Yes indeedy folks, I went on a shopping spree today for clothes! Before you all think I've gone and got in touch with my feminine side, that happened a looong time ago, but let's not delve into that...
£28 is a steep amount for me with clothes shopping, but when everything's a maximum of £3 in the Matalan clearance store, you get, like, half a wardrobe!! Amazing stuff, but if you want to check out what's really amazing, I've written a poem on God's grace on my other Blog:
Amazing Grace
I hope you both enjoy reading it, but are at the same time challenged and humbled by the awesome God that we serve. Grace truly is scandelous, outrageous, and amazing.
TheWeeScottie
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if computers are idiot-proof, why can't I make them work...
Monday, January 02, 2006
Amazing Grace
Inspired, Cat and I sat down to write a poem (which turned out to be 2!) on grace on Monday evening, and as she describes it, I 'had an overflow of words...all good'.
Cat's poem's Here , it offers 'a glimpse of grace' in her own words, and I agree!
This Poem tries to capture something of God's amazing grace; in particular, the amazing way in which it was bought -- by Jesus' blood. May we forever stand in awe of what he has done for us, because it should have been us.
Amazing Grace
‘Amazing grace, what does this mean,’
My heart demands of me,
‘that but one man could bring forth life
from pain and misery?’
How could one, in face of all
This world has ever done
Pay a debt, so great, for me
This Father’s only son.
Amazing grace, indeed it is.
For why should God afford us this?
What merit in life have we to give
That betters e’er the saviour’s kiss?
I tell the truth, and tell it straight,
I know not why he does,
But one thing true beyond all truths
Is my great Father’s love.
This love that passes human mind
And breaks the tyrant’s heart of stone
This love that never waivers, kind
Beyond the realms of human, known
This love, a father’s son once held
When to a cross he grimly hung,
And with one breath, declared for all,
‘Forgive them, it is done.’
Amazing grace, this I shall speak,
Of him who took from me
The wrath his Father held for us
And nailed it to that tree
In one life he showed to us
The life we’re born to live
Not one of futile suffering
But of the power to forgive
Just once, a single sacrifice,
Pure and blameless; he.
Love’s greatest claim, in rags once stood
At the foot of Calvary.
Cat's poem's Here , it offers 'a glimpse of grace' in her own words, and I agree!
This Poem tries to capture something of God's amazing grace; in particular, the amazing way in which it was bought -- by Jesus' blood. May we forever stand in awe of what he has done for us, because it should have been us.
Amazing Grace
‘Amazing grace, what does this mean,’
My heart demands of me,
‘that but one man could bring forth life
from pain and misery?’
How could one, in face of all
This world has ever done
Pay a debt, so great, for me
This Father’s only son.
Amazing grace, indeed it is.
For why should God afford us this?
What merit in life have we to give
That betters e’er the saviour’s kiss?
I tell the truth, and tell it straight,
I know not why he does,
But one thing true beyond all truths
Is my great Father’s love.
This love that passes human mind
And breaks the tyrant’s heart of stone
This love that never waivers, kind
Beyond the realms of human, known
This love, a father’s son once held
When to a cross he grimly hung,
And with one breath, declared for all,
‘Forgive them, it is done.’
Amazing grace, this I shall speak,
Of him who took from me
The wrath his Father held for us
And nailed it to that tree
In one life he showed to us
The life we’re born to live
Not one of futile suffering
But of the power to forgive
Just once, a single sacrifice,
Pure and blameless; he.
Love’s greatest claim, in rags once stood
At the foot of Calvary.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Return, repent, follow
My quiet times this past week have taken me through John 21v15-18 - Jesus asking Peter 3 times if he loved him. Today I was meditating on v.19b,
'Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" '
--John 21v19 (NIV)--
Consider how you think you let down God in your daily life, but now think of Peter. To recap, Peter has denied Jesus three times & Jesus has just illustrated how Peter's death is going to glorify God. We often think God'll cut ties with us when we let him down. I state clearly now, that that is NOT the God we serve. Check out the text in bold, 'Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
Jesus could have removed Peter's discipleship, but instead he says "Follow me!" Our God is one of infinite forgiveness. By dying on the cross he showed this -- every sin was nailed there: past, present and future. And with that, anything we're going to do, and have done, is forgiven.
"Follow me!" 2 simple words, with profound impact on our lives. God never promises it'll be easy, but his plan stands for us always. Whether we're faithfully following him or wandering, he'll ALWAYS receive us back to him. Confess your sin, come back to Jesus, and it's you in Peter's shoes:
"Then he [Jesus] said to him, "Follow me!"
'Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" '
--John 21v19 (NIV)--
Consider how you think you let down God in your daily life, but now think of Peter. To recap, Peter has denied Jesus three times & Jesus has just illustrated how Peter's death is going to glorify God. We often think God'll cut ties with us when we let him down. I state clearly now, that that is NOT the God we serve. Check out the text in bold, 'Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
Jesus could have removed Peter's discipleship, but instead he says "Follow me!" Our God is one of infinite forgiveness. By dying on the cross he showed this -- every sin was nailed there: past, present and future. And with that, anything we're going to do, and have done, is forgiven.
"Follow me!" 2 simple words, with profound impact on our lives. God never promises it'll be easy, but his plan stands for us always. Whether we're faithfully following him or wandering, he'll ALWAYS receive us back to him. Confess your sin, come back to Jesus, and it's you in Peter's shoes:
"Then he [Jesus] said to him, "Follow me!"
Nu yaaaaar!!
Happy new year all!!
Suffice to say, that mulled wine, party games, fireworks, fire poi and 22 people go together admirably ;)
I've posted on my other blog a thought for new years: New year, same God . I hope you enjoy it :)
God bless & Mulled wine forever... Huzzah!!
TheWeeScottie
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if computers are idiot-proof, why can't I make them work...
Suffice to say, that mulled wine, party games, fireworks, fire poi and 22 people go together admirably ;)
I've posted on my other blog a thought for new years: New year, same God . I hope you enjoy it :)
God bless & Mulled wine forever... Huzzah!!
TheWeeScottie
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if computers are idiot-proof, why can't I make them work...
New year, same God
Hey all, the new year has come round once again, and I'd like to share what my dad opened the new year with:
'So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'
--Isaiah 41v10--
Look at your life, and you quickly realise how much that we take for granted is so easily taken away from us - money and time to name but two. But despite these turbulent times we live in, and the crazy lives we live, we can be sure that the God we serve remains the same. The God who:
'So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'
--Isaiah 41v10--
Look at your life, and you quickly realise how much that we take for granted is so easily taken away from us - money and time to name but two. But despite these turbulent times we live in, and the crazy lives we live, we can be sure that the God we serve remains the same. The God who:
- Cares for us and loves us deeply
- Never leaves our side
- Celebrates with us when we're on cloud nine
- Carries us when we're broken-hearted and have reached rock-bottom
- Guides us when we're lost
- Shines his light in our dark times
- receives us back, no matter what we do
- is totally good, faithful in every way
Dear brothers and sisters, this is the God we serve - Wow!!! As this new year dawns us on, take this life you have been given by the reins, and hand those reigns over to God. He's got awesome plans for you and me, beyond our dreams; but we have to trust him first, before we can see them worked out.
Wouldn't it be awesome to look back in a year's time, and say, 'Lord, that year was yours. Thank you'
God's going to continue to be faithful, but how far are you willing to trust him?
Make it his :)
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