I was thinking about Halloween and how it relates to the post I sent on Tuesday. In essesence it is a day when some people choose to think about things that are not good, beneficial or helpful. Not only do they think about them but they act their thoughts out and dress them up. It is a celebration of all things not good.

Rather than reacting against it let’s fill our lives with such an overflow of good that we have no time for anything else. Laughter and fun does not have to include bad rubbish - we are to be the happiest people on earth for we intimately know him who has the utmost amount of joy!

Hebrews 1:9  Therefore God, [even] Your God has anointed You with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond Your companions.

When we went to see Delirious? in their national tour at Leeds I heard an amazing support band. They had come all the way from South Africa and I must admit I was sceptical at first. Listening to their lyrics and seeing their heart of worship I was hooked.

Unfortunately I can not find much on youtube about them as I think they are new to this country but this is one of thier songs.

While you are all on half term I have something you can do. Whilst you are doing all those jobs that you have waited since September to do - like cleaning out the hamster cage, tidying your bedroom and wrapping your Christmas presents - why not go to a web site of a church that you know is good (there are some links on the right) and listen to one of their latest sermons. It will build you up as you get all those jobs done - a double whammy!!

Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I was listening on the radio yesterday and they were playing a game called the good thing is and the bad thing is. The listeners were meant to send in texts such as - the good thing is mum took us to the woods but the bad thing is I got put on the naughty chair (sent by a six year old called George). I was reading this passage in Philippians and I was challenged by what Paul was saying. He is encouraging us to think about only good things and forget to even mention the bad stuff. I wondered what impact that would have on my life. If I woke up and only thought about the potential good things for the day and not the bad things, if I only saw good in people and forgot the bad things, if I was positive all the time - how my life would be different for the better. I would be an encourager, a faith builder, a happier person, someone who overcomes challenges and I want to be all those things.

I have decided in my life to build up store house of good thoughts. These will include thoughts about God, myself, others, the kingdom and good memories. On the days when I wake up and things are challenging and I am not feeling naturally happy I can fill my head with the thoughts I have already found, caught and stored away - just like a squirrel.

What will you do?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7683826.stm

There has been a mass suspension of “wild pupils” in an exclusive Australian boys school! To read more click on this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7681876.stm

This is Catherine’s (with a C) choice that she has suggested to me for a while.

Anyone watching XFactor? I find it so interesting that the reason so many people sing in public is to make a name for themselves. They sing so that others will emulate them, worship them and acclaim fame to them. There are very few who, when interviewed, say that they want to bring happiness and joy to those who hear their acheivements.

If you look in the bible the reason man was made to sing is to worship and proclaim greatness to God. We sing to acknowledge his fame, his glory, his majesty and power. One aspect of singing together is to bring a unity with one heart and one voice as we bring our harmonies before the throne of our King. In this togetherness no-one takes centre stage as all are awe struck by God and are too enraptured with Him to think about ourselves.

Perhaps this is why I find XFactor such a tragic programme - it is all about selfish gain and self worship whilst using the most beautiful form of artistic talent to do so. Whilst we are the only species on earth to sing - we often waste it all with so many wrong reasons to sing. Let us re-address the balance. Let us sing with all our hearts and in doing so make Jesus famous.

Here is Amy Grant singing a fantastic song!! Its a great song to worship to at the end of the day.

I thought you’d like to see this video I found about what matters to this American Student. It is a fascinating video - pity the sound is not better quality. Take a look and see what you think.

Colossians 3:9-11 (New Living Translation)
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
 People in Colossi were getting all wound up with religion and theology. It was distracting them from the whole root of their faith. In all things it is Christ that matters. The beginning of this verse tells us to do four things:

Psalm 131:1
 Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.

 In order to understand what is important to Christ we need to get rid of all those other thoughts that may confuse our brains. Sometimes our heads are full of worries, to do lists, regrets, wishes, hurts and other people’s problems. I love the way David clears all these thoughts out of the way to let the simple desire of God to shine through. Once all other voices in our heads are quiet we can hear what God wants more clearly.

Sometimes we involve ourselves in too much thinking that we are the answer to everything. If we trust God and relax all our worrying and striving will go. In our lives there needs to be a humbling of heart. Proud hearts can not find God’s will – they will be too busy trying to work things out themselves rather than listening. God will show us what matters in life as we put ourselves under the authority of the scriptures, under the teaching of leaders and ultimately himself.

John 6:38 (New Living Translation)
For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.

We asked the question what mattered to Jesus - what was it that made Jesus tick? Well, he tells us here that the whole reason he gave up his glory and came down to earth was to do what God wanted. His father’s desire was all that occupied his thoughts and actions. Even though he was the majestic and almighty Son of God he lay down his needs and wants for the delight of following his father’s plan.

The point of testing for this was the night before his crucifixion. Jesus knew what lay ahead - all that pain and suffering. Would his desire to obey his father mean he would even lay down his own life?

John 12:27-29 (New International Version) “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!”

He cries out “glorify your name” and puts all his effort and self discipline into glorifying his father. Jesus even considered his very life not as important to him as gloryfying his father.

We also find that our heart beats with the desires of God. We have His DNA and his laws on our hearts. This is fantastic but our own lives can still get in the way of what the spirit wants. We can still set our focus and thoughts on things around us, future dreams, material needs/wants and the desire to see ourselves glorified. When we die to self and live a life full of the Holy Spirit earthly things and things of self will not be our hearts desire only God, and his thoughts, will be all that matters to us

Peter 4:2 (New Living Translation)
You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

Philippians 2:21 (New Living Translation)
All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.
 

Paul is looking around at his world and seeing things that perhaps we would see too. People caring only for themselves. I know that there are plenty of your friends that are kind and generous, but the heart of human beings is selfish. We only need to look at the world to see this. There would be no poverty, no-one in want, no obesity, no crime, nobody lonely, no abuse and no jealousy if humans were not selfish. Paul is saying here that fame, clothes, hair straighteners, houses, nice food are not what really matters, it isn’t about caring for ourselves. For us who follow Christ it is what matters to him that counts.

So what is important to Christ?