A stumbling block. [ John 3 v27]

Are you wondering why you did not get that job or promotion,or that child, you so longed for,well consider the words of John the Baptist,his followers were concerned that people where following Jesus. To them it appeared that John was loosing out,Jesus was more popular,but John who knew his place,knew his calling,did not feel threatened,and in fact realised that his ministry was temporary,declared./A man can receive nothing,except it be given him from heaven[John 3 v27 ]. A situation in the place where I work,as regards our salary has arisen,we feel we have been not been paid what we should, the union is negotiate on our behalf. I was speaking to one my colleagues, and I said if God wills, we will receive the extra salary,we need to pray about it,he agreed.Do we really believe in the sovereignty of God?,I do. I may struggle with certain things but in the end I rejoice that God is sovereign and He knows best.I also continually have to remind myself that  I am responsible to do the right thing,Joseph always sought to do his best and God blessed him and granted him favour.I really am thankful that God is sovereign, after all my knowledge is so limited,I understand so little of Gods will and plans,I may wonder why,but I will not let the why , become a stumbling block.
A prayer...../Dear God I believe You are sovereign, help me to accept what that means in my life in Jesus name Amen /

What type of prayer is right?. [ Luke 11 v1 ]

I have a friend who spoke in a critical manner of those who read prayers,he feels that it is less effective than ex temporary praying, unrehearsed,unplanned,relying on the Holy Spirit,at that time.The Jewish tradition is one of a written liturgy, and likewise the Church of England.I am writing about this because the minister of my church often reads his prayers,and I must confess I find them meaningful,it is a new experience for me , I was particularly blessed by a prayer he prayed recently.So what type of praying is right?,I think both are alright,after all we pray the Lords prayer,a written prayer,and I often use words from the Psalms in my prayers.Recently I prayed a very emotional unread prayer at a church prayer meeting,I felt very conscious of this,but a lady came up and commended me for my prayer,and she was critical of the fact that many prayed with no emotion..It is so easy to go through the motions when we pray or even read the word of God,and who wants that, God doesn't. I am sure we must be tolerant with each other, in all our different traditions,there is not necessary a wrong way or right way. Also we can learn from each other, and who knows what benefits we will receive,we should be open to the Spirits leading and guidance.I finish with a written prayer......../Grant us , Lord, 
                   to know that which is worth knowing,
                   to love that which is worth loving,
                   to praise that which can bear with p raise,
                    to hate that which in your sight is unworthy
                    to prize what to you is precious
                    and, above all,
                    to search out and do what is pleasing to you ,
                     through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[  Thomas a Kempis]
                  
 
             
 

Being judgemental. [Matthew 7 v1 ff]

Our Saviour taught us not to judge others CP  Matthew 7v1ff,there are a number of reasons for that,so often we do not know the whole story.Next we have not walked in their shoes ,have I suffered abuse? no,but I know those who have,have I experienced poverty?,and so we could go on,no I have not walked in their shoes.The church is called to offer healing, not stoning,not severity but mercy,to minister grace, not judgement.The forces of law and order are there to carry out justice, they are ordained of God for that purpose [Romans 13 vff],if they abuse that power then they must be challenged.Thankfully we can do this in a democracy,many are not so fortunate,we need to pray for those who are suffering injustice ,at the hands of of the forces of law and order. As to ourselves we must remember if we judge someone, we need not be surprised if we find that the tables are turned on us ,CP /Judges 1 v 7/ William Barclay wrote the following,/There is hardly anyone who has not been guilty of some grave misjudgement,there is hardly anyone who has not suffered from someone else's misjudgement. And yet the strange fact is that there is hardly any commandment of Jesus which is more consistently broken, and neglected/
A  prayer..../ Dear God grant the heart of our Saviour, who did not come to condemn the world,who showed mercy and forgiveness to the fallen and undeserving,we ask this in His name Amen/

The fikle crowd.[ Matthew 21 v9 / 27v23]

I like football,but I am glad I do not manage a team,some clubs change their managers, more than what you and I change our socks.Here today gone tomorrow.The children of Israel , during the reign of David,appear to be so fickle,they follow Absalom,then they followed Sheba,Absalom was the kings son,yet he wanted to kill his father,Sheba was a Benjamite who wanted to restore the kingship to Sauls tribe. Beware of the fickle crowd,the greatest example of that relates to our Saviour,one moment they were singing His praise, the next they were crying out for Him to be crucified.Winston Churchill was our greatest prime minister,but was voted out,in the election that followed victory in Europe.Beware of the fickle crowd,don't be swayed by  people,but be true,to Gods word and Gods will,for your life. So many people get caught up with the fickle crowd,history is full of examples of this,to their regret.I am not saying one should not take advice from others, but  one has to careful we are swayed by fear of being looking foolish,of going against the crowd,our Saviour had to face the scorn of many[Mark5 v40]. Jesus said follow Me, even though it means ,going against the fickle crowd,if our Lord had taken on board what the crowd said He would have avoided Calvary.
A prayer...../ Dear Lord help us to take up our cross and to follow You. Amen /

Are you struggling? [ Psalm 103 ]

I must confess I am struggling,I think I am beginning to feel my age, I attended a prayer meeting and  although I did enter in somewhat I felt I may as well not have been there.The day had been very busy,I arose very early in the morning .to read Gods word and to pray,get breakfast,get ready,do my blog.Then I had to do shopping for the group I help run,went to dentist. I then collected one of my clients took him for breakfast,collected two more people and brought them to the group,help run the group,which meant getting tables and chairs out,helping with the dinner,washing up dishes,talking and engaging with the clients.I then transported three clients home,and then back to the office,and  work on the computer,then I  went home, made the dinner for two of us, a very full day,and of course then to the prayer meeting. I think God understands when I say I am struggling,he does not judge me,condemn me,shout at me,no He really understands.Let me also say He does not want us to carry guilt around with us,if you are tired ,mybe it is just because you are busy,which can bring on mental and physical weariness,don't add guilt to it. I leave the following words with you from Psalm 103 v 13-14,/Like as a father pitieth his children ,so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. For He knoweth our frame,He remembereth that we are dust/
A  prayer....../ Dear God thank You for all You help us do,we thank You that You understand when we are tired,understand that we are but dust.and you love us even when we are struggling,we thank You in Jesus name Amen /

The hard times. [2 Corinthians 4 v17]

The winter has been long,where I live ,we did escape the worst of the snow,but nevertheless the winter has been long, and we experienced a lot of rain. So what did it accomplish?, a good question,what good has come out of such season?,well today has been a nice day, sun was shining,and I believe it really made me appreciate such days even more,and particularly being able to sit out in my garden,and to read my Bible.If you have hard times, you really do appreciate the good times,I love my job,I  have a reasonable good wage, and I get to help people, but I remember the many not so nice jobs ,I worked at.I am grateful that I can drive and  I own a car,for I remember not been able to drive.I also remember my childhood when we had so little, although I am not wealthy God has blessed me.The difficulties  we experiences should help us to appreciate the good times,and the blessings that God grants unto us now.I would like to broaden this out more, consider how we will feel when we stand on that heavenly shore, when we see all that Christ has prepared for us.surly we will truly appreciate Heaven and Heavens glories, from the difficulties of earth to the delights of Heaven. Paul wrote,/For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us [Romans 8 v18 ]/.As Matthew Henry writes,/There is something,to come,something behind the curtain that will outshine all/ ,all the pain ,loneliness, sickness,and death itself.Our sufferings will help us to fully appreciate, the glorious blessing that we will enter into there..
A  prayer ...../Dear God help us to see that we live in a fallen world,and in this fallen world we will experience  suffering, but help us all to see that we will be compensated ,more fully than we can ever appreciate ,in Jesus name we thank you Amen /

Perfect peace. [ John 16 v 33]

Yesterday  we thought on having a choice to run with our worries or to trust in God, today let us consider a scripture that can be a  you.to us,yes us,it will help me and it most certainty help
   Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace ,whose mind is stayed upon Thee, because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever,for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength  [Isaiah 26 v 3-4 ] Here we have one of those exceedingly great  promises from God,a God who cannot lie,in other words,if you and I , obey what we are being told ,we will have the desired result,which is perfect peace. Do we want perfect peace?,of course we do,everyone wants that.It is a rare thing for a big movie star to have not been divorced,so many disturbed people,driven to distraction,is it possible to know perfect peace?yes it is possible.,but it depends on us focusing on God.One of the most important things a sportsperson must learn,is the importance of not letting their thoughts  wonder,not to be distracted by the spectators,recently while watch a football on the TV,as a player was about to take a corner,spectators where throwing things at him,he just carried on, he stayed focused. Today amid all the distraction that we face we must stay focused on God, that means having an abiding trust in Him.I leave the words of that lovely old hymn ,by Frances R. Havergal with you.
       Like a river ,glorious,is Gods perfect peace, over all victorious,in it's bright increase.
       Perfect yet floweth fuller every  day,perfect  yet it groweth,deeper all the way.
       Stayed upon Jehovah,hearts are fully blest, Finding as He promised,perfect peace and rest.
A prayer....../Dear God help us to stay focused on You today, in Jesus name we ask this Amen /