Going through the motions [ Psalm 85v6]

I suppose we are all guilty of going through the motions, driving can be like that,and so many other things, and also our walk with God. A lady asked me why we did not pray the Lords prayer at our services, I suppose there is no real reason why we dont, mybe we will, like many things praying the Lords prayer can become a meaningless ritual, were we mouth the words, and dont think about the meaning, hymn singing is like this . Going through the motions can invade all our life relationships, with our wives, or husbands, and when this happens, relationships suffer, Let us think about our lives, about our relationships with those we love,and with our Lord, and ask ourselves are we just going through the motions. [Dear Lord we are creatures of habit, and we confess that often we just go through the motions, with the result that so much that we do has very little meaning; we ask that today You would breathe afresh into our lives, revive us, and awake us out of our meaningless. Amen ]

Change [ Romans 8v 28 av ]

God has given us all gifts, one of my gifts is singing, yet as time goes on my singing voice is not what it used to be, my vocal chords are showing wear and tear. The question I ask myself should I lay this fading gift down?, we will see. It causes me to think on different people, gifted people who are no longer able to exercise their gifts, footballers,drivers,, in a sense it affects most of us in some way, as we become older.Life for all of us will bring change,let us remember our worth is not in our gifts,but who we are in Christ. All some people have ,are their gifts, or their jobs, they see those things as giving them value, but it is not so, we have one who loves us, just as we are, gifts or no gifts. No matter what stage we are in life, He sees us as being of worth, and would encourage us to face the challenges of life, would encourage us to trust Him, in all the changes we are faced with.[ Dear Lord we confess that we do not like the changes that come into our life, uninvited,and we are forced to give up in many things we hold dear, help us to see that we are of worth, inspite of our loses, grant us the needed grace to face each new challenge in life. Amen]

Save them. [ Ephesians 2 v1-4 ]

Being a parent is such an awesome reponsiblity, as a father of five lads, I cannot say I was the greatest of fathers, if only one could go back, I do have regrets, and yet I loved everyone of them. I believe that a parents love should reflect Gods love,and in many cases it does, but then we hear of cases of abuse, of neglect, and it fills us with great sadness. Recently we have heard on the news, how two young lads,nearly murdered two other young lads, and the question many ask, is why?. Well we dont have to dig very much for reason ,their mother was on drugs, her partner abused them continually, they were often hungry, and most of all unloved. It is so easy to point the finger, but what we need to do is pray for them , and their abusers,[ not forgetting the other children who suffered at the hands of these two boys], the words that Jesus give me,/ This is why I came/, continue to challenge me, may they continue to challenge us, to pray,and to befriend those whose lives are a mess.[ Dear Father in heaven we bring to you these two lads that acted so cruelly, and ask that You would in your mercy, may save them through your dear son Jesus. Amen ]

Eight days a week. [Romans 5v5 ]

As I write this I am playing a beatle song about loving someone eight days a week, what do you think they meant?, well it could mean they cant love enough. As a Christian I am faced with the challenge to love, and love, and love , and love,a never ending love, a reflection of Gods love. I loved yesterday, I am to love today , and tomorrow, and all my tomorrows. The love that God has for this world is constant, and unchanging, it is an unending love. God never gets tired of loving,He never says I have had enough, Im not going to love anymore,He loves eight days a week.How can we possible love and love, and love?, when some people are so unlovely, when they are hurting us continually, in ourselves we cant. In Romans 5v5 we read,/ For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love/, we have His Spirit in us to help us to love eight days a week, so today rely on Him , and His resources.[ Dear God Your love is so amazing, for You just keep on loving, and loving, and loving,today we ask that You would fill our hearts ,and lives with Your love,so that we can love eight days a week, in Jesus name . Amen ]

Timing. [ Esther 6]

Timing is important in life , if you play cricket it is vital that you get your timing right, if you get it wrong ,you are out,boxing is the same, timing is all imporant. . In Romans 5v6 we read,/ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners/. My study Bible says,/Christ came at exactly the right time in history- according to Gods own schedule. God controls all history, and He controlled the timing, method, and events surrounding Jesus death/.Was it by chance that when my last job finished, my present job opened up? I do not believe so , I believe Gods timing was perfect. When will Christ come again ?,I dont know , but I do believe that God has His perfect moment, and then it will happen.There are so many things we desire and pray about, mybe for years , and nothing appears to be happening, yet God has given us a promise, hold unto that promise, in Gods perfect time it will happen. [ Sovereign Lord help us to trust in your timing, for things to happen, help us to wait patiently , help us not to fret or worry, knowing You never come to late, and that Your timing is perfect, in Jesus name. Amen]

Innocent.[ 1 Corthinians 14v 20]

It appears that children in the west grow up before their time, many of them dress up like little adults,and they loose an innocence in regards to so much. They see things and hear things which former generations didnt, there are different reasons for this, TV, irresponsible parents, no absolutes, in other words anything goes. In 1Corinthians 14v20, we read,/ be innocent as babies when it comes to evil/,most of us are not,we have all been affected ,by the filth that is in the world, none of us have escaped untarnished. Now that we are Christians the challenge is to have a different attitude and emphases in our lives, to aim for holiness, aim for maturity in our thinking, let our hearts not be controlled by our passions .So let us fill our minds with thinking of what is true, wholesome,noble,pure,beautiful, not on the ugly things of life, not on the unwholesome things.[ Dear Lord we ask You to help us to be innoncent as regards evil, help us to fill our minds with right thinking, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Amen ]

A Jigsaw [ Revelation 21 v1-4 ]

The book of Esther is a very instructive book, Esther is suddenly chosen to be queen, and she was a Jew, in many ways, the book of Esther is like a jigsaw, and Esther being chosen to be queen was the first piece. As in a jigsaw only as each part is added does the whole become clear, it is the apostle Paul who wrote about knowing in part, and then He adds , but then shall I know[1 Corinthians 13v12]. Life will bring many unexplainable things into our lives, mybe you are experiencing such a thing now, it may be very painful, and you dont understand this part of the jigsaw.Ira Stanphill wrote,/The shadows deepen and my heart bleeds, I will not question the way He leads. This side of heaven, we know in part- I will not question a broken heart. We,ll talk it over in the bye and bye, We,ll talk it over my Lord and I, I,ll ask the reasons, He,ll tell me why, When we talk it over in the by and by/. [ Loving Heavenly Father we believe Your way and will is perfect, help us to trust You in each experience of life, especially those parts we dont understand, in Jesus name. Amen .]