D V. [ James 4 v13 - 16 ]

Proverbs 27 v 1, reads/Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth./ These are the wise words of Solomon,James in his epistle touches on the same theme chapter 4 v13-16, and the key word in both passages is boasting.In James it is aimed at the wealthy ,who because of their wealth ,manifest a foolish confidence, and disregard for God,so both writers urge caution upon those who are blinded by false securities. Consider, we know not what today may hold for any of us, sudden sickness, sudden unemployment, sudden death. Now the writers of these scriptures are not to trying make us anixious, but rather to live with atitude of humbleness and dependance on God. I remember years ago observing a successful business man who appeared arrogant, I heard at a later date how his business went bust .John Blanchard reminds us that all our hopes and plans have to be stamped,/D V,[ Deo Volente, God willing ],we dare not make any of plans of our own in any other spirit./
A prayer..../Dear God forgives us our foolish ways,when we leave You out of our affairs, help us to acknowledge You in all our ways in Jesus name Amen /

Why do the ungodly prosper?[ Psalm 73 ]

As I said yesterday it snowed, I dont mind the snow ,for usually it does not last long,but while it does, it creates problems,one of them is,it turns to ice,and of course it makes driving and walking dangerous. My wife bought me gadgets to put on my shoes so I wont slip and fall, which reminds me of Psalm 73,here the Psalmist is stuggling.He is struggling with a why?, why the unrighteous appear to be prospering, and why is he getting it hard ,inspite of the fact he is faithfully following God.He feels disillusioned if we are honest we all feel like this at times,well he does not stay in that destructive place ,he goes to God,he acknowledges Gods goodness in general to His people,and then he prays,/But as for me/, he is being honest,which is vital in our relationship with God,and he tells Him how he feels.Tell God how you feel ,He wants to hear not just the words of your mouth,but the thoughts of your heart.He tells God, not others, for his words may cause others to stumble, bring to God your stuggling thoughts. Well God listened,yes His ear is open to our cry, and He gaves him an answer,as to the true position of the ungodly.they are set in slippery places,God will cast them down into a pit of destruction. [ cp Luke 16 v 19-31].
A Prayer...../Dear God help us in our struggles not to be overcome with bitterness or unbelief ,grant us faith to trust in You, for you are to be trusted, in Jesus name Amen./

More valuable. [ Matthew 6 19 -34 ]

It has snowed, I wonder how the birds survive?,some dont but many do, because they have someone looking after them, God, we are told that our heavenly Father, feedeth them[ Matthew 6 v26]. As I look out my window ,I wonder how He is going to provide for them? I dont know but I believe He will. During their wilderness journey, Israel in unbelief asked the question,/ Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?/. Now I believe we all have our wilderness experience,it may be we are lacking finance,need a job, desire a wife /husband, a child,and so many other things,you look at a church situation, few in numbers,no one being saved,and you may not it,but in a way you may be like Israel asking,/ can God./Let me encourage you whatever you may be facing,to believe that God not only can provide but God will, he did furnish a table in the wilderness, He will feed the birds,and He will care for you, for you and I are more valuable to our loving heavenly Father, than the birds.
A prayer...../ Dear Father in heaven ,You who feed the birds even when it snows,we thank You that You have not forgotten us and our needs,in Jesus needs meet out needs Amen/

There is an answer. [ Romans 7 v 25 ]

In 2 Peter 1 v 3, we read that God has by His divine power has given us everything we need to live a godly life,stop and consider these words. In other words whatever we are faced with, we can be victorious, this is what we are being told, we can be overcomers, instead of being overcome. We can be godly, we can live in a way that will glorify God. How? to you it may seem a pipe dream,I cant overcome these feelings of mine, I have tried and failed. Now thats the way the non Christian looks at life,but we are Christians,and that makes a massive difference, were once I struggled on my own, I have this wonderful word that there are divine resources at my disposal In Romans 7 the great apostle writes of his struggles, /Oh, what a miserable person I am, Who will free me from this life dominated by sin and death?,it appears he is in despair, but not so for he tells us the answer,/ The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord./
A prayer..../Dear God we acknowledge our failures before You today,Your word assures us that in Jesus we can succeed ,grant unto us grace today,to be more than conquerors. Amen /

Insecure.[ Romans 8 v 38 -39 ]

How secure are you? do you live as if the sky is going to fall upon you? and I not talking about Sky Tv. Let us be honest there are so many things that can make us feel insecure, recently I mentioned a soccer player who killed himself, it seems there was no apparent reason at the time. It now appears he was having trouble with his marriage,possible he thought he was going to loose his wife, and he just could not face this .Inspite of the fact that he was successful, he felt totally insecure at the thought of loosing his wife,yes so many things can make us feel insecure. The list is endless ,and of course there are many things in our past experience, that have created
a spirit of insecurity,many believe in eternal security,but when it come to the here and now we feel insecure. The result of this our lives are blighted by this,causing us and others near us pain. As I read the Bible, I am faced with people just like myself, these people at time felt insecure, and showed it, but God loved them. So today take this thought with you God loves you, that will never, never change,why? because His love for you is unconditional.
A prayer..../Dear God fill our hearts with You Love, a love that is unconditional;, in Jesus name Amen.

Preach the Word. [ 1 Timothy 4 v2 ff ]

I saw two daffodills two days ago ,they are not suppose to bloom till spring, and yet there they were, blooming out of season. In 2Timothy 4v2, we read ,/Preach the word, in season,out of season/.In the church were I was a minister, everytime I stood in the pulpit ,I stood on a rug with the words ,preach the word, on it. These words reminded me and indeed everyone who stood in that pulpit of the responsibllity to be faithful ,and to preach Gods word. Goverments are trying to take the place of Gods word, and tell us what is right and wrong, philosophers likewise, now I am not advocating we dont obey the laws of our land[cp Romans 13 v1],but as a preacher of the Word of God, I am called to preach the word,a word that makes clear what is clean and unclean[ cp Leviticus 14 v57 ],a word that tells of the only one who can save souls and forgive their sin ,Jesus. On the day I stand before Him I want to here Him say, well done good and faithul servant.
A prayer....../ Dear God help us in a world of change to be faithful to Your word in Jesus name Amen /.

It can happen.[ Acts 26 v 25 ]

As we look at life we can so easy despair, because it appears that somethings will never change,never get better,take slavery,one would never have thought it could have changed,but then came Wilberforce. Israel were slaves in Egypt for 400 years, then came Moses, in America slavery continued on,for a long time, then came Abraham Lincoln. For thousands of years this world lay in darkness , Israel was a conquered and ruled by Rome, then came Jesus, and for Israel and the world, salvation had come. We may feel that things cannot change ,will not change,but they can, consider the one who does not Jesus ,He can bring change, weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning[ Psalm 30 v 5 ]. So many people Jesus healed had been suffering for a long time,some had tried everything humanally speaking [cp Mark 5 v 25ff ], but then Jesus came. With God all things are possible, these are not just words, they are Gods words,reminding us that change can come, the waiting can end,the burden can be lifted,the way can open.
A prayer..../Dear God and Father, I bring my burdens to You,and ask that deliverance may come, in the name of Jesus Amen /