We know in part [ 1 Corinthians 13 v 12 ]

Alfred Delp a Christian ,was arrested by the Nazies and executed,as he was being led to be put to his death,he nudged the person who was walking with him ,and said,' in half an hour I will know more than you do'.As to this life we know a lot and yet often it appears we  know so little.We struggle with terrible things that are happening,we struggle as to God and His ways.
We stare into the grave of a loved one and are mystified,we think ,why,was that dear man murdered by the Nazies?,why was millions of Jews exterminated?,and why this and why that,the scripture reminds us then shall we know.yes half an hour after we die we shall know more that any earth born being.I fear the problem is,God is to big for us to take in,He knows all about us how we think [Psalm 94 v11],and why we act as we do. But when
it comes to God we may know Him but it is a very partial knowledge,and so it will continue.But half an hour after we die,then shall we know,more than any person still on planet earth.So until that day comes let us content ourselves and trust in Him who is all knowing,and is all kind and all loving.
                                         A prayer.
Dear God grant us grace,to trust  ,in You and in your ways in Jesus name Amen.

The greatest miracle[John 3 v16/ 36 ]

People struggle in accepting the story of Jonah,who was swallowed by a great fish,but that is not the most astounding part of story.It is in chapter 3 v5 we read ,/ So the people of Nineveh believed God/, yes to me those words have greater touch of the miraculous that Jonah's experience in being
rescued by the fish from drowning.The people of Nineveh where facing
possible annihilation, by God,so believing and repenting of their sin saved them.During His earthly ministry,Jesus performed many wonderful miracles
but the greatest of miracles that He ever performed was when He died to save,men and women from the judgement of God .Some professing Christians,are uncomfortable with the doctrine of the wrath of God,and find it hard to accept OT accounts of God judging cities like Jericho,Sodom and
Gomorrah. They find it difficult to understand God who is love doing such things,but the fact is He did.The death of Chist was a death that appeased an angry God,that is what the the word propitiation means[Romans 3v25.
1 John 2v2/4 v10/In other words the wrath that abides upon all humanity,
[John 3 v36 ],was poured out on Christ.That means the moment we trust Jesus as our Saviour,we are no longer facing the wrath of God.The salvation which God offers to all ,is the greatest miracle ever to performed by God.
When we trust Christ we are experiencing a miracle,that moves us from a place of wrath,to a place of forgiveness and safety.
                                              A  prayer.
Dear God we thank You for sending your Son to save us,from wrath to come. Amen.

A tyrant. [John 3 v16]

Nero the Roman emperor was educated by Seneca a Spanish born philosopher,and when Nero became emperor he explained to him the difference between a king that was good and a tyrant,the tyrant sows fear everywhere,while the good king is one ,/Whose care embraces all,who. while guarding here with greater vigilance,there with less,yet fosters each
and every part of the state as a portion of himself,who is inclined to the milder course even if it would profit him to punish/.  If  only Nero had followed those words ,he would be more fondly remembered.As we look back on history one can see many tyrants,or  view present leaders.
Some people  view God as a tyrant,some Christians view God in the OT ,
as cruel and vindictive,but He is not.He punishes sin wherever He finds it,and will in a coming day judge all,by Jesus,[Romans 2 v16] that does not make Him a tyrant,no it makes Him just,for sin must be punished.Consider the world is in rebellion against God,He continually pleads with humanity,
continually reminds them just how much He cares for all ,reminding us all each Christmas,of the birth of a child called Christ,born in a  manger,who
would die that we may go to heaven saved by His precious blood.
                                              A  prayer.
  Dear God have mercy upon those who live under the rule of tyrants,
and grant that multitudes of people,will come under the rule of Jesus, Amen

Prayer is. [ Romans 8 v 26-27 ]

I read these words,/Their unspoken prayer/, the spoken word is vital in communicating to each other,but when it comes to God,he understands how we feel.I remember seeing a lady sitting in the park,and I could see that she was upset.In Luke 7v36,we read of a lady who came to Jesus ,she never spoke a  word,yet Jesus knew what her need was,and He met her need. There are times when the pain we feel,cannot be expressed in words,often the bereaved our so often overwhelmed,by grief,that words fail them.But  God their loving heavenly Father can take the meaning,Then there are times when we can only utter a short utterance,as Peter did when he was in danger of drowning,[Matthew 14v30]. A lady had just lost her mother,and when the
minister asked her how she was feeling,she said she was afraid,he asked why?,she replied she was angry with God.He told her to pray,she said she could not tell God she was angry with Him,he said,God already knows that you are angry,so tell Him, well she did and that started a process of healing and salvation.
                       Prayer is the soul's sincere desire
                       Uttered or unexpressed,
                       The motion of a hidden fire,
                        That trembles on the breast.

                       Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
                        The falling of a tear,
                       The upward glancing of an eye,
                         When none but God is near

                       Prayer is the simplest form of speech
                       That infant lips can try;
                        Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach,
                         The majesty on high.
                          [Words by James Montgomery ]
                      
                        

Taste [Psalm 34 v8 ]

Recently I had an infection in my gum,the result was the dentist prescribed
me antibiotics,and they have done the job.You are meant to swallow them,
and not to chew them which I did,but on one occasion I  got the taste of one of the tablets,and it tasted awful,now I understand why you don't chew them
.Taste is one of the wonders  that God granted us,it enables us to have pleasure, in the things we eat.Not everything we like the taste of,will do us good,our government is considering putting a tax on fizzy drinks, because of their sugar content,to much sugar can cause our teeth to rot,this affects
many children.It is said that queen Elizabeth's[ the first] teeth were rotten
because of her sugar intake.We speak of people getting or having a taste for something,often that something may not be good for them. In the Psalm34 v8, we read,/O taste and see that the Lord is good;blessed is the man that
trusteth in Him/.What we are being instructed to do is personally know and trust the Lord,there are countless millions who have looked upon Christmas
cards,depicting Jesus ,who have never trusted Him.A cream cake is only
truly appreciated when we taste it,so it is if we are to appreciate our Lord Jesus we trust Him,and in so doing,we will discover that He is good.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus,we thank you that we have tasted and found that you are good,as to your forgivness,mercy,peace,and love,and our prayer would be
that all would people everywhere would find you Amen.

Gifts [ 2 Corinthians 9 v 15/ Romans 6 v23 ]

My wife and I have thankfully finished wrapping up all the Christmas  gifts  ,this was made a bit easier,as we were giving some gift vouchers,and we had bought gift bags,but we still had our share of wrapping up to do.But as I said,thankfully it is all done , I hope the presents that we will give,will be a blessing.Of course Christmas is not the only time we gave and receive gifts,maybe your birthday falls on Christmas day,and you receive double the gifts.Of course we receive gifts other than at Christmas ,I wonder what
you consider to be that gift that give you most pleasure?.For me it was the gift of a car,my first car,the person who gave me it was a widow called Lila,I had not long learnt to drive,but could not afford a car.that car was a great blessing ,to me and my young family,I have owned many cars since, but the gift of that first car will always be remembered as the gift that give me most pleasure.As to Christmas,most of the gifts have been sorted out,but
now for the Christmas cards.As a Christian I try to buy cards relating to the true meaning of Christmas,a lot of shops,even though they profit from the season,sell cards with,reindeer's ,Santa,snow,etc,but not with anything  to do with Christmas.So I was pleased to see on sale ,a card with the following words on it,/Jesus is our Greatest Gift. Thanks be to God/.
                                       A  prayer
Dear God for your many gifts that you give us ,thank you,especially for Jesus your Son Amen.

He does not idly stand by.[Philippians 4 v5 ]

Sometimes anxiety overtakes us,I woke the other morning with the thought on my mind ,what if  ?,do you have a what if thoughts?. Oh yes there is a reality to the , what if thoughts ?, or a perceived reality,so what can we do.
Well there is only one port of call when anxiety strikes,God and His word,
consider the following. The Lord is near /Philippians 4v5/ ,consider what that means,the comfort it should give every child of God,it means He is with us in the storms,and He is with us when there is no storm.I remember a
friend telling how someone was attacking him,and people did not come to his aid,the Lord is not like that ,He continually encourages us that He will help us. CP .Isaiah 41 v10,/So do not fear , for I am with you,do not be
dismayed,for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right arm./ Hebrews 13 v 5-6,/Never will I leave you,never will I forsake you./
                                             A prayer.
Dear God and Father help us to be encouraged that You are with us,and will surely come to our aid, in Jesus name Amen.