Don't do it!

"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate."    

                                                                                                        Genesis 3:6    NKJV

Temptation comes in many forms and affects us all. No one is exempt temptation, it goes with the territory. It is though, down to each individual how they handle this - walk away or fall into the trap. The trap may be adultery, theft and a desire to be rich and famous or many other areas.

The problem is, falling into the trap can be very costly. It can cause a marriage to fail no matter how sorry the offending individual is. It can result in a lengthy prison sentence when a person has fallen to the temptation of embezzlement and worse of all, it can completely ruin a person's integrity and testimony. Once a person has become involved in these areas, they carry the label of untrustworthy.

The eye is a great offender, through these lenses, a person looks at something they shouldn't be viewing, such as pornography, and a desire can be ignited. Familiarity with someone if left to fester, can lead to an unsavoury relationship. No matter how pleasant this may be at the time, it will only lead to disaster and heartache and, rather like Eve found, it will be too late to rectify.

An urgent need for finance can tempt a person to put their hand in the till. However, when they get away with it they may be tempted to try it again and again until they are found out and arrested. Shoplifting can fall into this category. Theft and adultery and perhaps, child abuse can all be viewed as desirable to the person who is being tempted but, it will lead to a light being cast down on the whole sorry affair and a person being sent to prison or a divorce are all   that's left to look forward too. Children's lives will be wrecked, families torn apart and all because there was a desire that needed to be satisfied. At the end of the day, one is left with the phrase, 'Was it all worth it? And the answer has got to be, no.

Please don't feel that this would never happen to you, many people would be able to testify that they used to feel this. If you could ask Adam and Eve,they would tell you the same. A ten letter word can carry a devastating sting with it and it is called 'temptation'

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard

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You are not a broken vessel

"We are pressured in every way (hedged in) but not crushed; perplexed (unsure of finding a way out) but not driven to despair; 9 hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted (to stand alone), struck down but never destroyed."   

                                                              2 Corinthians 4:8-9   The Amplified Study Bible 

We face trials every now and then, some people more than others. It all depends on how we handle them. Satan would have us believe that we are broken vessels - useless and incapable of being useful to God. What a lie; don't for one minute believe that. Things come at us but they are not always from Satan, we have everyday trials, like the lack of money, job and pressures from family and home. However, we are not broken. Let me just give you a comment on verse 8 from the Amplified version: "God controls trials and uses them to strengthen His people. God's glory is manifested through broken vessels, by people who endure trouble by relying on His power." 

You may feel like a broken vessel at this time, but God doesn't want you to remain this way. He is into mending brokenness, He repairs the soul, the person and He will do this for you too. We face trials but God is with us through them. Take a look at our text today, you may feel crushed and perplexed, unsure of finding a way out. But God knows the way and will even create a way to get you through this time. You are not deserted; you are not on your own. He is with you and will remain so. Don't give up, look up.

If a pot falls on the floor and shatters, it is ruined and needs throwing away. That is the world's perspective - the natural. However, you are not of the world, you are of the supernatural and no matter how broken you may be - even shattered, your God, your friend Jesus can put you together again. They couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again because he was of the natural, but you are not Humpty Dumpty, you are a loved and cherished child of God and Jesus has your back. If you're shot at, God will shout, 'Man down', and Jesus will pick you up and carry you until you are strong enough to cope.

Hey, life has been tough for you just lately, but Jesus is on your case. Just spend sometime with Him alone and tell Him how you feel - everything, and watch Him move on your behalf.

He takes broken vessels and makes them whole again.

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard

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Traffic lights

"Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6 In all your ways, know and acknowledge and recognise Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth (removing obstacles that block your way).                                                   Proverbs 3:5-6   The Amplified Study Bible

Note how imperative it is to trust and rely on the Lord in all that we do. For Him to make our paths straight and smooth, we need to obey God's Word - the rules. He will then remove obstacles that block our way in life.

By way of an analogy, consider the traffic light system in the UK. It goes like this:

Red means to stop 

Red and Amber means prepare to go and Amber prepare to stop

Green means to go

It is so important to stop when the red light is displayed. Extreme caution is also required when we approach a Red/Amber light as to just drive through this light, there may be a collision with someone who has done the same on the alternative road. It is of equal importance when the Amber light is displayed as this is a preparation to stop. Traffic lights are there for a reason and must be adhered to in order to avoid accidents. With certain traffic lights, especially the road works type, there can be a delay in them changing. To jump these lights because of impatience can be foolhardy. It is far beater to wait until it is safe to go ahead.

God expects us to obey the rules of the highway and He expects us to obey His Word. As we pray and give Him our movements for each day, He directs our road. He will shine a big (Red) stop sign in our spirit when we are in danger of doing something that we shouldn't. To ignore this warning and, it is a warning, we take on the responsibility ourselves. When God is ready for us to move, He will indicate for us to prepare to go (Red/Amber) and when all is ready, the (Green) go sign will flag up in our spirit. He will also give us the prepare to stop indicator (Amber) and this is one that we really should take notice of. He may want us to stop going to a particular place, hanging around with someone who will lead us astray, or a general preparation to move. All of the Holy Spirit's directions should be obeyed because, God knows far better about what is ahead. We cannot rely on our own judgement.

Obstacles will get in our way; this is why we need to commit each day to Jesus. He knows the way, we don't. He will help us avoid the obstacles as we move according to the Holy Spirit, our Divine Helper and Friend. Make sure you receive His directions and wait and be patient when necessary.

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard

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Have you enough depth?

"But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away."                                                                      Matthew 13:6     NKJV

Jesus was discussing the Parable of the Sower and mentioned the fact that part of the ground could have no root. This was quite common in Palestine because there was only a thin layer of soil, probably a few inches deep, over limestone rock. Because there was very little depth or root, the seeds would be easily warmed and germinate very quickly. However, the sun would soon scorch them and they would become withered and die.

This made me think of picture hooks, a job that I had a struggle with recently. Not being a great DIY enthusiast, any type of task such as this can be a recipe for disaster. Initially, I had tried the suction hooks that can be locked on to a flat surface. Some of the hooks stayed on for a few minutes and I was able to hang a few picture frames on to these. However, they were short lived and came crashing down, luckily not breaking the frame. It became necessary to use the type of hook that are knocked into the wall. Now these are ok if you can avoid knocking half of the plaster off in your attempt. I managed it but the frames kept pulling the hooks out of the wall. I suddenly realised, that I would have to go deeper and use a little more precision too. This allowed me to attain more depth and eventually, I had frames hanging on the wall successfully.

We may chuckle at this but unless we go deeper in our spiritual life, rather like the plaster, bits and pieces around us come crashing down. We cannot exist without our lives firmly rooted in Jesus. Many have tried it and many have failed. We cannot manage alone John 15:5. But how do we get deeper into Jesus with all of the hustle and bustle of family and a working life? The answer - discipline. Without this, we are like a yoyo; we go up and down one day flying high, the next down in the depths of despair. We have to get the balance right. Therefore a plan is needed.

Map your day out. You must have a 'quiet time' with Jesus as soon as the day begins. If this means getting up earlier, then so be it. Things must not be neglected however, so getting into a routine is required but, it must be flexible to allow for the unexpected things that come our way. Time with Jesus should be constant, whatever we are doing throughout the day, can be done involving Him - speaking and listening to Him wherever possible. For a busy family, it takes some expert planning but it can be done and is essential to your spiritual welfare.

Therefore, go deeper and become well rooted into Jesus. Don't allow things around you to come crashing down because you have attempted to do something without reaching the correct depth. Get digging!

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard

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Jesus is the Truth

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" and "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."                John 8:32 + 36     NKJV 

'God will never forgive you now!' This is a lie that Satan whispers in our ear when we have committed a sin. We may have sinned but, we belong to the Truth - Jesus, and He sets us free as we confess our wrongdoings to Him. There is no condition such as, 'If you do this again, we are through.' Jesus is the Truth and He forgives us 1 John 1:9 period.

Tony Evans, in his excellent bible commentary writes:

'We live in a society that denies absolute truth, claiming, "What's true for you may not be true for me." But truth is not based on our feelings, experiences or desires. Truth is God's viewpoint on every matter and it is not subject to redefinition.'

                                                                        The Tony Evans Bible Commentary

Pilate asked Jesus, 'What is truth?' John 18:38. He genuinely wanted to know. We know this answer, truth is Jesus John 14:6. Knowing this truth results in genuine freedom. Jesus provides this. We are no longer condemned before God. Jesus, on our confession in Him, has set us free. But, we must continue to read and walk in His Word.

When you think about it, the devil has tricked you time and time again with his lies. He doesn't like you because you are a threat. Therefore, he will pick up on the slightest accusation that he can find and torment you with it. He will also convince you that you are not able to do a certain task that you know Jesus wants you to do. He will do all he can to disable you. Be encouraged; you are a threat to him, this is why he attacks you. If he can stop you from doing God's will, he is happy. Don't let him be. You are a Soldier of the Living Jesus, in God's Army don't let anyone tell you different. You may feel that you are insignificant but Jesus knows better. You are a warrior.

Pick up your bible. It is your sword. Put on the rest of God's armour (Ephesians 6) and go out boldly in the Name of Jesus. You are of the Truth and the Truth - Jesus, has set you free.

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard

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God is into recycling

"So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, 'Gather up the fragments that remain so that nothing is lost."                                                            John 6:12     NKJV 

Following the feeding of the five thousand, there were stacks of food left over, and Jesus told the disciples to gather this up so that it wouldn't be wasted. When they did, there were twelve baskets full, enough for the twelve disciples to have, or to be distributed elsewhere. God does not like waste, He is totally into recycling, and that includes us too.

Just think about rubbish day in your area. Most people have a black bin for the rubbish that is no longer required and a green one for the recycling. In this day and age it is good to know that God keeps up with the trends. Take for instance our own, in-body, rubbish day. He urges us to clear out the trash - the things that we carry about with us but, are no good for our welfare. These things drag us down and block blessings and prayers. The things that have potential in our lives, He wants to recycle. He does this as we hand Him the things that need changing. As we do this, He begins to transform us instead of us, conforming to the crowd. '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.

Let us remember though, on rubbish days, the person emptying the bins, brings them back to us, this includes the black bin, and this gives us the realisation that it is not over, there will be more rubbish to clear out, each and every day. The rubbish clearing time won't be over until we are made complete and perfect Philippians 1:6. Until then, be sure to watch out for more rubbish. Don't sit there unprepared because sin will creep up on us when we least expect it, and will try to destroy all that God has done John 10:10a. Also, recognise, that the green bin - the recycling one, is brought back to us to as well. This means that God gives us a continual opportunity to get things right each day, as we transfer things over, being sold out to Him.

If God is into recycling, then we should be too. It is essential to the quality of our Christian walk. So go green!

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard

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He will stir you up. Final part

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."   

                                                                                             2 Timothy 1:7   NKJV 

In our final part of this small series, let us examine one of he major problems people are faced with when they are stirred up and attempting to pursue their gifting - FEAR. Fear can stop us in our tracks. Take for instance when you are in church and the Lord gives you a word to speak out from the front. Most people hope for the rapture instead of having to go and speak to the church. The thought can be horrifying. Then of course, there are the times when a minister has given a call for prayer and you know you should go forward for this. Your feet feel like they are glued to the floor. This is fear.

Timothy suffered from fear and Paul set out to encourage him by telling him that he had been given a spirit of power, love and a sound mind, not fear. The words, 'sound mind' in the Greek, are known as Sophronismo, which carries the idea of discipline and soberness.  We are encouraged to think well of ourselves, especially from a Christian perspective. There is a need to be courageous, confident and close to Jesus for this to happen. 

You are not alone, Jesus is right beside you. He has given you a calm, self controlled and a well-balanced mind. God is stirring you up but, for you to stir yourself up and be fear-free, you need to think who you are in Jesus. He has faith in you, yes that's right. He wouldn't have called you if He didn't feel you could do what He wants you to do.So, take that on board and encourage yourself in that knowledge. Then accept that the Spirit of God, the dynamite power-packed Spirit of God is dwelling within you. To speak, we have to open our mouths and utter the sound. It is the same thing with your gifts, you have to start carrying it out and the rest will follow.

Whatever your gift is, whether it be, preacher, evangelist or church cleaner, each are of the same importance to God.You may want to study the bible properly, if so, enrol on a course. This is your ministry, at this time and God values it. You may be wanting to do a particular thing but you are not sure that it will be good enough or needed. If God has put something within you, it is important. Stir the feeling up, think good things about yourself and then get on and put it into action. YOU CAN DO THIS!

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

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