Mark 8 v1-21 ]

In Mark 8 we read how Jesus performed a miracle,fed 4,000 people with just a few loaves and fishes,and yet shortly after this Jesus is rebuking His disciples, with the words ,/Dont you remember anything at all?/Now before we go judging the disciples, lets be honest,we are very like them, we forget so much of what the Lord teaches us,we even forget Him. We so quickly forget those times in the past in which God has undertaken for us,and in our forgetfulness we fret and worry. Today let us make an effort to remember what the preacher preached,what we have read from Gods word,and how God undertook for us in the past. He can still provide for us, open up a way for us, He has not changed,nor will He, try to remember, and as the Holy Spirit brings to remembrance,stop fretting and worrying, and start trusting. [Dear Lord forgive us for our sinful forgetfulness,stir us up to godly remembrances of all You have done for us and taught us,and help us to be at rest,Amen ]

Gods amazing choice. [1 Corinthians 1 v26-29 ]

When I was younger, I helped to manage a football team, and I can assure you that it is not easy,even at a junior level. One of the most difficult aspects of it was choosing the team, for it meant ,some would be left out,but the choices have to be made,for if you want a winning team ,you have to pick the best. In 1 Corinthians 1 v 26-29, we read how God made a choice,and it appears He choose ,not the best but the worst. He choose people whom the world consider foolish,He choose those who are weak,He choose those who are despised by the world, strange choice one would say. Who is the apostle writing of?,you and me, Gods amazing choice, in the words of an old gospel song, who am I?a nobody,it should keep us humble, and stop us from having airs about ourselves,and cause us to be very, very grateful. [ Merciful God we praise for choosing us nobodies, in Jesus name Amen ]