A-Z of Christianity 'K'

KINGDOM

Disney World Castle in Orlando, Florida

As most of you who know me will know I had the privilege of going to Orlando, Florida for New Year just gone. The trip was memorable for many, many reasons and one of those reasons was getting to go to Disney World in Orlando. 

Even at the ancient age of 23 it was exciting to go there and I wasn't disappointed, really enjoying the experience of seeing the characters, going on the rides and getting the full Disney experience. We only had the time to visit the Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney as it is such a big 'world'. What struck me is that it is almost like another world (hence the name Disney World I suppose!). My girlfriend calls it 'the happiest place on earth' and she isn't far right in many ways, everything is geared towards making the park that way to visitors.

I was reminded that when we make God King of our lives by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior we become a part of His Kingdom. 


The Bible says in Galatians 3:26 that we are all sons of God through Christ Jesus. As a son we have an inheritance which, in Hebrews 9:15, is described as 'eternal'.


If we make Jesus our Lord and Savior we not only inherit eternal life but we have an inheritance in Heaven to look forward too, which is spoken of in 1 Peter 1:3-5...


'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.'

The choice of choosing to trust God or not is the biggest choice of your life because no other choice has so much depend on it. Don't write God off. He wants to know you, He loves you with a crazy love that led Him to take the sickening punishment our sins deserved. He wants to bless your life beyond your wildest imagination. He wants you to spend eternity with Him. You can look everywhere but you won't find anything more important or amazing than this on earth :)

In the Old Testament it says:-

Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children for ever!

It's impossible to keep all the commands but Jesus has covered us on that one, let's trust God today and see what He does in our lives. I've seen Him do amazing things in my life and others lives and I promise that those who choose to fully trust Him will not be disappointed :)

Join the Kingdom today!

Courageous Christianity

I must begin with apologies for the lack of blog action recently. I have been very busy and sometimes it is also nice to have a break and refresh myself, watching Cardiff City get to the Carling Cup final last night being a particular highlight since my last post!


Last year I made the theme for my blog, 'Love' and whilst I didn't write every post about that I really hope that my posts inspired you to increase in your love for God and your love for the people He created.


This year I want to start a different theme (but please be encouraged to keep up the love!) and it is one I feel very passionate about.


We live in a world today that is very resistant in an almost militant way towards Christianity and we also live in a world where we see Christianity represented so badly by many. I feel it is time for Christianity, the people of God, to be brave. That's why this year I want to write about Courageous Christianity.


Mark Twain sums up today's world by saying, 'It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.'


To understand more clearly what I mean by courage I have a few more quotes:


Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.  ~Ambrose Redmoon


Courage is doing what you're afraid to do.  There can be no courage unless you're scared.  ~Edward Vernon Rickenbacker


I think Dan Rather sums up courage the most accurately in my view 'Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow'

There are many things in life that demand our attention, that demand our reverance and priority. I know in my own experience that I can get so swamped with my hobbies that I forget to pay significant attention to the really important thing in my life, which is Jesus. 

I feel that too many times in my life I hold onto things instead of God, I focus on other things that comfort me instead of God. This may comfort me but it doesn't give me the joy that focusing on the One who Loves me perfectly and gave His own life to save me. It's easy to let the emotions of music and a football match, whether positive or negative take us over. I need to be courageous and fight the inbuilt selfish desire for an easy life and let God reign over all. 

Paul puts it wonderfully in 2 Corinthians 10:5, 'We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.'

This probably doesn't sound very courageous but I really think it is, let's make it our effort in 2012 to give all of our lives, thoughts including the comforting rights to God, the one who truly cares and has the power to take care of all our worries and stresses.

The blessings of Prayer

Tonight was the first night of achieving one of my New Year's Resolutions to spend one night of my normal week with God in prayer, Bible study and reading. It went very well I am pleased to say and I am feeling the blessings already. When I commit time to God I always feel more at peace and always learn something about myself, about what I need to do/change or am just really encouraged by God.

I wanted to share a quote that really blessed me and challenged me about the benefits prayer brings :)

'Where was it that Jesus sweat great drops of blood? Not in Pilate's Hall, nor on his way to Golgotha. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane. There He 'offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could cave him from death' (Hebrews 5:7). Had I been there and witnessed that struggle, I would have worried about the future. 'If he is so broken up when all he is doing is praying,' I might have said, 'what will he do when he faces a real crisis? Why can't he approach this ordeal with the calm confidence of his three sleeping friends? Yet, when the test came, Jesus walked to the cross with courage, and his three friends fell apart and fell away.'


Haddon Robinson quoted in 'Prayer' by Philip Yancey


Don't fall apart or fall away, be strong and courageous in Jesus :) Last year my official theme was Love, this year it will be largely be courage. I want to be more courageous in serving God and I hope you can join me on this journey.

Taking a Rest

So I've been back a couple of days now and still I'm tired! I've only just woke up from a nap and am about to go back to sleep for the night.

I just want to share something that I've realised the last few days. I don't take enough rest in my life.

I have lots of nights in and time at home where I decline to go out so I can 'rest' but one thing this New Year adventure has shown me is that rest is so much more than just not going out. Ironically going the furthest I will go all year has shown me that!

Often when 'resting'..I'll end up doing so much in the house. I could write Compassion Letters, blog, chat with friends at home but neglecting the things that make up true rest...prayer, sleep...things that don't require a lot of body and mind movement or things where God can just revitalise you :-)

Since I've got back from America, I realised how getting away from everything has helped refresh me whole. Even though I'm physically tired, I can fix that (and will do in bed now!) but my mental and spiritual tiredness is gone!

I don't know what everyone's New Years Resolutions are but here are mine:-

1. Try to finally stop biting my nails!
2. To give a night to God every 'normal' week this year. ('Normal' being weeks that I haven't got things like Camp or unavoidable activities every night)

Hopefully these nights will help me rest spiritually and also help me rest mentally through the power of God and through just not doing much but not doing much with Him!

What are your New Years Resolutions? I don't normally like them as if they are important enough you should do them anyway , regardless, but I can see the extra motivation a New Year and a fresh start can bring you.

Praise God for 2012!

Florida Day Seven & Eight

As I am leaving tomorrow this will be my last post. I am so very sad to leave as I have been made to feel very welcome and very much at home here. I draw comfort from feeling it won't be the last time here and knowing that God has the future in His Hands for I don't know what the future holds but I know who holds the future!

Last night we had supper with Caitlin's parents and her Grandad and I got to try many new things such as hash brown casserole (great idea!), black eyed peas (yes, it's a food!!!) and collard greens! It was lovely! We then watched 'Soul Surfer' a film about a real life story of how God's promises about having our future secure and that all things will work for good are true and reliable promises! It was great :)

Today has been mainly about visiting people Caitlin needed to see before she went home, as she leaves Florida the day after me (albeit stopping by in North Carolina for a few days first). We saw some very sweet people! One house we went too was a big farm like house, very pretty. It was in the middle of nowhere and it felt very relaxing to be there. They were a lovely family, the father and son had built this big truck with seats on and we went for a ride through the forest there. This was a lot of fun!

Before this we had enjoyed lunch with her other Grandparents at an Italian restaurant. I have enjoyed meeting all her Grandparents. They are sweet, lovely and faithful believers in Christ.

We also went to see the Bobo family, although the older son and father weren't there we had a nice chat and some fun with Christi the mother and the other five kids!

We then went to an all you can eat place with Caitlin's parents and her Grandad which was the usual episode of me eating too much!

Now we're about to watch the last Harry Potter movie together :)

Tomorrow we are going to have lunch with Caitlin's Grandad, see a little girl from her Church and then head to Orlando to have one final meal before I leave to go back home. It is sure to be a sad goodbye but I will look forward to saying hello again lots!!!

This has been a super amazing week, far better than my wildest dreams. Me & Caitlin have had such a great time together and I have enjoyed every moment of being with her, as I always do! I feel a part of the family and have got to know and love all of the close relatives and friends that I have met. I want to thank them all for this kindness and thank the Lord for His usual party trick of doing more for me than I can imagine. 

We have such a great God! :)

Psalm 56:4In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Florida Days Three to Six!

Well I have to begin by saying - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

2011 has been a year of change for me in good ways and bad ways and it feels very nice to start a new year where I can leave the bad behind and take the good with me into 2012 :) I hope everyone else feels the same and is able to do that. I think we dwell too much on the past and what has happened when I think God often wants us to concentrate on the now, how much He loves us NOW, how lots of our bad stuff is behind us NOW and how we can trust Him for the future NOW. That's my mini rant! :)

I must apologise for the lack of post the last few days, we have been away for most of it and I've had no opportunity to write.

So here goes!! The night after my last post we went to a restaurant by a beautiful big lake in Sebring. Me & Caitlin got some photos on the dock there. The food was really nice, I opted for home comforts with fish & chips and I can count it among the best fish & chips I have ever had! Caitlin's Dad tried the Fish Sandwich challenge and made an admirable effort but ultimately fell short. I think the challenge was designed to be pretty much impossible unless you wanted to die so we're all glad he fell short! For the first time, I tried a 'Gator Tail'. It was slightly concerning to eat alligator tail but it was very nice. It was breadcrumbed like a chicken nugget and tasted like a chicken nugget too. I give it a thumbs up! We watched American Football with Caitlin's Grandad and his wife and step grand-daughter (who was mega cute and fun!) who also came to the meal with us and it was relaxing despite me having to go to bed early due to tiredness!

The next day Caitlin showed me around the town of Lake Placid, which didn't take long! Her Mom wanted her to show me the murals there but apparently it's a horrific travelling experience so she didn't haha.

We (Me, Caitlin, her parents and her younger brother) then went up to Orlando and checked in at this beautiful hotel at Orange Lake. It is surely a four star place, maybe even five. It has a big swimming pool like the ones we used to go to as a family at France. We went and saw this beautiful beach and then went into Downtown Disney, looked around the shops, met Goofy and had our photo and ate at the Rainforest Cafe!! It's apparently a famous place and the prices confirmed that! It is set up like a rainforest even to the tune of it being really cold (suited me fine as a Welshman!). Randomly the lights would go out and a storm sound would roar across the restaurant!! It was a lot of fun!

The next day was DISNEY! We spent the day in the Magic Kingdom and it was a child's dream! The child inside of me was awakened in a big way and I absolutely loved the whole experience. It is like another Universe there, a big happy all-singing, all-dancing Universe and you can't help but smile there. In the night the big castle changed colours which was spectacular! I thought if Disney can make a world like this, imagine how great a world God has in store for us when we leave the earth?

My favourite rides were, firstly, the Splash Mountain, which sent you hurtling down a water shoot and get wet. None of the rides were as fast or exciting as even the big ones at Oakwood but at Disney it's about the story and experience of the rides. It also has to be useful for young children too, as they are what it's ultimately for!

Secondly I loved the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It was a boat trip through a town that had been invaded by Pirates and apparently inspired the film as it was there before it (although they have now added Jack Sparrow to the ride!) but the best bit was the sea. It really felt like you were in the middle of an Ocean, it was incredible!! Plus the boats around you were firing at each other, water was coming up and everything!

We managed to catch the Parade and go on 90% of the attractions and it was a day I'll never forget!

The next day we wandered around Orlando after watching the Man Utd/Blackburn game at 8 am with Caitlin's Dad (great match!!) and enjoyed a more slowly placed day. On the way home we went to Spook Hill, a mountain which apparently created an illusion you were going downhill when you were going uphill which I didn't quite feel haha. We also, in tribute to my country, went to Lake Wales..another beautiful Lake where we had fun taking pictures.

We saw in the New Year with Caitlin's Mom, Dad, Grandad and his wife and step grand-daughter (Caitlin's brother, Ian, had gone to Bahamas with some friends) with a fire, fireworks and fun family time.

Today we've been to Church which was really encouraging. I really loved the welcome feel, the Soul Survivor style worship and a great message on loving your brothers and sisters who are serve God. Spending time getting closer to God, feeling His Presence and knowing the reality of His Love and Promises is always time well spent!

It will be a slower placed day today, we are about to go swimming in the back garden! It is over 30 degrees C here, I imagine that is a contrast to Britain right now!

Having as wonderful, wonderful time, it's been absolutely amazing and more than I ever imagined. I have really enjoyed her family's company and I feel a part of the family already!

Going to miss this a lot the next few months!

Grace, Peace and Blessings to you all!

Love Michael :)

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.