Letting go [ Mark 10 v 17-22 ]

I read somewhere that monkeys are captured by putting a nut into a narrow
neck jar. So when the monkey puts its hand to get the nut,it cannot get its hand out without letting go of the nut. So it is the monkey is taken captive,simple because it will not let that nut go,but it will not let go.Think of a man whose boat has capsized,he is hanging on like grim death,he cannot swim,then he spies a boat coming to his rescue.When the boat arrives ,the person in the boat cries give me your hand,but the man
is so frightened,he refuses,and so the person in the rescue  boat calls to him,I cant save you if you will not let go.So it is ,like the monkey, and the man,unless we are prepared to let go of our idols,of our sins,or whatever,we cannot be saved.We see this in the account of a rich man who wanted eternal life,when he was faced with letting go of his riches,we read,he went away sad, because  he had great wealth, in other words he refused to let go.
                              Oh,what will you do with Jesus?
                              The call comes loud and clear;
                              The solemn words are sounding
                              In every listening ear;
                               Eternal life's in the question,
                               And joy through eternity;
                               Then what will you do with Jesus?
                                Oh,what will your answer be?.
                                     [Words by Nath Norton]

Admit your guilt. [ Luke 18 v13 ]

It  is significant that the first of  the 'twelve steps' of  Alcoholics Anonymous is; 'We admitted we were powerless over alcohol- that our lives
had become unmanageable'.How very few will admit that they are sinners,
and that they need Christ to save them.I have met some,but not a lot ,most people think of the worst sort of people,as sinners.But the fact,that being a
sinner is not an exclusive club,one could name a lot of people who would class as the worst sort of people.When it comes to how God views mankind,
He simple tells us,that all have sinned and come short of His glory[Romans 3 v23 ].I am a key football supporter,I used to play a little bit when I was young, but as I watch the football on the TV,it amuses me that most people
who foul another player,often proclaim their innocence,even though its blatant obvious that they are guilty.So it is, we protest that we are not sinners,like the footballers,oh I am not perfect we may say,in fact no one
is perfect,but we are sinners.So like the alcoholic we need to admit ,that we
are powerless over whatever,be it gambling,sexual perverseness,or alcohol. Nothing can save us,no one can save,until we admit our desperate need.
                                                A  prayer.
Dear God we thank there is a way back to God from the dark paths of
sin ,that there is a door that is open and all may go in,when we come as a sinner to Jesus. Amen.

Worry [ Psalm23]

''Why worry,why worry,worry gets you no where at all'',so goes the words of an old song.Its a good question,as to why we worry,after all many of the things we worry about don't happen.Also when things do happen,we manage to work things out,but of course that is only part of the answer,yet we will still worry.As I read the word of God I read of people like you and me,will God reject us because we worry?,no[Romans 8v33-39].The fact is we are not perfect,He knows this,as to this life we will always be imperfect,
but are aim by Gods grace is to overcome,those imperfections.The word for worry comes from the German tongue and means to strangle,when worry takes control of us it can have that effect upon us,in its extreme form it can cause panic attacks .So what is the remedy,that can stop this happening,it must be faith in God and his word.There are many words from God that
can help us cope with the worry,take the best known Psalm which is the 23rd ,read it ,set your mind on it,I quote v4,''I will fear no evil for thou art
with me''.What ever evil you are faced with,whatever difficulty imagined or
real,consider those words from that  Psalm.
                                            A prayer.
Dear God help us to focus on You, and your word,and rest upon it, in Jesus name Amen.

Worry [ Matthew 6 v19- 34]

People often ask is it a sin to worry?,I don't think so,but it can lead us to loose sight of God.That is what our Saviour is getting over in the sermon on the mount,keep focused on God,let nothing divert us from Him,when we focus on money or whatever,then we entering into that place of insecurity.Our Saviour tells us you cannot serve God and money,the word serve can have the meaning of bondage,consider how many people are in bondage to money,and what they will do to  accumulate it.But we may say,I need money,true,and so Jesus goes on to say,''do not worry about what
you will eat or drink,or about your body[how many people worry about their body in a wrong way]and what you will wear.Is not the life more important than food,and the body more important than clothes.Now He stressing the importance of not making them a focus of worry,worry will not change anything.The answer is not worry but a trust in God who looks after the tiniest of creatures,but not only trust, but put God first,and leave Him to look after you,live one day at a time[Matthew 6 v19-34]
                                        A prayer.
Dear Lord help us to put you first and trust you to look after us Amen.

Worry [ Psalm 31 v 15 ]

I want to leave you with some of the things that Charles Swindle says in his book ,Perfect Trust,as it will hopefully help us in relation to worry.
''When we embrace Gods sovereignty, we find that confidence increases,
insecurities fade,worries decrease and calmness replaces striving''
CS goes on to stress why focusing on Gods sovereignty will help us,''Our
all-wise,all knowing God reigns in realms beyond our comprehension, to bring about a plan that is beyond our ability to hinder,alter,or stop.his plan would include,all promotions and demotions,occupations.It  includes
prosperity and adversity,tragedy and ecstasy,joy and sorrow,gain and loss. It envelops illness as well as good health, healing as well as disease,perilous
times and comfortable times,safety and ease as well as disasters and calamities. It would enclude all handicaps, heartaches,helpless moments,
disappointments as well as significant accomplishments and amazing discoveries.....Being sovereign,He is in charge of life.....we are not in the hands of blind fate,we are in the hands of God.''
                                          A  prayer.
Sovereign God help to rest in the reality of the truth that we are in your hands,and to trust your purposes for our lives in Jesus name Amen.
.

Worry. [Matthew 6 v19 -14]

The people in the Bible no matter who they are,are  people who felt fear,
who worried,about this and that.So it is continually,we have words of
encouragement,this especially applies to worry. In that message our Saviour gave called the sermon on the mountain,He tells us about ,the danger of living with a wordly mindset,laying up treasures on earth,the danger of setting our hearts on our treasures,when all the time our hearts should be fixed on God.Remember what Jesus said to Peter,'' Do you truly love me more than these ?,[John 21 v15]Jesus asks all of us to  face these challenging words.He speaks of laying up treasure in heaven.[Matthew 6 v20] .Now lets be honest having money in our bank account gives us a feeling of security.There is nothing wrong with having money as long as money does not have a hold on us. The laying up of treasure in heaven challenges us to be generous,to gave to those in need,and to trust God instead of our money.There were times in my life when to give was a challenge,because I had so little,but God provided, it still is a challenge ,but Jesus said don't worry,you have a heavenly Father who will provide for you.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear heavenly Father we thank you ,for assuring us that you will provide
help us to be generous,help us be like you the giving God,in Jesus name Amen.

Worry [ Psalm 23 ]

Let me ask you a question ,do you worry?,well join the club,for everyone
worries.The very nature of life,will always bring uncertainties into our lives,
no matter if you are billionaire,even if you are famous,and idolised.No one
escapes those things which can cause us to worry.Our Lord did not worry,not because everything in the garden was rosey,but he had a perfect trust in his heavenly Father.Consider the story of the disciples crossing the
sea in a storm in,[Mark 4v 35ff],everyone was in danger of drowning,but Jesus was fast asleep,everyone else was fearful.Is it possible to reach that
degree of  freedom from a lack of worry,to smile at the storm,to  know
a totality of peace.?.It is a challenge,to aim at,that in a world of  full of
uncertainties, we may enter into the peace of God that transcends all
understanding. The first thing we must focus on is what scripture has to say,for it has so much to say ,that can help us.I want you read something
,but not just to read it,but think about it,pray about it as you read it,it is Psalm 23.Tomorrow we will think more about worry and how we can overcome it.
                                    A  prayer.
Dear loving Heavenly Father, you know that we worry,we bring those things that are causing us fretful,and fearful thoughts,and ask that like our Saviour Jesus we may your peace.Amen