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/

New Year Resolutions

Ever wondered how the tradition of making new year's resolutions began? Well here's a brief bit of background...

The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.

With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.


The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.


The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts.


In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.


The Julian and Gregorian calendars are solar calendars. Some cultures have lunar calendars, however. A year in a lunar calendar is less than 365 days because the months are based on the phases of the moon. The Chinese use a lunar calendar. Their new year begins at the time of the first full moon (over the Far East) after the sun enters Aquarius- sometime between January 19 and February 21.


Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year.

Have you made new year's resolutions in the past? Have you kept them?
If you haven't kept your past resolutions, don't depair you are among the majority of people of those who make new year's resolutions - research has shown more than half those who make resolutions fail to keep any of them while only about 12% keep one resolution!

So what should we do to make sure we keep our new year's resolutions? Well here's some tips:

• Don't make unrealistic resolutions. e.g. I'm going to lose 3 stone by end of January
• Only make a resolution to do something you really want to do. i.e. If you do not really want to stop eating chocolate, don't make a resolution to to that because you will fail
• Make resolutions that will benefit you and others. i.e. don't just make a resolution for the sake of it
• Make a conscience effort each day to take a step towards achieving your resolution
• Keep a note of your progress so you can see how well (or how badly!) you are keeping to your resolution
• Ask someone to help you keep in line with your resolutions. e.g. If you're trying to give up chocolate, tell your friends and family so they can stop you if they see you trying to eat chocolate.
• Finally, pray! God is there to help you with all you are doing, so ask Him to help!

These are just a few of my thoughts to help you keep your new year resolutions this year.

Good luck!

Give It All To God

Do you have someone in your life you taunts you and reduces you to tears? It's no fun when you have someone in your life who provokes you relentlessly, and taunts you with cruel words.

So what should we do if we find ourselves in a situation like this? First and foremost we should pray. Pour our your heart to the Lord, and tell Him how you feel. No matter how difficult your situation and how hard you are finding it to cope, God is there. Prayer, trust and worship will help you deal with your situation, no matter how hard it is for you.

Give your burdens all to the Lord, and leave them there so you can't pick them up again. Let God dry your tears and give you back your joy.

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

Not Ashamed

Do you consider yourself to be a Christian?

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt as a Christian, you should speak out for God? Did you?

It can be difficult to "stand out" from everyone around you and stand up for your beliefs. I have been in situations like that a number of times and if I'm honest with you and with myself, I have to admit I have "sat back" in some of these situations and just kept quiet.

What did I achieve by staying quiet and not sticking up for God? Shame and disappointment! Yes not only was God disappointed in my, I was disappointed in myself and felt ashamed I did not have the courage to "be different" from everyone else and stickup for God.

So how do you make sure you do stick up for God the next time you find yourself in one of these kinds of situations?
Answer - First and foremost you pray! You ask God to give you the strength and the courage to "stand out" and "stand up" for Him. God will give you the strength you need, and He will give you the right words to say to.

So don't be ashamed of being a Christian, praying is our greatest strength in our times of need. Don't let God be ashamed of you!

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/

Remembrance

Today all around the world, many joined together to remember those you have been killed fighting for their country. I'd like to mark this day by sharing with you the contents of an email I received a few days ago, as I was so moved by it.

I'd ask you to read the following and pass it onto others...


The poppy Appeal commenced on 24th October. Please read this.

They are doing their bit.....please do yours by reading this and getting others to read it too:
The average British soldier is 19 years old.....he is a short haired, well built lad who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears and just old enough to buy a round of drinks but old enough to die for his country - and for you. He's not particularly keen on hard work but he'd rather be grafting in Afghanistan than unemployed in the UK . He recently left comprehensive school where he was probably an average student, played some form of sport, drove a ten year old rust bucket, and knew a girl that either broke up with him when he left, or swore to be waiting when he returns home. He moves easily to rock and roll or hip-hop or to the rattle of a 7.62mm machine gun.
He is about a stone lighter than when he left home because he is working or fighting from dawn to dusk and well beyond. He has trouble spelling, so letter writing is a pain for him, but he can strip a rifle in 25 seconds and reassemble it in the dark. He can recite every detail of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either effectively if he has to. He digs trenches and latrines without the aid of machines and can apply first aid like a professional paramedic. He can march until he is told to stop, or stay dead still until he is told to move.

He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation but he is not without a rebellious spirit or a sense of personal dignity. He is confidently self-sufficient. He has two sets of uniform with him: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his water bottle full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never forgets to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes and fix his own hurts. If you are thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food is your food. He'll even share his life-saving ammunition with you in the heat of a firefight if you run low.

He has learned to use his hands like weapons and regards his weapon as an extension of his own hands. He can save your life or he can take it, because that is his job - it's what a soldier does. He often works twice as long and hard as a civilian, draw half the pay and have nowhere to spend it, and can still find black ironic humour in it all. There's an old saying in the British Army: 'If you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined!'

He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and he is unashamed to show it or admit it. He feels every bugle note of the 'Last Post' or 'Sunset' vibrate through his body while standing rigidly to attention. He's not afraid to 'Bollock' anyone who shows disrespect when the Regimental Colours are on display or the National Anthem is played; yet in an odd twist, he would defend anyone's right to be an individual. Just as with generations of young people before him, he is paying the price for our freedom. Clean shaven and baby faced he may be, but be prepared to defend yourself if you treat him like a kid.

He is the latest in a long thin line of British Fighting Men that have kept this country free for hundreds of years. He asks for nothing from us except our respect, friendship and understanding. We may not like what he does, but sometimes he doesn't like it either - he just has it to do.. Remember him always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.

And now we even have brave young women putting themselves in harm's way, doing their part in this tradition of going to war when our nation's politicians call on us to do so.
Now you've read this, please stop for a moment and if you are so inclined, feel free to say a prayer for our troops in the trouble spots of the world.

Our troops need our prayers. Please pray for them.

Saved!

We often hear Christians talking about being saved, but what does that mean?
And what are they talking about being saved from?

Put simply, it means we are saved from our sins.

When God created the world, everything was perfect. However as we all know, it didn't take long after God created man, before things became spoiled and sin first occurred - Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

Sin spoiled the relationship God had with man. In Romans 5:12 we learn that the whole world was affected because Adam sinned:
You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we're in— first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone (The Message)

Every person born after Adam was then born into a sinful world - that means everyone, including you and me!

So we're all sinful, so how can we be saved (free from sin)? We can do that by accepting God into your life and recognising that God sent Jesus here to earth where He died just so each one of us could be forgiven of all our sins.

Pray to God today and ask Him to save you today!

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

War Child

Many families today, in many countries, are mourning the death of loved ones who have been serving their country in a foreign land. We've heard of soldiers being killed in active service abroad, nearly every day these days.

Today I'm going to spend time praying for those currently serving their country and for those who have sadly been killed or injury while carrying out their duties. The families of these soldier need our prayers too, so I will be particularly praying for them too.

I'd ask you today to spend time in prayer for our soldiers in active service, those injured and for the families of those killed in service.

Our soldiers and their families need our prayers.

Mark Schultz is one of my favourite singer/songwriters and his song Letters From War fits wonderfully with today's blog message. It tells the story of a mother left at home as her son is a soldier, fighting in a far away war. I hope you enjoy it as much I do - it reminds us not to ever give up hope no matter what faces us and we can apply that philosophy to all we do!

Letters From War (Mark Schultz)

She walked to the mailbox
On that bright summers day
Found a letter from her son
In a war far away

He spoke of the weather
And good friends that he'd made
Said I'd been thinking 'bout dad
And the life that he had
That's why I'm here today
And that the end he said
You are what I'm fighting for
It was the first of the letters from war

She started writing
You're good and you're brave
What a father that you'll be someday
make it home
make it safe

She wrote every night as she prayed

Late in December
A day she'll not forget
Oh her tears stained the paper
With every word that she read

It said "I was up on a hill
I was out there alone
When the shots all rang out
And bombs were exploding
And that's when I saw him
He came back for me
And though he was captured
A man set me free
And that man was your son
He asked me to write to you
I told him i would, oh I swore"
It was the last of the letters from war

And she prayed he was living
Kept on believing
And wrote every night just to say

You are good
And you're brave
what a father that you'll be someday
Make it home
Make it safe
Still she kept writing each day

Then two years later
Autumn leaves all around
A car pulled in the driveway
And she fell to the ground
And out stepped a captain
Where her boy used to stand

He said "mom I'm following orders
From all of your letters
And I've come home again",
He ran into hold her
And dropped all his bags on the floor
Holding all of her letters from war

Bring him home
Bring him home
Bring him home

Please checkout Mark Schultz' website: http://markschultzmusic.com/home/

It's The Same Air

Think about those people who are less fortunate than yourself...living in the same town or city as you...in far away lands...with little to call their own...in desperate need of help...in need of you and me!

But what can I do? What can you do?
There are many things we can do to help - first and foremost we can pray for these people and the circumstances that have led them to be in their current position; pray for their physical and emotional healing. There are also many practical ways we can help - why not donate some of your time and/or money to help people in your own area.

There no excuse why each of us can't do something to help others. we may think our small monetary donation or an hours work will make no difference, but what if we all do that! Wow, what a fantastic difference we can make in people's lives.

Take that step today, help someone in need - after all we all breathe the same air...God's air!

I've used the following song Breathe before (blog post on 12/5/2009 entitled Breathe), however I've using a different version of it this time. The video associated with this version of the song show the Salvation Army's international work in action and to me reinforces the message I've tried to pass to you today, that we all breathe the same air.

Visit the Salvation Army's UK website and make a donation today: http://www2.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf

This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread
This is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me

And I I'm desperate for you
And I I'm I'm lost without you

This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread
this is my daily bread
your very word spoken to me

And I'm, I'm desperate for you
And I'm, I'm lost without you

And I'm desperate for you
And I'm, I'm lost without you.

I'm lost without you.
I'm lost without you.
I'm desperate for you.

I'm desperate for you..

I'm lost, I'm lost, I'm lost without you..
I'm lost without you

I'm desperate for you

Don't Give Up On Prayer

Following on from my previous post "Praying When It's Difficult", I want to share some of my own experience of how difficult it can be to pray at times.

It's funny how for some people, the only time they turn to prayer is when things aren't going well for them. Then there's those of us who pray regularly and when we find ourselves facing difficult times, we find it hard to pray. I find quite ironic!

Over the last few years when I've faced some difficult times, I have at many times found it impossible to pray - not because I no longer believed God would help me, but simply because I couldn't find the words I wanted to say.

The one thing that kept me going through all this was the knowledge that God was still with me, and knew what was in my heart, He knew my thoughts and my feelings. How amazing is that!

Although I would have preferred not to have faced those times, I truly believe that without them, I would not be the person I am today. God has reinforced to me, just how much he can do for you and for me, if only we trust Him.

So no matter how difficult a time you're having, trust God, and try to pray - he'll hear the prayer in your heart even if you can't find the words.

Checkout the Casting Crowns website: http://www.castingcrowns.com/

Praying When It's Difficult

How many times a day should we pray?

Some say it doesn't matter, others say three times a day - this may be based on Daniel who "prayed three times a days, just as he had always done" (Daniel 6:10). But ultimately it really is up to us each as individuals how often we pray each day. The important thing is that we pray regularly, no matter what.

Daniel when threatened with death must have been tempted to not to pray at all, but because his habit was to pray three times every day, that we exactly what he continued to do. If praying was made a criminal offence, how many times a day would you pray?

How important to you is your prayer life? It should be very important. We live in a world that is predominantly hostile to God, so it goes without saying that we are likely to face difficult times in our faith. But prayer is what allows us to spend time with God, and helps us to grow in our trust of God, as well as helping others as well.

Can we be like Daniel and pray three times a day no matter what we face? Do we with as much diligence and determination as Daniel did?

Why not start today - pray three times every day from now on. Who knows who will be touched by your prayer life!

Relationship With God

When we pray we strengthen our relationship with God.

When we listen to God, we strengthen our relationship with Him.

We must pray about our loved ones and our relationships.

God brings wonderful people into our lives - some to encourage us, some to help us fulfill God's plan for our lives, some for us to help and others whose company we just enjoy.

Conversely the Devil also introduces us to people that will hurt us, disappoint us, betray us, drain us or use us to further themselves. We must therefore, listen to God's guidance and trust Him, as He will help us recognise those the Devil has sent, those who will be wrong for us.

Pray to God. Listen to God. Work for God. He alone is with you at all times.

A Bad Day

Have you ever had a day when everything seems to conspire against you?

Well today's been one of those days for me. From the moment I got out of bed, everything just seemed to not go a smoothly as it could or should have. Here's just a few of today's "issues":

• before I started getting washed I dropped my towel in the bath...when the bath had water in it
• a button fell off my blouse - though fortunately that was before I left the house!
• kicked over the cat's water bowl and got water everywhere
  left the house to go to work, got to my car, no car key, so had to go back into house to get my car key

So that's just some of the things that happened before I go to work today. As for my day at work, it wasn't much better.

What really made my day really bad was the fact that I wasn't feeling very good either - I really just wanted away from work so I could find a nice wee quiet corner where I could curl up and release all the emotions that seemed to have built up inside me.

What kind of day have you had? I hope it's been better than mine!

Either way, how did you get through your day?

When you woke up this morning, did you pray that God would be with you in everything you did today? I did.

When things started going wrong for you, did you pray for God's guidance to see you through? I did.

When you felt the day couldn't get any worse and you felt at your lowest, did you pray that God would give you the strength to carry on? I did.

Just because we pray to God to help us, doesn't mean we'll never face any difficult day. It just means that if we put ourselves in God's hands during those difficult times, He will be by our side guiding us through those difficult times.

Be strong. Let God be your strength.

1 Chronicles 16:11 - Look to the Lord and his strength

Opportunities

When you pray, do you pray that God will help you tell others the message that God is alive and here with us?

Do you pray that God will help you to tell others His message in a way they will understand and believe?

Do you take every opportunity that comes your way to tell others of God's love?

Colossians 4:2-6 (New Living Translation)
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.



I think most of us, if we're honest with ourselves (and with God), would have to say we don't do any of these things as much as we should! For myself, I know I need to make more use of the opportunities that come my way to talk to others about God.


I pray that we may each take every opportunity that comes our way to spread God's message to those who don't yet know Him.

I also pray that even when we don't get the opportunity to speak to someone about God, they can see something different about us because of our words and actions - they can see we believe in Christ!

Holiday Time!

Here in Scotland we are now well into the school summer holidays. From a purely selfish perspective, it mean quieter roads going to and from work as many folk are either off or away on holiday – It is amazing how much quicker my journey times to/from work are when the schools are off!

I don’t know about you but in our office at the moment, that’s all we seem to hear about – this person going off on holiday an talking about where they’re going and what they’re going to do, while others are returning from holiday and telling us all the stories from their holiday.


But what about all those who are unable to go on holiday – those who are sick/ill, those caring from family/friends, those who can’t afford to go away anywhere, maybe because they don’t have a job or uncertainty about their job security or maybe just because of the current economic climate.

There are many people who would love to be able to be in a position where they could go on holiday, but circumstances prevent them from doing so. To them this time of year can be particularly difficult as they hear of so many others going on holiday which reminds them that they cannot go away. I’d ask you today to spare a thought for those who are unable to go away on holiday this summer due to their personal circumstances.

Please pray that their circumstances may change so that they get the opportunity for a break, as everyone needs time away from their standard routine, even if it’s just for a day or two, as it give us time to relax and get away from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

To those of you who have already been on holiday and to those of you who have still to go, I hope your holiday wasn't/isn't as eventful as those in the film clip above, from National Lampoon's Vacation!

I hope you had/have an excellent time and return(ed) home refreshed ready to face whatever the days ahead may hold for you.

Happy holidays!

Press On

Well we're nearly at the end of another working week, so how's your week been?

It's been a strange week for me as it's been full of highs and lows in a several areas of my life. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly a high in our life and so quickly change to feeling like an all time low, and vice versa.

I hope your week has been one of highs, however if it hasn't, what did you do when you were experiencing one of your lower times?

The first thing we should do then is pray - Turn to God, He will give you the stregth and the courage to go on and get you through your "deep valley". I know and understand that it can be very difficult during these times to trust God and believe He will help, but take it from one who's been in some very "deep valleys" in the last while, God can and will help...He may not help you in the way you expected or wanted, but He will help you in the way He knows is best for you.

Trust God and press on in your Christian journey.

Press On by Selah:


When the mountain is steep
when the valley is deep
when the body is weary
when we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard
when we're battered and scarred
when we've spent our resource
when we've given our all

In Jesus name we press on
In jesus name we press on
dear lord, with the prize
clear before our eyes
we find the strength to press on

It starts with:
When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep

you had it switched around that's all

Words

In the office today I was asked to review a document that had been written by someone else. I did so and then gave feedback on my findings. Only to discover that the meaning I had taken from some of the statements was completely different from the intended meaning!

It's so easy to say things either verbally or in writing, thinking you have stated your points well and without ambiguity, but then find out the listener/reader has taken a completely different meaning from your words!

Sadly this is how so many relationships/friendship are broken. :(

We as Christians must be particularly careful about what we say, as we must at all times speak and act as God wants to. i.e. we must try not to say or do things that upset others unintentionally or intentionally.

Psalms 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Do you always speak/act as God desires you to?

I know I am guilty at times of not speaking/acting as I know God wants me to. We must ask God to forgive us when to do or say something to displease Him and ask Him to be at the centre of everything we do and say, this way we can be sure we will always act/speak in a way that reflects God's love for each one of us.

TV versus Prayer

So how many of you just came to read this blog because of its title?

Even if it was just the title that got you here, I hope you read on...


I've spent some time in the last few days, rereading some of my previous posts, and found myself focusing on my post entitled DVD Players versus Bibles.

While that post was all about how many DVD players we have in relation to the number of bibles we possess, I got thinking about how much time we spend in prayer.

So, on average, how long do you spend watching the television each day? Now be honest, as I think if you are like me, you might be embarassed about how much time you spend watching the TV!

Have you done your calculations? Are you surprised how much time you send watching the television? I certainly was! I then wondered how many of programmes that are on when you're TV is on, that you actually watch! I know in our house, the TV is often on, but niether of us are actually watching it - it's just there as a noise in the corner!

So where am I going with this? Given the amount of time we spend watching the television, I wonder how that compares with the amount of time we spend in prayer.


So, some questions for you to consider:

Do you spend time praying each day?
How much time do you spend praying each day?
Do you watch the TV more regularly than you pray?
How often do you listen to what God is saying to you?

Now I've thrown a number of questions at you, what's your reaction to your answers? I was quite shocked by my answers to the above questions. We spend a lot of time these days watching tv, dvds, playing computer games, using pcs/laptops, but do we spend enough of our time reading our bible and praying?

Because of my own answers to the above questions, I'm re-evaluating how I spend my time, do you need to do that too?


Enjoy the music but also acknowledge the message presented in the following video: "Pray" by Rebecca St James

Pray

(by Rebecca St James)

Jesus I am broken now

Before you I fall I lay me down

All I want is you, my all

I cry out from the ashes

Burned with sin and shame

I ask you Lord to make me whole again

For you say if I will come and will

Pray to you

There's forgiveness when I

Turn from me and pray

For you say if I will come and will

Pray to you

You hear me and heal me when I pray

Your ways are not my own

But I long for them to be

So this what I pray

One with you you'll make me

Melt me away 'til only you remain

For you say if I will come and will

Pray to you

There's forgiveness when I

Turn to you and pray

For you say if I will come and will

Pray to you

You hear me and heal me when I pray

Jesus I am broken now before you

Take me I am yours

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/