Leaning ( Proverbs 3 v 5 - 6 )

      Let consider further Proverbs 5 v 3  'Lean not  on your own understanding',  everyday we
      are bombarded with so many things, things that challenge  our faith,in relation to creation,
      moral values, the person of Christ,how can he God and man.?. The miracles recorded in the
      Bible,and when it comes to trials we are inclined, to stop thinking  Biblically  , we move from
      God and His word,  and make shipwreck of our faith.We need to educate our understanding
      so we can, stand and having done all to stand. There is no excuse for neglecting Gods word
      we need to understand what God has to say about trials of different sorts. When we do this
      then we can rest in the Lord,we realise that we are not unique ,many of Gods choosiest
      saints have suffered the severest of trials. yet they fixed their eyes on Jesus, who endured the
      cross ,scorning its shame, for the joy that was set before  Him. (Hebrews 12 v 2 ) The
      unbeliever  will not receive any help from that ,nothing can compensate him for the trials he
      suffered.We could put it this way we need to lean on Jesus and His word, more and more,
      instead of leaning on our own understanding.

                                                   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.

                                                               ( Words  E.A. Hoffman )

TRUST ( Proverbs 3 v 5 )

                  Trust in the Lord ,so v 5 of Proverbs 3,many say they believe in Jesus who have never
                   trusted in Him as Saviour. When seeking to witness to people we discover that people
                   dislike the Saviour, they  may even hate him.People trust in many different things,the
                   rich trust in their riches, the strong man trust in his physical strength.But the Bible
                   exhorts us to trust in the Lord, why?, because we all need a Saviour and only the
                   Lord can save.There are to be no half measures when it comes to trusting the Lord,
                   with all our hearts, some would say that's a bit extreme,is He not worthy of our trust ?
                   of course He is.  Likewise when it comes to love there are again no half measures,
                   consider what Jesus said ,'' Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
                   your soul, and with all your mind''(Matthew 22 v 37. Total trust and total love ,to do
                  otherwise we will be heading for trouble ,whatever life brings at us.wherever He may
                  lead us.

                                                      God says simple , trust Me ,
                                                              will you?

Trust and acknowledge. ( Proverbs 3 v 5 - 6 )

              There are two verses in the Bible that have helped and challenge me right
               through my Christian life,they are Proverbs 3 v 5 - 6 ,I prefer the AV translation
              of these verses,I am going to leave these two wonderful and instructive verses
              with you,and then possible comment on them tomorrow.

                                         Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,
                                         and lean not upon thine own understanding.
                                         In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
                                         shall direct thy path.

Now is the time. ( Revelation 3 v 20 )

              The first heavy frost arrived ,on my daily walk , I could see a number of people
              scraping the frost of  their cars windows  ,it is like someone has sprinkled icing sugar
              over everything .  We knew it was coming ,for we live in a land of seasons ,now Autumn
              is giving way to winter,the season come and the seasons go.It was the prophet Jeremiah
              who prophesied for over 40 years ,to what became known as the southern kingdom.
              His ministry was hard and unrewarding for things became worse and worse spiritually.
             Jeremiah   just kept on going, his  task was to faithfully tell the people Gods
             word. He challenged  them time and time again, to no avail.  In chap 8 v 20 we read
             words that caused him great sorrow,they

                                                           ''The harvest is passed,
                                                            the summer is ended,
                                                            and we are not saved.''

              They where about to enter a season of great suffering ,no matter what God said, no
              no matter how he pleaded with them,through the prophet, their opportunity  to be
              saved from the coming judgement was slipping away.  Now us let apply these sad words
              to the here and now,could it be that God has been speaking to you about being saved.
              And you are still not saved, that's a deep tragedy.Remember now is the day of salvation
              now is the time  to accept Christ as your Saviour, before it is to late.

                                                       The choice is your's
         

A song. ( Ephesians 5 v 19- 20 )

                 It felt like one of those days, things where getting me down, as I did my daily walk,
                 instead of talking to God, I put my words into a song. It was a song from my heart to
                 His ,and in that song I felt we were communicating with each  other.Me expressing how
                 I felt, and He expressing His love ,comfort, and assurance that blessed me. I thought
                 how David wrote many of his  Psalms,those Psalms that expressed the heart of a man ,
                 and the heart of God. I want to leave you words from one of Davids Psalms

                                                                Psalms 121

                                            I will lift up my eyes to the hills, 
                                            From whence comes my help?
                                            My help comes from the Lord
                                            Who made heaven and earth.
                                             He will not allow your foot to be moved,
                                             He who keeps you will not slumber,
                                             Behold, He who keeps Israel,
                                             Shall neither slumber or sleep.
                                             The Lord is your keeper,
                                             The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
                                             The sun shall not strike you by day,
                                             Nor the moon by night .
                                             The Lord shall preserve you from all evil,
                                             He shall preserve your soul.
                                             The Lord shall preserve your going out,
                                             And your coming in,
                                             From this time forth,and even for evermore. 

                                           
               
               
               

The Cross. ( Isaiah 53 )

         During the communist reign of East Berlin, there was built a giant  television tower,
         near the top of it was huge globe structure, housing a restaurant and other facilities.
         The remarkable thing was, that once it was finished , it was discovered   that sunlight
          always reflected off the globe in the shape of a cross.The authorities had tried everything
         they could to prevent this optical phenomenon  ( known as asterism )  , but nothing worked.
         No matter how hard they tried they could not get rid of the Cross.

                                            We sing the praise of Him who died,
                                            Of Him who died upon the cross;
                                            The sinner's hope let men deride,
                                             For this we count the world but loss.

                                             Inscribed upon the cross we see
                                             In shining letters God is love;
                                             He bears our sins upon the tree;
                                             He brings us mercy from above.

                                            The  Cross, it takes our guilt away;
                                            It holds the fainting spirit up;
                                            It cheers with hope the gloomy day,
                                            And  sweetens every bitter cup.

                                            It makes the coward spirit brave,
                                            And nerves the feeble arm for fight;
                                            It takes the terror from the grave,
                                            And gilds the bed of death with light.

                                           The balm of life,the cure of woe.
                                           The measure and pledge of  love,
                                           The sinner's refuge here below,
                                           The angel's theme in heaven above.
                                                 (Words ...Thomas Kelly )

                                       







                                           

                                             


     

The glory . ( Luke 24 v 13 - 32 )

                As I was out walking ,an old gospel song I used to sing, came to mind, its called
                The glory of His presence'', by Oswald. J. Smith.

                                                      I have walked alone with Jesus,
                                                      In a fellowship divine.
                                                      Never more can earth allure me,
                                                      I am His, and  He is mine.

                                                      On the mountain I have seen Him,
                                                      Christ my comforter and friend.
                                                      And the glory of  His presence,
                                                      Will be with me to the end.

                                                      I have seen Him, I  have known Him,
                                                      And He deigns to walk with me,
                                                      And the  glory of His presence will
                                                      Be mine eternally.

                                                      Oh the glory of His presence,
                                                      Oh the beauty of His face,
                                                       I am His, and His forever,
                                                      He has saved me by His grace.