'If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.' (Psalm 139:9-10)
We live in a big world, created by a big God. And we can really take for granted how thankful we should be for the chance to travel around it.
Years ago such travel was a lot harder. And more dangerous!
Now, thanks to technology, I was able to get from Bristol to Scotland in an hour. About 426 miles that would take about 6 hours to drive. Travelled in just an hour!
But its not just parts of the country we can now reach. This summer we went to Germany. My brother went to Greece. We have been very blessed with the chances God gave us to travel.
Lord, I thank you for any chance You give us to reach different parts of the world. Friends who have moved can be visited again. New wonders can be seen. We can marvel at the beauty and the diversity of the world You have given us because we have the chance to travel around it.
Thank you!
Monday 30 September 2013
Wednesday 25 September 2013
55 - God's love
'For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.' (Romans 8:38-39)
We recently had a sermon preached in our church on John 3:16 and the love of God. A topic and verse that you think you know so well and yet...you don't.
There is so, so much that can be said about God's love and why we should be thankful for it. In fact, I'm not sure I can really put it into words!
Where to begin?
God never had to create humanity. In the Trinity, He had perfect satisfaction. Yet He chose to make man, so He could have a relationship with him. So that He could pour out His love on him.
And how did man respond? How did we respond? We flung that love back in His face. We not only rejected His love, we betrayed it. He would have been perfectly justified in giving up on us.
But no, that glorious love refused to let go.
No parent could even imagine letting their child die for someone else, no matter how much that person deserved it.
Well God, who'd always, always, always had the best relationship ever, with His perfect Son, killed His child for the sake of his enemies. Those who'd turned their backs on Him, scorned Him, treated Him as a fairytale.
And in that moment, we have absolute proof that He loves us. We have a reason to wake up each day with thanks in our hearts and on our lips.
But He didn't stop with our salvation.
He brought us into His family.
He sent His Spirit to guide us in life.
He has promised us an eternity with Him. Forever. Basking in His love.
Thank you Lord!
'O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!'
We recently had a sermon preached in our church on John 3:16 and the love of God. A topic and verse that you think you know so well and yet...you don't.
There is so, so much that can be said about God's love and why we should be thankful for it. In fact, I'm not sure I can really put it into words!
Where to begin?
God never had to create humanity. In the Trinity, He had perfect satisfaction. Yet He chose to make man, so He could have a relationship with him. So that He could pour out His love on him.
And how did man respond? How did we respond? We flung that love back in His face. We not only rejected His love, we betrayed it. He would have been perfectly justified in giving up on us.
But no, that glorious love refused to let go.
No parent could even imagine letting their child die for someone else, no matter how much that person deserved it.
Well God, who'd always, always, always had the best relationship ever, with His perfect Son, killed His child for the sake of his enemies. Those who'd turned their backs on Him, scorned Him, treated Him as a fairytale.
And in that moment, we have absolute proof that He loves us. We have a reason to wake up each day with thanks in our hearts and on our lips.
But He didn't stop with our salvation.
He brought us into His family.
He sent His Spirit to guide us in life.
He has promised us an eternity with Him. Forever. Basking in His love.
Thank you Lord!
'O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!'
Thursday 19 September 2013
54 - The Success of Others
'...in humility value others above yourselves' (Philippians 2:3)
When others are successful in life - get high grades, get a good job, a spouse, a car, a home, a family - everyone has a choice as to how they will react.
One - We can fall into an inner turmoil of resentment, jealousy, bitterness and self-pity. Why didn't that happen to me? Why do I have to work so hard, while they get good grades with ease? Why am I struggling to find a job, when they got one first time?
I'm tempted to react this way. One sister recently started sixth form, the other uni. They're out all day, coming home with fresh stories...and I'm not. I do my degree from home, so that's where I'm going to be nearly all day, nearly every day.
Not that I regret my choice to work at home, not for a second! God decided I would do so, and I love it.
But it's hard. The selfish part of me wishes I was the one holding attention with the stories I have to tell.
But I can choose to react in the second way.
With joy that others have been blessed by God. With interest in their successes. With the same love that Christ would show.
Remember - He was a carpenter on Earth. Did you ever see Him envy those more materially successful?
Thank you God for the numerous blessings you have given to those around me. May I never envy them, for you have blessed me just as much!
When others are successful in life - get high grades, get a good job, a spouse, a car, a home, a family - everyone has a choice as to how they will react.
One - We can fall into an inner turmoil of resentment, jealousy, bitterness and self-pity. Why didn't that happen to me? Why do I have to work so hard, while they get good grades with ease? Why am I struggling to find a job, when they got one first time?
I'm tempted to react this way. One sister recently started sixth form, the other uni. They're out all day, coming home with fresh stories...and I'm not. I do my degree from home, so that's where I'm going to be nearly all day, nearly every day.
Not that I regret my choice to work at home, not for a second! God decided I would do so, and I love it.
But it's hard. The selfish part of me wishes I was the one holding attention with the stories I have to tell.
But I can choose to react in the second way.
With joy that others have been blessed by God. With interest in their successes. With the same love that Christ would show.
Remember - He was a carpenter on Earth. Did you ever see Him envy those more materially successful?
Thank you God for the numerous blessings you have given to those around me. May I never envy them, for you have blessed me just as much!
Monday 16 September 2013
53 - Life
'As for man, his days are like grass...' (Psalm 103:5)
'...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.' (Psalm 139:16)
Life is fragile. There's no denying it. It may seem morbid, but the fact is, every moment we're alive is a marvel.
Every moment we're alive is a moment to be thankful to God for.
I realised this when I almost got hit by a car the other day. A car didn't slow down at a zebra crossing as I was beginning to walk over. He braked much too close for my liking, let's put it like that! I really thought he was going to hit me.
Thank you God that he didn't, that I live to write this blog post!
Even before I was born, God held my life in his hand. I read my Mum's old diaries a few years ago, and found out that, because I was in the wrong position, had her waters broken, I could have died.
Thank you God that You know what my life will be. You knew before I was born. Thank you for each moment I sit here, heart beating, lungs breathing, able to live for your glory.
May I not waste any of those precious moments!
'...all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.' (Psalm 139:16)
Life is fragile. There's no denying it. It may seem morbid, but the fact is, every moment we're alive is a marvel.
Every moment we're alive is a moment to be thankful to God for.
I realised this when I almost got hit by a car the other day. A car didn't slow down at a zebra crossing as I was beginning to walk over. He braked much too close for my liking, let's put it like that! I really thought he was going to hit me.
Thank you God that he didn't, that I live to write this blog post!
Even before I was born, God held my life in his hand. I read my Mum's old diaries a few years ago, and found out that, because I was in the wrong position, had her waters broken, I could have died.
Thank you God that You know what my life will be. You knew before I was born. Thank you for each moment I sit here, heart beating, lungs breathing, able to live for your glory.
May I not waste any of those precious moments!
Monday 9 September 2013
52 - Mobiles
'Call to me and I will answer you...' (Jeremiah 33:3)
Couldn't resist using that verse!
It may vary just how much you're thankful for the invention of mobiles. The older generation might wish vehemently that they hadn't been, perhaps because all they can see of their children is the tops of their heads as they bend over the phones in their hands, feverishly texting away...
Sorry. That was a major sterotype. But you get my point.
On the other hand, there is a lot we can give thanks for when it comes to mobiles. I didn't realise just how much until mine would get broken or lost.
We have easy communication in our hands - just a quick text, and we can have the information we need, even if the person isn't at home.
Go out somewhere, you don't need to worry about getting lost, because you can just text or ring and arrange somewhere to meet again.
Once, our family were out at the shops and Mum wanted to collect something she'd ordered but couldn't without a certain email, which hadn't been printed off before we left. No problem, we were able to get it up on a mobile.
Forgot your camera? Just use your phone.
Those are just a few examples of reasons we can be thankful for mobiles. Thankful that God gave us the brains to create new ways of passing messages!
Couldn't resist using that verse!
It may vary just how much you're thankful for the invention of mobiles. The older generation might wish vehemently that they hadn't been, perhaps because all they can see of their children is the tops of their heads as they bend over the phones in their hands, feverishly texting away...
Sorry. That was a major sterotype. But you get my point.
On the other hand, there is a lot we can give thanks for when it comes to mobiles. I didn't realise just how much until mine would get broken or lost.
We have easy communication in our hands - just a quick text, and we can have the information we need, even if the person isn't at home.
Go out somewhere, you don't need to worry about getting lost, because you can just text or ring and arrange somewhere to meet again.
Once, our family were out at the shops and Mum wanted to collect something she'd ordered but couldn't without a certain email, which hadn't been printed off before we left. No problem, we were able to get it up on a mobile.
Forgot your camera? Just use your phone.
Those are just a few examples of reasons we can be thankful for mobiles. Thankful that God gave us the brains to create new ways of passing messages!
Monday 2 September 2013
51 - Forgiveness from God.
'...as God in Christ forgave you.' (Ephesians 4:32)
(Read the 50th Reason, the one below this first.)
God...forgave...us.
Us.
The worms at His feet who tried to spit in His face.
The weak beings who cried 'Who does this holy, wise, powerful, loving, all-present, all-knowing, truthful, just, faithful God think He is? We may be none of those things, but we can still do a better job of ruling the universe than He can!' God should've looked down at us and said, 'Umm...no you can't' and wiped us off the face of the earth.
But He didn't. Instead He looked down, loved us and sent His perfect Son to suffer the punishment for our despicable rebellion. Through which He is able to look us in the eye and say those wonderful words.
'Your sins are forgiven.'
Anyone who's brain doesn't explode trying to comprehend the magnitude of His forgiveness is just blind to the truth.
Because He let me off my debt of TRILLIONS of pounds, I am able to turn to my friend, relative, colleague, who owes me 50p and say, 'I forgive you.'
Thank you Lord so, so, so much for Your unfathomable forgiveness!
(Read the 50th Reason, the one below this first.)
God...forgave...us.
Us.
The worms at His feet who tried to spit in His face.
The weak beings who cried 'Who does this holy, wise, powerful, loving, all-present, all-knowing, truthful, just, faithful God think He is? We may be none of those things, but we can still do a better job of ruling the universe than He can!' God should've looked down at us and said, 'Umm...no you can't' and wiped us off the face of the earth.
But He didn't. Instead He looked down, loved us and sent His perfect Son to suffer the punishment for our despicable rebellion. Through which He is able to look us in the eye and say those wonderful words.
'Your sins are forgiven.'
Anyone who's brain doesn't explode trying to comprehend the magnitude of His forgiveness is just blind to the truth.
Because He let me off my debt of TRILLIONS of pounds, I am able to turn to my friend, relative, colleague, who owes me 50p and say, 'I forgive you.'
Thank you Lord so, so, so much for Your unfathomable forgiveness!
50 - Forgiveness for others
'...forgiving one another...' (Ephesians 4:32)
A friend of mine unintentionally did something that hurt my feelings really badly. As I sit and write this my heart battles out how to act towards them.
Am I going to give them the cold shoulder, trying to hurt them as they hurt me?
Am I going to avoid their company as much as possible?
Or am I going to swallow my pride, suppress my hurt and, with God's power, forgive them?
Well, I am so thankful to God that I am even able to choose the third option. Without Him, there's no way I could find it in my heart to forgive.
How is it we are able? See the 51st reason I have found.
A friend of mine unintentionally did something that hurt my feelings really badly. As I sit and write this my heart battles out how to act towards them.
Am I going to give them the cold shoulder, trying to hurt them as they hurt me?
Am I going to avoid their company as much as possible?
Or am I going to swallow my pride, suppress my hurt and, with God's power, forgive them?
Well, I am so thankful to God that I am even able to choose the third option. Without Him, there's no way I could find it in my heart to forgive.
How is it we are able? See the 51st reason I have found.
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