At what levl are you at ? [ Daniel 4 ]

Sultan Bin Salman al-Saud,DIscovery 5  astronaut,said as they journeyed
into space,''The first day or so we all pointed to our countries,the third or
fourth day we were pointing to our continents. By the fifth day we were aware of only the earth''.I wonder at what level you and I are at, today as we look at life?.There is the personal level,our families,friends,ourselves,then there is our country,then the world.As I was leaving our fellowship I spoke to the pastor,he voiced concern as regards our country,and the fact that we
voted to leave the EU.He was concerned as to the repercussions of this,I 
tried to mention the sovereignty of God,but he unintentionally pushed that to the side,his concerns as to the possible repercussions took over.The one thing I try to keep in mind,is the truth that God rules over all the affairs of mankind.There are so many things are beyond our control,which the greatest minds cannot resolve,at all levels of life,in spite of all our advances.
A great and mighty King had to have a severe lesson,in order for him to
acknowledge that God ruled [Daniel 4 ]The lesson was this that God does as He pleases,with the powers of heaven,and the peoples of the earth.No one
can hold back his hand or say to Him,''What have you done?''.At what level are you at?.
                                   A  prayer.
Sovereign Lord from time and uncertainties we lift or minds to you,as to
our personal circumstances,our countries situation,or the world situation,
we ask for grace to trust in you,in Jesus name Amen.

He is on the throne. [ John 14 v1 ]

We have moved into a period of uncertainty in our country,we as nation have voted to come out of the EU.Many are worried as to what this will mean,we are going to go it alone,as to the right or wrong of it I am not sure,but  it has happened,the decision to withdraw has taken place.What should we as Christians do?,well I will do what I have always done,I will
lift up my eyes to my sovereign God,as I read the Word of God,and the history of Israel,the changes and challenges they faced,the prophets spoke
not for any political party,but Thus saith the Lord.They reminded Israel were their true strength,and security lay,in their God.Things have not changed for us his children,our strength and security lies in God,and the one who has been given all power and authority,even Jesus[ Matthew 28 v18].
He declares to those who are His,I am with you always[Mat, 28 v20].
                                       
                              Peace perfect peace,our future all unknown?
                              Jesus we know,and He is on the throne.
                                               [Words by E.H.Bickersteth]

Praise Him [ Revelation 5 ]

As I started to pray,I wanted to praise my Saviour,so I got out a hymn book,
and read a hymn of praise, here is one verse of that hymn.
                    
                 Praise Him, praise Him,Jesus our blessed Redeemer,
                 For our sins, He suffered and bled and died;
                 He, our rock,our hope of eternal salvation,
                 Hail Him,hail Him.Jesus the Crucified.
                 Loving Saviour,meekly enduring sorrow,
                 Crowned with thorns that cruelly pierced His brow,
                 Once for us rejected,despised and forsaken,
                 Prince of Glory,ever triumphant now.
                          [Words by Fanny J. Crosby ]

                   Worthy is the Lamb,who was slain,
                   to receive power and wealth and
                   wisdom and strength and honour
                    and praise.
                           [Revelation 5v 12 ]
                

To cry or not to cry that is the question?. [1 Thessalonians

Recently MP Jo Cox was murdered,I personally have never heard of her,but it appears she was[ believe it or not], a much loved MP,I must  confess I have shed a few tears as I have listened of people speaking about this lovely
young lady.She was married and had two children,it is all very distressing,
and terribly sad.It has started a question as to how we should react to such
an event,should we hold back the tears and signs of emotion,or should we try and maintain a stiff upper lip. What do you think?,well I suppose both can be acceptable,should we not let people do what is best  for them.What we do know is Christ is known as a man of sorrows,and familiar with suffering[ Isaiah 53 v3 ]We read of Him weeping at the  death of His friend,
and we are told ,'Blessed are they that mourn'  [Matthew 5 v 4 ],and in Romans 12 v15, we read,weep with them that weep.Yes it is alright to sorrow and weep when a friend or loved one is taken in death.It is the apostle who writes that we should  not sorrow,as those which have no hope[1 Thessalonians 4 v 13]

                                       A  prayer .
Dear God have mercy upon the family of Jo Cox,and upon those we know who have experienced bereavement,in Jesus name Amen

Free at last. [ Revelation 21 ]

Bruce Milne writing in his book 'Heaven and Hell',points out that evil was in existence before man sinned.He points  to Jude 6,how that the angels
did not keep their positions of authority,but abandoned their home'.[cf2 Peter 2 v 4].He then goes on to write,''Here is a valuable biblical precursor
of  the life of heaven.Humanity can exist in its fullest terms without sin.
And since the devil and his angels will be banished eternally from  that
heavenly order of the fulfilled kingdom of God[cf Jude 6b; Rev20 v7-10],
that future will be secure from any threat in a way the first perfected creation obviously was not''.When we are in heaven we will not be looking over our shoulders ,in case evil in any shape or form ,overtakes us. No ,sins power within us will no longer exist,and satans power to tempt us will also no longer exist.Evil will be banished, for ever,and ever,and ever,Miltons
'paradise lost',will be no more,and it will truly be, 'paradise regained'.
                                    A  prayer.
Dear God,we look forward to that glorious day when we at last arrive in heaven,free from evil,be it the world,the flesh,or the devil,in Jesus name we thank You ,Amen.



'

Trust and obey. [ 1 Samuel 15 v 22 ]

Just recently the Lord spoke to me about a certain something, but I was not sure or maybe willing to deal with. I asked Him to help me,I  ask others what should I do,and still I never dealt with it.This certain thing was becoming a problem,it began to effect my prayer life,what should I do?. Every time I had  a time of prayer,it came into my mind,and so it continued,until I sorted it out. Now the problem is resolved,there is nothing between my Heavenly Father and me,I have peace. Nothing between ,I suppose God was wanting me to simply obey Him,simply obey Him,it may be simple,just do it, left undone,it becomes a very serious problem.It is no good trying to ignore whatever God is saying to you,it may be something very simple,it may also be something very big,but if we ignore what God is saying to us,then it becomes very ,very ,serious,and will have serious consequences .To trust and obey is at the heart of our relationship with God,even though it may cost,but the price of not obeying brings a greater  cost,From Genesis to Revelation,we can read the folly of disobedience,think what we lost when our first parents disobeyed.So if God is speaking to you today,be it on a simple matter,or a large matter,be an obedient child,yes trust and obey,for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus,but to trust and obey.
                                        A prayer.
Dear God forgive us our disobedience,give us the grace to always obey You
in Jesus name .Amen.

Are you rich? [ 2 Corinthians 8 v9 ]

Billy Graham tells how he and his wife Ruth,were invited to the home of  one of the wealthiest men in the world.The man was seventy-five years old,
and as they sat at a meal,the man was closes to tears.I am the most miserable man in the world,he said.''Out there is my yacht,I can go anywhere I want to,I have my private plane,my helicopter.I have everything
I want to make me happy,and yet I'm miserable as hell''Billy  and Ruth,
spoke,and prayed with him,sought to point him to Christ,who alone gives
lasting meaning to life.Later in the day a local Baptist pastor,an English man,aged seventy five,he was a very enthusiastic Christian and had a deep love for Christ,he spent most of his free time taking care of his two invalid sisters.''I don't have two pounds to my name,'' he said,but I'm the happiest man on this Island''.''Who do you think is the richer man?'' Billy asked Ruth
who do you think is the richer man?'' ,we both knew the answer.
                                        A  prayer.
Dear God help us not to be hoodwinked into thinking that the meaning to life,is in things,or whatever takes our fancy,in Jesus name Amen.