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by John DoyleMaking Scrap books is popular among many people and is lots of fun. Pictures are chosen, edited and placed with lots of pleasing memories incorporated in the pictures. Names, dates, places and events are so precious and bring back awesome memories. Meaningful times and events are captured with Family and friends never to be forgotten. Sometimes those pictures and memories will cause great laughter and sometimes tears too, for those who have perhaps lost loved ones. Last Saturday was our son Keith's 50th birthday and we have so many Precious memories of him as a little boy, teenager and young man and although he lives far away in the USA my wife Barbara and I are so very proud of the him and thankful to God for the man of God he has become over these 50 years.Mary the Mother of Jesus had many specific situations that concerned her family. She had treasured specific events that had happened concerning Jesus as a baby, as a child and as He grew into the teen-age years. She didn't have a Scrapbook or picture album, but she had a mind and heart from where she pulled amazing memories that were joyful, painful, and even heart breaking.Gods Word says Luke 2:51 “and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”Mary must have thought about the many events that had happened in connection with Jesus, before He was born, His birth, the fleeing to Egypt, the day to day happenings at home and then that time in Jerusalem, when Jesus had “˜disappeared”. Mary must have thought about these circumstances, and sometimes pulling them out to think about during the years of her life on earth. How these times must have made sense after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.We can take various events in our lives and remember them from time to time, we can pull out a scrap book and look at the many pictures we have. Many times, by looking back, we are given insight and understanding about God at work in our lives and the lives of our family members.We do need to remember that Jesus was fully God and He was fully man and knew His future from beginning to end on this earth.Look at what Gods Word says: Luke 2:52 “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.”Jesus continued to increase in wisdom on earth. You and I also need to continue to increase in wisdom, no matter our age. We are to continue to gain understanding of God's Word and God's Ways, knowing when to speak and share the Love of Jesus for others, and at times when to have our quiet times with the Lord and spend time thinking on the goodness and grace of God in each of our lives.Jesus continued to grow physically into manhood, just like we have. He made choices that gave Him favour in the lives of many people and He touched…

by John Doyle"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of Praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name, but do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."Hebrews 13: 15 - 16.What sacrifice could be equal to the sacrifice made by the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary? The cross of Christ has declared that there is nothing we can do and nothing that we owe. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Yes we owe Him our all, because He gave us His All. This should encourage us daily to give Praise to God.How best can be PRAISE in these difficult days of Lockdown?1. P - "Present your bodies a living service, Holy and acceptable to the Lord" Romans 12: 1 - 22. R - "RESIST the Devil, and he will flee from you" James 4:73. A - "As thou has sent Me into the World, even so have I sent them into the World" John 17:184. I - "I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me" Gal 2:205. S - "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be HOLY, for I am the Lord your God" Lev. 20:76. E - "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that LOVE Him" 1 Cor. 2:9Lets bring PRAISE this Lords day to:Our Father God the infinite, matchless King,The Living Christ, Who is set down at right hand of God, interceding for usThe Holy Ghost, a Heavenly gift from above to all who place there Faith in Jesus.Lets also Praise God and give thanks for the Blessings of:Having a Personal relationship with Him through our faith in ChristFor providing for you and your family in these difficult days of LockdownFor the joy of having more time with your loved ones, despite the PandemicYes it's time to sing it with me:Praise God from whom all blessings flowPraise Him all creatures here belowPraise Him above ye heavenly hostsPraise Father, Son and Holy GhostGod bless you and your family.In the Love of the Lord Jesus.John and Barbara

by John Doyle“But as the days of Noah were so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood they were eating & drinking and marrying, up to the day Noah entered the ark," (Matthew 24:37-38)In the days leading up to the Flood Gods people choose to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. They showed indifference to God’s call to live the righteous life - Math. 24: 38 Wickedness and intent to do evil prevailed in heart and mind. The earth was corrupt and violent.But Noah (v8) had a key responsibility. “By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with Godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household (home) by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Hebrews 11: 7 - 8)But Noah v8 “found grace”, was warned, moved himself, prepared an ark and became the heir of righteousness!Noah (& family) MOVED & PREPARED. When Noah faithfully did his part: GOD – God our Master Builder Provided and did His part.“Except the Lord build our home we will labour in vain...” (Psalm 127:1)The Floods came – the trials followed, but Noah and family remained faithful. They got to the other side. They came out of the ark together. They landed on dry ground.God established a covenant with this family. God blessed this family and all generations that followed (Genesis 8:18, 9:1-13) "This is my covenant which I make with you and every living creature for perpetual generations; I do set my rainbow in the cloud and this shall be my covenant with all mankind...” v.13Days leading to the coming of Jesus Christ will include Violence – evil intent – corruption – demise of covenant relationship of marriage – war. The “But Noah’s” v8 need to ariseMove, take responsibility & PREPARE to BUILDSacrifice whatever to bring the whole family on boardYou have faithful “But Noah's” around you in the Church support them - join them and Build a Godly Heritage.The ark is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ: “We were at one time disobedient people when the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built in which few, that is eight souls were saved from the floods” (1 Peter 3:20).Christ in you is the ARK. We have a guarantee that if we MOVE and PREPARE and become ‘BUT NOAH’s & BUT Noah’s wives and children’ we will arrive in glory on dry ground, no more floods, no more tribulations, no more sorrow (1 Peter 3:21 -22).In the meantime what is Jesus doing? He is “Interceding on our behalf” “He is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by HIM, as He ever lives to intercede for us”  (Hebrews 7:25)With God All things are POSSIBLEPREPARE FOR THE IMPOSSIBLEOBEY GOD’s COMMANDSSAFEGUARD YOUR COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS - With God & FamilySACRIFICE TO GET YOUR FAMILY ON BOARDINVEST IN THE LIVES OF OTHERSBUILD ON THE ETERNAL…

by John Doyle“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves…but I have called you FRIENDS, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit... ”John 15:13-16 Joseph Scriven faced real tragedies. Born in Ireland in 1819, as a young man he fell in love. But, tragically, on the night before he was to be married, his fiancée drowned.Later, after moving to Canada, Scriven fell in love again and became engaged. But his second fiancée also died before they were married.We cannot imagine how these painful experiences might have made him bitter. But Scriven decided to become devoted to serving others and sharing the Love of Jesus. He gave freely of his possessions and he always was ready to help those who were in need.In 1855, when he learned that his mother was ill, Scriven wrote a poem for her called, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” This later became a powerful hymn that many of us still sing today. Scriven in the song described what Jesus meant to him: “What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!”Because of the difficult experiences he had faced, he wrote with conviction, “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!” He knew that God could bring peace to troubled hearts who seek Him: “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”In these difficult times of Covid19 and Lockdown Instead of becoming discouraged when we face trials, and troubles, lets take the words written and simply “take it to the Lord in prayer.”Am sure like Barbara and I you have some wonderful Family and friends that the Lord has placed into your life over many years and you are thankful for them especially when you went through those difficult times of trials and troubles that we have all gone through. A Godly Friend is a Friend for life and for all eternity.Lets always remember that Jesus is your Friend for life and because "He layed down His life for us" He will never "leave you or forsake you" or give up on you unlike some friends and family that may have done that to you in your life. Take your problems to Him. Talk with Him. Spend time with Him. He loves you and has such a desire for you to walk with Him through these tough times and display to the World that you have a Friend called Jesus that has "appointed you to go and bear fruit" v16Lets be a people that Lovingly thank the Lord Jesus for being our Friend and lets build a strong desire…