Mon, Feb 27th - 2:33PM

Ramblings from memory

The Gospel I really like is the Gospel of John, quietly reading a verse or two I came across a few words,  which in their  simplicity amazed me.  What it says needs no great commentary from all those scholars who make a life's work in trying to make sense of the scriptures & presenting them to other scholars as the real thing. The Evangelist, John, tells us that the reason he wrote the book, the book we all know & love, John, is to present Christ as the Son of God & through The Christ we might have life in his name. 

The twentieth chapter at verse 31 states: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name".

What a claim, what a statement, there is no arguement or debate, John presents his Gospel from the very first verse, In the beginning was the word........    An opening which is almost the same as that other opening book, Genesis.  Here John presents his readers with a beautifully crafted life as he lived it with the man Jesus, who John always believed is the Son of the living God.  He neither tries to cajole or to call but simply states that if you believe you can have life.  His works are full of statements like being free & presenting us with a marvellous presentation of the Times & works of Jesus the Christ. John assumes that we will either believe or not as the case may be, that you can have life or not, that you can love the Lord Jesus or not.  No half way, no half hearted effort. You go all the way or not at all.

There are millions who down through the ages have believed, & unfortunately there are millions who have not believed. 

There have been times when we have doubted, but when push came to shove, we have stood up with John & said, "The word became flesh & made his dwelling among us". 

The book of John has had some fierce critics, but it is still with us & shall be until the end of time, the Gospel of Love, as it is known, tells us from the first word to the last that God is love, & informs us what we have to do to take advantage of all the God offers.

"Christ, The lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."

That my friends is Awesome. Why not tell a friend today.

Love in His Name  Stuart

Wed, Feb 22nd - 3:42AM

Continued Ramblin's

Reading one of my favourite passages, contained in Paul's letter to the Galations, Chapter 5 at V22. "But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness & Self-Control.

I guess that it is no coincidence that LOVE is first on this particular verse, for without love we could not find the remainder in whatever order. The other thing I see is that Joy comes next, we are to know joy, what a Saviour we have, not only does he give us the ability to love, but he wishes us to be happy whilst we are realising his love. Living in a land better known for its dour Presbyterianism, than happy Christians, I find this amusing and yet serious at the same time.  This of course is not really how it is, but how it is conceived by the general public. We Christians are thought to be a thoroughly miserable bunch who wish to make everyone else as miserable as us.  How wrong can they be!  We are to walk in step with the Spirit of God, v25 & show our Joy to the world. 

I was watching an old television clip the other day, (from 1950 something) where a Salvation Army musical group called the "Joystrings" were number one in the then current hit parade with a recording of a spiritual song.

Do we in the 21st Century show our Joy to the world? Do we show our love for Jesus, our love for each other, those whom society rejects? Or are we quite happy with going to the meetings & meeting up with like believers all the time?

Without Love we can do very little for anyone far less ourselves. It is a real challenge for us to live our lives as Christ does, helping all who are perhaps shunned by society at large.  I believe that as well as loving others we MUST find out time to love ourselves, without becoming conceited, provoking or envying each other. v26. To know of sins forgiven is where we must start, when we KNOW this as a fact, then we might go & share our love with others, when we receive the love of Christ, then we can know joy, this in itself will help us to change the perceived image that the world has of  Christians in a hostile world.

Yes God has a plan for each one of us, & it surely must start by seeking God with all our hearts, calling on him & he will listen to us. God is there to be found, Christ has taken away all the barriers, but surely we must still ask?  Then we might grow in him who wishes to save us. Then we might appreciate his love, showing & feeling Joy, growing in him that we might grow in ourselves, becoming the people God wants us to be.

That my brothers & sisters will be Awesome

Love in His Name  Stuart

Tue, Feb 14th - 3:10AM

Ramblin's based on Scriptures.

The smallest book in the Bible, has a wonderful verse about what Jesus actually does for believers.  The doxology in V24 in the book of Jude, tells us that Jesus is able to prevent us from failing, then he will present us before God without fault, not only that but Jesus will consider it great joy to do this. That it will make him happy, give him that feel good factor.

I find this really encouraging, we all know that Christ died on Calvary's awesome cross & all the benefits that that will bring, but here it tells us that Christ will go the extra mile & keep us from failing!  The H.S. if allowed, will guide us through our life's journey, that when we get into difficulty, as we all do, Jesus will keep us from failing. The only thing that we have to do is keep having faith, faith in the person who will keep us on the right path. I remember a woman saying to me that she did not have blind faith, therefore she found it difficult to understand.  I do not think that we are meant to have BLIND faith, but we are to have Christ as the OBJECT of that faith.  Our eyes are to be wide open & all our sensors should be alert. We are to be fully aware exactly what Christ is about. That God's global plan, of which we are a part, will come to fruition.

When we feel frustrated in our walk with Jesus, & things are not going our way,  sometimes getting more frustrated as we realise that on our own we cannot fathom out the depths of our troubless, remember that Jesus is not just the answer, but he takes great joy in helping us in our strivings.

The twentyfive verses which make up the book of Jude are there for our encouragment & help. I find in my walk I need every aid that is available. Why not try it,  it can only lead to SALVATION!

That Will be Awesome

Love in His Name  Stuart

Wed, Feb 8th - 2:34PM

Ramblings!

Whilst reading from 2 Timothy, I see a wonderful book of instructions for would be leaders of our Church. Written towards the end of Nero's reign, (he was the one who really hated Christians & all they stood for),   he was not averse to throwing them to the lions & other cruel ends which his mad mind could think up.

So Paul is majoring here on what is required by the potential leader to be a man for God & stand up for Christ in those cruel days. The verse which really stands out is seven. 

 "For God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love & of self-discipline".

In this current age, where in some parts of the world, there has been no change from the days of Nero. Christians have had to remember those verses & put them into action, remembering that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to HIS purpose. His purpose is of course to bring to fruition ther good work started in you through Christ Jesus.  Where the persecution has taken place the Church has come ut of it stronger, think of Russia, Eastern Europe, & even China where it still goes on.

With this in mind I encourage you all to remember that statement, written by Paul under the authorship of the Holy Spirit. God did not give you a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love & of self-discipline.  When we meet up with troubles, trials & tribulations, remember who is in charge!  That God can & will see you through all that you meet & bring you safe home to the other side.  I remember a post that started with the words.

 "We sing on the Lord's day morning,  Standing on the promises of God, when all we are doing is sitting in the premises" 

My question is what are you doing? 

Today claim those very real & true promises which our Father has lavished us with, that way; When the roll is called up yonder, we WILL be there

That would be Awesome

Love in His Name   Stuart

Wed, Feb 1st - 3:56AM

Devotional Ramblin's

Reading an extremely interesting passage this morning,  John's instruction on how to recognise the "Spirits".  "Every Spirit which acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh,  is from God."   All the others are false. 1 JN. 4:2.  WOW, I must have read those verses many times in my walk with Jesus & have never fully realised the simplicity of them before; Why is it that we try to make things so complicated?

We put that statement into practice & there is now no doubt as to the authenticity of peoples lives.

Is it really that simple? or am I under estimating the threat from the evil one? I have recently been researching  "Calvin's Institutes"  & see what people have done in his name from the generation after he died. He has really gotten a bad name in some circles, yet when you read what he actually wrote it makes sense.

That is what we as believers do to scriptures, we put our own interpretation & spin on them making them into something that the original writers never intended. The previous chapter of John commences with "How great is the love The Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God".  1 JN.3:1.

That taken as it is meant is where we are suppose to start, appreciating his love, & then sharing it with others!  Where did we go wrong & get it all so complicated?  On whose authority did we make it so difficult to understand?

Verse 21 of chapter 4 tells us that, "Whoever loves God, must also love his brother."  So simple I find that just Awesome.

Love in His Name  Stuart

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Refrain

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!