Archive for August, 2010

Giving Back

Posted: August 31, 2010 in religion
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God has given us so much, but what do we give back to Him?

God wants us to give Him our life so that He can use us to spread His message of love and forgiveness throughout this world. But do you wonder what’s in it for us, if we give our lives to God?

Well here’s some of the benefits you will realise when you give you life to God:

  • A deeper love & commitment in serving God will develop in you
  • When stressed your faith will be stronger
  • You’ll have inner peace, joy, grace & a sense of fulfilment
  • Your focus will be less on physical provision, & more on worship
  • A greater desire to share what God has freely given yo

God has been more than generous to each of us, so give your life to God willingly so that He can help you can reach your full potential.

You Are So Good To Me by Third Day

You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
And I will sing again

You are so good to me
You heal my broken heart
You are my Father in Heaven

You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song
You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song

You ride upon the clouds
You lead me to the truth
You are the Spirit inside me

You are my strong melody, yeah
You are my dancing rhythm
You are my perfect rhyme
And I will sing of You forever

You poured out all Your blood
You died upon the cross
You are my Jesus who loves me

You are my Father in Heaven
You are the Spirit inside me
You are my Jesus who loves me

The Reason

Posted: August 30, 2010 in religion
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We Are The Reason

As little children
We would dream of christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys
We knew we’d find
But we never realized
A baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

Chorus

And we were the reason
That he gave his life
We were the reason
That he suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all he could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by
We learned more about gifts
And giving of ourselves
And what that means
On a dark and cloudy day
Aman hung crying in the rain
Because of love
Because of love

Chorus

And we are the reason
That he gave his life
We are the reason
That he suffered and died
To a world that was lost
He gave all he could give
To show us the reason to live

I finally found the reason for living
It’s in giving every part of my heart to him
In all that i do every word that i say
I’ll be giving my all just for him
For him

Chorus

Have you found your reason for living?

God gave His son, the ultimate sacrifice, just for you and me. What better reason is there than that to live.

But it’s not just about having a reason to live, it’s about the actions we take in our life. Our life must reflect God’s great love for us. What better way to repay God than to try to and love everyone, including the unloveable – Jesus did this so we must try to too!

Around Us

Posted: August 29, 2010 in life, religion
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Colossians 1:15-20 (The Message)

We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.

He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.

When life seems broken and unfixable, God is there.

When the dark cloud seems to constantly be overhead, God is there.

When there seems no light in this dark world, God is there.

When pain and despair take over your life, God is there.

God is always there.

Trust Him no matter what life throws your way.

God will see you through the darkness, and back into the light again.

Trust Him!

God Is It True (Trust Me) by Steven Curtis Chapman

God is it true
That you’re thinking of me at this moment
God is it true
That you hear every prayer that I pray
God is it true
Every time my heart beats that you know it
Well if its all true
Then that must be you I hear saying trust me
Ohhh

God is it true
Out of all things you’re doing on this planet
Could it really be true
That you’ve counted the heads on my head
God is it true
Every day of my life you have planned it
Well if its all true
That must be you I hear saying trust me
Ohhh
Trust me
Mmmm
Trust me
Ohhh
I’ll never leave you
Ohhh
I’ll never forsake you
Just trust me

God is it true
That your love for us is never ending
Could it really be true
That you died for letting us go
God is it true
That not even death can separate us
Well if its all true
Then what can I do
But put all my hope, and all my trust in You
Well I know its true and I know its you
I hear saying trust me
Ohhh
I hear you saying trust me 

 

Anniversary

Posted: August 27, 2010 in family, friendship, religion
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Loving you means I’m happy. It means I’m with the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.   

Loving you means I am loved by the person I care most about. It means I’m satisfied and excited about life. It means I feel complete.   

I hope you’re as happy as I am on our anniversary, for loving you means everything to me.   

Those are the words on the small laminated card I gave to my hubby today on our 16th wedding anniversary. You know when I gave it to him tonight I do believe I saw a small tear appear…not that he will ever admit to that of course.   

We’ve had some tough times over the last few years with various family things as well as some health issues, but there’s no doubting our love has grown in strength over the last 16 year. It’s maybe because of the times we’ve been through in the last while that prompted me to give him this card, as neither of us as particularly prone to great sentimentality when it comes to gifts etc. But given the response I got, I think he realised I really did put a lot of thought into this and that I really do mean what the card said.   

We had hoped to get the music for the Gerry Rafferty song The Light of Love for our wedding so one of our friends could sing it, however we were unable to source it in time. So today, I’d like to share this song with you, I hope you enjoy it:   

   

 Today I’ve thought about my life with hubby over the last 16 years, but also my Christian relationship with God. So how does my Christian relation with God measure up now compared to 16 years ago? 

Well for many years my relationship with God, just trundled along at the same pace, never particularly up or down. then when faced with a series of difficult situation over a period of time, my faith hit an all time low, and if I’m honest I truly questioned whether God really did exist and indeed whether He really did care about me. But unsurprisingly, God stayed with me throughout that time, he sent various “angels” to me to help me through and eventually when I acknowledged God had done all this for me and had indeed been surrounding me with His love and guidance during all of this, my faith was no only restored in the existence of God, but in fact was stronger than ever. Nothing has changed on that front, I still consider my relationship with God to be stronger now than ever before.   

It is true what you hear folk saying, it’s the tough times in our lives that make us stronger and make our faith stronger.   

Today, please have a think back over your life and consider how your relationship with God compares now with what it was 16 years ago. If you find your faith has waned over the year, maybe it’s time to renew your relationship with God today. Go for it, your life will be all the richer for doing so.

The Light of Love by Gerry Rafferty   

Love comes with a new expression
And the sentimental moon shines in our eyes
Love grows with each new impression
Like an elemental tune that never dies.   

 But all too soon arrives the dawning
And I awaken to the light of love
The kind of love I want to share with you everyday
We make a promise on this night of love
Let’s say a prayer that it might all come true.   

 Love comes like a revelation
And it changes everything that we can see
Love comes with new inspiration
And it show us everything that we can be.   

 But all too soon arrives the dawning
And I awaken to the light of love
The kind of love I want to share with you everyday
We make a promise on this night of love
Let’s say a prayer that it might all come true.   

 How many times have you been lost
And even now you count the cost
Of saying all those last goodbyes
Something’s come alive on this new morning
You’re looking at one more day.   

 Love comes with a new expression
And the sentimental moon shines in our eyes
Love grows with each new impression
Like an elemental tune that never dies.   

 But all too soon arrives the dawning
And I awaken to the light of love
The kind of love I want to share with you everyday
We’ll make a promise on this night of love
Let’s say a prayer that it might all come true … everyday.

Presence

Posted: August 26, 2010 in religion
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Presence (My Heart’s Desire) by Newsboys

I lift up my voice
to The King, The King of glory
I hold out my hands
to The One who is worthy
I long for Your presence
I long, Lord, I need Your touch

CHORUS:
come, oh Lord, and fill up my life
with the light of Your presence
this is my heart’s desire
oh Father, come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence
this is my heart’s desire

I long to be washed
in the well of Your mercy
I long to be warmed
by the fire of Your glory
I long for Your presence
I long for Your healing touch

CHORUS:
come oh Lord and fill up my life
with the light of Your presence
this is my heart’s desire
oh Father, come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence
this is my heart’s desire

it’s my desire

(I wanna feel Your presence)
Lord, it’s my desire
(I wanna feel Your presence)
Lord, You’re my desire
(I wanna feel Your presence)
I wanna feel Your presence
I wanna feel Your presence
I wanna feel Your presence – Jesus

CHORUS:
come oh Lord and fill up my life
with the light of Your presence
this is my heart’s desire (this is my heart’s desire, oh…)
come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence (presence…)
this is my heart’s desire (this is my heart’s desire, oh…)

come oh Lord and fill up my life (fill up my life)
with the light of Your presence
this is my heart’s desire (this is my heart’s desire, oh…)
come and let Your spirit abide
I long for Your presence this is my heart’s desire

it’s my desire

Lord, You’re my desire
Lord, You’re my desire

What is your heart’s desire?

Do you long to be in God’s presence?

Life is so much fuller, so much more rewarding when you let God into your life. So I’d urge you today, seek God and let Him fill your life with His presence and His love. I promise you will be aware of a huge change in your life for the better when you do so.

Stand Up!

Posted: August 26, 2010 in religion
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Matthew 10: 32-33 (The Message)

Stand up for me against world opinion and I’ll stand up for you before my Father in heaven. If you turn tail and run, do you think I’ll cover for you?

If you’re asked by someone if you are a Christian, do you tell them you are, or do you tell them you’re not, or does it depend on the situation?

If you are a true Christian you can’t pick and choose when you want to be a Christian. I.e. Being a Christian is a full time job, 24/7.

Just like my post the other day when I questioned whether Salvation Army members (Salvationists) who choose not to keep some of their vows 24/7, are true Salvationist, I ask today whether you are a true if you don’t speak or act like one 24/7.

God wants us to be His followers, but not just when it suits us. He wants us to follow Him and do His will all the time.

Are you a true Christian or do you pick and choose when you want to be known as a Christian?

If you’re a part-time Christian I’d urge you to reconsider your commitment to God, and to yourself. God needs you full-time so make that promise to Him today that you will be a 24/7 Christian.

Tell It! by the International Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army, I hope you enjoy the words and music, and receive blessing from them:


Avoidance

Posted: August 25, 2010 in life, religion
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Have you ever spent your time trying to avoid someone or something? If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably have found the more you try to avoid something, the more you “bumped” into it!

Should that tell us something?! Maybe we shouldn’t try to avoid the things we don’t want to face. After all, all that does is just stretch things out even more, because inevitably some day, at some time we will have to face what we have been avoiding.

Do you try your best to avoid God and all he stands for? Why? Are you a non-believer? Or a believer who has fallen along life’s journey?

Do you think you can avoid God forever?

It’s impossible, because God is all around us everyday, everywhere we go. God can make a huge difference in your life – He can lift you up when you’re at your lowest, and He can direct you when you’re not sure which of life’s paths to take. Whenever you need a friend or someone to listen to you, God is there.

Don’t carry on avoiding God, just reach out and He will take your hand.

Dying To Reach You by Point of Grace


He looked through temples of time
To see you right where you stand
He emptied all of Himself
So He could reach out His hand
To give hope and meaning
To the wasted away
And you are one of the ones
That He was dying to save

(Chorus)

He was dying to reach you
Trying to meet you
Where you need Him most
You’ve been living in search of
The whole truth and real love
Your whole life through
You can open your heart
‘Cause He’s dying to reach you

He’s standing there at the door
You can hear Him call you by name
He simply waits to forgive
All of the guilt and the shame
He gave up His own life
And He still bears the scars
He only wants to receive you
So come as you are

(Chorus)

Oh, He has waited time and time before
You must be still and know that He is Lord

S.A. Vows – Keep Them or Break Them?

Posted: August 24, 2010 in religion, Salvation Army, television
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I came home from hospital visiting on Saturday afternoon to find my hubby watching Come Dine With Me on the tv. Nothing particularly noteworthy in that I hear you say. However hubby’s next statement, got my attention…he told me that the one guy in the programme was a Salvation Army person but that he was drinking wine and swearing!

My first thought when I was told this was maybe the guy attended the Army but was not a Salvationist (A salvationist is a member of the Salvation Army), so I said this to hubby, hoping he’d then tell me that was in fact the case. However, the answer I was given suggested I was far from right - apparently during the first of the four Come Dine With Me programmes, the guy had been pictured in Plymouth Salvation Army hall wearing a white shirt and a tie with the S.A. crest on it!

My horror and anger grew at this point, as I felt I could no longer defend this person, nor did I want to! Being married to someone who is not a Christian I have had all the discussions with my hubby regarding why, as a member of the Salvation Army, a Salvationist, I don’t drink alcohol, smoke or take illegal drugs, and nor do I condone anyone who does.

Since Saturday I have found myself thinking about this guy a lot – He appeared to be a salvationist but went against the vows and promises he had publicly made to God at some point. I am not naive, and I know that yes there are some Salvationists out there who regularly break their promises to God, by drinking alcohol, smoking, swearing or taking drugs, but I do know that for me and many other salvationists, we are appalled that they do so while still considering themselves to be true Christians serving in the Salvation Army as Salvationists. I think what got me most about all this was that this guys didn’t seem bothered about how publicly he was breaking his vows – To actually on national television and blatantly break his vows, in my opinion is one of the worst things he could do to portray an image contrary to what the Salvation Army stands for and believe in.

What an impression to give the nation of a Salvationist! And no that wasn’t a complement!

I am appalled that people willingly make vows and them break them but do not feel any remorse or regret for doing so. What do you think?

I must say one thing for the guy in the Come Dine With Me programme – The programme was recorded in 2008, so I do hope and pray that he has changed his ways, and now, if still a salvationist, is keeping all the vows/promises he made to God when he became a Salvationist.

For those of us who do take our vows to God seriously, we must act together to stop others from breaking their vows. After all they are promises we have made to God,we’ve not just said to God we’ll keep some of those promises when we feel like it!

Please, all you Salvationists out their, remember the vows you made to God when you signed your promise (your Articles of War), and renew your promise to God today to keep them…all of them. If you cannot keep all your promises you should not be wearing a salvation army uniform, as it is completely against all it stands for.

Here the International Songsters of the Salvation Army sing My Solemn Vow:


My Day Yesterday

Posted: August 23, 2010 in Bellshill, music, Salvation Army
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Yesterday (Sunday) I went to our Morning service at Bellshill Salvation Army, for the first time in about 10 months! Then after that I headed to Callander with our band to take part on two Song of Praise events there.

During our morning service we had one youngster enrolled as a Junior Soldier and another commissioned as a Senior Soldier, so it was a privilege to be present and share with them both on their special day. But why am I mentioning this, well because it got me thinking back to when I was enrolled as a Senior Soldier at age 18 at Rutherglen Salvation Army, and all that’s happened in my life since that day.

Yes there’s been some highs, but there has also been some very low times too; There’s been times when I’ve praised God and thanked Him for all He’s done for me, and there’s been times when I questioned whether God really existed, and whether He actually cared about me; There’s been times of joy and laughter and there’s also been times when my tears seemed never ending.

So there’s a brief overview of the years that have passed since I became a Senior Soldier, but where am I in my faith journey now? Well times are still tough for a number of reasons, but my faith is strong. I think all the tough times I’ve faced over the last number of years has resulted in my belief and my faith in God growing ever strong, because I know it is God who has brought me through those times, and whatever lies ahead for me He will lead me through it.

After our service this morning, the band headed to Callander to lead a Songs of Praise in the square at 3.30pm and then another in Callander Kirk at 5.30pm. It was a long and tiring day so it was no great surprise to me that I didn’t make it all the way through – I had to stop playing part way through the evening service as I got too sore, but even so I was glad I made the decision to go – Even today although I’m really suffering after the exertions of yesterday. I’m still happy to have made the effort to go with the band to Callander.

Thanks to all in the band for welcoming me back into the fellowship again after my absence from the corps, I do appreciate it, as we do have a special fellowship within our band. Thank you.

Thank you also to the newest junior and senior soldiers at Bellshill Salvation Army, for letting me share with you on your special day, and in turn reminding me of my journey through life to this current point.

I love the song Through It All which really sums up my Christian experience over these last few years in particular, so I hope you enjoy this version of the song performed here by The Three Sopranos: 

Through It All
Though the future seems uncertain
Though the fear erodes my peace
Though the circumstance seems hopeless
And the doubting will not cease
I will claim what He has promised
For my heart must recognise
Mine is not to question
But keep focused on the prize.
 
Through it all I choose to serve the saviour
Through it all I claim Christ as my friend
Through it all my faith will never waver
Till He calls me home or comes again
 
This path now set before me
Is not my route of choice
Yet I must keep moving forward
Listening to His still small voice
This step along this journey
He reminds me I’m His own
And through the cold dark loneliness
I’m aware I’m not alone
 
Through it all I choose to serve the saviour
Through it all I claim Christ as my friend
Through it all my faith will never waver
Till He calls me home or comes again

 

FYI – If you’re wondering how you can become a Senior Soldier (a member) of the Salvation Army, you can get information on this from your local Salvation Army, or from the Salvation Army website.

Intention

Posted: August 22, 2010 in life, religion
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How many times have you heard someone say they did it “with the best of intentions”?

Is it good enough just to do things with the “best of intentions” or should we in fact just make sure we’re doing the right thing?

First and foremost, I’d say we must always make sure we are doing the right thing, though I know sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between what the “right thing” is and what we think we should do for the best intention.

So how do we know what is the right thing to do? In all situations and circumstances, our decisions must be backed by God. In other words, God will always direct us to do the right thing, but we must ask Him for guidance and then be willing to listen to His answer.

So let this always be our intention:

Everything the LORD has said we will do (Exodus 24:3 NIV)
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