Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Keep looking

Hi there.
I hope that you're enjoying your day.
Today I want to talk to you, about looking for things.
Be it, for that dream, for that life partner, for that missing thing in your life.
A little while ago, I talked to you about my friend who had cancer, well just yesterday, we heard about our friend who the doctors said, 100 % that she had a stroke, as well as a near death experience with a brain aneurysm, she's been completely healed of both things.
In fact there's no sign of a stoke in her brain, or anywhere else on her body.
So praise Jesus.
You know my friend Mel said, that we don't often hear about answers to prayers, and she's right, we need to share them, to encourage us, and to encourage our faith.
I was thinking, about the same thing.
We pray for safety, and good health, and that no harm will come to us.
And for our homes, and yesterday God protected our place, because there was a small fire in our bread maker, and the whole house was full of smoke, it was my fault, but God really does answer prayer, and sometimes we rely on other people to pray for us, that's good, but we should be praying as well.
God isn't a pushy God, he doesn't come in uninvited, he is everywhere, and is open to everything.
Sometimes we can read books, we can get good council for things, and we need that if we have had a hard life in the past, but if God calls us to pray for something in our life that needs to give, then we pray.
Sometimes we complicate it, and we make God out to be this big thing,  we watch Christian TV, and take that as God's word, but we need to get into the bible.
God is a good God.
And he gives us the strength every day to do the things that need to be done that day.
No matter how weak we are.
If you give a cup of cold water to a person in need, you're Jesus, and how easy is that?
God is everywhere, and we need to see and listen to him, where we are serving.
Yes take things on board, but always watch out for God's voice, be it taking someone home, or opening your home to others, at the right time and season, you are being God.
You can't force people do what needs to be done or become saved.
People come to us, because they see something that need.
And that need is Christ, but we need to be looking out for ways to see that.
And when we see that, and meet up with them, we will be effective, it doesn't help on the first meeting to tell that that they are going to Hell.
Yes, Jesus, came to save, because we couldn't save our self, even Pilate said, ''Never a man has spoken like this.'' when he asked Jesus if he was the Christ, Pilate was looking for the truth, he was talking to the man of truth.
We all need truth, we all need  trust, we all need to know what's going on.
God is always looking out for us.
Did Jesus say to his 12 friends that they are going to hell on the first encounter?
He said, '' follow me.'' and they did.
We need to be obedient to what God is calling us to do, it will be different no two callings are the same, if we were the same we would be boring.
God is there for us.
Sometimes it feels like we're a small fish in a big pond, but God made us, and he is happy with us.
We don't need to fight for acceptance, we don't need to come to him with excuses he sees that we're doing our best.
Love is pure, and it also hurts, trust me, even the best intentions, can hurt.
What love is pure?
We think of, children, we think that babies are the more pure form of innocence, and dogs, ok, I love dogs, I love Charlie ( the Schnauzer) up the road because each time he sees me, he rises up, and looks deep into my eyes, and well we sort of just click.
A lot of dogs do that to me, forget about guys just dogs will do.
But it has to be a dog like Charlie.
Well that's all I have for today, do what you're called to do, look after yourself delight yourself in God, and enjoy his creation, even Charlie.
Chloe


Monday, February 15, 2016

Save the human fund

Hi there,
I was at work yesterday and I had such a laugh.
The reason being, I found such a great find, it was the head chefs stash of sweet things.
And since I was working a double shift, and the dish hand doing dirty dishes, we all tucked into his stash.
And this particular time it was massive because one of the chefs we cutting chunks out of our favourite slice and and put it in a container, so it went to a very nice sweet girl, and a very nice clean German dish hand.
So that was that, and then we got caught red handed,  and because we didn't know that was ''save the Hamish fund.'' yes, that is what he calls it.
We left some pieces on it, and I even put some tape with his name of it, so no one else can help themselves.
But looking back, even though innocently, we didn't  know, have you been caught doing something that you shouldn't have been doing.
Keep secrets, perhaps addicted to something, perhaps you can't break it physically, even emotionally,  we all need saving.
Sometimes we live our lives so well, that we get to a bullet proof mentality, that nothing will happen to us.
Sometimes we can live 2 lives, a Christian life and a working life.
We can often separate the 2, and as if were change clothes into our Sunday best, and smile and even yes do Christian things, but without faith, even the things we do are dead.

It is a scary thought, but God brought this up in my own life,  and it was amazing, because one thing,  I was doing, was thinking I can do anything I like.
And if you know me, I second guess myself, I doubt my self, and well it's probably a women thing, no a girl thing.
And all of sudden all of that was gone, God was wanting me to be free of this fear, and to live like I mean to live.
So what does that look like?
It means to serve others, and genially do it, not to get thanks from people, to be generous with time and not to think about wanting it back, to be uplifting, always, to go full force to things, and to grow up, and to face it head on.
God isn't a fearful God, he's a God of light and in that light there's no fear.
We need to bring the praise back to God, back to where it belongs.
That's why the Israelites were so successful because when they brought the ark of God back, when David brought the ark back to where it belongs, and when in the desert the Israelites were blessed because they had to fully rely on him for everything, including clothes, and things we look down now as small things.
Sometimes we need to get back to God, and keep it simple, because that were we can move mountains.
We can't if we go full force trying to do it double handling, because with God he is one unit, not 2.
And if you need save the human fund, God is  your fund, I'm not saying that he will give you money, but he will give you what you need.
Not what you want, God doesn't make mistakes, and he doesn't play second fiddle.
God is there, and yes in the grisly bits in the messy bits in the pieces where you thought that no is is looking or knows about, God is there.
God is in there in your pain, there in your striving, there in what you want.
Wants and needs are 2 different things.
We want so much, new cars, clothes and all that, but what is necessary?
We need to be thankful for what we have now, not what we want.
I was blind by that, but now when I saw what I was doing, I felt empty and dissatisfied, I was striving for something that wasn't fulfilling me.
I am broken, I am broken like you, I have struggles, I have no idea, sometimes why I'm here, I even had suicide thoughts and sometimes the deepest darkest lonely thoughts.
So if you are feeling that way, and you're thinking why God, why now, why me, why all this time to finally show up.
Don't forget you're on a verge of  a miracle, and God is still standing in the gap, believing in you, and you know with that God there's light, and even the darkness won't full understand it, but until we com to that place, that place of surrender, God is going to do something, in you, that is unstoppable, and you know, and when you know, you will know that you can live for Christ.
And he will make you be like him every single day.
Chloe

Friday, February 12, 2016

casting crowns just be held

Hello,
How are you?
I hope that you're having a nice day.
How's things going?
Today I want to talk about casting crowns, and  being open to things.
The reason because when you're in the middle of a fight, you get so worn down. I'm not talking about being a victim of things,  we are all victims of things that people do to us, and the out comes are sometimes devastating.
I was on my days off, and when you have days off, you get to a point that you just want to sleep, but then you want to do somethings, and I drove my brother up the wall, because all of sudden, I had some free time, this included, free lunches, ice creams, and other things.
Which was great for him because they were free.
But  what dose it mean to be held?
When you think about it, when you see a crying child, you see a mother or father, holding that child, and to cheer it up, it's important.
But what happens if we get older and we have pain, we have baggage there, and well the mental thing of being held physically isn't there?
And I know that there's people out there that, know what I mean, all of sudden your pain comes out, when you're in fragile state, just like  antique vase, all wrapped up, and protected and then out of no where it gets dropped.
Perhaps, you're aware of how lonely you are.
How can we trust God that he is holding onto us, when all we can do is just to cry and we don't know why.
I'm reading a few books, one is Ben Carson's book on Risk, which are great.
And also a book called , ''Right people, right place right plan.'' by Jentezen Franklin,  it was a book given to my mum from my Nana.
I want to say now, that first read your bible, but if you need some practical things, this book is good, I've only just started it.
Sometimes we need books to increase our faith, and our love for God.
And reading this book along beside Ben's book, really does help.
They might seem different titles, but they work so well together.
One thing about dealing with pain, and that is, not look around and compare, it's so easy to get into that way, and think of someones perfect life.
 There is no perfect life my friends, even those who drive big fancy cars, they still have pay for them to keep running.
We can't always be running around trying to fix things, or trying to be leaders, and get promoted, we all need people who work behind the scenes, they are the true leaders, the ones that are quiet, the ones that really get people's dreams flying high.
When we care genuinely we get other people around us, and care.
So when we ask how someone is really going, we are caring after their needs.
God is there with us, even if it's returning some one's lost property, money or even their pet.
When we give out, we get so many rewards, if we do it the right way.
See if you care in the small things, we care in the big things.
It's not about a big church or even belonging to some big building, it's about over coming our ways, and no you won't drown in the process, when we lay down our pride, our ''I told you i was right'' mentality, we are coming to that place of healing, no matter who is on our team, if we do the small things right, we are working as team and not bolting like a horse full force, going ahead, and not listening, because if we listen to people, we are again putting that aside, learning to do it right, so that people don't have to come along and fix up our mistakes.
There's nothing more frustrating, that going full force, and making mistakes when if we listened on how to do it right, that would help  time and other peoples efforts.
Chloe

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

When you're in a test.

Hi friends.
How are you?
I hope that the sun is shining down on you and that the father of love is blessing you in your life.
What has God been doing with your life?
How do you see God in every day in your life?
What happens if you're constantly knocked down?
Eventually shutting you down, like a computer needed to be recharged?
Jesus, is there, he is in your work place, he is with you, when you get told it's all your fault.
There's nothing more crushing than to be told, things, that you didn't do.
How can you find strength, that makes you cry, and you have no idea why.
Work becomes your worst enemy, if you're not treated right.
The pain is worse than the sting, standing up for yourself, feel like the worst thing possible, but some how you have to do it.
There's something that, you don't have to do, and that is, you aren't standing alone.
No matter if you're praying in the middle, or have completely forgot, God is holding on you.
And he will never let you go under.
God is there when you're like a boat being buffeted around by the waves.
God is there, and he sees what is going on, and he will make you rise above the storm, even though it might seem now that you're in the middle of it.
God isn't blind from pain, even though you mind think that.
So what do we do, when we're in the middle of it?
We go to the bible, because it was by people who believed in God and stood on it, for life.
In the pain it is easy to accept it, and to strive to move on, but some times we've got to say enough is enough, and go and face it, and to talk to people, and go head on.
But we need to be careful, because it can turn into a word blame game, but if you ask God, to see it through mercy and grace, we are move effective.
God is your fighter, not a worrier, he will give you success.
And when you face this thing, that you're going through, you're telling that person, that you're not blind, and you deserve respect, and we can't just go on pretending to  hide it, and take the punches.
God didn't mean us to hide, in fact Jesus tells us you be effective to be ready to stand up, and to go, forward, to look out for the those who probably find it hard to stand by themselves.
God is with you, and he is always there, when you can't sleep, when you've woken up, and you can't get back to sleep, when you're crying in your car, and you have no idea why.
Don't let the enemy snatch what you have left, away.
God can turn your brokenness into amazing joy.
You don't need to find it, in anyone else or down some harmful track in your life.
God is there, always watching over you, even when it feels like he's not there, he is.
And the enemy can't get in, once God is with you.
He is fighting for you, and loving you, and will be bring you back, and will bring you out of it.
Chloe

Friday, February 5, 2016

wearyness

Hi there,
How are you?
I hope that your having a nice day, and nice week.
It's so nice to have this time with you, because for some reason, my computer didn't want to agree with blogger, and froze things.
So now I'm up back and running now.
Today I want to talk to you about weariness, as I look out of over the water, and as I thought back on, the sermon, I thought about, thankfulness. and I honestly thought, when was the last time I actually stopped and thanked God.
I sat in church, and struggled to think as the worship leader, said ''cast you mind back, to the last time that you thanked God.''
Sometimes, it feels like you're running around in the middle of things, and striving for things that you've been working hard for,  and we justify things that we want.
But what happens in that justification, that we think we don't need God.
And that is what I was thinking, and that was wrong, because little by little, God was going out of my life.
I hadn't changed much, but I noticed what was happening, and I knew that little by little, I wasn't where God wanted me. To put it plainly, I was swimming in wrong waters, not noticing that I was swimming where rips were, in my life, and I was getting caught, out.
Rips are the currants that pull you out when you're swimming they are so strong, that sadly that happens and people drown, however I wasn't in a real rip, I was in a spiritual rip.
Friends that know me, probably didn't see it, but my family did.
I was short tempered, annoyed, I was heat exhausted, I was plain grumpy, and very un thankful, for the little things. I was always looking for the next new thing.
And that was a sign that I needed to go back to God, and go back to the things he wanted me to do.
We live in a very impatient world, and it is only getting worse by the things that we feed ourselves, like, getting that new phone, or getting into relationships, only for it to end badly, or to be desperate and only to wound others, my friend it is not worth the pain. But of course we don't know that until it happens.
Why is that we go through pain?
If there is a God, why then do people have sickness that they can't get healing for or operated on?
Listen, It is no ones fault that they have what they have got, when you actually sit down and listen, to someone story, you're actually listening because you are their friend, and they trust you, and they like you, you don't have to prove yourself to anyone else.
You don't know how close you'll get when you see a person that needs company or just a good friend. those are the ones that will point you in the right direction when you need advice, because they have come to the cross roads themselves
And it's in that encouragement you can find direction for your life.
God never leaves you out of pocket or leaves you behind.
God always, is there for you, and in those moments, you're never alone.
My friend has just been cancer free for a year, and 3 times her tumours came back, and 3 times she knew God's promise to her, when she went away to see her friends, all of them asked her if she was '' making a special good bye trip'' and she told them, that  no, this was just a trip to see them. when everything looked bad for her, everything was telling her that they are back, she was a afraid, but she knew that because she was  nurse, that God will be with her in everything, she wasn't praying for a good out come, she was just praying for strength and thanking him for the day, just that one day, and that one day turned into weeks, and months and years.
She had other people praying for her, and out of that  came healing, healing of families, healing of different things then healing of her cancer.
You might think, how can something as much as being thankful for one day, turn into so many blessings and good things.
Because that's all that you rely on, that is all that you have and have got.
Answer is simple, just God.
Sure you have desires and they are good ones, but if you go around looking out for things, and burning out looking for them, you just, eventually crumble.
And that's not what I want for you.
God is good, God is the one that makes broken people, broken lives back together, what might seem like a mess to you, doesn't to God.
What might look like what's out of your control isn't out of control for God.
Yes it hurts and yes it might sting, and you probably don't sleep well at night with what's going on,  and other things, you might have friends wanting to fix what's going on, but you can see God working, and lets you know that it's OK.
Lots of love
Chloe