Remembrance

Today at church we're going to learn this amazing song by Matt Redman and Matt Maher. Click here for the pdf sheet music. Have a blessed Sunday!

When Tempted Change Your Focus

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'...submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee...'
James 4:7

Pastor Jon Walker writes: 'When Tolstoy was a boy he started "The White Polar Bear Club". To become a member you had to stand for 30 minutes and not think of a white polar bear. Have you ever intentionally tried not to think about something? It's almost impossible! We often handle temptation in a similar fashion. We think we can stand near it, and if we don't think about it we'll have the victory. The problem is, the more we try not to concentrate on it the more it becomes the centre of our focus... the longer we think about not submitting the more likely it is that we will.

The Bible says: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7 NIV). We quote the latter half of the verse, but if all you're doing is focusing on the devil you're still focusing on the temptation. I'm not suggesting... you shouldn't say, "Get thee behind me, satan." I'm saying you can't do it in your own strength; you do it by humbling yourself before God, recognising that He's your strength... When you keep your eyes on Him the Devil will flee because you're resisting him by embracing God. Be humble enough to seek help. A sure sign you're about to fall is when you think, "I can handle this on my own." See this as an urgent alarm to submit to God and say, "Lord, I need your strength and wisdom. Lead me not into temptation." Then walk away from the temptation. And if you need to, call a friend for prayer and accountability.'

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

On Temptation

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And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son; I take delight in You! Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.
Mark 1:11-13

We are the most vulnerable not when we are facing a big temptation, we are the most vulnerable after our greatest success. Bill Johnson

How true! I am reminded also of Elijah who after the most amazing spiritual high on Mount Carmel, seeing fire fall from heaven, was soon hiding in a cave and wishing he was dead! I've seen this roller coaster often in my own life, sometimes because I've been thinking my success was all down to me and then discovering that I am still weak and frail. Other times I see that God actually knows the trials and temptations are coming, so He takes time to affirm and strengthen me to face what lies ahead.

Lord You Are Always Here With Me

Lord You are always here with me - Livets Ord Church

I learnt this song at the church I attended in Sweden last weekend... simply beautiful! Lord, You are ALWAYS here with me.. even when I don't feel You, even when I muck up, even when I am totally confused... You hold my future in Your hands... my Solid Rock... Almighty God... I worship You.

Skywatch #86

Uppsala, Sweden, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to visit Uppsala in Sweden. Along with temperatures of up to -13 degrees there were beautiful blue skies and frost laden trees. The coloured buildings are so attractive to a grey Londoner! Happy skywatching :)

Stop Complaining And Start Gaining

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Do everything without complaining...
Philippians 2:14

Two groups of psychology students were wired for recording purposes, and assigned a period to socialise freely. One group knew the experiment would measure the level of complaining in normal conversation; the other group did not. Afterwards, both groups were shocked by how frequently they complained. The group in the know complained almost as much as the group unaware of what the experiment was aiming to achieve. It's the oldest response in the book - literally! Confronted with our choices and actions, we spontaneously start complaining: 'It was their fault, not mine; If they hadn't... I wouldn't have.' Adam needed no lessons in the art of complaining. Caught red-handed, he told God, '..."The woman whom You gave... me, she gave me... and I ate." ...the woman [Eve]... said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate" ' (Genesis 3:12-13 NAS).

Neither accepted responsibility for their choices. And since God doesn't help people who won't be responsible, He threw the complainers out of Paradise. If they ever subsequently 'got it' regarding complaining, they didn't transmit it to their offspring, Israel: 'Now the people complained... in the hearing of the Lord... his anger was aroused. Then fire... consumed... the outskirts of the camp' (Numbers 11:1 NIV). Notice, all complaining is 'in the hearing of the Lord', and He clearly doesn't want to hear it! Paul writes, 'Do not complain as some of them did; they were killed by the angel that destroys. The things that happened to those people are examples... written down to teach us...' (1 Corinthians 10:10-11 NCV). Clean up your verbal act! Decide to detect, reject and eject all complaining from your vocabulary.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Imrah Ministries

Imrah Ministries

Today I'm visiting Imrah Ministries... Have a look at their website where you will find clear biblical teaching presented in a simple format. Have a blessed Sunday!

Grace & Beer

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God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant.
Romans 5:20

I came across this post at Rebel God which I found shocking at first, but have been thinking on it... I certainly don't condone sinning in order to increase grace, or indeed putting God to the test when He has shown us how serious sin is (not that I think drinking alcohol is a sin!), but how often do I let satan put me down because I have not lived up to that perfect holiness, and how many times do I mistakenly think that I have done rather well and am not really in need of much forgiveness today thank you! I would love to hear your thoughts...

Skywatch #85

Plane Spotting, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

The skies have been amazing this week... yesterday my walk bore some good snaps. I live very close to Heathrow Airport in London and planes take off over the house. I always see them when I walk on the Heath. As I turned to walk home the sky looked as if it was brewing something... happy skywatching!

Image by duopastorale via Flickr

Take A Leap Of Faith

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'...faith is...the conviction of things not seen.'Hebrews 11:1

One day two caterpillars were plodding up a hill when they noticed a butterfly dipping and weaving overhead. Turning to his buddy, one said, 'You'd never get me up in one of those things!' Raise your sights, take a leap of faith! '...faith is...the conviction of things not seen'(Hebrews 11:1 NAS).

Glynnis Whitwer says,

'God calls us to obedience without showing us the end result...There are days I'm tired of getting called out of my comfort zone...I've been known to whine and ask if I can serve God from the safety of my recliner. But that's not God's way. He doesn't want me limited by my desire for security and control...Something inside is revealed when we're pressured from without...[it]shines light on the truth about our faith...To grow, faith must be stretched, and that's uncomfortable...Unlike some, I haven't learned to trust God the easy way...by reading a book...listening to a sermon...or hearing how my friend trusts Him. I'm learning by stepping out into the adventure of obedience and discovering that He's trustworthy. This happened when my husband and I started tithing (after I resisted for years), and watched God cover our needs and more...When I obeyed His command to write a book (although I didn't know what I'd write about), and watched God open doors of opportunity...When we said yes to adoption, and are watching the blossoming of two little girls with hope and a future...Obeying when God hasn't revealed the steps...or the final destination is challenging. But when we walk by faith He gets the glory, because we know we couldn't have done it.'

So, take a leap of faith.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Kathryn Scott

Kathryn Scott - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Kathryn's rendition of What a Friend We Have in Jesus is simply wonderful. She is the most talented song writer and I love the way she talks about worship. Catch her singing the hymn about 2 mins in here. Have a blessed Sunday.

Preparing For Lent

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Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert...Matthew 4:1

Last week I mentioned to a R that I hadn't decided what to give up for this Lent. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning and is only a couple of weeks away. It's traditionally a time of remembering Jesus' time in the wilderness, of coming before God in repentance, often involving some kind of fast; a time of showing God that we mean business. "Why don't you take something up instead", R said, "like praying in tongues for half an hour a day?". Wow, I thought, that's an idea. Although I suspect that giving something up is easier than taking on something new.

I think it's really important not to get legalistic in what I do but to bear in mind this scripture from Matthew. Jesus was led by the Spirit and if you are thinking about Lent like me, then listen to the Spirit. Ask him what He is calling you to focus on. Yes, Jesus did give up much during His time in the desert but it was for the purpose of taking up. He took up prayer, calling, contemplation, solitude, and battle!

Skywatch #84

Herceg Novi, Montenegro, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

Another Skywatch shot from last year's holiday in Montenegro. Beautiful place!

Let's Pray For Our Nation

Image by Loving Earth via Flickr

I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land
2 Chronicles 7:14

In 1988 a noted chess master named Paul Morphy attended a dinner party in Richmond Virginia, During the dinner his attention was drawn to a painting on the wall. The scene portrayed a young man locked in an intense chess match with the devil. The devil's next move would surely claim victory - entitling him to the young man's soul. The devil wore a triumphant expression. After dinner the chess champion walked over to the painting, studying the board and the pieces portrayed on it. Suddenly he turned to his host and said, "I can take the young man's game and win!" "That's not possible!" his host replied. "Not even you can retrieve that game." The chess master answered, "Yes, I think I can. Suppose we place the men and give it a try." To the surprise of everyone Morphy bested the smug opponent in the painting. Victory was snatched from the devil and the young man was saved.

Sometimes we feel like that young man. We see satan poised to claim victory. We feel something near despair as we watch our nation make wrong turn after wrong turn. Yet in the darkest moment God whispers, "I have good news for you. He hasn't won yet. If my people who are called by my name are sorry for what they have done, if they pray and obey me a stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven, I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land." God gets the final move. And we can urge Him to take it - when we pray!

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.