Our task. [ Luke 6 v 26-35]

 In  India Christians protested against  church attacks,they said what have we done wrong?/Is serving the poor a crime, feeding the hungry a
crime,visiting the prisoners a crime?....We are not going to stop doing good/
Of course none of these are wrong ,in fact in so doing they are following in the footsteps of their master, Jesus, who went about doing good [Acts 10 38 ].In Galations 6 v10,we read,,/Let us do good to all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith./. So we praise our Christian family
in India for the good they are doing,they are an example to us all. So why are they suffering?,surely they should be commended for what they are doing,not persecuted. Why indeed? our Saviour who healed the sick fed the
poor was crucified, why ?.there are different reasons,but I suppose the one is to be found in His words,and His death. Consider His words,I am the way the truth and the life no one cometh unto the Father,but by Me[ John 14 v6].In other words He is saying all other religions are wrong.Acts 4 v12
tells us,/Neither is there salvation in any other name under heaven given among men,whereby we must be saved./ Consider how those of other religions may feel,they would not be to happy in fact they may be filled with hatred,and in India and in may other country ,this is so. Yes let us do
good,but let us remember,those Indian believers,and of course Jesus.
                                    A  prayer.
Dear God help us to do good,and help us also to be faithful to our Saviour
Amen.

The real reason. [ Isaiah 53 ]

The Jews have been called the waiting people ,why?, and for whom ?,well we have a very clear, clue in the book of Micah. It is a verse that Christians have read to them every Christmas,and it is the words of that verse that the religious leaders ,quoited to Herod.[ Matthew 2 v5-6]. In Micah 5 v2, we read,/But thou Bethlehem Ephratah,though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me,that is going to to a ruler in Israel,whose goings have been from old,from everlasting/.This is why the Jews are called the waiting people they are still waiting for this ruler who will come. Now the whom,a ruler,when Herod was told about a king of the Jews being born,he immediately felt threatened,because like the Jews ,he only saw the coming one as a ruler.The religious leaders it seems were thinking in earthly terms,a ruler,who would set his throne up in Jerusalem,and deliver the nation from those who oppressed them.That is why I suppose they rejected Jesus the Messiah,they failed to appreciate,as the world likewise fails to appreciate,that  Jesus the Messiah came to free people not from political oppression,but from Satan, Sin, and Hell.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God we ask that in Your mercy You would open the eyes of Jews and gentiles alike, as to Jesus is and the real reason He came. Amen.

There is stil hope. [ Micah 7 v18]

Following on in the book of Micah ,consider the spiritual deterioration that
took place ,we see it in the book of judges,when ever man did that which was right in their own eyes [Judges 21v25].Then into the beginning of rule
by the kings,some where good ,but many were bad,and some were very bad.So often the prophets brought Gods word,only to see the people refuse
to listen, consider the words of  Stephen,/ Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears,ye do always resist the Holy Ghost,as your Fathers did,so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted.[Acts 7 v51-52]. Consider the very sad and challenging words of our Saviour spoken to the Jews,/O Jerusalem,Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest
them which are sent unto thee,how often would I have gathered thy children
together,even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings,and ye would not[Matthew 23 v37]Returning to the book of Micah,and as we read that book,we see so much evil being perpetrated , yet within this book we read these words,/Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity........He retaineth not his anger for ever,because He delighteth in mercy[7v18]
    In spite of their gross sin God will show mercy,He has not changed,He is
still a pardoning God,who delights to show mercy.No matter how bad we are no matter how far we have strayed,there is hope,there is forgiveness,if we but seek Jesus,
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God truly who is a pardoning God like You we thank You that through
Jesus we can experience forgiveness Amen

What God requires Micah 6 v8 ]

The prophet Micah was called to speak to Israel the divided nation,known as the northern kingdom,Samaria being its capital,and the southern kingdom
Jerusalem being its capital.From the very start of the nations split, the northern kingdom under king Jeroboam,forsook the worship of God for false worship,God continually spoke to that nation,but it never changed,and spiritually and morally ,things became worse .The Southern kingdom had the advantage of the temple reminding them of Gods presence continually,
but they also gradually forsook God and became just as evil and at times even worse than the northern kingdom. Micah was called to challenge the sinfulness of both nations,reminding them how God hates sin,and as the righteous judge would would punish their sinful  behaviour,if they did not turn back from their sinful ways.He points out what God required from them and indeed from us chapter 6v8,/  To do what is right,to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with their God/.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God help us to rise to the challenge of Your word,to seek always to do what is right,to show mercy to all,and to walk humbly with You, in Jesus
name Amen.

A levels in prayer. [ Psalm 42 ]

 I was listening to a CD in my car and I heard these words ,
                       At the end of  day I stop and pray,
                        Thank you Lord for my work and play,
                       I've tried to be good for I know that I should,
                       That's my prayer at the end of the day.

 Such simple words,you even may think they are childish,possible they are,
I  like  them, if you have children maybe you could teach them that prayer.
  None of us have  A levels in prayer,we are all limited in one way or another,that does not mean ,that our prayers will not be acceptable to God,
of course not.My confidence is not in the so called quality of my prayers,
but in God who reminds us that so often we do not know how to pray.[ Romans 8 v26]  ,but in mercy assists us by His Spirit.May be that little prayer in its simplicity can be a help to all of us.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father we confess our inadequacies when it comes to praying,we listen to others who seem to have it all together as regards
praying,and wish we could rich that level.Them we hear You telling us it is not reaching a level, but rather it is reaching Your heart that matters,help us to never loose sight of that truth,in Jesus Name Amen.

A general election. [1 Timothy 2 v 1-4 ]

 A general election has just taken place and there have been a good deal of surprises, the people have spoken. Yet as I view life I wonder has God spoken,or what is He saying,for He is saying something. As a Christian  I
am called to pray for those in authority cp 1 Timothy 2v1-2. that one of the outcomes may be that we may as Christians live a peaceable life.
    My heart goes out to those people who live under oppressive governments, there are so many of them. We do need to pray about these government's,who appear to be immune as regards the suffering they are causing. Why not make a point of praying for one of these governments,that God may change them or remove them. Why not involve others in this prayer ministry,the more the better. Remember prayer can bring change,
never underestimate what God can do in response to our prayers, and as you pray God may bring you into a deeper aspect of prayer.You may then begin to pray for a spiritual breakthrough within that particular nation,starting with the government.
     I know we know that God is sovereign, well let us pray to Him who alone can change things,change the hearts and minds of those who rule.Likewise He can change a nation, turning them from idolatry,and godless practise's,all things are possible,let us rise up in faith,to God, the one with whom all things are possible.
                                           A  prayer.
Sovereign God,You who have whole world in your hands move in the hearts  of rulers and nation in Jesus name Amen.

Why me. [ Psalm 22]

 Why me? ,you can say this with two different meanings in mind,the first
meaning is when difficulties befall us,we cry out why me.The other time is when we consider the way God has blessed us,and we say why me.
   Why did Job experience ,such terrible suffering? he was a good godly person,yes good godly people suffer.I am continually reading of good godly people suffering,why  them, and not me,one often feels ,Christians who are not suffering persecution ,feel guilty,that they are escaping such suffering.
Should they?, no I don't believe so. We do not need to take on guilt,but we do need to help those who are suffering ,by what ever means necessary. In
 Hebrew.13 v3, we read, /Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them.Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you/[ TM]
    Why me?,now what may be happening to you ,may be infair,again as we read the Bible we read of many people who suffered unfairness.Take Joseph
he may have acted a bit unwisely with what he said,but surely he did not
deserve the hatred his brothers showed him,they wanted him dead,but instead they sold him into slavery,later he is falsely accused of a sexual
crime he did not do,and was put into prison.
   The fact of the matter there are many things in life that are unfair,what can we do?well if we are a Christian,we may cry out to God why me?.We may not get an answer,but  God promises us something that does not apply to non-Christians,that all things are working together for our good[Romans 8 v28]
                                           A prayer.
Dear God help us to remember the many of your dear children who are suffering,and help us in our suffering ,to trust in You ,knowing that all we are going through will ultimately work out for our good,in Jesus name Amen