I once was lost,but now am found [ Luke 15 ]

I  know it may not mean much to many people,but it was important to me, my little grandchild had lost doggy, her very precious stuffed dog.I searched and searched for doggy,even offered up a prayer,and I was going to give up,when at the last moment doggy  was found,this is a true story. Now Jesus told three stories to illustrate a very important truth,about a sheep,a coin,and a son, and they all had something in common,they where lost,and here is the important thing like little doggy they where found.The Bible teaches a truth that many people do not realise,or would want to accept,as we are born,we are lost,this is  true ,not made up,and has serious consequences,especially if we refuse to believe what Gods word teaches us,that we are all lost,consider what an old testament prophet said,/ All we like sheep have gone astray,we have turned everyone to his own way[Isaiah53v6]/I could quote you lot of things that evidence our lostness,but just maybe I don't have to, for you realise that truth.,that you really are  lost. Well here is the answer to all who see their lostness,Jesus said that He came to seek and to save that which is lost,reach out to Him in simple childlike faith,and you will never be lost again.
A  prayer....../ Dear God  thank You for Jesus the one who came to save the lost, Amen/

Balance . [ 1 Samuel 15 v22]

Watching golf on TV, one commentator spoke of the importance of balance,as a golfer,which reminded me of my recent holiday,when on two occasions,my balance was effected,by something or other. In my case it was dangerous because, I could have fallen so easily,and hurt myself,thankfully, I didn't,I will have to see my GP,hopefully to find the cause.An awful lot of the Bible was written to people who were out of  balance in their walk with God,David in his zeal for God offended God, he wanted the ark of God brought up to Jerusalem,but he had it put on a cart,so as they brought the ark up,it appeared that it was going to fall of the cart, and a man called Uzzah, put his hand forward to stop it falling of the cart,and immediately the Lord was angry with Him and killed him.[2 Samuel 6 v6-7]The ark was meant to be carried by the Levites[Numbers4 v5-15],it was a capital offence for anyone other than the Levites to touch the ark[Numbers 4 v15]. In 1 Samuel 6v 19-20] God killed70 men for daring to look into the ark,Now David in his zeal ignored what Gods word said,and poor Uzzah , paid the price,having zeal like David is commendable,but not if we become careless ,and ignore Gods word,if we do this we will pay the price.
A prayer.... Dear God grant us zeal,but most important, a balanced  godly zeal, that will walk in perfect obedience to Your word, in Jesus name Amen /

A shirt.[ Genesis 20 v6 ]

Recently while on holiday,I visited a charity shop,it is my favourite charity shop,because I usually find something really nice to purchase,a lot of charity shops,remind me of the old jumble sales,that churches used to hold.They all do a good job,but my favourite is the one I mention,it is my Marks and Spenser's,well I saw this shirt,it was different,it had a patchwork design. I liked it but my wife , son,and daughter-in-law restrained me [not physically],from buying it,on reflection,I suppose it was in that charity shop,because the original owner had ,had  second thoughts about wearing it,or like me had been restrained maybe physically from wearing it.Well on a more serious note,the other day while out in my car,someone honked their horn at me,they where behind me,and I felt angry,and I felt like getting out of my car,and,well I didn't,thankfully ,I believe the Lord restrained me,from doing something stupid,and I am ever so thankful.As I look back in my long Christian life, I realise the difficulties ,and dangers that God has saved me from,His hand of restraint has been upon me,it reminds me that I have only come this far,by Gods restraining grace
A  prayer.....Dear God grant unto us restraining grace, from any foolish and sinful actions or words,in Jesus name Amen /

Dangers. [ Song of Solomon 5 v 2-6]

I was enjoying a moment in my garden,I heard a little bird singing,I spied the little songster singing away,but then I noticed danger for this little creature,a cat.Yes there is danger,not just for the little birds,but for all of us,sickness,accidents,self,and from others.Dangers from prosperity we forget that we  have a soul and need a Saviour,and the dangers of being to busy, and neglect our relationship with our Saviour. Consider these words from Hebrews 2 v1-2/ It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift/[Message].Our responsibility is to not neglect our relationship with our Saviour,how often I have heard people say how busy life is,it is not wrong to be busy,but let not our business blind us to the danger of neglecting our walk with God,or else we may find ourselves walking a different path than His.Consider how many relationships have broken down because of neglect,children suffer because of it,marriages suffer because of it,and we suffer. Here are three things we need ,in order to not neglect,speak to God in prayer, and let him speak to you through His word, daily devotionals are a help, also meet with Gods people.
A  prayer...../Dear God preserve and protect us from dangers seen and unseen,and especially protect 
us from the danger of neglecting our relationship with You, in Jesus name we ask this .Amen /
[I will return to my blog next Saturday,  every blessing]

Not alone.[ Joshua 1 v 9]

Two friends of mine ,man and wife,where travelling to South Africa,they could not get booked on the same flight,the wife expressed her anxiety of travelling without her husband.I prayed for them, and in my prayer I mentioned how they would not be flying alone,but that the Lord would be with them. I read these words this morning,/My presence shall go with thee,and I will give thee rest[Exodus 33v14] Nicky Cruz wrote a book titled,/Alone yet not alone/,how true those words are,and meaningful.
 Loneliness effects so  many people,at times I have felt very alone at times,and yet I know that I am not alone Jesus is with me,every moment of everyday, 24/7,fifty two weeks of the year. So in a very real sense I  am not alone, for He hath said, I will never leave thee,nor forsake thee.[ Hebrews 13v5] .
                                                         Lord, we know that Thou art with us,
                                                         Though Thou seem;st to hide Thy face,
                                                          And are sure that dost hear us,
                                                          Though no answer we embrace.[ Jane Crewdson]
                                                                      Amen.

He is One.[ Isaiah 9 v 6]

There are some people, even Christians who see the God of the OT ,and the God of the NT as different,because in the OT, they see Him dealing with people in a severe way.But as I read my OT, I see a God who judged people,but of course in the NT,there is plenty of mentions of judgement ,it is said that Jesus,our loving Saviour,spoke of  Hell more than anybody else.Consider the words of one of the best known verses in the Bible, John 3 v16 ,/For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life./The verse stresses the love of God to all people,but also the severity of God  as to those who reject His love. I opened my Bible at random this morning and I read these  ,/When the poor and needy seek water,and there is none,and their tongue failed for thirst,I the Lord will hear them, I  the God of Israel will not forsake them[Psalm 41 v17]; in Micah7 v18],we read that God delights in mercy.There is much more we could write,as to God,that would show clearly ,that God is merciful,the city of Nineveh,experienced that mercy,and so will we if we seek Him
A  prayer......../ Dear God we thank You for the revelation concerning yourself,that you are gracious ,and merciful,slow  to anger,and of great kindness. Words spoken by a prophet ,words that are true.,We thank and praise You in Jesus name. Amen /

Is there life after death?. [John 11 v25]

Job asked the question,/If a man die,shall he live again?/[14v14],  in this chapter,Job appears to be seeking for answers,v10 reads,/But man dieth,and wasteth away,yea, man giveth up the ghost,and where is he?/But later on in chapter 19v25-27,he declares ,/For I know that my redeemer liveth,and that He shall stand upon the earth.And though  after my skin worms destroy this body,yet in my flesh shall I see God.Whom I  shall see for myself,and mine eyes shall behold,and not another,though my reins be consumed within me/ Consider ,his confident statement of faith starts with a redeemer,and so  the question of life after death is answered.The only redeemer is Jesus,who declared,/I am the resurrection and the life,he that believeth in me,though he were dear, yet shall he live/.Yes there is life after death ,a life of joy and happiness,for He will make all things new, a new dwelling place,where there will be no evil,no sickness,no fear,no pain,no lonliness,all will be just perfect. The key to this eternal domain is as Job declared a redeemer Jesus.When we trust Jesus as Saviour and know that our sins are forgiven,then all this can be ours, this is a sure and certain hope.
A  prayer...../Dear God we thank You that  through Jesus Thy son there is life after death. Amen /