Monday, 22 November 2021

'It's their fault, not mine'

"Then the man said, 'The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate'. 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' The woman said, 'The serpent deceived me and I ate."               Genesis 3:12-13   NKJV

The blame game has been going since the creation and it continues today. People just do not want to admit to their faults and blame others instead. Just check the text out today. Adam had the audacity to pass the blame onto God and then Eve, 'The woman whom You gave to be with me'. Wow, that is dangerous, we should never blame God for things that we do wrong, He is no fool and knows the truth. It was Adam's responsibility, not God's and not Eve's either. He was there when Eve was tempted and should have spoken up and stopped her; but he failed to do this. Eve was just the same. She also had heard what God had told them both about eating of the garden fruit. She knew that this particular tree should not have the fruit taken from it. However, she did and also failed. But both of them failed to take responsibility for their actions and both used the blame game.

Charles F Stanley comments on blame, 'Sin impels us to blame others for our disobedience and folly, but God holds us personally accountable for what we do.' Let's be honest, we know when we have done something wrong, we just know. When we lie about this - because that is what it is - God hears and prods us to admit to the truth. This is why we often feel guilty; the Holy Spirit is telling us to admit that we were in the wrong, not someone else.

Marriages fail, with one partner leaving and blaming the other for the breakdown. The partner who leaves may become involved with someone else and uses the blame game as an excuse for their adultery, 'He/she didn't do this or that and it was all her/his fault. I just had to get away'. In a Christian marriage, vows have been taken before God and we really do not have the option to just walk away. God has joined us together and we should remain so. We can't just blame each other; we are both as bad as the other and we have to find the solution to remain together. We can't just end a relationship just like that. If a partner is violent, then this is another story and the other partner needs to be safe. However, many partners just take off because they've had enough and want a more exciting time. Let me just say, if you allow God to take total control of your marriage, He will put the excitement back into your relationship.

Beware of the blame game. We should always take responsibility for our actions. One day we will stand before Jesus. We will have no chance of blaming others then, for wrongs that we have done. Everything is recorded down and the truth will be revealed. It is time to realise these things. 
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
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Sunday, 21 November 2021

C.A.S.T

"Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart."v4    
                                                                                                         Psalm 37:3-5   NKJV

Keith Moore, Pastor of Branson Church in Texas says, 'When you want what God wants, for the same reason He wants it, you become unstoppable.' And it is true; God only wants the best for His children and when you get in position, He opens the gates  of blessing to shower you with His love. Now this doesn't mean asking God if you can win the Lottery. If He allowed that, you would be trusting in your wealth instead of in Him. You don't need this. It may sound nice and it may help you be secure financially; but it is not the way of God. He is far richer than the Lottery people anyway.

As our quotation from Keith Moore says, you can expect God to work when your thoughts and desires line up with His. He actually desires to bless you more than you could ever imagine. Have a read of Ephesians 3:20: 
'Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.' Note the 'power that work in us'. It's by having a close relationship with Him and by delighting in Him, that opens the way for Him to bless you. As you delight in all He is and all He does and approach the Throne of Grace with confidence, He is able to pour His grace and love into you.

Therefore, there is a need to commit each moment to Him, even when the chips are down; even in the scariest of moments and when all seems lost. These are the times when you learn that He is faithful and can be relied on to help, assist and lead the way through each and every storm. Jesus brings security. The word security means:

(1) Freedom from doubt, anxiety or fear which gives us  CONFIDENCE
(2) Jesus is our security guard, which at times gives us  ASSURANCE
(3) Freedom from risk or danger, which gives us             SAFETY
(4) Jesus is the only one that we can rely on and            TRUST

This all gives you the acronym of C.A.S.T, which shows you that you need to CAST everything over to Him and delight in Him for every moment of every day, knowing that you have a Saviour who is 100% for you. He is sold out to you; be the same to Him and you will never regret it!

 
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Saturday, 20 November 2021

Why do I think this way?

"Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."   
                                                                                                      Philippians 4:8     NLT

In other words, think about good things. Why allow your mind to be contaminated by bad thoughts? To think bad stuff is is a recipe for torment and fear. Read The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis and you will read how the devil uses his demons to wind us up and cause us heartache and aggravation by placing bad thoughts in your mind. Don't allow this. 
Your thoughts have a positive or a negative angle. A bad thought causes worry, anxiety and fear. It seems that from nowhere they appear in your mind and begin their task of causing you anxiety. The thoughts can be so convincing, that you begin to believe them, and this is where the problem begins. You believe the lie.
Are you open to the fact that your enemy, is attacking you by sending these bad thoughts? Think about them for a moment. Would God send you thoughts that pierce your heart, cause you fear and worry and lead to total suspicion and heartache? The answer is a firm no. Therefore, this is the time where you need to say, 'that's enough', I refuse to believe this thought. I am going to take it captive and make it submissive to God, 'We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ' 2 Corinthians 10:5 NLT.
You can tell the difference in a thought from God to a thought from the devil. The thing is, the enemy can blind you to this fact and uses such convincing tactics, that it is difficult to decipher the origin. Stick to the facts - God will not send you anything that causes you fear and anxiety. That's the bottom line.
A negative thought, when born within you, can create havoc in your life, marriage, home and family. If you're going through a bad time in these areas at the moment, check your thoughts and your reactions. Negative thoughts have the power to floor you. Just think for a moment when you see a doctor for test results, straightaway you can examine the doctor's face and believe that it is a bad result. What about when you're driving along and find a police car at the back of you. Straightaway, you can fear the worst, that you were speeding or there is something wrong with the car. Then of course, there is the dentist's. Just a visit there can bring anxious thoughts to your mind such as, 'This is going to be expensive and it will hurt.'
It is time to practice having positive thoughts. Look at the list above in our text, It is possible to train your mind to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Well straightaway, that is Jesus. If you think about Him, it is difficult to think about bad thoughts as well. The New King James Version, directs us to 'meditate on these things'. When a thought comes into your head, analyse it. Is it from God or the enemy? Think it through carefully and don't be tempted to act quickly. Take your time. The real answer is, would Jesus send you a bad thought? Of course He wouldn't. Therefore, get tuned into Him and train your mind. It really is the best way.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Friday, 19 November 2021

What is the 'them' in my life today?

"Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."  
                                                                                            Deuteronomy 31:6    NKJV


It is so easy to become afraid and discouraged. When you allow yourself to get into this state, you find it difficult to cope or make sense of things. It can lead to despair. Notice the word 'them' in the verse today. 'Do not fear not be afraid of them'. Now ask yourself what is the 'them' in my life? What is it about 'them' that is disabling me and stopping me from getting on with my life?

Your thoughts carry a lot of weight at times. You can think your way into defeat so easily. Your thoughts cause you to worry about things that have not happened but, could if you allow yourself to believe so. Most of these worries never happen anyway, so there has been a lot of nervous energy used and wasted. 

Take a look at today's verse. Does this describe you? Are you strong and of good courage, or are you in fear of 'them'? Haven't you realised yet that when God says something, He means it? He has told you that He is with you and will never leave you. If you believe this, how then, can you worry, be afraid and be discouraged? Your fear contradicts your belief.

Identify the 'them' right now. What is it about them' that is so important that it is causing you unrest, fear, upset and worry? Ask yourself, what can I do about it? Well the best place to start is in God's Word. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, 'casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.' Then there is Psalm 55:22, 'Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you.' These are not empty words; they carry life and as soon as you accept them and put them into action, you will receive the help that you need.

If 'them' is preventing you from living a happy life, it is time to take action. Start thinking thoughts of victory instead of defeat. Do you realise that you can think yourself happy if you try hard enough? And this is the emotion that your friend, Jesus wants from you. He wants you happy and content; He wants you strong and courageous and He wants you victorious in all you do. It is time for you to receive this. It is time for you to deal with the 'them' in your life; it is time for you to live a victorious life. Speak to Jesus about it and cast it over to Him, then enjoy your day. Now that makes sense!
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
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Thursday, 18 November 2021

"I've had enough, get me out of here, Lord"

"And he prayed that he might die and said, 'It is enough! Now Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.' V4                                                1 Kings 19:1-18     NKJV 


Elijah had just had a major victory over 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. But often, after such exciting feats, we can often suffer bouts of fear, doubt and depression. The adrenaline has worn off and we are left alone with our thoughts. This is what happened to Elijah. The threats of death from Jezebel totally terrified him and he ran and ran, getting as far away from her as possible. The thing is, as far away as he could be, he couldn't leave his fear behind. It was still rampant.

Elijah was a great man but human just like us. He was subject to fear and depression but instead of facing it, he chose to run away, went into his own little shell and isolated himself. Does this remind you of someone? Fear had overtaken his faith and he went into the world of self-pity, asking God to end his life v4. He didn't mean this however, it was just the way he felt at the time. We too, can often say similar things when we are going through a bad time. Thank goodness, God doesn't act on this!

The Lord had Elijah rest, exercise and eat sensibly which is one of the best cures for times such as these. After a good old grumble to God about things, and he had rested, God told him that it was time to return to work v15. Even though he had been in such a bad shape, he was still God's man and he had work to do. 

And so do you! You may have been going through a difficult time lately. You may have fell to rock bottom; but wherever you are at this moment, God is there too. At the time of this crisis in Elijah's life, he took his eyes off the Lord and put them on to Jezebel and this is where the fear came in. Whatever you are going through at this moment, God is greater; and what's more, He wants to show you how great He is if you will only allow Him to. You have done nothing wrong, life events have just worn you out, that is all. It happens. Focus on God, do what He says and then, get back into the race for that prize. You can do this

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Wednesday, 17 November 2021

Things can change just like that

"Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"v29     
                                                                                                             John 4:1-38   NKJV 

Jesus was on His way to Galilee and while His disciples went shopping for food, He went through Samaria. For many Jews, this was a 'no go' area. The Jews hated the Samaritans because of their cultural, racial and gender issues. However, as we will see, Jesus was willing to engage with them, despite the differences.
 
Jesus came to Sychar, a city of Samaria and sat down at a well. He was weary from the journey and the noon day sun was beating down on Him. A woman from the city came to draw water from the well where Jesus was sitting by. He asked her for a drink and despite their differences, Jesus struck up a conversation with her and eventually, revealing who He was, 'I am He,' challenged her because of the life she led, 'you have had five husbands, and the one who you now have, is not your husband' V18.
After more conversation this all blew her away, and leaving the water pot, she ran back to the city shouting, 'Come, see a man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?' Jesus didn't criticise or judge this woman, He engaged with her, showing her that, despite their differences, He was still willing to drink water from her cup - something a devout Jew would never do. He didn't give up His own cultural, racial and gender identity in doing so but showed her a willingness to speak with her which opened the door to reach her spiritually. We should never ignore or reject the humanity of different people, as we seek to share with them the Gospel. Jesus gently and politely, challenged her, and because of this, her testimony was so effective that crowds of locals turned out and came to Jesus.

Notice a couple of things, firstly this woman had had no bible college training, she had just spent time speaking and listening to Jesus and this had a great effect on her. Secondly, Jesus made three distinct changes this day. (1)  His disciples were amazed at Jesus' behaviour and learnt the lesson of accepting other people's differences, without judgement. (2) This woman's life would never be the same again. She was completely changed. (3) Also the people of Sychar were introduced to Jesus and despite cultural, racial and gender issues, were able to accept Jesus and each other.

Jesus' beliefs were not changed, He was secure in His Father's Word; but He was willing to get alongside other people, leading them to believe without ever having to compromise His own faith. This is something that we all need to work at. Things can then change, just like that.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Increase or Decrease (4)

"He must increase, but I must decrease"                                   John 3:26-31    NKJV 


With the popularity that John had, he could so easily have agreed with the people, that he was the Messiah, they would have believed him. However, he would have nothing to do with that. He knew his place and was happy and content with that. We should be the same; we should never attempt to be who we are not. We tend to copy and model ourselves on the people that we admire. Doing this, we end up not knowing who we are; and we live the lie. Like John, we should be content with who we are and with what we have.

If God wants to promote us, He will do. When we try to promote ourselves, we tend to become people-pleasers instead of God-pleasers. But notice John's words in verse 27: 'A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.' There is absolutely no chance that we can promote ourselves. If God wants this, he will do it Himself. The most important thing for us to do, is to be like Jesus by modelling ourselves on Him and no one else. In other words, 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'

We often hear the term, 'Give me more, Lord, give me more,' This is people's way of asking God to pour more of the Holy Spirit into them. This, in itself, is not a bad thing, we all need to be topped up each day. However, we should always seek the giver, not the gift. Many get this the wrong way around and bombard God with this request. It is far better to: 'Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you' Matthew 6:33. Seek the giver first - Jesus and He will ensure you receive what He wishes to give you.

You know, we can read the bible from cover to cover and not completely understand it until we receive revelation from heaven. Many people have tried to make sense of scriptures, such as Revelation. This is not an easy book to understand and we need the Holy Spirit to give us the necessary insight into what it is saying to us. The Holy Spirit gives us the revelation and tells us the truth and what is to come (John 16:13). He is the authority to seek; He is the one who will help us decrease whilst we ensure that Jesus increases. We need to be Spirit-led. 

Today, make the decision to allow Jesus to increase in every area of your life; by doing this, you will then be able to decrease.
Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 
Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers
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