Evening Praise. (Ephesians 5 v 20 )

                                              'Evening Praise', From  valley of vision'

                                   'I thank Thee for the temporal blessings of this world,

                                    the refreshing air, the light of the sun,the food that renews

                                    strength,the raiment that clothes,the dwelling that shelters,

                                    the sleep that gives rest,the starry canopy of night,the summer 

                                    breeze,the flowers' sweetness,the music of flowing streams,

                                    the happy endearments of family and friends.I bring my 

                                    tribute of thanks for spiritual graces,the full warmth of faith,

                                    the cheering presence of Thy Spirit, the strength of Thy restraining

                                    will,the overturning of hell's artillery.'

                                                           'Blessed be my sovereign Lord '

                                     

    

                                   

What's wrong with this world? ( Romans 3 v 23 )

What,s wrong with this world?,it is a scary old world ,why would a man go into a nursery of all places,and murder little babies,and adults?.We could multiply the why's in life,I don't want to depress you,it is no good sticking our head in the sand and ignore the awful things that are happening now ,and throughout history.I watched a movie recently,an old lady was talking to her son,she spoke of inherit goodness of people,they were are not all bad. Her son replied with a biblical quotation from Jeremiah 17 v9,'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;who can know it'.That goes against what we say about certain people,that they have a good heart.You may not think this verse applies to everyone,but it does ,given the wrong circumstances ,wrong as regards evil,we can easy become part of that evil. When I look in my heart it scares me,are you any different?. Money and power does not change this it often increases the evil we commit ,as for religion ,it is no different,yes even the religions that go under the name of Christianity,the lust for money power rules many,likewise sex,in the abuse of children.Why did Christ come?,to make us rich and powerful,to give us a trouble free life,no, He came to forgive us our sins,and by His Spirit aid us  to overcome,the evil without and the evil within, that's why you need Jesus and I need Jesus.

Be the Magnet ( Psalm 139 v23 - 24 )

Robert Robinson lived in the 18th century,he was a minister,and the Lord blessed his ministry,he wrote the hymn,' Come Thy fount of every blessing',Here is the second  verse.

                                                   'O to grace how great a debtor

                                                    Daily I'm constrained to be!

                                                    Let Thy grace,Lord , like a fetter,

                                                    Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

                                                    Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,

                                                    Prone to leave the God I love;

                                                   Here's my heart ,Lord,take and seal it,

                                                    Seal it from Thy courts above'

It reminds me of Christian and his friend Hopeful in Pilgrims Progress who wandered of the pathway and were taken prisoner by Giant Despair and cast into the dungeon of Doubting castle. Like them we can so easily wander away from God,morally and theologically,I am reminded of two great kings who did just that,David and Solomon, Like them it would be so easy to wander away from the God we love.I found myself praying these words, 'May you Lord, be the magnet to my soul,that draws me back from wandering from You,in Jesus name'.

Be ready ( Revelation 1 v12 - 18 )

 In John 7 v 1 ,we read that the Jewish leaders were looking for a way to kill Jesus, now of course Jesus knew that they would eventually have their way,Matthew 16 v 21.But that moment would come in God's time,and not before,the purpose of Christ coming was to die on the cross. John 12 v 27. There was times when people tried to kill Jesus but it did not happen Luke 4 v 28 - 30,the reason being it was not God's time.the scripture puts it like,'His hour had not come'.John 7 v 30. It is Calvin who reasons from Christ's death to ours;' From this a general doctrine must be gathered; for though we live unto the day, the hour of every man's death has nevertheless been fixed by God...... we are safe from all dangers until God wishes to call us away'. And as I often say,' be ready',as believers let us live as if it were our last day on earth, and if  you are not a believer, trust Jesus as your Saviour, for it may be your last day.

                                                         'Sovereign ruler of the skies,

                                                         Ever gracious,ever wise;

                                                         All my times are in Thy hands,

                                                        All events at Thy command.

                                                        Plagues and death around me fly;

                                                        Not a single shaft can hit,

                                                        Till the God of love sees fit.'

                                                                  John Ryland.

Our priority. ( Matthew 6 v 9 - 10 )

 We read in John 7 of our Lord going up to Jerusalem during the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles,for Him it was a dangerous thing to do, for the Jewish leaders were looking for a way to kill Him . Alongside this his own brothers did not believe in Him,but undeterred He went to the festival knowing the risk . He was very brave and courageous ,He was not acting foolishly or in a spirit of bravado ,no, He was  walking in the will of God. His whole life entailed that very thing, doing the will of God.It was His delight  Psalm 40 v 8, and His purpose in coming into this world, in John 4 v34, He declared,'My food',...'is to do the will of Him who sent Me,and to finish His work.' As Christians the challenge  for all of us is to follow in our Saviours footsteps,in doing the will of God. I recently heard of a man who was very discouraged because he did not get what he prayed for,he wanted a job.What we want is not the priority in our lives ,the priority must  always be the will of God,

                                                                    A prayer.

                                                 'Not my will, but yours be done'.

A grateful heart. ( Luke 17 v 11 - 19) 1

 In Psalm 107 v 23 - 32 we read of those who go to sea in ships,and how often  they find themselves in a severe storm that threatens their lives,they try everything to survive,but to no avail,death looks certain. In that situation they do what many people do,'they cried to Lord'v 28,and we read God in His mercy responded ,by calming the sea,and bringing them to their desired haven. It stands to reason that if God delivers,be it nation,or an individual,they should give thanks unto God ,sad to say it does not often happen but if we are children of God it should happen.How grateful are we for His many deliverances, for his help and protection ,and most of all for His salvation.May today we raise our thankful hearts to him who loved us when we didn't love Him,from Him who stuck with us through thick and thin,and still remains faithful to us today.

                                                   'Now thank we all our God,

                                                   with hearts,and hands, and voices;

                                                   who wondrous things hath done,

                                                   in whom this world rejoices;

                                                   Who, from our mothers arms,

                                                   hath blessed us on our way 

                                                  with countless gifts of love,

                                                   and still is ours today.

                                                           Martin Rinkart.

                                                   

And it came to pass ( 2 Corinthians 4 v 16 - 18 )

              I heard this song recently written by Kaidi Tatham, called ,'These things will pass'.

                                            'These things will pass and some great morning,

                                             We'll look back and smile at heartaches we have known,

                                             So don't forget when shadows gather,

                                             The Lord our God is still the King upon the throne.

                                              These things will pass,so don't you worry,

                                              The darkest time is just one hour before the dawn,

                                              So hold up high and face your troubles ,

                                              And don't despair if you must face them all alone.

                                              A rose looks grey at midnight ,but the flame is just asleep,

                                              And steel is strong because it knew the hammer and white heat,

                                              When love and faith are strong, they cannot long endure.'

'But now, thus says the Lord, who created you O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel. Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called by your Name,you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk  through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God. The holy One of  Israel, your  Saviour'.       ( Isaiah 43 v 1 - 3 )