thoughts & encouragements about life & faith
"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have--Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11
It was about 30 years ago when I first stayed in Kilkeel at the CEF accommodation. I remember seeing a tiny little wooden sign on the wall that had written on it, ‘Only one life will soon be past, only what’s done for Jesus will last.’
This little sign struck me hard and has stayed with me over the years
1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has lavished on us that we should be made His children.”
I had a dream in 2006 that I still remember clearly as if it were last night. In it I was running around looking for Jesus when someone pretending to be Him appeared in front of me. He lay on the ground and complained about what he had done for me as if it was an imposition and I should feel guilty
Psalm 23 - "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."
He wrote, walk through, not into. Life has a habit of bringing change. We are not living some static existence, but travelling on a journey. As time passes, children grow up and leave home; DIY projects and educational courses get completed
Psalm 23 - "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."
He wrote, walk through, not into. Life has a habit of bringing change. We are not living some static existence, but travelling on a journey. As time passes, children grow up and leave home; DIY projects and educational courses get completed
Isaiah 50:4+5
“The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. The Sovereign LORD has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away.”
The world talks of mantras or words of wisdom. We have something better; the very words of the creator of the universe. We have words of power and purpose from Father God to help us get through the tough times in one piece and to motivate us to greatness when we feel like there is no hope or no point in moving forward. We have the bible full of promises
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Prov9:10
This week we have been considering the wisdom of God and its importance to live effectively for Him. At the start of the week we remembered that the Bible encourages us to get wisdom above all else. In this verse we see that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord
"8But correct the wise, and they will love you. 9Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.”Prov 9:8b-9
I am convinced that most people want to be the best they can be. To grow in character, wisdom and love is a central part of life as a follower of Jesus. The great thing is that God has provided us with each other to help us on this journey of growth in Him
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Prov4:23
How you are on the inside will dictate how you are on the outside. We all want to be better, to do a good job and to be successful. There are lots of resources, books, sermons and mentors who try to help us be better. But these things will never be able to bring about any change unless there is a change at the centre of who we are
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5-6
One of the starting points for gaining wisdom is to realise that you don’t know all the answers. We need to realise that our understanding is never complete and, at any given time, our perspective is limited by our experience. As a result it is necessary to look outside ourselves for direction and guidance.
“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have,get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.” Prov 4:7-8 (NIV)
There are lots of things we think are must-haves…things we cannot do without. It is amazing that today many things like mobile phones and wifi are perceived as must-haves when only a few years ago they didn’t exist
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”Philippians 1:6
I tend to be someone who feels overly responsible. If things don't get done I tend to try and jump in and fix them, which doesn't always solve the long-term problem!
Sometimes we can take on too much responsibility when it comes to our Christian walk
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10
We recently experienced gale force winds and my girls were quite frightened walking to school as they felt like they were literally going to be blown off the pavement!
"Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
Isaiah 54:4
Fear is a prison that many of us allow ourselves to live in. The doors are not locked but we dare not venture out because the "what ifs" feel too overwhelming to bear.
"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes." Isaiah 54:2
Much of life is concerned with preparations. Preparing meals, preparing meetings, preparing reports. So much of what we do is behind the scenes but we understand that if these preparations were not made life would not run very smoothly!
"Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD. Isaiah 54:1
Whenever there is lack or barrenness in an area of our lives our natural response is not to celebrate. In the world celebration is based on the results of what our eyes can see
Isaiah 48:17-18 "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea."
What would it be like to experience peace like a river? What would it feel like to float on a continual stream of rest and contentment? How would past circumstances have turned out differently if only we would have listened to the commandments of God? Isaiah makes it clear that a lifestyle of peace and righteousness is readily available to us if we will simply follow the Lord our God "who leads [us] in the way [we] should go."
Isaiah 40:28-31 "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
The story of God's people is one of God's strength covering our weakness. Our heavenly Father takes our problems, sins, fears, and feebleness and uses them as opportunities to demonstrate the overwhelming power of his love.
Isaiah 43:2-3 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour."
Your portion as a child of the Most High God is a life filled with bravery and courage. The Lord desires to take what brings you fear and force it out with an infilling of courage rooted in the truth of his word for you.
Psalm 95:1-3 "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods."
Worship through song is one of the most powerful ways to connect directly to the love, compassion, power, and grace of God. In worship, walls we've placed between ourselves and God get torn down, just as God tore the veil at the death of Christ.
Matthew 4:4, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
Scripture is meant to fill us with life by leading us directly to our heavenly Father. The power of Scripture lies in the fact that its pages are filled with the words of a God who is still active, powerful, and loving. I went years using Scripture incorrectly. I viewed it as a set of rules I needed to read and try to keep rather than as a guide to experiencing the adventure of communion with my heavenly Father
