The Bible – So Much More than Just a Book
In the western world it is easy to find a Bible. Many people have a Bible somewhere on their book shelf at home, book stores offer the Bible in several different versions and it can also be read online in many different languages. The Gideon organization have worked tirelessly to place a Bible in in every hotel room.
Sadly this is not true in some areas of the world – Bibles are hard to come by and to own one might mean imprisonment and even death.
Familiarity with the Bible can cause us to forget its unique value. The Bible is not just another book to collect dust on the shelf. We forget its importance. One of the first books to come off the printing press when it was invented was the Bible. And it’s still the world’s best-selling book!
An anonymous author wrote:
The Bible is ‘The word of our God which shall stand forever…’ (1Peter 1:25).
Most of us respect the Bible, but do we read it daily and put it into practice? After hearing a discussion on various translations of the Bible, one man said: ‘I prefer my mother’s translation, because she translated it into everyday life.’
Are you doing that?
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THE BELIEVERS SURE FUTURE.
THE BELIEVER’S SURE FUTURE.
If you have committed your life to Jesus Christ you can rejoice as you look to the future. I know this, millions of others know it, Isaac Watts (1674 to 1748) knew it; and he wrote this hymn that so many people have loved ever since.
“There IS a land of pure delight, where saints immortal reign,
Infinite day excludes the night and pleasures banish pain.
There everlasting Spring abides, and never withering flowers;
Death, like a narrow sea divides this heavenly land from ours.
Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood stand dressed in living green;
So to the Jews old Canaan stood while Jordan rolled between..”
He was concerned about Christians who might have doubts, and miss such joy . So he wrote :-
“But timorous mortals start and shrink to cross this narrow sea,
And linger shivering on the bank, and fear to launch away.
O could we make our doubts remove , those gloomy doubts that rise,
And see the Canaan that we love with unbeclouded eyes..”
I feel that Christians should stop bothering about the things of this world with all it’s fuss and worry. And look more to the future, to Heaven where we spend, not just a few years as here, but a wonderful life for ever and ever.
As far as this life here is concerned we have a wonderful God who has promised to “Be with you always” .Has said that as He looks after the flowers of the field and birds of the air, so He will look after you. You are of more value than many sparrows !
Just Trust God for each day, He knows how to care for you and where He wants to lead you. There is nothing He cannot do for you, put yourself firmly into His hands.
Think more of Heaven where God is seated on His throne, and Jesus seated at His right hand, and all the power of The Spirit available to all believers.
There is much happiness looking forward as you walk with Our Lord, There is much He can share with you about Heaven, it’s His home, and the Bible can tell you a lot about it too.
It will be great meeting each other when we get home ! Shall I see You there ? I do hope so ! Gerald Gossage.
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MOTHERS, REMEMBER MOTHER MARY .
Mothers sometimes forget just how important they are. The memories I have of my Mother are of her long hair hanging down around me like being in a cave as she bent over me to kiss me “good night”. And the radiance of her face in church as she talked to her Jesus in prayer time.. I wanted to know her Jesus too, and I did in the end.
In the Bible story of Mary we have the full account of Mary from a young innocent girl to becoming the Mother of Jesus and then with Joseph, being the Mother of at least six other children. (Mark 3 v 6)
The Almighty God sent the Angel Gabriel to Mary who told her she was highly favored.
Like most young women she did not know this. The Angel said it was nothing to be afraid of.
She was going to have a baby, the Angel told her, and as this was to be God’s Son, she, a virgin, wanted to know how this was going to happen.
It was a natural question. God was a Spirit, not a physical being, how was His sperms to reach her to make a human child.? How wonderful and discreet was the Angel’s explanation.
“God will overshadow you, and The Spirit will come to you, and the child that will be born will be special The Son of God.
The Angel Gabriel gave her a bit of news, her elderly relative was in her sixth month with child. And this would give her the idea of visiting the old lady after the departure of the Angel. Mary gave her consent to be God’s handmaid.
With God all things are possible”..
The importance to all Mothers today is contained in what Mary thought at this time in the story .(You can read this in Luke Ch 1 v 45 to v 57) “My soul magnifies The Lord”. She was just full of the experience of what God had done, and full of joy and happiness.
Mother: someone unique is brought into the world, and you are chosen to help fashion this life for good. Your children could grow up and be a Blessing to you. And Mary knew that it was all God’s doing. “I am not worthy” she said “But this will go on for all the generations to come. I can make the future bright through my influence on the children”.
This was surely true of Mary’s influence on Jesus as He watched her day by day.
It is not the birth of those who are going to be rulers, important people, specials. It is the ordinary humble people, the good and the Godly that are the real blessings, and no matter how old we all get we can still have a good influence on our children, by our love and what they see we are.
I hope that you will never stop talking to Our Lord about your children, thanking Him for what he has done and what He will yet do to bring His Blessing upon them.
“With God all things are possible” and your responsibility never ends while you can still love and care about them.
Happy Families ! The Lord be with you. Gerald Gossage
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Can I be a Blessing Today?
Every day is an opportunity to bring a blessing into someones life. So often it is the small things we do that can be so important to someone else.
This was the experience of a New York taxi driver who started off his day at work just like any other day.
A NYC Taxi driver wrote:
I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.
‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90′s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940′s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’
‘Oh, you’re such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’
‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly..
‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft voice..’The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired.Let’s go now’.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
‘How much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse.
‘Nothing,’ I said
‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.
‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug.She held onto me tightly.
‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life..
I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk.What if that woman had gotten an angry driver,or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
Story Credit Just Saying Facebook Page
Matthew 25 v 40 ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
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YOU HAVE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE.!
YOU HAVE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE.!
My wife said these words to me the other day, and not for the first time. Why am I inclined to repeat things ? If my wife notices this habit and doesn’t want to hear the same things over again, may be God gets a bit fed up with our repetitions as well.
It is undoubtedly nice for all to say “The Lord’s Prayer” together, but how many of us think of what we are saying to God as we do it ? Did You mean everything you said when you last said it ? Do we think that God likes to hear us reciting what He has heard untold times throughout the ages ? Jesus taught His disciples this in answer to their request “Teach us to pray”. (Teach us how to communicate with Father as you do)
Most Christians love the old hymns popular all over the world, for they teach us much, and help us to express our deep thoughts and feelings, and a few of the modern ones do also. But in much of modern church worship there are constant repetitions. Do we think that God doesn’t hear and understand the first time ? Or is it us who cannot express ourselves and mean it, the first time.?
How many times do we pray for the same things over and over in our private devotions ? Is it something to do with the way we were taught to pray as a child.. “God Bless Mummy and God Bless Daddy.. etc ? Or do we think that if we miss out someone God won’t include them in His Blessing. ?
Have you noticed that the more near and dear to us is the subject of our prayer , the more ardent and urgent is the prayer Are we saying “Yes Your Will Be Done” “But put this on the top of Your priorities please Lord” ?.
I sometimes think that Faith is lacking in our communications with our Beloved Lord God. Where is the trust in Him, that He knows all things, and He knows best,
We are not telling Him what We want, As if He is there to do our bidding. We should be sharing with the Loving Almighty One our work and concern with the things that touch our life in His world.
In our love for friends and family and others we share with the Head of the Heavenly Family just how we feel. And our desires work together with His desires to bring about what He know to be the best.
If your God seems remote and far away, Draw near to Him in Faith. Share your desires and love with Him in sincerity and truth. Talk things over with Him, And enjoy a new warm relationship with Him, for He loves you so much and wants to be with you and to Bless you.
” What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to share,
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”
Sincerely yours Gerald Gossage
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WHERE YOUR HEART IS.
photo credit ernst vikne creative commons
An American Indian decided to journey to New York to visit a friend whom he had not seen for a very long time. He had never seen a city in his life, but he made the trip, and was shown around New York by the friend.
As the Indian stood in the centre of the busy city he suddenly said to his friend, “I hear a cricket ! “. “ You won’t hear a cricket here” was the reply. “But I do, I hear a cricket”. “ You mean your thoughts are of your homeland “said the friend. “ NO I can hear a cricket “ .
“This is New York, there are no crickets in New York”. But the Indian persisted he could hear one. “Look” said the friend, “ Around us is the roar of traffic, there are aircraft flying over head, there are hundreds of people tramping on the sidewalks, there is the chatter of the crowd all talking around about us, If there was a cricket you would never hear it with all this noise ! “.
“I tell you, I can hear a cricket, and it is over there, if we can get across to that building over there I’ll prove it to you”. They got to the building, outside which were two large concrete pots with plants growing in them. “He’s in this one” said the Indian as he ran his hands into the plants and soil. In no time he came up with a hand full of soil and there was the cricket. “ Nice little fellow isn’t he” .
The friend was amazed “How could you do that ?” ”It is easy to understand “ the Indian said, let me show you. He took from his trouser pocket a hand full of coins, I am going to drop these, but don’t watch me or the coins hitting the pavement, watch this crowd of people, and what happens to them.
As the coins hit the floor all the people around stopped whatever they were doing and looked toward the sound of the dropped money, “They will go on looking until I have picked up the last one “ he said. “For where your main interests are your heart will be.They are all interested in money”. “My life has been in the things of nature and peace”.
Have you not noticed that most folk have interests that differ from that of others? Pink for a little girl, blue for a boy ? Boys don’t get dolls, and a train set is not an ideal present for a girl. The ladies are all for appearances, clothing, cosmetics ? Men are interested in mechanical things, or “Boys Toys” as they are called these days. It is something to do with where our heart is.
And often it changes with the passing years. The cupboard under the stairs, attics, and sheds reveal items that were once the delight of our life, but are now of no interest to us.
We grow out of things. I have been told many times “My parents sent us to Sunday School, and we enjoyed that, but got interested in other things, Happy days but all gone now”. And that for many is life ! From the cradle to the grave life is always full of the latest interests, but strangely not many of us seem to bother about the God who made and designed our being, and who promised to be with all who will go to Him in love and loyalty to guide us to an eternity of wonders and blissful happiness.
A renewed interest in Jesus Christ will make you grow into His heart of love, a love which will never cease. Talk to Him about it, He will hear you ! And you will be Blessed !
May The Lord Bless You. from Gerald Gossage.
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PUT ON GOD’S ARMOUR.
PUT ON GOD’S ARMOUR.
Ephesians - ch 6. verses 10 to 20.
The Apostle Paul was sitting in a prison cell, charged with being a Christian, and writing to his Christian friends at Ephesus. Nearing the end of the letter he wanted to leave them with a special message. Looking at the Roman soldier guarding him, he saw how the . man’s uniform was made perfect for the work he was called to do. He saw also how God had given the followers of Jesus a perfect armour too. We look now at the six pieces of armour we should always have today.
The Belt of Truth. We might put this last in a list, but Paul puts it of first importance. The Roman soldier had a skirt made of strips of thick leather: without a belt he would be restricted in movement as it wrapped around his legs. The Belt splayed it outward to give freedom of movement. Truth gives us freedom; with no deceit or lies. The Belt also gives confidence, we feel its there, and like truth, know the right. We know a confidence in our God. The Belt of truth protects the gaps in the armour. (how did Saul, in the old testament, die? An arrow found its mark in the gap in his armour) . The Belt also contains Treasures. Where did the soldier put his money with no pockets? In a purse in The Belt. All that he treasured was in his belt. Surely God sees your truth as your treasure.
When one of our daughters became a nurse, my wife and I had the joy of presenting her with a beautiful buckle to go on her uniform belt. Most surely when others see your life of truthfulness, with no lies or deceit, they will see something of the beauty of your Christian Faith.
The Breastplate of Righteousness. Standing up for what is right comes from the heart, and love; we show our love to God by doing what is right in His sight. Protect your heart with this breastplate always.
Feet shod with the Gospel. A soldier cannot fight or march well if his feet are not well shod. We cannot either, if we are bothered by the rough ground of uncertainties or doubt. God has given us The Gospel as a help for our walk with Him, and to fight the good fight of faith.
The Shield of Faith. The soldier had to face a new weapon. The enemy dipped darts into tar and set them on fire and shot them at the soldier : So the shield was covered with a thick layer of leather so the flame was extinguished as it hit . The men were also trained to hold their shields above their heads when arrows rained down, and to make a wall of shields when the enemy advanced toward them. We must learn to work with fellow Christians to fight the good fight of faith. God protects you, you help others.
The Helmet of Salvation. None of us are perfect, but when we ask God for forgiveness (and mean it) And we ask Jesus to come into our life, and we welcome Him, He saves us from the consequences of our sins, and we walk with Him, now, and forever. We protect our heads with the knowledge of our salvation.
As a youngster I learned to play chess, but I lost every game until I was told “You will never win while you play a defensive game. Learn to attack” . Every soldier had a sword:-
The Sword of Faith. We Have a faith, and The Holy Spirit will train you how to use it if you will let Him. We are told to STAND, (not sit) and fight the enemy, our Faith is in God’s Word. We should be in constant conversation with Him and His word should make us active in prayer and the fight against evil..
“Soldiers of Christ arise and put your armour on”.
Greetings from Gerald Gossage.
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MARY !
MARY !
You see, I loved HIM dearly, I worshiped HIM from afar. In a man, what every woman seeks is sincerely; this is Jesus. Jesus was my distant star !
I had cooked for HIM , and served HIM, I had even walked with HIM, well behind. I had washed His garments, though He had never known it
I have watched His Ministry, so loving and kind.
It broke my heart when I heard about HIS trial. And to see HIM on the cross…
I had hurried to the grave on Sunday morning;
HE was not there ! , It was such a shock !
When I saw HIM at first, I thought He was the gardener.
“Where have you taken Him”, was my cry !
HE looked at me, as though I was His partner.
“MARY ” HE breathed.
I have never known so much in one expression !
HE KNEW ME, HE HAD ALWAYS KNOWN, KNEW ALL.
I was part of HIS creation, and HIS passion !
My heart responded to His call….. “MASTER ! “I cried, and I knew we were one.
I will go on serving, and loving you for ever, And whatever time there is to come, No power on earth or in heaven our oneness will sever.
(PS. I believe Jesus went home to prepare a place for her.)
Just a thought, “A Happy Easter”. Gerald Gossage.
(Many found last year’s Easter Poem helpful, it is still on this blog if you missed It. March 2011?) (thank you for your support) G.G.
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IGNORANCE TO MATURITY.
IGNORANCE TO MATURITY.
Austin Huntley was a young boy living in Nova Scotia, His main enjoyment was playing with a group of youngsters around his own age and they got up to all kinds of things as boys will.
Occasionally they journeyed to a massive rock which they endeavoured to climb., but they had never manage to climb it all the way to the top. Austin was determined to get to the top. With an all out effort the day came when he made it all the way to the top and sat there admiring the view and eating the lunch he had brought with him.
Then his eye caught something that he just had to go and look at; it was an eagle’s nest. As he gazed down at it he could see living chicks within it. And looking round to be sure that the Eagle was not about, he reached into the nest and took one of the chicks. It was a dull grey little bundle with a large head and legs, he decided to take it down to show his friends so it was put into the bag that had recently contained his lunch.
The climb down was slowly made, and he was quick to tell the lads that he had made it to the top and had seen an eagle’s nest. He was not believed at first, but when he showed the baby chick, he was soon the hero among them.
“What are you going to do with that chick” he was asked “I’m not going to climb up there again and put it back” he told them. “I’ll put it in our chicken run”. And that is just what he did.
The poor little eaglet was most confused for a while, but as it grew it tended to copy what the chickens did. It walked like a chicken, ate their food, and tried to make a noise like a chicken, and this went on for a while.
Then one dayAustinsaw that it was constantly looking up at the sky. There hovering over head was an Eagle , and it seemed to cause great excitement to the once baby chick. Who spread it’s wings and ran up and down trying to fly. At last it took off, flying over the netting enclosure and up up, until it joined the adult bird above it . Together the two birds flew until they were out of sight. Austin never saw them again.
The Bible tells us that you and I were made in the image or likeness of God, so we should grow up to be like Our Father in heaven. He sent His Son, Jesus to show us how we should live, and even though we live in a world that is often far from the way He taught us, we don’t have to behave like an eaglet in a chicken run doing what everyone around us does . We used to sing:-
“Turn you eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His Glory and Grace”.
You don’t have to follow the crowd and do what others do. Be the wonderful person God made you to be; Ask Jesus to help you and He will.
Christian love to you. Gerald Gossage.
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God is Spirit and only by the power of God’s Spirit can people worship
John Ch 4 v24. God is Spirit and only by the power of God’s Spirit can people worship Him as He really is.
I wandered lowly as a cloud that floats on high over hill and dale, and all at once I saw a crowd, a host of people worshipping God. Please forgive my miss- quotation, but I am aware that I am communicating with those who would call themselves “fellow Christians”. As such, you probably attend a place of worship at least every Sunday if not during the week as well.
We all must realize that there are many people who do not, or cannot worship with others, elderly in old folks homes, some in hospital, and many housebound, Sadly there is not much on radio or television these days as once there was, as helps to worship .So how do we worship ?
Living in the U.K.there are not many people who are far from a place of worship, but there are many parts of our world where this is not so. Also as I wander from one place of worship to another I find a vast difference from one form of worship to another. From robed priests going through a set ordered Prayer Book, to hand- waving electronic Pop type music. And there are many Christians who cannot stand either because it is not their concept of God.
God has made us all different. Our upbringing and background has much to do with the way some worship, and the way we think of God does much to shaping our sincerity in worship . It is natural for us to feel that our way of worshipping God is the right way, and it probably is for us. But we must never judge or condemn how others seek and find God..
“Only by The Power of God’s Spirit can people worship Him as He really is “. Just as all of us see differences in the characters of others, so people will always see differences in The Almighty God. What concerns me is that many people do not see Him at all. There are those who attend a place of worship for years and still don’t know Him. God is Spirit, and the real you is not the body you live in but your real self which Is spirit. You are called to be one with your God, loving Him, walking with Him, worshipping Him. And looking forward to living with Him forever.
God made you in His love, He has loved you before you were born, His love for you is wonderful now, You can respond by loving Him in the same way. Have a talk with Him, and start a walk with Him, He will be with you to your journey’s end ,That’s His promise.
With Christian Love Gerald Gossage.
