Be strong and courageous. [Joshua 1 v9 ]

Norman Vincent Peale wrote the following,''One of the most powerful concepts,one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence,is the thought that
God is actually with you and helping you.This is one of the simplest teaching in religion,namely, that Almighty God will be your companion,will stand by you,and see you through. No other idea is so powerful in developing self confidence as this simple belief when practiced. To practice
it simply affirm ''God is with me; God is helping me; God is guiding me''
Spend several minutes each day visualising His presence. Then practice believing that affirmation''.
                                       
                                And God said unto Joshua.
''Have I not commanded you?Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified
do not be discouraged,for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.[1 v 9 ]

















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Blind unbelief. [ Psalm 73 ]

I read this recently,by the Late Selwyn Hughes,  ''It is not wrong to say I don't know what is happening.' But it is wrong to say,'God doesn't know what is happening'.In the book of  Ecclesiates, we read,''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''[  5 v2 ]Job who suffered so much,refused to curse God, it is so easy to loose a spiritual reality,to move from faith to scepticism ,from singing His praise,to doubting
his ways.We read of a man in Psalm 73,who let doubt take over,and ran with it,to the point of nearly making shipwreck of his faith. He did recover
when he sought the Lord,and faith returned. Continually I am drawn back to
the truth,that God is Sovereign,that somehow He is in control,and so I lift my eyes upward to God,who moves in mysterious ways,and whose ways are perfect.Many in America and the world are wondering what the new
President elect ,will do or why he is the President elect. There are so many things in the politics of this world , and in our personal lives,that we do not know what is going on,look up,God is in control.

                                 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
                                 And scan His works in vain;
                                 God is His own interpreter
                                 And He will make it plain.
                                     [Words W. Cowper]

Break the Cross. [ Galations 6 v14 ]

One of the early Christian Fathers,wrote the following,''Glory be to you[Jesus] who laid your cross as a bridge over death,that souls might pass over it from the dwelling of the dead to the dwelling of life''.In this country we are encouraged to be tolerant,and rightly so,but in many lands it is not so.IS
hate all who are not Muslins,and especially those who are Christians,as those lift high the cross,I myself wear a small cross.IS have recently published an article in their on line magazine entitled,''Break the Cross''.
Islam deny that Christ died on the cross,they see Him only as one of a line of prophets,and Mohammed being the prophet who is Gods final and last prophet.Basically Islam is really only an extension of those who believe that
one can only be accepted ,by obedience to His laws,as revealed in the Quran. My answer to that is simple, I do not need another prophet,mankind does not need another prophet,I  need a saviour,because no matter how much the best of men,or women try,they come short of Gods glory.So God did a wonderful thing,He sent Jesus into this sinful world,He was sinless,born without sin,and lived without committing any sin.His final act in life was to die,in the place of sinners,taking the punishment for all those who trust him as their Saviour, and give them freely, eternal life. That death took place on a cross,

                       On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
                       the emblem of suffering and shame;
                       and I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
                       for a world of lost sinner was slain.

                       In that old rugged cross,stained with blood so divine,
                       a wondrous beauty I see;
                       for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
                       to pardon and sanctify me.

                      So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
                      till my trophies at last I lay down;
                      I will cling to the old rugged cross
                      and exchange it some day for a crown.
                             [ Words.  George Bennard ]
                           

Lest we forget [ Luke 22 v 17 - 20]

I have just watched a movie called Passchendale one of many battles that took place in the 1st world war. The first world war was supposed to have been the war  to end all wars,but of course it did no such thing.Today our country will be holding remembrance services,as a nation we take it very serious.A drunken lady recently was sent to prison for urinating on a war memorial,most countries ,want to honour those who died,in wars.So we have a remembrance Sunday.Just considering the numbers of those  who died in the 20th century in wars,one would think that nations would never want to go to war. Yet even at this time wars are going on,surely not?, unfortunately it is true.We remember the fallen yet  we appear to forget the cost of war,the awful cost.Can any of us guarantee peace ,no,because part of mankind's fallen nature is evidence ,that it will never happen.Consider the History of Israel,a history of a people who continually  forgot what God had done for them,and continually paid a terrible price in suffering.The church of Christ were commanded to remember,what Christ did for them,it was the greatest battle ever fought,and cost the life of the Son of God,it ended in  complete victory.Satan was defeated,sin was defeated,death was defeated.Lest we forget let us continually remember the debt we owe to our loving God and Saviour.

                                   Lest I forget Gethsemane
                                   Lest I forget Thine agony,
                                   Lest I forget Thy love for me,
                                   Lead me to Calvary.
                                    [Words.  J.E.Mussey ]

A wonderful Hope. [ John 11 v25 - 26 ]

I have just listened to Phil Wickham singing a lovely song, called ,''Your
Beautiful''.The 4th verse,blessed me,it reads,

                         When we arrive at eternity's shore,
        Where death is just a memory and tears are no more.
                     We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring,
         Your Bride will come together,and we'll sing,Your
                                      Beautiful.

Lovely words,lovely song, it reminds me of the scripture  regarding death,
that as Christians,we do not grieve like the rest of men,who have no hope,
[ 1 Thessalonians 4 v13 ].Our hope is built firmly on Jesus ,who declared,
''I am the resurrection and the life,He who believes in me will live,even though he dies''[ John 11 v25 ].The words of that song tells us,that death in
heaven will be but a memory,and tears will be no more. The next thing it tells us that we will see Jesus,and that truly will be wonderful,and glorious.
                                      A  prayer.
Dear God we praise and thank You,that through you we have a wonderful hope that goes beyond the grave,we thank you for Jesus who made it all possible.
Amen.

Take Him serious. [Genesis 6 v3 ]

I have a good relationship with God,but I must never forget He is God,I must take him seriously at all times. I should take Him serious when He speaks to me,take His  promises serious,take his holiness serious,take His love serious. I must remember that He has no favourites,and that He is no respecter of people.He did not look the other way,when David sinned,that man after  Gods own heart,no God saw the evil he did and was not pleased,
and He dealt with him.Likewise the nation,that nation that He loved with an everlasting love   [ Jeremiah 31v 3] , refused to take Gods messenger the prophet serious and his word from God.one could highlight, so many times
they did not take God serious.The result was, God was not pleased, and poured out His displeasure upon them. Many of us ignore the speed limit and get away with it,but not so with God,He does not like being ignored,there where those in Sodom and Gomorrah who laughed when they were warned of Gods judgement,they did not take it serious,Lots wife did not take serious what Gods messengers said,the result she and those who laughed perished.If you have never trusted Jesus you will die in your sins and go to Hell,take this warning seriously.
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God we are told that the fear of the  Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
help us all saved and unsaved alike to take You serious,in Jesus name Amen.

Running on empty. [Galations 5 v 16- 26 ]

In writing to Christians at Ephesous,Paul prays ,that they may be strengthened with power through  Gods Spirit in their inner being. [ 3 v16 ]I was thinking this morning how we live two lives,the outward and the inner one.The one everyone can see,then the one no one can see except God,we rarely neglect our outward man,in good ways and bad ways,The good is when we eat the right things,exercise,get the right amount of sleep,etc.The bad  is when we continually over eat,we take drugs,etc,etc,I am sure you get the picture.Paul speaks of our inner being,that we may know that inner strength and power, that alone comes from Gods Spirit,we will not get this in a gym,or from a bowl of cornflacks.As H.Moule puts it,this is not surface work,this goes beyond the physical,this is a  spiritual reality.Many of us run on empty,as we face each day,but it need not be that way ,ask and you shall receive.
                                              A  prayer.
Dear God ,thank you that you dwell in our hearts,forgive us for neglecting you,so we pray in your mercy fill our lives ,with your  Spirits presence,and power, in Jesus name Amen.