The right decisions. [ 1 Peter 3 v12 ]

Do you ever make a decision,in purchasing something,like a second hand car,you pray about it,think about it,get as much information about what you are looking for,you have it all worked out.Yet when you purchase that second hand car,it does not work out,and you wonder why.You are left scratching your head,and you ask what did I do wrong?.This happened twice with me, recently I bought a car, very low mileage,when I got it I felt
there was something wrong,I spoke to the car dealer,did not get much joy,so
I had it inspected ,and was told what was wrong,this would cost two thousand pound to fix,well there were other things connected to buying this car,the dealership I bought it from was a good distance, Speaking to him on the phone, I felt I was fighting a loosing battle,to say the least it was a very stressful experienced,but God was speaking assuring me that He was going to undertake.
     My oldest lad suggested we ask for my money back,so he sent them an email,reminding them that under the law they were bound to return my money.God was using my son,and imagine my delight,when I received a telephone call,assuring me that they will collect the car,and return my money,you can imagine my relief ,and gratitude for His deliverance. The only thing is I have to buy another car,hopefully it will be the right one.
                                 A  prayer.
Dear God undertake for us as we make decisions,that we will make the right ones,in Jesus name Amen.

Well we can try [ Philippians 3 v 12 ]

I  do believe that there are no perfect drivers,driving is not one aspect of life that is perfect,no because there are no perfect people,and this is very clearly seen,if you are a driver. I make mistakes when I drive, ask my wife,so that's
it,no we can aim for perfection,although we may never get there.Yes there is no reason why we cant aim for perfection in driving,in our marriages,our work,now we will never be perfect,but we can say I going by the grace of God try.
 Our Saviour said to His disciples,/Be ye therefore perfect,even as your father which is heaven is perfect[Matthew 5 v45]/. So is Jesus saying we can reach perfection?,there are some Christians who believe they can reach
sinless perfection. 1 John 1v8 reads,if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves,and the truth is not in us.I remember a person accused me of not being a Christian because I acknowledged that I was not perfect,that I did sin.
    Yes we are not perfect,but we can still aim for it ,we can still by Gods grace overcome the sins that so easily beset us.
                                    A  prayer
Dear God we come to You in all our imperfectness, help us to aim at lives
that  by Your grace we may ever strive to be like You ,in Jesus name Amen .
   
   

Hypocrisy.[ Matthew 3 v7 -10 ]

Words are so easily spoken,it is easy to say I am sorry and not really mean it,it is easy to pray and not really mean it,the saying of the Lords prayer is an example of that. We sing hymns out of habit,yes words are so easily spoken,words that have no real meaning,no depth to them.
  It is so easy to put on act,I remember my son telling me about a friend of his,a well known minister,and as he talked to my son,the Lord gave him insight,and it was ,that the brother was committing adultery.
     Our Saviour used the term hypocrite in relation to a certain people,they were play acting,hiding behind a curtain of religion.A certain individual
who was loved and admired,was honoured by those in high places,when he died thousand lined up,to pay respect to this great man.Oh yes he was great
in his hidden evil deeds,what he did was unbelievable,and the vast majority of people,never realised.
     When the end of this world come and all,will stand before the all knowing all seeing God,all will be revealed,nothing will be hidden. There
will be no more hypocrisy,no more pretending.
       All is not lost,Christ came into the world to save sinners,no matter what our sin,now is the time to stop pretending,to repent,that means to change,to turn to God and to be totally honest,and be totally honest with him,and to ask for forgiveness.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God we know that there is nothing hidden from  You,forgive us for  deceiving others ,and even ourselves,in Jesus name  Amen .

Holding on by a thread. [ 2 Corinthians 4 v 7 ]

A man who is suffering from  a serious illness,when asked about his strong faith,he replied,that as regards a strong faith,he saw himself holding on by a thread. Imagine what that means ,for he meant it,maybe that describes your faith. It  is  not something you would tell others,but it really sums up how you feel,but of course,He knows,and maybe you have told Him,and then maybe you have not, but as I have said He knows.
     Consider ,you and I are part of a church,of mighty saints,is that right?or is it?, no we are part of church made up of those who sing with great
fervour,about,that amazing grace that saves wretches.Yes the grace of God
makes all the difference in all our lives,I am what I am by the grace of God.
The fact is we are all holding on by the grace of God,even if it is holding on by  a thread,how strong is that thread,that thread when endued by Gods grace is unbreakable.
 Continually the word of God reminds us of a need to rely on God and His strength,otherwise the true self will manifest itself ,in pretty awful ways,as so many of Gods choicest saints have found out. Remember we are earthen vessels, or fragile clay jars[2 Corinthians 4 v7]. There is no room for pride,boasting excluded ,pride I abase,we are only sinners saved by grace.
   Now this does not mean we should give up,or despair,no, no, no,it really is amazing,but God who knows the worst about us,will use us in  all our weakness, even if we are holding on by a thread.
                                    A  prayer.
Dear God You know everything about us,how truly weak we are,Lord help us in our utter weakness,Amen.

You can decide. [ Hebrews 11v1]

I usually go out into my garden at night and look up at the stars,to observe the glory of Gods creation. The other evening as I looked up I found myself singing ,He's got the whole in his hand,it is in the book of Job, we read,/He .hangeth  the earth upon nothing[26v7]. The scientist speaks with his flawed ,from a flawed mind,never giving glory to God,while the multitudes,believe there flawed giro's.
  As to scientific knowledge,I know very little,but I would rather hold unto the certainty of faith,rather than the blindness of the freak accident theory.
It is not that I despise scientist,we owe under God much to them, but unfortunately they do not think that they are under God.When do you hear any of them ever mention God,the evolutionist,speaks how animals somehow grow feathers,and somehow fly,yes ,truly somehow.
    If  you want you can go down the godless scientific road,but were is it leading ?or you can decide to follow Him who is the way the truth and the life[John 14 v6],it is a  path of faith,strange path,but it is the safest path,
                                    A  prayer.
Dear God have mercy and grant us grace to follow Your son Jesus,as He leads us to glory,in His name we ask this Amen

Mercy [Luke 18 v 9-14 ]

Even though I am a Christian of many years,in someways I am very much still a rough diamond,the old Billy still manifests itself.I still have times when I manifest a temper,still dwell on wrong thoughts,still worry,need I go on,oh  yes I have changed but it appears sometimes ,not enough.
   It reminds me  that I am part of the gap theory,the gap being what I am and what I should be.It also reminds me of the word I use so much in my prayers,mercy,as I pray for people I request mercy,and when I pray for myself ,I pray  for mercy.The word of God continually uses the word mercy,for that I am so grateful,grateful that God is merciful.How can we approach such a holy God?well we are told, let us come boldly unto the throne of grace,that we may obtain mercy[Hebrews 4 v16]
     It is because of Gods mercy we  are not consumed,it is by Gods mercy
we are saved,it starts with mercy,and continues with mercy,until the day we
die.When we stand before Him it will be by mercy,and as we look back and see ,the path that we have walked on in our earthly pilgrimage ,it was a path called mercy.
     Our Saviour told a story about two men, one was very religious,and consider others inferior,I saw this many years ago when the barber was cutting my hair,and well know gypsies went to come into the shop,and they were told in no uncertain terms ,to get out.
     The other man was a notorious person,I will call him a loan shark[the bible calls him a tax collector,they collected taxes for the Romans,and they abused their position.
      They were both religious so they went up to the temple to pray,the very religious person ,prayed thanking God that he was not a sinner like the loan shark,he fasted twice a week and he abstained from wrongful sexual behaviour,he was thankfully that he was not like the loan shark.
     The loan shark ,unlike the very religious person ,who stood up praying,
stood at distance,not daring to lift his eyes heavenward,he was very distraught,very sorrowful,and all he could pray was ,God be merciful to me
a sinner.
     Now who do you think was accepted by God?,very simple, the one who
sought mercy.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God have mercy upon us poor sinners,and grant us forgiveness ,
through Jesus the Saviour of sinners, Amen

Retirement. [Psalm 48 v14]

I will be retiring from working with social services,at the end of April,I have worked there for 23years. I believe it is the right decision,but it brings with certain concerns,what will I do when I retire?,I shared this with a friend whose reply was very helpful,he said,I am retiring from work,but I am not retiring from the Lords service.Yes we never retire from serving the Lord,there is always something for us to do,the words of an old hymn comes to mind,/There's a work for Jesus none but you can do/ So I must not think because I am retiring that God will put me on the shelf,no we are not meant to be ornaments.
    I love the words from Psalm 48 v14,/For this God is our God forever
and ever,He will be our guide even unto death./ In times of uncertainty these are words of assurance,especially as one grows older,and at times when one is entering retirement.It is lovely to be able to retire,but it is unknown territory,a path we have not tread before.Abraham went out
not knowing whither he went, but he knew who was going with him.
    Years ago when little children would have to work at cleaning chimneys,
when they could it no more,they would be discarded,they where no longer
of any use. Such is the human situation,thrown aside,like a old TV,that no longer works.but God is never in the business of discarding anyone.
                                           A  prayer
Dear God we rest in You,knowing that we are precious to You,at every
stage of our lives,that you will never discard us,and will always use us in some measure in your service,in Jesus name Amen.