I can't believe. ( Psalm 40 v 4 )

 ' I can't believe that people would do such a thing', these are the words uttered by an elderly lady,who had been conned out of money ,by a fraudster. I understand why she said this,because we have to trust people.We have to trust the driver of a train, teachers, police,our family, etc,and yet humanity being what they are, there  will always be  those who break our trust. that can be a very painful experience, especially if it is someone we love.It was Shakespeare who wrote in one of his plays,'Love all,trust a few', in Psalm 41 v 9, David wrote,'Even my close friend someone I trusted,one who shared my bread, has turned against me'.Sad  words, but it happens, even among Christians. Those words had a more profound meaning,when our Saviour quoted them in John 13 v18,of the one who would betray Him, Judas Iscariot. He was chosen and trusted, but he was untrustworthy,the question we  may ask ourselves, can the Lord trust us?, well can He?.One thing for sure ,rest assured, we can unreservedly trust our Lord,He will never betray that trust , break that trust, for He is totally trustworthy. If you are facing difficulties,hardship,whatever, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart , and lean not unto your own understanding'. (Proverbs 3 v 5 ).

Hidden Treasure. ( Mark 8 v 36 -37 )

 One of my favourite books when I was younger was ,'Treasure Island', by R L. Stevenson, the two main character's in it are,the young lad Jim Hawkins,and Long John Silver.It is a wonderful book, what's  it about?, the answer, buried treasure ,it is still worth a read.There are many  buried treasures still to be found, and many people are still seeking them. In Matthew 13 v 44-45, our Saviour says ,'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field',people in ancient had no were safe to put their riches, so they would bury then in a field. Sometimes the person would die,and so their treasure would lie hidden,until someone would find it, like the person Jesus spoke about. Seemingly the man did not own the field,so  he went and sold everything he had,and bought the field,and got the treasure. So Jesus puts a spiritual application on this story,he likens the treasure to the kingdom of heaven, God's kingdom. In this materialistic age where we value money , and possessions more than anything else, what Jesus says ,comes to us as a great challenge.The question is this ,what do we value the most?,God or earthly treasures, it is a choice we all have to make, to choose Gods kingdom can involve a great cost, it may cost you everything you hold dear. It means accepting Jesus as your Saviour, and following Him?, consider the words of this hymn written by  R F. Miller.

                                             I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,

                                             I'd rather be His  than have riches untold;

                                             I'd  rather have Jesus than houses or lands,

                                             I'd rather be led by His nail- pierced had.

                                             Than to be a king of a vast domain

                                             and be held in sin's dread sway;

                                             I'd rather have Jesus than anything

                                             this world affords today.

What's in a name?. ( Psalm 121 )

 What's in a name,well I am known as Bill or even Billy, they are a shortened version for William, what is known as a variant.Now William in origin is German. Now what does William mean?,for most names have a meaning, William simply means ,'determined protector'. In Proverbs  18 v 10 we read,'The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe',what is it saying?, how can you run to a name?.One writer says the following,' in the Bible, the name here stands  for the persons, character and qualities,' in  Prov 18 v10 ,the name of the Lord is likened unto a strong tower, in ancient times ,within a city  a fortified tower would be built,it would be somewhere to hide in from invaders. Judges 9 v 50 - 51. So what we are being told to do, is go to God, who is almighty,and powerful,in Him we can be safe, God is not only a tower, but a strong tower,no power on earth will be  able to hurt us, or harm us. Whatever may be threatening you ,run to the Lord, He will be to you, a strong tower, you will be safe and protected.

                                                   A sovereign protector I have,

                                                   Unseen , yet for ever at hand,

                                                   Unchangeably faithful to save,

                                                   Almighty to rule and command,

                                                   He smiles and comforts abound;

                                                   His grace as the dew shall descend

                                                   And walls of salvation surround

                                                   The soul He delights to defend.

                                                     Words Augustus M. Toplady

A Must ( Matthew 6 v 25 - 34 )

Martyn Loyd Jones wrote the following,'I once heard a man use a phrase which affected me very deeply at the time. I am not sure it is not one of the most searching I have ever heard. He said that the trouble with many of us Christians is that we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but that we do not believe on Him. He meant that we believe on Him for the salvation of our souls, but we do not believe Him  when He says a thing like this to us,that God is going to look after our food and drink, and even our clothing. He makes  such statements as, 'Come unto me, all ye that labour are heavy laden, and I will give you rest',and yet we are borne down by them and defeated by them, and get anxious about many things.' I am sure many of us can identify with these comments,the question is why?  and the answer is lack of  faith; Here is what the scripture says in Hebrews 11 v 6,'And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him MUST believe that He exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.'

                                                    ' Got any rivers you think are un-cross-able?

                                                     Got any mountains you can't tunnel through?

                                                     God specialises in things tho't impossible,

                                                     He does the things others cannot do'   ( Words Oscar C Eliason)

                                                                   HAVE FAITH IN GOD

Murder. ( 1 John 1 v 8 - 10 )

Endeavour, Morse, Vera, they are TV dramas about the police catching murderers,they are very entertaining,I  must have watched them all. Having just watched one , I found myself  saying ,'who would ever have thought that murder would be entertaining',I suppose it may be ,because it is not real,we know that they are only acting , so we enjoy it.But we know in reality, murder is not entertaining, it is absolutely awful,and the friends and relatives of the person murdered, suffer unimaginable emotional pain. Real murder as opposed to pretend murder ,is not entertaining, for from it.Oscar Wilde was a famous author,and playwright, he was sent to prison, for engaging in homosexual activity, yet during his time in prison , he wrote a wonderful poem.,it is called the 'Ballad of Reading Gaol'. He  observed a man who was going to be hung for killing the one he loved.Here are some words from that poem.

                                               The man had killed the thing he loved,

                                               And so he had to die.

Then he goes unto write=     Yet  each man kills the thing he loves,

                                               By each let this be heard,

                                              Some do it with a bitter look,

                                              Some with a flattering word,

                                              The coward does it with kiss,

                                              The brave man with a sword.

Do you know that you can be guilty of murder by just thinking? Learn what Jesus taught,' You're familiar  with the command to the ancients. Do not murder. 'I'm telling you that anyone  who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder'.( you are subject to judgment)  Matthew 5 v 17.  Jesus goes beyond the letter of the law, to the spirit of the law,In light of these words, if we are honest, we are all murders, and will face judgment, unless we confess our sins,and seek forgiveness through Jesus the Saviour of sinners.

Integrity ( John 1 v 47. NLT)

I was listening to Chuck Swindoll on You Tube, speaking on integrity, to me it is a must for all Christians especially for those in Christian ministry, to hear what this godly man had to say on this subject.Integrity can be understood as someone who is honest, one who has principals, who is not corrupt, a person of soundness.In the last church were I was a joint leader we had  someone sent to us  from the domination we where part of.We were a small church ,not much growth ,this person we thought he was going to help us, but instead he wanted to take over the church,assuring us that the Lord had blessed his ministry.So we decided to let him take over the church, and we would step down and leave,which we did. It was only a number of years I learned that he was teaching things contrary to God's word . I know of another church were congregation money set aside for a new building,the Pastor on his own initiative used that money for something else. It goes without saying that none of us are perfect,but we are called to aim at that , at all times,we are called to be people of integrity. People who can be trusted to keep their word,to be faithful to ones spouse,faithful in all things. 

A thing of beauty. ( James 1 v 12 - 15 )

 I was viewing BBC home page and it showed a picture of a mosquito, and had this heading ,'Is not this the worlds most beautiful mosquito?',the fact is it was.There are 3,000 species of mosquito in the world, and they are the cause of about 1 million deaths a year.There are many beautiful creatures in this world,we can admire them from afar,otherwise they will kill us.We can admire beauty but beware , because that beautiful thing  whatever it may be, can bring us grief. Remember the devil knows how to press the right button, knows our weakness'es and he can dangle them before our eyes. A  married man see's a beautiful woman ,and the devil  works on his lustful desires,entices him to sin in thought, and in deed.In Lord of the Rings there is a character called Gollum, he fell in love with a ring,even killing his friend for it,he called it 'My Precious'. He turned from being  a Hobbit,into a deformed and twisted being,that love for that thing of beauty, finally destroyed him. In the garden of Eden, Eve was tempted by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit,she listened,and then she looked,and she saw that the tree was beautiful, and its fruit delicious,and the rest is history. May God enable us not to yield to temptation,to not be blinded as to were it may lead us, and what it may do to us, and what it may cost us.