Evangelist For Christ

God is good!

2008-11-25T15:27:00.001-08:00

I haven't blogged for a while, but i am bloggin again today to tell that God is good.

Ive been on a interesting part of my journey, it hasn't been to hard, but i have spent alot of time without Jesus as my first priority. I've been thinking a lot about my future and what am i to do with my life?

I have also got caught up in things of my past that have led me to feel guilty and not recieve the full blessings of Christ. Today has only just started but God is good, you see i went to work like every other day and thought today won't be any different, but i put on some music and God started to talk to me, he was stirring something in my Spirit, he was calling me, he was asking me to live closer to him, he desired a relationship with me. How can he want that? I am a sinner, a slave to the world, yet he tells me of freedom, of love and acceptance, a love that forgot my sin and paid the price for my life upon that cross.

How can i not believe in him, he looks at me and loves me, he wants more of my life, he isn't out to condem me rather he wants whats best for my life. I was bought at a price and by his stripes i was healed! God wants me to enjoy a abundant life. A life full of his glory and full of his promise.

I was alone and empty without this saviour, i was nothing but dust until he told me my worth! and what am i worth, im worth the world! for he gave his life to set me free, i know longer have to be a slave to the world for now i am a slave to Christ.

A God that is above and beyond, the alpha and omega, the prince of peace, the bright and morning star, the great 'I AM', the history maker.

That is my God, and i choose to serve and honour him, for i was not first to choose him, rather he was first to choose me.

God is good!!!

Blessings

No better place

2008-11-14T01:46:00.000-08:00

There is no better place then being in the will of God, i heard some amazing news the other day to do with my application for college, i had put it to the board and they had decided to defer me indefinatly. I wasn't accepted!!! how amazing! You may think that i am being sarcastic but i know that this wasn't Gods timing, that this wasn't Gods will for my life.

I wrote before that Jonah was a man that ran from the will of God, i explained how dangerous this is and how unwise that is, so i am stoked that i didn't get in. I want to be in the will of the father no matter what.

So i understand that my journey at this stage isn't taking me towards college. I however did face a few speedbumps that i won't go into great detail about, but the main message was that in order to get into the training college i have to work in the secular employment. I prayed about it and i know that this isn't Gods will for my life, i am not called to work in secular employment, rather work in full time ministry in the secular world.

This may mean that i won't be in college for a while, but thats alright because i do not want to be a Jonah in the sense that i do not want to put off God's will on my life to get into college, i would consider this to be very unwise.

So i feel that right now i am in God's will, my Christian friends on the board may think im being stupid, but its God's thoughts that matter.

So walk in God's will for your life. I know i may never end up as Salvation Army Officer, but i will however be in full time ministry and God's will for the rest of my life.

Can you say that you are in the will of God? Think hard about that, and what do you need to do to line yourself up with the will of God?

Blessings

Get up sinner! Walk Blameless

2008-11-11T00:15:00.000-08:00

Choose today to walk free from the sin which grips your soul. Do you continue to look at the things you do and think that you aren't worthy of the cross? Do you think that you are too much of a sinner to be effective in full time ministry or in any service of the king? Is your sin a constant weight on your back? Well the news is it doesn't have to be!

Why carry weight that was crucified at the cross? Jesus came so we may have abundant life! A abundant life is a weightless life! You as a sinner can be used by the king to tell the world about the love of Jesus Chirst! For his grace is sufficient for you!

There are too many people living in bondage when they don't have to! As soon as we repent our sin is forgotten! God remembers it no more! He hasn't just pushed it into the back of his memory he completely wiped it from his memory!

Psalm 103:12 says:

as far as the east is from the west,so far has he removed our transgressions from us

Thats not just talking about the eastern and western points of the earth rather it is talking about the easter and western points of space itself!!! That is a long way!

So it is possible to walk this life without the chains of sin hanging off our body, and its about acknowledging that Christ took those chains to the cross and our sins past, present and future have been paid for!!!

So stop looking back on your sin and beating yourself up for it, Christ isn't condenming you for he has already forgotten! Why then are you condenming yourself?

The more you think about your sinner the more likely you are to fall back into it.

Its like a runner, running in a hurdle race, imagine your the runner, your running the race and you hit a hurdle, you then start beating yourself up for hitting that hurdle, thinking thoughts like im stupid, how'd i hit that? things like that, your coach (Jesus) is saying "focus on the next hurdle i have forgiven you for hitting that hurdle" you however keep looking back at the past hurdle and becasue your focus isn't on the next hudle you hit it! you keep hitting hurdles because you aren't focusing on how you can jump the next one!

Get up sinner! look forward and see that the next hurdle is infront of you! how can you effectivly dodge it?

You can't change your past, Go change your future!!!

Blessings

Face to Face

2008-11-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

Ive been told to blog again so that's exactly what i am going to do!

Yesterday i went to a Central Holiness meeting and my first thought was, well this is going to be boring and traditional. See if you know me well you will discover that i am not the biggest fan of the physical traditions of the Salvation Army. But i went in with the Spirit that i will worship God with whatever music is played, with whatever style is used, because God is above our worship styles! God is above what we conisder contemporary and Traditional. And fair go for me to be so selfish to refuse to worship God becasue it may not be a style that i enjoy.

So as the service started i really started to connect with the living God. It is quite amazing as the song book songs were being played i just looked at the words and i thought to myself "hey i believe those words" So i decided to let loose and just worship God in the way i generally do. And God showed up, i mean he was already there it was actually me who showed up for worship. I didnt let wordly things stop me from connecting with God.

I read again today one of my faviourate verse in scripture and that is James 4:7 "submit yourself then to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you, Draw near to God and he will draw near to you"

That day i chose to draw near to the living God! It doesn't matter what our style is just a thing we enjoy, but God enjoys all music! Lets not limit our worship just becasue it may not be something we enjoy.

I admit this is something i find difficult but God has been continually shaping me in this area! and it comes from being constantly humbled and challenged.

So do you let your stlye of music stop you from encountering the king? For those of you who are traditional get out and taste the contemporary music scene who knows maybe God will change your perspective on worship and for those of you who are contemporary, get off your high horse and start appreciating that traditional worship holds significance!!!

Blessings

Divisional board interview

2008-10-30T02:31:00.000-07:00

So pretty much today i had my Divisional board interview and i'm pretty disapointed in my effort.

I have been so caught up lately in this whole 'going to college' thing, Let me just get back to the heart of God aye! You see in Gods time and Gods year i will get in to college, its not by anything i can do. Its all out of my hands! I know that in all areas of my life i have to continually submit to the King of Kings but it isn't always easy.

Sometimes my mind wants to sort everything out itself. Questions like: When will i get a girlfriend (haha don't mind being single though) or when will i get into college so many questions filling my mind, all of which stressing over will achieve nothing.

It's hard though i do admit. To let Jesus just handle everything. I know he won't make a mistake that his timing will pull through but why then do i constantly think about it.

I believe in my heart 2009 is the year i will go in, but if i am wrong then it will just be another humbling process, God is in control and i am just saying to Him 'Here i am Lord, send me'

So Jesus i say to you know "when you want me in, i am ready! You say go i go, you say speak i speak. Im am your bond slave Lord!! Take me use me, Take away my stresses and keep my eyes constantly focused on you. I love you Lord"

Are you comprimising?

2008-10-27T03:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged for a while and always find it hard to get back into the swing of things. So i thought that i would comment on a issue that i've been finding in my own personal life and walk with God.

The last few weeks at work there has been this particular person in that i have found so hard to be real with. I have found that i have been comprimising my faith to impress this person, and i cannot understand why.

The person is not a Christian and my faith really seems to be nothing but a joke, but instead of sharing my passion and heart for Jesus i have just laughed along with the jokes that are made about my faith. It is disgusting, not what she is doing rather my response to that, instead of shoving my faith to the side i should stand strong in what i believe! there isn't room for Comprimise in the kingdom of God!

At school i would often shove my beliefs under the rug, but God has a way of bringing them out, and comprimise doesn't get us anywhere! So for you who reads this, remember that its not about what other people think about you! Its about what Christ thinks of you! So step up superstar and be who you are! don't comprimise yourself for others.

Im not saying im perfect at it, clearly you can see that it's hard for me aswell! But i choose to no longer comprimse but stand firm in my belief!

Christ is my KING!!! Christ is my ALL!!!

God a problem with that? Then comment on this blog and tell me!!! Bring it on! i don't care what you think of me!!!

Fasting day 4

2008-10-18T03:37:00.000-07:00

It says Fasting day 4 casue i didnt blog on day 3

Wow i have finally gone 4 day's without the use of the internet (with the exception of email and blogger) God's been working in my life heaps over these past few days and i can start seeing the changes play part in my life.

Today however was a challenging one! Not becasue i wanted to use the internet, and not becasue people made it challenging but it was challenging because the devil was tempting me so much, and i didn't feel that i could handle it. I prayed and texted my accountability friend and told him the situation i was in then i went into my room and started doing my devotions!
I overcame the temptation and i didn't give in! I am seeing the breakthrough that Christ was promising me! i just had to walk in it.

You know i don't miss facebook and myspace and msn and all that stuff, because i have found that it was just replacing my time with God, and i cherish my time with God so much more then i did with facebook etc. So i won't end this internet fast until i know that God is my first priority.

This fast has allowed me to get a regular devotions routine with Christ, allowed me to fight off temptation, has seen me spend more time with my family. Given me more time to pray about things like college and work and friends.

I'm almost crying becasue i've seen how great things can be with Christ, im seeing him become my first priority and I realise how much i missed, but not any more. JESUS I LOVE YOU!!!

So i don't know when i will be on facebook again, but i don't really care.

So what's my challenge? I'm not going to ask you to give up things you enjoy (within reason) but i will ask is Jesus your first priority? or do other things get in the way? i know in my life that other things got in the way.

God bless! From me, a sinner saved by grace!

Fasting Day 2

2008-10-16T01:15:00.000-07:00

As i noted before i was fasting food until saturday but i stoped early, i do however do not see this as a failure for i completed my first ever food fast!, i will continue to however fast the internet becasue i have had so much extra free time to spend with God, and wow has that been amazing! I have finally got a devotions routine going and God has been speaking to me heaps! So here is what God has told me today.

The call of God

Jonah 1:3-5

"3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to joppa, where he found a ship bound for port, After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship"

From these three verses i got a few points to share:

1. It costs us to run: In saying it costs us to run, im not talking about the good cost, of perhaps having to sacrifice things in order to please God, im talking about the bad costs, where things in our life take its toll in a negative way.

Jonah 3 says 'after paying a fare' I use this representation even though it may seem small and insignificant, but in this verse fleeing God actually cost jonah something, though that something may have only been a physical thing, it still did cost jonah! Fleeing the Lord also costs us, it may cost us friendships, time and even money! Fleeing the call of God on our life is something that will always have negative responses.

2. Fleeing doesn't get us anywhere: Jonah was runing off to Tarshish, but he never arrived at his destination, because God had called him to prophesy to nineva! God will go to all lengths to see us respond to the call he has on our life! What is the Tarshish in your life? Are you fleeing God for something else? Perhaps you are called to full time ministry and you are choosing to ignore the call and work somewhere else, Perhaps you are called to work in a secluar job and you take up a role in full time ministry. Both of those are examples of fleeing the call of God on our life. Stop running to Tarshish and head to Nineva!

3. Fleeing the call is dangerous: Fleeing the call of God on our life is a dangerous thing, as we read above, God sent violent storms to disturb the ship and the ship almost split apart! It's a dangerous thing to ignore the call of God on our life! it is very dangerous to walk outside the will of God on our life! so if you are one that is called, don't deny it, pray about it, becasue you don't know the damage that walking outside the call can do!

Life challenge: Jonah ignored God's call on his life because he didn't think the ninevites were deserving of hearing about God! They were seen to be a very revolting nation but they were still loved by God and God still wanted them to hear about his saving grace. When Jonah ran he was only thinking about himself! Is God calling you to minister to someone that you may see as disgusting or undeserving of hearing about him? Don't think about yourself, Don't deny the call Go and head to Nineva so that you may see the redeeming power of Christ!

God bless

Fasting Day 1

2008-10-14T23:38:00.000-07:00

Well as my title says i am fasting and i have decided to blog about it, to tell what i think God is saying to me and the triumphs and tribulations that i am facing in this fast. So here goes.

I spend some time in the word yesterday and i felt God calling me to fast! and i'm like "whoa God want do you want me to fast?" and i felt he wanted me to fast all internet (except for blogger and email) and food (food only till saturday).

Well fasting food today has been a major struggle and ive been so tempted to eat! It seems now that im fasting all this good food has been placed in front of my face, and its hard because im flippen hungry! It would be so easy for me to give in, but i know that God wants me to fast, and in this time im hoping to see breakthrough in areas of my life that im struggling with.

A area i lack in is self-control and i have realised that in fasting this is something that i have really had to exercise greatly.

Since this is the first day i haven't seen or heard what God is saying yet, but look out for blogs to come becasue they will show area of revalation and breakthrough!! im excited about what God is doing and going to do!

So there may be some inspiring blogs to come, there may not be aswell, but i pray that the spirit reveals things to me, either prophetic words or things that he wants to challenge in my own private life, and prayer life.

God bless you and bless continue to pray for me!

My Heros

2008-10-14T00:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry blogging world i was out of the loop for a bit because i was on holidays in tweed! Woot what a great time, i was thinking 'what can i write to kick up my blogs again' so i thought what better what to kick it back up again then writing about my heros. Here goes

Hazel woodbury AKA Great nanna: What to say about my great nanna, id say she is the oldest officer around 103 years old and still serving the Lord, what a amazing woman of God, she is currently in a old persons home but she still ministers the gospel there. She is humble and keeps all her kids, grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids in her prayers. We have seen many generations of Christians come from this wonderfull woman, and the prayers she has prayed for us have seen lives transformed including mine. Every time i visit her she prays for me and always gets emotional, i cant help but think "God has truely blessed our family" keep fighting the good fight Nanna. I LOVE YOU

Majors Neil and Sharon Clanfied AKA Dad and Mum: There is so much i could say about these two amazing people, They are holy spirit lead people, not only are they great ministers of the gospel, but they are amazing parents, they have to be to put up with my nonsense. When i was on holidays i realise how much these two people meant to me, If i could be half the officer that my parents are i would be a amazing officer. They love the Lord with all their heart and strive to be the best Christians they can be. Thanks for everything my beautiful parents. Love from me, your son.

Andrew Stringer: If there is one friend that has meant alot to me in my life, it is this man of God, he is helping me through my own struggles, he is my saving grace at work, we have alot in common and his heart for the poor and marginilised blows my mind, He is in all senses of the word 'ghetto' and is definatly gonna bring a 'ghetto gospel' Andrew when you read this, know that you have impacted my life heaps, you have inspired me and made me laugh, I truely love you bro, and im really really gonna miss you when you go to melbourne! There is always a space in my heart for you Andrew!!!

James Condon: Your make me laugh bro, your just so loving and welcoming, this territory will go so far with God becuase i know that you are obedient to his calling and word! Keep pushing into his spirit because he will take you far! Your are definatly a prophetic voice for this army and this generation! your words speak life and challenge over us! I thank God for putting you in this position of leader, i Thank God 4 your life, 4 your joy! God bless you!!!

Nesan Kistan: I cannot forget Nesan, wow what an inspiration Nesan is to me, He truely is a unique man of God or 'hebrew' as he likes to say, He's been mentoring me for over a year now and God has used him to change and infulence my life. He constantly see's the potential i have and refuses to let me comprimise myself! It's sometimes challenging and hard but he is helping me be the person Christ has called me to be. Mate i love you!

I want another Pentecost

2008-10-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

Acts 2:1-13

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

My prayer is that we recieve another Pentecost, That the holy spirit falls down from heaven in a supernatural way! "God where are my tongues of Fire, fall upon me Lord"

William booth wrote a song once called send the fire, a line in that song was 'we need another pentecost' I believe that we do, we need a fresh infilling with the Holy Spirit so that we again stand out amongst the crowd, So that we can become passionate ppl, that we can discern the right from the wrong, that we may have the courage to live this world blameless and sinless!

What is the result of the pentecost?

First up is passion: Whateva happened to every believer being passionate, Tongues of fire fell upon the believers in this house and they became passionate! They knew that nothing else mattered besides their Lord Jesus, and their heart began to burn with a new passion, The spirit came upon them and they became passionate and hungry for more of God, They became hungry for souls, for seeing people experience this same fire from heaven.

They became uncomprimising: The Holy Spirit fell upon them and they didn't comprimise themself, they didnt become like the unbelievers of their time, instead they stood out amongst the crowd, they looked different, they acted different, the Holy Spirit made them Stand out, Christ could be seen through these uncomprimising believers.

They acted in the supernatural: They were first up able to speak in other languages, As we see it they began to speak in supernatural tongues and also the languages of the nations surrounding them, Now speaking in tongues isn't the evidence of the Holy Spirit but still is a beautiful thing, I speak in tongues, not to show that i have mad skills, but rather in the privacy of my own home, why? whats the point? i believe speaking in tounges edifies the soul and its my prayer language to my Lord! I don't believe all believers have to, but if you do speak in tongues, pracitce it, keep using it, don't show off, but rather pray to God.

Other supernatural things that happened were, healings. Futher on in the new testament we see that people were healed, and i pray that in our day and age that we see healings happen by the thousands, It is in God's will that we be healthy and not sick, im not saying that those who are unhealthy are outside the will of God, rather im saying that because of sin in the world ppl become unhealthy and God is ready and willing to heal us of our disease and sickness.

We should be seeing in our Churchs more evidence of the Holy Spirit, we should be seeing people be healed, souls be saved, supernatural things happen, chains be broken, lives be transformed, Are our churchs acting in the will of the Holy Spirit? Does your/my church need another pentecost?

Is your church seeing people healed every week, seeing souls saved every day, seeing supernatural things happen.

If not then pray that God sends another pentecost, because looking over the body of Christ, i think that we are in desperate need for another pentecost!

SEND THE FIRE LORD

Whats my age again?

2008-10-04T23:43:00.000-07:00

I read over my blogs and they are all serious and basically the same kinda subject so today i decided to write a different type of blog, this blog is purely the entertainment of the reader.

I love having fun, i think its flippen awesome! being serious all the time sucks hard aye! There is just the kinda time for mucking around.

So the other day i was at candidates weekend and me and a few mates went to cronulla beach on the saturday nite, we sat and looked at the stars, and i had a God moment (not to get serious now though) We were just about to leave and i thought, 'hey ive never been skinny dipping before, now is such a good time' So i went down to the water, and got my birthday suit on and had a dip, water was freaking freezing, espcially at like 11:30pm
It gets better, my friends stole my clothes and ran back to the car, so i had to journey all the way up to the car (lucky i had a towel) woot!!
That was fun! much fun! cept i lost a shirt out of it, they grabbed all my clothes cept the shirt.

So i had 2 go back to the college shirtless, although it wasnt the only time i have been around the college with limited clothes!

I was bored at the college and i thought, "Hey why not to a undie run" (around a salvation army training college, not smart! espcially since i wanna be a officer) But hey you only live once aye! so i used my shirt as a balaclava and got james cox to be my camera man, and we took some happy snaps around the training college! woot!!

Hey guys im only 19, there is a time for being serious, but there is also a time for being silly, im immature and i love it!! i do have 2 grow up, espicially if i wanna get into college, but lets enjoy our youth!

haha So God be with you!!! and hope you enjoyed!!!

*Nathan Hodges you owe me a shirt!

I hear some rocks crying out!

2008-10-02T01:14:00.000-07:00

Luke 19:40

40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

I walk outside and i am confronted with some passionate evangelists! They are passionate about telling the world the good news about Jesus, "he is coming, on a donkey, he will save the world, turn to the king of kings" There voice rings in my ears, but its a strange voice! its not the voice of anything human, no it is the voice of the very stones beneath my feet, they are crying out! why are they crying out? because Christians have gone silent.

Are we being outdone? What happened to the times when you couldnt shut up the Christians, what happened to challenging the sins in the world? Are we comprimising ourselves? Have we gone silent?

I believe that in many parts we have! we are just going through life and letting the world around us walk that slow straight path to hell. Those rocks are crying out.

Are you less passionate then a stone? You know a stone is stepped on, sometimes thrown away, often kicked yet if a stone could tell the good news about Jesus then couldn't you.

Stop passing the opportunity of Evangelism, of just sharing about your best friend to the stones on the road, its time to live up to the call of God on your life, if you have been impacted by Jesus then you would desire to share the good news about him. Don't let the pharises in your life damper your spirit!

My heart is breaking!!! im crying out for a group of Christians to see that the world is destroying itself, its one thing to watch someone stick a needle in there arm, a child live on the street, a person gamble there life away, The abortion age go up, I'm not letting the stones around me fight my battles! Jesus is coming let Christians prepare the way.

Shut those stones up by your voice, the very voice the creator of the universe gave you!!!

SEE YOUR WORLD SAVED!!!

The 'E' word

2008-10-01T16:35:00.000-07:00

When we stand before Christ on judgement day will he ask how good we played our music, will he ask how well we wore our uniforms, will he ask about whether or not the sacraments are relavent. You know what, i don't think God will be that concerned about those particular things, i think rather he will be more concerned about whether or not we led others to Him.

Evangelism is almost a dirty word in the Christian community today, and we often shudder at the thought of even having to share the gospel, it is out of this fear of sharing the gospel that we create excuses and justify why 'we' don't have to.

"Oh but its not my gifting" What a common and dangerous mistake we are making by limiting Christ to only working out of our giftings, how selfish are we being by deciding to not share the good news about Jesus, just because it isn't our gifting, Are we costing someone the freedom that Christ has to offer by not sharing the gospel? I'm sick of hearing this debate that only those with the gift of Evangelism should go share, Grow up!!! its not about you! its about the person that desperate to hear the gospel, that very same gospel that people are being to afraid to share.

"Tell people about Jesus without using any words" Andrew Stringer also has blogged on these particular excuses and i have heard the same excuses so i want to reinforce what he is saying by blogging on this topic aswell. This statement is both true and extremely false, it is true that we must back up our words with actions and not just be all talk, but 'Evangelism' means to tell others the good news, the key word in that statement is tell others, We have to talk about Jesus to people, there is no way to justify not sharing the gospel, it is not our secret to hide, We can't say we'll people will know im a Christian becasue of the good things i do. sure they may see Christ in you, but there are alot of good people in this world, Don't justify not sharing the gospel.

Then there is just a fear of what people may think if you share the gospel, people generally don't mind, why? because people always have an opinion. Evangelism ofcourse has to be done at a appropriate time and also without force (no bible bashing please) but the world needs to hear about Jesus! its not about us!! its not about what we look like, its not about being afraid of saying the wrong things, Its about stepping out of the boat, God will do the saving lets just lead them to the cross and let God do the rest!

I leave you with 2 timothy 1:8

8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

SEE YOUR WORLD SAVED!!!

*Thanks to Andrew Stringer for his ideas, God bless you and your ministry!

This is for you!

2008-09-29T03:53:00.000-07:00

This goes out to you! The everday person that strives to be more, the sinner caught up in a wave of struggles, the drunk on the gutter.

This goes out to you, you who struggles with pornography, feeling so empty, feeling so alone, thinking that the world doesnt understand the trap that has been set before you. You want to be free but it consumes your mind, you find yourself wanting more knowing you shouldnt and feeling guilty that you do, your heart beats so fast, you feel seperated from God...

Know now that you can be free, that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, that Christ never disowned you and his heart broke when you felt as though you couldnt come back to the cross, but the truth is he is waiting for you to confess so that he may show you his everlasting love! No chains can hold you down because Christ has the vicotry! Christ has you, never forget that you are his creation, and you to can say the old has gone and the new has come.

This goes out to you, you who thinks that they arent pretty enough or skinny enough. Feeling as though you need to impress your peers, that you need to look like everyone else so that you will fit in, but you really want to be able to love yourself, you want to love what God has given you! you want to feel like a superstar but you struggle to do so...

Know now that you are Beautiful, that you were created in the image of God and God doesnt make mistakes, that he thinks your his princess that every day he tells you how amazing you look, but sometimes that voice is drowned out, it doesnt need to be, you don't need to look like anyone else because God made you perfect! you are fearfully and wonderfully made!

This goes out to you, you who thinks that everyone is better, that who you are isnt good enough, you who is bullied and is made out to be insecure, all you want is for them to accept you, for someone to reach out and invite you somewhere, you long to feel as though you are part of the team but they just don't allow you to be, its a constant struggle to be accept and sometimes you feel like giving up!

Know now that who you are is more important then who they want you to be, that you are amazing, that God made you to be you, He longs to spend time with you, so that he can tell you over and over again that you are part of his team, that you are part of the preisthood of all believers that you are the head and not the tail, God accepts and loves you for who you are.

This is for you, you who is depressed, who feels as though they are in a dark place and it looks as though no light will come, who feel as though the end is to leave the world, who feels a constant voice of sadness in there life, you feel the walls are closing in and there is no exit.

Know now that Christ is your exit that God has come to be your light, you never walk in this dark world alone, God walks every step with you, the devil trys to cloud that with his lies, but God is bigger, much, much bigger. Know now that you have hope!!

This goes out to everyone who isn't happy with they way they are, that feel trapped, that feel they cant be their truthfull self.

Word is out, everyone has brokeness but our thing is that we think its only us! What im gonna say has been oversaid but i dont care becasue its true, JESUS LOVES YOU! never forget that who you are is loved by HIM!!! God loves the leper God loves the bullied and the bully, God loves you! He is there for you, to rescue you out of your brokeness, to set free the captive and break the chains that bound us!

JESUS HAS COME TO GIVE US LIFE AND LIFE IN ABUNDANCE!!!

More of God!

2008-09-28T00:20:00.000-07:00

'Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you, draw near to God and he will draw near to you' James 4:7

I was doing my devotions and i started thinking, i want to go so much deeper with God, i want to have a relationship that is so intimate that it's flippen crazy!
How do i do this though? i was reading through the scriptures and i came across this verse, James 4:7 showed me a way of getting that intimate relationship with God, it showed me how to go deeper with the king.

The first part of this verse is all about being submissive!

Its about surrendering our lives to Jesus, about handing over all of who we are, into the hands of God! this is a daily thing, we don't just surrender our lives once and thats sufficent, NO! submiting our lives must be a constant thing. I don't want to live my life and think i am in control because the reality is that im not. So daily i must chose to submit myself to the king, its hard no doubt but once God is placed in control over my life then things start to happen!
When i am in submission to God i have put my trust in him, and trust is key to going deeper in our relationship with God.

The second part is about resisting the Devil

This is such a hard thing to do, even today i struggled with resisting the Devil, see the devil knows where i weakeness are and he attacks those places. We aren't resisting at all unless we are fighting the temptations. See our main cop out is that i couldn't resist the temptation, well that is completly untrue and unbiblical, Resisting isn't easy but do what Jesus Did and quote scripture and use it against satan. No temptation has seized us. 1 corinthians 10:13 says "no temptation has seized you, except what is common to man, and God is faithfull he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear, and when you are tempted he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" dont let the devil tell you it is impossible to resist his traps!

The thrid part is key to having a Deeper relationship with God, and its all about Drawing closer!

This is a choice, ofcourse it is, and its all about being intentional, we must daily choose to draw closer to God, what i love is that God never fails to draw near to us, it is us that fail to draw near to God, how often do we put other things in front of spending time with Jesus! its time to stop being lazy Christians and start drawing near to God, there isnt much i can say about this, Just go and do it!

Go and have a more passionate and intimate relationship with Jesus, its never becasue God hasnt showed up its casue you just weren't trying!

Blessings

Don't miss out on the real issues

2008-09-26T00:10:00.000-07:00

What are the real issues? This blog goes out to all the people who make the non-issues, issues in our Church, things that are so small but are blown out of proportion and stressed about!

It seems as though in Church today there are things that are so small but our congregation make so big.
In the Salvation army just like all denominations this is seen to be true.
The Salvatoin army uniform. Wow has this casued some debate, the uniform we wear is not designed for anything but to show that we are alligned in spiritual warfare and fighting the wars of injustice, If people choose not to wear it then that is there own choice, but if people choose to put on the uniform it should be to show that they are taking part in a greater battle. Lets not however make that battle in the church, sometimes we get caught up in the debates in our own Churchs that we miss out on bringing the love of Jesus to the world, thats the real battle.
In my own personal opinion the uniform shouldn't be worn if the person wearing it is not taking part in spiritual warfare or the fight for Justice, also it shouldn't be worn if you aren't sharing the gospel to un-saved friends!
So the reality is, it isnt a big issue, rather the issue is that the gospel isn't being brought to the world!
Another minor issue that we blow up is our worship style. Firstly it isn't 'our' worship, it belongs to God, we are just bringing it back to him in a way that is honouring, but if our heart isn't in the song then God doesn't hear our worship. The thing is God loves all sorts of music, from Scremo music to punk to brass, as long as its sung with a heart after God! So why do we care so much about eachothers style, Just bring your own song to the Lord, worship is about you connecting with God!
There is so much crap that we are focusing on in our Churchs that we miss out on impacting the world, Its no use being a Christian if you aren't prepared to take up your cross!
Ask yourself this question "are you willing to give you everything you love about church for the sake of the Gospel" If the answer is yes then go out into the world and see your friends saved, if you truely think you can answer yes to that question then we should be seeing Churchs growing.
Go and have a hard think about that.

SEE YOUR GENERATION SAVED

Praise you in the storm

2008-09-25T01:29:00.000-07:00

Ever been through a storm in your life? Ever wondered where is Jesus? Why messiah are you not reaching in and saving the day?

You know thats a human instinct to feel like that, there have been times in my own life when i thought, has God had forsaken me. There have been times in my life when i wondered why don't you come down and rescue me.

In my own personal story i went through one of those times. Waking up each day was a mission, id come home and snap at the smallest things, i thought it would of been better if i did not exist. I wondered where Jesus was!! I was calling out to the king of kings and it seemed as though he had turned a deaf ear to me, but God NEVER left me!!

I came to breaking point, my emotional pain was destroying me, i need realease, now i didnt want to kill myself that has never been a thought, but i thought to myself maybe if i cut myself the emotional pain will go away, i was about to do so and i thought "I WILL NOT LET SATAN HAVE THE VICTORY" i then called out to Jesus and he rescued me, i went into my room with tears streaming down my face and i called out to the king, and he wrapped his arms of love around me.

God rescued me, i then discovered that this is why i am a Christian, im not a Christian cause my parents said i am, or becasue i grew up in a Christian household, i decided to be a Christian because Jesus Christ reached down into my life and Saved me! because he showed me a love that i have never experienced before!

GOD IS MY VICTORY!! and i will follow him becasue he knows me by name, and sees each tear that falls.

What a love aye!!!!

You reading this can discover this love, don't go on other ppl's experiences, Pray and experience Christ for yourself!

Are we an army of Salvation

2008-09-23T23:49:00.000-07:00

THE SALVATION ARMY!!!

I was thinking today about the Salvation army, i was thinking about the name and the significance that the name holds, 'the SALVATION army' wow what a powerfull name, i love the word salvation, it is a word of promise, hope, security, joy and its the name our church.

Are we being a Salvation army though? That is a interesting thought, to me a salvation army is actually a group of passionate people seeing souls saved! For to be known as a salvation army isnt it key to see salvations?

Is it then false avertising to be called a Salvation army when our corps havent seen a soul saved for decades? I would tend to think so. For without salvation we are just a empty army, perhaps it would be more accurate to call ourselves a stale army, or a sleeping army.

For what right to we have to stand under the banner of Salvation if we are not living up to the call. It is a dangerous thing to do, will Christ say on judgement day "you chose to affiliate yourself with the Salvation army yet you refused to bring your friends to me"

If our army is a army of Salvation then shouldn't our soldiers be doing 'the work of a Evangelist' as seen in 2 timothy 4:5, as soon as we choose to fellowship at a Salvation army we should then take up the role of Evangelist and bring the gospel to the world so that we may see Salvations. we don't need 2 have the gift of evangelism to share the gospel. As some may think.

It is true to say however that there are corps that are growing and seeing salvations and that is awesome, they are corps that can call themselves a Salvation army, for they are truely being one.

Hope is not lost though, for just like the bones that needed life spoken into them, so shall our army see life once again, It is up to us as Salvationists and Christians as a whole to see Salvations in our community! Wouldn't it be great to see schools saved, communitys saved and even this nation saved, it all starts with one soul.

Dont miss out on the Joy that sharing the gospel brings,

See this nation saved!!!

BE A ARMY THAT WILL SEE SALVATION