I can never to truly express my respect, love and thankfulness towards Jesus on Good Friday using just words, it needs action. In Romans 12:1; Paul tells us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God and this is our true act of worship, our true act which helps me express my real feelings towards Jesus on this day....... but that doesn't help me write a blog, which needs words!...... or does it!
What I have decided to do for this blog is to write out as many amazing, crazy and mind-blowing things I have seen Jesus do in past five years. All the things I write are 100% true, they are not invented or exaggerated and I have seen it with my very own eyes. They have all happened because of the power Jesus and because we have been faithful in prayer. Enjoy.
Just before we start I want to make sure that Jesus gets all the glory! Thank you Jesus.
Because of the cross over the past five years I have seen:
A boys eye pop back into place (my favourite), A gangsters broken finger healed, a random stranger crying on the streets of Wimbledon because God gave us a word about the loss of a family member, people who shouldn't be giving birth falling pregnant, a women stepping out of her wheel chair, money randomly being posted through my door, prophesied the name of a women's son, symptoms of a allergic reaction fade away after prayer, money appear in my bank account without a traceable source, young girl testify to Jesus healing her grandma of cancer, a girl cart-wheel on her arm which was broken before we prayed, Holy-Spirit Sat-Nav direct me when I am lost, more doughnuts appearing when we ran out at Jesus and Doughnuts, 15 year-old boy healed of the injuries afflicted on him by his father, the number 2 gangster of Southampton weeping during worship at his first visit to church.
Lets just stop there and give glory to Jesus. Thank you for the cross Jesus because of your sacrifice all of these amazing stories have been made possible.
An old man who was gonna commit suicide decide to give his life to Jesus instead, 6 brave men pray for a dead friend and believe 100% that he can be raised (we will see this happen in our lives), many, many knee problems healed immediately, person with bad back who can barely stand run around the room after prayer, a young person who tried to commit suicide get baptised, a family serving in church because of the testimony of the daughter, headaches gone immediately, Satanist's deciding to worship Jesus, had people tell me exactly what I am thinking and feeling, I have told people exactly what they are thinking and feeling, many aches and pains all over the body healed, demons driven out of people, peoples legs grow, swelling on a ladies nose disappear, asthma suffers completely healed, depressed people finding everlasting Joy in an instance and finally God has given me many prophecies to say to people but they are to detailed to write out on here.
All Glory to Jesus, none of this is possible without his sacrifice. Its because he suffered, bled and died to repair our relationship with the father, to take away our sin and give us the honour to stand in victory with him. Only a fool says there is no God.
Friday 22 April 2011
Friday 15 April 2011
Relationships: Dating
Dating: Where two people of opposite sex, who are attracted to each other, get together with the focus on getting to know one another to build a solid relationship without involvement of physical/romantic intimacy.
This is what we should all be aiming for. We all long for a dating relationship with someone and so we should, we were created that way! but on our quest for this mysterious, exciting and awkward thing we can get a little bit lost in our feelings and emotions. So lets clear things up a little to make sure we know what direction we are going.
Before starting the quest:
When starting out on this quest it is important to start by asking the right question. The question is not, how far can I go? or How much can I date? the question needs to be flipped it should be, How can I honour God the most when pursuing dating relationships? We must keep this question in our mind and remember that honouring God is more important then dating and when we keep this question at the fore front of our thinking it will automatically answer the other questions we have.
When I use the term honouring God I want to make it clear that this doesn't mean becoming all Super-Spiritual and praying and fasting for that perfect partner and hope that they ring your door bell because there car has just broken down outside your house and its raining so you have to invite them in and you share a hot drink in front of a roaring fire!....I believe (and feel free to disagree) that God doesn't have one perfect person for everyone and I don't see any evidence for God planning perfect partners in the Bible, in fact it is the opposite read 1 Samuel 25, David meets a girl who helps him out and looks hot so David decided to make her his wife, Lad. I believe we have a choice in the matter, I believe God gave us the skills to look for our partners and choose for ourselves all God wants from us is that when we have found this person we do the relationship his way! not our own way
Keep on the quest's track:
A verse that helps me make sure that I am doing it God's way not my own is 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but I will not be mastered by anything.
This verse is extremely helpful in keeping on the right track because it helps us ask the right questions. Instead of looking at relationships and saying that they are wrong this verse us ask is this relationship beneficial, for me?, for the person I am dating? and for the kingdom of God? if the answer is No to anyone one of these questions then surely whats the point in continuing in that dating relationship! And you can know whether it is beneficial by asking yourself yet more questions: Does it help me in my faith? Does it make me feel secure in who I am? Does it help advance the kingdom of God? (Might sound like a deep question but what is the point of doing something if it doesn't extend God's kingdom) Is this person the type of person I have dreamed of? Does it help me strengthen relationships with friends and family? Does it mold my character in a positive way?
It is important that during a dating relationship we regularly ask ourselves these questions and also that we are honest about the answers. I also strongly recommend listening to people who you respect in the faith, ask them the questions you have asked yourself and listen to their advice.
The destination of the quest:
Before we get into a dating relationship I believe it is important that we are willing and have the intention of completing the quest not just running around on path for some fun or taking certain parts of journey because they seem the most exciting, there needs to be some level of commitment that says I am ready to complete this quest. I am aware that sometimes the dating relationship just wont work out and that is absolutely fine or maybe you thought you were ready but it turns out you still have some stuff to deal with, I just think there is a danger in the idea that we can enter a dating relationship with no intention of moving forward. The danger comes because isn't it just a massive waste of time to date someone without destination or purpose? aren't we then just doing it to fulfill our own selfish desires? Aren't we just putting ourselves in temptations way? The world is to broken for us to waste time in pointless relationships, i think Paul says it best:
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
"What I mean brothers, is that the time is to short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who use the things of this world, as if they were not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away"
This is what we should all be aiming for. We all long for a dating relationship with someone and so we should, we were created that way! but on our quest for this mysterious, exciting and awkward thing we can get a little bit lost in our feelings and emotions. So lets clear things up a little to make sure we know what direction we are going.
Before starting the quest:
When starting out on this quest it is important to start by asking the right question. The question is not, how far can I go? or How much can I date? the question needs to be flipped it should be, How can I honour God the most when pursuing dating relationships? We must keep this question in our mind and remember that honouring God is more important then dating and when we keep this question at the fore front of our thinking it will automatically answer the other questions we have.
When I use the term honouring God I want to make it clear that this doesn't mean becoming all Super-Spiritual and praying and fasting for that perfect partner and hope that they ring your door bell because there car has just broken down outside your house and its raining so you have to invite them in and you share a hot drink in front of a roaring fire!....I believe (and feel free to disagree) that God doesn't have one perfect person for everyone and I don't see any evidence for God planning perfect partners in the Bible, in fact it is the opposite read 1 Samuel 25, David meets a girl who helps him out and looks hot so David decided to make her his wife, Lad. I believe we have a choice in the matter, I believe God gave us the skills to look for our partners and choose for ourselves all God wants from us is that when we have found this person we do the relationship his way! not our own way
Keep on the quest's track:
A verse that helps me make sure that I am doing it God's way not my own is 1 Corinthians 6:12 "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but I will not be mastered by anything.
This verse is extremely helpful in keeping on the right track because it helps us ask the right questions. Instead of looking at relationships and saying that they are wrong this verse us ask is this relationship beneficial, for me?, for the person I am dating? and for the kingdom of God? if the answer is No to anyone one of these questions then surely whats the point in continuing in that dating relationship! And you can know whether it is beneficial by asking yourself yet more questions: Does it help me in my faith? Does it make me feel secure in who I am? Does it help advance the kingdom of God? (Might sound like a deep question but what is the point of doing something if it doesn't extend God's kingdom) Is this person the type of person I have dreamed of? Does it help me strengthen relationships with friends and family? Does it mold my character in a positive way?
It is important that during a dating relationship we regularly ask ourselves these questions and also that we are honest about the answers. I also strongly recommend listening to people who you respect in the faith, ask them the questions you have asked yourself and listen to their advice.
The destination of the quest:
Before we get into a dating relationship I believe it is important that we are willing and have the intention of completing the quest not just running around on path for some fun or taking certain parts of journey because they seem the most exciting, there needs to be some level of commitment that says I am ready to complete this quest. I am aware that sometimes the dating relationship just wont work out and that is absolutely fine or maybe you thought you were ready but it turns out you still have some stuff to deal with, I just think there is a danger in the idea that we can enter a dating relationship with no intention of moving forward. The danger comes because isn't it just a massive waste of time to date someone without destination or purpose? aren't we then just doing it to fulfill our own selfish desires? Aren't we just putting ourselves in temptations way? The world is to broken for us to waste time in pointless relationships, i think Paul says it best:
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
"What I mean brothers, is that the time is to short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who use the things of this world, as if they were not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away"
Monday 11 April 2011
Relationships: Friendship
The Bible gives us several characteristics of friendship. It gives us some great advice and guidance to ensure that we build the best friendships we possibly can. Check out these dynamite verses:
Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all times
Proverbs 18:24- There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother
Proverbs 27:6 - Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:10 - Do not forsake your friend.
These verses are powerful stuff and illustrate God's heart for friendships. God wants to bless all friendships and encourages us to build up strong friendships which are based on honesty, commitment and affection. The word friend literally means "someone who you like who likes you" if you have someone like this in your life then it is a good thing! treasure your friendships put work into it, make them feel appreciate and be honest with them even if it hurts sometimes like proverbs 27 says it is better to have a friend who is willing to actually be honest with you then a whole bunch of enemies that just boost your ego.
I pray that I would listen to my friends when they offer me honest advice, may I have the humility to accept their rebuke and I pray that I would also have the boldness to be a true friend to show them grace in all situations yet speak truth into their lives. Grant me this Lord.
Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all times
Proverbs 18:24- There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother
Proverbs 27:6 - Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:10 - Do not forsake your friend.
These verses are powerful stuff and illustrate God's heart for friendships. God wants to bless all friendships and encourages us to build up strong friendships which are based on honesty, commitment and affection. The word friend literally means "someone who you like who likes you" if you have someone like this in your life then it is a good thing! treasure your friendships put work into it, make them feel appreciate and be honest with them even if it hurts sometimes like proverbs 27 says it is better to have a friend who is willing to actually be honest with you then a whole bunch of enemies that just boost your ego.
I pray that I would listen to my friends when they offer me honest advice, may I have the humility to accept their rebuke and I pray that I would also have the boldness to be a true friend to show them grace in all situations yet speak truth into their lives. Grant me this Lord.
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