Misunderstood. [1 Peter 2 v 21-23 ]

It is so easy to be misunderstood you do some action with the best of motives,and people twist the things you say.Yet you know  what you did or said was not meant to harm or hurt. It is hard to cope with, but the fact is it does happen,consider the scriptures and the many who suffered at the hands of people who put the worst possible interpretation on others actions,and words.Think of dear Jeremiah how he suffered,Joseph who was hated by his brothers. Consider how much our Lord was misunderstood,his words,and actions brought upon him the wrath of so many,which ended by Him being nailed to a cross.We want everybody to think well of us,but people being what they are, this will not be always possible. Consider the
following,/ There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others,saying what flatters them,doing what indulges them.Popularity
contests are not truth contests look how many scoundrel preachers were
approved by your ancestors,your task is to be true,not popular./ [TM]
So let us commit all things to God who knows our motives,who will
always judge our actions and words in a right manner.
                                        A  prayer.
Dear God forgive us when our words and actions are not as they should be,
and help us to rise above all criticism ,when our actions and words are
misunderstood in Jesus name Amen

                                             

The door is open [Revelation 3 v [John 11v 40]

Something simple like opening and shutting a door reminded me of a spiritual truth,I  [ Jesus] have set before thee,an open door,and no man can shutteth[Revelation 3 v8]What challenges lie before you?,you believe God
wants you to move forward,then move forward and trust in His word.You cry out to God I cannot go forward and God replies,you can my child, I have set an open door before you,and no person can shut that door,even the Devil himself cannot shut it.Why do you hesitate?, fear, unbelief,remember I honour faith ,remember how a generation in the wilderness ,lost the blessing ,the promised land lay before them.God was saying go,but they were saying no.How often they must have looked back with regret ,and wished they had gone through that open door. But you say I am weak,I
 cannot venture forth,do you not think God knows this,He knows everything there is to know about you. Your weakness is not the problem,the problem is you,God has spoken,He says I know that you have not much strength.
It will always be so,you will always be weak,but  through His strength,
you will overcome gaints.And the biggest gaints you will need to face, are within you. Said I not unto you,that if thou wouldest believe,thou shouldest
see the glory of God.
                                          A  prayer.
 Dear God give us grace to follow where you lead in Jesus name Amen.

Spiritual matters,matter. [ 2 Peter 5 v 6 ]

Joyce Baldwin writes,/ Our twentieth-century generations are especially
prone to ask for quick results,whereas in spiritual matters long growth is
called for./ Beware of those who come with instant answers,in relation to the growth of a soul,and beware of those who promise a troubled free life.
  It takes often years to have a nice garden,and it takes a lifetime of care,
weeding ,cutting the grass,pruning,like so many things it is ongoing. Such is the Christian life,it is ongoing,and we who have been on the way,for a long time,know  the importance of persevering ,in our daily walk with Christ.
    I have two rose bushes ,they continually need watched over,the dreaded black spot needs eradicated, also they need pruning.God is like a gardener
He is continually working in our lives,watching over us,seeking to eradicate
the wrongful tendencies,the bad habits,the wrong attitudes.The question we
often ask is why?,why am I experiencing the difficulties in my marriage  with my children?.There are a lot of things that we would rather not have in our lives,yet in Gods sovereignty,he allows unpleasant,painful things in,they are Gods teacher's. I thought I had finished with school 56years ago,but not so, the great teacher God the Holy Spirit is using all sorts of things and
experiences to  educate us,not with an head knowledge, but a transforming knowledge.
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God have Your own perfect way and will in our lives,that we may be transformed into the image of Your dear Son Jesus. Amen

Medicine a monster [ Matthew 10 v28 ]

I read this recently, Medicine is a monster-it will take everything you have and still want more.  In this country we have a wonderful health service,
 the whole population can be served by it,irrespective of cost. As a senior
citizen I receive free medication,I thank God for it,it is paid for out of taxes.
It does appear a bit of a monster one can imagine the cost of running it,and the demands on the staff.
    I  read of places in the world were there is such a need,and the few who are trying to meet that need,with limited resources.meeting the need can
become all consuming,and it is the same all over the world. While I
appreciate the medical needs of people everywhere ,people have other needs
spiritual needs.As one person puts it,/ It is also possible for Christians to be consumed with the pressure of caring for sick and injured bodies and have little left for the spirit of the sick/
     Whatever ones physical requirements mans greatest need is Christ,that
will never change,our body will one day die,but that is not the end.A lady
I know, spoke how her neighbour came to her one day,and said she was afraid of death.The only sure hope of not fearing death is by knowing Jesus
as ones Saviour,that is one need no doctor can provide.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God we thank for the help we receive for medical fraternity,but we
pray that people will look  beyond their physical needs to their spiritual needs,which can only be met in Jesus. Amen

For His word teaches. [ Romans 5 v 6 - 10]

There is a little song which was popular years ago,it reads,
                       Wide ,wide as the ocean,high as the heavens above,
                        Deep,deep as the deepest sea is my Saviours love,
                       Though I am unworthy,still I'm a child of His care,
                         For his word teaches me,that His love reaches me
                        everywhere.
Those words remind me,just how great Gods love is towards His children,I
like the words,for His words teaches me. It reminds us that we are not resting on what others say,or what we may think,it is what Gods word tells
us, that matters.I used to visit a person ,who often said, God doesn't hate me
I would reply, no He loves you, Gods love is for everyone.He loves everyone,if you are not Christian, God loves you,the cross says it all,this is Gods declaring His love,in its fullest measure.that we sinners may be forgiven.For those who are Christians, He loves you ,even though you have failed him,even though you are reminded of your past,when you were told that you were worthless,for His word teaches,hear the word of the Lord,you are loved,more than you can ever appreciate.
                                     A  prayer.
 Dear God we thank You for Your word ,that tells us plainly that You love us,through Your son Jesus Amen.

Our imperfections. [Isaiah 6 ]

Although our Lord Jesus is perfect and sinless,when we read His genealogy,those chosen by God to be part of the covenant people,none of them were sinless.Even David was far from perfect,likewise Abraham,kings prophets,priests,wealthy or poor they were sinners,chosen by the grace of God,to serve His purpose.
   God does not choose perfect people, for then there would be no one to choose,if we are a Christian,it is totally by Gods unmerited favour,in other words by His grace.Salvation is a work of grace from start to finish,now of course that does not mean we are not to seek to be holy [ Matthew 5 v48 ].
Life is ongoing our walk will never be a one hundred percent  perfect,so there must perfect repentance.One child of God prayed,/make as me  as
holy as a sinful man can be/.
     Again let me stress God can use us even though we are imperfect to one
degree or another.If we are willing God can even bless our ministry,yes we
can be a blessing to others.When David sinned ,he repented,and continued
to serve his God,so we can rise even from most gross of failures,and still serve our God.
                                           A  prayer
Dear God ,You who are holy,we are amazed that we can be used by You
in spite of our flaws and imperfection's,we thank You in Jesus name Amen.

    

How long?[ Revelation 6 v 9-11]

In many countries Gods dear children are suffering,a person from North Korea told how he witnessed his brother being beheaded.I receive a magazine,informing me of the suffering that many of Gods children are enduring.Thousands have had to flee from persecution,and so it goes on,and on. As I thought on these things,my mind was directed by Gods Spirit,to the book of Revelation,a book in which we read of many of Gods people being
persecuted. In chapter 6 we read how John the apostle see's an altar and under the altar,the souls of them that were slain,for the word of God,and for the testimony they held.Many are still being added to their ranks,many are being faithful even unto death to this day,v11 stresses that the dying for Christ will be ongoing. We should not be surprised at this,but it of course saddens us immensely, that such suffering is still going on,and there appears
no easing of it,in fact the ferocity of it is increasing.
   In verse 10 we read,/And they cried with a loud voice saying,How long,
O  Lord,holy and true,dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?./ W Barclay describes an insanity of evil,which is involved in Gods people being persecuted,we can reason with
or hope that it will cease,no the only way it will cease is when God intervenes,like the N T Christians we cry out,how long Lord before You intervene and deal with the wickedness that Your dear people are having to endure?.
                               A prayer.
Dear Lord we ask that You will uphold,and help those of Your children who
are suffering for You,and ask that You will intervene,Amen