the only example worth following...

We always say.. I want to be like Jesus but we don’t really look to his example enough. He pretty much gave us a map of how he would be in everything and I think sometimes we set off on the journey without looking at the map and only picking it up when we encounter difficulties. But if we look to him before we try to advance maybe we would have a smoother journey; maybe we would be able to follow his example without the mistakes that get in the way. Jesus taught us to pray by lesson and by practice so he essentially made it easy for us if we only bothered to consult the map before we leave the house to embark on the journey. 

After all he is the perfect example, he is the only example worth following!

the joy that he brings...

I have been thinking about his love and it makes me a little weak.
Jesus gives me butterflies.
He makes me feel like everything is possible and nothing is out of reach. 
He makes me hope that the route map for my life will be revealed in time. 
He makes me think about sunshine and rainbows. 
Jesus makes me draw love hearts all over my notebook without realising I’m doing it. 
He makes me see the good in everything. 
He makes me smile when I think about him. 
He makes me sing. 
Jesus makes the world move.
He makes me care about what he cares about. 
He makes me look with his eyes. 
He makes me love everyone. 
Jesus makes everything make sense. 

the truth of the matter is...

JESUS LOVES YOU...IT'S ACTUALLY THAT SIMPLE

Stop wasting time and start living a life that screams about his love!! Because anything else just makes the cross out to be completely insignificant and that is definitely not what he has called us out of darkness and into light for!

I know which I would prefer my life to talk about.. how about you??? Let's do this together...

the gift that is the bible

So over the last month or so life has been getting in the way of my bible reading. I have been reading but not consistently and I have been doing that thing where we think it's sort of OK to just open it and read for like a minute just so we can say we have read the bible today. But God gave me a bit of a newsflash; if you aren't being strengthened, challenged, encouraged and inspired when you read then you probably aren't reading enough or paying enough attention. It's not about reading because we feel like we should it's about getting to know the God who made us. It's about drawing near to a God who loves us. It's about accepting the gift that he has given us in his word and taking hold of it in our lives.

We need to readdress our approach to the bible; WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BEAUTY that lies on the pages that we so often neglect. We need to think about the fact that God sent his Son to bring us back into relationship with him and remember that our free access to the bible is a huge part of that. We can walk into any bookshop and pick up THE WORD OF THE LIVING GOD!! Just think about that for a second; you can actually read the word of God and HE WILL SPEAK TO YOU!!!
I have been blessed over these last few days of the further realisation of the beauty that this book holds. My passion for the bible has been reignited and I am eagerly devouring his truth. I want to rediscover the beauty the bible holds and live a life that spreads its truth.

What better time is there than the Christmas season to jump back into his word? To rediscover what it means to have this gift. To really spend time in his word and think about the impact it can make on our lives. TO REDISCOVER OUR GOD!!! I have been reading about the birth, life and death of Jesus and thinking about what it means that God sent his Son into a broken world and I want to invite you to join me on this journey. A journey that I know will lead us closer to our heavenly Father and HELP US TO LEAD LIVES THAT SCREAM JESUS!!!!

So find a reading plan, or bible notes or choose a book, decide how your going to jump into the word and stick to it. Even when it's hard lets stay firmly in his truth and watch the change it brings to our lives.

we are all pathfinders really....

Pathfinders.. Pathfinders.. Pathfinders..

Leading Pathfinders youth group at Christ Church is literally one of the highlights of my week; seeing God moving in the young peoples lives and letting him use us to impact them is AWESOME!! I love it!!
Tonight was a true joy; seeing new friendships start to form, boys being boys and giggling girls!

Every week we have a short testimony at the end and tonight Catherine spoke about living in God's plan and following his path. Which really made me think; we are all Pathfinders really!! We are seeking to follow his path and walk in his way. We are constantly searching for where he is leading us and the path he has mapped out for us. And we all make mistakes over and over again but the point is that we are called to choose LIFE to 'Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.' [Matthew 7:13-14]. That right there would be one of the many times that Jesus told us straight how hard it would be to live for him. But love compels us to try to walk in his way to strive to find his path for our lives. It is not impossible, it can definitely by achieved, we can find our path and walk in the glorious light for all our days! That is my prayer for you all that you would be Pathfinders that you would walk in the light of Christ and live everyday for his glory. That we would all live LIVES THAT SCREAM JESUS EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!!!

Kingdom thoughts...

What if you had to say everything you thought? What if there was no control that stopped you from vocalising everything that came to mind? Would you be OK with that? Do you think Kingdom thoughts? Would you be OK if everyone you know knew every thought in your head?

Generally we don't filter our thoughts much. I mean sure the really bad ones we actively stop but generally we don't. We think things about people we shouldn't. We think the things we want to say but know we shouldn't. We think about the things we want to do but shouldn't. We let the devil plant sinful thoughts in our heads and we entertain them. We entertain thoughts that we know will distance us from God because we don't think there is any real consequence if we don't act. BUT THERE IS. When we entertain these thoughts we let Satan take control of our minds!!

Negative thoughts that aren't filled with God's truth will never be beneficial to us. They will never lead us in the way everlasting. They won't help us to distinguish the voice of our shepherd. As children of the king we must claim our minds. Take control of everything we think and let our minds be places where the kingdom reigns. We must think thoughts that scream Jesus and flee from those that stink of Satan.

WE ARE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST AND WE WILL ONLY THINK THOUGHTS THAT BRING HIM GLORY!!!!!

Our God Is Love....

Getting the post yesterday was probably the most fun post has even been when I opened a mysterious package to find the new soul survivor album. I don't think I have ever been so excited about a CD. I have actually been waiting and virtually counting down the days to hear it and in this process God has taught me about expectancy. That when we eagerly anticipate his good gifts the reward is great. When we have put our hope in the father and the gifts he desired to give us then WE WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!! He will never let us down because he always knows what is best for us.

I wanted to also share the words of one of the songs with you; Beth Croft's version of Our God is love is truly beautiful and the lyrics are full of truth.

Every soul every beating heart
Every nation and every tongue
Come find hope in the love of the Father
All creation will bow as one
Lift their eyes to the risen Son
Jesus Savior forever and after
This is love
Jesus came and died and gave His life for us
Let our voices rise and sing for all He's done
Our fear is overcome
Our God is love
Our God is love
Every distant and broken heart
Every prayer every outstretched arm
Finding hope in the love of the Father
Age to age let His praises rise
All the glory for all of time
Jesus Savior forever and after
Age to age we will be singing
In the light of all He's done
All the earth everyone singing
In the wonder of His love