A Matter of Trust

I realised yesterday after I published yesterday's blog post that I'd used the same bible text twice within a matter of days!

So what text was this? It was Psalm 9:10 from the New International bible:

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

I've now looked up this version in several other translations just to compare what they say:
In The Message, verses 9 and 10 says

God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked.

This is my favourite translation as it's just so down to earth and the language is just as we'd use if we had just popped into a friends house!

The New Living Translation says

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you

And finally, the Contemporary English Version says

Everyone who honors your name can trust you, because you are faithful to all who depend on you.

As you can see, regardless of the translation you look at, the same word appears...trust.

So, it would seem that I've been thinking a lot about trust lately. Maybe it's because I've ben feeling quite vulnerable in the last while, as well as struggling physically and emotionally at times too.

No matter what has come my way over the last few weeks, months and years - some including some very dark times - it has been my trust in God that has kept me going more than anyone or anything else.

Ensure you can cope with all everything that comes your way by trusting God, He can be all you need in every situation - I can testify to that!

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/

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

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.

He's Been Here

God sent His son to earth so that He could experience all that we experience. He went one step further than we will ever have to go though, because He sent His son here to earth to die on a cross, just so we would be forgiven of all our sins.

Don't think because you're finding life difficult or your struggling to carry on, that Jesus doesn't understand how you feel, He does. Jesus understands, He's been here and He's had those same feelings you are experiencing now.

So trust Jesus, trust God, because He's with you all the time.

I Have Been There by Mark Schultz
In a room without a view, a new mother smiles and holds
her tiny fingers on her brand new baby girl.
Her husband takes her by the hand, so unsure about the future
and no money can they make it in this world?

And they pray, Lord all we have to give is love
and they heard a gentle voice like an echo from above,
I have been there. I know what fear is all about.
Yes, I have been there and I'm standing with you now.
I have been there
And I came to build the bridge oh so this road could lead you home.
Oh I have been there.

He's been a pastor twenty years
but tonight he sits alone and broken hearted in the corner of the church
He tried to change a fallen world
with his words and with his wisdom but it seems like it is only getting worse
And he cries, Oh Lord I just don't understand
Then he felt the hand of grace, and he heard a voice that said

I have been there, I know what pain is all about
yes I have been there, and I'm standing with you now
I have been there, and I came to build a bridge
oh so this road could lead you home
oh i have been there.

An older man up on a hill
holding flowers but he can't hold back the tears.
oh he has come to say goodbye.
he thinks about the life she lived,
thinks about how hard it's been to live without her
sixty years right by his side
and he cries, oh Lord i loved her till the end
and he heard a gentle voice say you'll see her once again

I have been there
I know what sorrow's all about
yes i have been there and I'm standing with you now
i have been there, and i came to build a bridge
oh so this road could lead her home, the road could lead her home
oh i have been there, You know I overcame the cross, yes i have been there
so her life would not be lost
oh i have been there, and i came to build
a bridge so this road could lead you home
the road could lead you home

Oh I have been there
Yes I have been there

Checkout Mark Schultz website: http://markschultzmusic.com/home/

Saying Goodbye

Standing in a busy airport or train station, you can watch people meeting and greeting one another, sighing and crying as they say their farewells to each other. Saying goodbye to a loved one is never fun.
How do we find the strength to say goodbye when we leave home to go to college or university? How do we cope with saying goodbye when we have to move to work in a new city or country? How do we leave a parent or partner in care home or hospice when we wish they could remain at home with us?

These are just a few examples of difficult situations when we have to say goodbye to loved ones, but there's one way in which we can make these situations just a little easier to cope with, and that is to trust God. God will watch over our loved ones, and He will watch over us too.

So when we find we face a situation where we have to say goodbye to loved ones, put them into God's hand for safekeeping and pray that God will keep and sustain them for you.

Trust God always!

Trusting God

Are you a risk taker? Are you good at taking risks, or are you frightened of the unknown or uncertain?

Are you scared of taking a risk in case you let others down, in case you let God down?

In Pslam 56:11 the psalmist says, "I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?".

Do you believe God is trustworthy? God is trustworthy whether we trust Him or not. God wants us to trust Him fully so that we no longer need to worry about anything, we simply trust God in all we do.

No matter what your fears, put your full trust in God today and everyday, we can count on Him always.

Visit Jeremy Camp's website: http://www.jeremycamp.com/

Walk By Faith

Do you "walk by faith"?
Is your faith such that no matter what you face, it stays strong and keeps you focus on God?
Do you believe God plans the way ahead for you?

Have you answered No to any of these questions? If so I'd like to encourage you to put your trust fully in God. I, like many others can vouch for the fact that God will never let you down. He will plan your life for you and lead you along His path. You might find the path He's chosen for you is not the one you expected, however God knows you better than you know yourself, so trust Him he knows what is best for you.

God will use you to help spread His wonderful message if only you'll put your full trust in Him and walk by faith.

Walk By Faith (by Jeremy Camp)
Will I believe you when you say
Your hand will guide my every way
Will I receive the words You say
Every moment of every day

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Help me to rid my endless fears
You've been so faithful for all my years
With the one breath You make me new
Your grace covers all I do

yeah, yeah , yeah, yeah, ya

well i will walk by faith
even when i cannot see
because this broken road
prepares your will for me

Well I'm broken- but I still see Your face
Well You've spoken- pouring Your words of grace

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Well I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Well because this broken road
Prepares Your will for me

Hallelujah, hallelu

I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith, I will walk by faith,
I will walk by faith
I will walk by faith
I will walk,I will walk
Faith
I will walk, I will walk by faith

Checkout Jeremy Camp's website: http://www.jeremycamp.com/

With All I Am

Today's blog follows on from my post yesterday - Never Let Go. Yesterday I spoke of how Jesus has promised never to leave our side no matter what is going on in our life.

So today I want to speak about how we repay God for being our "best friend". Well when you have experienced God's unfailing and unquestioning love in yourlife, you will find it difficult not to say to God, "I trust you completely, so I am yours forever".

Maybe you're not at that stage yet in your relationship with God, but I can assure you that you have nothing to fear, God is always there for you. Not only that, but He will make you feel so very safe in the knowledge that He loves you and is looking out for you, forever!

With All I Am
into your hand
i commit again
with all I am
for you Lord

you hold my world
in the palm of your hand
and I'm yours forever

Jesus I believe in you
Jesus I belong to you
you're the reason that I live
the reason that I sing
with all I am

I'll walk with you
wherever you go
through tears and joy
I'll trust in you

and I will live
in all of your ways and
your promises forever

Jesus I believe in you
Jesus I belong to you
you're the reason that I live
the reason that I sing
with all I am

I will worship I will worship you forever

Jesus I believe in you
Jesus I belong to you
you're the reason that I live
the reason that I sing
with all I am

God Is Here

You're feeling at your lowest. You feel alone and it feels like no one cares about you or loves you. Then you come across the following words...

This is a crazy world
These can be lonely times
It's hard to know who's on your side
Most of the time

Who can you really trust
Who do you really know
Is there anybody out there
Who can make you feel less alone
Some times you just can't make it on your own

If you need a place where you can run
If you need a shoulder to cry on
I'll always be your friend

When you need some shelter from the rain
When you need a healer for your pain
I will be there time and time again
When you need someone to love you
Here I am, hmmm

If you have broken dreams
Just lay them all on me
I'll be the one who understands
So take my hand

If you reach emptiness

You know I'll do my best
To fill you up with all the love
That I can show someone
I promise you you'll never walk alone

Well if you need a place where you can run
If you need a shoulder to cry on
I'll always be your friend

When you need some shelter from the rain
When you need a healer for your pain
I will be there time and time again
When you need someone to love you
Here I am, oooo

Everybody needs somebody who
keep a heart and soul in two

Well if you need a place where you can run
If you need a shoulder to cry on
I'll always be your friend

When you need some shelter from the rain
When you need a healer for your pain
I will be there time and time again
When you need someone to love you
Here I am, Here I am

So who did you imagine saying these words to you? Well the words are actually those from the Leona Lewis song Here I Am, however whenever I listen to this song I like to imagine they are God's words to me.

Please close your eyes and listen to Leona Lewis singing this song, and imagine God saying the words to you. I hope you find reassurance and blessing from them, just as I have.

The official Leona Lewis website: http://www.leonalewismusic.co.uk/index.php/index

Decisions, Decisions

Are you faced with making a difficult decision?
Are you faced with making a decision that could dramatically change your life?
Scared you will not make the right decision?

Well you're not alone - all these situations/feelings are all perfectly normal. I think if we are all honest, we all get a bit scared/worried when we face difficult decisions or face new situations that are unfamiliar to us.
But how can we be sure we are making the right decisions? We can only ever be 100% certain when we involve God's in our decision making. Friends, family and colleagues may all try to give you advice, but ultimately God is the only person who can guide you to the right choice for you.

Talk to God. Listen to what he's saying to you. Trust his leading.

If you follow God's directions He will guide you though. He will give you all you need to do whatever it is he has directed you to do. Trust Him.

I Can Trust You (Rebecca St James)

Yes, I know that You have paved a path for me
Yes, I know that You see what I do and don’t need
But when it comes to the deepest things
I have a hard time relinquishing control
Letting go

God, it hurts to give You what I must lay down
But when I let go, freedom’s found
God, it hurts to give You what I’ve held so dear
Because of Your love it’s clear
I can trust You with this
I can trust You with me
I can trust You

Lord, I know that You are worthy of my trust
For You have shown me time and time again
You’re faithful and yet
I’m so scared of letting go of this
Afraid of what You might do with it
How could I forget who You are like this

Me forsaking
Heart is breaking
I let go of what I’ve held so tight
Freedom’s mine now
For the taking
I move in faith, not by sight
Let Your will be done

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.

Thank You God

Earlier today I noticed that my blog had reached 2000 hits - Wow! Believe it or not I was lost for words when I saw the number of hits had reached the 2000 mark.

I feel so humbled by the number of people who have read my blog. So I would like to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to each and every one of you who have taken the time to read this blog.


To those of you who have left comments or contacted me via Twitter (follow me on Twitter) or email and given me words of encouragement and support, I'd like to thank you all - it has been great to know your thoughts about what I've had to say, and I've felt particularly honoured when you've told me my blog has been "just what you needed" at that time.

So, I've thanked you for read my blog, and now I want to thank God for giving me the direction and inspiration to write it. If you'd asked me this time last year if I'd be blogging about my faith and experiences of God, I'd have told you not to be so daft as I'd never be able to do something like that - It just shows what I know!

If God is speaking to you and asking you to do something you think you cannot do - Trust God, He will give you the tools you need to do His work.

Tears

Do you have times when you feel nothing is going right for you?
Do you have times when you feel so alone?
Do you have times when you no one cares about you?
Are there times when you wonder if you can carry on?

If you've answered Yes to any of the above questions, you're not alone - I'm sure we've all had times when we've felt at least some of the above.

How did you cope when you felt like that? Or if you've never felt like that, how do you think you would cope?

The best way to cope in any situation is to give it to God and ask Him to give you the strength to get through.

Speaking from personal experience I can tell you that even when you might think no one is there for you and no one cares, you'll find that someone somewhere is thinking about you and praying for you, so don't despair. I have been there and know it can be very difficult but hang on to God, He will get you through your struggle often by sending you someone to help support you - that's what he did for me.

Don't ever be afraid to cry and show your feelings to others. I say this as one who finds it very difficult to show my emotions in front of others. But over the last while I've come to realise that sometimes you just have to let go completely and let others see you pain. You'll probably be surprised how much of a relief that will be - it certainly was for me!

When the laughter
Fails to comfort
When my heart aches
Lord are you there
When confusion is all around me
And the darkness
Is my closest friend
Still I will praise You
Jesus praise you

So don't ever lose sight of God. Don't stop trusting in God, He will get you through, maybe not in the way you expected, but He will get you through.

Visit Tim Hughes website: http://www.timhughesmusic.com/

Give Him Everything

Have you given your life entirely to Jesus?
God needs, and wants us to trust and believe in Him entirely. He wants to be part of our every day life - not just on a Sunday when we go to church, or when things aren't going well for us, but all the time.


Psalm 127:1-2 - New Living Translation
Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones.


God will look after those who trust and believe in Him. Let God be a part of everything you do, and everywhere you go. Put God at the centre of all you do.

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

My Cornerstone

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

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

In Christ Alone by the Newsboys

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

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

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

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

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

Be Still

Psalm 46 (New International Version)
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields [b] with fire.

"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

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

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

(Exodus 14:14 NIV)