Strength

You are my strength

Colossians 1:15

Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. - Colossians 1:15

Pray

When I pray I’ve learnt that God doesn’t listen to my words.  He listens to my heart.

Psalm 62:5

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:5 (NLT)

Comfort

You Comfort Me



Peace

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. - Romans 12:17 (NLT)

Joy

When I think of you, you fill me with joy and make me smile.

Window to your heart

You are the window to your heart.  If you close your blinds, God’s rays can’t shine on you.  Open your blinds wide to God, and feel his warmth.

Romans 14

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. - Romans 14 (NLT)

God Can

When you feel unlovable, unworthy and unclean,
When you think that no one can heal you,
Remember, Friend,
God Can.

When you think that you are unforgivable
For your guilt and your shame
Remember, Friend,
God Can.

When you think that all is hidden
And no one can see within
Remember, Friend,
God Can.

And when you have reached the bottom
And you think that no one can hear
Remember my dear Friend
God Can.

And when you think that no one can love
The real person deep inside of you
Remember my dear Friend,
God Does.

Thomas

Follow

When I follow God I become stronger. When I go my own way I become weak and leave myself vulnerable.

Imagine

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Life

I can give you life
I want to give you life

Missing the exit.

Don’t miss the exit and end up going in the wrong direction.

1 Peter 1:8

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. - 1 Peter 1:8 (NLT)

Love

I want to tell the world I love you.

Life Is Hard

Now I say to you in conclusion,
life is hard,
at times as hard as crucible steel.
It has its bleak and difficult moments.
Like the ever-flowing waters of the river,
life has its moments of drought and its moments of flood.
Like the ever-changing cycle of the seasons,
life has the soothing warmth of its summers
and the piercing chill of its winters.
But if one will hold on,
he will discover that God walks with him,
and that God is able to lift you from the fatigue of despair
to the buoyancy of hope
and transform dark and desolate valleys
into sunlit paths of inner peace.

Martin Luther King Jr

Seeds

God will plant seeds in your heart, but if it’s made of stone they will not grow.  Fertilise your heart with God’s word and the seeds will flourish.

John 20:29

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Ben Breedlove

Do you believe in Angels or God?.  It is a question Ben Breedlove asked the world on YouTube shortly before he died of a heart condition.  Ben answered his own question with “I Do”.  Well Ben, “We do too.  We believe in Angels and God.”

Light

I’m carrying a light for Jesus.  Together we can bring light to the darkness in the world.

Salvations Song of the Week - "Something More" by Nick Vujicic

Nick Vujicic, he is really an inspiration to many.  A guy that has found joy in life by knowing God and having a relationship with Jesus even in the admist of having no limbs.  He has done it all, parachuting, skiing, driving cars, driving boats, singing and stars in movies like the Butterfly Circus.  Nick was also recently married.  Nothing holds him back and he credits the joy he has to God.

Lyrics

Where we go when hope runs out?
When we are empty
when there's nothing left"
Sometime I get so tired
just trying to find a place, to lay my head
I look up to the sky
I fell the warmest light comfort me,
I've seen the great heights,
reminding me.. I'm alive,
I don't wanna die,
I don't wanna waste another day, or night
I know there's something more
than what we're living for
I see it in the stars,
I feel it on the shores,
I know there's something,
I know there's something more.
I think we're all afraid
that we might be alone
alone down here,
we all want to have some faith,
at least that's true in my case,
to just believe,
I've seen the great height,
reminding me... i'm alive,
I don't wanna die
I don't wanna waste another day, or night,
I know there's something more
than what we're living for
I see it in the stars,
I feel it on the shores,
I know there's something,
This world may crumble,
into the ocean,
it could all end tonight,
I undermined you,
then tried to find you,
my only source of light,
Breathing I am...
Breathing I am...Alive !
When I was 10 years old, I tried to commit suicide
I had lost my hope, I tried to drown myself but I couldn't do it
God had a plan for my life, to give hope to other people
through my story
I know there's something more,
I don't wanna die,
I don't wanna waste another day, or night,
I know there's something more
than what we're living for
I see it in the stars,
I feel it on the shores,
I know there's something more,
I don't wanna die,
I don't wanna waste another day, or night,
I know there's something more,
than what we're living for,
I see it in the stars,
I feel it on the shores,
I know there's something more,
I don't wanna die,
I don't wanna waste another day, or night,
I know there's something more,
than what we're living for,
I see it in the stars,
I feel it on the shores,
I know there's something more,
I know there's something...

Falling in love

To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest achievement. ~ Augustine of Hippo

Searching

We can spend our life searching for something to fill our emptiness or we can spend a moment in acceptance to fill it.

Proverbs 24:26

An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship. - Proverbs 24:26 (NLT)

Why do you believe

“Why do you believe in Christianity” James asked Eli

“It makes my life better”, Eli responded directly

“Because you think you’re going to heaven when you die?”

“No, because it makes my life better.  If you take what Jesus teaches and the rules of Christianity and apply them to your life it will make it better.  It fills happy times full of joy, gives strength and hope during the tough times and it provides a solid foundation to build on.  It’s really that simple.  There came a point I simply asked myself why wouldn’t I want to follow this.  There is no downside.  James, I tell you what. Take this bible and read the New Testament.  I challenge you to try to find something in there that if you applied it to your life would make it worse.”

James took the bible with a determined look to succeed at the challenge and left.

A few days later James returned and said with excitement and a glitter of joy in his eyes.  “I’ve accepted Jesus into my life and I’m learning to apply Christianity and well, I just feel wonderful.”  “Oh, and I have a new friend, which we now share.  Jesus.”

Eli smiled.

The Ride

Life, the greatest ride of all
Admission is free
There are many highs and lows
Long climbs and fast falls
I may scream with excitement
I may shake in fear
The joy is simply incredible
Beside me is my friend Jesus
When the rides over, we will walk through the exit together

Good Times

Don’t let your relationship with God drift apart when things are good.  God wants to be with you through the good times as well as the bad.  When things are good, let God know.

Where did your seed fall ?

“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Jesus Christ : Matthew 13:18 NLT

"You Have Won Me" by Bethel Music

Salvation's song of the week "You Have Won Me" by Bethel Music

Lyrics

Grace youve shown me grace
Youve lifted my shame
Drawn me with loving kindness
Washed whiter than snow
You have redeemed and made me whole

Chorus:

Jesus you have won me You have broken every chain
With love and mercy
You have triumphed over death And you are worthy
Of glory and praise

Verse 2

Love youve shown me love
By leaving your throne
By bleeding and dying on a cross That wonderful cross
That took all my guilt and sin away

Bridge:

Shout it out and lift up one voice in worship
Sing it out until all the earth can hear it
Jesus is alive and He saves He rescues and saves
(repeat)

Ecclesiastes 10:4

If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes. - Ecclesiastes 10:4 (NLT)

Randi's Story

I have had depression my whole life.  I remember being depressed when I was really young.

I got teased a lot in school for different things; I was really shy, never talked to anyone. I remember when I got into high school; I overdosed and ended up in the hospital for a week. I got so much attention, everybody came to visit me and bought me flowers, it was all about me for that week, it felt really good.  After that I would do stuff like that to get attention again, I would take pills, and then I started cutting my arms.  I remember sitting in class just carving on my arms just hoping someone would see it and maybe see that I was hurting inside. 

When I was 17 my friends took me to a party and that was the first time I ever drank, and I drank a lot.  I acted really stupid but ended up being the centre of attention somehow and I thought that was really cool so, umm, I started hanging out with the wrong crowd and drinking a lot more.  I experimented with drugs I never really got into them.  Alcohol was a way to kill the pain that I was feeling inside so I turned into a party girl.

I filled my life with the bad things, bad music, bad movies, bad relationships.  The more I did that stuff the more empty I felt inside and I couldn’t find anything to fill that void that was inside of me.  I remember when I had hit rock bottom once again and I was trying to think of a way how I could kill myself.  One of my friends invited me to church and I went to Sagebrush and it was awesome, I didn’t know that church was cool.  I wasn’t changed overnight, it was a slow process.  I started getting involved and serving on the lighting team but I was still trying to lead a double life.  I would go out and get wasted the night before then go to church the next morning with a hangover.  I even threw up in the bathroom one time; it was one of the lowest points. 

But it was at that moment that I knew ok this isn’t working anymore, slowly, I don’t know, something just started happening.  I started getting rid of my music, my movies and I wanted to stop drinking and that was the hardest thing for me.  Then living free started and I started serving there.  

I haven’t had a drink now in 17 months, I couldn’t of done it without God, I probably would have been dead if it wasn’t for him.  There are pills and therapy and you can do all that stuff but the only real answer is having a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Since then my life has just been amazing, things keep happening that are so great.  Bad things still happen, but I don’t look at it as a bad thing.  I just look at it as a chance to get closer to God because it seems I talk to him more and listen to him when bad things do happen.  If my friend had of never invited me to church, who knows what would have happened.

Before & After

I was a liar

I was selfish

I was an addict
I had no life beyond what I saw
I was arrogant
I was confused
I thought I knew everything
I thought I could figure it out on my own,  I deserved everything the world had to offer.
My worth was weighed by my own standards and it was never enough
There was something missing, I was alone
But that was before
Now I am fully forgiven and free from condemnation
I believe in something bigger than myself
My worth is no longer weighed by my successors or my failures
My desire is to have my life to be a testament to God’s grace and love
No longer am I an image of my potential
I am whole
Three dimensional washed in the grace of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Fully enabled to walk in the glorious light of God’s love
He took hold of my life
And I know he will never let me go
I trust in the Lord with all my heart
I am fully blessed
I am not alone

I will resuce those who love me

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
- Psalm 91:14 (NLT)

Always Been Faithful

Through the sorrow and the aching
Through the fear and all the breaking
And the hurt that all these chapters hold
You were there when I was losing
You're the Hope that I'm still choosing
You're my gravity, You never let me go
You have always been faithful

Lyrics from "Always Been Faithful"
by Heather Williams

Love your enemies

When Jesus said to “Love Your Enemies”, it means to love them, and understand why they might be the way they are based on their own childhood, problems in life and ways they have learnt to survive.

 While Christians are commanded to love everyone it doesn’t mean a Christian needs to accept their behaviour.  For example if a man is beating on his girlfriend or wife, a Christian will continue to love the man, understanding that he is where he is and acts the ways he does based on his own childhood and ways he has learnt to survive during life.  It’s possible for instance he learned that behaviour from witnessing his father beat his mother, or his father beating him.  He has learnt the behaviour from somewhere, he didn’t get it from God, he learnt it.  The man probably also knows it is wrong but doesn’t want to acknowledge it or deal with it.  A Christian therefore doesn’t need to tolerate the behaviour to continue to love the person.  God gives the Christian the strength and knowledge to say “Enough is enough, your behaviour is unacceptable” and separate themselves from the situation while doing their best to help the person learn new acceptable behaviour. 

A close relationship with Jesus can help a person correct bad behaviour.  Many that exhibit bad behaviour are typically far from Christ and do not want to even know him on a personal level.   

There are many types of unacceptable behaviour including physical abuse, mental abuse, selfishness, sexual immorality, bullying, drunkenness, hatred, deception, lying, stealing etc.  One thing a loving Christian can do is give them a bible and or other good Christian books, tell them that they love them and be there for them as a person when they are willing to make a change.  A Christian cares about a person’s soul and knows that unacceptable behaviour requires to be corrected to experience the joy of knowing God.

Mortality

I had ignored God most of my life.

It wasn’t until I recognised my mortality through an illness that I realised God wanted to be my friend and would be with me always. 

I accepted Christ into my life and asked for his forgiveness. 

The only regret I have is not accepting his friendship earlier.