Posts Tagged ‘Psalm’

Effective Prayer #8

Posted: April 28, 2013 in books, friendship, life, love, management, music, notebook, pray, prayer, religion, Salvation Army, words
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During your prayer time, do you always remember to prayer for all those people/situation you intended to pray for?

I found a while ago, that while I went about my daily life, I often thought of specific people or situations that needed my prayers, however when it came to my quiet time with God, I’d often unintentionally forget to pray for some people/situations. That I found quite frustrating and also annoying as how could I expect others to pray for me when I needed their payers if I couldn’t even remember to pray for them?!

My problem however was easily solved, as I now have a prayer notebook in OneNote that I use to jot down prayer topics/situations/people as they come to mind – An easy solution which has greatly enhanced my prayer life and hopefully also those I now remember to pray for!

So if you’re having difficultly remembering prayer topics during your quiet time, why not try using a prayer notebook. N.B. I use an electronic prayer notebook, but it would work equally well with a paper notebook too, so don’t be put off by my use of technology!

Somebody’s Prayin’, so please let it be me and you that’s praying today!

Holy Week

Posted: March 25, 2013 in bible, cross, death, Easter, holiday, Lent, life, love, religion
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If you hear the term Holy Week, what do you think of?

For those of you who don’t know what Holy Week is, here’s some details:

holy-week

The last week of Lent is known as Holy Week, and this is when Christians particularly, remember the last week of Jesus’ life – It is therefore the week which concludes with Good Friday. i.e. Easter Friday.

Easter is one of the most important times in the Christian calendar, and therefore many churches will hold various services during this week.

Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday, which is the Sunday before Easter, and it is so-called because it celebrates Jesus arriving into Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Passover. Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, and the people there lay down their cloaks and mall branches in front of him to pave his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Psalm 118:26-29 (The Message)

Blessed are you who enter in God’s name — from God’s house we bless you!
God is God, he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
His love never quits!

Managing Grief #5

Posted: March 15, 2013 in bereavement, blogging, death, depression, family, friendship, Health, life, love, religion, words
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memoriesAs you’ll know if you’re a regular reader of my blog, I’ve been writing a number of posts giving some thoughts on how to cope with the death of a loved one.

Today I want to focus on boundaries…your boundaries!

Protect your boundaries – You are the only one who truly knows and understands how you feel and how you are coping with your grief.

Some will avoid speaking to you as they will find it difficult to know what to say to you, others will offer words of comfort and extend their sympathies to you. Some will extend invitations to you, or ask you to take on tasks – Don’t pressurize yourself into saying, “Yes“. Instead, give yourself permission to say, “No thank you” or “I’ll pass on it for now”. Remember it’s about you, and how you are feeling, it’s not about any one else.

Another way of protecting your personal boundaries is to accept an invitation from someone, but put some limits on it. e.g. Tell them, “Yes, I will be happy to join you, but please know that I may have to excuse myself a little earlier than others”.

Finally, remember when you’ve suffered a bereavement it’s ok to protect your personal boundaries. However if you accept an invitation that’s been offered to you, don’t fret about it, because the anticipation of the occasions is always much worse than it actual turns out to be. Rest assured that, with God‘s grace, the occasion will not be nearly as difficult as you think it will.

“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” ~ Psalm 34:18

Managing Grief #1

Posted: March 1, 2013 in bereavement, bible, blogging, death, family, friendship, Health, life, love, music, pray, prayer, religion
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We probably all cope/react differently to the death of a loved one. However there are some things everyone can do to help manage our grief, so today I’m starting a series of blog posts about some of the things we can do to manage grief.

Today is all about the reminding ourselves of the timeless promises contained in the bible to provide comfort for our sorrow, healing from our hurts, and peace in place of pain.

Isaiah 40:29 and 31 (NIV)

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faint.

Psalm 34:18 (The Voice)

When someone is hurting or broken-hearted, the Eternal moves in close and revives him in his pain.

Matthew 5:4 (NIV)

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.

I pray that as you have read the above bible passages, you will have felt the Lord surrounding you with His love. I have found great comfort in these verses in the last few weeks and I hope that they will also help remember that God will help you find the strength to face each new day.

Keep Smiling

Posted: February 17, 2013 in friendship, heart, life
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Put a smile on your face whether you feel like it or not.  If you smile on purpose you may end up laughing a lot ~  Joyce Meyer

It’s true isn’t it, smiling/laughing can be infectious can’t it. Therefore whether you have a heavy heart, or life couldn’t be better for you…keep smiling, because as they say…

Smile and the world smiles with you

sunshine

Hardships

Posted: December 6, 2012 in bible, friendship, life, love, music, religion
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I see your hardships and I care about your suffering ~ Psalm 31:7

Hard times come to us all at some point in our lives. Some experience few hardships in their life, others can experience what seems like unending hardships. In either circumstance it can be difficult at times to remember that God does still care about us, particularly when we suffer sudden loses or hardships. However it’s during these times that God cares for us even more than we can imagine.

Yes, God loves us and cares for us everyday, but when we’re hurting, He hurts too. He hurts because we are His children.

Never Alone

Posted: December 4, 2012 in bible, depression, friendship, life, love, music, religion
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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.

Psalm 62:2 (NLT)

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.

 

We cannot separate
You’re part of me
And though You’re invisible
I’ll trust the unseen

With Hope (for Caden Beggan)

Posted: November 26, 2012 in bible, children, death, Facebook, family, friendship, Health, life, love, Motherwell, music, religion
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Today was a the funeral of little Caden Beggan, aged 6 who sadly lost his battle against meningococcal septicaemia last Tuesday. I’m sure many of you have been following his battle on Facebook, and have been deeply moved and challenged by the daily updates from Caden’s dad – He has written from his heart, sometimes expressing his anger at God, questioning why God allowed this to happen to his precious son, but also showing immense strength and composure as he told of the emotions and feelings of the whole family. Having said all that, the one overriding thing that always shone through it all was that they believed God was with them and was still watching over Caden.

I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Caden, however I know someone who did. So while I can’t comprehend the pain and grief both he and Caden’s family and friends must be feeling at this time, I know God is with them and giving them the strength to get through these darkest of days.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3)

Caden’s funeral took place this morning in a church just a few yards along the road from my office. So I must admit that although I was in my office all morning, my thoughts and prayers were definitely with those who gathered today to celebrate Caden’s short life.

Caden may be gone, but we can be thankful in the knowledge that he is now free from illness and pain, and with God in heaven. He may not have been here on earth for long, but what an impact he’s had on so many of us. So rest in peace Caden. I’m sure you’ll never be forgotten and I know we’ll all get to meet you one day in heaven…

God Is Pleased

Posted: October 23, 2012 in bible, friendship, life, love, music, pray, prayer, religion
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God may not be pleased with all your behaviours, but He is pleased and delighted with YOU! (Psalm 18:19)

Yes, we all fail God on many occasions simply because we are human, and do not put our full trust in God, but that doesn’t stop God loving us because of it. God loves us and delights in each and every one of us, because He made us.

We are all individuals, but that’s because God made each one of us. Therefore keep delighting God by continuing to do His will and seeking His help to be the best we can be. Let’s please God in all we do!

Please Him

Posted: October 10, 2012 in bible, blogging, depression, friendship, Health, language, life, love, management, music, religion
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Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

The last few days I’ve been talking about how many people deal with pain (physical and emotional) on a daily basis, but cope with it without making it apparent to others that they are having to cope with severe pain. I think the main thing I’ve really been trying to get across to you is that we shouldn’t judge what we don’t know.

By treating everyone equally and not judging them based on what we think of them, we can please God. So let’s make sure everything we say and do is pleasing to God in every situation and circumstance we find ourselves in.

Please Only You by Steven Curtis Chapman

So here I go again, again
I let myself get spread so thin
But I can see right through my skin
And I don’t like what I’m finding in my heart

So many different voices call
And I try hard to please them all
I run in circles ’til I fall
So I’m falling on my knees and praying

Please, Please, Please only You, only You
Please, Please, Please take my heart, and make it true
Let everything I say and everything I do
Please, please only you
Please only you

For every moment of my time
For every thought that fills my mind
For every melody and rhyme
This is the prayer that I’ll be praying

Please, Please, Please only You, only You
Please, Please, Please take my heart, and make it true
Let everything I say and everything I do

This is what it means to be
The reason why I live and breathe
To know that I am totally existing for Your pleasure

I’m still learning but I know
As this becomes my only goal
The more I find my heart and soul is filled up with joy when I

I please only you
I please only you
Please only you

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