Poverty. [ Ephesians 2 v 8-10]

In 1Timothy 6 v7,we read, ''We brought nothing into the world,and it is
certain that we cannot take anything out of the world''.These words are often read at a burial  service,they remind us that all worldly wealth is left behind
when we die.These words bring a challenge to all of us,reminds us that we should not place to much store on material things,that true happiness does
not come with money.Yet that does not mean that there is virtue in poverty,
I receive information from many places in this world were so many dear people are suffering from the results of poverty.There is a mission I know,
and it is called,'The Medical Missionary News',it has kept that title,because
it tells you two things they are involved in supporting the physical and
spiritual needs of mankind.As someone has said,we neglect either to our cost,good works,and the good news of the gospel must always go hand in hand.The challenge for all of us who are Christians is to be generous in supporting ,those whom God lays on our hearts,we cannot give to every cause,but we can help some,and we should.
                                 A  prayer.
Dear God help us, to help those who are in need,and help to never loose
sight of mankinds need to hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ,Amen.

One message.[ 1 Timothy 1 v15 ]

One man I admire is Billy Graham,one God has used mightily,I know there are those who have criticised him.Be that as it may he has remained faithful in his preaching of the gospel,and many people have been saved under his ministry.In 1954 he held a crusade in Harringay Arena in London.He tells how a Methodist preacher spoke to him,and said,''I have come here every night for ninety three nights,and I have heard one message.'' One message ,yes he preached the same message that the disciples of old preached,it will always be one message.What is that message?,Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,no matter how sophisticated we become,no matter how affluent we become,no matter what,it will always be that one simple message,Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
                              
                                  I love to tell the story
                                  Of unseen things above,
                                  Of Jesus and His glory,
                                  Of Jesus and His love;
                                  I love to tell the story,
                                  Because I know its true,
                                  It satisfies my longing,
                                  As nothing else will do.
                                          [Kate Hankey]
                  

What about the soul. [ Matthew 10 v28 ]

One day a lady came to William Wilberforce,[in case you do not know,he was a member of Parliament,who sought to have  a law passed ,banning the slave trade,in this he succeeded].well this lady asked,Mr Wilberforce,what about the soul?.He turned to the woman and said,Madam,I had almost forgotten that I had a soul'.Yes we do have a soul and we neglect it to our cost.If you are not saved then you must  consider the consequences,of neglecting your soul,living for only  this life,with no thought for the eternal consequences,and dying a lost soul.If you are a believer then remember that your relationship with Christ is of vital importance,let us all see to it,that whither we are saved or unsaved we should not forget our souls well being.
                                      A  prayer.
Dear God have mercy upon us,bear in upon us the importance of our souls,
and the consequences of neglecting our never dying souls,in Jesus name Amen.

He's my friend. [ John 15 v 15 ]

I have been involved with a Christian brother,who has Parkinson,recently my wife has also become involved,she is a very qualified care worker.The brother had to go into hospital,and it appears he has blood leaking into his
brain.My wife was asked to go and feed him,and this she did,and stayed with him until his wife came.During my wife's visit I spoke to her on the phone,and then she handed the phone to him,so I could speak to him.When my  wife came home she mentioned that the dear brother,said,'that's my friend'.I  must confess,  that touched me,that he considered me his friend .
Friendship is a very precious thing,and I will always treasure what that dear brother said,that I was his friend.I have a number of friends,,and of course I value their friendship,but the most wonderful friend I have is Jesus.Imagine
the King of Kings is my friend ,imagine the one who created all things is my friend,but let us not stop there ,He can be your friend also,just as he is mine,In Proverbs we read of a wonderful quality in friendship,''A friend loves at all times[17 v17],that's Jesus,then we read,'there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother,[18 v24],yes that's Jesus,He can be your friend.
In  John 15 ,we read,''Greater love hath no man than this,that a man lay down his life for his friends.[v13]Jesus showed that love and more,when He died on Calvary, but in that death on that cross,He died that those who were his enemies,you and me,might become His friends.[Romans 5 v10]
                                       A prayer.
Dear God,open our eyes to the wonders of your love ,for sinners such as us,we who are ungodly,we who are your enemy,can be forgiven and can
be made friends of Jesus Amen.
,

Seek and you shall find. [ Matthew 15 v21-28 ]

There is much being written about Muhammad ALI, formerly known as  Cassius Clay,now it is not hard to see why he rejected Christianity.The racial abuse in America was awful,and unfortunate,but the sad thing is many churches went along with it,as indeed in South Africia,many so called Christian people supported apartihite. One of the great things that Christ did was destroy the barrier between Jew and Gentile.But instead of being a light to the Gentiles,thay withdrew into narrow sectarianism. I come from a sectarian country.it can be very ugly, full of hatred, and intolerance. The sad thing is so called Christian countries do not always act,or think Biblicly,and so they act in non-Christian ways. ,When Mahatma Gandhi was dying,one of his relatives asked him,'Babaki you been looking for God all your life
,have you found him yet?,no was the rely,I'm still looking. Yet he had Christian friends,and he did visit Christian church's.Of course he had lived in South Africia,that did not help in his search for God.Are you still looking
?.well this is how you will find him,be prepared to see beyond those who
misrepresent Christ,pray and read the Bible,seek and you shall find.
                                   
  Here is a prayer you could pray./Dear God help me to find you,inspite
of those who misrepresent Your Son Jesus,in whose name we ask this Amen.

He is all knowing. [Psalm 34 v15]

There used to be a series on TV,many years ago,called the prisoner,it started with the lead actor,calling out,'I am not a number'.Lets face it many must feel that they are, a number,just a statistic,and yet they are not,well not in Gods eyes.Every single human being is important,and significant to God,and He loves every single person.How is that possible ?,how can God know every single person,know their every thought?,yet He does.God is all knowing,when the Psalmist David,thought about it,he declared,'Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,too lofty for me to attain.[Psalm 139v5]As I was praying,the thought came to me,that as I was praying,millions were also praying at the same time,and yet God hears everyone's prayer.Not only does He hear but He deals with us as an individual,He listens to us attentively.Nothing escapes His notice and His care.He is not overwhelmed by the vast amount of prayers,prayed to Him.No matter how deep our needs,no matter how complicated our prayers are, He can deal with them.No prayer is put on a file and forgotten about,He will deal with all our prayers,as He see's fit, and answer in His time.

                                 Come my soul,thy suit prepare,
                                 Jesus loves to answer prayer;
                                 He Himself has bid thee pray,
                                 Therefore will not say thee nay.

                                 Thou art coming to a King,
                                 Large petitions with thee bring;
                                 For His grace and power are such,
                                 None can ever ask too much.
                                     [Words by John Newton]

       

ALI. [ 1 Thessalonians 1 ]

Just  recently one the great idols of the 20th century has died,Muhammad ALI.There was time when I enjoyed watching boxing,but not now, George
Foreman ex-world champion said when he fought an opponent,he was not only drying to destroy him ,he wanted to kill him.I remember reading the life story of Jack Johnson,the first black heavyweight champion,of the world it highlighted the deep racial feeling in the Western World,especially in dear old USA,Why did ALI turn to Islam?the racial discrimination in his country.The sad thing was that many churches were deeply racist,so a lot of what he did was a challenge,to white America.It goes without saying that Christians should not be racist,why?,because we are called to love all men,irrespective of race,colour,or whatever.I purposely used the term idol
when referring to ALI,as a Christian I seek not to have any person or thing as an idol.Why ? ,because it involves worship,it is putting on a human,or whatever ,that which only God should receive.I remember seeing a picture
of Marlyn Monroe after she died,and a picture of ALI before he died,not very nice,but it should remind us that they in essence are just like everyone of us,flawed human beings.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God help us to worship only you,save us from idolatry in Jesus name
Amen.