A Lost Sheep

"If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?"              Luke 15:4   NLT (of 1-7)

There are two pieces that I want to address here. Firstly, the Pharisees' lack of interest in people who don't fit into their expectations. And then, Jesus' feelings for the lost sheep. In each example, I have given place for how the people may feel:

(1)  The Pharisees avoided all areas and people where they may become unclean. Therefore, to be mixing with tax collectors and notorious sinners was unthinkable. They felt Jesus was wrong to do such things, therefore Jesus told them this parable. Even today, certain people in society are avoided at all costs - alcoholics, drug users and people off the streets. Whereas, many will walk by them without a second glance, Jesus would be right in the middle of them, listening, talking to them, showing them love and care and offering them a place in heaven. 

(1a)   'I wish I had somewhere to go to be warm. I have a raging thirst and my stomach is totally empty. I need a drink; I need the next fix; I need someone to take an interest in me. I've made mistakes and, now I'm paying for them. I wish I could start again but, that's impossible. I might as well be dead.'

(2)   Another young man hits the streets. He has nowhere go and is frightened, cold and hungry. He considers breaking the law again. At least he would have food and a warm bed. This is all he knows these days.

(2a)  'It seemed a good idea to break away from the others. I had become involved with the 'wrong type of people,' my dad had said and when the police arrested me for burglary, he kicked me out. I went to the YOI for a couple of years, and became more involved with the 'wrong type of people.' When I was released, I went back home but, my dad refused to have me back. So, now I'm on the streets, begging.'

This is happening today. People have made big mistakes and it has cost them all they had. But, there is no way back. 'But, hold on, who is this guy with long hair. He's different to all the others. He shakes my hand and I feel alive; I feel that He really cares. He talks gently to me about making a new start. I tell Him that I want this and He hugs me. Suddenly, I feel so much better. All the shame seems to have left me, and as I walk down the street with Him beside me, all of a sudden, I feel pure; I feel loved, I feel that my life is going to change. He tells me His name is Jesus and introduces me to some other people - Christians. They accept me and I feel elated and so grateful. I have found true love and joy. You could be the person who accepts these people. Are you willing?

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.                                 

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com          

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

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The Antidote for Depression

"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - My Saviour and My God."    Psalm 42:5   NLT

Depression, is a robber of hope. It can steal our joy and, at times it can completely take over a person's life, so much, that they feel there is no way out except death. Many of us suffer depression, it creeps up and grabs a hold of us; it grips us like a vice does a piece of wood and, it is difficult to find a way through. In fact, at the time we feel that there is no hope but there is, we just have to make a choice to find it.

Depression is one of the most common, emotional ailments. However, there is an antidote and that is meditating on the Word of God. Now, this is not easy, nothing is with depression but, it is a choice you can make. You don't need to get your bible out and plough through stuff that, at the time, makes no sense. You have memories and perhaps you can remember a special time when God showed His kindness to you. This is all you need, that memory can lift your spirit and put you back on the road again. This is what the Psalmist was saying, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - My Saviour and My God." 

Why are you discouraged? Why so sad? Is there anyway that playing the video back in your mind, can help find a way to resolve these issues? Do you need to forgive somebody? Do you need to forgive yourself? Many times, there is very little we can do to make things better. But God can; He is brilliant at mending things, especially broken hearts. And this is why meditating on a memory He has given you, or reading through His word, rather like this Psalm today, can help so much. 

Notice that as we go through this meditation period, the Psalmist writes 'I will put my hope in God, I will praise Him.' What has happened here? As the Psalmist was working through the why's and where for's, he has come to the conclusion that, the only way forward is God so, he puts his hope in Him and begins to praise.

There's a lot of hurt in this world, but there is much more love in Jesus. There is a lot of sadness and discouragement but, Jesus can help take this away. How? By using the antidepressant that God provides by placing Him uppermost in your thoughts. Why think about bad stuff when Jesus can turn the bad into good? 

In closing this piece, you may ask, 'What about the people who don't know Jesus?' The answer to this is, God can find a way to introduce Himself to them. I wasn't looking for Him and I was very depressed but, He found me, He will them too. Just focus on yourself today and allow Him to mend your brokenness. You can help the others later.

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

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  

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The Breath of God

"And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit."    John 20:22   NKJV

We have often seen evangelists breathing on people when they have been praying for them. Some blow on the people and they go down in the Spirit. I remember Mahesh

Chavda, even waving an handkerchief  at people and them falling backwards. All anointing's are different but, the the results are the same - life. At the creation, man was formed but, they did not come alive until God breathed life into them (Genesis 2:7). Again in Ezekiel 37, we see a valley of very dry bones and God forming them back into beings again. But notice, nothing happened until He breathed life into them. Then they were alive!

We see tongues of fire coming upon the early church and the powerful, freedom of God's almighty power coming on all of them. This was powerful new life.

We need life - the life of God. It's no use being able to quote the bible from front to back pages, if nothing is going to happen of any lasting value. It's no use preaching the most wonderful sermon ever if, there is no life in it. They're just wasted words. God needs to ordain what is said. God needs to anoint and reinforce the person who is saying the words. God needs to breathe life into the speaker, teacher, preacher or evangelist, before there is any lasting power. This would explain why some ask Jesus into their lives but after a very short while they fall away again. There was no life in what they

accepted.

Each one of us needs to allow Jesus to breathe on us. We need the power, the life and the fire of the Holy Spirit. Look how things changed that day at Pentecost. It was spiritual mayhem, bigger than any Toronto Blessing or others. It was sheer life-giving power. Lives were changed, people healed and Peter preached a sermon and over 3000 people were saved. That really is something and the reason why having God breathe and anoint us, is a must.

'God's never done that for me.'  Well have you asked Him to? Notice that day, that the disciples were with Jesus before He breathed on them. They were in fellowship, even though they were a little fearful of the Jews seeing them with Jesus. He said to them 'Peace to you, as the Father has sent Me, I send you.' And when He had said this He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.' 

And this is what you need to do. Ask Him to breathe on you and give you the Holy Spirit in power. He will do, but be careful, it is powerful and life-changing. But it is well worth it. Ask Him now, 'Jesus breathe your life-changing Holy Spirit upon me. Fill me and may I be changed forever. I receive it now. Amen'

If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now:

'Lord Jesus, I have sinned and I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today.

In Jesus' Name. Amen'

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