Just hanging around with Jesus

"I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father."   John 15:15   CSB

Have you ever stopped to consider that Jesus classes you as His friend? It is an amazing statement. The creator God is your friend. He will tell you everything you need to know. Jesus, the King of kings is your friend. In fact, you have permission to hang around with Him for the rest of your life. Just think of the benefits this holds for you:

(1)  You will never be alone again. He is with you wherever you may be. He will watch over you, guide and train you to carry out His work. You'll never be alone because He is right beside you. You may fall at times but, He will gently help you back up brushing off the dirt you may have picked up. 

(2)  There may be mountains to climb as you go on your journey but hey, you have a great mountain-climber with you. He knows every inch of the mountains and what they contain and will expertly show you the safe way. Don't forget that He is also your Shepherd, He has a rod to beat anything that tries to attack you and a staff or crook, to guide you and pull you out of any wrong turnings you may have taken. However, part of the training He gives, is to help you to stand on your own two feet, withstanding anything that may come your way.

(3)  Life is never dull with Jesus, He has a great sense of humour, just a deep study of the gospels show us this. It would not have been easy to train up hardened trawler men. They were thrown into the deep-end when Jesus called them to follow Him and, they made many mistakes. Don't forget, He drew people to Himself; no one would want to spend much time with someone who was a bore. Jesus wasn't, and, was far from this. It would have been wonderful to walk around with Him in those days.

Conclusion  You and I have everything to look forward to. Jesus adores us and wants to spend every moment with us. Just let Him, and you will discover just how great life is with Him in it.

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 2024 Grahame Howard.                                 

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com          

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Member of the National Association of Christian Ministers

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Run to obtain that crown

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

"Run in such a way to win the price" v24   1 Corinthians 9:24 - 27  CSB

Today is a new start for you. No matter what happened or didn't in 2023, move forward with Jesus throughout this New Year. In the Olympics, or any other particular athletic competition, men and women run to get gold. As good as that is, this prize is perishable, Paul says it is of no lasting value. When the athlete dies, the prize will probably be handed down to family but, it will not qualify anyone to enter heaven. We must seek an imperishable prize - Jesus Christ.

The prize a Christian wants to hear is Jesus saying: 'Well done, good and faithful servant'  (Matt.25:23). These are the most wonderful words any of us want to hear, and we will, if we keep our eyes on the finishing line where the prize is. God's rewards never fade, rust or perish. So therefore, make it your determination to receive this prize.

There is only one passion in your life worth total commitment, and this is loving and serving Jesus Christ. So when things come your way that hurt you, bruise you or humiliate you, rise above it. No matter what, you serve Jesus not people. People may hurt you, Jesus won't so, don't give up; don't lose sight of that finishing line. Don't disqualify yourself by allowing yourself to fall to the devil's tactics or losing your self-control. 

You have such an inheritance to receive when you are promoted to be with Jesus. Therefore, start investing in this right now. Make it your point that, whatever may come your way - and it will - that you will react in a way Jesus would do. He knows how cruel this world can be; He knows how people can rip you off, falsely accuse you, criticise and judge you, but hey, you are on the winning team. You were chosen for this task and if you handle it all right, Jesus will flick the flak away. Think about that anecdote, as long as you are walking with Jesus, serving Him by carrying out His wishes, then anyone that tries to prevent you, is preventing Jesus' work and He will avenge, not you. Leave it to him and, He will flick the flak away.

So, 2024 is unfolding before you, it's a brand new event and you have an important role to play throughout this year. So, take hold of Jesus' hand and walk it through with Him. There is no other way.

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 2024 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

 

 

What have you learnt this year?

"Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead." 

                                                                               Philippians 3:13   CSB 

We're told in various places in the bible, not to look back. Here Paul is forgetting what is behind and reaching to what is ahead. The thing is, occasionally we need to look back so that we can assess how far we have come. However, we are not to look back by living in the past. The past is over, it's a new day and there is a new way forward. Look at Lot's wife (Genesis 19:17- 26). They had been told to get out of Sodom as it was going to be destroyed. Clearly they were told not to look back. However, Lot's wife did, and she was turned into a pillar of salt. Not nice. 

We also need to remember things that God has done for us. This is also looking back. As we do this, we are strengthened when we realise that He turned up at just the right time for us. So, the title of this study today is, 'What have you learned this year?' To do this, you need to look back to assess how things have gone. Therefore, this past year:

WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED AND WHY?

How has your life been this past year? Think back and make a list of the things that you have achieved or even failed at. If you have failed at something, what made this happen? Did you do something wrong or did life prevent you from achieving what you had set out to do? There is nothing wrong in failing. Ask Thomas Edison, he failed many times as he was inventing things. One of them was the Electric Light Bulb. I read it took him 1001 times to achieve this before it worked properly. If he had given up in frustration we would have still been using candles until someone else had succeeded.

Write two lists: your SUCCESS list and your UNSUCCESSFUL list. As you list these down, leave a space to answer why you were successful, what did you do to achieve this. On the other list write why you were unsuccessful, what happened to prevent success. Then when you have finished your two lists read them prayerfully and allow God to show you where you could have been even more successful or what you could do to improve the unsuccessful ones. 

These lists can help you determine what progress you have made, what you could do to improve. This could mean spending more time in prayer and reading God's word. If you find you have not made much progress at all, ask God why this is; what are you missing. He will answer this very quickly. 

Now write a list about:

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR

Then use your list to assess how you are doing. You'll be surprised how God can help you in this area.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