The will of God [Romans 12 v1 -2 ]

As we go forward the challenge is the same for us as it was for our Saviour
to do the will of God.[ John 5v30].How do we see the will of God?,it involves what we do know ,it is not a mystery ,we are to be holy.In 1 Peter
1 v16,we read,/But just as he who called you is holy,so be holy in all that
you do,for it is written:Be holy, because I am holy/.Yes in all we do,in all we think,there are to be no dark corners in our lives,our actions,our words and out thoughts.This is our continual aim,for it is the will of God,for every believer,we need not scratch our heads as regards what is the will of God,it
is to be holy. Yet it also involved for our Saviour something He had do, leaving heaven,to die on a cross,in order that we may be saved.He let nothing stand in His way,nor must we,the immensity of what He was called to do was beyond anything we can imagine,but in words by John Stott,He
accepted it,not in feeble resignation,but with a glorious positive prayer.
when He prayed to His Father,/Your will be done/.[ Matthew 26 v42]On an individual level the will of God, can involve suffering,unexpected things, God given tasks that are difficult,being sacrificial,and so on.What is the will
of God, for you and me ,today?,are we going to reject it?,or are we going to embrace it,with a glorious positive prayer ?.
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God and Father help to walk in your will today,help us to embrace
your will,no matter what suit of clothes it comes in,in Jesus name Amen.

Take my hand, [ John 10 v28-29 ]

A little boy was with his father walking home,it was getting dark,and he was feeling a bit anxious.His father could sense how he was feeling,so he said, take my hand,and the moment he did that, he felt calm,and secure.There is an old song which goes,/Take my hand precious Lord lead on ,let me stand,I am tired ,I am weak,I am worn.Through the night ,through the day,lead me on, this I pray,precious Lord, take my hand lead me on./ So often we are like that little boy,anxious ,insecure,like the words of that song
we feel tired,weak and worn. Like that father ,but even more so, our loving heavenly Father knows fully how we feel,and so he speaks to us words of comfort,and says to us,as it where, take my hand,remember the words I spoke of old,that no one can pluck you,my dear child, out of my  hand[John
10 v28-29 ].Your hand is in mine,but it is my hand that is strong,it is my hand that protects,it is my hand that provides.My hand will never let you go,
though all the forces of hell come against you,they will not prevail.I know
how you feel ,your fears,your weakness's,your limitations ,none of these things are hidden from me,they are hidden from others,but not from me,I
see and know all things,none of these things,will cause me to love you less.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear loving heavenly Father,take my hand lead on,let me stand,in Jesus name I ask this Amen.

No time machine [ Matthew 6 v34 / Philippians 3 v13 ]

I have a friend who suffers from Parkinson disease,I usually call and take him out once a week.Coming out oh his home there are four steps,so I have to remind him to take one step at a time,he still tries to walk as he did ,
before he had Parkinson,and so he could easily fall.Well here we all are at the beginning of a new year,the days stretch out before us.and I believe we can be so easily discouraged.We may ask how are we going to make it through, this incoming year, and the answer is very simply,one day at a time or one step at a time.How much pain we cause ourselves by the possible  dire difficulties of tomorrow.None of us are time travellers, we cannot go back to yesterday,or go forward to tomorrow,there is no time machine,we will always be stuck in the present.As the gospel sung puts it,yesterdays gone and tomorrow may never be mine,so for my sake,help me to take, one day at a time.That means we should not live in the past,or in our
imagination live in the future.Let the failures, hurts,and wrongs,of the past be put in their proper place,which is not in the present.this also applies to
the future.Jim Reeves sings a song ,asking the question,/Where do I go from here?,it ends with the following,give me strength that I may find abiding faith and peace of mind,and I wont ask where do I go from here./
                                              A prayer.
Dear God and Father ,grant us by your grace,faith and peace of mind,that will enable us all to live one day at time,and to take one step at a time.We ask this in the name of Jesus Amen.

My forever friend. [ Proverbs 18 v24 ]

Millions of people will sing a famous song ,known as ,/Auld lang syne,/ by Robert Burns,that great Scottish poet.I have the poem before me.It is written in an old Scottish dialect,so it is difficult to understand,it is described as being extremely nostalgic,and a sincere expression of friendship.As its sung people usually join hands in friendship,as they look forward to the new year.They pledge that whatever changes life may bring,that old friends will not be forgotten.Friendship is important for us all ,some have many friends,
some have few,and some may not have any.The word of God tell us about a friend  that sticketh closer than a brother [Proverbs 18 v24]. Charles Landsborough,wrote a lovely song called ,/My forever friend/,here are a some verses from it.
                    He's my forever friend,my leave me never friend,
                    From darkest night,to rainbow's end,
                    He's my forever friend.
                    If you don't know the one I'm talking of,
                    I think it's time you knew,
                    Long ago and far a way upon a cross.
                    My friend died for you.
                    So if you'd like to meet Him,
                    And don't know what to do,
                    Ask my friend into your heart,
                    And He'll be your friend too.

Filled with fear [Psalm 23]

 Writing on Peter ,when he acted in a detrimental way to the gospel,and when the apostle Paul had to challenge him,and remind him of the truths of the gospel,and that what he was doing was wrong[Galations2 11-16]. John  Stott writes,/Paul knew Peter was acting from fear,not conviction,and even
Barnabas,inspite of everything he had seen during their first missionary
journey,was carried away by the flood and led astray/Fear can cause us to forget Gods truth,Gods promises,and cause us to act contrary to our held conviction based upon Gods word.Dear child of God are you filled with fear,are you acting out of fear,stop and remind yourself that God is with you.Retire into some quite place and talk to your Loving heavenly Father,
remind yourself that He is in control,and that He has promised to provide for you,to care for you 24/7.
                            The Lord is my Shepherd,I shall not want,
                             He maketh me to lie down in green patures,
                             He leadeth me beside still waters.
                             He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths
                            of righteousness for His names sake.
                             Yea though I walk through the valley of death I
                             fear no evil:for Thou art with me.
                             Thou prepares a table before me in the presence
                              of my enemies:Thou anointest my head with oil,
                              my cup runneth over.
                               Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the
                              days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the
                               Lord for ever.
                                           [Psalm 23]
                             
                          
                                

There is a purpose in Life.[John 3 v16]

In the movie,'I  robot',one of the robots said the one who had made  him,the
one he called father,had made him for a purpose.As a Christian I believe my
loving heavenly Father has made me for a purpose.Gods ultimate purpose
is that we may all know Him,He made none us that we may end up in Hell.
At Christmas each year in the church I attend, we hold a Christingle service,in which an orange is used in getting over the message of Christ.The orange represents the  world,four little stakes are put into it,they represent the four seasons in the year,these have sweets on them, these represent the fruits of the earth, A candle is attached to the orange which is lit,the candle represents Christ,who is the light of the world,and red tape is also attached,this goes round the orange,this represents Gods love for this world,the whole world, every single individual in this world.For we are told in scripture that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believed in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life[John 3 v16 ] No one needs to be lost,that is not Gods purpose,we all can be saved ,because God sent Jesus to rescue us ,forgive us,free us ,and care for us,because He loves everyone of us.
                                   A prayer.
Dear God we thank you that you are a God of love,and that your ultimate
purpose in sending Jesus was because you love everyone of us,without exception. Help us to see beyond the lie that there is no purpose in life,and help us to accept Christ as our Saviour . Amen .

Gods enough.[ Philippians 4 v19]

One of the gifts the wise men brought ,was gold,now we know that the gifts
had a symbolic meaning,but to this poor couple,who would have to flee to
Egypt,the  gold was a very practical gift.It was Gods provision,it would help them,enabling them to survive, to feed them,and to care for baby Jesus.God is very practical,he understands what we need.I praise God for all his provision,for supplying my needs.He enabled me to learn to drive,without that ,I would not have been able to work as a support worker for 23years.I have mentioned that I lived by faith,when attending Bible college.There were times when we had literally no money and no food in the house,and had children to feed.God provided often with little gifts of money,but they were enough ,Gods little is always enough,remember the five loaves and
two small fish,it was Gods enough,remember the widow woman ,whom
Elijah was sent to,all she had was a little handful of meal,and little cruse
of oil[1 Kings 17],it was Gods enough,to feed Elijah,the woman and her son.So what ever your need may be,ask God ,and you shall receive,and
whatever He provides it will be enough.
                                        A  prayer.
Dear God we thank you that you promise to meet all our needs,and we thank you that what ever you supply will be enough,Amen.