Thieves and robbers. [ Luke 23v 39-43 ]

A person shared with me how he was robbed of 400 pounds, a person he did not know offered him a computor,he handed over the money,and recieved what he thought was a computor, the person then drove off, when he looked inside the computor case ,all he found was magazines .It is so easy to be cheated and decieved,it is happening everyday to people,intelligent people,the person who was robbed said to me how the person who robbed him would have to give an account to God for their actions.This brings to mind a story I read of Charles Wesly who was held up and robbed, Charles spoke a verse of scripture to the thief, / The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1v7/. He later met that person ,and he had become a Christian, through the words that had been spoken, let us pray for thieves and robbers, that they may seek forgivness and trust Christ as their Saviour. [ Dear God we pray for the many thieves and robbers there are in in our neighourhood ,family,town,that You would convict them and save them through Your dear son Jesus .Amen ]

The influence of a steady ,quiet faith .[ 1 Peter 2 v12 ]

It is A W Tozer who writes of ,/the influence of a steady ,quite faith/, today let us take up the challenge of those words, to live a consistent life, in our homes ,in our streets, in our schools, in our jobs. That means living a life of holiness, faithfulness,and kindness, in 1 Peter 2 v12 we read,/ Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they,ll be won over to Gods side and be there to join in the celebrations when He arrives. [T.M]/ Again quoting Tozer,/ If I live right and walk before them as I should, I am putting up an argument they cannot successfully dispute/.We may not think we are accomplishing much, but the influence of a steady ,quite faith ,will have an effect, while we live, and even after we are gone.[ Dear God help me to live in a way ,that will bring Glory to You, and a blessing on others in Jesus Amen ]

We can survive. [Romans 8 v37 ]

A friend of mine has a daughter who wanted to insure her car, the highest quote was 7.000 pounds , and the lowest was 2.400 pound, the car only cost 500 pound,granted the girl has had a couple of claims, but the quotes seem a bit over the top.I suppose everything can be insured at a price, it is not wrong to insure things, to take precutions against the unexpectant . Yes life can throw up the unexpectent, the Bible tells us ,boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth [Proverbs 27v1 ]. Life is uncertain , I met a friend who told me how she had lost everything,business ,home , yes life is uncertain, but she mention that she and her husband had both jobs, where attending a local church,she had started a Sunday school, and her husband was on the oversight of the church,her faith shone through. Yes life is uncertain but we can come through, how?well just like those people in the Bible who experienced trials and difficulties, by faith in Our God and Saviour, the One who said He will never leave us, nor forsake us. [Hebrews 13v5][Dear God in the uncertain world, help us to trust in You, help us to be more than a conqueror through Jesus Your son. Amen ]

Lose not heart. [ Psalm 27 ]

There is a hymn by Frederick W Faber that is very meaningful,it is written to those who may be struggling in Christian service.Although we are all called to serve, so mybe it is for us all,it reads,/Workman of God,O lose not heart,But learn what God is like, And in the darkest -field, thou shalt know where to strike. Ah, God is other than we think, His ways are far above. Far beyond reason,s height, and reached only by childlike love. He hides Himself so wondrously, As though there were no God. He is least seen when all the powers of ill are most abroad. Thrice blest is he to whom is given the instinct that can tell . That God is on the field, when He is most invisible. For right is right, since God is God,and right the day must win. To doubt would be disloyalty, to falter would be sin./ [ Dear God help me to look beyond my natural sight, to pierce through the darkness ,to see You, and to trust in You, in Jesus name. Amen ]

Marriage. [ Colossians 3 v18 - 19 ]

And so they lived happily ever after, so ends the words of the fairy tale, is that possible?,I remember working with a man ,who said he and his wife never ,had fall outs.To me that seems impossible ,for some it may be,but for the majority of people it is not,I wonder how many people really think about the vows they make,/Forsaking all others,For better for worse,for richer for poorer,in sickness and in health/. They are very challenging words, not light words, not trivial words , they bring a life long challenge,when you make those vows you have to realize that there is no get out clause. Many people are breaking these vows, I am not judging them, but I would say, if you are thinking of entering marriage,consider carefully what you are going to do,and if you are married and struggling, remember what you vowed before God. [Father help those who are about to enter into marriage , and help those who are already married,in Jesus name .Amen ]

The accusing finger [Job 1]

We visited one our sons and his wife yesterday, it was not just a social visit, I had been asked by my boy to wallpaper, just two walls. Now wallpapering is not one of my favourite activities, for one thing I dont feel very confident in doing it, I am never sure how it will turn out. So I started the wallpapering praying asking God to help,at one time I found myself saying to God,how it was Him and I ,doing this,and then jokingly, I added if I get it wrong I will blame You Lord.This made me laugh and I hope it made the Lord smile,but there is a more serious aspect to my joke, people do blame God, the world is full of people pointing their accusing finger at Him.The reasons for this are many, but in the end misjudged, and wrong, simply because it a is a cry of unbelief,better to be silent and to trust,let us never forget whatever wrong there is in this world ,God is not at fault, in time He will put everything right,in time He will sort out this mess, in time we will understand. [Dear God help me to trust You, help me to refrain from pointing an accusing finger at You,in Jesus name Amen ]

How can I cope? [ 2 Corinthians 12 v 7ff]

It is funny the things one still remembers like a question asked in a quiz many ,many years ago,my team got it wrong,the question was,what are the last words in the book of Revelation?. the answer is ,/The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen./ Paul ends his epistle to the Philippians with the same words. It is significant that both John and Paul were experiencing trials at that time, Paul was a prisoner, John an exile,and in their difficult situations, they emphasize the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.Mybe the people they were writing to had problems,difficulties,how could they face them?, how could they come through them?. Before I answer let me share something I have read about the suffering of some Christians in North Korea at this time,I recieved this information from Christian Solidarity Worldwide. /Stories are coming out of N/ Korea of Christians being crushed under steamrollers, herded of bridges, and in prison camps being publicly trampled underfoot by guards and then by coerced prisoners until they die/.Now let me answer the question as to how the Christians in NT times coped with their difficulties, and the Christians in N/Korea cope, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The answer for all of us ,as we are faced with difficulties, is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.[ Dear Lord Jesus we ask for an abundant portion of Your all sufficent Grace, so that we may glorify You in all our trials .Amen ]