Posts Tagged ‘michael w smith’

Calm our storms

Posted: January 26, 2018 in belief, bible, blogging, depression, faith, life, music, quotes, religion
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Yesterday I spoke about how in life we need to experience ‘rain’ so that we can gain real life experience, as well as growing in our spiritual life. But when the ‘rain’ showers are particularly heavy and persistent, we may feel like we are drowning.

Matthew 8:28 (Living bible)

But Jesus answered, “O you men of little faith! Why are you so frightened?” Then he stood up and rebuked the wind and waves, and the storm subsided and all was calm.

As these words from Matthew’s gospel remind us, Jesus can calm the most persistent and heaviest of storms. We just need to believe he can calm our storms, because he will!

God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, No matter how desperate the trouble. ~ Nahum 1:7 (The Message)

Before

Posted: November 20, 2017 in church, heart, life, music, personnel characteristics, prayer, religion
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Today I want to follow on from yesterday’s post Open where I asked you whether you go to church ready and willing to be challenged and blessed by God. How about before you leave your house to go to church, do you pray? Do you pray that your heart might we open and willing to receive the holy spirit?

How will our hearts be open to receiving God’s message if we don’t pray for God to enter our hearts?

All around

Posted: August 27, 2017 in faith, life, love, music, personnel characteristics, Relationships, religion, trust, words
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From the moment we first open our eyes in the morning, to the second we close our eyes drift off to sleep each night, are you conscious of God’s presence in your life?

Whether you are conscious of God’s presence or not, He is present in your life each day:

Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Above and below me
Before and behind me
In every eye that sees me
Christ be all around me
Whoa, whoa
Christ be all around me

So let God be a powerful and meaningful presence in your life, by trusting each and every minute of your day and night, to Him, because Christ is around you always.

Touch my heart

Posted: July 16, 2017 in education, Employment, family, friendship, heart, life, music, personnel characteristics, quotes, Relationships, self improvement
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Touch my mind – I’ll remember today; touch my heart – I’ll never forget.

We all have many relationships in our lives, some with people where we challenge one another on a work/employment level; some where we’re challenged physically, through taking part in a sport together; some where we support one another emotionally; some we’re lucky enough to find challenge us in more than one of these areas.

It’s true though, it’s those who reach out and touch our hearts, maybe because they support us or are a confidant, that we never forget.

Think about it, look back over your life, how many people who touched your heart at some point, are still either part of your life, or are still on your mind regularly?

What about those who maybe challenged your brain power, maybe a teacher/lecturer, I suspect you’ll either struggle to remember those in this category or if you can remember them, I doubt they’re people you think about very often.

Forever with Him

Posted: May 11, 2017 in belief, death, heaven, life, music, quotes, Relationships, religion
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For the Christian, heaven is where Jesus is. We do not need to speculate on what heaven will be like. It is enough to know that we will be for ever with Him ~ William Barclay

I guess we’ve all thought about what heaven is like, at some time in our lives. But as this quote states, does it really matter what heaven is like?

When it comes down to it, if we believe in Christ, and live our lives for Him, we have been promised that we will live forever with Him in heaven.

Homework

Posted: January 29, 2017 in church, education, life, music, personnel characteristics
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When we’re children we go to school, where we are taught to read and write, and as we progress through school we taught about other subjects. I’m sure most of us, if not all, didn’t really like going to school, and in particular did not like doing our homework. However, in hindsight, I guess following up the teaching at school with homework to reinforce the learning from during the day, so that we remember at least some of what we’ve learned.

Homework may not have been something any of us liked having to do, but it did form a huge part of our learning process.

You’re probably wondering why I’m suddenly thinking about homework when it’s been a few years since I was at school or university, but I got thinking about how we go to church on a Sunday where we are taught about God and challenged to give our lives to Him, but we don’t get any homework do we?

Does this mean we only have to learn about God and the bible when we’re at church?

Far from it, just as when we were at school and had to follow-up our daily learning by doing homework, we must carry on learning about God, by praying and reading the bible in our own time, away from church.

Our relationship with God is a personal thing, individual to us, so we must spend quality time with God on a daily basis, and by doing this our relationship with God will grow, so carry on doing your homework and learning more about God.

The end of another year

Posted: December 31, 2016 in bereavement, celebrity, Crime, death, family, film, Health, life, music, New Year, Relationships, religion, television, terrorism, trust, war, words
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2016 is almost over – For me for a change it’s been a year of no specific highs or lows!

Let’s have a look back over this year:

As far world events are concerned there’s been a lot of major tragedies, with many losing their lives. There have also been many celebrities from the world of tv/film and music who have passed away, causing much comment around the world about the number of celebs that 2016 has lost. For me it is sad how many celebs have died, but I’m not quite getting the huge outcry about it, as there are many friends and family who have also been devastated by the death of loved ones, and so my heart goes out to everyone who this year have lost a loved one.

What about from a spiritual perspective, how has 2016 been for you?

  • Relationship_with_GodHas it been a year where your relationship with God has grown or declined?
  • Have you prayed regularly?
  • Have you listened to what God has to say to you in this last year?
  • Have you said “yes” to all God has asked you to do this year?
  • When difficult times have come along during, did you turn to God for help immediately, or wait until turning to God was your last resort?
  • Have you done your best to tell others about Jesus?
  • Has God been at the centre of all you’ve done in 2016?
  • If you’ve answered “Yes” to all of the above questions, well done, you’re obviously doing the best you can to be a good example of Christ to those you encounter.

Sadly, I guess if we’re honest with ourselves, many of us, including me, will find we did not answer “Yes” to all those questions, but answered either “No” or “Sometimes” to at least one or two of these questions.

The good news is, no matter what we answered to those questions, we can make 2017 the year we answer “Yes” to all these questions by simply by trusting God to help us in every part of our life, not just the parts we’re choose to let Him into.

So as 2017 draws near, draw closer to God and let Him into every part of your life.

You’re all I want
You’re all I’ve ever needed
You’re all I want
Help me know you are near

Coming your way

Posted: November 22, 2016 in belief, bible, depression, faith, Health, life, music, personnel characteristics, quotes, religion, stress
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Romans 8:18

The pain that you’ve been feeling, can’t compare the to joy that’s coming.

Do you believe that?

Sometimes we can be so caught up in what’s going on in our lives just now, that we forget there is a tomorrow, and with God there is the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

So whatever is happening just now, stay positive, because you will find joy in your life again.

Faithful to Him

Posted: September 9, 2016 in bereavement, death, faith, Health, life, music, religion
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There is strength within the sorrow
There is beauty in our tears
And You meet us in our mourning
With a love that casts out fear
You are working in our waiting
You’re sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You’re teaching us to trust

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

You are wisdom unimagined
Who could understand Your ways
Reigning high above the Heavens
Reaching down in endless grace
You’re the lifter of the lowly
Compassionate and kind
You surround and You uphold me
And Your promises are my delight

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

Even what the enemy means for evil
You turn it for our good
You turn it for our good and for Your glory
Even in the valley, You are faithful
You’re working for our good
You’re working for our good and for Your glory

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

It can feel at times as if our troubles are unending. That’s when we must remember that God is faithful and will be with us always.

When we suffer sorrows and pain it can seem unbearable. During these times God can be our comfort and our strength.

God is faithful to us always, but are you always faithful to Him?

When you have no inspiration

Posted: August 23, 2016 in life, music, religion
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Inspiration and direction are things I need every day, but sometimes I just don’t seem to be able to find any inspiration, so what then?

We can find inspiration in anything – something someone says to you or does for you, something you see in the world around you…

There is however one person in whom who should always be able to find inspiration, God!

Is it not inspiring that God sacrificed his only son, Jesus, just so we could live?

Is it not inspiring that no matter what we’ve done or what we done, we can find forgiveness in Him?

Is it not inspiring that if we give our all to God, He promises us eternal life?

Yes, God inspires me, does He inspire you?

 

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