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What name is it please?

why?

Because if your names not down you’re not coming in.

All these and more for our safety and security, so that we can rest easy in our beds knowing our family is safe, our information is safe, our money is safe, our country is safe, so what goes wrong? People still manage to hack into your social accounts,  bank accounts, get into your hotel room, etc. They even manage to get into places where security is tight, like Buckingham Palace!

Incredibly people will even try to get into heaven without first doing what God says to do. But unlike in the natural world, not one person will succeed in doing so. 

You cannot falsify a security pass to get into heaven, or use someone else’s credentials, you can’t buy a place in heaven, you can’t work your way into heaven. Going to church, reading your Bible, praying, being kind and compassionate, are all good things to do, but good things alone won’t get you into heaven. So what will?

Jesus told Nicodemus that you must be born again, Nicodemus was confused, he didn't realise that he was spiritually dead, and that he could only receive a spiritual birth through repenting of his sins and believing in Jesus. Being a Christian literally means, a follower of Christ. So we no longer follow our own selfish desires, we no longer follow the world and it's ideas. The only people who will go to heaven are those who are born again, and who follow Jesus. Everyone when they are born are spiritually dead, dead in sin, in darkness, and it is only Jesus who can make anyone spiritually alive and free from the bondage of sin and darkness.

The nicest, kindest person in the world is spiritually dead and will not go to heaven unless they repent and follow Jesus, the most evil, nasty wicked person in the world who repents and follows Jesus will go to heaven, their sins are forgiven because Jesus took their punishment on the cross, He died that all who repent and believe would be free, and receive eternal life. 

What price Freedom?

I was recently invited to go to the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas in Staffordshire with my friend Betty from the Salvation Army. I stayed with my daughter the previous evening as the coach was leaving from Belper, so I had a wonderful evening with my daughter and a wonderful day with my friend Betty, a double blessing. 

I had never heard of this memorial park before and I was quite overwhelmed when I saw it, there were so many memorials for so many different kinds of groups and individuals and it is being added to all the time. We went round on the train which gave a running commentary of the various memorials we were passing I only wish I could fully explain the deep emotional effect it had on me, and the deep gratitude I felt for all those who had paid the ultimate price for my freedom, and the freedom of all who live in our land. We also went into the chapel which was as expected a very calm and serene place. I took so many photographs that I really don't know which ones to share, but you should be able to see them here: Staffordshire We only stayed for a few hours, ideally you need a whole day because there are parts of the gardens that the train does not go to and so we missed some of them. I did manage a walk around afterward but couldn't go too far. The weather was glorious and the company was lovely.

There was one particular memorial that struck me which was the Korean War memorial of 1950-1953 which said, "Freedom is not free". There is a great cost for freedom as anyone living in a democratic society will know. Many in our own country have given their lives and are still giving their lives for the freedom of our nation, it is a sobering thought and we should always remember their willingness to die for our freedom. 

But the greatest freedom there is is not democracy, it is not freedom of a nation it is a freedom that has to do with individuals, a freedom from darkness, a freedom from sin, a freedom from fear and this has been payed for at a great cost to our Creator God and His Son Jesus Christ who was willing to take the punishment for our sins in order that we may know true lasting freedom. 

Our country owes a huge debt to those who gave their lives, but greater still is the debt we owe for our salvation, but it is a debt we can never, ever repay, and thankfully we don't have to because it is all of grace .

Jet wash

I recently purchased a Jet wash and I must say I am quite impressed with the results, the first time I used it I promised myself that in future I would wear wellington boots and tuck in my trousers, as I got absolutely drenched, I had washed the small piece of decking I have and the backyard. I donned my wellingtons again today to jet wash the walls of the bungalow and I must admit that yet again I am more than happy with the results. 

Whilst I was doing this a little robin came and kept hopping up to the wall and taking something off I think I must have disturbed some little grubs, I'm only sorry I didn't have my camera although I did catch him later behind the shed, still grub hunting.

There was something though that the jet wash didn't manage to get off and that was the marks from an ivy plant that had grown up the wall. The ivy had been removed before I moved in.

I was reminded as I was doing this of what Jesus can do in our lives and how He can make us clean, He bore our sins at Calvary. Every person on the planet has sinned no one is exempt and as God is a holy and just God we will all be judged by Him one day. That is not a prospect to look forward too, but God in His grace and mercy put in place a plan of redemption whereby all who repent of their sin will be forgiven, and unlike this wall there is nothing left, no guilt, no shame, no scars, it is all gone. Jesus, The Son of God took the punishment for our sin that we may be saved from His judgement. And I can testify to this absolutely free, amazing grace, you can't purchase it, you can't earn it, work for it or any such thing, it is free all you have to do is say yes to this free gift, repent and ask God to forgive you, and turn from your old life to a new one in Christ.. I can assure you, you will be clean and new.

Are you feeling dirty, or shamed of the way you live, are you feeling guilty for the sin that is in your life? You don't have to stay that way, trust in Jesus and He will make you clean and new. God, bless you I pray that if you are searching this will be of help and encouragement to you. Here are a few words from God's holy word, the Bible. 

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of His grace