Ill, weak… but with hope… October 2, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Church, Community, Glasgow, God, Prayer, Re:Hope, Read Through, What's happening with me....Tags: Bible, Christian, Christianity, Church, God, Prayer
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Ok. So first off, I’ve not blogged in a while. Second… I’m sick, and perhaps looking for sympathy.
It’s strange. I’ve no idea what happened. Today was bible readthrough, and afterwards we went to the Bier Hall in central for pizza (it’s really good by the way). As soon as I got into the flat, I got super sick, super fast. Which apparently was funny for my flat mate stuart when he walked in to find me lying on the hall floor, groaning.
It struck me though… this is one of those times where I’m weak as heck, struggling to move, and yet… I’m confident that God is bigger than all of it. In my weakness, he is strong, right?
Anyhoo… I’m amazed at what God is doing. He’s moving. He’s answering prayer. He’s the same God he was yesterday, today and forever. He’s bigger than anything you or me can imagine. He created a vast Universe we can’t put an end or an edge to. He’s chosen a tiny planet called earth, and created US.
Last week, I was just stepping into my friend’s car… when a guy stumbled up to me, told me he was scared (having taken drugs), and just wanted to talk. He then told me about the vastness of the universe and how HE couldn’t comprehend how big it is, and how small WE are. He then said there MUST be a God. It “just makes sense, don’t it?”.
Last week I was sitting in Coopers with the same friend, and 2 random guys came and sat next to us. Next thing I know, they’re asking us about church and God. They want to find a church, and they want to grow in their relationship with God.
Last week I watched my readthrough group triple in size so that now we have 3 groups worth of people, pursuing God, and seeking to become people submerged in the word.
On Sunday I saw prayer answered, when we had around 200 people between both services… students in a city where people just don’t… walk into churches anymore.
I’ve watched Re:Hope grow 140% of it’s size over the past year. That’s more than double.
I’ve witnessed people put behind them old lifestyles, and putting God first – completely changed.
I am overwhelmed at what God’s doing. And I’m glad that even though right now, I’m pretty ill… I’m part of it all. I’m able to testify to the fact that my God is alive and moving, that he not only hears prayer – but answers it, and that he has not given up on what sometimes can feel like a hopeless situation.
Watch out for the reawakening.
God… May 28, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, God, Prayer, What's happening with me..., You and me.add a comment
God, You search me and You know me. You know me better than I know myself. You know my past, my present, and my future. You know when I sit and when I rise. You know my weaknesses and my strengths. You know the areas in which I stumble. You know where I fail. You know my heart, God.
God, I seek You. I want to see Your face, God. I want to know Your ways, God. I want You more than this world. I want Your ways before my own. Your ways are higher. You are greater than me. You’re completely more than me. You’re different from me God.
You, God… didn’t save me to be a servant. You saved me for sonship. I worship You God, for saving me. I praise You for saving me from my sins, and saving me from DEATH, and eternity in hell. I thank you and praise You for the cross. Don’t let me forget. Don’t let me skip over the cross.
God, I praise You for being the victor! I take confidence in the fact that the victory is already WON! I take confidence in the fact that You are living and active God. I take confidence in the fact that You move just as much today as You moved any other time, God. I pray in a confidence that You still answer prayer. That when I pray and cry out to You God – You hear me. You see me God.
God, all I need is You. All I need is YOU, God!
What can wash away my Sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again, Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
You amaze me God. Your mercy and grace. Your love and kindness. Your patience, and Your righteous anger. God, you astound me. I can’t get over the fact that You take interest and care for someone as lowly as me. I am the cheapest of all sinners, I am the lowest of the low, God. And You saved me!
I pray God, for people who are hurting God. That they would remember You’re the God of comfort, and the God who created love… and a God who provides shelter from the storm. That thay would know that they can seek You and You will hear them God. That when they cry out – You hear. You answer.
God, forgive my sins. Forgive me when I don’t live the life I’m called to live. Forgive me for not seeking You in all things. Forgive me for not remembering the cross. Forgive me for following the world and living by the world’s standards before Your’s. Forgive me for not living according to Your word.
God, I am nothing; I’m no one; I AM broken and hopeless, and ruined WITHOUT You. Don’t allow me think otherwise. Don’t allow me to believe I know better than my God. Don’t allow me to put my plans before Your’s.
I pray for the addicts and the escapists. I pray that they stop running from their paid and their hurt and their problems. I pray that instead of running they seek You. That they FIND You. I pray for Godly encounters, Father. I pray they the church finds itself overrun with new comers, and the homeless. I pray You’d prepare us for revival, Father. That You’d prepare us to council the broken. I pray that You’d break us, God – in order that we would know You better.
God, don’t let us become comfortable with where we’re at. Don’t let us become lazy followers of You. Don’t let us forget what You’ve done in our lives. Don’t let us forget that Jesus died for our sins. Don’t let us forget that He overcame death and Sin, in order for us to be saved. Don’t let us forget that he hung on a cross for US. Don’t let us forget that he rose again. Don’t let ME forget any of it God.
Father, I couldn’t honestly spend enough time with You in prayer.
I pray in the Name of Jesus, and in the knowledge that he mediates for me, God…
Amen.
Being Bold February 2, 2008
Posted by jonesy24 in Christianity, Church, God, Prayer, What's happening with me..., You and me.add a comment
I am tired of ‘timid‘ praying.
People pray as if they don’t have the faith that God can actually do whatever it is they’re praying for. They ‘tip toe’ around the subject, as if to just go all out and have faith that God will move – that’ll be false hope?
I mean, if we ask God boldly for something (although it’s not all about the asking), what happens if he doesn’t answer? (the way we want Him to?). It’s gonna be a bit of a blow to what faith we do have if we believe fully that He will and does move, but… on this occasion… it doesn’t seem like he has/or did – at least, from our point of view.
We have to be careful we don’t give God the dates of our diary for when we expect stuff to be done by. We have to be careful that we don’t go in the huff because God didn’t answer us ‘our way’ or by ‘our standards’.
Take Abraham for example… God gave this guy a promise. He had to play the waiting game. Abraham had to believe in something that seems completely impossible. But it happened, didn’t it?
And you see how important faith is all throughout the Gospels too.
How can you expect God to move, if you don’t believe that He will?
How can you expect God to answer prayers of little faith?
Pray boldly.
