Amazing. ( Ephesians 1 v 1 / 2 v 8 - 9 )

' My grace is sufficient for thee,My grace is sufficient for thee,O matchless,boundless grace of God, My grace is sufficient for thee.' These are simple words from an old hymn, simple but profound,one of my favourite hymns is, 'Amazing Grace'. I have listened to it many times,often it brings tears to my eyes,I remember years ago when it made the hit parade , it was sung by Judy Collins,what a lovely singer. Someone wrote this about her,'She combated alcohol addiction and over-come it.' and then he added,'I'm over- coming  addiction and I will, because of Grace' The only thing I would add to that is this, that such grace comes to us through Christ, for salvation,  for power to over-come addiction whatever that addiction may be,for strength to face the trials of life ,whatever they may be,it truly is amazing grace coming to us from an amazing Saviour.

Hope ( Colossians 1 v 27 )

When you get to my age birthdays loose their novelty, you may wish that they would loose their meaning,one year older, we may be in denial,no I'm not really that age,it's a lie,it's a lie, but alas the mirror does not lie. It was dear old William Shakespeare ,who wrote about the seven ages of man,it starts with being a child,and ends as he puts it,the second childishness ,in which he describes our condition,without teeth,without ,eyes ( sight) without taste,without everything. That's true,someone was asked ,'are they all your own teeth?,' he replied,'yes,I paid for everyone of them'.When it comes to  our second childishness we can all identify with what WS wrote.But is that all there is to it? no , for old age is not the end, for the Christian heaven awaits,where there will be no ageing process,no deterioration,no, old age pension.On a serious side ,it will be wonderful and all because of Jesus,if you know Him rejoice,if you don't ,accept Him as your Saviour and look forward with hope.

Peace be still ( Matthew 28 v 18 )

The passengers were fearful,they were passing through a terrible storm,then they heard the first mate speaking don't be afraid the captain is at the helm.During  the 20th century globally ,there were two world wars,a flu epidemic that effected 500 million people,there was no cure,millions died.Storms in plenty come also into our own individual lives, the list is endless,and the pain and fear they bring is real. Because we sinned this world is no longer a friendly place,that's what our first parents were told ,God said to Adam, 'Cursed be the ground because of you,......It will produce thorns and thistles for you'.( Genesis 3 v 17 - 18 )Instead of harmony with nature and humanity, storms  come,and come,and come,so it will go on and on,they are inevitable, this goes for Christians and non- Christians.As a Christian I have experienced my share of storms, as I am sure you have,or may be having now.Hear the words of that first mate ,'The captain is at the helm',who is our captain?Jesus, who is called the captain of our salvation ( Hebrews 2 v 10 . AV ) A verse of an old hymn reads,'The wind and the waves shall obey my (His) will ,Peace, be still.Whether the wrath of the storm- tossed sea,or demons,or men, or whatever it be. No waters can swallow the ship where lies,the Master of ocean and earth and skies. They all shall sweetly obey My (His ) will. Peace be still,Peace be still.

Rejoice ( 2 Timothy 4 v 9 - 18 )

More of Terry,'I've never believed that if one has religious belief then that means one will have special protection for the ills that afflict all humankind. But if you have faith,  then that will give you resources to draw on'. It sure will,consider those who like Terry are in prison cells in Iran I will mention two , Naser, Navard Gol-Tapeh and Nadarkhani a Pastor,both are serving a ten year sentence,for supposedly acting against national security. This is a typical kind of  charge made against Christian converts in Iran, This is not something new,the great apostle Paul wrote of being in prison frequently (2 Corinthians 11 v 23),a number of his letters taht he wrote  were written from prison. Be assured in Paul's time prison was no picnic,and yet inspired by the Holy Spirit he wrote, ''Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again;rejoice'' (Philippians 4 v 4 ), no matter what our circumstances, the Lord is with us,and He will not fail us,focus on Him,and rejoice.

I dare you. ( Mark 1 v 16 - 18 )

I dare you,I wonder has this ever been said to you? we may have foolishly taken up the challenge,we did  it because, well there is always a reason. We look at history, we read of people who dared to go were no one has gone before,the explorers ,scientist,the entrepreneur,and a multitude of other people.Martin Luther King Jr had a dream,he dared to dream,and accomplished so much.What about you ? let me bring to you a challenge,dare to trust Jesus as your Saviour,yes I dare you.You may loose all ,but think at what you will gain. The apostle Paul thought of what he had given up to follow Christ,and he counted those thing as dung,garbage,for knowing Christ.Moses gave up power ,position,privilege,and wealth,for the sake of Christ. Christ is speaking to you ,He is saying, come on,' I dare  you ,follow Me.'.

We have a choice ( Matthew 6 v 43 - 48 )

On March 4,1865 Abraham Lincoln made a speech,the civil war was about over,there was much bitterness towards the South, and there were those who wanted them to suffer. Abraham was a very wise man , he knew that the nation needed to be united,so here is part of what he said,''With malice  towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us....do all which may achieve,and cherish, a just, and a lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations''It is recognised by most historians ,that the severe penalties inflicted upon Germany at the end of the first world war,had a direct effect upon what followed,a little man with a little moustache,oh that more people would show the spirit of Abraham Lincoln.Remember the words  Jesus uttered on the cross as regards those who hated Him,''Father , forgive them''. ( Luke 23 v 34)

Lockdown ( Philippians 4 v 11 )

Terry Waite has written a number of books,based upon his experience of being held hostage in Beirut from 1987 to 1991.In an article in a national newspaper he wrote a number of helpful things, based on his experience,in an effort to help us all at this present time.First a bit of practical advice,'Today in lockdown, it is important to keep yourself well. Don't slob around all day in your pyjamas and a dressing down. Dress properly and develop a routine. It's important to have structure- get up at a certain time,eat regular meals and so on.It's important not to sit around all day. A walk is still possible. For many the exercise bike that has been in store for many years could be brought back into service. Place a tablet computer on the handlebars,find a cycle route and off you go through Italy or wherever.In other words, be innovated and keep your imagination alive'. ( Thanks Terry.)