My house, in the middle there somewhere!
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Well here are a couple of photos that I've managed to upload from my PC from our reunion in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
These guys were my life for the year that I lived in America and I miss them all very much. In the first photo there is Becky Hill (Isle of Man), myself and Ramona (Romania). Then in the second there is James (Kent, England), Becky Rasdall (USA), Ramona, Nici (Germany) and Becky.
It was awesome to catch up with these guys and great to see how easily we were able to slip back into conversation and bouncing humor and sarcasm off one another again.
I'd forgotten about certain traits of everyone's personalities that made them so unique; the way Ramona gestured with her hands when she spoke, the adorable flirtatious personality that Nici has, Becky Hill's infectious giggle, the dry sense of humor of James' and Becky Rasdall's wonderful sense of adventure.
I miss you guys so much and many many more. Amy wishes that she could have been with us and I wonder whether there'll ever be a time when we are all together again.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and may he make his face shine upon you.
Love you all
Emx x
Friday, July 15, 2005
"This is how much God loved the world:
He gave his Son, his one and only Son.
And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed;
by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger,
telling the world how bad it was.
He came to help, to put the world right again."
This verse (well verse 16 in particular) is probably one of the most famous from the bible, but I find that I skip over it at times. I think I know it so well that there is nothing I can learn from it.
But reading it this morning something really struck me and it was in verse 17 rather than 16.
I have often thought of the trinity in a specific way. God is the judge, Jesus is the intercessor, and the Holy Spirit is our guide and comforter. It has therefore been a subconcious thought of mine that God is an accuser as well as a judge and that it is Jesus pleading for us and presenting our case. This verse completely contradicts my thinking though.
"God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger". He sent Jesus because he loves us and wants to help us.
I don't have children but I can imagine that humnanly speaking, one of the most impossible things to do would be to send your child somewhere knowing they were going to be killed. War is bad enough but the number of soldiers that return are always a lot higher than those that die; it is not definite that you're going to die there, even though there is a large risk. But just to send your child somewhere so that people who have cursed your name, rejected you, abandoned you and failed to recognise you may have a chance to spend eternity with you is mind blowing...and he didn't do this to condemn us but because he loves us......wow. That should start changing my perception of my Father in heaven!
I hope that you get some understanding from this and it gets you thinking as much as it got me!
He gave his Son, his one and only Son.
And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed;
by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger,
telling the world how bad it was.
He came to help, to put the world right again."
This verse (well verse 16 in particular) is probably one of the most famous from the bible, but I find that I skip over it at times. I think I know it so well that there is nothing I can learn from it.
But reading it this morning something really struck me and it was in verse 17 rather than 16.
I have often thought of the trinity in a specific way. God is the judge, Jesus is the intercessor, and the Holy Spirit is our guide and comforter. It has therefore been a subconcious thought of mine that God is an accuser as well as a judge and that it is Jesus pleading for us and presenting our case. This verse completely contradicts my thinking though.
"God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger". He sent Jesus because he loves us and wants to help us.
I don't have children but I can imagine that humnanly speaking, one of the most impossible things to do would be to send your child somewhere knowing they were going to be killed. War is bad enough but the number of soldiers that return are always a lot higher than those that die; it is not definite that you're going to die there, even though there is a large risk. But just to send your child somewhere so that people who have cursed your name, rejected you, abandoned you and failed to recognise you may have a chance to spend eternity with you is mind blowing...and he didn't do this to condemn us but because he loves us......wow. That should start changing my perception of my Father in heaven!
I hope that you get some understanding from this and it gets you thinking as much as it got me!
Voice of Truth
Lyrics By Mark Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman
Music by Mark Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand
But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
© 2003 Club Zoo Music / SWEC Music (Admin. by Club Zoo Music) / BMI / Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs (admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing) / BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
I have this song on a Casting Crowns CD. Such great words and tells us to focus on the only voice we need to.
Blessings
Ems
Music by Mark Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand
But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"
But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
© 2003 Club Zoo Music / SWEC Music (Admin. by Club Zoo Music) / BMI / Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs (admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing) / BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
I have this song on a Casting Crowns CD. Such great words and tells us to focus on the only voice we need to.
Blessings
Ems
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Jeremiah 29 :11-13
"For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
This was the first bible verse that I learnt. I never really knew the significance of it, yet as I continue on with my life and on a journey that I am not sure to where it leads, I know that this verse was meant for every journey of my life and that trusting in God is my only hope for a future. That His plan has got to be infinitely better than mine, even when it hurts when dreams and hopes are broken and unfullfilled....they were obviously not part of His best for me...may I continue to trust in Him, seek after Him with all of my heart and find my hope and future in Him alone.
declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
This was the first bible verse that I learnt. I never really knew the significance of it, yet as I continue on with my life and on a journey that I am not sure to where it leads, I know that this verse was meant for every journey of my life and that trusting in God is my only hope for a future. That His plan has got to be infinitely better than mine, even when it hurts when dreams and hopes are broken and unfullfilled....they were obviously not part of His best for me...may I continue to trust in Him, seek after Him with all of my heart and find my hope and future in Him alone.
I'm baking!
Currently sitting in work, no air conditioning, no fan, weather.com says that it's only 19 C/66 F(yeah right!) and already I feel like I need a shower! And it's not even 9am......it's gonna be one of those days!
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Message from Daddy
God is so amazing.
Have been pretty low lately for a number of reasons. Really questioning my belief and relationship with God. I believed that I was saved but didn't believe that God loved me. I believed that I had *just* made it into heaven but that was as far as I was going. I didn't believe that I shared in the love that other people were lavished with by God.
Low self esteem, self hatred and self rejection were all things that I was battling with and seemed to sream so much louder than Gods love did.
Anyway I was away for the weekend back in May in a place called Cefn Lea which is a Christian conference place where you can stay in log cabins or caravans in Mid-Wales, a beauitful part of the country. When we arrived the ladies who had organised this women's weekend away had left an A4 piece of paper on our beds. It was a 'letter' from God telling us the way God sees us based on scripture. I didn't get a chance to read it over that weekend and just took it home with me to read later. Anyway I put it somewhere and forgot about it.
This weekend I'd been particularly low. Sunday evening came and I knew I had to tidy my bedroom as I have 2 friends coming to stay this weekend so had to make it look like I don't live in a bomb site! I came across the letter and decided to read it before bed. I read through it and know that it is based on scripture which is the absolute truth but found it difficult to shrug off 26 years of wrong thinking about myself and believe these words of Gods.
He knew I didn't believe them and I needed to hear them again because when I came into work the next morning Jon had sent me an e-mail. What was contained in the e-mail.....Oh just the exact same letter from God! He had been trying to get a copy for 6 months for me to read but had only just managed to get a copy on e-mail and so forwarded it to me. If that isn't Gods timing! Awesome.
Anyway here is a copy of the letter below.
May you be blessed by it and know the truth.....I'm getting there!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Child…
You may not know me, but I know everything about you…Psalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up…Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways…Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered…Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image…Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being…Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring…Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived…Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation…Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book…Psalm 139:15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live…Acts 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalm 139:14 I knit you together in your mother's womb…Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born…Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me…John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love…1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you…1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child and I am your Father…1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could…Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect father…Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand…James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs…Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope…Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love…Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore...Psalms 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing…Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good to you…Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession…Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul…Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things…Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me…Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart…Psalm 37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires…Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine…Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager…2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles…2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you…Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart…Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes…Revelation 21:3-4 And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth…Revelation 21:3-4 I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus…John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed…John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being…Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you…Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins…2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled…2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you…1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love…Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me…1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separate you from my love again…Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen…Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father…Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is…Will you be my child? …John 1:12-13 I am waiting for you…Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Dad.
Almighty God
Have been pretty low lately for a number of reasons. Really questioning my belief and relationship with God. I believed that I was saved but didn't believe that God loved me. I believed that I had *just* made it into heaven but that was as far as I was going. I didn't believe that I shared in the love that other people were lavished with by God.
Low self esteem, self hatred and self rejection were all things that I was battling with and seemed to sream so much louder than Gods love did.
Anyway I was away for the weekend back in May in a place called Cefn Lea which is a Christian conference place where you can stay in log cabins or caravans in Mid-Wales, a beauitful part of the country. When we arrived the ladies who had organised this women's weekend away had left an A4 piece of paper on our beds. It was a 'letter' from God telling us the way God sees us based on scripture. I didn't get a chance to read it over that weekend and just took it home with me to read later. Anyway I put it somewhere and forgot about it.
This weekend I'd been particularly low. Sunday evening came and I knew I had to tidy my bedroom as I have 2 friends coming to stay this weekend so had to make it look like I don't live in a bomb site! I came across the letter and decided to read it before bed. I read through it and know that it is based on scripture which is the absolute truth but found it difficult to shrug off 26 years of wrong thinking about myself and believe these words of Gods.
He knew I didn't believe them and I needed to hear them again because when I came into work the next morning Jon had sent me an e-mail. What was contained in the e-mail.....Oh just the exact same letter from God! He had been trying to get a copy for 6 months for me to read but had only just managed to get a copy on e-mail and so forwarded it to me. If that isn't Gods timing! Awesome.
Anyway here is a copy of the letter below.
May you be blessed by it and know the truth.....I'm getting there!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Child…
You may not know me, but I know everything about you…Psalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up…Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways…Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered…Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image…Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being…Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring…Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived…Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation…Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book…Psalm 139:15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live…Acts 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalm 139:14 I knit you together in your mother's womb…Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born…Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me…John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love…1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you…1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child and I am your Father…1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could…Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect father…Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand…James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs…Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope…Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love…Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore...Psalms 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing…Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good to you…Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession…Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul…Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things…Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me…Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart…Psalm 37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires…Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine…Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager…2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles…2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you…Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart…Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes…Revelation 21:3-4 And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth…Revelation 21:3-4 I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus…John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed…John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being…Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you…Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins…2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled…2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you…1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love…Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me…1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separate you from my love again…Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen…Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father…Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is…Will you be my child? …John 1:12-13 I am waiting for you…Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Dad.
Almighty God
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Facedown - Matt Redman
Welcomed in to the courts of the king
Ive been ushered into your presence
Lord I stand on your merciful ground
Yet with every step tread reverence
And i'll fall face down
As Your Glory shines around
Yes, i'll fall face down
As your glory shines around
There is none in the heavens like you
And on the earth, who's your equal
You are far above,
Your the highest of heights
And i'll fall face down
As Your Glory shines around
Yes, i'll fall face down
As your glory shines around
Lord Let your glory shine around
Let your glory shine around
King of glory here be found
King of glory
Try and get a copy of this song if you haven't heard this song as it is awesome. Will take you into the presence of God
Ive been ushered into your presence
Lord I stand on your merciful ground
Yet with every step tread reverence
And i'll fall face down
As Your Glory shines around
Yes, i'll fall face down
As your glory shines around
There is none in the heavens like you
And on the earth, who's your equal
You are far above,
Your the highest of heights
And i'll fall face down
As Your Glory shines around
Yes, i'll fall face down
As your glory shines around
Lord Let your glory shine around
Let your glory shine around
King of glory here be found
King of glory
Try and get a copy of this song if you haven't heard this song as it is awesome. Will take you into the presence of God
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