Archive for November, 2010

Prayer Quotes #4

Posted: November 20, 2010 in pray, religion
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Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I’ve shared a number of prayer quotes with you in the last few weeks, however today have a few more for you:

  1. “As is the business of tailors to make clothes and cobblers to make shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.”  Martin Luther
  2. “Therefore, whether the desire for prayer is on you or not, get to your closet at the set time; shut yourself in with God; wait upon Him; seek His face; realize Him; pray.”  R. F. Horton
  3. “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.”  Oswald Chambers.
  4. “The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.”  Andrew Murray
  5. “Satan does not care how many people read about prayer if only he can keep them from praying. Paul E. Billheimer
  6. “If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me.” Robert Murray McCheyne
  7. ·         “Where there is no vision of eternity, there is no prayer for the perishing.”  David Smithers
  8. “There is no other activity in life so important as that of prayer. Every other activity depends upon prayer for its best efficiency.”  M.E. Andross
  9. “If the Christian does not allow prayer to drive sin out of his life, sin will drive prayer out of his life. Like light and darkness, the two cannot dwell together.”  M.E. Andross
  10. “Prayer breaks all bars, dissolves all chains, opens all prisons, and widens all straits by which God’s saints have been held.”  E. M. Bounds

    11. 

So why have been passing on all these quotes about prayer? Well, I think I’ve said to you before, but I make no apologies for saying again, that prayer must be at the centre of your Christian life. Without prayer, we cannot be living as Christ wants and needs us to.

Pray now. Prayer later. Pray always.

It’s Pudsey Day!

Posted: November 19, 2010 in Charity, family, television
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Today in the UK it’s Children In Need day – It’s run by the BBC and from 7pm tonight there’s an appeal show running on BBC1.

So what’s Children In Need all about? Well it’s all about raising money to helping improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. This is the Children In Need vision:-

is a society where each and every child and young person is supported to realise their potential.

Have you donated yet? If not why not?  You can donate on the Children In Need website.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how fortunate many of us are, but many children live very difficult lives, for example: many are living with ill-health or disabilities; caring for a parent; being abused or bullied; neglected; poverty.

Have you done anything special for Children In Need this year?

Have you donated yet? Please give as much as you can. Thank you on behalf of all the children of the UK.

A Difficult Job

Posted: November 18, 2010 in dementia, family, Health, life
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Today I spent this afternoon with my Mum and Dad – Firstly taking Mum to an appointment at the health centre, and then onto the supermarket where we had a coffee (and a bit cake) and then it was shopping time.

Dad came with us as Mum reckoned ”he needed some fresh air”, though I think Dad could have done with going home after we had our coffee as he seemed to be really struggling by then.

Anyway, the purpose of my post today was to tell you how difficult it is living with dementia – As some of you will know, my Dad was diagnosed with vascular dementia. We’ve all noticed a huge difference in him since the start of this year…he’s become more and more confused and disoriented, remembers very little and recognised/knows very few people (Mum, hubby and me being about the only people he knows). Even when we went to our local health centre, Dad had no idea where we were or why we where there. While Dad and I waited for Mum, Dad asked me several times where Mum was and why we were there.

Then when we went to the supermarket, Dad was confused about why we were there. Then when we went to have a coffee, Dad having agreed to have coffee and share a bit cake with my Mum, announced he didn’t want any cake. i.e. He was adamant he’d never said he wanted any cake!

Every time I spent a few hours with Dad I must admit I find it hard going, getting the same questions over and over again, and Dad telling me the same things again and again. I find it very wearing, even for that short time, so I can’t imagine how Mum copes with it 24/7 – No wonder she’s struggling!

To those who look after loved ons who suffer from dementia, I would just like to say what a difficult and stressful job you have – Looking after someone who has turned into a completely different person over the space of a few months/years often means they do not even know or understand what’s going on around them anymore.

I do think that unless you know of someone affected by dementia, most people will not fully understand what difficulties it poses both for the sufferer and their loved ones.

If nothing else today, please take a few minutes to read more about dementia, its causes and also please pray for those suffering from dementia as well as those who care from them. Thank you.

Musical Emotions – Part 6

Posted: November 17, 2010 in Bellshill, life, music, religion, Salvation Army
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The sixth piece of music I listed in Music to Touch Our Hearts is the song Lord I Come To You (The Power of Your Love).

This song first really touched me when I was away with Bellshill Band in 2003 on our tour of the Netherland, Germany and Belgium. It particularly reminds me of the service we did in Seraing (Belgium) on the Sunday – In the afternoon we had a march of witness and then in the evening we played in a packed and overflowing hall. What sticks in my mind is the atmosphere in the hall during the meeting, it was electric – We were all very much aware of God’s presence with us that day. Despite the obvious language barriers we faced, the message of God‘s unquestioning love for all of us no matter what our background.

Even after the meeting as we headed back to our base on the coach, we were all still very aware of God’s presence. We all joined together in singing a number of songs/choruses, of which this was one…and again it really moved me.

The few months leading up to the band tour had been difficult for me and little did I know at that time, the few years to follow weren’t going to be any easier. This song became even more special to me over those years as it reminded me of God’s constant presence in my life and His constant love for me.

Even now, every time I hear this song am still get very emotional as it continue to give me reassurance of God’s presence and His love for me.

you can read more about Bellshill Salvation Army Band‘s Easter Tour 2003 on the news page for the tour on the band’s website

Lord I Come To You (The Power of the Cross)

Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace
That I’ve found in You
Lord I’ve come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the power of Your love

~ chorus ~
Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side
And as I wait
I’ll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
By the power of Your love

Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me
Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life
In living every day
By the power of Your love

(repeat chorus twice)

And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
By the power of Your love
(repeat)

Guilt Trip

Posted: November 16, 2010 in Charity, life
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Today the TV‘s been on in the house for a few hours – a distraction in the corner while I try to reduce the pile of ironing that’s been lying in the back room for a wee while!

I feel so depressed every time there’s an advert break as during every advert break I’ve seen there been advert for at least one of the following:

All show some shocking images of children and animals who’ve been abused or neglected. All designed to pull at our heart strings and persuade us to donate to their cause.

All I will say is, yes, they all pull at my heartstrings, but there’s no way I can afford to donate to all of these causes, but they do have an uncanny way of making me feel guilty for not donating!

Am I alone in this feeling of guilt?

I suppose the fact that the adverts make me feel guilty, shows the advert makers have done a great job in getting their message over – mind you it doesn’t make it any easier to watch these adverts time after time.

All we can do is donate what we can to the causes we think are most deserving or most in need of our help – Let’s all try and make a small difference.

Still Talking

Posted: November 15, 2010 in religion
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This is 2010, how many people can you name who died say 50 years ago? Of those you named, how often do you hear people talking about them? A few times maybe – Possibly just at “special” times of the year?

How about naming some people who died 100 years ago? Or say 500 years ago?

Is it getting more difficult the more years we go back?

What about 2000 years ago?

The one person I’m sure many of us can name from that time is Jesus, but how often do you speak about him, or hear others talking about him?

Jesus had and still has, a huge impact on this world. The very fact that over 2000 years since he lived on earth, we are still talking about him surely shows what a huge influence and impact he has, and continues to have, on so many people’s lives.

Is Jesus still influencing you? Is He still making an impact in your life?

Tell Me Again by Michael Olson and Sara Groves:


Remember Them

Posted: November 14, 2010 in life, pray
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Today is Remembrance Sunday, when all around the world at 11am many will have stopped what they were doing and observed several minutes silence in memory of all those men and women who have lost their lives in conflicts around the world.

Many brave men and women have been killed or injured fighting for their country and today is the one day each year when spend thinking about and remembering them. unfortunately for the families of those who have been killed or those who’ve been injured, they don’t just think about their situation once a year, it’s with them 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

It’s not much that is asked of the rest of us to spend a few minutes thinking about and praying for these brave folks once a year, so I hope wherever you are, whatever you were doing, you found time to stop for just a few minutes a pray for our soldiers past and present, and also their families and friends.

Here in Britain, each year the Royal British Legion launch their Poppy Appeal to raise funds to help with look after the welfare of thousands of serving and ex-Service people – I hope you were able to contribute to this great cause. Though if you haven’t done so yet, there’s still time, as you can make a donation at the Royal British Legion website.

Please continue to pray for all our service men and women – They need our prayers!

I love the song Letter From War by Mark Schultz - it fits in well with today’s theme, so I hope you enjoy it too:

Boost

Posted: November 13, 2010 in Health, life
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Today I finally got around to going to the hairdressers to get my hair done – It’s been needing done for weeks but just been needing what free time I’ve had to try and recharge my batteries and gain some strength back to face the next week of challenges. Today however, I finally made it to the hairdressers.

Been having a bit of a tough time again recently with concerns about the health of a number of close family members, plus I continue to not feel 100% myself.

So today, getting my hair done made me feel a bit better. Funny how something as simple as getting your hair done, treating yourself, can lift your spirits. It’s good to treat yourself sometimes…even if it just lifts your spirits for a short time.

Prayer Quotes #3

Posted: November 12, 2010 in pray, religion
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Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

In the last few days I’ve shared a number of prayer quotes with you, but what are quotes without belief?

Do you believe in the power of prayer?

Ido! I think if you ask any Christian they too will tell you that they believe in the power of prayer. Even although we believe in the power of prayer, it still doesn’t mean that we get the answer we want to all our prayers – what it does mean though, is that we believe God will answer all our prayers in the way He sees fit.

Believe in prayer because God does answer them!

The International Staff Band of the Salvation Army play Jesus Answers Prayer:


“

Here are a few more prayer quotes I hope you enjoy:

  1. “You can do more than pray after you have prayed; but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.”  A.J. Gordon
  2. “The most important thing a born again Christian can do is to pray.” Chuck Smith
  3. “You may as soon find a living man that does not breath, as a living Christian that does not pray.”  Matthew Henry
  4. “Four things let us ever keep in mind: God hears prayer, God heeds prayer, God answers prayer, and God delivers by prayer.”  E. M. Bounds
  5. The great people of the earth today are the people who pray!
  6. “The main lesson about prayer is just this: Do it! Do it! Do it! You want to be taught to pray. My answer is pray and never faint, and then you shall never fail…” John Laidlaw
  7. “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.  He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.”  Samuel Chadwick
  8.  ”Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.” Sidlow Baxter
  9.  ”Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” Corrie ten Boom
  10. “All great soul-winners have been men of much and mighty prayer, and all great revivals have been preceded and carried out by persevering, prevailing knee-work in the closet.”  Samuel Logan Brengle

Negative Influences

Posted: November 11, 2010 in life, religion
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I read somewhere a few days ago that watching or listening to one hour of news each day adds up to us taking in 15 full days of negative information in a year.

Wow – 15 days of your life lost every year to negative information, just by listening/watching one hour of news each day.

So that’s accounted for one hour of each of your day, but what about the rest of your day, how much negative information do you take in during the rest of your day?

What are you allowing to influence you?

It can be difficult at times to ensure that we only allow positive people to surround us and influence us. Sometimes it can be members of our family, neighbours or work mates who bring us down.

So what can we do to stop the negative people influencing us?

Unfortunately I don’t have a magic answer to this question. All I can say is that we must try and not let the negativity from these folk get into our hearts. In other words we must try to stay positive no matter what others say or do.

I know it’s not easy to do that all the time, but with God‘s help we can stay strong and stay positive no matter what those around us are saying or doing.

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