They shrieked. ( Exodus 2 v 23 - 25 )

        After 400yrs of suffering in Egypt things did not improve ,the wicked Pharaoh died and
        a new one ruled,they may have thought that things would improve,but it didn't.A Motyer
        writes,''They had a new king  , but still the old sorrows''. So what could they do?,well here
        is what they did,''The  Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out,and their cry for
         help, because of their slavery went up to God'',and then we read, God heard (Exodus
        2 v 23- 24)   A/ M points out,they shrieked,and God heard,we read in James 5 v 17, that
        Elijah prayed earnestly,when our Lord was in the garden,we read in Luke 22 v 44,''And
        being in anguish he prayed more earnestly,and his sweat was like drops of blood falling
        to the ground''So many of us pray dead prayers,formal, and unemotional ,have we ever
        shrieked to God,how earnest is our prayers?.Could it be that our  unanswered prayers ,
        are a result of our lack of earnestness. We all have a lot to to learn about prayer,and one
        thing we need to know is that  the effectual  fervent prayer of a righteous man avails
       much ,or as J .B.Phillips puts it,''tremendous power is made available through a good
       man's earnest prayer.( James 5 v 17 )

                                                              James 5 v 17- 18
                                      Elijah was a man just like us,he prayed earnestly
                                      that it would not rain on the land for three and a
                                      half years. Again he prayed,and the heavens gave
                                      rain,and the earth produced its crop.
     
     

Faith and patience ( Hebrews 10 v 35 - 36 )

It is in Hebrews 6 V 12 , we read how the OT saints through faith and patience inherited the promises, that God had given them.God promised Abraham that his offspring would inherit the promise land  ( Genesis 12 v 7 ), this did not happen for a long,long time..So much had to happen before this would come into being.The promised offspring would come, again this would not happen at once,no Sarah and Abraham had to and wait.Faith and patience was called for in that,the promised Messiah ,Jesus, did not co me, for a long time but He did come,Abraham did have a son,Israel did inherit the promised land.The church of Christ is waiting for the return of Jesus,over 2000 years have taken place, He still has not come, but like all these things promised it will happen,we need to exercise faith and patience.These are very instructive  words for all of us,of course God often answers quickly ( Isa 65 v24 ). But often there is a waiting time, it is then we must hold fast to the promise given, and exercise patience.

                                                                  Psalm 40 v 1 .
                                       I waited patiently for the Lord ,He turned to me
                                       and heard my cry,

     

Show a little kindness ( Luke 16 v 10 )

I called in to buy a morning paper a friend was there, I was in the queue ,she was at the till when she took my paper off me and paid for it. It was a little unexpected kindness which brightened my day,We marvel at the wonderful things Jesus did, they leave us speechless but I \am sure he did many little kindnesses to  people that brightened  their days.Remember how He spoke of giving a glass of water,it would receive a reward, A simple word of encouragement can help a lot, a smile, a phone call a visit,a letter,a text,let us all show simple kindness to others,if we are faithful in that which least, who knows what God will trust us with.

                                                             Jesus said.
                                   ''Well done, my good servant,his master replied,
                                    Because you have been trustworthy in a small matter
                                    take charge of 10 cities.''
                                                     ( Luke 16 v 10 )
                               
                                   

A happy new year. ( Jude v 24 - 25 )

     An old professor would wish his students a happy eternity, the question this raises ,is there
    an existence after this life has ended ?.  Does it really matter? should we just live for the
    here and now.The one person who gives meaning to these things ,is the historical Christ,
    When He died many of his followers thought that was it, CP ( Luke 24 v 15 ff) and ( John 20 v
     24 - 29 ), The apostle Paul who met the Lord after His resurrection ( Acts 9 v 1 - 9 ) wrote
     of the many who met with the risen Christ  ( 1 Corinthians 15 v 1 - 8 ) The Bible teaches  that
     Jesus is the resurrection and the Life and that who ever believes  in Him,will conqueror
     even death ( John 11 v  25 ).With that in view we who have trusted in Him would never die.
     the moment our eyelids  close in our natural death , eternal life takes over, death is conquered.
     With Him as your Saviour death has been conquered,yes we can look forward to a glorious
     future.
                                                           A prayer.
                                 
                                      Dear God may you help us to live in
                                      light of eternity,in Jesus name
                                                            Amen.




















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The consequences of unforgiveness ( Luke 23 v 34 )

     One of the things I see as I read history  is that nations history, is similar to individual
     histories,in the area of forgiveness. What I mean but by that is,as many individuals
     refuse to forgive wrongs committed against them , nations will not forgive.When
     the first war ended, France was more concerned with punishing Germany than forgiving it.
     The victors at the treaty of  Versailles burdened Germany  severe financially repayments,
     it all paved the way for German  militarism in the 1930s ,and  eventually of Hitler and the
     Nazi party,and all the horror that brought. If only there had been a more forgiving attitude
     I believe things could have been different. We all need to to realise that unforgiveness  has
     serious consequences, our Saviour was not exaggerating when he told one of His disciples
     that we are called on to forgive always,continually ( Matthew 18 v 22}. That is what God does,
     how many sins have we all committed, I dread to think ,but our amazing God through
     our wonderful Saviour He forgive us everything. So much would be so different and better ,if
     we would forgive others,this also includes nations.

                                                      To err is human
                                                       To forgive is divine.

Friendship ( Proverbs 18 v 24 )

           I received a Christmas parcel  from the wife of a couple I have  known for years, her husband
           was a minister,he is a person I admired much.We had some good times together, we used to
           play table tennis,he usually won. His Christian background was that of ,'The Brethren', that
           gave him a great grounding in the scripture,and  also presented him with opportunities to
           develop a preaching ministry. We met at Bible college,although on reflection I don't think he
           needed Bible college training,not all people do,I did, and most people do.He always had a very
           good library of Christian books,now he has a very large library,in contrast mine is small,but it
           is growing.Now my friend is feeble,and hard of hearing,and suffers from diabetes,still I know
           if I met up with him today,we would start up where we left off. Most of us value friendship,
            but of course sin has distorted humanity,we are not as sociable as we will be in eternity.In                   heaven  everyone will be our friend,for there will be no class,or  racial, or social
           distinctions.and we will love everyone with a perfect love. As our Saviour walked among
           humanity,He loved the unlovely,the marginalised , yes He loved Judas who sold Him out,He
           even loved Peter who denied Him, He even loved a thief hanging on a cross,and as the old
           hymn says,''He spoke to him words of compassion and took him to Paradise,and wonder of ,
           wonders He loves you ,and yes He even loves me.

                                                                       Jesus
                                           He is my Lord,my Saviour, and my best Friend.
                               

Don't nod off . ( Genesis 2 v 2 )

       While travelling home recently,I was stuck in a lot of traffic,we where all moving very slowly,
       so there was a lot of breaking and starting,it is times like that,that I am glad I have an automatic.
       but  I was tired.Now you can guess what happened, I dozed off, and gently hit the car in front,
       the driver got out to see the damage,but thankfully there was none,he signalled that all was well,
       then got back into his car. You may asked why had I not taken a brake? ,I had , but it still
       happened.There was a\ reason why I was tired,not enough sleep, yes I will have to be more
       disciplined in going to bed at a more reasonable time.There is an old saying which goes,' You
       cant burn the candle at both ends',and that's true as I found out.We need sleep,it is important,
       that seems obvious,but unfortunately we do not practise it.there are many reasons for this,
       whatever the reason we need to put this into practise.There are many things of course we need
       to put into practise,but let us practise one thing at a time.

                                                                 A  prayer.
                             Dear Lord help to see the importance of rest and
                             sleep,and grant us the grace we need to put this
                             into practise, in Jesus name   Amen