My Journal

In your word today Father you have much to say about purity in sexual relationships, care of the needy, being generous with what you have given us and paying you the respect you deserve. I ask today Father that in all if these areas you would develop a right attitude in me.

Lord I have learnt today that the most powerful way of restoring justice is taking responsibility through transparent honesty. I am human and will make mistakes and sin. when I do and cause offense or make a mistake, I pray you would give me the boldness to say 'It's my fault, I'm sorry.'

Father today I am reminded that you are a God of justice. Whern I reflect upon this I have come to realise your justice flows from the love and grace you have for all people. would you help me and my fellow christians to take a godly stand on crime and punishment.

I WILL SPEAK OUT for those who have no voices,
I will stand up for the rights of all the oppressed;
I will speak truth and justice,
I’ll defend the poor and the needy,
I will lift up the weak in Jesus’ name.

I will speak out for those who have no choices,
I will cry out for those who live without love;
I will show God’s compassion
To the crushed and broken in spirit,
I will lift up the weak in Jesus’ name.

Thank you Father that in today's reading you show concern for everyone. Lord I pray you would continue to convict me about issues related to making poverty history. I pray that my committment to you will be demonstrated by the way I use my money.

Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you again today for yout awesome work of salvation. That as you bore my sin and shame when you were crucified at Calvery, you opened the way for me once more to have an intimate relationship with the holy, all consuming God.

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

The Ten Commandments
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

Life without rules is complete chaos. Thank you Father for these 10 rules that are clearly designed to help me enjoy the fulness of life. Lord I pray that you would continue to search me that I be aware of sin in my life. I also pray that you wouldgive me strength to overcome.

Almighty, all powerful God yet friend and comfoter, I worship you. You hold the whole world in you hands yet you konw the ever decreasing number of hairs on my head. Help me to fully respect you as creater and sustainer of the universe and yet come to you as abba father - my dad.

Thank you Father that you use many different circumstances and situations to explain your will and purpose for our lives. Will you help me understand what you are saying through the circumstances I experience.

Father God thank you for the power of prayer. Thank you that as your people pray, you act. Thank you too for the importance of support from fellow christians in prayer.

Lord God I thnak you that of late I have become more obedient. I have manages with your help to avoid wilful sin. I pray lord you would continue to change me that I may become more obedient in every aspect of my life.

Thank you Father for the past, present and future. Help me avoid complaining and keep me focused on your amazingly abundant grace. Help me not complain about worship or the length or style of sermons. Lors I pray you will bless all worship leaders and preachers a ECBC.

Lord Jesus, I am reminded today of 1 Samuel 16:7 - But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Father I thank you that you don't look at the outward appearance but the heart. I pray today that you would continue to create in me a pure heart. I also pray that my outward appearance and attitude may reflect what is in my heart.

Lord continue to develop my understanding of you and your ways. Strengthen and develop my belief I pray. Open the eyes of my heart, that your light may flood in and through me.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

(Repeat two more times)

Holy, holy, holy
We cry holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you
(Repeat five more times)

There is clarity in your word today - if people are not on your side, then they are against you. Lord Jesus, would you help me be completely sold out for you.

Jesus thank you that you teaching on prayer was so good. Firstly about showing respect to God the creator who has authority over all things and yet our intimate friend. Secondly our own spiritual and physical needs and finally the relationships and needs of our friends and neighbours. Again Lord Jesus I ask that you would help me apply these things to my praying and my life.

I do enjpy the account of Mary and Martha. Thank you Jesus once more for the reminder of how important it is to take time to sit at your feet. To put aside the demands of life and just be with the giver of life.

TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE,
To sit at Your feet,
Where Your love surrounds me,
And makes me complete.

This is my desire, O Lord,
This is my desire.
This is my desire, O Lord,
This is my desire.

To rest in Your presence,
Not rushing away;
To cherish each moment,
Here I would stay.

Lord. today I pray that you would help me apply what I know in my heart and head and cause me to demonstrate these with my actions.

Is there a difference between ordinary joy and the joy of Holy Spirit?
For me I find it hard to seperate, I'm joyful when I see God's plans being acomplished, whether in the small deetail of my life or on a large scale within the kingdom. Lord Jesus, I pray that you would keep me firmly rooted in the knowledge that you, through Holy spirit are with me at all times.

Luke 10: 16
"He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."

Lord would you help me today as I share, speak and meet with people to be a bearer of your salvation.

Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.

Jesus, it is clear that being a follower of you is not an easy option, That taking up my cross is a burden that is hard, but you promise to share the load. Lord would you give me a clearer vision of you that I may walk and follow more closely. I pray you would help me avoid sin.

Lord, thank you that you have made me who I am. Thank you that you are developing me into who you want me to be. Would you help me stop comparing myself against others and just enjoy being me. Thank you that you enjoy me being me.

Although a kids song some powerful words about accepting who I am.
IF I WERE A BUTTERFLY,
I’d thank You, Lord, for giving me wings.
And if I were a robin in a tree,
I’d thank You, Lord, that I could sing.
And if I were a fish in the sea,
I’d wiggle my tail and I’d giggle with glee;
But I just thank You, Father,
For making me ‘me’.

For You gave me a heart
And You gave me a smile,
You gave me Jesus
And You made me Your child,
And I just thank You, Father,
For making me ‘me’.

If I were an elephant,
I’d thank You, Lord, by raising my trunk.
And if I were a kangaroo,
You know I’d hop right up to You.
And if I were an octopus,
I’d thank You, Lord, for my fine looks;
But I just thank You, Father,
For making me ‘me’.

If I were a wiggily worm,
I’d thank You, Lord, that I could squirm.
And if I were a billy goat,
I’d thank You, Lord, for my strong throat.
And if I were a fuzzy-wuzzy bear,
I’d thank You, Lord, for my fuzzy-wuzzy hair;
But I just thank You, Father,
For making me ‘me’.

Luke 9: 37-45
Lord I read today of a roller coaster ride the disciples had from a transfiguration experience to a realisation of their own limitations and a failure to undertand. I am very aware that in the past this too has been my experience, however, of late, through my disciplined study you have helped me develop a daily dependance on you that brings peace. Praise you!

GREAT IS THE LORD and greatly to be praised,
In the city of our God,
In the mountain of His holiness.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.

One body, one Spirit, one faith, one Lord,
One people, one nation, praise ye the Lord.

Thank you Father that you are my guide. You're my guide through decisions now, but also my guide through eternity - I look forward to you leading me into heaven to be with you. Jesus thank you that you have made the journey possible and that right now you are preparing a place for me.

Father you are the God of all people and all nations. Praise you. You are sovereign. Praise you. Thank you for the work you are doing throughout your world, for the growth of your church in China and Albania - Praise you. For the work you are doing in our nation. Praise you. For Christians world wide seeking to have an impact on your Kingdom, bless them. Praise you.

Over all the earth, You reign on high
Every mountain stream, every sunset sky
But my one request, Lord my only aim
Is that You’d reign in me again

Lord reign in me, reign in Your power
Over all my dreams, in my darkest hour
You are the Lord of all I am
So won’t you reign in me again

Over every thought, over every word
May my life reflect the beauty of my Lord
‘Cause You mean more to me than any earthly thing
So won’t You reign in me again

Father, Psalm 46 reminds me that you are in complete control. Earthquakes and wars will cease at the sound of your voice. Lord, fear is a natural response in times of turmoil. I pray that when I face such times I may remember that you are greater than any circumstance I might face.

Reading Psalm 45 this morning reminds me that you are both the king of kings and the bridegroom ready for his bride. A mixture of authority and intamcy. Jesus help me to develop my relationship with you that respects these diverse characterisitcs.

Lord it is difficult to understand why we sometimes encounter difficulties. I guess this is much to do with your ways being higher than ours. Help me to remain faithful. I pray you would remove temptation from me or give me a will to resisst so that I don't fall in to sin and recieve therefore the punishment I deserve.

Father thank you for difficult times, these do build character and peseverance. In difficult times I pray you would keep hold of me and help me to persevere.

James 1: 2-4
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Father, I understand that because you are for me, it doesn't really matter who is against me. I choose to believe your promises and thank you for your committment to me. Help me to delight in weakness so that Jesus power may rest on me praise you.

It’s our confession Lord, that we are weak
So very weak, but you are strong
And though we’ve nothing, Lord, to lay at your feet
We come to your feet and say, “Help us along”

A broken heart and a contrite spirit
You have yet to deny
Your heart of mercy beats with love’s strong current
Let the river flow by your spirit now, Lord we cry

Let your mercies fall from heaven
Sweet mercies flow from heaven
New mercies for today
Shower them down Lord as we pray

Thank you for Psalm 40. I guess I am stuck in the mud more often than I actually know it. Lord, would you continue to help me out of the slimy pit and prebvent me from sliding back.

Lord, I pray today that you would nelp me recognise and deal with my emotions, help me channel them to bring glory and honour to you.