Amazing Grace. [ Ephesians 2 v 1 -10 ]

                                      John Newton
                                      [1785-1807 ]
                         Once an infidel and libertine
                         A servant of slaves in Africa.
                         By the rich mercy of our Lord
                         and Saviour Jesus Christ.
                         Preserved,restored ,pardoned.
So reads the words on his gravestone,he lost his mother when he was six,his
father was a sea captain,and eventually he joined the Navy.For a great deal of his life he was involved in the slave trade,even after his first religious experience,but eventually the reality of his faith in Christ took hold,and he became an opponent of the slave trade.He even wrote a booklet on its evils,which became very popular.  He served as a Church of England priest,was a popular minister,friends of William Wilberforce,and William Cowper.He passed into the presence of his Saviour at the age of 82.

                       Amazing grace,how sweet the sound
                       That saved a wretched like me
                       I once was lost but now an found;
                       Was blind but now I see.

                       Twas grace that taught my heart
                       to fear,
                       And grace my fears relieved;
                       How precious did that grace appear
                       The hour I first believed.

                       Through many dangers,toils,and snares
                       I have already come;
                       Tis grace has brought me safe thus far.
                       And grace will lead me home.

                       The Lord has promised good to me,
                       His word my hope secures;
                       He will my shield and Portion be,
                       As long as life endures.

                       Yes when this flesh and heart
                       shall fail,
                       And mortal life shall cease,
                       I shall possess within the veil
                       A life of joy and peace.

                      When we've been there a thousand
                      years,
                      Bright shining as the sun,
                      We've  no less days to sing God's praise
                      Than when we first begun.
                             

Omission in preaching. [ John 3 v36 ]

A man I know said a visiting speaker mentioned something in his sermon,
that  he had  not heard from his own minister ,the word Hell.The visiting speaker wondered why some modern preachers do not mention Hell in their preaching. I wonder also, there are reasons,they cannot come to terms with it, and cannot equate it to their concept of God. Surely a God of Love would not  send people to such a place,so they do not mention it. Surely they can see people  come to faith in Christ without mentioning such a doctrine, they appeal to people from the bases of their human reasoning.These preachers have problems with the accounts of the violence ,perpetrated by Israel
, as they conquered the promised land.Now we cannot cover all these things in full,but the fact is we have accounts of God judging people,right
throughout the Bible.Not only judgements relating to time, but a promise of Judgement in eternity [Hebrews 9 v27 ].Consider how the message , most of the prophets proclaimed, had a strong threat of judgement,and this carried through into the NT,the term wrath is used continually. yes even by Jesus.
[ Matthew 10 v 28].The man in the street or those within the cults may pick
and choose what they should believe in,but the preacher in the pulpit cannot
if he does,he will be held accountable. Consider, who would want that on their conscience?,I would not,so even though it is doctrine that is not in vogue, I can speak no other.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God of truth help those who stand between their fellowmen and a holy God,not to neglect, to warn them of the fearful judgement awaiting all who die without Christ , Amen

William Cowper. [Romans 8 v28 ]

Another of my favourite hymns is,''God moves in a mysterious way'',it was written by William Cowper,who lived in the, 18th century.He was poet as well as a hymn writer,and a great poet of his day,he wrote a poem against slavery,called,''The Negro's complaint'',which Dr M.L.King,quoted from.He suffered from mental illness,on one occasion attempted suicide,and spent 2 years in a institution for the insane,he was a devout Christian.

                                   God moves in a mysterious way
                                   His wonders to perform;
                                   He plants His footsteps in the sea,
                                   And rides upon the storm.

                                   Deep in unfathomable mines
                                   Of never-failing skill,
                                   He treasures up His bright designs,
                                   And works His sovereign will.

                                   Ye fearful saints,fresh courage take,
                                   The clouds ye so much dread
                                   Are big with mercy ,and shall break
                                   in blessings on your head.

                                   Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
                                   But trust Him for His grace;
                                   Behind a frowning providence
                                   He hides a smiling face.

                                   His purposes will ripen fast,
                                   Unfolding every hour;
                                   The bud may have a bitter taste,
                                   But sweet will be the flower.

                                   Blind unbelief is sure to err,
                                   And scan His work in vain;
                                   God is His own interpreter
                                   And He will make it plain.

Be still my soul [ Psalm 46 v 10 ]

There are certain hymns that are dear to us all,hymns that touch our hearts, ,such as, 'Be still my soul,' it was Eric Liddells favourite hymn.He died in a Japanese internment camp,in China.Just before he went to heaven,he asked the Salvation band to play the hymn.With chapped,frozen fingers and cracked lips,the wind  blowing around them,the band fulfilled it.

                   Be still my soul,the Lord is on thy side;
                   Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
                   Leave to thy God to order and provide;
                   In every change He faithful will remain.
                   Be still, my soul,thy best,thy heavenly Friend
                   Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

                   Be still, my soul,thy God doth undertake
                   To guide the future as He has the past.
                   Thy hope, confidence, let nothing shake;
                   All now mysterious shall be bright at last,
                   Be still,my soul,the waves and winds still know
                   His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

                   Be still, my soul,the hour is hastening on
                   When we shall for ever with the Lord,
                   When disappointment grief and fear are gone,
                   Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
                   Be still my soul,when change and tears are past,
                   All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
                       [ Words.  K.A.D.Von Schlegel  ]
                 

Wait [ John 13 v 7 ]

A lady who had lost her son in war, was asked by a friend,have you forgiven Him?,the woman replied,forgiven who? ,God, for taking your son,
the lady replied,''I never blamed Him'',Should I blame God,or should I trust God?,many people blame God,after all they say God has the power to cause it not to happen,so why does He not stop it?.Well there are many things we cannot answer,we can look up to heaven and in bitterness and unbelief, point the figure and say you are to blame.There are so many questions as
regards life we cannot answer,and may never answer .Everyday ,tragedies
are happening,injustice is taken place,listen to the news ,read a news paper.
Why ?,is the question on many peoples hearts,and the answer is, we do not know why,but blaming God is not the answer. How can God let such things happen?,I do not know,but some day I will know,in the mean while,I will not fall into despair,but  trust in God who is just and loving,and is working everything out ,to a perfect conclusion.Much of life is filled with the
question why,it is not wrong to ask why,but we should wait until God ,one
day will give us all the answer.

                                 Poem by Corrie ten Boom.

                                My life is but a weaving
                                Between my God and me.
                                I cannot choose the colours,
                                He weaveth steadily.
                                
                                Of''t times He weaveth sorrow;
                                And I in foolish pride,
                                Forget He sees the upper
                                And I the underside.

                               Not till the loom is silent,
                               And the shuttles cease to fly,
                               Will God unroll the canvas,
                               And explain the reason why,
                               The dark threads are as needful,
                                In the weaver's skilful hands,
                                As the threads of gold and silver,
                                In the pattern He has planned.
                              
                                He knows,He loves,He cares.
                                Nothing ,that truth can dim.
                                He gives the very best to those
                                Who leaves the choice to Him.

                               

















                                        

Temptation [ Luke 22 v40-46 ]

William Shakespeare said many wonderful things,here is one I read,''Tis one thing to be tempted,another thing to fall''.I have been tempted many times,as I am sure you have,but God helps us if we call upon Him,in our hour of temptation.Our dear Saviour makes it  clear , the importance of praying, in overcoming temptation and not fall to it.[Luke 22 v40], but alas the disciples failed to do this,then He told them the second time [v46] .The lesson we are taught is this,if we pray we will overcome temptation,if we don't, temptation will overcome us.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God help us to call upon You in our hour of temptation, knowing you  are able to keep us from  falling through Jesus your dear Son,Amen.

Think good thoughts. [Psalm 23 ]

Another thought from Norman Vincent Peal,'' I conducted a religious service on a cruise ship ,in  my talk , I suggested that people who were carrying worries in their minds might go to the stern of the vessel and imaginatively take each anxious thought out of the mind,drop it over board,and watch it disappear in the wake of the ship.It seems an almost childlike suggestion, but a man came to me later that day and said,''I did as you suggested and am amazed at the relief it has given me''He goes on to say,that it is not just enough to empty our minds,that's true,read  Philippians 4 v 8-9.read them daily,make this a good habit.

      ''Whatever is true,whatever is noble,whatever is right,whatever is pure,whatever is lovely,whatever is admirable,if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,think about such things. Whatever you have have learned or received or heard from me,or seen in me,put it into practice,and the God of
peace will be with you''.