The God of all comfort. [ Isaiah 40]

The words of Isaiah 40 are spoken to Israel,they where words of  comfort,they where prophetic words,to a people who would endure much in a coming day.During Isaiah's time they experienced war,and in a coming days,destruction and exile. The words spoken have a twofold application, for present trouble and future trouble,it appears to me that we need both. One of the great ministries intrusted to any minister of the word is a ministry of comfort, God tells Isaiah to comfort His people. The word spoken would be the word of God,so it was a special word,nothing comforts the child of God like the word of God. Isaiah contrasts the things of creation,such as grass and humanity,here today,gone tomorrow,but says Isaiah, the word of the Lord shall stand for ever[v8].Let us stand on the word of the Lord for ever,it is sad when we read of ministers who no longer stand on the word of the Lord.There is so much in Isaiah 40,spoken to a people who would go through so much,they are pointed to the greatness of there God,all things are as nothing  compared to Him.,all things.The chapter ends on such a comforting note.The everlasting God,He is not a time lord,no He is the everlasting Lord, He neither faints ,nor grows weary,His understanding is infinite. Yet for all His greatness, he has a kindness about Him,He giveth power to the faint,and to them that have no might, He increaseth strength. If we wait on Him , like eagles we shall mount up, He shall renew our strength,so that we shall run and not be weary,walk and not faint.
A  prayer..../ Dear God we thank You for the wonderful comfort you gave us from Your word,and for the promise of renewed strength in Jesus Name Amen /

Glory land. [ Revelation 21 v1-5]

Laurie Stockwell was a sensitive young  Englishman, who flew with bomber command  in the 2nd world war,at one time he had been a conscientious objector.In writing a letter to his mum he raised the question as what had changed him?talk of brutality,human suffering,atrocities, had not had any great effect on him.He confessed that he realised that all human beings where capable of committing ,such evil. The reason for fighting was that the dark threat, bearing down upon Western civilisation might be defeated.He went on to say that he was fighting that one day happiness may again rule the world[I am quoting from Max Hastings book ,/All hell let loose/.] There are somethings I can identify with in what Laurie said, his insight into human nature ,none of us are without sin,and all of us are capable of sinning in the the crossest manner, read Romans 3. Laurie said he was fighting to return happiness to this world,now of course we live in a fallen world,and so we can be robbed so quickly of the happiness we desire.So it is as a Christian soldier, I am in a war to defeat sin and Satan,that men and women may be brought into Gods Kingdom,those who are in that kingdom have a wonderful future . The words of an old hymn tells us,/There's a land beyond the stars,Glory land ,bright Glory land. Beyond the sunset's crimson bars,A land of peace without alloy, of  joy beyond all earthly joy. And nought its calm can ee'r destroy,Glory land, bright Glory land./
A  prayer..../ Dear God we thank You for Jesus the Saviour of sinners, and the hope of Glory which He has placed in our hearts, Amen /

God tapping us on the shoulder. [ Job 42 v1-6]

It has been a very wet winter here,not particularly cold,we have also experienced very strong winds,and in some parts of the country, severe flooding. This sort of weather pattern appears to be coming more regular,the government are coming under attack for not doing more preventive measures. It goes without saying for all our advances in so many fields of life we cannot control climate,storms will always come,I do not like wet and windy weather,or snow,but that wont stop  these things happening, This reminds us , human beings,of our limitations, not only as regards the weather,but in relation to our health,wealth,our authority,our possessions,and so on.We are not sovereign beings, Napoleon supposedly said to his generals,let me deal with the weather,as if he could, like so many despots,he discovered as Hitler found out,God is sovereign. Mankind in their pride live as if there is no  God ,and that somehow governments,scientists,will solve everything,they wont,nor can we, the more we know the less we appear to know.Storms,uncontrollable events,personal difficulties,it appears to me that it is like God tapping us on the shoulder. 
A prayer.../ Dear God forgive us for our pride,and sinful independence,it is sad that we need storms and uncontrollable events ,to humble us and reminds us of Your presence and Sovereignty, in Jesus Name. Amen /

Vengance. [ Romans 12 v 19-21]

Sometimes I feel anger as regards the suffering inflicted upon Christians, as I sometimes feels anger at evil being carried out on children,or on women. One can never be happy as regards evil,the anger is not a dam them to hell anger, that the disciples expressed, to our Saviour,[ Luke 9 v51ff],but hopefully a righteous anger.As I read of the suffering being afflicted on Gods children, I cast the booklet I was reading ,down in anger, not so much at the people who perpetrate such things,but at systems that people are in.I cried out in anger that God would pull those systems down.I did not cry for vengeance, that is Gods criteria. CP.../Romans 12v19/.which will take place in a coming day. .../2 Thessalonians1 v8-9/We must not let our unbridled passion take over at any time,never once did King David take vengeance on King Saul,although he had his chance [1 Samuel 24],likewise Joseph never took vengeance on his wicked brothers,for all the wickedness they had done to him[ CP Genesis 50 v 15ff]. Of course the greatest example of not taking vengeance was manifested by our Saviour,at those who hurt Him,and rejected Him,He did inform His disciples that he had but to call on His Father, who would send an heavenly army to rescue Him. CP[ Matthew 26 v53],but He didn't.
A  prayer...../Dear Father in Heaven ,forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, in Jesus Name Amen /

One at a time.[ Matthew 6 v 34 ]

How does one attempt to walk a thousand miles? was the question asked, and the answer came back,one step at a time.How does one write over two thousand ,thoughts for the day,which I have done?,the same answer,one at a time,on the whole that's the way it is. Our Saviour taught us a very important lesson,take one day at a time,[Matthew 6 v34],many people live very busy lives,on top of that ,pressure is put on people,to do even more,and we are not  meant or able to bear even more.It is remarkable what some people can bear,but that's only some people.A colleague was completing a task  for me on the computer,and I started a conversation up with him,or tried to, and he politely told me,that he could only do one thing at a time.It is surprising what we can accomplish if we simply live one day at a time,and do one task a time, if you are facing an exam,then it is one question at a time,if a lot of housework then one task at a time.
A  Prayer..../ Dear God help us by Your grace to carry out that simple principal, of one day at a time,one task at a time,and to trust You to help us complete the whole, in Jesus name Amen

Law of Love.[ James 2 v8]

I have not been feeling very well recently,chest infection,head cold, and it is easy to focus on that, but we must consider the mercies of God in all things.As I considered Gods mercies,I considered my nice modern home,I even have a summer house,I have a missionary magazine and there is a photo of slums,my heart goes out to such people.Yet in Gods mercy I am blest with so much,I have a lovely job,working with mentally ill people,a nice manager,nice colleagues,so I could go on and on as regards Gods mercy to me.I am no better than so many dear people who have so little.I can only thank God. I am reminded we receive mercy that we may show mercy,we forgive because we have been forgiven, we give out of a heart of gratefulness for all we have been given ,by our loving Heavenly Father.Our giving is never a legalistic thing,we are not under law,but we are continually challenged to live out the law of love.
A  prayer...../ Dear Saviour as we consider  Your death on Calvary,we are overwhelmed by Your love,help us ,who continually receive expressions of  Your love,to love, Amen/

Change [ 1 Corinthians 6 v 9-11]

Sometimes things of my past come into my mind ,like when I was a boy soldier,and a corporal who was over us ,with a real Irish sounding name,told a number of us young boy soldiers,how he had raped two women,when he was on duty in Germany,and Kenya. Our distorted  view of sex divorced us from the actual people who had being violated, it was as if we where blind  to the evil  that had being done,and most of all the sinfulness of that mans actions. So it was with  that man,and us young lads, it is a very sad memory,sad that I did not see the wrong that had been done,but then I was not following the Lord,as I should . Now as one who is following the Lord,I am humbly grateful that I look at things differently,God has changed me,for the better.I am not the man I would like to be, but praise God,by His love ,mercy and grace, I am not the man I once was.
A prayer../ Dear God all we can do is fall before You in thankfulness for saving us and changing us through Jesus Your son Amen /