Real Life Training

I recently qualified as an AIIM ECM Specialist, however personally I will not go shouting about that as I feel I have not yet got the “real world experience” I feel need to be able to consider myself a specialist on ECM (Enterprise Content Management). Yes, I’ve been on the courses and passed the associated exams, but would my current level of ability reflect this?

This got me thinking about training in general and classifications we assign ourselves and others. In particular I was thinking about the fact that I call myself a Christian...yes I’ve read the “manual”, the bible, and I’ve been getting the “real world” experience ever since I was born, but is that enough to say I'm a Christian?

No it's not! As well as gaining the "real world" experience and reading the bible, we as Christians must live our lives according to God's plan for us. i.e. we must act as Christians in all we do and say, we must continue to read our bibles and most importantly we must pray regularly.

So, have you passed the Christian exam? I would love to say that I do, but if I'm honest, I do not always read my bible, pray or follow God's plan for me as often as I should.

Maybe we should treat our life as an exam, which if we pass will result in us spending eternity with God in heaven. If this is what you want, start your Christian training today and receive eternal life!

Place In This World (Michael W Smith)

The wind is moving

But I am standing still

A life of pages

Waiting to be filled

A heart that's hopeful

A head that's full of dreams

But this becoming

Is harder than it seems

Feels like I'm

Looking for a reason

Roamin' through the night to find

My place in this world

My place in this world

Not a lot to lean on

I need your light to help me find

My place in this world

My place in this world

If there are millions

Down on their knees

Among the many

Can you still hear me

Hear me asking

Where do I belong?

Is there a vision

That I can call my own?

Show me, I'm

Looking for a reason

Roamin' through the night to find

My place in this world

My place in this world

Not a lot to lean on

I need your light to help me find

My place in this world

My place in this world

Lookin' for a reason

Roamin' through the night to find

My place in this world

My place in this world

Not a lot to lean on

I need your light to help me find

My place in this world

My place in this world

Lookin' for a reason

Roamin' through the night to find

My place in this world

My place in this world

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

Blue Monday or Happy Monday?

Well how was your day? Did you find it to be The Most Depressing Day (my blog post from yesterday), or have you had a Happy Monday?

In my office today, one of the managers, before starting a conversation with anyone said "Happy Monday" to them with a big smile on his face - I have to say it was quite infectious, as it brought a smile to most peoples' face, even if for some it was just for a few seconds!

What have you done today to make today a Happy Monday rather than a Blue Monday, for you, and for others?

If your answer is nothing, there's still time to make someone happy!

Why not resolve to make someone smile everyday - make everyday a Happy Day!

The Most Depressing Day

According to Time.com, the third Monday in January is known as “Blue Monday.”

Apparently, Blue Monday signifies that Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, is the most depressing day of the year. It is the day of the year when we will find more people ranting, raving, whining and crying than at any other time of 2010.

A British researcher, Dr. Cliff Arnall, reportedly says this is true based on a formula he developed along with some related calculations. Among the attributing factors are:

1.Christmas and holiday bills start coming in and piling up.
2.Post-holiday blues.
3.Failed New Year resolutions.
4.The weather.

We got an email sent round all of us at work last week telling us that tomorrow, Monday 18th January, had officially been identified as the most depressing day of this year. The email encouraged us to try and make tomorrow Happy Monday instead!

That's all well and good making tomorrow Happy Monday, but al lthat does is move the "most depressing day of the year" to another day! What we should really be trying to do is make every day a Happy Day.

We all have times when we feel depressed based on a lot of different things that may be going on in our lives, so personally I think we each have ourown individual "most depressing day of the year", so I'm surprised that one particular day can be given that title on behalf of all of us.

Whatever is going on in our lives, we must try to see the positives in all things, no matter how bleak the situation may seem. Ask God to help lift your spirits and make eveyday a Happy Day.

Worship the Lord

All Heaven Declares

All heaven declares the glory of the risen Lord

Who can compare with the beauty of the Lord?

Forever He will be (Forever He will be)

The Lamb apon the throne (The Lamb apon the throne)

I gladly bow the knee (I gladly bow the knee)

And worship Him alone

I will proclaim the glory of the risen Lord

Who once was slain to reconcile man to God

Forever You will be (Forever You will be)

The Lamb upon the throne (The Lamb upon the throne)

I gladly bow my knee (I gladly bow my knee)

And worship You alone

Do you worship God?

You don't need to attend church to worship God, you can do it wherever you are. So taking that into account, do you worship God?

As well as tell others about God, and how much He can do for them, we must take time to worship God, but what does worship actually mean? The following is the dictionary definition of worship:

The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.

The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.

Ardent devotion; adoration.

Take time out of your busy life, to spend time saying "thank you" to God by worshipping Him.

Please and Thank You

When we're young we are taught to say "please" and "thank you". I remember a number of occassions being prevented from getting whatever it was I'd asked for, because I'd not said "the magic word"! Do you have similar memories?

All those times have done their job though, as I'd say I definitely say "please" and "thank you" whenever I'm asking someone for something, or I'm given something.

But wait a minute, do I really always say "please" and "thank you"? Well I do always say thank you to those around me, but now I stop and think about it, there is one person I very often take for granted and never say "thank you" to, although I often say "please" to them as I'm often asking for so much from them...and who is that?

I'm sure you've realised by now I'm talking about God. How many times today have you said "thank you" to God? What about this week, how many time have you thanked God for all He does for you?

Now count how many times you've said "please" to God today when you've been asking Him for something? And what about in the last week, how many times have you asked God for something?

If you're anything like me, you'll probably find the "please's" far outnumber the "thank you's"!

Do something about that now, say "thank you God" for all God has done for you, and for all He continues to do for you.

Give God the Glory He truly deserves.

My Tribute (To God be the Glory) - Sissel and the Oslo Gospel Choir

How can I say thanks

For the things you have done for me

Things so undeserved

Yet You gave to prove your love for me

The voices of a million angels

Could not express my gratitude

All that I am and ever hope to be

I owe it all to thee

To God be the glory, to God be the glory

To God be the glory,

For the things He has done

With His blood He has saved me

With His power He has raised me

To God be the glory,

For the things He has done

Just let me live my life

And let it be pleasing Lord to thee

And should I gain any praise

Let it go to Calvary

With His blood He has saved me

With His power He has raised me

To God be the glory

For the things He has done

To God be the glory, to God be the glory

To God be the glory,

For the things He has done

With His blood He has saved me

With His power He has raised me

To God be the glory,

For the things He has done

A Call To Celebrate

That was the Sydney Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army singing a wonderful arrangement of Revelation 19.

Revelation 19 contains words of praise and worship and encourages us to celebrate God's wonderful love for us each and every day. We so often take God's love for us for granted, so why not listen to the Songsters sing Revelation 19 again, and then share a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for all he's done for you today and for all He will do in the future.

The Message version of the bible says the following in Revelation 19:1-10 under the heading of The Sound of Hallelujahs:

I heard a sound like massed choirs in Heaven singing, Hallelujah!
The salvation and glory and power are God's—
his judgments true, his judgments just.
He judged the great Whore who corrupted the earth with her lust.
He avenged on her the blood of his servants.
Then, more singing:
Hallelujah!
The smoke from her burning billows up to high Heaven forever and ever and ever.


The Twenty-four Elders and the Four Animals fell to their knees and worshiped God on his Throne, praising,
Amen! Yes! Hallelujah!

From the Throne came a shout, a command:
Praise our God, all you his servants,
All you who fear him, small and great!

Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder:
Hallelujah!
The Master reigns, our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice, let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come; his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown of bright and shining linen.
The linen is the righteousness of the saints.

The Angel said to me, "Write this: 'Blessed are those invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.'" He added, "These are the true words of God!"


I fell at his feet to worship him, but he wouldn't let me. "Don't do that," he said. "I'm a servant just like you, and like your brothers and sisters who hold to the witness of Jesus. The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

Worthy

God is worthy of praise.
He does so much for us everyday.
Many of the things He does for us, we take for granted...our homes, food, friends, family, nature.
We may not always like the way God answers our prayers, but He has a plan for our lives, and everything He does for us is part of His plan for us.
Give God thanks today for all He does for you.


Worthy Is the Lamb!

Agnus Dei by Michael W Smith

Alleluia

Alleluia

For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia

Alleluia

For the Lord God Almighty reigns

Alleluia

Holy

Holy are You Lord God Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

You are holy

Holy are you Lord God Almighty

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

Amen

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