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.