My Journal

Thank you Father God for all the encouragement my study of your word has brought me throughout this year, at times challenging, at others inspiring and encouraging. Through it all my relationship with you has msot certainly developed. Today my notes ask me to consider who I am. I am a child of yours and I rejoice that you will always love me. Here's to 2009!

Jesus as I read John's message today I am challenged and encouraged. Challenged that I could be more generous towards the needy but encouraged by my perception of my public integrity. Again I ask that you would help me live the lifestyle you have called me to.

Thank you for the message John the Baptist delivered, a message of repentance and forgiveness. Thank you that this message is still the same today. These two key features are crucial in building a highway that leads to you Lord Jesus. I pray that I would be able to remove the obstacles and potholes from my life that cause the road I walk towards you to be difficult. Help me sin no more.

Lord I so much want to put you first in all I do. In my public life I find this easier than in my private life. My prayer today is to ask for help in my private life, the life I lead when no one is looking, that my thoughts, decisions and actions that I take may be in line with your will for my life. Help me I pray.

Thank you that with age and experience comes an ability to recognise what you are doing. Thank you for Simeon and Anna (Luke 2: 21-38). Lord I ask that as I grow older that you wold help me see what you are doing and rejoice in the unfolding of your rescue plan of salvation.

Lord thank you for the reminder that your salvation reaches to all sections of society. The poor find wealth in your kingdom. Lord form my podition of wealth I pray that I would continue to remember how needy I am and dependent on you for each breath I take. Lord, I marvel at the love and grace you lavish upon me - keep me I pray.

Lord Jesus today is all about you. In the midst of our traditional celebration, I pray that you would help me recognise you. I remember God's gift of salvation, in recieving gifts I remember that I have accepted your gift of salvation, through family gathering I remember that you have placed me within a Christian family for my support and encourgaement. When we share food I will remember your abundant provision. Lord Jesus, today I celebrate your birth, be at the centre of all I do today.

Lord Jesus in the midst of all the busy preparations today I pray that you would enable me to find moments of quiet to reflect upon the purpose behind the preparation - to celebrate your birth and the coming of salvation

Lord God, thank you for the lessons learnt from Elizabeth and Zechariah. Lessons of faithfulness, trust and obedience. Lord once more you show that ordinary people play an extra ordinary part in you plan of salvation for the world. I ask today Father that you would develop in me faith, trust and obedience.

Lord Jesus in your mother's song, the magnificat, she shows her understanding of what a revolutionary you would become - a revoluntionary still having impact 2000 years after your death. You are on the side of the poor and lowly. Lors Jesus would you help me once more to reflect on how worldly rich I am and that I might be challenged to use my wealth and all you have given to me to help "fill thr hungry with good things".

Luke 1: 41
41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Lord as I again hear the message of Christmas I pray that your Holy Spirit would descend and cause me to leap for joy at the amazing salvation story being unfolded.

Thank you for Mary, especially her willingness to say YES inspite of all the valid reasons she had to say no. Would you help me Father God to say yes to you and all the things you have in store for me to do.

Father thank you that you used the whole spectrum of society to both announce and celebrate the birth of your son Jesus. I thank you also that today your offer of salvation remains open to all. Lord I ask that you would do a new work in my life and help me prepare to celebrate once more the birth of Jesus properly.

The result of the gift of Jesus is joy and peace. For me I expereince joy, knowing that my sins are really forgiven. I experience peace as I am confident of an eternity spent in the presence of God. Thank you Jesus for bringing me through this year and allowing me to experience joy and peace at this time.

Father, the passage I read today (Isaiah 65) speaks to me of two worlds. The one in which I live and the one that Jesus has won for me. Jesus I thank you for you birth, your life, your death and your ressurection. Lord I am looking forward to an eternity as described in this prophecy, would you help me live it out now please.

Father I simply want to thank you for your most precious gift to me - Jesus. Lord I ask that you would continue to remind me of the connectivity between Christmas and Easter. Jesus, you came as a baby, you died Saviour - thank you doesn't seem enough - Hallelujah!

When I consider what you allowed to happen that first Christmas, Father God, I am amazed. Amazed at your compassion lavished upon your world, amazed at the extravagance of your love. You gave all that was yours to become one of us. This, in my expereince is how you continually operate. Youhave shown extravagant love towards me and lavished your compassion upon me since the day I was concieved. Praise you Father, Praose you Jesus.

Father in this season of advent, I pray that you would open my eyes to what you can do theough me and through your people. I ask that you would show me what to do, equip me to do it and then give me courage and boldness to go for it.

Father I have read today about your marvellous light. Linght and dark are not just opposites, they cannot coexist. One, light, dispells the other, darkness.
Jesus you are the light of the world, help me as your disciple to reflect your light wherever I go.

Father I ask today that you would help me enjoy the ritual, tradition and sentiment of this special season, but at the same time see the reality through it all. You gave your one and only son that as I accept him and his offer of salvation so my world and the entire world is transformed.

My story notes today ask me to consider whether I am called or driven. My understanding is that being called is about responding to God's gracious invitation to live in his eays and make a difference in the world for others. Being driven is about pursuing my own goals and making a difference for myself.
Father, help me to follow your calling.

In this season of Advent I am once again reminded of your great love for me. Father if I am honest, it is a love that overwhelms me that I don't really understand. I know you love me - your word tells me so. I thank you that you gave Jesus for me, help me look forward to this most precious time of year.

Your word tells me that 2 are better than one. I ask Father that you would help me realise the benefits of being part of a team. I pray that you would help me share the power of teamwork. I thank you once more for the leadership team, small group and worship group I am a member of. Would you help me contribute and recieve from them for the benefit and extension of your kingdom in this place.

Father thank you that you allow us to communicate with you at all times and in all places. Would you continue to develop in me a readiness to speak to you to give thanks, to seek guidance and to ask for help.

Father, you're a God who has relationship running through every tissue of your body. I want to thank you for the relationships I have. For you and the difference the relationship has made. For Liz, Kaite and Aaron, for those I worship alongside at ECBC, expecially the Leadership Team, for those at school especially those I share leadership with and those I lead. I ask, would you help me enjoy not endure these relationships.

Lord I love the title of my bible reading notes today - 'dressed for the occasion'. I thank you that in the passage I read, you give clear instructions as a follower of you what you would like me to wear.
- compassion
- kindness
- humility
- gentleness
- paitience
Help me Father to get dressed today!

Lord Jesus with the new life you won for me at Calvery comes a new lifestyle. I ask that you would continue to help me get rid of what has shaped me in the past and prepare me for eternity with you.

I AM A NEW CREATION,
No more in condemnation,
Here in the grace of God I stand.
My heart is overflowing,
My love just keeps on growing,
Here in the grace of God I stand.

And I will praise You Lord,
Yes, I will praise You Lord,
And I will sing of all that You have done.

A joy that knows no limit,
A lightness in my spirit,
Here in the grace of God I stand.

Father in this world in which I live there are many voices calling me and others into pathways that lead away from you. I pray that I may hear your voice louder than the rest and walk only in your ways.
'Inview of your mercy Father, I offer my body as a living sacrifice.'

As i develop my love and knowledge of you Lord Jesus I pray that I would be able to recognise imitations (false teaching) and avoid it. "Jesus you are my light and my salvation, I therefore have no one or no situation that I should be afraid of." I ask Lord that this might be my experience of living out my faith.

Father God, thank you that through your word the bible you have given me all I need to know to develop my relationship with you through a complete understanding of who Jesus is and what he has done. Would you help me understand all that I need to develop an incresing love for Jesus, and help me to be thankful.

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die" Bonhoeffer 2001. Jesus I pray for Christians around your world where this statement is literally ture. Lord I pray that you would give them strength so that their faith may be courageous and bold enabling them to face each day and situation with the hope only you can give.

Jesus today I worship your majesty. As firstborn you hold supremecy over all creation and in you all things hold together. I ask today that you would help me see you in your glorious majesty.

Father thank you for keeping me on the right road - in the past I have gone 'off road' but recently I have not. I pray this would continue and that you would keep me right. Help me too with the basics of rescue, redemption, forgiveness and Jesus that I might keep on the right road.