What chaos is coming? [ Isaiah 65 v 17 / Revelation 21 v 5 ]

In Shakespeare's Othello,we read; 'Chaos is come again'', these words are so meaningful. When God had created this world we  read,''God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.''[Genesis 1 v31]Here these ancient words, uttered by God, all that He made was good, and in that good world ,
there was no chaos, no war ,no conflict, everything was harmonious. But then sin entered this universe and things change, disharmony reigned, which brought in uncertainty. We skip forward to Genesis 6 v 5 ,and we read,'' The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had  become''. And so it is, all things had changed, for the coming in of sin, brought into this world
that which not good. There is no certainty of peace anywhere, the war to end all wars , did nothing of the sort, it only laid the foundation for more wars. We see awful things happening in this world, the natural creation
can suddenly erupt in earthquakes ,and all such natural happens. We do not need to be reminded of what takes place on the human side,and in all this
we ask with apprehension, what chaos is coming next?, for we do not know.
Although all this true, our Saviour told us, ''Do not be frightened''[Luke 2v9]
                               God is our refuge and strength,
                               an ever present help in trouble.
                               Therefore we will not fear,
                               though the earth give way
                               and the mountains fall into
                               the heart of the sea
                              though its waters roar, and foam
                              and the mountains quake with
                              their surging.
                                     [Psalm 46 v 1-3 ]

                                  

He is for us . [Romans 8 v 28 -32 ]

A  Christian couple were supporting their son and his wife, they where
having difficulties in their marriage, They were leaving them to go home,
and the father said this to them, remember we are for you, but more important  remember ,God is for you. The word of God tells us that if God is for us who can be against us,[Romans 8v31].If you are a Christian ,God is for you, to help you ,to face whatever difficulties, you are facing. He is there to bring good to you out every situation, you are in. Yes He will use whatever means, to help you, he used ravens to feed a prophet [1 Kings 17v4],He used a child's lunch to feed 5.000,[ John 6].This God is your God He changes not, as He was, so He will be,[Malachi 3 v6 ]We must always have double vision, we look out and and we face reality, the difficulties are
real,but we do not stay focused on them, we must look up, to our God who is for us. When Elisha the prophet and his servant were in great danger, the servant despaired, he asked Elisha, ''Oh my lord, what shall we do?, the prophet replied,' 'Don't be afraid, those who are with us are more than those
who are with them''. Elisha then prayed for his servant, that the Lord would open his eyes. The Lord did this, and the servant saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire, ''[2 Kings 6 v15-17]
                                    A prayer
Father in heaven we praise you that we your children are not alone, nor ever will  be, you have promised that you are with us and for us, with that assurance help us to go for into the future with confidence in you, with trust in you, in our Saviours name we ask this. Amen.

Blessed. [ Matthew 12 v 50 ]

I was reading the paper, when my eyes fell on a picture of people living in the state of Acre in Brazil. They were people who resented outsiders because they brought diseases and took land. Why this picture interested me
went back to a time in my Christian life, when I felt God was calling me and my family to go there and serve Him. At that time I belonged to a church which was missionary orientated. One of the ex-pastors, had founded the Acre Gospel mission, and so a work began, A couple from this church had gone out to Acre, but on their way there they both became ill, and the wife died. The husband was told he needed to go home because of his illness ,but he didn't, He believed Gods call was still on his life, he was a very gifted man, and God used him, to establish churches, For the rest of his
life he served God in Brazil, until he went to be with the Lord, his name may not appear in ,whose ,who book of fame,but we are told,''Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.......they will rest from their labour,for their deeds will follow them''[Revelation 14 v13-14 ]
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God we thank you for those people who  served You in very difficulty
circumstances ,who were faithful, and are now blessed in glory, in Jesus name Amen.
                [ I will return to my Blog Monday 2nd of Jan,  every blessing]

God loves that church. [ Nehemiah 1 v 1-6 ]

I was talking to a friend on the phone, who lives in Ulster, and I asked him,
had he heard how the church we used to attend is getting on. His reply
caused me great sadness, he said people were leaving the church, and there was no Sunday school. I sort of felt like Nehemiah ,when he was told of the state of  Jerusalem, we read, that the walls of the city were broken down,
like Nehemiah, I did shed a tear, and offered up a prayer. This was the fellowship that I went to as child, were I first trusted the Lord. They always had a thriving children's work ,I remember teaching a Sunday school glass , of the lively missionary interest they had. It was the place were I met my first wife and it was there I got married. The Pastor was a faithful minister of Gods word, and ministered there for many years. So you can imagine how I feel, and yet it is the story of many churches, once thriving affairs,
they are now no longer in existence . One wonders why,there are different reasons, disunity, lack of love, unforgiveness , lack of meaningful outreach.
Whatever the reason it saddens me greatly, What can one do?, well our first port of call must be prayer, now I must pray on a regular bases for this fellowship, which I love, and most of all, God loves, will you join with me in praying for that church,?.
                                              A prayer.
Dear God have mercy upon that church ,and all such churches,in mercy
may the Holy Spirit move in that situation, in Jesus name Amen

I am a witness. [Acts 1 v8 ]

I had taken a person to  a hospital appointment, and I was going to fetch my car, and I noticed a lady in her nightgown sitting smoking, there is no smoking allowed in hospitals. I felt led to ask her how she was, it turned out she had cancer, she said it could be treated but there was no cure. I felt laid to witness to her, I spoke of Christ, and the importance of knowing Him. That if one knows Christ ,then death brings glory, you close your eyes in death and the next moment you open them in heaven. I realise I may the only person she would hear these words from, but she has heard, so we water our witness, by our prayers. I must be faithful, I must, and the same goes for all Christians, oh yes show them you are a Christian, but do not make this an excuse of not telling them about Christ, let us remember its not about us, it is about Christ. who said ,we are to be His witnesses [ Acts 1 v8 ].
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God  help us to be faithful ,not just by our lives, important as that is, but to speak to people about their need of Jesus your son Amen.

A favourite actor. [ 1 Timothy 1 v 12-15 ]

Just recently I watched a famous actor being interviewed, it  was awful to watch, I do not know how to describe his, manner and attitude. I hope I am not judging him, it just made me feel so sad, for as a child, I remember going to the cinema and watching him, he made us children laugh and even cry. But there he was a hard and cynical old man, he was no longer that person, he portrayed on silver screen. I am so glad that he is not my next door neighbour, and yet as I wrote this blog, I offered up a prayer for him. For I know that Jesus did not come into a world that is perfect, He did not come for those who thought themselves righteous, He came for sinners, yes even for the hard and cynical people, let us not write anybody off, no one is beyond redemption.
                                        A  prayer
Dear God we pray for that old  hard, and cynical actor, have mercy upon him, we thank you that Christ came into the world to save sinners, In His name we ask this Amen.

It is no myth. [ John 3 v16 ]

I transported a lady to a friends funeral, those gathered were told that the
deceased had not wanted a service. A young man took the service, he did pray the Lords prayer, but it was obvious that he did not touch on anything spiritual . He spoke well from a purely secular point of view, after the service I spoke to him, he told me he was funeral facilitator, and said he was an agnostic. I felt laid to say to him, that the resurrection of Jesus was an
historical fact. Our faith is not built upon myth, or make believe, Christ was born in Bethlehem, the story of his birth is not just a little homely, it actually happened .When a follower of Christ wrote about Him, he testified
how he had heard Him speak, seen Him, touched Him.[ 1 John 1 v 1 ].They saw the miracles that He had performed, listened to His teaching, heard him tell them of His death and His resurrection. [ Matthew 17 v 22-23]. The
disciples witnessed His death, and His resurrection, they heard His farewell
message, before He was taken up to heaven. Many stop thinking about Christ after Christmas,but the story is larger than His birth, the meaning
of His birth, life and death, is of vital importance for the whole of humanity
To sum up, when it come to Christ ,He was a historical reality, the meaning
of that reality, was, Gods answer to mans great need, the salvation of this world, that does not mean that all will be saved, even though Christs death
could save everyone, it is a gift freely offered, and as many as receive that gift, receive forgiveness, and eternal life.
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God we thank you for Jesus ,His birth , life, death and resurrection,
grant that this Christmas,many will receive,Him as their Saviour Amen.