Family

To many people Church is a building where you go to worship God, at certain times of the year, to do your bit, so you can tick the I've been good today box.

To me Church is something very different. Although I strongly believe that Church on a Sunday is a good place to go praise and worship the living God. I take that part very seriously. I truly believe Church is about so much more.

Church to me is the people, people I love and care about most in the world, (like an extended biological family) its what I want to spend my time being part of, helping and encouraging others to love God and serve Him with the gifts He has given them.

Church to me is not just Sunday, its Monday to Saturday too, which means supporting the Church through the week, spending time with others, going to house group, meeting for coffee, shopping for stuff that is needed, visiting the elderly and sick, the list could go on.

My whole life at the moment is devoted to God, my family and His Church. So when I write FB status about people leaving and my friends don't understand why I'm upset, its because the people in my Church are my family, it feels like I'm losing part of me when they go. Its hard to explain. The Bible says that the Church is a body (among other things) so when your arm falls off you miss it right! Not just in a "oh never mind, my arm has gone" way. In a deep passionate real sense of lose. I know they have not gone far, but it still is not the same. People who I love and respect the most have left and are leaving in the future. These People have been and are an inspiration to me and I don't know if my faith is strong enough to stand without their support.

I know that Christ is my Rock and if everyone else fails and lets me down, I'm still firm on solid ground, but God designed us to live in community and support and love one and other "it is not good for man to be alone". So when the community is breaking down through disagreements and people leaving it is hard to bear.

Now the people leaving are leaving for good reasons, new callings, God choosing them for another part of His plan somewhere else, but it leaves me a little daunted by the change. I fully support them and continue to pray for them in their new adventures.

I love my family and I want it to grow and bring God glory.

I don't think I have explained this very well and its not meant to make my biological family, think I don't love them because I DO VERY MUCH. That's why I am torn so much between Cambridge and here!

Where your treasure is....

Reading John Piper, The Dangerous duty of delight, I can't help but be blown away by his passion for Christ.

He challenges me to "make much" of Christ and to live a life where Christ is prized and treasured as my greatest gain!

I want to treasure Christ in my heart so that I can say with the apostle Paul "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" and to "count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ"

I want the all satisfying treasure Christ. Only He can fully satisfy our very lives. He is magnified as a glorious treasure when He becomes our unrivalled pleasure.

In a world where we seek to fill our lives with meaning and satisfy our desires with stuff, sex, drink, drugs, and anything that is NOT God. (Even as Christians!) We will always fail to fill that longing in our hearts. We will never be completely satisfied, we will always want the next big thing, latest craze, most fashionable items until we make Christ the thing that we long for! Then and only then will we find full and complete satisfaction. If we make Him our treasure, our hearts will find rest from the turmoil that life throws at us and we will be able to say with confidence "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!"

Holland

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a AUTISM - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. Michelangelo's David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

God made Holland and Italy and He give the gifts to enjoy both.

Hard Pressed

I'm going through a Lou Fellingham phase! but this song really just describes my life at the moment! My head is all over the place in regards to many things. But God is good and faithful. He has given me strength, peace and Grace to cope with the stuff going on in my life. He is amazing and most definitely my Rock!

Couldn't find the video :-(

Hard Pressed

I am hard pressed on every side but Iʼm not crushed

I feel pulled to pieces but inside I know Iʼm not

Feels like the worldʼs caving in, find it hard to breathe

The water is rising, wonʼt you come and rescue me

Iʼm on my knees

O God please come to me

I fall into Your loving arms

You wrap me up, and Iʼm secure

Patiently You whisper to me You have a plan

To hold on it wonʼt be long and you understand

Sick inside again today, Iʼm struggling to pray

And my head is spinning, cause I cannot see the way

Iʼm in need of direction, everything seems so unclear

O my God are you out there, or is this falling on deaf ears?

Iʼm on my knees

O God please come to me

Miracles You will do, as I come and put my hope in you

Lou & Nathan Fellingham and busbee

Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music/The Livingstone Collective/

kingswaysongs.com

Build this house

All I have and all I am is Yours

Thereʼs nothing that I have on earth that doesnʼt come from You

I lay aside my pride and worldly worth

To serve You is the greatest thing that I could ever do

For unless You build this house

I am building it in vain

Unless the work is Yours

There is nothing to be gained

I want something that will stand

When Your Holy fire comes

Something that will last

And to hear You say “Well done”

Giving Glory to You Lord

Glory to You Lord

So easy to desire what others have

Instead of seeing all the gifts that you have given me

So help me fan the flame, which You began

And burn in me a love for You that all will clearly see

Lou & Nathan Fellingham and busbee

Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music/The Livingstone Collective/

kingswaysongs.com

My Angel

We have recently been informed that there is a strong possible that our son has some form of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). This had lead me to some really dark days although in one way it comes as a relief, now I will be the first to admit that I am not a perfect or even good parent, but I thought that I had done something really wrong either during my pregnancy or while he was growing up. I spent countless hours racking my brains trying to think what I had done so differently with him, why was he like this? why didn't my son know how to talk, why didn't he understand what I was asking him to do, why wouldn't he play with the others, and why was he so unsociable at playgroup?.

Part of me still is in denial and thinks he'll grow out of it, that I can some how fix it by interacting with him more, reading more stories, talking to him more or giving him a stricter routine.

Then part of me accepts him as he is and thanks God for His "good and perfect gift"

It's a roller-coaster of emotions at the moment!

The 2&1/2 year old!

Characteristics of a two and a half year olds behavior.

• 2 1/2 year olds are rigid and inflexible. They want exactly what they want, when they want it. They cannot adapt, give in, wait a little while. Everything has to be done just so. Everything has to be right in the place they consider proper. For any domestic routine, they set up a rigid sequence of events which must always follow each other always in exactly the same manner.
• They are extremely domineering and demanding. They must give orders. They must make the decisions. If they decide, “mummy do”, daddy cannot be accepted as substitute. If they decide, “Me do it myself”, then no one is allowed to help them, no matter how awkward or incapable they themselves may be.
• 2 1/2 is an age of violent emotions. There is little modulation to the emotional life of children this age.
• It is an age of opposite extremes. With no ability to choose between alternatives (it is almost impossible for 2 1/2’s to make a clear cut choice and stick to it). Children of this age shuttle back and forth endlessly between two extremes, seeming to be trying to include both in their decision. “I will – I won’t”, “I want – I don’t want it”, “Go out – stay in”. If someone doesn’t cut into this back and forth shuttling, it has been known to go on for upwards of an hour or more. The decision of what clothes to wear may ursurp a whole morning for a conflict-ridden 2 1/1 year old.
• Another characteristic of this is age is preservation – that is, the children want to go on and on with whatever they are doing. Not only right at the moment but from day to day. If you read four stories before bedtime yesterday, they want four stories – and the same ones, too – today. It is very difficult with many children this age to introduce new clothes, new pieces of furniture, new things to eat. They want things to go on just the way they have always been or at least hold on to the old as new things are added.

So how do you then manage the behaviour of the two and a half year old?

Managing a two and a half year olds behaviour.

• Working around the behaviour characteristics of two and a half is often much more successful than trying to meet them head on.
• Streamline all routines, limit choices and avoid situations where the child takes over.
• Great patience, a real understanding of the difficulties of the age, and a willingness to use endless techniques to get around rigidities and rituals and stubbornness will help get through through the time till the difficult 2 1/2 year old turns 3.

I found this on another blog and decided to remind myself!

Its Friday, Sundays coming!

It’s Friday
Jesus is praying
Peter’s a sleeping
Judas is betraying
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
Pilate’s struggling
The council is conspiring
The crowd is vilifying
They don’t even know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are running
Like sheep without a shepherd
Mary’s crying
Peter is denying
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s a comin’
It’s Friday
The Romans beat my Jesus
They robe Him in scarlet
They crown him with thorns
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
See Jesus walking to Calvary
His blood dripping
His body stumbling
And His spirit’s burdened
But you see, it’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The world’s winning
People are sinning
And evil’s grinning
It’s Friday
The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands
To the cross
They nail my Savior’s feet
To the cross
And then they raise Him up
Next to criminals
It’s Friday
But let me tell you something
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are questioning
What has happened to their King
And the Pharisees are celebrating
That their scheming
Has been achieved
But they don’t know
It’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
He’s hanging on the cross
Feeling forsaken by His Father
Left alone and dying
Can nobody save Him?
Ooooh
It’s Friday
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The earth trembles
The sky grows dark
My King yields His spirit
It’s Friday
Hope is lost
Death has won
Sin has conquered
and Satan’s just a laughing
It’s Friday
Jesus is buried
A soldier stands guard
And a rock is rolled into place
But it’s Friday
It is only Friday
Sunday is a comin’!

Who Crucified Jesus?

Luke 23

⁴Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."

¹³Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. ¹⁵Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."

¹⁸With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" ¹⁹(Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

²²For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."

²³But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.²⁴So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

It appears to me that Pilate was unwilling to crucify Jesus and that the crowd demanded His death. This does not release him from his responsibility for the death of Jesus, He gave the order, so was it him who crucified Jesus?

³⁹One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

⁴⁰But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Jesus had done nothing worthy of the punishment He was now receiving, and He was more than capable of ending the suffering He was now enduring!

There is a painting by Rembrandt "The Three Crosses", in which it shows the cross of Jesus and the crowd below. The crowd in the painting show various facial expressions and actions of their involvement in the crucifixion of the Son of God. Some show dismay, some hurling insults, some smiling. I was thinking which group would I have belonged too? I know the sins I have committed helped nail Jesus to the cross. Like the thief I see that He did nothing to deserve the death He bore. It is one thing to say that Jesus died for the sins of the world, its another to say He died for MY sins, to say that I am guilty of murder, to say that I play a part in His death is a shocking thought!

So who crucified Jesus? The answer is simple...... I did!

Contentment again!!!

1 Timothy 6

³If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,⁴he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I am in a battle one with my mind, hopes and dreams and the words of God.

I know I have so much to be thankful for. I know I am rich far beyond what I deserve! So why do I find myself always wanting more?? I hate it! I am never satisfied with what I have. I am selfish and ungrateful.

I wish I could pluck this out of my heart and just be content! Not by gaining worldly possessions or stuff I want but by just being content with what I have right NOW! Content in Jesus! I spend time reading His word and realise how far short I fall. Paul was so in love with Him and His people. He was passionate about the Gospel and sharing it with others. He was unafraid to stand up for Jesus even when it meant jail and beatings. I want that passion! I want to live for Jesus like that no matter the cost! Everything here on earth will fade away. Only Jesus and your eternal state with Him, will one day matter so why am I so attached to this world and it's stuff! It's not where I belong!

Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee; Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee; Take my voice and let me sing, Always, only for my King. Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from Thee; Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold. Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in endless praise; Take my intellect and use Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose. Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine; Take my heart, it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store; Take myself and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee.

The last day!

Today is the last day of Stuart's course and it has been challenging to say the least! Part of me is re-leaved and the other worried about what comes next.

It is extremely hard work running a home, looking after and meeting the needs of 4 small children but it is also so rewarding! I have learnt a lot about myself this past 4 weeks some good, some not so good. I have been reminded of the importance in structure and routine. Which has lead me to be more structured.

I have also learnt to appreciate my children as individuals once again and appreciate the help I have had from Stuart over the 18mths he has been out of work.

I have also come to appreciate my friends more for their help and advice. This husband at work and wife at home hasn't been part of my life for so long, it kind of became unnatural at first but now its reminded me that its what thousands of families do everyday. Hopefully this will lead me to be joyful and content knowing I am not the only one who has a tiring day. Women everywhere have to do the same chores I have to do everyday, often un-thanked and often only the things they do, get noticed when they are not done. I know God is watching me as I serve Him in my home looking after the needs of the wonderful family He has blessed me with. I serve Him not so people can praise me or see what a tidy home I have (or don't have as the case maybe). He knows I am working for His glory. So I need to remind myself that next time the "washing fairy" magically picks the clothes up off the bedroom floor, washes them. irons them (eventually!) and puts them neatly in the wardrobe that it doesn't matter if I don't get thanked, God sees it and knows I am working for Him.

Colossians 3

Rules for Holy Living

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Rules for Christian Households

¹⁸Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

¹⁹Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

²¹Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

²²Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,²⁴since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Just keep repeating it to yourself Lorna!

Matthew Ch 6

Teaching about Money and Possessions

¹⁹ “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

²² “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. ²³ But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? ²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

²⁸ “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

God know's what I need which is different to what I want! I need to trust Him He will provided what is required to do His work. I want to be useful and not stressed about things. I want a faith like a child who so unconditionally trusts their parent. Please give me Faith like that Lord.

God's friends even though we still sin! AMAZING!

Romans 5

Faith Brings Joy

¹ Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

⁶ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. ⁷ Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. ⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Chapter 7

¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ²⁰ But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

Hold fast

To everyone who's hurting
To those who've had enough
To all the undeserving
That should cover all of us
Please do not let go
I promise there is hope

Hold fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He's come to save the day
What I've learned in my life
One thing greater than my strife
Is His grasp
So hold fast

Will this season ever pass?
Can we stop this ride?
Will we see the sun at last?
Or could this be our lot in life?
Please do not let go
I promise you there's hope

You may think you're all alone
And there's no way that anyone could know
What you're going through
But if you only hear one thing
Just understand that we are all the same
Searching for the truth
The truth of what we're soon to face
Unless someone comes to take our place
Is there anyone?
All we want is to be free
Free from our captivity, Lord
Here He comes

One day Jesus will return and He will make everything new and good and right! PRAISE GOD!

REDEEMED!

Redeemed--how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose way I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.

It's amazing how the words of a old hymn can put life into perspective! It's great that I have a clean slate every time I come back and that I don't have to try to do better (thanks Scott!)

Thank God that its not what we do but all about His amazing Grace.

Thank you Lord that you saved me,

I pray you will forgive me and help me to run from sin in my life which so easily ensnares me.

Help me to follow regardless of how I feel, help me to obey and love you with all my heart not just half of it.

Thank you Jesus that you loved me enough to die for me and that it is by your blood I can come into the presence of a living Holy God and not be destroyed as I deserve.

Help me to walk by faith not by sight,

in Jesus name Amen

Dusty Bible!

My Bible has dust on it!

I can't remember the last time I read it!

I have put down my sword, and am unwilling to pick it up again!

I know I should read it, I know I should follow it,

I feel like my flame is dying and the thread is fraying.

Nothings changed on God's side of the relationship,

I've just given up the fight.

He still loves me, wants to help me, so why am I so unwilling to ask for His help?

I feel like a failure, I keep getting it wrong, I keep making mistakes, I stop trusting!

I hate my sin, I feel so engulfed by it, I want to withdraw from people.

I know I'm a being a bad example to my kids, and lacking motivation as a wife, I am not very useful in my church, my mouth doesn't spread the word, I'm an embarrassment to my God.

Why can't I stop sinning?!?!

Why am I up and down?!?!

Why can't my flame always burn for God?!?!

Why is it so hard to do the right thing and follow God, why do I still think I know best??!! And am then surprised when it turned out I was wrong again?!

I'm fed up with confessing the same sins again, again, God must be tired of hearing my pathetic apologises, knowing I will do the same thing again tomorrow!

I need to read my Bible, I need to shake the dust off and start again.....

Love this song!

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

When the roll is called, I'll be there

1. When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
   And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
   When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
   And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
   • Refrain:
     When the roll is called up yonder,
     When the roll is called up yonder,
     When the roll is called up yonder,
     When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
2. On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
   And the glory of His resurrection share;
   When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
   And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
3. Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
   Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
   Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
   And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

RIP little sextuplet, Rebecca and Daniel

I can't wait until Heaven when things like this will no longer happen! It saddens me that death is part of this world and it was never meant to be like this! This isn't what God wanted! Why did we spoil His perfect world!?!? because we are sinful and selfish and this is the result, death, pain and suffering.

Gensis Ch 1 v 31

³¹ Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!
And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

People ask how a God of love can let this happen, He is not responsible for the state of this world we are! It's our sin not His!

Here's hoping Jesus comes back soon and puts everything right, like it should be.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8698232.stm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1279971/Lianne-Smith-returns-Barcelona-flat-shared-Martin-Smith.html

Can I learn contentment in this life?

This is open for people to comment as I have no idea where to start, looking for it or obtaining it?!

But I know I want it! I really want to be content, am praying for it.

Help?!

Edit:

This might be a starting point!

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   • Refrain:
     It is well, with my soul,
     It is well, it is well, with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.