Something beyond ( 1 Thessalonians 4 v 13 - 18 )

I read recently that in Myanmar ( Burma ) that the authorities have closed 52 churches, arrested 92 pastors,arrested 41 Bible students,sending them to work as military porters, who are sometimes worked literally to death because of heavy loads they are forced to carry.The world, for many more than we appreciate, can be very dark place on one level a place of no hope.But in the darkest of places,be it persecution illness,poverty, loss,the Christian has hope for God is with them,as He was with Joseph. ( Genesis 39 v 2 ).And of course they have a hope burning within them ,it is called a blessed hope( Titus 2 v 13 ) the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour , Jesus Christ. R.L.Stevenson tells  of a byreman ,who said 'that he never wearied of his unattractive work, because he had something beyond, he need never grow weary'  W Barclay wrote,''He who awaits Christ has something beyond''

Ugly. ( Romans 3 v 10 - 18// 23/ 6 v 23 )

Malcolm Muggeridge told of an experience in his life, he was in India ,and one morning he went out for a swim in a local river. When he was swimming, he noticed a woman in the distance bathing,,his lustful thoughts took over,so he decided that he would swim over to her,hoping to take advantage of her. So he swam towards her,when he got near to her she was startled,and covered herself up herself  with her arms. He then realized that she was a leper,the disease had taken its toil on her, no fingers ,no nose, as he looked at her he thought what an ugly woman,but he stopped,and he thought about himself, and he said , ''no what an ugly man I am.''. There is a greater ugliness than our physical being,it is our sinful wicked hearts,the word of God says our hearts are deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.     ( Jeremiah 17 v 9 ) The only hope  for any of us, is Jesus ,who alone can save us,from our ugliness,and gave us a new heart.

There is only one way. ( John 14 v 6 )

We live in a time were people don't believe in absolutes,all religions are valid, morals values,well anything goes , abortion , sex marriage,premarital sex,and many other things, cry out,there are no absolutes. We are going further ,and further away from the belief that there are absolutes, alas were will it lead us?.In the 20th century Germany that civilised nation ,left the absolutes and we see were it led them.Russia was ruled by Stalin and his cronies, and absolutes went out ,and countless millions paid the price. Now here is a absolute truth that many reject and even hate, Jesus,He declared that He was the way the truth and the life, that no one can come unto the Father but by Him.( John 14 v 6 )Jesus is not only the way, He is the only way,mankind is seen as lost sheep,do you feel lost?,look to Jesus. The truth,someone one has said ,'truth is the most valuable thing in all the world,we hear the words of Pilate who judged Jesus,asking the question ,''what is truth?'',and yet he was standing before Him who is the truth..Jesus is the life who gives to all who trust Him, life and life eternal,and He is the only one that can lead us to God.

Everyone is welcome. ( 3 v 16 )

                                                                                                                                                                                                            Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners                                                                                                       ( 1 Timothy 1 v 15 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     There's  a  way back to God                                                                                                                        From the dark paths of sin,                                                                                                                        There's a door that is open ,                                                                                                                        And all may go in,                                                                                                                                      Its at Calvary's cross ,                                                                                                                                Is where you begin ,                                                                                                                                  When you come as a sinner                                                                                                                        To Jesus.                                                                                                                                                               (E.H.Swinstead )                                                                                                                   

His eye is upon you. ( Matthew 6 v 25 - 34 )

Many years ago a lady used to visit parents  home, she liked to drink,her name was Porter, and eventually she would sing a song,she would not have won the X factor ,but I do remember some words from that song,they went,'Why worry,why worry,worry gets you nowhere at all'. So true our Saviour said as much in Matthew 6 v 34, 'Therefore do not worry about tomorrow ,for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.Today's trouble is enough for today'.Is it possible? well it is, if we keep our eyes on our loving heavenly Father.We are told that He cares for the birds of the air, and  to Him we are more valuable than them.Charles .H.Gabriel wrote a lovely song about Gods care for His children.                Why should I feel discouraged, Why should the shadows come,                                                               Why should my heart be lonely, And long for heaven and home,                                                             When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He;                                                                               His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Let not your heart be troubled, His tender words I hear,                                                                           And resting on His goodness ,I lose my doubts and fears;                                                                         Tho' by the path He leadeth, But one step I may see;                                                                               His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Whenever I am tempted, When ever clouds arise,                                                                                     When songs give way to sighing, When hope within me dies,                                                                 I draw the closer to Him, From care He sets me free;                                                                               His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He cares for me.                                                                             

Prayers are deathless. ( Luke 18 v 1 )

The thought has crossed my mind as regards my family, when I die who will pray for them ?, it  may seem a morbid question, but I love my family,and each day I pray for them. George Muller was a man of prayer and faith, I once read that he prayed for certain  people to be saved, most of them did get saved before he died,but not all, but after his death they did.   E M Bounds wrote the following,         ''Prayer is deathless,the lips that uttered them may be closed in death,the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God's heart is set on them and they outlive the lives of those who uttered them,they outlive a generation,outlive an age, outlive a world.''So let us all keep praying on in faith that God will answer our prayers after we have gone to heaven,for as the writer said ,'prayers are deathless.'


































I pray for many people everyday,among them are my grandchildren, and my children,I pray for there spiritual well being, and for many things concerning them,but what about when I go to home to heaven,who will pray for them then?.So I was encourage to read the following,by EM. Bounds,  ''Prayers are deathless.The lips that uttered them may be closed in death, the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat, but the prayers live before God, and God's heart is set on them , and they outlive a generation, outlive an age,outlive a world''.The other day I thought on my dear first  wife,she was a godly lady and knew the importance of prayer, she is now in glory.Recently as I prayed for one of my sons , I said to God that He may honour the prayers offered to Him for our son when she prayed when she lived .lived, for as the writer said ,''Prayers are deathless.''






















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What kind of love is this. ( Isaiah 53 )

A preacher was visiting a church to preach, and he noticed a picture on the wall, of a little girl sitting on  Jesus lap, the words beneath the picture, spoken by the little girl ,read,''What are those marks in your hand''?.I know ,indeed every Christian knows,for by faith they have been to the cross,and whats  important they know why , the words of a hymn by  Bryn and Sally Haworth give us the answer.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              What kind of love is this,                                                                                                                           that gave itself for me?                                                                                                                               I am the guilty one,                                                                                                                                     yet I go free.                                                                                                                                               What kind of love is this?                                                                                                                           A love I've never known,                                                                                                                           I didn't even know His name,                                                                                                                     what kind of love is this.?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             What kind of love is this                                                                                                                           that died in agony?                                                                                                                                     He who had done no wrong                                                                                                                       was crucified for me.                                                                                                                                 What kind of man was this                                                                                                                          who laid aside His throne.                                                                                                                          that I may know the love of God?                                                                                                              What kind of man is this.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              By grace I have been saved,                                                                                                                      it is the gift of God.                                                                                                                                    He destined me to be His son,                                                                                                                    such is His love.                                                                                                                                        No eye has ever seen,                                                                                                                                no ear has ever heard,                                                                                                                                nor has the heart of man conceived,                                                                                                          what kind of love is this?