A blind hymn writer.[ John 9 v 25]

Just heard on the radio the announcer telling us about Fanny J. Crosby,who lived till she was over 90.When she was a child she had a problem with her
eyes,the doctor who came to treat her,prescribed a treatment that caused her to become blind. In spite of this lady grew to be a wonderful woman of God,she never became bitter,believing God had a loving purpose even in her blindness.She is remembered for her hymn writing,she wrote over nine
thousand hymns,many are still sung today.God used her godly grandmother
to be a great influence in her life,I thank God for those whom God brought into my life who helped  me,in so many ways.It is interesting that she did not start writing hymns till she was 40,although she had been writing poetry
for many years,before  that.She is remembered for her hymn writing,God will use those gifts he has given us,what ever they be. Her hymn writing
blessed many ,many people,her life also blessed many people,one of them being,Francis,R.Havergal.She also was a hymn writer and wrote that lovely
hymn,/Take my life and let it be,consecrated,Lord, to Thee./.Remember our
lives consecrated to God can be used to influence others,to come to Christ.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God we thank for such people like Fanny Crosby,may you continue
to bless the hymns she wrote,and dear Father help us all to see the importance of knowing Jesus,and living for Him Amen.

Such love.[Isaiah 49 v15-16]

My wife and I where in Southend on sea enjoying the find sunny weather,
and as we walk along the seafront ,my wife made mention as to a little child she noticed,it took her fancy.I found myself saying,the child in a mothers arms,that is hers, is the child that is most precious of all.We may love all
children,but we have a special love for our own children, God loves the world but He especially loves those in the world who are his children,they are special to Him.Child of God ,you are loved greatly by your loving heavenly Father.There was a point when Israel felt that God had forsaken them,so God declares,/ Can a women forget her suckling child,that she
should not have compassion on the son of her womb,yea she may forget,yet
will I not forget thee.Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands,thy walls are continually before me.[Isaiah 49 v15-16] And let us not forget they are nail scarred hands,for in the great redemptive purposes of God,God the Son showed a love that Alec Motyer says,/transcends in permanence the best earth can offer/.So let us doubt no more the love God has for us His children,that means you, and thankfully me as well.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God forgive us for ever doubting your  love,and thank You ,that you do love us your children,with a unconditional,and eternal love,through your Son Jesus Amen.

Doublespeak [ James 3 v 2 - 10]

Stalin was very cynical about diplomacy,when they shout loudly about peace,the opposite would be expected,so that's when he used the word
doublespeak.In the old cowboys and Indian movies,the Indians would say the white man of spoke with a double tongue.In other words one could not trust what the diplomat or the white man said. The British Prime minister was told lies by Hitler,of course Hitler was a compulsive liar.It is an interesting word doublespeak,sometimes it is planned,often it is unplanned,
Peters was unplanned,when he said one thing,and did  the except opposite
[ Matthew 26 v33/  57ff]King Saul was another person who could not be trusted in what he said ,and David knew it[ 1 Samuel 19v6].In the movie
Brave heart,William Wallace was betrayed by the nobles who had promised to support him,but the thing that hurt him the most was when  the king,having assured him of his support, likewise went back on what he said. It hurts us when we are told one thing and the person goes back on his word,but let us be honest have we lived up to what we said to the Lord ,how that must hurt Him,when we do the opposite.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus help us to keep our word,and never doublespeak, Amen .

We can be changed. [ 2 Corinthians 5 v 17]

I recently visited ,Duxford war museum,it still is in use as a place where planes fly,it was one of the air fields used in the second world war. As one
went round the museum,which covers a great deal of land,one was reminded of the destructiveness of war,of a missile that could carry a neutral bomb ,and the development of fighter aircrafts.Mankind has a wonderful  ability to inventive means of destroying each other,from the primitive to the sophisticated.Europe for the last 70years has known peace,but the 20th century was one of continual conflict.Will things change?one would hope so ,but it will not happen,one just has to consider Islam,and the other waring factions. Scripture tell us that mankind's has a violent nature ,why do people take pleasure in violent sports,and violence.Consider the following ,/mouths full of cursing,feet swift to shed blood,destruction and misery,the way of peace they do not know[Romans 3 v 14-17] These words do not exaggerate ,and of course they are very depressing,but there is hope the only hope,for Christ is saving and changing people like you and I,if  we are violent I believe God can change us,for anyone who truly comes to know Christ,can become a new person,they can be transformed.[2 Corinthians. 5 v17],it is truly amazing how God can change those who come to Him,it is a miracle of grace.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear  God save us by your grace in Jesus name Amen.

Most of all. [ Lamentations 3 v 22- 24 ]

It is morning and I am eating my breakfast,porridge,followed usually by a mug of tea,and my favourite cheese scone. Then today I hope to go a visit Duxford aircraft museum,the sun is shining,I am very conscious how God has blessed me,I am blessed with so much ,I can see ,hear,speak,have a sound mind, and so I could go on.But the greatest blessing I have is Jesus,
He  is my Saviour,Lord,and friend,and in Him I am accepted,by God my Father. I may loose all those blessings but I will never loose Jesus. we are
 are inseparable.nothing can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus.[Romans 8 v 38-39],I will leave these words with you.
                    For I convinced that neither death nor life,
                    neither  angels nor demons,
                     neither the present nor the future,nor any powers,
                     neither height nor depth,
                     nor anything else in creation,
                     will be able to separate us
                     from the love of God
                      that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
                                  A  prayer.
Dear God for every blessing we thank You,and especially for Jesus your Son. Amen .
 

Truth. [John 14 v 6 ]

It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword,Stalin  read continual and was greatly influence,by the teaching of Marx,and others.It was Stalin who brought into being the newspaper Pravda ,the word Pravda means truth. Yet the fact of the matter was,when the communist came to power they used Pravda ,not to proclaim truth ,but the states falsehoods,it simply became a propaganda channel,for the state. We talk of a free press
yet the press is often,controlled by certain powerful rich people,who have their own agender.The fact is one would be a fool to believe everything one reads in the press.It was Pilate who asked the question,'what is truth',[John18v38] everybody has a belief,based upon something,unfortunately 
that something can be far removed from the truth.It was Jesus who said that
He was the way, the truth, and the life,[John 14 v6] , He is shown as the truth by His fulfilling of the scriptures,[OT],He also showed by his works,and his death and resurrection.The Bible tells us that we are sinners
and that there is only one way that sinners can be forgiven,set free,and granted eternal life,the answer is very simple through Jesus,who alone
is the way ,the truth ,and the life.
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God open the eyes ,and hearts of people,to accept Jesus your Son Amen.

Contentment. [ Philippians 4 v 11-19]

I saw a friend,I had not seen for a while,and I asked after her husband, and his job, which is demanding,and she replied,he has a job. It was a matter of fact answer,and yet it was a very clear,and positive ,no complaining.
It made me think of my job history,some, or most of the jobs I worked at,
where far from perfect,a labouring job,a factory job,a cleaner,and others I could mention. The wages were usually not great,and the work not very interesting,and I found some of them hard to cope with,but I had job.These jobs kept me occupied,give me a social contact,and we had enough to live on,like my friend said,about her husband ,'he had a job'.Things may not always be what we would want them to be,but may be we need to see,
beyond life's shortcomings,to Gods mercies,and therewith be content.
                                         A prayer,
Dear God we ask that you would help to cope with whatever situation you have placed us in,to see the mercies,and to be content,we ask this in Jesus name Amen.