To God be the glory. [ Jeremiah 9 v 23-24 ]

I spoke at a hospice recently,the patients are in private rooms,the little service we took,was at the end of the ward ,I never actually saw any of the patients.Our church group sang a few hymns ,I prayed,read the word of God,and then give a short  word,I don't even know if the patients heard the word.I suppose  one could ask if no one appeared to  hear the word  ,was there any point in preaching. One could say that about so many times one has preached ,no one apparently seemed to listen. I believe I am called to be faithful,even though I want to see people trust Christ,and it does not happen. Secondly only eternity will reveal the worth of our witness,I am sure that on that day when I stand before God, there will be people saved who heard my ministry.Let us all remember that salvation is of the Lord,to Him be the glory,we are but the means,or the channels He uses,Paul spoke of earthen vessels,the more I go on the more aware I am,that I am but an earthern vessel.When the greatest evangelist stands before God they will not be able to take credit, they will only praise God that He sought to use them,it will always be to God be the glory ,great things He hath done.
A  prayer....../ Dear God help us to glorify You in all things in Jesus name Amen /

You are precious. [ Romans 8 v31]

I remember years ago my oldest brother dealing with a boy who was picking on me,a lot of movies especially westerns have as their theme the weak being rescued by a strong hero.The old movie Shane has the theme of the reformed gunslinger taking on the strong landowner who was oppressing the weak.When  our country and indeed the world was in danger of being threatened by the monsters who called themselves Nazi es,the USA intervened,the world owes a great debt to the USA,even after the war,they helped Europe recover financially,with the Marshall plan. When Israel came out of Egypt they had many enemies to face,the promised land was their goal,but they were not trained soldiers,often they lost heart[CP Exodus 14 v 10-12]. It was at that point God spoke through Moses,here is what He said,/The Lord shall fight for you,and ye shall hold your peace/[Ex 14 v14].Are you being threatened?, are you afraid?,well here is the word of God for you,the Lord shall fight for you,my big brother is not around anymore,but my loving heavenly Father is,He is more than able to deal with those who are threatening us.So hold your peace,don't panic,just trust in Him,stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,remember you are to precious ,for God to let your enemies hurt you.
A prayer....../Dear God protect us from our enemies, in Jesus Name Amen /
/I will return to my blog on Friday, God bless you/

Gods purpose and power. [ Isaiah 55v 8-11]

I must confess there are situations and difficulties and I wonder if they will ever change,I pray and pray and nothing appears to be happening,and then God nudges me,and reminds me of His purposes and His power.First of all His purposes are being worked out in different ways,I read of a person who loved reading mystery stories,she said she would always read the end  first.The fact is when it comes to lifes situations and events ,be it on a world stage or in an individual life,we don't know the end of a matter,we cannot skip to the end.Often  God does reassure us by giving us a promise ,to simple trust Him.That is part of our development as a Christian ,God is in the business of changing us from trusting self to trusting in Him. Next He also reminds us of His power,this morning I read this verse,/The Lords hand is not shortened that it cannot save[Isaiah 59v1].I unfortunately need reminders of Gods power,that with  God all things are possible,there is no one God cannot save,there is no need God cannot supply,there is no problem He cannot solve.
A prayer.../Dear God as we travel to glory help us to trust You ,as to your mysterious purposes,and also to believe in Your power in Jesus name Amen /

Severe remedy [ Isaiah 53]

In spite of the fact that mankind, having intelligence beyond any other created being,we appear to be intent on destroying each other.As I read history of accounts of the second world war,the cruelty of the nations on those they considered inferior.Even in this the 21st century, I read of the awful cruelties being perpetrated by political powers now,it is unbelievable,but sad to to say it is true.It all reminds me that human intelligence does not guarantee ,nations and individuals from acting in the most awful way.A parent abuses or kills their child,it appears that they act in the most unintelligent way,it does not make sense,what is the answer? A man was being very critical of the sacrifice of Christ,he asked a question, was it really necessary for Christ to die such an extreme death?.The answer is yes ,because man's condition is critical,man's dilemma is so terrible, ,so much so that the only answer God could come up with,was the sacrifice of His son on the altar of Calvary.Severe conditions often demand severe remedies, let none of us make light of sin,or the gravity of man's condition,God doesn't.
A  prayer..../Holy God we acknowledge our sinfulness,,and praise You for providing the answer through Your son Jesus, and His sacrificial death Amen /

What's it to be? [ 1 John 5v4 ]

A person  speaking on  the terrible  violence in a state in Africa,spoke about a valley of fear,for so many people there is so much to fear,so much so ,that they appear to be be living in a valley of fear.When one reads the Bible we see many of Gods children in valley's of fear,how did they cope?,it seems to me that the answer is found in Hebrews 11,where we have these words repeated over and over again,/by faith/.The sure and certain way to cope and to triumph is to turn your valley of fear into a valley of faith,we see this in Hebrews 11 v33,we read,/ Who through faith ......stopped the mouths of lions/. Here we are reminded of dear beloved Daniel who because he prayed,was thrown into a den of lions[Daniel 6],remember the enemy does not like to see you praying. So Daniel found himself surround by wild ravenous beasts ,how did he survive,how did he defeat the enemies of his soul?, by faith.The life of the child of God must be ,has to be, a life of faith, this is  the victory that overcometh the world,even our faith[1 John 5 v4 ] Valley of fear or valley of faith,what is it going to be?
A  prayer....../Dear God grant us grace that we will be enabled to turn valley's of fear into valley's of faith,in Jesus name Amen /

Little is much if. [ Jeremiah 32 v 17]

The prophet Elijah was sent by God to a widow woman who had a son,with the words,I have commanded this widow to sustain thee[1 Kings 17v9]. When Elijah met up with this widow woman,she was practically destitute. I wonder what you and I would think if you were in Elijah's place?it does not appear that this caused him any problem. As he arrived at his destination,he didn't have to go searching for this lady,he was guided right to her,as you look at this day,God will guide you through it,if you have a need He will guide you to the one He has chosen to meet Your need,it may even be a widow woman. I remember years ago a friend who was in difficulties,and her need was met by a widow woman.Likewise when I lived by faith how on a number of occasions widow women met my need.Let us not limit God as to whom He will choose to help us,or as the widow discovered the means He will use.All the lady had was a little oil and a little flour,remember the miracles of the five thousand,plus.Remember little is much if God is in it,when God blesses the little it will go a long way.
A  prayer......./ Dear God bless the little we may have to live on, bless the little service we gave,bless us little people, in  Jesus name Amen/

Tell them that are fathers lied. [ 2 Timothy 4 v1-4]

Rudyard Kipling the famous poet ,and author,lost a son in the first world war,he wrote the following,/If you ask me why we died,tell them our fathers lied/.The lost of his son must have hurt him very deeply. He must have wondered why his son had to die,that war to end all wars,that war they said would be over by Christmas..They where told that they were fighting for a better world, mybe all those things they were told,sounded like a hollow lie. The grave responsibility for everyone is to tell the truth,not to bend it,or distort it,and especially if one is a minister,I am accountable to this generation before God,to tell them the truth of the word of God.I am called to be a watchman, to warn the people [Ezekiel 3 v17] No one likes preaching about Hell, about sin and its consequences,but the truth is the truth,and it is the truth that sets people free,  it is the truth that warns people,of the danger they are in. I wonder, will there come a time when the lost will point to ministers ,and say, if you ask me why I am lost,its because you told me a lie,and I, a blind fool believed you. It is not for me to rationalise the truth,it is for me to be faithful to the truth,to preach it,and witness to it,I sincerely hope and pray that none will say of me,if you ask me why I am  lost ,it was because I lied. There used to be a rug in my pulpit with these words on it, preach the word,those words were a constant reminder to everyone who stood in that pulpit ,that they had a responsibility to preach the truth,the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
A  prayer...../Dear God have mercy upon the many who are deceived by false ministers,causing them to go to a lost eternity, in Jesus name Amen /