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!

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.

All For Love

Galations 2:19-21 (The Message)
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Have you put aside your ego? Are you working for God or are you just trying to impress Him?

God wants us to work for Him, but He wants us to do so for the right reasons - because we love Him and want to tell as many people as we can about God's love and what He means to us.

Checkout the Hillsong website: http://hillsong.com/ or the Hillsong London website: http://www.hillsongmychurch.co.uk/

That word..."Sin"

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

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

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

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

Galatians 5:24-25

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

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

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