Living Sacrifices

Working Parts

When the Disciples where out fishing they where suddenly hit by a great storm. They started to panic and started to think that they where all going to drown.

They looked at Jesus and saw he was fast asleep so woke him up in the panic. Jesus woke and stood up and called out 'Peace be still'' and at that point the storm stopped and the waves calmed.

He turned to the disciples and said, why you panicking for, do you think Id let you drown?

What Jesus was did was question the faith of the disciples. He saw the panic in their eyes and was telling them to trust him.

I think sometimes putting trust in God can be the hardest thing to do when we go through bad times, and many time we just cant see the end of them. Time after time things just seem to go wrong one thing after another and before long it just seems like we are in the middle of the Storm.

How can you Trust in God when it seems that trusting him hasn't got you anywhere in the the past. When you have trusted and faithfully seemed to have followed his lead then it has all just come crashing down again.

A tricky thing to learn is patients, you want prayers answered the moment you say Amen, you want to touch that certain something but you just cant seem to reach it.

That's not how God works. It takes time to make everything work for good. You cant Just take parts of an engine and and chuck them into a bonnet of a car and expect it to work. Each part has to go together in the right way for it to work.

This is the same as things we want, and to make things work that we ask for means other things have to be in the right place too. But God is always working to put all the parts in the right place.

 

Perfect Peace by Laura Story

Toy Train

Last night I got into watching ''STORAGE HUNTERS''. Basically it these two guys that go round and bid for storage units. Some times its Just a pile of junk but most of the time there is something in the unit that will make them a profit.

Last night they came across an almost empty unit and most of the people looked at the unit and walked away. But this one guy decided to buy the unit for $1.

When they got into the unit they found nothing but an old plastic Christmas tree in a box. But this guy was not giving up. He stuck his hand deep into the box to see if his luck was in.

What he found was an old toy train, about 100 years old, made of tin. It would have been part of the Christmas decorations and would have ran around the base of the tree. He also found it worked too.

Later they sold the tree and lights for $50 and the train fetched $325 leaving a profit of $374.

Now that guy found something good in a storage unit full of junk and when everyone else had walked away he had faith in the almost empty unit.

God see good in us and although our lives may seem empty and future dull, he will always find a way of making things work out better than you think.

Choices

We all have the ability to make decisions. Some better than others, but even from an early age we have decisions to make.The Fact is we sometimes make wrong choices that we look back and kick ourselves wishing we had seen what we see after the event.

I'm no different and recently I made a choice that I wish I could change. I did it thinking I was doing it for all the right reasons but looking back it now looks like I may have made a terrible error.

I have over past months been trying to make decisions with God. Asking him for direction and praying that these choices are correct. I shouldn't, but I'm now starting to doubt if I did the right thing.

Things we choose to do, or not to do have an impact on our future. Becoming a christian was the best thing I ever did but it doesn't mean I'm without my troubles. And some choices I have made as a christian have been fantastic but some have back fired. 

I may have chosen to oversee Gods best and maybe my best as I try and walk towards my own goals. I guess I can only hope God brings the best back to me. 

It all comes back to faith. I need to find that stronger faith again as without it a christian cant be at his best and doubt starts to creep in

I really hope that God brings back the best as looking back I can see a bright future and one with God alongside. I also hope that others will see gods best in me.

There once was this bloke

There once was this bloke that grow up in a christian family and believing in god was just something he did. He had no reason to not believe in God.


He would go along to church with his family every week and again this was just normal thing to do on a Sunday.

in his teens he rebelled at little (like many do) and didn't really have any reason to ask to many questions about god as just knowing he was ''around'' was enough.why would he need to think to hard about it, after all if God was there then why worry about it.

As he grow older and life chucked a few more things his way he would some how find the ability to turn to god or turn away from god. A big event in his life came when his mum died and seeing her faith come through in that situation got him thinking more about God and how he works.

Still he continued with life with a care free attitude and hard two sons that he thanked god for and identified the importance of teaching them about God too..

It was when this guy hit a low point in his life and marriage started to break down that he found himself seeking God more than ever. I guess you could say that his belief in god hadn't changed but the situation made God seem more important.

See belief in God (where he is just there in the background) and having a relationship with god (where you talk to him and read things in the bible about him) become 2 totally different things. What this guy found was that it just became more real.

At this point, in the darkest time of this chaps life he found himself asking God to ''sort him out'' and it was then that God pretty much kicked he up the back side.

Life change instantly for this guy. Not in the way he wanted or in the way you imagine but in the way this guy looked at the world and how he looked at others and different situations. Don't get me wrong there was know real change in his situation, but the change was in him.

I guess you could say he was on a very long and winding road that was up hill all the way. And all the way along there where still mistakes to make and hard times to cross.

I know this guy well and even recently he has blown out a candle that God had lite for him to help him build a and see future and is now trying to lite it again.

What this guy is starting to learn is he has to make decisions and sometimes will make bad choices even when god shoves them in his face I guess he still struggles.

Of course finding God standing beside you in those hard times may seem crazy to some but surly it stands to reason and to me it is God showing he is there.

You may think this story is just a crazy made up to just try and prove a point. You may think its one of those stupid story's made up by some religious nutter to try and convince others that god is real.

Well let me tell you this guy is in know way a change man. and there is no amazing ending to this story. What I can tell you is that this guy still struggles and still takes the wrong turns, but he know totally believes God is trying to do great things in his life even if he doesn't see it at the right time.

Real God

I few weeks ago i heard someone say that if someone wants to believe in God to make themselves feel better and comforted then he didn't see it a problem. Thing is with my situation many people could say the same thing.

I remember having the argument that in Africa thousands and thousands become Christians each year but it always seemed a little false to me. See in Africa many people live in poverty and with little hope. If a church offers food and hope, schools and hospitals then it stands to reason these people will become Christians in the search for a brighter future.

Its no secret that when bad times hit and people turn to god. I heard just last week a non christian tell her friend (who was going through bad times) ''please know your in my prayers''. That's great a non christian praying to God and is another situation where someone has look to God in the bad times.

The classic arguments for any non christian is sometimes based around science or life experience and I can completely relate with that. But science is still finding out more and more about how the world works and it is said that only 5% of things to discover has been discovered so maybe that tells us that science isn't a great source for evidence.

Life experience is base on our own thinking and I guess as non of us have lived our lives out in full yet we can only go by past events, and if we cant see God in those events it doesn't mean he isn't real. Sometimes when I tell people I pray for them I get a mixed reaction but no one person has ever asked me not to or told me its a waist of time.

I have learnt and am still learning that sometimes its harder to be a Christian than not to be a Christian not because its hard to prove to non Christians God is real (I don't need to do that) but because being a christian still means going through the hard times and the pain and trying to keep your faith.

God? Where?

If God is all doing, all knowing, all seeing and all being then it is hard to see why the things in life that seem to tare people apart and cause sadness can happen.

over the last year my life has been ripped apart and believe me, I'm know different to anyone else and many many times Ive cried out WHY?? then maybe that's a question we may never answer.

When disaster strikes the majority of us will turn and say... How can a God that we are told is in control of everything let this happen? I guess the only thing I have come up with so far is that God is not a puppeteer.

Hey I got no idea why some people survive cancer and some don't. Ive got no idea why it always seems to be the good people that get taken from us or why natural disasters happen and kill thousands.

Trust me when I tell you that many times I've asked those questions too.

I'm not going to apologise by bringing up Jeremiah 29 v 11 it says clear and simply 'For I know the plans I have for you... Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future''

I don't think God lets these things happen, and Ill put my hands up now and say I honestly cant say why they happen, but what I do see is that god has this amazing ability to turn these things into good.
Wheres
the hard bit in all of this is not understanding the reason why these things happen (we may never understand) the hard bit is letting God work his plan and have the faith and courage to believe in him

Different = Harder?

Its so much easier going with the flow. Why would we want to try and fight against the current when we could just relax and let life push you along with everyone else.

Its just to easy to go along with everyone else's ideas, and to be honest if we just agree with the majority of people life flows along so much more smoother.

At work we call white with two sugars ''The Trades mans Mix'' most carpet fitters I know ask for the same and when its my turn to make a brew Its just so easy putting the same amount of everything in all the cups. But then occasionally we have a rep in that wants black with one and for some reason it then seems more hassle.

Doing something different is not always going to throw a spanner in the works, and your going to get your critics trying to push and pull you to get you going in the same direction as them. At this point you need to try and work out a way to stay strong and battle your way throw.

Micheal McIntyre's sketch about skipping explains how he finds running hard work and walking just not good enough. he then states that skipping (how ever silly it looks) is the better option. Then by moving both hands together it is made quicker with less effort. 

I agree its an idea that will make you look silly in so many ways but he has a point. It is quick and almost effortless.

Maybe different doesn't mean harder after all.

Head or Heart

Sometimes I guess we all fall into the trap of knowing what is best. I guess our heart and brain sometimes go in different directions and when you have a brain like mine its impossible to know where its at or where its going.

The bible story about two women fighting over a baby comes to mind. Both ladies where saying they were the mother of the child and neither would give in. This guy (not sure if he was a king) pulled out his sword and said he would cut the baby in half so both woman could have a part of the baby.

As the guy lifted his sword ready to strike the baby one of the woman screamed for him to stop saying ''Spare the child's life and let the other lady take care of the child''.

At this the man put his sword away and give the child to the lady that had stopped him from killing it. He knew only the true mother of this child would do such a thing.

You see the man saw that the true mother of the baby was acting from the heart and the other was doing what her brain said.

Simon Cowell is often seen making final decisions on the X-Factor and Britain's Got Talent. Many times he comes out with the classic question ''now do I go with my head or my heart?''

So many times Ive had people say ''Go with what Gods telling you''. Now that's but how do you know what gods saying? and if we do here something how do we know its god telling us and not our Mind or Heart fighting again.

I guess once again Faith comes into it and I guess one thing I do know is that he cant work with you if you have stopped trying yourself.

Sent from my mate Luke.

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?

Student : Yes.

Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent.)

Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Is satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor: Where does satan come from ?

Student : From … GOD …

Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer.)

Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who created them ?

(Student had no answer.)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.

Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn’t.

(The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.

(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?

(The class was in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?

(The class broke out into laughter. )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?

(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)

Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

P.S.

I believe you have enjoyed the conversation. And if so, you’ll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same, won’t you?

Forward this to increase their knowledge … or FAITH.

By the way, that student was EINSTEIN.