Picture to follow as in data dead area.

The picture is of the sunset at Berrick upon tweed. I felt a deep peace at the end of this week as I gazed upon this warmth as it descended. Our sin is taken away through Jesus only but we can still be snared through it perhaps temporary until we find Gods strength and overcome it ourselves.

How easy is it for the devil the snare us! For us to be led astray into thinking God doesn’t love us in our life of plenty.

Isaiah 58:10

°if you °pour yourself out for the hungry °and satisfy the desire of the afflicted °, °then shall your light °rise in the darkness

When you are down, feeling empty, can you pour yourself out?

Strange as it sounds I think you can. Stopping, giving time for others problems and needs, takes your immediate mind off your own problems.

Turn away from the self to the selfless.

Jesus was all about a selfless life. Even on the cross in his most painful moment any one would have been forgiven for being withdrawn and focussing on self but Jesus takes time to care for his mother and friend John.

John 19:26-27

When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

Jesus moves the emphasis from his own suffering to make sure his mother is cared for.

When I was feeling down I just got up from my situation and wandered around to see if I could help anyone, and it took my mind off my own suffering. God through his Son gives us the strength to accomplish this.

When Cain, in Genesis was downcast, God gave him a way out of this self pity, it was to rule over his self pity and do something about it.

Genesis 4:5-7

And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Sin lies at our door and we must be constantly on our guard.

Dear Lord help us all to not have self pity but to look up, look out to others who are suffering so that we can keep temptation away. Lord Jesus you took sin away from our judgement but we still need to fight against it attacks and you give us the strength through you to do this.

Amen