God is ( Psalm 121 )

I read this recently,'An Eastern story has it that a poor woman ,came to the Sultan one day, and asked compensation for the loss of some property.''How did you loose it '', asked the monarch. ''I fell asleep'', was the reply,''and a robber entered my dwelling . ''Why did you fall asleep?'' said the Sultan. The woman answered,'' I fell asleep because I believed you were awake.'' The Sultan was so delighted with the answer, that he ordered her loss to be made up.In Psalm 121 we read,' 

                          He will not let your foot slip ,He who watches over you will not slumber

                          Indeed He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

                                                Child of God ,He is watching  over you.

Only God . ( Psalm 121 )

Every morning before my wife goes out to work I pray with her that the Lord would keep her safe as she drives her car ,she works as a community care. Recently when she arrived home, she told me that she nearly had an accident with a young fellow on a scooter. When she told me that,I replied,'' that is why I pray with you,' that appears obvious ,and it is,as I look back on my life,God has preserved me on the road.Yes  I have had a few accidents during my time on the road, but I never been injured,I have had near misses.Psalm 121 is a wonderful Psalm , a favourite of many people,and v 8 reads,'The Lord shall preserve  your going out and your coming in,from this time forth,and even for evermore'.That includes everything,air ,sea,train, car and walking, so do get the good habit of praying whenever you go out.But it does not only include our travelling,for v7 reads,'The Lord; shall preserve you from all evil ; He shall preserve your soul.'  I have been following the Lord for 58 years, and in the words of a hymn,I have experienced ,many dangers, toils and snares.How have  I managed to come this far? the answer is God,it was Spurgeon who said,'Everyday one is a Christian its a miracle' I would say a big Amen to that.

Jesus wept ( Ephesians 2 v 1- 10 )

 Let us consider John 11 v 35 , and those words ,'Jesus wept'.just recently a neighbour  who had suddenly taken ill died. When I heard  this from his daughter , I wept, and when Jesus stood outside the tomb of Lazarus He wept, he burst out into tears. Jesus is the Son of God, that means that he is truly God and truly man, he was not just manifesting his humanity,but he was also manifesting his deity . God has emotions, He loves,he is angry, he is merciful,compassionate,etc.His anger is never out of control , all of His emotions are not in anyway tainted by sin, for God is holy. When you read the ministry of Jesus ,you see God reflected in those things he did, He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities .We are told God  is love 1 John 4 v 16, we are talking about the God of the the whole bible,old and new covenant ,some misguided people make a difference, there is no difference. In the old , time after time, he showed love, mercy and compassion.Yes he judged people and nations ,as He will judge all the unsaved in a coming day, but millions will be saved from judgement,for the God of love provided a way of escape through His Son Jesus death on the cross. The Christ who stood  outside Lazarus tomb, is the Christ who even now reaches out to all,to come to Him and be saved.

                                                   'Jesus loves me this I know

                                                    for the bible tells me so.'

Shame ( Ephesians 5 v 8 - 20 )

 I read this verse of a poem by Joanna Baillie.

                                             'I can bear scorpion's stings, tread fields of fire,

                                              In frozen gulfs of cold eternal lie,

                                              Be toss'd aloft through tracts of endless void,

                                              But cannot live in shame'

As I think back on my life there are things I feel ashamed off, but at that time I wasn't ashamed,but coming back to the Lord ,changed me,I became more aware of right and  wrong. I  am sure we have all done things we are ashamed off.There are extreme things in life that people do, like child abuse ,and they don't know any shame,they are just consumed  with their sexual lust. The sad thing is that those who have been abused feel  shame,even though they are not guilty of any wrong. Things have changed in our society pornography is endemic, and often what we see on the media,feeds into that,and there is no shame.The history of mankind is filled with shame, not only in the sexual realm,but in relation to money, in relation to the truth, to an addiction that does not care of the pain or hurt they inflict on others,no shame.I am not finger pointing,I am a sinner saved by Gods grace ,through my dear Saviour Jesus. When I trusted Jesus I found forgiveness and acceptance,and I believe he has made me a better person,oh yes I still will fall, when I do, I repent, and receive forgiveness.

                                                 'Out of my shameful failure and loss,

                                                  Jesus, I come! Jesus I come!

                                                   Into the glorious gain of the cross,

                                                   Jesus, I come to Thee!

                                                       Words W.T. Sleeper.

                                             

                                              

Thank you. (Isaiah 53 )

 Somethings you remember  until the day one dies,that moment when I was drowning as a young boy,how my life was saved thankfully  by one of the attendants at the swimming pool. One of the other most important things was passing my  driving test , I am so thankful for my wee wife and children praying while I did my test,and for God answering. Following that I am thankful for the lady who give me my first car, a  little, ' Morris Minor'.There are so many other things one could mention,here is the main one, a prayer of thanksgiving to God,'Thank you Lord for what you were prepared to endure for me on Calvary'. Yes me,why me? ,after all what have I ever done to deserve such love?,the answer is ,I did not deserve such love.I was born a sinner. As I look back on my life especially my thought life, I can assure you that I was far from God. The words from a hymn sum up what God did for me.                                                

                                                        'In loving kindness Jesus came,

                                                        My soul in mercy to reclaim

                                                        And from the depths of sin and shame,

                                                        Through grace He lifted me'  Words C.G.Homer.

Yes He suffered humiliation , flogging,the cross, but it did not stop there,there was an even deeper suffering, for on that cross He bore the wrath of God for me.There are no words that can describe the depths of that suffering,no artist could paint a picture of it.love so amazing so divine demands my soul my life my all.

                                                               Thank you Jesus.

The Lord is Good (Psalm 126 v 23 )

'The Lord is good,His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth for ever',these words are from Psalm 100 v5. Herbert Lockyer ,gives us the following helpful comments.'God is good, and His goodness faileth never. His mercy is like Himself, everlasting, and will be ours without end. As for His truth, it will never be revoked. Amid a changing world we would be in perpetual fear of shipwreck, but we have a God whose word has never been broken. Everything  about Him is everlastingly unchangeable, and such should call forth thanksgiving unwearied from hearts that never faint'.

                                                  ' O may this bounteous God

                                                    Through all or life be near us;

                                                    With ever joyful hearts

                                                     And blessed peace to cheer us;

                                                     And keep us in His grace,

                                                      And guide us when perplexed,

                                                      And free us from all ills

                                                     In this worlds and the next.

                                                           Words Martin. Rinckart/  C. Winkworth.

I am a Christian. (Philippians 1 v 21 )

Martin Luther counseled all the Lord's people to answer  all temptations with the brief saying, 'Christianus sum'-'' I am a Christian''.  Being a Christian should make all the difference in  all our lives,it means we have one with us who will care for us ,provide for us,protect us, never leave us nor forsake us.It  should  mean that we act,speak, and think, in a different way than the non- Christian. We should have a restraint on our lives,to not do anything that would dishonour our Saviour. Our aim in life should be that of unquestionable obedience to him who is our Lord, and we should  to do all things to the glory of God.We should live in the fear of God ,and rely on the grace of God , and walk and live by faith.His word should be utmost in our lives. His word should be our guide,and our delight,we should hold fast to biblical truth,refuse to compromise ,to our own understanding, or to those who have compromised.We should hold loosely to all things, have our sights always on that which is eternal,and especially on  Christ,and never forget that He is coming again..

                                                          '' I am a Christian''.