Yesterday evening Andrew Smith came and spoke on laughter and joy - I am simply typing up some of the notes that I took from his message - which was nothing but inspiring.
Psalm 126:3 'The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy'
Laughter embraces humility and grace. In laughter we trust, we suspend our worries and concerns, laughter is the medicine of the soul.
We as Christians can be serious, but shouldn't be sombre, Enjoy the journey, don't just endure it.
Look at Jesus, he knew how to enjoy life - at the start of his ministry he took 7 days off to be at the wedding - people were and still are important to Jesus
Church should be the happiest, most joyful place on earth. Despite circumstances, we can always be joyful, as joy is independent from circumstances - The joy of the Lord is our strength.
My notes are obviously not as explanatory as Andrew's message - but not only did he show us that we ought to be joyful, he demonstrated it too.
Monday, 8 October 2007
Saturday, 6 October 2007
Indescribable!!!!
Why do we as Christians ever moan?
God is amazing- He offers us such freedom!!!
We are children of the almighty
We are chosen by him
He chose us before we chose him
This might be for grammar geeks only but we are the 'you' of God's 'I'
eg I love you - We are the objects of God's affection
You who were not a people, are now the people of God
Praise God for his grace and mercy, for his unconditional love which truly is indescribable
God is amazing- He offers us such freedom!!!
We are children of the almighty
We are chosen by him
He chose us before we chose him
This might be for grammar geeks only but we are the 'you' of God's 'I'
eg I love you - We are the objects of God's affection
You who were not a people, are now the people of God
Praise God for his grace and mercy, for his unconditional love which truly is indescribable
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Grace
God is teaching me about Grace at the moment.
We all know the song 'Amazing Grace' but so often we just sing, without paying attention to the words, but Grace seriously is Amazing.
Rom 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
I am starting to read 'What's so amazing about Grace' By Philip Yancey, and on the back there is a simple truth that arises from Grace.
"There is nothing we can do to make God love us more.
There is nothing we can do to make God love us less."
I am really looking forward to learning more about God through understanding what Grace is.
(and I will keep you posted on what I learn).
We all know the song 'Amazing Grace' but so often we just sing, without paying attention to the words, but Grace seriously is Amazing.
Rom 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
I am starting to read 'What's so amazing about Grace' By Philip Yancey, and on the back there is a simple truth that arises from Grace.
"There is nothing we can do to make God love us more.
There is nothing we can do to make God love us less."
I am really looking forward to learning more about God through understanding what Grace is.
(and I will keep you posted on what I learn).
Thursday, 27 September 2007
Who am I that you are mindful of me?
Who am I that You are mindful of me?
That You hear me when I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me?
How you Love me It's Amazing
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend
What amazing lyrics!
And what is more amazing is that it is true -
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
That You hear me when I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me?
How you Love me It's Amazing
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend
What amazing lyrics!
And what is more amazing is that it is true -
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Go out a different way!
This morning part of my reading was Ezekiel 46:9
"When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out by the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out by the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate. "
It reminded me of something our Pastor, Iain Duthie often says or prays,
'That we would not leave this place (church) the same way that we came in'
Iain means that we would come to church, we would truly worship and meet with God, and we would be changed as we become more like him, so that when we leave we would not be the same. Ezekiel on the other hand, is talking about physically not using the same door.
Why did God want the people to use a different door? What did that mean for them?
It amazes me how seemingly mundane things in the Old Testament, were actually planned by God to make New Testament events understandable and familiar:
(Joh 1:29) The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
To us, this is sometimes just a familiar name, but when John the Baptist cried this out, surrounded by Jews they would have been astounded - Lambs were sacrificed to take away sin, frequently as each sin post sacrifice was unaccounted for. Not only was John declaring that this man was to make atonement for their sin, but 'for the sin of the world'. The thoughts running through their minds would have been numerous, How can he save the gentiles? How can a man take away any sins - as only God has such a right? Is this man from God?
The familiarity of the lamb as a sacrifice, caused the Jews both to question Jesus' identity, and helped them to understand it.
The seemingly mundane sacrifice that was done everyday was now of huge importance.
God wants us to be familiar with his word, even the parts that seem repetitive, because it's all there for a reason. Which leads me to my question again.
Why did the people have to go out through a different door? Is there something we can learn here? Was it preparing us to see church as a place where we should come out differently to how we went in spiritually?
I would love to hear your thoughts.
"When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to go out by the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate is to go out by the north gate. No one is to return through the gate by which he entered, but each is to go out the opposite gate. "
It reminded me of something our Pastor, Iain Duthie often says or prays,
'That we would not leave this place (church) the same way that we came in'
Iain means that we would come to church, we would truly worship and meet with God, and we would be changed as we become more like him, so that when we leave we would not be the same. Ezekiel on the other hand, is talking about physically not using the same door.
Why did God want the people to use a different door? What did that mean for them?
It amazes me how seemingly mundane things in the Old Testament, were actually planned by God to make New Testament events understandable and familiar:
(Joh 1:29) The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
To us, this is sometimes just a familiar name, but when John the Baptist cried this out, surrounded by Jews they would have been astounded - Lambs were sacrificed to take away sin, frequently as each sin post sacrifice was unaccounted for. Not only was John declaring that this man was to make atonement for their sin, but 'for the sin of the world'. The thoughts running through their minds would have been numerous, How can he save the gentiles? How can a man take away any sins - as only God has such a right? Is this man from God?
The familiarity of the lamb as a sacrifice, caused the Jews both to question Jesus' identity, and helped them to understand it.
The seemingly mundane sacrifice that was done everyday was now of huge importance.
God wants us to be familiar with his word, even the parts that seem repetitive, because it's all there for a reason. Which leads me to my question again.
Why did the people have to go out through a different door? Is there something we can learn here? Was it preparing us to see church as a place where we should come out differently to how we went in spiritually?
I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thursday, 13 September 2007
The students return!
Aberdeen City is heaving!
There has never been so many first year students as this year. The reason is because of top up fees. You see in England students are being charged a lot to go to Uni, like £3000. But because Scotland is against this the fees in Scotland are capped at £1200. Same degree, half the price.
The uptake has been incredible, Scottish Universities are buying hotels, and turning any available space into student rooms, yet in the middle of all the chaos, there is a stillness. I work in one of the University Halls, and see managers rushing about stressed, but all I can feel is the stillness. This is part of God's plan. This is a huge opportunity for us that He wants us to seize.
Radiate, a student ministry that I am a part of, speaks of 'change the University, change the word'. It is a truth that the next world leaders are at University today. We have an amazing opportunity as students, to reach out to our friends in class, and to show them that not only is Jesus relevant today, but that he cares for them and wants to know them personally.
This year, God has something planned, and I want to be a part of it.
There has never been so many first year students as this year. The reason is because of top up fees. You see in England students are being charged a lot to go to Uni, like £3000. But because Scotland is against this the fees in Scotland are capped at £1200. Same degree, half the price.
The uptake has been incredible, Scottish Universities are buying hotels, and turning any available space into student rooms, yet in the middle of all the chaos, there is a stillness. I work in one of the University Halls, and see managers rushing about stressed, but all I can feel is the stillness. This is part of God's plan. This is a huge opportunity for us that He wants us to seize.
Radiate, a student ministry that I am a part of, speaks of 'change the University, change the word'. It is a truth that the next world leaders are at University today. We have an amazing opportunity as students, to reach out to our friends in class, and to show them that not only is Jesus relevant today, but that he cares for them and wants to know them personally.
This year, God has something planned, and I want to be a part of it.
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
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