Only memories .( Hebrews 11 v 13 - 16 )

 England's women's football team have just recently won a major trophy ,by beating the German team. For many years I followed a famous men's football team,they were very successful, not so now,but the  memories remain.In the end that'a all one gets of this worlds glories,just memories, that's all just memories.The apostle Paul wrote about the athletes of his day,' They do it to win a prize that will pass away, but we do it for an eternal prize .' 1 Corinthians 9 v 25.Someone spoke about the glories that  shine afar,we all need to be reminded of the the greatness of what we will inherit in our eternal home. The apostle also wrote the following,'Since you have been raised to a new life with Christ,set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven,not the things of earth' Colossians 3 v 1-2 ,

                                                 '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 changes not abide with me'

                                                                 Henry F. Lyte

The Providence of God. (Romans 8 v 28)

 My wife and I heard a loud thud,I went to investigate, and the lamp fitting had fallen down from the ceiling,it was a heavy glass fitting, it fell unto a bathroom rug,so it didn't smash into pieces.As l lifted it up I realized that if it had fallen on anyone ,it could have caused serious injury.I wonder how many times God has preserved us in life,from physical and spiritual dangers?.It is worth considering , we can put it under the Providence of God, an aspect of life that is not given much thought to. Consider those times you have been held up when out driving,caught in a traffic jam,or caught behind a slow driver,and you are not able to overtake.May not God be holding you back ,from some danger ahead,what about that job you didn't get?,the one you set your heart on.What about that promotion you didn't get, you were overlooked, it seems so unfair,John  Flavel writes,'Providence is wiser than you', God may not have wanted you in that position.Be well satisfied in that station and employment in which Providence has placed you, and do not so much as wish yourself in another', Consider daily in all the affairs of your life,the Providence  of God.

                                               'With mercy and with judgement ,

                                                My web of time He wove,

                                               And aye the dews of sorrow

                                               Were lustred by His love;

                                                I'll bless the hand that guided,

                                                I'll bless the heart that planned,

                                                When throned where glory dwelleth

                                                 In Immanuel's land.'

                                                    A.R.Cousin.

'

Heavenly minded. ( Acts 9 v 36 - 43 )

 Philip Yancy writes,'Rousseau said the church set up an irresolvable dilemma. How can Christians be good citizens of this world?' Philip mentions the many people he has met ,who disprove his argument. C.S.Lewis has noted , those most conscious of another have made the most effective Christians in this one'. I was speaking to a person who is in charge of a Christian mission that supports at least 50 causes, hospitals,orphanages, schools,etc.I could name another that works with children in 8 countries, they do a wonderful work.It is a very wrong saying ',that persons whose minds that  are on heaven are of no earthly  good'.It seems to me that it is the opposite of that, it is vital to realise how important loving good works are, they are the evidence of our faith,they do not save us,but they are evidence that we are saved.Jesus said by our fruits we are known.

                                                   'We are God's handiwork, created in Christ

                                                    Jesus to do good works ,which God pre-

                                                    pared in advance for us to do.'

                                                                  Ephesians 2 v 10.

Witnessing. ( Isaiah 55 v 10 -11 )

Often I have witnessed to those in the cults,J Ws, Mormons,it is very challenging ,often I became  frustrated with them,as they twisted the truth , and so often they were obviously not listening to what I had to say.On reflection it all seems to have been a waste of time, who knows ,my witness may bear in a coming day. I have also witnessed to many people again very little response, again I ask myself was it a waste of time?.  Yes it may have appeared to have been a waste of time,but I will still witness to people,I am not a prophet ,but as I read about those who were prophets ,they had a thankless task. Take one of the greatest of the prophets,Isaiah ,we read of his call to his ministry in Isa 6 , where he responded to God asking the question.'Whom shall I stand?,'And who will go for us?' Isaiah replied ,''Here am I ,Send me!'. God answers, 'Go and tell this people'. And what follows appears that they would not respond, and in fact they were going to be judged,so it was to be a very challenging task that Isaiah was called to take on.Tradition has it he was put to death probably under wicked King Manasseh's rule.Jesus said we are to be his witness'es Acts 1 v 8,so we must be faithful to that,yes all God requires of us is faithfulness,even if people don't respond, even if we have to suffer,yes even death.

A promise. ( 2 Peter 1 v 3- 4 )

 The precious promises are many in the bible ,and in all the years I have followed Christ, they have given me hope when I had no hope.They include promises for healing,for meeting our needs,for guidance,for protection,for strength,for power,and so on.They are promises from God, He does not lie,He will always keep his word, he never breaks a promise.Consider these words from Philippians 4 v 6-7,'Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present  your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus'. Remember faith is important ,without it we will receive nothing Hebrews 11 v 6, with it, we will be rewarded for it pleases God. We are told that we are not to be anxious about anything. what are you anxious about?,what's your anything?. next we are told,'that in every situation,',stop and consider those words ,a pause and thoughtful moment. Don't look about in despair,for here's the next thing we have to do,'By prayer and petition ,with thanksgiving.present your requests to God'.Then we are told,  '  God's peace,which transcends  all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus'.

John Calvin. ( John 3 v17 )

Calvin was a great Theologian, maybe one of the greatest,yet unfortunately as Philip Yancey points out that the church in Geneva were he was the minister made very many rules,towards the extremism that Jesus warned against.Here is a list of don't do's,'attending theatrical  plays, extravagant entertainment,naming children after anyone but figures in the Old Testament,reading , A father who christened his son Claude ,a name not found in the OT ,spent four days in jail.A child was beheaded for striking his parents,they drowned any single woman  found pregnant'. These are just some of the rules ,very little grace  or mercy shown,now of course one could say Calvin was a man of his time, but so was our Saviour, and he stood against the hardness of religious people's hearts,with their harsh judgements. That does not mean to say  that we shouldn't have standards,we are called to be holy,and not to compromise against evil, wherever it rears its ugly head..The epistle make it clear that sin will  be judged ,and those who live in a sinful fashion will be excluded from heaven, CP 1 Corinthians 6 v 9 - 10. Let us always take a serious view of sin,in the church and out of the church, but let us not become members the Pharisee club.

God is faithful ( Psalm 23 )

 Animals can be very faithful,I remember seeing a movie about a dog who would wait at a certain place for his master coming home every day ,he continues doing  this even after his master died,and continued to do he till he died , they erected a statue to that dogs faithfulness .People can be faithful to evil causes,unfaithful to good causes,unfaithful to  their husbands,to their wives,to their children.One of the great characteristics, of God is His faithfulness.  As a Christian I depend on His faithfulness, and what is more I have experienced His faithfulness,as  I have followed the Lord for over 58 years .The history of Israel is a very sad history, characterised by their unfaithfulness,time after time they forsook God.God did deal with them punishing them,chastising them in ,like any good father would.In one of Israels greatest times of suffering brought about by their extreme unfaithfulness, the prophet Jeremiah standing amidst  the ruins of Jerusalem declared, 'Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.' Dear child of God you may be experiencing difficulties and trials,God will  be faithful,he will never leave you nor forsake you.