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Just a christian.I will bless The Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
8月2日 It's All about LOVEAnd we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1. John. 4:16.
"Love is not a feeling, it's an of act of your will" - Don Francisco.
I don't suppose I'll truly get across whats on my heart to write in this blog as it is deep personal revelation to me. I know I have least written about "Love" a couple of times but it always comes back to "Love" when you write about God.
The one thing that really strikes me as I grow in the Lord is the awesome simplicity that it's ALL about LOVE. It astounds me in it's Simplicity & yet at the same the more I grow in revelation and as a son of God, I find the depth of it unfathomable. Here is where it gets hard for me to put across whats in my heart.... The Word says God is Love & as a christian I accept that simple truth in my heart. I love The Lord for what He did for me on the cross. To show my love to Him I keep His commandments. I love my neighbours & pray for them. I don't really have any enemies that hate me etc for me to love. These are simple Truths that when I meditate on Love it just astounds me & the more I meditate on them they get bigger & then I need to get on my knees to pray for more revelation to keep up with where my thoughts take me.
Paul beautifully writes about Love in 1. Corinthians 13, A well known chapter of the bible. To basically sum up what Paul so eloquently wrote.. Whatever we do or say.. Without Love it is All a waste of time & effort.
When The Lord used Paul (who is the angel of the church of Ephesus) to write to the backslidden Ephesian church, Paul, writes.... Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Rev. 2:4-5. As a christian I recognise when I backslide, which to my shame I do all to often, The first thing thats happens is to me is that I lose that Love I originally have for the Lord to things my flesh loves. Then to start to get back on the narrow way of my walk, I first have to repent & go back to my first works.. Love the Lord & put Him first in my life again & regain that Faith which turned to unbelief.
I Believe The Word tells me as a son of God & as I live in the Spirit.. I will go through many trials & tribulations for the development of my character to become more Christ like & ultimately as Christ was on earth with the Spoken Word, so Will I be. If I then am to become as Christ was, I will become Love. As Jesus was God and God IS LOVE. That may sound like a grand boasting but thats what the Word declares.
There are some many Scriptures I could use in writing this blog entry about love. I really wouldn't know to start or to end & it probably be the worlds longest blog if I put them all down. Once again I don't really feel I have truly put across that was on my heart to write but if you read this blog I pray somehow it will inspire you & make you think about how truly amazing the Love of God is.
To end this blog I just want to finish up with this thought that often shames me when I think about it... When we met that someone special in our lives & fall in love with them. We want to spend all our time with that person & find ourselves pining for that person if they are away for even the shortest of time & longing for thier return. If that is the case for loved ones we have. What should we be like with The Lord? I know myself I don't spend as much time with Him as I should, I say that very shamefully. I should be wanting to spending every minute I'm awake with Him but instead I find myself wanting to other things, which are not always profitable. The Word says to Pray without ceasing. 1. Thessalonians 5:17. I try to think of this scripture not just to remember to ask God for something etc but to talk to my Heavenly Father constantly. For when I Pray I am talking intimately not only with My Heavenly Father but with My God, My Lord, My Saviour & The Love of my Life. Amen.
7月5日 Speed LimitsPut them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, Titus 3:1
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Philippians 2:15
As a christian I have many daily struggles with my fleshly old nature that constantly tries to resurrect & cause me to backslide. One of the greatest struggles I have with my flesh is to keep the speed limit while I am driving. This is a real battle for me & I wonder how many other christians have the same battle. I'm not saying that I am a speed freak that goes way over the speed limits every oppotunity but just to drive at 30mph in a 30mph zone etc. I really struggle with this. I find myself driving at 35mph -40mph in 30mph Zones, on the motorway I'm supposed to drive at 70mph but my speedometer often reads 75mph & sometimes 80mph. Even though I'm not vastly breaking the speed limit I know I am in the wrong. It seems a large part of my driving is to keep my eye on the speedometer & keep within the limit. I have what I call LFS - Lead Foot Syndrome at times or another way to think of it is what an sister once said that she has an uncircumsised right foot. I try to be a careful conscientious driver not as just a christain but to be safe as I can beacause some people are just bad drivers and we have to think for them. This all might seem kinda trivial on 1st reading but if your a christian reading this it is not trivial at all but very important. Christians have to live by the laws of the lands and be good law abiding people. Lord forbid, but what if a christian was speeding just a little over the limit & was involved in an accident? It would be an awful witness, wouldn't it? how could they testify or witness being in the wrong, even if the accident wasn't thier fault but they was still over the limit when it happened. Also getting a speeding ticket & points on a licence is such a bad witness. But most important of all is how can God protect us on the roads if we live outside of His Word, He cannot honour our prayers for travelling Grace & Mercy when we drive like the people in the world do. So, if your my brother or sister reading this please pray that I keep to the speed limit & not tempted to do that extra 5mph over the speed limit, thinking to myself I can do 5miles over because 5 is the number of grace & the police allow 5% over the limit speeding (which in fact is if your driving over the speed limit & your speedometers says 70mph say, the police allow that 5% error because of the accuracy of the speedometer).
5月27日 Go West, young man? Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.
When I came back from my holiday in Arizona last October I came back very blessed indeed as the Lord had richly Blessed my holiday over there. I decided upon my return home I would very much like to return to Arizona. I kinda decided to return autumn 2007. But when I thought I had to wait that long I felt sick inside & had a strong yearning to get back there sooner. The thought of waiting another 2 years was almost too much for me to bear it seemed. I thought within myself I have a "pull", never before have I felt a 'pull' or yearning. OK, I had had a blessed holiday with my friend Dave, I saw a beautiful part of the americas, meet some wonderful brothers & sisters who had become good friends to me. But inside me I knew this 'pull' or whatever you'd call it was more than a desire to to return to have another good trip.
When, Samuel, my pastor, said he was feeling very led by the Holy Spirit to go & preach over there at the invite of a pastor in Poenix, I became very excited indeed. I thought of a chance to return to phoenix was almost to much to think about for me. I wanted God's Perfect Will first of all but inside I hoped with all my heart Samuel's leading was of the Holy Spirit, which it turned about to be. You can read about the trip to Arizona in my previous blog entry.
Anyways, While I was over there in phoenix, I confessed to a few people about my experience when I had returned home the previous october. I shared this with Samuel & said something like " I have a pull for this place" and at the time I was not really meaning phoenix but yet at the same time thinking it was for phoenix as I was enjoying the fellowship there. Samuel being in the spirit made a comment something like this " I think that's just your flesh talking & if you moved here you'd probaly leave the Lord" at hereing this I was very despondent & didn't take to well at hearing this. Deep down I kinda knew he was right as big cities are a pull for my flesh sometimes. I Just left it at that & tried not to dwell on it. As soon as we had left Phoenix, The pull returned. I had put phoenix behind me & was just looking forward to seeing my friends in Flagstaff & seeing places like Sedona etc again. So, I saw my friends there & had some wonderful fellowship with the saints there. Was soo good to see my friends again. The church in Flagstaff has such a nice spirit on it. I made a comment to Samuel about the church there feeling like the one at home & Samuel agreed & that it felt the same. I went on to comment to several people that this church is like being at home away from home & even went on to say I truly felt if I was to leave my church in southampton for some reason I'd only want to to come to the church here. Also we spent some good quality time fellowshipping with bro Jim Daulton, the pastor in Flagstaff. I came to have a great respect for bro Jim as an elder in the church. I greatly respect his wisdom, his thoughts & of course His Love for the Lord & the Word. I said to also said to Samuel, If you wasn't my pastor I'd like bro Jim to my pastor. Let me just add in here I've travelled quite a bit around the USA & been to several churches but had never felt such as I had in Flagstaff. I left Flagstaff & felt if I was leaving my 2nd home or something.
So, back here in England I've been pondering on alll this and of course praying about all this & commiting it all to the Lord. I've kinda been imagining what it would be like to leave England behind & move over to Flagstaff. Today I phoned some friends in Flagstaff & got talking to a dear sister who mentioned her son in law is looking for someone to help in his painting busines & her & her daughter or daughter in law both thought of me for some reason. Not only that she mentioned her husband always need help in his business too. So, you can imagine this got me all thinking again!
Who can say what the future holds but the Lord. I don't know the Lord's Perfect Will for me in all of this but I just felt I should get this written down as I believe it to be the start of a testimony one way or another. I dare not say any more than that & dare not even to mention what my desire is. 5月20日 Arizona -26th April -11th May.Goodness! don't time fly when life stuff gets in the way! I have been so caught up in stuff that I haven't blogged since easter. I had intended to try n keep up with this blog but kept putting it off for other things.
One of the reasons I haven't blogged recently is that I've been away. My pastor, bro Samuel, for whom I care for as he has parkinsons disease was led by The Holy Spirit to go & preach in Arizona. So, Samuel, Peter & I all headed off to Phoenix & Flagstaff, Az for 2 weeks. Bro Ron Peterson, a close friend of Samuel's & pastor of a church in Phoenix had invited Samuel to preach over there. Also bro Jim Daulton, the pastor of a church in Flagstaff, who had meet Samuel about 12yrs ago in germany also invited him to preach there. We left off for Arizona on the 26th April. Samuel thought he'd be preaching at least 4 times in phoenix but ended up only preaching twice. He was led to make a 4 part series on being born again into 2 messages. On the sun eve of the 30th Samuel preached on justification & sanctification. Then on the 3rd May, a wed eve, Sameul preached part 2 on baptism of the Holy spirit & new life. I believe God was really in those messages as I believe that's why Samuel was there to preach those messages. God also blessed with some wonderful fellowship with the saints there. I'd made some good friends there from my last visit in Oct. '05 It was good to see them again & I also made some new friends this time around. We didn't really get out n about in phoenix other than to fellowship. I really don't like phoenix. it is just a big sprawling souless city. If it was not for some dear friends there I'd not go back there. BTW hello & God Bless to bro. Terry n sis. Tina + family, bro Neil & wife, bro John & family.
 Now, Flagstaff on the other hand is totally different to me. I think Flagstaff is a large town but has some character. We arrived in Flagstaff on thurs 4th May. I drove up to Flagstaff via Sedona, so Samuel & Peter could see how pretty that place is. Sedona is one of the prettiest places I've ever visited. We arrived in Flag in the eve & meet up with bro Jim & couple of other bros for dinner & fellowship at a resturant called Cracker Barrel, which is my fave place to eat in the US. I'd been wanting to get Samuel & Peter to check it out since we arrived in Az. They also really liked the old home style american food that Cracker Barrel does. The following day I took Samuel & Peter up to the Grand Canyon so they could behold the breathtaking sight that is the GC. Having seen it all last Oct it was kinda old hat to me but I still got some pleasure in seeing it's spectacular beauty. On sat we just kinda chilled out & had some fellowship & lunch with a bro & good friend of mine called bro Reg. another friend from my last visit, who was good to see again. Samuel was asked to preach twice also in Flagstaff. Peter & I was also asked to give our testimonies. Samuel 1st preached on sun morning of the 6th May. He preached about the former and latter rain. On the same sun eve. I gave my testimony. I talked for about 20mins on God's Amazing Grace in my life. I was very blessed by the feed back from the people & some brothers said they felt it was very annointed. So, Praise God that He could use me in some way to bless His children. The next day.. Bro Jim and some other brothers took the 3 of us up to Lake Powell for a few days rest & fishing. Lake Powell is very beautiful. I think I'm right in saying it's at the start of the Grand Canyon or something. On the mon the weather wasn't to good for fishing so the 3 of us just fellowshipped with bro Jim & bro Matt, whos boat we was on. Bro Matt n I become very good pals on this trip. Was a really blessed day of fellowship & I felt in my spirit a really nice spirit on the days fellowship. The next day, tues. We went out fishing with 2 other brothers. bro Ray & Steve Robson, they took us to this natural wonder called rainbow bridge. It is the world's largest natural arch. it is very impressive to see actually. After that the bros. was keen to fish so we headed back out somewhere in lake powell to fish. Peter caught a fish that keeps getting better the more he tells about it. I, personally wasn't into fishing all that much. It was more for sport than eatin'. If we was planning to fish for supper I'd shown more interest and fished a lot more., i kinda fished half hearted jsut to join in. I didn't really wanna catch some poor fish & hook it out of the water & let is suffercate for a few mins before I let him go. I decided to chill more & let the fishes do the same. Anyways a blessed 2 days of fellowship & rest. Wed, the next day was to be our last in Az. We rested up, had some fellowship at lunch with a group of bros. Samuel was preaching that night so he stayed at the hotel & got prayed up. I was blessed to be able to visit bro Reg at his home & fellowship with his wife, dear sis charline, who had been restin' up after some surgery. At church later in the eve, Peter gave his testimony, which was a blessing to hear of God's Grace. Samuel was told by The Lord to change what he was originally going to preach on to a message on marrage relationships. Which The Lord truly was in because of the response of the saints in the church afterwards. The saints laid on a nice supper for us in thier fellowship hall to spend one last time of fellowship with us & to give us a blessed sending off. The next day was a loong tiring journey home but we & our luggage all arrived safely back in gatwick airport on the fri morning GMT.
Well, thats basically our 2 week trip summed up! It was a very tiring but very Blessed 2 weeks. Lord Willing, I'm planning to go back & to do some photography in Sedona & Flagstaff this fall. I've had so many invites & offers of places to stay by my dear friends over there I think I'd be bed hopping not wanting to offend anyone on my next vist.
I'd just like to end this blog by Thanking You ALL the beloved saints in Phoenix & Flaggstaff for blessing us so richly with kindness & awesome fellowship. Some I have named but there is a whole bunch that arn't. Thank You & God Bless You richly to each one of you. Amen. 4月16日 The Third Day!Happy Easter Everyone!
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: Luke 24:44-46
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
We all know that the term 'Easter' (easter translated in the greek is pascha which means passover according to Strong's concordence) is actually a pagan festival & all that the world uses as easter symbols come from pagan rites etc. My friend Roni, did a good blog entry on that on her space... http://spaces.msn.com/lovingtenderly/Blog We also know that for Christians just like christmas, easter is celebrated every day in the believers heart for that is where Christ is Alive. But I just wanted to say how so very Glad I am that Lord Jesus Christ is Alive today, not just in my heart but that He Lives Forever more.
"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. " Revelation 1:18.
Praise The Lord! How wonderful to know that I have Life Eternal In Christ Jesus because He Arose and Lives Forever more! Thank you my Heavenly Father for calling me and for giving me the revelation of this. Amen
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