I am part of the problem.[ Colossians 1 v 12- 21]

I am reading a history of the 2nd world war,it is not nice reading,and I was in conversation with a person,I expressed my concern as to the awful things that happened.Now this person is not a Christian but he pointed out that in our modern society,individuals commit awful things,in other words there is always within every human being a potential to commit the most gross sins. Our Saviour continually had to remind his hearers of their fallenness,/CP  John 8 v 1-11/ Luke 13v 1-5/. We are all sinners,born with a fallen nature that is capable of the most awful things,we do not like to hear that,but to ignore it ,deny it, can have terrible consequences. I am not feeling well at this time,I don't deny that,or ignore it, I seek to treat it, by going to my GP,so it is with sin,we need to acknowledge our condition,to seek Christ, that the problem may be dealt with. Consider this old hymn by William Cowper,it reminds us clearly of how sin is dealt with,/ There is a fountain filled with blood,drawn from Immanuel's veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood ,lose all their guilty stains./
A  prayer..../Dear God we praise that is a place of forgiveness,through Your Son Jesus Amen ./

Your will be done. [ Luke 22 v 42 ]

George Orwell wrote a book called 1984,it is about a super state ,that sought to control it citizens,in all aspects of their lives,even their thoughts,it is from this novel we have the term ,/Big brother is watching you/.I think when he wrote this article he had communists states in mind,religious states seek also to govern like this. As  one reads the gospels we see a big brother state,and we see how our Saviour sought to challenge it. In Mark 3 v2, we read,/And they watched  Him/, they did this continually,watching His every move,listening to His every word. Those in power did not like being challenged, they wanted God like power,to be obeyed with an unquestioned obedience.
Our dear Saviour could have chosen the road of being popular,all He had to do was to avoid certain things,a let sleeping dogs lie policy.He knew they where watching,He knew what they where thinking, He knew what they where planning, it made no difference to Him,He had only one objective in mind,the will of God. It is one thing to pray Thy will be done,and another thing doing it.
A  prayer..../Dear God help to follow our Saviour ,by putting Your will first,at  all times, in all places,and in all things Amen/



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Almost. [Acts 26 v 27- 29]

If you are a sports fan as I am, the saying it is not over until  the fat lady stops singing is so appropriate to many sporting events.How often I have watched two teams playing and one team appears to have wrapped it up,there is only minutes to go,and the apparent underdogs score and win the event.The word almost comes to mind,the loosing team,almost won,which reminds me of a man in [ Acts 26v28], who said to the apostle Paul,/Almost thou persuades me to be a Christian/.These are the saddest of saddest words,and yet it could be applied to so many.I remember a elderly man who often heard Mr Paisley preach the gospel,with tears in his eyes,and yet never accepted Christ,he almost became a Christian. There is an old Gospel hymn which we never hear sung these days,I wonder why?,it is by P.P.Bliss, it is about being almost persuaded to become a Christian, the last verse ends like this,/Almost persuaded,harvest is past. Almost persuaded, doom comes at last,almost cannot avail,almost is but to fail. Sad ,sad that bitter wail,almost but lost/.
A   prayer ......Dear God,grant that those who read this blog will not be an almost persuaded people,in Jesus name Amen/

What we dont know. [ Acts 16 30-31]

In my daily readings I read something that I found difficult to get an answer to,and it made me uneasy,so I  got  some of my commentaries out,but I did not receive any light. I prayed that God would grant me an answer,as it was upsetting me,as I looked at my shelves of books ,I spied an old commentary I had not used for years,and from it I received an explanation which made sense. It made me realise that it is often what we don't know or understand that can cause us problems,a loved one dying,an apparent unanswered prayer,evil, loss of various kinds.Those things we don't appear to have an answer to,why did that happen to such a good person?the why we have ,is never far below the surface of our minds.Let me tell you a story, a man was speaking at speakers corner a famous place in London,where anyone can go and speak on anything,it was while this man was speaking,someone shouted out,[ If one speaks at speakers corner one has to  accept being heckled] where did Cain get his wife from?. The preacher looked the person straight in the eye and replied, the more important question by far ,that you should be asking is this what must I do to be saved.?.There will always be questions that we want answers to,and yet often they are but a smoke screen,and behind that smoke screen ,there lies a lost bewildered soul,who needs to be saved,
A  prayer....../ Dear God  help us to see what is most important,and help us to nail our whys to the cross, in Jesus name Amen/

Our Christianty being tested. [ Matthew 6 v 9-13 ]

I was on a visit to a place called Wells in the county of Somerset ,a nice place that has a 13th century cathedral, but on the streets I saw two homeless men both with dogs ,plus other people looking for money. At one point I said, this really tests your Christianity,I find it very hard to refrain from giving. Yes when we see others in need we really are being tested,will we help?let us not be driven by guilt,but be led by the Spirit. As we follow Christ I believe we will find our Christianity tested,sexually, materially,and so on,I was challenged by words written by William Gurnall,/ In heaven you will realize the same pleasures Adam enjoyed in paradise, but many weary steps through obstacles of lust,temptation, and sin lie between you and the top of that hill/In other words our Christianity will be tested,I only hope and pray that we will all who know Jesus pass that test.
A  prayer..../ Dear God grant unto us the grace that we need, to not fail the tests that we are encountering,and will encounter on our way to  glory in Jesus name Amen /

To God be the glory. [ Jeremiah 9 v 23-24 ]

I spoke at a hospice recently,the patients are in private rooms,the little service we took,was at the end of the ward ,I never actually saw any of the patients.Our church group sang a few hymns ,I prayed,read the word of God,and then give a short  word,I don't even know if the patients heard the word.I suppose  one could ask if no one appeared to  hear the word  ,was there any point in preaching. One could say that about so many times one has preached ,no one apparently seemed to listen. I believe I am called to be faithful,even though I want to see people trust Christ,and it does not happen. Secondly only eternity will reveal the worth of our witness,I am sure that on that day when I stand before God, there will be people saved who heard my ministry.Let us all remember that salvation is of the Lord,to Him be the glory,we are but the means,or the channels He uses,Paul spoke of earthen vessels,the more I go on the more aware I am,that I am but an earthern vessel.When the greatest evangelist stands before God they will not be able to take credit, they will only praise God that He sought to use them,it will always be to God be the glory ,great things He hath done.
A  prayer....../ Dear God help us to glorify You in all things in Jesus name Amen /

You are precious. [ Romans 8 v31]

I remember years ago my oldest brother dealing with a boy who was picking on me,a lot of movies especially westerns have as their theme the weak being rescued by a strong hero.The old movie Shane has the theme of the reformed gunslinger taking on the strong landowner who was oppressing the weak.When  our country and indeed the world was in danger of being threatened by the monsters who called themselves Nazi es,the USA intervened,the world owes a great debt to the USA,even after the war,they helped Europe recover financially,with the Marshall plan. When Israel came out of Egypt they had many enemies to face,the promised land was their goal,but they were not trained soldiers,often they lost heart[CP Exodus 14 v 10-12]. It was at that point God spoke through Moses,here is what He said,/The Lord shall fight for you,and ye shall hold your peace/[Ex 14 v14].Are you being threatened?, are you afraid?,well here is the word of God for you,the Lord shall fight for you,my big brother is not around anymore,but my loving heavenly Father is,He is more than able to deal with those who are threatening us.So hold your peace,don't panic,just trust in Him,stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,remember you are to precious ,for God to let your enemies hurt you.
A prayer....../Dear God protect us from our enemies, in Jesus Name Amen /
/I will return to my blog on Friday, God bless you/