Amazed. [ John 11v40]

Just this week a problem arose in relation to one of my sons,he had a need,that came unexpectedly,now I so desired to help,which my wife and I did in a measure,but only in a measure. So what does one do?,first of all I prayed earnestly, for he is my son whom I love dearly,   and then I looked to Gods word for a promise,the first promise I received was Philippians 4 v19/But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus/. So God spoke but for this to happen a real difficulty had to be overcome, and then God spoke again,/ Is anything to hard for the Lord[Jeremiah 32v27/.So I continued to pray encouraged by the word given,the result was God answered,the need was met,God had been faithful. So what did I do then I thanked God for hearing and answering my prayers, amazed how quickly it was all resolved.
A prayer..../Dear God thank You for Your faithfulness,for prayers answered, for needs met,for difficulties overcome, and for Your perfect timing, in Jesus name Amen /

An evangelical church.[ Revelation3 v 7-13]

I come from Ulster, or Northern Ireland, it is a land that has known a lot of conflict,but it is also a land that is blest,in that, there are  so many fine gospel churches,I was privleaged from a child to come under the sound of the gospel. The church that I attended was an evangelical church in other words a church that believed fervently the word of God.In that church one heard regulary,the gospel. I remenber with a thankful  heart my pastor who is now in glory,preaching, of the night,over 48 yrs ago,entering the church building,and hearing him,and responding to the message,I cannot remember what he spoke on,but I praise God,that I responded, and so my life was changed, for evermore.I was restored to the good shepherd, my dear Saviour Jesus.In that church,I was fed spiritually,it was a  church that stressed the coming again of Jesus, and the importance of living in the light of that glorious event.In that church there was an active childrens work, pointing children to Jesus,for let us never forget that children need the saviour.It was an outward looking church,at times we attempted to reach the lost, by special evangelistic events,by door witnessing,and I remember we manned a bookstall each Saturday outside the church.It was missionary minded church,it supported by prayer,and giving, missionaries, one such man was Freddy Orr, a wonderful man of God, who served God in Brazil.So as I look back I thank God that I come from Ulster and that evangelical church on the Castlereagh Road in Belfast.
A  prayer..../ Dear God we praise You those faithful servants who were true to your word,help us to follow in there footsteps in Jesus name Amen /

Testing,proving. [ 1 Peter 1 v 7 ]

I am sure we all wonder why certain things happen to us, why does God allow allow our marriages to fail through no fault of ours, why we are tempted ?why different  things happen, that we wish didn't happen?.Take the case of Abraham, who was told by God to take the son he loved and sacrifice him,why?.[ Genesis 22],well we read that it was a test. What was the test?we read that it was to see if Abraham feared the Lord,now of course God knows everything about us,for He is God,the trial was also for Abrahams sake,that he may not forget,even in old age, the lesson God would teach him.It is also recorded for our sakes,that we should at all times put God first,whatever the cost.Why does God allow us to be tempted,and tested,if we go to Deuteronomy 13v3, we read ,/For the Lord your God is testing you,to know whether you love the love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all your souls.My daughter in law used to play a little game with the children,she would say how much do you love me,and the children would spread their arms wide, and say, this much?.Sometimes we talk about loveless marriages,how painful that must be, for who wants that,so it is that God desires above all else our love,He does not desire,cold obedience,a rule keeping exercise,a Christian in name only,and He does not desire a half hearted love, no ,He desires us to be whole hearted.If we ask God how much do You love us,He says look to the cross,see my Son nailed to that cross,His arms opened wide,and hear Him say that is how much I love you.
A prayer...../Dear God grant us grace to be faithful,and obedient,and wholehearted in our love for You in Jesus name Amen /

Wearing jeans. [ 1 Samuel 16 v7 ]

There is a local church it started with a few Christians in a new housing estate, it has grown to about 400 people,God has blessed, in a time when many churches are diminishing. I rejoice that God is blessing that fellowship,and pray for it, but recently I was talking to a person who was critical of the leader of that church,because he was preaching heresy,living an immoral life,no ,none of those things. The criticism , was about how the leader dressed,he wears jeans,and a check shirt,every week, this is terrible,no its not,is that person right in his criticism, no he is not. Now I like to dress up ,look my best,but let me ask you ,should we be judging people,because they don't wear a shirt and tie?,or they take their coat of when preaching. I used to play a game called trivial pursuits, and that is all it is, trivia, not important,is it not time that we stop emphasising the importance of trivia in our Christian life.What a person wears is not important to God,what a person is, that's important,is that person a man of God?, is that woman a person of God?.Should we not be taken up with spiritual fruit, than the wearing of suits?are we showing disrespect to God if we stand before Him in a pair of jeans?no. Peter writes about being clothed with humility[1 Peter 5 v5 ],now that is what we need more of, Paul ,exhorts us to clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness,humility, gentleness, and patience[Colossians 3v12 ]
A prayer...../ Dear God help us to grow up,help us to stop judging others by how they dress,in Jesus Name Amen /

No resting on our laurels.[ Hebrews 2 v3 ]

In spite of all the wonders and miracles that Israel had witnessed, Moses warns them of the dangers of leaving the worship of the only God,and turning to worship ,idols,creatures,or the moon and stars [Deuteronomy 4 v 14ff]. Unfortunately that is what they did ,so often cp Ezekiel 8,continually God had to challenge them,as regards idolatry, even King Solomon fell prey to this,influenced by his wives. None us can be sure of how we will act, a lady in the church of which I was an elder, who professed faith in Christ,turned to Mormonism.Jim Jones who professed to be an evangelical, turned into a monster,and under his leadership,hundreds of his followers committed suicide.Germany the birthplace of the reformation,became the birthplace of the Nazi party , and all the horrors that brought.England once a place of a strong church .With each new generation,changes will come,and not always for the best.I know I am saved, I have been a minister,preached the word faithfully,even had the joy of seeing people being saved,but I realise,that I could be so easy led astray, yes I know I am kept by the power of God, as all Gods children are,but I know also that things can change, and often for the worse,there must be no resting on our laurels.
 A  prayer...../Dear God help us to stay faithful to Your truth,help us to be holy,help us to be on our guard continually, in Jesus name/

O let me hear Thee speaking.[ 1 Samuel 3 v1-10]

I read one of my daily readings and it spoke to my heart,it made me aware of my vulnerability,and the cost of acting wrongly,but it also made me realise how much I need God.I am reminded of the prayer of Jabez,  in 1 Chronicles 4 v10./And Jabez called on the God of Israel,saying ,oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed,and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that wouldest keep me  from evil,that it may not grieve me.And God granted him that which he requested./ Could it be  that is the prayer you need to pray today. The last part strikes a chord with me,/ that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me/. Keep from evil,the world, the flesh, and the devil,all these things are arrayed against us,and so it will be till the day we die and go to heaven. The devil may leave us for a season,but he will be back,the flesh our carnal nature,may be overcome today, but it will not give up, the world has many empty promises and allurements,yes there are pleasures promised,but it is usually the pleasures of sin. There are multitude of voices out there clamouring for our attention,today I heard the voice of God in my daily reading,His was the voice that mattered.J.E.Bode wrote, / O let me hear Thee speaking,in accents clear and still,above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will. O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control, O speak and make me listen,Thou guardian of my soul/
A prayer..../Dear God speak to us,help  us, make us listen,and help us to obey, in Jesus name Amen.

There are consequences.[ Deuteronomy 28 ]

In Judges 6 a man called Gideon asked the Lord why,here is what he said,/if the Lord be with us why?/,you see Israel was suffering, they were being oppressed by foreign powers.God had promised to bless His people ,to prosper them,but it seems that Gideon did not realise that the blessing,was conditional. In Deuteronomy 28,for the blessing was conditional,requiring obedience. If they obeyed they would be blessed,if they didn't then they would come under a curse, it appears so simple, yet their whole history , was that of ignoring this truth.Now in spite of this they still were His children, our children may still disobey us,but they are still our children.  I watched a TV program, and the main character,swore to God that he would stop doing a certain thing, when he was about to do that thing again,it was pointed out to  him,that he had made a vow to God,and there would be consequences if he broke his vow.Well he argued with the person,God would understand,God is not so unreasonable,he even went to see a minister,seeking a way out,but in the end,he was made to realise,he had to keep His vow. Let us all pause and consider the importance of keeping our vows, if we don't,then it is no good asking God why, and if we are experiencing difficulties ,remember there is a consequence to disobedience.
A prayer..../Dear God  help us in our stupidity, to see that there are consequences to disobedience, in Jesus name Amen/