Endure [2 Timothy 2 v1 ]

Somethings dont go away, so often we expect healing or a miracle, and it does not happen, instead we are called to endure. If we read the scriptures we discover many of Gods people had to endure, read Hebrews 11v 35-38, read the life of the apostle Paul ,he had to endure many things. We need to have a balanced view of the Christian life sometimes there are no quick fixes, but there is Grace, the grace of God, I often listen to ,Desert Island discs, on radio four, if I was on the program , my first choice would be , Amazing Grace, because as I look back on a life time, following Christ, I am so thankful for the amzing grace of God, that has enabled me to endure .[God and Father who saved us by grace through faith in Jesus, continue to pour out your amazing grace into our lives, that we may endure , what ever path in life you have chosen for us, we ask this in Jesus wonderful name , Amen. ]

The weather.[ Lamentations 3 v 22-23 ]

One thing one can say about the weather in this country , you get variety,sunshine one day ,rain the next, whither you like it or not, thats the way it is. On holiday I met a chap called Harvey, an Australian, who likes our weather, well I suppose it is always something to talk about. It is thought that the weather affects us, especially those who suffer from mental illness, those dull and dreary days gets them down. Unlike the weather in its changeableness , God does not change , His love for you and me remains constant, his mercy does not change, His care for His children will not change, so never mind the weather rejoice in the Lord today. [ Dear God and Father we thank you , for your unchangeableness, we thank you in the name of Jesus, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, Amen.]

Bless me [ Proverbs 10 v22]

There is something in humanity that wants to be blest, when people sneeze they say bless me, people use the term bless me, are not usually thinking about God blessing them. As a Christian I want God to bless me , why ?, because with His blessing upon my life , I know all will be well, even when things go wrong, even when things are difficult.Many years ago a dear friend quoted a verse from a poem ,which goes like this, [ Ill 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. ]. My friend who quoted those words, died of cancer, leaving a husband, and two young children. By faith I believe that if I am blest of God then all is well, and all will be well. [Father in heaven, we thank you for your blessing upon our lives, that causes all things to work together for our good , even the difficult things, even the bad things,we thank you in Jesus name, Amen. ]

Trust and obey.[Romans 12 v1 - 2]

There is an old hymn with the following words, Trust and obey for there is no other way , to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. This relates to our daily walk with Jesus, so often we think it is to do with the major decisions in our lives, and of course that comes into it, but it is much more than this, it is to do with all our lives. As we face this day ,will we put that trusting and obeying into practice, in our relationships,in our activities, in the day by day things, not just the major things, but also the minor things ?.[Father help us to involve you in all our lives, to surrender this day into your hands ,to trust and obey you in everything, we ask this in Jesus name, Amen .]

Ordianariness. [1 Corinthians 10 v31 ]

There are many super heroes , exciting things, but on the whole life is made up of the ordinary, this was one of my observations while on holiday. I observed people with their families at the seaside, parents building sandcastles with their children, children riding donkeys, people eating candy floss and ice cream [not at the same time ], people playing football, others flying kites. Ordinary people doing ordinary things, lets be honest most of life is made up of ordinary people doing ordinary things. Abe Lincolm said God must have loved ordinary folk, for He made so many of them, let us never forget no matter how ordinary we may be we are special in Gods sight, and let us realise that we can bring God into the ordinary activities and so make them sacred activities. [ Father most of us are ordinary people,we thank you that you love us,and we ask that you will help us , to glorify our Savior even in the ordiananiness of life, Amen .]

Holiday

This is just to let you know that I will be on holiday for a week I will be back Sunday week. I just want to encourage you all , to keep praying ,keep trusting, and keep obeying.

No easy answers. [1 Corinthians 13 v 12 ]

One of my favourite brodcasters Alistair Cooke, said when he heard Duke Ellington the great jazz entertainer had died,I dont have to believe it , if I want to. I can appreciate what he said for there are somethings to painful to accept. Coming to terms with painful experiences,abuse, loss, failure, betrayal, and so on, whats the answer?, is there an answer?.Did Job get an answer to all his loss? it does not appear he did, but somehow he appears to have coped, I dont have any quick fix answers, I read these words in Romans 15v 4, that the scriptures give us hope and encouragement, the scriptures tells us that God loves us, that He is with us in ever trial, and in the words of the old hymn, to sanctify to us our deepest distress, yes there are no easy answers, but there are answers. [Father God we wish somethings did not happen, but they do, please help us to face whatever happens in our lives, with courage and trust , in Jesus name we ask this, Amen .]