by emma | Oct 17, 2005 | Faith
“So–who is like me? Who holds a candle to me?” says The Holy.
Look at the night skies: Who do you think made all this? Who marches this army of stars out each night, counts them off, calls each by name –so magnificent! so powerful!– and never overlooks a single one?
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “GOD has lost track of me. He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? GOD doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.
[Isaiah 40:25-29, TM]
by emma | Oct 14, 2005 | Faith
I’ve been learning a lot about prayer… Lately my life has been a bit ‘turbulent’, I have been pretty up and down, and a lot has been happening both in me personally and in the people around me. There has been a lot of pain surrounding me – family members and friends both going through some tough times.
How do I pray for these guys? Intercession… feeling their pain… lets be honest, it hurts. We dont like to hurt – I dont like to hurt. But to pray for these guys, the guys I love, that I’m close to, that I spend my time with… praying effectively for them means hurting for them. Feeling their pain. It means I have to be vulnerable and open and allow God to work through me to move in their lives… I have to be willing to feel their pain.
And that’s tough.
by emma | Oct 3, 2005 | Faith
I’ve got this phrase stuck in my head, a devoted generation, so I have been doing a bit of Bible study to see where devotion is mentioned in the Bible. I found this gem of a verse while reading in 1 Kings 8…
May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors.
[1 Kings 8:58 TM]
What does a generation devoted to God look like? They follow after Him, walking where He has already walked, always watchful. In the words of a well-known cliche, they ‘walk the talk’. They are not afraid of what the world around them may say, all that matters is fighting the good fight, running the race with perserverance – pressing on and pressing in to Gods blessings for them. All that matters is crossing the finishing line and hearing Him whisper those words in your ear, “Well done, my good and faithfull servant!”
But do you know what I picked up from this for the first time this evening? The opening phrase, “May he keep us centred…” We don’t have to worry about keeping the faith, God does that for me. It is Jesus who keeps me centred and focused on Him…
It’s Jesus who keeps me devoted to Himself. So may you – may I – continue to live a life devoted to the One who keeps our course steady.
by emma | Oct 2, 2005 | Faith
Just back from the Wash Basin weekend there… so great to spend time with everyone. Jeff gave a few messages, and I’ve got some stuff stuck in my mind…
He spoke of ‘wrestling for the blessing’ of God, of not being satisfied with anything less. Is that me? God is raising up a generation and an army who are wrestling with Him and are not satisfied with a ‘Sunday’ Christianity. It is an army raised up for such a time as this, a devoted generation, with a fire in their bellies that cannot be extinguished. They are the generation who cry out “I will not let you go until you bless me!” They are hungry and restless and pursing God passionatley.
Is that me?
by emma | Aug 29, 2005 | Exodus, Faith
Friday night past was our Exodus recommissioning service – sending us out again, but this time into our homes, schools and workplaces, to be Jesus hands and feet here at home, not just on a two-week summer missions trip. The guy that spoke, Jeremy Gardner (youth pastor at High Kirk, Ally’s church) spoke on servanthood, and I really connected with something he said for the first time…
Is servanthood the best way to live?
A ‘successful’ life, as defined by the culture we live in, is one that is self-focused, all-about-me, and insular. It’s one where your world gets smaller and smaller.
A life of servanthood, by contrast, is one where you give yourself away. A little here, a little there, all over Ballymena, Northern Ireland and the world. It’s one where your world gets bigger and bigger.
Is servanthood the best way to live? Of course!! It’s logical – your world increases in time, not decreases.
So there you have it… something I’ve been thinking about over the weekend.
by emma | Jul 9, 2005 | Faith
well folks its been a crazy week, but it has also been an awesome week. im reminded of how great our God is again! SonShine has been brilliant, and i have loved being a part of it again. I think one of my favourite moments this week was cleaning the toilets in the Fairhill Bar on Wednesday. Jonny had a really great chat with one of the barmaids for ages, and it really hit home again how powerful simple things can be. All week long we cleaned pub toilets, the bookmakers floor, gave out free newspapers, gave away a playstation, mp3 player, beauty packs etc. I love watchin God move through simple things like that. I will post some pictures in time, but for now im catching up on some sleep! check out allys pictures on his SonShine blog, sonshine2005.blogspot.com
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