How much do we love Him ?. [ Mark 8 v 34-37]

I sent a text to my wife, in a moment of romantic weakness, it read, ''I love you more than Manchester United'', my favourite football team. In Luke 14 v26,our Saviour tells a huge crowd ,''If anyone comes to me and does not
hate, father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes even his own life- cannot be my disciple''. Now the word hate seems a strange word to use ,but the simple explanation is this as quoted by W.
Hendriksen who writes,'' The meaning of hate in the Lucan passage is to love less, In all things Christ must always have the pre-eminence[Col 1 v18]
In Matthew 19 v 16ff, we read of a man who came to Jesus he had a wonderful testimony, he claimed to keep the law, he  honoured his mother and father, and loved his neighbour as himself. But things came to a head when Jesus told him to go, and sell his possessions and give to the poor. At that moment everything was held in the balance, what would he do ?, who or what did he love the most?.  This man was very wealthy, decision time, would he love Jesus more than his wealth?, there could be no compromise, was he going to receive eternal, or end up in a lost eternity?. Can we sincerely say ,I love Jesus more than.......
                                      A prayer.
Dear Lord help us to have a right sense of values, for the consequences of choosing wrongly is very serious .Amen.

Telling and praying [ 1 Timothy 2 v 1-4 ]

I was out walking, when I came into contact with a lady, whom I had met recently, we walked together for a while. As we walked I witnessed to her
it was a brief word of witness, but it was hopefully enough for her to come and accept Christ as her Saviour. Will you pray for that lady, that the short witness ,will be blessed to her salvation. I have an older sister, I have prayed  for her for a long time,recently my concern for her has grown,will
you pray for her that, like that woman she may come to know Christ as her
Saviour. Keep witnessing ,keep praying, for the lost, to the our loving God,
who would have all to be saved and come to an knowledge of the truth.

                           When Jesus has found you, tell others the story,
                           That my loving Saviour is your Saviour too;
                           Then pray that your Saviour may bring them to glory,
                           And prayer will be answered, it was answered
                                                   For you.
                                         [Words by Samuel.o'M. Cluff]

The travelling people.. [ Mark 1 v 16-20 ]

In Ireland there are people known as travellers, people of no fixed abode,
they move around. This is not a new thing we read about such people in the Bible whom we are told admitted that they were aliens and strangers on
earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking about the country they had left ,they would have had opportunity to return. Instead they were longing for a better country a heavenly one. Therefore God their God is not ashamed to be called their God for he has prepared a city for them.[ Hebrews 11 v13-15 ]Many of Gods people living in troubled areas of this world, have been driven out of lands which there  forefathers have lived in for centuries, do pray for them. The word of God tells us that the things that are seen are temporal, that includes this planet earth [Isaiah 65 v17 ].Our Lord challenged those of us who grasped to tightly to the things of this life, and the danger that they brought.[Luke 16 v23]He challenged those who followed him, to act in a way that went against human reasoning[Matthew 19 v16ff]To Love Him more than their nearest and dearest, calling them to forsake all, and follow Him, and become the travelling people.

                            Will you come and follow Me,
                             if I but call your name?
                             Will you go where you don't know
                             And never be the same?
                             Will you let my love be shown,
                             Will you let my name be known,
                             Will you let My life be grown in you,
                              And you in Me?
                                     [Words by G. Maule/ J.L. Bell]

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