A faithful witness. [ 4 v 18- 20 ]

I was on a course yesterday,now I had prayed about it,and during the course, I got into a conversation with a young women,she shared with me, a few things,and I said I would pray for her. Now not with her , but for her ,that appears to be a simple inoffensive thing to say,yet I felt ,she was not comfortable with what I said. I have prayed for her as I said,the Bible tells us that ,the natural human does not appreciate or understand spiritual things[1 Corinthians 2 v14] So we should not be surprised if people react unfavourable to what we say,but here is the important thing we must not stop  witnessing or saying we will pray for people,[ Ezekiel 2 v5 ].Now this does not mean we ram things down peoples throats,no but it does mean we must be faithful, and witness to the reality of God and of Christ. We must not be governed by the fear of man ,but by the fear of God, we must be faithful witnesses [ Acts 1 v8 ],we are not to be offencive,but in  humility ,and love ,speak as God guides and directs.As to the results,and we do want results,we must leave that to God, He will use our witness as He pleases, let us be faithful witnessing.
A  prayer...../Dear Lord help us to be faithful witnesses,grant us grace,wisdom,and love, Amen/

The new birth. [ John 3 v 1-7/ 1 v 12-13]

He was cultured and well educated, /But behind the civilised veneer of the man lay the cold killer/so wrote the author of the ,/The rise and fall of the third Reich/,of a leading Nazi  called Hans Frank.Jesus said to a very religious Jew ,/You must be born again [John 3 v7 ],and He was not just applying this to one man,be he ever so religious,no,He was talking to every one of us.For when we experience the new birth,we experience a change ,such a change that transforms us,we are forgiven,granted a new nature,a new disposition,a new relationship with God.all things become new. Only a spiritual rebirth can make this happen,until this happens we are lost,and in spite of our efforts,we are unchanged where it counts,our heart, or nature.The cold veneer of modern man can so easily be torn away,to reveal a monster,like Hans  Frank,as we look at Islam we see how the religious veneer hides a very cruel and wicked nature,again shown in the shooting of a fourteen year old girl in Pakistan,a youngster who was advocating the importance of girls being educated.I come from the land of saints and scholars,but I can assure you,it has witnessed child abuse on a massive scale by religious priests,murder of many by terrorists,and sectarian hatred. Jesus said ,a person must be born again, until this happens,nothing will change or can change.
A  prayer....../ Dear God open the eyes of men and women to the truth that they must be born again, by accepting Jesus as their Saviour . Amen/

There will be days like this. [ Philippians 4 v 4 ]

There is song which has the following recurring words,/My mother told me there will be days like this/ it is making the point that there are days when everything will go well. Now I know for many in this world ,everyday brings with it difficulties,hunger,sickness,and so on. But I believe that there will be days when everything will go well,I somehow think we are afraid to think like this,and we live under a perpetual cloud of darkness,now again let me say I know people have problems.Yet I don't think we should be living under a cloud of despair. God is on the throne and He will remember His own,He is looking after us,and He is not looking on us with disfavour,He is not looking at us with burrowed brow. We are His delight ,the apple of His eye,His blessing is upon us,this is the day that the Lord hath made,let us rejoice and be glad in it. Stop thinking woe is me, and stop having that Monday morning feeling every day. At the end of each day stop and consider how the Lord has made a way for you through it,He has not forsaken you,not given up on you, and has blessed you continually even when it is cloudy,things have gone well,and bow your head and say thank you
A  prayer...../Dear God we thank You that we this is the day that You have ,help us to rejoce in it, in Jesus Name Amen/.

Comfort zone. [ Romans 12 v1-2 ]

I attended an evening meal at my local fellowship,which was followed by a speaker,who is involved in prison ministry,he spoke of that moment when he felt challenged to apply for his present position. For Him it meant leaving that placed he called his comfort zone,it is a term I don't particular like,it is one of those in phrases,now I believe this person is a genuine person,and what he said did apply to him. I suppose it is true we do have our comfort zones,yet  we must not live in guilt,should we feel guilt because God has blessed us,no, but we should bless others,blessings are meant to be passed on.Yet I know the Christian life presents to all of us a challenge,to be a witness [Acts 1 v8],to our neighbours,work mates, family, and to all we meet, that is a big challenge. Of course we may be challenged to leave all and to step out in faith, we can be sure if God wants us to do something He will make it plain, even though we ignore it,or run away from it,as Jonah discovered.If we are called to a particular work or task, then God will enable us to do it,as I look back in my times working in mental health, God has help me, and after 20years I praise God for all his help. Yes we all have our comfort zones but let us always by Gods grace rise to the challenges  that we are faced with.
 A  prayer.....Dear Lord help us to deny ourselves daily,and to take up our cross and to follow Thee. Amen/

Time travellers.[ Revelation 21v 1]

Time appears to be passing so quickly,it is said that for the elderly the years pass quickly, and the days slowly,I suppose because I am still employed time appears to be rushing on.A thought came to me, in heaven there will no clocks,or calendar's,in heaven time will cease to be,we will never be late for an appointment. We will never sleep in,for we will never sleep,we will never go to the doctors for we never be unwell,we will never be bored.I just wonder what we will doing for all eternity,I wonder what God has planned for us?, God being God ,I am sure we will be truly fulfilled,there are so many things  we don't know,and will not know until we arrive.Our relationship will be different we will never hurt another person,with our words , or our actions,we will never think an unkind thought. It is all very intriguing , so many people don't think much about heaven,after all for the many they are building there little paradise here,and every week they buy a lottery ticket and dream. In so many ways the many don't think they need God to interfere in their lives,they are locked into a vision of time, and the things of time.They don't appreciate that time and the things of time are but passing they are time travellers. They seek to shut out any real thoughts on eternity,and don't like to be disturbed, as a lady was with me,when I said what if there is a heaven and a hell.
 A  prayer...../Dear God help all those time travellers to realise that eternity awaits them,and help us who have our eyes opened to live in the light of eternity in Jesus name Amen/

Slaves of sin. [ John 8 v 34 -36 ]

One of the big stories in our country at this time is to do with a person Jimmy Savile,if you take the first two letters away from his surname you have the word vile,this word means,/abominably wicked/disgusting,and this appears to sum him up.This man until he died was one of the nations favorite people,he was even knighted, and honoured by the pope.Yet in over forty years he abused many,many,youngsters,even children in hospital,so what can we say about all this?. Well in my dictionary in describing vile,it uses the phrase,/only slaves would perform such vile tasks.Jimmy Savile was a slave to his sinful practices,completly controlled by his sexual appetite, for only a slave would perform such vile things.He is not on His own ,10 percent of Japanese men have admitted to owning child porn at some stage,I wonder what the figure is world wide?. Our Saviour came to set the captive free[ Isaiah 61 v 1] ,why do we need to be set free?,because as our Saviour taught,,/whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin[ John 8v34 ],now consider what means for all of us,for the Bible tells us that we are all sinners[Romans 3 v36 ].So that means we are all servants or slaves to sin,Thankfully we have not committed the awful things Jimmy Savile committed, but we all without exception,are enslaved in something.Habits.thought patterns,lack of love,sinful appitites,violence,lying,cheating,if I keep on writing, you would see your particular bondage.For Jimmy Salvile it is two late, but it is not for you,Jesus can set you free.For whom the son sets free is free indeed,Jesus ,it trully is no secret what God can do.
A  prayer......../Dear God pour out Your Spirit upon people,convict and convert many people people who are prisoners ,in Jesus name Amen ]

So many things. [ Matthew 19 v 16 -22]

Well it has started already,for such a secular society,the Christmas season comes in very early,now of course I rejoice in the meaning of Christmas ,the birth of Jesus,as indeed every Christian does. So what can we say about the other things?,well I do hope that inspite of father Christmas,the lights,and dreaming of a white Christmas,and the eating and drinking,and the presents,and cards, and the season to be jolly,that  even a few shepherds, and wise men will find the Saviour. It is the same every year as a preacher one seeks to tell people reason for the season, although one feels like a voice crying in the wilderness. Yet people did leave their home comforts and go to John, to hear this firebrand of a preacher,who challenged them to forsake their sins,and prepare for the Lords coming. His strongest words where for the very religous people,religous people can act in the most unloving manner, our Saviour was most severely against them.So often religion gets in the way of the truth, and of knowing Him who is the truth,even Jesus, but then so manypeople have so many things  that do get in the way ,with the result Christmas comes and Christmas goes,without a true encounter with Jesus.
A   prayer....../Dear God grant that peoples eyes will be open, and that their hearts will be open to  recieve Christ, Amen /