Abide with me. ( Romans 8 v 28 - 39 )

Every year at the final of the FA cup , before the game, a hymn is sung, it is called Abide with me, it was written by a Victorian  clergyman called Henry F. Lyte, he died a few months after completing it. It was set to music by William Monk, he had recently experienced the death of  his child. It goes without saying that it is a very meaningful hymn,it is a hymn that expresses the wonderful abiding presence of God,that makes all the difference in life and in death.Let us just go through this hymn,making a few comments.

                                                 Abide with me fast falls the eventide,

                                                 The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide,

                                                 When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

                                                 Help  of the helpless, O abide with me.

           No matter how dark things are, the Lord who is the light the world can lighten our darkness . 

                                                 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day 

                                                 Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;

                                                 Change and decay in all around I see;

                                                 O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

            Life is very brief, in Christ , we have the promise of eternal glories ,that will never pass away

                                                 I need Thy presence every passing hour

                                                What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

                                                 Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?

                                                 Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

           Christs abiding presence, makes all the difference, He will guide us and strengthen us.

                                                 I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless;

                                                 I'll have no weight and tears no bitterness;

                                                 Where is death's sting?where , grave, thy victory?

                                                 I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

          With Christ fear can be vanquished,the sorrowing can be comforted, and death is conquered.

                                                  Reveal Thyself before my closing eyes

                                                  Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;

                                                   Heaven's morning breaks and earth's vain shadows flee;

                                                    In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

           With Christ our Saviour ,nothing can separate us,from God's love, and God's heaven.

                                                 

What matters ? ( 2 Timothy 4 v 18 )

 I do not know who wrote the following,' What matters to God is not so much how we act , but  why we act,not  so much what we actually do, but what we wish in our hearts of hearts to do,Aquinas put it like this,' Man sees the deed, but God sees the intention'.  It is said that man's chief  end is to glorify God, as the scripture tells us, in 1 Corinthians 10 v31,that whatever we do,we should do it , to the glory of God.  

                                                  Do you think I make a pretty good soldier?

                                                  Do you think I make a pretty good soldier?

                                                  Do you think I make a pretty good soldier?

                                                  Rise shine give God the glory,

                                                  Rise shine give God the glory,

                                                  Rise shine give God the glory,

                                                  We're soldiers of the cross.

                                                      Words Dionne Warwick

The greatest sacrifice ever made was on a cross,it brought the greatest glory to God,  and the greatest blessing to mankind.                                                                                                                                               

I learnt something. ( Proverbs 4 v 1 - 4 )

I needed to fix something and it meant drilling  into metal,which I have never done before, I have drilled into wood and brick, but never metal.Fortunately I have a friend who told me what to do, you start  by drilling with a small drill bit,then use a larger drill bit, I did that, and it worked.I had a problem ,and thanks be to God,I learned something new,and the problem was solved.There is an important lesson in this and its this,learning does not stop when you leave school. The very nature of life involves learning,many people fail their driving test, so they give up , no they should go back to the drawing board,and learn how they can pass next time. Failure is not a reason to give up, its an opportunity to learn, and improve. and move forward. As we look at our failure we need to pray to God to help us , when David brought the ark of covenant to Jerusalem 2 Samuel 6, he failed to act in accordance,with Gods instruction as how it should be moved  CP Numbers 4 v 5-15. He didn't make the same mistake twice, unfortunately many of us do not learn from our mistakes.with dire consequences. I remember years ago,a fellow worker advised me as to how to do a certain thing, but when he went away I just continued to do it my way. God wants us to be teachable, in relation to so many things, that we may be more useable by him. Not keep making the same mistakes in our walk with Him, and that we may stop doing things our way ,but His way

                                                 Lord help me to be teachable

                                                                  Amen

Don't give up. ( Hebrews 12 v 1 - 2 )

 I remember when I was at Bible college,we had three children, we had no income,but we trusted God to meet our needs, things were difficult, difficult for my lovely wife. Most people might have known how difficult it was, and one day the principal, spoke to me,he said he understood if we had to give up.Most people would have understood if we did give up,but we didn't ,we pressed on,and I finished the course.Not only that, my wife then attended a Baptist college for further year,we didn't give up. I knew a missionary called Freddy Orr, when he and his wife went to Brazil for the first time,on their way to their destination,she died, he also contacted the illness and  was advised to go home, for he might not survive. The fact is he didn't give up,and for the rest of his life he served God in Brazil. What caused us not to give up?,for ourselves, and I am sure for Freddy, there was belief that God had called us, and he would look after us, which he did.I will say this ,I cannot  answer for what others should do, nor will I judge them.I  am 77 now, and as I look back,I praise God for His faithfulness, I suppose it fits in, with the truth of the perseverance of  the saints,that of not giving up.As a Christian things may  be difficult for you, don't give up,press on,like our dear Saviour, who in spite of  everything he had to face,and all he would have to suffer,he didn't give up.

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