A time for running. [Genesis 39 ]

There is a place for running away ,and a place for standing, when we are in moral or spiritual danger we need to run ,like Joseph [ Genesis 39 ],unfortunately some people appear to run into moral ,and spiritual danger. In 2 Timothy 2v22 we are told to flee youthful lusts, if one tarries one is in danger, Lot and his wife were told not to look back[ Genesis 19v17],his wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt[ v26],mybe she was curious, or mybe her heart was still inclined towards those evil places, and their evil way of life. Better to have heeded God, we are always better heeding God, to not play with fire ,for if we do ,we shall be burnt. In these days when the majority are doing whats right in their own eyes, there will be a price to pay,sin always carries with it serious consequences.As Christians we should know this ,but like so many things, there is often a gulf between the knowing and the doing.[ Dear God lead us not into temptation, deliver us from all evil, in Jesus name . Amen ]

I forgot.[ Psalm 137 ]

As I was looking at things on my PC ,I forgot about the bread I had put under my grill, I rushed to retrieve it,fortuonately it had not reached the burnt offering stage, so I was still able to eat it,and I enjoyed it. It brought to mind a certain English king who burnt some cakes,forgetting is something we all do, I have a good excuse being a senior citizen.Israel is warned by Moses not to forget [Deuteronomy 4v9], unfortuonately their history was one of forgetting, God and His commandments ,so God had to deal with them continually. Our Saviour told us to remember Him in communion, in breaking of bread and drinking of wine, have you done this recently?. One of the reasons I cannot stay in my present church,is I do not believe that people should be barred from the table because they have not been immmersed in water, now of course I am a Baptist, but I recognise that many people who are not immersed,are Christians, just as much as I am, and they have a right to remember their Lord, as He commanded.I believe that as the hymn writer puts it,that, we can make Gods Love to narrow by false limits of our own, and we magnify His srictness with a zeal He will not own. [ Dear God help me not to forget You ,and help me to not put barriers up in relation to other Christians, in Jesus name Amen ]

Love is not a game.[ 1Corinthians 13 ]

I heard someone say,/love is not a game/,the old song, reminds us that so many moonlight kisses seem to cool in the light of the sun. To love ,is the most challenging thing in the whole world,it will take everything we have to love, while our God is a consuming fire [Hebrews12 v 29] we are told that He is love[ 1 John 4v8 ]He is comsumed with love for you and me, the old hymn declares , /O the Love that drew salvations plan/.To save mankind it meant love in the fullest measure, a love that words are so inadequate to describe, every day God witnesses so much hate ,lust,selfishness, His commandments are broken continually, in mans natuaral state, he acts worse than an animal, but of course He is not animal. Yet God continues to love, and continues to reach out to mankind, inspite of their deliberate rejection of Him, consider His love ,in Philippians 2 v8, we read that Christ became obedient unto death even the death on a cross, yes truly, love is not a game.[ Dear God for Your love to me ,I thank You, that love that saved me, that is so on going,help me to to love like You, in Jesus name Amen ]

God loves to surprise us. [ Psalm 30 v5 ]

Life can so often throw up surprises, I am listening to Susan Boyle, a lovely singer ,one who has has become a world star,who would have thought it. As we read the Bible we see surprises all the time, nobodies raised to be kings, a young lad defeats a giant,fishermen, tax collectors raised to be apostles,angels suddenly appearing to people,pensioners having children.God manifest in the flesh in the form of a little baby, now that trully is a surprise,to Mary and Joseph it must have been a big surprise.I like to think of God as the God of surprises,the fact that I have lived for 66years, thats a surprise, I was ever so small when I was born, and when I was a youngster I was rescued from drowning, but the greatest surprise is that I am a Christian,and have been following the Lord for 46yrs. Let hope burn in our hearts today,God can surprise us, financial needs can be met,sickness can be healed,a door into employment can open, God is the God of surprises, so dont despair. [Dear God help me not to despair , no matter how difficult it is, let hope arise in my heart, and help me to trust in You, the God who loves to surprise me, in Jesus name .Amen ]

Never out of His sight.[ Genesis 16 v13 av]

The choice of David is interesting, a young man in an obscure occupation, out on his own ,each day, looking after sheep, no one could have guessed , including himself ,that he was destined for greatness. The only one who knew about this young man was God, His destiny lay in Gods hands , God had a plan that would take Him from the place of obscurity, to be king. Many of Gods choices saints have come from obscure places, places of humble activity, David Livingstone, John Bunyan, and yet God saw them and raised them up,to serve Him. The point of this ,is none of Gods children are hidden from Him , be they in the most obscure of places, we may not be raised to be a king, but we are the children of a King ,Jesus. He has not forgotten us, as the hymn writer wrote, /His eye is on the sparrow , and I know He watches me./ [ Dear God I thank You that You have not forgotten me, that I am never out of Your sight,and that You will always care for me, I pray this in Jesus name. Amen ]

Godlike[ Luke 23 v34]

I was thinking of Joseph how he was carried along by events, in which he had no control over, slavery, imprisonment, prime minister, he had no control over any of those things. Both the bad things and the good things came to him uninvited, the one thing he did have control over was how he reacted. He resisted temptation[ Genesis 39] and he showed a gracious spirit towards those who had wronged him, towards his wicked brothers[ Genesis 50], we do not even read of him getting his own back on the woman who had falsley accused him of rape. He manifested a godlike character, in his forgiving spirit, so it is with us,there will be events that we have no control over, people will wrong us,and hurt us, the challenge is this, how are we going to react?. [ Dear God help me to show a right spirit , when people seek to harm me, help me to be godlike in my attitude in Jesus name . Amen ]

A broken heart . [ Luke 4 v18]

What do you do when your heart is breaking? people have died of a broken heart, now I am not suggesting we should do that, but it is what some people do. I can understand how people give up and die ,a breaking heart cant be fixed with a pill, nothing appears to help, and the pain just goes on.Well I believe there is one who can help, His name is Jesus, He proclaimed,/The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has annointed Me. To preach the Gospel to the poor,He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted[ Luke 4 v18] If your heart is breaking , come to Jesus, ask Him to heal your broken heart, and He will.The hymn writer wrote,/ No one understands like Jesus. Hes a friend beyond compare, meet Him at the throne of mercy ,He is waiting for you there/. [Dear Lord Jesus I bring my broken heart to You, please heal it Amen ]