Not My Own

Do you love Jesus?
Do you love God?

Have you given your life to God?

When you have given you life entirely to God, your life is no longer your own, it is God's. All God requests of you, you do unquestioningly and faithfully, knowing that it is part of God's plan for your life.

Your life may no longer be your own, but with your life in God's hands, you will receive unequivocal rewards from God for all you do for Him.

God will set up free from all your earthly longing and desires and focus your life in new and rewarding directions. Give your life to God today.

Not My Own by Twila Paris

I am not my own

I am bought with a price

I am not my own, not my own

I am not my own

I cannot hold to pride

I am not my own, not my own

Take this false desire

Burn it in Your righteous fire

I am not my own, not my own

This is not my home

This is not Paradise

This is not my home, not my home

This is not my home

I have been far and wide

This is not my home, not my home

Make this longing true

Turn my wistful heart to you

This is not my home, not my home

When I turn to find Your eyes

O Lord, O Lord

I begin to realize

Once more, once more

I am not my own

I am bought with a price

I am not my own, not my own

Take this false desire

Burn it in Your righteous fire

I am not my own, not my own

I am not my own, not my own

My New Start

Well have you made any New Year's resolutions? If you did, how are you getting on 2 days into 2010?

Personally I didn't make any New Year resolutions as such, but have just promised myself to try to live my life in a more God focused manner from now now. I find it tough at times to fully trust God's plan for my life, simply because it's maybe not going the way I want it to! - Which I know is not how God wants me to live my life - I need to trust God for all I need and trust that He know what's best for me...better than I do!

Do you trust God for all you need? I'd urge you to join me this year in trusting God completely for all you need. God will provide, we just need to trust Him.

Psalm 9:10 (NIV)
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

We will find fullfillment in our lives if we just trust God to direct and help us in all we do.

My Heart Will Trust

I'll walk closer now on the higher way

Through the darkest night will you hold my hand

Jesus guide my way

O you mourn with me and you dance with me

For my heart of hearts is bound to you

Though I walk through valleys low

I'll fear no evil

By the waters still my soul,

My heart will trust in You x2

O You counsel me and You comfort me

When I cannot see,

You light my path

My heart will trust in you

A Matter of Priority

Setting priorities is a question of making up your mind. When our top priority is to serve God first and foremost, then our decisions flow from that commitment.

What will that look like? It will look like holiness. In the bible Daniel jeopardized his career by refusing to eat food offered to him by the king because he had "made up his mind not to defile himself by eating food and wine given to them by the king" (Daniel 1:8). Daniel made one of his top priorities not to defile himself. Can you say the same?

If we claim that God has our heart and that takes priority over all other allegiances on earth, can we say that we've made up our mind not to defile ourself?

Daniel stuck to his priorities, and God stuck to Daniel, making him an indispensable servant to the king and a great role model for each of us.

New Start

Have you ever done something so bad that you felt you could never be forgiven? Have you ever committed a private sin that have been made horribly public? Have you ever felt like you've been "caught in the act" by someone?

No matter the level of your sin, or who knows about it, Jesus, our Saviour offer us forgiveness and a new start to any who will repent. We need to look inside ourselves, into our own heart, and recognise all aspects of our lives where we must seeks Christs forgiveness. If we do that, we will be forgiven and urged to, "Go and sin no more" (John 8:11).

No matter how privately or publicly we have failed God, if we "Go and sin no more", our new life will begin.

Broken Heart

Every Heart That Is Breaking by Twila Paris
For the young abandoned husband
Left alone without a reason
For the pilgrim in the city where there is no home
For the son without a father
For his solitary mother
I have a message
He sees you. He knows you
He loves you. He loves you

Every heart that is breaking tonight
Is the heart of a child that He holds in His sight
And Oh how He longs to hold in His arms
Every heart that is breaking tonight

For the precious, fallen daughter
For her devastated father
For the prodigal who's dying in a strange new way
For the patriot with no country
I have a message
He sees you. He knows you
He loves you. He loves you

Every heart that is breaking tonight
Is the heart of a child that He holds in His sight
And Oh how He longs to hold in His arms
Every heart that is breaking tonight

There are no more words I can add to this, other than to say God does see you and He knows what you're going through and most of all He loves you, and always will.

Checkout the Twila Paris website: http://www.twilaparis.com/

Willing?

You are never too old for the Lord.
You are never too young either.
God only looks for a willing heart to do His Kingdom work.

Is your heart willing?

Give your heart to God today

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

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:

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!

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!

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!

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.

Reflections

What images came to your mind when you read the title of today's blog "Reflections"? A mirror? Water? Glass?


A reflection is something, such as light, radiant heat, sound, or an image, that is reflected. A reflection doesn't need to be an image or picture, so consider this, does your life reflect Jesus? Are you a shining example of Jesus' love?

We can present a Christ-like image to others but if we do not live our life as Christ expects, our heart will nor radiate God's love no matter how hard we try to outwardly convince people of our Christ-like ways.

Proverbs 27:19 (NLT)
As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.

As the above verse from Proverbs indicates, our heart will always give us away if we don't truly life for Christ, just as the image of a face is a true reflection of that face.


How is your heart? Does it reflect God's love?

God can help you live like Christ, so ask Him today to help you. Give your heart to Jesus today, He can then help change your heart...

I Will Be There

For my family and friends...when you need me, I will be there for you...

Love your family and friends, God gave them to you, so repay Him by loving them with all your heart. Rememeber that God is always with you, so that whenever you need Him he will be there for you.

Be there for your friends and family just as Jesus is there for you.

Checkout the Steven Curtis Chapman website: http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/

Photograph

Have you accepted God into your life?

If so, can you remember when you found God, and where you were?

I must admit that I don't really remember where I was when as a youngster of about 6 I decided to follow Jesus - I think it was during the Sunday school one week, although I think I was coerced into "making" my decision, by the friend sitting beside me.

Having said that, I definitely do remember where and what I was doing when at the age of 17, I felt compelled to make a public commitment to follow/serve God - It was on Sunday morning in the old Salvation Army hall at Rutherglen, before our Sunday morning service began...yes I did say before the meeting started! I'd been having a conversation with someone who was (and still is) a great support and encouragement to me, and it was during that time that I really felt God's presence and His will for my life.

I will never forget that particular morning. It's almost as if I've taken a photograph of that morning and stored it away in my personal photo album, in my mind.

Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Don't deny letting God into your life just because you think now is not the right time. God does not care what time of the day or night it is, where you are, what you are doing or who you're with. God is with us every minute of every day so whenever that moment is right for you, take it. Memorise that moment, as it should a one of the most special moments in your life, so take a mental photo of it.

You can find another version of "Lord I Give You My Heart" on yesterday's blog.

All I Can Be

All That I Am

All that I am, all I can be,
All that I have, all that is me,
Accept and use, Lord, as you would choose, Lord, right now today.
Take ev'ry passion, ev'ry skill, take all my dreams and bend them to your will.
My all I give, Lord, for you I'll live, Lord, come what may.

Often I come with my problems and cares,
Running to you when distressed
But I must bring you the whole of my life,
Lord, I must give you my best

All that I am, all I can be,
All that I have, all that is me,
Accept and use, Lord, as you would choose, Lord, right now today.
Take ev'ry passion, ev'ry skill, take all my dreams and bend them to your will.
My all I give, Lord, for you I'll live, Lord, come what may.

Life has no purpose unless it is yours
Life without you has no goal;
All that fulfills me is doing your will,
Knowing that you're in control.

All that I am, all I can be,
All that I have, all that is me,
Accept and use, Lord, as you would choose, Lord, right now today.
Take ev'ry passion, ev'ry skill, take all my dreams and bend them to your will.
My all I give, Lord, for you I'll live, Lord, come what may.

When things are going well in my life, I often find myself believing I can get by on own. But what happens when I do start making decisions about my life without considering God's plan for my life? Everything starts going wrong in my life and I find myself struggling more and more, until eventually I am at rock bottom and looking to God once more to pick me up... and so the circle of events begins!

Any of this sound familiar? Be honest with yourself as I know I am definitely not the only person who will go through these feelings.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Don't despair though, just because this may be how our life has evolved so far, does not mean it has to continue like this. If we keep focused on Jesus through the good times as well as the bad, and keep God at the centre of all we do, we need never find ourselves having to continually go through these recurring events.

In other words, give yourself entirely to God, let Him use every part of you in whatever way He sees fit. Let God help you be all you can be.

Spiritual Home

What kind of weekend have you had? Have you been busy or have you just been relaxing and chilling out?

Well I've had a busier weekend than I've had for a wee while, having been a 3 meeting at the Salvation Army - 1 at Bellshill and 2 at Rutherglen!

For those of you who have not been reading my blog here's a wee bit background - I attend the Salvation Army at Bellshill, but I was brought up at the corps in Rutherglen and transferred to the corps at Bellshill in 2002.

My cousin and his wife are the Salvation Army ministers (officers) at the corps in Keighley, and this weekend they came "home" with the Keighley Salvation Army Community Band, to lead the services at Rutherglen Salvation Army. As I don't see my cousins and their family very often, I went along to Rutherglen last night (Saturday) and this afternoon (Sunday).

Although I've been back at Rutherglen Salvation Army since I left, it was still strange being back there, particularly as I played in the Rutherglen band! It was just like old times, especially with a number of my family also being there.

There were several times during the two meetings I attended at Rutherglen when I must admit I felt a bit emotional, not just because my cousin was back home and leading the meeting, but because spiritually this was my home too. So much of my Christian learning and experiences happened at Rutherglen, it was where I committed my life to God and publicly declared my love and desire to serve Him all my life.

This weekend, I've found myself reflecting on past times, but also the present and the future. I realised for example that without the basis to my Christian faith that I gained while I grew up attending Rutherglen Salvation Army, I would not be the person I am today. While I am happy in my service at Bellshill Salvation Army, I will be forever thankful to those at Rutherglen who taught me all able God and influenced/inspired me to be who I am today. Some of these folk still attend Rutherglen Salvation Army, others are now with God in heaven, others no longer worship at Rutherglen.

1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation

So today, take a few minutes to think about those people who have had an influenced on your life (for the good of course!). If you are still in contact with them, thank them for the impact they've had on your life, after all they may not be aware of it! Say thank you to God too for these people as He is the one who is responsible for it all.

Have you influenced anyone or had an impact on their life?

With God's help and guidance each one of us is capable of making a difference in someones life.

I pray today God will help you to make a difference in someones life.

Purify

In order for God to work in our lives, we must ask him to do so. We must reject all things the Devil puts in our way to stop us from doing God's will.

We must ask God to purify our heart.

James 4:7-10 (The Message)
So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.

The following video is of a fantastic song called Purified by Michael W Smith, which explains how if we give control of our life to God, he will purify us from within.

Purified (by Michael W Smith)

Where the angels see

You are praised as You should be.

But how can I express

My yearning for Your Holiness.

May it be (that)

I will open UP my heart

Search me in the deepest part.

And I will stand in cleansing fire,

By You, purified,

By You I'm purified.

Saviour of my soul

To your strength I yield control.

Purge me from my stain

Sin will lose it's mortal reign.

Make me free (and)

I will open UP my heart

Search me in the deepest part.

And I will stand in cleansing fire,

By You, purified,

By You I'm purified.

You are Holy

You are Holy

Yes You are Holy

You are Holy

You are Holy

Holy

And I will open my heart

Search me in the deepest part.

And I will stand in cleansing fire,

By You, purified,

By You I'm purified.

I'm purified for you.

You are Holy

You are Holy

Yes You are Holy

You are Holy

Give your heart to Jesus today and let him purify you.