Sometimes I think we get too caught up in ourselves and our religion, that we forget to live each and every moment for God.
It can be overwhelming when we are told to “live a holy life”, because that sounds like something almost unattainable to us mortals, but it needn’t be. A holy life is not defined as a single activity, but in fact a series of holy moments. Therefore a living a holy life, is surely possible for each of us if we just live each moment for God.
Colossians 3:17 (NIV)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Whether life is treating you well, or whether you’re struggling to face each day, we must be sure that we focus our efforts each day on God. God wants us each to do all we can in His name, therefore if we do that there surely is nothing more we can do!
So in the last few days in my Poverty In The UK blog post series I’ve given you information about why there is poverty and I’ve given you some recent statistics of current poverty levels in the UK, but what now?
I realise there may be many reasons why options 2 and 3 may not be possible for you to do – financial pressures, health, your location – however no matter who we are, where we live, and our financial and economic situation, we can all pray!
Prayer can change the world! God can help us end poverty, so let’s get praying!
Here’s Matt Redman singing We Could Change The World:
So who is “my closest friend”? It’s God!
You’ll see some of the statements in the above poem reflect some of the things I’ve been talking about over the last while. e.g. This poem talks about how my closest friend will not judge me…I spoke about not judging us in Don’t Judge Me; It talks about how eternity and how God will be with us always…I spoke about this in Prepare For The Future and also in other posts.
Who else can we rely on not to judge us but remain our friend forever?
God is my closest friend today and forever! Let Him be your closest friend too.
Befriended by Matt Redman sums up my relationship with God:
Romans 5:3-4 (The Message)
There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.
It can be hard to be positive or happy when you feel things aren’t going your way. However it’s by getting through difficult times in our life that we grow stronger…stronger physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s also by facing difficult times that our faith can grow stronger.
I can personally testify that by coping with difficult circumstances that our faith in God can grow stronger. Mind you, when I was going through some difficult times a few years ago, for a long while I would have laughed at you if you’d said my experience would enhance my relationship with God! Why? Because for a long time I felt God had deserted me and didn’t care about me. But unsurprisingly, God hadn’t deserted me, it was simply me who wasn’t relying on God for all I needed during that time.
Looking back now, I know that if God hadn’t kept believing in me, despite my doubts in Him, I may not still be around today…
If I ever feel impatience waiting for God to answer my prayers, I just need to remind myself of those very dark days when I thought God had deserted me and remind myself that God did answer my prayers at that time, and He will again now…maybe not today or tomorrow, but He will answer my prayers.
In summary…be patience, and be passionate about being patient because God will answer our prayers.
It’s funny how things happen sometimes isn’t it?
In the last few weeks, you may be aware if you’re on Twitter, that there has been people, one in particular who has been doing all they can to turn people from the Salvation Army in the UK. While they are free to express their own opinions, many very broad generalisation and rash assumptions have been made by these folk, simply because they have had a bad experience in the Salvation Army.
My main reason for mentioning this is that one of their main gripes about the Salvation Army is that it focuses too much on music, the musical sections (both young peoples and senior sections), and the musical ability of its members. I agree that in the Salvation Army we do encourage music as a means of worship and praise, however I certainly do not agree that the Army focus is more on its music than on God.
In thinking about and praying about some of the things that have been said on Twitter, I’ve found myself drawn to the song When The Music Fades. Then in our devotions during the band practice last Thursday, our officer (minister) reminds us again of that same song…When the Music Fades.
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart
I bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus
I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about you
It’s all about you, Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath
This song really sums up what I think the Salvation Army is all about…yes we love our music, I love the music it’s how I express my love for God, however it is just a small part of what it’s all about for the majority of us. For us, you could take away the musical sections, the music, the uniforms etc, but Jesus would still be there at the centre of all we do.
Yes, I will admit that sometimes we can all get caught up in the emotions of some of the music, but if we are real Christians and not just going through the motions of the Salvation Army and all that entails, we remind ourselves of the words related to the music, remind ourselves of Jesus and remind ourselves of the cross…that should be more than enough to remind us of the reason for being a part of the Salvation Army.
Everything we have is God’s, because all He had, He gave for us at Calvary.
We are weak but God can be our strength.
Through it all you are faithful
Through it all You are strong
As we walk through the shadows
Still You shine on
So many broken promises
So many empty words
God of love and faithfulness
Have mercy on this world
You never turn or change
You never break the faith
Yesterday, today and always
Through it all You are faithful
Through it all You are strong
As we walk through the shadows
Still You shine on
Still You shine on
God of unbroken promises
Always You keep Your word
Glory, grace and holiness
Forever to endure
You are faithful, Jesus You are faithful to the end
You are faithful, Jesus You are faithful to the end
If you ever need a reminder that God is always with you, through the good times and the bad, this song is a great reminder. I’ve been in a situation where I’ve thought I’d never make it through those days, but despite my doubting, my faith remained….God remained…God remained faithful through it all.
In a world full of hatred and despair, there is a great need…a great need for Jesus. That’s why although we may have different beliefs and serve God in different ways in different churches and organisations, we must work together as one global church to fight evil and lead others into a relationship with Christ.
I know in my places these days, these are a “Churches Together” group where different religions/organisations come together to share views and exchange ideas of how we can best use our resources in our community.
We shouldn’t be slagging off other religions or churches just because they are different from our own, we should be working with other churches, finding common ground and building on those common foundations so that we can spread God’s message to those who have never heard of God, or those who have turned away from Him.
Please don’t discriminate against other people just because they have different beliefs from your own which you may not agree with, cause ultimately we are all children of God and as such God expects us to love one another despite our differences.
The world needs God and God needs us to win other souls for His kingdom.
I think We Could Change The World by Matt Redman fits in perfectly with my thoughts today, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
The last few days I’ve spoken about identity and how as Christians we should try to be more like Christ. So as far as how we act and what we believe, I’ve covered in the last few days, but how about you. i.e. The person God knows as you.
As the header of my blog suggests I believe we each have our own thoughts, experiences and views of life, but ultimate God still knows me as me, Dorothy, Dot, Doffery, Dotiffy, Mrs Neil, DJ, Miss Johnson. i.e. All the names I am known by/have been known as.
So we’re told that God knows us each individually by our name, but isn’t that awesome in itself? After all how many people in the world do you think there are with the same name as you? If you consider when you try and book anything these days, you often have to give your name, date of birth and address and sometimes some kind of reference number as well, before those you’re contacting are anywhere close to uniquely identify you!
God is awesome. He knows every little things about each one of us and He can recognise each of us by our name…
So how did you get your name?
Were you named after anyone?
What other names were considered for you and why did your parents make their final decision?
Do you even like your name?
Here’s my personal answers to those questions:
Light of the World by Matt Redman
VERSE 1:
O Jesus son of God , so full of grace and truth
The Father’s saving Word, so wonderful are you
The Angels longed to see, and prophets searched to find
The glory we have seen revealed
VERSE 2:
You shone upon the earth, but who will understand?
You came unto Your own, but who will recognise?
Your birth was prophesied, for You were the Messiah
Who came and walked upon the Earth
Your glory we have seen, the one and only King
And now You’re living in our hearts
CHORUS:
Light of the world, light of the world
Light of the world, You shine upon us
VERSE 3:
In You all things were made and nothing without You
In heaven and on earth all things are held in You
And yet You became flesh, living as one of us
Under the shadow of the cross
Where, through the blood you shed, You have made peace again
Peace for a world that God so loves
PRE-CHORUS:
And yet You became flesh, living as one of us
Under the shadow of the cross
Where, through the blood you shed, You have made peace again
Peace for a world that God so loves
God sent His son Jesus Christ to earth to shine His love all over this world. Have you accepted God’s love in your life? Have you seen God’s love in action?
Look for love in this world, you may think there’s not much of it around these days, but it is most definitely there. God’s light of love is still shining and is bringing light into the darkest of lives.
I pray that God’s love will bring light into your life today, and may bring you out of the darkness into the light of His love.
