Dross. [1 Corinthians 3v 11-15 ]

As I was praying this morning ,I found myself saying ,Lord hear my prayer inspite of the dross, for when I pray often my mind wanders to inappropriate things. Dross ,there is so much of it in our lives ,in our conversations ,in so many things, of course there is coming a time when ,all the dross will be burnt up [1 Corinthians 3 v 11-15 ]. On that day ,perfect judgement will take place, I wonder what will survive the fire, well ,we will see, but in the meanwhile let us ask God to help us to aim for excellence. Now of course I am not talking about being saved, nothing we can do will save us [Ephesians 2 v 8-9 ], no I am pointing us to that day when ,our Lord will reward us, when all our service will be seen for what it is. Let us not despair at our shortcomings, let us by the grace of God, press on towards our eternal goal, unward ever upward. [ Dear Lord purify me from the dross in my life,help me not to grow complacent, but ever strive for heavenly excellence, in Your name we ask this Lord Jesus Amen ]

Disruptions [ Romans 8 v28 av ]

I found myself asking the question why the disruptions in life ?, a sudden accident, a change in circumstances,an earthquake.I have a picture in front of me of a group of elderly believers who have been forcibly ejected from their church premises, and then the building was demolished. The question arises as to why these disruptions, why cant things just go on quietly,yes often they do, but there is an uncertainty in life.For the Christian disruptions are often difficult to handle, just like anybody else, a person I know was out in her husbands car and she had an accident, I am told she cried for two days, the accident was not her fault. Yes we dont like disruptions,but they happen, so what are we to do?, the answer is trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not unto our own understanding. [Proverbs 3 v5] [ Dear God as I look at life, my own included ,I ask the question why the disruptions,and yet I know that Your way is perfect, help me to trust in Your perfect will for my life,in Jesus name Amen ]

The secret. [ Philippians 4 v13 ]

Weakness is not a reason to give up, or not try, it is an opportunity to prove the reality of Gods enabling , and to declare by faith that we can do all things through Christ. [Philippians 4 v13]. God desires that we acknowledge our weakness, and not make excuses ,He desires that we rise to the challenge of life , and those tasks He wants us to do. In the book of Revelation [ 4 v7 -13] we read of the church of Philadelphia, Jesus said as He looked at them, that they had little strength , but He says this, behold I have set before thee ,an open door , which no man can shut. Whatever task our Saviour calls us to , He will help us to do it,just like that church ,we may be weak and limited in our abilities, but the secret of serving God is not our abilities, but the strength that God grants us. Whatever abilities we have, be they many, or be they few,let us not rely on them , but on the Lord and His strength.[ Dear Lord grant me the strength I need to live and serve You . Amen ]

Tell My people. [ Ezekiel 3 v4-11 ]

Two of my favourite prophets is Jeremiah ,and Ezekiel, both recieved a call to witness mainly to their own people, and were warned that it would be difficult, [Jeremiah 1 v17-19/ Ezekiel 3 v 4-11 ]. Sometimes it seems one of the most difficult people to witness to is Gods people, God often calls his servants ,to situations that they would not choose to go to, I wanted to go to the mission field, to tell those who have never heard the gospel, but He called me to so called Christian England, mainly my ministry has been to Christians, and often it has been difficult. I believe I still have a ministry, and that God is pointing in a certain direction, all I know is I must obey Him, and be faithful,what goes for me goes for every child of God, where He sends us we must go, and be faithful. [ Dear God help us to be obedient children, in Jesus name Amen ]

Blessed. [ Ephesians 1 v 3 ]

I found myslf dancing around my living room, to the beat of the music this morning, oh I may be getting on but I still enjoy a lot of things. I consider myself so blessed,, and here is the point, the best is yet to be, yes blessed now , but what will heaven be like?, wonderful. Oh yes, days of darkness still come over me, but I know I am blessed, I have a loving heavenly Father, who is looking after me, come rain ,come shine. And it is all down to Jesus, sweet Jesus, at times my heart bursts with love for Him, Bill Gaither, wrote, /The longer I serve Him , the sweeter He grows, The longer I serve Him the sweeter He grows, The more I love Him, more love He bestows. Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows, The longer I serve Him the sweeter He grows./ [ Dear loving heavenly Father ,thank You for loving me, I owe You so much, I am blessed, I love You, I love You, I love You, in Jesus my wonderful Saviours name I offer up this prayer Amen ]

The devil .[ Ephesians 6 v10 -18 ]

There is always an enemy who wants to pull us down, Satan, that is his obsession, to pull down every child of God, he comes to steal and rob. He is totally committed to oppose everything that would help man spiritually,and while the angels in heaven rejoice whan a sinner repents and believes in Jesus [Luke 15v10], the devil gnashes his teeth, does his nut, pulls his hair out, in other words he is not a happy bunny. But of course he then sets out to destroy that repenting sinner, he disguises himself in all sorts of ways, coming as angel of light [2 Corinthians 11v 14], as a serpent [Genesis 3], seeking to decieve, and trip the Christian up, at other times he is like roaring lion[ 1 Peter 3v10],seeking to put fear in the hearts of believers.So today let us be on our guard, let us, stay alert, let us resist him in the power of God and with the word of God. [ Dear God enable me to resist the devil,help me not to be decieved by him, give me victory over him in Jesus name Amen ]

Throwing stones . [John 8 v1 -16 ]

Im sure we all have experienced loosing something , a key,ah ,the panic when that happens,not so long ago a friend of mine lost the keys of the church hall we use for a group. I remember telling the person who was in charge of the hall this, she was so unpleasant , it appeared to me she was the perfect person, who had never lost anything , not even a key. One day the religious people brought a woman to Jesus, this woman had been caught in the act of adultery,they wanted to hear what Jesus would say,if He said the wrong thing they would accuse Him of underminding the law. Well what did Jesus say, did He say, stone her, as they wanted do, no He said something that many of us need to hear,[ if only the Moslems would hear this] /He that is without sin cast the first stone/. The impact of those words had a dramatic effect, they all left ,for the truth of those words cut into their hearts. Now of course Jesus was not condoning adultery, but He was reminding all of us,that when we point a finger at someone, we have three fingers pointing back at ourselves, point the fallen to Jesus, tell them of the one who forgives, because He forgave you and me. [ Dear Saviour ,help me not to throw stones at those who fall into sin, but to point them to You , the one who will forgave and save them . Amen ]