Arn’t mums just great?

New Living Translation (NLT)
  Lord, there is no one like you!
      For you are great, and your name is full of power.
 Who would not fear you, O King of nations?
      That title belongs to you alone!
   Among all the wise people of the earth
      and in all the kingdoms of the world,
      there is no one like you.

Jeremiah 10:6-7 (NLT)

When work, exams, relationships or other things seem such big problems - let us stop and think about the greatness of our God. There is a spiritual realm called the kingdom of God that is eternal - so much bigger than our individual day to day human lives. Our issues and problems fall into a smallness when focussing in on the bigness of God. Not only is our experience relatively tiny - but our God is in charge of everything. There is nothing is too big or overwhelming for him. If you  are finding things just too much - ask the most powerful being ever.

Church of England tells families to build ‘prayer den’ under the stairs   By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent
Last Updated: 10:48AM GMT 22 Jan 2009 

Garden sheds and garages are also recommended as possible sites for “sacred spaces” in the home for quiet reflection.  The Church also suggests decorating prayer rooms with pebbles and feathers as well as a cross or a picture of Jesus. Its advice comes in a new book called Love Life Live Lent, which gives worshippers ideas for how to mark the 40-day period before Easter that is a time of prayer and abstinence in the Christian calendar.  “This book is designed to help families celebrate Lent and Easter together – by learning about the Lent and Easter story and doing fun things together but also taking time out for prayer and stillness and to re-connect with God’s creation.”  One section of the book, headed “Create a ’sacred space’ in your home”, states: “You might like to create a space in your home to encourage quiet reflection and prayer. This could be: “A corner of one room; an understairs cupboard (it has been tried!); a shelf; a corner of a shed or garage; or make a ‘prayer den’, using furniture and blankets!  “You might want to add objects, such as a piece of cloth, a cross, a candles, pictures of Jesus, postcards, or natural objects such as pebbles, shells or feathers.” 

Sooooo what are you going to decorate your room with!!!! i think mine will be covered in melted rolos. 

Yes I am still here and still blogging. I have been so busy sorting out WITH LOVE that I haven’t had time for much else!!

I am back though now and everyone (well nearly everyone) is now booked in. I am so excited already - anyone else?

This is the verse for the week

Isaiah 43:1
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end— Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Saviour. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.

1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

I love the way that life with God is like an action adventure. There are always those to rescue out of dungeons, limits to reach, exploits to do, goals to acheive. Well here is another year in which to live the dream - to be all you can be for God.

I have heard so many people on the radio  recently advise me not to make new year resolutions as I won’t reach them and just end up feeling depressed instead. I have not set myself new goals for this year as the vision I carry for the kingdom of God already burns in my heart. I want to be the best I can be for God. This means in very down to earth things -being the best in my body, in my thoughts, the way I speak, in the way I treat people, in my work etc. I want to have goals, as goals produce action and action produces change. I want to be a world changer.

If I mess up or fall down, I fix my hope on grace. Not any old grace but the amazing grace that is lavishly given from Jesus (see what I did there!!) This means that however I mess up whilst trying God will pick me up, brush me down and give me all I need to do well. Failure only lasts for as long as I sit on my bottom and don’t allow God’s grace to fill my life again. Let’s prepare ourselves for action!!

Time to be strong and fearless. To put aside embarrasement and intimidation. To stand in the face of the enemy and see him retreat. To put our lights on a stand for all to see. To show ourselves for the Sons and Daughters of God we really are. Lets be ready for courage, change, revolution!

Tony Ling