What Is Today?

Today is Pentecost, but do you know what Pentecost is all about?

Here is a definition of Pentecost:
Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is celebrated on the Sunday 50 days after Easter.
Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church, and the start of the church's mission to the world.
The Holy Spirit is the third part of the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit that is the way Christians understand God.

What does the bible say about Pentecost?

Acts 2:1-4 & 17-21
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
" In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

So what should we do this Pentecost?

Here is a beautiful version of the popular chorus "Spirit of the Living God" which invites the Holy Spirit to enter into our lives anew, to rekindle our love for God, and reaffirm His love for us. This is what we should do this Pentecost.

Please listen to the chorus and ask God to renew His presence in your life today.

Britain's Got Talent

The title of today's blog is "Britain's Got Talent" a tv show here in the UK where they search for a previously undiscovered person/persons to perform their talent at the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen.


So have you been watching Britain's Got Talent? Will you be watching it tonight?


Tonight is the final of this show, where a acts the final acts will perform for the last time before the winner is chosen by public vote.

So has Britain Got Talent?

Having watched a number of the initial auditions and most of the semi finals this last week, I have to say that at times it has looked as though Britain really hasn't got talent! Having said that there have of course been a few outstanding acts, some of which didn't get through to the semi finals or indeed tonight's fina, which personally I liked, but hey, if we all liked the same things we'd all be bored!

Regardless of the outcome of tonight's show, and whether we personally agree with the successful act, do you think Britain Has Talent? Do you think you have talent?


In God's eyes, we all have talents. You may still say you have no talents, but that it really isn't true, you do have talent, you may not have discovered them yet, or accepted that they are talents. God gives each of us spiritual gifts to use to help others or tell others about God's message.



1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (The Message)

God's various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God's Spirit. God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!

The variety is wonderful:
wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.

All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.

For those of you who know what your talents or spiritual gifts are, ask God to help you continue to use them for His honour and glory.

For those of you who have not identified their talents or spiritual gifts, ask God to help identify them and then help you use them in His work.

There are a number of website which talk about Spiritaul Gifts. One you may find helpful is http://www.biblicalstudies.com/bstudy/spiritualgifts/index.htm


Identify your talents, find your spiritual gifts and use them all to share your love and knowledge of God.

Quality Time

What a beautiful day it's been, the sun has been shining, there's hardly been a cloud in the sky and it's been really really warm. Let's hope it lasts for a while!

So for those of you who have been at work this week, you'll be delighted that it's now officailly the end of the working week - yes I know it may not be where you are, but here in the UK it's after 5pm on Friday, so for the majority of folk it's now considered to be the weekend! Let's hope the wonderful weather today continues over the weekend at the very least!

Well this week, we've been on holiday from work. Unfortunately though we've still not been able to get away anywhere, but even so, it's still been a fantastic week.

These days we all find ourselves rushing about from place to place trying to fit in loads of different tasks into every minute of our day. So this week it's been great to get away from all that as well as all the stress that work and everyday life puts on us. It's been good to be able to just relax and chill out and actually just spend some quality time together for the first time in a while.

How often to you get a chance to spent quality time with your family and friends?

Given the fast pace at which we all have to live our lifes at these days, you may well find your answer is "not very often". If that is the case, take the time now to arrange with family and friends, a time for you to spend quality time together - I promise you your relationships with your family and friends will benefit greatly from it.

It is important to look after all our relationships: that means our relationships with our family and friends, as well as our relationship with God.

Look after them all.

That word..."Sin"

Do you cringe whenever someone says the word "sin"? For a long time I admit, I did! I, probably like you, wondered what was coming next, and if I'm honest I'd would switch off before I heard/read any more!

But I now understand that we should not be put off by talking about sin or sinning, as it's something every single one of us does, we all sin. During our lifetime we all commit thousands/millions of sins in God's eyes.

So what exactly is sin. Here is the dictionary definition of sin:

• A transgression of a religious or moral law, especially when deliberate.
• Deliberate disobedience to the known will of God

Galatians 5:24-25

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.

So in God's eyes, no matter what our sins, no matter how severe our sins, God will forgive us of every one of them. All we have to do is ask him to forgive us and then let God take control of our lives.

I pray that you will ask God into your live so he can forgive your sins, and help you lead the kind of life he wants you to.

DIY

DIY - What do you immediately think of when you see this acronym? As you all know it stands for Do It Yourself, but how many of you like doing DIY?

Well for us the majority of the DIY work is left to me, but I don't mind as I actually quite enjoy dabling with DIY though I am certainly not up for doing all DIY tasks, as I leave the complicated stuff to the professionals!

How many of you have self improvement guides for one task or another in your house? These days there are hundreds, probably thousands of self help guides available in our bookshops, from self-help to how to lay a carpet!

All that DIY talk aside, what is the one thing God directs us to do ourselves? Pray

So you've got self improvement books for DIY, and self-help guides, what about for your prayer life? The best book you can use to improve your prayer life is the Bible - God directs us in there many time, how and why he wants us to pray. In 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, God said:

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.

God promises to hear every prayer we utter. He will answer every prayer, though not necessarily in the way we would have wanted, but in the way he knows is best for us.

We must not get caught up in ourselves but instead remember that the only self help we need is from God, he alone can do all things. God can help us do so much more than we could ever do on our own.

Caught Up In Yourself (by Third Day)
Take a good look around you
And I’m sure that you are bound to
Think that all you have comes down to
You and what you’ve done
If you look far beyond this
There’s a life I hope you don’t miss
What has kept you from moving on
Is learning to let go

And there’s so much more
Than what you’re looking for

Caught up in yourself
Call it like it is
Well, you’re so good
But you’ll never be good enough

You think if you surrender
It’s the end, but just remember
Life is more than dying embers
Burning in your soul

And I know it’s true‘
Cause I am just like you

Thank God for mercy
Thank God for His grace
Thank God for everything you’ve got
Before it’s too late

And there’s so much more
Than what you’re looking for

The Book

How many "How To..." or "... for Dummies" manuals have you used over the last while?

Whenever we're tackling a new task or trying to work out to the best way to tackle a new job we all tend to find a helpful reference manual to guide us through the steps to succeed.

But what about life? Do you use a reference manual for that?

The following is an extract from the best Life manual ever written...
"Study this Book of Instruction continually. mediate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do"

So what book is the above referring too? It's the Bible. The above is taken from the book of Joshua chapter 1 and verse 8. Within the Bible you will find directions/guidance for all situations you will face in your life - Follow the instructions in the Bible and I guarantee you'll experience the full extent of God's love and support.

Michael W Smith's song entitled "Ancient Words" is all about the Bible and reinforces the message I was trying to give to you - that the answers to all we face can be found in God's book, the Bible. I personally find the words of the chorus very encouraging and very reassuring:

Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

No matter whether you have never read the Bible before or whether you've read studied it before, I hope and pray that as you watch and listen to the following video, you are encouraged to open God's word.

Ancient Words (by Michael W Smith)

Holy words long preserved

for our walk in this world,

They resound with God's own heart

Oh, let the Ancient words impart.

Words of Life, words of Hope

Give us strength, help us cope

In this world, where e'er we roam

Ancient words will guide us Home.

Ancient words ever true

Changing me, and changing you.

We have come with open hearts

Oh let the ancient words impart.

Holy words of our Faith

Handed down to this age.

Came to us through sacrifice

Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.

Holy words long preserved

For our walk in this world.

They resound with God's own heart

Oh let the ancient words impart.

Ancient words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart.

We have come with open hearts

Oh let the ancient words impart.

Get reading now!

Find out more about Michael W Smith at: http://www.michaelwsmith.com/

Thank You God

Where would we be today if God hadn't sent His son to earth to live among us. To live among us and then give the ultimate price, His life...just so we could be forgiven of all our sins.

Without God in our lives we are nothing. I find it impossible to think what my life would have been like if I had not been brought up in a Christian family and taken along to the Salvation Army for a very early age. That's why I for one find myself thanking God over and over again, for being part of my life.

Don't take God for granted. He knows you by name and know everything about you. Thank Him today for being there for you and helping and guiding you through each day.

Here's a song by Matt Redman entitled "Once Again" - it expresses our thanks to God sending Jesus to earth to die at Calvary, and acknowledges how inadequate without God in our lives.




You can checkout Matt Redman's website at: http://www.mattredman.com/

Passionate About...

...my faith, of course!

However like many thousands around the country today, I was passionate about football too. Don't worry folks, the main point of this post is NOT football!

Today was the last day of both the Scottish Premier League (SPL) season and the English Premiership (PL) season. In the SPL the title was up for grabs while in the PL the big issue was the fight to avoid relegation and in both leagues European places were still to be decided. With so much at stake for all clubs involved in any of these battles, tensions were running high. Players and supports alike showed great passion for their teams in their bid to help them get the required results.

How about you :

• What are you passionate about?
• Are you passionate about your faith?
• Are you passionate about God?

God wants us to be more passionate about Him, about your faith, about Jesus, than you are about anything else. Are you? If you are not, ask God to help you become more passionate in your faith, in Him.

The song "Passion" by Kutless expresses how passionate God is about us, every single one of us, and explains why we should be just as passionate about Him:

Within my mind's eye
Flickering from the past
Come images that terrify and calm
A paradox in me

Nail pierced hands they run with blood
A splitting brow forced by the thorns
His face is writhing with the pain yet it's comforting to me

He chose to give it all
Jesus endured the pain
Paying a debt I owed and created a paradox in me

Nail pierced hands they run with blood
A splitting brow forced by the thorns
His face is writhing with the pain yet it's comforting to me

And in my heart I know that you're the only one
Who could of came and died, a sacrifice
As your God's only son

Nail pierced hands they run with blood
A splitting brow forced by the thorns
His face is writhing with the pain yet it's comforting to me

You can find out more details about Kutless on their official site: http://www.kutless.com/

You can find out more details about the film "The Passion" that the clips in the above video are from, at it's official site: http://www.thepassionofthechrist.com/splash.htm

Come To Worship

Not only do we have to come to Jesus to experience His unconditional love and His unending help and guidance throughout our lives, we also need to thank God for all He has done for us and continuing to do for us. We must praise God and worship Him regularly :

Psalm 100:1-2
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

So after coming to Jesus to give you're life to Him, worship Him.
This post is a follow up to my blog from Thursday 21/05/2009 entitles "Come":
http://thedistinctdot.blogspot.com/2009/05/come.html



Come Now Is the Time To Worship (by Brian Doerksen)

Come, now is the time to worship
Come, now is the time to give your heart
Come, just as you are to worship
Come, just as you are before your God
Come

(Spoken: One day)
One day ev'ry tongue will confess You are God
One day ev'ry knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains for those,
Who gladly choose you now

(Spoken: Come)
Come, now is the time to worship
Come, now is the time to give your heart
Come, just as you are to worship
Come, just as you are before your God
Come

(Spoken: One day)
One day ev'ry tongue will confess You are God
One day ev're knee will bow
Still the greates treasure remains for those,
Who gladly choose you now
Ooh, we're calling You
Calling all nations
Now is the time
One day ev'ry tongue will confess You are God
One day ev'ry knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains for those,
Who gladly choose you now

(Spoken: One day)
One day ev'ry tongue will confess You are God
One day ev're knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains for those,
Who gladly choose you now

Creation

Have you looked around you recently and really taken in what you see? The beautiful scenery, the animals and the something we all spend so much time moaning about or commenting on, the weather!

Today I was a passenger in the car when we were out for a while. This allowed me for the first time in a while, to take in the views and scenery around us. Wow! What a beautiful things God has given us in this world, many of which I know I've been taking for granted. Yes, some parts are not very nice, but they are the man made additions we humans have made and not the beautiful things God made for us in this world.

My guess is you'll have been the same is me, not really noticing what's around us everyday, the trees, the flowers, the hills, mountains, streams, rivers, birds and other animals, the sands, and other expanses of scenery that have been unspoilt by man.

Have a look around you and pretend it's the first time you've ever seen it. Look at the landscape, the trees, grass, water. Look at the animals and birds. Isn't this a beautiful land?

I thank God for the beauty of this earth, and I pray that I will not take it for granted, after all, God put a lot of work into it!

The following video is accompanied by a song by Brian Doerksen which talks about all the things God has created for us. The song is call "Creation Calls". I hope it remind you of God's creation and that you find bless from it.

Come

How do you approach God?

• Do you find a quite place?
• Do you kneel down before Him?
• Do you say your prayers out loud?

And how about what you say to God?

• Do you pour out your deepest thoughts?
• Do you tell Him your deepest fears?
• Do you tell Him about all that you are thinking and feeling?
• Do you ask for what you think you need?

And finally do you leave time to listen to what God wants to say to you?


Whatever your answers to the above questions, God just asks one thing of us that we come to Him just as we are; with all our faults, with all our sins, with all our sorrows, with all our temptations, with all our desires, with our all.


The words of this song are very simple but very powerful. Who else but Jesus could you give you so much, just by coming into His presence! It's fantastic

Come Just As you Are
come just as you are
hear the spirit call
come just as you are
come and see come receive
come and live forever

life everlasting
strength for today
taste the living water
and never thirst again

Here I Am (Part 2)

This song by Michael W Smith tells us exactly what we are giving up for God when we tell Him "Here I Am":




Here I Am (by Michael W Smith)

There's a place where I can go
Where the angels hear me pray
I want to change
Yes I need Your touch
I'm waiting here for You

And I fall, at Your feet
I'll give it all, until the day we meet

Here I am
Ready to give up my life for the One
Here I am
Ready to pour out my heart for the Son
Here I am

Here I come to Your threshing floor
Where the angels fear to tread
I'm waiting here for the King of love
And to hold the hands that bled

And I fall, at Your feet
I'll give it all, until the day we meet

Here I am
Ready to give up my life for the One
Here I am
Ready to pour out my heart for the Son

Tell God today that you are ready to serve Him

Here I Am (Part 1)

Have you ever felt clumsy with words? I'm sure we all have at some time or another.

Do you only feel clumsy with words when you are trying to talk to someone about the Lord? That's me again, and I'm sure I'm not the only one! I can tell you right now, a lot of what I've said in my blog I would never have felt confident enough to share in person with anyone. I thank God for directing me to blogging, as it really has given me a way of sharing my experiences, faith and belief with you which I'd never have managed otherwise. Thank you God!

In the bible, Moses suffered from lack of confidence with his words:

Exodus 4:10
But Moses pleaded with the Lord, "O lord, I'm just not a good speaker. I never have been, and I'm not now, even after you have spokento me. I'm clumsy with words."


It is only natural that we feel inadequate and inexperienced when we have to speak to others about God, but that's just because we all find it very easy to come up with excuses and reasons why we can't do it! We are all guilty of forgetting that God would not ask us to do something which He did not feel we were capable of doing.

God pointed out to Moses that he was the the one who made our mouths and therefore was the one who tells us what to say:

Exodus 4:11-12
"Who makes mouths?" the Lord asked him. "Who makes people so they can speak or not speak, hear or not hear, see or not see? Is it not I, the Lord. Now go, and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you waht to say."


We get our confidence to speak to others about the Lord, by being obedient to God and saying whatever it is He is telling us to say.

So when you are feeling tongue-tied and clumsy with words like Moses, don't make excuses to God, just be obedient to God. God will do the rest.

Just say to God "Here I Am"!

Heal the Wound

How many scars do you have from falls/accidents you've had during your lifetime? I think most of us have at least one scar somewhere on our body.

Scars remind us of past deeds/actions that have caused us physical pain. I'm sure for each scar you have, you are can remember exactly how you got it. Are your scars visible? Visible scars remind others of our past pain while hidden scars are there only to remind us.

But scars can be mental/emotional as well as physical. The difference being that our emotional scars are usually much harder for others to see. How do you feel when you aren't in control of your emotions or when you've been deeply hurt or upset? If you're anything like me you will do everything you can to stop others from seeing your emotional scars. I find it very difficult to show others my emotions, and therefore feel embarassed and scared when my emotions take over and I find myself in tears.

All our physical and emotional scars have happened for a reason, God's reason. We may not know why God let us suffer so badly, but He wouldn't have put us in that situation if He hadn't thought we could handle it, with His help of course!

Every event we experience during our lives, helps make us into the kind of person we are today. We may have suffered a loss of faith, said or done things which have ended long standing relationships or been deeply hurt by the words or actions of others, all of which may have had a lasting impact on our lifes, sometimes making us feel ashamed of what we've said/done.

Whatever our emotional and physical scars, God knows about each of them, and has used them each to shape our lives. God knows us and is willing and ready to forgive us of all our sins, big or small, recent or long standing. He will lift our pain and shame from our shoulders and use it to make us stronger.

Let God heal your wounds.



Heal The Wound (by Point of Grace)

I used to wish that I could rewrite historyI used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretend
I never knew the me back then

I used to pray that You would take this shame awayHide all the evidence of who I've been
But it's the memory of
The place You brought me from
That keeps me on my knees
And even though I'm free

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with
The rubble that You've found me in
And every stone will sing
Of what You can redeem

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

Don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering

Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

Through It All

Life can be very tough at times. Sometimes it can feel like there is no point in going on, as the world can sometimes seem a very dark and lonely place when you're going through a difficult time in your life.

But no matter what your circumstances, and how low you may be feeling, God will never leave you. There are many references in the bible to God supporting us through all our troubles, but I've chosen the following two verses from Psalms to share with you today:

Psalm 37:24 (New Living Translation)
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Psalm 66:9 (New Living Translation)
Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.

As I think I've mentioned before, I play in Bellshill Salvation Army Band, and a couple of months ago, we recorded our 4th CD (which is due to be launch in September this year) which is called Diversity. At our recent engagements/concerts we've featured a number of the pieces that will be featured on the new CD, one of which is the flugel horn solo "Through It All" which was specially written for our flugel horn player Lynn Shanks, by Andrew Blyth. It features the melodies of the song "Through It All" and "Shenandoah".

For me this song "Through It All" has special meaning as it reflects my experiences and struggles over the last few years when ill health has been a major factor in my life.

I include the words of this song for you to read - I'd encourage you to find a recording of this track as the music enhances the beautiful words of the song. recording I am aware of are as follows:-

• Celebr8
• The Three Sopranos
• Sydney Staff Songsters (of the Salvation Army)
• Bellshill Salvation Army Band (due for release Sep 2009)

N.B All above artists can be found at the SP&S Online Store.

Through It All

Though the future seems uncertain
Though the fear erodes my peace
Though the circumstance seems hopeless
And the doubting will not cease
I will claim what He has promised
For my heart must recognise
Mine is not to question
But keep focused on the prize.

Through it all I choose to serve the saviour
Through it all I claim Christ as my friend
Through it all my faith will never waver
Till He calls me home or comes again

This path now set before me
Is not my route of choice
Yet I must keep moving forward
Listening to His still small voice
This step along this journey
He reminds me I'm His own
And through the cold dark loneliness
I'm aware I'm not alone

Through it all I choose to serve the saviour
Through it all I claim Christ as my friend
Through it all my faith will never waver
Till He calls me home or comes again

Clinging to Jesus

Sometimes it can feel like nothing's going right for you, and you wonder what the point of it all is, don't despair, God is there for you, and can get you through.

Cling to Jesus, cling to the cross and what they both stand for.

Alone in a Crowd

Have you ever felt alone?
Have you ever felt alone when in a crowd of people?

If you've been in both the above situations, you've felt the way I have the last few days. It's not a nice feeling is it?

But hold onto the fact that even when it feels like we're alone, we are not, God is always by our side. Talk to God. God will help.

You Will Be There (by Jeremy Camp)

I begin the day

with the faith you fashion my ways,

And I cannot escape

for your hand it leads.

Your right hand holds me.

[Chorus]

When I wake, you will be there.

When the sun goes down in the night,

You will be there.

My life has been ordained.

You have formed this very frame

And I am fearfully made.

For I was made in that secret place

[Repeat Chorus]

How precious are your

thoughts, all over me.

They're more than the

sands of the sea.

[Repeat Chorus]

For more info about Jeremy Camp please checkout his website: http://www.jeremycamp.com/

Loving God

John 15:12
Jesus said "I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you".

God loves everyone, whether they know Him or better in Him or not. In the same way, God wants us to love everyone. But more specifically, He wants us to love everyone to the same extent as He wants us to love Him.

...but how do we do that?

We must demonstrate our love for God in everything we do - after all God demonstrates His love for us every day!

The challenge for each of us is that if love is a commandment from God, that means we have a choice - we can choose whether to love God or not!

So it's down to us:

• Do what God wants us to do, follow His commandments and we show our love for Him and for others?


• or Ignore God's commands and we tell Him we don't love Him?

...the choice is ours! After all Jesus said, "Anyone who doesn't love me will not do what I say" (John 14:24).

We show our love for God by obeying His commands.

It's not about how we feel, it's about what we actually do!
It's not about just a few of our actions, it's about all of them!

So we must show our love for everyone in all situations, not just in the situations where we feel comfortable.

John 14:21
Jesus said, "Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me".

Keep on loving!

DVD Players versus Bibles

So how many of you just came to read this blog because of its title?

Even if it was just the title that got you here, I hope you read on...

This whole post was instigated by a discussion that started at work today, when somehow or other the conversation got round to how many DVD players we each had in our houses. So we each got counting and came up with a number...compared our results, wondered how some had got so many, only to find we'd forgotten about some types of DVD player we had ourselves!

So how many DVD player do you have in your house?

Here's some of those you need to remember to count:

• DVD player
• DVD recorder
• pcs
• laptops
• games consoles

Well did you get them all? Are you surprised how many you have? I certainly was - the other guys at work were also surprised.

Well when I realised just how many DVD players we all have, I wondered how many of them we actually use on a regular basis. For us we certainly do not use all our DVD players on a regular basis, some we do, others I couldn't tell you the last time we used them!

So where am I going with this? Given the number of DVD players I'm sure we all possess but don't use very often, I wondered, is the same thing true of the Bibles we possess!

So, some questions for you to consider:

• How many bibles do you have in your home?
• How many of your Bibles do you use regularly?
• Do you use your DVD players more regularly than your Bibles?
• How often do you read your Bible?
• How long do you spend reading/studying your Bible?
  

Now I've thrown a number of questions at you, what's your reaction to your answers? I was quite shocked by my answers to the above questions. We spend a lot of time these days watch tv, dvds, playing computer games, using pcs/laptops, but do we spend enough of our time reading our bible and praying?

Because of my own answers to the above questions, I'm reevaluating how I spend my time, do you need to do that too?

We only grow spiritually when we read and understand God's Word, and spend time praying and listening to God speaking to us.

Enjoy the music but also acknowledge the message presented in the following video: "Thy Word" by Michael W Smith

Breathe

I was reminded by a friend the other night of the beautiful song "Breathe".

We'd been talking about my blog post on Friday about the beautiful song "Share My Yoke", http://thedistinctdot.blogspot.com/2009/05/share-my-yoke.html, and how moving that song was - we then spoke of this song and agreed that this is a very moving and inspiring song too.

So much so I felt it was about time I shared it with you!

Wow, it still really moves me! This song always reminds us that no matter how I'm feeling, whatever situations I find myself having to deal with, God is there for me.

The above version of this song is performed by Hillsong. I love this version of the song, although I must confess there are other versions of this song I find equally moving - I've also heard a version with a more upbeat tempo too and it's very good as well.


No matter how desperate our situation, or how dark life seems to us, God is there for us. By accepting God into our lives and living and breathing every minute of every day for Him, we can find true contentment.

Happiness is found by trusting and following God.

Breathe

This is the air I breathe

This is the air I breathe

Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread

This is my daily bread

Your very word spoken to me

And I I'm desperate for you

And I I'm I'm lost without you

This is the air I breathe

This is the air I breathe

Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread

this is my daily bread

your very word spoken to me

And I'm, I'm desperate for you

And I'm, I'm lost without you

And I'm desperate for you

And I'm, I'm lost without you.

I'm lost without you.
I'm lost without you.

I'm desperate for you.

I'm desperate for you.

I'm lost, I'm lost, I'm lost without you.

I'm lost without you

I'm desperate for you

Get Ready

Joshua 3:5
Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.

There's that word "consecrate" which we hear so much of when we're at church, but what does it mean?

Well I looked up my Oxford dictionary and here's the definition I found:
verb 1 make or declare sacred. 2 ordain to a sacred office, typically that of bishop. 3 (in Christian belief) make (bread or wine) into the body and blood of Christ.

So God is directing us to declare our faith and let others know of that we believe in Christ. Only when we do that will God use us to do amazing things.

The above song was by Kutless and it's called "Ready For You":

Lord, You take my heart away with Your love
and I am willing to put on my faith in Your plan.

Come and take my life.
Make my soul refreshed in truth now.

I am ready for You.
Take my heart and make me new now.
I am ready for You
to come and fill my soul.

Cleanse all of my mind that is not of You.
Break me, teaching me how to find rest in Your hands.

Come and take my life.
Make my soul refreshed in truth now.

I am ready for You.
Take my heart and make me new now.
I am ready for You
to come and fill my soul.
To come and fill my soul.

Whatever it takes,
I'm needing to make Your will be done
and I'm letting go of my control,
for I see what You've done in me.

I am ready for You.
Take my heart and make me new now.
I am ready for You
to come and fill my soul.

Get ready for God!

You can checkout the Kutless website at http://www.kutless.com/

Weariness

Are you weary of your weariness?

Wouldn't you like to rise above it?

Have confidence in God, He will help you through. If you wait on God's help instead of relying on your own strength alone, He will help you do amazing things.

You don't need to kneel down in prayer, be in church, or even be silent and still to wait on God. You can wait on Him at anytime and anywhere

• you can stop internally even as you are busy externally
• you can wait on the Lord in your car, the supermarket, school, work, or in a meeting

Spend time with God, waiting on Him, listening to Him. Bathe in the atmosphere of strength He will provide. God will help mend our raw nerve ending, and still our turmoils.

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Healing Rain

Today I just want to share with you another of Michael W Smith 's songs entitled "Healing Rain". I'm a big fan of all his songs and this is another of my favourites, I just love the words and the music.

Healing Rain (Michael W Smith)

Healing rain is coming down

It's coming nearer to this old town

Rich and poor, weak and strong

It's bringing mercy, it won't be long

Healing rain is coming down

It's coming closer to the lost and found

Tears of joy, and tears of shame

Are washed forever in Jesus' name

Healing rain, it comes with fire

So let it fall and take us higher

Healing rain, I'm not afraid

To be washed in Heaven's rain

Lift your heads, let us return

To the mercy seat where time began

And in your eyes, I see the pain

Come soak this dry heart with healing rain

And only You, the Son of man

Can take a leper and let him stand

So lift your hands, they can be held

By someone greater, the great I Am

Healing rain, it comes with fire

So let it fall and take us higher

Healing rain, I'm not afraid

To be washed in Heaven's rain

To be washed in Heaven's rain...

Healing rain is falling down

Healing rain is falling down

I'm not afraid

I'm not afraid...

Share My Yoke

Last night at our band practice we practiced the cornet solo "Share My Yoke". It's a beautiful arrangement of the Joy Webb song.

Ever since I first heard this song many years ago, I found the words and music very moving, the words themselves are very powerful and are very personal to the listener.

Given how I've been feeling lately it was no great surprise that I felt very moved by the music last night, and fell apart yet again! I was quite please though that as this was just a band practice, everyone (except the bandmaster) were playing, so I don't think anyone noticed I had got upset again.

Please listen to the cornet solo (played by Philip Cobb) and follow the words of the song. I hope you are blessed by them.

Share My Yoke

Music and lyrics by Joy Webb
Arranged for brass band by Ivor Bosanko

When I'm tired and nothing's going right for me;
When things I've counted on just do not come my way;
When in my mind the thick grey folds of doubt arise,
It's then I seem to hear him say:

Share my yoke and find that I am joined with you.
Your slightest movement I shall feel and be there too!
Share my yoke and come the way that I must go!
In our "togetherness" my peace you'll know;
The world beholding us will see it so!

When I'm perplexed and no one's understanding me;
When even safest thoughts collapse in disarray;
When I've lost the things that always seemed so sure,
It's then I need to hear him say:

Share my yoke and find that I am joined with you.
Your slightest movement I shall feel and be there too!
Share my yoke and come the way that I must go!
In our "togetherness" my peace you'll know;
The world beholding us will see it so!

When I'm alone and nothing's getting through to me;
And isolation that increases day by day;
When closest friends can seem a thousand miles away,
It's then I long to hear him say:

Share my yoke and find that I am joined with you.
Your slightest movement I shall feel and be there too!
Share my yoke and come the way that I must go!
In our "togetherness" my peace you'll know;
The world beholding us will see it so!

Isn't it amazing to know that there is someone there when everything's going wrong and we can't see how things are ever going to improve for us.

Isn't it amazing to know there is someone who there for us when no one else is.

Isn't it amazing that someone can know and feel our every movement, no matter how small.

God is amazing!

The Way Ahead

When We Cannot See Our Way

When we cannot see our way,
Let us trust and still obey;
He who bids us forward go,
Cannot fail the way to show.

Though it be the gloom of night,
Though we see no ray of light,
Since the Lord himself is there,
‘Tis not meet that we should fear.

Be it ours, then, while we’re here,
Him to follow without fear,
Where he calls us, there to go,
What he bids us, that to do.

There have been many times during the last few years when my life has not been very easy and I have questioned "why?". At these times a number of folk have directed me to the above song. I thank them for that as the words of the the 3 verses I've written above have brought comfort and reassurance to me during the darker times in my life.

God Will Carry You

This is a beautiful song by Michael W Smith, another one of the songs which I've turned to many times.

Don't know if you've picked up on the last few days that I'm feeling a bit low at present - I've a difficult few days ahead, so just been struggling to see past them.

The one of the lines of the above song says, "We were never meant to walk this road alone". There is only one person who can walk through every step of our life with us, pick us up when we fall and show us the right path to talk, and that is God.

So no matter what lies ahead for each of us, we can all be assured of God's presence with us, because He has promised that He "will carry you".

Please listen to/watch the video again or read the words of the song below, and just think about yourself, and your relationship with God and think about this question...

Have you placed your life fully in God's hands?

I Will Carry You
(Eric N Kisner, Michael W Smith)

Sometimes I wonder if my beating heart has a reason
The thought of breathing only takes my breath away
I've spent so many nights wrestling with this feeling
Do I have the strength to make it through the day
But I was never meant
To walk this road alone
I can always trust you
When you say

I will carry you
Be your strength
And pull you through
Reach for me
And take my hand
We will pray
And we will stand
In a world
Crying out for peace
Let your heart be strong
For when I am weak
You will carry me

Sometimes you wonder if the road you're on has a reason
It's hard to go on when you just don't know
We can shoulder all the weight of life between us
Until the fear of what we cannot see is
Cause we were never meant
To walk this road alone
We are bound together
When we say...

I will carry you
Be your strength
And pull you through
Reach for me
And take my hand
We will pray
And we will stand
In a world
Crying out for peace
Let your heart be strong
For when I am weak
You will carry me

Thunderstorms

A child's view of a thunderstorm...


A little girl walked to and from school daily.

Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the primary school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she feared the electrical storm might harm her child. Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school.

As she did, she saw her little girl walking along. At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile. Another and another flash of lighting followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.

When the mother's car drew up beside the child, she lowered the window and called to her, 'What are you doing?'.

The child answered, 'I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture.'


I thought this was so sweet. So today I just wanted to share this with you and say, remember God is always watching over us no matter what storms come our way.

Have a good day!