Crisis! A word that strikes fear and alarm when we hear it.
However as this quote from JFK states, even in a crisis, we need to remember that there is still time for opportunity.
So whenever you face a crisis in your life, be alert, stay safe, but also remember to reach out and grab the opportunity that the crisis presents to you.
Do you ever feel spiritually drained?
Have you ever feel that the “spirit” has just been exhausted in your life?
We all feel this way from time to time; but an energetic Christian knows the cure!
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. ~ Ephesians 3:14-19 (The Message)
We all have to recharge our spiritual batteries occasionally, so it’s worth reminding ourselves that God will always strengthen and guide us during times when our spiritual strength has gone.
The older I get the more I come to value and recognise the foundational influence of my parents and other Christians.
When we’re growing up, we are all guilty of taking many things for granted, especially the great advice and influence that our family can give/have on us. It’s only as we mature in our Christian experience, that we begin to recognise the people who have taught us about God and help guide us in our Christian journey.
Appreciate those who have influence your Christian experience, and tell them how much they mean to you. Don’t leave it until it’s too late to tell them how much you appreciate them nurturing you.
No the title of this blog post is not a typo, I did mean to type “weak” rather than “week”!
Let me explain…
A week can seem a short time sometimes, but there times it can seem like an eternity. That’s why when I was recently reminded of the following statement:
Seven days without prayer, makes one weak.
When it’s a week without prayer, without God, is a week can seem like an eternity because don’t we need the strength and guidance that God provides us with through prayer to get us through each day?
When life gets tough, don’t turn away from prayer, but immediately turn to prayer as God will give you the strength required to face what lies ahead.
Life can be tough sometimes, and sometimes it can feel like everything is going against you. What do you when you feel like that?
It can be difficult to get through tough times on our own, but we are never really on our own are we?
God is always with us, even if it doesn’t seem like it sometimes. Just trust Him, He will get you through.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding ~ Proverbs 3:5
Saw this on a friend’s timeline on Facebook recently, and it really hit home with me
It’s a sad indictment on our society these days that many are more interested in pointing out others flaws and mistakes rather than noticing that their mistakes maybe down to some underlying sadness or pain.
Let’s try and see past others mistakes and see what’s going on behind their tears. Be the difference in someone’s life today.
Sometimes I think we all need a little reminder that none of us are perfect
So when you fail, don’t think God doesn’t want you or has deserted you, because you are exactly the person He wants!
Children copy those around them – They copy our good and our bad habits don’t they! So just as children copy the words and actions of those around them, so we must ensure our lives reflect Christ so that not only do people see Christ in us, but they are willing to hear us when we point them to Christ.
Don’t just tell people to be good. Point them to Jesus – his goodness alone can cover them.
A few years ago Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song called, When Love Takes You In. It’s a song about adoption and the love of a family. It is something that has greatly impacted Steven’s life, and so he is very passionate about the work that Show Hope do.
Love really does change everything!
So that’s Christmas and New Year over, and soon we’ll all be back at work or school, and everything will be back to normal…whatever normal might be!
I’m sure many are already thinking about the big credit card bills that will soon be coming our way, or complaining about all the food we’ve consumed over the festive period (again!). Many of us will have made new year resolutions to make changes in our lives, so our lives can be “better” in 2016. So let me ask you a question about your new year resolutions, were any of your new year resolutions about your relationship with God?
Maybe God’s never been part of your life, or maybe you used to believe in God but events or people made you doubt Him and turn away from Him, or maybe you still believe he exists but just haven’t taken that extra step and given Him your heart…whatever your current relationship is with God (if any), why not make a new start with God and give Him your heart at the start of this new year.
What Now? by Steven Curtis Chapman
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
