Did you ever notice that the older we get, the more we come to realize, how little we actually know? Did you ever notice how our condescending …
Did You Ever Notice?
Did You Ever Notice?
Tag: Jesus
A Stirring to Pray
I happened to stumble across one of my old posts on prayer earlier today. I continue to be amazed at how faithful the Lord is at answering our prayers.
As I mention in this post, I consider it an enormous privilege to pray for my readers.
How can I pray for you this day?
Do feel free to submit any prayer requests in the comments below, or via the contact form.Do feel free to submit any prayer requests in the comments below, or via the contact form.
Praise our loving God for listening to and responding to our prayers! Hallelujah!
During the height of the lockdown in the UK, where we were only allowed out for short periods of exercise, I began to fairly regularly record prayer …
A Stirring to Pray
He is Our Rock (Psalm 92 #3) – Andy Brown
This is the third and final post on Psalm 92. If you missed them, you can read the first one here – Praise in the morning, praise in the evening- and the second one here – You Thrill Me. We left off last time discussing that although evil may flourish for a time, it will…
— Read on andy-brown.org/2020/04/28/he-is-our-rock-psalm-92-3/
Praise in the Morning, Praise in the Evening (Psalm 92 #1) – Andy Brown
Part of my Bible reading this morning was in Psalm 92. It is a wonderful psalm of praise and thanksgiving, and I think we need a good dose of that right now. In fact, we always do, but times of struggle seem to require an extra boost of worship. The psalm is one for the…
— Read on andy-brown.org/2020/04/24/praise-in-the-morning-praise-in-the-evening/
Marriage Matters – Longevity & the D Word, S1, E1
I love the resources that this faithful family produce… In this one about marriage is no different! I highly encourage you to give it a watch!
And while you are there, do you subscribe to their blog and newsletter.
Andy and Jo kick off this brand-new series of Marriage Matters, looking at how we keep going and they go there – they talk openly about the D word – …
Marriage Matters – Longevity & the D Word, S1, E1
In Giving, We Receive
Our church regularly visits our local church school to give assemblies and teach classes. it is a wonderful ministry, and great to be able to share the good news with young people.
This week, the team were not able to visit in person so instead recorded a video. I wanted to share this with you.
And as well as giving the children something to think about, it also talks of the shoebox appeal. we support Operation: Christmas Child which provides gifts two children living in poverty across the world at Christmas time. If you have not heard of it before, then do check it out.
I have been thinking a lot about giving lately. i’ve said it before, and will no doubt say it again… A Christian who does not give, is like a Christian who does not pray. God has blessed me a great deal, and expects me to use that for the purpose of His kingdom.
How about you?
You may not feel like you have very much, but what has God put in your hand to use?You may not feel like you have very much, but what has God put in your hand to use?
I hope you enjoy the video!
Might Not Sin (Re-post)
Do you want to sin against God? The obvious answer is no! No one who calls themselves a follower of Jesus Christ does. Yet, what steps do we take to …
Might Not Sin
Try To Do Things Yahweh
I have to be honest with you – I was so proud of myself when I came up with that title! Now I just need a blog post to go along with it…
In all seriousness, I do have an important point to make today, and I’m not just bending a message to fit the title.
A few days ago, I sat praying in my usual spot. It has been a fairly tough time for the family over the last few months, and I was reflecting on this and bringing it before the Lord. I started to pray for each individual involved, “God, please help me to support this person…” “Lord, please help me show your love to that person…” Lord, please help me do this, that or the other…” I began to feel overwhelmed and could not imagine how I could minister to all the people in my life who needed it at that moment.
Then, with a simple word, I felt God speak to me.
Don’t try to do my job for Me, Andy…
Now to be clear, this was not an audible voice I heard with my physical ears. I’m always conscious of pointing that out whenever I say that God “spoke” to me. This was an inner witness, and what I mean by that is simply that this was the sense I got from the Father inside.
With that one phrase, it lifted the pressure right off of me. I am responsible to love and care for the people in my life, and where led to, I should minister and support all that I can with the love of the Father. However, I am not God (clearly!). I cannot do what He can do, and I cannot take His place in the lives of those around me.
I have a part to play, but God is the one in charge. He knows far better than I what people need and how best to help them.
The truth is I have a problem with pride. In my time with God in the mornings at the moment, I’m doing a brief study on this subject, and it dawns on me how strong my prideful spirit is at times.
Pride and selfishness are close cousins. Humility and submission are likewise related.
When I become impatient in a situation, it is because my pride is kicking in and telling me I shouldn’t have to wait. When I get angry, it is frequently because I am not getting what I want. When I feel anxious, I am not trusting God but rather trusting in myself to fix the problems – which are often out of my control.
Can you relate?
Too frequently, I do things my way. Instead, let’s try to do things Yahweh…
Let God be God, and humbly submit to Him. Instead of impatience and anger, put the other person first and give them the space and time they need (even if it takes you a little longer to do what you need to).
Christ is our ultimate example of humility.
Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11 (WEB)
Wow! These verses are just wow! What an example of humility! Jesus, equal to God, stepped down from heaven and became a human being… and just that, but became obedient to death – even death of a hideous cross.
He did things Yahweh…
How about you today? Will you try to do it all your way and in your own strength? O will you try, like me, to submit to God and do things His way? It is not a onetime choice, but something we will have to do time and time again. That is what it means to crucify the flesh and to carry the cross daily.
O Lord help me surrender to You this day! Let me do it all Your way and not mine! Help me let go of my pride and se3lfishness, and clothe myself in humility – putting others ahead of myself! In the great Name of Jesus! Amen
Death is Random (PoW)
Pearls of Wisdom
Death is coming, and it’s random
I know that probably isn’t the most uplifting piece of wisdom you’ve ever heard, but it is true! Death is not something we should spend our entire lives thinking about, but it does happen to us all and we need to be prepared for it.
We tend to avoid thinking about it if we can, and otherwise take a herd mentality to cope with it. What I mean is this:
- It won’t happen to me, I’m too young
- It won’t happen to me, I’m fit and healthy
- It won’t happen to me, I’ve got the money to pay for excellent health care
- It won’t happen to me, I’ve got longevity in my genes
- It won’t happen to me, I live in a safe town or neighbourhood
Death is random however. While any one of these factors may reduce the risk of death in your life, the fact is neither money, nor age, nor healthy living can ever stop death from coming to us all sooner or later – and I pray it’s later!
I once heard of a serial killer who seemingly had no profile of victims he attacked. That made him one of the more terrifying examples because no one was safe. If he only targeted young women, then older women and men would feel “safe.”
Each of us must come to terms with our own mortality. Just as each of us have been born, each of us will one day face death.
For the Christian, death holds little fear. When our time comes, we will step out of our earthly bodies and into the presence of the Lord. There we will remain for all eternity.
Whether you are young or old, healthy or sick, rich or poor; you do not know when your time on Earth will be up. Do not gamble with your eternal future. Set it in stone right now by putting your faith in Jesus Christ.
You do this by simply asking Him to be in charge of your life, asking Him to forgive you of the things you’ve done wrong, and by starting to live your life following Him. If you make that choice today, please do get in touch as I would love to celebrate with you and give you some pointers.
Do not put off thinking about death, as unpleasant as it may seem. Life is temporary, but eternity, well, it goes on forever!
Wholehearted For God
Loch Awe Viaduct in Argyll with spectacular flat calm reflections during summertime. https://www.facebook.com/SpectacularScotland 1 Amaziah was …
Wholehearted For God
Musings From the Gospel of John – Number 38
God has been speaking to me lately about the very issues this post raises. And I share it for your encouragement today.
I find myself constantly encouraged but regularly challenged by the writings on Bruces blog. do take some time to check out the other posts and be blessed yourselves.
The Scriptures covered in this post are from John 15:9-14 NASB. “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. If you …
Musings From the Gospel of John – Number 38
Might Not Sin
Do you want to sin against God? The obvious answer is no! No one who calls themselves a follower of Jesus Christ does. Yet, what steps do we take to avoid the trap of sin in our lives? If we do nothing, then we will find ourselves drifting into sin’s clutches. To avoid sin, we must be deliberate and decisive.
There are many reasons to read the Bible, and here is a compelling one from Psalm 119.
I have hidden your word in my heart
Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
that I might not sin against you.
My post today may be short, simple and straight to the point. If you want to avoid sin, then you must be dedicated to God’s Word.
The one who spends their time storing God’s Word in their heart is the one who will have the best chance of defeating temptation and not falling into sin.
In God’s Word we learn what is and is not sin, and how we – as His people – should conduct our lives. We also gain spiritual nourishment so that we might be strong in our faith. As we read and study the Bible, our minds are renewed and the better we think, the better we will act.
You will never grow as a Christian if you do not take the time necessary to get to know God’s Word.
Hide it in your heart, and speak it out of your mouth. Memorise it, meditate on it, and marinate in it!
Sin is deadly. Do not be deceived, and do not falsely believe you can “get away” with it. Jesus defeated the temptation of the devil by quoting the Scriptures. When you are likewise tempted, you too can draw on the Scriptures you have stored in your heart.
Reading a few verses on a Sunday in church isn’t enough. Take time each and every day to consume the Bible. It takes effort, of course, but it is well worth it!
May God bless you richly as you engage with the Word today.
Andy Brown 