Worry. ( Matthew 6 v 25 - 34 )

We are now in what many Christian's call the season of lent,the Archbishop of Canterbury recommends a book by a certain author ,that links lent up with the days of creation. Lent is a season on which many Christians choose do give up some particular thing, during the season of lent, I think its a good  idea. Our Pastor asked us to suggest things we could give up,people suggested things,but there was an unexpected suggestion from a person called Judith,now I know Judith well,she is a simple soul,but her suggestion hit a cord with us all,it was, to give up worrying. If  only that were possible,our lives would be enriched so much. Our Lord who knows us ,said not to worry ,because we have a heavenly Father who knows what we need,and so will care for us. Do read the above scripture.

Words of comfort ( John 10 v 11 )

I was watching an old movie, a young girl was dying, the one who was caring for her,got out a Bible and started to read the 23 Psalm,and this touched my heart,and a tear came into my eyes. So I am going to leave this Psalm with you,  'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; ,  he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a  table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for every.

He changed ( 2 Timothy 4 v 9 - 10 )

Last time I stressed the importance of discernment,and  I mentioned a certain preacher who denied the deity of Christ.It is a puzzle to me what he said in his spiritual autobiography as not believing Christ was God. Consider the following  comments he made on  Philippians 2 v 5, which  reads,' He was by nature in the very form of God',''Here two words are most , carefully chosen to show the essential and unchangeable godhead of Jesus Christ''.......'' that Jesus was  essentially, unalterably, and unchangeable God'',  Jesus remained in essence,His  unchangeable being divine''As a Christian I would say amen to what he wrote,but it appears that for whatever reason he changed in his beliefs as regards Christs divinity. It is a warning to us all ,to hold fast to Gods truth which does not change, truth is not something we throw off like a change of clothes, may God grant us grace to hold fast to the truth in God's word.

Discernment . ( Matthew 16 v 5 - 12 )

I recommended a book to a person , and I give him this advice, always be discerning,be it a book or a sermon,always be discerning.There was a popular writer, I have used his books to help me in my studies,he is no longer alive.I heard him many years ago speaking on television, and enjoyed what he had to say.He appeared sound in doctrine, and I would quote him in my sermons,for what he had to say was worthwhile. A while ago I purchased his spiritual autobiography, and to my surprise I discovered that he denied the divinity of Christ.That is not clear in his writings,consider what he wrote in one of his books,''Jesus was not simply one of us;he was God among us'' So be discerning, at all times.

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.