Remember me Lord

"Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 'And Jesus said to Him, "Assuredly, I say to you. today you will be with Me in Paradise."    

                                                                                                Luke 23:42 - 43      NKJV

There were two criminals either side of Jesus, each on a cross. They had divided opinions about Jesus, as is common in the world even today. One cursed Him, 'If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.' This statement was completely blasphemous and selfish. He had the audacity to tell Jesus what he wanted Him to do, 'Save Yourself and us.' There was no repentance, no guilt, nothing, except hardness of soul. He was following the crowd, who were screaming for bloodshed. It never fails to surprise me, how many people love to witness an execution. This first thief was with the crowd, totally ridiculing Jesus and all He stood for. 

On the other hand, the second thief defended Jesus. He openly rebuked the first thief by saying, 'Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? Basically, he was saying, 'we deserve this punishment but, He doesn't, He is innocent.' This thief was full of repentance and recognised that Jesus should not have been there, about to suffer this awful punishment. He looked at Jesus and said, 'Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' Jesus straightaway replied, 'Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.'  They are the most important words that we could ever want to hear, and furthermore, Jesus' words, confirm that we will not linger in the grave but, we will be with Jesus, in Paradise, the moment we die. It is a problem that many fear - dying and laying in a grave for years until we are resin. But, don't forget, when we die, time ceases, there is no measurement of time at all. Therefore, it can be deduced that at the moment of our death, we will be with Jesus, if, of course, we believe in Him and have asked Him into our hearts.

Just think for a moment about these words from Pastor Jerry Vines:

'That morning, the thief had breakfast with the devil. That night, he had supper with Jesus'.                                    Copyright Jerry Vines, The Vines Expository Bible

This verse in Luke 23:42-43, is a reference point for prayer life, 'Remember me Lord.' My guess is that He will answer, 'My child, I can't forget you.'

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Be a copy cat

"Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, and offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."                                                                   Ephesians 5:1-2    NKJV 

There are copy cats all over the world. Basically, they are made up of two kinds. Firstly, there are the imitators who model themselves on their favourite stars - of film, music or perhaps sport. Some even model themselves on someone they know and value and they go about their day attempting to act like they do. After a while, they can even begin to sound alike, especially if you speak to them on the telephone when they can sound very much like the other person. 

There are also copy-cat crimes where the crimes are based exactly on a crime from way back. There are many ways that people can be copied or imitated. The problem is, when we do this, we are demonstrating that we have no style of our own, we are being the other person. Remember one thing, you were created an original don't turn yourself into and die a copy.

The second example of a copy cat is more sensible and realistic. It is being an imitator of Jesus, who lives in our heart. When you consider it, He is our role model, the one who alone is God and who died in our place on the cross of Calvary. He is the one to follow and imitate. The world needs Him and, you have Him, so share Him around by people seeing that you are different somehow.

Imitating Jesus is, walking in love, reflecting God's nature to a hurting world. That is what an imitator does. The Greek word for imitator describes a repetition of a pattern already established by another. That 'another' is Jesus. He set the standard and expects us to uphold it. 

When we read the Guidance Manual - the bible, we find out just how wonderful Jesus Christ is. It is amazing when we realise that, He was there before creation and He is still with us today. Following Jesus, we are backing a winner. As you read your Guidance Manual, you will begin to take on His character, the Holy Spirit will envelope you and before you know it, people will see in you what they have been searching for all of their lives.

So be a copy cat of Jesus.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Be immovable

 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable , always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."      

                                                                                            1 Corinthians 15:58     NKJV

Whatever you do for Jesus, is never in vain, it is never wasted. He sees what you do and He is pleased with your loyalty and hard work. This is what steadfast means: firmly loyal and constant in all you do. You may not feel that your work, or your intentions to work, are noticed by God. You may not accomplish what you have started but, He says, 'Thank you for trying'. 

You see with God, you don't have to be a highly qualified scholar to gain His attention; whatever you are, you have His attention and you have had it since the moment you were born. Now that your are 'born again', He sits eagerly watching your efforts, encouraging you and urging you along. He is your greatest fan; He adores you.

He knows what you have been going through of late. He knows your loyalty and is impressed by your determination. You may think you have failed to achieve what you set out to do for Him; He sits there in heaven and shouts, 'Hey, did you see that, did you see my child the way He handled that situation?' You see, He evaluates things so differently to how we do, At times, we aim for perfection or close to it. God is grateful that we have tried. He is happy when we have set out to achieve something for Him and it hasn't been successful, He sees it as if it has been.

The big guns of Christianity may bring thousand of people to know Jesus in one evening. You may never achieve that; but, He never wanted you to in the first place. He is just pleased when you just smile at someone, because it is Jesus who is smiling at them. He is pleased when you do something for another person, because it is Jesus doing it. He is pleased when you tell someone that you are a Christian, even though they may reject what you say; Jesus looks and feels, 'we have an evangelist here'. 

Whatever you do, never think that your efforts are in vain; they are not. Be immovable, be steadfast abound in His richness because, you are His workmanship Ephesians 2:10. You were created in Christ Jesus for good works, and what you are doing is good.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Do not live in haste

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty."

                                                                                                    Proverbs 21:5    NKJV

Each morning, as I get dressed, our dog rushes up the stairs and sits on the landing looking at me. If I move, he moves. If I sit down, so does he. After a short time, he will start walking around me as if he is trying to round me up. It can be quite frustrating as he continues to do this. What he is after, is for me to take him for a walk. He has very little patience and will soon begin to grumble, moan and whine because I am taking too long, until I am ready, when he will bark excitedly, non stop. The dog has an agenda, he wants to get out on his walk - NOW!

After watching his actions today, it reminded me of people who their lives in haste. There is the person who sits waiting for his partner to put a coat on and walk to the car. When it is not happening as quickly as they think it should, they go and wait in the the car. After two-seconds they start the car and continue to sit there. They may move the car a few inches backwards and forwards or, they may decide to do a three point turn ready to drive the other way. After what seems to them - 24 hours, the other person gets into the car and they race off before the door is closed. (This seems familiar to me)

Then there are the supermarkets. They do not like being behind another trolly and will overtake them when they get the chance, only to find that they still have to wait for their partner. At the till, they always take the shortest queue but, reserve the right to swap to another till if it appears to be moving faster. Then to their horror, they notice that the queue that they have just left is moving faster and they would have been through now. For them, this is torture.

Back in the car, they have to pull up for traffic lights but because they are taking a while to change, they keep flashing their lights to get the sensor to change the sequence. On the move again, there is a JCB in the front of them moving at 3 mph. The horror for them continues.

Do you know anyone like this? Is that anyone, you? Being hasty is not good. It's not good for the person who has to witness all of this behaviour i.e. a partner; and it is not good enough for you either. It is not doing your health any good at all but, it's hard to change all of this though. A person such as this, lives in the fast lane of life. Their speed is 70mph or faster if they can get away with it. There is a need to drop down a gear, moving to a lower speed lane. It is walking slower than you normally do; refusing to become stressed out and doing things one at a time, not all at once.

To change to this lifestyle seems impossible for the fast lane person, but with God's help you can do it. It means asking Him to order your steps and to help you see things in a more laid back sequence. It is not easy to negotiate but, it is easy, with Jesus' help. He has the ability to help you be totally at peace. Being hasty promotes disruption, arguments and stressed out lives, but the peace Jesus gives us - Shalom, Shalom, surpasses all understanding  and it guards our hearts and minds.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

His mercy endures forever

"Who remembers us in our lowly state, for His mercy endures forever; 24 and rescued us from our enemies, for His mercy endures forever; 25 who gives food to all flesh, for His mercy endures forever, 26 Oh give thanks to the God of heaven, for His mercy endures forever."                                                                                        Psalm 136:23-26    NKJV 

Note the words, 'Lowly state'. We were all in this condition before we came to know Jesus. Some were worse than others. Take for instance the woman who had an issue of blood. She had suffered for 12 or so years and because of her condition, was considered an outcast. She had also spent all of her money on doctors who had not helped at all. Just one touch of the gown of Jesus as He walked by, gave her all she needed. She was no longer in a 'lowly state'.

Then of course, in the same passage, was Jairus, whose daughter was near to death. Jesus went with Jairus to his home and because the little girl had by now died, raised her to life. You couldn't really have a lower state than this.  (Luke 8:40-56).

Then there was Bartimaeus - a blind beggar. He called out to Jesus as He walked by in such an urgent manner, that Jesus stopped, and asked for him to come to Him. 'What do you want me to do for you?' He asked, in his lowly state, to have his sight restored. It was.

There are many of these examples throughout the bible. It's hard to imagine it with all of the suffering around, but God cares. As we give Him charge of our lives, He lifts us from our lowly state, because, His mercy endures forever.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

God was and will be there, if you ask Him

"'If it had not been the LORD who was on our side', let Israel now say - 2 'If it had not been the LORD  who was on our side, when men rose up against us, 3 then they would have swallowed us alive when their wrath was kindled against us.'"    

                                                                                                    Psalm 124:1 - 3      NKJV

From David's word's here, there are three statements that we can paraphrase:

'If you hadn't'

David was quite simply saying that, he wouldn't have made it if God hadn't intervened. It was a similar statement that he made in Psalm 27:13. Here, paraphrased, he is saying, 'You were there Lord, You took me through a way that I hadn't seen before, there was no way that I could see. No one could have helped me through this; it was like, You looked at me, put out Your hand and pulled me to safety.'

Think about such times that you have been through, where there appeared no way out. You were trapped and sinking. Suddenly God was there and made a way through the mess. 

'If you would'

David had called upon His God and His God - His Father God had helped Him, and He will you too if you ask Him to. Just think about it, there are angels all around you, just watching and waiting - ready to help. However, they can't intervene until you call on God and He gives the command, 'ANGEL'S GO'. And no one wants to get in the way of angels on a mission from God. 

But, you must call on Him, 'For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.' Romans 10:13. If you don't call on Him, He cannot help you.

If only you would ask'

Finally, we come to the third statement - 'If only you would ask'. You may have seen God's hand at work and you may have been amazed at what He does and has done. However, up to now, you have avoided asking Him to be your Lord and Saviour. 'It's a private thing,' you may say, or, 'I'll ask when I'm older.' The answer to these statements are, it is not a private thing, it is a matter life or death thing - eternal life or eternal damnation. It is a choice. The thing is, it is not so much about where you will eventually end up - Heaven or hell; but what Jesus can do in your life right now. He wants to fill your life with happiness and joy and He wants to bless you. You need to try it for yourself to get the picture. Be warned, it is not an easy life because all of a sudden, the devil, who hasn't had to worry about you, becomes worried because you now belong to Jesus and he is not happy about that. He will do all he can to get you to change your mind.

However, there is no better life; Jesus can be trusted and He is longing for you to come to Him right now.

Lord Jesus, I ask You to forgive me for the sin in my life. I am sorry Lord. Please come and live in my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and be, my Lord, Saviour and my friend today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Abounding Grace

"But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more"       Romans 5:20      NKJV

David Guzik comments:

We might have expected that where sin abounded, God’s anger or judgment would have abounded much more. But God’s love is so amazing that grace abounded much more where we might have expected wrath.

ii. If grace super-abounds over sin, then we know that it is impossible to out-sin the grace of God. We can’t sin more than God can forgive, but we can reject His grace and forgiveness.

                                                        Copyright David Guzik  Enduring Word

Many of us find ourselves in positions where, we have let ourselves down and have outwardly sinned. The shame of it all can be overbearing and we feel like God has turned His back on us, even though we have said that we are sorry to Him. You feel like a condemned man or woman and no matter what you do, you just can't shake it off. Wrong, you are listening to a lie of the enemy. he loves to keep us bound in captivity, but, take a look at Romans 8:1 'There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.'

God made provision for our sin in Jesus Christ and in 1 John 1:9, it states, 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'

God has given us His grace and it is abounding, sin is abounding too but God's tops the bill, it is outrageous grace. The more we sin and let ourselves and God down, He pours on us more of His abounding grace - as we confess our sin to Him. 

Please realise, grace does not give us a passport to freely sin because we know God will forgive us. Not at all, as it says above, we can't sin more than God can forgive, but we can reject His grace and forgiveness. God knows our hearts; He knows what we're going to say and do before we even begin. If we deliberately plot to commit sin, without any care for the consequences, we can't honestly believe that God will forgive us on a regular basis. If He did, there would have been no need for Jesus to die on the cross. We will continue to make mistakes, that goes without saying and, God will provide grace. But the one who is an out and out sinner without any care for Jesus at all, is of the evil one; and there is no place in the Kingdom of Heaven for that person.

However, for you who believe in Jesus, please realise fully that there is an abounding amount of grace for you.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE