159. WHEN GOD SPEAKS YOUR SURVIVAL, GOD’S ARMOUR. Ephesians 6:11

Each day we all battle the world, the flesh and the devil, nobody is immune from these attacks, and each day we fall, why? Because a. we forget, b. time takes priority, or c. our pride says we don’t need it. But it’s not for nothing Paul gives us specific instructions about spiritual armour, why it’s there and how to use it. Here they are, take a good look and understand why they are a must for ourselves and our families before leaving home each day for our jobs, school or starting our days work etc. 1. (Ephesians 6:14) The sturdy belt of truth. During world war 2 a plane flew many miles past its destination because the crew didn’t pay proper attention to the cockpit dials which were telling them they were running early because of the strong tailwinds. (They didn’t look at the truth of the instruments) The crashed plane was found several years later, and the dials were still working perfectly. Check for the truth of God’s Word. You can depend on God’s Word to guide you no matter what. Read it daily and believe it regardless of what your mind or emotions tell you. Put on God’s armour, your going to need it each day. 2. (Ephesians 6:14) The body armour of God’s righteousness” Note it’s God’s righteousness, not yours or mine. We are not saved by trusting our own performance but by Jesus’ performance on the cross. When you know that, God’s righteousness becomes your breastplate protecting your heart from doubts about your salvation. 3. (Ephesians 6:15) “For shoes, put on peace, shoes indicate movement, so don’t expect to hear from God if you are determined to remain barefoot and frozen to the same spot. When you start moving He confirms the rightness or otherwise of the direction of your movement by giving you a sense of peace, see (Colossians 3:15) You know in your ’knower’ when you’re on the right track. When you don’t have peace about it, seek God for further direction. This is particularly important if you are a self-starter who loves what you do. God wants you to have an abiding sense of peace – so don’t proceed without it. 4. Let’s look at the remainder of the gifts which God has provided for us to live victoriously and fight the battles we will encounter. 5. Faith (Ephesians 6:16) You will need Faith for your shield. For what? You may well ask Satan will be sending fiery arrows of doubt about God’s love and faithfulness towards you to snuff out your Faith, but your shield of Faith (Focussing on God’s Word) can snuff out his flaming arrows before they get to you. So that after the battle is over, you will still be able to stand firm. 6. (Ephesians 6:17) “Put on Salvation as your Helmet” Your mind controls your whole body, therefore it needs protection, this helmet does just that. When Satan whispers things like..., “If you were a proper Christian, you wouldn’t have -said that, gone there, or done something else… You repel his attacks by knowing (in your mind) your true identity in Christ – A blood bought, totally forgiven, seen as righteous, Heaven-bound child of God. The Helmet of Salvation, gives you that confidence you need, when you need it most. 7. (Ephesians 6: 17) “Take the Sward of The Spirit which is The Word of God” the word of God referred to here is not “logos” (the written word) but Rhema which means “utterance” it’s using the right scripture at the right time to deal with your current problem. That’s why Satan fights so hard to keep you from regular Bible reading. Three times he attacked Jesus in the Wilderness, and three times Jesus answered “It is written” He demolished Satan with Scripture. The devil can out-argue you and me, but he has no defence against The Word of God. So memorise the Scriptures and use them as a weapon against him. 8. (Ephesians 6:18) “Pray in the Spirit in every situation” Your Spiritual Armour must be put on correctly, otherwise you are vulnerable to defeat at Satan’s hands. So how do you do that? Paul tells us how: “Pray in the spirit in every situation>” Your cloths wardrobe is where you find the clothes you need to wear everyday in the natural world, and your prayer wardrobe is where in the spiritual realm. It’s only through prayer do you become clothed for spiritual warfare, so don’t go in to battle incorrectly dressed for the job. In (Romans 13:14) Paul writes Cloth yourselves with The Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.“ That’s one of the most effective verses in scripture when it comes to winning over temptations Professionals who train dogs to obey, their commands, start by throwing a piece of red meat in front of the dog. The untrained dog immediately goes for it, but eventually the trainer teaches the animal to give him its undivided attention regardless of what has been put in front of it. When the training process is complete the dog will not take its eyes off its master no matter, even when temptation is right under its nose. There is an important lesson here for you and me. If we keep our eyes on Jesus, it wont matter what kind of lie or temptation Satan throws our way. Every now and then we might want to go for it! But if we stay focussed on Jesus, and listen for His voice alone, we will be victorious in the fight and win the battle. Remember, Jesus has already won the War, our job is just to win the battles and we have all the Spiritual Armour of God at our disposal to do just that so use it. It’s Free and dependable. And God will love and bless you for trusting in Him. Thank you for reading my thoughts on How, why and when to dress in your Spiritual Armour. I urge you with Paul, to remain prepared for battle at all times, but especially now, when our world is in so many battles on so many fronts, I pray, Father God, we desperately need Your help and that of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit power and strength to come, be our help, our protection and guide in the times we have ahead. In Jesus name we pray. ----------------------------------------

157. FROM WEAKNESS TO STRENGTH. Hebrews 11-34.

The above Scripture reads this way:- “I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samson and the Prophets… whose weaknesses were turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” Some of the biggest success stories in Scripture are about people who struggled with weaknesses and character flaws, they were mired in seeming failure and defeat, and yet by God’s Grace they overcame these obstacles and the odds stacked against them. The overriding theme of the Bible is “resurrection” getting back up again. So, if you can’t avoid failure, “and you are not supposed to give in to it or let it colour your thinking”, How do you handle it? First of all change your attitude. Cartoon character Homer Simpson summarised the attitude of many of us when he said “Kids, you tried your best and failed miserably so the answer is, never try” suffice it to say, Homer is the classic underachiever. In another episode he quips, “Trying is the first step to failure” But, The bottom line is Poor old Homer never tries, so like many of us “real people” he stays stuck and will always be a looser. The people who succeed in life have faith and tenacity, they refuse to give up; They have decided not to let failure defeat them. Note the words in Hebrews 34 “Whose weakness was turned to strength” You may start out weak, but by God’s Grace you can become strong, you can rise from the ashes of failure, achieve your goals, and succeed. Because God’s Word says so. (Proverbs 6: 2) tells us “You are snared by the words of your mouth” and another scripture says “What is in a man’s heart will come out of his mouth.” So don’t allow the thought or words of failure be in your head or heart, that’s a sure way to get them to your mouth. A noted psychiatrist once remarked that two of the saddest words in the human vocabulary are “If only” He believed that people who get trapped by their failures spend the remainder of their lives saying “If only I had tried harder… If only I had been kinder to my kids...If only I had been more truthful...If only...if only… if only.“ The way to change that mindset, is to change your vocabulary by substituting those words with “Next Time” next time I will try harder, next time I will be kinder to my kids, next time I will be more truthful. next time think about it , do it, be a next time person. In (proverbs 6;2) we read, “You are snared by the words of your mouth” and if you don’t know it, a snare, is a trap. Have you ever seen an animal caught in a trap struggling to be free? Your words can often do that to you, and they don’t just effect you, but others as well so keep your lips zipped. Maybe you think I am making too big a deal of this, if you do - read on, (Proverbs 15:4) “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit” (Proverbs 18:21) says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit” And in (Mark 11:23) Jesus Himself said these words “Whoever says to this mountain’ Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things will be done, he will have whatever he says” Now what do these scriptures all have in common? They confirm that our words breath life (or death) in to everything! So, instead of defeatist talk, speak victory over your situation. Instead of speaking failure, speak success. When you do, God will honour the fruit of your lips. A Christian leader in the 17 hundreds writes:- Oliver Goldsmith was born in Ireland. the son of a poor preacher. Growing up, Oliver wasn’t a great student. In fact his schoolmaster labelled him a “stupid blockhead.” However Goldsmith did manage to earn a university degree, but he finished at the bottom of the class. He was unsure of what he wanted to do with his life. At first he tried to be a preacher, but it didn’t suit him… next he tried law, but failed at that, then, he tried medicine but he was an indifferent doctor not passionate about his profession. He was able to hold several posts, but only temporarily. Goldsmith lived in poverty. Was often ill, and once even had to pawn his cloths to buy food. It looked like he would never find his way in the world. But then he discovered an interest and aptitude in writing and translating. At first he worked as a Fleet street reviewer and writer. But then he began to write works that came out of his own interests and experiences, Next he secured his reputation as a novelist, poet and and play writer with “The Vicar of Wakefield,” “She Stoops to Conquer” and “The Deserted Village”. There is a place for you in this world, or God would never have created you. So, stop feeling useless, and worthless, ask Him to show you where that place is. And He will. Goldsmith’s story sounds like the Psalmist David’s story – and maybe yours too. (Psalm 3:2-3) puts it this way”Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God’ But you Oh God are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head.” You may be down to day, but God Will lift you up if you come to Him for guidance and cooperate with His plan for your life. I am 90 years of age, almost blind and deaf, and yet I like to think God is using me to write this Blog each week or so. And perhaps someone somewhere will be drawn a little closer to Jesus Christ to day because of something God has put on my heart to share with the world. I’m not looking for accolades, but pointing out that if God can work with me, He can work with anyone. To move from failure to success, or weakness to strength, you must... 1. Learn to laugh at your self. No matter what you lose or how often you lose it, never lose your sense of humour – Why? Because when you take your mistakes too seriously, everything becomes a life-or-death - issue Take heed of (Psalm 126:1-5) ”When The Lord brought the exiles back to Jerusalem. It was like a dream. We were filled with laughter and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things The Lord has done for them.’ Yes The Lord has done amazing things for US! What Joy! Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert, Those who plant in tears, will harvest with shouts of joy.” You may not be able to laugh about your mistakes, but you can learn to laugh in them! Note the phrase “When The Lord brought back” The Lord can bring you back too! Tim Masters says ”failure is the productive part of success. It provides the road you don’t have to travel again, the mountain you don’t have to climb a second time and the valley you don’t have to cross once more. ” When you’re making mistakes, they may not feel like “the kiss of Jesus,” which was Mother Teresa’s favourite phrase when mistakes were made, which were meant to drive you to God. But if you maintain the right attitude, they can lead you to do what you should be doing. 2. Learn from your mistakes. Successful restaurateur Wolfgang Puck said:-I have learned more from the one restaurant I didn’t work for than all the ones I did.” Isn’t that always the way it is. You see you don’t have to lose, you just have to learn. Thank you for reading these few words on improving our weaknesses and failures to strengths and successes. Eph. 4 tells us we scan do all things in Christ who gives us strength. Stand on the promise and watch God work in your life. May God Our Father abundantly bless you, The Holy Spirit direct your steps as you live in the love of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Phaline.

156. “IF MY PEOPLE WHO ...” 2 Chronicles 7-14

“If my people who are called by my Name, seek my face, pray and turn from their wicked ways, Then I will forgive their sins, hear from Heaven and heal their land.” When I woke this morning (31-5- 2026) the above Scripture came to me. I asked “Lord What do You want me to do with this word ? Because I believe it is from you” He replied “Just sit at your computor and type, and I will tell you as you go.” So here I am Lord awaiting your instructions. The Lord speaking now, “I want you to go one or two words at a time and explain each as I dictate it to you” I said “I will do as you say Lord, but, I think you could and should have chosen a fully sighted person with a much better knowledge and understanding of your word than I.” His answer “Just do as I am asking you to.” My reply a humble “Yes Lord.” First word (if) This word implies there is an obbligati condition, it means we have no choice. Unless we follow through, the rest of the statement is invalid. as it is also conditional on the response; In other words, the rest of the verse depends on that little word IF. Second Words (My People) Who are “My people”? My people are those who have made a serious commitment or covenant with me.” There are many people who regard themselves as Christians, who have little or no relationship with Me. But, because they have good manners, are clean living people, go to church occasionally, help the under privileged and contribute to worthy causes, they class themselves as Christians. But, that is as far away from being a committed Christian as the North and South poles are from each other. These are not the people I am talking to in the quoted Scripture; NO! I am talking to people who have committed themselves to Me, My Word and the Christian life. People who understand that their very life, even through and beyond to eternity depends on their Faith, in Jesus Christ My Son which is believing in Him, His life, death, Resurrection and all He has said and done for them. Christianity is not a stroll in the park, or a club, where you pay your subscription each year and your in, No, It’s not even your Nationality or place in society, I’ll explain it this way, When a person joins the defence force of their country, they have to go through a basic programme of instructions and physical development to see if they are truly suitable and committed to the task of defending their Country, their Government, and the King. Only then are they permitted to sign the dotted line and wear their full uniform. They are now under the protection and derestriction of the Defence Dept. They are not the same as the other citizens of the land; They have their own legal system, their own medical system and their own rules regulations etc. eg. if one of their own are found breaking the law, that person will be charged, tried and dealt with under military law, often much more harshly than a civil court would do. Why? Because they have not only let themselves and their families down, but, their comrades and the rest of the armed forces of their country. I need you to understand, just as it is a privilege to be a defender of one’s country in our physical lives, so it is in our Spiritual or Christian life. It carries a responsibility and duties. In just the same way. Its currency is Truth, Faithfulness and Trust. True Christianity cannot exist without this currency. What potential Christians must also understand and expect, is that Satan is both a thief and a liar, and is continually trying to delete, deny and destroy that currency. That’s why there are so many different churches and religions in the world.. His job is to question and confuse people to such an extent that they throw it all out, and choose to forget about God altogether, and just do their own thing. So, what is the solution. GOD’S WORD That, I believe, is the only way to solve the problem. Jesus said “I am the,WAY I am the TRUTH , I am the LIFE. There is no other way to The Father except through ME.” Now, where do we find Jesus? In God’s Word “The Bible”. Not in my words or in the words of any Preacher, Pastor, Priest, Pope or any pulpit. Although these people are, for the most part doing a great job bringing people to God, you need to go to the Bible and check out that what you are being taught is the true Word of God and Jesus Himself will teach you, He has all the answers to all your questions. Just Read, Read, Read. And then Cod can rightfully call you One of “My People “. Third Words “seek My Face,” How does one seek the Face of God? Even Moses to whom God gave the ten Commandments didn’t get to see God’s face, in fact when he asked for that favour, God told him,”No one can see my face and live.” So (Humanly speaking) to seek God’s face, we have to look at the attributes, attitude and character of God, (which can only be found in The Bible) and then, in effect we are looking at the face of God as much as we are permitted to, because we don’t have the spiritual eyes to see Him in our humanity. But one day He Himself will remove that veil and all will be made clear. One’s attributes, attitude and character are reflected in one’s face. So when we are seeking God’s face we reflect on these things which is His perfection in all areas of life from Spiritual to physical, emotional and mental, technological, academic and all things in between; In fact He knows everything about everything and everybody past, present and future That’s the face of God. And He loves you and me above anything else He has created.. So spend time seeking God’s Face, in the knowledge that He, Knowing all things about you, and me, still wants us to seek Him, His face and His answer to every question we have. He is God, Our eternally loving Father He shares His throne with no one. Forth Words “ Humble Themselves and PRAY” How does one HUMBLE themself. First of all, after reading the above paragraph, we realise just how nothing we are in the presence of our great and awesome God. So it’s not as difficult as perhaps we first thought. Humbling one’s self is a mental attitude rather than a physical one. Paul tells us to “Humble ourselves under the Mighty hand of God” How?. You ask, By asking rather than demanding, by submitting rather than claiming, by releasing our will to God rather than evoking entitlement. We kneel (if we can) with bowed heads facing the ground, these are all gestures of humility and submission. That doesn’t mean we have to be wimpy, Moses is considered the most humble man that ever lived (apart from Jesus) but He faced God boldly more than once through smoke, fire and clouds when defending the Jews. And God called him His friend. Many of us find Prayer difficult, Let’s face it, it’s hard to hold a meaningful conversation with someone we can’t see or hear, but, combining heart and mind (Soul and Spirit) and bringing Faith (Acknowledging what we believe to be true) helps immensely. Our final act of humility is a handing over to God our entire life, Body, Soul, Spirit and mind in submission to His Will. Do you get the picture?. Don’t be in a hurry, Humility takes time to cultivate, because we all have to identify and deal with our own pride prior to understanding and accepting Humility .Prideful temptations are not only Satan’s favourite weapon but his strongest one. Remember this, It worked for him with Adam and Eve (Who were perfect, but human) in the Garden of Eden, But not in the desert with Jesus when He used Scripture to send the devil on his way. So keep your Bible handy and pray when Satan is prowling around with prideful suggestions and temptations. Check your motivation that’s important. Fifth words, “And Pray” This word is repeated hundreds of times in Scripture, that should tell us how necessary it is. Jesus Himself said, “If you pray for anything in my Name it shall be given to you” Once again there are conditions, “In my name” The name of “Jesus” carries a huge amount of weight with The Father, why? Because It’s the name of His only Begotten (unique) Son, in whom He is well pleased. Jesus is the sinless Son of God, who committed completely to the will of The Father, and He did that for you and me. That act of absolute submission cost Jesus His very life. There is no substitute for prayer, we can pray anytime, anywhere and in many ways. Some people say “I am too busy to pray during the day, but I say my morning and night prayers.” I would ask them if they keep their other relationships alive the same way or do they stay in contact with family and friends by phone, text, meeting for lunch etc. think about it!! Jesus is waiting to hear from you To-day right now. Sixths words “And Turn From Their Wicked Ways” Our first reaction here is “I don’t have any wicked ways” Really! Think about this, Have your lips been pure today, swearing,or calling other drivers names and how about your thoughts toward other members of your family or flat mates. Have you told a lie, or picked up something that wasn’t yours and popped it in your mouth or pocket, have you put others before yourself or given someone a kind word or helping hand when you had the opportunity to do so (Self-centredness) ? little things I know, but my, how they grow in to Wicked ways” Think about little things. l believe they grow very quickly into bigger and worse things unless dealt with early. I have developed a moto to let every thought result in thoughtful prayer, and let every prayer result in prayerful thoughts. Works for me!!. When we meet the above criteria, I believe God will do His part and (1) Forgive our sins, (2) Hear from Heaven, (3) Heal our land. I believe God has made it very clear exactly what He requires from HIS PEOPLE and what He will give us in return. So don’t be looking to our government, or London, Washington, or anyone else to come and save us, It’s up to us True Christians followers of Jesus Christ to do as we are asked, If we don’t, He WILL NOT forgive our sins, He WILL NOT hear from Heaven and He WILL NOT heal our land The ball is in our court. Make a decision for Jesus today, He will do what we ask of Him, but only if we do what He asks of us. God Bless Phaline ---------------------------------

155. LEARN AND GROW. Ecclesiastes 2:13.

The most important skill you can acquire in life is Learning to learn. Gifted people can act as though they know it all, which makes it hard for them to keep growing, teachability is not so much about competence and one’s mental capacity as it is about attitude, it’s an innate hunger to know and grow. It’s a willingness to learn, unlearn and relearn. The world famous foot ball coach John Wooden said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” It’s only as you remain teachable will you keep growing and continue to make an impact on the world. Lifelong learning is a lifelong ongoing daily pursuit which will ultimately lead you to wisdom. The Roman scholar Plato, started studying Greek at the age of 80, when asked why he was taking on such a difficult task at his age, he replied, ” It’s the earliest age I have left” Many people regard learning as an event, not a lifelong process. It’s estimated that only one third of adults read an entire book after leaving school. Why? Because they view education as a period in life, not a way of life, science confirms that while your physical body may atrophy, your mind retains much of its capacity for continued growth. Every stage of life presents lessons to be learned. You and I can choose to be teachable and keep on learning, or close our minds and stop growing. Try this simple experiment for a week; Ask others for advice… While deliberately withholding the advice you would normally give and at the end of each day write down what you have learned by being attentive. You will be amazed. To keep learning and growing, you need to recognise that; 1. Successful people view learning differently from unsuccessful people. Joshua learned from Moses,Timothy learned from Paul. Who have you chosen to learn from? Author Sydney J. Harris wrote; “A winner knows how much he still has to learn, even when he is considered an expert by others. A loser wants to be considered an expert by others before he has learned enough to know how little he knows.” You see, it’s all a matter of attitude. It’s remarkable how much a person has to learn before He/She realises just how little they really know. 2. Nothing is interesting if you are not interested. In “Quality Is free” Phillip B Crosby wrote; There is a theory of human behaviour that says some people subconsciously retard their own intellectual growth. they come to rely on cliches and habits. Once they reach the age of personal comfort with the world, they stop learning and their mind runs on idle for the rest of their days. They may progress organisationally, they may be ambitious and eager, and even work night and day but they don’t learn any more. However, It should work this way particularly for a Christian. If you are comfortable where you are, you are in the wrong place; If you are not making a difference for Christ in at least one person’s life, what are you doing there? We as Christians have been told (not asked) to “Go and make disciples.” If you and I are not doing that, we are sinning by our disobedience. A life for Jesus was never meant to be comfortable or easy, Jesus’ life was never that way and as followers of Him we should expect no less. Just look at all that Jesus has done for you and me, Not only the Cross and the forgiveness that entailed which is so much more than we deserve, but, that Death, that Resurrection and that Assension facilitated the coming of The Holy Spirit who embarks every area of our lives (if we allow Him to) with His gifts of wisdom, knowledge and understanding not only in Spiritual matters and situations, but also in our natural world. His is the little voice we hear saying in our minds “Don’t say that, Don”t do that, Don’t go there” etc. He is the One that speaks God’s Word in our hearts. That is what Jesus meant when He said on many occasions “If you have ears to hear, listen to what The Spirit says.” So, are you listening to what The Spirit Says? n (Luke 2:52) The Bible says “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature.” He didn’t just grow physically, He grew spiritually, mentally and emotionally as well. It’s a tragedy when someone gets in to a rut and never climbs out of it; They miss out on the best God has to offer. By contrast, teachable people are completely engaged in life. They are enthusiastic about things. They are interested in discovering, discussing applying and increasing in all areas of life. So never stop learning and growing. In Scripture, we are constantly encouraged to “Know God”, Of course we will never get to know God completely in this life; because He is Spirit and manifests Himself to us primarily by faith than any other way. But, the more we learn about God, His absolute wisdom, unique power and unrivalled authority, the stronger and deeper our faith becomes. The word of God is the only true record of authority we have, it is the only true source from beginning to end of God’s intentions and Will for every living creature on earth including Human beings which He chose to make in His own image and likeness. He put those intentions in to action as recorded in the book of Genesis, and as we thumb through the pages of The Bible we are able to see how those same intentions came to fruition by just the word of His mouth. And so with Jesus,The only begotten (Unique) Son of God did exactly the same when He began His Ministry here on earth. He spoke to the people in Parables of realistic times and events that took place right there at that time, so they could understand exactly what He was talking about. He never missed an opportunity to relate these parables or stories to the everyday lives of His audience who were sheep farmers, vine dressers and gardeners, tax collectors, teachers of the law, fisherman or whoever. and addressed them to their own particular environments and occupations, thus each person could have a picture in their own head and envisage their own surroundings applying the lessons they learned to themselves. That is how one can learn through self application of the subject. We say to ourselves “Does this story apply to me? in what way? What can I do about it? And how do I do it? “ All these questions are addressed in each of Jesus’ Parables, look,learn and apply them to your life and you will soon realise you are following Jesus and His teachings. Do you really want to be more like Jesus? Then read John’s gospels slowly, quietly, daily and see the changes Jesus will make in your life. We all want to live a long life, and to do that we must learn to keep up with technology and as many of life’s changes as possible, let me tell you from my standpoint of ninety years that is very difficult when your body is telling you “You are too old and ought to stop” I have to reply “Stop and do what.” I figure, if I stop thinking, learning and using my brain, it will keep slowing down until it comes to a standstill and that in my book is called Brain-dead. Don’t let that happen to you, keep those marbles rolling for Jesus, and you wont be brain dead when you meet Him. Thank you for reading this word on learning and growing, it will keep you spiritually, mentally and emotionally alert eager and holy for Jesus and you will enjoy the rest of your life.’ God Bless Phaline. --------------------------

154. THE BIBLE ON MONEY Psalm 62:10.

Let us settle this once and for all. If you are a committed Christian, you should know and understand that everything you have has come from God, Not as a gift that you can do whatever you like with, but as a loan from God to a trusted borrower to be used as He directs. These are gifts, or blessings and come with certain conditions Here are some of His directives. (2 Corinthians 9:6-11) –Paul says “Remember this, A farmer who plants only a few seeds will get only a small crop. But the one who plants generously, will get a generous crop’. Now, that’s pretty basic to understand, So what Paul is saying I believe is this; If God is trusting you with a small amount, He will only expect a small amount from you, this is our first testing ground; Will we give God any, out of the little we have or will we say ‘This is hardly enough for me let alone give some away’ Five small loves and a few fish were never going to be enough to feed five thousand people. But when they were offered up to God, He multiplied it. Two pennies from a destitute woman were not going to buy any oil for the temple lamps or feed the number of poor in Jerusalem, yet Jesus said of her “That widow woman has given more than anyone else.” We are not told, but we can be sure that when God saw she had given all she had He blessed her abundantly. Why? Because she knew God wouldn’t let her down. The Roman tax wasn’t going to be paid from Jesus’ empty pockets. No! It came out of the mouth of a fish at the word of God. Not until what we have gets into God’s hands can He multiply it. This is one of the first practical tests we must pass in our Christian walk. (Faith and Trust) To do business with God, He has to see your sincerity, words are not enough; actions prove your sincerity. You and I are the ones who have to get out of the boat, we have to be prepared to give our last dollar, before we see God at work. we Have to open our mouths and speak the words of Scripture so that The Holy Spirit will give us the words to say. It is for us to know God’s attitude regards money, clothes, food, houses and stuff which are only commodities they have no life or value in themselves, but in God’s hands and with Jesus’ prayer they become a blessing. When we give what we treasure to Him God uses it for His purposes. God doesn’t need our treasures or money and miracles are His forte so why all this fuss about money and stuff? Answer, Because it’s the number one thing that takes us away from God. Satan has convinced us that if we have enough of the good things of life, we wont need God. But I challenge you to find just one person who thinks they have enough of those good things. No! Satan uses money and stuff as a lure, or an enticement to get us away from God, by enticing us to imagine that if we have enough we wont have a need for our Creator God. But, he doesn’t tell us that we will never have enough Therefore striving to have “Whatever you absolutely must have” for your retirement for your children, for your satisfaction whatever it may be, becomes a must have Idol. While God is saying… “I have loved you with an everlasting love. Neither you nor your children have lacked in food, clothing, footwear or anything, yet you don’t trust me. Are we building “bigger barns”? If we are, we can expect the same words from The Lord “Thou Fool, this day…” Idolatry was the problem in the Old Testament and it’s no different today, Don’t think it wont happen to me or you, better people than us have fallen victim to Satan and his wilds. learn to practise trust in God and reap the reward. So Paul continues “You must each decide in your own heart how much to give., and don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure for God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will provide generously all you require. Then, you will have all you need and plenty left over to share with others as the scripture says ‘ they share freely and give generously to the poor and their good deeds will be remembered forever’ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer. In the same way He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.” God will see what you can be trusted with, starting with small things, and slowly He will increase His blessings as He sees your trust in His increase. But these blessings come with certain conditions (Deuteronomy 8:17-19) Tells us, “Don’t try to claim the credit:-:- God told the Israelites,”You may say to yourself… ‘My hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember The Lord...For it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.. If you ever forget...You will surely be destroyed.” (2 Don’t Forget others:- In (1Timothy 6:17-19) The Bible COMMANDS “Those who are rich in this present world… to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. COMMANDS (Not an option) them to do good, to be rich in good deeds...generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves.” (3) Don’t become arrogant :- Jeremiah admonishes us in ( Jeremiah 9:23-24) “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong of their strength... or the rich… of their riches. But let the one who boasts, boast of this that they have the understanding to know me, that I am The Lord,” (4) Don’t allow any person place or thing to take God’s place in your life:- (Proverbs 30:8-9) “Give me neither poverty or riches, but give me only my daily bread, otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say ‘Who is the Lord.” Remember this, You don’t own anything (nothing) you are just an administrator of God’s estate and an executer of His will, it’s a responsibility, so do your best job. One day you will definitely be asked to give an account not only for how you have spent the Kings money, but also for all that He has so freely bestowed upon you. Think very seriously about this. Matter, Life is short. (Psalm 62:10) Gives us another condition or serious warning, “Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the centre of your life.” this verse means if we are seeking God’s blessings in our finances we must be truthful with God, generous with the poor, and honest in our financial dealings with everyone, from the tax Dept. to the local garage sale. And when God blesses you, remember the times when you were poor, and needed help, God blessed you. So give someone a helping hand even if it costs you, Then you will see God generously bless you. Be generous with your time, energy and food. Having had a big family, I remember just how much I appreciated it when someone offered to babysit for us, or take the younger children off my hands for an afternoon so I could have a rest or go shopping without them. Or when John was away a neighbour would offer to mow the lawn or do a bit of gardening, and the times when someone else offered to give me a ride to church on a Sunday I was so grateful. Also when John was in hospital with his heart condition, so many people came round with meals and baking for me and my family. I will never forget the kindness of so many friends and neighbours and I’m sure God doesn’t either. I often pray their blessings will be enhanced. There is one other way we can share our blessings with others, It’s by praying for them. Even though we may not have a personal relationship with them. They may go to the same Church, Supermarket or Library as you do, I believe, If God has put them in your sights it’s for a reason, so say a prayer for them, just maybe, they have a need, that only God in His Grace and Mercy can meet, a prayer never gets ignored or wasted. Thank you for reading these few words on The money, goods and time we have been entrusted with. Remember one day we will be asked to give an account for how we used God’s blessings. God Bless and keep us in His love. Phaline. ---------------------------

153. EMBRACE OLD AGE. Isaiah 65-22

We live in a fickle society where a few wrinkles can devastate our self-worth. But you and I don’t have to be a victims to that value system. In the above Scripture the prophet Isaiah tells us “As the days, of a tree, so will be the days of my people: My chosen ones will so enjoy the work of their hands.” Someone once said “Age is an issue of mind over matter” So, build a strong relationship with God. Spend time talking with Him and reading His Word (Proverbs 3:1-2) says “Store up My commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.” Come to grips with the reality of ageing. You and I and everyone else have been ageing from the moment we were conceived. In fact, on the day we were born we were already nine months old. Therefore, fretting about getting older is as fruitless as worrying about the sun going down in the east every evening. Instead of concerning yourself with the length of your life, maximise every day of it. Each morning look into the mirror and announce out loud, (Psalm 118:24) “This is the day The Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.” Always have a goal. It doesn’t have to be something big in the eyes of the world. Just something you look forward to doing with your hands and your mind. Elanor Roosevelt, the wife of one of America’s greatest Presidents, was reported to have said, “I could not at any age be content to take my place with a cup of hot coffee in a corner by the fireside and simply look on.” So if you don’t want to sit and look out of a fogged up window at a dark, drizzling sky in your closing years, thinking of what might have been, Read, grow something, contribute to and instigate interesting conversations, stay involved and live until your last breath. Are you one of those people who get depressed at the thought of getting older? Do you get anxious or fatalistic in your outlook? Studies show that good health is the number one factor in determining the level of happiness in old, age. So (1) Eat healthy and exercise often if you can and drink lots of water, take your daily vitamins and get regular medical check-ups. These efforts will not guarantee you more time, but they will help to improve the quality of your time here on earth. (2) Look your best as your budget will allow. When you look good, you feel good – and inspired. But keep your quest for attractiveness in balance. Remember God’s words to Samuel; (1 Samuel 16:7) “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them, People judge by outward appearances, but The Lord looks at the heart.” Think twice, and examine your motives, seek God’s advice and do your homework before submitting to cosmetic procedures some can be costly and downright dangerous. (3) Look for help from a trusted friend. Read what The Lord has to say to you: in (Psalm 92:13-14) “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in their old age, and they shall be fresh and flourishing.” So, if you are not fresh and flourishing, ask yourself these two questions (1) Am I truly planted (rooted) in the House of The Lord\)’ if something is planted, it needs daily attention, ‘feeding, and watering’ are you making sure you are allowing God’s Word to nourish (penetrate) your mind, not just reading it because that’s your daily ritual, after reading, do you question yourself,”What did I learn from that reading, More often than not, God speaks through His Word. Sometimes it’s better to have a short reading and learn something than a longer one rushed through and nothing gained. I find Jesus’ parables and teachings are really good doing it this way, because every time I read them I get a different angle or concept on the same story, and that can be rally interesting!! And what about your daily prayer, is it a conversation with Jesus, or Our Father God, or is it a menu of requests, It’s a good idea to look at the (ACTS table) Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication, that’s something I learned long ago, I like it because it puts God first; and me and my requests last and keeps me subject to His Will. (2.) Are you still bearing fruit? If you think you are too old to bear fruit it will show! your fruit will get less juicy, diminish in size and you will lack taste; because your heart will not be in it, You may need to examine and put in a little more effort in these areas. Growing older is not a walk in the park or being walked around in a wheelchair says this ninety year old, But, who said it would be?. In fact,The Word tells us there are multiple blessings for those of us who hang in there until the end. Yes, I agree we and what we think or say doesn’t carry much weight in the world, in society, or even in our families, to day; We get tired, ignored, forgotten and written off, even by Christians, occasionally we get irritable, mostly with ourselves for not being able to comprehend the changing jargon and technology of the day. And if one happens to have a disability as I do, that only adds to our frustrations. However, Here’s the good news, The God we have become so familiar with over the years, this God we know so well, love and trust so deeply is so with us, so close, so real, He chooses yo make Himself available to us, He talks our language, invades our thoughts and holds us tightly in His grip. there is nothing in all the world that can be compared to His eternal presence within us. And that is a special gift I believe, God keeps only for the elderly who keep on keeping on. I know I have it and wouldn’t swap it for anything on earth. So, embrace your age year by year, acknowledge each day as a gift from God, use it for advancing His Kingdom. He pays good wages to His workers, He provides for them, He defends them and keeps them safe in the palm of His hand day after day. Who could ask for anything more? Thank you for reading these words of mine on getting the best out of our Senior Years. “If The Lord is with us, who can be against us? God Bless. Phaline.

152. ANGELS YES OR NO.

There are over three hundred references to Angels in Scripture, Both in the Old and New Testament. What do they look like? You ask, Well, they usually appear in the garb or dress of the culture and day. There’s no real description or words in Scripture of wings, haloes feathers etc. Although they often seem to give their names Gabriel, Michael and I believe there is a Ra phial, mentioned in some of the old books and translations. Their occupation. Angels are messengers from Heaven who are sent (Mostly but not always) to individuals, to guide and protect those of us who have given our hearts, souls and lives to God. Not being one of the opposition I don’t know how or If Angels ever cross the paths of the unsaved. But, What I do know is that God looks after His own and often uses Angels to communicate and apply His Will. This doesn’t mean that no bad things will happen to those of us who are saved’ No! It just means sometimes things will and do occur in the lives of the committed which make us ask the WHY question. But, our consolation is in knowing that whatever it is has been sanctioned by God for us: for reasons we are not privy to at that particular stage in our lives. But more often than not He does reveal them to us later. Now, this calls for Faith and an acceptance, even willingness on our part to suffer with the Crucified Christ and as Paul tells us,’ to consider it a privilege yes and a pleasure, considering the glory that awaits us.” No! It’s not easy this maturing as a Christian, Nor is taking up our cross daily to follow Jesus, that’s why we need to pray to The Holy Spirit on a daily bases for the Faith of Christ to be established in us as a permanent resident gift. We really need a good strong reliable Faith in God and that comes by regular Bible reading and living it. How? By knowing that Jesus with His own blood bought and paid for you and me; Not with money, Gold, Silver or precious stones, No! we are worth much more to God than any earthly commodity. It had to be the pure blood-offering of a perfect Human Being to a Devine God. And Jesus God’s only Son is the only human being who could ever fulfil that role and did, just for us. That’s how much God loves You an I and wont allow anything to hinder or come between Himself and us; And that demands complete Faith and Trust on our part Right, Back to Angels; There are two significant words in Scripture that seem to describe Angels, “Many and Mighty” But it took only one angel to shut the mouths of lions for Daniel, and one Angel to bring Peter out of prison the night before he was to be executed, and do you remember Elisha’s servant? When an enemy army surrounded the city of Dothan. In (2Kings,6:17) ”Elisha asked God to open his servant’s eyes; And The Lord let the servant see that the hill was covered with fiery horses and flaming chariots all around Elisha.” If God opened your eyes today, what would you see? Angels with your children and grand children at school? Angels protecting you from drunk drivers on the road? An Angel guiding the hand of a surgeon? An Angel guarding you, your family and your home while you slept? One Bible teacher says, “If you are a believe, expect powerful angels to accompany you in all of life’s experiences” Does everyone have an Angel looking out for them? The answer to that question is in Hebrews (1:14) which says “All Angels (are) ministering Spirits sent to serve those who will inherit Salvation”. When you accept Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour, You gain the ultimate security. When you give your life to God, and acknowledge Jesus as His only Son who gave His life for you, you receive around-the-clock protection because (Psalm 34:7) says “The Angel of The Lord encamps around those who fear Him.” Note Your Angel doesn’t just give you a wave or two as He flies past, He pitches his tent, lingers and keeps vigilance over you. You can rest secure beneath the shadow of his wings – If that doesn’t lower your anxiety level, nothing will. The fact of the matter is, some of the wealthiest people on the planet don’t have it that good. How blessed we are to be chosen to know, love and serve Our Great and Glorious God. Thank and Praise Him everyday for choosing you and sending you an Angel of your very own. I do!! Thank you for reading this word about Angels. I hope it brings clarity to your thoughts on the matter of our heavenly protectors and friends. God bless Phaline. ------------------------