Be an encourager ( Isaiah 41 v10)

The Duke of Wellington's cook gave notice and left him. He was asked why he had left so honourable and well paid position. His answer was,''When the dinner is good the Duke never praises me,and when it is bad he never blames me;it was just not worth while''.Looking back at my school days,I can't say any any teacher actually give me any encouragement.In fact I was told later when a friend told the principal that I had become a minister,he replied that he never thought I would amount to anything. Many a life has been changed by a word of encouragement, we need to encourage others,early in my Christian life I had a dear friend called Pat Kitchen,he was a lovely Christian man he encouraged me so much. While my wife and I were at Bible college, there were people who helped us financially,one lady let us use her caravan ,for a holiday.But most of all I was encouraged by God's promises, and for most of my Christian life ,I had a devotional called 'Daily light,'it is just full of scripture .When we as a family set off  from Northern Ireland to come to  England,I read these words,'Behold ,I send an angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared' ( Exodus 23 v20)those words encouraged me so much.

                                                                 'Lets be encouragers'

Hallelujah ( Jonah 2)

Leonard Cohen wrote a song that has become very popular ,it's call Hallelujah which means 'Praise the Lord',it's about love,loss,faith and the human struggle.and the last line reads'It' a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah'.I can't identify with the words of an old song which reads,'Now I'm happy all the day',because I'm not happy all the day.I think we need to be very honest  to ourselves and to God.I visit people ,an old lady a lovely Christian who was married for a long time,and then her husband died.She has good support, but when evening comes,she is on her own. Another man I visit suffers from mental illness,he is a lovely Christian,but he struggles, We all struggle at times,we wish we didn't but we do,so what can we do?, we can offer up the sacrifice of ' a broken Hallelujah', for we are told,'The sacrifices of God  are a broken and contrite heart,these O God, you will not despise'  (Psalm 51 v17)

This troubled world ( Psalm 42 v 5)

 In John 14 v1,we read ''Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me''. A dear friend of mine,speaking about the trinity said,'when we speak one we speak to all' So it is when we are in difficulties and we call on Jesus,the triune God becomes involved. Jesus was going to leave them ,so He speaks these wonderful words ''Let not your heart be troubled;you believe in God, believe also in me''.They would see their Saviour crucified,but as God lives,so He would live,and all that would mean. Matthew  Henry had this say as regards the words Jesus uttered.'They could not follow  were Jesus was going deep sorrow would fill their hearts.He commands down those boisterous winds and waves, saying.''Peace be still. Let not your heart be troubled.  Though trouble surrounds you on every side,yet be wise,be watchful, and keep trouble from your hearts, And that you may do so, believe in God, and in His providence; believe also in Me,and in my grace . And you will be kept from fainting by believing'', ...And those who believe in God need not be cast down and disquieted , as those have reason , be who are strangers to Him, who have no dependence on Him or communion with Him'.The unbeliever who is without God has no hope,the believer has a sure and certain hope,so let not your heart be troubled in this troubled world.

Two momentous events.( 2 Thessalonians 1 v 5- 10)

 Christs coming was momentous.but there is another momentous event that is coming,in Revelation 22 v12-13 reads .' Look ,I am coming soon! My reward is with me,and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega,the first and the last,the beginning and the end'. These words are  spoken by Jesus as regards Himself,that He is the Alpha and the Omega these word are to be found in Revelation 1 v8 and 21 v6,, there it is God applying that to Himself, the other reference is Jesus speaking, claiming unmistakingly that He is God'. The JWs claim that William Barclay says that we are not sure who is speaking,it is clear that they have not  read what William says ,for in his Daily Study knows notes he says,that Jesus makes two great claims that He was coming soon with His reward, then he says ,'I am Alpha and Omega.the beginning and the end They don't only distort what the word of God says,they  distort what William Barclay says.The next  momentous event is the coming of Jesus,for the Christian it is a blessed hope(Titus 2v 13)when we will go to be with Him, in the 'new heaven and a new earth' (Rev 21 v 1) ,much is hidden from us CP 1 Cor 2 v9. /2 Cor 12 v 4,but it will be totally wonderful.But alas for the unbeliever it will be gastly,awful beyond words,eternal doom, eternal anguish,eternal sorrow,all those who enter eternal hell will  have to pay the price for their sin.I urge you if you are not a Christian flee from the wrath to come,believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved .(John 3 v16 /Acts 16 v31)

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Be careful ( Romans 8 v 26 -27)

 The story is told of King Midas a wealthy but greedy King,who was granted a wish by Dionysus and foolishly asked for everything he touched to turn to gold. While initially thrilled,he soon faced starvation when his food turned to gold,and heartbreak when his daughter turned into a statue,forcing him to beg to reverse the curse'There are a number of things you can say about this ,(1) Be careful what you wish for,you may get it and regret it for the rest of your life. ( 2)Don't make an idol of anything , be it gold,sport or whatever for you will end up worshipping it,and that's very serious,only God must have our worship. (3 ) Be careful what you pray for, that it is in keeping with God's will. 'James 4 v3'.  Psalm 106 v15 reads 'And He gave them their request,But sent leanness into their souls' One commentator writes the following,'He  gave them exactly what they asked for but along with it they got an empty heart'.

                                                                 

                                       

Not a myth. ( 2 Peter 1 v 16 - 18)

There was a custom that two coins were placed  over the eyes of a dead person,there were various reasons,the weight of coins kept the eyelids closed which would be less disturbing to the mourners. Another custom put the two in the mouth or over the eyes ,as payment to the Kharony(Charon) a spirit of the underworld,he would transport them to Hades the Greek god of the underworld.The latter comes from Greek mythology,that's were the word myth came from,it is something that is made up.The fact is that all religions are but myth's except one.I do not apologise for saying this,the Bible is the word of God and is full of real people and real historical events,Christ was a real person,an unique person,for he was truly human,yet sinless, and truly God,The miracles He performed really  happened,His dying really happened,likewise His rising from the dead really happened.He is now in heaven,and He will becoming back again when all of God's children will be gathered to Him,and those who are not His ,will experience being cast into eternal darkness.

Why me ( Romans 11 v 33-36)

Many Christian hymns are written out of that persons experience,John Newton wrote Amazing Grace out of his experience,you just have to read his background to realise that. George Matheson the blind preacher wrote the words of,'O Love that wilt will not let me go', after being rejected by the one he loved.Most of the Psalms were written by David out of his experience ,we all have sung the 23rd Psalm. Kris Kristofferson tells of his experience in becoming a Christian,and out that experience he wrote a song called,''Why Me'' here are the words of that song.

                                 'What have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I've known ;

                                  Tell me Lord what did I ever do that was worth loving you?or the kindness 

                                  You've shown.

                                  If you think there's a way I can try to repay all I've taken from You; May be,

                                  Lord, I can show someone else what I've been through myself on my way back

                                  To You.

                                  Lord help me Jesus,I've wasted it so, Help me,Jesus, I know what I am;

                                  But now that I know that I've needed You so,help me,

                                  Jesus,my soul's in your hands'