Temptation [ Luke 22 v40-46 ]

William Shakespeare said many wonderful things,here is one I read,''Tis one thing to be tempted,another thing to fall''.I have been tempted many times,as I am sure you have,but God helps us if we call upon Him,in our hour of temptation.Our dear Saviour makes it  clear , the importance of praying, in overcoming temptation and not fall to it.[Luke 22 v40], but alas the disciples failed to do this,then He told them the second time [v46] .The lesson we are taught is this,if we pray we will overcome temptation,if we don't, temptation will overcome us.
                                          A  prayer.
Dear God help us to call upon You in our hour of temptation, knowing you  are able to keep us from  falling through Jesus your dear Son,Amen.

Think good thoughts. [Psalm 23 ]

Another thought from Norman Vincent Peal,'' I conducted a religious service on a cruise ship ,in  my talk , I suggested that people who were carrying worries in their minds might go to the stern of the vessel and imaginatively take each anxious thought out of the mind,drop it over board,and watch it disappear in the wake of the ship.It seems an almost childlike suggestion, but a man came to me later that day and said,''I did as you suggested and am amazed at the relief it has given me''He goes on to say,that it is not just enough to empty our minds,that's true,read  Philippians 4 v 8-9.read them daily,make this a good habit.

      ''Whatever is true,whatever is noble,whatever is right,whatever is pure,whatever is lovely,whatever is admirable,if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,think about such things. Whatever you have have learned or received or heard from me,or seen in me,put it into practice,and the God of
peace will be with you''.
                                        

Be strong and courageous. [Joshua 1 v9 ]

Norman Vincent Peale wrote the following,''One of the most powerful concepts,one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence,is the thought that
God is actually with you and helping you.This is one of the simplest teaching in religion,namely, that Almighty God will be your companion,will stand by you,and see you through. No other idea is so powerful in developing self confidence as this simple belief when practiced. To practice
it simply affirm ''God is with me; God is helping me; God is guiding me''
Spend several minutes each day visualising His presence. Then practice believing that affirmation''.
                                       
                                And God said unto Joshua.
''Have I not commanded you?Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified
do not be discouraged,for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.[1 v 9 ]

















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Blind unbelief. [ Psalm 73 ]

I read this recently,by the Late Selwyn Hughes,  ''It is not wrong to say I don't know what is happening.' But it is wrong to say,'God doesn't know what is happening'.In the book of  Ecclesiates, we read,''Do not be quick with your mouth,do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven and you are on earth so let your words be few''[  5 v2 ]Job who suffered so much,refused to curse God, it is so easy to loose a spiritual reality,to move from faith to scepticism ,from singing His praise,to doubting
his ways.We read of a man in Psalm 73,who let doubt take over,and ran with it,to the point of nearly making shipwreck of his faith. He did recover
when he sought the Lord,and faith returned. Continually I am drawn back to
the truth,that God is Sovereign,that somehow He is in control,and so I lift my eyes upward to God,who moves in mysterious ways,and whose ways are perfect.Many in America and the world are wondering what the new
President elect ,will do or why he is the President elect. There are so many things in the politics of this world , and in our personal lives,that we do not know what is going on,look up,God is in control.

                                 Blind unbelief is sure to err,
                                 And scan His works in vain;
                                 God is His own interpreter
                                 And He will make it plain.
                                     [Words W. Cowper]

Break the Cross. [ Galations 6 v14 ]

One of the early Christian Fathers,wrote the following,''Glory be to you[Jesus] who laid your cross as a bridge over death,that souls might pass over it from the dwelling of the dead to the dwelling of life''.In this country we are encouraged to be tolerant,and rightly so,but in many lands it is not so.IS
hate all who are not Muslins,and especially those who are Christians,as those lift high the cross,I myself wear a small cross.IS have recently published an article in their on line magazine entitled,''Break the Cross''.
Islam deny that Christ died on the cross,they see Him only as one of a line of prophets,and Mohammed being the prophet who is Gods final and last prophet.Basically Islam is really only an extension of those who believe that
one can only be accepted ,by obedience to His laws,as revealed in the Quran. My answer to that is simple, I do not need another prophet,mankind does not need another prophet,I  need a saviour,because no matter how much the best of men,or women try,they come short of Gods glory.So God did a wonderful thing,He sent Jesus into this sinful world,He was sinless,born without sin,and lived without committing any sin.His final act in life was to die,in the place of sinners,taking the punishment for all those who trust him as their Saviour, and give them freely, eternal life. That death took place on a cross,

                       On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
                       the emblem of suffering and shame;
                       and I love that old cross where the dearest and best,
                       for a world of lost sinner was slain.

                       In that old rugged cross,stained with blood so divine,
                       a wondrous beauty I see;
                       for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
                       to pardon and sanctify me.

                      So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
                      till my trophies at last I lay down;
                      I will cling to the old rugged cross
                      and exchange it some day for a crown.
                             [ Words.  George Bennard ]
                           

Lest we forget [ Luke 22 v 17 - 20]

I have just watched a movie called Passchendale one of many battles that took place in the 1st world war. The first world war was supposed to have been the war  to end all wars,but of course it did no such thing.Today our country will be holding remembrance services,as a nation we take it very serious.A drunken lady recently was sent to prison for urinating on a war memorial,most countries ,want to honour those who died,in wars.So we have a remembrance Sunday.Just considering the numbers of those  who died in the 20th century in wars,one would think that nations would never want to go to war. Yet even at this time wars are going on,surely not?, unfortunately it is true.We remember the fallen yet  we appear to forget the cost of war,the awful cost.Can any of us guarantee peace ,no,because part of mankind's fallen nature is evidence ,that it will never happen.Consider the History of Israel,a history of a people who continually  forgot what God had done for them,and continually paid a terrible price in suffering.The church of Christ were commanded to remember,what Christ did for them,it was the greatest battle ever fought,and cost the life of the Son of God,it ended in  complete victory.Satan was defeated,sin was defeated,death was defeated.Lest we forget let us continually remember the debt we owe to our loving God and Saviour.

                                   Lest I forget Gethsemane
                                   Lest I forget Thine agony,
                                   Lest I forget Thy love for me,
                                   Lead me to Calvary.
                                    [Words.  J.E.Mussey ]

A wonderful Hope. [ John 11 v25 - 26 ]

I have just listened to Phil Wickham singing a lovely song, called ,''Your
Beautiful''.The 4th verse,blessed me,it reads,

                         When we arrive at eternity's shore,
        Where death is just a memory and tears are no more.
                     We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring,
         Your Bride will come together,and we'll sing,Your
                                      Beautiful.

Lovely words,lovely song, it reminds me of the scripture  regarding death,
that as Christians,we do not grieve like the rest of men,who have no hope,
[ 1 Thessalonians 4 v13 ].Our hope is built firmly on Jesus ,who declared,
''I am the resurrection and the life,He who believes in me will live,even though he dies''[ John 11 v25 ].The words of that song tells us,that death in
heaven will be but a memory,and tears will be no more. The next thing it tells us that we will see Jesus,and that truly will be wonderful,and glorious.
                                      A  prayer.
Dear God we praise and thank You,that through you we have a wonderful hope that goes beyond the grave,we thank you for Jesus who made it all possible.
Amen.