You've Got The Love

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"
But you've got the love I need To see me through
Sometimes it seems that the going is just too rough
And things go wrong no matter what I do
Now and then it seems that life is just too much
But you've got the love I need to see me through

When food is gone you are my daily need
When friends are gone I know my savior's love is real
You know it's real

You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love

Time after time I think "Oh Lord what's the use?"
Time after time I think it's just no good Sooner or later in life, the things you love you lose
But you've got the love I need to see me through
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love

You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love
You got the love

Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air
I know I can count on you
Sometimes I feel like saying "Lord I just don't care"
But you've got the love I need to see me through

                                                                                           (Florence And The Machine)

 

The above song is by a band called Florence And The Machine. I don't much about this band but I don't think they are a christian band (I'm sure my friends will tell me when they see me next).

 

The song has been on the radio quite a lot recently and the verses that I have highlighted in bold really stand out to me at the moment. I'm going through a bit of a rough patch with parts of my life and there have been times where I have said I don't care anymore.

 

The people I've spoken to have said pray to God about it and leave it with him. So here it goes.

 

God you know whats going on in my life. I'm now leaving the situation in your hands. Please continue to be by my side and guide me down the right path. I know I can count on you. You've got the love that I need to see me through this. Amen.

Fishers Of Men

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of Galilee, he saw two brothers- Simon also called Peter and Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.


Jesus called out to them, 'Come follow me and I will show you how to fish for people!'


And they left their nets at once and followed him.
Matthew 4 vs. 18-20


I will make you fishers of men, fishers of men, fishers of men. I will make you fishers of men if you follow me, if follow me, if you follow me. I will make you fishers of men if you follow me.


A few weeks ago I started volunteering at a local homeless hostel. Here they have a display table with wooden fish on with Matthew 4 vs 19. Everytime I walk past the display I have the above chorus going through my head, its one that we sing in my church.


 I think the reason why I have the bible verses and the chorus going through my head is that this is God's way of telling me the reason I am there is to show the homeless people coming to the hostel that there are people who care and want to help them. The longer I am there hopefully God will use to me and show me how to fish for people.


One of my friends recently had this as his facebook status- What an awesome God we have. He works miracles in lives that have been broken, using them to construct something so beautiful words cannot express or explain. He continues to use others who might feel as if they have nothing to offer, to change lives and the world that we live in. Remember that we are called to save souls, grow saints and help suffering humanity. We must fight to the very end.


My pray is that I will continue to do the work that God wants me to do and he will show me the way he wants me to do it.

How does the Holy Spirit equip you to be God's disciple out in the world.

For me the journey to finding this out began in January. Before I had been living my life at my own pace, it was during this time that people close to me had their plans revealed to them. This got me thinking why hasn't God revealed anything to me yet, does he not want to use me for anything.

I was handed a leaflet at the Congress for the Design For Life course. I prayed and talked to people about it and it was decided I should apply for it. A few days before the course I had a conversation with a friend about how I was feeling about things, it was during this conversation that they said I think you need to change the person you are so you can complete God's work. After this I thought what gives you the right to tell me I need to change, the only person who can do this is God but then they said don't change because I've told you too, change because God has told you.

During the weekend it was mentioned that God calls imperfect people, when this was said it made me think I don't need to change who I am, God can use me as I am now. Just before the devotional time on the Saturday night we were focusing on different people in the bible and the different callings that they had. Each of them had to wait different time periods for their callings to be revealed to them. The person who was leading the course said that like these people in the bible we too are being called to do different things and if you're still waiting the door is right but the time isn't you just need to prepare and wait. It was at this moment that I realised that I that if I want to have my calling revealed to me I have to hold nothing back from God. A song came to be that the youth chorus sing called Obiedence. Lord I hear your knocking, hear your voice appealing, open the door of your heart. Let me enter in and take the centre of your life controlling every part. Come follow me to the way of the cross. This is the moment you must start.

I knew then that I had to make a start on this journey. There were different stations set up around the room and I went to the one that was for the future. It was here that the person who came to speak to me read from Romans 12. The verse that stood out for me was verse 2. Don't copy the behaviour and the customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you. Which is good and pleasing and perfect. After that verse was read it got me thinking if God had chosen that verse to be read and one of my friends saying that I need to change, maybe I actually do need to change. After the weekend it became clearer that God does actually have a plan for me.

Over the past few months I've had a few ups and downs. One of the things I've really struggled with is giving my life over to God because I've lived my life at my own pace for a long time. I know I need to do this so I can progress on the journey with God. There have been times when I've wanted to tell my friends about my struggles but I've never had the courage too because I see it as a sign of weakness. I don't want too burden them with my problems when they've got their own and I feel that they may judge me. I hope and pray that over the next few months and years that I have the courage to tell people about my struggles and that I keep on perserving to give the whole of my life over to God, so I can be his disciple in the world.

Those who do not put their trust in man alone, but in one who is almighty, have no right to despair. To despair is to lose faith; to despair is to forget god without god we can do nothing in this frightful chaos of human misery. But with god we can do all things, and in the faith that he has made in his image all the children of men we face even this hideous wreckage of humanity with a cheerful confidence that if we are but faithful to out own high calling he will not fail to open up a way of deliverance.
William Booth.

Footprints

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many secnes from my life flased across the sky. In each secne I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints

So I said to the Lord, 'You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?'

The Lord replied, 'The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.'
(Mary Stevenson)

'Walk a little slower daddy,' said a child so small. 'I'm following in your footsteps and I don't want to fall.

Sometimes your steps arre very fast, somtimes they're hard to see; so walk a little slower, daddy, for you are leading me.

Someday when I'm all grown up, you're what I want to be; then I will have a little child who will want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right, and know that I was true; so walk a litte slower daddy, for I must follow you'.

Romans 12 vs. 1-2

A Living Sacrifice to God

And, so dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know Gods will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Called to…

Hi guys, my name is Sam. Now Nat is away this weekend and she has asked that I keep you entertained on here for a day. I have my own blog which I would love you to visit at Sam’s Big Bible Blog.Anyway on with the post.

Are you called? Does God have a plan for you? Is there something God wants you to do that only you can do?

I believe that the answer is yes, I believe that there is a mission and a calling for every single person. Now knowing what this calling is can be a struggle and take a long time to become clear. It can seem at times that God has no plan for our lives or that He is not interested in using us. The truth however is that God does all things in His time, He does things in ways that we cannot imagine and at times we would least expect.

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God’s ways and God’s thoughts are so far beyond us that unless God chooses to reveal them to us we have no chance of knowing them. In addition to this God’s time is not our time, what God considers a reasonable length of time and what we consider reasonable are not always the same. In addition to this, what we want to do, where we see our life heading has no bearing on what God will ask us to do.

If we have plans for our lives, if we have ideas about where we would like to be and they are not in keeping with Christlike living you can guarantee that God will have other plans for us. His plans may seem difficult and a complete change to our lives they may even seem dangerous but following Christ is a whole of life change.

Mark 10:17-21
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother.”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

If we are going to follow Christ then we must start by asking God to help us become the people we should be. We need to pray that we can be given the strength and will to make the changes in our lives that we need to. We need to pray to God for the guidance and help to bring us to the point where we are ready to know what it is that He wants us to do. God will not ask us to do anything that we could not do, He would not ask us to do anything we are not prepared for. He will ensure that we have the skills and have learned the lessons we need before we are sent out into the world to complete the calling God has for us. He may ask us to do something we do not want to do, and at that point we need to decide what we will do, will we be like the young rich man or like the apostles who followed Christ instantly.

There are many things that God may call us to do and we should be careful not to lump special significance on any one calling. There is no person and no calling who is superior in the eyes of God. Whatever it is that God calls us to do we should do it with joy and happiness in our hearts. Rejoice in your calling whatever it maybe, in doing it you will be praising God and shining His light through your life. If you are called to be an office assistant nothing else will make you or God happier than you going out everyday into your workplace and showing Christ in your conduct and actions. If you are called to be a doctor, teacher, fireman or even a minister there is nothing but that calling that will make your life complete.
If you don’t yet know your calling do not try to give yourself one, do not try and attach significance and signs where there are none. Instead pray to God and ask him to show you the way to go, ask God to show you what you should be doing, ask Him how to learn the lessons you need to learn before you can discover your calling. Don’t be impatient, instead ask that He will prepare you to know, and prepare you for the tasks that will be asked of you in the future.

A calling is something that is personal between you and God and no one but God can tell you what that calling is. All we can do is ensure that we do everything we can in order to prepare ourselves and make sure we are ready when He calls. If we ensure we follow right living, study our Bibles and have a healthy prayer life then we are doing what we should be. As long as this is the case and we allow ourselves to be taught by God then we need not worry about what our calling is or when the call will come. If we are always open to God and His messages and signs we can be sure that God will take care of everything else including letting us know what He wants us to do. This does not mean we should sit back and relax or that we should not look for our calling. We should live our lives as we know we should taking every opportunity to grow in faith and learn about God until He reveals His plan for us.

Here is to Nat having a great weekend and making progress on her faith journey. She has made the step in knowing she has much to learn and is trying to learn what she can where and when she can. Pray for Nat, that she will move towards the place that God wants her to be and that she will make strides on the path that God has placed before her.

Jeremiah 29 vs. 11-14

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

In those days when you pray, I will listen.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and bring you home again to your own land.

I’m afraid to give my whole life to God because I think he’ll tell me to do something I don’t want to do. What happens if I hold back part of my life from God? I’m sure we’ve all felt like this at some point in our lives, I know that I have.

Just imagine that you’re part of a sports team and tell the coach that you only want to practice and not to play in the games. How do you think your teammates or coach would react?

Undoubtedly they would be a little put off by your attitude. After all, if you’re going to be part of the team, you should play in the games.

Unfortunately, many people have that attitude about their relationship with God. They want it to be on their terms, with all the benefits and no hassles.

A relationship with God requires a full commitment like that in any good relationship. God wants your whole life so he can make something extraordinary out of it.

His goal isn’t to make you miserable. Just take a look at verse 11. So what does this mean? It means that God has good plans for your life. He knows you better than anyone else does and knows what will fulfil you most in life. If you choose any other direction, you’ll be settling for second best.

The reason I’ve posted about Jeremiah 29 vs. 11-14 is because it is important to me and has helped me through difficult situations. As I’ve said on pervious posts I’m going on a course called Design For Life this weekend. The aim of the course is to help people to discover the design that God has for their life. I hope that over the weekend I will the confidence to give the whole of my life over to God.

As I’m away this weekend, tomorrow post has been written by my friend Sam check out his blog here (Sam’s Bible Blog). Check it out tomorrow.

Hope you all have a good weekend. I will post how the weekend goes when I get back.

New Year Resolution Challenge and Spiritual Gifts

In preparation for the course that I’m going on at this weekend I’ve had to fill in a questionnaire to find out what my spiritual gifts are.

So this evening whilst I and two of my friends were waiting around for bible study we filled in the questionnaire and the gifts that I apparently have are hospitality and service.

As part of the New Year Resolution challenge I read the bible verses that are linked to both gifts.

The definition of hospitality is. The gift of hospitality is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to provide an open house and a warm welcome to those in need of food and lodging.

The bible readings that are linked to the gift of hospitality are.

1 Peter Chapter 4 vs. 9-10

Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

Romans Chapter 12 vs. 13

When God’s people are in need be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Hebrews Chapter 13 vs. 1-2

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.

Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realising it.

If you ask any of my friends I’m sure they would agree with the above statement and bible readings as my house is always open to people. I’m not too sure if they always get a warm welcome but I hope that when they come they feel welcome. I must be doing something right as people keep coming back.

The definition of service is. The gift of service is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to identify the unmet needs involved in a task related to God’s work, and to make use of available resources to meet those needs and help accomplish the desired results.

The bible readings that are linked to service are.

Romans Chapter 12 vs. 7

If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.

Titus Chapter 3 vs. 14

Our people must learn to do good by meeting urgent needs of others, then they will not be unproductive.

Galatians Chapter 6 vs. 2 and 10

Share each other’s burdens and in this way obey the law of Christ.

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone- especially to those in the family of faith.

I’m not too sure where I have the gift of service; I hope that this weekend will shed some light on it.

 Lord, you have designed me with gifts and abilities to develop and use in service with others. Keep me from being jealous of others, and help me to enjoy the journey. Amen

New Year Resolutions Challenge

I’ve had a really successful day today as I’ve managed to catch up on all the bible readings that I’ve missed and re read the chapters that I’ve already read. 

Altogether today I’ve read the first 47 chapters of Genesis, the first 15 chapters of Matthew, the first 19 Psalms and the first 4 Proverbs. This is a big achievement for me as I only seem to read my bible when I’m taking part in bible study or during the church service.

Even though I haven’t done much of the challenge the last few days I enjoy doing it as I am learning new things about myself and reading chapters in the bible that I’ve never read before.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to get back in the routine of doing the challenge regularly again and updating on my progress.

During my prayers for the past few days I have been focusing them like many other Salvationists on the High Council of The Salvation Army as they meet to elect a new General. If you want to know more about the High Council please follow the link to my friend’s blog(http://samsbigbibleblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/high-council.html). Also during my prayers I’ve been praying that I when I go on the Design For Life course this weekend I will go there with an open mind which will prepare me for whatever is laid ahead. If you want to know more about the course then follow this link (http://www1.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf/vw-sublinks/9395B8EFFE60637A802570D5003AABF0?openDocument). Finally I’ve been praying for a new housemate as one of my current ones is moving to Canada at the end of February for a few months.

New Year Resolutions Challenge

As I said in the post that I posted at the beginning of the week I struggled to complete the challenge. My plan for today was to catch up on the bible readings that I have missed but things haven’t gone the way I planned them too.

When I got back from a driving lesson this morning I came home to find that the information that I need for the course that I’m going on had arrived.

I opened it to find that I have to complete three different questionnaires. There’s a passion assessment, personal style assessment and 125 spiritual gifts questionnaire.

Out of all the questionnaires the two that I’m really struggling with is the one about spiritual gifts and the passion assessment. I’ve sat down a number of times throughout the day to try and complete them and I’ve struggled as I’ve found most of the questions hard and I don’t where to start with them.

I’m now feeling because I can’t answer these questions did I make the right choice to go on the course. Deep down I know it’s the right choice and that it’s just the devil playing on my insecurities.

I know that I need to sit down and pray to God so that he will help me and give me the strength and confidence that I need to answer these questions honestly.

New Year Resolutions Challenge

This week I’ve struggled with the challenge. I’ve sat down to read my bible but haven’t been able to concentrate on what I’m reading as I’ve found myself thinking about a course that I’m going on at the end of the month.

The course that I’m going on is called Design for Life, which is run by The Salvation Army. The purpose of the course is help people discover the design that God has for their life. I’m having mixed feelings about going on the course; I’m feeling excited and nervous at the same time. I feel excited because I’m looking forward to meeting with other Salvationists and seeing how far they are on their spiritual journey and I’m also looking forward to seeing what God’s design is for my life. On the other hand even though I’m excited about finding out, I’m feeling at bit nervous about it too.

I know that I shouldn’t be worried about the course because I know that God will be there with me and he already has a plan sorted for my life. Even if I don’t find out what God has got planned for me right away I just hope that this course will help me improve my personal bible study and my prayer life.

I just pray that God will be with me over the coming weeks as I prepare for the course.

Philippians 2 vs. 1-11

At band practice during the devotional time one of the bandsmen read these verses and I would like to share them with you.

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?

Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminals death on a cross

Therefore God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all others names

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He also shared a song that can be found in The Salvation Army songbook. I don’t know this song but the words of it are really fitting.

When my heart was so hard

That I ne’er would regard

The salvation held up to my sight,

To the cross I came

In my darkness and shame,

And ‘twas there that I first saw the light.

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away;

It was there, by faith, I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day.

In my blindness I thought

That no power could have wrought

Such a marvel of wonder and might;

But ‘twas done, for I felt,

At the cross as I knelt,

That my darkness was turned into light.

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away;

It was there, by faith, I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day.

Then the gloom had all passed,

And, rejoicing at last,

I was sure that my soul was made right;

For my Lord, I could see,

In his love died for me

On the cross, where I first saw the light.

At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away;

It was there, by faith, I received my sight,

And now I am happy all the day.

New Resolutions Challenge

I haven't posted on the challenge for the past few days. Hopefully I will find the time to post on the days that I've missed this week.

Philippians 1 vs. 3-26

At bible study we are working our way through the book of Philippians, if any of the verses stand out to me I will share them with you here.

I would just like to share some background information on Philippians.

Purpose: To thank the Philippians and to encourage them in the belief that true joy comes from Jesus Christ

Author: Paul

To Whom Written: Christians at Philippi and all believers

Date Written: About AD 61, from Rome, during Paul’s imprisonment

Setting: Paul and his companions founded the church at Philippi on the second missionary journey. This was the first church established on the European continent. This group of believers sent a gift with Epaphroditus to be delivered to Paul

Key People: Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, Euodia and Syntyche

Key Place: Philippi

In verses 1-4 Paul says that the Philippians were a source of joy when he prayed. By helping Paul, they were helping to spread the gospel. Paul knew that the Philippians were willing to be used by God for whatever task he had in store for them.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favour of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed but I will continue to be bold for Christ as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me living means living for Christ. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. Knowing this I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation, the righteous character in your life be Jesus Christ for this will bring much glory and praise to God.   

Is Now the Right Time?

This weekend I had two separate conversations with two of my friends about me being more open and honest. This is easier said than done for me.

The last time I was open and honest, it didn’t go down well and I ended up getting hurt.

That is why I’m now asking myself the question is now the right time to be more open and honest not only to myself but to God and my friends as I’m still cautious about doing this as I don’t want the same thing to happen again.

I pray that God will give the courage and strength that I need to be more open and honest and not to worry about what people are going to say.

Strength

Today hasn’t been a good day today. I spent most of the morning in bed suffering with a really bad headache which meant that I didn’t have the strength to make it to the morning meeting at my church.

A couple of hours I felt a bit better and decided to go to the afternoon meeting. When I got to church I had people asking why I was there if I wasn’t well. I told them that I felt that I needed to come as I hadn’t been out the house for two days and I was starting to get a cabin fever.

Just before the meeting started I to feel a bit peaky again and was starting to think what am I doing here, I should have stayed at home.

During the meeting two of the songs that were used had the word strength in them. The songs were Everlasting God and In Christ Alone. As I was singing these songs I felt like that God was renewing my strength that I had lost these past couple of days. I then prayed that God will give me the strength that I need to carry on through the week.

Everlasting God

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary

You're the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

When I got home from the meeting I looked through my bible to see if there were any verses about strength and I came across Isaiah 40 vs. 26-31

Look into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.

O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?

Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Even the strongest people get tired at times, but God’s power and strength never diminish. He is never too busy to help and listen. His strength is our source of strength. When you feel all life crushing you and you can’t go another step, remember that you can ask God to renew your strength.

Lord, I draw my strength from you today. Help me to keep my eyes on you and see the difficult places turned into pools of blessings. Amen

New Year Resolutions Challenge- 8.1.11

I thought today was going to be a failure, as I haven’t been feeling too well. But after a quick nap I found the energy sit down and read the chapters of the bible that I had listened to whilst I was at my parents last weekend. Out of all the chapters that I’ve read today there are some verses that made more of an impact on me than the others. These verses come from Matthew 6 and Matthew 7.

Matthew 6 vs. 25, 27, 31-34

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life- whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food and your body more than clothing?

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

So don’t worry about these things saying, what will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?

These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly father already knows all your needs.

Seek the kingdom of god above all else and live righteously and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

I think the reason this verses stood out to me is because I’m always worrying about things. I’ve had lots of conversations with one of my friends about this and the advice he has given me is to not to worry and leave all my worries with the big guy because he already has things all planned out for me. I know that I have to do this but I find it difficult.

In my bible there is a section that is labelled Seven Reasons Not to Worry. The reasons are.

The same god who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life

Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today

Worrying is more harmful that helpful

God does not ignore those who depend on him

Worry shows a lack of faith and understanding of god

There are real challenges god wants us to purse and worrying keeps us from them

Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.

I was looking through my daily devotional book that came through the post today. It’s called The Confident Woman by Joyce Meyer. I came across the reading that is meant for 14^th January titled worry is a waste, I’m going to share what Joyce has written as it relates to the verses above.

Once you allow the spirit of fear to take hold of your life, you open the door to other spirits that want to grip your heart and cause you to freeze up, unable to move forward in confidence and assurance. The bible clearly teaches that god’s children are not to worry. When we worry, we rotate our minds around a problem and come up with no answers. Resist worry and fear. They accomplish nothing and are of the enemy.

I will share the prayer that goes with the devotional at the end of the post.

Matthew 7 vs. 7-8

Keep on asking and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. Everyone who seeks finds and to everyone who knocks the door will be opened.

Lord, you know what I’m worrying about even as I pray. Help me to see through the lie that I am believing and to replace it with truth. Amen

New Year Resolutions Challenge- 7.1.11

I was quite successful with yesterdays challenge. As I had a free night last night I managed to find the time I needed to sit down and read my chapters of the bible for the day. The chapters that I read were Genesis chapter 16 vs. 1- chapter 18 vs. 19, Psalms 7 vs. 1-17, Proverbs 2 vs. 1-5 and Matthew chapter 6 vs. 1-24. I’d like to share the verses that stood out to me.

Proverbs 2 vs. 2, 6-11

Tune yours ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding

For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

Then you will understand what is right, just and fair and you will find the right way to go.

For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will fill you with joy.

Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe.

Wisdom isn’t developed all at once. It comes through a constant process of growth. Some aspects of wisdom might seem to develop faster than others. For example, some people seem to have more insight than discretion; others have more knowledge than common sense. But the source of wisdom is still God.

 Matthew chapter 6 vs. 5-13

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites that who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth that is all the reward they ever get.

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you and pray to your father in private. Then your father, who sees everything will reward.

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

Don’t be like them, for your father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

I used the final 3 verses as my prayer.

Our father in heaven,

May your name be kept holy.

May your kingdom come soon

May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Moment of Truth and Obedience

Last night I was sorting through my music folder for youth chorus practice tonight, which unfortunately was cancelled due to bad weather. I came across two songs called Moment of Truth and Obedience, both of these songs are quite similar as they both speak about God being at the centre and having claims on our lives. I’d like to share the words of both songs with you.

Moment of Truth

(Narrator)- Christ came to change lives. Some he met were filled with questions. They were people like you and me searching for real meaning in life.

Your life has been an endless search for and still you feel emptiness inside.

And so you bring a heart that longs for answers to the one whose power cannot be denied.

And the simple words you hear the Master say, light a flame of hope that turns your night to day.

For your life can be changed in a moment of truth, when you stand face to face with God’s love for you, if you’ll only believe you can start life anew.

Forever begins in a moment, a moment of truth.

You’ve struggled with the fears that bind your spirit; you’ve tried to ease the guilt that robs your sleep.

Now in the saviour’s eyes you find compassion, and you know that Jesus holds the peace you seek.

You can come to him or turn and walk away, but it starts with just a simple step of faith.

For your life can be changed in a moment of truth, when you stand face to face with God’s love for you, if you’ll only believe you can start life anew.

Forever begins in a moment, a moment of truth.

Obedience

Lord, I hear your knocking, hear your voice appealing: Open the door of your heart;

Let me enter in and take the centre of your life, controlling every part.

Come follow me on the way of the cross, this is the moment you must start!

Lord I respond to your claims on my life with obedience to all that you will ask.

Following you in the way of the cross, this will be my task.

Lord, I know your prompting, know your Spirit’s urging: Be my disciple today!

Make my will your choice and heed no other voice that calls to walk another way.

Come follow me on the way of the cross, this is the moment to obey!

Lord I respond to your claims on my life with obedience to all that you will ask.

Following you in the way of the cross, this will be my task.

Lord, I know your presence, hear your call to service: Be what I want you to be!

Servant to your brothers, give your life for others as I did on Calvary.

Come follow me on the way of the cross, this is the moment to be free.

I hope that over the coming months and years I will have God at the centre of my life where he will show me the plans that he has for me. I know its not going to be easy and that its going to take time but its all going to be worth it in the end. I feel that every day I’m making progress.

New Year Resolutions Challenge- 5.1.11- 6.1.11

Seeing as I didn’t post about yesterdays challenge I thought I would include it with todays.

Yesterday and today have both been a bit of failure. On both days I struggled to wake up early again which meant I didn’t have enough time to do my morning prayers.

But this morning at work I had the opportunity to spend a few minutes in quiet to say a silent prayer. This time it wasn’t about me. I prayed for the children, families and the doctors that I see on daily basis. I work in a children’s outpatients department where most of the children have been really poorly. I prayed that God will surround the children and their families with his healing hand and I also prayed for that he will give the doctors all the resources that they need to help all the families that come to the department.

When there was a quiet time during the clinic I was speaking to one of my colleagues about how amazing it is that even though these children have got serious problems they all look healthy and carry on like they have nothing wrong with them. My colleague then said she had seen most of the children when they were really and now they all look like completely different children. I then prayed for all the advancements that has happened to all the medical technology over the years.

Like I’ve said in a previous post the only part of the challenge that I have been successful in is the reading 4 chapters of the bible. Before I started doing this challenge the only time I opened my bible to read was when I went to bible study and occasionally on a Sunday at church. This challenge has helped me to set time aside so that I can sit and read the bible at my own pace.

The part of the challenge that I’m having difficulty with is striving to live closer to God and leaving providential events with God. Recently I’ve been struggling with putting God at the centre of my life, but know I’m at the stage in my life when I want to know what God has got planned for my life. My two very best friends Jon and Caron both know what God has got planned for their lives. I’m very pleased and happy for them but this left me feeling that God had forgotten about me. During a conversation that I had with Jon he told me that God hadn’t forgotten about me and that he does have a plan for me in the future.

Hopefully completing this challenge will help me to live closer to God and leave all events with him.

1 Corinthians Chapter 13

Tonight at choir practice during the devotional time the minister of my church read from this chapter and I would like to share the words with you.

Chapter 13- Love is the Greatest

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I had the gift of prophecy and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!

But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but when we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely

Three things will last forever- faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love

Let love be your highest goal.

New Year Resolutions Challenge – 4.1.11

Today has been a bit of a failure. Originally I had planned to wake up early so I could walk to work and use my 45 minute walk as my prayer time but unfortunately that didn’t happen as I kept hitting the snooze button on my alarm. I need manage to say a quick prayer before I left the house though; I said the prayer that goes along with the challenge which I will share with you.

‘God help me; enable me to cultivate a spirit of self denial and to yield myself a prisoner of love to the redeemer of the world.’

‘I feel my own weakness, and with God’s help I shall not keep these resolutions. The Lord have mercy upon my guilty soul.’

This prayer and the list of resolutions are now on my bedroom wall which will hopefully remind me to look to at them every day. The part of my wall I have put them on is quite important to me as it has a picture on it of Jesus on the cross drawn by my friend Jon and I also have photos of my family and friends going round the picture.

The part of the challenge that I’m being more successful in is reading or in my case listening to four chapters of the bible. I now need to find time so that I can sit down and read the chapters that I have listened too so far. Seeing as I’m not in the house much for the rest of the week I have decided that I am going to use my Saturday wisely and do it then.

If anyone of you have any prayer requests then feel free to e-mail them to me at natalie.mellard@hotmail.com

New Year Resolutions Challenge- 3.1.11

This morning during my prayer time I prayed for myself.  After sitting in quietness for a couple of minutes I asked God what I should be praying for. Then two very different songs appeared in my head and I used them as my prayer.

The first song is by a band called Hoobastank, I don’t really know much about this band. If you want to know more about them then check my friend’s blog (Sam's Bible Blog).  The song is called The Reason.

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you.

The second song is one that is sung at my church The Salvation Army. The words of the song are.

I must take time for reflecting

On the way I live each day,

See the things that needs rejecting,

See the aspects that can stay.

For my life is very complex,

I fall short in many ways:

But reflection and renewal

Give me scope to reappraise.

I will take time for renewal,

Read your word and let it guide,

As it shows me very clearly

Areas I try to hide!

But with honest recognition

That my lifestyle could reflect

More that’s godly: show me clearly

Areas that I neglect

My commitment is considered,

Based on faith of head and heart,

Not just learning, not just feeling,

But on truth that you impart.

So I make my promise, knowing

In your time you can perfect

All that isn’t quite like you, Lord,

Till your likeness I reflect.

New Year Resolutions Challenge 2.1.11

It’s now day two of the new resolutions challenge, so far I’m not doing too well.  This morning I failed to do my private prayers as I couldn’t think of anything to pray about.  After  speaking to my friend Sam he told me that if I can’t think of anything to pray for I should stop talking and listen to what God is saying to me, so tomorrow I’m to try that and see what happens.

Unfortunately due to the fact of me being at parent’s house for the weekend I haven’t been able to read four chapters of the bible as I don’t have one here. Instead I have been listening to an audio bible that I found on iTunes, I have been writing down the chapters that have been read in my notebook so that I can read them at my own pace. After reading a post that my friend Sam has written about putting a memory verse on his fridge (Sam's Bible Blog) it has given me the idea of putting verses that stand out to me on this blog so that I can share them with you.

To help me succeed in this challenge I am going to write out the resolutions and then put them on my bedroom wall so I can look at them each day until I get used to doing them.

Last night before midnight I was talking to one of my friends and he told me about a blog called Saved to Serve. The post that he specfically told me about was one about New Year resolutions that were made by the Founder of our church William Booth when he was aged 20.

The resolutions are

1.That I will rise every morning sufficiently early to wash, dress, and have a few minutes, not less than 5, in private prayer.

2. That I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk in which I have lately so sinfully indulged.

3. That I will endeavor in my conduct and deportment before the world and my fellow servants especially to conduct myself as a humble, meek and zealous follower of Christ, and by serious conversation and warning endeavor to lead them to think of their immortal souls.

4. That I will read no less than four chapters in God’s Word every day.

5. That I will strive to live closer to God, and to seek after holiness of heart and leave providential events with God.

6. That I will read over this every day or at least twice a week

My friend has set me the challenge of following these resolutions throughout the year.  Normally I make stupid resolutions that I never stick too. The purpose of this blog is going to be a way of recording my progress, it will be an honest account including any failures.