Not with God [ Luke 1 v26-38 ]

There is an old song with the words,'' It's impossible '',running through it,yes we cant stop a baby from crying, it's impossible, yes we cant stop the ocean from rushing to the shore, it's impossible. There was a young girl who had a visit from an angel, he told her something that was impossible, she was going to have a baby. Well to her it appeared impossible, for she was a virgin, the angel explained to how it would come about, the last thing he said to her was.
                             ''That nothing is impossible with God''.

When it is in keeping with Gods will, the impossible can happen, needs can be met, healing can take place, doors of opportunity can open. Yes He can make a way where there  appears no way. You may be thinking that you are useless and fit for nothing, ignore ,reject such thoughts,for Gods ways go beyond our ways, He can lift you out of the dung hill and place you on a throne[ Psalm 113v7-8],for remember nothing is impossible with God.

                                              A  prayer.
Dear God help us to look beyond our difficulties, remind us Lord that with you nothing is impossible ,in Jesus name we ask this Amen.

The gift of reading. [ 2 Timothy 3 v 15- 17 ]

We were on a journey to visit our youngest boy, his wife and child, I was driving, I felt tired, so we pulled into a service station for a break, I had a coffee, and went to one the stores, that sold sweets, news papers, books etc.
I was looking at the shelves full of magazines, and I made a discovery,a
magazine called ,' The Oldie', it does not take much thought to realise it is a magazine aimed at ,yes you guessed, for my age group, so I bought one. It is full of many short articles by well known people, I suppose they are short
because of  my fellow oldies short attention span, I joke, but I did find it a jolly good read. Now about that attention span, it is something a preacher should always take into  account, but unfortunately some don't. Most of my reading is in short burst, I get tired unless the book is very interesting. I am always reading something, I have  a kindle, plus a number of books. I read the Bible every day ,I love short devotionals, I read four. I never did like school, but I will always be glad that I learnt to read, it opened up a whole new world for me. I read because I enjoy it, as a Christian, I love the Bible
I love to read it, and I desire more and more to understand it, I honour  it as
being Gods word , as opposed to my other books. I read today of a man who
had to wait 65years before he got a bible, I am sure he would tell you and  I, that it was worth the wait, for you see as the little chorus goes,' the best book to read is the Bible'.

                                         A prayer
Dear God thank you for the gift of reading, we thank you for the world of books, especially for the Bible, the best book of all. Amen.

                        

No judgement will fall.[ 1 Peter 1 v 18-19]

I read this by J. Stott,'' The death of Jesus Christ was primarily, neither a display of love, nor an example of heroism, but a sacrifice for sin''. That is what Paul wrote in Galations1  v3-4. ''The Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our sins''. This was forecast by the prophets, especially Isaiah 53,there it seen as a sin offering and the only offering, that could deal with sin. Galatians 3 v 13 read's ,''Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree''.[ CP Deuteronomy21 v23] The cross is seen symbolically as a tree, through His death  J . Stott writes,'' Christ Jesus actually became a curse for us. He bore in His righteous person the curse or judgement which our sins deserved'' The result of this is, when we trust Jesus as our Saviour, we are saved from wrath to come[ 1 Thessalonians 2 v16]because Christ on the cross bore it. we do not. The Jews to this day keep a festival each year called the Passover, it reminds them of a time, when the Lord delivered the nation from slavery in Egypt. Pharaoh refused to obey the voice of God, so God sent ten plagues, the last one was a plague of death when all the first born in Egypt would die, that included Israel. But God told them that nothing would happen if they killed a lamb and put its blood on the sides, and tops of the door frames. When the Lord passed through the land , He saw the blood ,no judgement would fall on that household .A picture of salvation, Christ the lamb of God shed His precious blood, through that shed blood, we are saved, cleansed from our sin, no judgement will fall.

                                            A  prayer.
Dear God thanks for Jesus your son who died for sinful humanity, we rejoice that all who trust Him are no longer facing eternal judgement Amen.


                               

Courage [ Romans 8 v 37]

Let us continue to consider the importance of courage, it is important because that is what we will need .The pilgrim fathers left England to live in what we now call America, that took courage, so often Christians have gone to places of danger, that took courage. A minister I know accused his church of not having courage, I feel he spoke unadvisedly, we must be careful in passing judgement on others. Yet for all that ,we need a degree of courage to be a Christian, in a time when Christians, are trying to persuade
themselves and the world that they are not different, the fact is we are different. The words of  Romans 12v2 come to mind,'' Do not any conform
any longer to the pattern of this world''.  That will take courage for our children at school, for  all of us who are Christians. Daily I pray for Christians who are facing discrimination ,intimidation, they need courage .
In the movie ,''The wizard of Oz,'' Dorthy had three friends, a  scarecrow,a
tin man, and a lion, they all lacked something. A  brain, a heart, and courage. So they went down that yellow brick road to see the great wizard.
Now we all have a brain and a heart, but many of us do not have courage. I believe that the secret of having courage, is trust, in God and His word, I leave the following word with you, it was spoken to a new leader, Joshua, he succeeded Moses. He was going to lead the people, into the promised land a land with formidable foes, so here is what he was told.

                             ''Have I not commanded you?
                              Be strong and courageous.
                              Do not be terrified,
                              do not be discouraged,
                              for the Lord your God
                              will be with you wherever
                              you go''
                                 [Joshua 1 v  9]
,

Bullying [ Joshua 1 v9 ]

While watching an old war movie, one  of the characters, confesses to being a coward, none of us would to think of  ourselves as being a coward. Recently a Pastor spoke of some members of his church as lacking in courage. The apostles lacked courage the night Christ was arrested, especially Peter. ,in given situations ,lets be truthful to ourselves, we do not know how we act if we were in their shoes. Often the price of being courageous is costly, it does not have to be in  a war zone. There are many dear children who courageously face bullying in their school, likewise, there are people who courageously,face a bullying boss. Bullying in the home, by husbands, or even wives, they need courage, to face this sinful practise. And sometimes they need to walk away, we are not meant to be any bodies punch bag, be it physically, or mentally . It takes courage to follow Jesus, many ,many dear people take their lives in their hands, by declaring they are followers of Jesus. Today let us lift up our hearts in prayer against this sin of bullying, wherever it is manifest.

                                            A  prayer.

Dear God you know the evil of bullying, help all those who are experiencing  it ,in Jesus name we ask this, Amen.

                                               

Still standing. [ Acts 7 v 56 ]

While on my daily walk , I spoke to a fellow walker, I asked him how he was?, he replied that he was recovering from four strokes and a heart attack.
Well I said to him you are still standing, and he agreed, then he went his way and I went my way. Yes he was still standing after all he experienced, of course life will throw a lot of things at us, even though we are Christians.
One cannot help admire those who are still standing, in spite of all the trials and difficulties they experience. We know more about the apostle Paul than
any other of the apostles, prison, floggings, shipwrecked three times, danger
from so many people, experienced hunger and thirst, and nakedness,2 Corinthians [11v23ff],inspite of this he was still standing. .Then my mind turned to our Saviour, consider all He experienced, consider how Satan used one his our Lords disciples to betray him. and how men did their worse to him, and his disciples forsook him. Pilate had him flogged, and the Jews had him crucified, but on the third day He was still standing, triumphant, and victorious.

                                           A  prayer
Dear Lord we ask for grace to remain standing irrespective of my circumstances, trials, temptations, or hardships Amen

The cross. [ Galations 6 v 14 ]

                                            The  cross.

                                Beneath the cross of Jesus
                                I fain would take my stand
                                The shadow of a mighty Rock,
                                Within a weary land;
                                A home within the wilderness,
                                A rest upon the way,
                                From the burning of the noontide heat,
                                And the burden of the day

                                O safe and happy shelter,
                                O refuge tried and sweet,
                                O trysting-place where heaven's love
                                And heaven's justice meet.
                                As to the holy patriarch
                                That wondrous dream was given,
                                So seems my Saviour's cross to me,
                                 A ladder up to heaven.

                                There lies ,beneath its shadow,
                                But on the farther side,
                                The darkness of an awful grave
                                That gapes both deep and wide;
                                And there between us stands the cross,
                                Two arms outstretched to save;
                                Like a watchman set to guard the way
                                From that eternal grave.

                               Upon that cross of Jesus,
                               Mine eyes at times can see
                               The very dying form of One
                               Who suffered there for me;
                               And from my smitten heart with tears,
                               Two wonders I confess-
                               The wonders of His glorious love,
                                And my own worthlessness.

                               I take, O cross, the shadow
                               For my abiding place,
                               I ask no other sunshine than
                               The sunshine of His face;
                               Content to let the world go by,
                               To know no gain nor loss-
                                My sinful self my only shame,
                                My glory all the Cross.

                              [Words .  E.C,Clephane ]