Wedding vows [Ecclesiastes 5 v 4 - 5 ]

A husband of a Christian friend of mine is needing a lot of care, I mentioned it to her, and she replied,'' It comes with the licence''. Many people have changed the vows they make when they get married now,but when my friend and her husband got married they  spoke the following.
                          Wilt thou have this woman to be
                           Thou wedded wife, to live together
                          according to God's ordinance
                          in the holy state of matrimony?                      
                          Wilt thou love her, comfort her,
                            honour and keep her,
                           in sickness and in health;
                           and forsaking all other,
                           keep thee only unto her,
                           so long as you both shall live.
My they are very challenging words, we are not only saying these words to each  other, but in the presence of the Lord, and that is why it is so serious.
He expects us to be faithful as to what we vow, My friend is right, it comes with the licence, how are we living up to it?.
                               A  prayer.
Dear God help us to be faithful to our wedding vow's, as long as we both
shall live, in Jesus name Amen.
                         

I hope you will be ready.[ 2 Thessalonians 1 v 3-10 ]

I was surprised when my wife, brought her mobile phone to me, and we were not only able to talk to my son , but to see him and his wife.  I have not seen this service on a mobile phone before. It was mentioned years ago, now it is a reality, what tremendous changes have taken place within my 72years.When I was young very few people could afford to own their own home, television was none existent, the radio, or wireless, and cinema were the most popular means of entertainment. I remember how we played football in the street, not a good idea now, because of the amount of cars on the road. That is another thing that has changed, car owners, car ownership was for the few, now households can have two ,three, or even four cars, as for TV's, so it goes on. As to travel many of us have been to places that our parents only read about, or saw in the movies. I could go on, and on, but I wont, but one thing that has not changed, is humanities, sinful condition. We still live in a broken world which no amount of technology, education, social improvement will never change, this is a sad, sad reality. At times as I look out on this world I somewhat despair,and I found myself praying for the Lord to come back, to put an end to all the suffering. The fact is Christ is coming back, this old world will be finished with, and a new heaven and earth will come into being. The promise of a glorious future awaits all who have trusted Jesus, an awful future awaits those who have not, you can be part of that glorious future, by asking Jesus to be your Saviour.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus we thank you that you are coming again, for those who have trusted you as Saviour, that may share your eternal glory. Amen.



                              

I'm only human. [[ Romans 3 v23 ]

I  listened to a song from a recent album, called Human, some of the words  of song I was listening to, went,''I'm only human after all, don't put the blame on me''. I wonder what you think of those words, I am sure we can all identify with then, its like none of us are perfect, but it not the same as saying I am a sinner, oh no, for the many that's taking it to far. The question
is it?. now of course we all make mistakes, we all forget things, this is not what I am stressing, it is that moral dimension,when we defraud, covet, hate, commit adultery, are judgemental, our lack of love, both for God and man. The words,'' I'm only human after all, don't put the blame on me'', does not get us off the hook, no, God  declares we are accountable, and responsible. When Adam and Eve sinned they blamed it on someone else
[Genesis 3 v11-13 ],sin committed for whatever reason is still sin, even if it
is committed  in ignorance, When God created us we were sinless, when we sinned we became sinners, and it does not change because we cry out,''I'm
only human'', no ,and when we stand before a holy God, the consequences,
for our sinful actions, including our sinful thoughts ,will be judged. This is where  I tell you the good news, there is a Saviour who died so that we may be forgiven, that person is Jesus. All we have to do is stop making excuses
and ask for forgiveness, this is God's merciful answer for our sin's.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God help us not hide behind our foolish human reasoning, your word makes it clear  that we sin, and that sin needs forgiveness , by asking Jesus
to save us, Amen.
                               

A changed life.[ 2 Corinthians 5 v17 ]

 I received a magazine on a Christian ministry, that deals with the  medical and social areas of people ,plus their spiritual needs. As regards a  Rehabilitation Centre in China who run a project for those with special needs, a young girl aged 17 attended, her parents asked for help.the
young girl made real progress ,her mother an accountant, became a Christian. The father made his daughter attend when it was dark, because he was so ashamed of His daughter. Abigail made real progress, and she and her mother began to help at the centre. One day the father came to the centre ,and asked, if he too could know the God who had so changed his family's life. We praise God for this, and it is needful reminder, that a changed life brought about though Christ can be a wonderful testimony.
                                          A prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus we thank you that you not only forgave our sins, but also
change our lives,Amen

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.