More On Love....

Carrying on from yesterday we see another outworking of Jesus coming to live among us....

....we are to "live through Him"

It is only Jesus that makes it possible for us to LIVE....really LIVE.

Until we are in Christ and living for Him and for others...then we will never really know what it means to LIVE.

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

How Can We Know What Love Is?

Years ago there used to be a popular song "do you know what love is?"

As Bible believing Christians we can say "YES".....

1 John 3:16

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

Real love is demonstrated by Jesus dying for us - "while we were still sinners".

What that means for us ....is that we are to live for others (and not just for ourself).

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

Are You Hated?

If you are hated...or treated with some sort of distain....should we be surprised?

1 John 3:13

13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

And so, we will probably be hurt....especially when it often comes from ones who love us....but we should not be surprised.

Just keep loving them back...no matter what.

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

Why Did Jesus Bother?

Good question....why would Jesus bother leaving the riches of heaven and perfect fellowship with the Father?

This is why...

1 John 3:5

5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.

That is why Jesus came.....so that our sins might be forgiven.


Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

Can People Be Recreated?

If I didn't believe that I wouldn't be a minister of the Gospel - of course God makes people new.

1 The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.” Ezekiel 37:1-3

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

How Does God "Choose" Us?

Don't we make our own choices?

Yes and no.

Our salvation comes completely from God and His grace - we do not deserve it.

Being "chosen" does not remove the need for us to choose to follow Christ.

God knows everything about us - the events we will be involved in - the decisions that we will make.

There is no forcing into action, or leaving people without a choice.

God knows His people perfectly, and knows who will believe.

Isn't this all hard.......it is another area that tests our faith!

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

We Have Been Chosen.

We have been chosen. This is not a popular theology, but in any plain reading of Scripture, this is what it says.

At one time, only the nation of Israel could claim to be chosen, but now through Christ all believers - both Jew and Gentile belong to Christ.

This means that our salvation rests very firmly on God's merciful choice.

Nothing can separate us from Him.

Have a good day,


Peter Clark.

Don't Think Of Yourself Too Highly.

Psalm 131 came up in my readings the other day. There was a good reminder.

1 My heart is not proud, LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.

3 Israel, put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.

Pride comes from overvaluing ourselves and undervaluing others.

This makes us dissatisfied with life and restless.

It is much better to take the advice of v.3.

Have a great day,

Peter Clark.

We Can Fly Like A Bird...

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.


Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

Lord, Continue To Teach Me This....

Zechariah 4:6 (New International Version)

6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

Have a great day,

Peter Clark.

I Love This Verse.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (New International Version)

9However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"


Have a great day,

Peter Clark.

Helping With The Slough Of Despond.

Joshua 1:9 (New International Version)

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."


Have a great day,

Peter Clark.

Have You Ever Noticed This Verse?

Luke 1:78 (New International Version)


78because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

How Do We Get Through The Day?

Romans 8:26-27 (New International Version)

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.


Have a good day,


Peter Clark.

Special Prayer

The Collect for the 22nd Sunday after Pentecost knocked my socks off.

Almighty and everlasting God,
give to us the increase of faith, hope and love;
and, that we may obtain what you promise,
make us to love what you command;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Do this, and you will have a good day,


Peter Clark.

A Job Description For A Minister.

I wonder if any ministers wonder what they are supposed to be doing?

Perhaps some never even give it a thought. How sad!

Paul tells the young Timothy....

2 Timothy 4:2 (New International Version)

2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Or, to put it another way (from the Message version)

1-2I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

Description Of The Last Days.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (New International Version)

1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

It could be today, couldn't it.

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

The Role Of Ordained Ministry.

2 Timothy 1:11 (New International Version)

11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.


Have a good day,


Peter Clark.

Be Not Ashamed.

2 Timothy 1

8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

There was good reason for Timothy to be reluctant to share the gospel. This was a time of severe persecution. Paul was already in prison and Timothy would follow in the years to come (Hebrews 13:23).

Paul tells Timothy to expect suffer for the gospel of Christ. God's Holy Spirit will give him courage.

TFTD: Don't be ashamed to testify to your personal faith in Christ.


Have a good day,


Peter Clark.

Cranking Up Our Christian Living!

This morning I read 2 Timothy 1:1-18. I came across a number of gems that I will share over the next couple of days.

First, Paul reminds Timothy to "fan intro flame the gift of God" (v.6)

Timothy had already received the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Timothy 4:14. He did not need new revelations or new gifts, but rather he needed the courage and self discipline to use the gifts that he already had.

What he needed to do was to step out and proclaim what he already knew. He needed to overcome his timidity and employ "the spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

TFTD: How are you going to step up your Christian witness? By employing what you have already been given.


Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

A Day In The Life Of Vladimer.

This was in the FEBC's Prayer Diary. What a great work they do.

"I am not a Christian but I listen to your programs every day. They give me strength and wisdom and I learn something new and apply it in my life."

Vladimer is from Saratov.

Lets pray that Vladimer and others like him, will come to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

Some Things Never Change!

What is important? To know that God never changes and that we are not to be distracted.

Hebrews 13:8-9 (New International Version)

8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

9Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.



Have a good day,


Peter clark.

Jesus Is Coming Back...But You Shouldn't Be Surprised.

Yesterday, I reminded you that Jesus is coming back - 1 Thessalonians 5:2

2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.


Paul goes on to write...


4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.



Have a great day,

Peter Clark.

Jesus Is Coming Back.

Yes He is....and it is described as the "day of the Lord". That is exactly what it will be. the total focus of everyone in the whole world will be on the Lord.

Some will be pleased.

Some will be disappointed.

It will happen at a time that surprises all.


1 Thessalonians 5:2 (New International Version)

2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.


Have a great day,

Peter Clark.

One Of My Favourite Proverbs.

This is one of my favourite Proverbs. I am not guilty of this today....God willing, Heather and I will be starting off this morning on a 5 day trek in Nepal.


Proverbs 24:33-34 (New International Version)

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest-

34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.

You have a good day too.

Peter Clark.

God's Calls Us To......

1 Thessalonians 4:7 (New International Version)

7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Have a great day,

Peter Clark.

The Things We Do.

As Paul writes to the Thessalonians he mentions that their faith is known about everywhere.

What is it that everyone knew about the Thessalonians?

Chapter 1 verse 9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Have a good day,

Peter Clark

Faith, Hope & Love

I came across this in my reading this morning. Isn't it amazing how in the Bible you can always find something new....

....some new blessing.

2We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

Can You Say This?

Jeremiah 20:9

".....his word is in my heart like a fire....."


Have a great day,


Peter Clark.

The Gospel In A Nutshell.

Colossians 1:21-23 (New International Version)

21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.


Have a great day,


Peter Clark.