Exodus 15:2 (Amplified Bible) ~ The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation; this is my God. 

Just the other day I met a young man while I was in a shopping queue. With sheer arrogance, he tried to jump the queue. I said to him in very polite manner, “Sir, there is an orderly queue. “ He looked at me with a frown on his face and barked at me, saying, “If you do not let me go in front of you, I will set the god of my juju ring on you!” At this, I looked at him and laughed, and then replied, “If your god can fit in the inside of such a tiny ring, I feel sorry for you. But as for my God, He made the whole universe, He is my all-powerful God! His power can never be contained in such a tiny ring like that, for He is an almighty, awesome God!” The look on his face was priceless. He was stunned into silence and walked away with his tail between his legs. 

The Bible says in Acts 17:24 (NIV), “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.” He is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. We cannot try to put God in a box with our limited, earthly thinking, for He is far bigger then we could ever think, or imagine. He is the Mighty God! Far beyond our reach! Unsurpassable in power and justice, this is my God. 

My friend, God is a  faithful God, who is bigger, stronger and more powerful than anything; this is my God! He is strong to deliver, mighty to save, powerful to heal and sovereign over all, this is my God! He is my strength, my song, my shield, my high tower, my refuge, he is my joy and my salvation, and this is my God! My heart leaps like a gazelle, like a calf released from the stall with joy, as I confess His name and declare in our text for today in Exodus 15:2 (Amplified Bible), “The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation; this is my God.” 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV) ~ My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 

The Message translation of the Bible opens up this verse like this: “My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.” 

When I am weak, then I am strong,

Grace is my shield and Christ is my song.  

Your emptiness is but the preparation for you being filled; your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up. Your moments of extremities are God’s opportunities to show Himself strong on your behalf. Many a saint has trodden the path of hardship and suffering which comes in its various forms, and God turned their moments of weakness into great victories of faith, which enabled them to face anything this world could throw at them. As they fully trusted in the His faithfulness, they overcame by His Divine gift of grace. Here is their testimony from Hebrews 11:34 (NIV), “whose weakness was turned to strength.” 

The Bible says 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV), “God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” Therefore, when we feel weak and are at our lowest point, it is at this pivotal point where we feel the strongest, because His power is made perfect in our weakness; we are clothed in His strength. His strength enables us to face any foe, any hardship, any short coming, knowing that His grace is enough, His grace is all-sufficient for us, for our strength in made perfect in weakness. His grace hath led me safe thus far and grace will lead me home. 

My friend, whatever you may face, may you face it with this confidence: His grace is sufficient of you, for His strength is made perfect in your weakness.  

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

John 6:9 (NIV) ~ Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish. 

Out of the 5,000 people who were there, only one little boy was willing to give what he had to Jesus. Just one little boy, just one person from a crowd of 5,000 besides woman and children, gave what little he had to Jesus. God used his simple offering and met the needs of the 5,000 people besides woman and children, and they were all satisfied. Afterwards, the disciples filled twelve baskets full with what was left over. Imagine how much God could bless us and multiply our harvest of righteousness, with His abundance until our baskets are overflowing with His blessings, all because of our simple child-like willingness to give to Jesus what little we have. Even if you think you have nothing to offer God but your love, God will use it to bless the multitudes with whatever we give Him.

Kathryn Kuhlman once said, “One day I just looked up and said, ‘Wonderful Jesus, I have nothing, I have nothing to give you but my love, it’s all that I can give you, I love you with all my heart. I give you my body as a living sacrifice. If you can take nothing and use it, then here is nothing. It is not silver vessels that He is asking for, it is not golden vessels that he needs, He just needs you to say, “Yes.”’” 

You may go to a church full of people who faithfully attend every week to listen to the words of Jesus, just like the crowd who had gathered to follow Him and listen to His words. Now imagine what could happen if you were the only one who stepped forward and gave what little you have to Jesus. Then, God could use it all for His glory so the baskets of your church would be full, and everyone touched by a miracle from the hand of Jesus. 

My friend, you may be in a congregation of 30, 50, 100 or even a 1,000 people, but all it takes is just one person to be willing to say, “Yes,” to Jesus. To say to Jesus, “Please Lord, take what little I have and use it for the Kingdom of God.” Then, God will take what little you have and multiply it by a miracle to meet the needs of the multitudes. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV) ~ Nothing is too hard for you. 

Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV), “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” The depth of this awesome question reaches far beyond my feeble mind to a place where I turn to God to help me grasp this life-changing truth, to enter into a greater realm of faith where I can believe God for anything. Where my soul cries out, “my ELOHIM ADONAI is my God, He is an all-powerful God and nothing is to hard for Him. When we go back ten verses of Scripture, we can read the answer to the question in Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV), “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” 

Nothing is difficult for God to do! There is no sickness He cannot heal.

There is no obstacle He cannot overcome. There is no stronghold He cannot bring down.

There is no wall He cannot breakthrough. There is no soul He cannot save.

There is no backslider He cannot reach. There is no enemy He cannot defeat.

There is no miracle He cannot do.

For the Bible says in Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV), “Nothing is too hard for you.” 

Kay Chance once penned this faith-filled song with these powerful lyrics: 

Ah Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power,

Ah Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thine outstretched arm.

Nothing is too difficult for Thee; nothing is too difficult for Thee,

O great and mighty God, great in counsel and mighty in deed,

Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing, nothing is too difficult for Thee. 

God asked the question in Genesis 18:14 (NIV), “Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”

There is no barren womb God cannot open and bless.

There is no Egypt experience that God cannot deliver you from.

There is no mighty work God will not do for you.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing, God cannot do!

In childlike faith we come to Him and sing the old Sunday school song with a heart full of joy, believing in His awesome promise:

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty,

There’s nothing that He cannot do! 

My friend, we have this in God, confidence to approach the throne of grace, to seek His unmerited favour, knowing the blessed truth which is found in our text for today in Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV), “Nothing is too hard for you.” There is no impossible situation He cannot make possible! For our God is an awesome God, who is strong to deliver and mighty to save! With God all things are possible, for there is nothing too hard for Him and nothing He cannot do. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Deuteronomy 28:2 (NIV) ~ All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God. 

All these blessing will come upon you and accompany you when you obey the LORD your God. Such a simple verse to understand yet, the outworking of this verse for many people seems a difficult price to pay. In a nutshell, obedience brings the blessings. 

What are “all these blessings”? Well, let us take a little look and see from Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26:  God’s blessing inside the city, God’s blessing in the country, God’s blessing on your children, the crops of your land, the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds, the lambs of your flocks; God’s blessing on your basket and bread bowl; God’s blessing in your coming in, God’s blessing in your going out.  He will grant you peace, and five of you will chase a hundred and one hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. God will look on you with favour, God will keep His covenant and you will walk with your head held high. God will grant you abundant prosperity; you will always be on top, for it is God’s will for you to be the head and not the tail. 

Just imagine all these blessings are waiting to not only come upon you, but also accompany you, all the days of your life, if you would simply obey His covenant. His covenant blessings are conditional, when you do your part and walk in obedience to God, God will honour His part and allow all these blessings to come upon you. 

My friend, oh, for grace to trust Him more. Lord, as we obey and walk in your truth may all these blessings come upon us. Lord, open the floodgates of heaven and let your blessings pour down upon us, so that all these blessing can wash over every area of our lives. Grant us Your favour and let all these blessings come upon us, and accompany us, all the days of our lives for now and ever more, thank you Lord. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew

Hebrews 3:1 (NIV) ~ Fix your thoughts on Jesus.

Five times in Scriptures the word “fix” is used by God to give us direction. God gives us a clear direction to keep our focus fixed upon His will; for us to permanently maintain our focus, our centre of attention, firmly on God.  

1. Deuteronomy 11:18 (NIV),”Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds.”   

Here, we are admonishes to keep our hearts and minds, our intellect and the very fibre of our being, always feasting on the word of God, constantly meditating on His word and doing His will.    

2.  Proverbs 4:24-31 (NIV), “Fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

This verse cautions us to keep our direction on the right path, to follow only His ways, to not be side-tracked by distractions, but to stay on the firm path of the King’s highway.  

3.   2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV), “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

This is a reminder to keep looking through the eyes of faith to God, and the things of heaven. For the things of this world will pass, but the eternal things of God will never fade or pass away. Keep you focus in the centre of His will.  

4.  Hebrews 3:1 (NIV), “Fix your thoughts on Jesus.”

Your thoughts can be the hardest battleground to fight for. Nevertheless, when you keep your thoughts fixed on Jesus, He will guard your heart and mind and keep you pure. When we fix our thoughts on Jesus, we do not dwell on the negative things of this world, but rather the positive attributes of the Kingdom of God.  

5. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV), “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.”

There is no one more beautiful than Jesus to fix your eyes upon. Let us fix our eyes on His ultimate sacrifice on the cross of Calvary for our sins. Fix our eyes upon His glorious resurrection; fix our eyes upon Jesus, the Lover of our souls. Fix our eyes upon Jesus to be saved, healed, delivered and set free. Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus in our time of need. Fix your eyes on Jesus at all times. 

My friend, as the Bible says in five different occasions, each with a practical and life-changing meaning, “Let us fix” our hearts, our minds, our gaze, our thoughts and our eyes constantly upon God’s word, the things of His kingdom, His direction, things that are eternal in heaven, but most of all, let us fix our eyes on Jesus and never take them off Him. 

Michael Frye once wrote these wonderful words all about Jesus being the centre, with our eyes, thoughts, hearts and minds fixed upon Jesus. 

Jesus, be the centre, be my source, be my light, Jesus,
Jesus, be the centre, be my hope, be my song, Jesus,
Be the fire in my heart, be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

God bless you my friend, Matthew

Esther 8:14 (NIV) ~ the couriers, riding the royal horses, raced out, spurred on by the king’s command. 

Oh, how this verse captures my imagination. It stirs me up with a fire within my bones to make haste with the message of the gospel. These horses were no ordinary horses, but royal ones bred as champions, the finest, and the best you would ever find. These riders were trusted with a message of deliverance, a promise from the King, which brought great rejoicing for whom it was intended. The Darby Translation of the Bible brings this verse alive with these words: “The couriers mounted on coursers and horses of blood went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king’s commandment.”

Horses of a royal bloodline bred for the King’s purposes. Those who rode on them were chosen for their integrity, chosen for their loyalty to the King. They were those who, at a moment’s notice would, with great haste, obey the King’s command.  Here we have those chosen by the King to be couriers of his message, fired on by the King’s command to bring the good news. 

Time is pressing within our land, people need the good news. Quick! Let us mount the King’s horses and be couriers of His message to His people who are longing to have hope and longing to be given good news so they may rejoice, for their King is mighty to save! 

Listen, can you hear? Look! Can you see how with haste come the King’s trusted couriers into every hamlet, every village, every town and every city to declare the good news from the King? Full of zeal and with a smile, so delighted to share with one and all this message, “Today is the day of Salvation, trust in the words of the King and be saved! Believe in His promise and live!” When the people received the good news and believed in the promise from the King, they celebrated with great joy. 

My friend, God speed our calling as we, with great haste, climb upon the King’s horses and ride with a purpose, driven with love, fired up by the King’s commands to bring His message of good news to the people. Let us therefore ride the lengthen and breadth of our land with the urgent message from our King to one and all, declaring in His authority, “Today is the day of Salvation, trust in the words of the King and be saved! Believe in His promise and live!” When you received the good news from the King and believe in his promise, you will celebrate with great joy, for your King is strong to deliver and mighty to save. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Song of Solomon 2:8 (NIV) ~ Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. 

Here he comes to my aid, no mountain, no hill, no valley, no obstacle, will stand between God coming to me when I call upon His name. Here he comes bounding over the hills coming to my rescue. Whenever I call His name, He is right there by my side. Look my soul, look, my Jesus is coming to me, and the Lover of my soul comes to me. 

Nicolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson wrote the words to this beautiful song, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” It contained these lyrics:

If you need me, call me, no matter where you are, no matter how far,

Just call my name, I’ll be there in a hurry, you don’t have to worry,

Ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough,

To keep me from getting to you.  

Swift like a gazelle, bounding so gracefully, does my Jesus come to me. The Lover of my soul spoke to me saying, “My darling, my beautiful one” (Song of Solomon 2:13). For someone to call you His beautiful one, His darling, the one whom he loves and laid His life upon the altar of sacrifice to save you, shows His pure and amazing love for you.

My friend, when you pray, the Lover of your soul, Jesus Christ, comes to you with the answer to your prayers. 

Christ is the answer to my every need, Christ is the answer, He is my friend indeed;

Problems of life, my spirit, may assail, with Christ My Saviour I shall never fail,

For Christ is the answer to my need.  

Oh, what a beautiful verse to encourage your heart with today, from our text in Song of Solomon 2:8 (NIV), “Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.” No sooner are the words of prayer off your lips, then look! Here he comes, my Saviour, My Messiah, the Lover of your soul, Jesus Christ, with the answer to your prayer! 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Philippians 2:20 (Amplified Bible) ~ For I have no one like him no one of so kindred a spirit, who will be so genuinely interested in your welfare and devoted to your interests. 

What a beautiful description of two people working together with one purpose for the things of the kingdom of God. The word “kindred” means someone having similar qualities; related by blood. Wow, now that is something to think about; having a kindred spirit, brought together with a different spirit, one of unity with the same interests, related by blood. We are all washed in the same blood, that precious blood of Jesus Christ, having the same goal, with the same vision, with spirit of unity in the Lord. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:7 to 9 (NIV), “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labour, for we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 

Here is something else to consider, the world uses a term to describe a close relationship between two people and they call it “soul mates.”  However, there is something stronger than a soul mate, for the term in itself has limitations, it only scratches the surface of true relationships and it only touches souls. But to have a spiritual relationship with someone and find a wife or husband who shares the same interests, who has the same goals, who wants to glorify God with their relationship is called being of “kindred spirit”; touching way past just the soul, for the soul is but temporary, while the things of the spirit are eternal. To be of a kindred spirit and having a passion to walk hand in hand, step-by-step, in unity before the Lord in serving Him together in the things of the Kingdom, is to have a kindred spirit, related by the blood of Jesus. Being born of the same seed is of far greater worth than to simply be a soul mate.    

My friend, oh, what it would be like to have someone of a kindred spirit to run the race with in Christ Jesus. The Bible says in Psalm 133:1 (KJV), “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” As we dwell together as kindred spirits, wanting to work together for the glory of God, then it is there the Lord commands the blessing. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Luke 14:10 (KJV) Friend, go up higher to a better place. 

Go up higher to a better place,

Go up higher to a new place of blessings,

Go up higher to a new place of victory,

Go up higher to a new place of abundance,

Go up higher to a new place of glory,

Go up higher to new realms of faith,

Go up higher to soar to new heights,

Go up higher to be closer to Jesus. 

Listen to the words from the one who calls you his friend, ‘go up higher to a better place.’ His invitation for you is to move on up to a better place. There are realms of great faith, victory, and glory, of power, fire and passion in the Holy Spirit yet to be discovered, listen to His invitation to you today for our text in Luke 14:10 (KJV) Friend, go up higher a better place. 

His desire is to bless you and lift you up to better places than you have ever known before. His desire is for you to soar like the Eagle, with wind of the Holy Spirit beneath your wings lifting you higher, higher, and higher to a better place than where you are just now. 

My friend, oh may we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us today from Luke 14:10 (KJV) Friend, go up higher to a better place. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Revelation 3:8 (KJV) ~ I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.  

I have been told many times, by several people, that when God closes one door He another opens. There can be doors of opportunities; doors that lead you from one place to another. It is interesting to note that God shut the door of the Ark in the time of Noah until it was the right time for the door of the Ark to be opened. Even if Noah had tried to open the door of the Ark it would not have happened until it was the right time to do so. If we are truly obedient to the Lord, if we are, in one sense, safe within the Ark of His will, then whatever door He shuts let us have the wisdom to submit to His will until He opens a new a door. God shuts a door for a reason, and He opens one at the right time. 

The Apostle Paul spoke about an open door in 2 Corinthians 2:12 (The Message), “When I arrived in Troas to proclaim the Message of the Messiah, I found the place wide open.”  God had opened the door, and all he had to do was walk through it. Also, the same term is used in Colossians 4:3 (NIV), “…and pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message”; an open door to walk through into a new area of fresh blessings, new beginnings, and of new opportunities to be an effective witness for the Lord. 

We can come before one door after another in our journey of faith, and life can be one door after another. The Bible says in Hosea 2:15 (KJV), “And I will give her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope.” In other words, He will open a door of hope in your valley of despair.   

His door is one which leads to a new beginning, a fresh start. For example, we come to Jesus Christ who is God’s front door of Salvation.  He is the Gate which we walk through and find Life. At Calvary God hung that door, with Jesus Christ on the lintel of a wooden cross, and used the nails as hinges. It is now up to each and every one of us to enter in through and by God’s front door of Salvation. It is the place we go to if we want to cross from death to life. Just as there is only one door to our heart, so there is only one door to the heart of God and that is where we find Jesus Christ. If we knock on the door of His heart, it will be opened unto us. It is there we enter in and are saved. It is there we find fresh (heavenly) pasture, through Jesus Christ, God’s front door.  

My friend, we can push and shove with all our might against a door hoping it will open for us, but if we are fully trusting in the Lord and we will allow Him to open the doors which need to be opened and close those which are not the right ones for us, we will find peace. For our text for today says in Revelation 3:8 (KJV), “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Let us, this day, trust God to open the right doors for us, albeit with the right employment opportunity, or an opportunity to spread the gospel and engage in the work of the ministry. Let us walk through every open door God has for us, knowing that His protection, provision, peace and power will be with us with every step we take. Let us fully trust Him, for it truly is God who opens the right door for us at the right time. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

    As I’ve stated before on my blog, I try to stay away from the political arena. This is mainly due to my belief that as a follower of Christ, I have an obligation to defend and uphold biblical truths, not to worry about increased taxes and government bailouts. It also doesn’t hurt that I was blessed to be born in America, a country founded on biblical truths; formed as “one nation under God”.

    So, while I could really care less that our government is becoming more corrupt and has made itself a financial laughing stock worldwide. I/we in the Christian community can no longer stand by as they attempt to turn the moral code of our country into that of a cheap porn movie. Especially not when that moral code has been and should always be the living breathing word of God.

    Example. If there was a new movie out that had gay sex scenes, babies being slaughtered, the bible being mocked, and the proceeds going to fund those actions…Would you pay to go see it? Of course not. This is America right, we have choices, freedom, and we decide where our money goes. Or do we?? There are some well-respected people out there that think if the government has it’s way we may not have those, and many other, choices. You may have heard of some of them, Chuck Colson(yes that Chuck Colson), Robert George Professor of Jurisprudence: Princeton University, Dr. Daniel Akin President: Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, oh and about 150 more of the most respected names in the American church. Together they have penned the Manhattan Declaration detailing this plight. You can help by reading it, signing it, and passing it on showing your support. Please check it out at http://manhattandeclaration.org/. Let me know what you think. God bless.

Colossians 3:9 to 10 (NIV) ~ Since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 

Can you picture this verse coming alive before you? Can you imagine that you have been out rolling around in the muck, you are covered in dirt, and then you take off all your filthy rages and put on new white garments that are clean and spotless? The Bible says in Ephesians 4:22 to 24 (NIV), “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” 

Not once, but twice in the Scripture, this descriptive phase is used, “Put on the new self,” the new Christ-centred attitudes and characteristics. Cast away your old rags and clothe yourself in and with Christ Jesus.  When you come to Christ Jesus you are a new creation, for the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 

My friend, God is calling you to take off the old and put on the new, to exchange your filthy rages for royal robes you don’t deserve, but by His grace, mercy and love He wants to give them to you. So take off your old self and put on the new in Jesus, and be made new in every area of your life as you clothe yourself in Christ Jesus. 

In the words of an old gospel song:

The windows of heaven are open; the blessings are falling tonight,
There’s joy, joy, joy in my heart, for Jesus made everything right
I gave Him my old tattered garment; He gave me a robe of pure white
I’m feasting on manna from heaven, and that’s why I’m happy tonight. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Ephesians 5:25 (NIV) ~ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. 

In a day when so many wives feel neglected, unwanted, unappreciated and taken for granted, God is speaking to husbands to rise up and love their wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. The Bible says in Proverbs 18:22 (NIV), “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favour from the LORD.” A covenant wife is one who understands the value and importance of loving her husband just as the husband loves his wife. A covenant marriage is one in which both a husband and wife work through everything together in prayer. They are always there for each other, taking the time to listen and pay attention to what each other is saying. They believe in each other, encourage each other, and respect each other, and they never disrespect one another in public or in private. As a result, there will be nothing that will hinder your prayers and His peace rules your heart.

The husband is the head of the family and the spiritual priest who spends time in prayer for his wife and family. He cherishes his wife, feeds her, esteems her, respects her, appreciates her, never takes her for granted, builds her up in the most holy faith and like a Boaz, covers her in prayer and protects her. 

I love story about the young man on the night before he was going to get married who was given a gift from his father who was married to his mother for over forty-five years and was still loving her with everything he had. What his father gave him was a watch, but on the face of the watch there was a message engraved that said, “Say something nice to Sarah.” Husbands take the time to say something nice to your wife today; wives say something nice to your husband today as well. 

The Bible says that a woman’s true beauty is not caught up with material things 1 Peter 3:4 (NIV), “Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” Gentlemen, your wife is gift from God, and ladies, your husband is a gift from God. Even though a husband is the head of the family, this position should never be one which is used to gain, or win a disagreement, or to be manipulative or controlling, which is not of God. Likewise, a woman should not have the same negative attitudes towards her husband. The Bible says in Colossians 3:19 (NIV), “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” Love them as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Wives, in turn, will respond to being appreciated and cherished. As a result, they willing submit to their husband as fitting in the Lord, knowing him to be a godly man who loves her with all his heart, for when you love someone with all your heart, you want to do your best for them, blessing them and being a blessing to them as a godly husband. 

The responsibility for a husband is one that should not be taken lightly, for a husband is held accountable before the Lord for the way he treats his wife and his family, for she is his wife, and not merely a wife, but the wife of his covenant marriage before the Lord. I believe it is time for men to be men, but in order for that to happen, women must respect their husband’s position within the covenant marriage, so they can rise up and be the leader God calls them to be. 

My friend, when a man treats a woman as the Bible says in Ephesians 5:25 (NIV), “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” and when a woman responds to her husband’s Christ-centred attitude, his love and Kingdom living, then something special happens, they both begin to live in and enjoy the blessings of a covenant marriage the way God has intended and ordained for them.    

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Matthew 22:32 (KJV) ~ “…‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 

Oh, how I love the phrase, “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” He is our ELOHIM ADONAI, our everlasting God. From one generation to another He is God. “Great is Thy faithfulness O God, my Father; there is no shadow of turning with Thee.  All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.” 

This same God who made a covenant with Abraham and sealed it with blood as He walked through it as smoking brazier with a blazing torch, is the same GOD who brought the people out of Egypt with a display of His awesome power, who parted the sea so the people walk across on dry land to the Promised Land. He is the same God who, time and time again, throughout the Old Testament, showed Himself strong and mighty to save for His people. He is the same God who bared His holy arm with great and mighty works and delivered His people who called upon His name. He is the same God who showed His power to heal, raise the dead and conquer death, hell and grave, through His Son Jesus Christ. He is the same God who gives gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His will. He is the same God who gives you His ZOE life through Jesus Christ, and this great God, who is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is our God!

He loves to display His glory in our lives, for He is a living, powerful, awesome God. He is from everlasting to everlasting. He is not a God of past miracles, but a God who is living to do miracles right now, for He has saved the best till now! He is the God of the NOW; here and now He is a living, all-powerful EL SHADDAI. 

My friend, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is our God. He is not only omniscient, not only omnipresent, but also omnipotent. Every manifestation of His awesome power and glory in the Scriptures can testify of His love for us. Just as every person in the Bible turned to the Lord and received a miracle for their lives, so we can do the same, for the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is our God, the God of the living, to display His power from one generation to another.

The cry of my heart today is, “Oh, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, my God, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds; O Lord renew them in my day, in my time make them known. For you are the God of the living, let this generation live in the manifestation Your great power and glory.”

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

John 20:16 (NIV) ~ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Oh, how sweetly does He call your name.

Here in the garden Mary is looking for Jesus. She could have walked right passed Him; her eyes were on other things rather than looking to see who it was that stood right in front of her. She could have continued to look and not find Him, until Jesus spoke to her in one word. All it took was just one word and everything changed. All it takes is just one word from Jesus and everything changes. The Bible says in John 20:16 (NIV), “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’” All at once, her heart knew it was Jesus the Messiah who was calling her name.

Everyone Jesus has ever called He calls by name. Oh, what a comfort to know Jesus knows your name.

At once, Mary turned towards Him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” which means teacher. There once was a time when your eyes never looked towards Him until He called your name, and then all at once, you turned to Jesus and saw Him as your Messiah, Teacher and Lord. When you hear His sweet, gentle voice lovingly call your name, all at once there is rest for your soul, all at once there is peace in your heart; all at once you are saved.

My friend, can you hear Jesus calling your name today? Perhaps today you are looking to find the Christ of Calvary, wherever you are right now, cry out to Jesus and as you do so, you will hear the blessed Saviour calling your name.

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Psalm 145:13 (NIV) ~ The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. 

The Lord is faithful to all His promises. 

Here you have a cast iron guarantee from the word of God; the Lord is faithful to all his promises. His promise is a promise you can depend upon. You can reply and lean on His promise with all your might, with the full assurance that He is faithful to all His promises. In fact, if you look back into the Old Testament in Joshua 21:45 (NIV), Joshua tells all who are listening, his words echo with an absolute truth and power in God through the corridors of time, and even today they shake the very earth which we stand on with their overwhelming, awesome substance and filled with a power-packed faith and carried on the very authenticity of the integrity and character of God, “Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled.” He is a covenant keeping God, who is faithful to all His promises. 

His covenant is a covenant of love towards all He has made; a covenant of promise; a promise which resounds through the very Universe with this amazing theme, “God is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all he has made.” Every star, every planet, every celestial, heavenly angel, from everything that God has made, from every mountain top, every valley, every plant, every bird of the air, every fish of the sea, every creature which lives on the earth, from every plant, to everything that has the breath of life in it, can testify and join together in a beautiful symphony sung in one accord, “The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.” 

My friend, what an amazing Scripture to encourage our hearts with, and build us up for the day ahead, from our text for today in Psalm 145:13 (NIV), “The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.” 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV) ~ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 

In 1955, an actor named James Dean played the part of “Jim Stark” in the film called, Rebel Without A Cause. While it was a brilliant portrayal of the changing times within a society and the conflicting attitudes of different generations, the title arrested your attention. For even today many live as rebels without a cause. They rebel against any kind of authority whatsoever, refusing to accept responsibility or accountability of any sorts. But most of all, they rebel against God, refusing to accept His ways. 

In the UK, a civil order (ASBO) may be made against a person who has engaged in anti-social behaviour. In today’s society, some actually revel in anti-social behaviour to the point they wear any ASBO (anti-social behaviour order) like some sort of sick badge of honour.  

To be a rebel without a cause is to press the self-destruct button, having no respect for anything or anyone, allowing anarchy reign. In one sense, you raise a clenched fist up to God and say to Him, “I will not obey you, nor will I follow your ways, or accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, I will do things my way!” But the Bible warns us in 1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV), “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 

The alarming thing is that one day people who take such an approach and refuse to bow the knee to Jesus Christ in this lifetime, who do not repent and ask God for His forgiveness, will have to bow the knee before Him at the Judgment seat, where their pleading for forgiveness will be fruitless. 

If you want to be a rebel, then rebel against the enemy of souls and do the will of God.  Be a rebel with a cause against the tide of opinion of those who want nothing to do with God. Be a rebel with a cause, rebelling against all that is evil and fight the good fight of faith. Submit willingly to the Lord, with hands raised and hearts surrendered. Stand firm in Him, with integrity and honour before the Lord.

My friend, when you rebel against God, you in essence, turn your back on Him. Turn your negative rebellious attitudes over to the Lord and let Him give you a new beginning and fill you with a positive Christ-centered life.The Bible says Acts 3:19 (NIV), “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Repent, do a complete turnaround from the direction in which you have been going, and go the other way. The Bible also says in Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV), “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Only in Jesus will you find peace, joy, rest, order, a cause worth living for and a home in heaven to look forward to.

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Matthew 6:26 (NIV) ~ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

To God you are a priceless masterpiece, a trophy of grace, a beautiful vessel made by the potter’s hand, woven by the very finger of God. God loves you because you’re so valuable to Him.  

Note if you will the wording from Matthew 6:26 (NIV), “…yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” God cares for all of His creation, but He gives special attention to you. If God cares for, and feeds, the birds of the air, how much more will He care for you and want to bless you? God wants to look after you, because to Him you’re valuable and so precious beyond words. You are a matchless beauty beyond compare and He loves you and wants to pour out His blessings for you over your life because you’re worth it.  

My friend, let our text for today lift up your spirit and cheer your heart from Matthew 6:26 (NIV), “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” How much more valuable? Much more than you could ever think of, or ever imagine, because He loves you so, so much. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.

Acts 2:2 (NIV) ~ Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

The word “suddenly” is a very powerful one. In total, it is mentioned 45 times in the Bible. Three of the ways the word is used are as follows: first, in Hebrew ‘pitom’ is mentioned 12 times meaning, all at once, in an instant, by surprise, so quickly, unexpectedly. Then in Greek ‘exaiphnes’ is mentioned 5 times, meaning, unexpectedly and lastly, ‘aphno’  is used 3 times meaning, suddenly like a rushing wind. 

Oh, for God to breakthrough suddenly in answer to prayer! Oh, for a “suddenly moment” to happen. What a tremendous blessing it would be, if we have been praying for something to happen, when suddenly God brought the answer. 

He can heal suddenly.

He can move suddenly.

He can deliver suddenly.

He can bring the breakthrough suddenly.

He can bless you suddenly.

He can provide suddenly.

He can save suddenly. 

Suddenly, He can make a way where there seems to be no way, in an instant, so quickly, all at once, by surprise, God can move suddenly. Oh, for more “suddenly moments” from God! 

My friend, in our text for today, the disciples were gathered together in one place to pray, when, as the Bible says in Acts 2:2 (NIV), “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.” Suddenly, everything changed, as the Holy Spirit came as tongues of fire and rested on each of them. 

Oh Lord, take us by surprise, bring a revival suddenly, let Your fire fall suddenly and fill our earthen vessels afresh with the Holy Spirit. Oh Lord, move suddenly when we least expect it, take us by surprise Lord, and have your way, do something way beyond our hopes and dreams and move suddenly with something new in our lives. 

God bless you my friend, Matthew.