We all have problems. ( Job 5 v 7 )

 It was Billy Graham who said,' I've never met a person who hasn't got a problem', so very true,I am sure that most of you have problems,I have at this time medical problems, I wander whats your problem?.They come in all shapes and sizes,some are complex ,some are on going,you get the picture.The question is how do you solve problems?,there are many ways,get advice, if its debt there are organisations that can help you,one I know is 'Christians against poverty'.Recently one of my sons told me about a problem he was having,I said I will pray about it,after all God is expert in solving problems, He does it in different ways usually through an individual.As regards mankind we are sooner or later faced with a problem we cannot solve, death,yes we can with the help of science live to a ripe old age,women usually live longer than men But the fact is we cannot beat death,it is a problem,but here is good news, as a Christian ,we can know victory over death,because Jesus conquered sin, death ,and Satan, when we trust Him as our Saviour even though we die we shall live  (John 11 v25 ),problemed solved.

It may happen.( Job 13 v15 )

From it may never happen,to it may happen,The fact is bad things happen to the most godly of people,there are many examples of that in the Bible,many,and there are many examples in life,or even in our experience of that happening. And so we come back to the statement,which we asked ,'I don't know where you are going with this Lord'. Let us remind ourselves that our times are in God's hands,the good times,the bad times,the sad times,the happy times.No one  if they had a choice would choose the sad and bad times,no one, including my self, but the fact is they happen,whether we like it or not.The challenge comes to us ,are we prepared to trust the Lord?,or turn away from Him?,or even run away from Him. Yes we have a choice,let us not give up,a better time is coming, if not in time,then most surely in eternity.

                                                'Though ''the reason why'' we cannot see,

                                                 Our Father knows-'tis enough we 

                                                 But trust His love, when our eyes are dim.

                                                 Look up! Hold fast! though the fight is grim.

                                                           We shall not be overcome!

                                                               Mary E. Thompson.

Don't anticipate. ( Genesis 27 v 41/ 33 v 1ff)

 A man watched his friend a sculptor working on a piece of marble,and he said to him,'I don't know where you are going with that', his friend said to him,'' in time you will''.It was Peter who was told by our Saviour, ''you do not realise  now what I am doing,but later you will understand''.(John 13 v 7) It was the apostle Paul who wrote,'Now I know in part; then I shall know fully' (1Corinthians 13 v12)Life being life, throws so many challenges at us,that  we cannot understand,and we may think where is God taking me in what I am experiencing ?. First let me say ,don't  anticipate the worse, the sky is not going to fall on you , the evil you fear may not happen, I remember reading of a man who had invested money for his company,and he lost it all. Later he was called in to see his boss, and before his boss had time to speak ,he  blurted out,I am sorry about that money that I invested,that went wrong. His boss looked at him and said,''don't worry about that,I have something else I want to talk to you about''. Remember it may never happen.

                                                 'Ye fearful saints ,fresh courage take,

                                                  The clouds ye so much dread

                                                   Are big with mercy, and shall break

                                                   In blessings on your head'

                                                         William Cowper.

Sent by God. ( Matthew 25 v 31 - 46)

Ann was looking after  her husband who had Parkinson disease,he was in the latter stage of his illness, needing total care .Ann is a retired nurse,and both her and husband were fine Christians ,it was a very emotionally and physically time as you can well imagine.She tells there was a day in which she could not cope,her husband needed changed,and she just did not have the strength to help him,they both wept.Then just at that moment the door bell ,two lovely Christians were standing there,they said that they felt they should bring two ready meals for them.But when they discovered what what was happening,they got to work,the lady had worked as carer one time,so she got Ann's husband sorted out,  and did what necessary in the home.I read the following,' Be happy when God answers your prayers,but  be more happy when God makes you the answer to someone else's prayer'.

Strong reasoning. ( Isaiah 41 v 21)

 I read the following story ,about a Christian called ''Holy Ann'',who lived in Canada,she lived to be one hundred years old.    When she was young she worked for a family ,for a very small wage,they treated her very badly.They made her carry water for a mile up a steep hill. At one time there was a well near were she worked,but it had dried up.One night she was very tired,and she fell on her knees and cried to God; and while on her knees  she read these words,''I will open...fountains in the midst of  valleys; I will make the dry land springs of water.''. ''Produce your cause,saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons''So Holy Ann produced her cause before the Lord. She told Him how badly they needed water and how hard it was for her to carry the water up the hill; then she lay down and fell asleep. The next morning early she was seen  to take a bucket and start for the well.She was asked by someone where she was going, she told them she was going to the well to draw water, but they told her,that the well was dry. But Holy Ann carried on,and  when she got to the well,it was full of water,and the well never did run dry after that. We can't command God to answer our prayers, but we can reason with Him and use arguments, strong reasons,why He should answer our prayers.

He is able. (Ephesians 3 v20-21 ) 2

We continue to look at Ephesians 3 v 20 ,and John Stott's comments,he writes on the words ,'according to the power that worketh in us'. 'The infinite ability of God to work beyond our prayers,thoughts and dreams is by the power at work within us, within us individually( Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith) and within us as a people  (who are the dwelling place of God by His Sprit) It is the power of the resurrection, the power which raised Christ from the dead, enthroned Him in the  heavenlies, and then raised and enthroned us there with Him. That is the power which is at work within the Christian church. Because of this power there are no limits to what God can do. The power comes from Him; the glory must go to Him'.

                                      'More powerful than all the dark and mighty powers

                                       let loose in the world, more powerful that anything

                                       else, is the power of prayer set ablaze by the fire of 

                                       God and cast upon the earth.'

                                                                   (Torrance)

He is able . (Ephesians 3 v 20- 21) ( 1)

 Ephesians 3 v 20 - 21 ,reads,'Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh within us,Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus through out all the ages, world without end. Amen.I want to quote John Stott on these verses. He lays seven stages in relation to these verses.

(1)He is able to do or to work,for He is neither idle,nor inactive,nor dead.

(2) He is able to do what we ask,for He hears and answers prayer.

(3) He is able to do what we ask or think,for He reads our thoughts,and sometimes we imagine things for which we dare not and therefore do not ask.

(4)He is able to do all that we ask or think, for He knows it all and can perform it all.

(5) He is able to do more......than( beyond) all that we ask or think,for His expectations are higher than ours.

(6) He is able to do much more,or more abundantly, than all we ask or think, for He does not give His grace by calculated measure.

(7) He is able to do very much more, far more abundantly, that all we ask or think,for He is a God of super- abundance.