They have been set free. [ Psalm 34v6 ]

I have just read on the internet that two clergymen in South Sudan have been released from prison.There was the possibility that they could have sentenced to death,so the situation was very serious.What changed the situation?, the prayers of Gods people,many through out the world have been praying,to our God who answers prayer. This is a needy reminder of the power of prayer,the situation looked so grave for these two men,but now they are free.This is an encouragement for all of us to pray to the God who delights to hear His children ,speak to Him.What difficulties are you facing,
pray,doors apparently closed fast,no way forward,pray to the God who says,
Behold I have set before thee an open door,and no man can shut it.[Revelation 3 v8].Facing obstacles?,Jesus said if we have faith we can move mountains [Matthew 17v20],so pray to God to remove that obstacle. But you say I am an ordinary person ,good that's  the attitude,humility is vital,so do not let  that  stop you from praying ,God will  hear prayer.Elijah the super star prophets,no Elijah the ordinary bloke, prayed ,and there was no rain for three years and six months,he prayed again and it started to rain[James 5 v17].The challenge in life for you is to,pray ,pray ,pray,mixed with faith ,to our God who hears and answers prayer.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear God we thank You for answering the prayers of your people for your
two servants in Sudan,Lord we rejoice that You hear and answer prayer,
so help us to pray believing in Jesus name Amen .

How?. [ Hebrews 11v3]

The Scripture is not concerned with the mechanics of miracle.The supernatural of the Bible are not concerned with , 'How'?, but with 'Who?.and ,'Why?'.[ M  Wilcock] People are always trying to explain miracles,that it was the Reed sea instead  of the Red sea,the Israelites crossed. The fact is miracles are miraculous event that just cannot be understood,or explained.Evolution is mankind seeking to gave an explanation as to how,things came about,in spite of the utterly bizarre rational involved. The Bible tells us ,'Who',in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, but still people cry out how.Why did He create us, because He choose to,for his own good pleasure
.Consider how many people ask the question 'Why'?,in relation to why we are here?, and the evolutionist reply it just happened,unable to see how utterly impossible that was.Yet man keeps on looking for answers,there can never be any logical answer to our existence, we just cannot explain the
,'How'?. A miracle is the only explanation that satisfies ,even though we cannot explain the 'How'?.When the early astronauts went into space they read from the Bible,In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
[Genesis 1 v1]
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God help us to stop asking 'How'?,and believe the ,'Who'?,that being You, in Jesus name Amen.

Enough is enough. [ Gegesis 6 v 3]

I thought of a joke,here goes,what did Noah's wife say to her husband when they were in the ark,'oh,I forgot to water the garden'.When it comes to the story of the ark it is seen as a child's story,yet it is far from that,it is a story that involved judgement upon a world in complete disobedience with God.We do not know how many perished,but we do know how many were saved.As with Sodom and Gomorrah sin was the reason,when speaking to Abraham [Genesis 15]telling him about his descendants,and how they would be slaves in Egypt,and then they would return to the land of Canaan,He speaks of the present inhabitants the Amorites.This is what He said,/The sin of the Amorites has not reached its full measure v16/.In other words these inhabitants sinful behaviour would reach such a dreadful point,that as Leupold writes that these wicked nations would forfeit their right to live. As Kidner writes,this throws significant light on Joshua's invasion,that it was an act of justice,not aggression.It appears to me there is a point when God says enough is enough and then acts.[ It is sad that so many Christians fail to see this maybe those who lead them are to blame.] God is very patient with the people of this world,but there will come a time when things will reach such a state and God will say,enough is enough,as with nations the world,so with individuals,dear friend heed the warning.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear God  in wrath remember mercy to this sinful world,to wicked nations,
and rebellious individuals in Jesus name Amen.

Bad news,Good news. [John 3 v16]

There was a story on the Internet of a lady and what she did to her child,it was very disturbing.I read some of the remarks as regards this story,they were filled with a note of despair as to humanity, people felt depressed. Now I do want to cause any of us to be depressed,there are many things I
could write that would be very depressing.Many of us are glad when we read or hear of a good news story,like a crowd of people in London,who managed to lift a taxi up enough,to release a woman trapped under it.Yes there are  good news stories,but the best good news story of all is Jesus,
who died and rose again.Why?,because God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes on Him would not perish but have everlasting life.[John 3 v16].God so loved the world,that means everyone,that means whoever ,that means you.Would not perish,
that means you can be saved from Hell,and have everlasting life,that means Heaven,now that truly is good news.
                                          A prayer.
Dear God we thank You for the good news of the gospel,of a love that is vast ,yet personal,a love that was sacrificial, the cross,and that by believing in Jesus we can be saved. Amen.

The power of the Gospel. Romans 1 v16]

I was listening recently on a CD ,to a Bible teacher and a colleague talking
about the deterioration within society,in USA,Europe,including England where I live.While I agree with what was being said,it left one feeling a bit down,a no hope situation.Do you feel that way?as you look at this world,
especially in the West,secularism ,materialism,atheism,appear the dominate
forces.But let us just draw back from this ,and let us look up,to a sovereign
God,is He  not able to break into lives,is He not able to turn nations,as well as individuals,to Himself?.The early church faced a far more daunting task
than the church faces today,but Jesus said He would build His church,and he is continuing to do so.In the 18th century unbelief was becoming
fashionable and many of the clergy preached little more than a barren moralism ,so writes Tony Lane.In the midst of that,God raised up John and Charles Wesley,and George Whitefield,and they preached the gospel,and
multitude got saved. The word of God tells us that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes[Roman 1 v16]. Jesus will
build His church,so let us be faithful to that old but ever new gospel,and let
us not despair.
                                                A  prayer.
Dear God we lift our hearts and voices to You,and ask that you in mercy
will turn sinners to Jesus your Son, Amen.

We are so forgetful. [ Luke 12 v15ff ]

Tony Lane in the Lion book of Christian thought on the subject of science
writes,/Modern science has given birth to technology,which has transformed our lives.It has helped to undermine man's sense of dependence upon God.
As Bertrand Russell aptly put it, a fisherman in a sailing boat is more likely
to pray than one in a motor boat.The benefits of technology also make it easier to live for this world alone and to forget about the next/.This is not new ,the nation of Israel where warned often about forgetting God,[Deuteronomy 4 v9/ 6 v12/  8 v10ff /.There were different reasons why Israel would forget God prosperity,wanting to be like others,and being like others.When it comes to humanity ,forgetfulness is a common trait,the Lord told a story of a rich farmer ,who in essence had forgotten about God,he was totally absorbed in the good life,God was not in his thoughts,he had it made,Then at the pinnacle of his success the unexpected happened,he died,and the epitaph written over his grave by God, it read,/ You fool,this very night your soul will be demanded from you[ Luke 12 v15ff] In telling this story Jesus was warning against greed,reminding us that our lives do not consist in the abundance of our possessions. [12 v15].Let us never forget that there is an after life,and one day we will stand before God and   He will say,well.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear God we praise You for all the blessings of life,forgive us if in our pursuit of whatever, we have forgotten about You.Forgive us for not seeing
that greatest blessing is the one we most need ,Jesus your Son. Amen.
                             

Suicide.[ LUKE 15 V 11- 32 ]

A healthy 75 year old lady went to a clinic in Switzerland and ended her life, she said that she was over the hill,and could not face the deterioration
that would take place that old age would bring. This lady had worked with
the elderly and was not happy with what she observed,she did not want to end up in a nursing home,unable to care for herself.One could say,well it was her choice,I wonder what her family will think,.We usually associate suicide with people whose mind is unbalanced,but this lady made a rational decision .Maybe the term rational is a key to this,I do not know if this lady was religious,so much of life now,is filled with people who see only this life.Their reasoning is purely human, as a  Christian, I know life is full of things I would rather not face.The challenge for the Christian is to trust God, whatever comes into their lives,be that old age,or some disability,or prolonged illness. There are many people who are facing so many difficult things,I read of people experiencing,imprisonment,torture yet they endure this because God is with them,and they trust Him in spite of all they are going through.I am not going to judge those who have ended it all.What I
would say if you feel like ending your life,I point you to the one who will help you to live,whatever you are facing,His name is Jesus,turn to Him,right now.
                                   A  prayer.
Dear God comfort the families and friends of those who have committed suicide,help them through this awful  time. Thank you that you are the God
of hope, and in your son Jesus ,we can face life until you take us home,
Amen.