How Loved Am I ? (Part 1)

The best news anyone will ever hear is that "you are loved by God".

We don’t have to do anything to make God love us more and His love for us will not lessen even when we go astray. God’s love for us is not based on what we do, it’s based on who He is and His deliberate choice to love us, even during those times when we go wrong.

God wants us to "be still and know that He is God". This includes us unconditionally believing and knowing that God loves us!

God’s desire to love us is like the love parents have for their newborn child – they love the child even though it has done nothing to merit their love and is powerless to make its parents love it any more or any less – the child has simply become loved. This is exactly the same as God’s love for us – He can’t help but love us because it is the essence of His very nature.

Love isn’t something God does, it’s simply who He is: "God is Love".

Bible Reading: Romans 8:35-39 (The Message)
Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
“They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.”

None of this fazes us because Jesus love us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing – nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable – absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Remember:

GOD LOVES YOU!!!

Faith

Bible Reading - 2 Timothy 2:13
Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, he remains faithful to us and will help us. For he cannot disown us who are part of himself and he always will carry out his promises.

During out darkest times our faith is often tested to extremes and we can often find it difficult, if not impossible to pray. But God does not give up on us. He will continue to watch over us and guide us even when we cannot find the words to talk to God.

If your faith is wavering or you're struggling to understand what God wants you to do, keep hold of your faith, however small you feel it may be, because God will get you through - He'd not have put you in the situation if He didn't think you could cope with it!

Faith transforms the earth into a paradise.
By it our hearts are raised with the joy of our nearness to heaven.
Every moment reveals God to us.
Faith is our light in this life.
By it we know the truth without seeing it, we are put in touch with what we cannot feel, recognize what we cannot see, and view the world stripped of all its outer shell.
Faith unlocks God's treasury.
It is the key to all the vastness of His wisdom.
The emptiness of all created things is disclosed by faith, and it is by faith that God reveals Himself…
With faith,
All that is dark becomes light, and what is bitter becomes sweet.
Faith transforms ugliness into beauty, and malice into kindness.
Faith is the mother of tenderness, trust, and joy…
There is nothing faith cannot overcome;
It passes beyond all shadows and through the darkest clouds to reach the truth, which it embraces and can never be parted from.

Frustrations

Grrrrrrhhh! I've had a day of frustrations!

My day got off to a bad start when I'd to go to our health centre for a couple of things and got stuck there much longer than I should have done. When I finally got to work, I spent 5 minutes going round in circles looking for somewhere to park.

Having got into the office the day didn't get any less frustrating, with several things happening that just makes you wonder "why?". But like the rest of us affected by the frustrating things that happened in our today, I had a wee moan, and got on with my work...but still disappointed and frustrated by today's events.

Been thinking for the last hour or so what to write about today so started thinking about what kind of day I've had and the various frustrations I've felt. I wonder, does God ever get frustrated.

I think the answer to that must definitely by a resounding YES! I'm sure we each frustrate Him more times that we even realise, by doing our own thing rather than listening to what God wants us to do.

There I go again taking about listening to God! Just realising I've talked about this just a few days ago, on Saturday 25th April.


Do you think God's wanting us to listen to Him more?!

P.S. For those of you wanting an update on Andy that I spoke about in my blog yesterday, you can get on his friend Rob's blog.

Cancer Prayer Request

I had planned on posting about something entirely different tonight, but having received a prayer request to pray for someone who who has gone back into hospital today for further cancer treatment, it put my other thoughts way to the back of my mind.

Cancer is still one of the major killers in the UK, despite the advances in early diagnosis and treatment methods. I think everyone of us at some time in our lives have either known or known of someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. Many of us will have lost friends or family to cancer.

So today I ask your prayers for Andy who is currently going through a course of chemotherapy to treat cancer in his lungs. In a little over a year he has already had a course of chemo, a knee replacement due to bone cancer and radiotherapy.
Read more about Andy or checkout Andy's own blog.

Please also pray for all who are fighting against cancer and for their families and friends who are supporting them through their illness. In addition pray for the doctors/nurses/hospital staff who care for those with cancer.

And finally, support one of the many cancer charities by giving of your money, your time...whatever you can, every little bit helps.

Thank you. :)

Here are a few of the many cancer charities:

• Cancer Research UK
• Macmillan Cancer Support
• Marie Curie Cancer Care

When You Are Near

I've had another day of feeling extremely tired and sore again. So I've turned to my usual musical therapy to lift my spirits. So today I just want to share another one of the songs which I find helpful - When You Are Near by Jeremy Camp.

Hairdresser

I was at the hairdressers today. While I was sitting waiting to get my hair cut after it was washed, I started asking myself a few questions

1. How often do you get your hair cut?


2. How often do you change your hairstyle?


3. How often do you wish your hair was a different colour or style than what it is?

Here's my answers, are they similar to your's?

1. every 5-6 weeks


2. every few years


3. all the time!

I then got to thinking, just how many haircuts that is in a year...a lot! And what about how many that would be in my lifetime. Wow!

So we all go to the hairdressers quite frequently, what about new clothes, how often do you buy yourself new clothes?

Maybe in the current economic climate you aren't able to do any of the about as frequently as you used to. However I'm sure you'll still plan when you're going to get your haircut, and when your next going to buy ne clothes.

I know you're probably wondering where I'm going with this...well what struck me while I was at te hairdressers was how much time and how much time to I put aside to allow God to restyle me into the person He wants/needs me to be?

A very deep question, and one which is not the easiest one to answer - not because I don't know the answer, but simply because I know my answer is not what God wants it to be!

What's your answer? If you find you are not putting aside time each day to listen to God speaking to you (not just time for you to speak to God), you, like me, need to allow more time for God to speak to you.

So next time you're getting a haircut, or buying new clothes, remember that as well as looking after your physical appearance, you need to look after your spiritual life too - you can only do that by spending time with God, talking and listening to Him.

In This Storm

Not been a great day for me again today, as I'm still feeling really exhausted, and I'm sore as well, which always gets me down. So today, like many days in the past few years, I turned to the words (and music) of Praise You In This Storm by Casting Crowns.

I was sure by now God,
You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining
As the thunder rolls I barely hear
You whisper through the rain "I'm with You"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You
As the thunder rolls I barely hear
You whisper through the rain "I'm with You"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm

Rain

Well I should have known better...write a blog about the wonderful sunny weather we're having and what happens...within a day the sun's gone and it's wet and dull again! Sorry!



I said in my blog yesterday that when it's sunny it seems to lift our spirits and make everything seem a bit brighter. Well today I think I've seen the opposite apply:

• Damp and wet this morning when I left for work which after the weather of the last few days, made it less appealing to go out in.


• I then got stuck in a traffic jam for a while because part of a raod had been shut because of a collapsed man hole.


• That in turn meant I got to work much later than I was supposed to.


• The air conditioning in my office is broken and needs a part which won't be available until Monday, so the office is like a sauna again.


• Had to go out at lunchtime to get a birthday card for my Dad, forgot my umbrella so got soaked.


• Had a meeting this afternoon which went on until about 5.45pm, by which time my head was thumping.

So dull and damp outside today. Feeling pretty down today too as it's been a very long day, I'm exhausted and a lot of things I was involved in to day just didn't quite go as planned.

Sunny bright days outside seem to make it easier to be positive, so when you're having a "grey" day, don't focus on the negative things around you, think of a time when you were happy and try and stay positive. Pray! God doesn't desert you when you're having a bad day, He's there to help you make everyday a sunny day.

Stay positive no matter how your weather looks!

By the way, Tigger's back to sleeping on our bed again as the window doesn't seem so appealing today!

Sunshine

For the last few days, we've been enjoying some beautiful sunny weather. Not only has it been sunny, it's been warm too! Unfortunately other than last weekend, many of us will have been unable to make to most of the good weather, as we've been stuck in an office all day.

It was commented to me today that everything always looks better when it's sunny. It's true though isn't it? The bright sunny weather seems to lift everyone's spirits and make dull, drab places look brighter and more appealing. The same can be said for things which may be worrying/concerning us - When the world around us is brighter and lifts our spirits, it often helps us to see our problems in a different light, which in turn helps put them in perspective, easing our worries.

It's not just us humans who enjoy the sunshine though, our cat, called Tigger, loves sunbathing on our window sill. Though once he's been lying there a wee while he usually disappears through to the kitchen to hang out the kitchen window and get some fresh air.

Use this time of good weather to lift your spirits. Look at problems from a different perspective, they often aren't as bad as we think when we' re in a more positive frame of mind.

Let's hope the good weather continues. Enjoy the sunshine. :)

Back To Basics

We live in a world where everything seems to have to be done now and things move at 100 miles an hour. I don't know about you but, I sometimes find I never get a chance to stop for a few minutes and take a breath.

We must be careful that as we rush through our days, we take the time to stop and listen to God. After all if we carry on rushing about doing lots of things without taking the time to listen to God, how do we know we're doing what God wants us to do?

I am by no means saying we should stop what we are doing, I'm just suggesting that maybe we need to stop for a minute or two between tasks/activities to listen to God directing us and simply remember what it's all about, why we worship Jesus. i.e. we need to get back to the basics of praying and listening to God. After all if we forget the basics (i.e. God) we will never succeed.

God must remain at the heart of our worship.

As you go about your daily tasks/activities, please remember to pause for a moment to talk with God. Only with God at the heart of what we do will we succeed!

Once again I'd like to leave you with a powerful presentation of the well known worship song "The Heart of Worship". You'll find this is a slower, more prayerful version than what you're maybe used to, but I make no apology for that as personally I find it particularly good at focusing my thoughts on what's important.

You might also find the story of "The Heart of Worship" helpful too:
http://www.crosswalk.com/1253122/

The Power of the Cross

Music has always been a very big part of my life both in my family life and in my Christian life. I must admit to always having found it very difficult to tell others about my Christianity, not because I'm ashamed of it in any way, but simply because I find it very hard to find the right words that really express the emotion I feel about my faith.

It's probably these reasons that have meant that however I'm feeling I tend to turn to music to express my feelings. Yesterday I'd intended sharing with you one of my favourite Easter songs, but as you will be aware from my blog post yesterday, events at our morning service directed me to "talk" about Zimbabwe instead.

I came across this song a year or two ago, and so far I have found no other song that allows the listener to truly feel the emotion and the importance of the cross where our Lord was crucified - The song is entitled "The Power of the Cross".

So at the end of this Easter period, I'd like to invite you to watch the video of this song which is accompanied by a very powerful presentation. I am sure you'll be moved by the words, music and the pictures, just as I am every time I watch/listen to it.



The Power of the Cross (written by Keith Getty)

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

You can find further details about Keith & Kristyn Getty at there website: http://www.gettymusic.com/

Zimbabwe

In our worship at Bellshill Salvation Army this morning we had guests from Zimbabwe with us, who are studying at university. I was very challenging and inspiring by the meeting and therefore felt I should share will you just a little bit about their homeland, Zimbabwe...

The population of Zimbabwe in 2008 was reckoned to be 12,382,920. Almost half of that number are facing starvation. It has been reported that in some areas, the people have been killing wild animals in a desperate bid to survive. Thousands are facing death following an outbreak of cholera in August last year. The number of cholera cases is said to be in the region of 96,000, with the death toll reaching around 4,166. The international responsive is being complicated by the authorities repeated attempts to politicise humanitarian relief work.

A number of the major hospitals have been closed, while those that are still open are desperately short of medical supplies and in many instances doctors and nurses are not being paid or are being paid only a minimum wage. Church run hospitals which had provided relief for many rural communities are also reported to be on the verge of collapse.

There is a continued imprisonment of political prisoners, enforced disappearances of people and tight restrictions on the media. There are bodies lying in prisons uncollected. The prison situation is also desperate because of the shortage of food, water and medicine.

Hyper inflation has rocketed to over 230,000,000%, making its dollar worthless and not likely to be used for at least a year.

Since independence from the UK in 1980, one of Africa's most promising economies has been systematically destroyed. President Mugabes controversial policy of seizing well cultivated and viable commercial farmland and handling them to inexperienced people has in many ways been a total disaster. He states that the country and its economy has been sabotaged by enemies opposed to hos nationalist policies. Whatever his reasons, the tragedy remains that it is the ordinary man, woman and child that bear the suffering.

I take so much of what I have for granted, but this morning I was reminded just how fortunate I am, both in the material possessions I have and my health - I have had some major health issues in the last few years, but the medical help I need is freely available to me in this country.

Our lives may not be perfect, we may not possess the material things we which we had, our health service may not be as good/effective as it could be, we may not have the job we real want, but compared to many in this world we have everything!

There is however one thing which we all have in common, regardless of where we live, we all have Jesus.

I have found the song Footprints In The Sand by Leona Lewis particularly helpful to me and hope you find blessing from it too...

What's In A Name?

Everything that we experience in our life happens for a reason, a reason which God has already planned before it happens. Bearing that in mind, it means that when we were born and our parent(s) spent time trying to decide what name they wanted to give us, the decision had already been made by God.

Every Christian name has a meaning, do you know what your name means? If you do, do you live up to your name?

Here's a list of a few Christian names and their meaning:

Alexander - protector of mankind

Caitlyn - pure beauty

Christine - follower of Christ

Daniel - God is my judge

Derek - gifted ruler

Dorothy - gift of God

Gemma - jewel

Holly - holy

Maggie - pearl

Megan - soft and gentle

Niamh - bright

Sam - God's word

Sean - God is gracious

Susan - lily

William - protector

If your name is not listed above check out the following sites:
Gurgle.com
Name-Meanings.com
Meaning-of-Names.com

So are you living up to the meaning of your name? I find it very humbling when I think about what my name means - "gift of God". It's so easy for us to forget we are all God's children and as such owe God our lives.

There is of course one person whose name could not have been more apt, and that of course is Jesus. The name Jesus is defined as "Jehovah is salvation, God will help".

So remember that whatever situation you find yourself in, no matter how bad it might seem, God will help!

An Eventful Journey

What should have been a simple 20 minute journey home after work today ended up being one I'm not likely to forget for some time...

While driving along I suddenly realised that a few hundred yards ahead of me on the pavement a woman on her own had suddenly collapsed in a heap and did not get back up again. Although there were a few other cars about, there was only one other pedestrian on the other side of the road, so I stopped to see if I could help.

To be honest I didn't really think about what I was doing, I just went into auto pilot. By the time I'd stopped the car and got out, the guy that had been walking along the other side of the road had reaching the lady, who we discovered was unconscious. I called an ambulance and within a couple of minutes the police arrived followed a couple of minutes later by an ambulance and paramedic car!

The result of all that was by the time they got the lady into the ambulance she'd regained consciousness which hopefully was a good sign. They told us the lady had probably suffered a heart attack. I don't even know what the lady's name was, but I hope she is OK.

I pray God will be with this lady and her family and help her to make a full recovery.

Looking back on these events, what saddened me most was that although there was other drivers in the area who must have seen the lady collapse, I was the only one who stopped. Having said that, at last one person other than myself, came to help, the guy who was walking on the other side of the road. It's a sad reflection of the society we live in these days that people are not willing to help a strange in need.

Since returning home tonight, I've found myself thinking about The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). So even if you are familiar with this bible story, I invite you to read it again, but this time think about what you would do if faced with a similar situation.

Tonight, as well as praying for the lady who took ill, have spent time praying that our world might become a more loving and caring place once again. Where we are all more aware of those around us and are particularly conscious of their needs and more willing to help one another when we are in need.

It's Thursday Night!

...and for me that means band practice night. No I'm not in a rock band, I am in fact a member of the Bellshill Salvation Army Band, where I play trombone. So today I thought I'd tell you a wee bit more about me and the Salvation Army.

My Mum's side of the family has always been in the Salvation Army so I was taken along to the services at Rutherglen, from a very early age. When I was 7 I gave my heart to Jesus. I joined the Singing Company (which is the junior choir), and about 5/6 years later I joined the Young People's Band (the junior band) playing percussion for a few months before moving onto trombone.

When I was 18, after a number of years of doubt and soul searching, I decided that I wanted to continue serving God through the Salvation Army, so became what we call "soldier" - I wear Salvation Army uniform. From then I sang in our Songster Brigade (senior choir) and played in the Band.

I continued to attend the Salvation Army in Rutherglen until 2002. Since then I have been attending Salvation Army in Bellshill where I play in the band and also look after the band's website (www.bsab.co.uk).

I have been very priviliged to travel with the band to a number of place in Scotland, England and further afield. Our Easter Tour in 2003 to the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium was a particular high for all of us in the band. You can read more about all the places we've visited in the band's website.

The band has recorded 4 CDs, the last of which we just recorded a few weeks ago and has not yet been released. It was really hard work recording the CDs but I'm sure those who have listened to them will tell you our hard work has been well worth it! Again if you want more details please visit the band's website.

So there you go, that's a very brief history of my time in the Salvation Army. If you want to know more, I have two testimonies listed on the band's website, plus if you keep reading the blog I may tell you more about me in the coming weeks. :)

Today I've been thanking God for the allowing me the opportunity to play in the band again - for several years I was unable to play much due to some health issues. Music has always been a big part of my life and so I find it a great way of expressing my faith and praising God's name.

I'd ask that today you say thank you to God for the wonderful music that He has inspired many to write, and for those use their musical talents to share God's message by singing/playing the music.

Remembrance

I did not have to look far for inspiration for today's post, as many of the headlines today remind us that today marks the 20th anniversary of the day when 96 football supporters lost their lives at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough.


Today many will spend time remembering the tragic events that unfolded on that fateful day in Hillsborough, in 1989 - those who were there, those who lost family members or friends, those associated with the clubs involved as well as all the rest of us who remember where we were and what we were doing when the news of the unfolding tragedy came through - I was sitting in my bedroom watching the snooker on the TV when there was a news flash to inform us what was happening. I still remember to this day the shocking scenes/pictures that came through from Hillsborough and the shock and disbelief I felt at what I was seeing/hearing.


I cannot comprehend what it was like for those who were at Hillsborough that day - all I was able to then when the news came through, and all I am able to do now is pray for those affected by the tragedy.

Today I ask that you remember in prayer those whose lives were affected by the Hillsborough tragedy. Those who were there and survived and those who lost loved ones still need our prayers - their physical pain may have gone, but their loss is still profound.

Remember the 96.

Remember those killed in the other football disasters where UK teams were involved:

Heysel...39 people lost their lives...

Bradford...56 people lost their lives...

Ibrox...66 people lost their lives...

Please remember them all.

Back to Work

Today was my first day back at work after being on leave for just over a week. Like most people after being off, I wished I didn’t have to go back to work today, so it was a bit of an effort to get out of bed this morning.

Having got myself to work, I found myself having to deal with a number of things which always seem to happen/have happened when I go back to work. Are these just things that happen in my office?

• The mystery of the missing stapler – the one you left in your desk that is now nowhere to be found…and no one claims to have used it!


• Where are all your pens?


• Your chair is either:
  - Not at your desk – it’s been moved to someone else’s desk
  - Has been adjusted so the height/tilt etc is not how you like it!


• There’s a pile of documents/magazines on your desk that aren’t yours, and you didn’t ask for them - it turns out they’ve just been left there because “your desk was free”


• The coffee “thief” has returned - You seem to have less coffee left than you thought you had been you went on holiday!


• Your email inbox is full to overflowing and it takes most of the day to work your way through them and determine which are spam, which have been dealt with by someone else, which you need to action and which are purely for information only


• You have at least one voicemail message from someone telling you they require you to call them urgently, despite your voicemail message indicating you’re on holiday until today


• And finally, but probably worst of all...your own personal mug has disappeared!

So, is this just my office these things happen in? Any feedback would be much appreciated.

You'll be please to know that by the time I left work tonight I had found my mug...someone had put it in a cupboard in the kitchen beside the "visitor" mugs!!! D'oh!

My mug is a blue version of this...

Despite the pitfalls off returning to work after being off, I know I am one of the lucky ones these days to still have a job to go to. With that in mind I'd ask that today you pray for those who are unemployed and those who are struggling to cope financially in these difficult economic times.

Real Love

To many, friendsand familyare the most important things in their lives. Sadly, not everyone is that fortunate. There are many people in this world who feel they are very alone having been rejected by/rejecting their family and friends.

As Christians we are challenged to love everyone, no matter how they treat us.

1 John 3:11-11 (The Message):
11 For this is the original message we heard: We should love each other.

12-13 We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don't be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.

14-15 The way we know we've been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn't love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don't go together.

16-17 This is how we've come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God's love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

I'm sure we all know of those (maybe even ourselves) where relationship between family or friends have broken down, do not give up because God can help repair those relationships, no matter how damaged that relationship may be.

Pray for those experiencing difficulties in their relationships with family or friends, and also for those who feel they have no-one and feel alone. Each of them very special people in God's eyes (as are you).

You may be interested in the Salvation Army's Family Tracing Service which can help reunite families that have been separated for many years and/or many miles.


God can answer prayer. He can help everyone no-matter their circumstances, so don't give up praying!

1 John 3:11-11 (The Message):
When We Practice Real Love
18-20 My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

21-24 And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.

Keep practicing real love!

Hallelujah!

"Christ the Lord is risen today,

Hallelujah!"

And so today we celebrate the future. It is because Jesus died on the cross and then rose again, that we are forgiven of all our sins, and can now allow the living Christ to change us into the person He wants us to be.

Today I did not go to my church (Bellshill Salvation Army), I stayed at home. That however has not mean I have not spent time reflecting on what today means to me as a christian.

So what does today mean to me as a christian - My answer...."EVERYTHING!"

Earlier today I watch "The Passion of the Christ" for what I think was the fifth time. This film portrays the last days of Jesus life on earth and despite me having seen this film several times, I am still incredibly moved and inspired by this film. To describe this film as simply moving and inspiring really doesn't do it justice, however I'm afraid I am unable to find the words to express the emotions I felt watching the film...and still feel.

I'm writing this post several hours after watching the film, and am still feeling very emotional. I am very priveliged to have grown up in a christian home and to have experienced te wondrous love of God in my life, but it is still to humbling to know that God loves me and forgives my many sins.


Wherever you have spent your Easter, I pray you have had a day full on many blessings.

Spring Cleaning

I've just spent most of today giving our house a spring clean. I'm tired and exhausted now but I am please with the results...but please don't ask me to do it all again until next Spring!

When I had a break this afternoon from all my cleaning, I got to wondering what the history of spring cleaning is. After all, we don't do a summer clean, autumn clean or winter clean, so why do we spring clean?

To be honest I'd no idea, it's just something my Mum always did when I was wee. It's just something that seems to be ingrained in me that I should spring clean the house.

So I did some investigation:-

In times past, when people kept their houses shut tight against the cold of winter, heated them with coal and oil and wood, and lighted them with candles, the coming of spring signaled a welcome opportunity to make a dingy habitation fresh again. On the first warm, dry day of the season, everybody in the family—that is, everyone in the family who had survived the ravages of the cold season—would pitch in to pull every stick of furniture and scrap of cloth outside. Then, armed with brooms and washrags, one squad of house cleaners would return to the house, sweeping and scrubbing every corner and washing down the walls, while another would air out linens, remove soot and ash from couches and chairs, dust books and paintings, and mend a few items on the run.

These days of course because we all have central heating or electrical or gas fires in our houses there's not the same dingy air inside as there was in past times. That said though, we still go through the winter months keeping our windows and doors closed to keep the heat in, so when spring comes, it's a chance to open up those windows/doors and let some fresh air in and give the house a clean...a spring clean.

Having discovered the roots of why we spring clean, I found myself realising how appropriate it was that we spring clean round about Easter time, as not only is this a great time for cleaning our homes, it also a great time to renew our relationship with God.

Whether you are reaffirming your relationship with God or are just starting on your christian journey, make this Spring the time to not only spring clean your home, but spring clean your relationship with God too!

Happy cleaning!

What Easter Means To Me

This will probably sound daft to non believers, but I've been feeling God has been telling me to start writing a blog, so I can share a bit of my life with the world. Before I alienate many of you, this blog will not just be me informing you of my Christian beliefs and experiences, but will simply be me writing about what I know...me - my thoughts, observations and experiences of life.


So having decides to start this blog, I faced what to me was a difficult decision, what to write about in this very first post! The decision was difficult for me until it came to today, Good Friday, one of the most important days in the christian calendar. This might sound odd, but while I know many say Christmas is the most important time of year to them, I have always found Easter to be more special to me.


"Why?" I hear you ask. Well Christmas is so commericially orientated that many simply know Christmas as a time when they spend days with family, get lots of presents and eat too much and don't ever spare a thought for what Christmas is really about. I realise Easter to is becoming far more commercial these days too, but not nearly to the same extent as Christmas.



For me Easter is all about sacrifice, the sacrifice that Jesus made for each one of us on the cross when he bled and died, just so we can all be forgiven of our sins. Wow, it's impossible to truly understand the pain/agony Jesus suffered when he was crusified. Can you imagine how God felt, giving up his one and only son, just so the world could be forgiven of every sin. I struggle to truely comprehend how this must have felt, but am forever in God's debt because He did allow Christ to die on the cross.


So here we are at another Easter, another time when I feel so inadeqate and so unworthly of God's love, and also so thankful that God's does love me unconditionally and is always by my side guiding me and supporting me through each minute of every day.


What does Easter mean to you? If all you've ever know is 2 days off school or work and Easter eggs, I hope this blog has given you food for thought this Easter.


Easter is all about "The Cross" and the sacrifice God gave for you and for me.