Faithfulness and Obedience

The life of Noah is something incredible and he was used by God because he was faithful and obedient. 

Genesis chapter 6.

This chapter opens telling us how people had multiplied on the earth and this is the effect of the blessing that was given in Genesis chapter 1 verse 28 "Then God blessed them and said, "be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground". But the verses continue and tell us of the corruption that man has caused on earth, turning the blessing into condemnation. At the end of verse 3, I believe that this has to have some significance in that as it is reminding us that our time is short on earth but eternity is forever.  It is revealing to us that we only have a short time to find God and accept the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness that he has for us.  In the time that we spend here on earth God shows us great patience in waiting for us to return to him.  The challenge is your time almost up to find God and experience all he has for you?  This was a challenge for me as I know that I wasn't fully keeping Christ at the center of my heart with language I used or how I behaved, but this was my wake up call to fall deeper in love with God.

The end of verse 6 stuck out for me and it reads "it broke His heart".  This caused a feeling for me that I had been punched in the stomach as it revealed to me once again the heart that God has towards each one of us and reminded me of why God created us.  It speaks on many occasions in the bible that God created us for relationship with him, to have that life to the full.  God's heart was broken with the people because they had chosen the path that wasn't following what God wanted for them, they were full of hatred and evil. This caused me to realise that I had been breaking the heart of God by not being committed to spending time with him on a daily basis so that I could be fed by him and live more like him each day.  This challenged me and I'm now trying to get this back into my daily life as I want to be loving Christ with my whole life and giving him all the glory as he deserves it at the end of the day.  I will still never be perfect while I am here on this earth, but I can still be called a child of God if I am consciously spending time with him and keeping him in the center of it all.  

Verses 7 tells us the extent to how much sin breaks the heart of God and this wasn't just at this time, but it still breaks the heart of God now. Verse 8 talks about how Noah had found favour with God even though there was corruption surrounding him.  This gives us the assurance that despite the situation the world is in, or the situation your in; you can still live in a way that will find favour with God.

The description of Noah in verse 9 is amazing and this was the mark that he left behind and what he was known for.  Noah was described as "righteous" and "the only blameless person living on earth at this time" and walked in close relationship with God.  But the most important thing is to remember that Noah was just a man, but justified by the grace of God through the faith that he had.  Noah gave God the glory and the love that he deserved, obeying what he was asked to do.  He was conscious of living in a way that would glorify God.  This challenged me to think am I someone who walks closely in relationship with God and to be someone who lives consciously to glorify God in all that I do. Noah made his mark, are you making yours?

Verses 11-22 is God giving Noah the instructions of how to build the boat.  This was no ordinary boat that Noah was being asked to build and it was someone who was obedient and had a strong faith who could complete the command. 

Verse 18 "but I will confirm my covenant with you"  God made a promise to Noah that he would keep him safe and deliver him.  This is something that is exciting as God loves so much that he promises to deliver us from evil when we trust in him and love him with our whole lives.  He is our salvation and we are kept safe by being in relationship with him.

Surrendering to Grace

Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10
"We are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Jesus Christ, So we can do good things he planned for us long ago"

This world tells us that no-one cares as there is hope found in or of this world.  As Christians we have the greatest hope that is not of this world but is in this world.  Our greatest hope comes from knowing that Jesus left Heaven to live a human life perfectly, so that we could have an example to follow.  Not only this he gave himself as a sacrifice by taking our place upon the cross to pay our punishment for all our sins.  Jesus paid it all for us because of his unbelievable love and care for us, us his children who he created to be masterpieces, created for a wonderful purpose that only we can complete.
"For it is within us that he begins his work. It is within us - in the depths of our creation - that he begins to weave a tapestry of grace. And it is you- with your cartload of issues and a journal full of scorched places - that he longs to say Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more".

Come Closer

"The more we know God, the more deeply we love God" - Jane Rubietta

It is important for us as Christians to have a close loving relationship with God, as things in life will result in suffering or struggle and we need God to help us through these times. At these times it is easy to run away from God and we end up feeling lost and hopeless. But because Our God is Faithful and Caring, he calls out our name at these times, longing for us to draw closer to him.  He whispers into your heart "come closer because you are my child and I love you with a never ending love.  Come and have a close relationship with me and tell me all the things that you are hurting or struggling with, so I can set you free from this bondage. Draw closer and experience the immense love I have towards you."

God is the only person who is able to fill the emptiness that you experience in your life, so why are you waiting. Go and spend time with your Father in Heaven, run into his arms and embrace his power in your life that only God can give us.

Ephesians 1v7
"and ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the Spirit, who will make you wise and reveal God to you, so that you will know him" (Good News Bible)

Call out to God, ask Him to draw alongside you and fill you up with the power of the Holy Spirit that will change and transform your life.  As you are changed and transformed by the Holy Spirit, you will draw closer to your Heavenly Father's heart and you will know Him in a way that you have never known him before.

He Will NOT Let You Go!

"I am His child; but in his great wisdom, he let me realise that nowhere in the whole wide world, no where in all creation, can I go from his presence. He wouldn't let me go" - Jan Dravecky

In this life, we face many obstacles and struggles that we don't understand. This can make us feel like God is against us, especially if the obstacle is something that you have always wanted. I can remember the night I read this quote, was the night I received my final rejection for the social work courses that I applied for. I can remember feeling so confused and disappointed, and even felt slightly that God was against me as I didn't understand why God had just snatched my dream away from me.  For me, it would have been so easy for me to run in the opposite direction from God and even run away from this problem, but where was this really going to get me. It was going to get me nowhere.  This is because I know that I can't live my life without him as it provides all that I need each day.

Instead of running from God, I ran straight into God's loving and comforting arms that night after I read this as after all He loves me and you reading this, he cares about me and you and he has such a plan for our lives,  more than we can ever imagine. I can remember being told once, that God doesn't tell us the plans he has for our lives is because we wouldn't believe him anyway. This is how big and how wild God's plans are for us. 

Psalm 139v 7-10 

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.

He Hurts with us

"The only way we can have personal victory in the midst of these flying arrows... is to call upon the Lord for help." - Edith Schaeffer
In the midst of our battles and when we fall down as we feel like we don't have the strength to continue on, Our God is Forever Faithful. Whatever battle we are facing, whether that is exams, whether it is family breakups or friendships that are causing you pain, Jesus completely understands the pain that you are going through. Remember He suffered on this earth, He was put down because He spent time with the sick and the poor. He even suffered so much by dying on the cross for our sins. He hurts with us because He doesn't want to see his precious children suffer. 
I remember reading somewhere, When this world knocks us down unto our knees, We are in the perfect position to pray. This made me think, so many times we run away from God when the going gets tough, as we feel like we have to cope with it on our own. God doesn't want you to run away from him. He wants you to call out to him and lay all your burdens and hurts down at his feet, then he wants you to run into his arms so he can embrace you and build you up, allowing you to feel comfort and receive restoration in him.  God has promised us that He will make ALL things work together for our Good, so trust him.
    to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

Psalm 91

 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night,  nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

New Year, New Start?

At the beginning of a New Year we all make New Years Resolutions, but we always seem to last what... a few hours... a day... a week... 

This year I decided that instead of making a New Years Resolution, I was going to make a fresh commitment to God, to where I would rely completely on him and that I would look to him in my times of need so that I could be strengthened and renewed in him.  My hearts desire is to serve God with all of my heart and become the person that God wants me to be. I can remember a few years ago we were asked at gLo to come up with a definition of Love and the group I was in came up with "Love is the expression of our selfless faith, imitating Jesus, by putting others first just like He did on the cross". Ever since then this has been the way I have wanted to live my life, living my life the way that Jesus lived his, by putting others first and showing them love by spending time with them and whatever else is required of me.

I realised that for years I had been hiding all the hurts that were caused because of family and friends to be hidden away from God and I was trying to work it all out on my own and not allow God in to help me.  I had also been running away from God in these situations which left me in an extremely hard position as I didnt know who I could turn to or where I could turn to, which left me in a dark place, lost and helpless. At the minute, I have realised that I need to let all my hurts come up out of the hidden places in my heart and allow God to work through them one at a time. I remember a recent louder event where Andy McCourt was talking and he spoke about this and ever since then this has really stuck in my heart and in my mind, as this was God teaching me to let go of the hurts that I was clinging unto in my heart, that were just bringing destruction into my life.

I remember being told by someone that You may not be in the place that you should be, but you should be thankful to God that you are not in the place that you used to be. This has made me think about how about how in my situation now, although I am far from perfect that God can still use me just as I am, where I am. I may never be perfect or be in the correct place all the time, but I know that God is willing to come and meet me at my very need, even if that need is in the darkest pit. I have slowly learnt that God doesn't want to be pushed aside in my life or as a matter of fact he doesn't want pushed aside in anyone elses life. He wants to come in and help you.  In 1 Peter chapter 5v7 we read "Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you" and this just makes me think now, why would I not want to tell God what is hurting me or what is going on, as He is a Mighty and All powerful God and He is able to make things change, maybe not in the ways that we want or expect, but in the ways that are according to his plans and his purposes. As a song by  Jesus Culture says "you make all things work together for my good". So maybe at the time when you are experiencing the hurt and the pain and you cant see what good could ever come out of it, maybe it is time that we begin to trust God more. I look back over the times when I was at my lowest and didnt see where there would ever be hope again, I now realise the God of all Hope never left my side even though it felt like I was on my own, or I felt like I was running away from Him. I also realise that now God has made me a stronger person through these trials and tribulations.  Through this, it has allowed me to be involved in some amazing teams last summer where I was able to grow, share my faith and even step out of my comfort zone when working with children. These experiences also changed my views on kids work and stepped them up into a whole new level for me, and it makes me excited as I know that God has so much more in store and that He will reveal this in His precious timing.

I encourage you as a fellow brother or sister in Christ, if you have hurt embedded in your heart which has been taking over your life as you haven't handed it over to God, I encourage you to cry out to God and let him take this hurt away from you. As it says in Galatians 5v22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." and if we are followers of Christ these fruits should be overflowing in our lives and God wants to see you happy and full of joy.  

Maybe some of the hurts we have embedded in our hearts also require us to do some forgiving. A quote I was read says "Forgiving your enemies doesn't help them; it helps you." And sometimes the best thing for us is to be selfless and forgive others as things are never easy, but why should we not just forgive so that we can be free from that burden that lies upon our hearts. God doesn't want His precious children to be burdened down with hurts and anxieties. He wants us to have free hearts where He can overwhelm us and change and transform us to the people he wants you to be. Will you let Him change and transform your life in 2013? 

Making Our Lives Count

As I was reading and thinking about Hebrews 12v1-3 where it talks about how our actions count it made think about how we need to be more aware of how our actions can portray certain things about our faith. 

I also think of how at times we make too many excuses to not serve God or show that we are Christians and this shouldn't be something that we are ashamed off. This passage is telling us to ignore all the doubts and laziness that is in us that won't serve God, so that we can be the salt that flavors the earth and also so we can be the light in the darkness. I can remember reading about a man who went to Jesus asking him how he could become a follower of Christ and have eternal life. The man was shocked at the answer Jesus gave to him as Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor. The man didn't like this response. Sometimes we need to remember this, as we can get too wrapped up in the worldly things that we don't give enough back to God. Let us live sacrificially for Christ, just like the disciples did. Let's be ready and seeking him for this.

In this we also see how we have a race marked out for us. This is basically the plans that God has for our lives. It makes me think of Jeremiah 29v11 as well. Once we begin to live sacrificially for Christ we can run the race that God planned for us! And for us to finish Gods work we have to keep looking to him as he is the one leading the way for us!

The last bit really makes me think as it reminds us how much Jesus gave up for us. He went the full way and gave everything including his life. When I think about this Jesus didn't have to die on the cross as we all deserve the ultimate punishment of death. If Jesus could give up everything for us, I think we too should give up everything for him. We have to give up our lives and accept that we aren't in control and that we have to honor him.

I encourage you in 2013 to listen to the whispers that God places upon your heart and that you will respond to God through this. I encourage you to live each day for God in the simple things as even these are able to change the world! 

Be the change you want to see in this world in 2013 :) 

Girlies I'm here for you any time. And if you have anything you want prayed about give me a wee text or email, as I'm praying for each of you's and I want pray for things where you are struggling or whatever it may be.

Hebrews 12v1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

God of all Comfort

Happy New Year Girlies J and my prayer for you is that you will have a blessed year where God blesses you richly in all that you do.  Yesterday as I spent some time in God word and used a devotion book I received for Christmas I just thought that this title from it was so appropriate for the horizon of the New Year.

God of All Comfort...

When I read the title it made me reflect over the last year of my life and I even realised how much my life has changed!  I looked back at all the good times of 2012 and I thanked God for them and all that He had done in those situations were all things were well. I then reflected on what were the bad times of 2012 in my life, but as I looked back at them they just didn’t seem as trivial as they were when I was going through them.  This made me think of the title once again and I realised that I had ran into the comforting arms of my Father, and that was without me even realising it at the time. I praise God now for all that He brought me through in 2012 as though this He has made me a stronger person who is being prepared for the work God has planned for my life.

In the devotion book it was written...

“We love seeing the word all if it points to something favourable for us. We love when all of the shoes at our favourite store are on sale, or all the candies in the bowl are dark chocolate, or all the bills are paid in full. However when all aspects of life seem to crash down around us, that’s a different matter. We find ourselves in need of the “God of all Comfort”.

No problem or no heart ache is outside of God’s comfort. He has unlimited resources – a vast wellspring – at His disposal.  When we are hurting, truly the loveliest name of all describes God bringing us not some comfort, not comfort for some things, but all the comfort that we need.

The God of all comfort waits today to comfort you.  No limitations. No deductions.”

When I read this my heart was just filled with utter happiness and hope as I believed that it was God setting me up for the year ahead, reminding me that God was always in control and that He would always be there by my side as a comforter. I had such an urge then to share this with you at the start of a New Year for the simple reason that God is willing to meet you at your need at any time you just have to let him in. And I also wanted you to be filled with the same hope that I was filled with when I read it.

It also made me think over the times when people have been there for me this past year and how God had placed these people here at this time in my life to be my encouragers and comfort, and yesterday when I read this it made me more determined to be more selfless and put others first like Jesus did when He was here on earth. So I am always here for you, only a text, a phone call or a facebook message away J

Girlies this year, whatever you may face remember God is always there for you! Holding His arms open wide to you, reminding you that everything will be alright and that everything will work together for your good.  Dont be worrying! Your Almighty Father loves you and is always there even at those times when you feel like you have no one to turn to, God is there, shouting out your name for you to run to him.

2^nd Corinthians chapter 1v3-5

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.”

BRING OUT THE GOD COLOURS

Lately in youth fellowship, church and my own personal bible study I have been thinking a lot about the call that God has placed over my life. I know that God has an amazing plan for my life like he has for you who is reading this. At this minute in time you could be confused or searching for the call that God has placed upon your life. I will admit that I am still searching for the call that God has for me, and I know that I do not have to worry as My God is here with me right now and he will never leave me to fight anything on my own. For a number of years I have been involved in kids clubs and more recently I have become a Sunday school teacher and crèche leader, to allow me to fulfil the call that Jesus gave us in when he taught the people in the Sermon on the Mount.  Below I have added the verse from the Message version which I love how it puts it....

Matthew Chapter 5v13-16

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

This passage amazes me as me a child of God, who is not perfect and who is certainly not any more gifted than any of you’s is chosen to be Gods witness here on earth. I find this passage challenging as well as I think it sets the standards high for us Christians, but over the last little while I have been taught that this is not too high of a standard, this is only our reasonable service to God. (Romans 12v1-2) This has challenged me in the way that I live my life as it is so easy to just blend in with the crowd and follow what they are doing, but Jesus is telling us that he hasn’t placed us here on earth, anointed us with his light burning within us just to be hid away from all the people of this world. Jesus wants us to be standing up and sharing our faith with others, or even simply showing acts of kindness to others which reflects his love as this is how we can plant seeds in our friend’s lives that are unsaved and this is how we can start to bring out the God colours here on earth.  I know this is a huge challenge, but I am accepting this challenge as I know when I am working with God My Saviour and My Rock that I don’t have to be afraid as he will guide me and give me the strength to keep going, without expecting anything in return.

Jesus gave everything for us, he has given us the example of his life to follow, and he gave up his life on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins from the past, present and future. So I don’t think that us being asked to live sacrificially is too much to ask from us. Lets take up the challenge to do something nice for someone every day, without expecting an award, as well as doing it without making a whole song and dance out of it as Jesus loves a silent giver. So maybe your kind act will be to tidy your room without being asked or maybe it will be offering to make your parents a cup of tea or whatever it may be. I know that our parents can become suspicious but let them be. Just be that faithful servant of Christ and if we are asked to do something lets not moan, lets get up and do it out of love, and through this we never know what God could do in our lives and the lives of our families. God is the God of the impossible! Dont forget Shine from the inside out as deserves to be filling up our lives and this world that he created.

Pray! Don't Worry

Worry, worry, worry! It seems to be something so natural, that we all do at some stage or another.  Whether that is over the amount of homework or coursework we have or if it a family member who is ill or whatever the case is, out first reaction is to worry! I know that I am one of the worst worriers ever! And I worry about everything.  

As I  was thinking about worry a verse popped into my head found in Philippians 4v6 "do not be anxious about anything but in everything, prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God".  And I think at times we need to remember that God is by our side, looking to help us, yet we dont tell him our worries and struggles which then end up making us feel down and burdened. I encourage you to talk to God about the simplest worry as if it worries you, it worries God, tell him and he will step in and he will move in a way that you havent experienced it before.  it also made me think about at times we want to hear what others think about a situation or a worry, so I encourage you to talk to a friend who you trust, to receive encouragement and prayer :) 

Immeasurable Love

Today, I have been thinking a lot about the Love that God has for each one of us, when I came across a quote by Julian of Norwich which reads "We are so precisely loved by God that we can't even comprehend it. No created being can ever comprehend how much and how sweetly and tenderly God loves them. It is only with the help of grace that we are able to preserve in...endless wonder at the high, surpassing, immeasurable love which out Lord in His goodness has for us".
This has made me think of how Jesus died on the cross for our sins, which was completely out of love. It is so easy to tell someone that they are loved by their Heavenly Father, unfortunately it is not always easy to accept this. As humans we always have to win the approval and love off other people, and sometimes we relate this to God, which isn't what God is like. God loves me and you, just as you are, right at this moment, maybe without any make up on or in you comfortable trackies, that you would die if you were saw in these.  Yet God doesn't care, as he doesn't look on the outward appearance, he looks in at the heart and whether this heart is saved or not, he still has this unconditional love for that person, although for the unsaved he longs for them to return to him.  I believe that the cross is the ultimate picture of Love for us, as Christ didnt have to go through with it, yet he did out of love for each one of us.
Over the summer, I was involved in many Kids clubs, which I experienced unbelievable things that God done in the lives of the kids. And one thing that was prevelent in all these clubs was the importance of having a child like faith, letting God take our hand and lead us along the path through his love. And I believe that some of these kids grasped things in their own small way, things that took me years to understand. I can remember one child who was so overwhelmed by Christs love that she was in tears and she just wanted more and more of God. I can remember the first time this happened me and I will say I was much older than this child. I believe this child was able to take a tiny step in the understanding the love of God, which I think is essential, as we just need to take baby steps, closer to God. He still loves us the same no matter what.
In Jeremiah 31v3 it reads "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" so I encourage you to call out to God no matter what size your need is, as he is willing to help. (as I write this I am also talking to myself).
I'm just going to finish with this....
God says "I love you no matter what you do" His love is unconditional and unending! How amazing is Our God!

God Listens

Max Lucado wrote "you can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously.  When you enter his presence, the attendants turn to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God- and he listens".
I don't know about you, but at time you can feel like you are talking to yourself, as you feel people are not listening or heeding what you are saying to them. At times this makes us feel down, especially when we need someone to talk to so desperately.  This quote I believe is full of Love and Hope that God grants each one of us.  I love how it just talks about we can talk to God as he listens, and this makes me excited as it reminds me how God is there even when people are not there, and he is also always willing to listen! He longs to hear your voice calling out to him, as you are his precious child and you matter to him, no matter what other people say.  In this life we get so many put downs from our family or friends, saying that we are not good enough ect ect, but God is always there and he wants to come in and encourage you, and the part of this quote that says 'your voice matters in heaven', gives great hope, as it doesn't matter if the thing you need to talk about seems so insignificant to you, yet it is so significant to God and he want to hear everything you have to say. At times when we are talking to people we stumble and we struggle to put across the message, as it is a sensitive topic or simply because we can't find the words we need to say.  This can anger other people, but the most amazing thing ever is that God is patient and he is willing do interpret our stumbled and muddled up cries as he knows that we need his help more than anything.  Just remember what you say doesn't have to win the approval of others or impress others, no matter how we put our message across to God, it impresses him, because he cares and we are building up our relationship with him.
So go on, dont be afraid to cry out to him, even if that is in a broken state, he understand, even through our tears. He is Our God and He loves us!

Jesus is our hope!

In this blog, I want to share lyrics of a song written by Matt Redman. Lately this song has been such a comfort to me, as I have been struggling with various different things, mainly letting go things from my past, that are hindering me from being the person God created me to be. A friend of mine sent me the link to this song, which I am constantly listening to as I receive great comfort and hope from it.

I love how it speaks on how God came into this world to be our guide and that he came to rescue me and you. Sometimes when I am daydreaming or in a world of my own, I tend to wonder what would my life be like if God hadn't of stepped in and saved me when he did. When I think about times that I have turned my back against God, I realise that these are the times when I was most depressed, hurt and lost as I had no one to rely on.  This song reminds me even though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death that God is with me all along the way.  One line of many that I love in this song is "Jesus, You heard our cry" and I'll be completely honest with you, all the time I feel so insignificant or not good enough, which then makes me think at times that God doesnt listen to what I have to say, which is only a stupid irrational thought, as the bible which God is the author speaks of how much he loves us and that he is closer than a brother and sister. So I think it is pretty amazing that God listens out for our cry out to him.  I have learnt that basically the best way to heal is to sit in God's presence, praying about all concerns and hurts, sometimes that involves physical crying, but believe me it works in such a powerful way. Even now when writing this I am condemning myself as I feel like this is something that I need to do. 

Even the lines "where would we be without your love?....." makes me realise how much God has done for me and how much he is still continuing to do for me.

The last line I want to finish with is this "WE ARE SAFE IN THE ARMS OF YOUR EMBRACE"  and I think this is amazing, as in this life we suffer many things, many ups and downs and knowing that we are caught in the arms of our loving Heavenly Father is definitely something special :)                                                        

                                                           "Where Would We Be"

You came to search and rescue
In love, the Father sent You
Broke through the darkest night
You came to seek and save us
You came to liberate us
Jesus, You heard our cry
Jesus, You heard our cry

Where would we be without Your love?
We'd still be lost in darkness
Where would we be without Your cross?
You made a way to save us
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love

You are the hope eternal
You are the Light of this world
Jesus, our rescuer
We live our lives to thank You
How could we not adore You?
Jesus, our rescuer
Jesus, our rescuer

Where would we be without Your love?
We'd still be lost in darkness
Where would we be without Your cross?
You made a way to save us
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love

We're safe in the arms of Your embrace
We're breathing in Your freedom
Lifting a song of highest praise
And breathing out Your anthem
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love
We're singing
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love

We couldn't escape the sin and the shame
That kept us bound
We couldn't break through, we couldn't reach You
So You reached down

Where would we be without Your love?
We'd still be lost in darkness
Where would we be without Your cross?
You made a way to save us
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love

We're safe in the arms of Your embrace
We're breathing in Your freedom
Lifting a song of highest praise
And breathing out Your anthem
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love
We're singing
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love

Oh, Your love, oh, Your love
We're singing
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love
We keep on singing
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love
We're singing
Oh, Your love, oh, Your love

Jesus, You're the only hope
Jesus, hope for all the world

Friends Stick Together

“Friends are an indispensable part of a meaningful life. They are the ones who share our burdens and multiply our blessings. A true friend sticks by us in our joys and sorrows. In good times and bad we need friends who will pray for us, listen to us and lend a comforting hand and understanding ear when needed.” ~ Beverly Latlaye

After reading this quote it made me think of who my true friends really are. Although I have many true friends here on earth, that are always there for me.  But this quote made me realise one other true friend, who is God.  When I read the quote I remembered that God wants us to call out to him and tell him what our burdens our so that he can swoop in and help us through them, to then bless us through this.  It then made me think about a song which is one of my favourites at the moment which is “Never Once” by Matt Redman and the pre-chorus and chorus goes like this “struggles on the way. But with joy our hearts can say, yes, our hearts can say. Never once did we ever walk alone, Never once did you leave us on our own. You are faithful, God, You are faithful”.  This song along with this quote means so much because it reminds me of how God walks beside me and you at all times through our walk in this life, and it doesn’t matter whether we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, or whether we are walking along the green pastures as God is there and he never leaves us on our own. Many times we can feel alone, even when we are with others, but the fact is that we don’t have to feel like this, because our true friend who gave himself for us is right there, longing for you to cry out to him.  He want to encourage you, comfort you and guide you, you just have to let him in.

As I have wrote this, I realize that I am not perfect and what I wrote is what I believe, but it is so much easier to know this than to always live that out. So the challenge I am setting is as much for myself as it is for whoever reads this.  In order to get closer to God, trust him like you would a true friend, pour you heart out to him always so that you can lead a pleasing life for him.  Lean on him and let him comfort you when you need it! He is there! He is waiting on his child to come running into his arms. So go on, what are you waiting for, cry out to God for help.

“There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother”  ~ Proverbs 18;24

Let’s be a real friend, being as close as brothers and sisters.

Our Purpose

From Jeremiah 29v11 we know that God has a specific and unique plan for everyone of our lives, as he has gifted us with various talents to use to serve him. Lately I have been thinking more about the purpose of fulfilling the commandments that was given to Moses as well as the commandments Jesus gave us whilst he was here on this earth.  I know that it is never easy to keep all the commandments given to us, but we are only human and we will make mistakes, which is also known as sin.   I was talking the other night to a good friend of mine about sin, by saying at times we begin to think because other people who are Christians and our doing something we shouldn’t doesn’t mean that we have the right to do it too.  We also tend to judge others, both Christians and non Christians, as we begin to think that our sin of not honouring our parents is so small compared to someone’s sin of committing adultery or murder.  But we forget that our sin of not honouring our parents is the same size in God’s eyes, Basically a sin is a sin no matter what it is.

In my head and heart I have a commandment that I know I struggle with.  Firstly one I find difficult is loving your enemies, or let me rephrase it a bit, loving your enemies or the people who have hurt you.  Over the past few years i have went through some really tough times with friendships, which has lead to some friendships being ended for a few months before accepting that we needed to start building up the courage to be the first one to try and sort things out.  At times it can be messy when you try to patch  things up with  the other person as they may not be ready yet to do this, so they can push you away and tell you to leave them alone etc etc.  At this point it can make you angry and upset towards that person as they have knocked your whole courage on the head and made you feel terrible.  From these experiences I have found it extremely hard to love them, but I know that I had to try. 

I then think of what Jesus did on the cross for us... how he was wounded for us and he went through the uttermost pain, yet he still classed us as friends and he LOVED us, so I think it is about time we begin to love our enemies or the people who we have fallen out with as if Jesus wasn’t angry at us for what we made him go through we have no right to be angry at others.

The Lord Has a Reason for Everything

Sometimes I just don’t understand why the Lord allows some things to happen or not to happen but I have learned not to question it.  I know that God is in control of my life and as long as I fully rely on Him, everything will be alright.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

This verse is so true in every aspect of life, as so many times we are ready to throw in the towel on God as we forget that everything that happens in his timing.  For example we could be praying for friends to come to know Christ or we could be praying for someone who is ill and needs healed, yet God still hasnt answered our prayers. This is because he has a reasoning for everything and its all in his timing, so basically until he answers our prayers, which may not be in a way we wanted it to be but we just have to trust him! (After all God knows best!) We need to continue to pray with perseverance so that we can try to make a difference. Lets not Throw in the Towel, lets keep going! God knows what he is doing! 

Pray! Don't Worry!

I believe that the title of this Blog may say more than what I can write here.  I know that it is so hard not to worry as we have so many things that happen in our lives that causes us to worry.  I find when there are lots of things that I am worried about such as Family, Friends or the big one at the minute the Exam results :/ i find i tend to feel more depressed or something and this is due to many times I try to tackle my worries on my own instead of handing them over to God who is all powerful and can help me deal with these worries i may have.

I remember reading a verse in Phil 4v6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your worries to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". I know when I leave all worries in the hands of God that such a weight is lifted off your shoulders and you feel free :) I would encourage you to call out to God and tell him everything that worries you, even the silly wee things that we dont think that make much difference, tell him He wants to know so he can help you.  This will strengthen your relationship and you will wonder why you waited so long to tell him when you realise the bondage you were tied up in was cut lose :) 

Live by Listening to the heart beat of God

I can remember being encouraged to have a closer relationship with God, by having my heart beat in the same timing as Gods. At the time when I was told this I will admit I was confused and wasn't really sure about this.  I think for a while I may even have kept this at the back of my mind.  It was until a while later when my faith began to rapidly grow as I began to spend more and more time in God's presence and getting to know him.  When I was in sync with God's heart beat I was having my heart broken for the things that were also breaking God's heart.  It made me then become a person who cares far more than I should at times.  Through this I have also found out what I am good at and the skills that God has blessed me with to use.  I found that I love working with Children in the ministry, which has lead to many opportunities to try and make a difference in their precious lives.  On some occasions I have also had the privilege to lead some kids to the Lord which is the most amazing experience ever. Especially when these kids come up and just say to you I want to know God like you do.

I encourage you to spend more time in God's presence in your own intimate time with him as well as going to meetings in Church. God is the same God everywhere and he just longs for you to spend time with him. As you spend more time with him you will begin to have your heart in sync with his, so that he can speak to you revealing what he loves about you, what he thinks of you as well as telling you the marvelous plans that he has for each one of our lives, as he wont tell us until we have the right relationship with him, as we wouldn't believe him if we didn't have a close relationship with him.

He is Forever There

Lately I have been thinking a lot about how Amazing our God is! I'm not sure if it is because of the marvelous experience I had down in Jordanstown at the Kids Club for the Elim Bible Week.  That week blew all my expectations as God moved so mightily in my life as well as all the kids lives.  Not only that it was how the Generation Next Team was so connected and united, even on the first night when we were basically getting to know each other, and this was all possible because God's presence was there with us each night. That week I feel that we had two main points that we wanted to emphasize to the children that came through the doors which were 1. HOW MUCH GOD LOVES THEM and 2. HOW GOD IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE FOR THEM!

When I think around this topic one verse automatically springs into my mind which is Hebrews 13v5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said “Never will I leave you;never will I forsake you". When I read this verse it reminds me that I have everything I will need for each day as God supplies me with it.  Not only that it reminds me that I dont need to have the latest gadget just to feel special or whatever, because I have a Father in heaven who looks down on me (and everyone of us) with one huge smile on his face and also a Father in heaven who will never fail me or leave me.  This gives me so much hope as when we walk along the path of our faith it is not easy all the times, and we have up and down days or periods but at least we dont have to face them on our own as God is with us every step of the way! We only have to cry out and ask for help and he will helps us.

This blog makes me think of the song Nothing is Impossible which the lyrics go like this...

"Through You I can do anything

I can do all things

'Cause it's You who gives me strength

Nothing is impossible

Through You blind eyes are open

Strongholds are broken

I am living by faith

Nothing is impossible

I'm not gonna live by what I see

I'm not gonna live by what I feel

Deep down I know that You're here with me

And I know that You can do anything

I believe, I believe

I believe, I believe in you "

This song was from the same kids club i spoke about at the start, and i think the song is amazing as it reminds me of the verse that says i can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And i think this is important as Christians, as sometimes we can be too lazy to serve G0d by making excuses not to serve him by saying i cant do it.  but through this song and verse it shows we can do all things by the help of God. so when God asks you to do something say YES He wont let you down!

Faithful service rewarded...

Here on earth we all have the responsibility to serve God in some way or another.  Service for God comes in all shapes and sizes.  Serving God can be as simple as spending time with a person in school who most people wouldn’t talk to.  This is serving God as if we think of the times when Jesus was here on earth he reached out to the lepers, the poor and the tax collectors which the Jews and other people would have given a wide birth.  By us spending time serving God by spending time with people who are lonely we will be faithful to him and we will be doing a pleasing work for God.  Although we need to make sure that we don’t make a whole scene out of this service for God, as he doesn’t want us drawing attention to ourselves, as it looks like we are doing it just to be noticed.  We need to do it subtly making the person feel special and not humiliated.

In Romans 12v6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us” and when I read this I think how God has given each one of us unique qualities and gifts that each of us can use when serving him.  I know this summer that some of us girls have had the call upon our hearts to serve God in children’s work through Generation Next and another holiday bible club.  I believe that God has given us the qualities and gifts that we need to be the witnesses to these children.  God is so proud of his children when they say yes to his calling.  When we are serving him in whatever way he has called he won’t leave us, he will be there every step of the way! He will never fail his children J. this week at Generation Next we have really been pushed out of our comfort zones to relate to these children.  this week we have had seeked God before every meeting praying that God will move in a powerful way. one night that stands out so much was Wednesday night when we just saw so many kids standing with their arms towards God, looking to receive the Holy Spirit and also how we had to pray individually with these kids and it was so amazing and emotional.  it just shows that God uses ordinary people to extraordinary things for him! God has blew all expectations we had for this week out the window! They have been way more! What an AWESOME GOD we SERVE!

In the bible it talks about how when Jesus calls all his children home on the day of Judgement that we will all go to a new earth.  Here on this new earth we will have the responsibility to serve our Father once again.  The bible also speaks of the service for God here on earth and it tells us how that what we do here on earth for him will be evaluated to determine what we will do for him on the new earth.  The Humble servant will be put in charge of much, whereas the one who lords it over others in the present world will have power taken away: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” – Luke 14v11. If we serve faithfully on the present earth, God will give us permanent management positions on the New Earth. “Those who can be trusted with little, can be trusted with much” – Luke 16v10.  The Owner (God) has his watchful eye over us – if we prove faithful, he’ll be pleased to entrust us with more.

If God wants us to do something, we’ll be wired and equipped to do it.  Our service will bring Him glory as well as us being filled with joy.