War Child

Many families today, in many countries, are mourning the death of loved ones who have been serving their country in a foreign land. We've heard of soldiers being killed in active service abroad, nearly every day these days.

Today I'm going to spend time praying for those currently serving their country and for those who have sadly been killed or injury while carrying out their duties. The families of these soldier need our prayers too, so I will be particularly praying for them too.

I'd ask you today to spend time in prayer for our soldiers in active service, those injured and for the families of those killed in service.

Our soldiers and their families need our prayers.

Mark Schultz is one of my favourite singer/songwriters and his song Letters From War fits wonderfully with today's blog message. It tells the story of a mother left at home as her son is a soldier, fighting in a far away war. I hope you enjoy it as much I do - it reminds us not to ever give up hope no matter what faces us and we can apply that philosophy to all we do!

Letters From War (Mark Schultz)

She walked to the mailbox
On that bright summers day
Found a letter from her son
In a war far away

He spoke of the weather
And good friends that he'd made
Said I'd been thinking 'bout dad
And the life that he had
That's why I'm here today
And that the end he said
You are what I'm fighting for
It was the first of the letters from war

She started writing
You're good and you're brave
What a father that you'll be someday
make it home
make it safe

She wrote every night as she prayed

Late in December
A day she'll not forget
Oh her tears stained the paper
With every word that she read

It said "I was up on a hill
I was out there alone
When the shots all rang out
And bombs were exploding
And that's when I saw him
He came back for me
And though he was captured
A man set me free
And that man was your son
He asked me to write to you
I told him i would, oh I swore"
It was the last of the letters from war

And she prayed he was living
Kept on believing
And wrote every night just to say

You are good
And you're brave
what a father that you'll be someday
Make it home
Make it safe
Still she kept writing each day

Then two years later
Autumn leaves all around
A car pulled in the driveway
And she fell to the ground
And out stepped a captain
Where her boy used to stand

He said "mom I'm following orders
From all of your letters
And I've come home again",
He ran into hold her
And dropped all his bags on the floor
Holding all of her letters from war

Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home

Please checkout Mark Schultz' website: http://markschultzmusic.com/home/

Because of Jesus

Christ is alive in me - Is He alive in you?

Everything we do is done because of Jesus.
Everything we are is because of Jesus - because He died on a cross.
Everything around us was made by God.

Do everything for Jesus - He gave everything for you!

All Because Of Jesus
Written by Steve Fee

Giver of every breath I breathe

Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory

And I am alive because I'm alive in You

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
I'm alive, I'm alive

Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory

And I am alive because I'm alive in You

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus

Every sunrise sings Your praise
The universe cries out Your praise
I'm singing freedom all my days
Now that I'm alive

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

Visit the Casting Crowns website: http://www.castingcrowns.com/

Jesus Paid It All

What's the greatest thing someone could ever do for you?

In my opinion the greatest thing someone could ever do for me is to willingly die for me, just because they love me!

It's difficult to comprehend how anyone could love me enough to die just for me. But hold on, someone has died just for me, because they love me...Jesus! Not only that, Jesus died not just because God loves me, but because he love you too.

God did the unthinkable and sacrificed His only son just because he loves us and wants us to be free. Repay God by loving Him too - He will love you forever.

Jesus Paid It All (by Elvina M. Hall)
I hear the Saviour say,
"Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."

Refrain

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb.

Refrain

And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered 'neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

Refrain

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone.

Refrain

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

Refrain

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I'll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus' feet.

Let God

Are you ready and willing to give your heart to Jesus today?
Are you wondering what you need to do to let God into your heart?

It's simple, ask God to lead you to the cross.

Lead Me To The Cross
Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Oh Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and tried
Human
The word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Oh Lead me, lead me to the cross

To your heart
To your heart
Lead me to your heart
Lead me to your heart

God showed us just how much He loves us on that fateful day all those years ago, when Jesus, His son died on the cross at Calvary. What more could a father ever sacrifice than his one and only son.

Let God show you the way to the cross where you can kneel down before Him. When you do so, He will forgive you of every sin you have ever committed. He will then help and guide you through every day - He'll be there for you when you need Him most and will rejoice when you rejoice.

Let God lead you through the rest of your life.

Knowing God

I read somewhere yesterday about someone who had bought a new bumper sticker for their car. It read...

Short and concise, but it really hits the mark doesn't it?

We must truly know God, and believe in Him, to have the assurance that when our life on earth is over, we will go to heaven.

How do get to know God, to really know Him enough that we can call Him our friend? Here are just a few ways:

• Read and study the bible
• Pray to God
• Believe in the resurrection of Jesus
• Read the Ten Commandments - they describe how God's expects us to behave
• Our conscience - God has given us the ability to understand the difference between what is right and what is wrong
• Look around you - God made this earth, He made you and me, made the flower, the trees, the sky, the oceans, He made everything

By knowing God we can have true peace and eternal life. Come to God today and begin your adventure of finding out more and more about Him every day. You can know and enjoy your friendship with God forever.

John 14:27 (NIV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

The New York Staff Band of the Salvation Army sing Knowing You

The New York Staff Band website is: http://www.nysb.org/SalvationArmyNewYorkStaffBand.htm

Broken Heart

GOD can do wonders with a broken heart, if you give Him all the pieces.

Psalm 25:17-18
The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.
Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.

No matter how desperate you feel or how low you feel, don't give up, instead give it all to God.
God can do all things and can heal all wounds.

Psalm 40:12-13
For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me.


I Give You My Heart performed by Hillsong:

Use Me

Anyone of us can be a rainbow in somebody's clouds. - Maya Angelou

Have you been a rainbow in someone's life today?
Do you make a point of trying to help those whose life seems to be full of clouds?

As a Christian, I know God wants me to try to help those in need. I'm not a person who finds it very easy to talk openly to anyone about feelings/emotions (mine or anyone else's!), so when I felt God was directing me towards blogging I had no idea that nearly ever blog post I made was going to be me talking about God and how He can use us and work in us. I've been as amazed as anyone by my blog posts!

I pray that God continues to use this blog to reach others. I pray that through something I write, you may accept God as your Saviour and friend, or indeed reaffirm your love for Him if you have already accepted Him into your life.

Thank you Lord for using me in this way. I pray I may be "the rainbow in somebody's clouds" through what I write, as I do it in Christ's name.

I pray you will let God use you to to do His will in whatever way He sees fit.


The Potter's Hand...

Forgive Me

"Be good" - how many times to we say that to our children or hear others saying that to their children?

Put those words into a different scenario...God telling you to "Be good". God wants us to be like Jesus and that means we must be good and we must do good.

Do you consider yourself to be a "good" person?

If you've answered "yes" to that question, I'd urge you to reconsider your answer! Even if we are nice, law abiding people who do our best in all we do, we are not good enough to get into heaven unless we ask God to forgive us of all our sins.

Jesus said, "I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18:3). Once we are willing to change our ways, Jesus said a childlike trust and humility will help us become great people on earth and wonderful citizens of heaven.

Don't think you're good enough, or too good to have to ask God to forgive you. It's easy, just ask God to forgive you, He is waiting and willing you to do so.

Forgive Me
Written by Scott Dyer and Rebecca St. James
For all the times I’ve failed You, Lord
Forgive me
For all the ways I’ve fallen short
Lord, forgive me now
God, I’m so in need of grace
I fall upon my face
Forgive me

You see the tears fall down my face
Forgive me
Take my fear, Lord, take my shame
Lord, forgive me now
Purify me, make me new
Like only You can do
Forgive me now

Lord, we come to honor You
We are forgiven
We bring our love and thanks to You
We are forgiven now

God we praise You for Your grace
Before You we are raised
Forgiven
God we praise You for Your grace
Before You we are raised
Forgiven
Forgiven

Stillness

Life works best when you create an oasis of stillness within the day. Take time to connect with your creator.

God needs and wants us to spend quality time with Him in the same way we would with any other relationship. Make time for God everyday.

Enjoy the beautiful song "Still" performed here by Sydney Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army.

Still
Words and Music by Reuben Morgan

Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me
within your mighty hand

When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust

Please checkout the Sydney Staff Songsters website: http://www.sydneystaffsongsters.com/

Beautiful Things

I was listening to my ipod at work and this song (Beautiful Things by Roxette) came on. Nice tune and words that for Christians we can answer the question posed in the song...
Is there someone I can talk to?
Someone on the line?
Does anybody want to hear
What's on my mind?

For me there is a very positive answer to those questions...God! Even when it seems no one is there for you, your friends and family don't want to know or you feel you can't talk to them, God is still there for you.

God surrounds us with "beautiful things" every day, so talk to Him, thank Him for your day, just tell Him what's on your mind.

Beautiful Things by Roxette
Beautiful things
Are comin' my way
Beautiful things
I want them to stay
But after a while
My beautiful things
Don't seem beautiful at all

Terrible things
Like when you wake up
And all of your dreams
Seem to crack up
Like things you have done
Like breakin' my heart
For you it don't seem
Terrible at all

Is there someone I can talk to?
Someone on the line?
Does anybody want to hear
What's on my mind?

Beautiful things
Like leaves on a tree
Beautiful things
The sky and the sea
Since you've been gone
No beautiful things
Seem beautiful to me

Is there someone I can talk to?
Someone out there on the line?
Does anybody want to hear
What's on my mind?

Make the grass grow in the garden
When the rain is passin' by
Does anybody want to know
What's on my mind?

Party In Heaven

When humanity's relationship floundered and failed, God sent Jesus. Why did He do that? Because He loves us - John 3:16 "God so loved the world that He gave His only son".

Not only did God give Jesus, He gives us hope. Hope because He continues to seek those who haven't found Him yet.
Luke 19:10
And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.

There are a couple of stories which Jesus told to illustrate how God seeks people and wants to save them:

• The first story was about a shepherd who lost one of his precious sheep, so went looking for it until he found the lost sheep. When he found the lost sheep, the shepherd was so happy that he had a party to celebrate.
• The other story was about a woman who lost a valuable coin. She searched diligently until the lost coin was found, and just like the shepherd she rejoiced.

How many of us get lost in the things of this world, in sin, and find ourselves helpless without any help from God? How many of us don't even realise we are lost, or indeed, how far we have wandered from God?

These people all need God. If you recognise yourself from one of the above descriptions, you need God, and God wants to save you today! God wants you to come to Him today.

Luke 15:10
In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents.

There's going to be a party in heaven, and God wants you to be His guest of honour! Respond to God today, because He is seeking you. There will be joy for you, and for all in heaven, when God finds you!

Love Will Find A Way by Delirious?
Look around at what you see
There's an s.o.s. ringing out for me
I thought I believed but I just turn away
From these souls living in this hell today

Tears are falling, on my face
From my face

Love, love will find a way to break through
This love finds a way to shine through
Your love, finds a way to break through,
This love finds a way to kiss you.

I stare in the eyes of this flesh and bone
I'm a tourist here so tomorrow I go home
I try to make sense of the things I've seen
Between the poverty and the five star dream.

Love will lead me to your feet
Love wont pass me on the street
Love will look me in the eye
Love wont leave me here to die
To your arms I'm gonna run
And escape what I've become
Love will find a better way, so they say

Love it will break you
Love it will take you
Love it will break you down

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

Saying Goodbye

Standing in a busy airport or train station, you can watch people meeting and greeting one another, sighing and crying as they say their farewells to each other. Saying goodbye to a loved one is never fun.
How do we find the strength to say goodbye when we leave home to go to college or university? How do we cope with saying goodbye when we have to move to work in a new city or country? How do we leave a parent or partner in care home or hospice when we wish they could remain at home with us?

These are just a few examples of difficult situations when we have to say goodbye to loved ones, but there's one way in which we can make these situations just a little easier to cope with, and that is to trust God. God will watch over our loved ones, and He will watch over us too.

So when we find we face a situation where we have to say goodbye to loved ones, put them into God's hand for safekeeping and pray that God will keep and sustain them for you.

Trust God always!

Trusting God

Are you a risk taker? Are you good at taking risks, or are you frightened of the unknown or uncertain?

Are you scared of taking a risk in case you let others down, in case you let God down?

In Pslam 56:11 the psalmist says, "I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?".

Do you believe God is trustworthy? God is trustworthy whether we trust Him or not. God wants us to trust Him fully so that we no longer need to worry about anything, we simply trust God in all we do.

No matter what your fears, put your full trust in God today and everyday, we can count on Him always.

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

The Effort Matters

We live in a world where there's a lot of pressure to succeed at all we do. Sometimes there's so much pressure on us to succeed, it's not surprising when we fail.

It can be soul destroying when we fail, particularly when we've put a lot of effort into the task. But just because we having achieve what we'd hoped, we shouldn't feel as though we're useless or indeed failed, because at the end of the day, the one person who matters, God, does not care about the results of your actions - He simply cares about your intentions that caused them and how much effort you put into them.

So based on that put the effort into doing good, and don't get to despondent if you don't achieve what you hope to. God thinks you're a winner and loves you simply for putting in the effort!

Unfailing Love (Chris Tomlin)
You have my heart
And I am Yours forever
You are my strength
God of grace and power

And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love

And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My unfailing love
Unfailing love

You are my rock
The one I hold on to
You are my song
And I sing for You

And everything You hold in Your hand
Still You make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love

And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love

And everything You hold in Your hand
Still you make time for me
I can't understand
Praise You God of Earth and sky
How beautiful is Your unfailing love
Unfailing love

And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love
Unfailing love

I will praise You
Praise you God of earth and sky
How beautiful is your unfailing love
Unfailing love

And You never change God You remain
The Holy One
My Unfailing love

Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love
Unfailing love

Checkout Chris Tomlin's website:

http://www.christomlin.com/

No Doubts

Well known words of scripture:
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6)

It would have been so much easier if instead of "Surely" these words had read "most days" or "sometimes", but it doesn't. It promises God's presence with us all day, every day of our lives. This doesn't mean we'll not have any day when we suffer or be upset, but instead means we can be assured that God will be with us through the good days and the bad days, the days when when we're ill or well, the days where we suffer grief or when we feel great happiness.

God promised he'd be with us always. there is no doubt of this this. God is the most reliable person there is so there is no reason why we should doubt Him when he says "surely". we grow in faith and trust each day we allow God to lead us, no matter it be through a dark valley or over hills of sunshine.

We can't have a world without clouds but we can ensure we have a heart full of sunshine!

Full Joy

Hardly a day goes by without us hearing of someone saying, "Why me, why now, why this?".

In Peter, he told the believers not to be surprised but the troubles and trials they experienced because they believed and followed Christ:
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
(1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV)

While we may not face persecution because we believe in Christ, as those Peter was writing to did, we do all face pain and suffering at some time in our lives. So these words of Peter can be used for ourselves.

Are you finding it difficult to be full of joy because your life is full of pain and hurt? Do you feel God is far away from you? Well Peter also reminds us to trust God even though we can't see Him or even see Him working.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
(1 Peter 1:8-9 NIV)

Even when we are facing troubles, we too can express joy because we believe and trust in God. After all Christ wants us to enjoy our reward for following Him, He says so in 1 Peter 1:9 (see above).

The song Great, Great Joy sung here by the International Staff Songsters fits in excellently with my message:

Greatest Day

What kind of day have you had today?

Has today been the greatest day of your life?

Psalm 121:3 (NIV)
He will not let your foot slip he who watches over you will not slumber;

Everyday in God presence can be the greatest day of your life. He will watch over you and look after you every day. He'll help you when you're struggling, comfort you when you're grieving and rejoice with you when you're happy.

Today I've chosen a completely non-Christian song to use, but I think the words can very aptly be used to describe a day in God's presence! - Greatest Day by Take That!

Today this could be the greatest day of our lives
Before it all ends,
Before we run out of time
Stay close to me
Stay close to me
Watch the world come alive tonight
Stay close to me

Tonight this could be the greatest night of our lives
Let's make a new start
The future is ours to find
Can you see it?
Can you see it in my eyes?
Can you feel it now?
Can you hold it in your arms?

Tonight
Tonight
Oh stay close to me
Stay close to me
Watch the world come alive tonight
Stay close to me

Oh

Hold your head high
Hold your arms open wide
Let the worlds start come alive
When you stay close to me

Today this could be the greatest day of our lives
Today this could be the greatest day of our lives

Oh, and the world comes alive
And the world comes alive
And the world comes alive

Oh oh oh

Stay close to me
Stay close to me
Watch the world come alive tonight
Stay close to me

Oh

And the world comes alive
And the world comes alive
Watch the world come alive tonight
Stay close to me

Oh

Make every day the greatest day of your life, let God into your heart and let Him use you to spread message of love.

Reassurance

Psalm 145:18 (NIV)
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

I find great reassurance in these words, do you?

God has promised us that He will be there for us whenever and wherever we need Him - all we have to do is ask Him!

How many people do you know who would do that!? Anytime and anywhere! Wow!
I think we'd all be struggling to find someone so amazing and so dependable. And that's exactly why I find those words so reassuring, because I know God will never let me down...I am never alone!

Sit back and enjoy Sydney Staff Songsters singing We Are Not Alone :

Checkout Sydney Staff Songsters website: http://www.sydneystaffsongsters.com/

Never Walk Alone

All I want to say today is, no matter what you're going through or what you might be facing, don't forget you are never alone because Jesus is always walking right beside you and will hold you close when you need Him most.

Put your faith in Him!

Total Joy

If Jesus is the only source of true joy and he lives in our hearts, how come we're all so miserable a lot of the time? When we have Jesus in our hearts it should follow that we should be brimming with joy, shouldn't we?

John 15:11 (NIV)
I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes your joy will overflow!

Jesus prayed that His disciples would be filled with His joy. He also prayed that those who would become His followers in the future would also receive true joy. i.e. US! Jesus prayed that we would know and share in His joy.

So how do we find this wonderful joy of God?
It can only be found by letting the Spirit of Christ enter into our life.

But how do we let Christ enter our life?
By invitation only!

Christ will only enter into our lives when we invite Him to enter our heart. he'll not force himself into your life because he wants us to have hearts that are open and willing to receive Him.
Have you asked Christ to enter into your life yet?

You may be wondering how to do this, so here are a few of my thoughts on how we should invite Him into our lives:

• What words should we use when we speak to Him? Call him Saviour or Lord, because that's who he is.
• How do we invite Him in? Simply say "Spirit of the living God, come into my life today".

Don't keep God waiting, ask Him to enter your life today, and receive total joy!

Let Jesus be at the centre of your joy!

Keeping Joyful

"Joy is the infallible evidence of the presence of God!" - Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Wow, what a statement, but what a true statement! The joy of the presence of God is a joy that lasts, not just for a few moments, but forever. It's easy to get happiness and joy mixed up, I know I do at times, but they are in fact very different things.

Happiness depends on happenings while joy does not. Happiness doesn't last well and often relies on "pressure feelings" to fuel it. The pleasures of this world and the pleasures of sin only last for a few moments. Sin wants us to believe that it's flowers and sunshine, but while sin might be fun, it's always fleeting.

Psalm 16:11 (King James Version)
In they presence is fullness of joy: at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Real joy can only be found in the presence of God. Our God is a God of joy, so we need to find and acknowledge God as our friend and get to know Him. Keeping our joy means realising that the pleasures of sin are only temporary and that true joy is only available through God.

Choose to side with the people of God today, rather than those who enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. We may have to become very different people from who we are just now if we are to be able to turn away from certain activities and obey God. We may find we lose some of our friends in doing this, but we we'll certainly keep our joy!

Visit the Newsboys website: http://newsboys.com/

Singing With Joy

Isn't it great when God sets your heart singing with joy. But how can we keep in tune and not go off-key? One ways of doing this is to realise that a singing heart is a separated heart. Separation in this way does not mean isolation, it simply means separate from sin but will to be friends with sinners.

There is joy in separating ourselves to God. We must stand apart from sin, while still standing up for others, committing ourselves, as Jesus did, to be a friend to those who don't know our Saviour, but still abstaining from activities that Jesus wouldn't take part in if he we here with us today.

We may find when we try to separate ourselves from sin, those we're trying to help, may not understand. However don't let this bring you down, as we will bring joy to the Lord, and that joy will be reflected and experienced in our own hearts.

Go on, try and separate yourself from sin!

First Love

Do you remember the first time you fell in love? There is nothing quite like it is there.

• First love laughs at an impossibility and declares it can be done.
• First love happily makes a fool of itself for the loved one, without caring who sees.
• First love loves wildly and extravagantly, exulting in the high privilege of giving itself away.
• First love often obsesses and possesses until it sees, thinks about, or cares for no other things than the loved one, at whatever cost.

Is this an accurate description of your love for God?

Have you settled into a settled relationship with God?

Has your heart become hard to everything around you and for God?

Revelation 2:4-5 (NIV)
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.

Maybe nothing has changed in your daily routine, but you've simply lost the reality of the loving relationship you have with God.

Maybe you continue to do "churchy" things as you've always done, but are finding they are less effective then they used to be - all because you've lost your first love relationship with God!

Are you still in love with God, or are your days full of routines or duties?

So how do we rekindle that first love relationship with God?

Well we can can remember the joy of our meetings with God when we had that first love relationship, and we can then make our meetings with Him joyful once again. We can revisit the place we explored with God and can reread God's letters to us in the scriptures. We can talk to God about rekindling our first love. We can ask God to forgive us for losing our first love relationship with Him, and ask Him to to lift us to the height of that fulfilling love once again.

Let God lift your love for Him to new heights today.

Keep On Loving

Hebrews 6:11 (New Living Translation)
Our great desire is that you will keep right on loving others as long as life lasts, in order that to make certain that what you hope for will come true.

How do we keep on loving others as long as life lasts? It's a daunting task and one which seems impossible to achieve when we are caught up with our own corners and problems. It's difficult to find the emotional energy to "keep right on loving" at these times. It's equally as hard when some of those we love don't reciprocate or are unlovable.

Hebrews 6:10 (New Living Translation)
For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown you love to him by caring other Christians, as you still do.

In the above verse from Hebrews, we find encouragement to keep on loving, when we're informed that God does recognise how hard we have worked to try and love everyone, even if we haven't succeeded.

But this still doesn't make it any easier to love as long as life lasts. So how do we achieve this? We do so by faith and patience, in the knowledge that this is the best way to show God how much we love Him - God likes when we tell Him we love Him, but likes it even more when we show Him by loving other Christians.

Whenever we call a friend in trouble and take time to listen to their struggles, or we look after a child to give their single parent a break, or when we pay a bill for someone whose struggling to make ends meet, or when we invite people to our house to eat knowing their struggling to be able to afford a decent meal for the whole family, or when we visit those in hospital who have no family to care about them, we show God how much we love Him!

We can sometimes find that other Christians are the hardest people to love but God can love them through us so don't give up trying to love them. The day we stop caring, loving and doing things for our brothers and sisters in Christ is the day we "become spiritually dull and indifferent" (Hebrews 6:12).

What do you do for other Christians? It's not enough just to pray for them and say we love them. God sees our heart and watches our life. He knows what we're doing and when he sees us love and care for His people, He will not forget to reward us!

As long as life lasts, keep on loving!

The Choice To Love

We often hear people saying that we can choose our friends but we can't choose our relatives, and that is true. However with God's help we can choose to love the ones you haven't chosen!

It can be very difficult at times to love some people, especially those who are bitter and disillusioned because it is definitely easier to love happy people, chosen friends or our own flesh and blood.

Sometimes the circumstances which we face in life make it very difficult for us to love and can often turn us from God. But these are the times when it is most important for us to turn to God as He will make us stronger people and help us to love those we find most difficult to love.

1 Corinthians 13:7
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

We don't have it within ourselves to love everyone we come across. However God will give us His love with which to love those we find difficult to love.

Do you get discouraged when you try to love some people and they react as if they don't want to know you? I know I certainly do - it's difficult in these circumstances not to get discouraged. However God understands we are different people and we have our differences and loves the unlovable.

Don't forget that God loves all of us! This love is ours for the asking, the taking and the loving.

A Feeling of Love?

Is love a feeling or is it more than that?

I believe love is more than just a feeling. Jesus said:
I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you - John 15:12.
So love is obviously more than just a feeling.

God requires us to love him and other people is the highest form of love, agape love - love like His. It is a love of the head rather than a love from the heart. A love that is determined to be be concerned first and foremost for the loved ones' well-being in every part of their lives, no matter what the cost is to ourselves or indeed whether that love is returned.

God needs us to love Him and His son. God commands us to love whether we feel like it or not, because we need to demonstrate our love of God. When we serve God our love of God grows.

It is challenging to follow God's command to love one another, but at the end of the day, it's our decision whether we obey God's command or not.

So how do we know that we love God? We know it by being obedient to His will and His commandments.
Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me - John 14:21
This verse is very reassuring as it's sometime difficult to know whether we truly do love God or not, but these words offer the reassurance that as long as we do God will, we are demonstrating our love for Him.

God love me. God love you.
Love God and others in the same way He loves you.

Peterborough Weekend

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.

I shared those words with you last week, when I told you of some difficult days ahead for me. Well I've survived those days! It's certainly not been plain sailing but God has certainly held me in His hand during the last few day. I certainly wouldn't have got through them as well as I have without Him!

Our weekend visit to Peterborough Salvation Army was absolutely fantastic, and I'm delighted to say a number of people even knelt at the Mercy Seat during the Sunday morning service which was led by David Kendall. There was great atmosphere in the meeting - God was most certainly there, and working!

Well it was such an emotional meeting for me with Olwyn Mathie singing "Written In Red" which as always she sang so beautifully and with so much feeling, and the congregational song "The Power of Your Love" that both always really touched me, that I fell apart during the meeting and found myself kneeling at the Mercy Seat! I'm still not quite sure how I got myself there!

It was an emotional day for me not just because of the morning service, but during the afternoon service I didn't feel too well again so had to stop playing with band. I really had hoped I'd have managed to get through the weekend pain free, but at least it was the last meeting of the weekend before it happened I suppose.

Thank you God for holding me close these last few days, they've been tough but through your strength I've made it through.

Thank you to all of you who have prayed for me particularly over these last few days - I really do appreciate your prayers and your support.

I'd also like to thank those in Bellshill Band and Peterborough corps who offered their support during the weekend, I was much appreciated.

Thank you all.

God Knows You

Have you found yourself doubting God recently?
Have you found yourself in difficult situations and found that the last person you turn to is God?

You're not alone in these feelings. I think we all have those thoughts and feelings at times. We often find that when we struggle we completely forget about God because we wonder why he can let these things happen to us. But he hasn't forgot you, he knows everything about you because he made you in his own image.

One song in our Salvation Army songbook which I've always turned to when I feel I'm not giving everything to God, or not turning to Him in times of need:

Knowing my failings, knowing my fears,
Seeing my sorrow, drying my tears,
Jesus recall me, me re-ordain;
You know I love you, use me again.

I have no secrets unknown to you,
No special graces, talents are few;
Yet your intention I would fulfil;
You know I love you, ask what you will.

For the far future I cannot see,
Promise your presence, travel with me;
Sunshine or shadows? I cannot tell;
You know I love you, all will be well.

Love God and put your trust in Him, he will be with you every step of the way.

He Sought Me

Psalm 34:4 NIV
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

Today's post follows on from my previous one (Rain Down) as I simply want to remind you that God looks out for each one of us, no matter what we've done in our past. Maybe you're at a time in your life when you're facing many choices and don't know which way to turn - Talk to God about it, he will direct you along the right path.

If you're struggling with things of life getting on top of you, again I'd urge you to place them in God's hands, as he will lighten your load.

Find God today, he is waiting for you to reach out to Him.

The International Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army - He Sought Me

The Saviour sought and found me,
Far from the narrow way;
He made my blinded eyes to see
On that wonderful, wonderful day.

He sought me, he sought me,
When I was wandering far away;
He found me, he found me,
O what a wonderful day!

He lifted sin's great burden,
He saw my deep dismay,
And graciously he pardoned me
On that wonderful, wonderful day.

He sought me, he sought me,
When I was wandering far away;
He found me, he found me,
O what a wonderful day!

My son was red like crimson,
He washed it all away;
He filled my heart with melody
On that wonderful, wonderful day.

He sought me, he sought me,
When I was wandering far away;
He found me, he found me,
O what a wonderful day!

Rain Down

Deuteronomy 32:2 (NIV)
Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.

Let God's word rain down on you today. Let Him enter into your life and take control. He is willing and ready to do so today.

Delirious? - Rain Down


Looks like tonight, the sky is heavy
Feels like the winds are gonna change
Beneath my feet, the earth is ready
I know its time for heaven's rain, it's gonna rain

Cos it's living water we desire
To flood our hearts with holy fire

Rain down all around the world we're singing
Rain down can you hear the earth is singing
Rain down my heart is dry but still I'm singing
Rain down rain it down on me.

Back to the start, my heart is heavy
Feels like it's time, to dream again
I see the clouds, and yes I'm ready
To dance upon this barren land
Hope in my hands

Do not shut, Do not shut, Do not shut the heavens
But open up, open up, open up our hearts

Give me strength to cross the water
Keep my heart upon Your altar
Give me strength to cross this water
Keep my feet don’t let me falter

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

A Simple Message

The other week I was reminded of the the words of the following song, and they have stuck with me since then. Two lines in particular have stuck in my mind:

For those who seek him are sure to find him, and none who seek him Christ ignores.

Though you have failed him, God loves you.

What fantastic words of reassurance - no matter who we are and what we've done, God loves us and will not ignore us. I can add no more to that!

There is a message a simple message,
There is a message for us all,
And it's a message for us all;
There is a Saviour, and what a Saviour!
There is a Saviour for us all.

Let's look at Jesus for he's the Saviour,
And he will answer when we call;
Let's look at Jesus for he's the Saviour,
Yes, he's the Saviour for us all.

If you want pardon, then ask for pardon,
And God's own pardon shall be yours;
For those who seek him are sure to find him,
And none who seek him Christ ignores.

Let's look at Jesus for he's the Saviour,
And he will answer when we call;
Let's look at Jesus for he's the Saviour,
Yes, he's the Saviour for us all.

Though you have failed him, and how you've failed him!
Though you have failed him, God loves you;
The proof is Jesus, so look at Jesus,
And learn from Jesus God loves you.

Let's look at Jesus for he's the Saviour,
And he will answer when we call;
Let's look at Jesus for he's the Saviour,
Yes, he's the Saviour for us all.

(by John Gowans)