A little act of kindness.[ Matthew 10 v42]

I was in a large supermarket when a senior citizen came up to and asked me to help her ,she had a bottle in her hand,it is one of those bottles,in which to open ,one has to press the cap.This lady asked me would I open it as she would no be able to do it when she got home,and this I did.Later while on a visit to one of my clients, I read these word from a framed plaque,/No little act of kindness is ever wasted/, and I thought on the words of Jesus, about giving a cup of cold water in His name[Matthew 10 v42] We admire those people who have done  great deeds,but heavens values,are not earths,the woman a poor widow,who give but two small coins of little monetary value, was commended greatly by our Saviour,because in giving in giving her little offering,she was giving her all.[Mark 12 v42-44]. So today show a little kindness,speak a little word,smile a little smile,show a little tenderness,remember Jesus is watching,and it is approval,and well done that is most important..
A  prayer..../Dear Heavenly Father,You who feed and care for the tiny sparrow,grant us grace to follow Your example in Jesus name Amen/

A trip to Mars. [John 14 v1-6 ]

Applications for a one way trip to Mars top 100,000 mark,so this article read on the inter-net,my goodness why would anybody want to go to Mars,has anybody told  them they can buy Mars bars here,seemingly not.Anyone over 18 can apply,for a fee of 38 dollars, and for those who live in Madagascar or Afghanistan it cost 5 dollars. Maybe it is a plot to get rid of all the people in Afghanistan, for obvious reasons,I better stop going down this road.The person who gave me the print out said if we go to Mars we will be nearer God,he may have been joking.I have nothing against space travel ,but this all appears a pointless exercise.I suppose for some it would be a great adventure.When I look back on my Christian life ,it has been a great adventure,living by faith is not for the faint hearted,but my it is rewarding and it ends with the greatest adventure of all dying.When we pass through that door what wonders we will see,what joys we will experience,it will surely beat a one way trip to Mars. Why don't you come along and join the multitudes who will be there,oh yes whats the price?,oh don't worry about that it has all been paid for by Jesus.
A  prayer..../Dear Father God, we thank you that Jesus paid the price for us to go to heaven,we are guaranteed a place when we simply trust Him to be our Saviour Amen/

Drawing back.[John 21]

In Galatians 5 v7,we read,/Ye did run well,who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth./,these are very telling words. So many people start well,then they are gone, no longer do they meet with Gods people,no longer identify with their Lord.The Galatians where drawing back into their past religion,Judaism,drawing back to their old ways,there were people who seeking to unsettle them,bringing them under the law.Many things can cause us to give up and go back,wordly enticements like material success,wrong relationships,discouragements,feelings of injustice.Now you may have suffered whatever,and feel that Christians have let you down,and the sad thing is they do at times. So what can we say about these things?, well we must keep to the fore,this one solitary fact,Jesus said follow me. If we loose sight of this,if we fill our hearts with the shortcomings of life and people,we have started on the slippery slope of going back. The scriptures continually stress the importance of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,not people, the apostle Paul points these Galations back to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ[6 v14]. There is a gospel song by Ira F.Stanphill ,which reads/I  traveled down a lonely road ,and no one seemed to care,the burden on my weary back,had bowed me to despair. I oft complained to Jesus how folk were treating me,and then I heard Him say so tenderly. My feet were also weary upon the Calvary road,the cross became so heavy I fell beneath the load. Be faithful weary pilgrim,the morning I can see, just lift your cross and follow close to me.
A  prayer......./Dear Lord Jesus help us to take our eyes of others,and even of self,and to keep our  eyes fixed firmly on You /Amen./

Onward ever onward. [ 2 Timothy 1 v7 ]

It some times surprises me as I look back on how many sermons I  have preached, and how many thoughts for the day I have written,when I was a full time minister I sometimes had to preach three times on a Sunday,how did I do it?. The first thing I would say , I believed God had called me ,and it appears that if He  calls He equips, and enables,this applies to any calling. The next important thing to remember is we have one who will help us in our calling,the Holy Spirit,whom our Lord said would help us[Matthew 10v20-21].I was speaking recently and I pointed out that Elijah the prophet was a man ,of like passions as you and I, in other words he had his faults and failings,but God used him.Recently I read about Francis Schaeffer  author and Christian apologist,that he was dyslexic,but God called him and used him.I personally never did very well at school,I am conscious of this,but it has not stopped me, and as I get up to preach, I have to remember I am not ministering from a perfect educational background. That does not mean I don't try to improve,I did attend Bible  college,and I diligently prepare for every sermon I preach, over time I have bought commentaries,and have a reasonable library.And so I am surprised ,yet confident in my God to continue, help me and use me,so onward ever onward.
A  prayer...../Dear God we thank You for all we have been able to do,inspite of our many limatations,in Jesus Name Amen /

Gentlness and meekness [ 2 Corinthians 10 v1]

One of the great lessons the disciples had to learn was the importance of a meek and gentle spirit,when a certain Samaritan village,would not receive Jesus,the disciples wanted to call down fire and destroy it.Jesus rebuked them, and reminded them of the purpose of His coming,that He did not come to destroy lives but to save them[Luke 10v 55-56]. I wonder how the Crusaders,and even dear Oliver Cromwell, reconciled their violence ,to what Jesus taught?. It is an amazing yet mind blowing truth that the meek would inherit the earth,[Matthew 5 v5]. no, said Hitler, it is the strong and powerful,those meek people,have no chance,and does not the god ,evolution teach us the it is the fittest that survive.Now of course being meek does not mean weak,the one who said, I am meek and lowly of heart was not a weak person.Our Saviour challenged those who were offending God,as was manifested when He went to the temple,and overthrew the tables of the money changers [Matthew21v12 ]. It is in 2 Corinthians 10v1 ,that we we read of the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I am slowly but surely learning the importance of these words,although I still manifest the old Bill,at times, I do pray for the necessary grace to be more like Him who was both meek, and gentle..
A  prayer....Dear Lord Jesus grant unto us a meek and gentle spirit Amen/

Christians also get sick [2 Corinthians 11 v23ff]

A friend of mine who is having ongoing treatment for cancer was seeing the consultant, and the consultant said ,/Christians also get sick/. Yes we do, being a Christian does not mean no problems,Christians loose their jobs,have miscarriages,have accidents,well we just have to read the book of  Job to see this.So what advantage does a Christian have over the non Christian?well they have the Lord,make no mistake about it,that is a tremendous advantage,in those dark trials there is one with them and His name is Jesus,he does not desert them when the hard times come.Next the word of God tells me,that God who is sovereign will work everything that happens for the good of His children[Romans 8 v28]. God hath not promised skies always blue,but He has promised strength for each day,and each trial. If the trial should lead to death ,the Christian need fear no evil,for the good shepherd will be with them [Psalm 23 v4] The word of God assures us that no matter how severe the trial,God is in control,and 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 ]
A  prayer..../Dear God we thank You that You are caring for Your children,that You love them ,even when You allow them to experience trials ,in Jesus Amen /

Are you brave.? [ Psalm 139v23-24 ]

Bravery comes in many forms ,and often from the most unexpected people,there is bravery on the battle field,there is bravery of a bereaved soul. Of a person who faces one problem after another,who sacrifice their ambitions, for the sake of others, who face insurmountable odds. I wonder are you brave enough to pray this prayer?, /Search me O God, know my heart,try me,and know my thoughts.And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting[Psalm 139 v23-24]/I wonder are you and I willing to pray those words?.And if not ,why not?,could it be that we don't want God to challenge us,we are afraid what may be shown up,in our hearts ,yes our hearts,God starts at the most important place ,the heart. Then he prays, and know my thoughts,how is our thought life?,what has our minds being dwelling on today?.And see if there be any wicked way in me,well is there?.Again let me ask the question ,to myself and to you, are we brave enough to pray this prayer?.
Spurgeon comments,/This is a beautiful and impressive prayer for the commencement of every day./
                        A  prayer..../Search me O God. my actions try,and let my life appear,
                                             As seen by thine all- searching eye,To make my ways make clear.
                                             Search all my thoughts,the secret things,The motives that control.
                                             The rebel heart where evil things,hold empire o'er the soul.  Amen/
                                               [Words by Francis Bottome  ]