Ask God to give you purpose to live. [ Philippians 1 v 20-26]

In Philippians 1 v 20ff ,the apostle writes about living and dying, he see's the glories of heaven and
the challenge of living for Christ.The Message puts it like this / I hardly know which I'd choose.Hard choice.The desire to break camp here,and be with Christ is powerful.Some days I can think of  nothing better/I know a person and he is afraid and disturbed every time he see's a funeral,death for many is a fearful thing,it is the great unknown,not so for Paul or any child of God,because of Christ,we need fear no evil,even the valley of the shadow of death,because Christ is with us.Paul values, where eternal values,my study Bible writes,/To those who don't believe in Christ,life on earth is all there is,and so it is natural for them to strive for this worlds values, money,popularity,power,
pleasure, and prestige./ Paul,s desire for glory did not blind him to have a death wish,yes heaven,is wonderful,even though Paul was suffering,he was in jail at this time,he realised to live for Christ was important,and that his life would bring honour to Christ.He also considered others ,and how he could help them,to grow and experience the joy of their faith. Ask God to give you a purpose to live,even though you may be suffering,a life that shines in suffering,can be such a blessing,in bringing others to Christ,and encouraging others who know Christ.
A  prayer...../ Dear God,we rejoice that we are going to heaven,when we will get there we don't know,we ask that while we remain here ,we may be used to serve and glorify You,in Jesus name we ask this Amen./

No more. [ Revelation 21 ]

I've got a home in glory that outshines the sun,I've got a home in glory land that outshines the sun . I've got a home that outshines the sun,way beyond the blue. So this little song goes,and it reminded that this world is not my home I just passing through,our lives,our thoughts,are taken up with the here and now,and we rarely  think of the glories that shine afar.As I sat in my living room this morning,I thought that someday this lovely little home will be occupied by new owners,for me it is only a temporary dwelling.Our Saviour told us he has gone to prepare a place for us,that will be no temporary residence,it will be eternal,I cannot begin to imagine, what it be like,but I know it will be glorious. There will be the absence of all that is evil,absence of pride,hypocrisy,lust,covertness,no more filthy language,filthy thoughts,no more racism,no more abuse,no more injustice,no more sickness,no more loneliness,no more tiredness,no more tears, no more death.Yes there there will be the absence of all that is wrong,and it will be filled with all that is right, loving,and kind,where everyone will be a good neighbour,and perfect harmony will reign, perfect contentment,and perfect fulfilment,for we will be perfect,and all that this means.The most wonderful thing of all it will not just be a self indulgent place,no for hearts,and lives will never loose focus on our Saviour,for he will be the glory of Emmanuel's land.
A  prayer...../ Dear God help us to see beyond  the here and now ,to that place that our Saviour has gone to prepare for us,in His name we ask this. Amen /

Put the brakes on.[ Psalm 55]

In Psalm 55v6, we read,/Oh that I had wings like a dove, for then would I fly away, and be at rest./,as I read those words I thought ,how many people feel like that,I must confess sometimes I have felt this.David who wrote those words in Psalm55,was feeling oppressed,it would appeared that a dear friend had betrayed him he was feeling crushed,he writes of the terrors of death,of fearfulness and trembling coming upon him,and so he cries out, for away to escape from all his troubles.The writers of scripture were real people they faced real problems,and expressed their deep concerns,and fears,don't let people [ or self ]condemn you[Romans 8v1]. David could run away,the enemy wants us always to be on the run,yes he says run with your fears,there is no hope, no way of escape.It seems that in the midst of all his fears,David puts the brakes on,v16,and he begins to pray continually,crying unto God,to deal with the situation,and its in verse 22,he declares,/Cast thy burden, upon the Lord, and He will sustain thee,He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved/.  We are not exhorted to run away in blind panic,but to run to God, get alone with God,cast our cares upon, and stand still and see your God ,coming to our aid,He will not fail us.
A  prayer....../Dear God ,when we feel like running away,help us to be still and know that You are God,in Jesus name Amen /

Nothing ventured nothing gained. [2 Kings 7]

I received an e-mail recently from a dear Christian ,telling me that he and three others are going to commence a door to door ministry in the area where their church meets.I have preached to that church many times,and gradually the numbers have declined,till there is now but a few people present.One wonders why?,for they have been faithful to the word of God, so now they are stepping out,my reply to that e-mail was,nothing ventured ,nothing gained.[Do pray for them] In  2 Kings 7,we read that the city of Samaria was being besieged by the Syrian army,in the city people where starving,Elisha the prophet forecast deliverance,and so God panicked the Syrians causing then to flee,leaving behind their booty,which included food.Outside the city where four lepers,and they decided they had to do something,or they where going to die of hunger,so they  decided they throw themselves on the mercy of the Syrians.Of course when they came to the Syrian camp,the Syrians had fled,the result was plenty to eat.There is a saying nothing venture nothing gained, those dear folk in that church,could easily do nothing,saying whats the point,but they have decided to venture out,who knows, God may bless their efforts as they prayerfully go forward .
A  prayer...../ Dear God help us to look beyond despair,and give us the grace,to venture out in Your name, Amen /

The why question again.[ Psalm 35]

Here is a poem I read, I do not know who wrote it.
           Why must I weep when others sing?.....To test the deeps of suffering.
            Why must I work when others rest? ....To spend my strength at Gods request.
            Why must I lose while others gain?......To understand defeats sharp pain.
            Why must this lot of life be mine,when that which fairer is thine?
             Because God knows what plans for me,will blossom in eternity.
Maybe you, as I do, ask the why question. God has a path for all of us to walk,sometimes it is a painful path. A marriage that is lacking in love,a work that is overlooked,a service that goes unrewarded,a thorn in the flesh that will not go a way,even after much prayer.Whatever difficulties we may have on our journey to glory,God is in control,and it is He who allows us to test the deeps of suffering,to understand defeats sharp pain. There is a need to remind ourselves that all is working together for our good[Romans 8 v28] God will use our brokenness, and in that, will receive all the glory,and that in the eternal glories ,what plans will blossom.
A  prayer....../ Dear and Father,grant us grace to bear those things we experience which are hard to bear,help us to live always with the long view,in Jesus name Amen /
                  

Commentaries [ 2 Timothy 4 v 13]

Recently I visited Scotney castle in the county of Kent,part of it was built in the 19ty century,and part in the14th century,the part built in the 15thcentury had books and more books,lining the walls,3000 all told. Now  I love books,and as a minister,I have a  small library of my own, I treasure my Bible commentaries,there are those who say one does not need commentaries,we just need the Bible.Now there is a very real sense that this is true,but from early on in my Christian life I have found the writings of Godly men helpful.Often in reading ,studying the Bible I have received help in understanding certain passages in the Bible,and wise applications also. Of course we should choose are commentaries carefully,they are God given tools,to help us in our understanding of Gods word. Surely this is what we need, is to understand Gods word,I know a man who boasts of studying Gods word for two hours each day,he does not use commentaries,and having listened to him ,one only wishes he would . We need all the help we can get in to understand Gods words,from gifted teachers,from our ministers,and especially the Holy Spirit.
A prayer...../Dear God we thank You for those godly people who have written commentaries on Your word,or had their teaching put into print,in order to help us in our understanding of Your word,in Jesus name. Amen /

Solomon's downfall [ 1 Kings 11]

One of the saddest things I read about in the Bible is the end of  Solomons glorious reign,was its inglorious end,the wise man acted a fool. The problem came about because of the foreign wives he married,at the very start of his marriage he married Pharaohs daughter,politically it appeared a good move.Many heads of Europe did this,queen Victoria's children married into other royal families,the Kaiser was related to her.Solomon continued to marry foreign wives,it may have appeared sound political sense,but it was going against Gods word. Deuteronomy7 v3-4 ,clearly forbid this practice,and gave the reason,/for they will turn away thy son from following Me,that they may serve other gods/. Yet Solomon knowing this, disobeyed ,and the consequences to say the least was catastrophic, he loved these wives,and they turned his heart to worship other gods.Solomon did many wonderful things,he wrote the book of Proverbs,and of course he did display wisdom,but what a sad end. We can learn from Solomon,the importance of right relationships, wrong relationships can have sad consequences,the Bible instructs us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers[2 Corinthians 6 v14],we can easily rationalise in our minds,that it will do no harm to us,let us remember what Solomon did and its consequences.
A  prayer..../ Dear God help us to be truly wise by obeying Your word,and when we are tempted to act unwisely,help us to remember Solomon,we ask this in Jesus name Amen /