September 29 -

“Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” - Romans 4:16.

When he was thirteen years old, one of my brothers joined the local Boy's Brigade. He returned home after his first session exited and bubbling over with his new-found knowledge....did my parents know that a compass needle is just a little magnet that aligns itself with the much larger magnetic field of the earth? And did they know that it's easy to distract, and confuse, a compass needle close to it – a fridge magnet for instance would be enough to drag the compass needle off it's true reading.

A compass rests only when it has one influence. When it is aligned with the earth's polesYou know, prayer is like that. When we pray our spiritual compass is set away from all the influences that distract us – we allow our compass to settle in the magnetic field of God's will...our soul is aligned with Him....His influence is our priority.

Paul is a good example of what our attitude to prayer should be. Paul was talking to the Collosians (4:23) at the time, and he used a word “devote” which means “persistently attentive,” and he added two characteristics of a persistent prayer life, “watchful” and “thankful.”

Terry Boyle says, 'The word watchful suggests an alert mind. Spiritual eyes wide open. Prayer is not for sleepyheads. When we pray we should be clear thinking. We should be aware of, and resist, the enemy's attempted intrusions anddistractions. In addition we must be sensitive to God's promptings, and leadings, as we align our will with His.'

Interesting, but I don't go along entirely with Terry. How many times have you fallen asleep while praying? How many dilemmas have you been faced with – decisions needing to be made, urgently, and you needed to pray for direction? At the time you was far from clear thinking. On top of that, the phone and doorbell goes into overdrive¬ All we can say is HELP!!

Terry also speaks of thankful prayer being perhaps the hardest of all prayers – when your world is falling in around your ears. Really? It would be interesting to know if any of you agree with this? Or are you of the same opinion as Paul, writing in Philippians 4:6 that prayerful thanksgiving is the only true way to finding peace for the heart and soul – despite the trying times? Prayer is such a privilege to be thankful for – knowing the Lord is there, listening, and waiting.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” - Romans 8:26-27.

Keep your compass aligned, because

“Jesus is Our Compass” (New Gospel Song) – today's music choice. Click on the picture and sing along to the lyrics.

‘Each day is God’s gift.’ Ecclesiastes 9:9 MSG

I had a very interesting conversation this morning about life and such things. One of the topics was why are we here, is it just to make money? My response was that happiness is more than wealth not just the pursuit of it.

Solomon writes: ‘Seize life! Eat bread with gusto … Oh, yes - God takes pleasure in your pleasure! Dress festively every morning. Don’t skimp on colours and scarves. Relish life with the spouse you love … every day of your precarious life. Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange for the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one! Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance … for there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think in the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed’ (vv. 7-10 MSG). So, what are you waiting for? To graduate? To get married? To have children? To retire? Life is about the journey, not the destination! Your life is here and now, your family is here and now, your marriage is here and now, your career is here and now.

The journey takes place every day, and you can find meaning when you search for a greater purpose. You can find small joys every day if you have eyes of faith. Solomon recognised that ultimately we all end up at the same destination - the grave. The only difference lies in how much we enjoy the journey. Instead of obsessing over the things you can’t control, focus on what you can control and leave the rest to God. Phil Cooke writes: ‘I have to believe that God’s in control, and for me to always demand answers is to assume His role. I’ve decided to sit back and let Him be God and let me be me.’

That’s a philosophy we would do well to adopt!
Adapted from UCB, Word for Today.

Bryn has chosen the music this morning ‘In Everything Give Thanks’. Click on the picture to listen.

‘For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.’ 1 Corinthians 15:9

In my house I have an object that has an identity crisis; it is a wireless speaker. So, let me take you back a couple months.

During a lesson I had the speaker hocked up to my computer via Bluetooth. The sound just stopped. I plugged it in to charge and carried on with the lesson. After an hour when it should have been at full charge, I noticed that the charge light had not come on. After a fruitless internet search I reluctantly took it to an electronics shop, to be informed that the internal battery was no longer working and could not be replaced as it was a sealed unit. Seeing the obvious horror on my face, the shop assistant said ‘don’t worry it will still work but you will just have to use it with the charger plugged in.’

So now I have a wireless speaker, sorry a speaker that was wireless but now can only be used with a charging wire, hence the identity crisis. It still works but it kind of defeats the object of the reason it was bought, which was to be wireless. Nevertheless, I am grateful that I did not have to throw it away.

Sometimes do you feel that in order to move on you have to reinvent yourself? I imagine that the apostle Paul must have felt that way. One minute he knew exactly who he was and the purpose for his life; Christian killer.

‘As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.’ Acts 8:3

Then over a weekend where he had the Damascus road experience, he became a preacher, an apostle and author of thirteen books of the new testament.

‘For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.’ 1 Corinthians 15:9

Just like my old speaker, God will do everything in order to save us, even reinvent us. Never think that you have gone beyond his grasp.

Mighty to save is todays music. Click on the picture to listen.

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)

You probably all did this as small children - hung on to your dad's coattail for security,,,,you had faith in him to keep you safe from harm.  Just the act of hanging on on your part was an expression of faith.  Similarly, this statement isn't only a proclamation of faith. It encapsulates an idea and a necessary step in all of our spiritual development as Christians. At first, when we are new believers we take much of what we now know of God on faith. We believe what our Bible teachers tell us and what our Preachers reveal in their sermons about the character and heart of God. That is wonderful, and it should be that way… …for new Christians.

As we develop and grow though, the question we must confront and answer for ourselves is the heart of John 4:42; simply stated this way: “At what point have you stopped depending on others’ faith and started trusting in Christ for yourself?” We must, in our spiritual development, come to the point where our faith is just that — “OURS.” We must experience the goodness and faithfulness of God. We must also experience His chastisement, His rebuke that brings growth and moulds our character increasingly into the image of His Son.

We need to open our eyes and see how He has been moving and continues to move in our lives. We must learn for ourselves that He is trustworthy, and that Romans 8:28 really IS true; "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose"....no matter the circumstance. Without a concentrated, intentional effort on OUR part, we will NOT have a faith of our own….we will, sadly, ride the coat tails of those brothers and sisters who were brave enough to trudge ever onward and upward in Christ.

Do we have problems with this?  If so, why?  The day came when the small child in us let go of dad's coattails and we faced up to life.  We stopped (on the whole) doing childish things, we "put them away," as 1 Corinthians 13 says.

So, let us challenge ourselves today, to step off of whatever spiritual ”coattails” we are riding on, be uncomfortable, get our feet wet, and stand [on our own feet] for Christ. God never promised us it would be easy, trials, hardships and pain are on this road….but just when you think it's all intollerable, Christ's coattail is there to hang on to. 

I can personally guarantee that the journey only gets sweeter and more fulfilling with every step you make with Christ. Follow Him. No matter where He leads. No matter the cost. The reward for doing so is absolutely immeasurable! Just ask David: “You make known to me the path of life;  in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

(Acknowledgements: menofpraise)

Music today is this:  "Joy Comes in the Morning" LIVE.  Click on the picture to listen.

"But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint"  Isaiah 40:31 NLT

10 WAYS TO BE BROKE REGARDLESS OF INCOME        

The SmartStewards Facebook page provides daily reading for people who are looking to develop spiritual awareness with life – and money.

The lead admin on the site, Victor Samwinga, created an earlier post where he outlined ten concepts we can guarantee will break the bank. The concepts were then written about over a series of posts by the different SmartStewards, including Pastor Jeynes. The first way to be sure of remaining broke regardless of income is to fail to put God first – to stay tight-fisted and avoid giving'

On the Facebook page a lady called Hope Goodwin posted the following comment, “This list looks conclusive because it starts with putting God first. God will direct us how to remain smart with our finances.”

Hope then quoted a couple of verses from Psalm 37, one of David’s Psalms.

I like how the Psalm begins,

“Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”

One of my favourite verses has the following words, “Let not your heart be troubled”. There is an act of choice involved in following God. A similar thought is expressed in Psalm 37, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness”. The background here isn’t simply a one-off choice but a continued relationship with God, a dwelling time with God, which involves a developing faithfulness in God.

As Christians we are very familiar with that concept, we don’t believe that a quick trip into the church building one day a week is sufficient to maintain a relationship with God who not only created us but sustains us.

That thought should be extended as we look further into our section of the passage, “He (God) will bring forth your righteousness as the light”. It is often thought that a Christian is a person who does good things to or for other people, certainly a concept I was familiar with before I became a Christian. I learned better over time. Look at this really positive picture of God. He doesn’t simply expect us to be good, to be righteous. God is the one who takes the initiative and does the work in us that ‘draws forth’ our righteousness.

How is it that righteousness revealed? Here are the verses that Hope Goodwin used, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.”

Those people, in whom God is at work, are generous and give blessings to others.

How does this support our theme for the day, “Fail to put God first - Stay tight-fisted and avoid giving”? The key to it all is this. God gives, we should give. If we give then we are then doing what God does. Why would we give? It is because God is at work in us drawing out our righteousness. That means that if we are being tight-fisted, not giving, we are simply not listening to God’s way of working in us. We are not allowing God to draw out righteousness.

I can understand that when finances are tight the thought of giving is not something we would naturally think of, but it really is a major key to releasing God’s power in us.

I haven’t always been a Christian. The early months saw me learning a lot, but not truly developing faith in God. Tithing, that form of giving, came late. The day of my baptism arrived. I said in the ceremony that I would give tithe, so I gave tithe. I can’t say I gave tithe out of faith, I gave out of commitment and obedience. The faith came later as I realised that money in the bank started to grow. What also grew was the way God drew out of me a commitment to go to Newbold College and train as a Pastor. God gave to me so I gave to others. I also found out that as I gave time and love – and sometimes money - the more was given to me.

When we fail to put God first - when we stay tight-fisted and avoid giving – we are the ones who eventually come last. Your task, should you choose to accept it, is not an impossible mission. Your task today is to make that decision to put God first. It is at that point that many other things start to come together.

Gaither Vocal Band provides our music today - "Count on Me."  Click on the quote to listen.

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

Paul was having a bit of a hard time in Philippi.  According to Acts 16 in Philippi he was illegally arrested, whipped, humiliated, and thrown into prison — before finally being asked to leave town. Yet he felt able to say, “I thank God every time I remember you.” 

Looking back over the years, and the people you've met, what is it you remember about these people? What sticks in your mind - the good times or the bad?  Paul could have dwelt on the negative. He could have remembered the painful memories but he chose not to; instead, he focused on the things he could be grateful for. Paul said, “I like to remember the good things about people, focus on the good times we’ve had, remember the positive experiences.”  There's perspective for you!  Not only perspective, but a tremendous faith in God that "all things work together for good, to them that love God...."

'Maybe you have been hurt in the past by a parent or a partner and you’re still holding on to that hurt. As a result you can’t enjoy being around them today. You’re still focusing on the bad and the negative.  Be grateful for the good in people. Pleasant memories are a choice. I can choose what I’m going to remember about the past.  I’m not saying that you deny the hurts you’ve had or that you excuse the weaknesses in other people. That is psychologically unhealthy. But focus on the good and choose to emphasize the strengths.' Rick Warren

This is exactly what Betsie Ten Boom did.  Captured and imprisoned by the Japanese during the Second World War there was an incident about fleas that is worth repeating. Corrie and her sister had, at great risk, managed to  smuggle a Bible into their barracks where they held nightly worship services for hundreds of women. During their  private devotional time one evening, they chose this passage in I Thessalonians; "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances". Betsie immediately gave thanks, convinced that their present position was God's answer to how they could survive each miserable day.

Corrie wasn't totally convinced but went along with her sister as Betsie began thanking God for EVERYTHING. But when it came to Betsie thanking God for the infestation of fleas they were living with, Corrie felt that was a step too far. Betsie was insistent, and Corrie finally managed to choke out her "thank you" for the fleas.

Barbara Landais writes: 'In the meanwhile, their little congregation grew and grew and as no guards ever bothered them, they became bolder and finally started a second service after the evening roll call. Months went by until one afternoon Betsie found out why they were left to operate their makeshift church without interference. It was the fleas. When asked to settle a dispute, the guard refused to enter the door to their dormitory. She said; "That place is crawling with fleas!"

So the fleas were a blessing after all and God used them to make room for worship inside one of the worst hell holes on earth. When viewed from that perspective, Corrie could finally see a reason to thank God in all circumstances. Each of us would be wise to follow her example.'

What hidden blessings are in our own "Philippi's," our own "fleas"? Right now, be like Paul, Betsie, and Corrie, and pick the hardest, most unlikely thing in your own life and thank God for it. It may not be clear right now, but in His time God will turn it into a blessing - just like those blessed fleas.

"In Everything Give Thanks" - LIVE is Bryn's choice of music for us today.  Click on the fleas to listen.

‘The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.’ Psalm 118:6 NIV (2011 Edition)

Four steps to overcoming fear. First, be willing to take a risk. Yes, you might be hurt or embarrassed - so what? To overcome insecurity and gain confidence you must allow yourself the freedom to take a chance. Start writing that book, take those music lessons, stand up and speak at the meeting! Feel the fear and do it anyway! ‘Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe’ (Proverbs 29:25 NIV 2011 Edition).

Second, learn to laugh at yourself. Get over your obsessive need for approval and acceptance and learn to laugh at your mistakes. We’re all human; stop taking yourself so seriously! When you make a mistake, be the first to see the funny side, and you’ll find people more supportive than you think.

Third, start thinking realistically. It’s time to drop the security blanket and realise it’s not all about you. You are not the centre of the universe, and your little faux pas don’t mean that much in the bigger scheme of things. Besides, mistakes are often better teachers than success.

Fourth, reward yourself for little victories. When you complete a project, reward yourself. When you take advice or correction without retaliating, reward yourself. Often the people we lash out at, are those trying the hardest to help us. Get used to the idea that you’re valuable, talented, and skilled, and your worth in God’s eyes is inestimable. Stop scrutinising yourself through distorted lenses and start seeing yourself with 20/20 vision. Once you can do that, your fears will be replaced by confidence in yourself and in your future.
Courtesy of UCB

Today’s music, chosen by Bryn, is ‘Jesus will fix it’. Click on the picture to listen.

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:15-17

I am going to share this story in full, it explains itself.

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor through the window hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not clean," she said. "She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap".

Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time the neighbour would hang laundry to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has learnt how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this!"

The husband replied: "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life.

What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

Easy to discuss other people, their lives and things that don't really concern us.

Yet we tend to forget- our window isn't that clean after all.

Clean up your window with the Word.

(a) Isaiah 34:16

(b) 2 Timothy 3:15-17

LORD, please create a clean heart in each of us.

Bryn has chosen a Hebrew Christian song called ‘ET SHEM YESHUA’. Click on the picture to listen.

"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" —Ephesians 4:3

There's a story told about a man who had been stranded alone on an island.  Finally discovered, his rescuers asked him about the three huts they saw there. He pointed and said, “This one is my home and that one is my church.” He then pointed to the third hut: “That was my former church.” Though we may laugh at the silliness of this story, it does highlight a concern about unity among believers.

Back in the time of the church of Ephesus and the apostle Paul, the church comprised of both rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles, men and women, masters and slaves. Likewise today, many of our churches are an amalgam of people of all ages, gender, ethnic origin and social standing, and where differences exist, so does friction. Paul was deeply concerned and wrote about this issue of unity. Observe what Paul said about this in Ephesians 4:3. He didn’t tell them to be “eager to produce or to organize unity.” He told them to endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Unity already exists because believers share one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all (vv.4-6).

Keeping the unity however, can be easier said than done, but if we ask, and trust, the Spirit will give us the power to react in love toward those with whom we disagree by expressing our different opinions and convictions with lowliness, gentleness, and patience (v.2).

Unity among believers comes from our personal relationship and union with Christ.

The letter to the Ephesians contains practical advice about following Christ. Today’s passage is a very clear admonition on what that entails.

In verse 1, Paul asks the believers in Ephesus to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

In verses 2-3, he explains just what that means: to be lowly and gentle, patient (longsuffering), “bearing with one another in love,” and “endeavoring to keep . . . the bond of peace.”

What happens in our relationship with Christ impacts our other relationships.  We are not stranded alone on an island.  Unity is strength, and strength is unity.  Together, shoulder to shoulder in faith, there is nothing we can't achieve.

There's an Ethiopian proverb that I think says all:  "When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion." 
Acknowledgments Albert Lee

The choice of music is "Loving God, Loving Each Other" - the Oak Ridge Boys.  Click on the picture to listen.