A vital discipline. [Psalm 119 v10 ]

One of the very important disciplines in our Christian life ,is to hold fast to what Gods word says, this is ongoing, I read these words in Jeremiah17v9,/ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked/. I wrote in response to these words,/ believe it/. We may not believe it ,it goes against our human reasoning,we think it is to extreme, after all there are people who do a lot of good. Again in the book of Jeremiah we read these words about the people of his day,God declares ,/ Ye walk everyone after the imagination of his evil hearts. [16v12]. Recently I was talking to someone who was advocating praying to Mary, he told me why it was appropriate, yet it was all based on his human reasoning,and not the word of God, which clearly teaches us that there is only one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus. [1 Timothy 2v5]Today let us hold fast to Gods truth,to not let our human reasoning or imagination take over. [ Dear God help me to hold fast to your word in Jesus name . Amen ]

We can be strong. [ Philippians 4 v13 ]

We are weak but we can be strong,so often we are reminded that we are weak,when faced with temptation, when we fail, and fall flat on our faces. Yes we are weak but we can be strong, God says ,I will strengthen you, [Isaiah 41 v10 ] .Life in itself , is a daily challenge, to get on with people, to cope with shopping,bills, organising different things, looking after children, just the everyday things, the list goes on. We may cope with all these things very well, but there is always something that we struggle with, temptations, holiness, having a quite time, the challenge of life is ongoing, and so often we feel our weakness. Here is the good news , we can be strong, not in ourselves, but in the Lord, [Ephesians 6v10 ]the one who wrote this was the great apostle Paul,think of all he accomplished, how did he do it? ,what was his secret, the answer is found in Philippians 4v13,/ I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me/. [ Dear Lord help us in our weakness to be strong in You. Amen ]

Lonely people. [ 1 Corinthians 13 ]

We have had some visitors for a few days, my son /wife and 3 children,it is lovely to have them stay, and to spoil our grandchildren, family is so important. We went out to a number of places and had family meals together, so many dont have this blessing, I am fortunate that I have. Today let us consider those people who have no friends ,and no family,the lonely ones, I think lonliness is one of the most difficult things to cope with. How can we help?well we can pray for them, and befriend them , my daughter -in-law has just recently, started to minister to the elderly, and she commented how lovely they are, but lonely. A person I know said I was the only person she had to talk to,imagine the only person to talk to, I usually just listen. It was the Beatles who sang of all the lonely people, where do they all come from? well I want to tell where they are, in your street, and in your church, and mybe in your family.[ Dear God in a world driven by materialisim, help us to see beyond this , and see that people need friendship, need a chat, need love,use me to befriend and love someone this day in Jesus name Amen ]

Riches. [1 Timothy 6 ]

I have just read 1Timothy 6 and thought that I would love to preach on this chapter, it appears to deal with a wrong attitude in relation to money.There were those who thought that godliness was a way into riches,[ v5] I wonder how this ties up with the so called prosperity gospel.The fact is that many NT Christians were poor, and in their poverty they would become disheartened and discontent,so Paul emphasizes certain things,[1] that true godliness with contentment is itself great gain [6 ]. [2] The dangers of wealth v9. [3] That the love of money is an evil that can cause all sorts of problems. [4] the uncertainty of riches, here today gone tomorrow [v17]. There is nothing wrong with being rich ,many of the OT saints had great riches, but their riches did not have a hold on them.[ Dear God help me to see things from a spiritual point of veiw, especially in relation to money, in Jesus name Amen ]

24/7. [ Galations 3v3 ]

Yesterday I mentioned needs, well I dont need any more clothes I have enough to do me if I should live to 100, I dont need any food ,our cupboards ,fridge,freezers, are full. I have enough money to live on, in other words the Lord has blessed me, so what do I need? I need the Lord. Oh yes ,He is my Saviour, I am conscious of His presence everyday. But it is so easy to become complacent, to be waylaid, to start to neglect prayer, to be busy, busy , busy, to begin to live independantly from the Lord, like those we read about in the epistle of Galations. The apostle declares,/ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit,are you now being perfected by the flesh?[Galations 3v3].There is an old hymn ,which reads ,/I need Thee every hour/,thats what we need more than anything else, the Lord, a reliance on Him 24/7. [ Dear Lord Jesus forgive me for taking my eyes of You, of forgetting that it is You ,I need every hour of everyday. Amen ]

Needy world.[ Matthew 6 v19-21]

Needs and need, consider what that means, the world is full of people who have needs, we recieve literature from different organisations ,expressing their needs,we watch the news and we hear of disasters,and the cry is they need help. There is resentment at this time with all the cut backs ,that we are giving over 10 billion pounds, is a step to far.But is it? I dont think so, for all our cut backs we still are a wealthy country,it is Bill Gates one of the worlds wealthiest people, who has set up a foundation to combat global health, who declares,/ The UK,s spending on development for the worlds poorest people is the best investment that you can make for improving lives. Bar none./God wants us to look out beyond ourselves, to others in need,and to respond, as a nation and as individuals.[ Dear God help me to help people in need, to give, of my time ,talents, finance, and love, in Jesus name Amen ]

We shall not want. [ Psalm 23 ]

At this time across the land ,many are worrying, the budget announced is going to bring changes, the times they are changing, are the good times past?.As a Christian of many years I have experienced being unemployed,of living on benifites, and when I did work , my wages were small, in fact, I remember during my times in Bible college I lived by faith,and often we had no money, and no food in the house. What did we have in all those times? we had the Lord, the Lord who loves His children, who does not forsake his children when things get tough. I have never had a rich benefactor , but I have a loving heavenly Father , who ownes the cattle on a thousand hills, who has promised to supply all His chidrens needs. If fear is creeping into your heart today,repeat these words to yourself ,/The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want /[Psalm 23 v1] [ Dear God so many things we hear can cause us to worry,and we find fear taking over,Lord in all the uncertainties of life, we look to You, our Rock, in Jesus name. Amen ]