Ignorance is not bliss.[ Acts 8 v 26 -39 ]

I took someone to a barbers shop,the people who run this shop were from Turkey,I got into a conversation with one these people,he had beads in his hand. Being a Muslin ,I inquired if they were prayer beads, he said they were not, I am not sure if he was being truthful, but I asked what are the words used with  prayer beads,he spoke words in Arabic, I asked him what they meant, he said he didnt know. He didnt know,our Saviour pointed out the pointlessness of praying meaningless prayers,surely the thing about a true and meaningful relationship is not ignorance, but enlightenment, revelation. The old hymn declares I once was blind but now I see,if we are walking in blind ignorance, as regards our religion, then we are not walking in the light but in the dark.As a Christian I am challenged to grow in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ [2 Peter 3 v18 ], how can I do this? ,simply, by the Word of God. Psalm 119 v130 reads,/ The entrance of Thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple/, in that word we find Christ,and without that knowledge we will perish in ignorance,without that knowledge we will not grow spiritually.When it comes to knowing God, and growing  spiritually,ignorance is not bliss,it is downright foolish, and dangerous
A  prayer...../ Dear God help us all to grow in grace and in the knowledge of of our Jesus Christ . Amen /.

Not in vain. [ 1 Corinthians 15 v 58 ]

We were on holiday last week,a few things stand out, I got witnessing to two people, one was a street musician, his name was Bill [strange  name], I wonder why it is easier to witness to those who are poor.? We dont know the outcome of our witnessing only eternity will show the full extent of  those words we have spoken.Many a dear missionary,served God in hard ,and what appeared fruitless places ,but there is coming a day when God will open His box of surprises, and they shall rejoice ,as they look upon those  who responded to what appeared to them a fruitless weak witness. I have during my Christian life ,taught a Sunday school class,spoke at childrens meetings,in old peoples homes,preached many, many sermons,, has it all been in vain, no, here is the word of God for us today./Therefore, my beloved brethern, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord [ 1 Corinthians 15 v58 ]
A  Prayer..../ Dear God grant us the grace and faith to leave the results of our witnessing in Your hands in  Jesus name Amen/

When danger threatens. [ Psalm 91 ]

Daniel  Defoe the author of the classic book, Roninson Crusoe lived in London, when the great plague of 1665 struck. Daniel wrote an account of this event,in it he tells how many sought to leave the city,if they could,but even that was filled with difficulties as one needed a certificate of health from the Lord Mayor without it one would not be able to travel for fear of spreading the disease.What was Daniel to do?, he considered his situation , his business would possible suffer if he left London,but then if he stayed he might die of the plague. His older brother advised him to leave London, to run away from it. Daniel made plans to leave,but things happened that appeared to him, that Gods providence was indicating for him to stay.He shared this with his brother who laughed at what he told him,told him of stories of foolhardy people who like him had suffered ill, at such ideas. There came a point in Daniels experience ,he cried unto God,/I know not what to do , Lord, direct me/.and it was then that the words of Psalm 91 came to him, he read the following./ I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him will I trust . Surely He shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence..........A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee....neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling /. Daniel stayed and God preserved him.
A  prayer ....Dear Lord help us to know how to act,when dangers threaten,help us to seek Your will,and grant us grace to trust in You and in Your word ,in Jesus Name Amen /.

Hindrances. [ Matthew 14 v23 ]

William Cowper wrote ,/What various hindrances we meet, in coming to the mercy seat. Yet who,that knows the worth of prayer,but wishes to be there./I am no expert in relation to prayer, but I have learned the importance of prayer. I rise early in the morning to pray because I know that if I dont those various hindrances will happen, yesterday morning one my sons called in when I was praying,he lives a good distance from where he works,so he comes to my home for a sleep over,he had been working the previous night. Anyway this all made it difficult for me to continue to pray,but I have a shed so I slipped down there and finished my quite time there.Yes there are hindrances when we come to pray,yet as William wrote,they who know the worth of prayer , wish often to be there.Prayer is vital,that may seem obivious,but we need to hear this,to be reminded of it continually,I have learned from experience, that I  need to pray, for I need Him who is my anchor, I need Him who is my best friend.Again in the words of W Cowper,/ Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw. Gives exercise to faith and love,brings every blessing from above/.
A  prayer...../Dear God help us to see how vital prayer is , that it is not just a haphazard thing,but a vital part of our experience with You, in Jesus name Amen /

Truth and tolerance. [ 1 John 2 v 10 -11]

While on holiday I bought a book on John Calvin,I have known about Calvinism for most of my Christian life ,but I have never read his life. Now I can imagine when one mentions Calvinisim it stirs up feelings,it is the same with the doctrine of the last things, or baptisim.We see those who hold to a different belief on those subjects as our enemies, but I am a Christian long enough to know that this is not so.I went to an evangelical interdenominational Bible college,and I found a group of Christians, who without exception knew the Lord as their Saviour. Many of them went on to serve the Lord on the mission field,to be ministers,and all had the desire to tell others about Jesus,all held fast to the word of God.So today hold fast to those things that are important to you,but be tolerant towards those Christians who differ with you, remember they also belong to Christ, and we must love them, this is not optional.
A  prayer..../ Dear Lord help us to be tolerant towards our fellow Christians who differ with us in certain things, in Jesus name Amen /

Lessons from Esther. [Romans 8 v28 ]

The book of Esther is a very instructive book on a very important subject ,the providence of God,we need always to be looking at life with this in mind.In this book we have an unfolding picture,a queen who disobeyed her husband. An unknown girl Esther is promoted to be queen,a plot to destroy the whole Jewish nation,a godly Jew who reveals a plot that saves the kings life. God is not mentioned in this book,but His providence blazes forth, in His timing and overruling of all the events that take place.It is a book that should encourage every child of God,that God can intervene in the most difficult of situations,situations that can be life threatening, the Jews were delivered ,their enemies were routed. The word of God declares if He is For us, who can be against us[ Romans 8 v31],so let us all trust God in every situation,[ myself included].God can make a way,in relation to promotion,protection, and provision,so today,in the words of that wonderful hymn by W  Cowper./Ye fearful saints fresh courage take,the clouds ye so much dread. Are big with mercy, and shall break, in blessing on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,but trust Him for His grace. Behind a frowning providence, He hides a smilng face/.
A  prayer..../ Father in heaven we commit our situation to You, trusting in Your overruling providence to work everything out for You childrens good, in Jesus name  Amen /
/I will be on holiday for a week, I  will return to my blog Sunday 20th/

Lets try a peanut.[ Job 40 v 3-5 / Romans 8 v28 ]

I have just bought a book by Tony Campolo called /Let me tell you a story/as the title suggests it is about stories,with a spiritual application,it is easy to read,as a preacher I value stories. Tony tells of, Booker T Washington  praying to God ,he asked God to help him to understand His mind,and God answered, Booker, thats a little too much for you to handle. Lets try a peanut.I smiled when I read this,and yet it is so true,the fact of the matter we cannot grasp fully Gods mind, or Gods ways, we are told this in Isaiah 55v 8-9/ For My thoughts are not my thoughts,neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and  My thoughts than your thoughts./Job who suffered so much had to realize this, Brooker had to realize this, we all have to realize this. We look at our lives at times, and we ask what is God doing?, we look at the world and we may ask the same question.Mybe like Booker you have looked up to God, mybe through tears, and asked for Gods purpose ,and Gods mind ,on what is taking place in your life. Let us all be still before Almighty God,and just simply trust Him, He really does know what He is doing as one day we will see this. [1 Corinthians 13 v12 ]
A  prayer..../ Dear God help us to trust You in Jesus name, for You are to be trusted Amen /