Jesus>Religion

"Blessings"

While listening to K-LOVE Christian radio yesterday the song Blessings by Laura Story came on. It was the first time I had heard it. It's a great song filled with emotion, has some great lyrics, and is a song that so many of us can easily relate to. Give it a listen, and let me know what you think in the comments. I hope you enjoy the song and it and makes you realise that God's blessings are all around us, it's just that sometimes they aren't in the form we expect them to be.

May 21st, date of Christs return?

American preacher, Harold Camping, predicted that today will be the date of Christ's return; the rapture. Do I think May 21st is the exact date Jesus will return?

The Bible is pretty explicit in saying that nobody knows the day or the hour (Matthew24:36). When anybody says they know when the end is happening, it is always about their ego and never about God. Also fundamentalists always try to use fear and guilt to coerce non believers... where as Jesus used genuine love to convict them.

See you all tomorrow :-)

You make all things work together for my good

I just heard the song "Your love never fails" today by Jesus Culture, and I really really like it. I want to share it with you all because the lyrics in the first verse of this song really stuck out to me;

"I know I still make mistakes

But you have new mercies for me everyday

Your love never fails"

What an amazing God we serve that no matter what we do, no matter what mistakes we make, God still loves us unconditionally. His love NEVER fails.

Jesus, I need you right now

Sometimes you are in a place where no worship song, no Christian book, no preacher or not even a close friend or relative can help you. Aren't you glad that there is a 'very present help in time of need?'. There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother! His name is Jesus! His presence is the most satisfying thing on earth! One moment with Him can change your life forever!

- Matthew Murray
(www.shakethenations.com)

Thought for the day...

Prov 24:17: Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice.

Long overdue....

I keep coming to my own website, hoping for some reason that there will be a new blog post here. But then I realised that it's me that needs to stop being lazy and write some more blog posts!!

So here goes...

I've been up to quite a bit since I last properly updated my blog, been through an emotional rollercoaster, had lots of ups and downs, and worried too much about life. I've had hard times at home, some stressful times at work, and some weird times in my relationships (or lack of!!). But I'm fed up of being stressed out, or being worried, or being scared, or thinking "what if". I just want to enjoy my life, and through it all have fun, and keep praising and glorifying God.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

- Matthew 6:25-27

I am a Christian

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not shouting "I'm clean living"

I'm whispering "I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven."

When I say... "I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect.

My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain.

I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not holier than thou.

I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!

So in love with You

I'm saturated, intoxicated, liberated, refreshed, renewed, rejuvenated, and satisfied by Your love. I'm settled, safe, secure, and comforted by Your presence. I'm bursting full of Your joy. Jesus, I'm so in love with you.

Pray. Believe. Expect. Receive.

A few days ago I was just thinking back to a time at the church I used to go to. Every month or so we used to do a 24 hour continuous prayer session, where people would sign up in groups of about 3 or 4, to come and do a 2 hour slot. I remember my first session, me and my friend Alasdair went and did the 2am-4am slot. Man I was tired and so reluctant to get up and go pray at 2am!! But once I was down there them 2 hours just flew by! We were so caught up in prayer and we actually had fun praying at the small hours of the morning.

After a few months the pastors wife and close friend Evelyn announced we were going for something bigger... 7 days of continuous prayer. I wasn't sure if there would be enough people to sign up to doing 7 days of continuous prayer at our church, or even if people would be willing. But the sheet went round, and people signed up and sure enough the week was filled.

Towards the end of week it was announced that we were going to extend it for another week. And then towards the end of that week we were extending it to a month. I saw a pattern emerging!!

So days became weeks, weeks became months, then months turned into years. For over a year we had continuous prayer at our church 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!! We saw amazing things happen in this time, we heard of countless friends, family members, and co-workers coming to the Lord. We heard of healings, broken marriages being restored, debts being repaid, people being blessed beyond anything the world could have provided, and numerous other miracles.

The times I spent in the prayer room at church doing my slot in the 24 hour prayer were some of my best memories of being at Church of the Harvest.

I just wanted to share with you, that prayer changes things!! God does not ignore prayer.

Pray. Believe. Expect. Receive.