About Prayer

 About Prayer 

Jesus said,

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6.

If you claim to be a Christian, a true follower of Christ, how and why do you pray? While I believe we can ask God for what we need. We need to be careful to ask in the right way. 

In the book of James we read,

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." James 4:3.

When we pray we must pray with the right motives.

A lot of people sadly are always asking God for things they want and nothing else. I found this cartoon on the internet that I think makes my point. 

While we can pray openly in public and God will hear those prayers. We need with right motives to pray in secret, for others, and for ourselves. And I think most importantly we must use our prayer time to thank God for what He has done for us.

Do you do this?

Please think about it.

Greatest

 Greatest

Marks gospel records,

"They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?"  

But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 9:33-35.

We often think of those who are great as someone who has great accomplishments, a great athlete, or soldier or even someone with great wealth as being great. 

But the bible turns that around. It says that the one who is servant of all is the greatest. 

Simply put a good leader must be willing to serve.

Are you a good leader? Do you serve those who are under you in authority? 

Please think about it.

Your acts of Charity

 Your acts of Charity

In the book of acts we read,

"Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity." Acts 9:36

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done." Proverbs 19:17

In the book of James we read,

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

     If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:14-17.

Jesus said,

"Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.  

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4

With the above portions of scripture in mind, do you preform acts of charity the right way?

Please think about it.

Rest for the weary

  Rest for the weary

Jesus said,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

This is the call of Jesus to all who find themselves burdened. Come to Jesus, tell him the problem. And open your heart to his peace that passes all understanding.

Corrie Ten Boom a Christian who hid Jews from the Nazi’s in the Netherlands knew what it was to be burdened, what it was like to suffer. For aiding Jews, during world war two, the Nazi’s imprisoned her first in Scheveningen prison then sent to the Herzogenbusch-Vught and Ravensbrück concentration camps. Yet through it all she could say,

“There is no pit so deep, 

that God's love is not deeper still.”

                                                      Corrie Ten Boom.

God loves you. Jesus speaking of himself said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

God loves you so much he sent his son (Jesus) to die for you.

The question is do you believe this. Are you willing to put your trust in Christ Jesus. Are you willing to let Jesus take your burdens and give you rest.

Please think about it. 

In Gods presence

 In Gods presence 

The Psalmist writes,

"I will praise you forever for what you have done; 

in your name I will hope, 

for your name is good.

 I will praise you in the presence of your saints."

                                                                                Psalm 52:9.

Question: If you consider yourself a Christian can you honestly say what the Psalmist is saying here?

Please think about it. 

What do people see in you?

  What do people see in you?

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

                                                                                                      Ephesians 4:1.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus, do you live a life worthy of Him?

When people see your life do they see the fruit of the spirit?

The fruit of the spirit being listed in the book of Galatians as,

love, 

joy, 

peace, 

patience, 

kindness, 

goodness, 

faithfulness,  

gentleness...

self-control.... 

Galatians 5:22.

Do people see these fruits in your words and deeds?

Please think about it.

Life to the full

  Life to the full

Jesus said,

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 1:10,11.

The apostle Paul wrote,

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.

I believe these words to be true. I believe God sent Christ into this world to show in human terms how far He would go to point each individual to heaven.

The question however is, Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Blessed are the peacemakers

  Blessed are the Peacemakers?

The apostle Paul writes,

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace 

and to mutual edification.” 

                                        Romans 14:19.

At the end of your life will people call you a peace maker? 

Do you do your best to live at peace with those around you?

Jesus said,

“Blessed are the peacemakers, 

for they will be called sons of God.”

                                                        Matthew 5:9.

So are you a peacemaker?

Please think about it.

From Ecclesiastes and Romans

 From Ecclesiastes and Romans

"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun" Ecclesiastes 1:9

"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind."Ecclesiastes 1:14

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 

The writer of Ecclesiastes looks at all the works a man does and pronounces them meaningless.

I’ve heard it said that there is nothing new under the sun. The only difference between someone in Christ’s day and now, is when we do wrong it ends up on social media. That “modern day sinners”, sin, using high tech devices.

The outcome for the modern day sinner is however the same as it was for sinners since the beginning of time. Spiritual death. Separation from God.

Writing to the Romans the apostle Paul states,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23,24.

Paul also writes,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  Romans 10:9-11.

Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?

Please think about it.

A Note from Proverbs

  A Note from Proverbs

In Proverbs we read,

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

 bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favour and a good name

 in the sight of God and man."

                                                          Proverbs 3:3,4.

Here is a simple question. Do you Love?

Before you answer that question however read the following. It’s the apostle Paul’s definition of Love. It reads,

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

Jesus when asked,

 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.

Now with these scriptures in mind do you truly love?

Take a few moments to think about it. 

A Rainbow

 A rainbow

“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign 

of the covenant between me and the earth.”

                                                                                  Genesis 9:13

I live not far from Niagara falls where a rainbow and quite often two can be seen at the same time. 

It has been pointed out to me that out of the maelstrom and fury of the water crashing against the rocks a thing of peaceful beauty is created.

Now most people in the world will never see Niagara falls. But everyone has gone through a storm. All of us I’m sure have seen the rainbow that forms after as the sunlight shines through the clouds.

When I see the rainbow I think of the beauty and peace that God gives us after we have gone through the storms of life. I think of Psalm 23 that reads,

The LORD is my shepherd, 

I shall not be in want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

he leads me beside quiet waters, 

he restores my soul. 

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

 I will fear no evil, 

for you are with me; 

your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; 

my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, 

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

                                                                        Psalm 23

  What do you think of when you see a rainbow?

Please think about it.

Love one another

 Love one another

Jesus said,

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34,35.

I like this portion of scripture. Jesus here tells us that people will know we are His disciples by our love.

In the book of James we read,

"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbour as yourself," you are doing right.  

But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." James 2:8-10.

We must serve each other in love. It is a commandment from Christ himself. 

We should not be showing favouritism. There is no difference between rich and poor Jew and Gentile in Gods eyes. All of us are equal before God.

Furthermore the love we have for our brethren in Christ should not be hidden.

Question: If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Do you love the body of believers around you?

Please think about it.