Deeper into Jesus

If you're reading this in an email, scroll down to the very last link and click the link to view in your browser

"Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."  Luke 5:4

Peter and the others, had been out all night fishing, and they had caught nothing. (Luke 5:4-9.) Jesus told Peter to go out again but this time to go into deeper waters. Peter explained, patiently, that they had toiled all night and it had been fruitless. 'Nevertheless, at Your Word, I will let down the net.' As he did, he had the biggest catch of fish, he had ever had. In fact so great a catch that the boat began to sink at the weight of the catch.

You see, God knows best. He saw Peter cleaning the nets and noticed how disappointed, tired and frustrated he was. After all, this was his livelihood. He decided to change this in an instant and blessed him. He can do the same for you too. When we go deeper, God blesses our obedience. He knows best. One word from Jesus changes everything. 

At times, we don't want to do what God is asking. For various reasons, we can't be bothered. Peter may have felt that way too but he went ahead and obeyed and that's the difference.

A Palm tree grow very tall and its roots go very deep - searching for water. It needs this to survive so it goes to great lengths to extend its roots into the deep and then it is rewarded. (Psalm 1). Are you getting the picture? As we go deeper into Jesus, we find all we need. We find a connection with God that will never allow us to be uprooted, barren or blown away.
Likewise, we need to go deeper in order to get closer to God and prosper (Psalm 1:3). 

Probably you have been tired and frustrated with you life, just lately. Disappointment may be uppermost in your thoughts. You may be feeling that your time will never come, nobody cares anymore, anyway. Yes, they do. Jesus does! Get closer to Him, in fact go deeper than you have ever done before. Then as God speaks words of encouragement to you, obey Him and you will benefit greatly.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Reactions

If you're reading this in an email, scroll down to the very last link and click the link to view in your browser

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."  Proverbs 15:1. NKJV

This area is covered greatly in sermons, books and bible commentaries. But if we don't overcome it, then God will continue to expose us to this teaching until we do. We all struggle in this area from time to time. Driving behind someone who is driving ridiculously slow can provoke some pretty harsh words from the one who is following.  Trying to overtake and and nearly crashing the car is one kind of anger fallout, to avoid. Then there is the car park. You queue for hours and just when a space becomes available, someone nips in there very quickly. The blood in your body can be bubbling as you mouth off at the other driver and they give you one of those strange hand signals.

Then there's the person in the supermarket queue - the one that's the items of ten only. Someone comes along with a trolley load of shopping and starts passing them down towards the till. No one says anything but inwardly, you are fuming. You start counting how many items she has. When you see she has 25 different bits of shopping, instead of 10, you try catching the cashier's eye, but they're not saying anything. Eventually you keep staring at the customer, really hoping that she is going to be evicted from the store and banned. However, noting happens. Except, that is, she now catches you eye-balling her and rudely asks, 'What are you looking at?' Pretty soon you have a feud on your hands.

All of this could have been avoided if you had used the soft answer option. However, you opted for the harsh word option and things had gone crazy.If you are a Christian, you know that this behaviour is unacceptable; common to us yes, but unacceptable. 

Does this sound familiar? If so, what should you do about it? I heard of a vicar with a reputation for having a short fuse, who blasted off at a young couple. This vicar was driving home from various appointments when this couple cut him up and slow-timed him all the way. He was livid, and shouted at them, sounded  his horn and repeatedly flashed his headlights at them. But this made no difference. After shouting abuse at them again, the couple gestured at him rudely, slowed down even more and turned into the vicar's drive. He was horrified as he followed behind. He then realised that this was the couple who were getting married in his church in a few weeks time. He told me that he had to do some quick thinking to quieten this down. But alas, the damage was done and he had used the harsh word syndrome instead of the soft answer one.

Don't be like him. Allow the Holy Spirit to help you overcome this area. It is not good and paints a bad picture

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

You can do this!

If you're reading this in an email, scroll down to the very last link and click the link to view in your browser

"O taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him.:  Psalm 34:8

I was in a shop the other day when I saw a sign that I felt was quite profound. It said:
'If you don't try, you'll never know.' This made me think of the above scripture. You have to taste God - try Him out. Unless you do, you'll never know how good He is and what He can do in your life. It's rather like if you buy a new chocolate bar because someone told you how tasty it is. Unless you taste it yourself, you'll never know if what they're saying is true. I used this phrase as an example when I was doing an essay, years ago. The person who marked it, wrote over my essay, 'Jesus is not a chocolate bar.' The thing is, I never said he was, but I have used this lots of times when I've been describing how one has to taste and see how good God is, and it's worked every time. I wrote this on my essay and sent it back, but I never received a response.

At this time, you may be swamped with questions such as"

What is God asking you to do?
What is available to you but it is so scary if you went for it?
Shall I go for this new job?
Shall we move house to another area?
Am I being called to the ministry of Jesus?

You nearly always have a choice but what shall it be? It's easier to stay in the comfort zone but at a later date, you may regret not taking the opportunity. It is so scary. However, do you trust God? Your answer may be, 'Yes, but..? That word 'but' can be so negative and debilitating. It causes chaos to our thinking. If you're going to go for it, you really need to analyse this word; try and work through the fear it brings up, and move forward.

Dare you take the risk? If God is in this, you know He will not let you down. He's opened a door and no one can close it (Revelation 3:7-8) Why not taste and see how good God really is and GO FOR IT. It may be the best decision you've ever made.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

The Future

If you're reading this in an email, scroll down to the very last link and click the link to view in your browser

"Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am you may be also. And where I go, you know, and the way you know."  John 14:1-4 NKJV  

This is the future but with God, time is eternal, there is no measure of it at all. It just stands still. Read about this in 2 Peter 3:8: 'But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.' When we die, time has finished for us. For those who are left behind, time still goes on and they miss us. For us, we have entered into eternity. Time has ceased. It's an amazing thing.

Jesus has gone before us and is preparing a place for us to live. Now it only took 6 days to create this world and it's a pretty good place to live; what about Heaven? Jesus has been preparing this for some two thousand years. It must be truly amazing! It'll be everything that home is intended to be, and more. Home here on earth is a special place for us; there's usually no place like it. Home is the place that homeless people long for. That place of security; that special place. they long for this, and many never seem to find it again.

Jesus will return. there is no doubt about that. It is fact! 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says: 

'But I do not want you to be ignorant brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again , even so, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you, by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven  with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then, we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.'

The words, 'caught up', actually mean rapture. This word is not in the bible but it means that the church - His people, will be caught away to Heaven, firstly the dead in Christ and then the living - all who have trusted in Christ and who await His return.

Some will be seized; snatched away; caught up in the air. The Lord's coming will have a three fold announcement"

(1)  A loud Shout
(2). The voice of an archangel
(3). And the trumpet of the Lord.

There's a three fold promise:

(1)  The dead will rise
(2). Those who are alive will be caught away
(3). We'll be with the Lord forever

Don't you just want to be there? It will be a glorious day and don't forget, we should be preparing for it now. It could happen any day. No one knows, not even Jesus, when that day will come. We may be talking with someone and all of a sudden, be snatched away to be with Jesus. It may sound ridiculous, but trust me, it's the truth and it will happen.

Are you going to be prepared and ready? It can only happen to you if Jesus is your Lord. Please don't get left behind. It'll be too late then.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com 

The Present

If you're reading this in an email, scroll down to the very last link and click the link to view in your browser


"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  2 Corinthians 5:17.  NKJV

Well, here you are. If you agreed with yesterday's reading, and asked Jesus to be Your Lord and give you a brand new start, here it is. The thing is, what are you going to do now? Asking Jesus into your life is only the beginning. It takes a lot on your part to make it work, to carry on with Him.

You've taken the first step. If you haven't already, you need to get yourself a bible, and not the 'Thee's and Thou's ones'. You need an English speaking one - one that you will find easy to understand. The New Living Testament is a good version and reads rather like an ordinary book. Secondly, get some daily bible study notes. You can use this one if you choose to, but there are lots around. In my opinion, one of the best is The Word for Today by Bob and Debby Gass. They're part of United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) and write a daily commentary which is free. If you contact them, they'll put a three month copy in the post to you.

Thirdly, it's a good idea to find a caring church; one that is not too staid or religious but is up to date in its worship and bible teaching. Once joined, there will be Home Groups to visit each week and probably all sorts of things that would interest you and make you feel very welcome.

Of course the most important thing is your daily walk with Jesus. Spending a little time each day reading your bible and commentary, together with talking to God (praying), and of course listening to Him; because if you speak to Him, he's going to want to speak back, so get into the practice of listening to Him.

An Alpha course is really beneficial and most churches would be able to direct you where one is being held. 

You're on the way. Keep at it and learn to trust Jesus. You may have been let down in the past but now you have a friend who will never let you down. That's a promise!

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

The Past

If you're reading this in an email, scroll down to the very last link and click the link to view in your browser

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  2 Corinthians 5:17.  NKJV

This is what it means to be a Christian. Jesus, on our confession of our sin, and acceptance of Him into our lives, has washed away everything and given us a brand new start. One day, we will enter into His presence. Until then, we live for Him.

If you're anything like I was, God had a lot to sort out in my life. If I'm honest, He still has, but He is very patient. He has removed all the bad stuff that I was ever involved in as the scripture says in Psalm 103:12, 'As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.'

Haven't you ever wished that you could start again? Well, with Jesus, that is what happened the moment we asked Him into our lives. He doesn't speak empty words. If He says, I forgive you,' then He means just that. Even great men of God came from dubious backgrounds. The Apostle Paul before his conversion and the change of Name from Saul, was consenting to the stoning of Stephen the Martyr, one of the Apostles (Acts 7:54-8:1). However, following Paul's dramatic conversion on the Damascus Road (Acts 9) there was a major change in his behaviour and he ended up writing the biggest part of the New Testament, building churches and raising up men of God, all over the place. But it was Christ's forgiveness that started it all. From the day he surrendered to Jesus, his murky past was over and he worked tirelessly for Jesus.

Probably you may have made a mess of your life. It may have been doomed from the very start through a broken family. Some may have ended in care being passed from family to family for years. You may have missed out on what is considered to be 'family'. Your parents may have divorced or you may be the victim of a broken marriage and witnessed you partner deserting you. Of course it hurts! It makes you angry and it is so unfair. The past can't be changed. It happened and somehow we have to work through it. Jesus can help you here. He is the Master of putting broken lives back to together again; the Master of healing broken hearts. The Master of breaking addictions. If this is what you need, slip to your knees now and call upon the One who really cares and wants to change things for you, right now.

'Lord Jesus, my life is in such a mess. I'm angry, aggressive and I hurt. Please would You help me to start again, to have a new crack at life. I give my life to You now and say I'm sorry for my sin. Amen.'

Get yourself a bible; start reading it and find a church who will love you. Email me if you wish.

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard 

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com

Who is going to tell them?

If you're reading this in an email, scroll down to the very last link and click the link to view in your browser

"For whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him  in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?"   Romans 10:13-15  NKJV

As people call on the Name of the Lord, they shall be saved - born again - converted etc. etc. This goes for Christians too, when we are in dire trouble, calling out to God can lead us out of the problem, or at least, help us to cope with it.
However, we're talking here about unbelievers. Those who have never made the Lord their Saviour. This has happened to many people. I was 34 before I became a Christian. Up until that time, I had lived for myself and didn't care about God or holiness. However, God had a plan. For what happened, scroll down to the beginning of these daily blogs for My Testimony.

Many people live their lives, work, eat, sleep and have some fun and that about sums it all up. But there is much more. But, the people won't know unless someone tells them. That's where we all come in. The only time people hear about Godly things, are at funerals, occasionally wedding and in the day when it was okay to talk about God - in school. Therefore, many don't know about God and we need to tell them. 

Romans 10:17 says, 'Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.' Perhaps it needs a preacher to tell them. Really though, as Christians we all have it within us to speak about our faith to someone. Perhaps at work, in the pub, at school or somewhere in the community. 

Many churches today, neglect to preach the Gospel, choosing to fill the service with lots of worship and prayer and a short sermon. It must be said, that worship can contain the Good News of Jesus, yes, but in my opinion, the sermon cannot be neglected, especially if the Gospel is preached each week. 

Not many unbelieving folk walk into a church unless they're invited and then they may be reluctant. If and when they do, we need to take every opportunity, without coming on too heavily, to introduce them to Jesus. Failing that, what about preaching in the street. We've all seen the person who is talking about Jesus in a town, suffering verbal abuse as he or she tries to get the message over. It is not easy I know. I have done this and been shouted at, moved on by the law but I have felt excited by it all. Let's face it, this is just what the Early Church did. They didn't wait for the people to come to them, they went to the people.

Is this something you could do? If not, why not try to listen to peoples problems and just bring Jesus into it all and go for the victory. If you don't tell them, what if no one else will either? Not everyone is a preacher or an evangelist either. But we all have the ability to speak to someone who is going through a bad time, offering pray for them or just telling them about Jesus.

Does this sound freaky? If so, there has been a lot of freaky people over the years

Copyright 2019 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesus@protonmail.com