There is a storm coming [ Romans 1 v16-18]

As I sat in my living room, I heard the wind howling outside,and the thought came to me,there is a storm coming.In the OT we have mentioned
the day of the Lord,for Israel it meant the great overthrow of their enemies,
a day which would issue in tremendous blessing.But they were to discover
that it meant more than that,consider the words of the prophet Amos,Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord[5 v18 ].Whereas Israel saw the day of the Lord as a judgement on their enemies,but what they did not realise that they had become the enemy.Not only did they not realise it,but they refused to accept it even though  God continually spoke to them through His
servants. Jesus said to the Jews,ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.[Matthew 23 v31].Stephen a devout Jew who had come to know Christ,paid the price for challenging the Jewish leaders, when he declared,/Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?/,Stephen followed in the footsteps of those prophets by being stoned to death.
   There is a storm coming ,the day of the Lord,a day of judgement,a day in which all who have by their actions and rejection of Gods son, declared
themselves to be the enemies of God.
     God at this time is offering mercy to all who repent,and seek forgiveness
but if that mercy is rejected,then mercy will be forfeited.
                                          A  prayer.
 Dear God open the eyes of those who know not your son Jesus ,that there is a  storm coming,Amen.

Memory [ Matthew 7 v 7]

A lady I know who is elderly,is beginning to loose her memory,and strange as it may seem she is becoming a nicer person.This dear person had a very difficult childhood,which she has never managed to get over.She carried those memories which caused her pain,and effected her spiritual growth. Can we overcome the bad memories?,now let us not underestimate the power of memories ,childhood or otherwise,in many ways we  are all moulded by our past,for good or ill.So many people are prisoners of their past,abuse,traumatic events,poverty,broken marriages,the latter can have an effect on all who are involved.The question is, can things change?the fact of the matter many will never change,maybe they are to scared to change. Yet there many who would love to change,and cant,some do and are the better for it.Is it possible to change? well, it is a challenging question,is it possible?,yes, when it has accomplished its God given purpose.That purpose is two fold, to bring us to Christ,and to make us more like Christ.
The point is Christ is the answer,through Him change is possible,every possibility that you have sought the Lord,and seemingly nothing has happened,consider what He is accomplishing,that is more important than we realise.Next faith must be refined,has He given you a pacific word,well continue to seek the Lord claiming that particular word.
                                           A  prayer
Dear God we ask that you may hear our prayer,help us to understand Your will,give us the assurance that You would heal us of past hurtful memories,
in Jesus name. Amen/

Courage [ Joshua 1 v 9]

Yesterday I mentioned how Jean-Baptiste Mussillion the preacher at Louis 14th funeral snuffed out the candle on top of his casket.I mention this to my son and his reply was that he was very courageous to do such a thing,and then he told me how Louis the 15th had someone put to death in the most horrible way imaginable,most of these kings believed that their power was absolute,we  see this in the reign of Henry the 8th,how he had his wives murdered, so what that preacher did at Louis 14th funeral was a very courageous act.When rulers think their power is absolute they are trying to usurp God ,for it is only God who has absolute power. Think how courageous that preacher was,and think also courageous the prophets were
we see this especially in the ministry of Elijah,or Jeremiah,or even the apostle Paul, Esther also comes to mind.They and many others could have been put to death for daring to speak out Gods word,daring to take a stand for what is right.In many places Christians are being persecuted threatened
of course we must not be surprised ,for our Lord said,/Blessed are they that our persecuted for righteousness sake[/Matthew 5v10],and He goes on to say,/Rejoice, and be exceeding glad,for great is your reward in heaven[5v12].
      It takes courage to speak Gods truth,it takes courage to face the enemies of the cross,many of us I am sure would be very fearful,if we faced persecution.I believe God will help us,so often He tells us that he will.It is important that we see beyond persecution,to the glory that awaits us,as Jesus did[Hebrews 12v2]
                                    A  prayer.
Dear God have mercy upon those of Your dear children that are being persecuted,grant unto them courage, grace,hope,and Love in Jesus name Amen

Greatness [ Daniel 4 ]

I am reading a book bought to me as a Christmas present called ,/The Churchill factor/,written by Boris Johnson,it is enjoyable and easy to read.
No doubt Churchill was a great man,a one of personality,whom God raised up,as to his spiritual position I leave that with God.I mention that he was great man,but he was a man a flawed individual,who suffered from times of deep depression,which he called his black dog days. The greatness of any human being is a flawed greatness be it Churchill or whoever,I could mention the flaws of many so called great men,but I wont.
    Let us consider Louis the 14th of France,known as the Sun King,who built that wonderful palace of Versailles,he wanted to be remembered as the
greatest French king ever.So he stipulated that at his funeral service in Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris,all would be darkened except the one candle on his casket at the front.But when Jean-Baptiste Massillon the preacher got up to give the funeral oration,he walked over to the casket and snuffed out the light. With that he commenced his message with the words,'Only God
is great.Only God is great.
                                               A prayer.
Dear God we thank You for raising up Churchill,at a time of great need,in this world,but we turn our eyes from him and  to You,and declare that only You are truly Great. Amen .

We have a sure guide. [John 14 v6]

In Ezekiel 21v21 we read how the king of Babylon, consulted with
images,and looked to the liver,he also used arrows with names or places on them,they would be shaken,and one would be drawn out,as in drawing of lots. People are desirous to know the right way to go,that would give them most success,let us face it none of us know what the next second will bring
People consult mediums,their star sign,toss a coin,ask a friend,all desire to make the right decision,in moving,in buying,and so on.So many want a deeper meaning to life,and think they have found by going and joining,a cult,a religion,many young people are trying to join up with the Islamic SS,even though it may mean becoming a suicide bomber,or committing atrocities,like beheading children.Many joined the Nazi party and believed
that they were not accountable to anyone except Hitler.
   In a world of confusion Jesus declares that He is the Way,the Truth,and the Life,and that no one can come unto the Father,but by Him[John 14 v6]
If we are going to be guided in life then  we need to know Him,He is Gods
answer  to humanity.
     When we know Him then we will have a sure guide,He will guide us,lead us through this confusion maze we call life, He  assures us that we
will not walk in darkness[ John 8 v12] Not only will he guide us but He will be with us,going before us,opening or closing doors,and no matter how dark the valley we may go through,we need fear no evil,for as I have  said He
will be with us.
                                          A prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus we thank You that in a world of uncertainty,with You, we
have a sure guide, Amen

Gods perfect will. [ Romans 8 v 26 ]

David Prior writing about the prophet Habakkuk comments about his praying,/ Like us the prophet did not fully appreciate what he was asking. God who customarily answers prayer in a way far beyond our thoughts or dreams/ Consider as a parent one has had to say no to ones children,because you knew that what they wanted would have been harmful.When it comes to prayer, often ,not always ,our knowledge is limited as to what it would mean if God answered as we think He should.Paul the apostle reminds us ,
we know not what we should pray for as we ought[Romans 8 v26] We need not despair,for we are clearly told that although He may not answer in the way we desire He does answer, in a way that is is best,yet even then we may not think so, but rest assured,He does.The most fervent prayer ever prayed
ended with the words,/nevertheless not what I will,but what Thou wilt
[ Mark 14 v36] .Let us consider what that means in all our lives today,when we bring our hopes and desires to God in prayer.
                                            A  prayer
Dear God we bring all our hopes,and desires to You right now,be pleased to answer what is best for us,according to Your perfect will,in Jesus name Amen /

Eyes that speak [Matthew 13 v 10-17]

In the movie the ,Book Thief,the young Jew in hiding,asks the young girl,
what was the day like,she gives him the usual answer.He was not satisfied with her answer, so he says,/if your eyes could speak what would they say?/
and so she spoke in a different way,not just in a black and white manner,but in the language of the colours  of the rainbow. There are so many people who are colour blind,as to what they see ,they refuse to let their eyes speak.The people who opposed Jesus saw things in black and white,when he healed someone they said a Sabbath breaker,when He fed people,they only saw someone who could provide a meal ticket,when he delivered the demon possessed ,they charged Him in being in league with the Devil.The people in his home town could only see the carpenters son, others could only see Him as a prophet,a teacher,all of them only saw with their eyes,black and white,instead of the colours of  the rainbow.When you look at Jesus,is it just in black and white,or is it in the colours of the rainbow?,in other words,if your eyes could speak,what would they say?
                                     A prayer.
Dear God let us not be condemned to seeing  in black and white,help us to
see Jesus as to whom He really is,help us to see the colours of the rainbow,in Jesus name Amen.