Being sad with the right people is better than being happy with the wrong ones ~ Philippos
So true.
If you’re sad or upset, you need people around you who will support you and care for you. Sadly however I’m sure we’ve all found ourselves with people who don’t seem to care about us when we’re most in need of support. But have you realised these are not the people you should be calling “true friends”?
Therefore make sure those you call true friends are people you know and trust will be there for you in your times of need, because if they’re not, don’t leave it until you need a friend most, to find out they don’t really care for you.
True friends will be there for you during your lowest times as well as during your happiest moments, I hope you’ve found some true friends!
Have you ever wondered how your life would have turned out and how you would have coped with life , if you hadn’t accepted Christ as your saviour?
I have, particularly in these last few weeks as we’ve had to cope with the death of first my Dad and then my Aunt Mae.
Just after my Dad passed away, someone said to me that, “There are only two certainties on life, one that you have been born, and secondly, that you will die” – Despite this, we all find the death of a loved one very upsetting and difficult to cope with.
It’s therefore no surprise to me that during these difficult and stressful weeks, I’ve relied heavily on God to keep me strong for my Mum and focused enough make all the required arrangements etc. So much so, I actually feel as if I’ve been running on auto-pilot for weeks now, as every day seems to have been a bit of a blur and I’m not sure I can actually tell you what I did on any particular day since the middle of February!
That said, I’m not sure I would have been able to get through these weeks if God hadn’t been there with me, as there were times when I honestly felt I couldn’t cope with any more problems, but as you can tell, I got through those days, and that I simply put down to the fact that my faith reassured me that God is with me at all times, and is helping me when my own strength has gone.
Today I thank God for my faith. Without Him, these last few weeks would have been even harder to face than they were.
How many times must we try to do things by ourselves and fail before we remember that it’s only when we put our faith and trust in God, He will provide the strength we need to get us through each and every situation we find ourselves in?
I know I tend to be quite an independent person and try not to have to ask others for help if I can help it, but what I do need to constantly remind myself is that its ok to ask for help, particularly when its God we’re asking to help us.
Don’t try to get through life on your own, because you’ll fail. Instead, rely on God to provide you with the strength you need to get through the problems of life.
How many times have you found yourself saying, “I can’t do this anymore”?
Well in these last few days I’ve found myself saying this many times to myself as life just seems to be throwing some difficult situations at me one after another this year.
I’ve shed many tears while saying and thinking those words, and wondered, “How can I keep going through this?”. But then I’ve stopped myself and realised I’m simply questioning whether I can get through this because I’m trying to do so in my own strength – If I simply allow God‘s strength to surround me I can get through this, because God is my rock and my tower of strength.
In this song by Steven Curtis Chapmanwe are reminded that His Strength is Perfectwhen our strength has gone:
I recently read the following by Vance Havner, and the words have stuck with me:
If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.
We make such a big deal out of things that go on in our lives at times you’d think this was it, this was the only life we have. We’ll it’s not, because as these words indicate we are really just passing through this place we can home, because our eternal home is with God in heaven.
Therefore my friends, let’s not get so caught up in the things of earth that we stop focusing on our eternal prize awaiting us in heaven.
So Christmas 2012 is over, and we’ve welcomed in the new year, so what’s next for you?
Decorations down? Back to work? Normal service resumed?
Well whatever lies ahead for you, your family and friends, I ask but one thing of you… Please let God be part of your life this year – Whether God has been part of your life for years or whether you are on the verge of letting God into your life for the first time, take a few minutes now, today, to talk to God and give Him your heart for 2013…and forever more.
I saw the face of Jesus In a little orphan girl She was standing in the corner On the other side of the world And I heard the voice of Jesus Gently whisper to my heart Didn’t you say you wanted to find Me Well, here I am, here you are
So what now What will you do now that you’ve found Me? What now What will you do with this treasure you’ve found I know I may not look like what you expected But if you’ll remember This is right where I said I would be You found me, what now?
And I saw the face of Jesus Down on Sixteenth Avenue He was sleeping in an old car While his mom went looking for food And I heard the voice of Jesus Gently whisper to my soul Didn’t you say you wanted to know me Well, here I am And it’s getting cold
So what now What will you do now that you’ve found Me? What now What will you do with this treasure you’ve found I know I may not look like what you expected But if you’ll remember This is right where I said I would be You found me, what now?
So come and know Come and know, know me now Come, come and know, know me now Oh, come and know Come, come and know, know me now Come, come and know, know me now
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 will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.
Another sad day, but another day full of hope, as we said our final farewells to another loved one.
I came across the above song on YouTube yesterday and it really touch me, and reaffirmed to me that death of a loved one, is not the end of our relationship, because we will meet again in heaven.
There’s only one thing in life that’s certain, and that is that we’ll all die at some point. Even so, it’s still difficult for us to cope with death when someone close to us dies.
I pray that when we suffer bereavement, we may find reassurance and peace knowing there is hope…hope, in the knowledge that our goodbye is not the end.
Our feelings are real and they are powerful, but they are not more powerful than God and truth.
No matter how you might be feeling, don’t ever forget that God is more powerful than anything or anyone in this world. So don’t let your feelings takeover your life, no matter how difficult life may be for you…just make sure God is always in control of your life.
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
Today was a the 
