Trust Him. [ Habakkuk 3 v 17-19 ]

The winter months can be dull ,cold, and dreary, but today the sun has broken through, yes it is not all doom and gloom. In the darkest of days we
need to remember the sun will shine again, I think of the words of a hymn which goes,''Sometimes a light surprises ,the Christian when he sings;
                     It is the Lord who rises ,with healing in His wings,
                     When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again,
                     A season of clear shining, to cheer it after rain.

                     In holy contemplation, we sweetly, then pursue,
                     The theme of Gods salvation, and find it ever new,
                     Set free from present sorrow, we cheerfully can say,
                     E' en let the 'unknown  tomorrow, bring with it what it may.
                    
                     It can bring with it nothing,but He will bear us through,;
                     Who gives the lilies clothing, will clothe His people too;
                      Beneath the spreading heavens, no creature but is fed;
                      And He who feeds the ravens, will give His children bread.

                     Though vine nor fig-tree neither,their wonted fruit should bear,
                     Though all the field should whither, nor flocks nor herds be
                      there.
                      Yet God the same abiding,His  praise shall tune my voice;
                       For, while in confiding, I cannot but rejoice.
                        
                                    [Words by W. Cowper ]

No one is innocent. [Romans 3 v23 ]

Consider the following words from Romans 3 v 10 -11,''There is none righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands, no one who seeks after God'' . We are inclined to load ourselves with guilt because people are lost, the fact is mankind is lost because  mankind our sinners,who have turned away from God. That's not my fault, it is not Gods fault, it is their
fault, we have just passed through Christmas, how many have turned to Christ?.  I have witnessed to hundreds of people, very few have responded,I
watched a film recently about Japan, they for a great deal of their history
worshipped their Emperor, yet there was a time when people turned to Christ, but the authorities, brutally eradicated them. Whose fault is that Gods? mankind make their choices, and so often it is the wrong choice. People say what about those who have not heard the gospel?, remember they are not innocent, no one is innocent. Let me repeat this, no one is innocent, not one single person, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God[Romans 3 v23 ] As I have said I like many Christians have witnessed to many people, and that is all we can do, and that is all we are meant to do. I witness to people that God in His mercy will save people,
that they trust Christ, if they don't ,it only adds to their guilt.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear God in your mercy, for you are merciful, save sinners, help us to be faithful in our witnessing, in Jesus name Amen.
.

Healing. [ Acts v 29- 30 ]

A friend of mine is setting up a healing ministry, what does that entail?, he
shared with me how it would work, people would be vetted, those who come to be prayed for would be advised to continue taken their medication.
It appears often when praying for the sick, one has to proceed with care. people are so vulnerable. I knew a man who sought for healing, believed he
had been healed and he wasn't,. He continued to drive his car, and had a couple of accidents, mercifully the Lord did take him home. There are preachers who teach that one should claim healing even though it has not happened, claim it in faith. That is what that dear man did, stopped taking
his medication, now of course God may give you a word ,promising healing,if it is from God it will happen. No one can guarantee that one will be healed, but it does happen in response to prayer and faith. Yet for many it does not happen, but them the vital thing is the will of God, this is not
a cope out, but a reality, that we need grasp. Elisha the great man of faith died of an illness,[2 Kings 13 v14 ],we will all die eventually, but God may
for His glory ,heal, and so prolong a life, He may not. The age of miracles is not passed, healing can still happen, we cannot force, or blackmail God to make it happen, but let me say it can happen.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God we ask for wisdom in discerning Your will in all things, we think of many people who are ill, may it please You to heal the sick, for the glory of  Jesus we ask this Amen.

Prisoners of our past.[ Genesis 50 v15-21 ]

The Pastor of the church I attend had ask for people to share something that had touched their lives, a book, a song, whatever. So I brought a book on the  life of Eric Liddell, but just as I got up, the Pastor said that he was a big fan of U2, and how Bonar, had been born into a mixed religious family, one a Catholic, and one a Protestant. The Pastor mentioned a song that was full of desire, for peace in Ireland. Then I was asked to come up to share, well when I did, I felt led to mention Ireland, I said Ireland like people
was a prisoner of its past history. We all of course have a history, but the question is this, how has it affected us?, are we prisoners of it?, it is so easy to become a prisoner of that past. I read of a young man in the Bible called Joseph, he was hated by his brothers, they wanted him dead. They did not kill him but sold him into slavery, there he was unjustly accused of rape, and imprisoned for 13 years. Eventually he was released and promoted to a positioned of great power, and eventually he came face to face, with ,yes you've guessed, his wicked brothers, and you know what he could have done?, instead he forgave them. In doing that he was making a declaration, that he was not going to be a prisoner of his  past.[Read about it
in Genesis 37/ 39-50.]

                 Why not ask God ,as to how you may
                  break free ,from being a prisoner of
                  your past.
              

Ought . [ Matthew 7 v 24-27 ]

Now let us consider the last ought, that Derek Tidball, challenges us with,
''Christians ought to feast themselves on the nutritious food of truth instead
of on the seductive food of compromise that it is often mistaken for it''.In
Psalm 119 v 26/27/28/30.the writer prays, first,'' Teach me your decrees'' have we a desire to be taught Gods word?, I must confess my memory of school ,was, I was not easy to teach, Lord make us to be teachable, when it comes to your word. Next we read,'' Let me understand the teaching of your precepts,'' important though it is to read Gods word ,understanding it is vital. Next we read,'' Strengthen me according to your word'', The word of God can strengthen us, in our sorrows, disappointments, and difficulties.
Last but not least, he prays,'' I have chosen the way of truth''. We need to do this, to make a diffident choice, to stand on God word, no matter what anyone else does, follow Him who is truth, even Jesus, these are the things we ought to do.
                                      A  prayer.
Dear God grant us grace to do those things we ought to do, in Jesus name Amen.

Are you busy. [ Luke 10 v 38- 42 ]

Life for many is busy,and time is at a minimum, and as Christians the challenge we are faced with is, to not neglect our relationship with the Lord.
We know the importance of prayer ,Bible reading, and fellowship with God, but we are genuinely busy, and feel guilty. What can be do, if one has young children to look after, which is a 24/7 task, plus looking after the home, keeping it tidy, making meals, doing the shopping .We have all these time saving gadgets yet we are still  under great pressure, to fit every thing in. When I was working I would observe women who had children, under so much stress, with all they had to do. Yes for the many life is indeed a challenge, and yet the importance of having that relationship with God is there. There used to be a song which went, 'whistle while you work', well try to pray as you work, pray as you drive, but of course don't close your eyes.snatch time with God, leave a Bible around, read a few verses when you can.Develop having a conversation with God as you go through, yes just talk to Him, about everything, be assured He understands and is listening, and is always delighted to hear from His children.
                                          A  prayer.
O Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee
do not forget me. Amen.
  [ Before the Battle of Edgehill, Lord Astley prayed this prayer]

A pilgrim people. [ Philippians 3 v 7 - 14 ]

Let us consider the next of DT's four thoughts ,''Christians ought to be a pilgrim people, always making progress and never settling into a state of spiritual complacency'' .In the book of Revelation  the Lord speaks to the church in Laodicea [Revelation 3 v14-23 ], they were not words that they would have wanted to hear, but words they needed to hear. He tells them
that they have lost their zeal, that materialism has taken over, smugness has settled in, they think that they are rich when in reality they were poor. Not only were they not making progress, they were going back, they were what we call backsliders. They were blind to their condition, blinded by prosperity, there is great danger in prosperity, we can so easily let it blind us
as it blinded this church. Let none of us forget that we are a pilgrim people, that this world is not our home, we are aliens and strangers here, we are looking for a better country, a heavenly one.[Hebrews 11 v13-16].Let us all
beware of becoming ,like this church ,for if we do the same fate awaits us that awaited them, listen to the gentle knock of Jesus, on our hearts door, and invite Him in, that He may restore us,
                                             A  prayer.
Dear God forgive our backsliding ways, and restore us spiritually in Jesus name Amen.