With difficult exams, a tough work schedule, developing relationships, mental, spiritual & physical exhaustion and busy times ahead all going on or coming ahead at the moment this is a time of real challenge.
I don't think a challenge is something we cannot do but something it takes an effort to do and my life is very challenging at the moment in that sense at least.
This is the verse that comes to mind, it is from the amazing chapter of faith in Hebrews 11...
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
I don't know how any of the things I am doing are going to work out. Some will not work out as I imagined or hoped, some will be everything I wished for & more. But I know that whatever happens, God is in control and I know He will do right by me and more importantly right by HIM, and He is a Just God :-)
My devotion this morning was really sweet it was based on Hebrews 12:1 which is...
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
It linked the verse up to this beautiful poem...
'When the powers of hell prevail,
O'er our weakness and unfitness,
Could we lift the fleshly veil,
could we for a moment witness
Those unnumbered hosts that stand
Calm and bright on either hand;
Oh, what joyful hope would cheer,
Oh, what serene faith would guide us!
Great may be the danger near,
Greater are the friends beside us.'
ANONYMOUS
Showing posts with label Real Christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real Christianity. Show all posts
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Monday, 21 February 2011
His Plan
Having spoken to various good friends over various things the last few days the following thing has occured to me:-
Our best laid plans are often different to God's.
I think we all have an idea in our head of how we would like things to go. I often mistakenly take the idea in my head as perfection and what perfection would look like.
I suppose it is arrogance to assume that we know best and I'm guilty as charged.
I was thinking of what Joseph said to his brothers when God's Plan for Him came to fruition. Joseph had many hard times and confusing situations despite doing very little wrong.
Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
This world is a place full of evil, hate and selfishness. If you disagree with me just watch the News. Things will not always go as we have planned but God never loses control. As my pastor likes to say, 'The Trinity don't do emergency meetings'.
I truly believe in happy endings. It's only because I believe in a God who loves us and works the best for us in every situation, no matter how gloomy it looks. I believe in looking back at hard times smiling at how God helped us through it and worked in us through it. I believe living exciting, uncomfortable lives where our security is in God alone. I believe in Heaven and no matter how horrible life on earth is that we will have a perfect eternity with God if we trust in Jesus Christ.
Once my hope was in earthly things such as girls, football matches & money. The problem with those things are that girls can dump you, your football team can lose and money runs out.
My hope now is in the God who will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5), can never fail (1 Corinthians 13:8a, Romans 8:31), and whose love will never run out (Romans 8:38-39).
Praise the LORD!
Our best laid plans are often different to God's.
I think we all have an idea in our head of how we would like things to go. I often mistakenly take the idea in my head as perfection and what perfection would look like.
I suppose it is arrogance to assume that we know best and I'm guilty as charged.
I was thinking of what Joseph said to his brothers when God's Plan for Him came to fruition. Joseph had many hard times and confusing situations despite doing very little wrong.
Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
This world is a place full of evil, hate and selfishness. If you disagree with me just watch the News. Things will not always go as we have planned but God never loses control. As my pastor likes to say, 'The Trinity don't do emergency meetings'.
I truly believe in happy endings. It's only because I believe in a God who loves us and works the best for us in every situation, no matter how gloomy it looks. I believe in looking back at hard times smiling at how God helped us through it and worked in us through it. I believe living exciting, uncomfortable lives where our security is in God alone. I believe in Heaven and no matter how horrible life on earth is that we will have a perfect eternity with God if we trust in Jesus Christ.
Once my hope was in earthly things such as girls, football matches & money. The problem with those things are that girls can dump you, your football team can lose and money runs out.
My hope now is in the God who will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5), can never fail (1 Corinthians 13:8a, Romans 8:31), and whose love will never run out (Romans 8:38-39).
Praise the LORD!
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Key Element of Friendship #2
Witnessing
When I say that a key element of a friendship is witnessing I imagine most people will think of being there for someone on their journey to knowing God. But I think the Bible calls us to more than that.
In Matthew 28 it doesn't ask us to convert all nations, it asks us to make disciples of all nations. I believe there is a huge difference between someone who says they are a Christian, they believe in God and somebody is a Follower of Jesus. To sum it up, some call themselves Christians and others are called Christians by others (the Disciples were named Christians by outsiders).
One of the biggest blessings I have had is people in my life who have been there for me in hard times, shared verses with me and asked after me. There have been people in my life who have seen me grown in faith and as a person. I have a close friend who has gone through a massive change in her life recently and it has been a joy to be in touch with her and see God at work in her life.
In the Bible Jesus did it with the disciples, Elijah with Elisha, Paul with countless Churches and so on.
I think we are called to do that with others, to see where they are in live, to encourage them, to watch them grow.
When I say that a key element of a friendship is witnessing I imagine most people will think of being there for someone on their journey to knowing God. But I think the Bible calls us to more than that.
In Matthew 28 it doesn't ask us to convert all nations, it asks us to make disciples of all nations. I believe there is a huge difference between someone who says they are a Christian, they believe in God and somebody is a Follower of Jesus. To sum it up, some call themselves Christians and others are called Christians by others (the Disciples were named Christians by outsiders).
One of the biggest blessings I have had is people in my life who have been there for me in hard times, shared verses with me and asked after me. There have been people in my life who have seen me grown in faith and as a person. I have a close friend who has gone through a massive change in her life recently and it has been a joy to be in touch with her and see God at work in her life.
In the Bible Jesus did it with the disciples, Elijah with Elisha, Paul with countless Churches and so on.
I think we are called to do that with others, to see where they are in live, to encourage them, to watch them grow.
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