Remorse is not enough. ( Luke 15 v 7 )

                     A friend of mine  who used to be a justice of the peace was
                     sitting on the bench, before a young man, who had broke
                     the law. The solicitor representing the young man was asked
                     by my friend as to the young man's attitude ,the solicitor
                     said that he was filled with remorse.  My friend said this,     
                     '' but is he repentant,? '' the solicitor  was not sure what he
                     meant. My friend explained to him that repentance means
                     a change in his behaviour. Now there is much to be said
                     about repentance, John  Colquhoun's book on repentance
                     covers it  well, the drunken wife beater may  be filled with
                     remorse promising that he will not do it again, but unless  
                    there is repentance there will be no change. Repentance unto
                     salvation involves sorrow for sin, and a firm resolution
                     to hate and forsake  it.When we trust Jesus as our Saviour
                     the evidence that it is genuine is a changed life.

                   
       
                   

Sovereign but Kind. ( 1 John 4 v 16 )

                         John W. Olley in his book , 'The message of Kings '
                         writes ,''History is not just a mishmash of human actions''.
                         That applies to history  , but also to  our own personal
                         history. The fact is our God reigns in all the affairs of
                         nations, no matter how hidden that appears to be. To
                         the natural eye all may appear confusion and uncertain,
                         but to the person of faith, their eye is on the one who is
                         in control , a Sovereign God. For those who follow Him.
                         they have His presence with them ,and that's enough.

                                           God shall alone the refuge be
                                           And comfort of my mind
                                           Too wise to be mistaken, He
                                           Too good to be unkind

                                           In all His holy, sovereign ,will
                                           He is , I daily find.
                                           Too wise to be  mistaken, still,
                                            Too good to be unkind .

                                           When I the tempter's rage endure,
                                            tis God supports my mind
                                            Too wise to be mistaken , sure,
                                            Too  good to be unkind.

                                             Though I  cannot His goings see,
                                             Nor all His footsteps find ;
                                              Too wise to be mistaken, He,
                                              Too good to be unkind.

                                              Hereafter He will make me know
                                              And I will surely find,
                                              He was too wise to err, and O
                                              Too good to be unkind.

                                                   ( Words  S. Medley )

He has not changed. ( Philippians 4 v19 )

            Today many people will be feeding their pets, we do not
            have a pet, but we put out food for the birds. In 2 Kings 17
            we read how a man of God  was fed by ravens .They acted
            on the command of God ,morning and evening they brought
            him food. God is not limited in providing for His children,
            we read how the Israelites doubted that God could meet their
            need, in unbelief they said,' Can God  provide a table in the
            wilderness',? ( Psalm 78 v 19). But  He did, the fact is you can
            focus on God or the wilderness, it is a saying where God guides
            He provides. He is  still the God of the impossible, He has not
            changed.

                                   The Lord is my shepherd
                                    I shall not want.
                                          ( Psalm 23 v1 )
         
              

                      

A daily walk ( Matthew 4 v 19 )

                     Each day I go for a walk, I  am not in training, I am
                     just trying to maintain a degree of  reasonable health,
                     I usually to do it each morning. There are some days
                     I may not go for my usual walk , no I don't  walk twice
                     as much the next day. Now there is something each I do
                     each day, it is another sort of walk, my daily walk with
                     with my Saviour. That is the most vital thing in my life,
                     unlike my daily exercise walk, I don't leave it off. For I
                     know I need Him everyday, how can I face the temptations
                     that come to me each day?, the answer is I can't. Where
                     would  I receive the strength to do what I have do? ,the
                     answer is , only from Him.

                     The Lord replied , My Presence will go with you, and
                      I will give you rest.
                                           (  Exodus 33 v 14 )
                    

All is well if ( Romans 8 v28 )

                           A young man called Joseph , experienced
                           a great deal of trials. Hated by his brothers
                           who wanted him dead. Instead  they sold
                           into slavery. There he was  falsely accused
                           of raping someone ,the result he spent many
                           years in prison. Then everything changed
                           he was released, and promoted to one of
                           the highest  positions in government.
                           moving on in the story, he came face to face with
                           them ,and was reunited with his father. There came
                           a time when Joseph, told his brothers ,'' You
                           intended to harm me, but God intended it
                           for  good . ( Genesis 50 v 20 )

                                      Ill that He  blesses is our good
                                      And unblest  good is ill;
                                      And all is right that seems most
                                      wrong
                                      if it be His sweet will.
                                             ( F .W. Faber )

                       















                             

Sincerity is not enough.( John 14 v 6 )

                  There have been a number of attacks in London by
                  Islamic extremist . Those who carry out these attacks are
                  sincere religious people ,in other words they believe
                  that what they are doing is what their god wants them to do.
                  But as someone has said ,when you do such things sincerity
                  is never enough ,because the simple fact is ,you can be
                  sincerely wrong. We can only assume that those who
                  wanted  Jesus to die were sincere, but they were sincerely
                  wrong as they now know. All religions do not lead to
                  God ,that is why God sent Jesus into the world. to deal with
                  the problem of sin. There I go mentioning sin again ,you
                  may s not want to hear about sin, but I must mention it
                 for if your sin is not forgiven you cannot go to heaven, which
                 means you will go to hell, no matter how sincere you are.
                 Alas you may find out ,to late, that sincerity is not enough.

                  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is your
                                                   darkness.
                                               ( Matthew 6 v 23 )
                                             
 .
                                                
               

The Storm [ John 1 v 1 ]

                          Daily we have witnessed on the news the terrible
                          devastation caused by the hurricanes in the Caribbeans.
                          It makes one realise the power of nature, for all our
                          achievements, we cannot  do anything to stop the
                          destructive power, of such power. No one can do
                          anything, we just look on in helplessness. When I
                          say no one, I am reminded of an occasion when someone
                          stopped a storm in its tracks, it was Jesus ( Mark 4 v  35
                          -41 ). How could He do such a thing ?,the disciples
                          where amazed, and asked this question ,''Who is this?
                          Even the wind and the  waves obey  Him''.

                                Who is He in yonder stall,
                                At whose feet the shepherds fall.
                       
                                Tis the Lord, O Wondrous story,
                                Tis the Lord, the King of glory.

                                        My Lord and my God.