Monday 10 December 2007

I'll Stand

Sometimes in worship I find that I and others just sing the songs we know. that we sit idly singing, what really is meant to be a love song to Jesus!

However other times, I read the words and dwell upon there meaning. As I sing I sing with conviction and pure love, knowing that the words I'm singing and the love I'm singing them with will bless God.

Someone once told me that one of the meanings of worship is to kiss. So to truly be worshiping with all your heart, we go to kiss our Lord and Saviour.

Do we have bad breath? When we go to God with the kiss of worship, have we let Him cleanse us. If not we go to Him with bad breath (who wants to be kissed by someone with bad breath)

So as we worship God in all our lives and not just through singing, we must make sure that we come to Him daily to be cleansed!

Sunday 28 October 2007

The Potter's Hands

“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand."
Jeremiah 18:6 (New Living Translation)
I find that this is a really encouraging promise, yet a very challenging one. We are but the clay, and that is all we were made from and God molded and created us. Now He continues to mold us, break us, rebuild us. When a potter goes wrong, he does to throw the clay away and say 'This clay is useless, I cannot use it.' However he places it back upon wheel and rebuilds it into something that the potter is happy with.
So it is with God, when we mess up and get it wrong, God does not write us off, but He starts again. Rebuilding us slowly until He is happy with what He has made. That may never happen on Earth, but one day we will all be God's finished product. Someone whom He is well pleased with.
But until that day, we must have open hearts to change and receive. We must allow God to mold us and change us and fix us. Without an open heart we become like dried out clay, hard to use. For God does change and bless those who do not want to be changed and blessed.

We must come to the Potter and be like clay. Open hearted and ready for God to mold us, break us, fix us, rebuild us.

Monday 22 October 2007

Passion and power

As I sit here, I have been in deep thought about the ministry that I lead. I have been thinking and praying about some of the issues I am facing, the salvation for families and children, that we would see miracles and come expecting God to show up.
As I thought and prayed about this I found myself realising, that for a while I haven't expected God to show up, I haven't even presumed that He would.
What good is that? What example am I setting to my team? I turn up on a Friday or Sunday, I set up and get on with it. If God comes wow and I'm surprised, but I shouldn't be I should have expected it and longed for it.
However for a couple of weeks now we have spent some time in prayer, before God, before most of the children turn up and it has set the tone that we need to continue with. It reminded me why I was here, who I was doing this for and what the point was.
GOD and from that He has set my heart on fire, full of passion.
As I sat here praying, my passion took over. I long for these families to be saved, to let Jesus into many of their broken lives. I prayed and prayed for many things from deep in my heart but they were all about Children's ministry.

There is power in prayer and when we come to God, just as we are, with raw passion for His work, He listens and He is with you.
When I prayed with passion, I hope that God will answer with power.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!

James 5:16-17 (New Living Translation)

Friday 19 October 2007

Longing to...

When God calls you there is always a longing to do what God has called you to.


In some ways that is both a true and false statement. I have spoken to so many people who regret that they never fulfilled or responded to God's call, however big or small. Many people say that even before they acknowledged the call they feel some longings every now and then to go and do what God has said. Then they realise God has been saying it all along...'What a good plan, shame I didn't think of it first!'

However there are some callings that we have warm to, get our heads around, before we even beginning to understand why. But does that mean that there is no longing to do those things before we ave heard or understood the call?
However much she loves the job,

there is still a longing

to work for the church!


I was talking to a friend who I work with today, who is a christian and is going for ordination. The one thing she said to me that stood out, was however much she loves the job we do, there is still a longing to work for the Church.


This much I know that when God called me I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to accept it, but at the same time I had a longing to do what God had called me to. However small that longing was, it grew and grew until know I know I long to keep going on God's path.

Tuesday 9 October 2007

Sunday 7 October 2007

Disapointed by the Harvest

When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!"
Matthew 9:35 (The Message)
Jesus noticed that the harvest was plentiful, but there were not enough willing people to bring in the sheaves.
How often do we do this now. The harvest is still plentiful, the seeds have been sown and the crops have grown, but they begin to fail because no one is willing to bring them in.
The few that are can't harvest everyone. We don't have combine harvesters to bring in the harvest in a day.
When Jesus saw how much a harvest was needed, He demanded that His disciples get on their knees and prayed for more harvesters.
Are we doing that? Are we harvesters? Do we come on our knees, lifting up holy hands, asking God to renew our servant hearts? How often are we giving the harvest to God? How often to we get down and plead God to help bring in the harvest?

The reason I'm asking these tough questions, which are for me as well, is because our harvest celebrations didn't seem to harvest anyone... At Kingdom Kids (children's ministry) we pushed this weekend, we offered extra points, prizes etc... if they came along. I know that a few of my team were really, praying on their knees that God would bring them in. However there weren't enough 'harvest hands' bringing the children in. That saddens me, if fact I have been very tearful, because some people don't come with me and don't get on their knees and plead God for more harvesters.
I know that this ministry has such potential and God has shown me two pictures, one of what it could be and one of what it will become if people don't commit. That effects the whole church. It could be amazing, exciting time if we allow God to lead us, if we begin to harvest for God, so many miracles could and will happen.
My hope and my prayer is that God will send we more harvest hands, 100% committed to God's vision. I pray that God will give me the drive and determination to see this vision become reality and that the team will take ownership of the vision, off the children, of the harvest and start walking towards God's plan.
Please pray with me on this.

Friday 5 October 2007

People will let you down...

People may let you down... People will let you down... The world may let you down... The world will let you down... You may let yourself down... You will let yourself down... GOD MAY NOT LET YOU DOWN?... GOD WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!!
So many off us feel let down by people, by the world, by ourselves. I feel let down by people, my friends, my family, people who should let me down, but they do. The world lets me down, everyday someone is hurting, someone is in pain, 'but that's the world we live in'. Everyday I let myself down. I don't do want I should, I do something I shouldn't, I hurt people, I let others down.

But you see the most wonderful and great thing about God is he isn't like anybody, He isn't like the world and He most certainly isn't like me!!
GOD DOESN'T LET US DOWN. HE DOESN'T LET ME DOWN. HOWEVER MUCH I LET GOD DOWN, HE STILL LOVES ME!
God is amazing that He is so Trustworthy! He is 100% committed to us even when we forget to be 100% committed to Him, or when others let us down, when everything lets us down.
That what I really love about God is His complete and utter commitment to loving me!

In fact today I have been let down by some people and it has annoyed me, angered me and in that I let God down. The ministry I lead at the moment needs leaders and team players to buy into the vision God has for it, to own it and to be 150% committed to it. But people let you down, people let me down and I still need to love them, I need to forgive them, just like God forgives me when I let Him down.
When it feels like all the world is against me God isn't. When I feel the world is full of injustice God shows me justice. When my heart is broken, for how children and young people are let down by the people who should love them but in fact hurt them, ruin their young lives, God shows me hope.
If all I have in this world that is constant and trustworthy is God, then I am in a better place then many.
If all you feel is being let down, then let God hold you up!
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Hebrews 6:18-19 (New Living Translation)

Sunday 26 August 2007

Children of Celebration!

Today I was preaching and I thought that this might also be a word for anyone else. So here is what I said:


Celebrate means:
To observe (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing.
To perform (a religious ceremony): celebrate a wedding.
To extol or praise: a sonnet that celebrates love.
To make widely known. E.g. celebrate or tell of others achievements… exam results!


As Christians we should seek to extol and praise God and to make Him widely know by our celebrating.
How we can celebrate: parties,dancing, clapping, cheering etc..

Different reasons why we celebrate, Christmas, birthdays etc...
Who we should celebrate: firstly God. Secondly people and ourselves.


How we can celebrate ourselves and others and why we should:
God celebrates us- He cannot help but celebrate us, He cannot help but love us, He cannot help but pour out His blessings out on us…

When we celebrate God and others we should seek to be like Him and not be able to not celebrate!


We are called to build people up, encourage people and not to bring them down. We so can so easily get trapped by moaning and complaining about ourselves and others, but we are called to be different from the world and celebrate people no matter what has happened or they have done or you have done. Seek to be like Jesus!


Party People
Children know how to party!
Come to God like children… Matt 18:1-4. We’re too be childlike come like children, not childish- when we bring others down, argue, call each others name etc… we’re being childish, not childlike.
Children are trusting, loving and can so easily celebrate each other.
We are children of God. We should be like children, His children.
Children are dependent upon their parents or the person caring for them etc… Are we dependant on God? Because the bible says without Him we can do nothing. John 15.


Earthly Celebration
Jesus was always going to parties, His first miracle was at a party so people could keep celebrating
Most parables end with some kind of celebration, because God demands we celebrate what He has done and just because God is God! In old testament demanded Israel to celebrate Passover. And now He demands we celebrate Jesus in the same way.


We must celebrate each other, but we must not be mistaken by celebrating people and making them idles, but celebrate by encouraging them, loving them building them up.
Ultimately we are called to celebrate God, just because all our praise belongs to Him, because God is God! ‘Ultimate celebration always belongs to God!’


Heavenly Celebration




that’s what heavens going to be like. Its going to be a constant party.
So if we don’t get used to celebrating now, we’re not going to like heaven!
Revelations tells us how we’re going to party in heaven.

Rev 5:13 that party never stops. We can’t even begin to imagine eternity but that is what we will be doing. Its never-ending. I find that amazing!

If you feel that you’re someone who is trapped by moaning and needs to allow God to free you from that cage. Come to Him now!
If you just want to celebrate God just because God is God, then come and sit, stand kneel before Him.
If you need to be free to celebrate others, come. If you need forgiveness from bringing others or yourself down and that sin holds you back from being a child of celebration come!
If you just need to come, come. Don’t worry about anyone else or anything else. Just come before His cross!

Thursday 23 August 2007

Soul Survivor 07

Well I have to say that God is amazing! awesome and beautiful!
I have been so blessed to be able to have Blandford and Soul survivor and God has done so many things!
I really don't know how to explain it or get across how amazing and how passionate I feel and God is!

God knows what you need and He knows how to provide that. God knows what we want and sometimes allows that. When both our needs and wants fall in God's will, God explodes with love, providence, peace etc... and that explosion falls on us, it pours over us and moves and changes us!

Someone once said 'a change is as good as a rest!' but when God changes you, He gives you rest too!
So you can have the best of both!
God is amazing!

Sunday 12 August 2007

Blandford!

This past week I have been away at a Christian Youth Camp as a leader. I went to this camp last year and I loved it. I wasn't sure if I was going to come back again this year because of many things including my new job, but I decided and went and this year I took my brother as a leader too.
I had so much fun. It was amazing to see so many young people aged 11-14 dedicating their lives to Jesus.

So much came out of this week. For me I was challenged so much by Synergy, because it was right to the point. With my new job I have been so busy with that, that I have been distracted from God. My focus has been on pleasing my manager and being the best I can for her and not spending my time and focus on God. On Jesus who is my saviour and the only person who deserves all of my focus, love and time.

This last week I have made a commitment to myself and to God, to spend more time with Him and to make sure that my focus does not slip from God to the world!

I pray that God will help me with this and give me people who will steer me in the right direction when I get my focus wrong.

There were so many great things that came out of this last week that I could wright it all down in one post so maybe there will be more to come.


'Never stop praying' 1Thessalonians 5:17

Wednesday 18 July 2007

I just gotta keep going...

Yesterday I went to DHQ for another candidates interview, with Captain Ian. I wasn't as nervous as I was for the one I had in February, but I still was worried about it all. I was worried that I may have done enough in between the two interviews. A lot of stuff has happened but I couldn't remember it all.

I have always found the questions they ask are questions that I need to think about and as I think about it I find myself concentrating on what I feel is an awkward silence and panic. However God places things into my mind to say that almost answer the questions.

I actually found that this time it was a very good interview. I felt comfortable, honest and encouraged.

What people see in me is amazing. They see things that I cannot see and find very hard to accept, but God keeps leading me through it and helps me accept the things that others see and I do not.

I was so encouraged by it all. It has reminded me that I'm on the right path and now I have to stay focused and not be sidetracked or lose my way or even walk away when it becomes hard. I pray that God keeps me steady and guides me along the right roads. I pray for wisdom in many decisions I will have to take throughout this next six months. And I thank God for leading me this far and for giving me great examples to follow. Thanks Ian, Sue, Carl, Val, Mum, Dad, all you youths and everybody in the corps. Thank you for all you do to guild me and help me. Love you x

Friday 13 July 2007

On a Starry Night...

Last Friday I took my brother and my friend to AWE, which is Ashford Worship Experience. It wasn't as great as it could of been. There is a lot of potential there, it just didn't seem to have been tapped into in the best way possible way. So I went and I worshipped and I had a good time singing and I did meet with God, it was just cut short, by the worship group saying, "That's it folks!"

How many times do we do that to God? He comes to us because we ask to be in His presence and we want Him to work in us. Yet as soon as He only just beginning to work within us and we go "That's it folks!" and we cut God short.


However the three of us decided that we would go to the beach, because it was a warm evening and now we didn't really have anything to do. So I drove down to Little Stone, where we went for a walk on the beach.


As soon as our feet touched the soft, cool sand we all knew that this would be a night that we would never be able to forget.

The sound of the sea, the light from the stars, we could see France and we were all overwhelmed by God's creation.

We layed on the sand and watched the stars, and as I was laying there I was reminded that God has placed every single star in place. I was in awe of how much God knows us, how he even knows how many hairs on our head. Its amazing!
God moved with us, even though people had told us that there was nothing else, God showed us that actually there was a lot more than what meets the eye. Someone had decided to cut God short, but God still had work to do and we were still open to Him and therefore God moved within us and around us and showed us something so awesome that it is hard to describe in words. It was not just the sight, but it was the touch, the sound, the smell and I won't forget that night and what God has taught me through it.

Wednesday 27 June 2007

Rare Breeds

Today was my Dad's 45th birthday and on Monday I was 20! (now I feel really old) As my Dad's birthday treat we went to the Rare Breeds farm with Ashford Salvation Army and spent the day with friends and animals.
It was a great day, but as I was walking around, ideas kept coming into my head! They were God inspired and maybe they were just for me, but maybe they need to be shared.

We are all Rare Breeds!
There is nobody else like you! God created you in His image. God created you to be completely unique and different from anybody else. You have been created by God for a special purpose. A Purpose that nobody else could do! Just for you. You are a rare breed, a one of a kind. God created you to be you and nobody else.
You don't need to look like anybody else! You don't need to sound like anybody else! You don't need to think like anybody else!
God just wants you to be you!
The person He created you to be!
Psalm 139:1-18 (Contemporary English version)
The LORD Is Always Near 1You have looked deep into my heart,
LORD, and you know all about me.
2You know when I am resting or when I am working,
and from heaven you discover my thoughts.
3You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.
4Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,
5 and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side.
6I can't understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.
7Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?
8If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
9Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.
10Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
11Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over."
12But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
13You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body,
14and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous!
Of this I have no doubt.
15Nothing about me is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below,
16but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed.
Even before I was born,
you had written in your book everything I would do.
17Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding,
much more than I could ever imagine.
18I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach.
And when I awake, I will find you nearby.

Thursday 21 June 2007

Smile on God's face


God loves it when we speak to Him. He loves it when we just talk to Him. God wants us to tell Him everything from why today went well, why you feel down, sorry for the wrong things you have done, what does He want you today to what you need. From your deepest desires to your deepest fears. From your dreams to your nightmares and the things of your wildest imagination.

God wants to hear you tell Him you love Him. God wants you to listen when He tells you He loves you. God wants you to speak to Him throughout the day, not just at the beginning and the end. God wants to live in a relationship with you, walk in your life with you. Not just be called upon when you need something or want something. Not just a 5 minute phone call (prayer) everyday. God wants you to want to live your life walking hand in hand with Him and enjoying conversation with Him 24/7 and that includes listening to Him!

When we pray, God smiles. He smiles on us and blesses us back ten fold. And whats more, God answers your prayers.
For a long time I have been praying for a new job. I will be going into ministry within the Salvation Army in 2009 but till then I need a job to prepare me for this. I must of been praying for about a year, applying for jobs whilst trying to get on with my full time McDonald's job and my full time ministry for God. I've kept praying and had the support of others praying for me too. Knowing that being in McDonald's was not God's will anymore, so I prayed, applied, waited and listened to God.

Today I got a job as a play development worker. God smiles when we pray, He smiles when we see His answer and He loves it when His plan for our life's work out!


Make God smile today and pray! (and make sure you listen)

Don't fret or worry. Instead pray about everything. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.
Its wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.
Philippians 4:6-7 (the message//remix)



Monday 11 June 2007

Monday mornings...

Back to work! Monday morning! That same feeling, the Monday morning feeling. I don't really know how to describe it.
Walking to work I began to pray... Thankyou God for a new, fresh day... Please, please get me through today. Please get me through my 9hours45minute shift... Please let there be nice managers, please let me get through it. Please let me get through it still showing You as the light at the end of that exhausting shift... etc...
Yet how God knows what you need. He answered my prayers. Even though I know sit here exhausted, falling asleep and with a hurting body, God still knows, He has sent me encouragement through comments on here, He has speared me on by people, by love, by seeing prayers answered.
Even though we all become exhausted and tough days, God is still there in the midst of it all.
Even though we all feel like this, we can still praise God for bringing us through them.
I will still praise God through the good and the bad for only He deserves that praise!
Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful,
where Your streams of abundance flows,
Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name when I'm found in the desert place,
though I walk through the wilderness,
Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me,
when the world's 'all as it should be,
Blessed be Your name.

Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering,
though there's pain in the offering,
Blessed be Your name.
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise,
AND WHEN THE DARKNESS CLOSES IN STILL I WILL SAY:
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!

Sunday 10 June 2007

How I am so blessed!

I am finding blessings all over the place lately. Maybe I am more in tune with God lately or maybe I am in a positive mood where am I more perceptive towards these blessings. Whatever it is, all I know is I'm in God's hands and He is pouring His blessings out upon me more and more.
On Friday before Kingdom Kids I had prepared a challenge and then realised that I was on Games. So I decided that I would use my challenge as the starter, which had worked so well.
Ellie stuck candles on the holders that were made during points and a songs so that they were ready for prayers later.
I was so nervous about this time because it was candles, fire, burning and children. But with a great team of adults the children listened really well and nothing bad happened.
The children watched the flames and thanked God for the promise of His Holy Spirit and how it has been fulfilled. It was amazing how they all prayed, how all the children were so earnest about it. It was very power and many of the team members were emotionally touched by the children.
Then in their teams the children went around in the circle and said a prayer if they wished to. It was amazing everyone seemed to join in. God was so there and on Amen, the candles were blown out. The session was ended by worshipping God by singing May the God of Hope.

I was so amazed and blown away by the children. They had surprised me so much.
I felt so blessed and still haven't stop thanking God for them and for this Friday.
I hope that God will be there that powerfully next Friday!

Monday 4 June 2007

Living in Awe!

God moves in very strange and powerful ways. In Job God uses our suffering and allows those things so that we can grow and our faith may become steadfast and strong. God brings us through those times too. God works out His plan and will in ways I cannot understand or ever begin to comprehend His ways. But I know that it is the Only Way to go!!
Sometimes God can make you wait for answered prayers and sometimes they are answer the moment you let God know. Sometimes God can lead you into opportunities that you don't recognise until years later and sometimes you know excatly what God needs you to do or say.

Sometimes God can just compleatly overwhelme me by a simple act, by a conversation, by a person, by a phonecall!
How awsome, How amazing He is!

I feel that I have only just begun, but I'm living in awe of this ulmighty God who is so great and huge, yet still wants a personal relationship with me... me, little me. With so many imperfections, so unworthy to even call upon His name, yet He still knows my name and calls me to be with Him!
How amazing is that!

Jesus overwhelms me and makes me want to bow the knee, brings me to tears, lets joy bubble up from my soul to spill out it laughter!
Oh how I love Jesus!

15 “You must not make a treaty of any kind with the people living in the land. They lust after their gods, offering sacrifices to them. They will invite you to join them in their sacrificial meals, and you will go with them.

Thursday 24 May 2007

Divine customer service call centre


I got sent this via email and believe it should be shared! enjoy and share the love.

Customer Service Rep: how can I help you today?

Customer: Well, after much consideration, I've decided to install love. Can you guide me through the process?

CS Rep: Yes, I can help you. Are you ready to proceed?

Customer: Well, I'm not very technical, but I think I'm ready to install now. What do I do first?

CS Rep: The first step is to open your HEART. Have you located your HEART?

Customer: Yes I have, but there are several other programs running right now. Is it okay to install while they are running?

CS Rep: What programs are running?

Customer: Let's see, I have PAST-HURT.EXE, LOW-ESTEEM.EXE, GRUDGE.EXE, and RESENTMENT.COM running right now.

CS Rep: No problem. LOVE will gradually erase PAST-HURT.EXE from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programs. LOVE will eventually overwrite LOW-ESTEEM.EXE with a module of its own called HIGH- ESTEEM.EXE. However, you have to completely turn off GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM. Those programs prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off?

Customer: I don't know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

CS Rep: My pleasure. Go to your Start menu and invoke FORGIVENESS.EXE. Do this as many times as necessary until GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, done. LOVE has started installing itself automatically. Is that normal?

CS Rep: Yes. You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the life of your HEART. Do you see that message?

Customer: Yes I do. Is it completely installed?

CS Rep: Yes, but remember that you have only the base program. You need to begin connecting to other Heart's in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops. I have an error message already. What should I do?

CS Rep: What does the message say?

Customer: It says "ERROR 412 - PROGRAM NOT RUN ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS." What does that mean?

CS Rep: Don't worry, that's a common problem. It means that the LOVE program is set up to run on external HEARTS but has not yet been run on your HEART. It is one of those complicated programming things, but in non-technical terms it means you have to "LOVE" your own machine before it can "LOVE" others.

Customer: So what should I do?

CS Rep: Can you pull down the directory called "SELF-ACCEPTANCE"?

Customer: Yes, I have it.

CS Rep: Excellent. You're getting good at this.

Customer: Thank you.

CS Rep: You're welcome. Click on the following files and then copy them to the "MYHEART" directory: FORGIVE-SELF.DOC, REALIZE-WORTH.TXT, and ACKNOWLEDGE-LIMITATIONS.DOC. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching any programming. Also, you need to delete SELF-CRITIC.EXE from all directories, and to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back, you will need to empty your recycle bin.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My HEART is filling up with new files. SMILE.MPG is playing on my monitor right now and it shows that PEACE.EXE, and CONTENTMENT.COM are copying themselves all over my HEART. Is this normal?

CS Rep: Sometimes. For others it takes a while, but eventually everything gets downloaded at the proper time. So, LOVE is installed and running. You should be able to handle it from here. One more thing before I go.

Customer: Yes?

CS Rep: LOVE is freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet. They will in turn share it with other people and they will return some similarly cool modules back to you.
Customer: I will. Thanks for your help. By the way, what's your name?

CS Rep: You can call me the Divine Cardiologist, also known as The Great Physician. Most people feel all they need is an annual check-up to stay heart-healthy, but the manufacturer suggests a schedule of daily maintenance for maximum efficiency.Give a little love away ... keep in touch

Wednesday 23 May 2007

I QUIT!!

Do you know those days when you just want to quit? I had one of those days today, it started off bad and it got worse. I was late for work, because I had overslept, I had horrible managers shout at me all day to 'work harder, faster, don't stop, clean, do something, don't just stand there'. I thought 'let me get my breath!'

I asked work for a favour and they will do it maybe or maybe not, depends if Dave feels like it. How the power pf being a schedule manager has gone to his head, he enjoys so much controlling people's lives so much. Yet God still loves him so I must too and I must forgive him for being so horrible to me.


Work has been really getting to me lately. I'm stuck in a rubbish job and I know for sure that its not for long. I know that I'm going to go into the training college hopefully in 2009.

But till then I can't stay there where today I just wanted to shout at Dave, 'well stuff, your crumby job, that pays rubbish, that doesn't help me out but I'm always helping you out when your short staffed. Stuff this job which I work myself into the ground while you stand around "managing" which really is doing nothing!! How I hate this job and I QUIT!!!!'


How now I wish I had said that, but I know that I cannot afford to be out of work for very long and wouldn't have another job to go into. Through I've tried so hard to get another job, but nobody wants me!


However there is one person I know who will always want me, whether I'm qualified or not. Which I know for a fact... I'm not. Whether I have enough experience or not, which I do not. Someone who has hired me already and I get paid more than the minimum wage!

I know someone who will never want to shout 'I QUIT!' at me or want me to quit from Him!


He is Jesus and He never QUITS!!


The Lord is my real boss and I shall not want. He gives me peace, when chaos is all around me. He gently reminds me to pray before I speak, And to do all things without murmuring and complaining. He reminds me that He is my Source and not my job. He restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions That I might honor Him in everything I do. Even though I face absurd amounts of emails, System crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors And an aging body that doesn't cooperate every morning, I will not stop-for He is with me! His presence, His peace, and His power Will see me through. He raises me up, Even when they fail to promote me. He claims me as His own, Even when the company threatens to let me go. His faithfulness and love Are better than any bonus check. His retirement plan beats every 401K there is! When it's all said and done, I'll be working for Him a whole lot longer And for that, I bless His Name.

The 23rd Psalm for working people
(Anon)


Amen that God does not QUIT!


Wednesday 16 May 2007

Thankyou God for troubled times!

Yesterday I met up with an Old friend, Beckie. She is going through some hard stuff and trying to deal with a lot of issues. She is an amazing person and a great christian, but life has dealt her a lot of tough times. I know her from school and really regret not getting to know her better then, but at the same time I would not of been able to help her like I can now.

If this last year hadn't of been so tough, hard, painful, full of problems. If this year I hadn't overcome a lot of my 'daemons', long lived issues and come through to see light at the end... There would have been no way I could of sat down and listen to what she needed to say for whatever reasons. I wouldn't of been able to deal with her 'stuff' and baggage as well as my own, if God had not seen me through all that happened last year. I can really identify with how she feels, there have been times when I have felt exactly the same and I can empathise and pray into this situation without dragging myself down to where I was then.

So I thankyou Jesus for last year, I thankyou for all the troubles and pain that you have brought me through. I thankyou that in such a small time you have healed deep wounds and changed me so much for the better. I thankyou that I can look back now and see a purpose and that I can thankyou for those times! Amen

2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

Romans 5:2-4 (New Living Translation)

Sunday 13 May 2007

Touching Heaven changing Earth!

Today has been a very tough, hard day to get through. So many things have gone wrong, so many people have been hurt or felt let down by a lot of things.
So many times throughout today I've doubt my ability, I've doubted myself, decided that it was because I am insane (I'm not I have just decided that it must be me because everyone says the same things about me) and so many times today I have doubt God, doubted that this is His will, doubted that I'm in the right place, decided that God is trying to tell me that I've got it all wrong and that's why everything is going wrong.
Yet God is so good and has made this day not half as bad as it could of turned out to have been. I have just come back from an amazing time of worship as Church, with Churches together in Ashford. God knew what I needed to hear, God knew what I needed to feel, sing, see etc... God knew that I needed to know that I am where I should be and He provided it all for me. How amazing, how awesome is He?!
Tonight I saw a glimpse of Heaven, tonight I felt in the presence of the King once again. Tonight I touched Heaven and now I need to change Earth.
My little piece of Earth that God has commanded me to look after and bring it to God for all his praise and honour. I know now that I just have to keep going and God will show me the way to turn.
When I doubted myself I let God down. When I doubted God I let God down, but by His grace He has forgiven me and renewed me. Tonight I touched Heaven, tomorrow I will change Earth!
(but it will probably the smallest thing but step by step I with God will get there)

Our Father who is in Heaven,
Glory and Honour to Your name,
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven!!
Amen

Saturday 12 May 2007

AWE

One thing I love about being a leader within the Church is the blessings you receive from the people you lead. The Young adults and teenagers that I have been leading in Flame (youth group) for about two years are amazing, brilliant young Christians growing so much in God's grace. I love to lead them and bless them like they have blessed me and somethings (well most of the time) they lead me more than I lead them. Flame has developed and changed a lot since I was the seventeen year old taking on leadership within this and it is still developing.

Shortly after I took on leading Flame, believing God had laid this on my heart and tried to be obedient to this calling, even though I felt inadequate for the job, God began to give me a vision. A vision for the youth in Ashford. For Christian youth from all churches to unite and come together for small worship and rally type events. At first I thought God must be joking if He thought I could do this and then His vision grew. It was no longer just Christian youth. It moved from uniting the Christian youth of Ashford to bigger evangelistic rallies for the unchurched and not-yet-christian youths of Ashford. I saw amazing Soul Survivor type one day events in Ashford, reaching out to the lost, searching people in and around Ashford. For a long time I ignored this thinking I was just making it up. Then I prayed about it lots and the pictures, visions and idea just wouldn't going away. I believe that God is doing mighty things among this generation in Ashford, but He wants to do bigger, better and mightier things. I know that one day this will happen. This needs to happen for God.

Please pray about this for it is beginning to happen and God's plan is slowly coming together. This is with AWE- Ashford Worship Experience. This will be awesome and full of God. But we need your prayers that God will be glorified through this. That many people will be saved by God's grace and that we as leaders and developers of this vision will come with humble hearts, that we will come obedient to God and let Him wear the crown. This is gonna be amazing!

Monday 16 April 2007

Where is your deck chair?

I remember when I was a bit younger watching the cartoon 'Peanuts'. One of them starts like this... Lucy is at her five-cent psychology booth, where Charlie Brown has stopped for some advice about life.
'Life is like a deck chair, Charlie,' she says. 'On a Cruise ship of life, some people place their deck chair at the rear of the ship so they can see where they've been. Others place their deck chair at the front of the ship so they can see where they're going.'
Lucy looks at her puzzled client and asks, 'Which way is your deck chair facing?'
Without hesitating, Charlie replies glumly, 'I can't even get my deck chair unfolded!'

Well if you've ever tried putting up a deck chair, you'll know its a lot of hard work and even if you get it up, when you sit on it, it normally collapse on you. That's happened to me a couple of times, so I try and avoid deck chairs. But on the 'cruise ship of life' its hard to avoid putting it up and placing it somewhere.
But then how many of us have got past the point of getting the stupid chair up in the first place? I know I haven't and everyday I see people around me who are struggling hard with their deck chair, let alone knowing where to put it afterwards and whether to trust that it won't collapses in on you when you finial sit on it.

As Christian's there is so much about telling you where to place your deck chair and most of us know the answer should be at the front, but where are all the manuals about putting it up in the first place?
The only manual we need is the Bible, yet just like some manuals for deck chairs or flat packs, if you don't know how to read it, it becomes a bit confusing. So many of us feel that we are failing because we are no where near being able to position our deck chair, when we shouldn't be. God isn't looking for the ones who have got there, deck chair up and at the front, all on their own, no help needed, thank you very much. God is looking for those who are struggling with it, those who need Him to help them figure out how to put it up, how to get where He wants them to be. Jesus came for everyone, for all those who feel that they've messed up, that they are failing. He came for those who are struggling and with grace and mercy loved and helped them and continues to do that for me and you. Jesus wants to be needed, He wants us to ask for His help to work out the instructions for the deck chair. Then He'll use us for His work and place us where He needs us, not where we want to be.




If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.


Romans 4:4 (The Message)


Thursday 5 April 2007

Tuesday 27 March 2007

Grown apart?

Today I met up with my best friend from Secondary school. We went through year 7 to 13 together and were very close. Yet when we both left school we didn't see each other much due to distance and business. She lives in Lenham and I live in Ashford and now I have a car, we decided to meet up, so I could meet her fiancee. Which was cool, I haven't seen her in two years and thought that it would be a great way to catch up.

...However I was so wrong. I met her fiancee who is very nice and sweet. I am really glad that she has found a great love (even if its not Jesus, please pray for her). Yet we didn't really talk and it felt so strange. The silence could have been sliced by a knife and the awkwardness hung in the air. I didn't know what to say, she didn't know what to say and her fiancee tried his best to keep the conversation alive. I felt so different and distant from this person who was once my best friend and a person I could talk to about anything and maybe with time another better friendship will come. Still I sat next to someone I still love very much coming to the realisation that we had grown apart and both changed.

Change is a good thing and brings new and fresh things, so maybe a better fresher friendship will come, but right now I feel saddened by are distance.


Things can sometimes become like that with Jesus. We have grown apart from Jesus, moved away and changed. Yet Jesus never changes or moves away or grows apart from you. Instead He stays by your side throughout everything, waiting for you to realise that He had never moved away from you. Jesus will never change His mind about me, you or anyone, whoever we are He will always love us with That amazing Grace and beautiful mercy and He will always want to be with you.

Where you go, Whatever you do and Whoever you are He will never change His
mind about you.

I find that a very comforting thought and I hope that I will know it truly within my heart. This relationship with Jesus is different from any other relationship with any other person here on an imperfect earth.

I will try my hardest to work at making my relationship with my friend better than it was tonight. So as I try with my dying relationships on earth, so must I try with my relationship with Jesus.


God says 'I will never fail you,
or abandon you' Hebrews 13:5
but He also says to you 'I will always love you'
That is all that Jesus is about love. Loving in our failure, so must we love others in theirs too!

Sunday 25 March 2007

Baptized

On Maundy Thursday I and many others from my church will be baptised. It amazing how God works because I have wanted to for ages but didn't want to do just because I wanted to. I wanted to know that God wanted me to and He has told me in so many ways. Now finally I will be obedient to Him and do it. It will be a fresh new start and I know that I need that so much. Some of my family will be getting baptised at the same time and hopefully my Dad will be too, which would be amazing(please pray for my Dad).
God has been working so much within my Church lately and I have not been able to stop myself being continually amazed and awestruck by Him. This will be an amazing time for me and my church.

I would like to invite you all and however can get there to my Baptism on Thursday 5th April @ 7.30pm, At South Ashford Baptised Church, Brookfield Road, Ashford, Kent.

Wednesday 14 March 2007

Exhausted in the world... rest in Jesus

I hear so many people complaining that they are 'Exhausted'! and that includes me too. So many people are working so hard saving up for things, to be able to pay the bills, put food on the table and all just to get by. Nowadays both parents are working all the hours God sends and having to pay for childcare too, when they know that they are missing out on so much... seeing their children grow, someone else see your child's first steps or hears their first word. Trying their hardest to get by, pay the bills or even maybe be able to give their children I better standard of living.
But and this is a very big but, is this even living at all?

Yes in the Bible it says that we should work and everything we do should be working for God, but how many people out there are working for God. How many people are working so hard that they are forgetting how to live. We have become so obsessed about working and money that we don't remember or have time for what life really is about. The life we have been given back, the life we owe back. This free gift doesn't always end up honouring the one who gave it to us. It becomes about ourselves and our life's. We as a race, individually, nationally and international have become EXHAUSTED by ourselves.

We are so busy doing that we are never being- We weren't called Human doings by God and the first time we were created we had to rest and not do, just be. We look after ourselves, well almost... we look after our bodies and try to be healthy, we try to look after our minds... but what ever happened to looking after our souls?

We were all made body, mind and soul, but it seems that because we cannot see the soul its the part of us that is probably the least healthy. We are so busy nourishing the parts we can see or know of and have some understanding of that we forget to nourish the soul. We laugh at Spirituality, but its our spirits which our lacking. Its our undernourished souls which need to be refreshed and renewed and then maybe we won't be so EXHAUSTED all the time.

Jesus came for this purpose, to nourish and save our souls and once well fed, sent out to feed the rest of the starving souls out there, just crying out for rest, refreshment and renewal. Because we are all so EXHAUSTED!


So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.

For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.

Hebrews 4:9-10

Tuesday 13 March 2007

Monday 12 March 2007

Self-leadership?!

Well I have got to a point today where I really feel God is trying to say something to me... I have just read a daily devotional and the next chapter in the book I've been reading 'Courageous leadership' by Bill Hybels... all about, well you guessed it Self-leadership. The thing that I have just worked out is God has been trying to tell em this for ages and all throughout today He has placed people to tell me this without them knowing it or me until now.

At work today God used a maintenance man to talk to me on my break and although it was not overtly about God and was about sport. It made me think. This man told me that I needed to lead a healthy life, to exercise and eat well- 'the right food'. He told me that I should find a sport that I could do which required self-discipline. This man I only met today and yet he was right on the ball. He could have been talking about sport or my spiritual life.

My body is God's temple and I should look after it and keep it healthy both physically and spiritually. It was that the man was so right that I need to discipline myself and both these books talk about how leaders require discipline to lead themselves first and then lead others.
We cannot be effective leaders for others, unless we lead ourselves first. Unless we spend time refreshing, renewing and sacrificially giving ourselves to God first, how can we inspire others to do the same. A leader is only as good as his/her self-leadership.

We first must lead ourselves towards God, towards our goal and then give to others the leadership that they require of us.

I have finally listen and got God's message for me, after He graciously shouted it at me all day, don't make God have to do that to you.

But nobody, NOBODY, can do this but you! Only you can lead yourself and discipline yourself.
Read and consider 1 Samuel 30.

'David strengthened himself in the Lord God.'
1 Samuel 30:6

Saturday 10 March 2007

Wedding ring, anyone?


Today was such an amazing God filled day. Some close church family friends got married today. This was much awaited, but worth waiting for. It was so good. I felt very privileged because they asked our youth group to do some prayer stuff in the middle of the wedding. It was really good, we gave out cards for everyone and talked about the reason, prayed lots and gave Gary and Jan a book of blessing and encouragement full of personal messages to them.
I had fun and danced my socks (or should I say tights) off and felt at home with my church family, which I haven't felt for a long time.

The wedding ring that two people give to each other represents that binding love between the couple never ending love, just like a ring continues and never ends. That same love is the binding love that Jesus has given to us. He gave us each a ring the day He died for us and for those who accept His proposal are binded to God through His love.
How many times have you rejected God's proposal to you? How many times have you not taken the ring of love Jesus offers you?
Well whether you have or not, Jesus will never stop loving you and He will never stop offering you a ring and a new life of marriage with Him!
We are the bride of the lamb... will you be ready for the wedding day?


1I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and so had the sea. 2Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband.
3I heard a loud voice shout from the throne:
God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people.

Tuesday 6 March 2007

The stone in my shoe

I was walking home from work when half way home, I felt something in my shoe. At first I wasn't bothered it didn't hurt and I didn't have far to go. But soon it moved and started to rub on my heal. 'Ok' I thought 'its not too bad and the ground is wet, so I'll ignore it. I'll be home in five minutes!' and yet again it moved. It moved into a more uncomfortable and painful place. The ground was wet so do I stop and take the stone out and risk getting my foot wet or do I just try and ignore it. Well it wasn't long to walk only about two more minutes, so I decided I could cope with the stone until I got home.
Every step I took hurt and every time I put pressure on that foot the stone dug into the soul of my foot. Every time it hurt I thought only I little bit more to go and tried again to just ignore it and get on with my journey home.
Finally I was home and when I took of my shoe I tipped out the tiny stone that hurt me all the way home from work. I thought to myself how can something so small hurt so much? but it had and it could have been so easy for me just to stop on the way and take out the stone, even if I had got a wet foot it wouldn't have been as painful and annoying as the stone.
Why did I do that? and why do we all do that in life?
We all carry around pain and baggage when we don't need to. When we could just stop on the journey and throw it away, we hold onto it. We can cope, its not that long to take it. We can't risk getting our feet wet along the way to get rid of the pain.
I know that I have done that a lot and in many ways continue to do this. I can't risk getting my foot wet to release my pain, my burdens and baggage. Yet God says that our feet won't get wet and the pain, baggage and burdens will be gone if you trust me and give it to me.
I know that I have to do this, because I've got a lot of stones in my shoes, and if I trust Jesus, my feet won't get wet and He'll take those stones upon Himself for me and He has already done that on the cross, but everyday will continue to do this for each and everyone of us.

Will you take the stone from your shoe and risk getting wet feet?


'Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.

Get away with me and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take real rest.

Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.'

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

Monday 26 February 2007

Journeys end, new beginnings...

For the last four weeks we as a church have been doing a course called Journey. It replaced Alpha because no one wanted to do it or the reality was no one in the church invited people to do it. Yet I know that many people within my family did invite people and ask and ask but the answer always seemed to be 'NO'. I believe that God has a reason behind this, I believe that it all needs to be in God's timing and maybe Alpha wasn't this time and Journey was.


This week was the last week of the course which has opened up so many questions, has been a great place to discuss issues and just being together and I know that I personally have got a lot from this and so have many others.


But know the Journey has ended, but for me a new beginning has come. A fresh start! (Although I need at least 10 new starts a day with all my mistakes) Yet this course has come at a time when I really needed to refocus. It came at a time when all I have wanted to do was walk out of Ashford Salvation Army Christian Centre and find somewhere else to worship. Somewhere comfortable.Not because God is not there, because He is and His presence is wonderful and blesses us daily, but because of the past, because of history with people, because I have felt like I have been suffocating in a sea of trying my hardest not to let those things get in the way of God and me. There have been times when I have been in floods of tears, screaming out to God, asking where is He? There have been times when all I've wanted to do is cry and there have been no tears, just the pain. I have felt alone in the midst of many caring and loving people around me, yet no one really knew how I felt and what I had to face every time I walked in.


If I had of left to be comfortable, what would of happened... not a lot because I wanted to leave, I didn't need to leave and God was still needing me where I was already. So with some very wise and loving friends and leaders, I stayed knowing this is where God has placed me. And although the pain was still there I wasn't so much alone.

God gave me people, He provided for me. If you are ever feeling alone remember that God has not left you and that He is always with you.


Now God, yet again has giving me a new beginning, a fresh start, not anywhere else but here where I belong for now. His mercy is so great and I thank God so much that He will always be there and there is always another chance.


Don't be afraid, for I am with you, Do not be dismayed,
for I am your God. I will strengthen you.
I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

Wednesday 21 February 2007

God was on the dual controls

Yesterday my interview went so well. I was so nervous and scared. Yet as I sat down I knew that God was sitting beside me on the dual controls to help me before I crashed! Which I didn't because I let Him take ultimate control not just dual control! I let God tell me what I needed to say and although it wasn't always excellently articulated it was from God and my heart. Hopefully this was enough, no I know it was enough, because God is enough.
It was very scary sitting there being stared at by four wise and very important people all asking me really hard questions, BUT GOD GAVE ME THE ANSWERS!!

We do not always need to have all the answers and some things we will never be able to understand. We, I just need to accept that we don't need all the answers and some things only God will know the answers too. Yet I know that He allowed me to be able to answer those very hard and person questions with conviction and boldness (well not to begin with)!


'I will praise your Lord, with all of my heart.
I will tell of all the miracles you have done.
I will be happy because of you;
God Most High, I will sing
praises to Your name!'
Psalm 9:1-2

Tuesday 20 February 2007

Tonights the night...

Well tonight is the night or rather evening that it all happens. By all I mean my scary interview for Officership training.
Although I am not that scared or worried at the moment and am trusting that God has gone before me, like He promises!

I want to thankyou all who are praying or have prayed for me, they have definitely helped. I will let you all know how it goes. Its at 6.15pm at Maidstone.

'Lean not on your own understanding but trust in the Lord
and He will make your paths straight'
Proverbs 3:6

Thursday 15 February 2007

Revival

Why does the Church need revival? Should we need revival?

Well I guess that the Church needs revival because it has falling into the trap of just playing the game and those who are willing and wanting with a passion to know more of God do not always see it because few others are willing to reassess themselves and their priorities for God to pour out His Spirit of Revival upon a individual, church or nation.
Many people let 'religion' get in the way of God's longing to pour out this power, this marvelous, miraculous change! The 'we must do this, we must do that.' etc... and others just haven't had the right teaching or leadership to directed people and the church entrusted to them by God onto the path of Revival and renewal.
If the Church does not want to die then at this moment in time we need revival. If we are not right with God it will not happen though.

And should the Church need revival... Well I believe the answer is no it should not. But because we are imperfect humans we will never always be alive. The question the Church should be asking itself is 'Can these dry bones live again?'
The Church has become like dry bones and that is why it needs revival. That's why it needs the Holy Spirit to breath life into the bones in the desert. And when the dry bones of the Church begin to live and dance in the Holy Spirit's, we will begin to see others being brought back to life and choosing to live the life Jesus has given and called us all to!

Yes the Church needs revival and no we should not need it if we are walking the right path in the right direction in unity with each other and God!


Do you believe that 'These dry bones can live?'

Ezekiel 37

Tuesday 13 February 2007

Do you want to know more?

As lent approaches we as Christians begin to really think about this! However this video shows that its not the story that counts. Its the fact that Jesus overcame death, defeated it! Rose again and is still ALIVE! amen and am I glad about that!

Our churches too should be alive, if we are full of The Holy Spirit! We should be the church of Act 2. Community lived out, united by God, whatever colour, cred or denomination.

This video also links in with what The Salvation Army are doing at this time: Self denial. Almost like lent yet the money we would usual spend on what we give up we donate to other countries etc...

As a Church, one Church (Jesus is coming to marry a Bride, not a harem) we should be seeking only to be Acts 2. That is how the Bible portrays Church to be, 'should be'. Interdependent on the family God has provided for us. Not arguing whether we should always say the Lords prayer or whether we celebrate the love feast (communion) etc... We should be united in Jesus name. He did more than die for us!!

'All believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.

They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity- all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all people.

And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.' Acts 2:42-47

And we sometimes wonder why are Church is in decline!

Saturday 10 February 2007

There is something quite beautiful...

There is something quite beautiful about children. I am at the moment the acting children's ministries officer at church and for the last couple of days have been reaping the benefit of it. There is so much hard work to be done, when organising activities, Sunday schools, trips, kingdom kids and my team. (they are a fabulous team and without them children's ministries would not work or exist.) Although it is such hard work I have been so blessed by the children. One Friday at Kingdom Kids, Sue led a prayer session and I just watched the children and I was almost in tears looking at all these children really wanting to know Jesus, wanting to talk to their friend God. The innocence and earnestness of one little boy made me just pour my thanks out to God so much for these young children, the future. They are such a blessing.
Today I was leading Sunday school, (we usually do this in two groups) yet today I had both groups together for the first time as me leading it. I put so much work into it and it went so well, I thank God so much for that. They all had fun, the older ones were set a challenge to do a dance and perform it to the younger ones and the younger ones did a collage of all Sunday school children's faces to show that 'Jesus knows all about us and loves us'!
(change I to your name or you)
Children are precious:
One hundred years from now, it won't matter,
what car I drove, if I was in the latest fashion,
what house I lived in,
but the world may be a different place
because I was important in a child's life!

Friday 9 February 2007

I'm Scared

On Tuesday 20th February at 6.15pm I will have my first official interview for Salvation Army Training college! and I'm scared!! I've had an unofficial interview which went good I think, but this time its in front of a panel and in front of my officer Ian. What if I say something really wrong or I don't know the answers? I won't have just embarrassed myself, but my corp, Ian and God!

Not only that, I'm scared that they'll think that I am not a leader, scared that they will judge me, which in a way they will be and scared! Just scared. I don't feel like I have leadership qualities but others have seen that in me! I do believe that this is right and that this is God's plan and purpose. I just don't have the boldness required.

I guess I lack the trust. To trust that God will do the work for me. That God would speak to them that this is right. I know that I have trouble trusting God all the time, yet when I do the results amaze me. So why can't I trust God right now. To believe that its 'all gonna be all right'. That God will let it be all okay and that He will give me the words to say! I don't have an answer... I'm just scared!


But I must and I will try to put my trust wholly in God, for only He can do the impossible!
'But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and and not faint.'
Isaiah 40:31