The Living Word. [ Luke 24 v 25-27 ]

In recent times I have been seeking to study every book in the Bible,I have
used a particular study guide,which I have found very helpful.I am about to study that wonderful book of Hebrews.People have different opinion's as
to who wrote this book,the writers name is not mentioned,I personally think Paul wrote it,the great John Calvin did not,the most important thing is not to get to worked up about this,for it in no way,effects  its message .The most important thing for you and me is to read and to understand it,it is Gods word,like the manna of old it is has come down from heaven,to feed our souls,likewise every book in the Bible.I would encourage you to not only read the Bible but to understand it,don't just depend on your minister,let
us all ,''Study to shew ourselves approved unto God,a workmen that needeth
not to be ashamed,rightly dividing the word of truth''[2 Timothy 2 v15].
                   
                                 Break Thou the bread of life,
                                 Dear Lord to me,
                                 As Thou didst break the loaves
                                 Beside the sea;
                                 Beyond the sacred page
                                 I seek Thee ,Lord,
                                 My spirit pants for Thee,
                                 O Living Word.
                                  [Words by Mary  A. Lathbury]

Are you a lemon?. [Matthew 5 v 43-48/ Hebrews 12v15]

My wife likes drinking,no not wiskey,or rum,or beer,but she likes a lemon drink,but it has such a bitter taste to it .Now of course it is all a matter of taste,nothing wrong with that,but there is another aspect in relation to that word bitterness,that is very serious,it is when people hurt us.It is impossible to go through life without being hurt by someone,and here is another aspect of it, is impossible for us not to hurt someone.The problem is when someone hurts us ,bitterness enters in ,and it blinds us to the challenge that all Christians must face up to,that is to have a loving and forgiving spirit. In spite of what we read in Gods word,about forgiveness,and loving yes even our enemies,we are inclined to let our hurtful feelings take over.Again the challenge is to not be ruled by our feelings,but by that love which loves unconditional,that God has for us,even though we grieve Him so many times.Love for others is not an optional extra,it is not something we can pick and choose,it is expected of us by our loving Saviour.So lets stop copying the lemon,by being bitter,remember it is not just about taste,it is vital to grasp the truth that the way of the cross is a road of love.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God we thank and praise you for loving and forgiving us through
Jesus,help us to have a loving and forgiving spirit to all for Jesus sake Amen.

Risk takers.[ 1 Corinthians 4 v 10 ]

Kipling tells how,on a certain world tour,General Booth boarded the ship at a certain port.He was seen off by a horde of tambourine-beating Salvationists.The whole thing revolted Kipling's fastidious soul.Later he got to know the general and told him how much he disapproved of  this kind of
thing. ''Young man'', said Booth,''if I thought that I could win one more soul for Christ by standing on my hands and beating a tambourine with my feet I
would learn to do it.'' There is something in what Booth said, which we who
follow Christ need to hear,yes we need to be guided by the Holy Spirit,and
indeed empowered by Him.We often have to break convention as our Saviour did,the result was thousands came to hear Him.The brothers Charles and John Wesley did the unthinkable,by preaching in the open air,Hudson Taylor likewise broke convention,when He and his fellow missionaries,dressed in the same way as the Chinese,most missionaries at that time were situated in the coastline of China,but Hudson started ,what became known as the 'China Inland Mission'. Sometimes we feel like doing something different,and we draw back,let us be very clear ,vast amounts of people are going to Hell,the need is great,what are we willing to do ,in order to bring Christ to them?
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God ,help us to do whatever it takes to tell others of Jesus,Amen

Meaning [ Psalm 73 ]

Michael Wilcock writes the following,''The first step towards salvation is to see that life does make sense,and it is the teaching of Jesus which enables men to see this''.I remember as a young man wondering what is life about,it just  did not make any sense,I am convinced that many people feel this way.
It is easy to give into despair,for we all desire meaning in our lives,some try to find it in politics,pleasure, and a multitude of other things,but in doing so they are just papering over the cracks,In the Bible we have a book called
Ecclesiastes,it is about a man who had power,and riches,this enabled him to
have everything his heart desired.Yet he came to this conclusion,it was meaningless like chasing after the wind,nothing appeared to make sense.In a sense this book emphasises this fact life is meaningless,but throughout the Bible we have men and women who found meaning,and it transformed their lives.Returning to myself I found meaning when I found Jesus as my Saviour,when I prayed and asked Him into my life,all things were changed.I found out that life had a meaning, that meaning was Christ.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God we praise you ,and that in knowing Jesus as our Saviour,we find meaning to our existence,Amen.

A call to preach. [ 2 Timothy 4 v 1-5 ]

I suppose one  thing that would frustrate me is not preaching,when I stood down as a minister,the desire to preach remained.Yet it is very challenging thing to do,I am my own worse critic,I am continually trying to improve,yet I sometimes wonder is there any improvement?.It seems in looking back over my ministry,I usually minister to small groups,yet I do not mind as long as I am preaching,if that's the way God wants it,so be it,People apologise to me that the numbers are down,so what,the few as well as the many need to hear Gods word.I am called to be faithful that's what matters,not just to my preaching,but as to what I preach.I have not only to be true to myself,but to my Saviour.Today a man said to me that he had to make a decision,whither to have breakfast,or go to the chapel,he choose chapel.He made the right decision,like Mary of old,he choose that better part,what is that to do with preaching?.Well it means ,that he had a hunger for Gods word,and it was my responsibility to feed him,hopefully I did.
                                      A prayer.
Dear God grant grace to those who feel called to preach,help them to be faithful,in fulfilling their ministry,and all that means, in Jesus name Amen

A cup of tea. [ Acts 1v8 ]

It is surprising how the Lord opens opportunities for one to witness .Two young lads clean my windows,I usually offer then a cold drink,or a cup of tea.To my surprise a conversation opened up which granted me an opportunity to speak to them about the Lord.It was friendly talk,my prayer is that the word of God which is likened unto a seed sown will bear fruit.I have watered those words of witness with my prayers,that is also important. Jesus spoke to thousands of people but He also spoke to individuals,you may not be a preacher,but why not pray,that God will lead you into opportunities to witness to those individuals or couples you come in contact with.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God in our weakness fill us with your Spirit,that we may tell others
about our Saviour,Amen.

Put into practice.[ Luke 22 v39-46]

When our dear Saviour was about to face death,a cruel and wicked death,he prayed,[Luke 22 v39- 46 ],he also told his disciples to pray,so that they would not fall into temptation.But because they were exhausted and filled
with sorrow,they fell asleep.So Jesus came to them,asking them why they were sleeping and challenging them to pray that they would not fall into temptation.How are you and I going face the temptations that continually beset us? ,the answer is simple yet absolutely vital,prayer.If David had prayed when he cast his eye upon Bathsheba[ 2 Kings 11],he would not have fallen into sin.Returning to the disciples,they were tired and exhausted,so they did not pray,there is always reasons why we do not pray,but there are greater reasons why  we should pray,yes even when we are tired and exhausted.It seems to me that Jesus is telling them and us,if we are to overcome the evils that we face,we need,let me stress this again,we need to pray,as if our lives depended on it,what is vital,our spiritual well being does depend on it.Consider the words of Jesus,''Pray that you will not fall into temptation'',but not only consider His words,put them into practise.

                        Have we trials and temptations?
                        is there trouble anywhere?
                        We should never be discouraged,
                        Take it to the Lord in prayer.
                        Can we find a friend so faithful
                        Who will all our sorrows share?
                         Jesus knows our every weakness;
                         Take it to the Lord in prayer.
                               [Words by J.M.Scriven]