Thursday, 30 April 2020

What's love got to do with it? Part 1

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (4) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ((5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; (6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; (7) bears all things , believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never fails."  
                                                                                      1 Corinthians 13:1-8.  NKJV

 Shortly after Jesus had predicted His death, a dispute arose between the disciples about who would be the greatest. They appeared to believe that Jesus had favourites and that one of them would be the leader when He had died. They were so wrong. (Luke 9:46).

 When someone outshines us, it can cause us envy and jealousy. This can lead to rivalry. We have to keep our hearts in check. Love must be uppermost amongst us. Without love, whatever we say, do or preach is like a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. It becomes like an empty corridor, where it is a noisy echo that serves no purpose except to point to hypocrisy. (v1)

 A person can have the most amazing faith - faith that can move mountains (v2). However, this act is totally empty without love. All it does, is point to the person's self esteem and ambition. We can give food and clothing to the poor (v3) and we can also give generously to all of the charities, but if it is not from a heart of love, that clanging cymbal starts up again. It just profits nothing.

 Dwight L Moody wrote:
'If we love a person, we won't be pointing out his failures all the time'

And it is so true. We can so easily become engulfed in dragging someone down because we don't agree with how they do things. Love is never rude. (5). Never! It never puts itself first. It doesn't parade itself by shouting, 'Hey, look at me. Wasn't that an amazing sermon that I just preached.' Love never becomes puffed up.

Dare to ask yourself this question:
'Are my motives designed to reflect the love of God or to look good myself?'
Selfish ambition will never work in the Kingdom of God. It is the loudest of clanging cymbals. 

 We'll look a little deeper into 'Love', tomorrow.





















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Wednesday, 29 April 2020

Stop finding fault and shine

"Do all things without complaining and disputing, (15) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world."
                                                                                                   Philippians 2:14-15   NKJV

 We're called to shine in the darkness of this world. To light up the dark pathways that many people stumble upon. The thing is, we'll never shine this way if we can't accept new things or new ways. Let me explain:

 We can be creatures of habit and find it difficult if anyone changes the norm - the things that we've always been used to. Change can be hard to handle, especially if it affects the way that we have always done things. We tend to become offended when someone comes along and does something alien to our way of doing something. 

 DL Moody says:

 'Let's not fall into the trap of finding fault because things aren't done exactly like they've been done in the past, or like we think they ought to be done.'

 I know of a pastor, who -  when he was appointed as minister of a church with many years of church squabbles -  the first Sunday that he preached, stood up and said, 'Right, I would like all of the elders and deacons to stand down as of this moment. I then intend to - ' He then went on with a list of all the changes he was going to implement. He ended this unusual speech with, 'Everyone who doesn't agree with these changes, would you please leave the church right now.' About 70% of the congregation left. To the remaining 30% he said, 'Right, we can now re-build our church.' And he did and it thrived from thereon.

 Not everyone likes change but it is to our advantage at times. The problem is, if we begin complaining and finding fault in all that is beginning to happen - church or elsewhere - it becomes an uphill battle. From a Christian point of view if we act this way, instead of unbelievers seeing Jesus in us, they will see what they can see anywhere else in the world. Instead of being beacons of light in a dark world - a world that points to Jesus, we will show them that there is no difference in believers or unbelievers.
Now that's food for thought!

 Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard












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Tuesday, 28 April 2020

How can I change?

"And do not be conformed to this world. but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God"
                                                                                             Romans 12:2.  NKJV

 'How can I change?' You may say. 'I've tried a million times over but I seem to be getting worse- it's a waste of time. I may as well give up.' You may be saying or thinking this and I want to tell you that, it's a very common statement. We have all said it from time to time.
The Christian life is not easy, not if you take it seriously - which God expects. Check this out if you will: - You have a good day and feel close to God and you decide that, 'this is the way I'm going to live. I'm going to live for God from this day on.' 

 The next day, a certain thing happens and, 'POW', your statement from yesterday goes out of the window and you feel awful and totally ashamed of yourself because of your behaviour. What has happened? You've discovered that you're normal and beating yourself up is not going to change things. It takes much more than that. You have to go deeper!

 To go deeper, you need a closer walk with Jesus. God could change you in a second, but He expects you to do your bit first. He will then meet you halfway and help you to transform.
It begins with your thinking. What you think about you're more likely to speak. You've internalised it. Therefore, fill your day reading God's Word, then you're more likely to think and speak His way. 

 Our minds become renewed as we enter into the study of His Word and our hearts begin to change towards submission. In fact, the more we read the bible, study and expound it, and then put it into action, the more we want to do this. Try it, because learning about Jesus is infectious.

 You'll still make mistakes. There will still be days when you mess up completely, but they will begin to be less frequent. You will also learn quickly when things are not going well and you're about to be attacked by the devil. That's good, because it'll mean that you can deal with it before the flak takes over.

 So, if you feel that you have messed up recently, ask God to forgive you and accept that He has done (1 John 1:9). Then move on with Jesus.

 Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard











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Monday, 27 April 2020

He's always there for me.

"In my distress, I called upon the LORD, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple and my cry came before Him, even to His ears."
                                                                                             Psalm 18:6.  NKJV

 David sang this song - Psalm 18 - on the day the LORD delivered him from all of his enemies, especially King Saul, who had acted terribly towards him.
In the Psalm, David laments how good the LORD has been to him, even as the closeness of death was on him, God intervened and rescued him.
It was a testimony and years later, when David was in old age, he would sing the same song, as he reflected on His life and how God had been so good to him. (2 Samuel 22).
We often give a testimony too, of how God has rescued us. It is important to do this. Firstly, it shows other people the awesome love and power of God, and secondly, it makes us feel good to talk about God, especially if someone gets saved as they listen to our words.
Verse 6 - our text today - confirms that as we call on God, He hears us, our cry reaches His throne and He actions this request: 'He bowed the heavens also and came down.' (Psalm 18:9). 
When it is a distress call from us, an urgent need of help, He can be relied upon to help us immediately. Psalm 91:11-12, appears to inform us, that we have at least two angels assigned to us and as we call to God, we can ask Him to send these angels to protect and helps us. They are our ministering angels, but note that it is God who gives them charge over our life and situation, not us. We cannot order them to do our bidding, God does that.
He may answer us and help us in other ways, but one thing is for sure, He will answer us and quickly if we're in danger. We probably all have those times that we remember when God divinely released us from certain death or sickness or injury. These are the times when we know for certain that He is there for us, watching our backs.
We all have a personal song of praise that we can sing to God, if we choose to. We don't have to be a brilliant musician or performer to get His attention this way. It's not The X factor, it is God and we all win on this show because He loves to hear the praise that we send His way.
Why not write and sing your own personal song to Him? It may not sound all that good to you, but to God, it will sound like a wonderful classic. Think back on those wonderful times that He rescued you and write Him a song or poem. You'll feel good about it and God will be overjoyed!

 Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard




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Sunday, 26 April 2020

A LETTER by Hazel Howard

26th April 2020
After much confirmation
from various sources

My Dear Brothers and Sisters

I hope and pray that you are all staying safe and well and not climbing the walls with boredom, or home schooling your children, alongside all your other roles.

The Holy Spirit has been urging me to share with you where He has been leading me.
It began last year in October 2019 but has all come together now. In March this year, I saw how the fear of the Coronavirus and the fear of not 'having enough', was gripping us all in the UK and across the nations, causing people to panic. A spirit of fear had hit the nations so I began to intercede. I joined with a group who were holding a day of prayer and fasting to seek God on behalf of the people. Out of that I wrote, 'Sometimes revival is messy'. Holding on to that thought, I began praying daily, 2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible): 'For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline , and self control.'

This is a 'Wake up' call! We need to get our houses in order both spiritually and physically. Our homes need to become Houses of Prayer.
Revival will come in our streets, not in our churches and we need (you and I) to be ready and prepared to gather in the Harvest where we live. 

So how do we prepare and be ready for what the Lord our God is going to do in this New Season that is coming - after Coronavirus? Please read 2 Chronicles 7:14 (Amplified Bible) for His directive that says:

"If My people (that's you and me)  who are called by My name (the name of Jesus), shall humble themselves and pray, seek, (search) crave (desire with passion) and require of necessity (which we do) My face and turn (stop it) from their (our) wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their (our) sin, and heal their (our) land."                                                                          2 Chronicles 7:14   Amplified Bible 

This word is for us as believers - all of us who know His name - not unbelievers that don't know about the things of God. Then we will be more like Jesus and our churches will reflect His glory, face to face.

Let's pray:

'23 Search me (thoroughly) O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.'              Psalm 139:23-24   Amplified Bible

In Jesus' Name, Amen

Your Sister in Christ 

Hazel

SEE YOU UP THERE!














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Saturday, 25 April 2020

Hardship Part 2

(6) "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (8) whom having not seen, you love."                                                             
                                                                                             1 Peter 1:6-8.  NKJV

 No one is immune to hardship. It can come on anyone of us, at anytime. We just have to be ready for anything that may come our way to disable or rob us of the joy of God. In other words, we need to be vigilant and alert (1 Peter 5:8). We need to be able to stand firm in the mighty armour of the Lord Almighty (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Disappointment and failure may be part of our days at the moment, together with obstacles in the way such as, sickness, lack and a feeling of hopelessness. This creates a great struggle.
It's difficult for us to accept, that God will allow us to come face to face with such things in order to test our faith. But we need to realise that when we seek Him and ask for His help, He is faithfully there. However, at times we may have to wait.
He hears our cries and He sees our struggles but at times, we firstly have to overcome certain barriers before He will intervene. If we can't face the flak, then when deeper hardship or struggles come upon us, we'll not cope.
It's all about a relationship - an intimate relationship with Jesus. If we're a Christian, we have a covenant with Him and He with us. What is ours is His and what is His is ours; we're in covenant relationship with Him. But if we continue to fight and struggle, instead of seeking Him for advice and help, He'll consider that we can manage alone - which we can't.
He wants us to place Him in charge, totally. So stop trying to figure it all out yourself. He knows the answer; He knows the way out of this mess and if you let Him, He will do it.
He's preparing us. This is why things are so difficult at times. But as we call on Him, He'll give us hope, encouragement and refreshing. But it all comes down to our relationship with Him. If we have a really close intimate friendship with Jesus, we'll know deep down that whatever comes against us - whatever! He has a plan and His plan can be relied on.

 Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard


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Friday, 24 April 2020

Hardship Part 1

(6) "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (8) whom having not seen, you love."                                                             
                                                                                             1 Peter 1:6-8.  NKJV

 Peter addressed the 'pilgrims' here - the sojourners or indeed travellers, who had been scattered because of the persecution led by Nero. Peter's aim was to encourage and remind them that, even though at this time they were far from home and had lost practically everything, Jesus was still on the throne and was their hope in all of their suffering.
They were going through a terrible time and through it, God was testing the genuineness of their faith. They were more precious than gold, that perishes though it is tested by fire. They were undergoing a similar test but God would bring them through the fire. Charles F Stanley writes"

 'How would you ever learn to trust God if you never experienced a situation where only He could help you? This is why adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with the Lord. He allows your faith to be refined by fire - just as gold is - so that every impurity, doubt, anxiety and frustration bubble to the surface. Then when He answers your desperate prayers, all of those hindrances to your trust in Him are removed, leaving only purified confidence in His holy ways.'
                                                                                      Copyright Charles F Stanley

 This is what God is doing to each of us. We may be going through difficult days, but we will get through them, as we trust totally in Him. Jesus will see to that! But, He wants to check on the 'genuineness of your faith' v7. 
His wish is for us to be able to overcome each and every situation that comes our way. It's tough but we can do it.
Tomorrow, we'll look in more detail regarding this area.

 Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard








                                                                                       
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Thursday, 23 April 2020

Just sit before the Lord

"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, 'Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house that You have brought me this far?"
                                                                                  Verse 18 of 2 Samuel 7:18-29.  NKJV

 Spending time alone with God is the key to spiritual growth. He's interested in whatever we want to discuss; all the things on our heart that bother us and weigh us down. But -  watch this carefully -  the important bit is allowing God to speak to us, instead of speaking non-stop and not giving Him the opportunity to answer our requests and needs! He has so much that he wants to tell us but often, we don't give Him the opportunity. We dash in, fire our problems and needs to Him and then dash out again. We need to sit before Him and listen. David sought to know God. He frequently inquired of Him and spent time in God's presence singing and praising Him.
Note in verse 18 that David sat before the Lord. What does that actually mean? It means he spent quality time alone with God, talking to Him, sharing his heart. He questioned God and God answered him because David sat there and listened closely.
Jesus also used this technique. He more than anyone, needed this. He needed the comfort, strength and encouragement that could only come from His Father. The world was taking pieces of Him, He needed God to replace them. Do you know what I mean?
He also spent time alone with His disciples. He wanted to ensure that they were taught and refreshed and ready to take what the world would throw at them. We also need this, probably more so than the disciples because they had the benefit of walking with Him each day and seeing Him face to face.
We are wise when we determine to spend time alone with Jesus; where there are no distractions, such as the telephone or people calling to see you requiring your attention. This distracts us making us lose our focus. Discipline is needed. If Jesus needed time alone with His Father, then we do more so.
We need to set a regular time that is dedicated to Jesus. The place we do this, is better if it is a solitary place, like a study or a spare bedroom, somewhere where we're less likely to be disturbed. Don't take your mobile to this place! Determine the time and then relax in His presence, with your bible and a notebook and pen.
We must be willing to wait on God. He doesn't always answer us as quickly as we would like Him to. We also need to be more confident before Him. He loves our presence - what father doesn't love to be with his children? We can tend to inhibit our praise and worship. This may possibly be because we feel embarrassed or foolish. Let me tell you, our Father never thinks we're foolish or embarrassing. He adores us and loves the attention we give Him.
Sit in a chair, pace the floor or lay down and just speak to Him but allow Him to speak back to you. Don't hog the conversation. Worship Him; put some music on if need be and make the most of each moment with Him. You'll feel all the better for it.

 Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard






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Wednesday, 22 April 2020

Set your sights above

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
                                                                               Colossians 3:1-4.  NKJV

 After the resurrection, Jesus left the tomb; so should we because we don't live there anymore. The stone's been rolled away and our life is now His; we live in Him and He in us. We've been raised to life with Jesus.

 People often say things such as, 'Music is his life,' or 'She lives for her sport, it's her life.' In the same way, we should be letting it be known that 'Jesus is our life - we live for Him.' Do you realise that God gave Jesus His glory and Jesus gave each one of us His glory:

 'And the glory which You gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one, just as We are one.'                                               John 17:22.  NKJV

 We have Jesus' glory; He gave it us. We are co-heirs with Him (Romans 8:17). However, that doesn't mean we should get all puffed up about it all. Jesus suffered terribly and as co-heirs with Him, there'll be times when we have to as well. There'll be times when He wants us to do things that we don't want to. We've given our life to Jesus, so He can use it as He sees fit.
Read what David Guzik says about this:

‘It is important to remember that the glory that God the Father gave to God the Son was glory that often appeared humble, weak, and suffering. It was glory that was ultimately displayed in radical sacrifice. The glory of Jesus is almost the opposite of the self-glory and vainglory of man. As God the Father shared His glory with God the Son (John 17:5), so Jesus gave glory unto His people.
i. There are many ways that Jesus gives His glory to His people.
· The glory of His presence.
· The glory of His Word.
· The glory of His Spirit.
· The glory of His power.
· The glory of His leadership.
· The glory of His preservation.
ii. In all these aspects, there is the essential aspect of the presence of Jesus, God the Son. Scripturally speaking, when God gives or displays His glory to His people, it is some type of manifestation of God’s presence. God’s glory is, in some way, the radiance or shining of His presence, His essential nature.'
                                  
                                                                   Enduring Word David Guzik
Set your eyes and mind on the things above, on Jesus. It may be hard at times, but it is well worth it in the end when we meet Him, face to face. And we never know when that may be! 

 Copyright 2020 Grahame Howard
































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