If it be His will ( 1 John 5 v 14 -15 )

My youngest son was given the assurance in writing by his employers that he would be given promotion, it was a position that he dearly wanted,then his employer said he wasn't going to get the job.So he felt that he should apply for that position in another company ,he had two interviews,and of course we were praying that he would get the job,but here is the important thing,if it was God's will.Yes that's the vital thing,I kept praying,and always stressed that point,if it was God's will then get him the job, and he has just phoned me and told me that he has got the job,and we give thanks to God for that.In Psalm 40 v 8, we read.'I desire to do your will',these words sum up the reason why our Saviour came,to do the will of God (Mark 14 v 36). So it is, we must always put His will first in our lives, we cannot go wrong if we do that,and here is something that is vital,  He will not always say yes to our requests,in His will He opens doors and He shuts door,in His will He heals and in His will He doesn't heal. God's will is good ,pleasing and perfect ( Romans 12 v 2 )  I remember a fellow student at college called Sheila,a lovely Christian girl, speaking at a meeting,it was a simple talk,and her talk was on a verse of a poem, by F B. Faber.

                                                        'I'll that He blesses is our good, 

                                                         And unblest good is ill;

                                                         And all is right that seems most wrong,

                                                         If it be His sweet will'   

Just want to add  Sheila a young women died of cancer,leaving a husband and a young family.

                                                         

Contentment ( Philippians 4 v 11 - 13)

 A friend was telling me that when he was young,he was in contact with a pastor in Mozambique,he asked my friend if he would come over and help him in God's work. He felt he should, so he arrived in Mozambique,met the pastor who took him to where he was serving God.and he showed him to his accommodation. It was one room with a bed in it and not much else,although he did have some guests  in that room,Cockroaches. In spite of this he said he felt a peaceful contentment,It reminds of the apostle when he was in prison,I'm sure the prison was not a very nice place,in fact it would have been very grim,and yet He wrote very challenging words,' I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances'( Philippians 4 v 11) Let us take note it was something he had learned through all the trials and difficulties he had gone through. It is Barnes who writes,'It is a lesson which we slowly learn , not to murmur at the allotments of Providence; not to be envious at the prosperity of others; not to repine when our comforts are removed'

                                                            'Ye saints that toil below,

                                                             Adore your heavenly King.

                                                             And,onward as ye go,

                                                             Some joyful  anthem sing;

                                                             Take what He gives,

                                                             And praise Him still,

                                                             Through good and ill,

                                                             Who ever lives.'  (Words Richard Baxter)

Press on. (Philippians 2 v 27 - 30 )

 John Bunyan who wrote ,'Pilgrims Progress',about a man called Christian who got saved, and went on a journey to the Celestial City,and on that journey he met many obstacles.Believe not those deceiver's who tell you that the road to glory is paved with gold,and healing is guaranteed,that is what that liar the devil promises CP  Matthew 4 v 8. To be a Christian is very challenging,many people are suffering and dying for their faith.We may not be,but the challenge is still great,we are bombarded by many things, the devil is still active,doing all he can to discourage,deceive,and yes even tempt us to give up. Then the worlds influence is always there ,promising so much,and giving so little,the worlds values run contrary to God's values.Then we have the biggest enemy ,you will see him when you look in the mirror,and unless we die daily to Christ,denying ourselves,refusing to give in to our  baser nature,we will find ourselves in dire straits.Jesus said,' follow me',not the crowd,not friend or foe,not the self centered way,not leaning upon are own understanding,but in all our ways,trusting Him to direct our path. Our dear Saviour has promised to help us and keep  us, and bring us through to that Celestial city,where we will never grow old,so press on,persevere on,let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus,the one who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross,scorning it's shame.

                                                       

Stand by me. ( Psalm 40 v 1 - 3 )

The apostle Paul was in prison and he writes how ,'No one came to his support,but that everyone had deserted him',( 2 Timothy 4 v16- 17.)Then he adds,' But the Lord stood by my side and  gave me strength'. ( See John Stotts  remarks on this in the Bible Speaks Today series) There are I am sure many people who can identify with Paul's experience,it was Pastor  Bonhoeffer who was imprisoned by the Nazis who wrote of what he  missed most, was Christian fellowship.There are Christians in so many places who are literally on their  own,and there Christians who are in Pauls situation, in prison in isolation.Likewise we have many lonely people,and needy people ,well you get the picture,maybe your are in that position now,there is Christian song, which touches on this, it really is a prayer which you can pray,and  I believe God who drew near to Paul and strengthened him will do the same for you.The song is called ,'Stand by Me', written by Charles Albert Tindley.

                                      1     'When the storms of life are raging, stand by me,

                                              When the storms of life are  raging stand by me,

                                             When the world is tossing me,like a ship upon the sea,

                                             Thou who rulest wind and water ,stand by me.

                                       2     In the midst of tribulation, stand by me

                                              In the midst of tribulation,stand by me.

                                             When the hosts of hell assail,and my strength begins to fail,

                                             Thou who never lost a battle ,stand by me.

                                       3     In the midst of faults and failures,stand by me,

                                              In the midst of faults and failures, stand by me.

                                             When I've done the best I can, and my friends misunderstand,

                                             Thou who knowest all about me,stand by me.

                                             

                                             

Runaways ( Luke 15 v 1- 7 )

It was Francis Thompson,who wrote  a poem called,' The  Hound of heaven', it is about the pursuit of  the human soul by God's love. God follow's the fleeing soul ,and by His divine grace,until the soul  turns to God alone, in that ever ending pursuit'. (These words are not mine) Here are few lines from this poem,

                                                      ' I fled Him ,down the nights,and down the days;

                                                       I fled Him, down the archers of the years,

                                                       I fled Him ,down the labyrinthine ways,

                                                       Of my own mind, and in the midst of tears,

                                                       I hid from Him,and under running laughter'

When Adam and Eve sinned,they hid from God,and we their sons and daughters  have followed in our parents footsteps..We think that we are good at running and hiding from our Creator.be that as it may, God in mercy has intervened,and has been seeking us runaways. In Ezekiel 34 v 15 -16,the Sovereign Lord declares.'I will search for the lost'.Why did Jesus come? ,'to seek and to save that which is lost'(Luke 19 v 10 )He had to do that, for we told,' there is no one who seeks God (Romans 3 v 11) His seeking is the divine initiative,we keep running He keeps seeking until He finds the sheep that is lost,and  brings it home rejoicing. Ah but what a price he had to pay, He lay down His life for the sheep,oh the suffering He endured,why did He do that?love ,yes love so great that He who was equal with God,give up His divine privileges,made Himself nothing but  a servant,and became obedient unto death,even death on a cross (Philippians 2 v 5- 8)

Words ( Matthew 12 v 36 -37 )

 A lady said,''I  have the body of ET ,I am basically a torso with legs''. Why am I writing this? because  that phrase really caught my eye, it was such a wonderful description of her body.I recently heard a famous actress quote  a passage from Shakespeare it was wonderful to listen to. God has granted mankind  a unique means of communication  where we can be entertained in so many ways,in the written form,in songs that are sung,and so on. It is James in his epistle  writing about what we say with that little member of our body, the tongue ,and how difficult it is to control, words are so easily spoken,hurtful words, healing words. Our Saviour speaking to the the religious leaders of  His day said,'' that everyone will  have to give an account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken''. ( Matthew 12 v36). The fact is we will be accountable for what we have said, all those who have spoken against God and His word,who have blasphemed,all those false religions,and false prophets,the broken vows.We are thinking mainly of unbelievers ,but let us who are Christians, take heed also,as to what we say,God is listening He does not ignore ,the wrong things we say,and will surely deal with us .

One day. ( John 14 v 1-4 )

 The apostle Peter writing in his epistle as regards our Saviour ,declared ,'Though you have not seen Him,you love Him'.( 1 Peter 1  8 )We would answer,'but one day we will see Him, the poet  Ray Palmer wrote;   

       1      'Jesus,these eyes have never seen,                       3     Yet though I have not seen,

                That radiant form of Thine,                                       and,still, must rest on faith alone,

                The vail of sense hangs dark,                                    I love Thee, dearest Lord  ,

                Between Thy blessed face and mine.                        But will unseen ,but not unknown.

       2       I see Thee not, I hear Thee not,                           4   When death  these mortal eyes shall see,

               Yet art Thou oft with me,                                            And still this throbbing heart,

               And earth hath ne'er so dear a spot,                            The rending veil shall Thou reveal,

               As when I meet with Thee.                                         All glories as Thou art.

                                                              ' We will see Jesus

                                                                     one day'