They need more than ice cream.[Mark 10 v 14]

While on holiday we went into an ice cream parlour,it is a great place most people love ice cream,and as I sat there, the thoughts turned to the many children,in this world who have never tasted an ice cream many children go without the bare necessities of life,no  breakfast,no dinner,no shoes,I support a childrens mission ,the mission send me photographs of the children they work with,children who have been rescued from poverty and abuse.Under this mission they are educated,fed,clothed,and given a loving home,and sometimes enjoy ice cream. It is  wonderful what this mission is doing,but it does not stop there,these children are told about Jesus. As a Christian I realise that children and adults have a greater need than ice cream,they need Jesus,they can be clothed,housed,educated,and fed,but they have a soul,that needs saved,they have a life that needs changed.I believe in child evangelism,that children need to hear about the one who said,/Let the children come unto me,don't stop them,for the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children./[Mark 10 v 14]
A  prayer....../ Dear God have mercy upon the children,in this world who are suffering, help government's to care for the children of their nations,but also save the children,we ask this in Jesus name Amen /

I am glad.[Psalm 47 v4 ]

As I look back in my life,most of it has been taken up with me seeking Gods will,early on in my Cheistian life my wife and I ,felt the call of God on our lives.To prepare ourselves we went to Bible college.At college a visiting speaker said,to the student body,that inevitable God would reveal his will before we all left college. This did not happen for me and my wife,even though we prayed,and prayed,and prayed,different places where led on our hearts,and so we prayerfully tried each door,yet none of these doors opened to us,but the call of God remained.In a very real sense like Abraham although we felt the call of God on our lives,but we did not know where we where going,but we continued to obey the call.When doors shut we were disappointed,but we bowed to Gods will,and kept seeking a way forward, by faith.God did open two doors ,but these did not last long,but all the time we kept moving, a verse of a hymn has been going through my head recently it goes,/ God holds the key to all unknown,and I am glad. If other hands should hold the key or if He trusted it to me me,I might be sad/.I am glad I choose to follow Gods call,and I am glad that He choose  what was best for me.
A prayer...../ O use me Lord,use even me,just as Thou wilt and when and where. Until Thy blessed face I see,Thy rest,Thy joy, Thy glory share. Amen/  [Words by F.R.Havergal]

Foxes [Matthew 8 v 18-22 ]

Behind our home we noticed from our bedroom window 3 fox cubs,playing,last year there were two,these former dwellers of the countryside have now become town dwellers.My mind turned to a moment in our Lords ministry,when a person said to Jesus,/Master I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest[Matthew8v19]/.Jesus replied,/The foxes have holes,and the birds of the air have nests,but the son of man hath not where to lay His head[v20]/There appears to be a romance attached to sacrifice,to be a missionary,or whatever,people can be caught up in emotions that causes then not to take in the cost of following Jesus.My first wife and I went to Bible college for 4 years,we trusted God to meet our needs,but our faith was tried continually,I wore a lot of clothes that where given to me,food often was scarce,God supplied our needs,I stress needs.W. Barclay wrote,/Jesus was not seeking to discourage enthusiasm/,but seeking to make it clear that there is a cost in following him.
Again let me quote W, Barclay,/There is no thrill like the way of Christ, and there is no glory like
the end of that way,but Jesus Christ never said it was an easy way.The way to glory always involves a cross/
A  prayer......./ Dear Lord Jesus we thank You for Your honesty in what it means to follow You,we ask for grace to obey Your call ,no matter what the cost. Amen /
/ I will return to my blog when I return from my break away,  every blessing/

Vigilant. [ 1 Peter 5 v 8]

As one reads the Bibles account of the rule of kings,say Jehoshaphat ,we see a man who appeared to have the victory,then he goes and does something stupid,like making an alliance with wicked king Ahab. Like the history of the nation of Israel,they appear to be going on so well spiritually,then it all goes pear shaped,and they are up to their necks in idolatry. Are we any different?,many of us are not,we appear to be victorious,then we fall into old habits and practises.Temptation will always be something we will have to face,none us can afford to let down our guard,we must be vigilant everyday,and every hour of every day.John Bunyan wrote about the trials we meet,that they come,and come,and come again afresh/,and then he writes,/O let the pilgrims,let the pilgrims,then. Be vigilant and quit themselves like men/.
A prayer...../Dear God, help us to be vigilant in our walk with You, to pray continually,and to trust in You alone, knowing that the arm of flesh will fail us,in Jesus name we ask this Amen /

Damaged beyond human repair.[ Luke 4 v18]

isAs I was praying,and thought of many of the people I know and pray for,the words ,damaged beyond human repair, came to mind. I do not just mean the mentally ill,there are so many damaged people in this world,and no one can help them.It was the prophet Ezekiel who  found himself in the midst of a valley full of bones,human bones,and he is asked a question by God, /can these bones live?/[Ezekiel 37v 3].Ezekiel did not know the answer,let us confess our ignorance, as I look at the damaged people,I have to confess like Ezekiel ,that only God knows the answer.Those bones would live,would take on flesh,would stand up on their own two feet. The question is how? God, He did it,Ezekiel's part in it was to speak Gods word to them, God continually reassures us of His healing power,Jesus healed multitudes.If ever the world needed the healing touch of Jesus it is now,in so many places in this world , we have damaged people beyond human repair. People damaged by abuse and violence,lives damaged by this sinful world,broken hearts ,broken lives,broken minds. I truly believe that the answer is Jesus,the one who said,/Come unto Me all ye that labour,and are heavy laden,and I will give you rest  [Matthew 11v28]
A  prayer.....[ Dear God  if we are honest ,we are all damaged,some of us more than others,so we ask that in mercy through Your dear Son Jesus,save,and heal us Amen /

The God of love. [1 John 4 v 8-10]

One wonders why Islam is such a violent religion, why are they so intent to destroy those who are not Muslin's?.They pray to a god who they would claim is merciful and yet they show very little mercy,to those who differ from them.Why is it,when we hear of those who have committed adultery,it is the woman that bears their wrath?.Why are they so  intent to kill other Muslims,who differ with them?. I write as Christian,I know that the history of Christendom manifested a lot of Characteristics of Islam,but that does not make it right,I know the importance of truth,and I know that many who have professed to be Christians,have denied it with their actions. I worship a God that is holy,and that all our sinners,be it Abraham,or the apostle Paul,or even Mohamed,and that all need mercy. That must mean that no one is perfect,no matter how much they try,sin dogs all our steps,and like the great apostle Paul we cry out, O wretched man that I am[Romans7v24].Likewise the great prophet Isaiah who had a vision of a holy God, cries out,woe is me,I am undone,because I am a man of unclean lips.[Isaiah 6 v5] .The Christian message is very simple yet very profound,God who is merciful,provides a means whereby we sinners can be accepted, Jesus who is not just a prophet but a Saviour,on the cross He bore the wrath of God,that we may not bear it.Through His death on the cross we can be forgiven,and set free from oppressive religion,with oppressive demands,set free to love,and to be loved.
A  prayer......./Dear God we bring to You a world that is oppressed by religion and pray that in your mercy they may come to know You,the God of love, through Jesus Your Son. Amen/

There is no place like home. [John 14 v 1-6 ]

Someone bought me a garden gnome ,a little ornamental figure,and it reminded me of a little story I made up,about a gnome. One day a lady noticed that her little gnome was missing,someone had stolen it,she was heartbroken and so was the gnome,to him the garden was his home.Well so started an adventure for that little gnome,he was sold at a boot sale,the person who bought him,was a travelling person,who travelled near and far.Well after travelling near and far he returned to where he had bought the gnome,and he gave the gnome to a charity shop,and it so happened the person whose gnome had been stolen,called in that shop,and spied her little gnome which she bought,and she brought it home,and she place in her garden,she thought she heard the gnome say,ah,there is no place like home.There is an old gospel song which goes,This world is not my home,dear Christian,let us remember we are only temporary residents on this planet earth,let us not become to attached to this world.We are strangers and pilgrims, going to a better country,a heavenly,to a city which hath foundations,whose builder and maker is God.In that heavenly home the roses never die,in fact death will be at last banished,the glories of that land are beyond description,the loved ones who have gone before will be there,and most wonderful of all Jesus will be there,yes truly there is no place like home.
A  prayer.../ We praise You Lord for a heavenly home,which You are preparing for all Your children, Amen/