He has not changed. ( Philippians 4 v19 )

            Today many people will be feeding their pets, we do not
            have a pet, but we put out food for the birds. In 2 Kings 17
            we read how a man of God  was fed by ravens .They acted
            on the command of God ,morning and evening they brought
            him food. God is not limited in providing for His children,
            we read how the Israelites doubted that God could meet their
            need, in unbelief they said,' Can God  provide a table in the
            wilderness',? ( Psalm 78 v 19). But  He did, the fact is you can
            focus on God or the wilderness, it is a saying where God guides
            He provides. He is  still the God of the impossible, He has not
            changed.

                                   The Lord is my shepherd
                                    I shall not want.
                                          ( Psalm 23 v1 )
         
              

                      

A daily walk ( Matthew 4 v 19 )

                     Each day I go for a walk, I  am not in training, I am
                     just trying to maintain a degree of  reasonable health,
                     I usually to do it each morning. There are some days
                     I may not go for my usual walk , no I don't  walk twice
                     as much the next day. Now there is something each I do
                     each day, it is another sort of walk, my daily walk with
                     with my Saviour. That is the most vital thing in my life,
                     unlike my daily exercise walk, I don't leave it off. For I
                     know I need Him everyday, how can I face the temptations
                     that come to me each day?, the answer is I can't. Where
                     would  I receive the strength to do what I have do? ,the
                     answer is , only from Him.

                     The Lord replied , My Presence will go with you, and
                      I will give you rest.
                                           (  Exodus 33 v 14 )
                    

All is well if ( Romans 8 v28 )

                           A young man called Joseph , experienced
                           a great deal of trials. Hated by his brothers
                           who wanted him dead. Instead  they sold
                           into slavery. There he was  falsely accused
                           of raping someone ,the result he spent many
                           years in prison. Then everything changed
                           he was released, and promoted to one of
                           the highest  positions in government.
                           moving on in the story, he came face to face with
                           them ,and was reunited with his father. There came
                           a time when Joseph, told his brothers ,'' You
                           intended to harm me, but God intended it
                           for  good . ( Genesis 50 v 20 )

                                      Ill that He  blesses is our good
                                      And unblest  good is ill;
                                      And all is right that seems most
                                      wrong
                                      if it be His sweet will.
                                             ( F .W. Faber )

                       















                             

Sincerity is not enough.( John 14 v 6 )

                  There have been a number of attacks in London by
                  Islamic extremist . Those who carry out these attacks are
                  sincere religious people ,in other words they believe
                  that what they are doing is what their god wants them to do.
                  But as someone has said ,when you do such things sincerity
                  is never enough ,because the simple fact is ,you can be
                  sincerely wrong. We can only assume that those who
                  wanted  Jesus to die were sincere, but they were sincerely
                  wrong as they now know. All religions do not lead to
                  God ,that is why God sent Jesus into the world. to deal with
                  the problem of sin. There I go mentioning sin again ,you
                  may s not want to hear about sin, but I must mention it
                 for if your sin is not forgiven you cannot go to heaven, which
                 means you will go to hell, no matter how sincere you are.
                 Alas you may find out ,to late, that sincerity is not enough.

                  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is your
                                                   darkness.
                                               ( Matthew 6 v 23 )
                                             
 .
                                                
               

The Storm [ John 1 v 1 ]

                          Daily we have witnessed on the news the terrible
                          devastation caused by the hurricanes in the Caribbeans.
                          It makes one realise the power of nature, for all our
                          achievements, we cannot  do anything to stop the
                          destructive power, of such power. No one can do
                          anything, we just look on in helplessness. When I
                          say no one, I am reminded of an occasion when someone
                          stopped a storm in its tracks, it was Jesus ( Mark 4 v  35
                          -41 ). How could He do such a thing ?,the disciples
                          where amazed, and asked this question ,''Who is this?
                          Even the wind and the  waves obey  Him''.

                                Who is He in yonder stall,
                                At whose feet the shepherds fall.
                       
                                Tis the Lord, O Wondrous story,
                                Tis the Lord, the King of glory.

                                        My Lord and my God.                         

                         
                         

He acted the fool. ( Hebrews 3 v 7 - 8 ]

                         In Deuteronomy  17v 14 - 20, God gave instructions
                         in relation to Israel wanting a king . The king was not
                         to acquire horses , nor cause the people to return to
                         Egypt to purchase them. He was not to acquire many
                         wives , nor was he to acquire silver and gold. Solomon
                         ignored all these commands. These where important
                         in fact the king was to write out these instructions ,
                         keep them, and read them all the days of his life. But
                         we do not read of Solomon doing the latter.  Solomon
                         like  the people at the time of the judges  did what
                         was right in his own eyes, not ,what was good in Gods
                         eyes.  He may have been wise, but at the same time he
                         acted like a fool. God we are told became angry with
                         Solomon ,the question I ask is this, is God angry with
                         you or me?.
                    

Wise man or fool ( 1 Kings 11 ]

                  Where did  it all go wrong, he had everything, literally
                  money ,power, divinely gifted by God, and a godly father.
                  Yet he brought more pain in the country he ruled, than
                   King Saul. Yes Saul was a failure ,by his disobedience,
                  David who followed him , the man after Gods heart, was
                  on the whole a good king, though he was far from perfect.
                  His successor was Solomon , the man who had everything,
                  in spite of  all those advantages , he brought judgement
                  on the nation he ruled.

                                                A prayer.
                 Dear  God we read in your word that everyone who has been
                 given much, much will be demanded, help us to not fail you,
                 like Solomon did in Jesus name. Amen.
              

Failure ( 1 Kings 9 v 6 - 9 )

                         In 1 Kings 9 , we read how God appeared unto Solomon
                         and spoke to him. He said , ''If you walk before Me in
                         integrity of heart, and uprightness , as David your father
                         did, and do all I command and observe your decrees and
                         laws. I will establish your  royal throne over Israel'' Sad
                         to say he failed and suffered the consequence, and sad to
                         say he failed miserably. The question is are we living in
                         disobedience?, we shut the door to blessing when  we
                         fail to keep our part of  the bargain.

                                             To obey is better than sacrifice.
                                                  ( 1 Samuel  15 v 22 )

Follow me. ( Matthew 16 v 24 - 25 )

                          I travelled down a lonely road,
                          and no one seemed to care.
                          The burden on my  weary back,
                          had bowed me to despair.
                          I oft complained to Jesus,
                          how folks were treating me.
                          And then I heard Him say so tenderly;
                          My feet were also  weary upon the Calvary road.
                          The cross became so heavy I fell beneath the load;
                           Be faithful weary pilgrim, the morning I can see,
                           Just lift your cross and follow close to Me.

                           I  work so hard for Jesus,
                           I often boast and say,
                           I've sacrificed a lot of things
                           To walk the narrow way,
                            I gave up fame and fortune,
                            I'm worth a lot to Thee,
                            And then I hear Him gently say to Me;
                            I left the throne of glory, and counted it but loss,
                            My hands were nailed in anger, Upon a cruel cross,
                            But now we'll make the journey ,with your hand
                            safe in Mine,
                            So lift your cross and follow close to Me.

                            O  Jesus if I die upon ,A foreign field
                            some day,
                            Twould be no more than love demands,
                             No less could I repay,
                             No greater love hath mortal man,
                             Than for a friend to die.
                             These are the words He gently spoke to me;
                             If  just a cup of water I place within your hand,
                             Then just a cup of water, is all that I demand,
                              But if by death to living ,they can Thy glory see,
                              I'll take my cross and follow close to Thee.

                                           ( words by Ira F. Stanphill. )
                          

Even I was praying ( John 4 v 1 - 26 )

                        In  Ecclesiastes 3 v 11, we read,'' He  ( God ) has planted
                      eternity in the human heart''. What do think this means,
                        well animals do not consider eternity, and  humanity
                        may not appear to give it much consideration. Yet man is
                        driven for meaning, for fulfilment, desire, in so many things.
                        Sin and Satan do their best, to lead man into so many
                         seemingly legitimate ,and awful things, to fulfil the hearts
                        desire. I read the following on the net, of a passenger on an
                         airplane, one the engines went on fire, fortionately the plane
                         landed safely. The passenger said later,'' I am an atheist, but
                         even I was praying''.

                                             The unbeliever says God is nowhere,
                                              the believer says God is everywhere.

                      

Will the circle be unbroken ?. ( John 14 v 1 - 6 )

                   A Sunday school teacher once asked the children she
                   was teaching, imagine you are heaven, and imagine you
                   could send a post card to  a best friend, on earth, what would
                   you write on it?. A little girl put her hand up, and she said
                   she would write,' wish you where here'.

                                   The most precious words in the
                                   Bible, are,'' I will dwell in the
                                   house of the Lord for ever.
                                           ( Psalm 23 v 6 )

A mystery ( John 1 v 1/ v 14 )

                Solomon  built a temple ,it would signify the presence
                God . It was important but not all important.................
                Solomon prayed,'' But will God really dwell on earth? The
                heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How
                much less this temple I have built''. ( 1 Kings 8 v 27 ) Where
                is God ,the answer is Heaven ( Matthew 6 v 9 ) John W. Olley
                writes , ''We have difficulties with language to describe God
                 as  both 'hear with us' ( immanent ) and yet far beyond us
                 (  transcendent ),as he further writes    ''God cannot be
                 constrained by a building''. The mystery of Christ coming into
                 this world is that He was God. How can one fully explain
                 this mystery? ,the reality is we cannot . The scripture clearly
                 leaves us in no doubt as to  His divinity, and so we believe.

Because it is true ( John 14 v 6 )

                          A  man who was an unbeliever attended church
                          the minister spoke to him, from time to time.One
                          morning at the communion service he noticed the
                          man taking communion. The minister asked him why
                          he  had taken communion, the man replied, because 
                          it is true.
                                                   Luke 1 v 1-4.
                                                1 Corinthians 15 v 1 - 8.

Hurry can kill. ( Psalm 46 v 10 )

                       A joke,'' Why do the French eat snails?. They can't
                       stand fast foods.'' People are in so much of a hurry,
                       you notice this ,especially if you are a driver. So
                       many accidents are caused by people in a hurry.
                       Recently while driving home, on the motorway,
                       torrential rain fell. and when I arrived home ,I realised
                       that I had encountered no difficulties, why?. everyone
                       had slowed down, in fact I had not even got stressed.
                      
                                                  A  prayer.
                       Dear Lord in a world that is in such a hurry and stressed
                       out, grant that we may know your calmness and peace
                       as you lead us gently along in Jesus name Amen.
                                

But cancer ( Ezekiel 36 v 26 - 28 )

                             There are two songs that I know which starts
                             with the words,'' Soften my heart''. Jesus spoke
                             of the hardness of the heart .  (Matthew 19 v 8)
                             There are  many reasons why our hearts become
                             hard, consumed by hatred , unforgiveness, lack
                             of  love, etc. whatever the reason, the result is
                             hardness of  heart. A lady who was successfully
                             treated for cancer ,said this,'' Cancer has chipped 
                             away at my armour, and softened me''. What will
                             it take to soften  us?, cancer?, one thing for sure
                             God wants to  deal with us, hard hearted people.

                                                    Ezekiel 36 v 26.
                             I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in
                             you; I will remove from you a heart of stone and
                             give you a heart of flesh.

Delaying the inevitable ( Psalm 90 )

                         Stay in school to keep your ageing brain agile, so
                         read a short article in  a news paper. We are told if
                         we eat properly, exercise by walking then we stand a
                         chance of living longer, and have a better quality of life.
                         Now we should look after our bodies ,as best we can,
                         I myself go for a brisk walk each day, Now I do want
                         to throw cold water on these things, but the article did
                         not end on a high note, ''Ultimately though, whatever you
                         do you are merely  delaying the inevitable. The level of
                         decline when it comes seems to be the same whatever
                         educational level you reach,  Professor Bunge said,
                         '' The grim reaper comes for all of us ''.

                                                     1 Timothy 4 v 8.
                        For physical training is of some value , but godliness
                        has value for all things, holding  promise for both the
                        present life  and the life to come.

                                                     
                      

Be strong (1 Kings 2 v 2 ]

                              David said to Solomon his son ''Be
                              strong, show yourself a man''. David had to face
                              many difficulties, we all know about  Goliath,the
                              giant, and how David a young man defeated him, (1 Sam
                              16 ). What was the secret of his success ?, the Lord
                              [Psalm 27 v 1 ], it was the Lord who continually
                               helped him to defeat all his enemies. Solomon
                               in all his advantages, needed to be strong in the
                               Lord. David reminds his son this truth borne out
                               of  his life time experience.

                                                       Ephesians 6 v 10
                              Finally  , be strong in the Lord and in his mighty
                              power.

It is still going on. ( Matthew 24 v 4 - 13 )

                      As one reads or hears  the news ,in the 21st century
                      why do we still have, wars and rumours of wars?. At
                      this time we have North Korea is developing weapons
                      of mass destruction. Now of course the leader of that
                      country is an educated man, he has travelled abroad,
                      and yet he has carried on where is wicked father left
                      off. I highlight him, but he is one of many ,Hitler,
                      Stalin, they where educated people, Stalin consumed
                      books, in many ways  he was a very intelligent person.
                      Look at the world of religion , the awful crimes that
                      have been and are being committed. The history of 
                      Christianity shows how wicked even professing Christians
                      can act. And so it goes on ,people seem determined
                      to destroy and hurt their fellow man. Why ?,because
                      we live in a sinful world. The cross on which Jesus died
                      tells us just how wicked we as humans can act, but it
                     but it has a greater message, that of  forgiveness,
                     and love. We all have choice, we can stay in a kingdom
                     of darkness , or we can trust Jesus and enter the kingdom  
                     God ,which is one of hope and light.
                                         Jesus said, follow Me.

                    
                      
                  
                   
                     
                    

The gospel of anger. ( Mark 3 v 1 - 6 )

                          Let us consider the gospel of anger, we read in
                          Mark 3 v5,our Lord being angry at the hardness
                          of the religious leaders, also it caused Him great 
                          I get angry when I hear of child abuse, and injustice
                          Alistair Campbell ,writing on the Gospel of anger, also
                          writes of the gospel love, and how we look again at
                          the kinds of situations in which anger is most readily
                          aroused, and then consider what a  loving  anger might
                          achieve in overcoming both enmity and apathy.

                                                     A  prayer
                          Dear God move us with a loving anger to confront the
                          evils that abound ,by the gospel of love, in Jesus name
                          Amen.
                   

Its a fact. ( Psalm 1 )

                                           A young Solomon.

              When godly ministers where near  death ,it was the practise
               to  record their last words. In 1 Kings 2,David the King was
               about to die, and so a record was made of what he had to say 
               The words he spoke were spoken to his son Solomon, who   
               was going to become king in David's  place. Let us consider
               what he said. The first thing he said was important ,''I am about
               to go the way of all the earth''. David was reminding his son
               that   he great king ,great warrior was about to die. Death does
               not discriminate ,the greatest, yes and the godliest of people
               will die. Let us never forget this ,let us remind others of this
               and let us all live in the light of eternity.
                                
                                               Hebrews 9 v 27 [The Message ]
                               
                                  Everyone has to die once, then
                                           face the consequences                          
            
              
              
     
          
        
         
              

               

Adams Folly ( Romans 5 v12 )

                                             Original sin.

         George Clooney speaking about the  state of  America said'' We
         have still a lot of work to do from our original  sin and racism''
         Join the club, the fact is most countries  have, and lets make it
         personal ,when it comes to original sin we have all been effected
         by  the sinful act in the garden of evil. The word of  God tells us,
         ''Therefore just as through one man sin entered the world, and  death
         through sin, and thus death spread to all men , because all sinned''.
         ( Romans 5 v12 ] Here the apostle Paul is telling us that when Adam
          sinned  we all sinned, yes that means every human being sinned.
          The result is we carry on sinning , its in our nature.

                                                 Romans 6 v 23
          For the wages of sin of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
          life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
          
      

I will follow Him. ( Jonah 1-4 )

                             What does this song mean to you?

                                       I will follow Him,
                        Follow Him where ever He  may go,
                        And near Him I always be
                        For nothing can keep me away
                        He is my destiny.

                                       I will follow Him,
                        Ever since He touched my heart, I knew,
                        There isn't an ocean too deep,
                        A mountain so high , it can keep,
                        Keep me away, away from His Love.

                        I love Him, I love Him, I love Him.
                        And  where He goes, I'll follow, I'll follow,
                        I'll follow.
                        I will follow Him, follow Him, where ever
                        He may go.
                        There  isn't an ocean so high, it can keep
                         me away.

                                            ( Words by Frank Pourcel )

Anger ( Ephesians 4 v 26 - 27 )

                                          Wrong Anger.

                  It is  Alistair  Campbell who wrote a book called ,'The
                  Gospel  of  Anger', I have not read this book ,but the
                  title spoke to me. Now of course the gospel is good news
                  so why should we associate it with anger?, because anger
                  is associated with so much that is wrong. I become angry
                  I sin, and then I have to ask forgiveness, yes there is a
                  very wrong type of anger, which is destructive. C P
                  Ephesians 4 v26,  verse 27 reminds us that it gives the
                  devil an opportunity. We need to face up to the wrong
                  anger we manifest, stop making excuses, God can help us
                  if we seek him ,on a daily bases.

                                               A  Prayer
                 Dear Lord there are so many of us who manifest  a sinful
                 anger, grant us grace to face up to our wrong anger, guide
                 guide us and help us with this severe problem, in Jesus name.
                                                Amen.


                       

Dire results. ( Romans 1 v 18 - 32 )

                                           The results.

           A.N. Wilson points to the results of this myth, how those
           who were atheists or agnostics , saw it as something that
            ''made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist''
            But as he goes unto point out it open the way for the
            strong to discard the weak, to look on other human
             beings as sub human ,which we are all to aware of 
             when Hitler came to power, and the Japanese treatment
             of the Chinese.  The belief  of the survival of the fittest
             became a religion, and brought with it dire consequences
             for humanity.

                                         A.N.  Wilson.
            ''Darwin's , 'Descent of Man', is an absurd embarrassing book
            I wonder sometimes how many Darwinians have actually read
            it to the end.''
      

A Myth. ( Genesis 1 v 1 )

                                         Darwin
         In a soon to be published book by A .N, Wilson on Darwin
         he writes, ''Darwin's greatness is founded on a myth ''. I
         found it an interesting article ,I do not think he is writing from
         a Christian point of view. One of the things Darwin got wrong
         was the finches, which he claimed to have evolved ,when in fact
         they were  all distinct species of  finches. A. N. Wilson states
         ''Darwin's ,'Descent of Man', is an absurd embarrassing book. I
          wonder sometimes  how many Darwinians have actually
          read it to the end''. The sad thing is many people do believe it.
          and we  will consider what that has meant for mankind ,
          tomorrow.

Shalom ( John 14 v 27 )

                                               Shalom
                 When we think of peace we think of a cessation of war,
                 of conflict, of  peace of mind. In the Bible we have a word
                 for peace, which goes beyond our concept of  ,indeed has a
                fuller meaning. It  is a word called Shalom, and it covers,
                 physical, emotional , relational, and spiritual well being .
                 We have this coming across in  3 John v  2 .
                              Dear friend ,I pray that you may enjoy
                              good health, and that all will go well
                              with you, even as your soul is getting
                              along well.
                   That is Shalom, today in the name  of  Jesus, the Prince
                   of  peace ,I wish you Shalom.
                                       

Romance. ( Ephesians 5 v 2 )

                                            Romance
              Are you a romantic?, I am to some extent, I still send my wife
              a Valentine's card ,but I know that love is more than this. The
              wedding vow ,we make in church, declares for better or worse,
              in sickness or health . When we take those vows we are saying
              come what may ,we will love , and be faithful to the one we
              are married to. That's a tremendous challenge ,to present society,
              with its fickleness, but if we have stood before God , and made
              those vows, He expects us to keep them.

                                       William  Shakespeare.

                                         Love is not love
                     Which alters when it alteration finds,
                     Or bends with the  remover to remove.
                     O no, it  is an ever fixed mark,
                     That looks on tempests and is never shaken,
                     It is the star to every wand'ring bark.