Breaking point. [ 1 Corinthians 10 v13 ]

Many years ago I remember, us having a record player or what was known as a gramophone, it didnt work by electricity,it had a spring mechanism,which one had to wind up. I dont remember the music we played on it but I do remember that the spring kept snapping,and had to be replaced. Life for many is a bit like that ,we feel like a spring that is about to snap,we come under pressure, we feel stretched, and we cant take much more. Consider the following, and see if you idenitify with them,/troubled,distressed,perplexed,despair,persecuted.Now it is the apostle Paul who wrote those words [1 Corinthians 4 v8-9 ],so how did he respond to those things?. Well he declares that in all those things he was not forsaken, nor was he destroyed, in 2 Timothy 4v17 ,he declares in the midst of His trials, that the Lord stood with him, and strengthened him.Let us remember that in all our difficulties in life that the Lord is with us to strengthen us, so that we will not snap, and that He will not let those difficulties destroy us.[ Dear God we thank You ,that You are with us, and will not permit our difficulties to destroy us, but rather You will use our difficulties to transform us. in Jesus name .Amen ]

A worry pit . [ Psalm 40 v1- 3 ]

I wonder do you have a feeling in your tummy everytime you think of a certain situation ,I do ,and it will not go a way. I will call it my worry pit , a place where I have my worse thoughts. It involves situations that are arising, it involves change, it involves people,the result is ,a worry pit, and I cant seem to get out of it. You would think an old stager like me,would not have a worry pit, after all I am a Christian many ,many years, a minister , a preacher,this may be so, but I still have a worry pit.Well my mind turns to a man called Elijah, the great prophet,who had a powerful ministry, but he also had his worry pit cp 1 Kings 19. Is there a magic cure to help us out of our worry pits?, no ,but there is an answer,Elijah burrowed deeper into his worry pit,yes we can do that, or we can face those things that are worrying us,and trust in our Saviour to undertake.I read a verse this morning that will help all of us ,and its this. Isaiah 41 v10. Fear thou not ,for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea I will help thee, yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. [Dear God we thank You that no matter how deep our worry pit may be , you are with us, and can deliver us ,in Jesus name Amen ]

The word of God.[ Psalm 119 v105 ]

As I was travelling on holiday recently, I listened to a Christian service on the radio,and one part of the service, I found interesting. After each Bible reading, they quoted Psalm 119 v105,which reads ,/Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path/. Some people think the Word of God confusing,not so ,William Plummer an old commentator, writes,/How sad is the state and how guilty the conduct of those , who reject the light of Gods word. It alone can solve a thousand doubts. It alone gives effectual comfort in the day of distress. It alone preserves our feet from forbidden paths, whoever has it has a great advantage/.It is the word of God alone that can make us wise unto salvation 2 Timothy 3 v15 ], for it reveals Christ to us,which must be a priority if we are to be saved and go to heaven and not to hell. [Dear God thank You for Your word, that reveals unto us Christ, and the principals we are to live by,and the path we are called to walk each day. Amen ]

Our heavenly Father. [Jeremiah 29 v11 ]

I heard these words while watching a movie/ I believe my Father has made me for a purpose/,I believe this, so many dont, because they dont know my Father.When you do know Him ,then life takes on a new meaning, you realize that there is one who is watching over you, caring for you. [cp Matthew 6 ] God is the best Father, by far, often earthly fathers, as many people are finding out,are not caring,they father children,they didnt want, someone I know had 6 children,but was left to bring them up on her own.Another person I know had a father who abused her. Now of course there are many good fathers,but they have their limits, and they do there best,but they cannot always help us and protect us, and be with us. We find in God, the perfect father, yes He will chastise us,because He loves us [Hebrews 12v6],we may not understand His ways, but we can trust Him, that He knows best,and will look after us, come what may. [ Dear God we thank You that we can know You as our Father when we trust Jesus to be our Saviour, Amen ]

What we need. [ Philippians 4 v23 ]

As I think what to write, the thought that comes to is the grace of God,this is something we all need to be reminded of,not only to be saved,but as we continue on ,in the Christian life.Grace to stand for truth as revealed in the word of God,grace to be the people we should be,and would like to be. Grace to overcome those things that would bring us down, grace to fight the good fight of faith, grace to follow our Lord in the path that He leads us on.Grace to be humble,grace to have a servants heart, and live it out,grace to apply truth to our lives, not just to accumulate knowledge for the sake it,let us remember that truth, Gods truth is meant to be lived out, in the rough and tumble of life. If I am going to be light,if I am going to be salt, I need the grace of God, let us therefore come unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need [Hebrews 4 v16 ][ Dear God pour out Your grace into these lives of ours in Jesus name Amen ] [ I will return to blogging next Sat as I will be holiday from tomorrow ]

The Bible.[ 2 Timothy 3v15 ]

When Israel became two nations after the death of Solomon ,who caused the split [cp 1 Kings 11v 9ff],one of the nations under Jeroboam, set up false worship,[cp 1 Kings 12v25ff]. In doing this they did something that many people have done, added to the what Gods word taught,it started with these words, Jeroboam thought to himself. From his human reasoning he led the nation down a very slippery slope, which ended in the nation being judged severely by God[ cp 2 Kings 17]. What have Islam, Mormonism,and Roman Catholicism, got in common, they have all added to Gods final revelation,the word of God the Bible. This is a very ,very, serious matter,because it has such a profound affect upon millions, and millions of people. How vital it is to stand for truth as revealed in Holy scriptures,if we are going to be saved,the Bible alone will make us wise unto salvation [2 Timothy 3 v15 ]. Those who add other, so called revelations ,are leading people astray, leading them to a lost eternity, let us not be lured into error,by leaning upon our own understanding, and straying from Gods word ,the Bible. [ Dear God of truth, help us to hold fast to Your finished revelation,the Bible ,in Jesus name .Amen]

Words. [ Psalm 19 v14 ]

I felt convicted I had said something I should not have, alas, once you speak words they cannot be recalled, you cant delete them . I spoke words and felt an uneasiness in my spirit , the Holy Spirit was at work,of course I could ignor His prompting, but in doing that,I would grieve Him, He would not leave me,but in some way ,He would remind me. So really its best to respond to His prompting, confess ones sin , learn from it ,and move on. Consider all the rash words spoken,all the fifthly words, the hurtful words, the lying words. One of my favourite poems is the ,/The Ballet of Reading Jail, by Oscar Wilde, it is about a man who was going to be hung, why?,The man had killed the thing he loved, and so he had to die, but then Oscar goes on to write,/Yet each man kills the thing he loves, by each let this be heard,some do it with a bitter look, some with a flattering word./ May we watch our words today,to all we come in contact with, and especially with our nearest and dearest, we dont want to kill the thing we love. [ Dear God forgive our wrong words, help us to speak healing words, not hurtful words,may the words that we speak today glorify You, we ask this in Jesus name Amen ]