Easter is coming!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."       John 3:16    NKJV 

Who is more popular at Easter - Jesus, or the Easter bunny? It's a strange question to ask in a bible study setting, but valid. Many people set out early in the year to buy their Easter eggs by the dozen, and Easter becomes a chocolate-eating marathon (we'll worry about the weight gain later). But where did this popular Bunny originate?

'According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their tradition of an egg-laying hare called 'Osterhase' or 'Oschter Haws.' Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its coloured eggs.'  http://www.history.com > holidays

It's a fascinating myth but, concerning as it appears to have more commercial interest than Jesus, who died for our sins at this time of year 2000+ years ago. People go around the many shops that are filled up with chocolate Easter eggs as early as February but, for many, Jesus is thought about momentarily for a few moments - an after thought in a church service or on the TV. And yet, when we consider what Jesus actually did for us at this time, His love is astounding. He so loved each one of us that He chose to die in our place so that we could be forgiven of our sins and have a place in heaven. We'll look in more detail about his on Good Friday but this, is just a teaser.

For many, this time of year is a holiday; the kids have time off school and families go off on holiday - a well-earned one too. This is great. Many of them, will take their Easter eggs with them to celebrate on Easter Sunday but, why not take Jesus along too? Someone reading this may say, 'Why on earth should I do that? I'm going on holiday.' That is great as I've said but, one day we all will meet Him face to face. Imagine what that will be like if you don't know Him as your Saviour. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we confess our sins and he forgives us, the above verse is then appropriated - we have everlasting life. But, if we have not asked Him into our hearts, we will still meet Him face to face but, as our Judge. It will be too late then to make this decision, there will be no second chance.

Therefore, can you see how important this verse is to our lives? Can you not see that Easter, the eggs and the bunny must take second place to Jesus? Give this some thought over the next few days. Think, when you meet with Jesus face to face, will he know you, will you be allowed to stay in His house?

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

  

 

                                               

Love doesn't Gloat

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; 18 lest the LORD see it, and it displeases Him, and He turn away His wrath from Him."                                                   Proverbs 24:17-18  NKJV 

People hurt us, wind us up, rip us off and appear to get away with what they've done. If they are caught and punished, it is hard not to gloat over this. If they have broken the law for some reason, yes, it is good that justice has been done but really, that doesn't give us the right to shout and scream about it. We just need to be grateful that the system works and the right judgement has been appropriated. 

On the other hand, someone within the church may have done you an injustice. You see them in the congregation raising their hands in worship and it annoys you. 'How dare they,' you mutter to your partner, 'look at them; butter wouldn't melt in their mouth, I hope God gets them.' Later, after the pastor has preached, he gives an altar call for people to raise their hand, come to the front and be prayed for. You say, jabbing your partner in the side, 'They need to raise their hands and confess what they've done to us. Go on, go to the front, you know what you've done.' Frustration rules within you when they don't ask for prayer and seemingly, get away with what they have done. Look at this:

(1)  Have you never read, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay', says the Lord'. Rom 12:19. God expects us to bless our enemies, not curse them. We should also live peaceably with them and not avenge ourselves. Leave it to God. He's good in these areas, believe me. 

(2)  Jesus told us to love  our neighbour. Well whether we like it or not, these people are our neighbour and God, expects us to show them love. If He had dealt with them that day at the altar, how would you have handled that. Be honest, you would probably have done handstands and been so pleased that you gloated about it. I heard a couple not so long back who had been mistreated by a vicar. They told me, 'Any day now, he is going to get his comeuppance and I want to be there to see it, I can't wait.' I don't believe God acts to our wishes like this, and I feel they would not have seen their longing fulfilled. In fact, it may well have been turned around on them, for having no love in their heart.

We are not here to judge, if we were, we would have been given a curly, white wig. We're not here to criticise either. Whether we like it or not, we are here to love people with the love of God. Period. Therefore, if you have any hangups about what someone has done to you, go and confront them - peacefully. If they won't accept it, give it to God and leave it there.

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

  

 

                                               

God continues to forgive

"For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again"   

                                                                        Proverbs 24:16   NKJV

Have you ever stopped and considered just how good God is to us each day? Let's be honest, we let Him down on a regular basis and, there is a need for us to ask forgiveness for our sins each day. We believe that we have it right and then, we trip and fall hard. However, Jesus comes to us and lifts us back up as we repent. It is amazing, we set off into our new day but oftentimes, we don't make it to our lunch break before we find ourselves committing some type of sin. Yet, Jesus is there for us.

There are some who disagree with us having to confess our sins. This is Hyper-Grace Teaching.  RT Kendall discusses this in one of his books:

'At the heart of hyper-grace teaching is the belief that there is no need to confess your sins - no place of repentance is in order in the Christian life; all sins are already forgiven and washed away by Jesus' blood at the cross. Such a teaching will almost certainly encourage sexual promiscuity. There have indeed been reports of affairs in some of those churches where this is preached. Mind you, there are similar situations in churches that would abominate hyper-grace, and they too see their share of licentious living. But my point is, such sins should be confessed.'

                                 Whatever happened to the Gospel Copyright (2018). RT Kendall p39-40

RT  carries on in depth about this area and it is well worth a read. The thing is, the people that believe in this area of of false teaching only have to read what John writes in 1 John 1:8-10: 'If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.' We need to remember that this piece of scripture was written to Christians and still applies today. The devil can be very subtle in changing scripture or re-arranging it to read the way he wants it to. Please be wary of false teaching. Jesus never changes!

Derek Prince encourages us to pray each morning: 'Thank you Jesus. You took my infirmities. You bore my sicknesses and with Your stripes I am healed.' There is no hyper-grace teaching here; Derek Prince knew the value of God's word and his teaching, always leads us to remembering all that our Saviour has done for us. Try incorporating something like this in your own daily prayers. When you confess this type of statement, you're building up your soul and encouraging yourself to meet the new day.

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

  

 

                                               

You can't hide your hurt from God!

"Laughter can conceal a heavy heart, but when the laughter ends, the grief remains."                 

                                                                     Proverbs 14:13   NLT 

We are very skilled at covering things up and putting on a happy face, when really, we feel like falling apart. We smile at people in the street, at work or even within our own home but, deep down there is something that they don't know. I remember going to see my doctor. As I walked into his room, he asked me how I was, I answered, 'I'm fine thanks.' He looked  at me and then said, 'Then why are you here?' This made me realise that, I wasn't all right or I wouldn't have come to see him.

When I was pastoring and even when I was a social worker, I would often speak with people who only told me half-truths, they would hide the other bits away, which really was the reason they had wanted to see me in the first place. It took a long time for them to open up about the real reason. Perhaps you're like that, many people are.

Do you keeps things close to your chest, hoping people won't see that you have a problem? Wouldn't it be more helpful to share these issues with someone? Obviously, it is very important to speak to the right person - someone you trust, because some like to gossip about others. When we internalise hurts, we are susceptible to being quick tempered because we are very sensitive. Consider a tin of coke. You can shake it up and nothing will happen until the tab is ripped off and then POW - all of the contents that had been bubbling away inside suddenly have an opening and they gush out all over the place. It is rather like when we, internalise hurts and frustration. Sooner or later something happens and we let rip and vent this frustration on whoever is in listening range. This can be devastating and even, embarrassing.

It is far better to find a way to be able to vent our feelings in a more acceptable manner. Speaking about them is one way. If the person you choose to speak to has the skills to be of help, this is good. Having professional counselling is another option. Also, if the person is a believer, this opens the way to be able to pray things through as well. The choice is yours. You don't have to speak with anyone if you don't want to. You may be able to get alone with God and allow Him to help with the problems. However, if you are going to continue to go around with a heavy heart, it is sensible to seek some help from someone. Don't carry hurt around; it is a burden and, Jesus wants to take these burdens away. He knows about them anyway.

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

  

 

                                               

Don't be afraid to wait!

"Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD."    Proverbs 27:14   NKJV

What are you like at waiting? It is not one of my good points, I have to admit. Patience and I don't like each other very much and I have had to work very hard to improve in this area. I'm getting there, let's just say that. How do you figure in this area? I don't think there are many people who like to wait, especially when they are waiting for something to be delivered that has been a long time in coming. Whether it is material or spiritual waiting can suck at times.

But, I have to admit that waiting is extremely important. It is a discipline, one that helps prevent us from rushing into a situation and making a complete mess of it all. Remember, haste makes waste and when we are lacking in patience, things can go terribly wrong. 

Some people worry about the future - what it holds and what will happen to us. Well, as believers, our insurance premiums are all paid up, our sins are forgiven and we have a place in heaven, reserved for when that time may be. There's lots happening in the world today and, let's face it, the economy is not great. However, if you belong to Jesus and your are a regular giver, Jesus will give back to you, there's no need to worry at all. Worrying never solved anything and fear, is not of God, it is the opposite of faith and therefore, comes from our enemy, Satan. There was an old Country and Western Gospel singer called  Stuart Hamblin who wrote many gospel songs. One of them was "I know not what the future holds' and part of the lyrics went like this: 

'I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future'

Just think about those words. We really haven't an idea of what our future here on earth holds, but, we know, if we've allowed Him, that Jesus Christ is our agent and manager. He is the one who we count on. We simply give Him all we have and, He takes care of the rest.

'Surely, it's not as easy as that?' Yes it is. He wants to take control of every area of our life. He doesn't do everything for us, obviously. We have to be pro-active. But as we begin to make a start, He is there to guide us on the way forward. Yes, there will be moments where we have to wait. Jesus had to wait for things so, you can bet that we will have to. The great thing is though, because He knows the future, as we allow Him to lead the way, we can be certain that we will get things accomplished properly.

Therefore, if you're struggling in any area, discuss it with Jesus; there's no need to book an appointment, He's always available. Just talk with Him, give Him your fears and burdens and get excellent counsel on what you need to do. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

  

 

                                               

Living in the overflow

 "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"  

                                                                                  John 10:10b

It is God's desire that we live in the overflow of life; not just having enough but, more than enough, so that we can bless others with our wealth. I'm not saying that it's God wish for us all to be millionaires; not at all. But He wants us to have an overflow - more than enough, with no more scrimping and scraping. David wrote in Psalm 23:5:'My cup runs over.' Now that really is an example of overflow. There are many resources around us often willing to help - at a cost. However, the only source we need is Jesus Christ and His well never runs dry.

We saw from yesterday's reading that, the devil will do all he can to steal from us, kill us or our plans and/or destroy us. On the other hand, we have a God who wants to bless us with all we need - abundantly. In fact, He is the God of Superabundance and He wants us to never lack anything: 'But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing' Psalm 34:10. He is committed to us and wants us to be committed to Him in the same manner.

I like what the New Living Translation says about John 10:10b 'My purpose is to give them a rich satisfying life' How does this sound to you? Is your life rich and satisfying? It should be because this is God's intention for His people. As we've seen from yesterday, there is a need to be careful because at the first sign of blessing, the devil will try and steal it away or, kill the moment. Oral Roberts says: 

'As you give your total self to God, God gives His total self to you. Jesus said that He came to give life - in fullness, abundance and prosperity. Your first step to experiencing full biblical prosperity is to believe that it is God's highest desire for you. The next step is to line up your highest desire with His.'   Copyright Oral Roberts

God wants us to live in blessing; His word to us in Philippians 4:19 informs us: 'And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.' Jesus wasn't rich but, He definitely was not poor either. He had what He needed at any given time, rather like what I am saying. Barclay says: ‘There is a myth that Jesus wore expensive, designer clothes - His gown after-all, was seamless. Now this may have been made by His mother, we don't know. But just because the soldiers  threw lots for His clothes, does not make them really expensive. We just don't know. One of the perks for soldiers, was that, at an execution they would divide the clothes, taking what they wanted. At Jesus' crucifixion, there would have been four soldiers but all Jews would have wore 5 pieces of clothing which included shoes. Therefore, when it came to who would have the seamless gown, they would have drew lots to see who the lucky man would have been. (Info William Barclay)

As I've said, in human terms, He had what He needed, His Father was not tight with Him. And He is not tight with us either. He wants you to be blessed so that, you can bless others. Therefore, get closer to Jesus; live for Him and your cup will overflow! That's a promise.

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

  

 

                                               

Stolen, Killed & Destroyed

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy"   

                                    John 10:10   NKJV 

Has the devil been prowling around you just lately, like a roaring lion? He does this to intimidate you and weaken your trust in Jesus. He is not a lion, he just pretends to be like one (1 Peter 5:8). Just consider for  moment, what has been happening in your life over the past month or so? Take a look below and assess this:

(1)  WHAT HAS THE ENEMY STOLEN FROM YOU?

This could be your health, wealth, marriage or your children. You may not have realised that the devil has been robbing you in this way; he is so subtle and creeps into your situation. Things can be going along pretty well and then, POW, he strikes and you're left feeling devastated.

(2). WHAT HAS HE KILLED?

This may be your confidence, your self respect and esteem, even your faith. Where you were once bold, now your are reduced to a wreck and it feels like all the power has been beaten out of you. 

(3). WHAT HAS HE DESTROYED?

This may be a valued friendship or a family scattered and at loggerheads for some reason. It may also be your security.

There may be much more that has been going on in your world. The devil is so sneaky that you don't even realise that he is the culprit here until it is too late. This is why 1 Peter 5:8 says, 'Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.'  In other words, be on guard. 

Think of these areas carefully. The devil steals, kills and destroys everything dear to us. If we get our bibles out to read and pray, he becomes full of panic and will do all he can to prevent us. He can't stand praise. The only praise he wants is for himself. CS Lewis in his excellent book The Screwtape Letters, quotes a senior demon speaking to a junior:

“Be not deceived, Wormwood, our cause is never more in jeopardy than when a human, no longer desiring but still intending to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe in which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.”

No matter what, this is the type of believer Jesus wants us to be. We never surrender, we never give up, even though there appears to be no sign of God around us. We carry on knowing full well that Jesus will never leave us (Hebrews 13:6). This is why we need to sharpen our swords (reading and studying our bibles), getting ourselves spiritually fit by doing this daily and talking to Jesus often, even though you can't see Him. Believe me, He is right beside you and wants to help but He is waiting on what move you are going to make first. When you stand, He will stand beside you; when you pray, He will listen, when you take Godly action, He will go into battle with you.

What more could you ever want?

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com  

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

Why not order my Daily Commentary from Amazon - Paperback or Kindle 

Check it out

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B084G9S4FD/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2