Atheism

What i have noticed when surfing on christian sites is how many atheists seem to pop up onto christian sites and always like to leave a bad comment or two. Personally i think all the atheists out there must ask themselves this question:

Why am i surfing Christian sites ? if you are an atheist think on that. Just maybe God is showing you something.

I pray that all may get to know Jesus and experience the the joy and may God bless you all.

Crossroads - New Journey

I have reached a crossroads, not sure how many people experience that but i am sure we all do at sometime in our lives and i have decided to allow God to use me in any way he feels – i have made this choice as i have been putting certain things off since 2003. I can no longer keep putting of what God requires – sometimes we tend to try and hope it goes away but in my case i just keep getting signs to pull me closer to the Church and to do the work that God wants me to do.

I have an appointment on 6 October 2008 with a priest which will potentially change my life forever – i will keep people following my blog posted on events and changes.

All i can say now is that it is for me to act on spreading Gods word other than just using a Blog.

All who read this please keep me in your prayers as i follow on God's calling – i will keep the blog updated on this issue.

Matthew 10:38-39 - "and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

Fireproof-movie Trailer 2008

This is must see christian movie

Marriage Creed

Giving Freely

Well after church this morning what struck me is how many of us want to do God's work or feel that there is a calling for the work to be done - afterall the harvest is plenty but the follwing is what we need to consider:

We as humans want to give and help and do God's work but we always tend to think to ourselves "but what do i get in return" - its so true as many of us expect somethin in return - thats exactly where we go wrong and would you give up stuff do do the Lord's work ?

We still driven by our possesions and material wealth that keeps us from doing the things we might be requested to do.

Would you like the disciples if asked to give and assist in the harvest, give up stuff that you feel you cant do without ? I not sure how many can do it but yet they say they must do God's work.

If you want to do God's work then you have to follow him at all costs and you will receive your reward.

We all have our own cross to carry and as Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24 (New International Version)

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Prayer

Jesus

Christianity 'could die out within a century'

I just found this article interesting and decided to post it

More than half of Britons think Christianity is likely to have disappeared from the country within a century, according to a survey.

By Laura Clout Last Updated: 2:40PM BST 20 Jun 2008
Research by the Orthodox Jewish organisation Aish found that just over a third of people thought religions like Christianity and Judaism would still be practiced in Britain in 100 years' time.
Although four in 10 people said they would choose to be a member of the Christian religion, almost the same number said they would rather practice no religion at all.
Buddhism however, proved more attractive than both Islam and Judaism, and was chosen by nine per cent of those questioned.
Aish UK's executive director Rabbi Naftali Schiff said the results of the YouGov poll of 2,000 people were alarming.
"It clearly demonstrates that religion, including Judaism, is becoming unattractive to the British public.
"At Aish we know that Judaism provides real meaning and enrichment to one's life. Whilst we have attracted many disinterested Jews back to Jewish identity it is clear there is much work to be done."
Research published earlier this year suggested that church attendance is declining so fast that the number of regular churchgoers will be fewer than those attending mosques within a generation.
According to Religious Trends, an analysis of religious practice in Britain, the huge drop off in attendance means that the Church of England, Catholicism and other denominations will become financially unviable. In contrast, the number of actively religious Muslims is predicted to increase from about one million today to 1.96 million in 2035.

Praise You In This Storm

Lifesong - Casting Crowns

Christianity Taught by an Atheist -Interview with an atheist

Friendship

Today i been thinking on friendship and how many of us have good friends or friends that are always by ones side no matter what happens. This is for my friends.....

Have you ever noticed how at times when trouble is around that a friend contacts one almost out of the blue as if they knew something was wrong ?

Proverbs 17:17 - A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

At times we forget that true friends are also around for a reason other than just someone who we can social well with - it all has a purpose = GOD'S PURPOSE.

The most important to remember is that God is also our friend and He will never leave us.

Hebrews 13:5 - I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.

Blessed Be Your Name

There is a song by TREE 63 that has the title of this post and has inspired me to write this one and what i have realised is that God will take and give to each one of us as He feels is right for us.

I know that God Gives and takes away from us - God knows what is right for us and what is not - God is our Hope in all things and in the power of His name we can be lifted up stronger than mountains.

No matter how good or bad things may seem BLESSED BE HIS NAME - we praise God no matter what as its part of His plan and that is why

WE ARE EXACTLY WHERE WE MEANT TO BE.

His LOVE never fails and nobody said life would be easy.

God alone lifts us up to higher levels - God is our strength and there is always a reason when he decides not to give us something or when he takes from us.

God clearly shows us and gives us signs - the trick for us is to learn how to see it. If you interested in how does God Speak i recommend the following Book:

Hearing God's Voice - by Henry and Richard Blackaby

We need to learn how to hear God's voice as it will not always be through thunder or an amazing miracle that we as humans expect (we want to see a big bang) - no it will come around in a way we dont expect at times - we just need to learn how to spot it. (it could be a flower in the garden or a casual chat with a friend) - GOD DOES SPEAK

When you pray for things - are you prepared for when He answers ?

Well whatever your prayer is God will answer and in return you will sing BLESSED BE YOUR NAME

Welcome to Wherever You Are

I just had to post this a second time and now it includes a video - see my YouTube video links on my blog

Sometimes life goes by so quick we never stop to reflect on the past.

The past is not to be looked back at as negative - we must look back at it in such a way as to see what have we learnt out of it. God has plotted our paths out before we were even born and one thing i know for sure is that the past is gone and its something we can never change no matter how much we would like it to have been different.

You might be wondering why am i writing about the past - well i been doing a lot of thinking on the subject and it will all make sense once you have read this entire article.

One of my favourite songs by Bon Jovi is titled "WELCOME TO WHEREVER YOU ARE" and here are the lyrics:

"Maybe we all different but we're still the same,
We all got the blood of eden running through our veins,
I know sometimes its hard for you to see,
You're caught between who you are and who you want to be,
If you feel alone and lost and need a friend,
Remember every new beginning is some beginnings end.

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life; you made it this far
Welcome, you got to believe
That right here, right now
You're exactly where you supposed to be
Welcome to wherever you are

When everybody's in and you're left out
and you feel you drowning in the shadow of a doubt
Everyone's a miracle in their own way
Just listen to yourself, not what other people say
When it seems you're lost, alone and feelin' down
Remember,everybody's different; just take a look around

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life; you made it this far
Welcome, you got to believe
That right here, right now
You're exactly where you supposed to be

Be who you want to be
Be who you are
Everyone's a hero
Everyone's a star

When you want to give up and your heart's is about to break

REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE PERFECT; GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES (This is the best line in this song - i love it)

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life; you made it this far
Welcome, you got to believe
That right here, right now
You're exactly where you supposed to be

I say welcome....
I say welcome....
Welcome

WOW - what a song and im sure everyone can relate to the words of this song as it is an awesome song not just due to the fact that it applies to everyone but the words are true and real and the God factor within it stands out so clearly which is really awesome and i sometimeS wonder how many people realise this when they listen to this song on the radio or elsewhere.

I used the song to show two things

(a) that every start of something has an end and that every end has some new beginning which applies to all of us and that God is the one who is in control all the time and therefore the past is exactly what the word says - IT IS PAST - no longer exists. sometimes things must happen for a new beginning.

(b) the second part i wanted to point out is in the song where it says "REMEMBER THAT YOUR'E PERFECT; GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES" is something we all need to realise every single day no matter what happens to us or how we might be feeling on a particular day.

"We are right now and right here exactly where we meant to be" - thats cool as we at times dont see it that way and maybe we need to look at it that way and realise that we are meant to be where we are right now because its all part of Gods plan.

Well i hope you enjoyed this short article as much as i enjoyed writing it and this morning i just had it all in my head and had to write it cause i know this was God that inspired me to write this one.

I give thanks to God for all he has done and i wish for everyone who reads this article that you will give thanks to God for all you have and to look at the future and know that YOU ARE PERFECT IN EVERY WAY cause God says you are.

I would like to give a special thanks to my Mom & Dad for everything, my brother Michael and his wife Annerie, my sister Tracy and her husband Marius, my sister Liza and her husband Derrick and our awesome GOD for all the help last year. You guys were all amazing in each and every way for which i will always be truly thankful for.

May God bless all of you and remember - YOU ARE EXACTLY WHERE YOU MEANT TO BE.

GLORY BE TO GOD - AMEN

The Greatest Advice

By Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life)

Don't associate with people you can't trust.
Don't cheat. Don't lie. Don't pretend.
Don't dictate because you are smarter.
Don't demand because you are stronger.

Don't date because you are desperate.
Don't marry because you are miserable.
Don't have kids because you think your genes are superior.
Don't philander because you think you are irresistible.

Don't sleep around because you think you are old enough & know better.
Don't hurt your kids because loving them is harder.
Don't sell yourself, your family, or your ideals.
Don't stagnate!

Don't regress.
Don't live in the past. Time can't bring anything or anyone back.
Don't put your life on hold for possibly Mr./ Mrs. Right.
Don't throw your life away on absolutely Mr. ./ Mrs. Wrong because your biological clock is ticking.

Learn a new skill.
Find a new friend.
Start a new career.
Sometimes, there is no race to be won, only a price to be paid for some of life's more hasty decisions.

To terminate your loneliness, reach out to the homeless.
To feed your nurturing instincts, care for the needy.
To fulfill your parenting fantasies, get a puppy.
Don't bring another life into this world for all the wrong reasons.

To make yourself happy, pursue your passions & be the best of what you can be.
Simplify your life. Take away the clutter.
Get rid of destructive elements: abusive friends, nasty habits, and dangerous liaisons.
Don't abandon your responsibilities but don't overdose on duty.

Don't live life recklessly without thought and feeling for your family.
Be true to yourself.
Don't commit when you are not ready.
Don't keep others waiting needlessly.

Go on that trip. Don't postpone it.
Say those words. Don't let the moment pass.
Do what you have to, even at society's scorn.

Write poetry.
Love Deeply.
Walk barefoot.
Dance with wild abandon.
Cry at the movies.

Take care of yourself. Don't wait for someone to take care of you.
You light up your life. You drive yourself to your destination.
No one completes you - except YOU.

It isn't true that life does not get easier with age.
It only gets more challenging.
Don't be afraid. Don't lose your capacity to love.
Pursue your passions.

Live your dreams.
Don't lose faith in God.
Don't grow old. Just grow YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - NATALIE

To Natalie, my daughter who turns 7 years old today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY - I LOVE YOU

The Cracked Pot

This i received from my brother - not sure who wrote this but it is quite a good story - ENJOY

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots; each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?"

"That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."

"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.

Without you being just the way you are, there would not be
This beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

SO, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

Power and Strength

I was having a chat earlier this afternoon with a friend and we were just talking on various stuff and i was already wondering what am i going to post today.

Our discussion got me thinking and I was not sure what to post so i went to read my Bible for todays daily reading - i have a few Bibles, but i enjoy the NIV - One Year Bible the most, which i use as part of my daily reading.

If you haven't got a one year bible do yourself a favour and get hold of one as it splits your reading plan to cover the entire Bible in one year - really cool.

Anyway there were 2 verses that stood out for me today which i know applies to our discussion and here it is:

PSALM 46:1-2

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though
the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the
heart of the sea,

I thought this linked perfectly to our conversation that we had and considering that we have moved into a new season and spring is here lets remember that with our new season if ever one needs assistance going forward then all we need to remember is:-

God is our refuge and strength

Spring

Its officially Spring day in SA today - with spring comes a new beginning - oh yes that is so true - one season gone - new season lies ahead.

Well however you look at it, i hope and wish for all reading this post that the season that lies ahead is a good one for you and know that GOD will lead you through everything that lies ahead.

We all have our "ups" and our "downs" and it varies for all of us but that is how life is - we dont know what tomorrow holds but just as a flower blooms in spring so will YOU as long as you let GOD lead you and always TRUST HIM and have FAITH.

A NEW BEGINNING LIES AHEAD - HAPPY SPRING - MAY GOD BLESS YOU