Do what I do...

So the last two days I've been telling young people in assemblies about role models and how positive one's can be of great influence.

David Beckham came out top in a pole as the best role model for young people and children, well to be honest, he is a professional sports man and is highly respected for his work ethic.

I used a biblical role model of Joseph to explain that it is about the right attitude in every situation. That even though Joseph had some intense bad stuff thrown his way, he relied on God and he excelled in everything through his positive behaviour.

So my question today, who is your role model?

Or reverse the question, are you a role model for others, and if you are, is your behaviour worth being emulated? 

Last Kick of the Game!!

So we played football last night and we scored a penalty with the last kick of the game!


I'll be honest, we didn't play well and didn't really deserve the 2-1 victory, however, what happened to the referee after awarding a free kick was not a comfortable scenario. 



The colourful verbal bombardment the referee suffered was unacceptable and I really felt uncomfortable around such a situation.


You know, I wonder how God feels every time someone uses His name in vain?
It has certainly made me think of the value of Jesus' name and how people around me use it.


So I would challenge people and myself to really think about not only the effects of using the Lord name in vain spiritually, but also how it makes other people feel around you...

Your done and I don't want to see you again!!

I'll cut to the chase, the title is about my essay that I'm sending today!

6298 words of pure knowledge I'll have you all know!

I've really learnt the art of pre-planning with all these essays and I think it has paid off! 

God has been faithful in guiding me through each one and also the wise words of work colleagues has been extremely helpful.

Anyway, so yesterday, was a Big day for me, I can't really explain how, but something clicked and as I said yesterday, I'm now chasing after God and really seeking what he wants from me. 

I thank God for what he's doing right now in Northallerton and to be honest, the next 2 months are going to be a blur after, but when I'm in the thick of it. 

It will be the best of my life!

One minute!!

That's what I'd like!!



Life is busy busy busy, but really good busy!


God is really kicking this Big Easter Blessing off and it gets nearer by the day. That's probably because another 24 hours passes each day, but anyway....


Yesterday I did have a minute, and while sitting with 2 oranges and a pear, I decided to take a picture. Now... I'm not your oooo look at that isn't that pretty person, however, when taking in God's creation, I love it! And that picture is what I see every evening!


Moon, stars, sun, etc is great!


Anyway, today, I really felt God say, not in a patronising way, but as he always does with me in a funny way. He told me basically, life is going to be tough, so get cracking and catch me if you can!


So in that case, I better start chasing him!

I am officially rubbish at.....

Self discipline!!!

It frustrates me so much! So yesterday I went for a run, and it wasn't difficult, one hill, that was it, 3.5 miles. But I struggled so much doing the run was easy!

Then the obvious hit me, because I haven't ran the same run in over 3 weeks, of course I'm going to struggle. So yes, it is one of the fruits of the spirit that Paul speaks of, Self Control. So I really should practice it more and more. 

On another note, I thank God for the sunshine at the moment! I can't say how much it improves my mood, not that I'm a moody person, I'm quite a happy person, but to wake up to sunshine and to drive home watching the sun set.

It's rather nice of the Lord to bless us with this part of his creation this week.

 Anyway, better get cracking with things!

That was close!

Yesterday, I was walking in the sun, which was nice for a change...


Just about to walk across a zebra crossing when on the other side, a boy stepped out and was millimetres away from being hit. 


And I thought, oh, I can put that in my blog, (this is how I think now when something significant comes across me during my day).


I just thought, how quickly something can happen in our lives, and that God has the plan, a plan that includes close shaves like yesterday for that boy. 


God speaks through Jeremiah in the Old Testament about His plan for our lives...


For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11


So be encouraged as I am today, that God has a plan for me, and for you. It will not be a plan to harm you, but a plan to be in relationship with Him, a plan that will bring you happiness and a plan that will ultimately bring you to a life with God at the centre!





By the way, I don't believe in what the picture says with the cars but it made me laugh!

Put your hand up if you love music!

How often has music played a significant part in your life?


A tune of a song has calmed you


A lyric of a song has spoken direct to your need


The hysteria of a concert has fulfilled your every need


Music is like that...I'm reading a book at the moment about the iPod and how people have come up with a rather ridiculous theory that when put on shuffle, your iPod knows which songs to play depending on what mood your in...


Make what you want of it, but I'm not convinced...

Music for me defines my character, my background, my personality...



It's just great....

Who would have known?...

So I found out that in 2006 a film called 'One Night with the King' was produced and screened telling the story of Esther!


So I looked into it, and they had a budget of $20,000,000! which is quite a lot!


Anyway, I just found it encouraging that God is finding His or has found a ways into all aspects of society, even the film industry!


Well lets be honest, He is God after all! So yeah, not much today, just that it encouraged me that even such money, idolised societies as the film industry, God finds a way to impact!

Check some highlights of the film! Good song as well!

FIFA...

So how many of you switched off because the title was FIFA?
Well, actually, part of my reading today was about faithfulness, so my FIFA today stands for 


Faithfulness
In
Fulfilled
Actions


The readings this morning talked of how we must remain faithful in every aspect of our lives, work, home life, relationships, friendships, leisure, church...Whatever you are doing in life, to be faithful is key.



That's why it's one of the fruits of the Spirit that Paul talks of. So you know it's gotta be important if he is talking about it!


Anyway, at 18-25's last night, we highlighted the importance of being faithful to one another of a similar age and how important it is to be around Christians of the same age...


So there's today's, like I said back in my first blog post on here, it's nothing inspirational, just what the cogs are ticking through in my mind...
Have a blessed day!

The realisation...

While praying for the Big Easter Blessing this morning, I came across myself firstly thanking God for what He was doing for this mission. And after reading my daily Bible passage, I realise the need to firstly listen to what God is saying, and also acknowledging the things He has already do for us. 


I realise that was slightly waffle but what I mean to say is this...


1. We know God is for something when we can clearly see He is at work in bringing about the coming of His kingdom.



2. Throughout Leviticus and Numbers which I have been reading, the passages constantly refer back to starting with, 'The Lord said....' 


So let's get back into the habit, myself included of listening and then doing what the Lord says

Money, who needs it!

So yesterday, my wise Dad, during a phone call blessed with the viewpoint that I had obviously forgotten. It's only money...


Now, I know money is helpful to sustain families, business' etc, however, I believe the rest is a necessity and we should either not use it, or put it to good works as the Bible tells us. 


In 2 Corinthians 9:7 it says that God loves a cheerful giver, and that is exactly what my Dad was last night. So I know it's a controversial statement that I'm making, but you know, what things will we actually take to heaven with us? Nothing...


So be blessed to know, that money is not the be all and end all...


Not very profound I know, but I hope you see my point

All these laws and PC!

So as I read through Leviticus at the moment, I feel like a gold miner.
You sift through all these words looking for the gems in them.


And often I'm finding great parts of scripture, but other times I feel like I'm totally losing focus with this part of the Bible. 


Then it hits me... I'm looking at these gems within the verse and these are still truths that God is committed to in 2011. The laws etc about sacrifice and lamps blood....well Jesus is the lamb!


So I'm not passing off the rest as irrelevant, because the Word is God breathed and all of it is powerful and applicable in my life. 


I tell you what, it is GREAT fun to be in the body of Christ, even though when I mess up and get it wrong quite often, once I say sorry, I thank God for his forgiveness, otherwise I'd be in a pickle! 

Reliant on God

Yesterday I was tired...really tired...


However, what was said on Sunday came back to me again and I relied on the joy of my salvation to provide me with joy and energy and it was endless!


But Isaiah says in Chapter 40, and everyone knows that youths will not grow weary but sometimes I think we overlook the verse just slightly before hand. 


Verse 28 is an amazing statement that lifts God to the heights he deserves...

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, 

the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, 

   and his understanding no one can fathom. 

God never gets tired or weary! 

We always will at some point but the whole reason we must go to God constantly in prayer, repentance and to ask for wisdom is that he is the one who will not grow weary!

Excitement building...

So, The Big Easter Blessing is only 33 days away!


I can't wait!

An opportunity for the body of Christ to bless the community in such a way that we only hope and pray that people will see God's love


Overseeing the youth side of things for this is incredibly exciting, the daily events we are holding and then the 'Main Event' on the Wednesday night should provide vast opportunities for young people to here about the Gospel.

We pray as a team that we can seek God's vision for this, His will, His ideas


But I know in my heart, that this excitement, this passion growing inside of me can only come from being passionate and excited about God first. 


So at the moment....

I'm just so EXCITED ABOUT GOD!

Persistance

Yesterday I had a good go at designing a flyer for the Big Easter Blessing....


Enough said, it was frustrating at times, it wound me up, it made me feel great when I thought I was finished


But then I would print it out, and look over it, analyse it, and Gillian would express her wise words over it


I would then take it back to my slow computer, and carry on making adjustments...


In my bible reading of Leviticus today, it spoke of many rules of how to live a holy life, and if something was not quite right, they would offer a sacrifice to atone for it


That was Old Testament talk, but it is still right that we offer ourselves every day to God, a sacrifice. So like my flyer he can make adjustments where he sees necessary
To look over us and feel great at what we are doing, but sometimes I'm sure God can be frustrated with me 


But he is persistent and I thank God that he keeps on going with me and has more patience with my life than I could ever have with that flyer!

Looks are deceiving...

Yesterday, the weather was amazing! 
After a dull start there was blue sky, no clouds, the sun shone!


On my way out of church and I see the sun beaming through the foyer,
hopeful of some warmth, I step out of church to be met by a chest freezing chill!


I must admit I didn't expect that, but you know, there are many things that I have come across in my life that I 'didn't expect' 


I didn't expect to end up doing a gap year


I didn't expect to be called at the end of my gap year to do another

I didn't expect my brother to become ill 2 years ago


I didn't expect many many other things


But I should have expected one thing..... That God DID expect them


And thank God that He did expect them and I didn't because he's the 

one in control

I've been writing a song recently, not got a chorus yet but it speaks of trust

Verse 1

We trust in the Lord with all our hearts,

We lean not on rumour but seek the truth.

Verse 2

In all our ways we acknowledge Him, 

And he will make our paths run true

Pre Chorus

What a friend we've found, we delight in Him

His love, his glory shines all around (x2)

Chorus?

Bridge

All our trust is in him

And we hold it in our hearts

Everything we long to know

He gratefully seeks to impart

Passion is growing

I must say, I had a very relaxed weekend. Didn't do a whole load but I was pretty tired

However, Ben came on Sunday and I'm quite a happy person most of the time, but his passion to have the joy of the Lord as our strength has left me smiling constantly

His passion and the way he spoke made me want to stand up and speak of God's word more and more

To say he talked about such a sensitive subject but raised so many hearts and left so many with a smile walking out of the Lord's house shows God is in his work

Side note - Just to note, one phrase that keeps coming back to me is, you have turned my mourning into dancing. Just a note in case I blog further on down the line abut this

Psalm 30:8-12

 

Get involved in this freedom organisation 

Such a sudden change

So yesterday something quite strange happened

I was going about my day when I heard an ice cream van play its jingle down the High street. Yet immediately, and I can't emphasise how it was straight after the ice cream jingle that I heard the sound of a police car/fire engine.

It just reminded me that sometimes we get into a right old muddle. 

Life can be going great! Then it takes one little thing (in our minds) to change Ice Cream mode to Police Siren mode. Yet God sees the bigger picture. He is always on Ice Cream Jingle because he has the bigger picture.

I thank God that he has the bigger picture and knows my life and not the other way round!

From my readings today, I felt Psalm 30:1-7 was appropriate for this thought.

A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.Of David. ¹ I will exalt you, LORD,
   for you lifted me out of the depths
   and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
² LORD my God, I called to you for help,
   and you healed me.
³ You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
   you spared me from going down to the pit.
 ⁴ Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
   praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment,
   but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
   but rejoicing comes in the morning.
 ⁶ When I felt secure, I said,
   “I will never be shaken.”
⁷ LORD, when you favored me,
   you made my royal mountain stand firm; 

Not too boring after all

So reading Leviticus this morning, and I really felt God tell me that although sometimes I may think that some parts of His word are not relevant to me or are out of date. Actually, it is the word of God!


Nothing is irrelevant              It's all relevant for me and everyone


Nothing is out of date           It's for such a time as this


Nothing is boring                  It is fascinating and challenging to read 


So I thank God for Leviticus this morning, for Moses who wrote it (he must have had a lot of patience) and for the conviction it has given me this morning to know that all God's word is written for a specific purpose and was written in Spirit and in Truth

Proof

First morning = rough!

Just a quick thought I learnt on Sunday and found evidence for from the end of my run yesterday...

The shadow proves the sun shines..

The echo proves the sound..

The steam proves the heat..

The rustle of the leaves proves the wind..

You know, we struggle to believe what we cannot see...

But we cannot see because we are not really looking

The Son proves the Father..

The Heavens proves His Glory

The Cross proves His Love

The Creation proves The Creator

Inspired to start again...

So Jen has inspired me to start blogging again.


Thoughts, inspirations, ideas and general life coming up. 


Every morning 


Once I'm up


Nothing mind blowing


But nothing mind numbing 

7:30am should be about right...