My Friend [ Psalm 119 v129-136]

I  have a friend who is a converted Roman Catholic,he was a very devout
Roman Catholic ,as was his family,his elder brother became a priest.He
himself had entered a time of training for the priesthood,but  in the end he left it,feeling it was not for him.As you could expect he knows a lot about
RC teaching and practises.One thing that was absent was the scriptures, other than a few verses from the gospels during the mass.Now my friend was very active in opposing those who were  Protestants,and in order to answer questions,that they raised when speaking to them,he asked his priest for a New Testament.When his mother saw him reading the Bible she was upset and told him off,and said she would tell the priest,she was a bit knocked back,when he told her that the priest had given him the NT.When he asked his priest why RC's did not read the scriptures,he was told,it was because  when people read the Bible they become Protestants.And so it came to pass, for through reading the scriptures my friend did became a protestant.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear God we thank you for your word,help us to hold fast to your word,
and to proclaim it faithfully,and with confidence in its power,in Jesus name Amen.

How much [ 1 John 3 v1 ]

When Jesus wanted to stress how much our Father in heaven cares  for His children,He said two very impressive things in Matthew 10 v 29-31,''Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?,yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.And even the very hairs of your head are numbered.So don't be afraid;you are worth more than many sparrows''Spurgeon writes the following,''Here is a sermon against fear,and sparrows are the text.These birds are of little worth,and you are of far greater consideration than many of them.God observes the death of a sparrow,and he much more notes the lives and deaths of his people.Even
the least part of his children's frame has been registered.The very hairs of their head are counted and catalogued,and,to the most minute circumstances
all their lives are under the arrangement of the Lord of love.Chance is not in
our creed; the decree of the Eternal Watcher rules our destiny,and love is
seen in every line of that decree''
                                         A  thought.
''The Jews were so impressed with the individual care of God, that they said
every blade of grass had its guardian angel''.

Witnessing [Acts 1 v8]

I have a confession to make I don't always witness when I should,I think my time in social services has made me more cautious,than I should be.Why do we to witness to people?because Jesus said we should[ Acts 1v8].There are different reasons why we don't witness,we don't want people to think we are religious nuts.We want to be liked,for people to think well of us,who wants to be despised,no one,but of course the one we follow was despised [Isaiah 53 v3 ].The  thought of speaking to others about Jesus,for many is something they would rather run away from,they feel they just cannot do it.I wear a little cross around my neck ,as a witness,but I know that it is not enough,I must tell them about Christ who died on a cross to save them.If a person is married to a non Christian,they cannot be bombarding them with words as regards their faith,but they can live a godly life.That would also apply  to the work place, but that does not mean that we don't speak of Christ.Yes I don't always speak to people about Jesus,but many times I have,of course I have made mistakes,I am no super evangelist,but I have never lost sight of peoples need of Christ,and my responsibility to tell them
                                       A prayer.
Dear God help us in all weakness to live the gospel,and to tell forth the gospel for our Saviours sake Amen.

No speculation [ Matthew 24 v36-51]

I was at a wedding reception,and as I gazed at the people assembled ,the words of our Saviour came to mind,''As it was in the days of Noah, so it will
be at the coming of the Son of Man.For in the days before the flood,people were eating and drinking ,marrying and giving in marriage''[Matthew 24 v37ff]Then He tells how those people were oblivious to the judgement that fell upon them.On looking back on my Christian life in Northern Ireland,the thing that saddened me was the division created by the different schools of thought on the events that indicate our Lords return. When our Saviour was about to leave and return to Heaven,He cut across their curiosity by telling them,''It is not for you know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority[Acts 1 v 7] William Barclay wrote,''The coming of Christ
is certain,but the time of that coming is quite unknown.Speculation is vain
and useless,people will come with false prophecies and false predictions.'' One thing is certain Christ is coming again,and as one person said,''No man will foresee it,and all men will see it.A preacher was asked the question when is the Lord coming back?,he replied,'maybe today,so be ye ready.'
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God we thank for the blessed hope we have that Jesus is coming again
help us to live with that in mind ,in His name we ask this Amen.

Broken relationships.[ Ephesians 5 v25-33]

Our next door neighbours are being married,they have been divorced,have
been living together,my wife and I are attending the reception.This is the way it is in our society,our other immediate neighbours,have been divorced,they have not remarried,but have lived together for many years.
Divorce and remarriage is not a new thing,our Saviour sought to stress the importance of marriage,because of those things that weakened it. In Islam
divorce is easy,but it is not without pain,but that's the way it is.In the West divorce likewise is easy,but it is not easy,for the children,and usually one of the people involved can suffer greatly.  Yet I believe Gods purpose for
humanity is marriage,even though it brings with it ,a great challenge,to be faithful,loving,and committed.As a Christian I am not there to judge people,even though they may have acted wrongly,adultery is a sin,that's what Gods word teaches [Exodus 20 v14 ].I am reminded in the words of William Shakespeare ,that the course of true love ,never runs smooth,but I would add,'with true love it will succeed'
                                        A prayer.
Dear God in a world where so many things are broken,have mercy ,and help
any one who is struggling in their marriage,and those who are trying again,
in Jesus name Amen.

Prayer counts. [ Psalm 27 v8 ]

I read these words recently penned by the late Selwyn Hughes,''Your prayers count more than you think''. I often people speak of prayer,like it may work,like  the proverbial rabbits foot.Then we look out into the world,
and think can my prayers really make any difference.Or we look at certain
situations and feel nothing can effect,or change it,even though we pray .Take hold of those words by Selwyn Hughes,our prayers count more than you think,this is the word for us all today,believe it,and keep praying.One of my grandsons ,who has no qualifications ,and has found it difficult to find employment,applied to a university,and was accepted,an answer to prayer,for I, and his parents have been praying a long time for him ,but then the university  said they where concerned that he had no qualifications.So I prayed and prayed,so did his parents,and I am sure he did,and God answered prayer,for it has been confirmed that he has a place.
Remember what I wrote in an earlier blog,''When we pray coincidences
happen,when we don't pray,they dont''.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God help us to not limit the importance of prayer,and the power of prayer,in Jesus name we ask this Amen

Why pray? [James 5 v17- 18]

 Why pray? a good question,after all Gods knows,that's true,often we don't know what to pray,maybe you can add a lot more to the thought ,why pray?.Why pray?,because we are told to by our Lord,not only are we told to pray,but we are told not to give up praying[Luke 18v1].He also gave us a pattern as to how we should pray[Matthew 6v6-13],also we who follow
Jesus can and should follow His example,in that He prayed.We need to appreciate that prayer is not just about asking,it should be a time of talking as a man speaks with a friend[Exodus 33 v11],but of course we are speaking to God, who is to be reverenced,for He is God.We often sing that old hymn ,''What a friend we have in Jesus'',well He is our friend ,[John 15 v14],so talk to Him as a friend. Be honest with Him,tell Him how you feel,
always remember when it comes to prayer,honesty is the best policy.Yet prayer is about making our requests knowing unto God,some people feel they should not ask God for anything,wrong we should,because Jesus said we should [Matthew 7 v7].Will it make any difference if I don't pray?,
yes it will,''William Temple is reputed to have said, ''When,I pray,
coincidences happen,and when I don't they don't'',so pray.

                          What various hindrances we meet
                          in coming to the mercy seat,
                          Yet who,that knows the worth
                          of prayer,
                          But wishes to be often there.

                          Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw,
                          Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;
                          Gives exercise to faith and love,
                          Brings every blessing from above.

                          Restraining prayer ,we cease to fight;
                          Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright:
                          And Satan trembles when he sees
                          The weakest Christian on his knees.
                              [Words by William Cowper]