Damaged beyond human repair.[ Luke 4 v18]

isAs I was praying,and thought of many of the people I know and pray for,the words ,damaged beyond human repair, came to mind. I do not just mean the mentally ill,there are so many damaged people in this world,and no one can help them.It was the prophet Ezekiel who  found himself in the midst of a valley full of bones,human bones,and he is asked a question by God, /can these bones live?/[Ezekiel 37v 3].Ezekiel did not know the answer,let us confess our ignorance, as I look at the damaged people,I have to confess like Ezekiel ,that only God knows the answer.Those bones would live,would take on flesh,would stand up on their own two feet. The question is how? God, He did it,Ezekiel's part in it was to speak Gods word to them, God continually reassures us of His healing power,Jesus healed multitudes.If ever the world needed the healing touch of Jesus it is now,in so many places in this world , we have damaged people beyond human repair. People damaged by abuse and violence,lives damaged by this sinful world,broken hearts ,broken lives,broken minds. I truly believe that the answer is Jesus,the one who said,/Come unto Me all ye that labour,and are heavy laden,and I will give you rest  [Matthew 11v28]
A  prayer.....[ Dear God  if we are honest ,we are all damaged,some of us more than others,so we ask that in mercy through Your dear Son Jesus,save,and heal us Amen /

The God of love. [1 John 4 v 8-10]

One wonders why Islam is such a violent religion, why are they so intent to destroy those who are not Muslin's?.They pray to a god who they would claim is merciful and yet they show very little mercy,to those who differ from them.Why is it,when we hear of those who have committed adultery,it is the woman that bears their wrath?.Why are they so  intent to kill other Muslims,who differ with them?. I write as Christian,I know that the history of Christendom manifested a lot of Characteristics of Islam,but that does not make it right,I know the importance of truth,and I know that many who have professed to be Christians,have denied it with their actions. I worship a God that is holy,and that all our sinners,be it Abraham,or the apostle Paul,or even Mohamed,and that all need mercy. That must mean that no one is perfect,no matter how much they try,sin dogs all our steps,and like the great apostle Paul we cry out, O wretched man that I am[Romans7v24].Likewise the great prophet Isaiah who had a vision of a holy God, cries out,woe is me,I am undone,because I am a man of unclean lips.[Isaiah 6 v5] .The Christian message is very simple yet very profound,God who is merciful,provides a means whereby we sinners can be accepted, Jesus who is not just a prophet but a Saviour,on the cross He bore the wrath of God,that we may not bear it.Through His death on the cross we can be forgiven,and set free from oppressive religion,with oppressive demands,set free to love,and to be loved.
A  prayer......./Dear God we bring to You a world that is oppressed by religion and pray that in your mercy they may come to know You,the God of love, through Jesus Your Son. Amen/

There is no place like home. [John 14 v 1-6 ]

Someone bought me a garden gnome ,a little ornamental figure,and it reminded me of a little story I made up,about a gnome. One day a lady noticed that her little gnome was missing,someone had stolen it,she was heartbroken and so was the gnome,to him the garden was his home.Well so started an adventure for that little gnome,he was sold at a boot sale,the person who bought him,was a travelling person,who travelled near and far.Well after travelling near and far he returned to where he had bought the gnome,and he gave the gnome to a charity shop,and it so happened the person whose gnome had been stolen,called in that shop,and spied her little gnome which she bought,and she brought it home,and she place in her garden,she thought she heard the gnome say,ah,there is no place like home.There is an old gospel song which goes,This world is not my home,dear Christian,let us remember we are only temporary residents on this planet earth,let us not become to attached to this world.We are strangers and pilgrims, going to a better country,a heavenly,to a city which hath foundations,whose builder and maker is God.In that heavenly home the roses never die,in fact death will be at last banished,the glories of that land are beyond description,the loved ones who have gone before will be there,and most wonderful of all Jesus will be there,yes truly there is no place like home.
A  prayer.../ We praise You Lord for a heavenly home,which You are preparing for all Your children, Amen/

Providence [ Esther 5 v1ff ]

]I visited a Christian couple today,the husband has cancer and is very ill,they are both elderly,they have no  children, the couple many years ago ,befriended a couple,and when that family was young.I suppose the lady became like a second aunt,to that couple, and their children.The couple also took in many years ago a lodger,he was then 21yrs of age,it was unexpected the way it happened,the lodger is now 68 yrs of age. Now in this time of trouble for that dear couple,these people are now rallying round and being a big help. As I considered these things I can see quite clearly Gods providence,who is working all things after the counsel of His will,causing all things to work together for good[Romans 8 v28].We need to bear in mind that God is on the throne of the universe,ruling and overruling,using ,in all His children's lives.  Who knows ,what means, God will use , to help you in the coming days,the point is, He will, and we like Abraham's servant will stand back in amazement,and declare,I being in the way , the Lord  led me  Genesis 24 v27] .
A  prayer......./Dear God ,we acknowledge that  You are sovereign,and are working out everything for Your children's good. Amen/

A quick fix. [ Psalm 40 v1]

I am sure you have heard the term, a quick fix ,it is something we all want,but when it comes to Gods
kingdom,it is not necessary so.What is the bases of Gods ways? I do not see His ways as a quick fix,it appears to imply something hurried ,and  not very permanent.When it comes to the building of a soul it is a lifetime work,in which God uses many circumstances,and means to make the child of God into the likeness of Christ. When we pray we often want God, to as it were wave a magic wand and change everything,well the fact is God does not have or use a magic wand.I cry hurry ,God replies wait,I cry I want it now,God replies no,it will not be good for you now,He replies remember the words I spoke unto My servant Peter,/ What I do thou knowest not now,but thou shalt know hereafter/God says to us quick fixers,/For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways, My ways.For as the heavens are higher than than the earth,so are My ways higher than Your ways,and my thoughts than your thoughts/.[Isaiah 55 v8-9 ]
A  prayer..../Dear God we confess that often we are taken up with the here and now,we want it now,is our cry, gives us grace to wait Your time,and to trust in Your ways,in Jesus name Amen/

Twinkle, twinkle, little star.[Colossians 1 v15ff ]

I often go out to my garden at night and look up into the sky in the hope of seeing the stars,but because I live in a town,only a few stars are visible.The other evening I looked up and could only see one star,yes one,the little poem come to mind,/Twinkle ,twinkle little star,how I wonder what you are,up above the earth so bright,like a candle in the night,Twinkle, twinkle little star,how I wonder what you are/.I hope I have remembered the  right words,but  as I looked at that solitary star ,hanging there in space,my mind turned to our little planted earth,hanging also in space,the question is how?.How do we hang here,what is causing us to exist as a planet?, what is stopping us from being destroyed?, after all we are such a pin prick in size.The Bible tells us there is a reason, there is a Creator,who brought all things into being.[Genesis 1]and that Creator has placed us where we are.Christ who is the image of the invisible God,by whom all things where created by Him and for Him,  holds all things together[Colossians 1 v 15ff]Yes God in Christ  is holding all things together,if He didn't, all things would disintegrate into chaos
A  prayer..../ Dear God by whom all things where made, and all things sustained,and held together,we worship and praise through Jesus Thy Son . Amen /

Suppose. [ Psalm 23 ]

There was lady called Mary who worked hard, her life was difficult,but she was full of the joy of the Lord. One day a friend spoke to her and said,Mary I appreciate your joyful attitude,but suppose,Mary you lost your job,suppose you became ill,suppose,before she could finish, Mary interrupted her, stop your supposing,the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.Because life can be very uncertain ,things change,sickness,and so many other things,we can be like that lady who raised the issue of supposing,the what ifs in life. The question is who is our security?the answer is very simple,the Lord,whatever we are facing,He will not leave us stranded,He will not fail His children,be it famine or whatever. So let us stop our supposing,and let us rest on His unchangeable love,for all His children
a love that loved us to the uttermost,and will continue for ever and ever and ever.
A prayer.....Dear Lord help us to strong in faith,to not dwell on supposing,this or supposing that,in Jesus name Amen./