'Don't over complicate God's will. Just stay connected to Jesus. Love Him. Look into His eyes. He will lead. Follow. Repeat.' Louie Giglio.
'God's plan for your life is God. Don't expect him to hand you something else.' Louie Giglio.
So I find myself at a crossroads again in life. An opportunity of a job that will help progress my career. But I'm comfortable here God, I don't want to go, I have good friends, I've not been here long, please can I stay longer than a year in one place? I'm fed up of constant moving, starting again, making new friends, finding a new church, somewhere to live. I've got no one to go with, it's getting lonely.
Return to your first love. Remember that passion of praising God and the freedom you felt in your heart, nothing can ever hurt you again. Just stay connected to Jesus. Trust Him to move the boulders blocking your path, and to put them where He doesn't want you to go. Don't lean on you own understanding.
I'm found in the rhythms of Grace, they overcome all of my ways, realigning each step everyday, to live for your Glory
Monday, 16 April 2012
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Where you go, I'll go ....
My life is a light for Your cause
My will laid aside for Your call
And reserved are the depths of my heart
Only for You
I'm caught in the rhythms of grace
They overcome all of my ways
Realigning each step everyday
To live for Your glory
Take my life I lay it down
At the cross where I am found
All I have I give to You oh God
Take my hands and make them clean
Keep my heart in purity
That I may walk in all You have for me
Take my moments and my days
Let each breath that I take
Be ever only for You oh God
My will laid aside for Your call
And reserved are the depths of my heart
Only for You
I'm caught in the rhythms of grace
They overcome all of my ways
Realigning each step everyday
To live for Your glory
Take my life I lay it down
At the cross where I am found
All I have I give to You oh God
Take my hands and make them clean
Keep my heart in purity
That I may walk in all You have for me
Take my moments and my days
Let each breath that I take
Be ever only for You oh God
All your ways are good
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move, I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you, I will follow you
Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone
All your ways are sure
I will trust in you alone
Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move, I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you, I will follow you
Light unto the world
Light unto my life
I will live for you alone
You're the one I seek
Knowing I will find
All I need in you alone, in you alone
Proverbs 3:5-7 (MSG)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.
Don't assume that you know it all.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (MSG)
"I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work."
God's Decree.
"For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Listen to me ....
Psalm 44:1-3
We've been hearing about this, God, all our lives.
Our fathers told us the stories
their fathers told them,
How single-handedly you weeded out the godless
from the fields and planted us,
How you sent those people packing
but gave us a fresh start.
We didn't fight for this land;
we didn't work for it—it was a gift!
You gave it, smiling as you gave it,
delighting as you gave it.
.... and Trust me ....
We've been hearing about this, God, all our lives.
Our fathers told us the stories
their fathers told them,
How single-handedly you weeded out the godless
from the fields and planted us,
How you sent those people packing
but gave us a fresh start.
We didn't fight for this land;
we didn't work for it—it was a gift!
You gave it, smiling as you gave it,
delighting as you gave it.
.... and Trust me ....
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
He puts a smile on my face
Let the words of God permeate our entire being. 'Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you .... Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night' (Deut 11:18-19).
'We need to know, learn, and teach God's word and put it into practice in our lives. Great blessing comes from living openly and honestly, walking in the light of God's truth as He reveals it in Hos word.' N. Gumbel.
It is clear from the Psalms and many, many biographies of women and men of God that everyone will have bouts of distress/depression/sadness etc. Life is not easy, we face constant battles, since the world is full of sin.
Psalm 43
Clear my name, God; stick up for me against these loveless, immoral people. Get me out of here, away from these lying degenerates. I counted on you, God. Why did you walk out on me? Why am I pacing the floor, wringing my hands over these outrageous people?
Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, so I can find my way to the sacred mountain, to the place of your presence, to enter the place of worship, meet my exuberant God, sing my thanks with a harp, magnificent God, my God.
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God — soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.
True joy and delight are found in God's presence, hold on fast to this promise and He will deliver.
He puts a smile on my face. He is my God.'
'We need to know, learn, and teach God's word and put it into practice in our lives. Great blessing comes from living openly and honestly, walking in the light of God's truth as He reveals it in Hos word.' N. Gumbel.
It is clear from the Psalms and many, many biographies of women and men of God that everyone will have bouts of distress/depression/sadness etc. Life is not easy, we face constant battles, since the world is full of sin.
Psalm 43
Clear my name, God; stick up for me against these loveless, immoral people. Get me out of here, away from these lying degenerates. I counted on you, God. Why did you walk out on me? Why am I pacing the floor, wringing my hands over these outrageous people?
Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, so I can find my way to the sacred mountain, to the place of your presence, to enter the place of worship, meet my exuberant God, sing my thanks with a harp, magnificent God, my God.
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God — soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.
True joy and delight are found in God's presence, hold on fast to this promise and He will deliver.
He puts a smile on my face. He is my God.'
Monday, 9 April 2012
I have 2 feet...
.... One for the boot of trust, and the other for the boot of obey .... The right and left boots of Christianity.
These are the answers to trials, struggles, temptation, worry, anxiety, fear, and failure.
Psalm 42:6-11
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, from Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of white-water rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer.
Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, "Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?" They're out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities, taunting day after day, "Where is this God of yours?"
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God — soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why disturbed within me? Put your hope in God
Though we have feelings God has forgotten us, we know in reality He is there. The rock on which we can stand, when all around is the sinking sand.
Jesus said many. many times: 'Do NOT worry.'
God you want all of me, I can't quite reason as to why. But I know that is what you want. I want you to have all of me, but I struggle to give it all, because there is still that little piece of me asking: Why; why me? It is difficult to accept such a beautiful gift for free. Again, I'm not sure why. You beg for me to take it, but I'm like that hesitant child at the back of the crowd, longing for what the other children have, and not quite believing I can actually have it.
Do not worry, Trust Me, have faith little one, I will wait for you. I love all of you, every single atom, in every single cell. I know the numbers of hairs on your head, and I know your thoughts. Come to Me and lean on Me, I will make everything new, and cause you to sing a new song.
I will be praising again. He puts a smile on my face, He is my God
These are the answers to trials, struggles, temptation, worry, anxiety, fear, and failure.
Psalm 42:6-11
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, from Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of white-water rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer.
Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, "Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?" They're out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities, taunting day after day, "Where is this God of yours?"
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God — soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why disturbed within me? Put your hope in God
Though we have feelings God has forgotten us, we know in reality He is there. The rock on which we can stand, when all around is the sinking sand.
Jesus said many. many times: 'Do NOT worry.'
God you want all of me, I can't quite reason as to why. But I know that is what you want. I want you to have all of me, but I struggle to give it all, because there is still that little piece of me asking: Why; why me? It is difficult to accept such a beautiful gift for free. Again, I'm not sure why. You beg for me to take it, but I'm like that hesitant child at the back of the crowd, longing for what the other children have, and not quite believing I can actually have it.
Do not worry, Trust Me, have faith little one, I will wait for you. I love all of you, every single atom, in every single cell. I know the numbers of hairs on your head, and I know your thoughts. Come to Me and lean on Me, I will make everything new, and cause you to sing a new song.
I will be praising again. He puts a smile on my face, He is my God
Sunday, 8 April 2012
Happy Easter
In keeping tradition, I went for an early dawn walk up a nearby hill this morning to see the sun rise. I have done this for a number of years now with my Mum up to the top of Beacon Hill just outside Loughborough, where we meet up with other Christians for a small Easter Sunday service to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. Today, since I'm in Blenheim, NZ, I went for a walk up the Wither Hills just behind where I live to see the sunrise on Easter morning. How glorious it was (and is!)
He Is Risen, Alleluia! He Is Risen Indeed!
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed
Living He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering in anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Saviour, Jesus is mine
Oh Glorious Day!
Fill today with your Praises to Him, for He is Risen, and that is AWESOME :-)
Happy Easter everyone!
He Is Risen, Alleluia! He Is Risen Indeed!
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed
Living He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering in anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Saviour, Jesus is mine
Oh Glorious Day!
Fill today with your Praises to Him, for He is Risen, and that is AWESOME :-)
Happy Easter everyone!
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Love and Mercy
'See people with the eyes of love. Don't be quick to judge. give people the benefit of the doubt. Assume the best.' Nicky Gumble.
I tend to be an optimist but there are occasions I will demonstrate my pessimistic side. I always do try to see the best in people, and I VERY rarely take an dislike to someone, I wish it was never, but if I said never, I would be lying. Despite this, I will always try my up most to see the best in someone, and see them 'with the eyes of love.'
In today's quiet time Nicky Gumble describes a scene in South Africa in a courthouse where there was a hearing about various atrocities during the apartheid. A policeman had murdered a woman's son and husband, and when the court asked what this woman wanted doing with the policeman, she said she wanted him to visit her on a fortnightly basis so she could show him love he deserved as her son since she had so much love in life to give still after losing her husband and son. Spontaneously someone in the courtroom started singing Amazing Grace, but the policeman had fainted with the shock of the woman's mercy and love.
I'm not sure I could ever be that merciful, but I would try. Jesus was exactly like that though, and certainly would have done the same as the woman in the courthouse. In Luke 9:54-56 the disciples were wanting to take revenge on some prophets they didn't believe were working under the power of God, but Jesus rebuked them. There are many, many examples in the gospels of Jesus showing love, mercy, and justice to those we would think of as sinners/unworthy/nasty/evil people.
Numbers 35:1-36:13 shows how Israel starts using a court system to bring wrongdoers to justice.
The principle of lover should underpin everything we do. That is not to say we should stand by and let bad stuff happen, just because we should 'show love' to people and therefore be reluctant to bring justice. Part of loving people is to protect. This tension lies in everything. We should not take revenge or retaliate, but we also have a duty to the state to prevent crime and bring wrongdoers to justice. We should always act out of love.
I tend to be an optimist but there are occasions I will demonstrate my pessimistic side. I always do try to see the best in people, and I VERY rarely take an dislike to someone, I wish it was never, but if I said never, I would be lying. Despite this, I will always try my up most to see the best in someone, and see them 'with the eyes of love.'
In today's quiet time Nicky Gumble describes a scene in South Africa in a courthouse where there was a hearing about various atrocities during the apartheid. A policeman had murdered a woman's son and husband, and when the court asked what this woman wanted doing with the policeman, she said she wanted him to visit her on a fortnightly basis so she could show him love he deserved as her son since she had so much love in life to give still after losing her husband and son. Spontaneously someone in the courtroom started singing Amazing Grace, but the policeman had fainted with the shock of the woman's mercy and love.
I'm not sure I could ever be that merciful, but I would try. Jesus was exactly like that though, and certainly would have done the same as the woman in the courthouse. In Luke 9:54-56 the disciples were wanting to take revenge on some prophets they didn't believe were working under the power of God, but Jesus rebuked them. There are many, many examples in the gospels of Jesus showing love, mercy, and justice to those we would think of as sinners/unworthy/nasty/evil people.
Numbers 35:1-36:13 shows how Israel starts using a court system to bring wrongdoers to justice.
The principle of lover should underpin everything we do. That is not to say we should stand by and let bad stuff happen, just because we should 'show love' to people and therefore be reluctant to bring justice. Part of loving people is to protect. This tension lies in everything. We should not take revenge or retaliate, but we also have a duty to the state to prevent crime and bring wrongdoers to justice. We should always act out of love.
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