Training for the ministry.[ Amos 7 v 14-15 ]

I was privileged to attend Bible college, I needed that training,but not everyone does,now there are those who look down upon those who have
attended Bible college.Likewise there are those who look down upon those
who not have attended Bible college.The fact is bible colleges serve a good purpose,but they are not essential for everyone.The fact is we all need training if we are going to serve God,and we should do all we can to equip ourselves.John Calvin, C.H.Spurgeon, D.L.Moody,had this in common they never had any formal biblical training,but no one can say they where not equipped to serve God in the ministry.It has been rightly said whom God calls,He equips,part of that  may be Bible college training,but it is not necessary so.John Owen was born in1637 and went to Queen's college
Oxford,he rose to become Vice-Chancellor of that college.he is best remembered for his Death of Death in the Death of Christ.He was one of the most learned men of his time, he was asked by Charles 11 ,why he listened
to an uneducated tinker,he replied,could I possess the tinker's abilities for preaching,please your majesty,I would glady relinquish all my learning.
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God we ask that You would raise up anointed and equipped people
for service in your kingdom in Jesus name Amen.

Most persecuted [ John 16 v33 ]

I have just read that Christian are the most persecuted minority group in the world.Someone has asked the question why?,well there are reason,now I know there are places that religion and politics,and tribal conflict can cause those who are Christians to suffer.Yet this does not fully answer the why by
any means,why did the religious leaders persecute Jesus,and have Him brutally put to death?,after all He went about doing good,why do many Christians who are law abiding citizens,pay their taxes,and generally make a positive contribution to their communities are persecuted?.There are reasons, Christians are called to be holy,we are told that men love darkness rather than the light,because their deeds are evil[John 3 v19],further it goes unto to say,that everyone that doeth evil hates the light[3v20].Yesterday I met a person I used to work with,I  remember offering her a daily reading,I was not offensive,she refused it,that was it,no offence meant,but she went and reported me to the manager.A simple thing like that,why?,yes why do Christians suffer?,because we live in a world in rebellion against God,the word of God,tells us that the whole world is under the control of the evil one[1  John 5 v19],and so it is, that our Saviour said,in the world ye shall have tribulation.It appears  a very depressing thing to say,but that is the
reality,but for the Christian there is a greater reality.No Christian is alone,
Jesus is with them,he gives peace,and power to endure and to be more than conquerors,and a promise of eternal glory.
                                                A prayer
Dear God in the name of Jesus we ask for mercy on those Christians who are suffering  .Amen.

Careless. [ Isaiah 45v22]

I am very conscious of the dangers on the road,not just for me but others,pedestrians,motor cyclists,and cyclists.Many years ago I witnessed
a man on a bike involved in an accident,later he died of his injuries.Just recently while driving hope I saw a cyclist on the road ahead,he was wearing a bright jacket,as I came near to him,he suddenly singled his intention of turning right.He  did this without looking,I managed to change lanes,thankfully there was no one coming towards me in that lane. Such are the dangers of those who use the roads,that man did everything right,with one exception,he did not look,Now let us apply this spiritually,in this road of life that we are on ,we may be religious ,read our Bibles,pray ,go to church,and yet never have looked unto Jesus to save us. The world is full of religious people,who are not saved,who have not been born again.That man
on his bike was careless,he never looked,it could have cost him his life,
so it is,there are many careless as regards their soul,they think it does not matter ,but of course it does,to die without Christ is to commit spiritually
suicide.
                                        A prayer.
Dear God we ask that  You in mercy may awake sinners to their need of Christ. Amen.

Cannot be thwarted.. [ Job 42 v 2 ]

Let us continue on in the theme of the providence of God, sometimes Gods
providence is hid from us.There are times we are held up,delayed,we miss an appointment,we do not get the job,or that promotion we desired.The natural way of reacting would be to become annoyed,angry,or bitter,but
 Gods hidden providential purposes are at work, although we cannot see it
at the time.Next let us trust in Gods providence to undertake even at the last moment,when the enemy is at the gate.When it seemed that all was lost for
Mordecai,and the wicked Haman was going to have him executed,we read
on that night could not the king sleep [Ester 6v1].The result was, Haman the executor would eventually be executed,and Mordecia was not only spared,
but promoted.When I applied for my position of support worker,I did not know that the manager was a Christian who knew me,and I got the job.In our country one was forced to retire when one reached the age of 65[60 for women],but the law was changed just before my retirement age,and so I was able to continue to work on indefinitely,deferring my state pension,and adding to my works pension. This did not happen by chance, it was all in Gods providential care for me. In Gods providence is, promotion,provision,
and all things that concern , His children's lives.
                                       A prayer.
Dear God we thank you for working continually on our behalf,help us to see that your timing is perfect,and that your purposes for your children cannot be  thwarted,for You are our a sovereign God,in Jesus name we pray this Amen.

The whys of life. [ Isaiah 55 v8-9]

One of my favourite books is the ,/Mystery of Providence/, by John Flavel,the word mystery is very important when considering the subject of
providence.One of William Cowpers most famous hymns ,commences with the words ,God moves in mysterious ways.The question is asked on the back cover of Flavels book,/Do we believe that everything in the world, and in our own lives down to the minutest detail is ordered by the providence of God?/. Now this raises many questions that one cannot answer,it comes under mystery.Yet even though we cannot understand ,it appears unfair and
unjust ,faith trusts in the God of love,mercy and grace.Job who experienced
dreadful,awful things, had a choice to curse God,or to trust Him,he chose the latter.We look at tragedies even in the Christians life and we can so easily become bitter,and disillusioned.Much of the Bible is taken up with suffering,and up to this day many are suffering,for being Christians,we say
just for being Christians. Of course like those who know not God Christians
become ill,have accidents,go bankrupt,die,and this is where the doctrine of
providence is vital,and vital to believe.To believe that God is in control,that
He is still on the throne ,working out all things after the counsel of His will.
[Ephesians 1v11].Romans 8 v28 tells us a very important truth,that the
sovereign God is working all things for the good of  His children, [Romans
8 v28] in His providence.
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God we ask that you would help us to trust in you,even when we do
not understand the whys of life ,in Jesus name Amen.
        [ I will return to my blog Tuesday,every blessing ]

I wonder? [ Acts 16 v31 ]

I was speaking recently to children in a particular church,and I told them that I was saved twice. When I was very young I went to the local swimming pool.As I stood on the edge of the pool someone pushed me in
the deep end.This was my first time at the swimmers,that's what we called them I could not swim,and I remember being under the water,and I was drowning.I remember someone swimming towards me getting a hold of me and getting me out of the pool,that person had saved my life. I do not know who saved me but of course I am very grateful to him.Not long after that I attended a children's meeting,the speaker illustrated how serious sin was,and so I waited behind and trusted Jesus to save me,not from death but from my sin and its consequences,yes I have been saved twice,from physical death and eternal death.I wonder even at that young age when I was saved from drowning if I had drowned where would I have gone? Let me ask you the question if you were to die right now where would you go to?,would it be heaven or would it be Hell?
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God help us to give serious consideration as to where we will spend eternity.in Jesus name Amen.

A present help [Psalm 46 v1 ]

Psalm 119v83 reads,/Though I am  like a wineskin in the smoke,I do not forget your decrees/. Here the writer is describing his state ,how he felt,this has come about because he is under attack,as M . Wilcock writes,/he is still being molested by the arrogant,and still there are no grounds for their attack.He is saying,literally,Lord,I'm finished,he is at the end of his tether. A dried, cracked wineskin,past the end of its useful life/-that is what he
feels like.I found myself singing words I sort of remember,/I'm the weakest of your Children,how I need Thee,...Lord keep a hold,a hold on me/I can identify with the Psalmist ,at times,as I am sure you can.Consider a lady I
know ,her husband has Parkinson disease,her daughter has cancer,and she has now been diagnosed with cancer.It is often in the Psalms the writers bear their hearts,express their pain,are honest. While we are encouraged to
bear one an others burdens,we are also told to cast our burden upon the Lord and He will sustain us[ Psalm 55 v22]The wonderful thing is we can be honest with God,tell Him how we feel,and be assured that He fully understands,and will undertake .I leave the following words with you,/God
is our refuge and strength,an ever present help in trouble[Psalm 46 v1]
                                         A prayer.
Dear God we acknowledge our weakness,our fears,our difficulties, and ask that You would come to our aid in Jesus name Amen /