Here we are, Ian and I, back in Spain for the half term break. After a very early start this morning, all we've been fit for on arrival is eating and sleeping! Mum reminded me earlier that I came over about 4 years ago during the October half-term and it rained for 6 out fo the 7 days! Such rain as Spain hadn not seen for many years! Locals hired taxis to take them to the nearest large town and they stood along the river bank with cameras taking photographs of the water levels!
On arrival the sun was shining today. I'm grateful I've got the break from school to recharge my batteries, I'm just hoping I don't spend my time recharging them by sleeping all day and all night!.
This really is a beautiful country and I love coming here to unwind and relax...
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
It is well
I'm finding my job pretty tough at the moment. I've got to the stage where I wonder why I bother. It all seems so pointless, attmepting to teach when I'm being constantly harrassed by groups of 20 - 30 teenagers who just don't want to be there. When I say harrassed, I mean harrassed. I often get pointed personal comments made and I'm finding it tough not to react. Yesterday I snapped! One group of year 11s got the full force of my wrath!
So why do I do my job? Because there is nothing more satisfying than watching someone learn! Sadly those moments appear few and far between!
This morning I've woken up feeling low, yet inside I'm singing... the annoying thing is I can't remember any more than one line!
"It is well, it is well in my soul."
Do I need to sing any more? It is well in my soul! My soul sings to a creator God. My soul can sing in his presence. Singing praises will lift my spirit. God's spirit will bring to my soul the words I need to encourage myself.
So if today all I sing is " It is well in my soul" then that's all I'll sing. For my soul is well! I am a new creation! I am a royal priesthood. Everyday life may be pressing in, but God's kingdom is here with me when I do his will. When I praise him, I do his will!
These are words of encouragement and affirmation of who I am. So to those who want to knock me down, to those who want to see me break, just hear this...
It is well in my soul!
So why do I do my job? Because there is nothing more satisfying than watching someone learn! Sadly those moments appear few and far between!
This morning I've woken up feeling low, yet inside I'm singing... the annoying thing is I can't remember any more than one line!
"It is well, it is well in my soul."
Do I need to sing any more? It is well in my soul! My soul sings to a creator God. My soul can sing in his presence. Singing praises will lift my spirit. God's spirit will bring to my soul the words I need to encourage myself.
So if today all I sing is " It is well in my soul" then that's all I'll sing. For my soul is well! I am a new creation! I am a royal priesthood. Everyday life may be pressing in, but God's kingdom is here with me when I do his will. When I praise him, I do his will!
These are words of encouragement and affirmation of who I am. So to those who want to knock me down, to those who want to see me break, just hear this...
It is well in my soul!
Monday, October 17, 2005
Royal Priesthood
I'm still slowly working my way through 1 Peter. Partly because there are days when I just don't read it and also partly because I'm just reading such small parts at a time.
Yesterday, Tony Ling was talking about the restoration of God's church. We may not be seeing it here in the UK, but God's church is worldwide and it is growing. God's church is being restored. What we need to be doing is making sure that we are not left behind.
1 Peter 2 4 - 12 talks about us being built together. We are the living stones that are being put in place as God's temple. We are his priesthood, his nation. His sacrifice.
The Jews had different types of sacrifice. We are not the sin sacrifice. That sacrifice has been totally paid through the death of Jesus. He paid the final price for every sin, both past, present and future.
We are the sacrifice of praise. Everything we do is to be a sacrifice of praise that raises glory to God. Our lives should be such that when non-believers look at us, they see the glory of God.
It's hard to make everything we do a pure sacrifice of praise. We so often mess up. But God knows our weaknesses. He knows our human-ness. That's why he hasn't left us on our own. He's given us, not only the gift of a new life, but also the gift of his Holy Spirit that we may have the strength to do God's will. His Holy Spirit within us guides us, speaks to us, counsels us, empowers us.
I've gone through the year getting to know the Trinity but the Holy Spirit seems to be the one who is most difficult to bring into my everyday life. Yet the Holy Spirit is the one who dwells in me.
If I am to be the person God wants me to be, if I am to fulfill his will, I need to daily acknowledge the person of the Holy Spirit and allow him to be my guide and strength for each day, for each action, for each second of my life.
Get to know the Holy Spirit in your life, get filled each day that you may live God's way that the glory of God may fill the place where you are as the life you lead is a sacrifice of praise to the most holy God. Worship the Lamb of God, worship Jesus by the way you live. Let your life be a sacrifice of praise in every moment you live.
It's a tough call, but with God's spirit in us, it isn't impossible!
Yesterday, Tony Ling was talking about the restoration of God's church. We may not be seeing it here in the UK, but God's church is worldwide and it is growing. God's church is being restored. What we need to be doing is making sure that we are not left behind.
1 Peter 2 4 - 12 talks about us being built together. We are the living stones that are being put in place as God's temple. We are his priesthood, his nation. His sacrifice.
The Jews had different types of sacrifice. We are not the sin sacrifice. That sacrifice has been totally paid through the death of Jesus. He paid the final price for every sin, both past, present and future.
We are the sacrifice of praise. Everything we do is to be a sacrifice of praise that raises glory to God. Our lives should be such that when non-believers look at us, they see the glory of God.
It's hard to make everything we do a pure sacrifice of praise. We so often mess up. But God knows our weaknesses. He knows our human-ness. That's why he hasn't left us on our own. He's given us, not only the gift of a new life, but also the gift of his Holy Spirit that we may have the strength to do God's will. His Holy Spirit within us guides us, speaks to us, counsels us, empowers us.
I've gone through the year getting to know the Trinity but the Holy Spirit seems to be the one who is most difficult to bring into my everyday life. Yet the Holy Spirit is the one who dwells in me.
If I am to be the person God wants me to be, if I am to fulfill his will, I need to daily acknowledge the person of the Holy Spirit and allow him to be my guide and strength for each day, for each action, for each second of my life.
Get to know the Holy Spirit in your life, get filled each day that you may live God's way that the glory of God may fill the place where you are as the life you lead is a sacrifice of praise to the most holy God. Worship the Lamb of God, worship Jesus by the way you live. Let your life be a sacrifice of praise in every moment you live.
It's a tough call, but with God's spirit in us, it isn't impossible!
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Awesome Praise
This morning I awoke still feeling lousy with my cold. In fact, during the night it appeared that the cold had moved down to my chest and I was developing a cough. Now, seeing as I suffer mildly from asthma, this is generally not a good time. I felt that I would need at least one more day off school. I'd need the time to renew the strength so that i can carry out the physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting job of teaching kids aged 11 - 16.
Nothing was going to keep me from going to church though.
We had good worship, we had a good talk by Tony Ling. At the end Tony went very quiet. I was getting a bit worried. He kept repeating "praise and worship, praise and worship". So that's what we did. We entered into a further time of praise and worship, this time, instead of it being led from the front, we were exhorted to just worship God individually. At first the time was a bit strained. We're so unused to worshipping in public without it being led. yet slowly we awoke to the task. For much of the time I just sat and watched the people. My son had brought a non-Christian friend and I wondered what he thought. Then I watched the faces of the worshippers. As the time of worship grew, so their faces changed. You could see them enter God's presence. The initial fears and worries of being led to worship this way was fading as people entered their own place of worship. As I watched, my spirit was stirred. As my spirit was stirred I felt my strength restored. As my strength was restored I was lifted into that awesome place of God's throne room.
This evening, after a restful, but not lazy afternoon, I am feeling as though I just have a few snuffles. I know my strength is renewed. I know I will be in school tomorrow, to serve my God in the place he has put me to impact the lives of those I come into contact with.
Oh, and Matt's friend? Well he was pretty spooked out (his words) by the worship. The woman behind who was singing in some foreign language... the people with their eyes closed and their hands raised... He told Matt that he won't be able to come next week. Then he added, "but I should be able to come the week after"!
God's at work! He's restoring his tent!
Nothing was going to keep me from going to church though.
We had good worship, we had a good talk by Tony Ling. At the end Tony went very quiet. I was getting a bit worried. He kept repeating "praise and worship, praise and worship". So that's what we did. We entered into a further time of praise and worship, this time, instead of it being led from the front, we were exhorted to just worship God individually. At first the time was a bit strained. We're so unused to worshipping in public without it being led. yet slowly we awoke to the task. For much of the time I just sat and watched the people. My son had brought a non-Christian friend and I wondered what he thought. Then I watched the faces of the worshippers. As the time of worship grew, so their faces changed. You could see them enter God's presence. The initial fears and worries of being led to worship this way was fading as people entered their own place of worship. As I watched, my spirit was stirred. As my spirit was stirred I felt my strength restored. As my strength was restored I was lifted into that awesome place of God's throne room.
This evening, after a restful, but not lazy afternoon, I am feeling as though I just have a few snuffles. I know my strength is renewed. I know I will be in school tomorrow, to serve my God in the place he has put me to impact the lives of those I come into contact with.
Oh, and Matt's friend? Well he was pretty spooked out (his words) by the worship. The woman behind who was singing in some foreign language... the people with their eyes closed and their hands raised... He told Matt that he won't be able to come next week. Then he added, "but I should be able to come the week after"!
God's at work! He's restoring his tent!
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Cold
Why is it that a simple cold can wipe a person out? For the past couple of days I've had a head cold. Yesterday I awoke with no voice, so I stayed at home. It's pretty difficult to teach without a good voice. It's impossible to teach without a brain! Yesterday, that's how I felt. My head was just a fuzzy mess. Everyone time I tried to communicate, it wasn't the lack of a voice giving me problems but the lack of coherant thoughts!
I'm feeling slightly better this morning, at least my voice has almost returned to normal. I'm hoping my brain will function better too!
For the record - God is great! Not because I've got a cold, but because he's my God and I love to worship him!
I'm feeling slightly better this morning, at least my voice has almost returned to normal. I'm hoping my brain will function better too!
For the record - God is great! Not because I've got a cold, but because he's my God and I love to worship him!
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Donald Miller in his book "Searching for God know's what" talks about communion. And he said he thought the disciples would be a little perplexed to see us sitting around or lining up to take communion and everything being so quiet and somber. He said he thought the disciples would have a huge cup of wine, and a loaf of bread and sit around and tell Jesus stories.
I thought about that for weeks. We do a once a month service called Encounter and we always take communion and like you, I am always looking for a way to make it fresh and different. This week we had loaves of bread... a lot of bread... and we had big cups of juice... and we sat around and we ate and we remembered Jesus, and we told our Jesus stories. We laughed, we cried, we celebrated. It was an awesome night.
I've copied this from the evotional site I like to peruse. It's a comment made by another reader after reading the blog from October 9th - Communion Tin.
The first thing that hit me was the thought of how the disciples possibly "remembered Jesus" when they took the bread and wine. Were they probably just sitting around sharing a meal and someone suddenly broke the bread and said "remember when Jesus did this? Remember he told us to remember him?"
Did they just sit back and quietly contemplate his death and the new meaning it had brought to their lives? or did they sit and share stories about the things they'd experienced whilst he was with them?
"Remember that day on the hillside when he'd talked for hours and then we realised how hungry everyone was? Remember he told us to share out that little boy's loaves and fish! Boy how stupid we felt! One crumb or two sir?"
"Remember when he sent us, I mean us!!! fishermen!, to go and heal the sick! Go on , admit it. Did you really think you could? But when we took that first step, Wow!! the impact! Not just on the healed, but on us! When we realised the power he had shared with us! I just thrill every time I think of what he does through me!"
"Remember the time when life felt it had fallen apart? Then we realised that he was in control. That he cared so much for us that he had suffered for us. He wants us to remember him, not because he wants us to be sad but because he wants us to know his intimate love!"
It thrills me to think that Jesus didn't just die for my sins! He died to bring me into a place where I could stand in awe and worship the most holy God. Where everyday of my life I can come into his presence and enjoy being with him.
I just want to celebrate the life I have now because of what Jesus has done for me! I want to remember all the amazing things he has done since I gave my life to him!
I thought about that for weeks. We do a once a month service called Encounter and we always take communion and like you, I am always looking for a way to make it fresh and different. This week we had loaves of bread... a lot of bread... and we had big cups of juice... and we sat around and we ate and we remembered Jesus, and we told our Jesus stories. We laughed, we cried, we celebrated. It was an awesome night.
I've copied this from the evotional site I like to peruse. It's a comment made by another reader after reading the blog from October 9th - Communion Tin.
The first thing that hit me was the thought of how the disciples possibly "remembered Jesus" when they took the bread and wine. Were they probably just sitting around sharing a meal and someone suddenly broke the bread and said "remember when Jesus did this? Remember he told us to remember him?"
Did they just sit back and quietly contemplate his death and the new meaning it had brought to their lives? or did they sit and share stories about the things they'd experienced whilst he was with them?
"Remember that day on the hillside when he'd talked for hours and then we realised how hungry everyone was? Remember he told us to share out that little boy's loaves and fish! Boy how stupid we felt! One crumb or two sir?"
"Remember when he sent us, I mean us!!! fishermen!, to go and heal the sick! Go on , admit it. Did you really think you could? But when we took that first step, Wow!! the impact! Not just on the healed, but on us! When we realised the power he had shared with us! I just thrill every time I think of what he does through me!"
"Remember the time when life felt it had fallen apart? Then we realised that he was in control. That he cared so much for us that he had suffered for us. He wants us to remember him, not because he wants us to be sad but because he wants us to know his intimate love!"
It thrills me to think that Jesus didn't just die for my sins! He died to bring me into a place where I could stand in awe and worship the most holy God. Where everyday of my life I can come into his presence and enjoy being with him.
I just want to celebrate the life I have now because of what Jesus has done for me! I want to remember all the amazing things he has done since I gave my life to him!
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Check this out
The other week I did a search on Holy Spirit blogs and I found this site. I'll be adding a link to the site later but this guy alternates from quirky comments on his life to incredibly intense comments about a spirit filled life. He just lives for God and is making incredible use of technology to get into people's lives.
http://www.evotional.com/
Check out Flight Delay Entertainment for quirkiness!
http://www.evotional.com/
Check out Flight Delay Entertainment for quirkiness!
Feeding Time
Yesterday morning, Ian and I were up early to go to a bible study entitled Bible Overview. One of the things that hit me was a more casual comment about eating. God's word is the Bread of Life. It is meant to sustain us and give us the strength to live, yet how often do we starve ourselves and then binge eat? It's so easy to have a busy day and forget to read. Then when something important is approaching, or when we are energised by God, we binge eat for a while.
In 1 Peter 2:2 It says
In 1 Peter 2:2 It says
Like newborn babies , crave pure spiritual milk,
so that you may grow up in your salvation.
A newborn baby generally drinks 6 feeds a day. It will never miss a meal, it will never snack. A baby naturally knows the importance of regular and substantial meals if it is to grow and develop into adulthood.
In the same way, we need to be eating 6 regular meals a day. It would be fantastic if our lives allowed us the time to sit and eat God's word for half an hour 6 times a day, sadly for the majority of us that is impossible. In my busy day at school, there are sometimes days when I get less than 20 minutes to sit and eat my lunch, and many others of us have similar hectic lives.
But in our busy days, we can still feed on God. We can listen to songs of praise and worship as we work, or as we drive to work. We can dot words of life around us that our eyes may rest on them as we go about our lives. We can chat to God at any time, even whilst walking around a class full of demanding children.
If we retire to bed at the end of the day and realise we haven't touched base once with our creative God, we are starving ourselves and missing out on our chance to grow. Sometimes we only find the time to snack but surely we should be making much more effort to grab a good hearty meal.
Sit down and devour God's word. Enjoy the pleasures of good eating!
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Hectic week
This week we're having lots of little jobs done on the house. It's exciting, every day I come home from work and look to see what's been done. You know all those annoying little jobs that you never really get around to? The ones you put off because you know that although they're simple tasks, they're simple to someone who is experienced and knows what they're doing.
Two weeks ago the shower heating element died! So we've had baths every day since then. Now don't get me wrong, I like nothing better than a leisurely soak in the bath now and again. But these days I really don't have the time to run a bath in the morning, let alone soak in one! Today the shower man comes to fit a new shower! (As well as the handyman continuing with his jobs!)
Change is good, renewing is exciting!
At work, school is busy. We had our annual open evening on Tuesday, which meant smiling at prospective parents and pupils until 9 at night. It appeared to go well in our department and we were surprised that we still had parents visiting the maths department at 9.10pm.
Many other things are happening and I feel as though I'm not getting my job done well, or that I've got the energy to keep going! Yet, yesterday someone commented that I was looking far more relaxed and less stressed at school than I had last term. Now last term, due to staffing, I was on a reduced timetable and only teaching 12 lessons a week. This term I'm teaching 21 lessons! The difference? A Holy Spirit difference.
I'm feeling far more prepared to face my days this term. God is doing amazing things and some of it is being done to me! I'm excited by the strength I'm gaining. I'm feeling so much more secure in God, so much more in awe of him, so much more in love with him. So much more hungry for more!
I may not be witnessing openly, but God's power within me is beginning to change the way I work, the way I react around other staff and around the pupils. People are beginning to notice a change! I know I've felt different. It was encouraging to hear that someone else had noticed a difference too.
Two weeks ago the shower heating element died! So we've had baths every day since then. Now don't get me wrong, I like nothing better than a leisurely soak in the bath now and again. But these days I really don't have the time to run a bath in the morning, let alone soak in one! Today the shower man comes to fit a new shower! (As well as the handyman continuing with his jobs!)
Change is good, renewing is exciting!
At work, school is busy. We had our annual open evening on Tuesday, which meant smiling at prospective parents and pupils until 9 at night. It appeared to go well in our department and we were surprised that we still had parents visiting the maths department at 9.10pm.
Many other things are happening and I feel as though I'm not getting my job done well, or that I've got the energy to keep going! Yet, yesterday someone commented that I was looking far more relaxed and less stressed at school than I had last term. Now last term, due to staffing, I was on a reduced timetable and only teaching 12 lessons a week. This term I'm teaching 21 lessons! The difference? A Holy Spirit difference.
I'm feeling far more prepared to face my days this term. God is doing amazing things and some of it is being done to me! I'm excited by the strength I'm gaining. I'm feeling so much more secure in God, so much more in awe of him, so much more in love with him. So much more hungry for more!
I may not be witnessing openly, but God's power within me is beginning to change the way I work, the way I react around other staff and around the pupils. People are beginning to notice a change! I know I've felt different. It was encouraging to hear that someone else had noticed a difference too.
Sunday, October 02, 2005
The Return of the Prodigal!
This week my daughter asked if she could join us at church with a friend tonight. She's made friend's with a christian youth worker and together they came with us to the church my youngest son attends on a Sunday evening.
It's been many years since Laura has attended church and although she sat quietly throughout and didn't participate, she afterwards remarked to another friend that she will be coming again - because she knows she needs to!
God is at work in this house. Laura still has a long way to come, but it's good to see she is beginning to recognise the need for God in her life.
Often we give up on our kids, our friends, or even our spouses and parents. But God is at work. This morning I was reminded that God knows my burdens. He knows the people I have a burden for and that he has a burden for them to. I need to hand them over to God and trust him.
Part of tonight's message was that God has a plan for our lives, we need to be patient and let him see it through! Often we look at the situation and try to hurry things up. If we try to take control, to fulfil God's plan before his time, then things are likely to go wrong. In God's time, things work!
Fully Rely On God! That's what we need to do in every aspect of our life! That's what we need to do with all the people we have a burden for! Rely on God to see them through.
It's been many years since Laura has attended church and although she sat quietly throughout and didn't participate, she afterwards remarked to another friend that she will be coming again - because she knows she needs to!
God is at work in this house. Laura still has a long way to come, but it's good to see she is beginning to recognise the need for God in her life.
Often we give up on our kids, our friends, or even our spouses and parents. But God is at work. This morning I was reminded that God knows my burdens. He knows the people I have a burden for and that he has a burden for them to. I need to hand them over to God and trust him.
Part of tonight's message was that God has a plan for our lives, we need to be patient and let him see it through! Often we look at the situation and try to hurry things up. If we try to take control, to fulfil God's plan before his time, then things are likely to go wrong. In God's time, things work!
Fully Rely On God! That's what we need to do in every aspect of our life! That's what we need to do with all the people we have a burden for! Rely on God to see them through.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Why?
Some friends of mine are going through a time where their faith could so easily be tested. In fact, a time when many of us around them could start questioning "Why God?"
Through everything that happens to us, God wants us to love him. He will see us through anything and everything that life throws at us. At this time, I know my friends have turned to him for everything they need.
I'm sure most of us are feeling useless at this time, last night I told them that all I could do was pray for them. It made prayer sound such a small thing! Yet prayer is the most powerful and wonderful tool that God has given to us! I don't need to know the details, God knows them! I just need to support my friends, to show my love for them through prayer.
1 Peter 1: 22 says
Through everything that happens to us, God wants us to love him. He will see us through anything and everything that life throws at us. At this time, I know my friends have turned to him for everything they need.
I'm sure most of us are feeling useless at this time, last night I told them that all I could do was pray for them. It made prayer sound such a small thing! Yet prayer is the most powerful and wonderful tool that God has given to us! I don't need to know the details, God knows them! I just need to support my friends, to show my love for them through prayer.
1 Peter 1: 22 says
Now that you have purified yourselves
by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers,
love one another deeply, from the heart.
These people need to know how precious they are to us, how deep our love is for them, how sincere. If ALL we can do is pray, then we can show them love in no greater way than praying! If we don't know what to pray for our friends in need, we pray in tongues letting the Holy Spirit lead our prayers. Our Father in heaven will provide all they need.
I'll go back to verse 13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled;
set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Chris is revealed.
Our hope is in all that Christ has done for us through his death on the cross. Let us worship God and not question him. Let us be active for him in our support for our friends. Active in prayer.
Monday, September 26, 2005
When God Speaks
When God has something important to say, he usually says it loud and clear and repeatedly! Yesterday he spoke at least 3 times to me about the same thing.
In the morning, I'd shared about preparing my mind for action. At church a couple of hours later, there was an amazing anointing of God's Holy Spirit amongst the people. We were being to called to not only BE anointed in the Holy Spirit to also to be an anointing to others. To be active for God! In the evening we went over to Coventry to a different church and the call was once again to serve, to be active for God.
In some ways there were 3 messages given, but in others I really felt a sense of God calling me to action. To live the life he has chosen, to be a visible example of God's love. I'm not sure how God wants me to serve him, I only know that by preparing my mind each morning, by living in his kingdom, by seeking him in everything I do, I will learn to hear his voice. If I truly want to serve my Saviour King I will obey his will. For the present, I need to just be the person he created me to be. As I learn to live my life in obedience to him, by honouring him in everything I do, then he will begin to show me what he wants me to do.
One thing I do know for sure. I love God more than anything else. His love is the most precious thing I have and I don't want to allow anything in my life to seperate me from the joy of living in his kingdom. I want to serve my King. I need to listen to his voice, to be prepared and to obey.
In the morning, I'd shared about preparing my mind for action. At church a couple of hours later, there was an amazing anointing of God's Holy Spirit amongst the people. We were being to called to not only BE anointed in the Holy Spirit to also to be an anointing to others. To be active for God! In the evening we went over to Coventry to a different church and the call was once again to serve, to be active for God.
In some ways there were 3 messages given, but in others I really felt a sense of God calling me to action. To live the life he has chosen, to be a visible example of God's love. I'm not sure how God wants me to serve him, I only know that by preparing my mind each morning, by living in his kingdom, by seeking him in everything I do, I will learn to hear his voice. If I truly want to serve my Saviour King I will obey his will. For the present, I need to just be the person he created me to be. As I learn to live my life in obedience to him, by honouring him in everything I do, then he will begin to show me what he wants me to do.
One thing I do know for sure. I love God more than anything else. His love is the most precious thing I have and I don't want to allow anything in my life to seperate me from the joy of living in his kingdom. I want to serve my King. I need to listen to his voice, to be prepared and to obey.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Prepare Your Mind!
1 peter 1 13 - 16 tell us to prepare our minds and be self-controlled.
Last night I was watching The Bourne Supremecy with my son. He'd seen the first film but I hadn't, so I was a bit lost about some of what was happening. The lead man was acting on instinct. He had been well trained, his mind had been prepared to succeed in the tasks set before him. Sadly, (and I don't know how as it was in the first film) he was suffering from limited amnesia and there was a lot in his past which he was incapable of remembering. This meant that although his mind was prepared, he was often mixed up and confused. He didn't know what or why he was reacting the way he was.
Peter calls on us to prepare our minds. We are still living on earth and unless our minds are fully prepared, we are more likely to react in an earthly way instead of a godly way. We need to keep our minds fixed on the things of heaven. We serve a holy God and we cannot expect to come into his presence unless we ourselves are holy.
Peter calls us to be holy in all we do. Unless we prepare our minds for action by reading God's word, by chatting to him, talking to him, and above all, by listening to him, we will not be prepared for the tasks he sets for us.
Time for a bit of honesty? The past couple of days I've slotted in a quick read of my bible at the end of the day when my eyes are tired. Friday I didn't even make that much time! The days when I get up and the first thing I read is God's word, those are the days I know I am prepared for my day ahead. I've often in the past done my quiet time at the end of the day, but I'm finding I am so much more prepared for life when I read in the morning.
Think about it... how often does a general plan his attack at the end of the battle?
Our times with God are our times of preparation! We need to prepare our minds in order than we can face each day. We need to spend time with God in the morning, not in the evening. Don't get me wrong, added time in the evening is excellent. We must get our minds prepared in the morning. Our final thoughts of the day can be a time of reflection and praise but our early morning time is a time to focus and prepare. Just like Jesus did every morning.
Last night I was watching The Bourne Supremecy with my son. He'd seen the first film but I hadn't, so I was a bit lost about some of what was happening. The lead man was acting on instinct. He had been well trained, his mind had been prepared to succeed in the tasks set before him. Sadly, (and I don't know how as it was in the first film) he was suffering from limited amnesia and there was a lot in his past which he was incapable of remembering. This meant that although his mind was prepared, he was often mixed up and confused. He didn't know what or why he was reacting the way he was.
Peter calls on us to prepare our minds. We are still living on earth and unless our minds are fully prepared, we are more likely to react in an earthly way instead of a godly way. We need to keep our minds fixed on the things of heaven. We serve a holy God and we cannot expect to come into his presence unless we ourselves are holy.
Peter calls us to be holy in all we do. Unless we prepare our minds for action by reading God's word, by chatting to him, talking to him, and above all, by listening to him, we will not be prepared for the tasks he sets for us.
Time for a bit of honesty? The past couple of days I've slotted in a quick read of my bible at the end of the day when my eyes are tired. Friday I didn't even make that much time! The days when I get up and the first thing I read is God's word, those are the days I know I am prepared for my day ahead. I've often in the past done my quiet time at the end of the day, but I'm finding I am so much more prepared for life when I read in the morning.
Think about it... how often does a general plan his attack at the end of the battle?
Our times with God are our times of preparation! We need to prepare our minds in order than we can face each day. We need to spend time with God in the morning, not in the evening. Don't get me wrong, added time in the evening is excellent. We must get our minds prepared in the morning. Our final thoughts of the day can be a time of reflection and praise but our early morning time is a time to focus and prepare. Just like Jesus did every morning.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
A Disappointing Expectation Realised
This week I'm in the middle of producing an assignment to end my Open University's present course. I've found the course tough going because of the style of presentation in the course text book. Every few comments are interupted by yet another task for me to complete and I have found the flow of the text too severaly interupted to be able to follow the ideas. The assignments have been even more frustrating to complete and I have struggled, not to do the work, but to complete them in the format they have insisted we use.
Next week I begin two more courses. The start of new courses is usually an exciting time. yesterday my course material arrived for the courses but sadly the only difference on one of the courses is that instead of studying algebra, I'll be studying goemetry. I'm greatly disappointed as I know I'm going to have to work harder about being positive about the course, than on the course content.
The course I attended in the summer provided times of reflection on our learning the previous day. One of the things we openly talked about was how the course was giving us, often painful, reminders of what it is like to be a learner.
Looking at my disappointment for the coming months, in a way it must be how many of my pupils feel when I say we're about to study an area of maths they find difficult. Or when I keep badgering them to set work out in a particular way and they want to just jump straight in with an answer.
Having met the authors of these courses in the summer course, I hold them in great respect as people who are not only knowledgeable, but from observing them, also great classroom practitioners. I need to change the way I view the coming months. There will have been great discussion amongst them about not only the course content but also the way it is presented and the best way to enable us as learners to formerly write down our thoughts about our learning.
This is a challenge, not a trial! Although at times it will feel like one. If I go into the coming 12 months with the expectation that I will hate it, I most probably will! Alternatively I can choose to see this experience as more than just a means to an end, but as an opportunity to learn new ways to improve my own skills as a teacher and to extend my learning and understanding of topics which I really enjoy in maths.
Life is full of challenges, it's how we choose to approach those challenges which determines our enjoyment, success and commitment.
Learn to face life's challenges with good expectations and excitement of what is in store. Never predetermine they will be unpleasant and a waste of time. Yes, I'm talking to myself as well!
Next week I begin two more courses. The start of new courses is usually an exciting time. yesterday my course material arrived for the courses but sadly the only difference on one of the courses is that instead of studying algebra, I'll be studying goemetry. I'm greatly disappointed as I know I'm going to have to work harder about being positive about the course, than on the course content.
The course I attended in the summer provided times of reflection on our learning the previous day. One of the things we openly talked about was how the course was giving us, often painful, reminders of what it is like to be a learner.
Looking at my disappointment for the coming months, in a way it must be how many of my pupils feel when I say we're about to study an area of maths they find difficult. Or when I keep badgering them to set work out in a particular way and they want to just jump straight in with an answer.
Having met the authors of these courses in the summer course, I hold them in great respect as people who are not only knowledgeable, but from observing them, also great classroom practitioners. I need to change the way I view the coming months. There will have been great discussion amongst them about not only the course content but also the way it is presented and the best way to enable us as learners to formerly write down our thoughts about our learning.
This is a challenge, not a trial! Although at times it will feel like one. If I go into the coming 12 months with the expectation that I will hate it, I most probably will! Alternatively I can choose to see this experience as more than just a means to an end, but as an opportunity to learn new ways to improve my own skills as a teacher and to extend my learning and understanding of topics which I really enjoy in maths.
Life is full of challenges, it's how we choose to approach those challenges which determines our enjoyment, success and commitment.
Learn to face life's challenges with good expectations and excitement of what is in store. Never predetermine they will be unpleasant and a waste of time. Yes, I'm talking to myself as well!
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Testing Faith!
1 Peter 1: 7
These (trials) have come so that your faith- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.
How often do we say "God is testing my faith!". God will not test us! He will not tempt us! Tempting and testing come from Satan. God is incapable of hurting us, it is not in his nature!
Trials in life are not tests of faith! They help us to see that the faith we have is genuine. If our faith is not genuine, we will fall. If our faith in God is genuine, we will survive! Not because we have a strength of character, but because we have a God who holds us strong. We are kept safe in his hands, secure and loved.
When we come through tough times our hearts are full of praise for the love of our God who has held us safe.
So don't see trials as testing, but as a means to demonstrate to yourself that your love of God is genuine. Think of all the tough times David suffered during his life. So many Psalms begin with frustration and panic as he worries about how he will ever get out of whatever trial he is facing. Yet each psalm ends in praise as David acknowledges the awesome majesty of his Lord. His faith was never tested! His faith proved to him that his love of God was genuine and would always keep him safe.
Let the trials you face be an opportunity for you to be reminded that your love of God is genuine and not just superficial.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
A Living Hope
Can you remember a time at school when you were reprimanded for using too many commas and full stops in your work? You then start writing great big long sentances with no commas no breaks you just waffle on and on without any break and the sentance just grows and grows. You feel you're doing a great job that your english is improving! Then later the teacher appears to change her mind. Use them less frequently! You're told not breaking up your work properly! Create sensible sentances!
Life seems to be full of comments which later appear to be contradicted.
As I return to 1 Peter this morning, I come across some amazing comments, all bunched together into one long sentance! I want to break it down into chunks to meditate on but I struggle to find the end of the sentance! Yet when I reach the end of the sentance and glance at the next one... I appear to find a contraction from Peter!
Verses 3 -5 speak of a living hope and God's shield of power keeping us safe until Christ's return, yet verse 6 speaks of the grief of many trials we will face!
If we are protected by God's power, why are we facing trials?
We visited relatives on Saturday. As young people they went to church and had a faith in God which held them fast. Sadly, Shirley's brother died. He was struck down by lightening! Along with her brother, Shirley's faith died. How could a God of love allow such a thing to happen? Especially when we are told that lightening (for insurance purposes) is an act of God!
It's often so hard to understand why God allows all the cruel things of this world to take place. I don't profess to know the answers. I try to live through my faith and accept that for me, my hope is in the future. Whatever I face here on earth will not change my future when Christ comes again. I have a living hope that sustains me. I can say these things, I haven't suffered the way so many have suffered. I really don't know how my faith would stand up if I lived in south USA at present or in the many countries where christians are being persecuted and killed for their faith.
In my faith, I will hold on to my living hope, that through the resurrection of Christ, my Lord, I will come into an inheritance that will never spoil or fade! My hope is not for an easy life on earth, but for an eternity to be spent worshipping God!
I cannot imagine how fantastic that will be. All I have is the knowledge that when I worship God, when I come before him in reverance and awe, there is no greater feeling, no greater time in my life. I am glad that I have Christ Jesus, who has sanctified my life, in order than I am able to enter God's presence for eternity to worship him.
Life seems to be full of comments which later appear to be contradicted.
As I return to 1 Peter this morning, I come across some amazing comments, all bunched together into one long sentance! I want to break it down into chunks to meditate on but I struggle to find the end of the sentance! Yet when I reach the end of the sentance and glance at the next one... I appear to find a contraction from Peter!
(3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, (5) who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
(6) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
Verses 3 -5 speak of a living hope and God's shield of power keeping us safe until Christ's return, yet verse 6 speaks of the grief of many trials we will face!
If we are protected by God's power, why are we facing trials?
We visited relatives on Saturday. As young people they went to church and had a faith in God which held them fast. Sadly, Shirley's brother died. He was struck down by lightening! Along with her brother, Shirley's faith died. How could a God of love allow such a thing to happen? Especially when we are told that lightening (for insurance purposes) is an act of God!
It's often so hard to understand why God allows all the cruel things of this world to take place. I don't profess to know the answers. I try to live through my faith and accept that for me, my hope is in the future. Whatever I face here on earth will not change my future when Christ comes again. I have a living hope that sustains me. I can say these things, I haven't suffered the way so many have suffered. I really don't know how my faith would stand up if I lived in south USA at present or in the many countries where christians are being persecuted and killed for their faith.
In my faith, I will hold on to my living hope, that through the resurrection of Christ, my Lord, I will come into an inheritance that will never spoil or fade! My hope is not for an easy life on earth, but for an eternity to be spent worshipping God!
I cannot imagine how fantastic that will be. All I have is the knowledge that when I worship God, when I come before him in reverance and awe, there is no greater feeling, no greater time in my life. I am glad that I have Christ Jesus, who has sanctified my life, in order than I am able to enter God's presence for eternity to worship him.
Monday, September 19, 2005
time to meditate
How often do we read the opening of a letter and just glance at the welcome?
1 Peter 1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
To God's elect His chosen people, selected for a purpose! That's me!!!
Strangers in the world we are called to live in God's kingdom, we are no longer part of this world but strangers in it. it seems strange to think that for so many years we have lived on this earth, yet now as citizens of God's kingdom, we are alien on this land. Our kingdom is not the earth but God's kingdom!
who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father God's plan for each of our lives causes us to be chosen, not just to live in his kingdom, but to serve there too.
through the sanctifying work of the Spirit I had to look up a definition of sanctify ( just to check it before I typed here) but it means made holy! we are people who have been made holy by the Holy Spirit!
for obedience to Jesus Christ how can we be anything other than obedient to Christ when the Holy Spirit has made us holy? Often it is so easy to forget God and just get on with life. But if we allow God's Holy Spirit to truly dwell in us, if we make ourselves aware of his amazing presence around us and in us in everything we do, then we will strive to be obedient to Christ through our everyday living.
2 small verses at the start of a short letter yet they are full of amazing truth and encouragement for who we are and how we should be living our lives.
Kingdom living! That's what I want! God's kingdom here on earth!
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Gideon and Peter
Ian bought a book about Gideon. The sub-title has made me inquisitive! "Power from Weakness". I'll read the book when Ian has finished, but to start this morning I decided to read the story of Gideon.
The first thing that hit me was those moaning and complaining Israelites! They were once again the victims of superior powers, constantly under attack, losing their land and their harvest and their livestock! They complained to God, "Why have you deserted us? Where are you when we need you?"
Yet they were unable to see the link between God's "desertion" and their own! They were no longer acting like God's people! They were once again worshipping Baal, building alters to other gods, yet expecting the one true God, whom they no longer worshipped, to rescue them when things turned bad.
I didn't study the story, just read it through. I then turned to the New Testament and skimmed through the end of James. Following James are the letters of Peter. Peter, the loud, out-spoken desciple is now writing as a mature man of God.
In 1Peter, Peter talks about living our lives in God's kingdom. 1 Peter 1 - 2 Peter 11 tells us about how we should be living. Not as worshippers of other gods in our busy world, not as citizens of this world, but as citizens of the kingdom of God, worshipping him and him alone.
The first thing that hit me was those moaning and complaining Israelites! They were once again the victims of superior powers, constantly under attack, losing their land and their harvest and their livestock! They complained to God, "Why have you deserted us? Where are you when we need you?"
Yet they were unable to see the link between God's "desertion" and their own! They were no longer acting like God's people! They were once again worshipping Baal, building alters to other gods, yet expecting the one true God, whom they no longer worshipped, to rescue them when things turned bad.
I didn't study the story, just read it through. I then turned to the New Testament and skimmed through the end of James. Following James are the letters of Peter. Peter, the loud, out-spoken desciple is now writing as a mature man of God.
In 1Peter, Peter talks about living our lives in God's kingdom. 1 Peter 1 - 2 Peter 11 tells us about how we should be living. Not as worshippers of other gods in our busy world, not as citizens of this world, but as citizens of the kingdom of God, worshipping him and him alone.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Peter begins his letter with an amazing declaration. He writes to just about anyone who is a believer with the following opening lines...
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
I feel I should spend quite some time reading and meditating on the truths of this letter.
Expect more thoughts to follow!
You will need your brain in gear to understand this!
For a few days now I've been aware that I'm not reading my bible as much as I used to. It can be a few days between me picking it up, and when I do, I tend to just quickly scan few verses. I've been quietly challenged by the Holy Spirit that I must get into God's word.
So this morning I got up early to read. One of those small voices, we need to learn to ignore, spoke to me challenging me as to the reason I was going to read it was out of guilt and not desire! Thankfully I was able to reason that God doesn't mind WHY we read his word as long as we obey him! Rather than not read because I feel guilty that I'm reading it because I've been neglecting it, I decided I would read it because God has told me to. I would rather be obedient to God than to not do something because I'm only doing it because I've been told to!
So this morning I got up early to read. One of those small voices, we need to learn to ignore, spoke to me challenging me as to the reason I was going to read it was out of guilt and not desire! Thankfully I was able to reason that God doesn't mind WHY we read his word as long as we obey him! Rather than not read because I feel guilty that I'm reading it because I've been neglecting it, I decided I would read it because God has told me to. I would rather be obedient to God than to not do something because I'm only doing it because I've been told to!
Friday, September 16, 2005
Healing Spirit
I dragged myself to cell group last night, exhausted and needing sleep. My head was hurting, I had a numb arm and I really just wanted to be in bed.
We talked about being a citizen of God's kingdom and humility. We prayed for two people who have been suffering long term migraines. I just stood by and prayed quietly in tongues for most of the time.
By the end of the meeting, my numb arm was feeling lots better, my own headache was fading. I fell into bed grateful for the sleep to come.
This morning I awoke to a pain free head and an arm which is not misbehaving! God heals our sickness even when we don't directly ask for healing. His Holy Spirit ministered to me during the time of prayer.
Being amongst God's family allows us to draw on the strength of others. The love and caring of this particular group of people always gives me strength and encouragement and no matter how tired I am, I always make the effort to meet with them. I am blessed with incredibly sensitive leaders. They are sensitive to the nudging of the Holy Spirit allowing them to be aware of when we need support. I know last night I received a quiet reassuring and encouraging word from one of them which lifted yet relaxed me allowing me to benefit from the sleep I needed. This particular person needed rest as much as I did, yet in her humility and love for others she offered me the words I needed to bless me.
I am so fortunate that God has placed me amongst such loyal citizens of heaven. People who lead through example.
We talked about being a citizen of God's kingdom and humility. We prayed for two people who have been suffering long term migraines. I just stood by and prayed quietly in tongues for most of the time.
By the end of the meeting, my numb arm was feeling lots better, my own headache was fading. I fell into bed grateful for the sleep to come.
This morning I awoke to a pain free head and an arm which is not misbehaving! God heals our sickness even when we don't directly ask for healing. His Holy Spirit ministered to me during the time of prayer.
Being amongst God's family allows us to draw on the strength of others. The love and caring of this particular group of people always gives me strength and encouragement and no matter how tired I am, I always make the effort to meet with them. I am blessed with incredibly sensitive leaders. They are sensitive to the nudging of the Holy Spirit allowing them to be aware of when we need support. I know last night I received a quiet reassuring and encouraging word from one of them which lifted yet relaxed me allowing me to benefit from the sleep I needed. This particular person needed rest as much as I did, yet in her humility and love for others she offered me the words I needed to bless me.
I am so fortunate that God has placed me amongst such loyal citizens of heaven. People who lead through example.
I pray today that I may be sensitive to your Spirit and not senseless and selfish, full of the "Poor Old Me" attitude that is so prevalent in today's world.
I am NOT of this world! I am a citizen of heaven! Help me to live according to your will today!
Thank you for the wonderful new world in which I live. Thank you I am a new creation and able to draw on your power as I seek to live my life for you.
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