Our littleness. ( John 6 v 9 )

 In Dale Ralph Davis's commentary on 1Samuel he tells an event that happened during world war 2, when German cities were being bombed.The air craft was hit by antiaircraft flak lodging in the gas tank,but they didn't  explode,when they landed ,the pilot asked for the  unexploded shells.There were eleven shells,they were taken to the armorers to be defused,the armorers found that the shells contained no explosive charge,all but one contained a rolled-up -note,written in Czech. When it was translated it contained this message,''This is all we can do for you now''.These Czechs were compelled to work in an munitions plant for the Nazi war effort. The world is a very needy place,in so many place evil appears to reign, so many lost souls,so many people hurting,and suffering,and we think we can only pray,we can only give so little. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ remember He commended the woman who gave two small copper coins,( Mark 12 v 42). and with 5 small barley loaves,and two fish, he fed 5,000 plus people.

                                                ' Fear not to enter His courts in thy slenderness,

                                                  Of  the poor wealth thou would'st reckon as thine;

                                                  These ,though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness,

                                                  He will accept for the name that is dear;'

                                                                 Words John S.B. Monsell.

The worst of times ( Jonah 3 )

 'It  was the best of times,it was the worst of times,( Quote from ,'Tale of two cities',by Charles Dicken) In Ezekiel 22 v 30 ,we have God speaking through the prophet Ezekiel who was a captive in Babylon, here is what he said.'I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so that I would not have to destroy it,but I found no one'.This was written of one of the worst time in Jewish history.As one reads chap 22 we are made aware of the dreadful decline of the nation of Israel,morally and spiritually. It was so serious that God would judge them,by sending  an invading army upon them to practically destroy them.John B.Taylor writes ,'The over-all picture of extortion ,bloodshed,immorality,incest and irreligion is a terrifying description of any nation whose appointed  time is drawing near'.To emphasise how bad things had become God looks for even one person to stand in the gap, someone as J.B.Taylor puts it,'who would try to interpose himself to stop the national ruin.But there was no one with the moral courage to stem the tide'.so judgement would fall.Just one man,but it was not to be. No one listened to the prophet Jeremiah in Jerusalem,but if the king had stood in the gap,bringing people back to God, the city would have been spared,but alas it  was not to be.There comes a time when things become so bad ,that God says enough is enough.

                                                ' Heed the voice of God before it is to late'

Man Plans, and God laughs.( Psalm 27 v 11)

 Sometimes if we are honest we are faced with situations,decisions,and we just do not know what to do.It was a cousin of mine ,who quoted those words,'Man Plans, God laughs', is it true?,I suppose it reminds one that God and He only knows what is going to happen God is never surprised,He knows the beginning to the very end.In  Proverbs 3 v5-6 we read,'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him,and He shall direct your paths'. David Livingstone sought to find the source of the Nile ,he never did find it, could it be that the journey he took was more important than the destination he was going for. God has many lessons to teach us,some are painful, upsetting,mysterious, but if it is God's way it is perfect.Saul went looking for donkeys ,he ended up being Israels first king (1 Samuel 10).Joseph went looking for his brothers and eventually he became a ruler in Egypt.( Genesis 45 v 41).Some fishermen became fishers of men (Matthew 4 v 19), Saul the persecutor became Paul the the Christian.

                                               'God may not lead us to our desired destination

                                                but He will lead us to His destination.

                                                God  may not fulfil our desires ,but He will fulfil

                                                His will in our lives.'

After death ( John 11 v 25 )

 Recently a friend attended a funeral,during the funeral the minister taking the funeral said,'we really don't know what happens after death'. I recently read a survey that revealed some ministers in a certain group of churches did not believe in God ,did not believe in the virgin birth or Jesus miracles,the bodily resurrection of Christ,nor did they believe in Jesus teaching on heaven and hell. Why oh why are those  people ministers? it amazes me when I read these things. Yet it should not surprise one , if we go to the OT  we read of many religious leaders turning away from God.What is the answer to this?,very simple,you either accept the clear teaching of scripture or you reject it. It's as simple as that these people have decided not to accept what the Bible clearly teaches.The Word of God beams light into the darkness of death, it tells us that there is an after life,with two destinations,I go to the book of Daniel 12 v2 ,'Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake,some to everlasting life,others to shame and everlasting contempt' In Hebrews 9 v 28,we read ,'Just as people are destined to die once,and after that face judgement'.There is a destination after death,heaven awaits all who have trusted Jesus as their Saviour ,then there is hell for those who have not trusted Jesus.When we trust Jesus our sin is completely forgiven,sin the barrier to heaven is removed, but if we don't trust Christ that barrier remains, and we are shut out of heaven.John 3 v 36.

                                                  'The question is where will you spend

                                                   eternity?'.

More than these. ( John 21 v 15 )

Recently my wife Daphne,myself,my son Evan and his wife Val ,went to see our grandson at his passing out parade,he is in the House Cavalry.It was a wonderful day,it gives one so many nice memories.To see him and others riding on their horses in their wonderful uniforms,many photos were taken,and a good time was had by all. After the event we went for a meal and then a first for us all we went into that world famous store Harrods,it is a vast store full of so many things,it is like an Aladdin's cave,it is situated in a very wealthy area of London,and it is where the wealthy and famous shop. Most people could not afford to do their weekly shop there,alas we will have to stick to our local supermarket.Let none of us envy the wealthy and famous,they can enjoy so much of this worlds goods.Remember what Jesus said how hard it is for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God,to illustrate that He said ,'it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God,it is not impossible for with God all things are possible ( Mark 10 v 23- 27 ) This is not a witch hunt it is simply saying, if we are to be saved we must put God first ,even if it means given up our riches.This does not only apply to riches  as Abraham found out CP Genesis 22.

Don't give up. ( 2 Timothy 4 v 7 - 8 )

 Robert the Bruce became king of Scotland in 1306,although Scotland was ruled by England,so the fight began to free them from English rule which Robert led. It was hard going for he suffered many defeats,  after such a defeat he had to take refuge in a cave,while there he noticed a spider trying to weave a web,but it was not very successful,but it never give up trying, and finally succeeded.Robert thought much on what he had witnessed and from that moment  he again took up the fight against the English, this resulted in 1314 at the battle of  Bannockburn when  he finally defeated the English. He didn't give up, life can be very challenging.,and it is possible that we feel like giving up.The book of Hebrews was written to believers who were facing difficulties and hostilities and were in danger of given up so the author  in chap 11 reminds them of those great people who didn't give up.,but he doesn't stop there,he challenges them to cast off everything that is hindering them ,and to keep their eyes on Jesus who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,despising the shame,and is seated at the throne of God.( Hebrews 12 v 1 - 2)          

                                                          ' When the road is rough and steep,

                                                            fix  your eyes upon Jesus,

                                                            He alone has power to keep,

                                                            Fix your eyes upon Him'.

Eddie. ( Titus 3 v 4 - 8 )

 I was staying in a hotel ,and encountered a man called Eddie,we were both in the restaurant for breakfast,and I had a brief conversation with him.He was older than me,and he said he came originally from Ireland.I cant remember how I did it but I managed to witness to him of my assurance of going to heaven ,his response was,he hoped he would.So I pointed out that because of Christs finished work we can be sure,I assume he was a Roman Catholic,their salvation involves their good works,whereas the scriptures teach,it is by faith alone we are saved.(Ephesians 2v 8-9).Our works no matter how good they are  cannot erase sin, only Christs work on the cross,effectively deals with sin.So that was it,a brief encounter,one can only pray that it spoke to him,and he will put his faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross.

                                                      'Not the labour of my hands

                                                       Can fulfil Thy laws demands;

                                                       Could my zeal no respite know,

                                                       Could my tears for flow,

                                                        All for sin could not atone;

                                                        Thou must save and Thy alone.

                                                        Nothing in my hands I bring,

                                                         Simply to Thy cross I cling.

                                                              Augustus M. Toplady