Not now,later. ( Isaiah 55 v 6 - 7 )

A   Dr Piers Steel an expert at procrastination recently spoke on how one can stop daily dithering,that's what procrastination involves. Everyone is guilty of putting off doing what they should,not now but later.I remember a minister telling about a mother who used to stand at the foot of the stairs each morning,calling to her son to get up out of bed,she would hear him reply,'I'm coming,' but he kept lying on in bed. In her frustration  she cried out by saying,'will you stop your coming and come'.Recently a well known footballer,was disciplined by his club,for being late for his training session,seemingly he had fallen asleep. In Isaiah 1 v18 God is speaking,the first two words He say's is ,'Come now''. here is an invitation from God,come,and it is followed by ,'Now'.there is an urgency in this invitation,but alas we fail to respond, why the urgency?,if you are not a Christian,you stand in grave danger of going to a lost eternity.The minister was asking the congregation ,to shout out the blessings they had received,a lady who had been a Muslim,called out that she had got saved.In the light of the  uncertainty of life and the certainty of  death,I urge you to seek the Lord  Jesus while He can be found,call on Him while he is near(Isaiah 55 v 6)

                                                               'Don't procrastinate'

Where? ( John 3 v 36)

 Someone wrote of how,' many people lives exclude all personal spiritual dimensions, and are just content with a purely animal existence' That's very sad because we are not mere animals,we may live like that,and we may consider our pets as part of the family.There is nothing wrong with that ,all I would say is they are not part of our human family,there is a distinction between the animal and human family.Walt Disney and many nature programs,would break down the distinction between the human and animal family.Disney do it for fun ,and to entertain us,the nature programs are very serious in pushing forward the idea that we are all one that there is no distinction.In Genesis God made a difference,because we read that God said ,''Let us make man in our image'',(Gen 1 v 26 ). We also read that God has set eternity in humans hearts, (Ecclesiastes 3 v11).that is something we sense,the believers realises the reality of that by faith  in Jesus, and look forward to the glories  of being with God eternally.The unbeliever will also exist after death ,but not with God,and will exist under God's wrath for ever.So the question is this, where will you spend eternity?

Press on. ( Colossians 3 v 1 -4 )

 Paul is in prison,a Roman prison,for what crime?,of being a Christian,things have not changed,Rome no longer rules,yet many have stepped up to take their place.In many countries it is a crime to be a Christian ,there are political and religious powers where many Christians  are suffering,and dying, by those opposed to Christ. Such was Pauls experience,he would soon be beheaded,and under the Emperor Nero, many Christians would perish,horrendous deaths. Here is what  Paul wrote,to a beloved brother in the Lord.    'The time of my departure is at hand,I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.' For this warrior of Christ  was now going to be with Christ ,yes he had fought many battles (2 Corinthians 11 v 23 - 28).In spite of all he had experience,  he had never given up,he carried unto the end, and never once did he deny the faith,and so it was with confidence he was going to meet his death,but most important to to meet his Lord,and bask in the glorious rewards of heaven.So let us by God's grace, press on ,hold on , and strive on.

                               'I've wrestled on towards heaven, 'Gainst storm, and wind ,and tide,

                               Now like a weary trav'ller ,That leaneth on His guide;

                                Amid the shades of evening,While sinks lingering sand,

                                I hail the glory dawning, in Immanuel's land'.

                                                            A.R.Cousin.

Help. ( Psalm 121)

' 'What is the bravest thing you've  ever said?'' asked the boy.'' Help '', said the horse.' (from a book by Charlie Mackesy)It was the Beatles who sang a song called 'Help',here is part of it.

                                    '  I was younger so much younger than today                     

                                       I never needed anybody's help in any way

                                       But now those days are gone,I'm not so self assured ,

                                       Now I find I've changed my mind,

                                       And opened up the door.'

We all have heard someone saying,'' I don't need your help', you may have said that,I have a good friend ,her husband is old and frail,she has two helpers come in ,one in the morning, one in the evening.The one in the morning comes into shower him,and get him ready,they pay for this help.But here's the thing before the helper comes my friend gets her husband up,showers him,and gets him ready herself. My friend often complains how tired she feels,I wonder why?,so don't be afraid if you need help, ask, be brave,ask.There is someone whom I go to all the time for help,his name is Jesus,he can be depended on to help ,with the biggest and the smallest problems,get into the good habit of calling on Him to help you,He is exceedingly kind,and will gladly help you.

                                       'This poor man called,and the Lord heard him;

                                        He saved Him out of all his troubles.'

                                                       Psalm 34 v 6.

                                        

You are loved. ( Romans 5 v 8 )

 So Christmas is passed,and of course it was a time of giving and receiving of gifts. One of my sons give me a couple of gifts,aftershave and a nice pen ,which came in a lovely little silver {not real silver)casket which had these words on it,'Merry Christmas, Dad,much love ,John'. In  1 Cor 13, we are told of the importance of Love, in all that we do,the best gift God ever give was given out of love,that gift was Jesus (John 3 v16). Everyone desires to be loved,I praise God for his love, no one can say they are not loved,for God loves them.And it is so very sad that God's love is rejected by so many,it was Elizabeth Clephane who wrote

                                      'Upon that cross of Jesus,mine eyes at times can see.

                                      The very dying form of one, who suffered there for me;

                                       And from my smitten heart with tears,two wonders I confess;

                                       The wonders of His glorious love,and my own worthlessness.'

Yes we are loved by God who is love,let us who are Christians,rejoice in that love,and if your not a Christian, you can know and experience that love by accepting Christ as your Saviour.

He is not an absentee landlord. ( Isaiah 45 v 6- 7 )

 The outlook does not look good for very many people,many poor countries are suffering very badly,we have the war in Ukraine,recession is rampant,and there are many other things we could mention. As a Christian I believe  that God is sovereign,,in other words He rules over all things.Let us say right away that He just, and holy,and is working out everything  according to His will and His plan. (Ephesians 1 v 11 )I  want to quote a number things that Alec Motyer says in his commentary on the Prophet Amos,this prophet had a message of judgement for many nations, that included Israel and Judah.'  There is a divine and wholly just providence controlling world history. Calamity never falls without the directive hand of God. He is no absentee  landlord in relation to the world He has created;  He has neither abdicated nor  delegated His powers. He rules and He executes judgement.This is the God with whom this fallen,wicked ,rebellious world has to do'.God is on the throne,and the good thing is this, He will remember His own. that is important to remember,we are in His hands,let us keep our eyes upon Him.

Happy New Year. ( Psalm 23)

Here we are again,standing on the brink  of a new year, a whole year,  you may be asking the question  how will you cope.Our Saviour told us,'do not worry about tomorrow' (Mt 6 v34).He has been teaching how if we seek first God's kingdom and righteousness all will be well, it seems so simple,it is, but it brings with it a challenge.It means taking our Saviour at his word, that is one of  the most vital things we must do in our Christian life. The days ahead may bring change,as last year did, let us have confidence in our wonderful God and Saviour, in Joshua 1 v 9 ,we read,'Be strong and of a good courage for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go'.May those words encourage us all ,as we face the unknown future ,God is going to be with us, 24/7, every difficulty we face He will help us,whatever needs we have ,He will meet ,and when there are times when we feel unloved,remember He loves us,and that nothing can separate us from His love  (Romans 8 v 37 - 39 )                                                                     

 

                                                   'All the way my Saviour leads me;

                                                    What have I to ask beside?

                                                    Can I doubt His tender mercies,

                                                    Who through life has been my Guide?

                                                           Words Fanny J.Crosby.