I am so glad I believe and trust the words of the above song…
All the way my Saviour leads meWho have I to ask besideHow could I doubt His tender mercyWho through life has been my guide
Because, I am sure that without God by my side, I would not have got through these last few years, never mind these last few months.
I believe God can help me through every situation I encounter in life, and I believe He can, and will help you too, all you have to do is let Him lead you.
Care You Not By William J ShannonIn the paths along the way,Countless souls are passing by,Many lost and some are saved.Shall we stand idly by?So you not care for those in pain,Those we love, in sin do die.When by a word, or some kind deed,Will cheer some soul in need.Blessed Saviour, be our Guide,To have us bring the lightTo souls that are lost,Down to the foot of the cross.
Today is the first of my blog posts focusing on Christmas, so when I saw the following picture posted on Facebook a couple of weeks ago, I felt it was very apt, so I wanted to share it with you:
There are so many awful things happening every day in our world these days, so for me, the world needs God more than ever.
Therefore. let’s make a huge effort this Christmas to make sure we remind all those we come into contact that Christmas is all about Christ! Let’s tell them that although Christmas is all about Christmas, Christ isn’t just a one day a year saviour, Jesus is a Saviour for the world every day.
We all plan our lives, some of us, just a day at a time, others months or even years in advance. However is there really any point in us planning our lives in advance?
The answer to that is, if we have accepted God as our Saviour and friend, no, because we believe that God has planned out every detail of our lives long before we were born. Therefore, if our lives are truly in God’s hands, our plans are God’s plan for our life.
If you haven’t already given your life to God, I’d urge you to do so today, because He can change your life, and he will change your heart. In return all He asks is that you are willing to change your plans to His plans.
For most of us, Christmas is a joyful and happy time of year, when we look forward to spending quality time with family and friends, and giving and reciving Christmas presents and cards. Sadly though, this isn’t the kind of Christmas everyone experiences.
There are many who have never had a Christmas where they’ve been surrounded by family, friends and presents. For many Christmas is just like every other day of the year, lonely, cold and depressing.
It’s our job as Christians to try to not only spread the real message of Christmas to those who don’t know it or believe it, but also to help make Christmas a sprecial and memorable time of year for others.
It’s my hpe this Christmas that not only will many other come to believe in the true message of Christmas, but that many others will be able to experience the wonder and hope inspired by the Christmas season in the knowledge that this season is all about the love of God.
Faithful God, faithful God, All-sufficient one, I worship you. Shalom my peace, My strong deliverer I lift you up, Faithful God.
This last week I’ve found these words have been very much in the forefront of my mind ever since I hear of the sudden passing of a friend, Hazel Ferguson. At first I didn’t understand why this song kept going round and round in my head, but I soon came to realise that God was reminding me of several things…
Firstly, regardless of the feelings and emotions we may be experiencing, God is there with us because He is faithful, and can supply all we need in every situation.
Secondly, and probably most importantly at this time, that my friend is now with her Saviour, the One she has served for many years through the Salvation Army,
Today I attended Hazel’s funeral, so like many other day’s this week, I found myself thinking about some of the times I’ve spent with Hazel…
I’ve known Hazel for many years, as I gre up attended Rutherglen Salvation Army where Hazel and her family attended. I became much closer to Hazel during her time as Songster Leader at Rutherglen as she had the faith and trust in my to convince me to firstly become accompanist for the songsters, and then a few years later her deputy as leader.
Hazel was one of the members of the Harmony Trio and I was privileged to travelled with them to various churches and other Salvation Army corps, to play clarinet solos and then a few years later as their accompanist. These were also interesting times, not just because of the message the group portrayed to the listeners, but also the car journeys to and from the venue! As was mentioned at Hazel’s funeral she was a scary driver! But for me, my memory of car journeys with Hazel is the fact that we never ever came home from somewhere the same way we had gone…een although we intended to! We got lost countless times, but to be honest all this all just become part of the fun at travelling with Hazel!
In these last few years since we both moved from Rutherglen Salvation Army to other corps, Hazel and I maybe didn’t see each other very often, however it didn’t stop us continuing out friendship by email and text.
Hazel was Mum to someone I grew up with and am friends with, but the age difference between Hazel and I definitely didn’t stop us becoming good friends. Over the years we shared some hilarious moments (many prolonged by Hazel’s infectious giggling), and we also shared in some emotional and tearful moments. However, no matter the situation one thing always shone through and that was Hazel’s deep love of God, and for that reason I can say with confidence that she is now with God.
Rest in peace my friend.
’Mid all the traffic of the ways,
Turmoils without, within,
Make in my heart a quiet place,
And come and dwell therein.
A little shrine of quietness,
All sacred to Thyself,
Where Thou shalt all my soul possess,
And I may find myself.
A little shelter from life’s stress,
Where I may lay me prone,
And bare my soul in loneliness,
And know as I am known.
A little place of mystic grace,
Of self and sin swept bare,
Where I may look upon Thy face,
And talk with Thee in prayer.
The last few days I’ve talked about our habits, how to change them (in New Year, New Habits and Habits), our regrets and how to move on from them (in No Regrets and Living With Regret)- Why? Because at the start of a new year, this is the time when many of us make new year resolutions to change our live’s for the better, so I thought I’d give you some helpful tips on how to achieve your goals for this year.
Today though I’d like to share with you a short prayer for the new year with you:
Lord, in the year unwritten before me, you are there. In the year past and gone, you were there.
Simple, but to the point. As we look forward at the start of this new year, why not make a new year’s resolution to always keep God at the centre of all you do and all you believe – After all God has always been with you and will always continue to be with you, He just wants and need you to acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour.
Jude 1:20 (The Message)
But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!
Let my walk speak loud, and my words be true Let my life bo whole, with my eyes on You. Lord I’m stepping out, from the comfort zone letting go of me, holding on to You
Freedom comes, when I call You lord You are Lord, my God. You are the centre of it all The universe declares in awe Your majesty, I surrender all I make You the centre of my life Lord I respond with all I am You placed in me the song of heaven’s melody Your majesty, I live to sing Your song
I have found Your peace, it replaces any fear You have done it all, I can trust in You. Lord I’m stepping out, from the comfort zone Letting go of me, holding on to You This is Your song, not mine It is Your song, that brings healing to this land This is Your song, not mine It is Your song, that brings freedom
The last few days have been a real struggle for me. So much so that it’s beginning to feel like my only hope is my saviour - I know God will always answer my prayer, maybe not in the way I wanted or imagined, but He will answer them, because He is my Saviour.
I hope you enjoy the following song by Sarah Reeves entitled My Saviour - Please pay attention to the words as the tell a very powerful and very true message.
The waves surround me, I’m slowly drowning As I’m crying out for help Grabbing hold of anything that looks Like it can carry me through the night And I — I look up and then I see Your hand reaching for me Then I sing
Chorus My Jesus, my Father The One who is stronger than the storm My Hero, my only hope, You are My Savior
The sea starts raging, I’m quickly fading As I take my eyes off You Reality kicks in, and fear rises within My soul and all of my faith is gone But oh — once again You take my hand You lead me to dry land Then I cry
Chorus
You never grow tired or weary You always hear my cry Forever You’ll be there beside me Be lifted high
Do you still worship Him, or have you turned away from Him?
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a lifelong Christian, a new Christian, or you used to be a Christian but disowned God or turned away from Him yesterday or years ago, God still loves you. In fact God still wants you to love Him.
God is always ready and willing to be your personal friend and saviour…you just need to ask Him!
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. (Psalm 62:1 NIV)
I love the song I’m Still Willingby Keith and Kristyn Getty and it fits in perfectly with my thoughts today, as it reminds us God is still waiting to come into the lives of those who as yet have not accepted Him as their King:
I hear you fumble for words But I know what you’re trying to say You think you’ve gone too far For Me to take them all away But I want you to know That no matter where you’ve been That I am still willing To come and make you clean
I see the brokenness within I know the things you try to hide How can you pass this gift And still stay hungry deep inside For I want you to know That no matter where you’ve been That I am still willing To come and make you clean
I took all your chains on Me long ago Cause I knew you could not break them on your own I’ve made you to be free So I’m waiting for you Waiting for you
Don’t think it’s been too long Or that the promise has worn out Only I can give The grace you cannot do without Cause I want you to know That no matter where you’ve been That I am still willing
I am willing I am willing to come and make you clean
Lord Jesus, as I enter this workplace I bring your presence with me, I speak Your peace, Your grace, and Your perfect order into the atmosphere of this office. I acknowledge Your Lordship over all that will be spoken, thought, decided, and accomplished within these walls.
Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gifts You have deposited in me. I do not take them lightly, but commit to using them responsibly and well.
Give me a fresh supply of truth and beauty; on which to draw as I do my job.
Anoint my creativity, my ideas, my energy so that even my smallest task may bring you honor.
Lord, when I’m confused, guide me, when I’m weary, energize me. Lord, when I’m burned out, infuse me with the light of Your Holy Spirit.
May the work I do and the way I do it, bring hope, life, and courage to all that I come in contact with today.
And Oh Lord, even in this day’s most stressful moments, may I rest in You.
In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I pray.
Amen
What a wonderful prayer.I’ve printed it off and will pray that prayer each morning when I arrive in the office.
I pray that I may live that prayer, not just at work but in every situation I find myself in. I pray you too might have found inspiration in this prayer.
I’ve known Hazel for many years, as I gre up attended Rutherglen Salvation Army where Hazel and her family attended. I became much closer to Hazel during her time as 
