Old age. [ Psalm 92 v 12-15]

Old age brings its problems, many my age  end up with prostate problems, diabetes,I just heard that a friend of mine had two hip replacement operations.Yes there are problems but that does not mean we are of no use,as long God grants us life,we can still serve Him,as He enables us.I may not be in employment but in the words of the little chorus ,there is a work for Jesus that I can still do .I can still pray,in a world were many are sadly  to busy to pray,I have time to pray. There are so many things to pray about.
,family,friends,neighbours ,missionaries,governments,and so many other things.As a Christian of many years I know how vital prayer is,our prayers can change situations,can change government's,can touch the ends of the earth.Let none of us doubt the importance of prayer,I can hear you say but what about the prayer that did not appear to be answered?.No one has all the answers  as to the whys of life,but in the end we leave it with God whose will is perfect. The work of prayer is like any other work,in spite of the difficulties we are called to be faithful,don't give up,press on,pray on,it is a most valuable service.A service that the world needs.your family needs,those you come in contact need,the need of the hour is prayer.
                                          A prayer.
Dear God as we grow old,let us not give in to despair,you still love us,help us ,and use us, in some way,help us to serve you in prayer,in Jesus name,
Amen.
         

Happiness. [ Psalm 32]

A popular entertainer,used to sing about happiness,the greatest gift that he possessed,what causes you to be happy?.What is the secret of happiness,
winning the lottery?,Helen Green a banker said,/You meet as many people
made unhappy by wealth as happy by it/.When I worked in the mental team,
I found a lot of unhappy people,one lady was always looking for something that would make her happy,a sort of do this,do that thing,she never appeared
very happy.Happiness is a feeling,and the fact is none of us are happy all the time.I think that to some extent we will all experience a degree of feeling happy.We all know about Snow White and the seven dwarfs,only one was called happy,there was one called grumpy,which one are we to today.Now as a Christian I have much to be thankful for ,the greatest gift I have is Christ who is my Saviour,and friend.To know Christ is to be blessed,even when one is sorrowful,even when trials come into ones life.As I face every day,my feelings may alter,because of whatever,but one thing will never alter,knowing Jesus, and the multitude of blessings,that brings into my life.
                              When peace like a river,attendeth my way,
                              when sorrows like sea billows roll;
                               whatever my lot You have taught me to say,
                               It is well,it is well with my soul.

                               Though Satan should buffet,if trials should come,
                               let this blessed assurance control,
                               that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
                               and has shed His own blood for my soul.

                               My sin-O the bliss of this glorious thought-
                               my sin-not in part-but the whole
                               is nail to His cross,and I bear it no more;
                                praise the Lord,praise the Lord,O my soul.

                                For me,be it Christ,be it Christ hence to live,
                                if Jordon above me shall roll.
                                No pang shall be mine,for in death as in life
                                You will whisper Your peace to my soul.
                                      [Words by Horatio G Spafford]
                    [I will return to my blog on Monday,every blessing]

A handful of weeds.. [Revelation 22 v12 ]

In Matthew  5  v12, our Saviour says to those who are suffering persecution
,/ for great is your reward in heaven/.CP also Luke 6 v35/,also 1 Corinthians 3v 11-15.Now let me make it clear that salvation cannot be earned,1 Corinthians 3 v15,makes that clear.rather it appears to be given for the service we have performed for our Saviour. My study Bible reads,/Good work will be rewarded,unfaithful work will be discounted/.The word of  God tells us that our works will be tested in the fire,the good will survive the fire,that which is not good will be burnt up.[1Corinthians 3 v13-15]. The other day I was working in our garden with my wife,she was digging up the
weeds which she handed to me ,which I disposed of.As she handed me those weeds I could not help but think of that day when I will stand before my Saviour,and all I give Him was  a handful of weeds,I would be absolutely ashamed.There is an old Gospel hymn which reads,/By and by when I look on His face I wish I had given Him more/.We who are debtors should at least seek to show our appreciation to our Saviour,for saving us .
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God we thank you for saving us,we owe you so very much,help us to show our appreciation,by lives that are fruitful in serving you,in Jesus name we ask this. Amen.

A sure and certain foundation.[ Acts 4 v 11-12 ]

In 1 Corinthian 3v11-15,we are told a number of truths,that faith is built on Christ,as the old hymn puts it,/On Christ the solid rock I stand,all other ground is sinking sand/.So the apostle declares,/For other foundation can no
man lay than that is laid,which is Jesus Christ/.If any building is going to stand it must have a foundation,without it will fall down,so we are reminded the importance of having Christ ,the life without Christ,will eventually manifest weaknesses,and those without that foundation,will one day,find
the house  that they have built collapsing.I was speaking to my sister recently,and I mentioned that I prayed for her to be saved.She  replied,to be saved,what did I mean?,yes what did I mean,I meant this if our lives are not
built upon Christ,then we will be lost.It is a sad thing to say,but a necessary thing to say,to warn her that there is a storm coming,the judgement of God.
I hear people speak a lot of nonsense as regards what happens when we die,that somehow we will pick up where we have left off.Not so ,we will no longer be husband and wife,parent and child,no, those earthly ties will have ceased.The most important thing about the after life is that we are in that vital relationship of knowing Christ as our own and personnel Saviour.
                                        A prayer.
Dear God in an uncertain world we that for Jesus on which we can build our lives on .Amen.

Showing our faith. [Luke 10 v29-37]

Dick Lucas has written the following,/Non -Christians will not take our beliefs seriously unless our behaviour matches them./Recently a colleague
and I have been witnessing to a non-Christian,my colleague has been shown kindness to him,the last time we met him we did not enter into any discussion ,but prayed that our actions may speak to him.Is it true that actions speak louder than words?yes there a time to speak,but there is a time be silent. The fact is ,we  need to be guided by the Holy Spirit,as to speak or not to speak.James stresses the importance of works,our Saviour said,/ Let your light so shine before men,that they may see your good works,and glorify your Father which is in heaven[ Matthew 5 v16],He also said,/ believe me for the very works sake.[John 14 v11]/.Again Dick Lucas again writes of the Christians life,is a shop window for the Gospel,especially those who are leaders within the Christian Church.So let us remember that being a Christian is more than going to meet with other Christians,more than reading ones Bible,more than even prayer,remember the story our Saviour told about the good Samaritan,and the words our Saviour said when he had finished telling that story,/ Go,and do thou likewise./
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God help us to be rich in doing good works, in our Saviours name we ask this Amen./

Hope. [1 Corinthians 15 v19 ]

There is a lot of negativity in life ,there are people who are living in the most difficult situations.I have a photo of a slum area in Nairobi,in Kenya
it is awful,people there have so little, many are infected with, HIV/
AIDS, this includes children,the situation is dire.Yet in the midst of that
hopeless situation there are Christians working ,a centre has been set up ,called,Shelter of hope.They have children feeding programme,plus health care,education,emergency relief, plus many other things.I am interested and involved in a ministry called CAP,which reads,Christians against poverty,it seeks to help people who are trouble with debt, the message they bring to people is they can get out of debt,and many people are doing just that,it is a ministry of hope. Being a Christian brings with it the challenge of helping people,missions such as ,Stand by me,help thousand of dear children, there are many more I could mention,as Christians we are called to a life of doing good.[I would just mention that Christians are not saved by there good works,but by simple faith in Christ] Yet the challenge for all Christians is to bring hope to so many who have no hope,in ways I have mentioned.Plus the message of the gospel,this gospel is a wonderful message of hope,for it promises ,forgiveness,freedom,and a multitude of blessings.
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God bless those working among the needy,bringing hope,to the hopeless,in Jesus name Amen.

Perfect yet inperfect. [Matthew 5 v 48 ]

We often hear said,that no ones perfect,isn't that a fact,so what does it mean when we read in Psalm37 v37,/Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright;for the end of that man is peace.[AV]/Other translations put it a different way,the fact is only God is perfect,Spurgeon wrote about absolute
perfection,and comparative perfection.The comparative perfection is a limited perfection,a godly person should show a  degree of perfection . Now of course the Christian is accepted by God because of Jesus,we are perfectly accepted on the bases of an others perfection. Perfect in Christ but imperfect as to ourselves, that degree of perfectness, God will acknowledge,and even others will acknowledge it.Our Saviour said ,be perfect,as our Father in heaven is,[Matthew 5 v48],in this scripture our Saviour had been stressing how Gods goodness falls upon all people. So we are challenged  to be like our heavenly Father ,the challenge for us is ongoing,because of our tendency to be inconsistent,each new day brings with it, this challenge. Some of us succeed more than others,but never fully,
                                            A prayer.
Dear God thank you that we are perfect in Christ,and yet we acknowledge
that in ourselves we are imperfect,help us to face up daily to the challenge of being wholly perfect,in Jesus name Amen.