Where are your feet?

I haven't written my blog for a few days and to be honest I was getting a little bored. I felt that I was forcing the issue so the last few days I've kept my pictures to myself. However today I feel that I would like to share my picture just in case it could help someone else.

This morning while praying God gave me a picture of a single footprint in the sand with my foot just about to step into it. This reminded me of the famous poem of footprints in the sand. However that is not what God was showing me. He was showing me one footprint and my foot.
I thought about this and God showed me what he was saying. He revealed to me that the footprint belonged to Jesus and that the foot about to step into the print was mine. He told me that I have to step where Jesus steps, so I am following his lead, but only where he has been before. 
I think this is an amazing picture. Where are my footprints heading? Are they following someone else or are they following Jesus? Am I just going round and round in circles following my own steps? I want to follow the steps of Jesus. I want to make sure that my steps are in line with his. 
What about you? Where do your feet land? Are you in sink or are you going around in circles? Think about it...pray about it...follow Jesus. It's a simple as that!

Relationship not religion!

Today I read James 1. In this chapter James gives really good advice to anyone wanting to follow Jesus -to be careful what we say, or in others words...keep your mouth in check.

Very often the first contact that people have with us is through speech. When we talk do we speak in a godly manner or are we speaking in religious jargon stopping others from understanding? Do we speak in judgement or are we a voice of love?
While thinking about this I felt God speak to me very clearly about what it means to follow Jesus. 
God showed me some words:
MY LOVE FOR JESUS IS NOT A RELIGION, IT IS A RELATIONSHIP! 
If this is the case, then I should show that love to others not only in my actions, but with the words that come from my lips.
If we are to act on James' advice, we need to make sure that following Jesus is about him being our Saviour and not just about visiting a building once a week as a religious tradition. Following Jesus is not a religion - it is a relationship.    

Erased!

This evening I sat and read the first part of Romans 4. In the beginning of this chapter Paul talks about the faith of Abraham. Verse 8 jumped out at me where he writes, 'Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against him.'
What an amazing scripture, an awesome promise. God doesn't count my sin against me because of the cross.

While reading this verse God gave me a picture of a rubber erasing sin. Our sin is wiped away by the blood of Christ. This is a really powerful picture - God getting a giant eraser and rubbing out the rubbish in my life.
When I was little I had a giant rubber that said on it 'for big mistakes'. This rubber was so big it wouldn't fit in my pencil case. I never really used it because it was too big really. However, God chooses to use the most precious thing to him to erase my mistakes, his Son. I feel so privileged to know that the God of heaven, loves me so much that he wipes away all my mistakes FOREVER. 

Full beam!

Today I read Romans 2:17-29. In this passage Paul is writing explaining that circumcision is an outward sign and that even though it is a good thing, it is not the only thing, it's not the most important thing. He tells us that what is going on inside is far more important.
After reading this passage, God reminded me of the passage in 1 Samuel where David was anointed. It says that man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. What state is my heart in today? Is it full on for Jesus or is it on and off like a light switch?
When thinking about this a little more, God gave me a picture of a headlight. If we switch it one notch it is half beam, then if we switch it a second notch it goes to full beam. I need to make sure that my beam is set to full and not dim. Christianity is not something that we can just pick up when we choose, it's about living each day for Christ and shining our lights for him. It's not about our religion, it's about loving others as Christ loves us. I want to make sure that my light shines brightly, and that others see the heart of God in me. 

Appointed

Today I began reading Romans. In this first chapter one word jumped out at me - appointed. Paul was describing how Jesus was appointed, but I felt God say that I am appointed too.

I decided to look up what the word appointed meant. In the dictionary it's described as, 'Officially chosen for a job or responsibility'. This is amazing - God has chosen a job for me and given me the responsibility to do it. It is official, it has the royal stamp of approval, my life is by royal request.
What is also awesome about this word is that God has chosen a job for everyone on this planet! BUT...It is up to each individual to 'pick up their mat and walk' or in other words, accept their appointment and choose to follow God and therefore follow their calling.
We all have a role to play in this world. Whatever that role is we are called to bring glory to God in every situation. Our lives should be lived as an act of worship to God. What are you appointed to do? If you don't know then the answer is only a prayer away - know that God has called you, he has chosen you and he has appointed you! 

Patient heart...

Today I read 2 Peter chapter 3. In this chapter Peter warns us once again of what is going to happen. He explains that God is patient and doesn't want anyone to perish.

God showed me how he is not just patient, but he loves us so much that the reason for his patience is that love.

The verse that kept recurring in my mind was from 1 Corinthians 13 which says, 'Love is patient, love is kind, it does not boast, it is not proud.'

Imagine the creator of the universe loving us so much that he chooses to be patient with us. 

The great news about this is that God loves everyone, even those who don't believe in him. He loves those that do bad things, he loves those who say he's not real and he loves me.

Over the last few months at church we've be thinking about having a heart that beats in sync with God's. If we are going to have God's heartbeat then we need to be patient too. That is quite a challenge. I know that I am not the most patient of people. I pray that my heart beats so in sync with God's that I too become loving enough to be patient - because after all - love is patient!

Hope...

Today I read 2 Peter 2. In this chapter Peter warns us of what happens to those who disobey God. This is not an easy chapter to read. It speaks of fallen angels, the punished cities of Sodom and Gomoraah as well as those who suffered in the flood.
There is good news though as all day God has been showing me in various ways that I have a hope in him that is unbreakable. 

This morning at Kids Worship we were talking about hope, this evening during the evening service we were thinking about the different words that describe Jesus, and he is my hope jumped out at me from the list of names.
So what does this mean for me? It means that no matter what is going on around me, I have hope. It means that no matter how I feel, I have hope. It means that no matter whether I am happy or sad - I have hope. The hymn that keeps recurring in my head is this, 'my hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus love and righteousness.'
If you are reading this today and feel hopeless - turn to Jesus the one who is hope. He restores all hope to our lives, in any situation.