One to Ones

I've just recently started meeting with another one of the Young People in my Church Family and realised that yet again I've been struggling to remember the sort of helpful things to ask before getting stuck into the bible or the book we're reading together.

So I decided to compile a list of standard questions that I thought might be helpful and share them with you all in case any of them are helpful.
I'd love feedback of more I can add if you have more!

Blessings!

One to One Basic Questions:

·         How are you?

o   In yourself

o   At school

o   With friends

·         How is school?

o   Grades

o   Friendships

o   Joys and struggles

·         How are friends?

·         Church?

o   Attendance?

o   Understanding?

o   Joyful or a struggle?

·         Personal Christian life?

o   Quiet Times?

o   Prayer?

o   Is it fun?

o   What are you studying?

o   What are you praying for yourself?

·         Home?

o   How is life at home in general?

o   What do you do in your spare time?

o   How are you getting on with your family?

o   Do you get your own space?

o   Do you get family time?

·         How can I be helping you? Praying for you?

God meant it for good!

A while ago I put this verse on my Instagram page from Genesis 50 v 20: 

"You meant it for evil but God meant it for the saving of many!" 

So often I feel we can look around this world and ask How can God allow this to happen? But this verse reminded me that God looks after his children, he is shaping us and growing us to be more like him. We as humans have a heart problem, we are unable to be perfect, we are sinful people who need rescuing.
But who can rescue humanity? Clearly not a human because we are all messed up right?

Well, God came down from heaven as a man, fully God and fully man and lived a perfect life, he defeated death and was raised to the Father's right hand. Who better then to take the punishment for our wrongdoings?

If God wanted that much to save us that he would be able to send his only son to die to save us, then how can you think that he would want to hurt us? God surely just wants to shape us to show us what it looks like to be one of his people.

Hebrews 2v11 is one of my favourite verses in the bible and I'm going to leave it with you to ponder and reflect on but I hope you find it as encouraging as I do!

"Both the one who makes people holy and those who are holy are holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters."

Singing and Serving

Have you ever looked at your worship leader and thought, wow they seem so together and good, or, they're such a good performer. Or maybe you're that worship leader or band member.
Is this the question that should arise from our worship? Or should we not notice this and be thinking of praise instead?

Well I've been trying to think over this, as someone who sings in the church band, and work out just what our role is.

The first thing to remember is that as a member of a band we're there to serve the congregation, not as a performer. There is a time and a place for performing and I think it's a wonderful thing. But if you're in the band and you feel like you're performing, maybe you need to pray about your motives for being there.

Secondly, this is your opportunity to praise God! So remember who you're singing to, remember why you're doing it. This is an opportunity to spend time in prayerful reflection on your Heavenly Father.

Thirdly, read Colossians 3v1-17, especially verse 16 "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." We are to sing praises to one another teaching and charing wisdom, even in singing! So sing with your brothers and sisters, sing to them! 

Praise the Lord with all your heart, loving and serving your congregation. 
You have a gift. Use it for God's glory.
Raise your voice and praise the Lord.

Reflections of Proverbs 31

This week I’ve been looking at Proverbs 31 the Epilogue bit, and really trying to pray into it and reflect on it. So here are a few of my thoughts.

To begin with I had to take away my selfish attitude and realise this isn’t about me or what I can be as a noble wife in the future, but the example Jesus sets here to the church. Remember ALL of the Old Testament points to Jesus and tells us about His character and His mission, so this must also have the focus on Jesus.

Secondly the bible talks about the church being married to God so this could also be a reflection on the behaviour of the church as a whole in it’s service to the Lord. It’s strange picture language for the church as a whole but as you begin to break it down it has similarities to preparations and harvest which is the work Jesus sends us out to do really in the Great Commission.

Finally of course it applies when thinking personally about growth in my own personal character with the help of the Holy Spirit. If I’m striving to be Christ-like and this is pointing to Christ’s character then surely this is something that, with the Grace of God, I should be striving for also. Even in my role in church service and discipleship this is something also I should reflect on.

Now when I read Proverbs 31 I can say:

• Wow, Jesus is amazing 
• Oh man, I’m rubbish!
• Thankfully God is gracious and I can ask Him to help me to grow in this!

25 Things to be thankful for

I've decided to take note of all the great things God provided over summer this year by making a list, I love lists so that's my first thing to be thankful for!

1. My job
2. Keswick Convention
3. New Friends
4. Old Friends
5. Waterfalls
6. Coffee
7. God's Wisdom
8. Laughter
9. Answered Prayer
10. Snap-backs
11. Bullet Journalling
12. Psalm 107
13. Prosecco
14. Lake District
15. Martinis
16. More Coffee
17. New car!
18. Reunions
19. Camp
20. Crutches and Cocodomol
21. Family
22. Photographs
23. Sunshine
24. Washout
25. Talkin Tarn

So many great things happened and on reflection I am able to praise God for His continuous blessings and trust that He knows the plans set before me!

SWAK: Betraying Jesus in our daily life

Sorry for the controversial heading but can you say I'm wrong?

I know I'm guilty of doing the same, not just saying we don't believe but maybe just not standing up for Jesus as we should.
Please stick with me as I work through a few challenging questions to strengthen my faith, and hopefully yours too.

Let's begin with what we know:

We are all sinners.

We can be forgiven if we ask.

BUT

Do we use this as an excuse for our sin?

Do now pay later?

Will we follow Jesus to the cross?

Will we be Peter, asking for forgiveness?

Or Judas?

So when we sin, do we feel crippled with guilt until we ask for forgiveness? Or do we just remember as we go to bed that out of habit we should ask for Jesus to forgive everything we've done wrong, the end. 

Remember that Judas betrayed Jesus, he handed Him over to the authorities, but it would seem he showed no remorse. However Peter also denied Jesus three times, but Peter asked for forgiveness, he accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and went out to spread the Good News! 

We must decide when we sin, will we follow Jesus to the cross like Peter, or will we betray Him like Judas.

I hope that this Easter time like me, you can commit to being a Peter not a Judas and celebrate Jesus death and resurrection and spread the fantastic news that HE IS RISEN!

The Mission in Sewing

Today I attended a sewing club that my mum goes to. There are only four of them that go, three Christians and a non Christian. It's not intentionally an outreach, however naturally it is one.

This is because we are all missionaries.

Some people would see this as a very bold statement but it's true! Anyone who knows their bible will tell you, we are not of this world. We are only here for a short period of time, here to tell people the amazing news of Jesus Christ! Of his salvation and wonderful, gracious love. 

Now this sewing club I went to today, without forcing any form of bible based conversation we ended up discussing the question; "How can God allow suffering?" a very difficult topic, but the non-christian was the one who brought it up and God had prompted that and placed us there to be His missionaries. 

You don't have to go abroad to tell people about Christ, yes the work of OM and other mission groups is fantastic and if you have the facility then go and do it! But don't be disheartened, mission is also on your doorstep! 

The Lord has placed you exactly where he wants you to be.

So take what he has given you. We all have been given gifts, just remember to use them.

You can even be a missionary just by sewing.

Spiritual Single Service

In an age of feminism we can easily get swept up in power, self love and self service. The HeforShe campaign and I don’t need feminism can distract us from our inner beauty.

The urban dictionary defines new age feminism like this:

 Unlike the old notion of feminism, the new age feminist does not demand to be treated the same way as a man. She demands that the differences between men and women are recognized, understood, and accommodated for.

As Christian women this is not the attractive inner beauty we are taught about through the fruits of the spirit. Galatians 5:20 tells us we should not live by; self-ambition, idolatry, jealousy and hatred. Instead we are told that the fruits of the spirit show; love, joy, peace, self control, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and patience.

When we sort out our inner beauty our willingness to serve should follow, serving and submitting makes us no weaker than anyone else, however it shows a strength and a courage above all. Remember Christ came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

We serve because we are on a passionate pursuit for Christ, not for self ambition.

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So, what task has God given you?

This could be miles away from your comfort zone, it could be away from home, it could be your next door neighbor.

Don’t let stubbornness, anxiety, pride or fear get in the way. We need to prayerfully consider what God has planned for us and go for it! We should enjoy our freedom to serve God whilst we are still single!

The definition of a servant;

One who is doing the will of another with resources of another for the benefit of another.

Cosette Conway