Cannot be thwarted.. [ Job 42 v 2 ]

Let us continue on in the theme of the providence of God, sometimes Gods
providence is hid from us.There are times we are held up,delayed,we miss an appointment,we do not get the job,or that promotion we desired.The natural way of reacting would be to become annoyed,angry,or bitter,but
 Gods hidden providential purposes are at work, although we cannot see it
at the time.Next let us trust in Gods providence to undertake even at the last moment,when the enemy is at the gate.When it seemed that all was lost for
Mordecai,and the wicked Haman was going to have him executed,we read
on that night could not the king sleep [Ester 6v1].The result was, Haman the executor would eventually be executed,and Mordecia was not only spared,
but promoted.When I applied for my position of support worker,I did not know that the manager was a Christian who knew me,and I got the job.In our country one was forced to retire when one reached the age of 65[60 for women],but the law was changed just before my retirement age,and so I was able to continue to work on indefinitely,deferring my state pension,and adding to my works pension. This did not happen by chance, it was all in Gods providential care for me. In Gods providence is, promotion,provision,
and all things that concern , His children's lives.
                                       A prayer.
Dear God we thank you for working continually on our behalf,help us to see that your timing is perfect,and that your purposes for your children cannot be  thwarted,for You are our a sovereign God,in Jesus name we pray this Amen.

The whys of life. [ Isaiah 55 v8-9]

One of my favourite books is the ,/Mystery of Providence/, by John Flavel,the word mystery is very important when considering the subject of
providence.One of William Cowpers most famous hymns ,commences with the words ,God moves in mysterious ways.The question is asked on the back cover of Flavels book,/Do we believe that everything in the world, and in our own lives down to the minutest detail is ordered by the providence of God?/. Now this raises many questions that one cannot answer,it comes under mystery.Yet even though we cannot understand ,it appears unfair and
unjust ,faith trusts in the God of love,mercy and grace.Job who experienced
dreadful,awful things, had a choice to curse God,or to trust Him,he chose the latter.We look at tragedies even in the Christians life and we can so easily become bitter,and disillusioned.Much of the Bible is taken up with suffering,and up to this day many are suffering,for being Christians,we say
just for being Christians. Of course like those who know not God Christians
become ill,have accidents,go bankrupt,die,and this is where the doctrine of
providence is vital,and vital to believe.To believe that God is in control,that
He is still on the throne ,working out all things after the counsel of His will.
[Ephesians 1v11].Romans 8 v28 tells us a very important truth,that the
sovereign God is working all things for the good of  His children, [Romans
8 v28] in His providence.
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God we ask that you would help us to trust in you,even when we do
not understand the whys of life ,in Jesus name Amen.
        [ I will return to my blog Tuesday,every blessing ]

I wonder? [ Acts 16 v31 ]

I was speaking recently to children in a particular church,and I told them that I was saved twice. When I was very young I went to the local swimming pool.As I stood on the edge of the pool someone pushed me in
the deep end.This was my first time at the swimmers,that's what we called them I could not swim,and I remember being under the water,and I was drowning.I remember someone swimming towards me getting a hold of me and getting me out of the pool,that person had saved my life. I do not know who saved me but of course I am very grateful to him.Not long after that I attended a children's meeting,the speaker illustrated how serious sin was,and so I waited behind and trusted Jesus to save me,not from death but from my sin and its consequences,yes I have been saved twice,from physical death and eternal death.I wonder even at that young age when I was saved from drowning if I had drowned where would I have gone? Let me ask you the question if you were to die right now where would you go to?,would it be heaven or would it be Hell?
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God help us to give serious consideration as to where we will spend eternity.in Jesus name Amen.

A present help [Psalm 46 v1 ]

Psalm 119v83 reads,/Though I am  like a wineskin in the smoke,I do not forget your decrees/. Here the writer is describing his state ,how he felt,this has come about because he is under attack,as M . Wilcock writes,/he is still being molested by the arrogant,and still there are no grounds for their attack.He is saying,literally,Lord,I'm finished,he is at the end of his tether. A dried, cracked wineskin,past the end of its useful life/-that is what he
feels like.I found myself singing words I sort of remember,/I'm the weakest of your Children,how I need Thee,...Lord keep a hold,a hold on me/I can identify with the Psalmist ,at times,as I am sure you can.Consider a lady I
know ,her husband has Parkinson disease,her daughter has cancer,and she has now been diagnosed with cancer.It is often in the Psalms the writers bear their hearts,express their pain,are honest. While we are encouraged to
bear one an others burdens,we are also told to cast our burden upon the Lord and He will sustain us[ Psalm 55 v22]The wonderful thing is we can be honest with God,tell Him how we feel,and be assured that He fully understands,and will undertake .I leave the following words with you,/God
is our refuge and strength,an ever present help in trouble[Psalm 46 v1]
                                         A prayer.
Dear God we acknowledge our weakness,our fears,our difficulties, and ask that You would come to our aid in Jesus name Amen /

Helps [ Ephesians 4 v 7 - 16]

I continue to read through the Psalms, I have reached the longest  Psalm. 119,the writer is under attack.I have been using Michael Wilcocks book on the Psalms as a help in understanding the Psalms.I have found help it is
relativity brief but informative,don't fall into the trap that one should only read the bible,with out any aids,such  as godly men's writings. Of course we must rely on the Holy Spirit that goes without saying ,but Godly men have
been gifted by the Holy Spirit whither in their preaching,or writings to build
Gods people up spiritually.[ Ephesians 4 v7 -16 ]. I have been helped so much by the writings of men of God, I do not know a minster who has not used the writings of godly men,the great C.H.Spurgeon had a vast library. If you are not sure what books to purchase ask your ministers advice,or some godly preacher.If you are an aspiring preacher then over time build up a
a library,good commentaries,but also books that give an overall quick  view
,I have found my recent purchase of the series of the Bible speaks today
reasonably helpful,and are not expensive.Be discerning in what you read,ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth,we are told He will. [John 14 v26]
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God help us in our desire to know and understand Your word in Jesus name Amen.

Beware. [2 Samuel 11 v27 ]

I am a child of God,I am forgiven,have eternal  life,because Christ is my Saviour,and I rejoice in my personal relationship with God my Father.My
thoughts turn to a wonderful man of God, who also had a wonderful relationship with God. This man was called David,the Bible tells us that he was a man after Gods own heart.He wrote that wonderful 23rd Psalm, with its wonderful opening words,the Lord is my shepherd.The Lord wonderfully
protected him,provided for him,and promoted him to be king,from being a
nobody to being a somebody.The Lord blessed Him with wealth and power
he truly was blessed of God,now I did say,he was a man,and lust took over
and deceit took over,and murder took over,and spiritual blindness took over.
Did this man think that God would overlook what he had done,did he think that God was an indulgent father?.Did he think at all ,about a God who is
holy, that his relationship with God made him immune from Gods judgement?. He was soon jerked into reality,by a faithful prophet,and  the
word from God,/Thou art the man /,yes the man who committed those heinous sins,and God was not pleased. David paid a price for his sin,
because God is not an indulgent father ,let us learn from this,that even though we may like David,have been blessed,we cannot presume on Gods mercy.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God help every day,and every moment of every day to walk worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus ,help us not to presume on Your mercy. Amen

The water feature. [ Hebrews 12 v1-2]

We have a water feature in our garden,it is a large silver ball sitting on a
container ,which has a pump,which pumps water up the centre of that silver ball.I noticed that there was not much water coming out of the opening at the top of the feature.I turned off the electric which powers the pump, I  then emptied  the water out which was full of sediment,cleared the pipe,put
together,filled the container with fresh water,turned the electric on,and it
functioned perfectly. The scriptures exhort us to be filled with the Holy
Spirit,[Ephesians 5 v18], this is to be a daily experience. The Christian
life can only be lived  by the power of Gods Spirit,we need to be reminded
of this truth.The challenges that face us,of being Holy,of witnessing of serving,of loving,cannot be achieved,other than by the Spirit of God. Like that little water feature in my garden our Christian walk can deteriorate,we
find that we are struggling because of the clutter we have accumulated.That little water feature needs the power of electric to work,but because of the clutter it could not.What is hindering our Christian life ,read the book of
Ephesians,take up the challenge ,confess your sins,and forsake them, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh.
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God forgive us for our carelessness,when let so many things in,and keep You out,help us,fill us with Your Spirit afresh in Jesus name Amen.