Wrath. [ John 3 v36 ]

You may not not heard of Phinehas, we read of him in Numbers 25 , he was the grandson of Aaron ,Moses brother, that was his pedigree,although let me say people dont always live up to their pedigree [ cp 1 Kings 11]. But in case of Phinehas he lived up to his pedigree when he acted against sin, he slew two people who were causing judgement to fall on Israel. We may look on sin as just something that is acceptable, because it is acceptable for the culture we live in. David when he repented of his awful sin,reminds us that when we sin it is an act against a holy God [ cp Psalm 51v4]. Sin if not repented of, and forgiven ,by Christ, will bring Gods wrath upon us,believing in Christ is an act of saving us from Gods wrath, never forget this. Coming back to Phinehas , his action in dealing with sin ,turned Gods wrath away from Israel, and this is what Jesus did when He died on the cross, He turned away Gods wrath,not just from Israel, but for all those who trust in Him, as Saviour. How did He do that?, by bearing in His body the wrath of God,as the poet put it ,the wrath of God that was my due , upon the lamb was laid [Jesus cp John 1 v 29/ Isaiah 53 v 4 ].
A prayer ..../God help us to look on sin for what it is, in Your sight, and to appreciate the awful consequences of it, if not forgiven, through Jesus death on the cross. Amen /

On our knees. [ Luke 18 v 1]

George Orwell author of Animal Farm, spent time with the mining community ,he wrote of his experiences,of what it was like to be down the mines. It was to say the least a dreadful way to make a living, no wonder they went on strike when their wages were reduced. Orwell describes how those miners at the coal face ,had to work on their knees, consider how hard this was,they say hard work is not easy, in the case of the miners it surely was. Now let us consider a spiritual application as regards the Christian life,now I know it is a life of joy,and peace,and we have His presence with us,but, there is that but again,it is no picnic. Consider yourself a miner at the coal face, and the only way you are going to get that coal out is to work on your knees,in our case the only way we can serve and live for Jesus is on our knees. On our knees, the place of prayer,have you prayed today?, do it,do it,do it,we cannot cope without it,on our knees we are declaring our dependance upon God, Jesus said, without Me you can do nothing.
A prayer ....../ Dear God forgive us for our carelessness in not praying as we need to,help us all to pray ,and to pray, and to pray, in Jesus name Amen /

Gethsemane. [ Luke 22 v 39 -53 ]

There is an old saying which goes,/ What cannot be cured must be endured/, let us acknowledge somethings dont go away,things that are painful. The psalmist overwhelmed by his troubles wished that he had wings that he could fly away from it all ,and find rest[ Psalm 55] . This reminds me of those prisoner of war stories,when all those prisoners wanted one thing, to escape, how dear Joseph,longed to escape [ Genesis 40 v14-15 ]. No one likes to suffer, to experience a difficult marriage,to cope with a difficult job, or lonliness, or a breavement,or unemployment. Many people who live on the streets are there because they choose to escape from difficult situations,and yet living on the streets is not easy. There are many things that we have to endure, mybe you are enduring something at this time, that is very painful,mybe you feel crushed, a Gethsemane experience. In Gethsemane ,some slept, one betrayed,but one stayed ,He could have run from that garden, for He knew what was coming, knew what He would have to endure,so what did He do? ,well through tears, He prayed, not not my will, but Thine be done, prayed it three times. We read how an angel strengthened Him, yes even He in His humanity needed strengthed, and then He arose and faced His Calvary, today He speaks into all our lives, and says, follow Me.
A prayer...../ Dear God grant us grace to endure those things we feel like running away from in Jesus name Amen/

What a Friend. [ John 15 v15 ]

As I write this blog I am listening to an old Hymn written by a fellow Irish man Joseph Scriven called,/ What a friend we have in Jesus/.Joseph wrote this as a poem which he sent to his mother,it is the only hymn we have by him, and yet that hymn continues to bless millions of Christians. The hymn stresses a very important aspect of our Christian life, friendship with Jesus ,and the blessings that come through that friendship. Dear Christian you are not on your own you have a friend called Jesus, avail yourself of His friendship, go to Him pour out your heart to Him. Consider the words of this old hymn .
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear,
What a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer
Oh, what peace we often forfiet,oh what needless pain we bear.
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
A prayer...../Dear Lord Jesus we come to You our Saviour ,Lord and friend, have mercy upon us and bless us Amen .

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/