Ever felt like you you’re on your own…even when you’re in a crowd?
It’s not a nice feeling is it?
Having felt like this on a number of occasions over the years, is it any wonder I often feel like an outsider even when I’m with people I’ve known for years.
Despite that (even though at times it’s taken a lot to remind myself) it is so reassuring to know that I am in fact never alone, because God is always with me.
There is never a time when you’re not in His thoughts, never a time without grace, never a time when He turns away from any need you face.
There is never a time when you’re not in His heart, never a time without love, never a time when you’re not blessed with good things from above!
Excerpt from the devotional gift book “Always Loved” by Roy Lessin.
God is with us always. His cares for us always. Even though we may sometimes feel as if God has deserted us, He hasn’t He is waiting for just the right opportunity to help us.
I am thankful for God’s love to me. He is patient and thoughtful in all He does. Thank you Lord.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Yesterday I asked what mercy was and then went on to give you several definitions of mercy. Today I ask you another question that I often find goes hand in hand with mercy, and that is what is forgiveness?
So here’s the dictionary definition of forgiveness:
the act of forgiving or the state of being forgiven
willingness to forgive
I also found some similes about forgiveness which I found helpful to increase my understanding:
Forgiving the unrepentant is like drawing pictures in water — Japanese proverb
(God) pardons like a mother who kisses away the repentant tears of her child — Henry Ward Beecher
Forgiving without forgetting is like loving without liking — Anon
Personally I liked the third simile best. i.e. Forgiving without forgetting is like loving without liking.
Forgiveness must come from the heart to be true, that’s why if it doesn’t come from the heart you will find you never truly can put it into the past and forget about it.
Laugh your heart out, dance in rain, cherish the moment, live, laugh, love, forgive and forget - life’s too short to be living with regrets.
Good advice, but not the easiest advice to put into practice is it?
Yes it sounds great and would be wonderful if we could all actually live without regrets, but unfortunately as humans, life itself can make it so very hard to laugh, love, forgive and forget.
So what can we do to try and live our life to the fullest, and live without any regrets? Give your life to Jesus – give Him all your problems, all your burdens, both past and present. By doing this God can help you turn your life around, so that you can live your life to the full by forgiving and forgetting and laughing and loving.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you
So give your heart to Jesus today and he will take all your cares away.
I Don’t Regret by Barlowgirl
They’re telling me they’re concerned for the way I am living That I’ll miss it all why would I think that God is that trusting I can’t explain all the words He has spoken to my heart Why’d I want him more
I don’t regret choosing you And I’m not ashamed That it’s You who holds my heart
Why do we think if we trust God too much will fail us Nothing has come when I chose its that in me I’d trust Separate me You have called out to follow You blindly I won’t fear You’re leading me
I don’t regret choosing You And I’m not ashamed That it’s You who holds my heart
You have shown my ever wondering heart what love is What on earth is more important than to have all of you
I don’t regret choosing you And I’m not ashamed That it’s You who holds my heart
If we allow the kill-joys to stop us from celebrating as Christians then we might as well all give up and go home.
…but should we allow other non-believers to spoil Christmas for us?
Definitely not!
There’s so much talk these days of discrimination against various groups of people or their ethnicity. But here’s a thought for you…do you feel Christians are discriminated against?
Personally I think that indirectly, yes, we are. However I think in many instances it’s done unintentionally…but that still doesn’t make it right! I think everyone is almost over eager and too sensitive to the beliefs of others that we forget this country is traditionally a Christian country, so please, please, please let us celebrate the birth of our Saviour this Christmas and every Christmas.
Don’t let non-Christians stop you from celebrating the true meaning of Christmas this year.
Bellshill Salvation Army Band and Songsters were out at Calvary Church in Motherwell tonight, and Olwyn Mathie sang the song Hallelujah Light Has Come, and I was really touched by it, and wanted to share it with you so here’s BarlowGirl singing this song – I’m just sorry I don’t have a recording of Olwyn singing it.
There’s no greater feeling, than when someone you love, loves you in return. So imagine God’s delight when you accept His love for you, and love Him in return!
God loves all men, women and children, whatever their race, creed or colour, their beliefs or desires, their image or their deeds - God loves them regardless!
We all need and want to be loved, though unfortunately in the world we live in today, there are many who find themselves unloved. It’s our responsibility as Christians to seek out those who are unloved and show them that God loves them…that we love them! But remember it’s may not just be those who find themselves in trouble, lonely, or homeless who feel unloved, there may be those closer to home who feel like that. So make sure your neighbours, your friends and of course your family are aware that you love them, and, more importantly, that God loves them too.
Barlowgirl sing I Believe in Love- The video is not the greatest quality, so I’d suggest you just listen to the message and the music which follows it:
Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a large hall or room full of lots of other people you know. Everyone is standing in small groups of between 2-6 people and they are all chatting and laughing, and they look and sound very happy. That is except you…you’re standing yourself, you’re feeling awkward as you don’t want to butt into one of the groups as they all seem to be in the middle of conversations…you feel like an outsider as you stand yourself feeling too self conscious and uncomfortable to join one of the groups.
Does that scenario sound familiar to you?
It sounds all too familiar to me, and I must admit that the more times I find myself in that scenario the more uncomfortable I feel.
So what do you do now? Avoid putting yourself in a situation where this scenario might recur? Face you fears and force yourself to join one of the groups the next time you find yourself in that scenario?
What happens if you go for option one? You may well find yourself turning down invites to social occasions simply because you can’t face being in “alone in a crowd” again. You become less sociable and gradually become more and more alone.
What about if you go for option two? What’s the worst that could happen? You join one of the groups and
have no idea what they’re talking about and can’t join in the conversation
the group don’t welcome your presence and exclude you from the conversation
Either way, the outcome is not that bad is it! You may feel uncomfortable, but once you’ve made yourself do this a few times, it will get easier! You may know some of those in the groups better than others so will have a better idea which group you’re more likely to be accepted into, so think carefully about the group you choose to join as this may have a big impact on the outcome of you trying to join that group.
It all sounds so easy I know, but it’s just a case of putting yourself outside your comfort zone to try to achieve the result you desire…to feel part of a “group”.
Having said all that, I find that very difficult to do myself, particularly when the groups comprise of couples or family members and you are by yourself and have no family members there. I find I tell myself that “3’s a crowd”, “you’re not part of their family”, “why do think they’d want you to be part of their personal discussions”. I know this is all down to my personality and lack of self confidence in these situations as I’m not a particularly outgoing person at the best of times, so to make myself the “extra person” is way outside my comfort zone.
So if in describing myself I’ve just described you as well, be assured, you are not alone in finding these situation difficult.
If I’ve described something alien to you, please lookout for those of us who find it difficult to “join in” when we’re by ourselves, and try and include us if possible as this would help us feel more comfortable.
Never Alone by BarlowGirl
I waited for you today
But you didn’t show
No no no
I needed You today
So where did You go?
You told me to call
Said You’d be there
And though I haven’t seen You
Are You still there?
[Chorus:]
I cried out with no reply
And I can’t feel You by my side
So I’ll hold tight to what I know
You’re here and I”m never alone
And though I cannot see You
And I can’t explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You’ve placed in my life
We cannot separate
‘Cause You’re part of me
And though You’re invisible
I’ll trust the unseen
[Chorus]
We cannot separate
You’re part of me
And though You’re invisible
I’ll trust the unseen
It’s said that first impressions last. Sometimes it can be very difficult to overcome our first impressions of people simply because of the situation or circumstance in which we first met them.
Have you ever stopped and thought about what kind of first impression you give to others?
As Christians, God requires us to lead sin free lives. If we do this the first impression we give others would be one of joy, happiness, love and contentment.Does this sound like you?
First impressions can last forever, and are often way off the mark.Make sure you give others the right first impression of you!
Is there anyone in your life who you’ve “rejected” because of the first impression you had of them?If so, put that aside and give them a second chance today!
Image of God When my beauty fades away and all I see is gone Reflection in my mirror doesn’t please you anymore What will be left within me You promise me eternal bliss Never ending happiness If I’d only look and play the right part But, Now look what’s been left in me
Tell me why do I Why do I try try so hard to please you Can you promise me, In a few years You will even remember my name
And I am made in the image of God I am loved for who I am
Your flashy Magazines & & billboards always scream Your worth don’t lie within, Its how you look it’s how you dress It’s who you know But, That’s a deadly trap I’m breaking all your rules and getting off your path cause I have come to see that where it leads is only heartbreak and shame and who could be satisfied with that. Tell me why do I Why do I try try so hard to please you (Yeah) Can you promise me, In a few years You will even remember my name
And I am made in the image of God I am loved for who I am And though I may not please your eyes But always know, that It’s in me that God takes delight
