Second chances

7 March  2013      

Psalms 3:8 Deliverance belongs to the LORD; thy blessing be upon thy people!

In some cultures when a person saves the life of another, the person that is saved owes their life to the one that saved them. So when a person slips and falls into a well, and is caught by a root which stops the fall and another person grabs down with a hand to bring the person to safety that person reaching down is endangering their life to save another. Now when that person who is trying to save the other looses their own life to save the life of another, what would the obligation be of the person so saved. How do they respond to a second chance that cost the life of someone they may not even know?

So many of us today live our lives without regard to the fact that the way we live has cost the lives of millions who died so that we may be free from tyranny and slavery. We even fail to take the second chance that life brings, especially when we consider that Jesus Christ died so that we could have that second chance. So we call ourselves Christians but continue to live as if we have not been delivered from sin.

Be encouraged today to recognise and wake up, you have a second chance do not waste it!

 

David

Point to ponder: You have a second chance.

Question to consider: Do you realise that Jesus died to save you?

Hard lesson

20 February 2013

 

Jeremiah 31:35  So says Jehovah, who gives the sun for a light by day, the laws of the moon, and the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar, Jehovah of Hosts is His name.

Sitting on a rock next to a sandy beach and watching the waves breaking with a plume of spray glistening, sparkling in the clear sunshine has a mesmerising effect, which just allows one to relax. It also just lets us realise that these waves keep to the tides and that God is in control. This has been going on for ever, and will still be there until the end of time.

Each of our lives has its high tide and low tides, and both have their purpose. Both are as they should be perfect in the order according to God and within God’s will for our lives and our loves. So when we have high moments or low moments, we need to remember them and find the will of God within them for each of us.

Be encouraged today to see the flow of God’s hand in each of our lives. 

 

David

Point to ponder: God is with us in our highs and our lows.

Question to consider: Do you see God in your own experiences?

Tides

20 February 2013

 

Jeremiah 31:35  So says Jehovah, who gives the sun for a light by day, the laws of the moon, and the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar, Jehovah of Hosts is His name.

Sitting on a rock next to a sandy beach and watching the waves breaking with a plume of spray glistening, sparkling in the clear sunshine has a mesmerising effect, which just allows one to relax. It also just lets us realise that these waves keep to the tides and that God is in control. This has been going on for ever, and will still be there until the end of time.

Each of our lives has its high tide and low tides, and both have their purpose. Both are as they should be perfect in the order according to God and within God’s will for our lives and our loves. So when we have high moments or low moments, we need to remember them and find the will of God within them for each of us.

Be encouraged today to see the flow of God’s hand in each of our lives. 

 

David

Point to ponder: God is with us in our highs and our lows.

Question to consider: Do you see God in your own experiences?

New Covenant

19 February 2013

 

Matthew 26:28  For this is My blood of the New Covenant which concerning many is being poured out for remission of sins.

Jesus said this is the new covenant, when He said that what did He mean? It is surprising that we all have heard of this new covenant, but when asked what does it mean, we receive many different answers. Even as you read this, you may well say that you are unsure of the answer that you do have.

This new covenant is in the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, we are marked by the blood of the Lamb and the angel of death will pass over us and we live eternally with God. Just as in the old covenant the blood of the lamb was used to mark the door posts and the angel of death passed by, yet then we were under the law and we would die. Now we are under grace and our sins are forgiven as if the law itself does not exist. All our sins are forgiven and we have been atoned for, redeemed, and set free forever. This is the new covenant for all those who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died, was raised from the dead and will come again soon.

Be encouraged to accept this new covenant, it is made in the blood of Jesus Christ, believe and live.

 

David

Point to ponder: Jesus died that you may live forever.

Question to consider: Do you keep your side of the new covenant?

Violent behaviour

18 February 2013

 

Proverbs 11:16-17 A gracious woman gets honour, and violent men get riches. A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

We live in violent world where we enjoy the game of winning almost at all costs, when we sit in the reflected glory of someone else’s success, it makes us feel like winners. In so many aspects of life there are undertones of violence and fear, wrong behaviour in children is sometimes punished with violence. This leaves a history that physicality in solving a dispute is acceptable, so men beat up each other and are applauded for their strength often by their mothers. It only takes a woman to stand up like a man to find herself being smacked down by him.

We all need to become far more aware of the violence within us and the level we tolerate, when we do we need to stop it and reflect. Seeing a young father beating his 5 year old daughter is teaching the daughter that a loving father loves her by beating her. One day when she is married it is acceptable to be beaten, because this is what her father did. When we look at this behaviour surely we should recognise that this is not what God our Father would do.

Be encouraged to check the violent behaviour that you sometimes display.

 

David

Point to ponder: Violence it not the way.

Question to consider: Do you sometimes throw things and act violently?

The WAY

15 February 2013

 

Psalms 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

The way of living the Christian life must be the same as expressed in this Psalm which is steadfast love and faithfulness. So if you are in doubt how to live the Christian life, then this is the best guideline available for you. Is your love steadfast, this requires a constant love irrespective of the situation and despite your mood or the mood of someone else. This also requires a faithfulness, a life based on faith which is a hope of a better tomorrow, and to see this hope through the eyes of faith.

When one lives this type of life then we keep our promises and we do that which we say we do. We do not allow alcohol or drugs or other mind influencing substances to distract us from being faithful and loving. Yet in the same instance our first call is to be faithful and loving to Jesus Christ and it is only then are we able to follow this way of life. For without the love of Jesus Christ we are lost, and if He does not gift us with faith we have no direction.

Be encouraged today to have steadfast love and faithfulness as you follow the WAY.

 

David

Point to ponder: Be steadfast in love and faithfulness.

Question to consider: Is you love steadfast and are you filled with faith?

How big is yur God?

14 February 2013

 

Psalms 24:1-2 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.

How big is your God? We find so often the image of God is made to conform to what we may understand and so we reduce the concept of God to fit that image. When you realise the size of the known universe and that God is bigger than all of that then when we look at how we understand God it must change from our preconceived concepts and presumptions. My God is so big nothing is able to contain Him, nothing is able to defeat Him, He is beyond our comprehension and nothing is impossible for Him, that’s my God.

So when I in my little state with problems bigger than my universe, I am able to approach my God who is bigger, stronger and more capable than any human or creature, then I know and trust that He is able to do more than I could ever comprehend or wish, that’s my God. How big is your God?

Be encouraged today to realise we worship the almighty God, the all powerful God and His name is Jesus.

 

David

Point to ponder: God is able and capable to do anything, nothing is impossible for those who believe this.

Question to consider: How big is your God?