False security. [ Luke 12 v13-22 ]

Why do we have problems? job problems, family problems ,etc, well could it be we need problems,well you may disagree with that answer,and yet it is I believe true. I know someone who many years ago trusted Christ, but went away from the Lord,but recently he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which has ,we hope, been successfully treated. In a conversation with him it appears he has returned to his Lord, he acknowledged the goodness of God to him. The fact of the matter is when people are prospering, they often dont really see any need of the Lord. Many seek security in prosperity CP, Luke 12 v13-22, that is why millions of people do the lottery. We can do a number of things when we have problems, we can curse our bad luck,we can go into a depression or we can look to the the Lord. I would rather face my problems with the Lord ,than without Him, I would rather face life with Him, than without Him, and I most definitely want to face eternity with Him, than without Him. [ Dear God help us not to be blinded by false securities, help us to see it is in You, and you alone,is our true security,in Jesus name we ask this. Amen.]

Different . [ John 1 v48 ]

Sorry no blog yesterday and this morning I have changed to another provider, so I have been trying to set the new system up. There was a help line which I used, and yes you guessed, I was in contact with someone in India,and he was ever so helpful, and he was able to tell me what I needed for my system to work, I followed his advice and my system is working. I hear so often complaints about talking to someone in India, how they cannot understand them, I must confess I am on the side of the Indian, for you see I talk with a funny accent, and I know how it feels like to be not understood. Mybe we need to ask God for the gift of interpretation, or just more understanding and patience, to those in India who are just trying to earn a living like you and I. [ Dear God grant me the grace to be patient with others who are different , who speak with a different accent, or come from another country in Jesus name Amen ] .........../ I will be on holiday for a week , I will D V return to my blog on Sunday31st, every blessing]

The Murdoch empire. [ Daniel 4 ]

One wonders what will be the effect on the so called Rupert Murdoch empire , will it survive?, will we all have to get rid of our Sky TV systems. Mr Murdoch was befriended bythe high and mighty, because of his power to influence the voters, mybe he could be seen as a king maker, but all has changed ,people in power are distancing themselves from him. God does grant power to people yes even to Rupert Murdoch, but He can very quickly remove that power, one way or the other. Today let us not forget that power belongs to God,[ Psalm 62 v11], He raises up, He puts down,rulers come ,rulers go,but God remaineth in control, working all things after the counsel of His will [Ephesians 1 v11]. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, but our sovereign God rules over all the affairs of mankind.[ Dear God help us not to loose sight of this most glorious truth, that You reign and rule over all the affairs of this world, in Jesus name Amen ]

The Lord preserves. [ Psalm 121]

Yesterday something unexpected happened,I was collecting two people in my car,the person in the back seat ,an elderly person was having trouble with her seat belt, I went to help her,but I had not put my hand brake on. As I leaned over to help the lady , my car started to roll forward,begining to trap my foot under the back wheel. Now my front seat passenger is a very unwell person mentally, and yet he had the sense to put the handbrake on, so saving my foot from being crushed. This event could have turned out so differently, but God was gracious and preserved me from any harm, we can take all the precutions we can, in driving,and in so many areas of life, and we should, but it is God who preserves us . I have not driven thousands of miles and escaped injury by my skill as a driver [my wife would agree with that] , no,God has preserved me. John Ryland wrote, / Plagues and deaths around me fly. Till He bids, I cannot die, Not a single shaft can hit. Till the God of love sees fit./[ Dear God help us always to act in a responsible way,but help us, always to bear in mind, that You and You alone preserve and keep us safe, in Jesus name . Amen ]

Stiff-necked. [ Revelation 3 v14-22 ]

Yesterday I woke with a stiff neck, it is a bit easier today, but it reminds me of what God said to His people ,that they where stiff-necked . [ Jeremiah 17 v23/ Deuteronomy 31 v27 ]. In calling them stiff-necked, God was saying that they were obstinate,haughty, and stubborn, not very complementary, but true. They manifested these traits continully,and no more so, as when our Saviour lived among them[ John 5v40 ]. It appears that during the whole of Israels history ,God was continually pleading with them , and all He recieved was a stubborn refusal to come to Him [Matthew 23 v37 ]. This does not just apply to Israel, but to all mankind , cp Romans 3 v 9-10, many sit under the gospel, and are not saved. Sad to say , we Christians also can be stiff-necked, displaying lack of love and forgiveness,and doing things we shouldnt, and not doing things we should, inspite of the fact that we have the Holy Spirit, and Gods word. We listen but we do not hear, why?, because we are stiff -necked, it is to a church that Christs says,/Beold I stand at the door and knock,if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.[Revelation 3 v20 ] as Christians we are often not very Christian to our Lord. [ Dear Lord help us to really listen to what You say ,help us not to be stiff-necked in our relationship with You, Amen ]

Jesus came to save sinners.[ Luke 15 ]

It is the prophet Jonah who prayed,/ For I know that Thou art a gracious God,and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest Thee of the evil/. Now He really believed this, and this why he ran away from Gods charge to go and preach at Nineveh, for he knew his God,and knew if the people of Nineveh repented of their evil ways, [ which they did], God would forgive them and spare them. Now stange though it be ,Jonah did not want Nineveh to be spared, even after he did go and preach his message ,he still hoped that God would destroy them [4 v5]. You see they where a very wicked people, humanally speaking they deserved Gods Judgement,deserved to go to hell, deserved the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. And yet God spared them when they repented, I am sure one of the reasons we have the book of Jonah is to let us see that, the worst of people can experience the salvation of God,irrespective of what Jonah or you ,and I think, I know, for He saved me.[ Dear God let us never forget that Your son came to save sinners, even the worst of sinners. Amen ]

No concessions. [ 2 Timothy 4 v 7- 8 ]

George Muller died in his eighties, and died quietly in his sleep, he left a wonderful testimony, to the glory of God, near the end of his life, he said on a number of occasions, that he might not disgrace the Lord in his old age, and become a wicked old man. I can identify with those remarks ,for I know that although I have a good relationship with my Lord, and have proved Him time and time again. He has blessed me in so many ways, and continues to do so, but I still experience temptations,and it would be so easy to yield to those temptations. Like George Muller I pray I might not disgrace my Lord in my old age, and become a wicked old man. The Bible reminds us that while we are citizens of planet earth,we must be on our guard, and to continually ,rely on our Lord for grace to overcome temptations, and all the difficulties we meet. The devil has no pity for the old, and will ever be looking for ways to trip us up, he gives no concessions for senior citizens. No matter how old we are, we may be as old as Methuselah, but we still need to press on to our heavenly goal.[ Dear God grant us grace in our old age ,to not digrace You, and commit some wicked thing, in Jesus name Amen ]