Our thoughts. [Philippians 4 v8 ]

In Matthew 12 v25, we read,/ And Jesus knew their thoughts/, I wonder what you think about those words?,they are very challenging. Maybe we feel uncomfortable with those words,simple because our thoughts are not all they should be. The Bible has a lot to say about thoughts, this is the place where we need to guard ,and to be on our guard,the sin that we commit begins with our thoughts. We can be all sweetness on the outside, but in the inside we can be full of bitterness, it is inevitable that we will think wrong thoughts ,but we dont have to go along with them. The people that Jesus dealt with were never open and honest,they thought how they could trip Him up, or show Him up, but He knew their thoughts, and was able to challenge them. Today let us guard our thoughts,thoughts of self pity,lust,anger,whatever is contrary to holiness, love ,peace ,and mercy. [ Dear God help me to guard my thought life, help me to see the importance of this, in Jesus name Amen ]

Out of control.[ Matthew 5 v38-48 ]

I spoke last night from one of the most challenging chapters in the whole of the Bible, 1 Corinthians13, and one of the things I said was, that love is not a feeling,it is a decision. We often live by our feelings, that is why so many act the way they do, in relation to eating,and so many desires, they run with their feelings. Feelings are not always our best guide, in fact they can be very destructive, take David when he was been hunted by Saul, on two occasions he had opportunities to kill Saul, but he didnt.On an other occassion he ran with his feelings ,when he felt insulted and unfairly treated, but was stopped by a wise woman[1 Samuel 25].It is in 2 Samuel 11 we read of David letting his feelings take over, and what followed was trully awful, adultery, murder.So let us not run with our feelings, let us make a decision to love the unlovely, to forgive when we are hurt,to choose to be holy.[ Dear God help me not to be ruled by my feelings ,instead help me to be controlled by Your Spirit, and obedient to Your Word in Jesus name. Amen ]

Life a flatpack. [ Proverbs 3 v5-6 av ]

Out with the old in with the new,well not entirely, there used to be time if you bought a sideboard ,you got a sideboard, now you get a flatpack. Yesterday I spent most of the day assembling my flatpack, and I did it, with much prayer, and I joke not, still it would have been nice if a sideboard had been delivered.Life is like a flatpack,it does not come already assembled,life is a task to done,yes it would be nice it seems if we had not the task of assembling it. Most people do their best, most people do it imperfectly, but still we must not judge , what is important if we are Christians is to commit our lives everyday to our Lord, and trust Him, to overrule in all things. If we do this He will undertake, there is one sense ,life is a do it yourself affair,but as Christian ,we believe our Lord will help us ,to do it ourselves, stange but true. [ Dear Lord help us in the task of assembling our lives, that in all things we may glorify You. Amen]

The open door [ Revelation 3 v8 ]

As I look back on my life I see so many times I have prayed for doors to open, and they have, but often it required a great deal of patience on my part,for God does not work according to my time table. This is a lesson we all have to earn, living and moving at Gods moment, waiting and not get tired of waiting, often we do and we cry out how much longer Lord before You answer,yet God says wait. And in that waiting God is teaching us lessons, teaching us to trust Him,and learn that valuable lesson of patience. We must also learn the important lesson of weakness ,yes weakness, and a spirit of dependance on God, the greatest of saints had to learn these lessons. The race is not to the strong , but to those who have recognised their weakness, dont worry about your weakness,the great apostle was told that Gods strength was made perfect in his weakness, and that Gods grace would be sufficent for him.[ 2 Corinthians 12 v1-10 ] Yes doors will open, doors that no one can close,but in His time, and when He has prepared us ,to take up that opportunity . [Dear God we ask for grace to wait for that door of opportunity to open, as we wait ,help us to have patience, and to yield to your purposes in our lives in Jesus name Amen ]

The safest place.[ Daniel 3]

When Abraham was called by God to leave his homeland ,we read in Hebrews 11v8, that he went out not knowing, whither he went. It seems a bit of a frightening thing to do, mybe even a foolish thing in our eyes, but the fact of the matter is, He was in the safest place in the world, because he was in the center of Gods will. He was not like Jonah who ran a way in opposite direction to where God wanted him to go.The safest place for all of us is to be in the center of Gods will, even though it may include uncertainty, or even danger.Joseph experienced many difficulties , but we read these very important words,/ And the Lord was with Joseph [Genesis 39v2 ]. Forget about the uncertainties of our situations ,if we are in the will of God ,He will be with us as sure as He was with Abraham or Joseph,and so all will be well.[ Dear Lord Jesus help me in those times of uncertainies, that cause fear to arise,cause me to worry, to trust You, knowing that You will never leave me , nor forsake me. Amen ]

A thankful people.[Ephesians 5 v20 ]

There is a lot to be said for positive thinking, here I am sitting at my PC listening to nice music ,I have just had a nice breakfast,I am able still to work. I have money enough to live on, plenty of things to wear, a GP to go to if I not well, and I even get free mediciene, I could go on, God has blessed me with so much .I live in a grand country, not a perfect country,but then nothing is perfect.Today consider the blessings you have, and offer up a prayer of thanksgiving, in USA, they have a thanksgiving day, let this be a thanksgiving day ,for all of us. Let nothing negative pass from our lips, in everything let us give thanks, to the God whose mercy never fails, whose faithfulness is trully great, and who loves us so very, very, much. [Dear God help us even through our tears ,to acknowledge your faithfulness, help us to be a thankful people in Jesus name .Amen ]

Force yourself.[ Psalm 37 v 25 ]

Make a choice to be spiritual, what I mean is simple this,dont let your thoughts control you, when negative thoughts come in, force yourself to focus on Gods word. When you find yourself thinking about the economy, or your own personal finances ,force your mind to remember that the Lord is your shepherd and you shall not want. As you consider what may lie ahead, and you dont know how you will manage, remember there is one with you, who will not fail you. When you find yourself worrying, remember what Jesus said, /Your heavenly Father knoweth[Matthew 6v32 ],yes He knows and will undertake,He is after all your Father, and will care for you His child. It is so easy to run with the negative, millions do ,everyday, but this day let us stand ,and having done all to stand ,on Gods word,to look up by faith and believe that all will be well.[ Dear God I confess that often I let my thoughts dwell on so much that is negative,help me to break this bad habit, help me to get into the habit of dwelling on You, of continually reminding myself, that You will never fail me, in Jesus name Amen ]