What It Means

I've been here a thousand times before
Face down on the floor
Wondering how I even reached this place again

But, You have shown so endlessly, how Your love pours over me
No picture can re-create the beauty that I see

Show me what it means, to live my life a sacrifice
If only I would realize how much it took to pay the price
I know I'd always give, everything to You

I want this world to see
Your perfect majesty
Reflecting from my life this brilliant poetry

Written all over this place
The signs of all creation that You breathed
Words can't even state how much You mean to me

Show me what it means, to live my life a sacrifice
If only I would realize how much it took to pay the price
I know I'd always give, everything to You

I want to face my very crime
Of not giving all of mine
But I can feel the hope You bring to me



Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Here Is Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (The Message)
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Have you experienced love in your life?
Have you ever been badly hurt by someone you love, or by someone you thought loved you? Or have you hurt someone you love or loves you and then felt deep sorry afterwards?

There is only one TRUE true which is available free of charge, with no ties attached, and that is the love of God. As the above bible verses says, we can go through our life doing good deeds and helping others, but if we don't truly know God's love in our lives we have achieved nothing.

God's love is everything - Accept God's love into your life today!

Here Is Love (by Matt Redman)

Here is love, vast as the ocean

Lovingkindness as the flood

When the Prince of Life, our Ransom

Shed for us His precious blood

Who His love will not remember?

Who can cease to sing His praise?

He can never be forgotten

Throughout Heav'n's eternal days

On the mount of crucifixion

Fountains opened deep and wide

Through the floodgates of God's mercy

Flowed a vast a gracious tide

Grace and love, like mighty rivers

Poured incessant from above

And Heav'n's peace and perfect justice

Kissed a guilty world in love

Chorus:

No love is higher, no love is wider

No love is deeper, no love is truer

No love is higher, no love is wider

No love is like Your love, o Lord

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

Trust In God

Do I Trust You Lord by Twila Paris

Sometimes my little heart can't understand

What's in Your will, what's in Your plan.

So many times I'm tempted to ask You why,

But I can never forget it for long.

Lord, what You do could not be wrong.

So I believe You, even when I must cry.

Do I trust You, Lord?

Does the river flow?

Do I trust You, Lord?

Does the north wind blow?

You can see my heart,

You can read my mind,

And You got to know

That I would rather die

Than to lose my faith

In the One I love.

Do I trust You, Lord?

Do I trust You?

I know the answers, I've given them all.

But suddenly now, I feel so small.

Shaken down to the cavity in my soul.

I know the doctrine and theology,

But right now they don't mean much to me.

This time there's only one thing I've got to know.

Do I trust You, Lord?

Does the robin sing?

Do I trust You, Lord?

Does it rain in spring?

You can see my heart,

You can read my mind,

And You got to know

That I would rather die

Than to lose my faith

In the One I love.

Do I trust You, Lord?

Do I trust You?

I will trust You, Lord, when I don't know why.

I will trust You, Lord, till the day I die.

I will trust You, Lord, when I'm blind with pain!

You were God before, and You'll never change.

I will trust You.

I will trust You.

I will trust You, Lord.

I will trust You.

Life can be tough at times, and we can find outselves wondering why God has let things happen the way they have. These are the times when we need to trust God more than every. That doesn't mean that if we trust God, life will bring us nothing but happiness, far from it, in fact it simply means that if we trust God, He will give us the strength to trust Him to get us through those tough times, and learn from them.

Psalm 9:9-10 (NIV)
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Trust God for all that you need, today and always.

Please checkout the Twil Paris website: http://www.twilaparis.com/

Welcome To Our World

The long promised saviour of the world is here!

Once again this Christmas we have celebrated Christ coming into our world all those years ago.
Into a world that needs Jesus.
Every person in this world needs Jesus.

Please welcome Christ into the world, and into your life this Christmas.

Welcome To Our World by Michael W Smith

Tears are falling, hearts are breaking

How we need to hear from God

You've been promised, we've been waiting

Welcome Holy Child

Welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don't mind our manger

How I wish we would have known

But long awaited Holy Stranger

Make yourself at home

Please make yourself at home

Bring your peace into our violence

Bid our hungry souls be filled

Word now breaking Heaven's silence

Welcome to our world

Welcome to our world

Fragile finger sent to heal us

Tender brow prepared for thorn

Tiny heart whose blood will save us

Unto us is born

Unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You

Breathe our air and walk our sod

Rob our sin and make us holy

Perfect Son of God
Perfect Son of God

Welcome to our world

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

Where Do I Belong?

"Where do I belong?"
"Is there a vision that I can call my own?"

Are these questions you find you asking yourself?

Sometimes life can make you feel like you don't belong here because you feel you have no purpose in your life. Don't worry you're not alone in having these feelings, many of us do...me included!

But don't despair, God has a purpose for each and every one of us! God planned our life's out for us before we were even born!

If we pray to God and most importantly, listen to God talking to us, He will tell us what our purpose in life is. Put your trust in God, ask Him to show you what He's planned for your life and then make it a reality with God's help.

Place In This World by 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

You can find out more about Michael W Smith at his website: http://www.michaelwsmith.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.

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...

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/

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!

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!

Busy Lives

We all lead very busy lives these days. We spend most of our days working or rushing from one task to another. How much time do we actually put aside for ourselves, or more specifically, how much time do we put aside to spend in quiet prayer with God?

The following song entitled Mid All The Traffic Of The Ways talks of how busy we are, but also remind us that we need find a quiet place where we can spend time with God.

Make sure you take time out from your busy life to spend some quiet time with God.

Take It All

God sacrificed His only son for us. So how should we repay Him?
Give your life to Jesus. Live your life for Jesus. Give Him your all!

Let God be at the centre of your life. Let Him use you to tell others about His love.

Take It All - Hillsong
Searching the world
The lost will be found
In freedom we live
As one we cry out
You carried the cross
You died and rose again
My God
I’ll only ever give my all

You sent Your Son
From heaven to earth
You delivered us all
It’s eternally heard
I searched for truth
And all I found was You
My God
I’ll only ever give my all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

You sent Your Son
From heaven to earth
You delivered us all
It’s eternally heard
I searched for truth
And all I found was You
My God
I’ll only ever give my all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

Running to the One
Who heals the blind
Following the shining light
In Your hands
The power to save the world
In my life

Running to the One
Who heals the blind
Following the shining light
In Your hands
The power to save the world
In my life

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

Jesus we’re living for Your Name
We’ll never be ashamed of You
Whoa o oh
Our praise and all we are today
Take take take it all
Take take take it all
Take take take it all

Change Me

Question: Will my life change in any way if I give my heart to Jesus?

I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I'll run the race
And I will never be the same again.
I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I'll run the race
And I will never be the same again.

Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff,
And let the flame burn to glorify Your name.

There are higher heights, there are deeper seas,
Whatever you need to do, Lord do in me.
The Glory of God fills my life,
And I will never be the same again.

Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep aways the darkness, burn away the chaff
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.

Fall like fire, soak like rain,
Flow like mighty waters, again and again.
Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff,
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.

I will never be the same again,
I can never return, I've closed the door.
I will walk the path, I will run the race
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again.
And I will never be the same again.

With God at the centre of your life, you need never fear another tomorrow as God is with you at all times. He will work in your life and help you do whatever He asks you to do. With God you can achieve wonderful things!

A Promise

During our lifetime, we make many promises. Here are just a few examples:

• some we make when we're very young just to appease our parents like "I promise I'll tidy my room tomorrow";
• some to close friends when they confide in us and ask us not to divuldge the information to anyone else;
• for those of us who are married we made promises when we said our wedding vows;
• those of us who wear Salvation Army uniform, have made promises to God to serve Him all our days.

So, how many promises have people made to you that they have actually kept?
The chances are, many promises might have been made, but many will have been broken.

Following on from that, how many promises have you made in your life, and how many of them have you kept?
I'm guessing there will be many promised made but not so many kept...am I right?

What about God's promise of eternal life -
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." (John 3:16-18)

Do you believe God's promise of eternal life? Are you doing all you can to live a holy life, directly by God?

If not, make today the day when you make a new commitment to God to give your life to Him and serve Him the rest of your days.

I came across the song "Promise of a Lifetime" by Kutless a while ago, but the words and music seems to fit perfectly with the message I've tried to pass on to you today. Please read the words below before watching the video - I hope you find blessing and encouragement from them.

Promise of a Lifetime by Kutless
I have fallen to my knees
As I sing a lullaby of pain
I'm feeling broken in my melody
As I sing to help the tears go away

Then I remember the pledge you made to me

I know you're always there
To hear my every prayer inside
I'm clinging to the promise of a lifetime
I hear the words you say
To never walk away from me and leave behind
The promise of a lifetime

Will you help me, I'm falling apart
Pick me up, take me in your arms
Find my way back from the storm
And you show me how to grow
Through the change

I still remember the pledge you made to me

I am holding on to the hope I have inside
With you I will stay through every day
Putting my understanding aside

And I am comforted

Enjoy listening to this song by Kutless, and enjoy the pictures that have been used to enhance the words of the song...

Visit the Kutless website: http://www.kutless.com/

Past Times

Yesterday, I met up with a good friend of mine that I went to university with, but who now lives in England. As usual we spent the afternoon shopping...mostly window shopping but we did make a few purchases! We then enjoyed a lovely meal together, during which we had a good old natter about the things that are currently going on in our lives, as well as reminiscing about our university days!


The scary thing about all this was that we realised that this time 20 years ago we were just graduating from university. Now that is scary! Where have these last 20 years gone? In some ways my uni days seem like yesterday and in others they seem a lifetime ago. We reminisced about some of the things that happened while we were at uni, as well as some of more forgettable things we did! But generally they were good days, when we had no great responsibilities and our whole life ahead of us.


So 20 years on, am I still the same person? Of course I am, but so much has happened over the last 20 years, some good, some not so good, but these are the life experiences that have moulded me into the person I am today.

As far as my Christian journey is concerned, I have to say I feel far more secure in my journey now that I did 20 years ago. So much of what's happened over the years has made me a stronger person and reinforced my belief in Christ - Many of the difficult times in my life have shown me that without God by my side I would not have got through these difficult times.


How about you, how has your relationship with God developed over the past 20 years?

Has it developed, or is your relationship with God no different than it was 20 years ago?

I thank God for staying by my side over these last 20 years, through some very happy times as well as some very very dark times. My faith would not be what is is today without God putting me through all these life experiences, so I thank God for keeping me faithful to Him.

I pray that whether you are at the start of your Christian journey or have been on your journey for many years, that your relationship with God will continue to grow every day.

The following song from The Lion King is not the best recording, but please listen to words, as they remind us that God IS the Giver of Life!

Be Like Jesus

How many people have you spoken to today?

How many of them are struggling with something in their life just now?

...probably most of them in some way or another.

How many people that you don't know at all, have you seen today?

How many of them do you think are struggling with something in their life just now?

...again, the answer is probably most of time!

Many of those you come across on a daily basis will be struggling with somehing. You would probably be surprised by some of those fall into this category, as many will not have shared their problems with anyone, and will have shown no outward signs that they are having to cope with problems of some kind.

Leviticus 19:18 (New International version)
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Be kind to everyone you come across, as you don't know what might be going on in their personal life. Your kindness could be the thing that hlps them get through another day. So treat everyone you encounter as Jesus would treat them, with love, compassion, and understanding.

Please listen to the following song entitled Love Them Like Jesus. This is a beautiful song with a powerful message by Casting Crowns. I also found the images included in this video to be particularly helpful - I hope you do too.

The love of her life is drifting away
They're losing the fight for another day
The life that she's known is falling apart
A fatherless home, a child's broken heart

You're holding her hand, you're straining for words
You trying to make - sense of it all
She's desperate for hope, darkness clouding her view
She's looking to you

Just love her like Jesus, carry her to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves her and stay by her side
Love her like Jesus
Love her like Jesus

The gifts lie in wait, in a room painted blue
Little blessing from Heaven would be there soon
Hope fades in the night, blue skies turn to gray
As the little one slips away

You're holding her hand, you're straining for words
You're trying to make sense of it all
They're desperate for hope, darkness clouding their view
They're looking to you

Just love them like Jesus, carry them to Him
His yoke is easy, His burden is light
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus

Lord of all creation holds our lives in His hands
The God of all the nations holds our lives in His hands
The Rock of our salvation holds our lives in His hands
He cares for them just as He cares for you

So love them like Jesus, love them like Jesus
You don't need the answers to all of life's questions
Just know that He loves them and stay by their side
Love them like Jesus
Love them like Jesus

Life...and Death

In the last couple of days the news headlines have been dominated by the deaths of two celebrities. First of all yesterday it was the Charlie's Angels star Farrah Fawcett and then of course last last night the news that music legend Michael Jackson had died, started to come through on the news and has subsequently dominated tv and radio stations for much of today.



Before I go any further I want to say at that I do not intend to say anymore about either of these celebrities in this blog, as there are there are countless other sites that contain information about these people lives, so if you're looking for information about them, this is not the site you want.

So onto what I do want to talk about...

Throughout the world this week, there are many people who have suffered bereavements. In fact, I personally know of a number of people who have been bereaved in this last week.

Death is one of life's certainties - we all know we will die at some time, some sooner that others. Even so, although we know death will come to us all, it does not make it any easier for family and friends to cope when their relative or friend passes away.


Many tears are often shed when someone dies. Tears of sadness that they will never see their loved one again, and sometimes even tears of happiness when they reminisce about past times spent with their loved one.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life

Well known words, but words which mean the world to Christians worldwide - if we believe in God, we can live forever simply because God loves us, every single one of us, so much that he let his son die on a cross at Calvary. Wow! How amazing and wonderful is that!?

Death is not the end, it is simply the beginning of eternal life with God. For that we must rejoice. When our friends/love ones pass away, try to remember that they are at peace, their struggles on earth are at at end and they are now at rest with our heavenly Father.

Here is Michael W Smith's great song called Live Forever. Hope you enjoy it!

Please pray today for those who have suffered bereavements in this last week. I'd ask you to pray particularly for their family and friends - that they may understand and accept that their loved one/friend is now at peace, and is peace in God's presence.

Finally I'd like to leave some other well known words of scripture with you - but maybe a slightly different version from you're used to hearing

Psalm 23 (Contemporary English Version)
You, LORD, are my shepherd.
I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields of green grass.
You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid.
You are with me, and your shepherd's rod [a] makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.
Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, LORD

Thrive

How do you rate your life so far? Is it great as everything is going well, or are you just getting by, or are you finding life a real struggle?

However you are finding your life at present, remember your not on your own, you are never on your own, as not only are others going through the same experiences, but more importantly, God is with you and will help you through.

For us to succeed in life and achieve all we are capable of, we must give our lives entirely to God, then and only then will we find we thrive.

Thrive
Down here in the valley
Every shadow You see
Has its own story
Down here in the valley
Every puddle of mud
Comes from tears and blood
And it's so hard just to get warm
That the chill turns into despair

Will You lift me up with tender care?
Will You wash me clean in the palm of Your hand?
Will You hold me close so I can thrive?
When You touch me, that's when I know I'm alive

Down here in the valley
Nothing's able to grow
'Cause the light's too low
Folks spend their days
Digging 'round for diamonds and gold
'Til they just get old
And they don't know anything else
They don't know they're breathing bad air
But I'm tired of living like this
And my soul cries out, "If You're there...

Call me up to Your side
Draw me up to Your light
Let it blind me
Lord, refine me
Refine me out of my mind

Give your life to God, and reach your full potential.

Firemen!

Today at work, I had to attend a meeting at Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Headquarters! As soon as the other females in my office found out I'd been asked to go to a meeting with firemen, they suddenly all wanted to come to the meeting too...I can't think why! :-)

The meeting was all about promoting fire safety visits for households in the North Lanarkshire and highlighting to to residential the profile of those most at risk. These are obviously a very important issues which will hopefully help save lives.


Do you know what responsibilities the fire and rescue service provide?

Some of the responsibilities of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue are fire prevention, fire safety and education, fire investigation, road safety, water rescue and of course...fire fighting!


So many lives are torn apart by fire or road traffic accidents, we must support all those who put their live on the line on a daily basis to help those of us in trouble. Please pray for our fire service, they do an excellent job often in very difficult and distressing circumstances.

Please pray today for all who work for our Fire & Rescue service.

Please also pray for those whose life has been affected in some way by fire or a road accident.


Psalm 69:29
I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me.


You can get more info by visiting the Strathclyde Fire & Rescue website: http://www.strathclydefire.org/about/default.asp