Thank You 2

Thank You for being my Strength
when I asked for help
not leaving me to die
to fight my sin myself,

Thank You for loving me
and offering a new start
thank You for seeking a response from me
instead of on me giving up,

Thank You for looking out for me,
even though i had gone astray
You cared enough to seek after me
and provide for me each day,

Thank You for being patient
and although You HATE my sin
You have not in rage
sealed my fate
but give me the option to repent

be gentle please

please be gentle with me Lord
i am fragile and wounded
help me to catch my breath
and recover again

i am not a warrior
i am not strong
though i once thought i was

i am instead a failure
depending on Your grace each day
in all my thinking
and in all my folly
and in all i am
i have no strength to save myself

i am helpless
and depend completely on You
please do not be angry with me beyond measure
but be gentle
recognising my weakness

help me to not give up

When I turn
To sing Your praise
I am stopped short
Because I am a hypocrite
How can I sing
Of trusting You
When disobedience marks my way

So I sit in my shame
And open my mouth no more

Yet You want more from me
Knowing my shame is not enough
You require true repentance
For me to turn around
And set my face as flint to do what is right

So I leave my sin for You to deal with
And resolve to set things right
And no credit to me either
For I can only repent because You help me
Your grace gives me strength and opportunity
In grace You are patient with me
May I not take it lightly
But give You thanks
And live in continued obedience

my Rock

Dear Lord
once upon a time
i saw Your standards were high
when I tried
I failed a thousand times
but I forgot Your love
and set Your grace aside

and slowly over time
my strength began to wane
i never truly
made Your love my Rock
and thus in my failure I waste away

Disheartened i rarely try anymore
Defeat has becomes the norm
and sin ruins my life...
Though I long for the days
when I sung Your praise
now in my shame
i can barely pray

So please help me to see the truth
that I can do nothing apart from You
and that as I try
to get it right
I bear fruit by Your Spirit
not by my own might
and that when I fail
I must not despair
For You love me and gave Yourself for me
the Cross shows You care

Finally Lord I ask
that You would be my Strength
that You'd encourage me
and lift me up again
and I want You as my Rock
always beneath my feet
so that i'll rely forever on Your love
in spite of the struggle i'll meet

we love because He first Loved us (1 John 4:19 NIV)

I want to be full of Your Grace
Sharing Your Love with everybody
Even my enemies

Would I overflow with kindness
Towards all You have made
And be freely forgiving
Even as Your have forgiven me
My many many sins

reflecting on what You're like

I can only put my trust in You
You're the only worth while
the only One who lasts
In heaven I have none but you

So on earth I'll bear in mind
That You must be the centre of my life
And that evry acton of mine
Belongs to You - my will shall die

And for Your glory take
This life You have redeemed
Adn help be to show
so tht the world may know
Your mercy you gave to me

I'll share Your comfort
and Your love
as free as free can be
try and make it clear
to those who'll hear
that You love them
as You love me

And if anyone is weak
crippled in their sin
I'll let them know
You died for them and
yes You love them still

don't give up

Sometimes we are so defeated by our sin
And the mountain as it stands
That we give up trying to be perfect
And strive for God in some areas
But grant concessions to ourselves in others

But God wants all we are
And He has promised not to leave us
If we do not leave Him
And to finish what He started in us
So let us forsake our sin

So let’s not be faint-hearted any more
But take hold of His grace
And be free to love the hurting
Forget your sinful self
and follow the Spirit in everything
Commit your way to your King
and trust Him always
For He is your Strength
Our only Everything

So to Him be the glory
Forever and ever

...though i am nothing...

Dear Lord
I know I can stand on Your Promises
Your Word declares Your faithfulness
and I can trust in You

So would I not waver
And shake around
like a boat on the waves
But would I stand firm
And not be afraid
Cos though I am nothing
You are with me

the LORD alone

I thank You God
the LORD my God, the LORD alone
I have none but You on earth
I have none but You in heaven

You have been my strength
all my days you teach me
Without You - where would I be

Thank You LORD

Cooking!

YumYum - fajita chicken (without the wrap)

Penny wanted to see what cooking I've got up to, so here it is!!

- tasted good anyway

another poem

I am tired Lord
At the end of this day
My zeal has run out
Yet Your grace is still here for me

I come and say sorry,
For my failings today
And m folly is not hidden from You either
But Would You Forgive
In Your mercy restore my strength
That I may glorify Your Name
And Shine for You

Prose

One of my friends asked me recently if If I'd considered writing in prose. I told him I'd write a prose post 'specially for him. Here it is!!!

I've arrived at University to read Theology. The atmosphere is really fantastic. The system of the univeristy encourages students to realise their potential in many ways. It's a gift to be placed in such an academically focussed environment where one is spurred on by those surrounding them to make the most of the opportunities presented to them and to work as hard as they can.

Whilst intensive, there also seems to be a balance in all of this. Students are not encouraged only to excel academically but also to connect with the world of debating, sport, politics and indeed religion.

As a Christian the latter of these is what I cherish most. My faith has become to me the heart of who I am. My desire to achieve in life and love my neighbour and use my talents, all stems from what God has done in me: Bringing me to a place of recognition of a need for Him in my life, followed by encouragement to pursue and seek after Him in all I do.

So to conclude, this must be my aim at University - to live for God - and to cling to His grace and forgiveness when I fail. I'll make the most of the opportunities that comes my way and use my talents for His glory not mine. Where I end up I will commit to Him

looking forward

Sometimes I get so consumed
With the wrong I’ve done
That I forget to look back
And remember Your grace
Your body broken for me
Your blood shed for me

So I remember now
Just what You have done
Paying my price on the cross
For me
Because You loved me

And Now I want
To commit again
To stay in Your Love
And remain as Your friend

So taking the grace You offer
I look to the life ahead
A life lived for You
Obeying Your Words
And loving You with my heart soul and mind

Get Up

Would You help me once again
Get up once again
I fallen back down so many times
I must rely on Your Strength

You Merciful gaze
falls on me
And Your grace softens my heart
I trust in You again
for everything I rely on Your Love

Help me Lord
Help me Lord

getting it worng

When I get it wrong
accusations pierce me through
Shame tempts me to loose heart

Yet Your love helps me hope
I remember Your grace again
That You set me free for freedom
And that I am not condemened

So I can smile again
And thank You my friend
Who gave Yourself for me
And Loves me

Help me to take hold
Of Your promise made to me
That I may know Your mercy
Though I'm undeserving
Every day of the week

closeness

I want to sit
and spend time with You
Perhaps I'll hear Your speak
as in days gone by
God You are good
even when I turned away
I'm quite ashamed
But You still Father me
And inside I want to know You
Hear me Lord
Please

hold on

I'll sit here in my room
And talk to You
And can enjoy Your fellowship
Because my debt has been paid
Oh thank You Lord

When I go in my room
and shut the door
You are still here with me
You hold me close
and none can snatch me away

I know You watch over my life
Watch my ways
and Keep me in Your will
I need You my God
You are coming soon
I want to be holy and blameless

I'll hold on to You
Keep my heart pure
Keep my ways true

I'll trust You my Loving God
My Jesus who intercedes for me
My strength always
Your Grace is enough for me

O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.
1 Chronicles 29:18 (New International Version)

Coming back

There's only one thing that can heal me
Your grace and nothing else
Why turn to anything else

Humble me Lord
for I have sinned
But I want to turn back to You
Would You be merciful to me
Though I don't deserve

Receive me graciously
and forgive me all my sins
That I may be joyful in You
And offer the fruit of my lips
And thank You Lord

I look to your arms held wide
The thorns
The lashes on Your back
You clothe me in righteousness that I did not earn
And bless me as Your son

Father in Heaven
Thank You that You Are who You Are
I will trust in Your Love

Thank You

To know Your grace at the end of the day
That you forgive me for where I have stumbled
And You Love me just the same

I'm sorry for where I've sinned
Those things I've thought said and done
Thank You for Your Strength to turn around
To get up tommorrow
And live to fight once again

Thank You for the knowledge of Your love
It comforts me when I fear
That You are with me and will not forsake me
Thank You that You care

Thank Your for understanding
You know my thoughts through and through
But could I take Your hand
In Your promises stand
Though I am so confused

for hurting hearts

I don't deserve
to see Your face
to enjoy Your presence
to run this race

However,
You offer love
and forgiveness to my heart
I am nothing
but I accept
and You have poured out Your love again
Thank You so much for Your loving me

You're the best