Yay, it's friday.
And Yay this is number 30 of my posts.
I'm so happy and excited.
So I thought that I wouldn't go into the bible today.
But just share with you, a thought.
I don't know about you, but you do have your favorite mugs.
Mine I brought from a book shop in town, and it's a lovely drinking mug.
And on it it says, F is Fantastic.
And it is, this is number 2 of my favorite mugs, and I've taken custody of my brothers mug as well.
Well the F fantastic mug was a gift for him to me.
I'm only mug sitting for the time he comes back again.
The next cup I'm going to talk to you about is, the Mr Happy cup.
And it's a lovely one as well, it's a proper english tea cup, not to small and not to big, just right for those people who are trying to stick to drinking tea to please their Nana's.
Sounds like a top gear Grandmother tea and drive special doesn't!
When Dad went to see my mum's grandma, he got caught up in the tea thing, and when the tea was poured into the cup, my great Grandama ask him if he was Catholic!
My great, great Aunt, called Marge she had a yellow mini like Mr Bean, and she had 2 siamese cats that she would take everywhere, it got to the point where people were asking if they were toys because they didn't move, and when one beautiful seal point cat make his move, did the police officer get a fright! he hasn't been seen since.
Perhaps you're thinking, I need to get out a bit more, but I love it here.
And my blog is short and sweet, just enjoy living in the moment.
Don't get too caught up with things, don't over think things, treat yourself, a bit.
And enjoy the journey God is taking you on.
Chloe
Friday, August 28, 2015
Thursday, August 27, 2015
where are will be living no evil can be found. Psalm 97.
Today I want to talk to you about living righteously.
I was thinking today before I got up, and was thinking about how God wants us to live.
I went to a workshop about depression, the other day.
It was very helpful, I went along to know a bit more about it, I know there are many levels of depression, and many different kinds of depression.
I know there are many well meaning people out there, who say many hurtful things.
And i know there's a lot of people out there wanting to help, and will.
The best thing we can do, is listen to people, to just love them where they are and where they are at, that will speak volumes into their lives.
And not to try and fix things.
And do you know what? it's ok to feel sad, and low, that's us being human.
Not everyone in the bible had it all together, infact the leaders of nations were low, and a lot of them suffered things.
Moses, when he got called to go back to the land he knew, didn't know how to approach the subject to Pharaoh, in fact he was so caught up in the task, that God lay before him he had to take Aaron, to speak for him. God never lets us to big things by ourselves, he always sends a helper.
Hannah made a promise when she had Samuel that she would give him back to the Lord, and hand him over to other people to raise him up, Samuel, not only was a great leader, but also taught Eli somethings as well.
Do you understand?
God never leaves us alone if we care.
We are also called not to be a door mat for other people, but to be strong.
The saddest thing is, when we just leave others bleeding, and not help, but also be cautious with that as well, to have boundaries within ourselves.
God had boundaries as well, in fact he was so annoyed with the great sin that the Israelites did in the book of Jermeriah, that he actually handed them over to their enemies, until the knew that they should only serve God, and not other gods.
At the moment we might be serving other gods, not dogs, but we might be.
We might have a secret addiction, that no one knows, perhaps you don't know, but only you yourself.
We hide so many things, particularly things that harm us, why do we do that?
Well perhaps it has to do with our up brining, or perhaps we want to be that ''someone''
But who are we trying to trick in the end?
We need to know that God has made us human, but he also makes us to fellowship with others, but we need to make sure we don't get stale.
I've titled this post, Where we will be living there will be no evil, found.
Heaven is amazing, heaven is the place where no evil will be found, no sickness or sadness, or other trials.
There seems to be more things happening in the world, we're not as blameless, we can't say we didn't know. If we knew the crimes others are committing, we can't stand by and turn a blind eye.
God is so powerful, we read in the early verses of Psalm 97, but we also calls us to worship him.
What does it mean to worship God?
Well lets just look into the meaning of worship, we esteem things, now this society is pretty good at esteeming, sport, like rugby, houses with amazing views, big fancy cars, big fancy holiday homes, being rich, and all of that.
So we worship them, we want them, we will do anything to get them, we become desperate to have them we will give up ourselves so that, we will have them in the end.
That's what it means to worship, it first becomes an idea, a good one, but it becomes, something more than that.
SO we put that in front and high priority on our to do list.
But what if we put God first, as our high priority, we might not get the house we wanted or that holiday home, but we will get a better deal, in heaven.
Being hands and feet to the people who need us, support communities, or christian groups that actually make a difference.
We are called not to be part time Christains but full time ones.
And if we are getting a bit stale, what is causing us to be like that?
Take a piece of paper and physically write down, your thoughts about where you are right now, what you are doing, what you want to do for Christ, get people around you that will help you, get some ''Aarons'' around you to guide others to God.
The more we hear, ''That can't be done'' the less we will try and do it.
God calls us to do something with our talents, to reach out to others, and if you're doing that, well done, it might be helping that disabled person, do their jobs, to make a meaningful difference in their lives, they might not talk, but they will be so pleased inside that someone has a friend, someone cares.
For along time, I felt awkward, for along time, I thought that God is calling me to journal, I'm not doing it for others I'm doing it for myself, and yes have a laugh.
We all need laughter, we can't always be right you know.
We have lies told about us, we have back stabbing, we have people who take sides, we have people in outlives we think we know how they work, then boom, something happens, a ball right out of left field comes. Be very careful of others, be kind but with caution.
God never gives you a tough hand, my friends, it might be hard at the moment, it might be so hard that you have to rely on others prayers, and other churches, that is why it's so important not to get to closed up in Christian circles.
Don't just live inside a box, and all closed up with little peep holes to look outside of.
If you need a break, go and have one, you don't need to tell the whole world, that you're on a break, just go, if you feel spiritually dry, go for a walk along the beach and talk to God like you're going for a walk with a good friend.
If you're thinking ''I'll never get there'' don't give up, God is there with you.
And you will get there, because when we get to heaven we will be there.
You will hear, ''You've done extremely well, my friend, come to the place where there is no pain.''
That's all that God requires of you, he wants you to plod away gently, and carefully, listening out to his whispers, to guide you to his light.
To give your all to him, that's true worship.
Chloe
I was thinking today before I got up, and was thinking about how God wants us to live.
I went to a workshop about depression, the other day.
It was very helpful, I went along to know a bit more about it, I know there are many levels of depression, and many different kinds of depression.
I know there are many well meaning people out there, who say many hurtful things.
And i know there's a lot of people out there wanting to help, and will.
The best thing we can do, is listen to people, to just love them where they are and where they are at, that will speak volumes into their lives.
And not to try and fix things.
And do you know what? it's ok to feel sad, and low, that's us being human.
Not everyone in the bible had it all together, infact the leaders of nations were low, and a lot of them suffered things.
Moses, when he got called to go back to the land he knew, didn't know how to approach the subject to Pharaoh, in fact he was so caught up in the task, that God lay before him he had to take Aaron, to speak for him. God never lets us to big things by ourselves, he always sends a helper.
Hannah made a promise when she had Samuel that she would give him back to the Lord, and hand him over to other people to raise him up, Samuel, not only was a great leader, but also taught Eli somethings as well.
Do you understand?
God never leaves us alone if we care.
We are also called not to be a door mat for other people, but to be strong.
The saddest thing is, when we just leave others bleeding, and not help, but also be cautious with that as well, to have boundaries within ourselves.
God had boundaries as well, in fact he was so annoyed with the great sin that the Israelites did in the book of Jermeriah, that he actually handed them over to their enemies, until the knew that they should only serve God, and not other gods.
At the moment we might be serving other gods, not dogs, but we might be.
We might have a secret addiction, that no one knows, perhaps you don't know, but only you yourself.
We hide so many things, particularly things that harm us, why do we do that?
Well perhaps it has to do with our up brining, or perhaps we want to be that ''someone''
But who are we trying to trick in the end?
We need to know that God has made us human, but he also makes us to fellowship with others, but we need to make sure we don't get stale.
I've titled this post, Where we will be living there will be no evil, found.
Heaven is amazing, heaven is the place where no evil will be found, no sickness or sadness, or other trials.
There seems to be more things happening in the world, we're not as blameless, we can't say we didn't know. If we knew the crimes others are committing, we can't stand by and turn a blind eye.
God is so powerful, we read in the early verses of Psalm 97, but we also calls us to worship him.
What does it mean to worship God?
Well lets just look into the meaning of worship, we esteem things, now this society is pretty good at esteeming, sport, like rugby, houses with amazing views, big fancy cars, big fancy holiday homes, being rich, and all of that.
So we worship them, we want them, we will do anything to get them, we become desperate to have them we will give up ourselves so that, we will have them in the end.
That's what it means to worship, it first becomes an idea, a good one, but it becomes, something more than that.
SO we put that in front and high priority on our to do list.
But what if we put God first, as our high priority, we might not get the house we wanted or that holiday home, but we will get a better deal, in heaven.
Being hands and feet to the people who need us, support communities, or christian groups that actually make a difference.
We are called not to be part time Christains but full time ones.
And if we are getting a bit stale, what is causing us to be like that?
Take a piece of paper and physically write down, your thoughts about where you are right now, what you are doing, what you want to do for Christ, get people around you that will help you, get some ''Aarons'' around you to guide others to God.
The more we hear, ''That can't be done'' the less we will try and do it.
God calls us to do something with our talents, to reach out to others, and if you're doing that, well done, it might be helping that disabled person, do their jobs, to make a meaningful difference in their lives, they might not talk, but they will be so pleased inside that someone has a friend, someone cares.
For along time, I felt awkward, for along time, I thought that God is calling me to journal, I'm not doing it for others I'm doing it for myself, and yes have a laugh.
We all need laughter, we can't always be right you know.
We have lies told about us, we have back stabbing, we have people who take sides, we have people in outlives we think we know how they work, then boom, something happens, a ball right out of left field comes. Be very careful of others, be kind but with caution.
God never gives you a tough hand, my friends, it might be hard at the moment, it might be so hard that you have to rely on others prayers, and other churches, that is why it's so important not to get to closed up in Christian circles.
Don't just live inside a box, and all closed up with little peep holes to look outside of.
If you need a break, go and have one, you don't need to tell the whole world, that you're on a break, just go, if you feel spiritually dry, go for a walk along the beach and talk to God like you're going for a walk with a good friend.
If you're thinking ''I'll never get there'' don't give up, God is there with you.
And you will get there, because when we get to heaven we will be there.
You will hear, ''You've done extremely well, my friend, come to the place where there is no pain.''
That's all that God requires of you, he wants you to plod away gently, and carefully, listening out to his whispers, to guide you to his light.
To give your all to him, that's true worship.
Chloe
Sunday, August 23, 2015
1st Peter chapter 3 verse 8- 22
I think it's important to read the bible, not only on sundays but all the time.
I once heard something on the radio, and it was good.
We're always wanting the next best thing, and that's not a bad thing, it has be in good time.
I want to talk to you today, about suffering for doing good.
The person who wrote Peter was the apostle, himself.
So he knew about suffering because he later died in the name of Christ.
It was the Holy spirit who guided him to write from his heart to instruct but also encourage the Christians of Rome.
The key verses, are Do not repay evil with evil, or insult with insult, but with a blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
In society, we talk a lot about ourselves, or we get super critical, about things or someone, or we get bullied because we stand up for what is right.
Sometimes we get so hurt that we can't go on, and that's ok.
It's alright to feel sad, just for a time, or worry for 15 minutes a day, but not to let ourselves stay in that place.
Because when we let ourselves stay there we get super critical, we get resentful, and we get bitter.
We have to go into things with an open mind, and we have to let ourselves be open to people, if they say no if we ask them to do things within reason of course, that doesn't mean that we can say no to things every time, but sometimes we are called to say yes if the timing is right, and if it's the thing.
We are meant to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves, so be careful of who has influence on you.
Always be kind, that doesn't mean to be a wet sponge and go around fixing things, but you can show kindness this means saying no, and not to be bullied into things, just to try and fix someone out of the problem.
Peter says not to repay insult with insult, rather to show mercy, it's quite hard when your caught up in the moment, when your under fire, even harder when people agree, just because well it's the problem, they may not agree totally underneath it, but because the moment is there, they do.
I've learnt in life, not to take sides, on things because taking sides doesn't help because we are all human, and we are weak.
Peter then says to turn from evil, and do good, we must seek peace and pursue it.
Because we know in the end we will win, and we will come out of it alive, even though right now, you might not be thinking that way, you will.
For the eyes of the Lord is on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Right now we are living in incredible evil times, there seems to be even more blood shed, and yes sometimes it probably feels like evil is winning, and it is, that's because we are here on earth.
But we have Heaven, and heaven, is a place without evil, no evil will be there ,we won't see evil and we will be completely without blame.
Christ died for our sins, once and for all, we have died for our sins, we have been raised with Christ, we are called to be new persons. Like a tree growing the the spring, it's always green and new shoots are coming up growing.
With Christ on our side, we new people, and we don't have the baggage that we feel the need to carry around anymore.
Christ died for us, so that he himself would bring him to us. He died so that we might live, a complete new person.
I am getting to my point, suffering for God isn't easy, it's increabliy hard at times, however we do win in the end, the righteous for the unrighteous. Without labeling without putting them in a box.
We are called to live Christian lives, not only for others, but also for ourselves.
Suffering for doing good, what does that mean for you?
Does that mean standing up in your work place for what is right, or helping that person less than you, or how about helping that ''enemy'' that one that really doesn't like you.
That's a hard one, but it's also exactly what we are called to do, and the more we do that, the more we win souls for God.
David says in his Pslams to sing, and encourage our souls, with good things.
I want you to read all of the bible passage, because it's so inspiring and it covers the reasons why we are Christians, and why we have baptism, it's not just a symbol, but rather it's cleansing us from the dirt we have on earth.
So please read it, because it's important, and it opened my eyes to these things, because I was thinking
that it's just a symbol, and a ceremony. but it's more than that.
So to those people out there, who are suffering, keep up the faith, i don't mean to slap that on like a bumper sticker on a car, but pray.
And for those people who need encouragement encourage others, and for those people who are waiting and wanting to help, pray, pray for the right things, for God's timing.
And for those people who have unspeakable pain, God is there, with you through it all, you are more precious to him than all the world.
Take care now.
Chloe
I once heard something on the radio, and it was good.
We're always wanting the next best thing, and that's not a bad thing, it has be in good time.
I want to talk to you today, about suffering for doing good.
The person who wrote Peter was the apostle, himself.
So he knew about suffering because he later died in the name of Christ.
It was the Holy spirit who guided him to write from his heart to instruct but also encourage the Christians of Rome.
The key verses, are Do not repay evil with evil, or insult with insult, but with a blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
In society, we talk a lot about ourselves, or we get super critical, about things or someone, or we get bullied because we stand up for what is right.
Sometimes we get so hurt that we can't go on, and that's ok.
It's alright to feel sad, just for a time, or worry for 15 minutes a day, but not to let ourselves stay in that place.
Because when we let ourselves stay there we get super critical, we get resentful, and we get bitter.
We have to go into things with an open mind, and we have to let ourselves be open to people, if they say no if we ask them to do things within reason of course, that doesn't mean that we can say no to things every time, but sometimes we are called to say yes if the timing is right, and if it's the thing.
We are meant to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves, so be careful of who has influence on you.
Always be kind, that doesn't mean to be a wet sponge and go around fixing things, but you can show kindness this means saying no, and not to be bullied into things, just to try and fix someone out of the problem.
Peter says not to repay insult with insult, rather to show mercy, it's quite hard when your caught up in the moment, when your under fire, even harder when people agree, just because well it's the problem, they may not agree totally underneath it, but because the moment is there, they do.
I've learnt in life, not to take sides, on things because taking sides doesn't help because we are all human, and we are weak.
Peter then says to turn from evil, and do good, we must seek peace and pursue it.
Because we know in the end we will win, and we will come out of it alive, even though right now, you might not be thinking that way, you will.
For the eyes of the Lord is on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Right now we are living in incredible evil times, there seems to be even more blood shed, and yes sometimes it probably feels like evil is winning, and it is, that's because we are here on earth.
But we have Heaven, and heaven, is a place without evil, no evil will be there ,we won't see evil and we will be completely without blame.
Christ died for our sins, once and for all, we have died for our sins, we have been raised with Christ, we are called to be new persons. Like a tree growing the the spring, it's always green and new shoots are coming up growing.
With Christ on our side, we new people, and we don't have the baggage that we feel the need to carry around anymore.
Christ died for us, so that he himself would bring him to us. He died so that we might live, a complete new person.
I am getting to my point, suffering for God isn't easy, it's increabliy hard at times, however we do win in the end, the righteous for the unrighteous. Without labeling without putting them in a box.
We are called to live Christian lives, not only for others, but also for ourselves.
Suffering for doing good, what does that mean for you?
Does that mean standing up in your work place for what is right, or helping that person less than you, or how about helping that ''enemy'' that one that really doesn't like you.
That's a hard one, but it's also exactly what we are called to do, and the more we do that, the more we win souls for God.
David says in his Pslams to sing, and encourage our souls, with good things.
I want you to read all of the bible passage, because it's so inspiring and it covers the reasons why we are Christians, and why we have baptism, it's not just a symbol, but rather it's cleansing us from the dirt we have on earth.
So please read it, because it's important, and it opened my eyes to these things, because I was thinking
that it's just a symbol, and a ceremony. but it's more than that.
So to those people out there, who are suffering, keep up the faith, i don't mean to slap that on like a bumper sticker on a car, but pray.
And for those people who need encouragement encourage others, and for those people who are waiting and wanting to help, pray, pray for the right things, for God's timing.
And for those people who have unspeakable pain, God is there, with you through it all, you are more precious to him than all the world.
Take care now.
Chloe
Friday, August 21, 2015
Passing it on
Hi there.
I don't know about you, but sometimes there are days when everything is just that little bit extra special.
The sun is out and there's not a cloud in the sky.
Then there's just that day when people are kind just because they feel like it.
I've been at home so I haven't been working, so the day finally came when I just had to push myself out the door, and do something.
So I went into town, and I went to the library, which is my 3rd place.
I'll get onto these places, soon.
I managed to loose my library card probably for the 20th time and I've always found it, but this time I hadn't and I checked all my 14 hand bags, and my coat pockets, even my car 5 times it was completely and well entirely lost.
So I went into the library to get another one, and was prepared to pay the $5 charge fee.
But the kind person, just gave me a free one, and done away with the fee.
All she wanted me to do was to pay it forward, to be kind to someone else.
So if you're not a library person, can you pay it forward and read some books!!
It doesn't need to be anything inspiring, or special, just get into the habit of reading.
Then when you get reading you'll get writing and that's always fun.
So lets get onto the 3rd place.
And where do you go when you want to hear from God.
Does it at times feel like you're walk with God has gone stale?
Perhaps you just pray in an empty room, with nothing around you, wondering if you're going completely mad.
Jesus says, to pray in the spirit, we know that we are doubly blessed because when we don't see him, we know that he is there, we are doubled blessed because we pray in the spirit of God, and when we pray and don't see him, we already receive that blessing.
Perhaps you're finding it hard to hear from God, because you are finding it hard to calm down.
There are so many books, out there on how to hear from God, and what his plan for you life is.
And only he knows he knows what you're going through and he is the only one that actually says to you, ''I know exactly how you're life is like right now.''
The next one is, not believing the lies that have been said, told to you.
These lies are obviously not from God, God never lies or makes you're life harder.
He is there to guide you, and to give you a mind of soundness and of hope.
The next thing I want to tell you, is care for the ones that you love, don't worry about going around trying to fix everything.
Because you can't fix everything, if it's your parents care for them, if you're by yourself care for yourself treat yourself a bit, if you're a single person, love yourself like Christ loves the church.
If your'e a husband love your wife, if you're not the person you should be, come back to God most importantly, and come back to the person that you've hurt or if you can't to that, ask for forgiveness. You simply can't go on deceiving yourself if you know what you are doing is wrong.
We need to pass on good things, to our society, we need to stand and be counted for things that aren't helping us.
So that's where the 3rd place comes in, if you think about your work, and your life style, and your home, where do you go to hear from God?
This is important, because if we cram everything in, and we struggle with filling our lives with ''Works and deeds and a bit of faith.'' we will feel like we're blocked from hearing from God.
The key is, not to be over to committed, no matter if people come to you, as a last resort, or simply because we're just so good at our jobs, only you can do it properly, what do we end up doing?
Doing it, and doing it because the person has asked us to, and we haven't even prayed about it, because well we've been the person to the rescue.
We need to get God's permission, to do it, now yes it might be doing that weird, random act of kindness, and it might not make sense with you, but sometimes when you are in need to you need to take people kindness, and just take it as it is.
You've probably heard, ''God loves a cheerful giver.'' and right now, it might be because of the new church that is building, or that student group, no matter what is is, we should be careful how we say it because we shouldn't use it as fundraising tool, to get more money, and sadly there are churches using that verse to do just that.
You know, if you can't give money to and organization, that's ok, or if you have supported them, in the past and can't give funds that's alright as well, because we know that God is for us and not against us.
We need to be careful where we put our money as well, no matter if it's those people around Christmas time grabbing your bank account details, and making sure you bend over backwards in giving.
I once had this happen to me, infact the guy also got my good friend as well, and he said ''Now your Christians need to stand up and give as much as you can, because a lot of you aren't'' 2 days later I got a phone call from the organization, wanting feedback, and I said that I felt pushed into giving them because of the Christian statement, we shouldn't pressure anyone like that to give to us or force our way into peoples lives to become Christians.
We should be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Clearly this person didn't know.
He probably had a goal of people to reach to get paid, so I don't feel sorry for him, but if you can't give that's ok.
And you don't have to be the next ''Bill Gates'' to give money either, it might be through your time, through helping others and other organizations, with what you have.
It's only because we're so money focused that we are told to give, but it's also in the bible, so if you can't give 10% of your income, it's ok, give what you have.
Infact, the widow in the bible didn't have 10% of her money, she only had 2 small coins, and I wonder what happened that next day, we don't know, I wonder what God did on that day, when Jesus saw here in the temple.
She gave all that she had to live on.
She passed it forward.
Well I better let you go.
Take care
Chloe
I don't know about you, but sometimes there are days when everything is just that little bit extra special.
The sun is out and there's not a cloud in the sky.
Then there's just that day when people are kind just because they feel like it.
I've been at home so I haven't been working, so the day finally came when I just had to push myself out the door, and do something.
So I went into town, and I went to the library, which is my 3rd place.
I'll get onto these places, soon.
I managed to loose my library card probably for the 20th time and I've always found it, but this time I hadn't and I checked all my 14 hand bags, and my coat pockets, even my car 5 times it was completely and well entirely lost.
So I went into the library to get another one, and was prepared to pay the $5 charge fee.
But the kind person, just gave me a free one, and done away with the fee.
All she wanted me to do was to pay it forward, to be kind to someone else.
So if you're not a library person, can you pay it forward and read some books!!
It doesn't need to be anything inspiring, or special, just get into the habit of reading.
Then when you get reading you'll get writing and that's always fun.
So lets get onto the 3rd place.
And where do you go when you want to hear from God.
Does it at times feel like you're walk with God has gone stale?
Perhaps you just pray in an empty room, with nothing around you, wondering if you're going completely mad.
Jesus says, to pray in the spirit, we know that we are doubly blessed because when we don't see him, we know that he is there, we are doubled blessed because we pray in the spirit of God, and when we pray and don't see him, we already receive that blessing.
Perhaps you're finding it hard to hear from God, because you are finding it hard to calm down.
There are so many books, out there on how to hear from God, and what his plan for you life is.
And only he knows he knows what you're going through and he is the only one that actually says to you, ''I know exactly how you're life is like right now.''
The next one is, not believing the lies that have been said, told to you.
These lies are obviously not from God, God never lies or makes you're life harder.
He is there to guide you, and to give you a mind of soundness and of hope.
The next thing I want to tell you, is care for the ones that you love, don't worry about going around trying to fix everything.
Because you can't fix everything, if it's your parents care for them, if you're by yourself care for yourself treat yourself a bit, if you're a single person, love yourself like Christ loves the church.
If your'e a husband love your wife, if you're not the person you should be, come back to God most importantly, and come back to the person that you've hurt or if you can't to that, ask for forgiveness. You simply can't go on deceiving yourself if you know what you are doing is wrong.
We need to pass on good things, to our society, we need to stand and be counted for things that aren't helping us.
So that's where the 3rd place comes in, if you think about your work, and your life style, and your home, where do you go to hear from God?
This is important, because if we cram everything in, and we struggle with filling our lives with ''Works and deeds and a bit of faith.'' we will feel like we're blocked from hearing from God.
The key is, not to be over to committed, no matter if people come to you, as a last resort, or simply because we're just so good at our jobs, only you can do it properly, what do we end up doing?
Doing it, and doing it because the person has asked us to, and we haven't even prayed about it, because well we've been the person to the rescue.
We need to get God's permission, to do it, now yes it might be doing that weird, random act of kindness, and it might not make sense with you, but sometimes when you are in need to you need to take people kindness, and just take it as it is.
You've probably heard, ''God loves a cheerful giver.'' and right now, it might be because of the new church that is building, or that student group, no matter what is is, we should be careful how we say it because we shouldn't use it as fundraising tool, to get more money, and sadly there are churches using that verse to do just that.
You know, if you can't give money to and organization, that's ok, or if you have supported them, in the past and can't give funds that's alright as well, because we know that God is for us and not against us.
We need to be careful where we put our money as well, no matter if it's those people around Christmas time grabbing your bank account details, and making sure you bend over backwards in giving.
I once had this happen to me, infact the guy also got my good friend as well, and he said ''Now your Christians need to stand up and give as much as you can, because a lot of you aren't'' 2 days later I got a phone call from the organization, wanting feedback, and I said that I felt pushed into giving them because of the Christian statement, we shouldn't pressure anyone like that to give to us or force our way into peoples lives to become Christians.
We should be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Clearly this person didn't know.
He probably had a goal of people to reach to get paid, so I don't feel sorry for him, but if you can't give that's ok.
And you don't have to be the next ''Bill Gates'' to give money either, it might be through your time, through helping others and other organizations, with what you have.
It's only because we're so money focused that we are told to give, but it's also in the bible, so if you can't give 10% of your income, it's ok, give what you have.
Infact, the widow in the bible didn't have 10% of her money, she only had 2 small coins, and I wonder what happened that next day, we don't know, I wonder what God did on that day, when Jesus saw here in the temple.
She gave all that she had to live on.
She passed it forward.
Well I better let you go.
Take care
Chloe
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Inside out
Hello.
The spring days are coming warmer weather is on it way.
The winter weather has gone, and so far we've had 6 snow falls.
Today from my lounge I want to talk to you about being inside out.
So what does it mean?
Inside out?
Good question, so lets answer it.
What does it mean?
Well the online dictionary defines the meaning,"Inside out''.
It means, when the inner surface is turned outwards.
What inspired me about this blog entry, is Avalanche city, new song inside out.
And a lot, of our lives seem inside out.
Perhaps it's been a hard relationship to say goodbye to, or the fight for life is just made harder.
Perhaps, you're just fine, things are going well.
Well my friend, if you feel like you've been pulled inside out, take courage.
I won't plaster on, "God bless you.'' because i've become aware of the Christian cliches, so what do we do with the people who's lives are inside out?
Or the people who just don't fit in.
The more I've gotten older, I've become more aware of, this, idea.
It's not a problem, and there's a difference between stating and complaining.
We can often talk about what to do, but sometimes we need just do something.
God we know is always with us, no matter what, even through death.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a bubble, and recently, the team at work, asked me how i go about living.
I said i just want a bright pink V d convertible bug, with lip stick marks all over it.
But I realized that's not answering the question.
Inside out, is a hard place to be, emotionally, everything runs wild.
We don't always talk about the serious problems, but sometimes we need to.
We are all made under the love of God, we are are going to be loved no matter what we do, or how we're feeling, from day to day.
I'm not talking about that you always have to be good, or brave, but sometimes we have to know we are loved.
Personally, we need, to hear that we're loved, some parents aren't doing that, and sometimes it we've run out of chances. We have a 3 strikes and you're out.
We need one more change, one more.
If everyone made the choice to give one person one more chance, perhaps this feeling of being inside out, will change.
There's also a time to let go, and that's a painful thing to do, you can't do it over night, you can't just pull yourself up, and just say ''this is it''. it comes with love and accepting yourself.
God calls your cry, ''God please take this.'' intact that was Jesus last words while he was in the garden. So it's ok to cry out to God, ''God I need you now, I need another chance, another go, another whatever it is.''
It's not like that visa add, ''the world is what you make it.'' but it's God's world, and he made it for us to live in, and enjoy.
So it's ok, if you feel inside out, it's ok.
There's friends and family, and if you don't have family that understand, get someone around you older and help you.
Lots of love
Chloe
The spring days are coming warmer weather is on it way.
The winter weather has gone, and so far we've had 6 snow falls.
Today from my lounge I want to talk to you about being inside out.
So what does it mean?
Inside out?
Good question, so lets answer it.
What does it mean?
Well the online dictionary defines the meaning,"Inside out''.
It means, when the inner surface is turned outwards.
What inspired me about this blog entry, is Avalanche city, new song inside out.
And a lot, of our lives seem inside out.
Perhaps it's been a hard relationship to say goodbye to, or the fight for life is just made harder.
Perhaps, you're just fine, things are going well.
Well my friend, if you feel like you've been pulled inside out, take courage.
I won't plaster on, "God bless you.'' because i've become aware of the Christian cliches, so what do we do with the people who's lives are inside out?
Or the people who just don't fit in.
The more I've gotten older, I've become more aware of, this, idea.
It's not a problem, and there's a difference between stating and complaining.
We can often talk about what to do, but sometimes we need just do something.
God we know is always with us, no matter what, even through death.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a bubble, and recently, the team at work, asked me how i go about living.
I said i just want a bright pink V d convertible bug, with lip stick marks all over it.
But I realized that's not answering the question.
Inside out, is a hard place to be, emotionally, everything runs wild.
We don't always talk about the serious problems, but sometimes we need to.
We are all made under the love of God, we are are going to be loved no matter what we do, or how we're feeling, from day to day.
I'm not talking about that you always have to be good, or brave, but sometimes we have to know we are loved.
Personally, we need, to hear that we're loved, some parents aren't doing that, and sometimes it we've run out of chances. We have a 3 strikes and you're out.
We need one more change, one more.
If everyone made the choice to give one person one more chance, perhaps this feeling of being inside out, will change.
There's also a time to let go, and that's a painful thing to do, you can't do it over night, you can't just pull yourself up, and just say ''this is it''. it comes with love and accepting yourself.
God calls your cry, ''God please take this.'' intact that was Jesus last words while he was in the garden. So it's ok to cry out to God, ''God I need you now, I need another chance, another go, another whatever it is.''
It's not like that visa add, ''the world is what you make it.'' but it's God's world, and he made it for us to live in, and enjoy.
So it's ok, if you feel inside out, it's ok.
There's friends and family, and if you don't have family that understand, get someone around you older and help you.
Lots of love
Chloe
Monday, August 17, 2015
Praising God for our living hope.
Hello all.
It's that time of week, again.
Hope that you're having a nice week, and looking forward to the week ahead.
I want to turn to a few bible parts of the bible, 1st Peter chapter 1, verse 3-21.
And 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2:13 and all of chapter 3 of Thessalonians.
Before I start, my bible study, I want to pray, because what I'm going to share with you, is going to be hard, and I hope it's what the Lord wants, me to give you to.
"Dear Lord, I ask you to be with the people that are reading this, Lord for those people who are struggling to hang in there, the people who are wondering what the point, is. Where their life is going, and what are we going to do about it, Lord for those struggling in the fight would you lift them up and give them the power through your holy spirit to keep walking, for those who have full hands of blessings, lord thank you for them, I pray that they will be rejoicing over their trials, for those who love you lord, for those people who are behind the scenes, Lord to keep them going strong, and keep walking, when people don't notice them, Lord you do.
For the people lonely, who struggle, lord give them friends who lift them up and good friends, Lord the encouragement to keep going, to have their feet walk the straight path in times of deep loneliness., Lord for the people who have had lies spoke about them, lord keep them going for you, give them encouragement every day, even if it's the spring sunshine that comes, give them a happiness that won't fade.'' Amen.
We need to do a bit of back story to 1st Peter,
We need to ask ourselves, who wrote it?
Date written, A.D 60s before peter was martyred in 67-68
Written from, Babylon, where he lived out his last years of his life.
Key passage;
1st Peter, 1 3-15
This is from the N.I.V study bible.
When Christ died for us on the cross, he took all of our sin and condemnation away, he removed it, and he also removed the fear of death.
And we await for his second coming, because he came as a man, fully knowing what we are like, what we have achieved and what we haven't, what we've planned and have done.
He came with hope, and praise.
It is so important, to keep things in perspective, to not get ourselves worried and tangled up in all sorts of teachings, rumors, rather to be wary of things, but not so afraid to do the things that God has called us to do.
Peter, knew that, he was a fishermen, and you know when Jesus was walking along, he knew the ones he wanted in his boat and on his team.
We 2 are on Christ's team, you don't need to do anymore, stuff to try and get noticed, you know you're not labelled or boxed up and set aside for your special time to come out of your box.
God is using you right now.
We have a living hope in us, when all things seem like they are going south, Christ is going south with us when everything just seems beyond pain, each step a screaming voice of pain, Christ is there with us.
Peter knew that, he wrote these 2 books while he was in prison, awaiting his death.
Because being a Christian costs you, and God knows the cost he paid when Jesus died on the cross, but we can't fully walk away with washed hands, because he will ask us to do some things, and we will have to do it, weather we like it or not.
Yes he blesses us, and it's good, but we have also got to give out, as well, and if we are just taking, from God, we are robbing him, and deceiving ourselves that we can just come to god like Santa Claus, and he'll just do what we say.
Peter talks about praising God, we all need to praise God, and sometimes it's hard, sometimes you just have to pray, but not give up my friend. For your redemption is near.
We have even a bigger blessing, because as it says in the bible that we will get a bigger and inexpressive and glorious joy because we still believe in him even when we don't see him ( meaning Christ.)
We have a double blessing my friends, when we still believe God, and we believe for the best.
There's a hope rising in you, and even if you think that there's no hope, there is, God hasn't walked out of your life, there's no pointing finger, there's no condemnation, blame or guilt.
Peter then goes on to tell us, in verse 13, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be self controlled, set your hope full on on the grace given when Jesus, Christ revealed.'' We are called to set our minds into action, to keep going when the going gets incredibly hard, tough, and love, when we get pulled through by the hands of Christ, we can love anyone.
Love isn't a warm feeling, it can be such a hard feeling, at times, and it even is hard to love the people who have hurt you there most.
We can be found in Christ.
We never leave Christ's hands, he's always got us, and he'll never let go.
Peter instructs us to live Holy lives, that means, not to be drawn in by wrong things, and to prepare, for action, we're called not to sit around waiting things to happen. But prepared for anything.
And we need to pray for ourselves and also others.
We need to pray for protection, from evil, and spiritual awareness, and sometimes, we need to be on our knees, prayer is so important, and sometimes we need to ask people to pray for us.
Sometimes we need to take time out of our lives, and see where we are dry in our walk with Christ.
We can always say we're fine, but the well of spiritual life is getting dry, in fact we can get so dry that we forget Christ, and we can drop out of church.
All because we haven't prayed, and perhaps the church isn't you anymore, or your student group, or your home group, or whatever group you're in, what do we do if we notice that thing are getting a bit dry and we're getting frayed?
We talk about it, we talk, and pray, and we get used to prayer, and we get used to talking.
We shouldn't isolate ourselves from church if it's just not working.
One thing, about church if church isn't doing it for you, don't be too quick to sign up to a church, or get involved, keep your options open.
Pray hard, pray for whatever you need, pray, pray before you leave your house, flat, living place, pray while you're studying, pray for strength, to go through the day.
And don't forget if people are wondering what you're doing, or how things are, get someone to pray for you.
God is loving, and he's story for you never finishes.
Chloe
It's that time of week, again.
Hope that you're having a nice week, and looking forward to the week ahead.
I want to turn to a few bible parts of the bible, 1st Peter chapter 1, verse 3-21.
And 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2:13 and all of chapter 3 of Thessalonians.
Before I start, my bible study, I want to pray, because what I'm going to share with you, is going to be hard, and I hope it's what the Lord wants, me to give you to.
"Dear Lord, I ask you to be with the people that are reading this, Lord for those people who are struggling to hang in there, the people who are wondering what the point, is. Where their life is going, and what are we going to do about it, Lord for those struggling in the fight would you lift them up and give them the power through your holy spirit to keep walking, for those who have full hands of blessings, lord thank you for them, I pray that they will be rejoicing over their trials, for those who love you lord, for those people who are behind the scenes, Lord to keep them going strong, and keep walking, when people don't notice them, Lord you do.
For the people lonely, who struggle, lord give them friends who lift them up and good friends, Lord the encouragement to keep going, to have their feet walk the straight path in times of deep loneliness., Lord for the people who have had lies spoke about them, lord keep them going for you, give them encouragement every day, even if it's the spring sunshine that comes, give them a happiness that won't fade.'' Amen.
We need to do a bit of back story to 1st Peter,
We need to ask ourselves, who wrote it?
Date written, A.D 60s before peter was martyred in 67-68
Written from, Babylon, where he lived out his last years of his life.
Key passage;
1st Peter, 1 3-15
This is from the N.I.V study bible.
When Christ died for us on the cross, he took all of our sin and condemnation away, he removed it, and he also removed the fear of death.
And we await for his second coming, because he came as a man, fully knowing what we are like, what we have achieved and what we haven't, what we've planned and have done.
He came with hope, and praise.
It is so important, to keep things in perspective, to not get ourselves worried and tangled up in all sorts of teachings, rumors, rather to be wary of things, but not so afraid to do the things that God has called us to do.
Peter, knew that, he was a fishermen, and you know when Jesus was walking along, he knew the ones he wanted in his boat and on his team.
We 2 are on Christ's team, you don't need to do anymore, stuff to try and get noticed, you know you're not labelled or boxed up and set aside for your special time to come out of your box.
God is using you right now.
We have a living hope in us, when all things seem like they are going south, Christ is going south with us when everything just seems beyond pain, each step a screaming voice of pain, Christ is there with us.
Peter knew that, he wrote these 2 books while he was in prison, awaiting his death.
Because being a Christian costs you, and God knows the cost he paid when Jesus died on the cross, but we can't fully walk away with washed hands, because he will ask us to do some things, and we will have to do it, weather we like it or not.
Yes he blesses us, and it's good, but we have also got to give out, as well, and if we are just taking, from God, we are robbing him, and deceiving ourselves that we can just come to god like Santa Claus, and he'll just do what we say.
Peter talks about praising God, we all need to praise God, and sometimes it's hard, sometimes you just have to pray, but not give up my friend. For your redemption is near.
We have even a bigger blessing, because as it says in the bible that we will get a bigger and inexpressive and glorious joy because we still believe in him even when we don't see him ( meaning Christ.)
We have a double blessing my friends, when we still believe God, and we believe for the best.
There's a hope rising in you, and even if you think that there's no hope, there is, God hasn't walked out of your life, there's no pointing finger, there's no condemnation, blame or guilt.
Peter then goes on to tell us, in verse 13, "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be self controlled, set your hope full on on the grace given when Jesus, Christ revealed.'' We are called to set our minds into action, to keep going when the going gets incredibly hard, tough, and love, when we get pulled through by the hands of Christ, we can love anyone.
Love isn't a warm feeling, it can be such a hard feeling, at times, and it even is hard to love the people who have hurt you there most.
We can be found in Christ.
We never leave Christ's hands, he's always got us, and he'll never let go.
Peter instructs us to live Holy lives, that means, not to be drawn in by wrong things, and to prepare, for action, we're called not to sit around waiting things to happen. But prepared for anything.
And we need to pray for ourselves and also others.
We need to pray for protection, from evil, and spiritual awareness, and sometimes, we need to be on our knees, prayer is so important, and sometimes we need to ask people to pray for us.
Sometimes we need to take time out of our lives, and see where we are dry in our walk with Christ.
We can always say we're fine, but the well of spiritual life is getting dry, in fact we can get so dry that we forget Christ, and we can drop out of church.
All because we haven't prayed, and perhaps the church isn't you anymore, or your student group, or your home group, or whatever group you're in, what do we do if we notice that thing are getting a bit dry and we're getting frayed?
We talk about it, we talk, and pray, and we get used to prayer, and we get used to talking.
We shouldn't isolate ourselves from church if it's just not working.
One thing, about church if church isn't doing it for you, don't be too quick to sign up to a church, or get involved, keep your options open.
Pray hard, pray for whatever you need, pray, pray before you leave your house, flat, living place, pray while you're studying, pray for strength, to go through the day.
And don't forget if people are wondering what you're doing, or how things are, get someone to pray for you.
God is loving, and he's story for you never finishes.
Chloe
Friday, August 14, 2015
Don't let your heart be troubled
Hey there.
Well it's another week, it's been one with good exciting things.
I want to talk to you today, about life.
We seem to be ever so busy, in fact sometimes the word busy is too simple to explain our daily lives, it's more hectic and chaotic, people and work are demanding more and more of ourselves.
But it says in the bible don't let your heart be troubled, do not fear.
It's so easy to take it with a grain of salt, and throw it over your left shoulder and scream ''Well that didn't work.'' I'm sure you have all had moments like that.
Sometimes plan work, and sometimes they don't and sometimes it's ok.
It's ok, with how things are going in the world, we're not supposed to save it.
We are supposed to be Christians shining in the night, a city on a hill, and a city on a hill, as I look over our city from my hill, isn't one that's hidden, isn't easy to miss.
When we use light inside our houses, or drive in the dark with the lights on, we can see, but if we're in the dark, we can't see. Perhaps you're in that dark space, where you can't see things, perhaps your plans are not working at the moment.
Perhaps people have been really mean to you, to get a reaction, or wanting you to get another job, but take heart my friend for your strength comes in the Lord.
It is important to keep praying, even though you are in that dark time.
And get others praying for you and with you, there's so much blessing that comes from God, to those people who pray with you, for strength, and get Godly understanding in hard times.
I want to turn to the book of 2nd Timothy, chapter 1. It's his last and final letter to Timothy, because he is in prison for Jesus.
His final letter instructs Timothy to be strong, to take heart, and to encourage the faithful.
There are people still today who are imprisoned for their faith, and we should pray in the Spirit of God to build up those who are fighting for their faith.
We shouldn't turn a blind eye, or away if we see someone in need.
It says in the bible, that if we see someone lacking clothing, food, shelter, and warmth we should invite them in.
Because it is not only the Christian way of doing things, it is how we should be living.
God is with us, and who can be against us?
Yes, people, discrimination, and all of that, but God is the knows of everything, and even though it looks like evil is winning deep down inside, but the light is flickering away, building up to become a beacon.
Just like the light houses on the hills, warning the boats that there are rocks around. in fact the beam of the light house, can reach 50k, that's amazing.
Paul instructs Timothy not to be ashamed, because he is in chains for Christ, rather to join him, in his suffering, to spur each other on.
Timothy, was young and Paul knew it, in fact he gave instructions not to let your age get to you, because you are young but to set the example.
In chapter 2 of 2nd Timothy, we are told we work men approved by God.
We all ready have God's approval on us, we already know what to do, and how to do it.
Sometimes it's easier, and sometimes it's harder, and sometimes we just want to hide.
The Lord see's all your workings, and he knows the cost, and he'll reward you for it.
Paul also instructs Timothy, to flee from evil desires, and to pursue good things, don't get upset about arguments, because he states it clearly that they produce trouble.
Take the opportunities that you get to reach out to others, it might not be the 50 k out to see like the light house, but you know in the job you are doing, whatever your calling is, you can do it with the Strength of God, and you're not doing it by your own strength.
That's it when you know you're in the right job, because the strength of God is with you, that you don't need to haul yourself along.
Chloe
Well it's another week, it's been one with good exciting things.
I want to talk to you today, about life.
We seem to be ever so busy, in fact sometimes the word busy is too simple to explain our daily lives, it's more hectic and chaotic, people and work are demanding more and more of ourselves.
But it says in the bible don't let your heart be troubled, do not fear.
It's so easy to take it with a grain of salt, and throw it over your left shoulder and scream ''Well that didn't work.'' I'm sure you have all had moments like that.
Sometimes plan work, and sometimes they don't and sometimes it's ok.
It's ok, with how things are going in the world, we're not supposed to save it.
We are supposed to be Christians shining in the night, a city on a hill, and a city on a hill, as I look over our city from my hill, isn't one that's hidden, isn't easy to miss.
When we use light inside our houses, or drive in the dark with the lights on, we can see, but if we're in the dark, we can't see. Perhaps you're in that dark space, where you can't see things, perhaps your plans are not working at the moment.
Perhaps people have been really mean to you, to get a reaction, or wanting you to get another job, but take heart my friend for your strength comes in the Lord.
It is important to keep praying, even though you are in that dark time.
And get others praying for you and with you, there's so much blessing that comes from God, to those people who pray with you, for strength, and get Godly understanding in hard times.
I want to turn to the book of 2nd Timothy, chapter 1. It's his last and final letter to Timothy, because he is in prison for Jesus.
His final letter instructs Timothy to be strong, to take heart, and to encourage the faithful.
There are people still today who are imprisoned for their faith, and we should pray in the Spirit of God to build up those who are fighting for their faith.
We shouldn't turn a blind eye, or away if we see someone in need.
It says in the bible, that if we see someone lacking clothing, food, shelter, and warmth we should invite them in.
Because it is not only the Christian way of doing things, it is how we should be living.
God is with us, and who can be against us?
Yes, people, discrimination, and all of that, but God is the knows of everything, and even though it looks like evil is winning deep down inside, but the light is flickering away, building up to become a beacon.
Just like the light houses on the hills, warning the boats that there are rocks around. in fact the beam of the light house, can reach 50k, that's amazing.
Paul instructs Timothy not to be ashamed, because he is in chains for Christ, rather to join him, in his suffering, to spur each other on.
Timothy, was young and Paul knew it, in fact he gave instructions not to let your age get to you, because you are young but to set the example.
In chapter 2 of 2nd Timothy, we are told we work men approved by God.
We all ready have God's approval on us, we already know what to do, and how to do it.
Sometimes it's easier, and sometimes it's harder, and sometimes we just want to hide.
The Lord see's all your workings, and he knows the cost, and he'll reward you for it.
Paul also instructs Timothy, to flee from evil desires, and to pursue good things, don't get upset about arguments, because he states it clearly that they produce trouble.
Take the opportunities that you get to reach out to others, it might not be the 50 k out to see like the light house, but you know in the job you are doing, whatever your calling is, you can do it with the Strength of God, and you're not doing it by your own strength.
That's it when you know you're in the right job, because the strength of God is with you, that you don't need to haul yourself along.
Chloe
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Psalm 57
Hello
I hope that you're well, today I want to talk to you about Psalm 57.
We're so busy these days, there seems to be so many demanding things to do, work requires more and more of us, our families, our social commitments, and all the rest that goes along with it.
I'm sure you would agree, sometimes when we say, ''we'll pray about it.'' we just do it without praying , because well who else will step up?
If we do things so well, and if we keep wearing the mask of commitment, who are we trying to help?
We're not helping ourselves are we?
This has 2 sides to the coin, if we keep up the ''good work.'' and if for some reason can't do it one day, who will take our place?
We struggle with this, because we have a fear, because we have a persona "no one can do it better than I can," or "Perhaps it's easier for me to do it, and not train up people, because they aren't as good, and their systems fail."
But we are the only ones, that trick ourselves and we can and will fail ourselves.
It's always sad when this happens, because we let ourselves down, and become defeated, when we just keep going, keep up with the Jones, and keep aiming high.
It's not a bad thing to have good goals in place, but be careful my friends, when your goals become a subject of pride.
Because ultimately, that will become your down fall.
David, saw this, he saw it happening to Saul, and he couldn't do anything, to stop him, Saul was wanting to have David's life, because David was so successful.
In the end Saul, was his own enemy.
You can read in Psalm 57 about how afraid David was, in fact he was related to the man, by marriage, Saul gave his daughter in marriage to him when he was only a teenager imagine that, you've just killed and cut off Israel's most wanted man, and all of sudden you're an afternoon success, you're family doesn't have to pay taxes, you get a new home, and then you're a husband.
But it was only to benefit Saul, which when he was king he started off well, it was only because of God's anointing on David that he got jealous.
Many times he was rescued by the hand of God, and by Jonathon.
It wasn't at all like a fairy tale, that we teach kids now days.
There's a beautiful, openness about David in Psalm 57, when he completely relies on God, to have him fight for him.
Sometimes, we need to rely on God and hold onto the promises he made to us. And sometimes we need to keep those promises we've made to people as well.
Because God isn't a one way Street kind of God, you know, sometimes we come to God and we expect him to do things our ways, wanting him to snap into things, and just click his fingers and just make things happen. But he also wants to act, and be active, going about thing with wisdom.
If we are wise, and seek after God, we won't get shaken, by things of this world, we will stand fast, we will be able to stand anything that comes our way.
However, if we go after every whisper, and believe in gossip, and or rumours of things, we'll be blown by everything that comes our way and we will be shaken.
David knew what it was like being afraid, he hid in the cave, but while he was hiding, he was active, he made a conscience effort to, praise God, he made a choice in that dark cave, sing, in fact he commands his heart to sing, in the dead of night.
God's love for us is steadfast, and when you are uncertain, of things around you, take heart that while things surprise you, he is not surprised, he always works best to our advantage.
Even when things around you are shaking, you know that God is in control, the most calmest place in a hurricane is in the middle of the eye of it. So you might be feeling like you're in the outside of the storm, God is in the middle of it.
That's what I want you to know, and you know that God is love, and no matter what happens you are loved and cared for, no matter if you don't have any friends or many, no matter if you're not in the popular group, it might be in church or out of church, your popularity isn't what God looks for, it doesn't matter if you have a leaders cap on, or not, it doesn't matter what church group your involved in, all that matters, is that you go after God, that where he is, leading you, you are going to be ok.
I hope that you're well, today I want to talk to you about Psalm 57.
We're so busy these days, there seems to be so many demanding things to do, work requires more and more of us, our families, our social commitments, and all the rest that goes along with it.
I'm sure you would agree, sometimes when we say, ''we'll pray about it.'' we just do it without praying , because well who else will step up?
If we do things so well, and if we keep wearing the mask of commitment, who are we trying to help?
We're not helping ourselves are we?
This has 2 sides to the coin, if we keep up the ''good work.'' and if for some reason can't do it one day, who will take our place?
We struggle with this, because we have a fear, because we have a persona "no one can do it better than I can," or "Perhaps it's easier for me to do it, and not train up people, because they aren't as good, and their systems fail."
But we are the only ones, that trick ourselves and we can and will fail ourselves.
It's always sad when this happens, because we let ourselves down, and become defeated, when we just keep going, keep up with the Jones, and keep aiming high.
It's not a bad thing to have good goals in place, but be careful my friends, when your goals become a subject of pride.
Because ultimately, that will become your down fall.
David, saw this, he saw it happening to Saul, and he couldn't do anything, to stop him, Saul was wanting to have David's life, because David was so successful.
In the end Saul, was his own enemy.
You can read in Psalm 57 about how afraid David was, in fact he was related to the man, by marriage, Saul gave his daughter in marriage to him when he was only a teenager imagine that, you've just killed and cut off Israel's most wanted man, and all of sudden you're an afternoon success, you're family doesn't have to pay taxes, you get a new home, and then you're a husband.
But it was only to benefit Saul, which when he was king he started off well, it was only because of God's anointing on David that he got jealous.
Many times he was rescued by the hand of God, and by Jonathon.
It wasn't at all like a fairy tale, that we teach kids now days.
There's a beautiful, openness about David in Psalm 57, when he completely relies on God, to have him fight for him.
Sometimes, we need to rely on God and hold onto the promises he made to us. And sometimes we need to keep those promises we've made to people as well.
Because God isn't a one way Street kind of God, you know, sometimes we come to God and we expect him to do things our ways, wanting him to snap into things, and just click his fingers and just make things happen. But he also wants to act, and be active, going about thing with wisdom.
If we are wise, and seek after God, we won't get shaken, by things of this world, we will stand fast, we will be able to stand anything that comes our way.
However, if we go after every whisper, and believe in gossip, and or rumours of things, we'll be blown by everything that comes our way and we will be shaken.
David knew what it was like being afraid, he hid in the cave, but while he was hiding, he was active, he made a conscience effort to, praise God, he made a choice in that dark cave, sing, in fact he commands his heart to sing, in the dead of night.
God's love for us is steadfast, and when you are uncertain, of things around you, take heart that while things surprise you, he is not surprised, he always works best to our advantage.
Even when things around you are shaking, you know that God is in control, the most calmest place in a hurricane is in the middle of the eye of it. So you might be feeling like you're in the outside of the storm, God is in the middle of it.
That's what I want you to know, and you know that God is love, and no matter what happens you are loved and cared for, no matter if you don't have any friends or many, no matter if you're not in the popular group, it might be in church or out of church, your popularity isn't what God looks for, it doesn't matter if you have a leaders cap on, or not, it doesn't matter what church group your involved in, all that matters, is that you go after God, that where he is, leading you, you are going to be ok.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Time to take the training Wheels off
Hello, I'm back.
The title of my post above is called time to take the training wheels off.
Now, you might think, Chloe where are you going with this.
But bare with my frineds, because all will make sense hopefully in time.
Since I'm not working and have only worked 3 days of this month, I have made a whopping $68.00 over the 3 days I've been working.
I'm feeling rather rich.
And I've discovered, that with all this free time I am the most dedicated time waster, there is Dunedin.
I've been practicing my surfing, on the net and guess what you can have a lot of time on the net, and there's no wetsuit, or surf board involved.
So that's an added bonus.
And I found the most coolest bike, now if you know me, I'm on the look out for a good bike, pref one with a motor, yeah I know, there's motor bikes, on trademe, and yes scooters, but mfffy friend has a scooter and it only goes 265 days a year, so yes it's quite temperamental, she's taken it apart many times and knows how to make Mytle work.
My friend Myrtle, has enough stickers on her shell, on it to make it a mobile sticker book.
I found a electric trike.
Now you might laugh, and yes, I laughed when I saw it.
It is electric it has 3 wheels, and 2 big baskets, now, if you're a foodie, when I saw this trike, I thought brilliant, stuff everything in the front, buy up large, and there's more stuff to cram in the back basket, and ride out in style like Mary Poppins.
Now, I showed my parents this trike, and Dad said, ''Well at least you'll feel right at home and fit in with the electric mobility scooters, on Portsmouth drive.''
Least to say, that my parents thought that I was kidding and having them on and I want it for my 30th birthday which is in 2 years time, but I'm quite serious, I have hiked, and have cycled, and I have been told to enjoy it, and it's character building, but why struggle, with the cycling, if you have a 3 wheeled trike, and have a 250 wat motor.
Mum said, it's as much power as 3 light bulbs.
Ok now with that story over, and you know why the title of the post is time to take the training wheels off, sometimes we rely on the training wheels, you now, the little wheels on the back of kids bikes to stable them when they ride, sometimes it seems like we've still got the training wheels still on.
God told me to take off the training wheels, a few months ago.
To hold everything loosely that I can't make people change, I can't make things happen, even thought it would be nice.
I can't dictate God, I can't play him.
Gideon, was in training, in fact he saw God that's where I'm going with this study.
Judges Chapter 6 and 7.
If you need to know that God is with you read Gideon.
Recapping, what happened,
Because of Israel's great sin, God turned them into their enemies, whenever the Israelites planed crops, the Midianites and the Amorites came and destroyed them.
In fact, they were so afraid of what was happening, that they were forced to live in the mountains.
God knew this, and he came to Gideon, and he wasn't sure who it was, as it was an angel of the Lord.
Gideon, showed hospitality, and he fed the angel, but the angel of the Lord, called him to make it a sacrifice to God, a burnt sacrifice.
Then God told him that he was the man, to help the Israelites.
Now, because he saw the Angel of the Lord, he had incredible courage, courage, that was supernatural.
He at night burnt down all the gods, and the ashier poles, and destroyed all the high places, where kings were told to destroy them, but they didn't.
Gideon, took no prisoners, he knew and carried out with Godly courage, what God called him to do.
What is amazing is that Gideon's tribe was the least of all in Israel, it wasn't the Levites, or the tribes of Manasseh, or Jacobs, nothing, like that.
And he led a might army of 35 thousand against all of the Israel's enemys.
Do you see it?
Gideon, was in training, all the time, we are in training all the time.
And if God gives us opportunities, to show his love and his message he will do amazing things in us. he will also speak to us, in amazing ways, ways that otherwise feel stuck, perhaps even manipulated in, but God is always there, and he always has a plan.
God's ways are always interesting and new, he gives us the right times to do something, it might be getting in touch with people again, that have helped you, it might be taking them out to lunch and seeing how they are getting on, it might be moving right out of your comfort zone, out of your home, and into new places, and to be called into things that you've prayed for along time.
Gideon, didn't loose heart or his faith, he was committed, to the cause, and he had to know that God was behind him all the way, because it wasn't a small thing this was the raising of a new Moses, as it were, to lead the Israelites into battle, and fight.
Now we're only talking of 300 men, not a huge army, but Gideon did it, he went in with his 300 men and God gave them the victory, he didn't have a ''just in case God didn't turn up, I'll put another 300 men in reserve, incase plan A fails.'' He did exactly what God wanted, and he went in full force.
In fact because of Gideon's trust, in the Lord, he was made even greater.
To the point when the Israelites said, ''Here rule over us, and be our king, and if you won't let one of your children.''
Gideon turned it down?
Why because he knew that it was wrong, that the Israelites should only rely on God not man, and Gideon wanted his people to know this.
Gideon died, and Israel no sooner had they remembered how great Gideon was, they failed to show Gideon's family, the kindness and prostituted themselves even worse than what they were doing in Gideon's time.
So what' the main point here?
Well I think it's not what Gideon did, or how great he was, he was that, because he fully trusted God, and he knew how fickle the Israelites were. That's why he turned down their request .
I think the main point here is, that no sooner that Gideon passed on, the Israelites more sinful, than they ever were, in fact going beyond that, and forgetting the promise that they made that they would be as a nation show kindness to his family, that went south, and they didn't, they did more evil.
Gideon took off his training wheels, as it were, and faced problems head on, he didn't wait for someone to come along and do it, because he knew that he was called, and if he was called he had to carry out what the Lord required of him.
And God made him an even greater man, and that's what I want here in this city, no matter if you're waiting, no matter if you're in your dessert place, praying for a break through, when you know God is calling you, to do something do it, because he has assigned that mission to do.
What happens if you don't do it?
Could someone else reep that blessing?
I believe that he does assign us to do special things, and he is a merciful God, however, we know in Jeremiah that God actually has enough of rebellious sinning.
And he makes it very clear about forgiveness, and that it has to be from the heart and not from our heads that we can actually deceive ourselves as well, that if we forgive in our heads well we can move on, but the more that Israel did, the worse it got, and in the end God had enough.
And he actually does, because Israel was in so much deep trouble that they didn't know how to forgive, that they had a fake safety-ness.
Now God never gives up, but there is a sovereignty about him, that we have to fully repent, and if we're just nice on Sundays and mean to our family and friends on other days, well we're only deceiving ourselves, and God hates that, he hasn't raised us up to be two faced.
So maybe it's time to take off the training wheels, to rely on God, to ride with the faith we have, to accept who were are in body, and in form, but also know that God is sovereign and he can do whatever he likes with us.
Gideon was raised up for such a time as this, and we are in the same place, we are called to be mighty women and men, young adults for God.
Don't think you're not called to do special things, you are, his hands and feet every day.
Go out there with the power of God on you, to do what you are called to do.
Chloe
The title of my post above is called time to take the training wheels off.
Now, you might think, Chloe where are you going with this.
But bare with my frineds, because all will make sense hopefully in time.
Since I'm not working and have only worked 3 days of this month, I have made a whopping $68.00 over the 3 days I've been working.
I'm feeling rather rich.
And I've discovered, that with all this free time I am the most dedicated time waster, there is Dunedin.
I've been practicing my surfing, on the net and guess what you can have a lot of time on the net, and there's no wetsuit, or surf board involved.
So that's an added bonus.
And I found the most coolest bike, now if you know me, I'm on the look out for a good bike, pref one with a motor, yeah I know, there's motor bikes, on trademe, and yes scooters, but mfffy friend has a scooter and it only goes 265 days a year, so yes it's quite temperamental, she's taken it apart many times and knows how to make Mytle work.
My friend Myrtle, has enough stickers on her shell, on it to make it a mobile sticker book.
I found a electric trike.
Now you might laugh, and yes, I laughed when I saw it.
It is electric it has 3 wheels, and 2 big baskets, now, if you're a foodie, when I saw this trike, I thought brilliant, stuff everything in the front, buy up large, and there's more stuff to cram in the back basket, and ride out in style like Mary Poppins.
Now, I showed my parents this trike, and Dad said, ''Well at least you'll feel right at home and fit in with the electric mobility scooters, on Portsmouth drive.''
Least to say, that my parents thought that I was kidding and having them on and I want it for my 30th birthday which is in 2 years time, but I'm quite serious, I have hiked, and have cycled, and I have been told to enjoy it, and it's character building, but why struggle, with the cycling, if you have a 3 wheeled trike, and have a 250 wat motor.
Mum said, it's as much power as 3 light bulbs.
Ok now with that story over, and you know why the title of the post is time to take the training wheels off, sometimes we rely on the training wheels, you now, the little wheels on the back of kids bikes to stable them when they ride, sometimes it seems like we've still got the training wheels still on.
God told me to take off the training wheels, a few months ago.
To hold everything loosely that I can't make people change, I can't make things happen, even thought it would be nice.
I can't dictate God, I can't play him.
Gideon, was in training, in fact he saw God that's where I'm going with this study.
Judges Chapter 6 and 7.
If you need to know that God is with you read Gideon.
Recapping, what happened,
Because of Israel's great sin, God turned them into their enemies, whenever the Israelites planed crops, the Midianites and the Amorites came and destroyed them.
In fact, they were so afraid of what was happening, that they were forced to live in the mountains.
God knew this, and he came to Gideon, and he wasn't sure who it was, as it was an angel of the Lord.
Gideon, showed hospitality, and he fed the angel, but the angel of the Lord, called him to make it a sacrifice to God, a burnt sacrifice.
Then God told him that he was the man, to help the Israelites.
Now, because he saw the Angel of the Lord, he had incredible courage, courage, that was supernatural.
He at night burnt down all the gods, and the ashier poles, and destroyed all the high places, where kings were told to destroy them, but they didn't.
Gideon, took no prisoners, he knew and carried out with Godly courage, what God called him to do.
What is amazing is that Gideon's tribe was the least of all in Israel, it wasn't the Levites, or the tribes of Manasseh, or Jacobs, nothing, like that.
And he led a might army of 35 thousand against all of the Israel's enemys.
Do you see it?
Gideon, was in training, all the time, we are in training all the time.
And if God gives us opportunities, to show his love and his message he will do amazing things in us. he will also speak to us, in amazing ways, ways that otherwise feel stuck, perhaps even manipulated in, but God is always there, and he always has a plan.
God's ways are always interesting and new, he gives us the right times to do something, it might be getting in touch with people again, that have helped you, it might be taking them out to lunch and seeing how they are getting on, it might be moving right out of your comfort zone, out of your home, and into new places, and to be called into things that you've prayed for along time.
Gideon, didn't loose heart or his faith, he was committed, to the cause, and he had to know that God was behind him all the way, because it wasn't a small thing this was the raising of a new Moses, as it were, to lead the Israelites into battle, and fight.
Now we're only talking of 300 men, not a huge army, but Gideon did it, he went in with his 300 men and God gave them the victory, he didn't have a ''just in case God didn't turn up, I'll put another 300 men in reserve, incase plan A fails.'' He did exactly what God wanted, and he went in full force.
In fact because of Gideon's trust, in the Lord, he was made even greater.
To the point when the Israelites said, ''Here rule over us, and be our king, and if you won't let one of your children.''
Gideon turned it down?
Why because he knew that it was wrong, that the Israelites should only rely on God not man, and Gideon wanted his people to know this.
Gideon died, and Israel no sooner had they remembered how great Gideon was, they failed to show Gideon's family, the kindness and prostituted themselves even worse than what they were doing in Gideon's time.
So what' the main point here?
Well I think it's not what Gideon did, or how great he was, he was that, because he fully trusted God, and he knew how fickle the Israelites were. That's why he turned down their request .
I think the main point here is, that no sooner that Gideon passed on, the Israelites more sinful, than they ever were, in fact going beyond that, and forgetting the promise that they made that they would be as a nation show kindness to his family, that went south, and they didn't, they did more evil.
Gideon took off his training wheels, as it were, and faced problems head on, he didn't wait for someone to come along and do it, because he knew that he was called, and if he was called he had to carry out what the Lord required of him.
And God made him an even greater man, and that's what I want here in this city, no matter if you're waiting, no matter if you're in your dessert place, praying for a break through, when you know God is calling you, to do something do it, because he has assigned that mission to do.
What happens if you don't do it?
Could someone else reep that blessing?
I believe that he does assign us to do special things, and he is a merciful God, however, we know in Jeremiah that God actually has enough of rebellious sinning.
And he makes it very clear about forgiveness, and that it has to be from the heart and not from our heads that we can actually deceive ourselves as well, that if we forgive in our heads well we can move on, but the more that Israel did, the worse it got, and in the end God had enough.
And he actually does, because Israel was in so much deep trouble that they didn't know how to forgive, that they had a fake safety-ness.
Now God never gives up, but there is a sovereignty about him, that we have to fully repent, and if we're just nice on Sundays and mean to our family and friends on other days, well we're only deceiving ourselves, and God hates that, he hasn't raised us up to be two faced.
So maybe it's time to take off the training wheels, to rely on God, to ride with the faith we have, to accept who were are in body, and in form, but also know that God is sovereign and he can do whatever he likes with us.
Gideon was raised up for such a time as this, and we are in the same place, we are called to be mighty women and men, young adults for God.
Don't think you're not called to do special things, you are, his hands and feet every day.
Go out there with the power of God on you, to do what you are called to do.
Chloe
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Are your batteriers getting low?
Hi there, this is post 20.
And I am so amazed that by the grace of God, I've done 20 posts, because i really didn't think I'd get beyond 5.
So today is all about your life, and if you're doing well mentally, spiritually, and physically.
I've spent a lot of days at home this past week, probably more than I like, but that's OK.
So last night, I weighed myself on the bathroom scales, the good thing was that we need new batteries so that was fine, it said ''Low'' and I thought that's a sign from God that I didn't need to get on them.
But then I tapped them again on the place in the middle of the glass ones to turn it on again, and there you go, the double zeroes came up, and I have gained an extra 4 kgs.
The point is, how are you?
Now when I ask people, how they generally say, pretty good.
You may be good, you might be on top of the world, and that's good.
In this society ,we're not that great asking beyond that, only if we really care, we might ask the person out for coffee if we think that they are a bit low.
My main goal, is to get beyond the churchyness, because we can easily hide in a big church, sneak in the back row, nod our heads with the pastor, agree with what he is saying, but inwardly miss the points that God has for you.
So ask God, what makes you beautiful, and you might go eh, what?
Ask God, if you're suffering right now, what he has in his other hand, because he has 2 hands, and both of them were pierced for me and you so we will have eternal life.
And he doesn't want us to suffer, and if you look back to when you were a child, someone didn't want you to suffer, and most of us it was our parents, or other caregivers.
God cares for you, and he wants us to cast everything to him and see what he can do.
You might not feel like you're wanted, you might feel alone, you might not even know if you're human. with the things you've got on your to do list.
Take note, that God is always there.
You're not a monster.
There's someone out there praying for you, praying that you will be safe from harm, and God is always watching out for you, you see, if you feel like you're batteries are flat, and you don't see the double zero.
Keep going strong, keep your eyes fixed on him, and he will show you in so many ways, perhaps, your plans aren't working, perhaps you've got around in circles, perhaps people weren't clear perhaps you've suffered enough, and got wounded in the battle.
Take comfort, because God never leaves you, while people may leave you, he says, ''There you go.'' and walks away, you see the blind man came to Jesus, with all he has, and says, "Lord if you are willing, you can heal me.''
He come to Jesus, just as he is, and he doesn't blame anyone, he doesn't point at Jesus and says it's all your fault, he just says God if you're willing.
That's all that God requires of us, a willingness, you don't have to have 8 degrees to prove yourself.
God sees you, and you don't need prove yourself to God.
So come to God, just as you are, and you will see things that weren't there before.
One blind man in the bible came to him and when he was healed of his blindness, he saw trees for the fire time and thought that they were walking around.
Though we might have pain, we might have physical disabilities, we might have intellectual ones that we've tried to hide, we might have been strong in the past, and perhaps you've been strong on your own 2 feet for along time.
God sees it, you don't have to come up with fool proof plans, for a safe life.
God loves you the way you are, and it was out of the love he had for the blind person, that he calls you to love yourself, in the image he has made you.
That's what he wants us to do.
D
And I am so amazed that by the grace of God, I've done 20 posts, because i really didn't think I'd get beyond 5.
So today is all about your life, and if you're doing well mentally, spiritually, and physically.
I've spent a lot of days at home this past week, probably more than I like, but that's OK.
So last night, I weighed myself on the bathroom scales, the good thing was that we need new batteries so that was fine, it said ''Low'' and I thought that's a sign from God that I didn't need to get on them.
But then I tapped them again on the place in the middle of the glass ones to turn it on again, and there you go, the double zeroes came up, and I have gained an extra 4 kgs.
The point is, how are you?
Now when I ask people, how they generally say, pretty good.
You may be good, you might be on top of the world, and that's good.
In this society ,we're not that great asking beyond that, only if we really care, we might ask the person out for coffee if we think that they are a bit low.
My main goal, is to get beyond the churchyness, because we can easily hide in a big church, sneak in the back row, nod our heads with the pastor, agree with what he is saying, but inwardly miss the points that God has for you.
So ask God, what makes you beautiful, and you might go eh, what?
Ask God, if you're suffering right now, what he has in his other hand, because he has 2 hands, and both of them were pierced for me and you so we will have eternal life.
And he doesn't want us to suffer, and if you look back to when you were a child, someone didn't want you to suffer, and most of us it was our parents, or other caregivers.
God cares for you, and he wants us to cast everything to him and see what he can do.
You might not feel like you're wanted, you might feel alone, you might not even know if you're human. with the things you've got on your to do list.
Take note, that God is always there.
You're not a monster.
There's someone out there praying for you, praying that you will be safe from harm, and God is always watching out for you, you see, if you feel like you're batteries are flat, and you don't see the double zero.
Keep going strong, keep your eyes fixed on him, and he will show you in so many ways, perhaps, your plans aren't working, perhaps you've got around in circles, perhaps people weren't clear perhaps you've suffered enough, and got wounded in the battle.
Take comfort, because God never leaves you, while people may leave you, he says, ''There you go.'' and walks away, you see the blind man came to Jesus, with all he has, and says, "Lord if you are willing, you can heal me.''
He come to Jesus, just as he is, and he doesn't blame anyone, he doesn't point at Jesus and says it's all your fault, he just says God if you're willing.
That's all that God requires of us, a willingness, you don't have to have 8 degrees to prove yourself.
God sees you, and you don't need prove yourself to God.
So come to God, just as you are, and you will see things that weren't there before.
One blind man in the bible came to him and when he was healed of his blindness, he saw trees for the fire time and thought that they were walking around.
Though we might have pain, we might have physical disabilities, we might have intellectual ones that we've tried to hide, we might have been strong in the past, and perhaps you've been strong on your own 2 feet for along time.
God sees it, you don't have to come up with fool proof plans, for a safe life.
God loves you the way you are, and it was out of the love he had for the blind person, that he calls you to love yourself, in the image he has made you.
That's what he wants us to do.
D
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Psalm 15
I like Psalm, 15 because it has the 3 "S'', short sweet, and savoury.
It sounds like recipe for a Maranda savoury muffin recipe doesn't?
Psalm 15 is has only 5 verses.
So there's no excuse not to read it.
What I love about it, it's truthful, and it's from David, it's a praise Psalm..
It's a psalm to go to when you're spiritual tired, and it happens in church, it happens to worship leaders, and pastors, and other leaders, so if you're feeling drained, take hope my friend, there is something in here for you.
Summarizing, verse 2-5, talks about cheating on God, and being blameless, when we reach out to others, even buying someone their lunch, or if you can't take them to church you are reaching out.
Just doing that small one thing, and taking notes on the sermons, yes I know, it sounds old school, but when I do that, or do some other bible study, time and time again I come back to a psalm, or some teaching on hardship, and it's pulled me through.
I love what David says, at the end of verse 5, "He, who does these thing, will never be shaken.'' if we don't accept bribes, if we loose our life in this world, if we compromise, and if we're only part time Christians, we will feel like something is missing, my friend, this isn't you.
But if you are thinking a bit tried, go back to the bible, with God's voice, and his love and tender care, he'll steer you, in the right direction, so that you don't have to make it on your own.
You don't have to try and fix everything up.
God is always there, God is there when it seems like everyone is not you.
God sees you're pain, and just briefly, I just want to talk to you about Mary who didn't recognise Christ after his resurrection, her pain was so deep, and she wanted to go back to the place where, she last saw Christ, she was also the same Mary who sat at Jesus, feet when her sister Martha, wanted her to help her with the house work.
Poor Martha, I wonder if she knew how famous she would become through her sister, never mind.
Mary was the caring sort, she knew that Christ was going to die, so she wanted to spend the final time with him.
When she saw Christ, in the garden, she though that she was the gardener, Jesus knew her, and he didn't leave her, he came back, and showed her the love that she needed.
No matter how your day plans out, no matter if you've had a bad day, a bad week, perhaps it's been longer than a week, months, year, perhaps there's pain unspeakable pain, who if you had magical powers, you'd just use them on one special person to help heal them, to fix them up.
But the only person that you've got to trust, is, Christ, you have to put that person in, Jesus, hands, you've got to hand it over, now handing things over, isn't a thing done right away, it's a gradual thing.
So when you release it to God, it's in his control.
That's all I want to share, with you.
So we need to, be careful, we can't buy God, we can't make him take notice in us, Zacharias learnt that lesson, Jesus calls us by name, he loves you.
He calls you by name, he knows what you need what you want, and will give it to you at the time he thinks and he knows.
Chloe
It sounds like recipe for a Maranda savoury muffin recipe doesn't?
Psalm 15 is has only 5 verses.
So there's no excuse not to read it.
What I love about it, it's truthful, and it's from David, it's a praise Psalm..
It's a psalm to go to when you're spiritual tired, and it happens in church, it happens to worship leaders, and pastors, and other leaders, so if you're feeling drained, take hope my friend, there is something in here for you.
Summarizing, verse 2-5, talks about cheating on God, and being blameless, when we reach out to others, even buying someone their lunch, or if you can't take them to church you are reaching out.
Just doing that small one thing, and taking notes on the sermons, yes I know, it sounds old school, but when I do that, or do some other bible study, time and time again I come back to a psalm, or some teaching on hardship, and it's pulled me through.
I love what David says, at the end of verse 5, "He, who does these thing, will never be shaken.'' if we don't accept bribes, if we loose our life in this world, if we compromise, and if we're only part time Christians, we will feel like something is missing, my friend, this isn't you.
But if you are thinking a bit tried, go back to the bible, with God's voice, and his love and tender care, he'll steer you, in the right direction, so that you don't have to make it on your own.
You don't have to try and fix everything up.
God is always there, God is there when it seems like everyone is not you.
God sees you're pain, and just briefly, I just want to talk to you about Mary who didn't recognise Christ after his resurrection, her pain was so deep, and she wanted to go back to the place where, she last saw Christ, she was also the same Mary who sat at Jesus, feet when her sister Martha, wanted her to help her with the house work.
Poor Martha, I wonder if she knew how famous she would become through her sister, never mind.
Mary was the caring sort, she knew that Christ was going to die, so she wanted to spend the final time with him.
When she saw Christ, in the garden, she though that she was the gardener, Jesus knew her, and he didn't leave her, he came back, and showed her the love that she needed.
No matter how your day plans out, no matter if you've had a bad day, a bad week, perhaps it's been longer than a week, months, year, perhaps there's pain unspeakable pain, who if you had magical powers, you'd just use them on one special person to help heal them, to fix them up.
But the only person that you've got to trust, is, Christ, you have to put that person in, Jesus, hands, you've got to hand it over, now handing things over, isn't a thing done right away, it's a gradual thing.
So when you release it to God, it's in his control.
That's all I want to share, with you.
So we need to, be careful, we can't buy God, we can't make him take notice in us, Zacharias learnt that lesson, Jesus calls us by name, he loves you.
He calls you by name, he knows what you need what you want, and will give it to you at the time he thinks and he knows.
Chloe
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)