My Journal

Thank you father god that you are incomparable. Thank you that you have once and for all times gained the victory over sin and death through Jesus and although I am sometimes tempted and sometimes give in, you have my eternity wrapped up.

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea,
Creation’s revealing Your majesty.
From the colours of fall to the fragrance of spring,
Every creature unique in the song that it sings. All exclaiming…

Indescribable, Uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God.
All powerful, Untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim,
You are amazing God.

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go,
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light,
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night?
None can fathom…

Indescribable, Uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God.
All powerful, Untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim,

You are amazing God…

Indescribable, Uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God.
All powerful, Untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim,
You are amazing God

Indescribable, Uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God.
Incomparable, Unchangeable,
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same.
You are amazing God.

You are amazing God…

As I reflect on the book of Obadiah, I am reminded of Christians that are persecuted throughout your world. I thank you that your promise to them is to overcome. Lord I ask that in the situations I find myself that you would use me to bring about change. Help me to stand against situations where I see evil prospering

I thank you that you know me inside and out, you know my thoughts, my words and my actions and you still love me. Lord help me to see myself as you see me, the wonderful and the not-so-wonderful things. continue to chip away at the sin that remains in my life and cause me to shine for you.

I thank you that you are the God of second chances. Lord I thank you that currently I have put a lot of my sinful ways behind me. Help me to confess the sin thst remains and help me go and sin no more. Help me to recuieve your forgivesness and live in freedom as you have given me the opportunity to do so.

Lord I thank you for my study of Amos. A challenging, hard and in someways depressing read. But I do thank you that your word tells me that you will sift your people, removing sin. Father as I live in post calvery times I thank you and rejoice that you have paid the price for my sin once and for all through the sacrificial death and ressurection of Jesus to everlasting life. - Hallelujah.

Father God, you can bring solution to all of the worlds problems. I ask this morning that you would always keep me hungry for more of you through your word and that you would be the model and source of my life. Help me to show others through word and action taht you too can be the solution to their issues and bring them peace, help me to share your love with them.

Lord Jesus that you for your example of how to live. Lord help me not to compare or measure myself against others, but against you. Lord show me areas in my life that you want me to develop or change to become more in line with your will and example.

Lord will you give me your eyes to see those around me as you do.
Lord God shake me out of my complacency. Let me never get used to the hardship that surrounds me in my family, community, country and wider world. Let me see your people as you see them let my heart and life reflect your true compassion.

father God I ask that you would help me use my whole life to worship you. You ask me to follow and this is what I long to do. I pray that throughout today your justice may flow like a river from me to all I meet and interact with. I pray that I may walk the talk, that through my life others may see you.

Thank you Jesus that you are all-powerful. Remaining always faithdul, you are one who is truly just. You work miracles in healing provision. You look over me and you love me, you long to help me keep going. Your Kingdom is ours to inherit, a Kingdom that never ends - Hallelujah.

The Bible says my King is a seven-way King:
He's the King of the Jews - that's a racial King.
He's the King of Israel - that's a national King.
He's the King of Righteousness.
He's the King of the Ages.
He's the King of Heaven.
He's the King of Glory.
He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords.
That's my King.

Well, I wonder do you know Him.

David said, "The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork."
My King is a sovereign King - no means of measure can define His limitless love.
No farseeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply.
No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings.
He's enduringly strong.
He's entirely sincere.
He's eternally steadfast.
He's immortally graceful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

He's the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world.
He's God's Son.
He's the sinner's Saviour.
He's the centrepiece of civilisation.
He stands in the solitude of himself.
He's august and He's unique.
He's unparalleled, He's unprecedented.
He is the loftiest idea in literature.
He's the highest personality in philosophy.
He is the supreme problem in higher criticism.
He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology.
He is the core and the necessity for spiritual religion.
He's the miracle of the age, He's... yes He is.
He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.
He's the only one qualified to be an all-sufficient Saviour.

I wonder if you know him today?

He supplies strength for the weak.
He's available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathises and He saves.
He strengthens and sustains.
He guards and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleansed the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharges debtors.
He delivers the captive.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent.
And He beautifies the meek.

I wonder if you know Him? Well, my King---
He is the key, He's the key to knowledge.
He's the wellspring of wisdom.
He's the doorway of deliverance.
He's the pathway of peace.
He's the roadway of righteousness.
He's the highway of holiness.
He's the gateway of glory.

Do you know Him?

Well, His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His life is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous and
His yoke is easy and
His burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you.
But He's indes... Wooah, yeaaah! yeaahh,
He's indescribable - yes He is ! He's God.
He's, He's indescribable, yes, He's indescribable.
He's incomprehensible.
He's invincible.
He's irresistible.

Well, you can't get Him out of your mind,
You get Him off of your hand,
You can't outlive Him, and you can't live without Him.

Well, the Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him.
Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn't kill Him.
Death couldn't handle Him and
the grave couldn't hold Him. Yeah !
THAT'S MY KING !
THAT'S MY KING ! YEAH !

And Thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever
and ever and ever.
How long is that ?
And ever and ever.
And when you get through all the forevers, then
Amen !

GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY ! AMEN ! AMEN !

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. S. M.. Lockridge, from Southern California

Lord I ask that you would help me see you at work in every situation. I am not responsible for the lives of others, so help me not to judge them but keep my focus on my life and bring you pleasure. Thank you that in the midst of difficult times you provide peace that transcends all understanding, leave that peace with me today I pray.

Father I so much want to be an obedient child. Help me see the areas of my life where I need to realign my will to yours. I thnak you that you are indeed the perfect parent, as your child I want to learn form you that I might grow into the person you've designed me to be. Help me I ask.

Amos 4: 12
"Therefore ... prepare to meet your God..."
My study notes ask me to consider how this verse makes me feel.
Like a challenge - not really I feel like I am moving in the right direction and I hope my life is becoming more pleasing to God.
Like an invitation - in some ways yes and as such I am getting ready for the meeting.
Like a summons - not really I am aware of sin in my life that I need to deal with before I meet my maker.

Father as I have read today disaster is approaching for those who have rejected your offer or declined your invitation. Help me Father become a prophet of this age. Help me to use my words and actions to help my friends and colleagues who are on the road to eternal destruction see what is happening and find you and your salvation. Would you show me specific situations and specific ways to respond.

Father help me to hear the prohpets of this generation. Help me to be discerning so that I may recognbise your prophet, listen to what they say and in turn be obedientt to what you are instructing through them. Lord help me hear even from unexpected sources like pop stars and politicians.

Father you are a God who judges our actions. Lord I thank you too that your are compassionate, but sin you can not bear. Lord again I am reminded that the most powerful weapon I possess is my tongue (the words that come out of my mouth). Help me Father to use my words carefully only to bring blessing and glory to you. Help me to use my 'sword' wisely.

Father God I thank you for your consistent love given to me since I was conceived. Through my marriage you have been a constant presence, through my work life too. Through my illness and healing you were there, through the adoption of our children you were there. As I sin you remind me of the price you paid for me. As I walk in your way I'm blessed by knowing I'm following your will. Thank you and praise you for your constant love.

Lord I confes my sin to you this morning and I thank and praise you that you have made a way for me to escape the penalty my sin deserves. I thank yiu for the deepest of all realities, Your unshakable victory over sin and death through Jesus CHrist. Hallelujah

Thank you so much Jesus for communion, the visual reminder of what you did for me and my brothers and sisters. Thank you that we are all equal at the foot of your cross and we all share your sacrifice. As bread is broken and wine is poured I am overwhelmed by the sacrifice you made for me. Lord help me to live with this uppermost in my mind today.

Through my bible reading today, you have reminded me of the importance of living counter-culture lives. Lord you want me to be interdependant and therefore help me rely more upon those around me. You want me to become more dependant on you. Help me to conscously rely upon you and not my own strengths or attributes.

1 Cor 10: 31
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"
I thank you so much for the head knowledge I have regaring brother Lawrence. I ask now that you would move this to my heart taht I may too do everything as an act of worship to you. Help me in the exciting as well as the ordinary.

At every crossroads, their is a decsion to be made about direction. Lord I thank you that in your word you have given me a map to help me choose the right road. I ask Lord that you would make me even more reflective that I may continually choose your way. Help me to fix my eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen.

Father God, thank you that you have guided your people through the generations. Lord I thank you for the guidance you have given me. Lord in this week ahead, I ask that I may be very aware of the path set before me. Would you guide my thoughts and actions throughout this week.

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more;
feed me till I want no more.

2. Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield;
be thou still my strength and shield.

3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death and hell's destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.

A reflection on Psalm 5
Thank you Ftaher God rthat in a world of eveil I find a safe place in your company. Help me to be continualy aware of yur presence and rejoice in it. Thanbk you that your shield protects me.

Father God as I approach Easter I ask that you w ould help me communicate with what I say and do the real message and the real celebration. Lord help me to use every opportunity to explain the hope I have in you - cause me to live continually optimistic of a brighter future.

Thank you Jesus for the power of your words. thank you too for the clear evidence that you wieghed your words carefully before you spoke them.
Lord would you help me to realise and understand the power of my words. I ask therefore that you would show me and develop in me an understanding of the importance of thinking and weighing words carefully before I speak them.

Jesus, your words always create a response in the gospel accounts, either welomed or rejected. I ask that this may arise once more, instead of the apathy that is very apparent in this generation. A I appraoch Easter ask Lord that may bear witness to your saving grace by what I think, do and say and that my friends would respond to this.

Lord Jesus as I read the bibke today I was reminded of how completely genuine you are and that there is no hypocrosy in you at all. Help me be completely genuine. Lord I pray today for missionaries who live for you among peoples of other cultures, in particular Mark, Emily, Lesley and Jayne. I ask that you would help them be strong in their faith and completely genuine.

Lord Jeus, you are the son of God and the son of Joseph at the same time. A difficult concept to grasp, but I thank you for the faith and encouragement that Holy Spirit brings that helps me accept this. It is far more tham Joseph just being a guardian too, Jesus you wwere fully God and fully human at the same time and therefore you know about my human condition and the trials and tempatations I face and you know about my desire to live to please God our Father - help me in this struggle I pray.

Jesus you are the bread of life, a staple a necessity of existence. I thank you that as I spend time with you and in your presence I am fed and nourished by you. I ask that aas I watch my spiritual diet that you would continue to feed me and help me grow.

'The fear of the Lord is the begining of wisdom'
Lord God I know you do not want me to be afraid of you but instead to have a holy respect for a holy God. I thank you that wisdom is not about the ammount of facts I can hold in my head but about my experience of you causing me to make right choices in this your world.