Dying. ( 1 Thessalonians 4 v 13 - 18 )

Someone wrote the following,''I  have always felt that our funeral service there is something very like the worship of death,whereas if we were logical it would be a time of rejoicing that our loved one had passed from death to life''.I feel that these word have a truth to them ,as regards those who have died, yes if they are Christians they are with the Lord,and because of that we can and should rejoice. Yes those who are left sorrow not as those without hope, but they sorrow non the less, and they need comforted. As for those who are not Christian it is important that they are comforted, but also reminded that they need Christ, for without Christ there is no hope.

The children. ( Matthew 19 v 14 )

As I look back on my life I give thanks for the different Sunday school teachers who taught me about God and the way of salvation.  When I was very young I attended a children's meeting,I heard a man speaking about sin ,and that had a profound effect upon me, The times they are a changing, so few children go to Sunday school, or to children's meetings, but they still need to hear about Christ, more than ever. Children like adults need Christ,the times they may be changing, but children will grow to be adults who will become involved,in all sorts of wrong and sinful things.A child who comes to Christ can be saved from so much evil,so let us pray for the children.

Give thanks. ( Romans 16 )

Often many people are overlooked,when was the last time you hear of a road sweeper on the honours list?,of the parent who looks after a child who is  disabled.When I worked with the mentally ill, I admired those parents who had the life time job of caring for them. I sometimes offer up a prayer for the people pushing a wheelchair with a chronic ill person in it,what about the cleaners in the hospitals, those who man, the tills in our supermarkets,I am sure it is true that we take so many people for granted in life.I think of the debt I owe the teacher who who taught me to read and write.We all need each other, life would be the poorer if so many on herald people had not helped us.

God will. ( Matthew 6 v 33 )

Sometimes we forget to pray about certain things like protection when we travel,or whatever,it is wonderful to know that God does not forget us. Not only does He not forget His children He will not forsake them,not only that, He will help them,not only that He will protect them,not only that He will love them, not only that He will guide them,not only that He will provide for them,not only that He will show mercy to them,not only that He will strengthen them, and not only that ,He will perfect that which concerneth them, not only that He will work  out all things for their good.

Don't forget. ( Psalm 34 v 4 - 6 )

Yesterday we mentioned how people appear to be always in a hurry,a little word to if you are a Christian, don't neglect prayer,I leave a few words from an old gospel song with you.' Ere you left your room this morning ,did you think to pray?,In the name of Christ our Saviour,did you sue for loving favour,as a shield today. Oh ,how praying helps the weary,prayer will change the night today,so in sorrow and in gladness, 'don't forget to pray'.

Rushing on . ( James 4 v 13 - 16 )

Owing to work on a new road lay out in our town, delays in traffic was  inevitable, I was taking a friend to the  train station,and found myself  in a traffic jam. As I came to go right on a roundabout, a car suddenly overtook me  ,it was a very near miss,but thankfully it was a miss.A few thoughts on on this ,first the person who nearly caused an accident ,was in a hurry, and so put himself and me in danger. It appears we live in a age when people are in such a hurry,no time to stop and stare,no time to stop and consider there eternal destiny,they are rushing on ,and sadly the only destination they will reach is a lost eternity.

Hell on earth ( Psalm 22 )

We finished last time by saying that we in our natural state are living under a cloud of God's  wrath,,in the here and now,that will also follow us ,even after death,in hell,from which there will be no escape,.So God did something very ,very, wonderful ,He sent his son , Jesus,who would die on the cross experiencing the wrath of God in our stead, in Galatians 3 v 13 we read, 'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us'.Bruce Milne  wrote the following,''For Christ to be a complete and sufficient Saviour He must save us from every effect of our sins......then he must, of necessity, in some way and at some point, bear the pains and terrors of hell.Only thus are we delivered from them.. Thus the cross was precisely ,as Calvin argues, 'hell on earth'.So let me finish now by declaring,'that God so loved the world that he gave is only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish , but have everlasting life .  ( John 3 v 16 )