Difficult Days

I have debated for a few days whether to share a little of what's ahead for me - but having thought and prayed about it, I feel it's appropriate as I feel I really need your prayers for the coming days.

I hope that through all my previous blog posts you realise that although I'm asking you for your prayers, I have placed my life in God's hands - it doesn't make life any easier to face at times, but it does help to know God is by my side, through it all.

As the title of this post suggests, I find myself facing some difficult days. Each of the next few days find me facing different situations each of which I'm struggling a bit to find the strength to get through them.

My Dad hasn't been too well recently and tomorrow he's at the hospital for tests etc. So as you can imagine we're all a bit concerned about the outcome of all that.

On Friday evening I leave with rest of Bellshill Salvation Army Band to visit Peterborough Salvation Army for the weekend. That in itself is great, so I'm sure you're wondering why I'm worried about that! While the band has had a few weekends away in the last few years, this weekend will be the the first time for a while that I've been well enough to go away with them. Although I'm much better than I was a few years ago, I still have some days when I am not too good,so I'm worried that I might struggle physically (and therefore emotionally too) while we're away.
Despite my reservations and worries about the coming weekend, I really am looking forward to being able to go away with the band again, as they are a good bunch of Christian folk.

You can visit the band's website at: http://www.bsab.co.uk/

Finally to round of the next few days, I've got a hospital appointment on Monday for more tests - so that really has just finished off, what for me, will be a difficult few days physically and emotionally.

So there you go, that's what lies ahead for me in the next few days. Unfortunately I know I'm already starting to get stressed about these things even though it's probably not obvious to those who see me, so I could really use your prayers for the next few days please.

Thank you all for your support, I really do appreciate it.

I'm in His hands, I'm in His hands,
Whatever the future holds
I'm in His hands.
The days I cannot see
Have all been planned for me;
His way is best you see;
I'm in His hands.
by Stanley E Ditmer

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/

Rescue Me

When the future looks hopeless, and you're strugging to find a reason to continue, there is one person can gave you the strength to carry on. When you're in so much pain that you just want it to stop now, there's one person who can take all your physical and emotional pain away.

So who is that person? That person is God. God can rescue you from your darkest days and help give you a reason to carry on.

I have been through some very dark times myself and often felt I couldn't face another day physically or emotionally, but God kept telling me to hang on because he was there for me. It's several years on now and I still have some days when I find it difficult physically and emotionally, but I have no doubts that God is with me will rescue me from my darkest times. He can rescue you too, if you'll let Him.

Came To My Rescue by Hillsong United


Came to My Rescue
Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek Your face
Lord all I am is is Yours

My whole life
I place in Your hands
God of mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at Your throne

I called You answered
And You came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where You are

In my life be lifted high
In our world be lifted high
In our love be lifted high

Love Endures Forever

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (New Living Translation)
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Well know words from scripture which I'm sure you've heard many times before. Just because you've heard them many times, do still actually consider what those words mean?

Love is stronger than anything else, it will endure through anything. Love will never desert you even when you feel unloved, as God will always love you. God's love will last forever. God's love for you will endure no matter what you may have done in your life - God's love for you lasts forever.

Today I ask you to join me in thanking God for loving us unconditionally.

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
Written by Martin Smith

Over the mountains and the sea,
Your river runs with love for me,
and I will open up my heart
and let the Healer set me free.
I'm happy to be in the truth,
and I will daily lift my hands:
for I will always sing of when
Your love came down. [Yeah!]

I could sing of Your love forever,
I could sing of Your love forever,
I could sing of Your love forever,
I could sing of Your love forever. [Repeat]

Oh, I feel like dancing -
it's foolishness I know;
but, when the world has seen the light,
they will dance with joy,
like we're dancing now.

Please checkout the Delirious? website: http://www.delirious.co.uk/html/

Friends Are Forever

We all need (and want) good friends in our life. What a blessing and support they can be to us. There above song is a beautiful song by one of my favourite Christian singers, Michael W Smith, which is all about the love of our friends.

To me there is one phrase in this song which always jumps out at me "And friends are friends forever If the lords the lord of them" - In other words, your friends will be good friends to you forever when God is at the centre of your relationship.

Good friends are very hard to find so don't take your friendships for granted, tell your friends regularly just how much they mean to you and how much you need them in your life.

Friends
Words: deborah d. smith
Music: michael w. smith

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Cant believe the hopes hes granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem you've gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the lords the lord of them
And a friend will not say never
cause the welcome will not end
Though its hard to let you go
In the fathers hands we know
That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

With the faith and love gods given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show

But well keep you close as always
It wont even seem you've gone
cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

And friends are friends forever
If the lords the lord of them
And a friend will not say never
cause the welcome will not end
Though its hard to let you go
In the fathers hands we know
That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

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

Deep In Love

Have you ever been in love? It's a wonderful feeling isn't it.
If you have never been in love, you have missed out as it really is something wonderful.

What do you want/expect from someone in return when you both love each another? Love, affection, care, support, understanding - these are just a few qualities you might expect from a loving relationship.

John 16:27 (NIV)
No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God

There is only one person who can offer all these qualities and so much more and who will never ever let you down. Who is that person? Your husband, wife, Mother, Father, brother, sister, friend? No, they may all do there best for you but they will never be all you ever need. God is that person!

Are you deep in love with God? It's never too late to fall in love with God for the first time, so I'd urge you start your relationship with God today as He will love you unconditionally, forever!

Deep In Love with You
(lyrics by Michael W. Smith, Debbie Smith, Christa Black)
Sitting at Your feet is where I want to be
I'm home when I am here with You
Ruined by Your grace, enamored by Your gaze
I can't resist the tenderness in You

I'm deep in love with You, Abba Father
I'm deep in love with You, Lord
My heart, it beats for You, precious Jesus
I'm deep in love with You Lord

Humbled and amazed that You would call my name
I never have to search again
There's a deep desire that's burning like a fire
To know You as my closest friend

Lord, my redeemer, Your blood runs through my veins
My love for You is deeper than it was yesterday
I enter through the curtain, parted by Your grace
Oh, Your the lover of my soul

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