Found

My world was changed
When Your love You gave for me

Do you ever find yourself thinking about how different your life would be if God hadn't sent Jesus to earth to die a painful death on the cross, just so we could be forgiven?

I've found myself thinking about that quite a lot in the last while. If I'm honest I'm not sure my life would be recognisable if I had never known God. Why? Because so many of the experiences and situations I've found myself in have been because of my faith - I've attended the Salvation Army all my life and having been part of the junior choir and band and subsequently the senior choir and band, many of my "life" experiences have been as part of these.

All that said, God did send Jesus into our world, and he did die so our sins could be forgiven. Even so, God still requires us to accept Him into our lives...we must let Him find us.

Found (by Hillsong United)

Amazing love

Now what else shall I need

Your name brings life

It's more than the air I breathe

My world was changed

When Your love You gave for me

My purpose found

And all that You want for me

And I found myself in You

And I found myself in You

Amazing love

Now what else shall I need

Your name brings life

It's more than the air I breathe

Take me to a place

Where I can see You face to face

And all I want to do

All I want to do

Is worship You

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/

Power of Love

When you're down and struggling with what life throws your way, turn to Jesus, he will surround you with His love. He will lift make you strong and help you through.

Rely on Jesus, rely on His love always.

Power of Your Love

Lord I come to You

Let my heart be changed, renewed

Flowing from the grace

That I've found in You

Lord I've come to know

The weakenesses I see in me

Will be stripped away

By the power of Your love

Hold me close

Let Your love surround me

Bring me near

Draw me to Your side

And as I wait

I'll rise up like the eagle

And I will soar with You

Your Spirit leads me on

By the power of Your love

Lord unveil my eyes

Let me see You face to face

The knowledge of Your love

As You live in me

Lord renew my mind

As Your will unfolds in my life

In living every day

By the power of Your love

Hold me close

Let Your love surround me

Bring me near

Draw me to Your side

And as I wait

I'll rise up like the eagle

And I will soar with You

Your Spirit leads me on

By the power of Your love

And I will soar with You

Your Spirit leads me on

By the power of Your love

You Time

When you've had a stressful few days, how do you relax?

He's an extract of a message I received recently:

Just reminding you not to forget about a very important person today, YOU! DO something 4 only you today : ) You deserve it!

Isn't that good advice? I certainly think it is. Sometimes when life has got on top of you things have been stressful and you've been struggling, put some time aside just for YOU, to pamper yourself, give yourself a treat, do something you enjoy, or simply relax and chill.

Most importantly though, to find complete rest we must take time to spend some "quiet time" in God's presence - He alone can give you true rest.

Just As I Am

We've talked the last few days about plans and more specifically about God's plans for our lives, but do you know how to come to God?

It's simple, God wants you just as you are, faults and all - it couldn't be any easier than that could it?

There is a wonderful old hymn which has always been quite personal to me, it's called Just As I Am. This hymn fits in perfectly with my thoughts recently. The version I've shared with you here is by Brian Doerksen whose songs/arrangements I particularly like - I hope you enjoy this one as much as me!

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Hath broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love,

The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,

Here for a season, then above,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

My Friend God

Made Me Glad

I will bless the Lord forever

And I will trust Him at all times

He has delivered me from all fear

And he has set my feet upon a rock

And I will not be moved

And I'll say of the Lord....

You are my shield

My strength

My portion

Deliverer

My shelter

Strong tower

My very present help in time of need

Whom have I in Heaven but you?

There's none I desire beside you

You have made me glad

And I'll say of the Lord....

You are my shield

My strength

My portion

Deliverer

My shelter

Strong tower

My very present help in time of need

You have me glad

And I'll say of the Lord....

You are my shield

My strength

My portion

Deliverer

My shelter

Strong tower

My very present help in time of need

In times of strggle and difficulty, who do you turn to? Your husband/wife, partner, parent, friend? What about if the person you usually turn to for support is not there, if your struggle is about situation that person finds themself in?


To me God is...
What more could I ask of a friend?

God is the best friend you can ever have. He's helped me through some difficult times, and continues to help me through some difficult times. He can do that for you too...all you need to do is trust God.

My shield
My strength
My portion
Deliverer
My shelter
Strong tower
My very present help in time of need