If the world knocks you down seven times, get up eight,

We have to remember that God knows when we have tried our hardest, and not beat ourselves up about it.  See, God doesn’t hold grudges, or think, she should have done better in that situation.  God doesn’t keep count of our mistakes.  It’s important to confess, move forwards and trust that God has forgiven us.

Proverbs 24:16 – Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up

Psalm 37:24 – though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand

STUMBLE

For those who love God there is no permanent stumbling block, if the world knocks you down seven times, get up eight, I fall, I rise, sure I make mistakes, I’ve been hurt but I learn, I’m not perfect cos I’m human but I never forget that Jesus sees the person I strive to be, he values me, even when I make mistakes, he still loves me, he sees what others fail to see, he looks into my heart, he understands my motives, he notices me, surrounded by a thousand friends he knows that I’m lonely, he hears my call for help even when I am silent, he never leaves me or forsakes me, though I may stumble I hear the words spoken, act justly, love mercy, walk humbly, that’s all he asks of me, so yes I may stumble and falter, but God never alters, he upholds me with his hand and keeps me safe on solid ground.

The Lord marches out for you

The other night someone prayed for me that I would really come to see the different characteristics of God as I continue on my walk with him.  My Bible studies this week have really helped me with this as I have seen the sheer power of God, the size of God and his capabilities, I have also seen that God is a God of compassion and of love and in a personal moment of prayer saw that God also has a sense of humour.  I want to continue this journey as I seek to know God even more intimately and learn about all his amazing ways.

Isaiah 42:13 – The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies

MY GOD

My God calls us by name, he takes the hand of those who don’t know the way, turns their darkness to light, their sins become like the morning mist, returning to the Lord as he loves to forgive, our offenses are swept away like a cloud, the rough places levelled, new things spring forth for those who put their trust in the Lord, trust in his might and power, don’t fight the hands that are holding you for this is the creator who’s about to do something new, the Lord who marches out for you, your champion, a mighty warrior, with a shout he raises a battle cry and triumphs over our enemies, a gentle Saviour who will not break a bruised reed nor snuff out a smouldering wick, he redeemed us to be a lighthouse to the nations, he is my Lord, my inspiration, he loves to love, he’s slow to anger, he’s quick to forgive and he protects me from danger, he delights in spending time with me, he desires that all mankind will be with him in eternity, he believed in me , he freed me, forgave me and made me, when I pass through deep waters he is with me, when I wake in the morning he still holds me, when I lie down by still waters he comforts me and when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death he is with me.

 

I am the sparrow who God has his eye upon

Challenged in my bible reading this morning to say who I thought I was to God.  One of the comments posted was that this person saw themselves as a sparrow who God has his eye upon.  I just thought that was a lovely picture, so simple yet so true.

Matthew 10:31 – So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

SPARROW

I am the sparrow who God has his eye upon, valued and loved he watches over me, provides abundantly for all my needs, he never forgets me, never loses sight of me, he tells me not to worry, he’s establishing me in love and peace, patience and kindness, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness and self -control, he’s the lover of my soul, I am more precious than rubies in his sight, he made me, he cares for me, he carries me and he has saved me, and if I ever feel unloved or insecure I just remind myself I belong to the Lord

Unfit to be seen in the church because of our sin?

I was reading today about Peter meeting with Cornelius and how this was like the start of the inclusive church, that God meant himself to be accessible to all whether Jew or Gentile.  Got me to thinking about how we are in church, are we totally accessible?  How do we react to those slightly or considerably different from ourselves?  If church is accessible to all then we are opening doors for God to meet with people where they are at, it is not our job to “vet” people to ensure they are OK to be in church it is our job to love everyone.

JEW OR GENTILE

Jew or Gentile?  Holy or unclean? Unfit to be seen in the church because of our sin, not fitting in with the expectations of respectable congregations, smelling of alcohol, a drug abuser, lesbian, gay or transgender, someone society may call “a loser”, but here’s the news, Jesus does not call us losers, he came for people like us, he embraces the lost and the hurting, the lonely, the outcasts, his love designed to last, his love won’t let us down, he won’t leave us on the edge, his love is consistent, brilliant, he wants us to see it, to feel it, he wants us to live it, don’t regret not giving him a chance, and as a church goer next time you glance around and see someone you may not relate to think of what Jesus would want you to do, don’t judge, don’t think we’re someone else’s problem, embrace us from the bottom of your heart, don’t set yourself apart like a Pharisee looking down on the Gentile, see that you deal with the plank in your own eye before you condemn me, know that Jesus died for me too and he calls on you to be an example, to love as he first loved you, doesn’t that give you a clue? Jew or Gentile, holy or unclean, means nothing to Jesus he embraces each and every one of us, trust him, he’ll mould me, he’ll shape me, just allow me to experience his glory.

God loves how I love him

I was doing an activation from the “Love Says Go” series today, this one was about finding out what Jesus loved about me.  So spending some time in God’s presence I was amazed at how this actually worked and got some positive affirmation over my life.  I have learned to love myself since becoming a Christian, but seriously, spend some time asking God what he loves about you and you will start to love yourself even more!

I also got a verse from God today – John 14:7 – If you really know me you will know my Father as well, from now on you do know him and have seen him

I kind of interpreted this as a confirmation that my spending time soaking in his presence and seeking his thoughts on my life is drawing me close to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as I get to know Jesus I get to know his Father too, I get to hear from him more easily and connect in new ways.

WHAT DOES GOD LOVE?

God loves how I love him, he loves my love of life, my drive and commitment, the fact that I am content to spend my time silently in his presence, he loves my loyalty, my openness, the fact that I gave him my brokenness and accepted his gift of beauty, I am beautiful both inside and out, full of desire to serve my Lord, he loves my heart but most of all God loves that we are no longer apart, he loves that I chose freedom and am now restored to his heavenly Kingdom.

Living with a lie left a hole in my life

I am doing a 7 day bible verse challenge, sharing verses that are significant to me.  Been thinking about the 7th one today and this is one of the contenders (and yes I know it is two verses!)

Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Not maybe the most uplifting verse in many ways but one which speaks volumes to me.  I think picking up your cross and following Jesus is the most amazing thing you can do in your life but it doesn’t come without trials and troubles.  I feel like the closer I get to God and the more I want to do for him the harder the enemy fights to drag me down.  It’s not an easy path and there are so many unanswered questions.  Today our Minister was preaching on wisdom and that’s what I need more than anything right now.

However I’ve got news for the enemy, I’m taken, I’m protected and I’m loved by a God who died for me, doesn’t get much better than that.

BUTT OUT 

I’m taken, I’m not free to mess around with you no more, you know the score, you may have had your claws in me once before but no more, I have seen the light and felt the might of an amazing God, he loves me, protects me, his son died for me, you see all the time I was in your pocket I never got it but now I see the truth and the truth has set me free, and maybe it was easier to live with the lie because you would let sleeping dogs lie but living with a lie left a hole in my life, a hole that only God could fill with truth and love and light and now you are putting up a fight because you see that light shining from me, you see the person that I’m going to be, you see the power God’s put in me and you don’t like the things you see, well I’ve got news for you, there’s nothing you can do, no mountain high enough, no river wide enough, no valley deep enough to keep me from God, he’s all I need and now I am free so I don’t need the things you offer, you are no longer the author of my destiny, no longer in control, no addiction, no affliction, no blame, no shame, I am not the same but that’s a good thing, I am changing, transforming, claiming the promises of my Saviour and believe me when I say I will never waiver.

My story is so unique, so individual it’s not worthy of comparison

Today is a good good day!  Last night was my last counselling session.  So after one year of support, love, prayers, help and great advice from my counsellor it was time to part company.  I know she is there if I need her but I also know that God puts people into your life for a season whilst you need them and I know that he put her in my life to help me on this incredible journey that I am following now I am a Christian.  I suspect she was just one more of the strong Christian women I prayed God would surround me with when I first got saved and whilst I am happy to have made such great progress it is tinged with sadness that I won’t see her anytime soon.  We can catch up in heaven though 🙂

One of her sayings however was “you are worth it”, and you know what I now believe her!  I am unique and amazing and I praise God for my uniqueness and I can now say (and believe) that I really like the way God made me.

• Jeremiah 1:4-5 The LORD gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
• Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
• Psalm 139:16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

UNIQUE

We are all unique in God’s eyes, none of us are replaceable and that’s what makes us special, my story is so unique, so individual it’s not worthy of comparison, a limited edition, take a look at the beauty that’s in me, peek into my mind and just maybe you would understand my individuality, my uniqueness which makes me different, not conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of my mind, yes there may be someone smarter, prettier, or younger than me but they will never have my voice, my vision, my story, the God given mission that only I can fulfil, and still I marvel that God set me apart before I was born, I really like that and I really like the way God made me, so I embrace myself confidently, an unrepeatable miracle, strong, no longer critical of my past, having a blast as the daughter of a King, a reflection of his amazing love, an exclusive rarity who speaks with sincerity of being loved unconditionally by the Lord himself who died for me.