Acts 17:26-28a (The Message).
26 Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living 27 so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. 28 We live and move in him, can’t get away from him!
I was listening to my music again the other day when a song that is new to me played - out of the blue. I had to get Nat to listen to it as I thought I needed to share it with someone - fast!!
I don't have much else to say today (I know that's hard to believe) but the lyrics are great and the melody was "haunting" enough to stop me in my tracks.
It was a "gentle" reminder to me that I must continue to give God - FIRST place.
I need constant renewing and refilling - I struggle as to know why?
Am I the only one that feels this way?
I question, again and again, if I'm doing something wrong - but in this prayer I acknowledge that I DO need God to be ever present in this journey and I can gain nothing without his presence in my life.
Until we give You first place,
Until we let You begin
To fill us with your spirit,
Renew us from within.
Nothing matters,
Nothing's gained.
Without your Holy presence,
Our lives are lived in vain.
Chorus
Lord we want to know You,
Live our lives to show You,
All the love we owe You,
We're seekers of your heart.
Because your heart was broken,
Because You saw the need,
Because You gave so freely,
Because of Calvary,
We can now be,
Called your own,
Complete creations,
Filled with You alone,
Lord we want to know You,
Live our lives to show You,
All the love we owe You,
We're seekers of your heart.
My prayer:
Lord I want to know you.
I want to live my life to show you more and more.
My you be the centre of everything I do.
Amen.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Just As You Are.
Psalm 139 (The Message).
15 You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
16 Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.
Before the world began,
You were on His mind,
And every tear you cry,
Is precious in His eyes.
Because of His great love,
He gave His only Son.
Everything was done
So you would come.
Nothing you can do
Could make Him love you more.
And nothing that you've done
Could make Him close the door.
Because of His great love,
He gave His only Son.
Everything was done
So you would come.
Come to the Father,
Though your gift is small.
Broken hearts, broken lives,
He will take them all.
The power of the Word,
The power of His blood.
Everything was done
So you would come.
John 3:16 (The Message).
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
Come just as you are,
Hear the spirit call.
Come just as you are,
Come and see,
Come receive,
Come and live, forever.
Life everlasting.
Strength for today.
Taste the living water,
And never thirst again.
Come and see,
Come receive,
Come and live forever.
Come just as you are,
Don't you hear the spirit call.
Come just as you are,
Come and see,
Christ my King,
Come and live, forevermore.
After reading these verses and the lyrics to these songs, I feel we still need to physically do something about this word "Come".
To sing "Come just as you are" or "Come to the Father", I had the overwhelming sense that this is Jesus pleading, through the words of the songs, for us to get up and get moving - towards Him and His way. To move ourselves out of negativity, sadness, struggles and complications (or even complacency?) and into His freedom, love and grace.
Maybe that means spending time (physically) on our knees, or making our way to a place of grace (not disgrace).
To borrow a phrase.... Sometimes we just need to "Let Go and Let God!"
By letting go says to me that we are holding on too tight. If we let go - does that mean we will fall ? What better place to fall but into the arms of a Saviour that loves us.
My prayer;
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message).
Amen.
15 You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
16 Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.
Before the world began,
You were on His mind,
And every tear you cry,
Is precious in His eyes.
Because of His great love,
He gave His only Son.
Everything was done
So you would come.
Nothing you can do
Could make Him love you more.
And nothing that you've done
Could make Him close the door.
Because of His great love,
He gave His only Son.
Everything was done
So you would come.
Come to the Father,
Though your gift is small.
Broken hearts, broken lives,
He will take them all.
The power of the Word,
The power of His blood.
Everything was done
So you would come.
John 3:16 (The Message).
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
Come just as you are,
Hear the spirit call.
Come just as you are,
Come and see,
Come receive,
Come and live, forever.
Life everlasting.
Strength for today.
Taste the living water,
And never thirst again.
Come and see,
Come receive,
Come and live forever.
Come just as you are,
Don't you hear the spirit call.
Come just as you are,
Come and see,
Christ my King,
Come and live, forevermore.
After reading these verses and the lyrics to these songs, I feel we still need to physically do something about this word "Come".
To sing "Come just as you are" or "Come to the Father", I had the overwhelming sense that this is Jesus pleading, through the words of the songs, for us to get up and get moving - towards Him and His way. To move ourselves out of negativity, sadness, struggles and complications (or even complacency?) and into His freedom, love and grace.
Maybe that means spending time (physically) on our knees, or making our way to a place of grace (not disgrace).
To borrow a phrase.... Sometimes we just need to "Let Go and Let God!"
By letting go says to me that we are holding on too tight. If we let go - does that mean we will fall ? What better place to fall but into the arms of a Saviour that loves us.
My prayer;
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message).
Amen.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Fading Beauty
1 Peter. 3:3 (NLT).
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
SACB 77
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All his wonderful passion and purity,
O thou Spirit divine,
All my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
During the last few weeks I have had 2 occasions where children have asked me if I was a Policeman. There was a time I wanted to be one, but I think it's probably a little too late.
On both occasions the parents have said to the children - "No, he belongs to The Salvation Army, he helps people".
I suppose The Army is seen to be a helping hand to those in crisis, especially with the flooding and cyclone in the not so distant past. So when you wear the uniform, you are automatically one of "those ones" who help people, whether you are on the "front line" or even in PR.
Does what we wear maketh the person?
Am I a "better" Christian because I wear The Salvation Army uniform?
Can the beauty of Jesus seen in me?
Does my outward appearance and actions mirror that of Christ?
What about when we don't wear our uniform? Does the beauty of Jesus radiate through us ? At work? At the shops? In the home?
It's not easy - I know. Prior to my commencement with The Salvation Army, the workplace was not the easiest place to show Jesus in any way, shape or form, and even when I stood by my beleifs, it didn't seem to make much difference to anybody else. People were just too interested in themselves.
Moving into another year and continuing on in this journey of life, my prayer for today is:
Come, beautiful Christ,
Radiate thy beauty in me.
'Tis thee I adore,
What can I ask more
Than to live for thee, beautiful Christ.
SACB 61
Footnote: The above words were written specifically for women, but It was the first verse that appeared when I searched for the phrase "beauty of Jesus" - I thinks there's something in it for all of us, don't you?
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
SACB 77
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All his wonderful passion and purity,
O thou Spirit divine,
All my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.
During the last few weeks I have had 2 occasions where children have asked me if I was a Policeman. There was a time I wanted to be one, but I think it's probably a little too late.
On both occasions the parents have said to the children - "No, he belongs to The Salvation Army, he helps people".
I suppose The Army is seen to be a helping hand to those in crisis, especially with the flooding and cyclone in the not so distant past. So when you wear the uniform, you are automatically one of "those ones" who help people, whether you are on the "front line" or even in PR.
Does what we wear maketh the person?
Am I a "better" Christian because I wear The Salvation Army uniform?
Can the beauty of Jesus seen in me?
Does my outward appearance and actions mirror that of Christ?
What about when we don't wear our uniform? Does the beauty of Jesus radiate through us ? At work? At the shops? In the home?
It's not easy - I know. Prior to my commencement with The Salvation Army, the workplace was not the easiest place to show Jesus in any way, shape or form, and even when I stood by my beleifs, it didn't seem to make much difference to anybody else. People were just too interested in themselves.
Moving into another year and continuing on in this journey of life, my prayer for today is:
Come, beautiful Christ,
Radiate thy beauty in me.
'Tis thee I adore,
What can I ask more
Than to live for thee, beautiful Christ.
SACB 61
Footnote: The above words were written specifically for women, but It was the first verse that appeared when I searched for the phrase "beauty of Jesus" - I thinks there's something in it for all of us, don't you?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Speak To Me!
Exodus 3:1-3 (The Message).
Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it didn’t burn up. Moses said, “What’s going on here? I can’t believe this! Amazing! Why doesn’t the bush burn up?”
I have struggled over the past few weeks to try and find some "inspiration" that came thick and fast last year. It seems to have stopped as suddenly as it came.
I blogged 71 times in 52 weeks - Not a bad effort and so many words that helped me through the year.
I don't know if it is because I am in a better place than I was this time last year, but I still feel I am no where near where I should (or need to) be.
So where are you God ?
I know I have to be still and stop talking so that I can listen, but maybe I need the burning bush to get my attention !!
We sang "Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord" on Sunday and read Isaiah 41 (see below) but still I'm struggling to "hear" anything.
Another Blog I am following has changed it's content this year, but as I read it late last night the following song was introduced (all 7 verses). I'm pretty sure I have used some of these verses last year but (finally) some words of comfort - and my sincere prayer - for my continuing journey !!
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.
O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessèd face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.
Isaiah41:1 (The Message).
“Quiet down, far-flung ocean islands. Listen!
Sit down and rest, everyone. Recover your strength.
Gather around me. Say what’s on your heart.
Together let’s decide what’s right
Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it didn’t burn up. Moses said, “What’s going on here? I can’t believe this! Amazing! Why doesn’t the bush burn up?”
I have struggled over the past few weeks to try and find some "inspiration" that came thick and fast last year. It seems to have stopped as suddenly as it came.
I blogged 71 times in 52 weeks - Not a bad effort and so many words that helped me through the year.
I don't know if it is because I am in a better place than I was this time last year, but I still feel I am no where near where I should (or need to) be.
So where are you God ?
I know I have to be still and stop talking so that I can listen, but maybe I need the burning bush to get my attention !!
We sang "Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord" on Sunday and read Isaiah 41 (see below) but still I'm struggling to "hear" anything.
Another Blog I am following has changed it's content this year, but as I read it late last night the following song was introduced (all 7 verses). I'm pretty sure I have used some of these verses last year but (finally) some words of comfort - and my sincere prayer - for my continuing journey !!
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.
O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.
O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessèd face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.
Isaiah41:1 (The Message).
“Quiet down, far-flung ocean islands. Listen!
Sit down and rest, everyone. Recover your strength.
Gather around me. Say what’s on your heart.
Together let’s decide what’s right
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