Language and Uniform

When I was in my office on Friday last week, during a general conversation that was based around the closure of Borders and specificly the one at the Glasgow Fort, the word "hoaching" was used to describe the Borders during it's final days before closure.

I knew exactly what was meant, but one of the other folk who is not Scottish did not understand what was "hoaching" meant, despite having lived in the West of Scotland for quite a number of years now.

So, now I've given you a clue that "hoaching" is a Scottish word, do you know what it means?

Hoaching means:
- To have a plentyful supply of
- To teem with

- Busy

While those definitions explain what "hoaching" means I personally still think "hoaching" is a far better descriptive word of just how very busy Borders was.

Isn't funny how everyday we use words which we assume those around us understand. But do we as Christians use words to explain our beliefs and our faith, in a way non believers can understand?

My Thoughts...

I have no answer to this question for you, this is a question we must each answer based on our own experiences. Don't be surprised if you find your answer is "no" because, personally I think that we as Christians, can often seem a different breed to non Christians because of the words/phases we use when talking about our our faith and the Bible.

Although I've attended the Salvation Army all my life, and have been a uniform wearing Salvationist for a number of years now, it doesn't stop me from feeling that maybe the Salvation Army isn't as welcoming and open to everyone as it likes to think it is.

So what do I mean by that? Well going back on my previous comments about how the way Christians talk may put non believers off finding out more, I think that sometimes the Salvation Army can be seen as an exclusive club, only accessible to those who wear their specific uniform.

Just a few thoughts today to get you all thinking at the start of another week!

I'd be interested to hear your views on what I've said today, so please comment on my blog.

Listen

Have you ever cried so hard and for so long that you've been blinded to help that is right under your nose? When we find ourselves having "a good cry", it does sometimes help us feel a little better afterwards, and that's often just from the release of all the built up emotions we've been experiencing.

We must never be too busy crying, to pray. I for one know that that is often when it's most difficult to find the words to pray - I've been there - and still am - and in some deep moments of despair, I've felt God hasn't been there for me. However, I've never completely let go of my faith, so I have kept on trying to pray, unsuccessfully for a long time, but eventually through my tears, a few words of prayer came...and what a relief those words were too! But throughout these time I do try to listen for God speaking to me and directing me as that is what makes it all so reassuring.
God doesn't ignore us in our time of need, while we're having a "good cry", he's there right beside then just as he is every other day.

So next time you find yourself too busy crying that you can't pray? Listen for God voice and dry your tears. Our tears and cries will only block out our ability to hear God speaking to us. God is waiting to show us the solution to our problem.

Don't think I'm making light in any way of days when you feel you can't cope and can't stop crying, as I most certainly am not. I have been there (and as I indicated earlier, still am) and been unable to stop my tears from falling and been unable to pray. It is not easy to be quiet long enough to just listen to God, but believe me, if you do it, He will help you cope so much better. Have faith in God and listen to Him.

God Speaking by Ronnie Freeman shows us some of the situations God might try to speak to us - Just remember to listen

Fantasy or Faith?

When things are going wrong in our life, and everything seems bleak, God alone can help us.

When bad health is something we have to face on a daily basis, God is the one who can give us the strength to face the day.

When we've no money in the bank and you don't know where your next meal is going to come from, only God can help.

God is enough to help us in all situations we find ourselves.

We can become frustrated when bad things happen to us, but when we start to fantasize we're move further away from reality and fact. i.e. If we fantasise that good health alone will bring us happiness, or when we have a big house, a holiday or we win the lottery that will be the key to eternal happiness. But all these things are fantasy.

The answer to fantasy is faith. Faith will chase our frustrations away and give us the strength to live well, even if that means with little earthly value to our name. Faith reminds us that we have a heavenly bank account and that is one which cannot contain our earthly possessions but simply our spiritual wealth.

God will make help you through your situation, whatever it is, so be joyful in God's love and He will get you over the mountains of frustrations that face you.

This is not the best recording but I hope you can make out the message - There's Never Been a Mountain by Derby Central Songsters:

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!

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/

Be Strong

Be Strong by Delta Goodrem is a favourite song of mine. It's not a described as a Christian song, however if you listen to the words you'll find that it could be God that's spoken the words...

Are you swimming up stream
in oceans of blue
Do you feel like your sinking?
Are you sick of the rain after all you've been through?
Well I know what you're thinking
When you can't take it
You can make it
Sometime soon I know you'll see

'cause when you're in your darkest hour
And all of the light just fades away
and When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of gray
Well hang on and be strong

We're taking each step one day at a time
You can't loose your spirit
Let live and let live forget and forgive
It's all how you see it
And just remember keep it together
Don't you know you're never alone

'cause when you're in your darkest hour
And all of the light just fades away
When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of gray
Well hang on (whoa) and be strong

No you're not defeated
And soon you'll be smiling once again
Then you won't have to feel it
Let it go with the wind
Time passes us by
And know that you're allowed to cry

'cause when you're in your darkest hour
And all of the light just fades away
When you're like a single flower whose colours have turned to shades of gray
Well hang on (whoa) and be strong
(hang on hang on) Be strong
Hold on and be strong

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

Hold onto your faith, and stay strong, as God is with you at all times.

Call on Jesus, He will be near you, so stay strong.

Visit Delta Goodrem's website: http://www.deltagoodrem.com/

Prayer Instructions

One thing that often discourages people from praying is their fear of doing it wrong.

So here are some basic instructions that someone passed to me a number of years ago, about how to pray:

• First, we must come in faith, believing that there is a God who will hear us and reward us (Hebrews 11:6)


• We must must willingly let God examine our hearts (Psalms 139:23-24), confess our sins (1 John 1:9), and then repent (Acts 3:19).


• Even when we feel our faith is small, we can still pray (Matthew 17:20).


• Do we have any relationships that need to be mended. If so, we should try to mend them (Matthew 5:23-24)


• Ask yourself, "would the answer to this prayer honour Jesus' name, or extend the work of God's kingdom?"

If your prayers don't currently follow these instructions, don't worry it doesn't mean God hasn't been listening to your prayers. Try to pray regularly, and try to keep the things I've mentioned in mind when you pray.

If you open your heart to God and let Him in, there is no limit to what He can do in your life.

Somebody's praying for me...to those of you who have been praying for me, and continuing to do so, a very big thank you from me.

Thank you!

My Cornerstone

Trust in God, as with Him by your side, He will keep you strong and protect you from harm. Though you may face difficult times in your life, stay faithful to God, is will give you the strength to see you through each day.

Pray daily and read your bible. Learn more about God each day.

In Christ Alone by the Newsboys

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt of life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Romans 8:35-38 (New International Version)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Friends

Friends, how much do you rely on them?

Our closest friends can be a great comfort to us during our lowest times, but can be also be a great joy to us during our brightest days.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
The above are well known words from John 15:12-15. Although they are well know, do not underestimate the truth and the power in these words.

Linking in with my previous post entitled Everlasting, no matter how many close friends we have, and no matter how much they help and support us, we must always remember that it's only through God's help and guidance that they have are there for us.

Pray for your friends.

Pray for the friendship you give to others.

Pray that your friends can always rely on you to be faithful.

Pray that God will use you to inspire and encourage your friends.

Faithful Friend (by Twila Paris)

Everyone knows you as a man of honor

I am glad to know you simply as a friend

You have always taken time to be my brother

And I'll be standing by you in the end

But I will never put you on a pedestal

I thank the Lord for everything you do

I'll be there to pray for you and for the ones you love

I believe that He will finish all He started in you

I will be an open door that you can count on

Anywhere you are, anywhere you've been

I will be an honest heart you can depend on

I will be a Faithful Friend

I am one of many whose path has been made clearer

By the light you've carried faithfully as a warrior and a child

God has used you greatly to encourage and inspire

And you've remained a true friend all the while

So I will never put you on a pedestal

Cause we both know all the glory is the Lord's

And I'll be there to pray that He will keep you by His grace

And I always will remind you to be seeking His face

I will be an open door that you can count on
Anywhere you are, anywhere you've been
I will be an honest heart you can depend on
I will be a Faithful Friend

Find out more about Twila Paris at: http://www.twilaparis.com/

Find out more about Steven Curtis Chapman at: http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/

Passionate About...

...my faith, of course!

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

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

How about you :

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Faith

Bible Reading - 2 Timothy 2:13
Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, he remains faithful to us and will help us. For he cannot disown us who are part of himself and he always will carry out his promises.

During out darkest times our faith is often tested to extremes and we can often find it difficult, if not impossible to pray. But God does not give up on us. He will continue to watch over us and guide us even when we cannot find the words to talk to God.

If your faith is wavering or you're struggling to understand what God wants you to do, keep hold of your faith, however small you feel it may be, because God will get you through - He'd not have put you in the situation if He didn't think you could cope with it!

Faith transforms the earth into a paradise.
By it our hearts are raised with the joy of our nearness to heaven.
Every moment reveals God to us.
Faith is our light in this life.
By it we know the truth without seeing it, we are put in touch with what we cannot feel, recognize what we cannot see, and view the world stripped of all its outer shell.
Faith unlocks God's treasury.
It is the key to all the vastness of His wisdom.
The emptiness of all created things is disclosed by faith, and it is by faith that God reveals Himself…
With faith,
All that is dark becomes light, and what is bitter becomes sweet.
Faith transforms ugliness into beauty, and malice into kindness.
Faith is the mother of tenderness, trust, and joy…
There is nothing faith cannot overcome;
It passes beyond all shadows and through the darkest clouds to reach the truth, which it embraces and can never be parted from.