Exercise. [ 1 Timothy 4 v 7 - 8 ]

One of my sons bought me a gadget that one wears on ones wrist, it tells you a number of things, it is a simple device to use. One of its main functions is it tells ,how many steps one takes each day, it is thought that the ideal number of steps one should take is just over 10.000. I have felt  for a while that I need to exercise, so I have started walking, so each day I walk for about an hour, now 10,000 steps may seem a lot ,but it is not. This may be so, but I know how easy it is to give up, so I am asking the Lord to help me keep it up, the little gadget is a help. Physical fitness is important, but not the all important thing, yet I do not to minimise, its important, so do  give it consideration. We need to look after our bodies, but as Christians we
are spiritual beings, I gave a person a daily reading that I know would help
him, I asked him was he reading it, he replied sometimes, yet he goes to the gym has a personal trainer. Now there is nothing wrong with going to the gym and having a personal trainer, but  Paul wrote,''Physical training
is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,[1 Timothy 4 v8 ]
What Paul is saying get balance into your life, the physical soon deteriorates
William Barclay ,wrote,'' Training in godliness ,in goodness, develops the whole man in body, mind and spirit, and its results affect not only time, but eternity as well''.
                                           A  prayer.
Dear God  help us to look after our bodies, but help us not to neglect our
spiritual development in Jesus name Amen.

I pitch my tent. [ Revelation 1 v 8 - 18]

I will share something I read recently with you,'' Bishop Handley Moule died in 1920. In January 1919 he wrote to a nephew: I have often prayed that daily ,and to the end. I may live as in a tent pitched between the Cross
and the grave of our Lord- the empty Cross, symbol and seal of His finished work of sacrifice and redemption, the empty grave, likewise the evidence and pledge of His eternal victory for us over the last enemy,death, and  of our hid with Him in God. May your tent be ever there also'' Alec Motyer
commenting on this wrote,'' And there, we might say, not only because of the power of the cross in the face of death, but also because of the power of
the power of the cross and resurrection in the face of death, but also because of their power in the face of life''

                              Safe shelter from alarm and loss
                              I sit within my quite tent;
                              ''Twixt here a Grave and there a Cross
                              My days and night in peace are spent

                              Peace, peace and glory now he gives,
                              Fair fruits of his unfathomed woes,
                              And with me in that he lives,
                              The Lamb that died, and life that rose''

Busy,busy, busy. [ Luke 10 v38=42]

Let us consider the next thing that W. Barclay said about John the Baptist,
''He had given himself a chance to hear the voice of God''. Lets face it the world does really rush on, busy, busy, busy. No matter how fast we drive on the motorway , there will always be those who will drive faster, busy, busy,
busy. Then there is all the workplace ,and when we go home more work, and oh I must watch my favourite soap on the TV. If you are a parent you become the local taxi ,and oh they must be taken to the junior football team, which you have to watch with a lot of other parents. We like the radio on in the car n fact we do not like quietness, oh I must watch the x factor. most people do not give themselves time, with their husbands, or wives. Of course many of these things are legitimate, but  surely listening to God is important, but the cry goes up, I have not time to listen to God. Dear Child of God ,stop and listen, and then like John the Baptist ,you may just hear God  speaking.

                                            A  prayer.
Dear God we thank you that you are never to busy to listen to us, we confess that sad to say we are often to busy to listen to you, forgive us, and help us to change, in Jesus name Amen.

Sell all. [ Mark 10 v17-31 ]

Commenting on John the Baptist, William Barclay, mentioned two things, about the clothes he wore, and his relationship with God[Matthew 3].He did
not wear,'' The soft and comfortable luxuries which kills the soul''. Next he says,'' He gave himself a chance to hear the voice of God''. As I read these word I must confess they challenged me, as regards the first I have plenty soft and comfortable luxuries. The question I ask are they killing my soul?, I do not know but I do know that so many things can destroy our souls. Judas is not the only one who killed his soul for money, we read of a rich person who came to Jesus desiring to know how he could inherit eternal life, he was a religious person. He was told to sell all and gave all to the poor, but alas instead of saving his soul, he killed it. It could be money, it could be anything that is more important than Christ, I suppose the question is ,how much do we value our souls?.
                                      
                                              A prayer.
Dear Lord grant us grace to see what or who is more important, and help us to make the right choice, for our souls sake. Amen.

My dearset friend. [ Luke 15 v11-31 ]

I remember a man call Alec, who was a very bright Christian, and I remember how he appeared to be walking away from the Lord .I spoke to him and became emotional, as I sought to reason with him. I also remember with sadness as a young person walking away from the Lord, I yielded to
temptation. My dear brother walked away because of wrong things he saw in his church, and so the list goes on. The nation of Israel were a people who continually walked away from God, following other Gods there are reasons of course why people walk away from the Lord, but the fact is this ,there are no advantages, in this, none what so ever. First of all I
want you to know that God still loves us, He will always love us,though
we may not feel He does, we feel hurt, and maybe even bitter, because, there is always a because, but it does help being bitter, nor giving up on the best friend and Father there is. The thing I have found out that Jesus is the one person who is always there ,in all my hurts, loneliness, always, I could not live without His friendship. Many years when   I was away from my dearest Friend ,I went to a Christian service, I do not remember what was preached, but I do remember, having an overwhelming feeling of my need,
and that night I came back to my dearest friend. There is an old hymn that comes to mind, I will prayerfully leave it with you.

                           I've wandered far away from God
                           Now I'm coming home;
                           The paths of sin too long I've trod;
                           Lord  ,I'm coming home.

                          I've wasted many precious years;
                          Now I'm coming home;
                          I now repent with  bitter tears;
                          Lord, I'm coming home.

                          My soul is sick, my heart is sore;
                          Now I'm coming home;
                          My strength renew, my hope restore;
                          Lord, I'm coming home.

Wait for it.[Habakkuk 2 v 3 ]

One of the common traits of mankind is impatience, we see this in so many aspect of life. Recently my wife were nearly involved in an accident because  a driver was impatient, many accidents are caused by people being impatient. I follow a particular football team, a very successful team, led by a very successful manager, He retired, and on the day of his retirement he asked the supporters to be patient with his successor, but the were not. It is not in the nature of the beast, we want it now, that is why talent TV shows are very popular because it promises instant success. One of the most important lessons in life is patience, Romans 15v 5, [AV]reminds us that God is patient, and He reminds us that we are called to be patient [Hebrews 10 v36 ].I was reminded of this recently when I was reading a daily devotional,the writer was touching on a subject near to my heart, and mentioned a promise, that God gave me ,which has not yet been fulfilled, But of course I believe it will be ,in the meanwhile, I am to exercise patience ,as the Lord said to the prophet Habakkuk,'' Though it linger, wait for it, it will certainly come and will not delay.[2v3 ]
                                           Psalm 40 v1.

                               I waited patiently for the Lord;
                               He turned to me, and heard my
                               cry.

Leaning [ Hebrews 11 v1 ]

It was John .G. Paton the missionary, was struggling to find a word for faith in the local language, he was interrupted by someone in great trouble and needing help, who said to him,'' Please may I come and lean heavily upon you?'', Alec Motyer,writes the following,'' Faith is leaning heavily upon Christ: not labour but cessation of labour, not doing but ceasing to do; simply leaning the whole weight of our needs upon Him, and finding in Him acceptance before the presence of God, and a righteousness which
could never be ours by ours by our own good works''.

                             What a fellowship ,what a joy divine,
                             Leaning on the everlasting arms;
                             What a blessedness ,what a peace is mine,
                              Leaning on the everlasting arms.

                             What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
                             Leaning on the everlasting arms;
                             I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
                             Leaning on the everlasting arms.
                                 [Words by E.A. Hoffman ]