Isreal lives forever

 For God so loved the world He gave His 

only Son so that we may be able to have life more abundantly. 

NOT ...

So that the mindless & gutless thugs of Hamas can 

go and cut babies heads off. 

OR ...

Be so cowardly that you hide under hospitals. 

Gods peace love and safty to ALL Isrealies

I was starting to read through the book of Hebrews, 

now I have read this passage a number of times 

before, only this time God set off a bomb whilst 

reading. I finally got the magnitude of His 

Word and actions 

 

My Testimony --:Part 2

56:120723

My Testimony

Part 2

   God was starting some special within me, I no longer had a thirst for booze, as that thirst had been replaced by a thirst for Christ Jesus my Lord. I felt like nothing I had ever felt before, and it was good. All the dark days were gone, where ever I went my bible, that adopted Grandma had bought and signed. I slept with it under my pillow, where I went it came with. Whilst Grandma Peggy was not an actual blood relation, she came a lot onto the ward with COPD and struck up a friendship from there, we would often have days out, she was a soft hearted and kind lady.

   I had not had much luck in finding that special lady with whom I could create a family, and share those intimate moments in life. I had read about an Asian Guy who wrote all the things he wanted in life, and put the details in his Bible. So changing the details into a description of my perfect woman on to a piece of paper prayed over the page, then put it into 1 Corinthians 13, which tells in detail what Christ feel love is all about, then say to God it was over to Him. I would go where like minded Christians would be, so that we would be equally yoked. . . 2 Corinthians 6:14 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers” … It took till we went to an AOG gathering for teaching the next April (1999)till I met Betty. During the 5 days I was there I went classes teaching us how to pray more effectively. On the Wednesday I went to an extra meeting where like minded gathered to pray for Northern Ireland and the republic too. I went along with Margaret, whom I told you of in Part 1, when the meeting had finished and we stood up she turned to see an old friend called Bob Edgar. Who happened to be with him, yep Betty. To this date Betty can me how was sat where in the room, and yet has no recollection of me, even though introduced to each other by Margaret & Bob. OK, time to reach for the bucket for this next bit, as you may well have seen these romantic photo’s of a couple where the outside of the photo is all blurred and rest is in a soft focus, well that is how I was shown Betty by God. That was enough of a hint for me, that was on the Wednesday.

   I did not see her again till the Friday afternoon, I on my way out of the camp for a walk to may be take some photo’s. Well just as I am heading towards the gate, who should be coming back in, yep Betty. Now most of you have some of the elaborate goal celebrations some footballers do, back flips and so forth. Well whilst trying be calm & cool, inside I was doing all sorts yes .. yes .. yes. Stopping I said hi, you remember us meeting on Wednesday afternoon with Bob & Margaret? Whilst not remembering because me say these 2 people she accepted what I was telling her. Betty has her own testimony leading up to this point that only she can tell, which is even more remarkable. Anyhow we spent the next couple of hours talking & walking, as this was the last day before I returned to Torquay and Betty back Northern Ireland. We met in the last meeting that night and spent till the wee hours talking.

   So we met on the 21st of April 1999, everyday we spent hours on the phone, mostly in the evening from 9pm on, so much so it became a standing joke that anyone calling us knew to call before then or forget it. This happened everyday, we would also write letters a couple of times a week as well. Betty came over to Torquay in the beginning of June and I proposed. My family had their doubts but once they knew of me selling all of my records to purchase a ring, they quietened down a little-bit, as they all knew NO-ONE touched my records. I then travelled in the first week of August to meet her family and formally asked her parents for Bettys hand in marriage, only for Betty’s mum said what about the rest of her.

   Betty moved over to Torquay in the 3rd week of August of 1999, yep the same year. In fact when worked our you’ll find it 6 months exactly from the date we met to our Wedding day on 6th November ‘99. . .

...since this time God has in so many ways through our lives they too many to count. Needless to say we have been blessed.

   I hope this has let to know the author of this blog more. As it nice to know whom it is I keep coming back to read. So thank you for coming back each time. Gods peace Love & hope be with you now and always.

56:120723

My Testimony

   Whilst this story may be sounding like many a Testimony, it’s personal to me. After all these years I have seen, that I have never shared with you all what/who led me to give my life to Jesus. Also I’ ll share certain moments that can only show how God moved at that moment.

   So like all history you need to know the key factors that led up to me being on my knees. I first heard from God, I now understand it was Him, when I was around 11/12 years old, but just dismissed the notion as foolishness, and so carried on with growing up. When I was young loved music and had those I liked and those not. After leaving School I got into my local night club, in Milton Keynes, very quickly found that I going 5 nights a week. Buying music when I could afford. I was slowly building up a collection, until I moved to the south coast and lived with my sister. Her boss wanted someone to play some music in his bar she recommended me, this was the first time I worked the music desk and I was hooked.

   After I few months I was DJing in their club, after a couple of years I jumped at the chance of going to Hamburg, this was in the May of 1990 – so just after the wall came down. Whilst the I had a fiancee, but that broke down, which was a mess and so sort solace in the bottle, within 3mths I was drinking like a fish, from a person who hardy drank.

   After returning home to stay in my parents hotel, then bounced around a lot for a few years living here and there till got my own place. Still not happy, I then embarked on a relationship with a lady who had a young daughter, whom both of which I loved a lot, and thought this is it paradise. Then boom whilst looking after her daughter one night I discovered she was having an affair. This shattered me like a pain of glass, into a thousand bits. Oh boy did the bottle get hit hard, This happened right on Christmas , it was whilst visiting my parents that a member of the family mid-Christmas morning said to me ‘so fish how many have you had?’ Which pushed me further down that dark rabbit hole.

   It was just after New Years celebration, I wondered what was there in the coming in the New Year to be happy about, NOTHING from what I could see. In all the years since my childhood I had not heard God calling me, instead there was just silence, until that night I found myself walking along Torquay sea front heading to a place called Berry-Head (some 5 miles round the bay). It was wild weather, but just as I was walking past a phone, yes they were a thing still then, when there it was again – Gods voice. I can only think I had not heard of our Lord till then because of a song by CeCe Winans where she sang about someone who would not receive God because they were not on their knees yet, meaning it was the only way of them hearing God’s voice, like me. . .

#CeCe Winans:- Album: Alabaster box

Song: He’s not on his knees yet

(This song will tell you more. Having had many years of love of lots of different music from Queen through to Opera. Favourite songs like Jerry Rafferty:- Baker Street, to Christian songs now When the music fades, meaning everything else goes away you (Jesus Christ) will always be there. I still love my music but now I praise God for all His done, is doing and going to do for us)… Yes I said ‘US’, meaning Betty & Me. God directed my feet to the phone booth and before I knew what was happening I was calling the Samaritans, telling them of what I was going to do. I still don’t know how long I talking to them? Suddenly I was back home in my apartment, in the morning I called my Doctor, and told him I could not go home, as I had booze & tabs waiting for me, so we talked and I sign myself into a secure until for 3days. To this day my parents never knew what had transpired. Once back home I remembered I knew of a guy that went to a local Church in Torquay, so I knocked his door and asked if I can come with him and his family that next Sunday, as I needed solace from the Church, he had agreed.

   It transpired after a short while a lady was just going to start an ‘Alpha-Course’, (this link is for the UK but I’m sure there will be one close to you in your country, just copy and paste Alpha-Course, and should pop up near to you. . . https://alpha.org.uk/) She put me in touch with a wonderful couple call Graham & Margaret, who ran a group for those of above a certain age, called ‘Cameo’. She would call often, to try and get me to meet the group and come to her Church. Eventually I made it to Living Water Church, in spite of the devil trying to stop me from going, every time she invited me, and on the 1st of May 1998 in the evening I gave my heart to Christ Jesus.

   As I walked through the doors that evening It felt like I had just been freed. Just like a Shire horse being let loose in a field after all it’s restrictive harnesses were removed, when they run and jump and kick, because of the freedom they feel. What I remember the most from that evening was that at the end Mike Symonds gave an ‘alter call’, asking is there anyone wishing to give their hearts to the Lord Jesus. Paster Mike had not finished giving the call, I shot out of my chair past Graham & Margaret and down the front of the Church, like a regular jack-in-the-box.

    I must admit I was never one for being able to save, how things have changed praise God, I was that on fire for God saving me when the next baptismal service in June came around I wanted nothing more than to go through the waters. At this time Mum & Dad were living just out side Midhurst I Sussex, I wanted them to come and be witness, as it was a good distance I said I would pick them up in the morning, and run the home after in the evening. There was just one drawback being being able to afford this. I was down to my last pound which was to feed me for the month, as well as lighting/heating & fuel for the car for the moth. So as the offering plate came around I prayed to God asked for His help, citing. . . Ephesians 2:7 “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” … I found I never had to do a proper food shop until mid September, or with draw money from the bank at the same time, that following week I spoke to my bank manger, he wrote of all my debt and gave me a fresh start, praise God.

Part 2 will follow next week show at every turn how Jesus Christ has had influence in my life up to today, so stay tuned.

God peace and blessings be upon you your family and friends.

 

56:210523

The Blessing of Weakness

   You would not think of weakness as a condition of blessing. We would say .. blessedness is strength, in fact “blessed are the strong” But the Bible’s beatitudes are the reverse of nature would actually say .. “Blessed are those who mourn” .. “ Blessed are the meek”. The law of the cross lies deep in spiritual life. It is by the crucifying of the flesh that the spirit grows into beauty . . .
Matthew 5:3/9 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers”
Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me”

   Weakness is blessed because it ensures to us more of the sympathy and help of Christ. Weakness can appeal to the gentle of heart. We see illustrations of this truth in our common human-nature. What can be more weak & helpless that of blindness? Here is a blind child in a house. Her condition seems *pitiable, she gropes around in darkness, and she can’t shield herself from anything that threatens her. Windows through which others see the World, to her are closed, so she is shut up in total darkness. She, is, almost utter helpless. Yet her weakness is in actual fact her strength.

* What does pitiable mean:~ deserving or exciting pity : lamentable. pitiable victims. : of a kind to evoke mingled pity and contempt especially because of inadequacy. a pitiable excuse.

   It draws to itself the best love & help of the whole house hold. The mothers heart has no such tender thought for any of the other children as for the blind girl. The Father carries her continually in His affection, and is ever doing gentle things for her. Hers & sisters strive in all ways to supply her lack. The result is that no other member of the family is sheltered so softly as she is, and that none is so strong. Her very helplessness is her strength, her closed eyes and out stretched hands and tottering feet resistlessly to all who love her, inspiring them to thought and help, as do the strength and winning grace of no other one in the household.
[NKJ] Psalm 121:8 “The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in”
[NIV] “The Lord will watch over your coming and going”
[NLT] “The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go”
… nearly all versions agree, and say . .
[NLT] “Both now and forever”

   This illustrates also the special divine thought and care for the weak. All the best things in human life are but hints of the divine life. The heart of Christ goes out in peculiar interest toward the weak. Paul could afford to keep his ‘thorn’ with it’s burdening weakness because it made him far more object of divine sympathy and help. We think of suffering or feebleness as a misfortune. It is not altogether so, however, it makes us more humble and nearer to the heart of Christ. Blessed is weakness, for it draws to itself the strength of God.
   Weakness is blessed also, because it saves from spiritual peril. St Paul tells us that his ‘thorn’ was given to him to keep him humble. Without it he would have been exalted overmuch, and would have lost his spirituality. It is not clear how much of his deep insight into things of God and his power in service for his master, Paul owed to this torturing ‘thorn’. It seemed to hinder him, and caused him incessant suffering, but it detained him in the valley of humility, and made him ever conscious of his own weakness and insufficiency, and thus kept him near to Christ whose home is with the humble.

Q:~ “What is keeping you humble and nearer to Christ?”

[NLT] 1 Colossians 1:24 “ I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church”
   Spiritual history is full of similar cases. Many of God’s servants have carried ‘thorns’ in their flesh for days, but mean while they would never have had their if cries for relief would have been granted, we don’t know the suffering of those who have gone before us. Prosperity no tenrictied the World as adversity has done. The best thoughts the richest life lessons, the sweet songs that have come down to us from the past, have not come from lives have known no lack & no adversary, but instead are the fruit of pain ~ of weakness ~ of trials. Man has called out for emancipation from the bondage of hardship, of self-denying necessity not knowing that the thing that which seemed to be hindering them in their career was the very making of whatever was noble ~ beautiful ~ blessed in their life.
[NLT] 2 Timothy 4:1&2 “In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching”

   There very few of us who don’t have some ‘thorn’ sticking in their flesh. In some it’s an infirmity of sight . .

• in another infirmity of hearing.
• or, it may some lameness,
• a debilitating disease that is slow but incurable,
• or, it may be in ones home, which is cold ~ unloving ~ uncongenial
• or, may be a bitter personal disappointment through untrue friendship or love unrequited. .

… so I ask again ‘Who does not have a thorn??

   We should never forget that in one sense our ‘thorn’ is a member of satans army. Who desires it, to hurt our lives, to mar our peace, to spoil the divine beauty in us to break our communion with Christ. On the other hand, however, Christ Himself has a loving design in our own ‘thorn’. He want it to be a blessing for us instead. He would have it keep us humble, to save from becoming Vain, or He means it to soften our hearts and make us more gentle. He would have the uncongenial things in our environment discipline us into Heavenly mindedness, giving us greater self control, helping us to keep our hearts loving and sweet amid harshness & un-lovingness. He would have our pain teach us endurance & patience and our sorrow & loss teach us Faith.

   What we should be mindful of is, that our ‘thorn’ is either ~ be a blessing to us, or ~ it could well do us irreparable harm, it’s really down to us.. If we allow it to fret/worry us, if we chafe ~ resist or complain, if we loose faith and loose heart it will spoil everything. Instead if we take in the faith, that in it’s ugly burden it has the chance of being a blessing. We need to endure it submissively, we can seek out the grace, keeping our heart gentle and true amid all the trials ~ temptations & sufferings. It all will work out for the good, it’s bitterness will turn into sweet fruit. The responsibility is ours, and we should relate ourselves to our ‘thorn’ and to Christ, that growth and good, that will come to us from it. Such weakness is blessed only we have victory over it through the faith in Christ. Remember, there is a blessing in weakness, as it can nourish our dependence on God.
Psalm 25:1/3 “O Lord, I give my life to you. 2 I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. 3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others”
Psalm 25:V4-7  “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. 5 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in, you. 6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past. 7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord”
Psalm 25: V15-21 “My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.16 Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress. 17 My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all! 18 Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.19 See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! 20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. 21 May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you”

   When we are strong, or deem ourselves to be strong, when we are really weak, since then we trust ourselves and don’t seek divine help. But, when we are consciously weak, knowing unequal to our duties & struggles, we are strong, because then we turn to God and get His strength .. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” [2 Corinthians 12:9] .. To many think their weakness as a barrier to their usefulness, or make it an excuse for doing little with their life. Instead of this, however, if we give to Christ He will transform our weaknesses into strength. He says His strength is made perfect in weakness, that is wanting in human strength, He fills up and makes up with divine strength. Paul learnt this when he said he was gloried now in his weakness, because on an account of the strength of Christ rested upon him, so that when he was weak, he was then made strong. .
.. examples :~
[NIV] Acts 16:25 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them”
[NIV] Acts 14:19 “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead”

# Strength is not only measured in physical prowess #

   We need only to make sure of one thing, that we do indeed bring our weaknesses to Christ and lean on Him in simple faith. This is the vital link in getting the blessings. Weakness itself is a burden, it is invisible chains upon our limbs. If we try to carry it alone we shall only fail. But if we lay it on the strong Son of God, and let Him carry us and our burden, going on quietly and firmly in the way of duty, He will make our very weakness into strength. You must understand this, that He will not take away our weakness from us, that is not His promise, rather He will so fill it with His own power that we shall be made strong, more conquerors, able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
Philippians 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
   It’s a blessed secret, this of our having our burdening weakness transformed into strength. It can learned only in Christ, but in Him it can be learned by every lowly trusting disciple.



Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father we come humbly before your throne through your Son Christ Jesus, in faith believing, that we boast in no power, but we do boast that if was not for you we can do nothing. But instead through everything is possible. Our weaknesses are turned to strength. No longer the conqured, rather the conquerors. May we never forget rather shout from the roof tops that Christ is for us. In those dark times when feeling weak & down may we remember that your strength is made whole in us. In Jesus name we pray with thanks giving, Amen

Coming next week

The Blessing

of

Weakness 

230322

The Shadows We Cast

‘Everyone of us casts a Shadow’

   There hangs about all of us a sort of ‘Penumbra’*, a strange indefinable something, which we call personal influence. It has it’s effect upon other lives upon which it falls. It goes with us where ever we go. This is not something we can have whether we want to have it or not. Then lay it aside at will, just as we lay aside a garment. It is though something that pours out from our life, like a light from a lamp, Like heat from a flame, like perfume from a flower.

*What is the definition of Penumbra?:~ It’s the partial shadow

brī or Penumbras:~ the partial shadow surrounding a

perfect shadow (as in an eclipse)

Penumbral:~ the partially shaded outer region of the shadow

cast by an opaque object.

The ministry of personal influence is something very wonderful. Without being conscious of it we are always impressing others by this strange power that goes out from us . . .
Jeremiah 15:19 “If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be my spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you!”
… others watch us, and their actions are modified by ours. Many a life has been started on a career of a beauty & blessing by the influence of a noble act. The disciples saw the Master praying, and were so impressed by His earnestness, and by the radiancy/shine on His face, as He communed with His Father, that when He joined them again they asked him to teach them how pray. Every true soul is impressed continually by the glimpses ~ of a Loveliness ~ of a Holiness ~ of nobleness in others. One kind deed often inspires many kindnesses.

   The following is from an old news paper excerpt (from some years ago), that I read of. . .

A newspaper boy boarded a train carriage, and slipped

himself into a seat and soon fell asleep. Two young ladiescame into the carriage and sat opposite him. They saw hehad no shoes, his clothes were in tatters, and his face wasvery drawn in, showing the ravages of hunger and suffering.As they looked closer at him, they saw his cheek hadrested on the hard window sill, one of the ladies lent overhim and softly lifted his head and slipped her scarf underhis head as a pillow.

The kind act was observed and now marked it’s influence.An old gentleman in the opposite seat, without word, held outa silver quarter to the young lady, nodding toward the boy. After a moments hesitation she took it, and as she did so another man handed a dime. A woman across the isle held out some pennies, and almost before the young lady knew it, shewas taking a collection, as everyone in the rail car was passingher something for the boy. Thus from the young woman’sgentle little act had gone out a wave of influence touchingthe hearts of the people and leading of them to do something.

   Our lives are full such illustrations of influence of kindly deeds. Every good life, leaves in the World a two fold ministry. . . 

1. That of the things it does directly to bless others .. 
2. That of the silent influence it exerts, through which others are made better, or, inspired to do good things.

Psalms 112:9 “They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honour”
… always keep in mind that you are not the one being negatively influenced.
[NLT] 3 John 1:11 “Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children”

   Influence is something too, which even death does not end. When our Earthly life closes, a good man’s work never ceases. He is missed in the places where his familiar presence has brought benedictions*. . .
[NLT] Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance ”
… No more are his words heard by those who had often been cheered or comforted by them. No more do his benedictions find their way to homes of need where so many times they have brought relief. No more does his gentle friendship minister strength or hope or courage to hearts that have learned to love him. The death of a good man in the midst of his usefulness cuts off a blessed ministry of helpfulness in the circle which he has dwelt. But his influence continues. A man by the name of Longfellow once wrote this poem . . .

A like are life and death

When life to death survives

and the uninterrupted breath

inspires a thousand lives.

Was a star quenched on high

for ages would it’s light

still travelling downward from the sky

shine on our mortal sight

So when a great man dies

for years beyond our kin

the light he leaves behind him lies

upon the paths of men.

   The influence the dead have over us living, is often very great. We may think we lost them, when we see their faces NO more, nor hear their voices, nor receive their accustomed kindnesses at their hands. But, in many cases there is no doubt that what our loved ones do for us after they have gone is quite as important as what they could have done for us, had they stayed with us.
   The memory of their beautiful lives can be a tonic to us, softened and more rich and impressive by their sorrowful passing. The influence of such sacred memories is in a certain sense more tender than that of life itself. Death transforms our loved ones as it were, sweeping the faults and blemishes of their lives, leaving us a more favourable memory in which all that was beautiful ~ pure & true in what remains with us.
Psalms 145:7 “Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness”

   We often loose our loved ones too early, caused by the pressures of our Earthly lives. It was once the Cardinal Newman* (see end of this sermon for details to whom he was and when he lived) who said . . .

“He lives to us who dies, he but lost who lives”

… thus even to death does not quench the influence of a good life. It continues to bless others long after the life has passed from this World. Take for instance A celebrity that has just passed on, called ‘Paul O’Grady’, Whilst not agreeing to his life style, ie he was gay, and became a famous being a drag-queen, later put away his act and was known just as himself. Has become known for the work he did for rescuing animals, mostly dogs and worked closely with ‘Battersea dog home’ :- https://www.battersea.org.uk/ He has left such a legacy that is going to be felt there and other dog shelters, for many many years to come.

   I came across this poem in an old book I have, it’s sad that it has no name attached to it, but here it is . . .

“They quietly leave us, who have passed

through the shadows of death to the Sun light above,

A thousand sweet memories are holding them fast

To the places the blessed with their presence & love.”

“The work which they left, and the books they read

peak mutely though still with an eloquence rare,

And the songs they sung, and dear words they have said

Yet linger and sigh on the desolate air.”

And often alone when done, and often in the throng

Or when evil allures us, or sin draweth nigh

A whisper comes gently, nay, do not the wrong

And we feel our weakness is pitted on high.”

… we need to guard our influence with the utmost care. It must be remembered that not all influences are for good. Just as your good deeds will live on in the hearts of others, so will our evil deeds. It is a crime to fling an infected garment into the street, covered with all kinds of contagion, thus contaminating one coming in close contact with it. Remember your words have the same effect!

   Those who that prepare & publish vile literature, which today with social media as it is, means it goes everywhere around the globe, polluting and defiling lives who see it. The Labour Party have put up, and holding, ‘Rishi Sunak’ solely responsible for certain things. When Sunak has not held the office, of UK Prime Minister, long enough, for these things were done a couple of months back. But long after Mr Sunak has retired these posters will still haunt him. This the power of words, as the old saying goes .. ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’.. If we would make our lives worthy of God and a blessing to the World, we must see to it that nothing we do shall influence others, for the bad, in the slightest long after we are gone.
   We need to keep watch over our words and deeds, for not only in their intent & purpose, but also in their possible influence upon others. There may be liberties which hold no danger, but others who have a less stable character and less helpful surroundings would be full of peril. We may not do anything in our own strength which might possibly harm others. This is the teaching of Paul in his words ..
Romans 14:20-22 “ Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong is to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble. 22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God”
   In summing up then, how can we make sure of an influence that shall be only a benediction? Sadly in today’s society there is no way, but by living and making your life good & pure. Just in the measure that we are filled with the Spirit of God and have the love of Christ in us, and let the influence be Holy and a blessing unto the World.
Ephesians 4:14 “Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth!”

We all have those who would look up to us, even take their lead from us. So, Next time we go to run someone down, directly or not, STOP take a breath. Next time your in an argument, before we go to say something which we regret, STOP, take a breath. Next time your driving and someone badly cuts you off, coming close to having an accident, don’t return bad driving with more bad driving, STOP, take breath. Are you starting to get it? Just say thank you Jesus and give Him praise.

*About:~ John Henry Newman
Description John Henry Newman CO was an English theologian, academic, intellectual, philosopher, polymath, historian, writer, scholar and poet, first as an Anglican priest and later as a Catholic priest and cardinal, who was an important and controversial figure in the religious history of England in the 19th century.
Born: 21 February 1801, London
Died: 11 August 1890, Edgbaston, Birmingham


Prayer
Heavenly Father, while we stumble around like children, may our words be of good cheer to you and those who hear them, even long after we have left our moral shells. Let our influences carry on till your coming. Let your light shine for all to see, chasing all darknesses away. Let be Christ Jesus behind me and in front me influencing all illuminated.

Whats in a song - Who is there like you V3

 56:050123

What’s in a song:

Who is there Like You

   When as a Child I was told this to help bolster up, and help with my self worth. By having Faith in the Lord will help your self worth, giving greater motivation to over come what ever life throws at you. This is all, but truthfully this question is answered only by one. Because we all look different from each other. You’ll be told at some point you look just like or sound like you Mum or dad, as was told many times. For this study I have decided to post each verse separately.

   Only God truly owns the title ‘Who is there like you’, for example of the one true God who created the Heavens and the Earth, you should read 1 Kings 18. Today I want delve deeper into the song ‘Who is there like you’.

1) Who is there like you?

And who else would give their life for me,

Even suffering in my place?

And who could repay you?

All of creation looks to you,

and you provide for all you have made.

2) So I’m lifting up my hands,

Lifting up my voice, lifting up your name,

and in your grace I’m blessed,

For your love has to come to me and set me free

I’m trusting in your Word.

3) Trusting in your cross, trusting in your blood,

All your faithfulness,

For your power at work in me, is

changing me Changing me

    V3] Trusting in your cross, trusting in your blood, and all your faithfulness
‘ Trusting in your cross’ .. Here we’re being tested, and asked are we willing to put our passions ~ desires ~ works ~ self, to ..
Luke 9:23 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me”
.. so not just one time only, but .. ”daily, and follow Me” ..
Romans 3:25 “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed”

‘trusting in your blood’ ..
Hebrews 9:22 “according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission”
   Before Jesus came and shed Hid Blood, to cover your past years sins you would have to slaughter so many Cattle ~ Sheep ~ Goats. It was this blood that said to have covered your sins, and was expected to happen year in year out. So did it really cover your sins or just to make you feel better? When Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins, only this time/sacrifice was a one time deal. Now when we come to the Heavenly Father it’s through Jesus and His blood that blots out our sins. . .
Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
… because His [Jesus Christ] blood has washed us clean, so when we go to God in prayer, our sins are no more, forever washed clean.

‘For you power at work in me, is changing me, changing me’
Philippians 1:21/2 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”
   If your reading this from a ‘Non-Christian’s’ stand point, you will be thinking ‘what the heck-is-like’, they on about? Well you see it’s like this, the reason we are saved is because life has kicked the stuffing out of us, along with drive & hope. We knew at that moment we needed to make whole sale changes to our lives, this would be the only way to once again have ~ drive and a life worth getting up for each morning. This could only happen with Jesus Christ in our lives. Replacing our old ways for His. As unlike you & I He won’t let us down, instead He directs us in in righteous ways, He gives us strength to face our fears, also from His living Word, wisdom beyond our understanding. This has got sound good, right?
Philippians 1:22 “But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labour; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell”
   In our might, it would be very hard to get our hearts desires. Where as the moment you surrender all to Jesus, and His perfect will, in faith, the riches of Heaven are poured out. Hence why die to our old selves/ways, and now have ..”to die is gain”
‘You power at work in me’ .. To me this means, the way I once behaved or felt have all died, now I have Christ ‘working in me’, influencing me for the better. His name is Jesus Christ.

   Before I sign off, God has just reminded what He wanted to encourage you with, when you think you can’t sing. God is not worried about this instead He wants to hear your song. He says forget those who don’t want to hear your voice, because He does, He wants you to do as the Psalmist said . . .

Psalms 150 “Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts;

Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;

Praise Him with the lute and harp!

4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

...Here is what He wanted tell you..

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord”

#V2 follows in a couple of days, so please listen to the song a few times. here is the link to the song, just past the link into your browser ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYkce-EhNuQ

Prayer

Heavenly Father God, I was a nobody, now I'm somebody, because yoiu saved my soul. So I'm telling everybody, by raising my hands & voice to you Jesus. Amen

Whats in a song - Who is there like you V2

56:050123

What’s in a song:

Who is there Like You

   When as a Child I was told this to help bolster up, and help with my self worth. By having Faith in the Lord will help your self worth, giving greater motivation to over come what ever life throws at you. This is all, but truthfully this question is answered only by one. Because we all look different from each other. You’ll be told at some point you look just like or sound like you Mum or dad, as was told many times. For this study I have decided to post each verse separately.

   Only God truly owns the title ‘Who is there like you’, for example of the one true God who created the Heavens and the Earth, you should read 1 Kings 18. Today I want delve deeper into the song ‘Who is there like you’

1) Who is there like you?

And who else would give their life for me,

Even suffering in my place?

And who could repay you?

All of creation looks to you,

and you provide for all you have made.

2) So I’m lifting up my hands,

Lifting up my voice, lifting up your name,

and in your grace I’m blessed,

For your love has to come to me and set me free

I’m trusting in your Word.

3) Trusting in your cross, trusting in your blood,

All your faithfulness,

For your power at work in me, is

changing me Changing me

    V2] So I’m lifting up my hands
Psalms 134:2 “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord”Psalms 135:1-3 “Praise the name of the Lord; Praise Him, O you servants of the Lord! 2 You who stand in the house of the Lord, In the courts of the house of our God, 3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant”   

   When praising our Lord on high, we’re encouraged to raise our hands up to Heaven just we see many others do, aside from the fact that we are told to do so in the Bible, as here .. “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord” .. I would recommend though you raise them on high ‘OPEN’. As have you ever tried to someone anything, when they have a clenched fist. Most must have seen a bird nature film, when a parent returns to the nest and all the chicks would stand to receive with their mouths OPEN wide, other wise they will receive nothing. So to help receive from our Heavenly Father, just as did when as a child we stood with our arms open-wide to receive, so we need to the same with our Heavenly father God.

‘Lifting up my voice, lifting up your name’
Psalms 5:3 “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up”
   God does not care if you sing off key, all that matters is that you do .. “My voice You shall hear” .. not to just hum some nondescript tune, which I have been guilty of myself, from time to time. Don’t let it just be in .. “the Morning” .. In our car the radio station called ‘Premier Praise’. They play, 24/7, old & new Christian songs/ Hymns & worship songs from a variation of artists. So on the whole you are bound to know a song that you can sing along too, before you know it your lifting your voice in praise. “I will direct it to you” ‘lifting up you name’. . 

* Please I recommend, don’t lift up your eyes or hands whilst driving * ...As I have just said you can find time during the day to worship Him .. Buss~ Train ~ Walking .. no matter there is always time, even in the shower. Just the other day whilst waiting in the car for Betty to do the shopping, I had the radio on singing my head off to some worship songs on the radio.

‘ And in your grace I’m blessed’ .. Being blessed could mean, having green lights all the on your journey, whilst singing praises to Him, or just doing someone a nice turn. Gods riches are limitless.

‘For your love has to come to me and set me free’
Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage”
God love for us is without measure, that is the price He has put on our soul. John 3:16 tells us . .
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”
… that is how much He loves us. If this don’t convince you, you need Him more than you know or realise. He came to set us free from our bondage. See what Jesus tells us about He came to free us . . .
John 8:36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed”
… so .. you shall be free indeed” .. if you thought different let these words encourage you, for god is faithful all the time. I hear you say that ‘I’m not in bondage, I have to say you are. Do you smoke? ~ Do you drink? ~ Do you Gamble? Do you like looking at Porn? Are always low/angry/feeling lost? These are forms of bondage.. “the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed”
* The New King James Bible put the ‘made free’ statement in, which comes from the old Hebrew word: ‘eleutheroo’.which breaks down phenetically as the following .. ‘el – you – ther – ah – oh’. Strongs Concordance #1159 I.E. to liberate, acquit, set-free, deliver.

‘ I’m trusting in your word’
   We really must believe in His ‘Living-Word’. Why Do I call it so? It is because our Saviour lives, as does God. His Word has been a road map on how to live, since the day it was written. So it’s relevance for life will last forevermore. . .
Psalms 17:7 “You who save those who trust in You”
2 Samuel 7:28 “O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant”
… so what is there to disbelieve? Samuel has told us this as well as the Psalmist.

#V2 follows in a couple of days, so please listen to the song a few times. here is the link to the song, just past the link into your browser ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYkce-EhNuQ 

Prayer

I fear no one as I'm yours Lord. I was once lost cut a drift in a storm of no end, until I found you. You give hope to the hopeless, through your Word. Let my voice carry the love in my heart for you. I know I'm free from all bondage, for whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Thank you Heavenly Father, Amen

What’s in a song: Who is there Like You :V1

56:050123

What’s in a song:

Who is there Like You

   When as a Child I was told this to help bolster up, and help with my self worth. By having Faith in the Lord will help your self worth, giving greater motivation to over come what ever life throws at you. This is all, but truthfully this question is answered only by one. Because we all look different from each other. You’ll be told at some point you look just like or sound like you Mum or dad, as was told many times. For this study I have decided to post each verse separately.

   Only God truly owns the title ‘Who is there like you’, for example of the one true God who created the Heavens and the Earth, you should read 1 Kings 18. Today I want delve deeper into the song ‘Who is there like you’.

1) Who is there like you?

And who else would give their life for me,

Even suffering in my place?

And who could repay you?

All of creation looks to you,

and you provide for all you have made.

2) So I’m lifting up my hands,

Lifting up my voice, lifting up your name,

and in your grace I’m blessed,

For your love has to come to me and set me free

I’m trusting in your Word.

3) Trusting in your cross, trusting in your blood,

All your faithfulness,

For your power at work in me, is

changing me Changing me

    V1] Who is there like you?
Psalms 35:10 “All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like You”
   Well there you have it, even the Psalmist proclaims ..“who is like You” .. There truly is NO one like Him. The records have said No one before or since. Without artificial insemination has there been a child conceived this way. So whilst singing ‘Who is there like you’, Lord we reverently mean these words .. ‘And who else would give their life for me, Even suffering in my place? .. is there someone that is a total stranger to you, who you would free;y give your life for, just so that would not suffer, at all? That is what our Lord Jesus did for us. . .
Galatians 2:20 “ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”
.. There is no room for dead works, or these either .. ‘good living for a living’ .. or .. ‘Glorified Sunday social club’..having Christ in our lives is because we were lost sheep, and you have helped us to have a more fulfilling life, with in it. NO one could have ever done for us as you have.

‘And who could repay you? All of creation looks to you’
Isaiah 65:17-18 “ behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create”
   There Scientists that are breaking down the DNA sequence, be it from us to Animals to plants, to tells what and why we do things. Just so they can tell us who things [us] were created, using all manner of machines/scopes/spectrographs. Well, us Christians, don’t need all these fancy and very expensive machines. For I have a personal relationship with the ‘Original-Creater of everything’, His name is, well of cause it’s God.

‘And you provide for all you have made’
    Without doubt God created the Heavens & the Earth. [Genesis 1]. He created all the fish in the sea’s, and all their food there of. Like wise all the birds of the air, as well as all the various animals of the land that walk hop scurry & slither. `such as the Rattle snake to Scorpion, and from the Lion to the Rhino. The us, what God did do is to give us dominion over ALL of them Sea ~ Air & Land. . .
Psalms 104:14-18 “He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth, 15 And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man’s heart. 16 The trees of the Lord are full of sap, The cedars of Lebanon which He planted, 17 Where the birds make their nests; The stork has her home in the fir trees. 18 The high hills are for the wild goats; The cliffs are a refuge for the rock badgers”
… so you it’s God who’ll provide all our needs from food on our tables; to the materials needed to create or build our homes; God has a hand in it all, from Architects to clothing designers. These are just a couple of people whom God gave talents to create . . .
Genesis 22:14 “And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided”
… even Abraham recognised Gods help when it came to harvest time, in all he did.

#V2 follows in a couple of days, so please listen to the song a few times. here is the link to the song, just past the link into your browser ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYkce-EhNuQ

 Prayer

Heavenly Father here I am once again seeking you in this place, as I do nothing by my own strength, but in yours. Lord I am nothing, because I surrender my all to you. Amen

 

Acts 3:26

"To you first, God, having raised up 

His Servant Jesus, sent Him to 

bless you, in turning away every 

one of you from your iniquities."

   To whom be all the glory, for our Lord Jesus lives, and is seated at the right hand of Almighty God.