Stratford -upon -Avon. [ Revelation 3 v8 ]

I have just returned from Stratford-upon -Avon, the birth place of William Shakespeare,although one guide said he may have been born away from there in a country residence, because Stratford was experencing plague. But he did return to Stratford when he was about 3 months,it was all very interesting, I did visit the church where he was buried, a curse is put upon anyone who moves his bones. Well we enjoyed our visit,we visited Warwick castle,and saw the death mask of another great English man Oliver  Cromwell But one of the things I remember most was a man called Henry, there he was giving out the War cry,a salvation army publication. I spoke to him,inquired how the army were getting on in Stratford, he told me his group had closed.He spoke of the great need in Stratford,a place where million pound homes are common,one got the distinct impression that God had withdrawn from that place.Well I  prayed for him and he prayed for me, but we both prayed for Stratford the birth place of the great  William Shakespeare, yes I will always remember my visit to Stratford,but most of all I will remember Henry a faithful brother in the Lord.
A  prayer......./ Dear God have mercy upon Stratford visit it with Thy salvation, and bless Henry and his witness for Your dear son Jesus Amen /

Gods love is the greatest thing.[ Jeremiah 31v3 ]

Im in love again, so read the words in a magazine,I am reminded of a song which says,/when I fall in love it must be forever ,and /so many moonlight kisses seem to cool in the with warmth of the sun/. Love is trully a many splendour thing, but us humans,appear to fall out of love so easily. Consider David,,,, why did he have so many wives?, likewise Solomon,the word of God does not comment on the right or wrongs of what they did.In Solomons case it caused him to forsake God ,yes this very wise man acted very foolishly. So many songs are written about love,and the Song of Solomon, is a book about love,love is very important .  Of course there are different types of love we love our parents,our children,our jobs,our girlfriends/boyfriends,our friends,our neighbours,so many things we love.The thing is we can love all those things and not love God,might even find it strange when we talk of God and love. Yet this is what is so vital if we are to have a relationship with God,and continue on that relationship ,if there is no love there will be no relationship. I was driving in my car recently and I spoke to God , I said I love You Lord,and even as I said that I had an uneasy conscience,of my imperfect love,in contrast to Gods perfect love my love is imperfect and indeed as long as I live,it will be imperfect,but the wonder of wonders is that a perfect God,loves me inspite of my shortcomings,and He always will, for He declares ,I have loved thee with an everlasting love [Jeremiah 31v3 ].
A  prayer..../Dear God we are lost in wonder of Your love for us, that even while we yet sinners Christ in love died for us,and that You will always love us,inperfect though we are,thank You in Jesus name Amen /
/I will return to my blogg Sunday 30th SEPT,  every blessing /

Fortress security. [ 2 Samuel 22]

I  heard these words on the radio,/Fortress security/,as we read history even Bible history,we read of nations who felt they were secure  because of their wealth,their military power,and I suppose their gods. Even Israel felt they were secure because of the temple of the Lord, the ark of the covenant,and their religious activities,But they were to discover that these things were but empty shells,because they had forsaken the Lord himself,they made the mistake that many make,religion without a true relationship is of no value,either in time,or eternity.Mankind will substitute so many things in place of God, the America dollar has the words /In God we trust/, printed on it,but how few  Americans believe that?. One of the peanut characters in the Charlie Brown cartoon always carried about with him ,his security blanket. Let us ask ourselves what is our,fortress security?,king David when the Lord had delivered him from all his enemies , declared,  /The Lord is my rock,and my fortress,and my deliverer[2 Samuel 22 v2]/ As you start out on this day,yea everyday, why not repeat those words,for what God was to David ,He will be to every dear child of God.
A  prayer..../Dear God help us to see that our security is not ,in money,power,or people, but in you our fortress, in Jesus name Amen /

He that winneth souls is wise. [Proverbs 11v 30 ]

My son John shared with me something that was interesting,he was going to work and was feeling low in spirit,and so he prayed that God would grant him an opportunity to speak clearly  about the Lord to someone. When he got to work one of his fellow workers said how he wanted to have faith but,well this led on to my son speaking to him and others about Christ. When he had finished work,and about to drive home,he reached for candy scriptures,and before he popped it into his mouth ,he read,/Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men[Matthew 4v 19 ]. A  coincidence? no ,he prayed and it happened, plus a word of confirmation,and encouragement ,an encouragement in a tremendous ministry,of seeing people come to Christ.To tell others about Christ ,and to see them come to Christ is such a great blessing,the work of salvation is of God, from start to finish,yet is it not humbling,that He will use even us,in the ministry of soul winning. The gospel is the most wonderful message in all the world,it is great to study what it involves,and try to fathom its depths,but its so important that we dont forget,that it is a message to be proclaimed. As the great apostle wrote how shall they hear without a preacher[ Romans 10v 14],now the following verse,and how shall they preach,except they be sent,is not a get out clause,of not telling others about Christ. You may not be a so called missionary,pastor,evangelist, but you are called to tell others about Christ,pray about it ,and take those God given opportunities that come your way.
A   prayer..../Dear God help us to be faithful in telling others about You, and be pleased to bless our weak efforts,in Jesus name, and for His sake we ask this Amen /

Pray without ceasing. [1 Theealonians 5 v17]

I pray about many things and people,people who need to be saved ,personal problems and it appears that nothing is happening,but I just keep praying,because prayer matters. It matters to all of us to keep praying ,it does us good to pray,we need to pray,we need a continual humble dependance upon our God.I mention about nothing happening when we pray ,that is we do not see anything happening,but God is taking note of our prayers.Will He answer?is it pointless fruitless exercise by us to keep on praying,no it is not,for it is a ministry of faith,that Gods will , be done,and His will involves so much we do not see,so lets us not fall into an attitude of blind unbelief,as William Cowper puts it. All  we are called to do is to pray without ceasing [1 Thessalonians 5 v17 ],pray as if everything depends on it, and it does so often.Last weekend my wife and I were faced with a decision, and I challenged my wife to pray about it,she sort of leaves it to me to pray ,but I said if she didnt pray about it then we will just forget about it. To me prayer is not optional,it is absolutely vital,it is saying to God, I dare not take one step without  Thine aid,it is a depending on God a trusting in God,a hoping in God,who knows the best answer,which we dont.So today and every day pray, pray ,and pray,yes pray without ceasing.
A  prayer ..../Dear God grant us the spirit of perseverance in prayer in Jesus name Amen/

Humility and grace. [James 4 v6 ]

The book of Daniel is about many things,but one of the things that challenges me is  the courage shown by the four Hebrew men,Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.It does not indicate that they showed any fear,but it does mention that they took thier life in their hands,in taking a stand for what they believed.Of course we may ask the question what would we do if we were in their position?,we dont know, we  would like to think that we would be like them. I know this I could not do what they did in my own strength,no I may just chicken out,after all who wants to be burnt to death,or chewed to death by lions.I like those words in James 4v6 /But He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud,but giveth grace unto the humble/. I can only take from these words that those Hebrew men were humble,pride is the greatest block to to blessing, and seemingly a block in recieving the grace of God. These men were not religious fanatics but humble God fearing men,men who walked with God come what may,even if God choose not deliver them [Daniel 3 v17-18] Yes even if they were consumed in the flames,they would not bow down to a golden image.Often trials reveal our inner self,and we turn away from God because He did not heal that one we love,we prayed and we prayed we felt sure God would do a miracle, and He didnt. Or our marriage breaks up even though we have prayed and prayed and He didnt stop it happening. Such an attitude is one of pride ,and such God will oppose,but if we keep a humble spirit within us, He will not only give us grace, but more grace,that will enable us to come through the darkest of trials
A  prayer....../Dear God help us not to justify our proud spirits,help us to maintain a trully humble spirit,and grant unto us the grace we need for every trial, in Jesus name Amen /.

Luke warm. [Revelation 3 v14-22 ]

I have before me a little card with a famous painting on it ,Holman Hunts ,/The light of the world/, I have actually seen this painting it is in ST Pauls cathedral in London.It portrays Jesus holding a light in one hand, and with the other knocking on on a door. It is based on the words of Revealation 3 v20`and it reads,/Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me/ These words were spoken to the church at Laodicea a church that was luke warm,neither  cold or hot, a church that was just going through the motions,materialism had taken over. They failed to see themselves as their Lord saw them,naked and blind,now Jesus threatens to chastize them, no He had not given up on them,why?, because He loved them.It was W Cowper who wrote the following words,/Where is the blessedness I knew,when I first saw the Lord. Where is the soul refreshing veiew of Jesus and His Love/. It is so easy to slip away from a close relationship with our Lord,and the fire goes out, and we just go through the motions,but like the the church of Laodicea, the Lord still love us,still pleads for His rigthful place in our hearts.
A  prayer...../ Dear Lord help us not to grow luke warm, Amen/