When the Waves come in...

I am very happy to announce that my exams for 2011 are now complete! 


They went well and I feel the two months hard revision was worth it :)


As you can imagine, having become a bit of a social recluse over the last two months it is a big relief to be able to go out with friends and have free time again with no feeling of obligation to revise or guilt if I don't or am unable to do as much as I think was possible.


What has surprised me though is the feelings of relief and freedom have shown me how stressed I actually have been the last month or so. It scares me a little bit that, without realising, my attitude has been impaired by the weight of determination to do well and pressure to succeed that was on me. I am already praying that God would help me handle it better next time.


But what really pleased me is that I actually didn't notice the stress. It didn't overcome me and, actually, didn't even come close. It's like God lifted me up above the worst of it.


It reminded me of a Parable Jesus told:-

Matthew 7:24-29 : The Wise and Foolish Builders

 ²⁴ Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

    ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

    ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

    ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

   

 ²⁸When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

    ²⁹ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

I am blessed because by giving my life to Jesus and trusting in Him my life is built upon the Rock that Jesus is in our lives. He supports us, encourages us and helps us all the way to the amazing things He has given us to do, even when we don't see it or know it.


When the waves such as exam stress comes crashing into my life, Jesus lifts me up above it and I can go on through the storm.


What is your life built on? A rock that can lift you above the biggest of storms or the sand that will take all the punishment helplessly?

God is like sticky glue

I have almost no bad things to say about a brisk lunchtime walk through Ponty. The fresh air, the scent, the rush of people is a different place to sitting in my office and I should do it more often!

Today I was reminiscing about recent hard times and how I managed to get through them. I think part of our human experience is to suffer tough times. Some people have it much worse than others, I see things on the News that I just couldn't imagine going through. These tough times are unwanted, yet in many cases, exactly what we need. When things go right all of the time we lose the wonderful feelings and it becomes all so normal and dull. Hard times help us appreciate the good times more.

I also believe hard times help build our characters. The Apostle Paul thought so - ^"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4)

James agrees in James 1:2-4  "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

There are a lot of things I can't imagine going through, and times that are so hard maybe you don't feel anything good came out of it. I can't disagree with that because I don't know until I go through something really bad, although I rather hope I don't.

What I do know is the Bible also says this...
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Let's not feel guilty or judged if our attitudes aren't up to scratch, as all of us fail in this regard most times. Let's enable God to set our hearts free by choosing to let Him take our problems and make good from them.

When reminiscing I was also reminded of how God is like sticky glue. When everything seems as if it is going to fall apart, He is still with me holding everything together. Even when things do appear to fall apart, it is because He wants to rebuild us better than before. I have been through that, too.

Through all of this God has been with me. He has been faithful, just as the Bible said He would (Hebrews 13:5 - I will never leave you nor forsake you) (Matthew 28:20b - I am with you always).

So I just want to thank God and give Him all the Glory for this, and everything else He has done in my life. There will always be trials, but there will always be God.

David Wilkerson

Yesterday the legendary Christian pastor David Wilkerson passed away after a car crash at the age of 79. He is most famously remembered for leading gangster Nicky Cruz to Christ and telling him, when Cruz threatened to kill him before his conversion, that if he cut his body into pieces that every piece would cry out that Jesus loves him and always will.

On the day he died he posted on his blog and I wanted to share all of his post as I think it is wonderful and such a great thing to go out of life on earth saying..

"To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, “You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen” (John 20:29).

Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.

That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: “Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.”

Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: “Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!”

Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, “I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.”

Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world."

Wilkerson is now enjoying his reward in perfect eternity with the Lord :) Let us be inspired by his inspirational faith acted out in his life and rejoice that he was saved :)

Jeremiah 29:13

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.


Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.


I always find that my most amazing and special moments with God (Those moments mean I can never be an atheist just as much as I can never believe my Mother doesn't exist...I've met her!) come when I really make an effort for Him. Instead of during a rushed token gesture at the end of the day, it is the times where I go out and make time and get myself free of distractions when I have the best times. Of course, God meets you in the rushed times as well and there have been good times there too.


My point is...I have heard many complain that they never know that God is there for them and that they don't know what He thinks or wants them to do.


My advice is to make time, find a quiet place, remove all distractions and get in touch with the Creator :-)


Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.


Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

The way to success?

It's a important time of the year. Exams are coming up, essays are due, the football season is entering the final month! Just one extra bit of effort can make all the difference. The pressure is on, you feel as if life doesn't go beyond that final deadline. Everyone has their advice, their techniques to handling all of the work & pressure...it can feel as if there are so many different ways and you don't know which way to take so you sit there and hope that whatever you do end up doing, it is enough!


I'm not here to tell you which way is right when it comes to exam and essay work and I am no Jose Mourinho, so no football teams will be ringing me up for advice!


Whatever you do, however you do it....cover it in prayer. Soak it in it, don't let any part of this journey escape without being completely immersed in God.....


Why?


1. Because God wants to help
1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.


God is our Heavenly Father, He doesn't want us to sit here and suffer, He wants to strengthen us and assure of us that He has a great plan for us and He will see us there! (Jeremiah 29:11 guys :D)


2. Because Jesus did it
Jesus constantly was in prayer, He made a point of going to the Father and spend hours at night with Him. The night before He was crucified, where was He? He was giving all of Himself to God, so that He would have the strength to do the Lord's Will. Jesus lived by prayer in His Ministry, this is shown in His healing of many illnesses and sending demons away from the possessed.


3. Because other Bible characters do it
In Nehemiah 1 & 2, Nehemiah's passionate prayer for Israel is noted as well as his prayer before responding to the King (he had a scary job, to ask a King who could kill him to let him re-build this wall in Jerusalem which he may not have been pleased about). Nehemiah went and re-built the wall under the blessing of God. Everything amazing that happened on Mt Carmel in 1 Kings 18 was due to God answering Elijah's prayer.
I believe, to change this world, we should concentrate more on prayer than actions, not that actions are not important...they often seem to be the response of prayer anyway. 


4. The Bible says so -  Phillippians 4:6-7....Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Lastly, always remember this wonderful verse in Proverbs 16:3, the book of wisdom...


"Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
   and he will establish your plans."


God isn't blind to your suffering, He wants to hold your hand and get you through everything. Let Him in today. I have been realising more and more myself the power of prayer. God answers it so often, and when He doesn't you end up seeing why and being thankful! 


Give it all to Him today :-) 

A Good Foundation

Matthew 7:24-29. The Wise and Foolish Builders

    ²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

 ²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

I think it's important to consider what the foundations are in our lives

For many people I know, the foundation is a relationship or success in an area such as Exams, Sport or just being popularity. The problem with these things is that relationships can end, success isn't always guaranteed and you can't be popular with everyone!

When I have bad things happen, it's hard and I struggle. But what always amazes me is how, even during this tough times, it doesn't seem so bad. I find myself happier in my hard times as a Christian than I was in my happy times without God.

God helps us make the most of our lives, even if our situations totally stink.

A Chilean Miner's story

I was reading Alpha News yesterday and it had an interview with the miner who was in charge of prayer, by the end of their ordeal 22 of the miners had come to faith in Christ...this is a section of the interview that blessed me and I hope will bless you too. It also fits in nicely with the suffering themes I've done this week :)

'We began to pray every day. We'd hold hands in a circle twice a day at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock. We began to be touched by God's Spirit and as I led the prayers, somebody began to say 'Amen, amen, amen'.

I thought who's that? Who's praying? And God suddenly brought him out. Osman was his name and he said, 'Lord, I used to know you, but now, if you take me out of here I will serve you the rest of my life'.

'Good', I said, 'Lord now I have a disciple. Hallelujah!'

So that's how it began and we began to pray every day. I taught each one how to pray - and even taught them songs. It's a wonderful thing to sing when you're happy but it's even better to sing when you are in a crisis. You feel the presence of God come in there...

The whole atmosphere began to change under there and this invisible God would visit us. He doesn't need doors to come into a mine. He doesn't have to perforate a rock to go in. He just came into the mine where we were. That's our living God, He responded to our prayers'

Challenges

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

Tough Times!

In September I started the next step of my journey to becoming a fully qualified accountant. I have started the ACCA course at Year Two (I got to skip the 1st year because of my AAT qualification), there are four years to this course so it will take time to complete.

Anyway, this course is very challenging and at times I am like 'What is this!?!?'
It is very easy to believe that you have no chance and might as well give up, but it is a lie. Today was very tough again but I found myself starting to get the stuff I was being taught more & more and am feeling much happier & more confident about it all.

In life, we have massive up & downs and I feel it is best to not get carried away with both, especially the downs. I remember that my life is in God's Hands and whether I succeed or fail He has a great plan for me and will not forget about me.

Jeremiah 29:11 - '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.'

This always gives me strength & hope for the future and you know what? Things always do end up working out, even if something goes wrong I find its wasn't such a bad thing for me not to go in that direction :)

I love Vicky Beeching (above), her songs and her amazing hairdo that I think makes her look a bit like a wasp! One of my favourite songs that she has sung is called 'Twenty Six Summers'. It is a song full of hope for the future and I think the first verse is the best verse I have ever heard:-

I don’t know what the future holds
or what lies beyond my horizon
The years ahead are just out of sight
Well, I think sometimes that You hide them
So that I’ll walk by faith not sight
So that I’ll take Your hand, holding tight

Praise God!