2011 Powerful experiences

So much has changed this year. On the one hand this season of life at the moment seems tough and I am finding a few things quite frustrating, but, on the other hand, I think I'm coming to a place of honesty with God.

At the beginning of this year a man who has connections with a well known church in Northern California came to my church and spoke. He picked out quite a few individuals from the crowd, including a close friend of mine, and told them about where they were in their life, and things that he felt God wanted to encourage them in and things that were on their heart. I was amazed at how God really does know us completely and speaks to us, sometimes we listen, and I was powerfully impacted that day and for weeks after, being so consciously aware of the reality of Gods love for me and full of a healthy fear/reverence for Him.
Near the end of this year I was in Winchester at a meeting at a church where we sang songs of praise to God for a few hours and the couple that were helping lead this were a godly couple from that same church in Northern California. Before we left to drive to Winchester I had been praying with a friend about holiness, the wonder of God, friendships and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit of God. Near the end of our time at that meeting in Winchester the couple on stage shared a number of words they felt God wanted to speak to people on- the lady sang a song that was to do with holiness, and she shared a story from her life and spoke about being sensitive to the Holy Spirit. She also felt that God wanted to speak to people about friendships (what she said was almost word for word what was on me and my friends hearts as we prayed beforehand!). And then the ladys husband spoke about the wonder of God. All 4 of those things that me and my friend had prayed about that same day. I am not lying about this. This is fact, this is true. There is no such thing as coincendence. Things like this have happened in my life so often that it would be foolish, idiotic and just plain thick of me to ignore.

So. God is real, He is interested in your life and He speaks in different ways. Some people hear His voice audibly, others hear Him through other people, in the bible....He is quite diverse. He loves you and has a plan for you and is faithful. If you have questions about suffering and are angry with God then I urge you to talk to Him about it. Just get by yourself somewhere and talk/shout/rant freely. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you, ask Jesus to show you who He really is. And, listen. He loves you because He loves you because He loves you.

Songwriting Journey

I am, or rather I have, embarked on a voyage of musically creative discovery.

There's lots to say on the christian music scene, but as for me, i'm on a journey- finding out my niche..as it were.
So far i've written 5 or so worshippy/meditative overtly christian songs and 3 or 4 not so overtly christian songs. I mean, technically it's not possible for me to write non-christian music, seeing as I am one!

I have discovered something important to this songwriting malarkey and that is this: don't try to be somebody else. Comparing myself and trying to be something i'm not musically seems a waste of time. It appears to me that it is more productive to go with the flow and grow!

Love, it can be hard. but yet it is very simple.

I read something profound that Jesus said this morning (I read it this morning).


"Jesus replied 'Love the LORD your God with all you heart and with all your soul and will all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment . And the second is like it- 'Love your neighbour as yourself' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these 2."


So. it's really quite simple. Love God with everything you've got and love your neighbour as yourself.

Lately I have been finding it challenging because I have been faced with people who do not respect or like me, people who speak negatively about me to my face and behind my back. It has been a rude awakening! My first response when I discovered this was to think 'justice must be done- i must defend myself and make them see it's not my fault, or show them how amazing I really am'. *rolls eyes*

Taking this up with my Special Wise Loving Friend, He revealed that this came out of a place of wanting approval, wanting to be liked by everyone. So, something of fear of man. That sucked to hear! I was forced to think about how I was going to respond when I come across people that badmouth me to my face or behind my back, those who accuse me of anything. I have to make a choice to love them, to show them respect even if they don't respect me.

It is becoming more apparent as this country more openly rejects holiness that being a christian is not all sunshine and daisies. There are many followers of Jesus all over the world that honour God in their faithfulness to Him when they are faced with the options of reject Jesus or choose death. It should be of no surprise then that people will mock us or badmouth us or spread lies about us.

So, in conclusion. Yeah, it sucks when people badmouth us, I don't enjoy it, but it is a great opportunity to choose to honour Jesus and love these people and be humble and accept correction, and to forgive.
And in amongst the midst of theological confusion and complexities- it is really quite simple. Love God, love your neighbour. Simples. :)

Words Tongue Power

From the Proverbs written by King Solomon chapter 18 verse 21
 "Words kill, words give life;
   they're either poison or fruit—you choose."


I've been thinking about how the tongue has the power to bless or to curse. Ponder with me, if you will. Meditate on the above verse from Proverbs if you feel so moved...

Thankfulness

Not long ago, I was on a blog ( http://benijohnson.blogspot.com/ check out the April 8th 2011 entry). From reading about the list of 1,000 things to be thankful for I decided to take up the challenge!

Since then I have only made it to 300 things to be thankful for (and have missed the past couple of weeks!), and I have repeated myself quite a few times. I have noticed so far that the main things I mentioned were to do with food, music and things that impact ME and affect ME.

After hitting the 300 mark I thought back on how, apart from 2 points, the rest of the 'thankfulness' points were to do with things that i'm thankful for in MY life. I have been thinking it would be a good exercise to be deliberately thankful for things in other peoples lives, for example- thanking God for my friend Edd who is growing in a gift for teaching and evangelism, thanking Jesus for blessing my musical friends with success in various spheres.

To be honest, I think this is a helpful & important key for when we come across seasons of life when others seem to be getting promoted and gaining victory in areas that we are so desparate to get promoted and gain victory in. The temptation is to agree with thoughts of jealousy and let that affect our hearts and lives, but we can choose to be thankful to God for blessing these people and let go of any bitterness. Even when it's hard, surely we can do that?

I hope this post has been helpful and loving. Let me know if not.

Testify!

Here lies a compiled list of various websites/blogs of Treasure Hunting going on around the place. Just because.

the North
http://somethingpersonal.typepad.com/treasure_hunters_journal/

Midlands
http://wendymann-life.blogspot.com/
http://www.new-lifechurch.co.uk/events/hit-the-streets-rushden/story-wall/

Kent
http://mfctreasurehunters.blogspot.com/

London
http://www.jesusonthestreets.co.uk/testimonies/blog

Snippets from my life

Snippets

• When but 1 year old, God rescued me from dying of Pneumonia.
• When I was 7 years old God provided a friend for me when I was lonely.
• When I was around 13 years old God saved me from drowning in the Dordogne river in France.
• When I was 18 years old, God convicted me of my sin. I was shocked and desired to be made new.
• When I was 19 years old, I realised that during my 1st year at University, I realised the LORD God was really real, dependable, faithful and the One I could rely on above all others.
• When I was 20 years old, God healed me from depression, brought the light of Jesus into my heart and mind, and I was delivered from suicidal thoughts.
• At a point in 2010, my mind was under the impression that my heart had fallen for a guy friend of mine. One evening when I finally realised things weren't going to happen between us, I felt very sad and cried alot. Father God spoke to me clearly and told me He would restore my heart towards this guy and that I would be able to see him as a brother again. I also realised that though I was very sad and my heart did hurt, there wasn't a deep abyss in my heart as Jesus was my first love. Byebye deep lonliness! Since then, my heart towards this guy is now 100% settled and I see him as my dear brother. I do love him, but as his sister in Christ. Hurray!
• In February, this year of 2011, Jesus healed my foot from pain and stiffness and gave it strength.
• In July 2011, I realised I can dream big and am excited about getting on with my mission in life. :)

God has healed me physically and mentally, saved my life, provided for me, restored my heart, convicted me of sin, shown me a way out of sin, given me strength... King Jesus is very gracious to me. I love Him. He's got my back. Thanks big Bro :)