Nostalgia. [ Numbers.11v4-9]

One of my favourite movies is, /The quite man/,it is about an a man called John going back to his roots in Ireland,how I would describe this movie,well it is full of nostalgia. Ireland is a lovely country,of course you know that I am an Irish man,from the dark north. Our reminiscence of our past is often not based on reality,Ireland's history is a sad history,of poverty,of a religion that was oppressive,I speak of the south mainly. Although the north in my lifetime has known as most people know a terrible degree of violence.I love my country and of course there is much that is good in it,but I don't let that love blind me to the realities that are not nice. There was time in Israels history, that the people were complaining,about Gods provision,/We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing,the cucumbers,the melons,the leeks,the onions and the garlic./[ Numbers11]As R.C. Sproul wrote,/They forgot the whips,the torture,the sweat,and the impoverishment of their slavery/,nostalgia blinded them to reality.Their distorted thinking blinded them to Gods blessing in their lives,because they were dissatisfied,with their lot.There are no advantages in living in the past,or going back to try and capture our past,as Israel should have realised.
A prayer...../Dear God forgive us,for our distorted thinking,our foolish looking back,that causes us to murmur and complain,in Jesus name Amen /

There is an unseen enemy.[Ephesians 6 v 10-18]

It is said that behind every great man there is a woman,I am sure that there is a grain of truth in that,so behind every evil being perpetrated in this world there is a evil being and his evil forces.Consider what the apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6 v12,/For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,against powers,against the rulers of the darkness of this world,against spiritual wickedness in high places./. When Gods children are attacked ,behind that attack,is the Devil,the one the world never mentions,because the god of this world has blinded them. [2 Corinthians 4 v4] Again in 2 Timothy 2 v26 we read of those who are held captive by him,and that those outside of Christ,walk as he dictates [Ephesians 2 v2],and when our Saviour challenged His attackers,He told them they were of there father the Devil[John 8 v 44].He so blinded then,that they saw Jesus as their enemy,and one who needed to be destroyed, and so the battle goes on,the children of light,are still under attack,from the Devil.The days are evil because we live in a world where most of its inhabitants are to different degrees controlled and led by Satan.As Christians we need to be on our guard ,we need to be prayerful,we need to walk in Gods truth,we need to walk in righteousness,in faith,confident in our salvation,and confront the enemy of our souls with Gods word.
A  prayer...../ Dear God we thank You for saving us from Satans power,as we face this day,give us the wisdom, and strength we need ,to resist him, in Jesus name Amen /

Secularism [2 Corinthians 10 v 3-5]

As I listened to a radio program on a very serious moral question,I was made aware that it was a secular discussion,with no reference to God.This was borne out when people e-mailed in to object to one of the people being involved in the discussion,because of her involvement with a Christian organisation. The lady declared she was an atheist,did not believe in God ,but found the Christian organisation helpful. It made me sad,even angry how this BBC programme, excluded any Christian point of view,such are the times we live in.What is the answer?well we must not overreact,and we must recognise ,that this sinful world is no friend of God or His word.We must pray for wisdom,as to how we can make the Christian voice be heard,and courage to stand and to speak. We are not persecuted although I am sure there are Christians who are having a hard time because of their faith. The problem is that in this so called tolerant society,there is a great deal of intolerance,and Christians are intimidated. Non Christians want to blame a God they don't believe in,for all the ills in the world,how often I have heard that all wars are caused by religion. Wars are caused by sin,by a humanity whose feet are swift to shed blood,now of course this is not what people want to hear,but it is true.
A  prayer.....Dear God,in this secular,sinful world,helps us to  not be afraid or be to intimidated, help us to speak for You,in Jesus name Amen /

Nothing can change this. [ Romans 8 v 38-39]

I found myself repeating a children chorus this morning as I prayed,it goes,/Wide wide as the ocean,high as the heavens above,deep,deep as the deepest sea is my Saviours Love,Though I am unworthy ,still I am a child of His care.For his word teaches me,that His love reaches me,everywhere./A simple little chorus which God brought to my mind. It is the apostle Paul who wrote ,that he was persuaded that neither,death,nor life,nor angels,nor principalities,nor powers,nor things present,nor things to come. Nor height,nor any other creature,shall be able to separate us from the love of God,which is in, Christ Jesus our Lord.[Romans 8 v38-39].Whatever our condition,whatever negative thoughts we may be thinking,whoever ,and whatever the Devil may be using to discourage us, God says He loves us,and nothing,and no one can change this.
A prayer...../ Dear God we praise that You Love us ,so fully,unconditionally,and eternally ,through Jesus Your son Amen /

Faithfulness [ Lamentatations 3 v22-23]

Moses reminds the people of Gods faithfulness,/These forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee,thou  hast lacked nothing[Deuteronomy 2 v7] Faithful as to His presence,yes with them,in chapter 9, the people are described as being, stiffnecked,or stubborn people,and a rebellious people.Gods faithfulness is not according to merit,but according to His love and grace,that's why it is so amazing,He knows the worst about us,but He remaineth faithful.Is this not so,as we look back at our imperfect history,when love was lacking,holiness was lacking,faithfulness was lacking.Yet wonder of wonders the Lord our God has been with us.F.J.Crosby, wrote/,I know not why Gods wondrous grace,To me He hath made known. Nor why,unworthy,Christ in love,redeemed for His own./.
A  prayer...../Dear God we praise You for Your faithfulness,to us unworthy sinners in Jesus name Amen/

He is watching. [Hebrews 3v 7 -19]

Let us continue to consider Deuteronomy2 v7,and the words,/He has watched your every step through this wilderness[NLT].  The Israelites were not meant to go their own way,no they were meant to go Gods way,in order to keep them right ,God provided a pillar of cloud to guide them by ,and a pillar of fire to guide them by night.,it was always there[Exodus 13v21-22].So they had no excuse,to go the wrong way,but they did so often,or I should say they desired to[ Numbers 14 v 1-4].They also had a godly leader, God was grieved ,who conveyed unto them Gods will,in the commandments,but we read God was grieved with that generation,and said,They do always err in their hearts[Hebrews 3 v10]. They had come out of Egypt but there was still a lot of Egypt still in them,so often instead of walking in Gods way they walked in their own way,and God was watching .Inspite of all the evidence that God was there with them,they acted as if God did not exist.So often God had to deal with the people,in the most severe way,to bring them back to Himself.Things have in a sense not changed,like Israel of old,we often turn aside from following in the footsteps of our Saviour,and  when He deals with us,to bring us back into His way,as L. Weaver wrote,/When I would wander from the path astray,then He will guide me back into the way/.
A  prayer..../ Dear God,You who are watching our footsteps,forgive us when we would wander from your path,and guide us back to that place of totally following You in Jesus name Amen /

He is watching over you. [Psalm 121]

Let us continue to look at Deuteronomy 2 v7.we have considered how God will bless us,now we read,/He[God]has watched your every step,through this great wilderness/..We say sometimes,I better watch my step,but here we are being told that God had watched Israels every step.There are two ways of considering these words,God was watching over Israel so that no harm would come to them.So God is watching over His dear children that no harm may come to them.There are many dangers in this life,seen and unforeseen,but always seen by God,the old hymn puts it this ways His eye is on the sparrow,and I know watches me.What a great comfort that is ,to know that as we  go into this day,my loving Heavenly Father is watching over me.So let us not fear the unknown day,and the unknown future ,He will protect ,and keep your every step.He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.He that keepeth thee will not slumber.The Lord shall preserve thy going out,and thy coming in from this time forth,and even for evermore.[Psalm 121]
A  prayer..../Dear God we thank You that You are watching over us,in that knowledge we rejoice ,we thank You in Jesus name Amen /