Glorifying God

So recently, I've just come back home from our church retreat and God has been speaking to me more about glorifying Him. Psalm 51 was mentioned, about giving a broken spirit and a contrite heart. That true worship comes from our brokenness in Christ and that as a result we will receive healing from Him. Also that we need to worship God in acceptable ways. For a lot of the OT, God despised the offerings given to Him because they were not REAL worship. Doing things in an unworthy manner where the heart did not glorify God...this is not what He wants. We need to be living fruitful lives in Christ, drawing strength from His sacrifice, His resurrection and His hope. The same power which rose Christ from the dead also resides and works within us!

Another thing that has really challenged me is glorifying God in our sufferings. John Piper said "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him". This is a great quote on it's own as it teaches us to rejoice in Christ. However, often the next part of the quote is neglected, that is, "...in our sufferings". This, takes it to a completely different level. So often we will praise God when we have it all, when we have plenty but what about in sufferings? If the Holy Spirit does live in us then we will have a hope that surpasses all understanding, a hope that does not disappoint. We need to examine ourselves and ask, is God enough? Are we satisfied with just God? or do we need other things as well? As Job said...

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

Likewise, we need to do this, we need to know that God is enough and rediscover that joy that befell us when we He first found us. Only then can we bring God a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart...worship and offerings that are acceptable to our God.



...On a side note, Church retreat was decent, the Lake District was amazing, check my facebook for photos!

Boast in Christ

So recently, I've been constantly reminded about boasting in Christ. I guess it's God reminding me, curbing the pride inside my heart. If you think about it, without Him we are so inadequate, God chooses the weak to lead the strong, chooses the rejected to become important. The underdog is the one who God will use. It's amazing and totally against what the world thinks...It was God who reached down to us, God who died for us and God who gives us strength. If we can manage to grasp this then we cannot help but rejoice! and in turn this gives us even more strength. In our work, play, evangelism...we need God in it. So often we think of the nitty gritty things, iron out the creases and make sure everything is ok but we forget to put God in it. How often does the thing then not turn out good? and how often has little preparation but lots of God made the situation turn out well?

What do we have to boast but in Christ? By His Spirit, all things are possible.

Psalm 127
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to ^[a] those he loves.

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

(biblegateway)

Pour Out my Heart

Here I am, once again
I pour out my heart for I know that you hear
Every cry, you are listening
No matter what state my heart is in

You are faithful to answer
With words that are true and a hope that is real
As I feel your touch
You bring a freedom to all that's within

In the safety of this place
I'm longing to...

Pour out my heart to say that I love you
Pour out my heart to say that I need you
Pour out my heart to say that I'm thankful
Pour out my heart to say that you're wonderful

So I heard this song at CU a few weeks ago and it has remained in my heart. Just before writing this I was really bogged down by many things but just life in general. But I was reminded by a friend that it's time for me to seek God, time for me to knock because all that I need is in Him. It is true, I feel safe with Him, He makes me lie down in green pastures and as Psalm 121 says, my help is in the Lord. And as the song says, He hears our every cry and is always faithful to answer. But it doesn't end there, we also need to pour out, we need to soften our hearts and be vulnerable before God so we can receive His love. So often I find that when I do this, my complaints, my fears and sorrows become praise. The more I pour out, the more I praise. I am convinced that it is God's comfort.

So here I am, once again, I pour out my heart...

Tonight (Christmas Song)

So this is a song I wrote for Christmas, hope you like it!!

Verse 1
What is this light that I can see?
What is this joy surrounding me?
Why are the choirs of angels singing tonight?

What is this plan of mystery?
A baby clothed in majesty
Is born to us and sleeing in a manger tonight!

Chorus
We're singing, Wonderful, Counsellor,
Mighty God, our Prince of Peace!
Anointed one, the Risen Son,
Our Saviour is born onto us tonight!

As shepherds watch their flock at night,
They're greeted with a mighty light,
The angels sing of peace on earth tonight!

Verse 2
And far off in the eastern sky,
A shining star it shines so bright,
So all can see, our king is here tonight!

Bridge
Beauty for ashes, down You came,
Gave all Your glory, took our place,
So we can see You face to face.

Chorus 2
We're singing, Wonderful, Counsellor,
Mighty God, our Prince of Peace!
Anointed one, the Risen Son,
Our Saviour is born onto us...

Chorus 3
Wonderful, Counsellor,
Mighty God, our Prince of Peace!
Anointed one, the Risen Son,
Immanuel is born onto us tonight!

Songs/Poems

Shortcut links to them ^^

Tonight (Christmas Song)
A Response