He is there. ( Isaiah 46 v 9 - 10)

 Sometimes it appears that the world is out of control, wars and rumours of wars,disasters injustice,and the darkness of evil wicked and oppressive religious and political regimes.  The poet James Russell. Lowell wrote.

                              ' Though the cause of evil prosper,yet the truth alone is strong.

                                Truth forever on the scaffold,wrong forever on the throne,

                                 Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,

                                 Standeth God within the shadows,keeping watch above His own.

Dale Ralph Davis wrote,'God has not hung out a vacancy sign over His universe or His people. He is there, bringing His word to pass. Sometimes only that assurance keeps His people sane'.

Count them. ( Lamentations 3 v 22-23 )

 Thankfulness, have you given thanks to God recently for your many blessings?, one writer has said this,'We should get rid of some of the tripe  in our prayers like 'and thank you for your many , many blessings'. in other words it is to general' lingo-ese', why do we not name one or two of those blessing in  our prayers,and teach our children to do that also'.An old hymn comes to mind,I would like to leave it with  you, the words are by Johnson Oatman, JR

                                            'When upon life's billows you are  tempest tossed,

                                             When you are discouraged ,thinking all is lost

                                             Count your many blessings ,name them one by one,

                                              And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

                                              Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

                                              Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

                                              Count your many blessings ,every doubt will fly,

                                              And you will keep singing as the days go by.

                                              So amid the conflict ,whether great or small,

                                               Do not be disheartened, God is over all;

                                               Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

                                               Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

                                               Count your blessings,name them one by one;

                                                Count your blessings,see what God has done!

                                                Count your blessings,name them one by one,

                                                And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

                                                  

                                                  

I would miss Him. ( Hebrews 12 v 1-2 )

 If you ask me what would be my greatest fear in life, it would be that I could go away from my lovely Saviour, I am not like Peter and the other disciples ,who said that they would never  leave and disown their Lord( Mark 14 v 27 - 31 ).No I pray I won't, for I know it could happen for I know that I am weak. I remember reading about a very blessed preacher whom God used,and sadly he went away from the Lord,many years later speaking about Jesus,he said,'I miss Him'. Very ,very sad and telling words. There are many reasons why, people turn away from the Lord,I am not going to judge them or condemn them.I remember many years ago working with a man called Alec, he was a bright Christian,yet he went away from the Lord. I remember meeting him one day,and I spoke to him,and as I did I started crying,it was all so sad.So here is vulnerable Bill writing,and I asked the question, what preventive measures can I take to keep me from leaving Jesus, there is hymn by dear Fanny Crosby the blind hymn writer, which is in essence a prayer, hear are the words, I pray and hope they will help you.

                                          'Jesus keep me near the cross; there a precious fountain,

                                           Free to all a healing stream,flows from Calvary's mountain.

                                           Near the cross,a trembling soul,love and mercy found me;

                                           There the Bright  and Morning star, she it's beams around me

                                            Near the cross ! O Lamb of God, bring it's scenes before me;

                                            Help me walk from day to day, with it's shadow o'er me.

                                            Near the cross I'll watch and wait,hoping trusting ever,

                                            Till I reach the golden strand,just beyond the river.

                                            In the cross,in the cross, be my glory ever;

                                            Till my raptured soul shall find,rest beyond the river.

                                           

'The Lord Almighty is with us. ( Psalm 46 )

 I remember a writer in the Times newspaper writing about Africa,and this is what he said,as regards its future,'It was between the ,'machete,the witch doctor,and Christianity'. He favoured Christianity ,and with good reason, there are many Christian hospitals ,orphanages, schools,and so many other organisations involved in helping people,ministering to their needs.In so many African countries the machete is still in use, causing a reign of terror to so many dear people.as for witch doctors the less said about them the better.Wars and rumors of wars continue unabated in this world, there is so much pain and suffering,in spite of all the wonderful advances humanity has made in so many things.Things will not change,because human nature will not change,oh yes we can mention the good things,but hanging over us all there are so many uncertainties. I love the Psalms ,so I want to leave these wonderful words from Psalm 46 ,I would commend the whole psalm to you, here are the words of v 10, and v1.

                                                 'Be still and know that I am God'

                                                  and remember ,that He is an ever

                                                  present help in trouble'

It's impossible. ( Mark 8 v 34 -- 38)

 I wonder do you have a favourite song and singer,I have many favourite songs,and favourite singers,one of them is Perry Como, he sings a love song called,'It's impossible',on the whole it has nice words,and a nice tune.But unfortunately the writer gets carried away.Here  are the foolish words sung to his sweetheart,'And tomorrow,should you  ask me for the world,some how I'd get it.I would sell my very soul and not regret it'. In case you didn't realise we all have a soul ,that invisible and immaterial element of our being , one writer William Hendriksen comments ,'in  several instances the two terms soul and spirit are used interchangeably',It exists after death,our Saviour said in Matthew 10  v 28,Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul  ,rather ,be afraid  of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell'.Again it't WH who points out that the word,'' destroy '' is used here in the sense not of annihilation.but  of the infliction of everlasting punishment upon a person'.Our soul is the most valuable thing we have ,and we must not forget that. Alas  so many people do forget and pay the awful price for doing that. If you realise the importance of your soul you would not sell it, Let me remind you ,without Christ as your Saviour you are and will be a lost soul.

Side affects ( Proverbs 4 v 10 - 27)

 It is said that most if not all medication have side effects, I personally have had side effects,and my Gp has changed the medication I have been  on.Sin is like medication,it has on a temporal side effects,take someone who commits adultery,it can bring with it guilt and fear,it can also bring with it the break up of a marriage,and the loss of so many things.So when we are tempted to sin,think of the side effects,and ask yourself is it worth it?. If we are Christians,then our relationship with God is effected,and that can be heartbreaking.We all need to consider the side effects of our actions,as to how it will affect others and how it will effect us,and how it will effect our relationship with God .When we receive our medication their is usually a leaflet with it that highlights  the side affects,it is a guide.The Christian is not left to themselves as regards wrong and sinful things that we may become involved with ,and their effects,we have the holy Spirit and the word of God.We are not free agents to do whatever we want,if we neglect these,we will be anything but free.

Do you need a change? ( Luke 4 v 14 -- 19 )

 I believe that Christ does not only save your soul ,He saves your life also,consider the before and after,before your life can be such a terrible mess,I have read about so many people whose lives have been transformed when they have come to know Christ as their Saviour ,people like John Newton who wrote Amazing grace, he is one of many  .Someone said go for sinners and go for the worst,remember we can't write anyone off.Where sin abounds ,grace much  more abounds,,everyone who comes  to know Christ will always have a degree of change in their lives.No they will still be full of flaws, and characteristic faults,but their life will be changed and that for the better.A friend of mine came to know Christ as his as Saviour ,he told his family, and his mother said I hope there will be no longer  any of those bad words,and there wasn't .One is never to bad to be saved,for Christ came  to save sinners,nor is one's life to far gone that it cannot be changed.One of the greatest illustrations  of that is to be found in Luke 8 v 26 ff ,it tells of a man whose life was a total mess,possessed by demons,lived among the tombs,he was naked he self harmed ,no one could change  him,they did try but to no avail, there he was crying out in distress ,then something happened,Jesus came,and all was changed.