Difficult Days

I have debated for a few days whether to share a little of what's ahead for me - but having thought and prayed about it, I feel it's appropriate as I feel I really need your prayers for the coming days.

I hope that through all my previous blog posts you realise that although I'm asking you for your prayers, I have placed my life in God's hands - it doesn't make life any easier to face at times, but it does help to know God is by my side, through it all.

As the title of this post suggests, I find myself facing some difficult days. Each of the next few days find me facing different situations each of which I'm struggling a bit to find the strength to get through them.

My Dad hasn't been too well recently and tomorrow he's at the hospital for tests etc. So as you can imagine we're all a bit concerned about the outcome of all that.

On Friday evening I leave with rest of Bellshill Salvation Army Band to visit Peterborough Salvation Army for the weekend. That in itself is great, so I'm sure you're wondering why I'm worried about that! While the band has had a few weekends away in the last few years, this weekend will be the the first time for a while that I've been well enough to go away with them. Although I'm much better than I was a few years ago, I still have some days when I am not too good,so I'm worried that I might struggle physically (and therefore emotionally too) while we're away.
Despite my reservations and worries about the coming weekend, I really am looking forward to being able to go away with the band again, as they are a good bunch of Christian folk.

You can visit the band's website at: http://www.bsab.co.uk/

Finally to round of the next few days, I've got a hospital appointment on Monday for more tests - so that really has just finished off, what for me, will be a difficult few days physically and emotionally.

So there you go, that's what lies ahead for me in the next few days. Unfortunately I know I'm already starting to get stressed about these things even though it's probably not obvious to those who see me, so I could really use your prayers for the next few days please.

Thank you all for your support, I really do appreciate it.

I'm in His hands, I'm in His hands,
Whatever the future holds
I'm in His hands.
The days I cannot see
Have all been planned for me;
His way is best you see;
I'm in His hands.
by Stanley E Ditmer

Walk By Faith

Do you "walk by faith"?
Is your faith such that no matter what you face, it stays strong and keeps you focus on God?
Do you believe God plans the way ahead for you?

Have you answered No to any of these questions? If so I'd like to encourage you to put your trust fully in God. I, like many others can vouch for the fact that God will never let you down. He will plan your life for you and lead you along His path. You might find the path He's chosen for you is not the one you expected, however God knows you better than you know yourself, so trust Him he knows what is best for you.

God will use you to help spread His wonderful message if only you'll put your full trust in Him and walk by faith.

Walk By Faith (by Jeremy Camp)
Will I believe you when you say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to rid my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With the one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, ya

well i will walk by faith
even when i cannot see
because this broken road
prepares your will for me

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Hallelujah, hallelu

I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith
I will walk,I will walk
Faith
I will walk, I will walk by faith

Checkout Jeremy Camp's website: http://www.jeremycamp.com/

Rescue Me

When the future looks hopeless, and you're strugging to find a reason to continue, there is one person can gave you the strength to carry on. When you're in so much pain that you just want it to stop now, there's one person who can take all your physical and emotional pain away.

So who is that person? That person is God. God can rescue you from your darkest days and help give you a reason to carry on.

I have been through some very dark times myself and often felt I couldn't face another day physically or emotionally, but God kept telling me to hang on because he was there for me. It's several years on now and I still have some days when I find it difficult physically and emotionally, but I have no doubts that God is with me will rescue me from my darkest times. He can rescue you too, if you'll let Him.

Came To My Rescue by Hillsong United


Came to My Rescue
Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord all I am is is Yours

My whole life
I place in Your hands
God of mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at Your throne

I called You answered
And You came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where You are

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high

Love Endures Forever

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (New Living Translation)
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Well know words from scripture which I'm sure you've heard many times before. Just because you've heard them many times, do still actually consider what those words mean?

Love is stronger than anything else, it will endure through anything. Love will never desert you even when you feel unloved, as God will always love you. God's love will last forever. God's love for you will endure no matter what you may have done in your life - God's love for you lasts forever.

Today I ask you to join me in thanking God for loving us unconditionally.

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
Written by Martin Smith

Over the mountains and the sea,
Your river runs with love for me,
and I will open up my heart
and let the Healer set me free.
I'm happy to be in the truth,
and I will daily lift my hands:
for I will always sing of when
Your love came down. [Yeah!]

I could sing of Your love forever,
I could sing of Your love forever,
I could sing of Your love forever,
I could sing of Your love forever. [Repeat]

Oh, I feel like dancing -
it's foolishness I know;
but, when the world has seen the light,
they will dance with joy,
like we're dancing now.

Please checkout the Delirious? website: http://www.delirious.co.uk/html/

Friends Are Forever

We all need (and want) good friends in our life. What a blessing and support they can be to us. There above song is a beautiful song by one of my favourite Christian singers, Michael W Smith, which is all about the love of our friends.

To me there is one phrase in this song which always jumps out at me "And friends are friends forever If the lords the lord of them" - In other words, your friends will be good friends to you forever when God is at the centre of your relationship.

Good friends are very hard to find so don't take your friendships for granted, tell your friends regularly just how much they mean to you and how much you need them in your life.

Friends
Words: deborah d. smith
Music: michael w. smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Cant believe the hopes hes granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem you've gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the lords the lord of them
And a friend will not say never
cause the welcome will not end
Though its hard to let you go
In the fathers hands we know
That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love gods given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem you've gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the lords the lord of them
And a friend will not say never
cause the welcome will not end
Though its hard to let you go
In the fathers hands we know
That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

Checkout Michael W Smith's website: http://www.michaelwsmith.com/

Deep In Love

Have you ever been in love? It's a wonderful feeling isn't it.
If you have never been in love, you have missed out as it really is something wonderful.

What do you want/expect from someone in return when you both love each another? Love, affection, care, support, understanding - these are just a few qualities you might expect from a loving relationship.

John 16:27 (NIV)
No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God

There is only one person who can offer all these qualities and so much more and who will never ever let you down. Who is that person? Your husband, wife, Mother, Father, brother, sister, friend? No, they may all do there best for you but they will never be all you ever need. God is that person!

Are you deep in love with God? It's never too late to fall in love with God for the first time, so I'd urge you start your relationship with God today as He will love you unconditionally, forever!

Deep In Love with You
(lyrics by Michael W. Smith, Debbie Smith, Christa Black)
Sitting at Your feet is where I want to be
I'm home when I am here with You
Ruined by Your grace, enamored by Your gaze
I can't resist the tenderness in You

I'm deep in love with You, Abba Father
I'm deep in love with You, Lord
My heart, it beats for You, precious Jesus
I'm deep in love with You Lord

Humbled and amazed that You would call my name
I never have to search again
There's a deep desire that's burning like a fire
To know You as my closest friend

Lord, my redeemer, Your blood runs through my veins
My love for You is deeper than it was yesterday
I enter through the curtain, parted by Your grace
Oh, Your the lover of my soul

Checkout Michael W Smith's website: http://www.michaelwsmith.com/

With All I Am

Today's blog follows on from my post yesterday - Never Let Go. Yesterday I spoke of how Jesus has promised never to leave our side no matter what is going on in our life.

So today I want to speak about how we repay God for being our "best friend". Well when you have experienced God's unfailing and unquestioning love in yourlife, you will find it difficult not to say to God, "I trust you completely, so I am yours forever".

Maybe you're not at that stage yet in your relationship with God, but I can assure you that you have nothing to fear, God is always there for you. Not only that, but He will make you feel so very safe in the knowledge that He loves you and is looking out for you, forever!

With All I Am
into your hand
i commit again
with all I am
for you Lord

you hold my world
in the palm of your hand
and I'm yours forever

Jesus I believe in you
Jesus I belong to you
you're the reason that I live
the reason that I sing
with all I am

I'll walk with you
wherever you go
through tears and joy
I'll trust in you

and I will live
in all of your ways and
your promises forever

Jesus I believe in you
Jesus I belong to you
you're the reason that I live
the reason that I sing
with all I am

I will worship I will worship you forever

Jesus I believe in you
Jesus I belong to you
you're the reason that I live
the reason that I sing
with all I am

Never Let Go

We have times in our life when we face difficult situations or have to make difficult choices. It's at times like these we find out who our real friends are. You may have many people in your life that you consider to be good friends, however when you're struggling with what life has thrown your way, you may find some of these "friends" are no where to be found!

So when you are struggling who do you turn to?

I hope it is Jesus you turn to, after all he is the only one you can always rely on. Jesus has promised never to leave us, but always stay by our side to help and support us through thick and thin.

Trust Jesus no matter what you face, He will never let you down.

You Never Let Go by Matt Redman
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me



Visit Matt Redman's website: http://www.mattredman.com/

It's a Conversation

What do you think of when you hear the word "prayer"?

Someone kneeling in prayer?

God?

Now consider what you think the word prayer means...

Time to talk to God?
Time to ask God for all you need/want?


What about time to listen to God?


John 10:27 (New Living Translation)
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Not only is prayer our time for reverent petition to God, it's also our time to listen to God talking to us. Prayer should not be a one way monologue with God, it should be two way dialogue between us and God.

How would you feel if one of your friends talked to you all the time, and you never got a chance to speak to them in return?
It wouldn't be very nice would it. Well God is no different, He wants a two way conversation with you so give Him the chance to talk to you...but most importantly be willing and ready to listen to what he wants to say to you!

Remember to be willing and ready to hear what God wants to say to you. Don't make prayer a one way conversation from you to God.

King of Kings

Yesterday in our morning worship we sang "King of Kings, Majesty" which is a song I hadn't heard or sung for a while. It's a beautiful song and one which reaffirms our desire to serve God while reminding us that God is our "closest friend".

Please review the words of this song. Do you believe that God is your "closest friend"? If not, I'd urge you to kneel before God today and give Him your all.

King of Kings, Majesty,
God of heaven, living in me
Gentle Savior, closest friend,
Strong Deliverer, Beginning and End
All within me falls at Your throne

Your Majesty, I can but bow
I lay my all before You now
In royal robes I don't deserve
I live to serve Your Majesty

Earth and heaven worship You,
God Eternal, Faithful and True
Who bought the nations,
ransomed souls
Brought this sinner
near to Your throne
All within me cries out in praise

Still There

Something to remember when you're struggling...Jesus will still be there! Don't try and make it on your own, lean on God, He's always there with you and will help you through.

Point Of Grace perform the song Jesus With Still Be There which reassures us of God's presence with us at all times. Listen closely to the words and listen to God speaking to you through them.

Jesus Will Still Be There
Words by robert sterling/music by john mandeville

Things change, plans fail
You look for love on a grander scale
Storms rise, hopes fade
And you place your bets on another day
When the going gets tough
When the rides too rough
When youre just not sure enough

Jesus will still be there
His love will never change
Sure as the steady rain
Jesus will still be there
When no one else is true
Hell still be loving you
When it looks like youve lost it all
And you havent got a prayer
Jesus will still be there

Time flies, hearts turn
A little bit wiser from lessons learned
But sometimes, weakness wins
And you lose your foothold once again
When the going gets tough
When the rides too rough
When youre just not sure enough

Jesus will still be there
His love will never change
Sure as the steady rain
Jesus will still be there
When no one else is true
Hell still be loving you
When it looks like youve lost it all
And you havent got a prayer
Jesus will still be there

When it looks like youve lost it all
And you havent got a prayer
Jesus will still be there

Checkout the Point of Grace website: http://www.pointofgrace.net/index.php

Count Your Blessings

Are you a positive or a negative person? Do you always look on the bright side of every situation or do you tend to see or focus on the things that could go wrong in every situation?

It's often said that if you look positively on every circumstance it will lift your mood. As we all live such busy lives these days, it can often be difficult to cope with what life throws our way. God can help us to be more positive in our lives. After all He's there and willing to share all our problems and help us through.

When your having a difficult time, do you stop to think about the good things that are happening or do you find yourself concentrating on your difficulties? No matter how bad you think your circumstances are, remember there's always someone worse off than you! Here's just a few example of a few things that may be positives in your life that you can be grateful for, even in your darkest times:

• enough food to eat
• a roof over your head
• family
• friends
• a job
• God's love

Remember that God is the one who provides for you, so thank Him for all that's good in your life. I'm sure that even during your lowest times you will still be able to find one blessing, one thing to thank God for.

The well known hymn Count Your Blessings" is one that expresses the sentiments I've stated. I hope you enjoy this version of this song...

When upon life's billows
You are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged,
Thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings,
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you
What the Lord has done.

Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your blessings,
See what God has done
Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings,
See what God has done.

Are you ever burdened
With a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy
You are called to bear?
Count your many blessings,
Ev'ry doubt will fly
And you will be singing
As the days go by.

Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your blessings,
See what God has done
Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings,
See what God has done.

When you look at others
With their lands and gold
Think that Christ has promised
You His wealth untold
Count your many blessings,
Money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven,
Nor your home on high.

Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your blessings,
See what God has done
Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings,
See what God has done.

So, amid the conflict,
Whether great or small
Do not be discouraged,
God is over all
Count your many blessings,
Angels will attend
Help and comfort give you
To your journey's end.

Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your blessings,
See what God has done
Count your blessings,
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings,
See what God has done.

Too Busy

Have you had a busy day today? Or indeed a busy day any day this week?

Think about that busy day, did you find time to talk with God, to have some quality personal time with Him?

If I'm honest with you my own answer to that question is no I didn't make time to speak to God! I'm sure many of you will have given the same answer as me, so don't worry you're not alone. Personally I found myself concentrating so much on me as I wasn't feeling too good from the moment I woke up this morning, so I struggled through the rest of day myself without going to God for help and strength. If only I'd taken it all to God in prayer, what a different day I might have had!

Anyway, back to your busy day...
At any point during your day did you phone, text or email a friend? Or did you Tweet?

My guess would be that like me, despite having a busy day, you did find time to do one of these things. Am I right? C'mon be truthful!

So we've found time to do other things that were not essential to our day, but not time to talk to God. That is not right is it?!

I pray today that in the future as we face busy and difficult days in our life, we might take time out, even if just a few minutes, to talk to God and leave our day in His hands. If we do this, God will be there with us during our day and will help make our day that little bit easier to get through.

Slow Down Time by Jeremy Camp

Staring at this empty canvas,
Waiting for the next stroke of my life.
It seems to go by so fast.
Another day I've wasted wondering,
How it all ends up instead of resting,
That it's all in Your hands.
My only piece is waiting before You.
My praise to You,
Drowning noise around me.

I wish I could slow down time,
I wish I could wait here at your feet.
'Cause with you is the only place that I wanna be.
I know I should take it all in stride.
I know you are there with every reach.
'Cause with you is the only place that I wanna be.

On my own I always fade out fast,
On the run my every step will last.
I'm resting in your words that never fail.
Your searching every part of me.
I need to stop so I could hear You speak.
I long for you so here I am so thirsty.
My only piece is waiting before You.
My praise to You,
Drowning the noise around me.

I wish I could slow down time,
I wish I could wait here at your feet.
'Cause with you is the only place that I wanna be.
I know I should take it all in stride.
I know you are there with every reach.
'Cause with you is the only place that I wanna be.

It's where I wanna be,
The greatness of your presence always leaving me here speechless.
I've given up on making this life my home.
In the fullness of your glory is beyond my comprehension.
There's no greater joy then being with you my King.

I wish I could slow down time,
I wish I could wait here at your feet.
'Cause with you is the only place that I wanna be.
I know I should take it all in stride.
I know you are there with every reach.
'Cause with you is the only place that I wanna be.

Checkout Jeremy Camp's website: http://www.jeremycamp.com/

Carried

We all have times in our lives when we need to be carried - maybe not physically but emotionally. We might find ourselves struggling to cope with life, or find ourselves in great danger or find ourselves in an unfamiliar environment where we feel lost.

In these times we must rely on God to carry us, just as he's promised to do. There is however a cost to God carrying us - In order to carry the burden of our sins, Jesus had to carry his cross. Jesus carried His cross for us!

Although God has promised to carry us, we as Christians must also help carry people in their time of need. Perhaps you can help carry someone today.
God has instructed us to share each other's troubles and problems:

Galatians 6:2
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

If a friend is in need, carry them, even if you are struggling yourself. All you need to do is place it all in God's hands and ask Him to carry you. He will give you the strength to get through and the strength to carry your friend as well.

In God's strength we can do all things!

More Than Wonderful

I came across this song today when I put my ipod on shuffle this afternoon, and the words of it have stuck in my head ever since:
Well, I tried Him and I found His promises are true
He’s everything He said that He would be.
The finest words I know could not begin to tell
Just what Jesus really means to me.

I hope you find blessing from this song also, but consider this too - Can you testify to God being "more than wonderful"? If so tell someone today!

More Than wonderful is performed by the International Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army:

More than Wonderful
He promised us that He would be a counselor
A Mighty God and the Prince of Peace
He promised us that He would be a Father
And that He would love us with a love that would not cease.

Well, I tried Him and I found His promises are true
He’s everything He said that He would be.
The finest words I know could not begin to tell
Just what Jesus really means to me.

For He’s more wonderful than my mind can conceive
He’s more wonderful than my heart can believe
He goes beyond my highest hopes and fondest dreams.
He’s everything that my soul ever longed for
Everything He’s promised and so much more
More than amazing, more than marvelous
More than miraculous could ever be
He’s more than wonderful, that’s what Jesus is to me.

I stand amazed when I think that the King of glory
Should come to dwell within the heart of man
I marvel just to know He really loves me
When I think of who He is, and who I am.

For He’s more wonderful than my mind can conceive
He’s more wonderful than my heart can believe
He goes beyond my highest hopes and fondest dreams.
He’s everything that my soul ever longed for
Everything He’s promised and so much more
More than amazing, more than marvelous,
More than miraculous could ever be
He’s more than wonderful, that’s what Jesus is to me.

Music of the Heart

Psalm 101:1
I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

Have you ever been sitting in church or at a music concert and someone sitting beside or behind you is singing along very loudly to the music? Not only that but have been singing along very untunefully or very out of time?

I think we've all encountered a situation like that at some time or another, so what did you think? Did you laugh? Did you wih they'd stop singing?

Again I guess those are reactions we've all had in this type of circumstance.

But what do you think God is thinking about your own singing?
Are you a great singer, not the best but can hold a tune or realy can't hold a tune at all?

Well whatever kind of singer you are, good or bad, God will be listening to you! Is that scary?! But God is not bottered whether you can sing or not, what He is interested in is whether you have a song in your heart. In other words, God doesn't want us just to go through the motions of life. He doesn't want us to be hypocrites, He'd rather we couldn't sing but sang the words from our heart with true feeling and belief! God wants us to sing with conviction, to sing from experience and belief in His Name.

So sing from your heart, and sing as loud as you want!

Praise God

Do you praise God? Do you worship God?

When we praise God we glorify Him, and when we glorify Him we are doing His will. We worship God through our praise. Do you find the more you know about God the more you want to express it? The more we express our love and praise for God, the more we are receptive to learning more about God and what he has done and can continue to do in people's lives.

In order to praise God we must have a personal understand of who God is and what He is all about. In other words we must have reason to thank God by understanding what He has done and continues to do for us.

In Psalm 50 and verse 23, the psalmist reminds us:
He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.

Harvest

Today at our services at Bellshill Salvation Army we celebrated harvest time. What images does that conjure up for you?

Here's the dictionary definition of "harvest":
1. the gathering of a ripened crop
2. the crop itself
3. the season for gathering crops
4. the product of an effort or action

Traditionally we always think of farmers, crops and food when we think about harvest.

This harvest I'd ask you to pray for those who are starving...not just in foreign lands but here in this country. We all can be very guilty at time of taking our food, possessions and our family and friends for granted, so I'd also ask you to thank God for all you have, all He has given you.

But harvest need not just be all about the crops and the food being harvested, it's also a time for us to think about bringing others into a knowledge and understanding of God's love...to "harvest" others lives into God's will.

We must all be examples for Christ, after all something we say or do may be the thing which brings someone into a relationship with God. We may not always see any results of what we do/say, but if we a simply word or action may be the seed that lands in someone's heart and develops into a heart full of love for God.

2 Corinthians 9:10
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

In conclusion, pray today that God might use you to plant a seed in someone's heart so that they might come to know God as their friend and saviour.

New Look BSAB Website Launched

Tonight I launched the new look Bellshill Band of the Salvation Army website. (www.bsab.co.uk). The band has had a website for a number of years now but we felt it was time for a freshen up!

Over the last few days while I've been doing all the work to get the new versiion of the website up and running, I've found myself overwhelmed by the responsibility that comes being the person who updates/maintains a website especially one with such a powerful message to give.

As a member of Bellshill Salvation Army Band, I often remind myself that I must only be part of the band if I'm doing it "for the right reason" (this is the band's motto). So the last few days I've found myself thinking "I am looking after the band website for the right reason?" - I certainly hope I am, as I certainly do not expect (or want) praise/thanks for the work done - It was done in my own time because I want to promote what we as a band at Bellshill are all about, and if that means we can help bring one person into a relationship with God that would be wonderful!

I pray that God will continue to help me in the work I do with the band website, and that it may become an even greater outreach to others for the band.

Remember to go checkout the Band's website now - www.bsab.co.uk

If you find any problems/issues please notify me via the Webmaster contact option.

Thank you and God bless.

God Is Here

You're feeling at your lowest. You feel alone and it feels like no one cares about you or loves you. Then you come across the following words...

This is a crazy world
These can be lonely times
It's hard to know who's on your side
Most of the time

Who can you really trust
Who do you really know
Is there anybody out there
Who can make you feel less alone
Some times you just can't make it on your own

If you need a place where you can run
If you need a shoulder to cry on
I'll always be your friend

When you need some shelter from the rain
When you need a healer for your pain
I will be there time and time again
When you need someone to love you
Here I am, hmmm

If you have broken dreams
Just lay them all on me
I'll be the one who understands
So take my hand

If you reach emptiness

You know I'll do my best
To fill you up with all the love
That I can show someone
I promise you you'll never walk alone

Well if you need a place where you can run
If you need a shoulder to cry on
I'll always be your friend

When you need some shelter from the rain
When you need a healer for your pain
I will be there time and time again
When you need someone to love you
Here I am, oooo

Everybody needs somebody who
keep a heart and soul in two

Well if you need a place where you can run
If you need a shoulder to cry on
I'll always be your friend

When you need some shelter from the rain
When you need a healer for your pain
I will be there time and time again
When you need someone to love you
Here I am, Here I am

So who did you imagine saying these words to you? Well the words are actually those from the Leona Lewis song Here I Am, however whenever I listen to this song I like to imagine they are God's words to me.

Please close your eyes and listen to Leona Lewis singing this song, and imagine God saying the words to you. I hope you find reassurance and blessing from them, just as I have.

The official Leona Lewis website: http://www.leonalewismusic.co.uk/index.php/index

It's The Same Air

Think about those people who are less fortunate than yourself...living in the same town or city as you...in far away lands...with little to call their own...in desperate need of help...in need of you and me!

But what can I do? What can you do?
There are many things we can do to help - first and foremost we can pray for these people and the circumstances that have led them to be in their current position; pray for their physical and emotional healing. There are also many practical ways we can help - why not donate some of your time and/or money to help people in your own area.

There no excuse why each of us can't do something to help others. we may think our small monetary donation or an hours work will make no difference, but what if we all do that! Wow, what a fantastic difference we can make in people's lives.

Take that step today, help someone in need - after all we all breathe the same air...God's air!

I've used the following song Breathe before (blog post on 12/5/2009 entitled Breathe), however I've using a different version of it this time. The video associated with this version of the song show the Salvation Army's international work in action and to me reinforces the message I've tried to pass to you today, that we all breathe the same air.

Visit the Salvation Army's UK website and make a donation today: http://www2.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf

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

Busy Lives

We all lead very busy lives these days. We spend most of our days working or rushing from one task to another. How much time do we actually put aside for ourselves, or more specifically, how much time do we put aside to spend in quiet prayer with God?

The following song entitled Mid All The Traffic Of The Ways talks of how busy we are, but also remind us that we need find a quiet place where we can spend time with God.

Make sure you take time out from your busy life to spend some quiet time with God.

Take It All

God sacrificed His only son for us. So how should we repay Him?
Give your life to Jesus. Live your life for Jesus. Give Him your all!

Let God be at the centre of your life. Let Him use you to tell others about His love.

Take It All - Hillsong
Searching the world
The lost will be found
In freedom we live
As one we cry out
You carried the cross
You died and rose again
My God
I’ll only ever give my all

You sent Your Son
From heaven to earth
You delivered us all
It’s eternally heard
I searched for truth
And all I found was You
My God
I’ll only ever give my all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

You sent Your Son
From heaven to earth
You delivered us all
It’s eternally heard
I searched for truth
And all I found was You
My God
I’ll only ever give my all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

Running to the One
Who heals the blind
Following the shining light
In Your hands
The power to save the world
In my life

Running to the One
Who heals the blind
Following the shining light
In Your hands
The power to save the world
In my life

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

God Knows

Phillipians 4:6-7 (The Message)
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

When we pray, we invite God to enter into our heart and guide us through each day. Prayer is our way of connecting with God, of talking directly to Him.

Bur don't ever forget, that we don't have to pray to let God know how we are feeling or what we need, because God knows what's in our heart. God made each of us with His own hands, so He already knows everything about us, He knows our every thought and our every feeling, even before we know them ourselves!

When we are struggling or facing difficult times, that's when we often plead with God to listen to our prayers. Why do we plead with God? Is it because we think He isn't listening to us, or doesn't care about it? Far from it, as I said earlier, God knows what we are needing before we even ask Him, so He's not forgotten us. God cares about us more than anyone else, so He would not desert us in our hour of need.

God knows everything about you - He knows your every fear and your every need.

A Child's Prayer...

Forgiven

Phillipians 4:8-9 (The Message)
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Do you find yourself dwelling in the past and what might have been?
I think we're all guilty of that at times. We tend to forget that it's called "the past" for a reason - it's happened, it's over and we can't change any of it. We find ourselves dwelling on things that we feel we have failed at, situations that we which we'd handled differently, or conversations we wish we'd said (or not said) something.

Before we know where we are, we find ourselves focusing in on our failures. Instead of leaving these events in the past and moving on. Just because we've failed at something in the past doesn't mean we will continue to fail - After all they always say, "Practice makes perfect"!

If we let our past failures consume our thoughts and control our emotions we will continue to be a prisoner of our past. God needs/wants us to let go of our past failures, and in doing experience a joy which can only be found through Him.

God is willing to forgive us of all our wrongs, so surely we should be able to forgive ourselves?

Don't live in regret as it will change nothing for the better and will only cause you more pain.

Forgive yourself and move on!
Live in the present not the past, and live it in Jesus' name!

Centre Of It All

Do you plan your future?

I think most of us do to some extent and would agree that it is good idea to plan ahead.

But how far ahead should we plan?

Many business/management courses talk about planning for 5 or 10 years ahead, but is it really realistic to plan where/what you want to be doing that far ahead? What you plan just now for five or ten years from now may turn out to be something that you’ll have no desire for ten years in the future. So realistically is there any point in worrying about being in a specific place ten years from now when at some point, you might want to be somewhere else instead?

I certainly have planned things for my future which when it has actually got to that time, I find they are not what I want or is even is right for me then. As we go through life our circumstances change and often our perspective of things change. This in turn means that things which were important to us at one time, may not be as important to us later on.

So what does all this mean?

Well I think it just means we need to take life in small steps, not in huge leaps. In other words, don't rush through life not paying attention to the world, the people or situations around you, but take the time to experience each day for what it is - after all it is a day in YOUR life so make the most of it.

So how do we live each day to the full?

We must prepare for each day by praying to God and asking God to be with us, supporting us through the day. Living each day with God at the heart of all we do, is the best possible way plan our life. There will come a point in time when we will stand before the throne of God and give an account for the life that they have lived. Therefore, put God at the centre of all you do, and let Him take care of the future. After all, God knows what’s best for us and He will not fail us.

Matthew 6:25-33 (New King James Version)
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Checkout Tim Hughes' website: http://www.timhughesmusic.com/

Who Are You?

What sort of answers did you think I was expecting/looking for by the title of this post?

Your name?
What sort of music you like?
What TV programmes you watch?
What you do in your spare time?

Well to tell you the truth, none of the above! I was wondering what makes you tick, what's your motivation in life?

So what's my answer to these questions? My answer is Jesus! I'm living my life for Jesus. I'm trying to do all he asks of me and do my best to spend the wonderful message of God's love to all the world.

Find out who you are today and help me today to tell the world of God's love.

Finding Who We Are by Kutless
In You we're living
In You we're moving
In You we're finding who we are

In You we're living
In You we're moving
In You we're finding who we are

And I worship You
Father of lights, spirit of truth
And I worship You
Jesus, we call on You, yes we call on You

In You we're living
In You we're moving
In You we're finding who we are

In You we're living
In You we're moving
In You we're finding who we are

And I worship You
Father of lights, spirit of truth
And I worship You
Jesus, we call on You, yes we call on You

And I worship You
Father of lights, spirit of truth
And I worship You
Jesus, we call on You, yes we call on You

We come to worship with our voices
And know the love within Your skies
We lift our hands and seek Your presence
And find ourselves in who You are

And I worship You
Father of lights, spirit of truth
And I worship You
Jesus, we call on You, yes we call on You

And I worship You
Father of lights, spirit of truth
And I worship You
Jesus, we call on You, yes we call on You

Visit the Kutless website: http://www.kutless.com/

Knowing You

Knowing You

All I once held dear built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing you, Jesus knowing you
There is no greater thing
You're my all you're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love you ,lord

Now my heart's desire is to know you more
To be found in you, and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness

Knowing you, Jesus knowing you
There is no greater thing
You're my all you're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love you ,lord

Oh to know the power of your risen life
And to know you in your suffering
To become like you in your death my Lord
So with You to live
And never die

Knowing you, Jesus knowing you
There is no greater thing
You're my all you're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love you ,lord

Do you know Christ as your personal friend and saviour?
Is Christ your all in all?

Make a decision today to get to know Jesus better. I promise you you will never experience anything better. You will never meet anyone you will love you more or give you more joy.

There is no greater thing than knowing Jesus!

Perfect Love

Everybody longs to be loved and everybody longs to find that special person in their life. But there's another love we need not look very far for, and that is God's love. God's love is all around is whether we accept His love or not.

When we accept God love, we are accepting God's love is perfect; it's unconditional and it's unending. In return for His love, God simply asks that we "love the lost and bring them home" because "We were made to glorify our King".

Perfect Love - Hillsong
I wanna see the broken hearts
Finding hope in God above
I wanna know I'm doing all I can
So with this life, with all I am
No matter what the cost may be
I pray to see Your love become our cause

I won't stop believing
You alone are, You alone are God
In You there's freedom

Your love brings me to my knees again
We're gonna bring an anthem of love
We're gonna live for You now

This perfect love, I can't explain
This way of life that has no end
Your mercy satisfies, it's all I need
My purpose found in You alone
To love the lost and bring them home
We were made to glorify our King

I won't stop believing
You alone are, You alone are God
In You there's freedom

Your love brings me to my knees again
We're gonna bring an anthem of love
We're gonna live for You
May Your love become my every thought
I wanna know the sound of Your heart
I wanna live for You now

Sing You, You bring me life
You bring me hope
You're all I need

Sing You, You bring me life
You bring me hope
You're all I need

Sing You, You bring me life
You bring me hope
You're all I need

Sing You, You bring me life
You bring me hope
You're all I need

Sing You, You bring me life
You bring me hope
You're all I need

Sing You, You bring me life
You bring me hope
You're all I need

Change Me

Question: Will my life change in any way if I give my heart to Jesus?

I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I'll run the race
And I will never be the same again.
I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I'll run the race
And I will never be the same again.

Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff,
And let the flame burn to glorify Your name.

There are higher heights, there are deeper seas,
Whatever you need to do, Lord do in me.
The Glory of God fills my life,
And I will never be the same again.

Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep aways the darkness, burn away the chaff
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.

Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff,
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.

I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I will run the race
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again.

With God at the centre of your life, you need never fear another tomorrow as God is with you at all times. He will work in your life and help you do whatever He asks you to do. With God you can achieve wonderful things!