Monday, February 27, 2006

Things to be thankful for - and something to think about

There are many things to be thankful for. But the greatest of these is God's mercy. Despite the fact that we disobey Him time after time, God always gives us another chance. He knows all our strengths and our weaknesses. It would be wrong however to think that this gives us the right to sin as much as we wish. Once you have identified your sin, God expects you to make a proper effort to correct it.

There are many people (myself sometimes included) who make a small effort to correct sin and then happily give up the attempt, as if this will fool the Lord. I feel that, although we are the grateful recipients of God's divine mercy, we abuse this gift at our soul's mortal peril.

God bless you - N

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Being Positive

I realised that my last post 'A sick World' was a little negative. It is often the way, after a bad day, that I become a little gloomy. I should, at those times, remind myself that God loves me - despite the fact that I sometimes feel unlovable.
Thank you Lord for persevering with me,
I am not worthy of your love yet you give it freely.
Please Lord help me to be more deserving of your love,
I ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen

God Bless - N

Thursday, February 23, 2006

A sick world

We are living in a sick world where much that we do, and aspire to do, is out of keeping with God's will. God is patient, and God is good. But He has demonstrated before that He is prepared to wipe the slate clean and start again.

Repent now before it is too late.

And may God bless you - N

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Prayer is the answer - The Lord's Prayer


I am often tempted to sin. We all are. And at those times, our lord Jesus Christ is far from my thoughts. The Devil has a way of pushing Jesus from our minds when he tempts us. This is a problem. At the very time we most need God's strength he is absent. As far as I can see, the only way to remedy this is through prayer. We must pray regularly that we are not led into temptation.

Fortunately, Jesus told us how to do this. And he even told us the words to use. Many of us have known these words from childhood; but I'll repeat them here.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Such a simple prayer, but it is the only prayer you need.

May God go with you - N