What can make me whole again, "nothing but the blood of Jesus". Sometimes I take for granted the great sacrifice of my saviour, the blood that he shed so that my sins could once and for all be forgiven and so that I could spend eternity with him.
I am reading through the book of Leviticus, which provides great and lengthy detail into the different sacrifices that the Israelites were required to make for sin offerings, fellowship offerings, etc. and then also the different kinds of offerings that they were to make, like burnt offerings, grain offerings, etc.
One has only to read this to be thankful that Jesus paid the price and we don't have to make these offerings that are described in pain staking detail. There is so much detail that they would be so easy to mess up.
Are you thankful for the blood of Jesus today? Have you been washed white as snow?
Check out the scripture link (http://www.biblegateway.com);
Leviticus 1-7 (New International Version)
Check out these song links;
Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus
Nothing But The Blood - Hillsong United
Nothing But The Blood - Matt Redman
By His Wounds - Steven Curtis Chapman........
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Golf and christianity
In the game of golf, when striking the ball it is very important not to look up to admire where you think the ball may end up. If you prematurely lift your head and take your eye off the ball as you are about to strike the ball you will likely affect your swing and the result will not be as desired. You may duff the ball and see it go only several yards in the grass instead of that 300 yard arcing drive that you were hoping for.
I was thinking about my relationship with God and drawing a similarity, when I take my focus off of him, my overall joy suffers. Similarly to taking my focus off of the ball and looking to see where it may land, when I worry about my future I am taking my eyes and focus off of God and the present.
Click on song link:
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Alan Jackson
The other parallel with the game of golf is that often the harder you try, the worse your game gets. Golf is all about relaxing and technique. So seems the Christian life, when we relax in the arms of Jesus and allow him to work in and through us, the results are much better.
Click on song link:
I Surrender - Hillsong Live
Click on song link:
Lead me Lord- Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
I was thinking about my relationship with God and drawing a similarity, when I take my focus off of him, my overall joy suffers. Similarly to taking my focus off of the ball and looking to see where it may land, when I worry about my future I am taking my eyes and focus off of God and the present.
Click on song link:
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Alan Jackson
The other parallel with the game of golf is that often the harder you try, the worse your game gets. Golf is all about relaxing and technique. So seems the Christian life, when we relax in the arms of Jesus and allow him to work in and through us, the results are much better.
Click on song link:
I Surrender - Hillsong Live
Matthew 16:24 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
New International Version (NIV)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Click on song link:
Lead me Lord- Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
How quickly we turn our backs (Exodus 32:1-4)
We are not very patient are we? We so quickly lose faith and turn to other things, even idols for a source of comfort and strength. The Israelites even after the amazing display of power that they had witnessed from God, were so quick to grumble and turn on God. They do it yet again in the below passage.
Exodus 32:1-4 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
I don't think the Israelites are alone here. I can certainly see similarities in my own journey when rather than trust and wait on God, I have tried to determine my own path by putting my trust in other things, rather than clinging to an all knowing God.
My faith can be so fragile and fleeting.
How are you doing in the faith department
Exodus 32:1-4 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
New International Version (NIV)
The Golden Calf
32 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[a] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”I don't think the Israelites are alone here. I can certainly see similarities in my own journey when rather than trust and wait on God, I have tried to determine my own path by putting my trust in other things, rather than clinging to an all knowing God.
My faith can be so fragile and fleeting.
How are you doing in the faith department
Friday, 29 November 2013
Why do I doubt God when..........(Exodus 14:21-31)
Why do I doubt God when I read of the amazing things he has done, after all he is the same God today as he was when he created the world, parted the sea for the Israelites and on and on his feats go. So why do I find it so hard to trust this same God with my life, with my future, with things of less significance than parting a sea?
Exodus 14:21-31 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
Exodus 14:21-31 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
New International Version (NIV)
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed[a] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward[b] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant
As I read biblical time happenings like this I am reminded again of the importance of filling myself with God's word to remind me of his power, goodness, grace, etc. I am far from alone on this journey, he very much wants to be part of it, if I would only consistently choose to let him be.
Click on the below links to 2 beautiful songs;
Michael W Smith - Awesome God
How great thou art
23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed[a] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward[b] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant
As I read biblical time happenings like this I am reminded again of the importance of filling myself with God's word to remind me of his power, goodness, grace, etc. I am far from alone on this journey, he very much wants to be part of it, if I would only consistently choose to let him be.
Click on the below links to 2 beautiful songs;
Michael W Smith - Awesome God
How great thou art
Thursday, 28 November 2013
But Lord I am so inadequate (Exodus 4:10-17)
But Lord I am so inadequate.....do ya know the feeling? Have you ever felt called to something you felt so inadequate for? Or perhaps you are in the midst of a journey and you wonder how on earth you can honour God's name in the midst of your journey, your struggle.
Well we are not alone, the great Moses also felt inadequate and actually refused to trust God to speak for and through him to give the "Let the Israelites go speeches" requiring his brother Aaron to do the talking. Check out the passage.
Exodus 4:10-17 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
Well we are not alone, the great Moses also felt inadequate and actually refused to trust God to speak for and through him to give the "Let the Israelites go speeches" requiring his brother Aaron to do the talking. Check out the passage.
Exodus 4:10-17 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
New International Version (NIV)
10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
I can relate to this as my wife and I have felt so inadequate to honor God and fulfil his purpose in the health journey's he has allowed us to be on. We have found him to be faithful though if we choose to seek him.
Are we reluctant like Moses? Do we feel inadequate like Moses did? How are we responding to what God is asking of us?
We can draw encouragement from the fact that great bible characters like Moses had the same struggles we do.
I Surrender
Walk With Me
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”
I can relate to this as my wife and I have felt so inadequate to honor God and fulfil his purpose in the health journey's he has allowed us to be on. We have found him to be faithful though if we choose to seek him.
Are we reluctant like Moses? Do we feel inadequate like Moses did? How are we responding to what God is asking of us?
We can draw encouragement from the fact that great bible characters like Moses had the same struggles we do.
I Surrender
Walk With Me
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
forgotten promises (Exodus 1:6-11)
Have you experienced a change in supervisors or boss's in your life? Perhaps if you have, you have felt like Joseph's family in the below text. Perhaps with your new supervisor or boss you have found that the promises and plans of your previous one have not been carried on.
This is how Joseph's family found things, once a prominent family of high standing, they were now being treated poorly under a new regime.
Exodus 1:6-11 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
This is how Joseph's family found things, once a prominent family of high standing, they were now being treated poorly under a new regime.
Exodus 1:6-11 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
New International Version (NIV)
6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, 7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.
8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
Your story may not be as brutal, but you may well have experienced this in some form. It's very hard to remain faithful to God and be happy in the midst of disappointment at the hand of others.
8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. 9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
Your story may not be as brutal, but you may well have experienced this in some form. It's very hard to remain faithful to God and be happy in the midst of disappointment at the hand of others.
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
manipulation (Genesis 50:15-21)
How often do we try to manipulate our circumstance to try and turn what we fear to be a bad turn of events into a good turn of events?
Fearing the worst, that is exactly what Joseph's brothers did in the below text;
Genesis 50:15-21 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
Fearing the worst, that is exactly what Joseph's brothers did in the below text;
Genesis 50:15-21 (http://www.biblegateway.com)
New International Version (NIV)
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Maybe our circumstances are different, but how often do we try to manage and manipulate our circumstances instead of trusting the one who has our whole journey in plain sight?
We can learn so much from these bible stories because they are about real people who dealt with life in the same way we do. They are for our instruction and encouragement, both to learn from the mistakes of some and the triumphs of others.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Maybe our circumstances are different, but how often do we try to manage and manipulate our circumstances instead of trusting the one who has our whole journey in plain sight?
We can learn so much from these bible stories because they are about real people who dealt with life in the same way we do. They are for our instruction and encouragement, both to learn from the mistakes of some and the triumphs of others.
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