Fighting back against rising secularism

Last week, the Prime Minister held a private ‘Easter Reception’ at Downing Street, where he told a gathering of senior church leaders that the nation needed Christian values and also that he supported a "fight back" against rising secularism.

Mr Cameron told attendees: "I think there's something of a fight-back going on, and we should welcome that. The values of the Bible, the values of Christianity are the values that we need."

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Purify my heart

This is one of my favorite worship songs. Be blessed. Your sister in Christ. N

The transfiguration

The TRANSFIGURATION  Matthew 17:1-2  is mentioned in all 3 synoptic gospels
Where is it in the Gospel ?
1.Back cloth
· who do you say I am ? Peter declares Jesus as the Messiah
· Jesus speaks about his suffering, his death and resurrection
· Peter tries to stand in the way of God's plan and is rebuked by Jesus “ your thoughts don't come from God but man -if anyone wants to come with me he must forget self. Carry his cross and follow me.”
· Whoever wants to save is own life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for me and the gospel will save it.
· After the transfiguration group Jesus is faced by an unbelieving group- who want to use his healing powers but weren't worried about letting God into their lives. Jesus challenges this
 2.Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death and resurrection
 3.The transfiguration provides a foretaste of heaven
 4.The transfiguration is witnessed by figures from Heaven and earth thus ratifying the divinity of Jesus
 · Jesus takes his 3 closest disciples:Peter and the brothers -James and John (Peter- gets it wrong often but Jesus uses the frail and weak-you are Peter and on this rock will I build my church)
· Where to? A high mountain -like many other holiest of holy encounters it takes place on top of a mountain where they were alone
· The disciples see Jesus bathed in glory- they try to describe it -key message bright, dazzling light too bright Cloud covers them before God speaks
· In this encounter they meet Moses representing the Law and Elijah the prophets.
· Moses is himself given the 10 commandments on top of a high mountain and when he returned to the people he shone so brightly they had to shield themselves from the light
· Elijah has many encounters with God, learns to listen to him, often on mountain-tops- experiences a people that rejects his message time and time again- Elijah is himself swept into heaven
· Peter is described as speaking but really overwhelmed: he knows it is a very special encounter with God but doesn't know what is going on.
· We hear the voice of God as we did at the beginning of Jesus’s public life (Baptism)and also via angels at the end of his public life at his ascension.
· The voice of God says- listen to him
For us? It comes at a point just before lent starts: how do we travel on our own journey? Do we put our self first ? carry our cross whatever that may be? are we following Jesus ? We are ordered by no less than God himself to listen to him- Jesus
Where are we going? like the disciples, eternal life is our goal: we can not compromise on this
 How can we live lives that are attuned to God

To listen and hear how we should be : to let God be God in our lives (God of Surprises)
To be obedient to the will god
To do this we have opportunities to re-align our lives -lent presents us with such an opportunity
Have we got our priorities right ?
Do they need fine tuning?
Are there patterns in our lives that repeatedly trip us up?
How can we go forward in the strength of Christ
: we have the knowledge and reality of the resurrection and the support of the holy Spirit to guide and transform us: god selects us frail as we are to be his family: our weaknesses can be used by him as a strength if we allow Him to deal with our weaknesses.
Our thanks to Celia, for these notes. Have a blessed evening.

A prayer for our nation.

Lord, pour out Your Spirit upon this nation. Bring unbelievers to a saving knowledge of Your Son, Jesus. Prosper us and rain your blessings upon us..It is your goodness that keeps us from getting what we do deserve.Thank You that Your eyes are on the righteous and your ears are open to our prayers (1 Peter 3:12). May your Love and peace so rise in our hearts that it becomes our greatest testimony of your goodness.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 85:9

by Stormie Omartian, 'A book of prayer' 

Our Queen, defender of the Christian faith

Your Grace, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Prince Philip and I are delighted to be with you today to pay tribute to the particular mission of Christianity and the general value of faith in this country.This gathering is a reminder of how much we owe the nine major religious traditions represented here. They are sources of a rich cultural heritage and have given rise to beautiful sacred objects and holy texts, as we have seen today.Yet these traditions are also contemporary families of faith. Our religions provide critical guidance for the way we live our lives, and for the way in which we treat each other. Many of the values and ideas we take for granted in this and other countries originate in the ancient wisdom of our traditions. Even the concept of a Jubilee is rooted in the Bible.
Here at Lambeth Palace we should remind ourselves of the significant position of the Church of England in our nation’s life. The concept of our established Church is occasionally misunderstood and, I believe, commonly under-appreciated. Its role is not to defend Anglicanism to the exclusion of other religions. Instead, the Church has a duty to protect the free practice of all faiths in this country. It certainly provides an identity and spiritual dimension for its own many adherents. But also, gently and assuredly, the Church of England has created an environment for other faith communities and indeed people of no faith to live freely. Woven into the fabric of this country, the Church has helped to build a better society – more and more in active co-operation for the common good with those of other faiths.

This occasion is thus an opportunity to reflect on the importance of faith in creating and sustaining communities all over the United Kingdom. Faith plays a key role in the identity of many millions of people, providing not only a system of belief but also a sense of belonging. It can act as a spur for social action. Indeed, religious groups have a proud track record of helping those in the greatest need, including the sick, the elderly, the lonely and the disadvantaged. They remind us of the responsibilities we have beyond ourselves...

Source: http://www.royal.gov.uk

The Queen’s comments will be welcomed by many Christians after a week where secularists have challenged the place of Christianity in the nation. The High Court passed a ruling on 10 February that it was “unlawful” for local town councils to begin their formal meetings with prayer, breaking from hundreds of years of tradition. On the same day, two Christian guesthouse owners, Peter and Hazelmary Bull, lost their appeal against last year’s ruling that they had discriminated unlawfully against a non-married same-sex couple by only allowing married couples to rent double rooms in their guesthouse. Yesterday, Baroness Warsi, chairman of the Conservative Party, said that British society was under threat from a rising tide of "militant secularisation" reminiscent of "totalitarian regimes."
 Source: http://www.christianconcern.com

The Love of the Spirit

For the past weeks, I have been reading The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit by Reuben Archer Torrey and I do recommend it. 


If you have Kindle on your PC, go to Amazone.co.uk and you can download that book in less than 5 minutes. 

I like very much Torrey's style as it is concise, to the point and very clear. 

I can think of no thought more humbling or more overwhelming than the thought that a person of Divine majesty and glory (the Holy Spirit)dwells in my heart and is ready to use even me.

What are the distinctive characteristics, or marks, of personality? Knowledge, feeling or emotion, and will. Any entity that thinks and feels and wills is a person. 

If we read 1 Corinthians 2: 10-11, we are taught that the Holy Spirit is a Being who knows the truth.


In 1 Corinthians 12:11, we read, “But all these are the work of one and
the same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.”
Here will is ascribed to the Spirit and we are taught that the Holy
Spirit is not a power that we get hold of and use according to our
will but a Person of sovereign majesty, who uses us according
to His will.
Further on, R. Torrey tells us more about the personality of the Holy Spirit

In Romans 15:30, Paul says “Now I urge you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.” Here we have “love” ascribed to the

Holy Spirit. The reader would do well to stop and ponder those 

five words, “the love of the Spirit.” We dwell often upon the

love of God the Father. It is the subject of our daily and constant

thought. We dwell often upon the love of Jesus Christ the Son.

Who would think of calling himself a Christian who passed a

day without meditating on the love of his Saviour, but how often

have we meditated upon “the love of the Spirit”?

Have you already read that book or are you acquainted with R.A. Torrey's books, let us know please. 
Steven and I are about to go out to diner in an Indian restaurant in Stone, the Crown of India, so to all my blogger and non-blogger friends, have a blessed Valentine evening. Your sister in Christ.

I am no longer my own, but yours

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Your will, not mine, be done in all things, wherever you may place me,

in all that I do and in all that I may endure; 

when there is work for me and where there is none;

 when I am troubled and when I am at peace.

Your will be done when I am valued and when I am disregarded;

 when I find fulfilment and when it is lacking; 

when I have all things, and when I have nothing.

I willingly offer all I have and am to serve you, as and where you choose. 

Glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

 you are mine and I am yours. 

May it be so for ever.

Let this covenant now made on earth be fulfilled in heaven.

 In the name of Jesus-Christ, our saviour. Amen.

Have a blessed evening. Your sister in Christ. N.

New Wine and CVM hope to reverse exodus of men from church | Christian News on Christian Today

New Wine and CVM hope to reverse exodus of men from church | Christian News on Christian Today

Holocaust Memorial Day: 27 January

There is a pledge you can sign on the HMD website: sign our pledge to make your commitment to ending discrimination. Holocaust Memorial Day provides the opportunity for everyone to learn the lessons from the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and in the subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Darfur and  Srebrenica.

Let us pray for a peaceful solution to every world conflict so that those atrocities never happen again, in Jesus-Christ. Amen. A verse comes to my mind: Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 

C S Lewis' conversion to Christianity

Discovering new blogs is always exciting. This afternoon, as I was researching something completely different on google.com I saw the following title: 73% of Protestant pastors in America reject evolution. Not a surprise in itself really. Then I started to read a few more posts on that same blog: through the wardrobe , especially a post on Luther (Martin Luther on authority in the Church) that I found very interesting. Next, I land on this blog: gloriadeo. I found a clip of a documentary on CS Lewis describing his conversion. I have only read a few books written by CS Lewis so I was very intrigued. I share this clip with you. Too many distractions ...are definitely a good thing! Do you agree? I will now resume my lesson planning. Blessings.

Heaven and earth will pass away..

Photo courtesy of  http://njministries.org/1Heaven/heaven5.html

H

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." Matt.24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33

Toni Birdsong

Toni Birdsong

Happy New Year 2012

to all of you who read this blog. May the Lord bless you richly!
If it is your first time visiting, a warm welcome to you, I hope you will enjoy your tour, leave a comment and come back.
 Have you had time to formulate your new resolutions? Steven makes us laugh when he declares in a very serious voice that his resolution is not to eat any ice-cream (for example) until the end of the year. I must add that he says that on the 31st of December at 6 p.m. Well we find it funny..So generally speaking we have given up on making resolutions.!
Today we took Camille to the station as she is going back to uni to do an internship for a few weeks. Then we went for a walk in Doxey park for an hour. It was lovely to share a quiet moment... trying to skip the puddles, avoid skidding on the mud and ultimately sit in the hide to observe a few seagulls arguing over..well, it was difficult to say why!
I have resumed reading 'The Discipline of Grace' by Jerry Bridges. For those of you who have not read it, let me quote a bit of the summary on the back page: Being a Christian is more than just coming to Christ. It's about growing and becoming like Jesus.. I'll say no more. I have just started Chapter 5, the discipline of Grace, concept based on Titus 2: 11-12 ..Let me know if you have read that book too!
I also discovered a new song.


Not Guilty Anymore - Aaron Keyes

It's all about you Jesus

After Christmas, 

we talk about presents

 small, big, cheap or expensive! 

What did you get for Christmas? 

what did you eat? 

who was there?

eloquent answers : 

I got ... he got ...she bought....

we spent too much

had a great time

True joy forever

'cos the real reason

 for the celebration

 is you, Jesus, 

you came on earth, 

 to show us the love

You died for us

 so we could live.

Accept Jesus for your saviour

Peace to you all.

The imitation of Christ

Thomas à Kempis - Ascetical writer

(circa. 1380-1471), priest, monk and writer

Thomas, whose family name was Hammercken, was born in the Rhineland town of Kempen near Düsseldorf in Germany. The school he attended at nearby Deventer in Holland had been started by Gerard Groote, founder of the Brothers of the Common Life. These were men devoted to prayer, simplicity, and union with God. Thomas of Kempen, as he was known at school, was so impressed by his teachers that he decided to live his own life according to their ideals. 

When he was 19 he entered the monastery of Mount St. Agnes, which the Brothers had recently started near Zwolle in Holland and which was then being administered by his older brother John. He spent the rest of his long life behind the walls of that monastery. From time to time Thomas was given a position of authority in the community of monks, but he consistently preferred the quiet of his cell to the challenge of administration. The other monks eventually recognized Thomas' talent for deep thought and stopped troubling him with practical affairs.

Thomas wrote a number of sermons, letters, hymns, and information about the lives of the saints. He reflected the mystical spirituality of his times, the sense of being absorbed in God. The most famous of his works is The Imitation of Christ. This book, free from intellectual pretensions, has had great appeal to anyone interested in probing beneath the surface of life. "A poor peasant who serves God," Thomas wrote in it, "is better than a proud philosopher who … ponders the courses of the stars." The book advised the ordering of one's priorities "Vain and brief is all human comfort. Blessed and true is that comfort which is derived inwardly from the Truth." Thomas advised where to look for happiness. "The glory of the good is in their own consciences, and not in the mouths of men." The Imitation of Christ has come to be, after the Bible, the most widely translated book in Christian literature. Thomas died in the same monastic obscurity in which he had lived, on Aug. 8, 1471.

If you do not enjoy the favor of men, do not let it sadden you; but consider it a serious matter if you do not conduct yourself as well or as carefully as is becoming for a servant of God and a devout religious. Book 1, ch 21-25

Did you know about that scholar? I only found out about him last week.. 

As it is nearly Christmas, we will keep on the A-Z challenge in the New Year. 

The big challenge!

F

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."

 Jeremiah 29:1

G

"God is our refuge and strength, 

an ever present help in trouble."

 Psalm 46:1

Apology for not posting anything on Saturday. I find these two verses awesome. I only discovered the first one about 4 years ago; suddenly my whole life made sense. Reconciliation with my Father in Heaven has given me not only hope in a new life but a new life altogether. The story of David and other characters in the bible illustrate how well God helps his children and all who trust in him. If you have the opportunity to witness to others by telling them the goodness and faithfulness of our Lord when you hit difficult times, they may wish to know more about Him. 

Want to take part in this challenge? H for...

Hebrews 3:13

E     Encourage one another, while it is still Today. Hebrews 3:13

If you have just stumbled upon this blog, we are taking part in a challenge, the A-Z challenge. How many bible verses will you be able to memorise at the end of it? Do join us, who will give us a verse starting with a F ?
Have a blessed week-end! Yours in Christ

Delight yourself in the Lord...

D  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

In Psalm 40, David writes, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure."(v.1,2).

I don't know about you but everytime I read these verses, my heart sinks; I was just in a 'desolate pit' and the Lord 'set my feet upon a rock' just like that. Therefore I will praise the Lord forever and delight in his Word.

 

'True delight in the Lord then, will always express itself in obedience to Him. True delight in the Lord will always express itself in praise. And the third way we are to express our delight in the Lord is by sharing our faith--' Rev. Bryn McFail

If you wish to take part in the amazing A to Z challenge aiming at memorising bible verses, let us know! Just give us the E. Have a blessed Friday. Yours in Christ.

I will give you rest.. says Jesus, our Saviour.

C   Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Matt.11:28

I hope that this beautiful promise made by Jesus, our redeemer,  is as real in your everyday life as in mine. Things never go as smoothly as you wish, at best things move at worst, they stop moving and disasters can strike..Whoever thinks that he/she can get out of sticky situations on their own strength are painfully mistaken. It is so easy to humble oneself and cry out to the Lord and ask Him for help. 

How then do we spread the word and bless our neighbours ? Memorising bible verses is definitely helpful . 

Join us in our A-Z challenge, let's memorise bible verses. Who will give us the letter D ?

Blessings. Your sister in Christ.

Join us in our exceptional A-Z challenge!

B     Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9  Thanks Crystal Mary!

Memorising verses can be a real challenge ...so will you join me and spread the word?  Of course, you may know a few or more already. I confess that I will rely entirely on the help of our Lord to do so. . Have a blessed evening!