thoughts & encouragements about life & faith
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,and his ears are attentive to their cry.”
Psalm 34:15
EG came to me this morning in the middle of getting ready for school and said mummy "will you listen to me read my book." Inside I was thinking I've so much to do before we leave the house.
She had bought "Danny, The Champion Of The World" at the book club in schoo
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3
As I walk back to the car from dropping EG into school, the walk is slow because AH likes to walk but I get the chance to take in things going on around me!
"For he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
What a promise!
Life can be a lonely place at times. Friendships and relationships grow cold, we lose people through death and illness. Even in a world full of so many people we can still feel lonely.
Many people try to reconnect by losing their smart devices, by tackling low self esteem or by joining social groups that keep them busy
“The Lord works out everything to its proper end.” Proverbs 16:4
Do you ever feel like you're on the outside looking in... you can never get on the other side of the window to be part of what's happening on the inside.
It happened to me on occasions, my friends would be playing with me outside
Looking backwards hinders forward movement, leave your past where it belongs, in the past.
Peace is a gift from God, there's nothing you can do to earn it, you can only receive it.
Stop stressing over your faith to believe God, He has already given you the faith you need to receive all He has for you.
Trying to do everything disctracts us from the one thing that is really important - resting in the presence of Jesus.
Perspective is everything. What are you looking at - your circumstances that are telling you that you can't do it, or Jesus who called you and gifted you to do it?
“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1Cor 2:4-5
It’s so easy to try and do everything yourself. Many of us are very good at lots of things – God has given you gifts that you use everyday. The problem is that sometimes we think that the benefits we see from exercising our gifts is because we are so good.
Psalm 69:30-31
"I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving."
When I was a kid my parents bought me a small microscope for one of my birthdays. It was probably an attempt by them to take my eyes off games for a while and experiment with something new. For a toy, I remember it being quite effective
"When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!" John 15 10-11
If you have children, raising them in today’s society can be challenging. We all love our kids and want to protect them and see them flourish, but to do so we sometimes have to restrict them doing what they want
Proverbs 3v24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
The NHS website states that approx 1/3 of us do not get enough sleep and that a regular lack of sleep puts us at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes – and it shortens our life expectancy
Jesus asked, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7: 3 niv).
I can get great satisfaction from fixing or repairing something around the house. Taking something that was not operating correctly and ready for the bin and restoring it to working order always feels good.
This verse remind me that Christians can sometimes feel the need to try and fix those people around us who we think are broken
"Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
Matthew 11 : 11
John the Baptist was an amazing man. He held the honour of being chosen by God as the forerunner to the Messiah. John’s mission was to personally prepare the world for Christ’s arrival. Jesus called him the greatest prophet there ever was. That elevates his status above all the prophets we read about in the Old Testament!
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” - Psalm 103:13
As a parent I believe that sometimes children have to learn the hard way. You can spend half an hour arguing backwards and forwards with your teenage son about why he should wear a jumper to school when it's freezing outside or you can let him work it out for himself. However, I would never allow my child to learn how to cross the road themselves or why we aren't allowed to use the sharp knives in the kitchen!!
“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” - Psalm 103:8
Many of us live our lives with a nagging sense of unworthiness and not quite making the mark. Our eyes become focused on those around us and we magnify all their achievements and great qualities and then measure ourselves against them, we fall short.
The enemy wants to keep us in this prison of comparison as he relentlessly reminds us of our past failings and mistakes to maintain that cycle of defeat.
But praise God that his response to us is mercy and not judgment. Every judgement and accusation was put on Jesus and we now live free from all condemnation.
The Lord's heart is full of grace. He understands us, warts and all! He made us and he's not afraid of our weakness. He has already made provision for it in the death and resurrection of his son and his invitation to us today is to receive his abounding love.
Whatever your situation, remember that the Lord's commitment to you is steadfast. You will not get everything right but that's ok. God is calling you to a relationship where you get to be yourself. He doesn't want you to wear a mask and say all the right things. He wants you to be real with him and as you open up you allow his Spirit to work in all the parts of you life that you struggle with. His love for you is above and beyond what you can imagine and his pursuit of you is relentless.
Rest in his steadfast love today
“Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." - Psalm 103:5
The world is in a battle against the process of aging. Millions of pounds are spent everyday trying to disguise the fact that our bodies are on a slow decline. Our physical bodies were never designed to last forever and as believers in Jesus we know that this life is not the end
Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
Psalm 103:3-4
Whatever your issue today, Jesus is the answer. Sickness of mind, body or a broken heart will never exclude you from receiving his love and strength to not just get you through the hard times but to rise up and be victorious!
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits" Psalm 103:2
God never asks us to do anything that will harm us or place a heavy burden on our shoulders. As a loving Father his heart towards us is always to encourage and bring us into greater measures of freedom and life.
When the psalmist exhorts us to bless the Lord it is not an order that must be obeyed or else we will face a penalty
