Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
The way you think
Romans 12.2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think... So, how do I think? Is it in a way that is governed by 'the world' or is it in a way that is governed by what God says?
In his book - "Living in the freedom of the Spirit" Tom Marshall says "I no longer have to submit to the authority of the world's values or fears or pressures. The cross cuts me off from them and cuts them off from me... God wants to free us from the power of the past so that we are not walking in the daily dread of past sins or past fears or past enemies spoiling our present experience. And that release is meant to be as total and as final as forgiveness"
Nick Gore spoke on Sunday about how much God thinks of us and his father heart for us. I should try to remember that when I am stressed. How does God want me to think about work? It is not such a big deal to him! I can trust him that he will not let me stumble that he will bring to mind what I need to know when I need it.
In his book - "Living in the freedom of the Spirit" Tom Marshall says "I no longer have to submit to the authority of the world's values or fears or pressures. The cross cuts me off from them and cuts them off from me... God wants to free us from the power of the past so that we are not walking in the daily dread of past sins or past fears or past enemies spoiling our present experience. And that release is meant to be as total and as final as forgiveness"
Nick Gore spoke on Sunday about how much God thinks of us and his father heart for us. I should try to remember that when I am stressed. How does God want me to think about work? It is not such a big deal to him! I can trust him that he will not let me stumble that he will bring to mind what I need to know when I need it.
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Matthew 6 - why worry?
25Therefore I tell you, stop being [a]perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the [b]span of his life?(A)
28And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and [c]learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.
29Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his [magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.
30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?
31Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
32For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [taken together will be given you besides.
26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the [b]span of his life?(A)
28And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and [c]learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.
29Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his [magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these.
30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?
31Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
32For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
33But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [taken together will be given you besides.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Monday, 30 August 2010
Walking
"Walk in the light and then the darkness will not overtake you"
All of my journeys to work include a walk. I should direct my thoughts toward the truth of what God says and the history of what He has done for me. I have a choice; I can listen to the lies that say I am not good enough or I can choose to listen to the truth that tells me that I can do all things through Christ and that he is with me guiding my every thought, action and decision. On the face of it, not a difficult choice. In practice, it is more difficult.
I think it goes way back to when I did exams at school and always wanted to be nervous so that I performed at my best. Now is the time to break the habit of a lifetime
All of my journeys to work include a walk. I should direct my thoughts toward the truth of what God says and the history of what He has done for me. I have a choice; I can listen to the lies that say I am not good enough or I can choose to listen to the truth that tells me that I can do all things through Christ and that he is with me guiding my every thought, action and decision. On the face of it, not a difficult choice. In practice, it is more difficult.
I think it goes way back to when I did exams at school and always wanted to be nervous so that I performed at my best. Now is the time to break the habit of a lifetime
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Westpoint 2010
Friday am - Dave Stroud
God does not often give us the whole picture - he gives us the next
step. Meanwhile we get on with doing what God calls us to.
We will need courage to do what is to come - need to overcome the fear
of failure and rejection.
Walk in the power of the Spirit - take the opportunities we are given
- big and small.
We don't know what God has planned for us BUT THERE IS SOMETHING!
Some of us feel like we have shackles and chains holding us down - as
we change our perspective those chains will fall off.
Saturday am Dave Stroud - Noah
Gen 6-7
Preparation for a life of faith: Character matters - when you get
squeezed your insides come out - like an orange! Are there any areas
of our character that God needs to work on and shape? Noah walked with
God. When God seems to be moving slowly it is because he wants to
teach us something. Other times he moves fast and we need to be ready.
Other times we go through dark times and need to hear His voice.
The response of faith:
Do we know what OUR ark is going to look like? It is not wrong to plan
- WITH GOD. What needs to be done? When do we do it?
Guarding our faith:
Satan tries to snatch our faith by the mundane nature of building an
ark. Keep in mind the excitement of what we are working towards. We
WILL face problems and will need perseverance - this does not mean
repeating the same thing again and again - be determined and ask God
to show you a different way. God allows problems so we can grow. How
we respond to problems affects the quality of our lives.
The motivation of faith:
All we do should be for God.
God does not often give us the whole picture - he gives us the next
step. Meanwhile we get on with doing what God calls us to.
We will need courage to do what is to come - need to overcome the fear
of failure and rejection.
Walk in the power of the Spirit - take the opportunities we are given
- big and small.
We don't know what God has planned for us BUT THERE IS SOMETHING!
Some of us feel like we have shackles and chains holding us down - as
we change our perspective those chains will fall off.
Saturday am Dave Stroud - Noah
Gen 6-7
Preparation for a life of faith: Character matters - when you get
squeezed your insides come out - like an orange! Are there any areas
of our character that God needs to work on and shape? Noah walked with
God. When God seems to be moving slowly it is because he wants to
teach us something. Other times he moves fast and we need to be ready.
Other times we go through dark times and need to hear His voice.
The response of faith:
Do we know what OUR ark is going to look like? It is not wrong to plan
- WITH GOD. What needs to be done? When do we do it?
Guarding our faith:
Satan tries to snatch our faith by the mundane nature of building an
ark. Keep in mind the excitement of what we are working towards. We
WILL face problems and will need perseverance - this does not mean
repeating the same thing again and again - be determined and ask God
to show you a different way. God allows problems so we can grow. How
we respond to problems affects the quality of our lives.
The motivation of faith:
All we do should be for God.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Westpoint
Off to Westpoint today - not that enthusiastic I have to say but hoping to hear from God in the next few days.
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
August holiday
Feeling despondent about work at start of holiday - in need of a break. Holiday has been very relaxing and feel that I will hear from God at Westpoint.
Read Colosians 1 whilst away. V. 9 says "We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding." That is what I am asking.
Our lovely walk yesterday on the Jurassic coast reminds me that we are in a fantastic part of the world (we met 4 people on our walk who said that is their favourite place in the country!) and my feelings right now are that I would be reluctant to move away. It would be hard to get a new job at my age and so in many ways I feel even more trapped. P says this year ahead may hold some changes so let's see what happens.
Read Colosians 1 whilst away. V. 9 says "We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding." That is what I am asking.
Our lovely walk yesterday on the Jurassic coast reminds me that we are in a fantastic part of the world (we met 4 people on our walk who said that is their favourite place in the country!) and my feelings right now are that I would be reluctant to move away. It would be hard to get a new job at my age and so in many ways I feel even more trapped. P says this year ahead may hold some changes so let's see what happens.
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