The thoughts, experiences and views of the unique person God knows as me
Hope you enjoy reading my blog. I'd love to hear what you think so please leave comments. Please subscribe to my RSS feed to stay up to date with my blog.
Today all around the world, many joined together to remember those you have been killed fighting for their country. I'd like to mark this day by sharing with you the contents of an email I received a few days ago, as I was so moved by it.
I'd ask you to read the following and pass it onto others...
The poppy Appeal commenced on 24th October. Please read this.
They are doing their bit.....please do yours by reading this and getting others to read it too: The average British soldier is 19 years old.....he is a short haired, well built lad who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears and just old enough to buy a round of drinks but old enough to die for his country - and for you. He's not particularly keen on hard work but he'd rather be grafting in Afghanistan than unemployed in the UK . He recently left comprehensive school where he was probably an average student, played some form of sport, drove a ten year old rust bucket, and knew a girl that either broke up with him when he left, or swore to be waiting when he returns home. He moves easily to rock and roll or hip-hop or to the rattle of a 7.62mm machine gun. He is about a stone lighter than when he left home because he is working or fighting from dawn to dusk and well beyond. He has trouble spelling, so letter writing is a pain for him, but he can strip a rifle in 25 seconds and reassemble it in the dark. He can recite every detail of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either effectively if he has to. He digs trenches and latrines without the aid of machines and can apply first aid like a professional paramedic. He can march until he is told to stop, or stay dead still until he is told to move.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation but he is not without a rebellious spirit or a sense of personal dignity. He is confidently self-sufficient. He has two sets of uniform with him: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never forgets to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes and fix his own hurts. If you are thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food is your food. He'll even share his life-saving ammunition with you in the heat of a firefight if you run low.
He has learned to use his hands like weapons and regards his weapon as an extension of his own hands. He can save your life or he can take it, because that is his job - it's what a soldier does. He often works twice as long and hard as a civilian, draw half the pay and have nowhere to spend it, and can still find black ironic humour in it all. There's an old saying in the British Army: 'If you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined!'
He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and he is unashamed to show it or admit it. He feels every bugle note of the 'Last Post' or 'Sunset' vibrate through his body while standing rigidly to attention. He's not afraid to 'Bollock' anyone who shows disrespect when the Regimental Colours are on display or the National Anthem is played; yet in an odd twist, he would defend anyone's right to be an individual. Just as with generations of young people before him, he is paying the price for our freedom. Clean shaven and baby faced he may be, but be prepared to defend yourself if you treat him like a kid.
He is the latest in a long thin line of British Fighting Men that have kept this country free for hundreds of years. He asks for nothing from us except our respect, friendship and understanding. We may not like what he does, but sometimes he doesn't like it either - he just has it to do.. Remember him always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.
And now we even have brave young women putting themselves in harm's way, doing their part in this tradition of going to war when our nation's politicians call on us to do so. Now you've read this, please stop for a moment and if you are so inclined, feel free to say a prayer for our troops in the trouble spots of the world.
Our troops need our prayers. Please pray for them.
It's difficult not to be happy when God is part of everything you do. I know life isn't always easy as we all go through difficult situations at time, however if we keep God at the center of all we do, there is no reason you can't continue to be happy in God's presence.
With God by our side it's difficult not to sing about it and tell others, and that's reflected by Sydney Staff Songsters as they sing How Can I Keep From Singing:
God requires us to tell others about His love. He requires us to be His witnesses, His disciples.
I personally find that very daunting as I feel so inadequate, as I am not very confident of speaking publicly about my faith. However, I do know God will give me what I need to get through every situation - He's given me the medium of this blog to try to spread His message.
I hope and pray you find my blog interesting and challenging. I pray your relationship with God may grow because of something you've read here, but most of all I simply pray that God will continue to use me as a witness through all I do.
Acts 1:8 (New International Version) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth
The Mission by Newsboys
When the runners came from Bethlehem All breathless with good news They were passing a baton forward through time The commission, from God's lips to our ears Carried by His saints two thousand years Connects us all to the same lifeline As I fix my eyes ahead I can feel the Spirit's breath...
(And) I can hear the mission bell ringing out loud and clear It's the revolution Jesus started, and it's here Echoing across the world from the shores of Galilee I can hear the mission bell call for you and me I wanna run with fire It's my heart's desire Lifting your love higher
In the history of our faith's arrivals Great awakenings, Welsh revivals Saints and martyrs, summoned by a new birth Patrick's save of the Irish nation William Carey's expectation Lambs and Lions Called to the ends of the earth Gotta put my hand to the plow Not looking back, not now...
(And) I can hear the mission bell ringing out loud and clear It's the revolution Jesus started, and it's here Echoing across the world from the shores of Galilee I can hear the mission bell call for you and me I wanna run with fire It's my heart's desire Lifting your love higher
How much do you think God loves you? Do you even know that God loves you?
Think about the person or people in your life you love you most... God loves you more than that! Think about the person or people in your life you love you most and multiply a million times... God loves you more than that!
God loves me more than I could every comprehend. God loves you more than I'm sure you could ever comprehend.
Do not ever underestimate how much God loves you and how much God can do for you. God loves you as a father loves his child. We each are God's children, so believe in God, believe in His love. Checkout Matt Redman's website:http://www.mattredman.com/
What do you think of when you hear the word "majesty"? Here are some dictionary definitions:
The greatness and dignity of a sovereign.
The sovereignty and power of God.
Supreme authority or power
In other words, something awesome and wonderful, more powerful and mighty than man. All of which makes "majesty" a fantastic word to describe God and Jesus as they are greater than any other and certainly greater than anyone here on earth.
But despite being so awesome, God loves us unconditionally and is more than willing to forgive us of our sins, if only we'd ask Him to. Accept God's unconditional love today, it's a far greater love than you'll ever find from anyone else.
Sydney Staff Songsters sing Majesty (Here I am)
Majesty (Here I Am)
Here I am humbled by your Majesty Covered by your grace so free Here I am, knowing I'm a sinful man Covered by the blood of the Lamb
Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine Since you laid down your life The greatest sacrifice
Majesty, Majesty Your grace has found me just as I am Empty handed, but alive in your hands Majesty, Majesty Forever I am changed by your love In the presence of your Majesty
Here I am humbled by the love that you give Forgiven so that I can forgive Here I stand, knowing that I'm your desire Sanctified by glory and fire
Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine Since you laid down your life The greatest sacrifice
We often hear Christians talking about being saved, but what does that mean? And what are they talking about being saved from?
Put simply, it means we are saved from our sins.
When God created the world, everything was perfect. However as we all know, it didn't take long after God created man, before things became spoiled and sin first occurred - Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.
Sin spoiled the relationship God had with man. In Romans 5:12 we learn that the whole world was affected because Adam sinned: You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we're in— first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone (The Message)
Every person born after Adam was then born into a sinful world - that means everyone, including you and me!
So we're all sinful, so how can we be saved (free from sin)? We can do that by accepting God into your life and recognising that God sent Jesus here to earth where He died just so each one of us could be forgiven of all our sins.
How Great Is Our God (by Chris Tomlin) The splendor of a King, Clothed in majesty Let all the earth rejoice, All the earth rejoice He wraps himself in light, And darkness tries to hide And trembles at his voice, And trembles at his voice
How great is our God, sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great, How great Is our God
Age to age he stands And time is in His Hands Beginning and the End, Beginning and the End The Godhead, Three in one Father, Spirit, Son The Lion and the Lamb, The Lion and the Lamb
How great is our God, sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great, How great Is our God
Name above all names You are Worthy of all praise and My heart will sing how great Is our God (x2)
How great is our God, Sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great, How great Is our God
How great is our God, Sing with me How great is our God, and all will see How great, How great Is our God
Do you know how great God is? Praise God, He is great and wonderful beyond compare. He can be your greatest friend if you just accept Him into your life.
I'm married to Sandy, we have no children but we do have a cat called Tigger who we've had since he was 6 weeks old (he was a wedding present - we got him on our 1st anniversary).
I'm a christian and have attended the Salvation Army all my life. I play trombone in the Bellshill Salvation Army Band. I'm also the webmaster of the band's website.
The average British soldier is 19 years old.....he is a short haired, well built lad who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears and just old enough to buy a round of drinks but old enough to die for his country - and for you. He's not particularly keen on hard work but he'd rather be grafting in Afghanistan than unemployed in the UK . He recently left comprehensive school where he was probably an average student, played some form of sport, drove a ten year old rust bucket, and knew a girl that either broke up with him when he left, or swore to be waiting when he returns home. He moves easily to rock and roll or hip-hop or to the rattle of a 7.62mm machine gun.
He is about a stone lighter than when he left home because he is working or fighting from dawn to dusk and well beyond. He has trouble spelling, so letter writing is a pain for him, but he can strip a rifle in 25 seconds and reassemble it in the dark. He can recite every detail of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either effectively if he has to. He digs trenches and latrines without the aid of machines and can apply first aid like a professional paramedic. He can march until he is told to stop, or stay dead still until he is told to move.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation but he is not without a rebellious spirit or a sense of personal dignity. He is confidently self-sufficient. He has two sets of uniform with him: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never forgets to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes and fix his own hurts. If you are thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food is your food. He'll even share his life-saving ammunition with you in the heat of a firefight if you run low.
He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and he is unashamed to show it or admit it. He feels every bugle note of the 'Last Post' or 'Sunset' vibrate through his body while standing rigidly to attention. He's not afraid to 'Bollock' anyone who shows disrespect when the Regimental Colours are on display or the National Anthem is played; yet in an odd twist, he would defend anyone's right to be an individual. Just as with generations of young people before him, he is paying the price for our freedom. Clean shaven and baby faced he may be, but be prepared to defend yourself if you treat him like a kid. 
Now you've read this, please stop for a moment and if you are so inclined, feel free to say a prayer for our troops in the trouble spots of the world. 
