Through Him not us. ( 2 Corinthians 4 v 7-18)

Jacob that ancient  patriarch of Israel was overwhelmed,one thing after another,his favourite son he believed had been killed by wild animals.Later a famine came ,he sent his sons  to get get grain from Egypt, and when they came back it was minus a son,who was being held captive.Jacob was told by his sons that  he would only be released if they returned with Jacobs youngest son Benjamin.It was all very overwhelming for Jacob,and in his despair he declares,''Everything is against me''.(Genesis 42 v36 ) It is so easy to feel like Jacob ,troubles pile up,and like Jacob you feel that everything is against you. Jacob was a man of God who had brought him through so much,yet here he was in deep despair. Let us remember  that all God's Children are very fragile,I know I am at times,and I'm sure you are.Let us remember that all of us are earthen- vessels and what  that means, for Jacob and for us,our weakness and reminds us that it is God's all- surpassing power that enables us to live the Christian life.(2 Corinthians 4 v 7)Paul in that passage v7-18)was experiencing tremendous trials and the only thing that could bring him through was God,and reminds us that we must rely on Him and in Him alone,So let us not loose heart,let us not give up,and let us fix our eyes on Jesus,and keep going on by the grace of God, to the end of our earthly pilgrimage,till we reach heaven and home.

                                                               

                                                       'We can do all things through Christ

                                                         so trust Him'

We do not know. ( Psalm 37 v 23 )

Proverbs 20 v24 reads,  'A man's steps are of the Lord, How then can a man understand his own way?' Charles Bridges has much to on this verse,which is very profitable..His opening statement declares,' God's uncontrollable power and sovereignty; man's absolute dependence and helplessness- let these be foundation principles'.We don't hear much about fortune tellers these days,yes crystal balls are not in vogue these days,likewise liver has really fallen out of fashion.But people still use astrology to see what the future holds for them,there may be other things people try to tell their future.All things would be condemned by God,as  futile ,pointless,but people still have a great appetite and desire to know whats round the bend.But the Christian looks to God and by faith they follow Him,for they know that the way of man is not in himself (Jeremiah 10 v23).Like Abraham who responded to God's call,he left all to go to that place that God had prepared for him,although he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11 v 8).  What do we know?yes we do know a lot of things,but the word of God tells us,not to boast about tomorrow, for we do not know what a day will bring forth,(Proverb 27 v1).Charles Bridges wrote the following, ''Often do I look back amazed at the strangeness of my course,so contrary to my way. But it is enough  for me,that all is in Thine hands; that my steps are ordered by Thee''

From death unto life ( John 11 v 1 -45 )

 Christmas is a time for families,presents,food,drinking, but also loneliness ,sorrow as regards loved ones who have died,in the midst of it all many people are suffering in so many different ways ,and it will always be like this. One prays that the miracle of salvation will take place in many lives. Lets look beyond the sentimentality that engulfs Christmas and consider the most important thing, mankind's need ,a need that goes beyond the here and now, lets not be fooled  into thinking of mans so called inherited goodness. I am not saying we should not enjoy Christmas but our enjoyment goes beyond the tinsel it is based on reality, of  the Christ who came to save us,not in a season but in a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.  The unsaved are what we once were,dead in trespasses and sin,yes no matter how they appear ,they are  dead spiritually.I am reminded that one day our Saviour stood outside a tomb wherein lay a dead person, and He spoke with a voice that woke the dead.My prayer and hope is that in this dark world of sin ,the voice of Jesus will speak and the dead spiritually will arise in a newness of life .

Listening ( James 1 v 19 )

 I visited a friend recently , I thought we could share things together, but it turned out differently, the visit lasted just over two hours. Now we are all encouraged to be good listeners, it is important, well I really put it into practice during this visit.for during the visit I must have spoken about ten minutes,I just listened. He is a godly man,and he appeared to just want to talk. He shared much of his past experiences ,as regards  his family,the time before he became a Christian,how he became a Christian, and so it went on, and I just listened, I didn't mind,he is my friend. One of qualities to being a good counsellor is to be a good listener,I believe to know when to keep quite is important.In Proverbs 17 v 28 we read,' Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,and discerning and if they hold their tongues'.There is a time for speaking and  there is a time for being quite,in times of provocation the less said the better. My friend needed me to listen. he needed to talk ,so I listened,but just a closing  thought we need to listen to what God is saying to us,that's very important.

What a day. ( 1 John 3 v 1- 2 )

A friend of mine has an elderly aunt in a residential home, her mind is slowly going,and she is at a point were she does not recognise her niece.One day when she visited her and it made her feel sad, but she felt the Lord saying to her,'that her aunt's soul was alright'. It was Horatio G. Spafford who experienced a tremendous loss in  his life that led him to write a wonderful hymn ,the first verse goes like this.

                                           'When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

                                           When sorrows like sea billows roll;

                                            Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

                                            It  is well , it is well with my soul.

Yes that old ladies mind was gone,her body worn out by age,but she has a soul that will soon depart and be with the Lord, what a glorious future she will have. The word of God tells us that we will have a new body a spiritual body (1Cor 15 v 44) No more suffering ,no more pain,no more death,and what a glorious future we will have,I can only imagine. We will see  our great King in his beauty,and we shall reign with  Him for ever,and just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man,( 1 Cor 15 v 49 even Jesus ,( 1 John 3 v 2 )

                                      '    What a day that will be,When my Jesus I shall see,

                                  When I look upon His face the one who saved by His grace,

                                  When He takes me by the hand,and leads me to the promise land,

                                             What a day,glorious day, that will be.

                                                            Words Jim Hill

                                       

Freedom. ( Luke 4 v 16-19 )

I have a home mini google,I asked for some information which it gave me,  and just for a joke I said,''Thank you'',and the answer I got back ,was,'' I'm honoured to serve''.Don't worry I know it's was  just a machine talking,I wonder how you feel as regards serving people?. Do you feel it is an honour?, One may think it is an honour to serve a king ,or a Queen,or someone important, but here's the thing ,in God's eyes everyone is important,sad it is that so many people serve the devil,well if you do I can assure you he will not  honour you,but instead he will destroy you,make no mistake about it,he is a hard taskmaster ,and those who are in his employment ,sad to say and there are so many doing his bidding. In 1 John 5 v 19,we read,'That the whole world is under the control of the evil one'.There was a moment in Americas history  a wonderful thing happened.it was during the civil war,and one of  reasons for that war,was slavery,'President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, It read,'That all persons held as slaves' ........''are, and henceforward shall be free.'' What a wonderful thing for those dear people who had been in bondage ,often serving wicked and abusive owners .They had no rights,no say in anything ,  children could be taken of them,so many wrong things,but now they were free.Then let me take you to that moment in history when Jesus died on a cross,that we can be free,from  Satan,and sins power,yes it is true.

                                                        Here that cry from the cross

                                                                    'FREEDOM'

Mercy. ( Luke 18 10 - 14 )

 C.H. Spurgeon wrote the following ,'When Dr .Carey was suffering  from a dangerous illness,the inquiry was made,'' If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage wold you select as the text for your funeral sermon?'' He replied,'' Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached let it be  from the words,' Have mercy  on me ,O  God , according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.'' In the same spirit of  humility he directed in his will that the following inscription and nothing more should be cut on his gravestone;

                                           'Willian Carey Born August 17th, 1761

                                                                     DIED

                                           '' A wretch, poor, and helpless worm

                                                       On Thy kind arms I fall