Random, late night, thoughts....

SO, it's almost Christmas, the Coca Cola advert has been on the TV for weeks now, so even those who dislike Christmas can't deny that It's almost here! Two weeks from today you will be thinking back on the previous days happenings. Reflecting on the size of roast you ate, laughing at those really bad jokes you got in your crackers and and taking time out with the ones you love.

In my Job I've been leading up to Christmas for several weeks now, by planning various sessions. On Wednesday the main theme of my 'Bible Club' session was John 3:16. Which. as most of you know, is one of the most well know verses in the Bible. My aim was to teach that Jesus was heaven sent and that God thinks they're worth it. And i think this verse says it nice and clearly.

Its says this:
'For God so love the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.'

WOW! Love it!
This verse has so much to tell us. It tells us two truths about God and then it gives us an opportunity to respond to what God has done for us.

Firstly, it tells us that God loves us. This is a deep love, the verse then continues to say that He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die. God gave Jesus for us, because He loves us, simple!
God loves you!!!!!!
He loves us to the point of sending His only son to earth to take the punishment we deserve for all the bad stuff we do (sin).

But for all this to be real to us, we need to respond to what God has done for us.
The verse says that 'whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.'
If we believe in the truths that God loves us and Jesus died for our sin, than we can have eternal life with God. It means that though we will die an earthly death we will go on to live for eternity with God.

How will you respond to the scripture? What will you do in the knowledge that God loves you so much He sent Jesus to die so He could spend eternity with you?

This Christmas lets reflect on the Fact that Jesus came in to this world for a reason, to die. The plan was always that He would die and rise again. A midst all the turkey and festivities this year, take time to look at the Birth, Life, Death and Resurrection of Christ. Take time to look at the True meaning of Christmas and what that truly means for you!

...and breathe

If your anything like me, you lead a real busy life with lots to do.
Yesterday i reached exhaustion point. Ive only been in my new job 16 days, but so much stuff has happened in that time. Ive moved county, changed jobs, made new friends and tried to settle in to busy suburban London life.
I'm exhausted, so many people to meet and so many places to explore. Each day i discover something new. Its taking its toll on my brain! eek.
I felt yesterday afternoon that i just need to take time to breathe, hence the title '... and breathe'.
Take time yo chill and relax. Take time to study the word of God and to seek His strength.
Life is such an emotional journey. Maybe as your reading this you will be having a fresh start this year, maybe new job or off to uni for the 1st time or even maybe your moving away from home, and don't know ANYBODY, that was me just over two weeks ago. I moved to London for my new job, where i didn't know anyone, or anywhere or even how the transport system worked.
Ive learnt a lesson this past couple of weeks, and that is i cant do this on my own. Its such an effort if i rely on my own strength and ability. One of my fave verses in the bible is Philippians 4:13 which says 'I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.' Such an amazing verse.
Without Gods strength id be so screwed up right now. He helps me daily. Every morning we have a prayer meeting before we start work, at church, this as really helped me to seek Gods strength for the day ahead.
These are the random thoughts of a man sat in Starbucks who is feeling tired and in need of a holiday! But i hope that through reading them you will be encouraged in some way.

My big point is: Hand it over the God in prayer, rely on him for strength and trust that He has a plan for you and loved you before the dawn of time.

Giving and serving; the challenge for more?

My tangerine of the day! - Today was day one in my new job. I am the youth work intern for Christ Church Surbiton and will be working with young people aged 7+. My first day was spent in the office, mainly doing paperwork and reading. It was ace. Never thought id have so much fun doing admin! I met a guy today called Ben, he is the worship intern. Ben is great, such a passionate man of God. I love this dude, he's my new best friend.
I wanna blog this morning on the power of serving. I think its something we can all do, but I don't think we do enough.
Why should we serve more? Well, Jesus gave up His life on earth, so that we can be in perfect relationship with Him. God chose to show perfect love on the cross. We need to decide to put Him first and for most in our lives. Jesus said in John 15: 12-13 "This is my commandment that you love one another as i have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." In the verses Jesus tells us to love one another as he has loved us, Jesus showes us ultimate love by baring our wrong does on the cross. We need to be sacrificial and selfless in our love of others.
How can we serve more? Many times in life we feel like we want to serve more, but are not quite sure how we should do this so we dont. I think the key is to start simple, for instance making a cake one a week for the people you work with to share at coffee time, or leaving an anonymous gift for some one. Maybe get more active in your involvement in serving your church? If your already in  full time ministry, go the extra mile and help with the cleaning, or the welcome desk or the making of refreshments. Pray about who God want you to serve and in what way?
Dont take this in an arrogant way, but I love serving, I just wanna serve people. I feel so strongly that God has given my a servant heart and I just have a real heart for young people and I really want God to use me to be His hands and feet and i really wanna see the young people  grow in and through Christ. I love my young people from my last placement, they are a great. When i left i was sad, but so happy because I could see how God has been working in them over the past two years.

Over the coming few days I wanna challenge you to really think about how you can serve more. Think about the impact you can have through your actions, especially to your non Christian friends. Use the gifts that God has given you to bless others.

Would be great for you to really seek God and what He wants you to do for Him. Be open and challenged.  

God bless you my friends! feedback appreciated through email or facebook message.

persecution

i recently watched a programme on the BBC about whether or not Christians are being persecuted in Britain today? And the conclusion was that they are not!

To be honest i think this is rubbish! Lets weigh it up!
A women recently refused homosexuals the rights to stay in here bed and breakfast facilities in her own home, because she doesn't agree with homosexuality. Reports say that she is Christian who believes the Biblical teaching on the matter. Was it right for her to refuse them the room? Of course it was! Would you of done the same? I have been discussing this with a local B&B owner and she feels that she would do the same, she feels she has the right to let who she wishes into her own home, she also added that she wouldn't allow an unmarried couple to stay in her B&B either. It is her right to refuse anyone into her B&B for a genuine reason.

Point number 2! Religious symbols! (please don't view this as racism)
We have seen cases recently where people have been forced to remove cross necklaces in their work places.
I think this is totally wrong. Lets think why people wear crosses, it is a symbol and reminder of what Jesus did on the cross. protestant Christians wear an empty cross because Jesus isn't dead, the cross and grave are empty and Jesus is alive just as he foretold. It seems that people are more acceptant of people wearing head scarves and other head wear than crosses. England used to be a Christian country, where did that go?
I think we, as Christians, should be more focused on women dressing modestly and not what symbol they are wearing. We need to be living our lives above reproach, this mean to be above accusation. It would be wrong for me to wear a t-shirt with swearing on, just as much as it is wrong to wear short skirts or low cut tops.  (this is a huge tangerine, sorry)

Basically, what I'm saying is that Christians are being persecuted! Right here in Britain, today! In a world that is multi cultural and more accepting of different ways of life, the government and the powers that be have pushed out Christianity because it speaks against such immoral things such as sex before marriage, abortion and euthanasia. I want to urge you to be bold in your faith, don't be scared of persecution, we were warned about it by Jesus, but instead of fear live a servant life, being a child and servant of Christ. I have a good friend Dan who is as bold as anything! He is happy to stand up and say his piece if he has a different, biblical based, opinion. I admire Him for that. So stand firm in the truth of the Gospel, faithfully preaching it until Jesus returns or calls you home.

One of the most humbling things i have heard about in my life is something that the Queen said. She said that she hoped that Jesus comes back whilst she is still alive so that she could lay her crown at His feet. WOW!!!!
Think about that! Our head of state is showing us a great example of humility there.

superman

Superman, Batman, Spiderman and other superhero's have dominated our cinema screens over the  years. Superman has always been my favourite hero, with his amazing ability to fly and pure intellectual ability. This world loves a good action film; with scenes of good versus evil, the good guy winning his dream girl and using his super powers to save the day. Most young boys wish that they were just like a superhero, having the ability to fly, or swing from building to building or being able to defeat your greatest enemy. I always wanted to be superman, he seeming lived a great life, having a great day job, wonderful girlfriend, but also being a hero whose identity was a mystery.
As a child I aspired to be a superhero, I wanted to be great and I wanted to save the world from evil. I have found the real superhero. I have realised that there has always been a superhero stronger than batman, more powerful than Spiderman and more intellectual than superman, His name is Jesus.
Jesus has always existed and always will. He did some cool stuff in His time on earth, from walking on water and  turning water into wine to curing people of diseases and raising them from the dead. This man is the one and only true superhero. The Bible is filled with many stories about Jesus' life, death and resurrection. Jesus had the greatest victory any superhero could wish for, and that was victory over the worlds greatest enemy, Satan. When He defeated Satan, Jesus reclaimed the world. He died so that the relationship between man and God could be restored. Faith in Jesus Christ alone can bring you salvation. We all have our problems in life, our weaknesses, but in Christ is perfect and in his death and resurrection he showed perfect love for us. When we have salvation through faith in Christ we don't need superman to rescue us. We don't need to look to save the day ourselves. Jesus died on the Cross so we don't have to try and defeat the enemy, this is exactly what Jesus did.

Day two of Blogging and lots to say!

Today was great! Firstly Amanda and I got stuck in traffic along arch hill which was quickly  followed by a coffee in Starbucks at Chiverton cross. Well this is all irrelevant.
Today I listened to a sermon by Dr Don Carson on Romans 3:21-26
 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.


So here are my thoughts after reading this passage and hearing Dr Dons sermon.

• The two most important things are the Cross and the resurrection.
• Sin is, first and for most, idolatry. As sinful humans we put everything above and before God, we show greater love for earthly things than for our Saviour and we marginalize God from our lives.
• The righteousness of God from the new covenant, is for all who have faith in Jesus Christ because all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. 
• We are Justified through Gods Grace and what Jesus did on the Cross.
• In the above passage God is the one who does the propitiating, not us!
• When Jesus is on the Cross He is showing Gods love and mercy but is also showing that God is just. He has previously left our sins unpunished but on the Cross he pours out all His punishment on His own son. He is Just!

What do you think?!?!?

My thoughts for today!

This afternoon i co-led an after school club. We looked at the story of Abraham and Sarah and focused on how Abraham relied on God for strength, and that with God anything is possible.
This got me thinking, how often do we turn to Christ for strength? Is it just me or do we sometimes go off and do our own thing and forget where our strength comes from. 
The verse we also looked at today was: 'I can do all things through Him who strengthens me' Philippians 4:13
I love this verse and I know that God is speaking to me through this verse. I find myself trying to get by some weeks on my own strength, and i realize that I just cant do it. After a week trying to live off my own strength i fall flat on my face, i feel exhausted, i want to give up and i just don't see the point. And every time this happens, God brings me back to the above verse. 
I urge you, therefore, brothers and sisters to trust in the Lord your God and rely on His strength each day.