Resurrection Hope Part1

Resurrection Hope Part 2

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

10 things I love

Guess what...?
I've been "Tagged"
this is a new thing to me, but it's something that's been going round the blogs, whoever's tagged has to write about 10 things they love
- thanks to Lilaidi for tagging me, : )
Check out who I've tagged at the bottom of this post!!!!

Here's ten things I love...

To be in a place where I feel at rest and content in God, where I'm quietly joyful, smiling inside, becuase I know He accepts me...even me!!! as His own son, and I know He loves me and cherishes me as such.

I love to know that God is pleased with me for something I have done. It's just I have a habit of taking this too far, developing an attitude where I refuse to accept that God is pleased withme unless I have done something deserving. At the end of the day I can't please Him without faith... not that my deeds don't please Him, but they only do when they are acts of devotion out of love for Him, knowing that He already favours me.
The good I try and do goes nowhere in terms of Saving me, it's only a mark of God's Work in me to change me and make me a witness to the world of how amazing He is.
:)

To feel that God delights in me and smiles watching me. God is so lovely, sometimes in the midst of the day, I just get reminded that He has been watching me and watching my heart, that He understands where I am at and that He is smiling over me... which is reall cool

To have a really good conversation with someone about Jesus and for them to see that He really loves them. This always brightens up my day, and makes me smile.

When God encourages me when I've been feeling low. I love it when I've been feeling real rubbish, and when God breaks my silence and brings me words of love, reassurance and encouragement. I am so silly with this one though...sometimes I deliberately allow myself to get depressed or find a reason to be angry at myself just so that God can come and rescue me once more. I'm such an attention seeking, affirmation seeking little kid that needs to grow up sometimes. THAT'S A REALLY BIG - "I NEED TO GROW UP"

I love to share the encouragement and comfort that Gof has brought me with someone else who is hurting or feeling lonely, and to be with them as they get a smile back on their face and know they are loved.

To be used to reach out to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I love it when somone empathises with me (that's me being an attention seekier again)

To cry before God about something (yup I'm a real emotionalist)

To feel I've achieved something (I'm not sure if this one is so healthy!!)

Well well well...
that was interesting. I think I'm quite insecure really. I've been thinking about that for the last day or so. I'm so dependant on knowing I've been a success somehow.
I'm a bit concerned really, because I want my faith in God to be strong enough that I don't go searching for affrimation or acceptance because I am secure and rested in the knowldge that God has blessed me with these.
I want to be strong in Grace and rooted in Love, so that I can be steadfast and perseverng in my walk with God

Time and again I see how quickly I loose trust in God's acceptance of me and love for me. So I turn back to legalism that I can never fulfil until I feel rubbish again.
Then God comes and sits with me,
takes me by the hand,
and gently,
in trust
He helps me to by feet,
encourages me
and sends me out once more to live for Him.

The cycle goes on and on, and I wonder If I'll ever grow up and just get on with life instead of worrying about where I stand with God all the time.
The thing is (and I noticed this today) when I decide to trash my legaalsitic side, I leave behind any sense of healthy discipline also. So soon enough I'm not meeting priorities (like doing my revision) and I get concerned about it.
Over time I'll get more and more upset with myself for not meeting priorities until I reach a point where I really hate myself over it. So I get really angry, and slam back into legalism to try and force myself to live appropriately. I feel I've displeased God by not working hard at school or whatever, and so I try (hopelessly) to redeem myself by imagining that God is commanding me... like an army officer, and that I have to obey every single last order in order to be on okay terms with Him.

Then at some point, God actually speaks. When that happens it's like recognising the voice of a beloved friend, who you are pleased to see and treasure beyond anything or anyone else.
He is loving and understanding, although firm...
I feel broken inside and so silly, yet knowing that God cares for me regardless - which only make me want to cry. All I can think is how Wonderful God is. Then I want to write poetry about God and His encouragement and Counsel.

I want then to share that with the whole world. And for them to really knoww that God is intersted in them - who they are as a person.
That God understands who they are inside and He made them for a purpose.
He knows how you work and how you think
He knows what you enjoy and what you hate
He came to earth, The KING of all creaton, came to this earth...
was spat on and wipped
and insulted and mocked
by His own creations who so arrogantly despised Him

He didn't retaliate, but loved them deeply
He had come to save His people whom He had made
and to wash them clean from all their sin that had ruined them
and make them new
and give them real life...

And He paid the price for you with His own blood
Because He loved you then 2000 years ago
and the same Jesus still cares about you now

This is the God that I am in love with
Anything good you see in me
any commitment
any kindness
any sacrifice
any desire to know God

is all birthed from Him
it is Him living in me and through me
Who Works in me to will and act according to His good purpose (as the Scripture says in Philippians 2:13 [New International Version])

wow that's been a long post

I Tag
  1. LUKE
  2. NIKKI
  3. SARAH BRAY

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Stilled in Counsel (to be read slowly)

How many times I have come to You
So angry
So frustrated

In You is stillness

You understand
Compassionate, Yet Balanced
You Bring a Word in Season
Instructing me
Gently and in Wisdom
Teaching me something important
Restoring my balance
And guiding me firmly

In my despair
You watched with a Wise Compassionate heart
You understand with strength
and Counsel with Wisdom and Firmness
over time

You teach me what is really Important
And instruct me in the right way to go
"This is the Way you are to live"

Yet You Love me with a Sincere love
that Protects and lasts
and You don't forget me
And You teach me not to forget others either
You mature me and chastise me
You rebuke me and refine me
Making me like how I am supposed to be

Thank You for Fathering me
And treating me as a son
And teaching me to Fear You
Thank You for Your Daily Bread

Staple and balanced
You are Genuine and real
When the music Fades
You never leave

When Your Presence falls
I have been stilled
and contented

This is what The Soverign LORD, the Holy One of Israel says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, In quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
Isaiah 30:15
New International Version

Thank You Jesus

Thursday, May 19, 2005

exams

Hey everyone
wow, it's been so long without a post

Anyway, I'm on study leave for my exams at the moment, so although revising, I will have some extra time to post. I bursting with things to share.
A friend asked me to put the dates of my exams up on the blog, so people can pray,
So here they are:

Friday 20th May - Chemistry Practical
Monday 6th June - Biology
Wednesday 8th June - Chemistry
Friday 10th June - Physics
Tuesday 14th June - Key Skills

I really appreciate people praying, it means so much, and reminds me of God's amazing gift of of His family and the love they share. So thanks loads to anyone praying - don't forget to pray for Luke's exams as well. I think Ashley has exams also, but I don't think he has a blog.

I just thought I'd say, If you've got loads of stuff on your mind and to pray for, then don't worry too much about adding this one to your list of prayer requests...
I know it seems like a silly thing to say, but I think it's important to know that God had placed specific people on our hearts to pray for, and we can't pray for everyone. So don't worry about it
: )
God Bless to everyone
Love you loaaads and loaaads
Hope you're having ok weeks as well

"Do not be afraid, little flock...*
God knows your hearts
and your dreams...
He knows you deeper than you know
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. **

*Luke 12:32 (New International Version)
**Matthew 11:28 (NewInternational Version)