08 September 2020
Be Bold, Pray Bold
03 September 2020
I am a child of God!!!
NO LONGER A SLAVE, I AM A CHILD OF GOD
My daily devotional asked the question, "Who are you?"
The answer might seem simple at first thought but many of our responses only describe what we do, not who we are. So we might be so-and-so's wife/husband/child/parent; we might say our profession; we might even say what racial-type or skin-colour we are, or we might say what we're good at such as building, baking, mending, singing, writing etc, etc, etc . If we're a christian, we might even say proudly declare "I am a child of God". But even this has it's problems (stick with me on this one).
What does it mean to be a child of God?
Paul describes it well in Ephesians 1- see it here from the Passion Translation
May God himself, the heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, release grace over you and impart total well-being into your lives.
Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts! And he chose us to be his very own, joining us to himself even before he laid the foundation of the universe! Because of his great love, he ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in his eyes with an unstained innocence.
For it was always in his perfect plan to adopt us as his delightful children, through our union with Jesus, the Anointed One, so that his tremendous love that cascades over us would glorify his grace —for the same love he has for his Beloved One, Jesus, he has for us. And this unfolding plan brings him great pleasure!
Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of his grace. This superabundant grace is already powerfully working in us, releasing within us all forms of wisdom and practical understanding. And through the revelation of the Anointed One, he unveiled his secret desires to us—the hidden mystery of his long-range plan, which he was delighted to implement from the very beginning of time. And because of God’s unfailing purpose, this detailed plan will reign supreme through every period of time until the fulfillment of all the ages finally reaches its climax—when God makes all things new in all of heaven and earth through Jesus Christ.
Doesn't that just make you tingle all over?
Since before time began God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) decided that He wanted me/you to be His beloved child and put into place an eternal plan to make it happen so that we can be together for all eternity.
But out of love He gives us the choice. Can you believe that? He loves us individually so much that He doesn't force us to choose Him!
All I can say is "Father, I choose you and thank you Jesus that you made this possible, and thank you Holy Spirit for drawing me close and sticking by me despite all my failings. I can hardly wait to meet you in person".
In closing, if you've not yet caught the excitement, try listening to this song - it might not be your normal choice of musical style (it gets a bit shouty), but it's worth a listen.
Every blessing
28 August 2020
Never alone
Never Alone
27 August 2020
It's all about Jesus
A long, long time ago, when I was in my late teens and a new Christian, there was a song we used to sing where the first line was "May I introduce you to a friend?"
This was a bit revolutionary as we were emerging from a time of church and faith being all about knowing the scriptures and behaving according to the rules - many of them invented by the church leaders. Does that sound familiar?
Matthew 10:39 says this:
"All who seek to live apart from me will lose it all. But those who let go of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life!"
This was my verse for today in the Bible app and I immediately thought of that old song, though I can't remember the rest of the words. "Let me introduce you to a friend" is what we need to be saying to those who don't know our incredible Lord and Saviour.
We probably all know people who have tried Christianity and found it doesn't work for them - but have they actually met Jesus?
I am aware that there are some who meet Him and find that their love for the world overcomes all else and they walk away, but there are others who might have only ever been introduced to an ideological sort of good-lifestyle type of Christianity which can never work. Where does it talk about people having the form of faith but lacking the power therof? Fallen nature and the enemy of our souls will always win against a watered-down, do-good, be-nice type of Christianity.
It has to be all about Jesus and we need to be introducing our friends and neighbours to this Friend above all Friends and then they will be able to make a real choice.
Then we will be able to join in with Paul, Silas and Timothy: 1 Thessalonians 1
Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace and peace to you.
We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Be Blessed
25 August 2020
Friends
"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken".
Friendship is so very important. We all need friends to stand alongside, to laugh with, to cry with, to pray with, to share our deepest thoughts, to hold us accountable, to correct us. We don't need the sort of friends who only massage our egos!
So my questions to me today are:
- Am I being a good friend to those whom God has brought me alongside?
- Do I look only for friends who are like me?
- Am I honest and open with those who I would call my friends?
- Do I welcome both positive and negative input from my friends?
- Do I make enough effort to keep in touch?
In 1 Cor 16:13-14 Paul gives these final words to the friends in his letter:
Remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage. Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do.
We have a choice whether or not to pursue our friendship, our relationship with our friends and with God. These verses remind us that it takes effort on our part.
And finally, love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself.
18 August 2020
Welcome to my blog
Welcome to my blog
Isaiah 40:31
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds
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