Freedom [ Luke 4 v18-19 ]

President Obama is visiting Burma at this time, seeking to encourage the powers that be to continue to move forward to a democratic government,and in the process become a more free country.On this  I was very impressed, as he sought to define freedom,that true freedom is not just about casting ones vote.He then mentioned what a former President said, President Roosevelt who  said there were four things that are important as regards freedom [1] Freedom from want. [2]Freedom of expression [3]Freedom to work . [ 4]Freedom from fear.I hope I got them right I am quoting from memory.The Bible has a lot to say regards freedom ,it tells us that we are all enslaved ,by the devil and by our sinful nature[ 2 Timothy 2v26/ John 8 v34 /.The situation was and is so desperate that God had to take desperate measures, in order to truly set people free, He sent Jesus.His purpose was to set people free. Jesus declared that He had come to set the captives free [ Luke 4v 18],He declared that He had come to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.The good news of the gospel is that Jesus can set you free, for whom the son sets free is free indeed.
A  prayer....../ Dear God  we thank You for Jesus who can set us truly free Amen /

Judging others [ John 8 v1-11]

Our Lord tells us clearly not to judge others [Matthew 7 v1-5 ],  He gives a warning as the consequence of judging others, that you will put yourself in a place where judgement will fall on you. How many times we see this in life, especially if one is a driver. Let me say this there are no perfect drivers,yet it is one place were people sit in judgement on others,they curse and become angry at other drivers, they judge to imperfect in their driving. This is  why our Lord tells us not to judge others,we all are imperfect human beings,when a fellow Christian falls into sin,we are inclined to judge, or they have characteristics that need changing.Let us be honest we have characteristics that need changing. May be our judging others helps us feel superior,but it doesn't it only causes us to put ourselves in jeopardy. If we look into the word of God ,read 1 Corinthians 13,and consider how short  we come as to love, consider the challenge of holiness, outward,but most important inward,we all have beams/ planks in our eyes, that need to be removed. The words of 1 Corinthians 11v31 , read, / For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged/
A  prayer..... /Dear God forgive us for our judgemental spirit grant that we will take seriously what our Saviour taught us about judgeing others Amen/

Witnessing. [ Acts 1 v8 ]

One of my sons told me of someone who said that witnessing is only the task of the evangelist,of  course this is utterly wrong ,when our saviour spoke the words go [Matthew 27v19],He did not say for just Evangelist to go. In Acts 8 we read of a time of persecution,men and women were suffering ,this caused them to be scattered everywhere, and in v4, we read that they went everywhere preaching the word.I don't thing I am an evangelist but I do know I am called to evangelise. It causes me great frustration that I don't tell more people about Jesus,there are no exemptions in the task of witnessing, it is all hands to the task. The gospel is not only a wonderful gift we have received, but it is a gift we are called to share with others. Yes we are not called to leave it to the professionals, yet  maybe in witness we will discover that we are an evangelist. I appreciate that we may find it hard to witness ,we may not feel like doing it, because of our natural reserve,or the fear of becoming unpopular,but God can help us, we have the Holy Spirit, who can empower us ,grants us the words to say,and can use us in ways we never expected.
A  prayer...../Dear Lord help us to be witnesses for You, with our words and our lives . Amen/

Justice/ Mercy .[ Titus 3 v 1 -7 ]

  Gandhi said,,/ An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind/,now I don't understand fully the situation between Israel and Palestine.but I sometimes think that both sides practise that biblical instruction,and it definitely appears that both sides are going to end up blind.I wonder what you think of these words an eye for an eye?,I would think it is a statement about justice,and of course we need justice.Now of course God is a just God , He is the ultimate judge we will have to do with, but He is also merciful, continually in the Bible we are reminded of Gods mercy. Again a quotation from William S  / The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven. Upon the place beneath, it is twice blest. It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes./ We will always need justice, but we most surely always need mercy. I love the words of that old hymn by W .R, Newel./Years I spent in vanity and pride,caring not my Lord was crucified.Knowing not it was for me He died/That was once my condition , a sinner who was blind to Gods love in Christ, and if I remained like that I would only ever experience a just Gods wrath. But thankfully by Gods grace I was brought to a place of mercy as the chorus in that old hymn tells us. / Mercy there was great, and grace was free,pardon there was multiplied to me. There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary./
A  prayer...../Dear God help us to appreciate that You demand Justice as regards sin, and hep us to see that the only way we can escape that justice is by accepting Christ as our Saviour, Amen /

Music. [Psalm 23 ]

I have always loved the cinema,and recently I have observed how important the music is, and how it is written to express the theme and mood of the story line. When you have a western, you will have music that tells you  there is Indians involved,in scary movies ,you have music that adds to a sense of fear. Shakespeare wrote that all the world was a stage,maybe if he were writing to day ,he  would write that all the world is a movie which we are all part of,playing out our different rolls.The thought came to me, what music are we hearing and living by ? ,is it music that indicates we are scared,is it music that indicate danger?. Are we swayed or even controlled by the music? what drum beat are we marching to?,maybe we need to start listening to heavens music,the music of faith,peace,trust, holiness.It is not music written by Mozart ,but by the divine Spirit,it speaks to our heart, and tells us to be still and know that He is God,that tells us to trust and not be afraid,that tells us that ,our Lord is with us,if we really listen, we will be brought into a place of calm and still waters.
A prayer ...../ Dear God help us in a world of distorted music ,to listen to the sound of Heavens music, in Jesus name Amen /

The unforgiveable sin. [ Matthew 12 v31-32 ]

I heard someone say the words,/It is unforgivable/ in the bible our Lord tells His hearers  that,/ all manner of sin and blasphemy ,shall be forgiven unto men, but  the blasphemy ,against the  Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto them [/Matthew 12 v31 ] So many people have sought to answer what does it mean to blaspheme against the Holy Ghost?,this question has unsettled many dear.Christians, some have felt they had committed this sin and so were outside the mercy of  God.,these words were spoken to unbelievers, not to those who have trusted Jesus .These words are spoken as a solemn warning to a group of people who continually,opposed the truth,they heard, and miracles they witnessed, they also had the scriptures,yet in spite of that they rejected Jesus, not only rejected Him but attributed what He was doing was of Satan. In Psalm 95 we read these words,/ Harden not your hearts/that what Israel did in the wilderness and they were cut of from entering the promise land. Those in the wilderness had witness so much of Gods power yet in the end were cut of, likewise as I have said, the religious people had witness so much,yet in the end all they could do was blaspheme the Holy Spirit,they were so hard they didn't want Jesus nor would they acknowledge the Holy Spirit. They just refused to repent,and so cut themselves of from God,that which is not  repented of cannot , will not be forgiven.One commentator David Thomas wrote the following words which are very solemn,/The Bible does certainly teach that man may here arrive at a point in sin when salvation becomes impossible, that the day of grace closes with some before the day of life/.
A  prayer ...../ Dear God  have mercy upon those who put themselves in great danger as to their eternal souls in Jesus name Amen/

BBC in crisis. [ Proverbs 2 v 6 ]

More heads will roll in BBC crisis, so read the headlines in the newspaper I read, it is all to do with people in the BBC acting unwisely or not acting wisely, it has caused a great stir in our country . It reminds me how easy we can be caught out and even caught on if we act unwisely,recently a top CIA person has resigned ,because he was involved in a extra martial relationship. As a Christian I am aware how easy it is to be caught out, and how we need Gods help in preserving us from all evil, and not to point the finger of judgement at others, but to pray for those who are in crisis,because of acting unwisely.As we start each day we should first of all pray,obvious this may sound but many people don't, next in our prayers we need to ask for wisdom , in James 1 v 5, if we ask God for wisdom , He will grant it to us. Then we need to act wisely, act on the wisdom God grants us, it is possible to be granted wisdom and to act contrary to it,the greatest example of a person who did this ,was Solomon [1 Kings 11]. In doing what he did Solomon brought terrible judgement on His people. Yes the cost of acting unwisely can be great,for us, no matter how great we may be,so today ask for wisdom from our all wise God.
A  prayer...../ Dear God keep us from acting unwisely ,grant us the wisdom we need, and give us grace to act on it, in Jesus name we ask this Amen/