Compromise. [ Daniel 3 ]

There's been a load of compromises,on the road to my horizon,so goes the words from an old song. It may only be what we would call a secular song ,
but many of, us can identify with those words. It has been said that the art
of politics,is compromise,likewise if labour disputes are to be resolved there
has to be compromise.There is legitimate compromises and ill- legitimate compromises,and its the latter that causes us concern.One tries to be consistent to only make  legitimate compromises,but somehow we fail,and we look back with regret.Cardinal Wolsey was lord, chancellor during Henry V111 reign,but he was hated by Anne Boleyn who became Henry's
wife,and she conspired to destroy him.The king had him arrested and was being brought to the Tower of  London,to be tried,and to be executed.
Before he reached the tower he became very ill ,and was taken to Leicester
Abbey,where he died,but before he died,he said,'' If  I had served God as
diligently as I had served the King,he would not have given me over in my
grey hairs''. For him there had been a load of compromises,and he paid the price,we all can justify making ill-legitimate compromises,but what we will
find like Wolsey,there is a price to pay.which we will find hard to live with.
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God help us all to not follow the worldly adage of  the means justifying the end,in mercy help us,to be faithful to you in all things
in Jesus name Amen.

A little bird told me [ Ecclesiastes 10 v20]

I let something slip out when I was speaking to someone,and later on I felt concerned that it may be repeated,and so cause a misunderstanding.It was a reminder to me,and I do need reminded,to watch my words,for we all know the danger in careless words.Once we say something anything,those words
cannot be taken back.In Ecclesiastes 10 v20,we read,''Never make light of the king,even in your thoughts.And don't make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said''.I suppose that's were the saying comes from a little bird told me,but the important thing is this,be careful what we say,even to our closest friends.Remember people love to share things,years ago,I remember an old lady who came into our home,and the first thing she would say was,''did you hear what'',Again  we read in Ecc 5 v2 ,''Do not be quick with your mouth,do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven,and you are on earth,so let your words be few''. In other words ,God is listening,that should cause us all  to pray everyday, for God to help us ,to watch what we say.
                                         A prayer.
Dear God forgave us those things we said ,that we should not have,dear God help us to watch what we say in Jesus name Amen.
                     [I will return on Tuesday 9th every blessing]

Nothing but the truth. [ Psalm 119 v 104-105 ]

When Pope Nicholas 5th was on his death bed  he summoned his cardinals,he told them that loyalty of the 'uncultured masses' of believers was best obtained through giving them 'something that appeals to the eye'. Ideas and theology carried little weight ;a popular faith'sustained only on doctrines',he assured them, would' never be anything but feeble and vacillating. Of course he being the infallible one,his successors took up what he said as from God,the result the Vatican,and the Sistine chapel.On a recent holiday in Malta,I visited the cathedral in the capital,and was struck by the dazzeling grandure of that building.I have visited many cathedrals in England and in contrast to the cathedral in Malta,they are bare places.It goes back of course to the reformation,when the emphasise was the truth, that were taught in the word of God.The fact is, dazzeling building are but dazzeling buildings,it is the truth that we find in Gods word, that ,and that alone is what is vital.The result of following pope Nicholas teaching,has caused the church of Rome to loosen their grip on Gods truth.When it comes to my faith ,I want the truth,the whole truth,and nothing but the truth,and I will only find that in Gods word.
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God tear away from your church all that weakens our faith in your word in Jesus name Amen.

An unfeeling immense universe. [ Hebrews 11 v1-2 ]

Many years ago I took one of my sons to the cinema,before the movie began,they played a particular song,with the words,''Is anybody out there?''
This was amusing to my son and me,for we were the only people in the
cinema.In this universe with its unimaginable vastness,many people are asking the same question is anybody out there.Surely they think , there must be similar planets,as ours,with living creatures,and if there are ,are
they friendly or aggressive?.The fact is there is no evidence that there are
any such planets,so does that mean we are alone as David Atkinson writes
in an unfeeling immense universe.Here we are the inhabitants of a very ,
very small planet,within a universe that has billions and billions of stars and planets. The good news is we are not alone,as D A.writes,''God is there,God cares,God rules,God provides''.Selwyn Hughes wrote the following,''Let us
be thankful that all creation is energised and controlled not by an impersonal force but by a personal being.Behind everything that moves is not a cosmic force but a compassionate face.We can give a name to that face and know that person: Jesus'' [CP Colossians 1 v15-17].
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God we thank you for Jesus through whom all things were created and sustained,and above all else we thank you that that we are not alone,Amen

Perfect peace. [ Philippians 4 v4-9]

As I said yesterday there are two types of peace,[a] Peace with God.[b]The peace of God.Let us consider the latter,D.A.Carson writes ,''The world is powerless to give peace.There is sufficient hatred, selfishness,bitterness ,
malice,anxiety and fear that every attempt at peace is rapidly swamped.'' So
here is what John 14 v27 says,''Peace I leave with you'',Jesus did not leave
us a promise of wealth,even perfect health,but that which we need so very much,peace.Then Jesus says,''my peace I give unto you'',He is the source and the giver of true peace.Next Jesus says,''I do not give to you as the world gives,''W.Barclay  wrote the following,''The peace which the world offers us is the peace of escape,the peace which comes from the avoidance of trouble,the peace,the peace which comes from refusing to face things''He
goes unto write,''The peace which Jesus offers us is the peace of conquest.
It is the peace which no experience in life can take from us. It is the peace
which no sorrow,no danger,no suffering can make less.It is the peace which
is independent of outward circumstances''
                                              A  prayer.
                            Drop Thy still dews of quietness
                            till all our strivings cease;
                            take from our souls the strain and stress,
                            and let our ordered lives confess
                            the beauty of  Thy peace

                            Breathe through the heats of our desire
                            Thy coolness and Thy balm;
                            let sense be dumb,let flesh retire;
                            speak through the earthquake,wind, and fire,
                            O still small voice of calm.
                                     In Jesus name Amen.
                               [Words by J.G.Whittier ]
                                                

Peace .[ Romans 5 v 1-11]

In John 14v27,our Saviour said,''Peace I leave with you,my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled,and do not be afraid.''The Bible tells us of two aspects of peace,the
first is peace with God which comes when we trust Jesus as our Saviour.It is summed up in Romans 5 v1.''Therefore since we have been justified through faith,we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ''.Our state before we become Christians is spelt out for us in Roman 5,we are
classed as,ungodly,sinners,and enemies.Such is our unsaved state we are at war with God,everyone of us,as Leon Morris writes,'' An enemy is not a person who comes a little bit short of being a friend; it means someone in
the opposite camp''.Yes we are not Gods friend,and in that state we are not
at peace with God,if fact He is not at peace with us.William Barclay wrote,
''It was not good men Christ died to save;it was sinners. It was not God's friends Christ died to rescue;it was men who were at enmity with God''.The
wonderful news is through Christ all can be changed,we can be changed, when we trust Him we enter into that wonderful Peace with God.
                                          A prayer.
Dear God we praise You for Jesus the Prince of peace,who died that we may if we trust Him,be at peace with You Amen.

It is His. [ Romans 9 v 21 ]

In his helpful little book on Ruth ,David Atkinson writes about Abraham Kuyper who was Prime Minister of Holland,who was a Christian,said the following''There is not an inch in the whole area of existence of which
Christ, the sovereign of all,does not cry,''It is Mine''.David Atkinson comments,''That all the events of this world's apparent chance and change
are in the hands of a God who has a purpose for his world,a purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time,to unite all things in him,things in heaven and things on earth''.So how do you feel about that?
I  personally receive great comfort to know my times are in His hands,that disappointment are his appointments for me,and for you,sometimes things happen that hurt us,and yet if we receive them aright we can grow.Roses need pruning,we need to cut off the dead wood,cut it back,we are not destroying the rose,that is the last thing I want to do,no I want to improve it,make it a more lovely rose bush.Remember,
                                     ''I'll He blesses is our good,
                                      and unblessed good,is i'll
                                      And all is well,that seems
                                      most wrong ,
                                      If it be His sweet will.