Live for each day!!!

So tonight was the last youth cell for the academic year, but also the last youth cell for me as ministry apprentice. I found it tough to say the least; which is strange because I will still be around just not in my role as apprentice. Anyway, I had planned the session on evangelism and being comfortable to talk openly with other people about God whether a Christian or not. However we didn't look at this whatsoever!!!! Yesterday I led the Sunday group and we looked at names of Jesus and the characteristics Jesus had. We listened to the song Peacemaker by Greg Ferguson and individually wrote the names and characteristics that we perceive Jesus to be and have. This group aged 11-15 did better than I could have ever imagined. Their honesty was abounding and their answers humbling. It was a real witness to me as a youth helper to see how much they have learnt and grown in such a small space of time. Amongst the words appeared shepherd, defender, protector, guider, saviour, sov...

"To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love.  In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness" Dr. Robert Muller

When I was approached to help out at Tuesday Club, my initial thought was 'there is no way'!!! I then got to thinking what volunteering I actually do for the church. I know I work there, but what is my free, volunteering service? So I have been helping at Tuesday Club for the last few months. Tuesday Club is a social for adults with all different kinds of disabilities. They have outside visitors such as the emergency services to give them talks. They do arts and craft, play pool, table tennis and just chill out with friends. This week we went to an amazing lady's home. Jeanette Roberts has a beautiful heart to serve and a gorgeous family. Over the years Jeanette has fostered many children and adults with learning difficulties and opened up her home as their home. We took some people from Tuesday club there and they had the most fantastic time. Jeanette's home is beautiful with loads of grounds where they could all just be free to do what they wanted. There were trampol...

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe." Anatole France

I have been learning a new song for a while. It has been a Whitney Houston song called 'Try it on my own" . I wanted to perform it tonight for the first time so I have been really listening to it over the last couple of days. The lyrics are truly stunning. When I first started to learn the song I interpreted it as being a song from a crushed and broken woman getting ready to stand on her own two feet and build her life back from the ashes that it has become because of the pressures of another person. I felt it was a song about reclaiming identity. I connected with the song as a Christian and felt that the words to me meant cutting the ties of the past and having my new identity birthed. However listening to the song again over the past few days I have realised it is not how I want to be as a Christian. "And I am not afraid to try it on my own I don't care if I'm right or wrong I'll live my life the way I feel No matter what I'll keep it real you know Tim...

Instead of Despair, I Thirsted for Triumph, and Then I Met You. While Feeling Forsaken, I Longed for Peace, And Then I Met You. In Spite of Misfortune, I Desired a Blessing, And Then I Met You. Feeling So Lonely, I Yearned for A Friend, And Then I Met You. Kim Mills

I know my redeemer lives All of creation testifies this life within me cries I know my redeemer lives The very same God that spins things in orbit runs to the weary, the worn and the weak and the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken they conquered death to bring me victory Nicole C Mullen

God made Adam bit Noah arked Abraham split Joseph ruled Jacob fooled Bush talked Moses balked Pharaoh plagued People walked Sea divided Tablets guided Promise landed Saul freaked David peeked Prophets warned Jesus born God walked Love talked Anger crucified Hope died Love rose Spirit flamed Word spread God remained.

Tonight we took some of the youth to hear Tony Anthony speak. It was truly inspiring and moving. I know the youth loved it and lapped up every second available to them, so much so they all have his book 'Taming the Tiger' and want to talk about what was said at youth cell this week. After such a powerful session I wanted to go and wind down and just spend some time out, not doing anything except exsisting. So I took a slow drive down to Southend, my intention to take a walk along the sea front and just breathe the air available. I parked up overlooking the sea and just thought. I had no real train of thought or specific prayer points I wanted to cover. I just let my mind and God's words lead me. I then put on the most stunning CD a beautiful friend did for me. The song 'Peacemaker' by Greg Ferguson started to play. Each word in the song is so heart touching and thought provoking - it is just a truly magnificent song. Just to ease your minds I did manage to drive h...

So tonight I heard the following quote "Life is not the journey to death, but death is the gateway to eternal life" I find that actually pretty awesome. I also think it is often overlooked. A wonderful friend of mine, tonight said that we often become so focused on how sad it is when we think about non-Christians not going to heaven (which is true, it is sad and every single person needs salvation), yet we all seem to overlook the fact that we are all dirty rotten sinners who don't actually deserve to go to heaven in the first place - saved or unsaved, and that is the stark honest truth. Mind boggling when you actually look at it this way. Don't you think???

It's not fun to run out of gas. Have you every run out of gas? Not your car - you. I have. The gauge I was looking at in my life clearly read full, but I still found myself stranded on the side of life's road. The gauge I was using - the world - was flawed, but I didn't realize it until my tank was empty and I was going nowhere. If we judge whether or not our lives are "full" based on the world's standards, we are destined to run out of gas.... ...Just because we are busy doesn't mean that we are alive. Just because the world says are lives are full doesn't mean that our lives really are full. Our lives are not full simply because we are working hard, playing hard and living hard. When we try to fill our lives with the fuel of this world, we find ourselves running on empty. The gospel of John records that Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10). In other words, Christ said that He wants us the h...

Life is supposed to be difficult! It's what enables us to grow. Remember, earth is not heaven! Many Christians misinterpret Jesus' promise of the 'abundant life' to mean perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization of your dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer. In a word, they expect the Christian life to be easy. They expect heaven on earth. This self-absorbed perspective treats God as a genie who simply exists to serve you in your selfish pursuit of personal fulfillment. But God is not your servant, and if you fall for the idea that life is supposed to be easy, either you will become severely disillusioned or you will live in denial of reality. Never forget that life is not about you! You exist for God's purposes, not vice versa. Why would God provide heaven on earth when he's planned the real thing for you in eternity? God gives us our time on earth to build and strengthen our character for heaven....

This is the reason we do not give up. Our human body is wearing out. But our spirits are getting stronger every day. The little troubles we suffer now for a short time are making us ready for the great things God is going to give us forever. We do not look at the things that can be seen. We look at the things that cannot be seen. The things that can be seen will come to an end. But the things that cannot be seen will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (New Life Version)

Today has been a bad day. It has been tough and it has hurt. However I have decided that this is ok. It is ok to have rubbish days, it is alright to struggle and feel desperate - as long as you turn and grasp on stronger and tighter to God. Today has truly been pants yet I have had some amazing prayer time and alone time with God. When the group of people from Tuesday club had left the church, I just sat there in silence for about an hour. It was stunning and more helpful than words could ever be. I just knew that God knew. God knows my hearts' desire, God knows my mangled thoughts, God knows the burdens that I carry upon my shoulders, God knows my fears, my insecurities and God knows my doubts - therefore why should I be ashamed to acknowledge them? In a preach titled 'Sustaining Grace', we heard how God's grace can and will sustain us through our tiredness, temptations and troubles. The world is a difficult place to live in, however God will sustain us through all thi...

I know I have said this before, but it is so true. Every Monday morning from 11am till around midday I spend an hour with the most amazing and spirit filled group of older ladies and gentlemen. Again today, I left them feeling so blessed. We were talking about worship and one of the ladies read these verses from the Message: 'Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Ephesians 5:18-20 We spoke about how sometimes we really don't feel like singing because we are finding things difficult or we are unable to smile, however praise for the Lord should always be in our hearts. We then had 40 minutes of singing and praising God. We sang the old hymns like 'Thine be the Glory' and 'Onward Christian Soldiers'. It was truly...

Tonight the youth led their first service. The theme was 'footprints in the sand' inspired by the Leona Lewis song as well as the moving and famous poem . The youth did everything. Choose all the content; the worships songs, the prayers, the drama, everything. They made up the worship band, they did the visuals, the sound, the welcome, they recorded it, and they wrote the preach and prayers. They were all fantastic. They spoke about God never leaving us, through the hard times or the easy, the good times or the bad. They spoke to us about how God never gives us more than what we can handle, even though it may feel like that sometimes! Every single one of them aged between 11-15 were amazing. I have increasingly been scared for the youth of today. They live in such a broken world where underage drinking , teenage murders , teenage murderers , and teenage suicide to name but a few, are increasing at an alarming rate. Tonight each young person there was making their stand. Don...