Archive for September, 2010

Why Do I Bother?

Posted: September 30, 2010 in blogging, religion
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In the last few days I’ve found myself wondering (again!), why I bother writing this blog.

I know people read my blog and I have been told on a few occasions it has helped someone come closer to God. However there have been certain individuals who seem to feel it is their job to tell me what to do and what I shouldn’t do, and despite me asking them to stop harassing me they have continued to do so. So much so, that I have now stopped using Blog Catalog to promote my blog as the “culprits” were contacting me via that website.

So where am I now? Well, after much soul-searching, encouragement/support for others plus a lot of praying, I have come to realise that all that’s gone on in the last few days is simply the Devil at work – After all why am I questioning myself when I know that not only is this what God wants me to be doing, it’s also just folk who are either less informed or scared of God who seem to take offence at what I’ve been saying. i.e. I believe it this is how God is using me try to reach others, to teach them a little of what God can do for them. Also just take a look back at yesterday’s blog post called Courageous, it’s almost like I was having that conversation with myself! God works in mysterious ways!

To my regular readers, thank you for you continued support, I really do appreciate it. To anyone reading this blog for the first time, I apologise for my rant…honestly, it’s not usually like this!

I may not always blog about God, but I hope and pray that through what I write on here, you may read something that makes you stop and think about your faith, or challenge your unbelief.

This song by Jeremy Camp sums things up for me…I Still Believe

Courageous

Posted: September 29, 2010 in religion
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Are you courageous in your faith?

Whenever you’re presented with an opportunity to speak out about your beliefs and your faith, do you do so? Or, do you keep quiet but inside keep telling yourself you need to speak out?

If I’m honest what I do will depend on the situation, those I’m with and the reason I feel I should speak out. In other words, in some situations I will speak out and in others I keep quiet and don’t let anyone know I have a problem with what’s being said or done.

How about you, are you courageous in your faith?

Please watch this video of Jamie Owens-Collins singing Hearts Courageous:

It can be very very difficult to have the courage to speak out when others around you appear to be OK with what is being said or done. But has it occurred to you that maybe you’re not the only one who isn’t OK with what’s happening. i.e. Maybe there are others having the same issues as you, trying to find the courage to speak out.

In times like these, pray, because God will give you the strength and the words to stand up for what you believe in. Be strong, God will give you the courage to do what is right!

Forgetting Can Hurt

Posted: September 28, 2010 in birthday, family
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Yesterday was my Mum’s birthday and it was one that was full of different emotions for both Mum and me.

Firstly, I know Mum didn’t want her birthday as she has become more and more aware over the last while that both her and other members of our family are getting ever older, and with that often comes increasing health problems and health concerns.

Mum and Dad went into Glasgow with the intention of having a nice lunch out, but not only did my Dad not feel too good so didn’t want anything to eat, my Mum didn’t manage to get what she wanted for lunch and what she got was cold by the time she ate it! So as you can see Mum’s birthday plans didn’t go as expected.

Not only did Mum’s lunch plans not go as expected, but both my Dad and also my Mum’s sister, both forgot my Mum’s birthday. As some of you will know both my Dad and my aunt have dementia so to be honest it was no great surprise neither of them remembered Mum’s birthday. However, this being the first birthday both of them have forgotten, it must have been so very tough on Mum – I know it certainly made me feel quite low and very emotional.

On a positive note to finish, I think Mum loved the birthday presents we gave her – I think they gave her a wee boost knowing not everyone had forgotten her birthday.

I can’t imagine how Mum must have felt knowing some of those closest to her had forgotten her birthday, but I hope and pray, despite it all, that hubby and me can continue to bring a little bit of brightness and happiness into Mum’s life during what are difficult times.

Things have been very difficult for all my family (including me) over the last while for a variety of reasons, so I’d appreciate it if you’d keep us in your prayers – Thank you

Saying Grace

Posted: September 27, 2010 in pray, religion
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Yesterday I asked if you knew what grace means and gave you some definitions of grace (Yesterday’s post was entitled Grace and you can read it using this link). In yesterday’s blog I talked about God’s grace (His promise to protect us), so today I’d like to look at grace in the form of a prayer said before meal-times.

So here’s a fuller descriptions of the word grace when used in this context:

In our tradition grace in this context is usually referred to as “saying grace“. Grace is a short prayer that is said either out load or is said to oneself, thanking God for providing food and nourishment that you are about to partake in. It is a way of offering thanks to God for providing sustenance to us. It is a way of asking God to impart a blessing on the meal.

If grace is to be said, it is considered impolite to start eating before grace has been said and completed.

Do you say grace before every meal you eat?

I must be honest and say I don’t, and never really have done apart from many years ago when we used to go to my gran’s for Sunday lunch between our morning and afternoon services.

Are you surprised by my admission? Well let me explain – I think it all come back to the fact that while my Mum and I are Christians and attend the Salvation Army, my Dad does not believe in God, so I guess we never said grace at home, because we respected my Dad’s belief that God did not exist. These days, since I’ve been married, I have a similar situation to what I had when I lived with Mum and Dad, in that hubby is not a Christian, though, unlike my Dad, he does believe there is a God.

So does this make me a bad Christian because I don’t say grace before I eat? No I don’t think so, because it doesn’t stop me from thanking God for the food I eat during my prayer times throughout each day. I would however make me a bad Christian if I was ungrateful to God for all He provides for me, but I certainly hope when I pray I do extend my thanks and gratefulness to God for all He provides for me, not just the food!

In conclusion, whether you say grace or not before you eat, I personally do not think is the real issue. The real issue is whether you thank God for all the things He provides for you in your life, whether it be food, clothing, a roof over your head, love of family and friends etc.

Take time today to say thank you to God for all He has done for you, and continues to do for you.

Grace

Posted: September 26, 2010 in religion
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For those of you who have attended church at some point, you will have no doubt have heard the word grace being used quite frequently, but do you know what grace is?

Here’s the definition I found in the dictionary of the word grace:

  1. Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
  2. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
  3. A sense of fitness or propriety.
  4. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.
  5. Mercy; clemency.
  6. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
  7. A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
  8. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.
  9. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.
  10. An excellence or power granted by God.
  11. A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.
  12.  Grace Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop.
  13. In music it’s an appoggiatura, trill, or other musical ornament in the music of 16th and 17th century England.

As you can see there are a number of varying definitions of the word grace. However I want to concentrate on those that relate to faith only (i.e.those highlighted above – 8, 9, 10 and 11).

So do you feel you are protected and sanctified by God?

God has promised us His grace forever, so we must use the grace to make us into the person God wants us to be.

1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

If you don’t feel you are protected by God, maybe it’s time to seek God’s grace…Please listen and take strength and encouragement from the following song by the International Staff Songsters of The Salvation Army, entitled Your Grace I Seek:


To Buy or Not To Buy

Posted: September 25, 2010 in Edinburgh, Shopping
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Imagine yourself in the following situation…

You’re in one of our biggest cities, you’re right in the city centre, in the middle of all the shops, and you have about 80 minutes before your need to catch your train home

…what do you do? Do you…

  1. Go to the train station anyway, buy a paper and a cup of coffee and have a seat until your train arrives?
  2. Do some window shopping. i.e. you look round the shops but don’t buy anything?
  3. Do some window shopping but think if you see something you like you’ll buy it?
  4. Go shopping with every intention of buying at least one thing?

So did you recognise yourself in one of those options above?

During this last week I’ve been in Edinburgh two days on a training course On both days my training course finished a bit earlier than expected, so I had some time to spare before I caught my train back through to Glasgow. On the second day of my course I found myself in the exact situation I described above. i.e. In Edinburgh on Princes Street with 80 minutes before my train was due. So what do you think I did?

Well, I went window shopping, but with every intention of buying myself (and maybe hubby) something if I saw something I liked! And yes I looked round a few shops and yes, I did buy both myself and hubby something!

Well what did you expect?! You didn’t really think I wouldn’t have bought anything did you?!

Don’t expect any girl with time on her hands and surrounded by shops, not to spend any money! LOL

Ask Him

Posted: September 24, 2010 in bible, religion
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Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Whatever we ask of God, He will deliver. That doesn’t mean he will deliver exactly what you asked for in exactly the way you expected or even wanted, but He will deliver…always!

Do you think God has ever failed to deliver for you?

If you answer yes, can I ask you to think back to what you asked Him for. Was it a reasonable and sensible request? i.e. Asking God for loads of money, is not a reasonable or sensible request. Now consider what you asked for, and think about the different ways in which that request could have been asnwered…then think about all the things which happened at that time…do you see God’s hand in any of them now you’ve had a chance to consider it further?

I’m sure that even if you still cannot see how or when God delivered an answer to your request, I truly believe God did answer your request, or has in fact still to answer it!

Remember, God always answers our prayers, not necessary when we expect and not necessarily in the way we expected, but he will answer our prayers.

Enjoy this piece of music by the International Staff Band entitled Ask – It’s based around the words of scripture I used at the start of this blog post:


7 Days

Posted: September 23, 2010 in religion
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Some of us find God when we go to church on a Sunday, but what about the other six days of the week, do we find God during each of them also?

When we are surrounded by other Christians, especially those whose faith and beliefs have led them to worship God at the same church as ourselves, it can be easy to find God and hear Him speak to us. Other times when we’re surrounded by situations, conversations and events that are not God-based, it can be so much more difficult to find God in the midst of life.

It’s times like these when we must rely on our faith to keep us strong, and to keep us focused on God. Keep your eyes and your mind focused on God at all times and He will guide you through each situation you face.

What Faith Can Do

Posted: September 22, 2010 in religion
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Faith makes things possible, not easy – Author Unknown

We hear the word faith used frequently by Christians, but do you actually know what faith means?

Faith is:

  • Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
  • Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
  • Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one’s supporters.
  • The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God’s will.
  • A set of principles or beliefs.

So that’s the definition of faith, but what does faith mean to me? Well I think it’s summed up in the following song by Kutless entitled What Faith Can Do – I hope you find it helpful and that it also challenges your understanding of what faith can achieve!

What Faith Can Do by Kutless
 
Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think its more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining
 
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
 
It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing
 
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
 
Overcome the odds
You don’t have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!
 
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That’s what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

God Will Answer

Posted: September 21, 2010 in life, religion
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Psalm 91:14-15 (New Living Translation)

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
      I will protect those who trust in my name.
 When they call on me, I will answer;
      I will be with them in trouble.
      I will rescue and honor them.

No matter what troubles you face, God has promised that if we love Him, He will be there for us, and He will help us through our tough times.

It may seem as if God is not there for you when you need Him sometimes. However we must always remember that God answers our prayers in the way He knows is best for us, which is obviously not always how we would have wanted Him to answer them.

Trust God, He always knows what’s best for each one of us.

 

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