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/

True Friend

"You're my friend" - words we often say to people without really thinking about what that really means. Words that can mean the world to the person we say them to.

What qualities do you expect to find in a friend? Here's a few suggestions:

• friendship
• support
• encouragement
• confidant
• trust
• loyalty
• caring
• love
• understanding

How many of your friends possess all the qualities you'd want to find in a friend?

We are so fortunate when we find a true friend, one we can talk to about anything, one who will support and encourage us, one who will comfort us when we're upset. Those friendship do not happen very often, so when we find one like that say thank you to God for allowing us the opportunity to have these kind of friends.

Never take your friends for granted. Tell them often how much they mean to you, as you never know when it might be too late.

Michael W Smith's song I'll Be Your Friend expresses how even through the difficult times in our lives, our true friends will stick by us.

So many memories and so many miles

The road that stretches behind us

We've had some laughter and our share

Of tears

But all these moments unite us

Ill be your friend for a lifetime

Against the wind and the rain of every season

Wont walk away in the hard times

I will be your friend

I'm saying I will be your friend

Sure as the river runs to the sea

High as the mountain that reaches

You were there by my side till the end

(and) helped me on my feet again

So in the valley walk on

Don't have to face it alone

Cause in the hard times

We keep growing strong

As we learn, as we live

That we live when we give

Thank you God for your friends and what they mean to us.

Thank you Jesus for being the best friend we could ever wish to have.

Quality Time

What a beautiful day it's been, the sun has been shining, there's hardly been a cloud in the sky and it's been really really warm. Let's hope it lasts for a while!

So for those of you who have been at work this week, you'll be delighted that it's now officailly the end of the working week - yes I know it may not be where you are, but here in the UK it's after 5pm on Friday, so for the majority of folk it's now considered to be the weekend! Let's hope the wonderful weather today continues over the weekend at the very least!

Well this week, we've been on holiday from work. Unfortunately though we've still not been able to get away anywhere, but even so, it's still been a fantastic week.

These days we all find ourselves rushing about from place to place trying to fit in loads of different tasks into every minute of our day. So this week it's been great to get away from all that as well as all the stress that work and everyday life puts on us. It's been good to be able to just relax and chill out and actually just spend some quality time together for the first time in a while.

How often to you get a chance to spent quality time with your family and friends?

Given the fast pace at which we all have to live our lifes at these days, you may well find your answer is "not very often". If that is the case, take the time now to arrange with family and friends, a time for you to spend quality time together - I promise you your relationships with your family and friends will benefit greatly from it.

It is important to look after all our relationships: that means our relationships with our family and friends, as well as our relationship with God.

Look after them all.