Weekly Song Round Up

My car failed me the other week (on the way to my counsellor of all places, you know how I like those drives!)

So I did the only sensible thing, I now allow my husband to drive our unreliable car and I have been using his - this would be a good switch if he drove a two year old mercedes company car or something, but he actually drives a 25 year old Volvo........I know, but at least it won't (shouldn't) break down on me.

This beast of a classic car is equipped with a tape deck, so I have had no choice but to listen to cassette's while I am out and about.

For any readers under 20 or maybe even 30, cassettes were around at the same time as 'records' which pre-date c.d's, well let's just say when I bought this particular 'tape' 20 odd years ago, I could never have imagined I would be sharing it's brilliant music with people all over the world with a few drags and clicks.......what will they think of next?

Anyway this weeks music has been the fantastic Paul McCartney's Tug of War album!  I recommend you go immediately to spotify now, or any other reasonable musical download outlet and give it a listen!

A couple of my other faves from the album are Wanderlust and Ebony & Ivory.

Which old cassette or record would you like to dig out and re-listen to?

Evidence That God Doesn't Exist

All the likes of Dawkins and his fellow Atheists are asking for is 'evidence' that God exists.

That shouldn't be too much to ask should it?  Prove He exists and they'll accept the evidence.

For me as a believer though the argument is turned on it's head, prove God doesn't exist.  They can no easier give tangible evidence that God doesn't exist than I can prove He does.

The evidence that Christians can give is their own personal experience of God, and if you aren't open to believing what somebody testifies as true really is true, then that is not a fair point to stand on.

Christians all over the world can tell you how God interacts and makes a difference in their lives, whether you believe what they say or not is up to you, but if you are seeking to find out if God exists the evidence will be presented to you on asking Him for it, talk to Him, seek Him, He will reveal Himself to you.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Can you prove God doesn't exist?

Oh Dear....Failed Again

Last week started off well. 

Unfortunately it took one thing out of my control to turn it around.  It didn't turn into a majorly bad week, I just ended up doing some things I had promised myself and my kids I wouldn't do again. I gave in to a lack of self control.

What really disturbs me is that we have been doing 'fruits of the spirit' in our weekly homegroup and last week it was self control.

What did I miss? Why did I do it? Because I wanted to, I wanted to be in control of me and do what I wanted to do regardless of what anyone else said.

Why didn't I turn to God first, wouldn't he have given me what I wanted? Yes, but I wanted to rebel, I wanted to be in charge......how immature.

The thing is, I have seen in other people I loved how small unimportant weaknesses in self control, that are easily excusable, turn into hard addictions that are difficult to crack.

I'm not going to tell you what my weakness was, because it's not that big a deal, I just know for me I shouldn't do it.

Which 'fruit' do you struggle with? 

Weekly Song Round Up

                        

Hmmmm......now where would be a good place for the satellite to land? Could we gather all the false preachers and teachers and televangelists in one place and blast this song at them as the satellite crashes back down to earth!

Archbishop Rowan and Frank Skinner in conversation

Archbishop Rowan and Frank Skinner in conversation

If you had told me a year ago, or anytime previously in my life when I 'thought' I was a Christian, that I would listen to a discussion between a Roman Catholic and an Archbishop, I would have probably scorned the very idea, because I was the 'right' sort of Christian and well, they're not.


God released me from those prejudices and opened my mind and heart to listen to the way other people believe. 

Of course there are going to be differences in the way we meet and worship, but at the end of the day......at the very end of the day........when all days have ended and time is no more.......God will know our heart, and I don't think he will say, although I think I used to think he would say "depart from me, I never knew you because you are wearing a cassock"

I suppose what I'm getting at is I had a very narrow-minded view of Christianity, and doctrines I saw as unnecessay equaled unChristian.  Whereas in actual fact there can be nothing broader than Christianity Jesus died for ALL.

Within denominations there will be people who have mis-understood the idea of their faith, I know, I was one of them.  But there will also be within those denominations true believers of God and Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and how they worship and what they wear won't change what they believe in their hearts.

If you have some time to listen to this discussion I would recommend it, whether you're Roman Catholic or Anglican or whether you're just someone who loves Jesus and believes in God as your Heavenly Father.

I don't know what is in the Archbishops heart or Frank Skinners heart, but God does and that's good enough for me!

Weekly Song Round Up

Came across this posted by a friend on facebook!

Maybe it's the fellowship of being with fellow Christians that makes the difference when singing worship songs from the heart?  Maybe it's the environment, the expectation of meeting with God and the movement of the Holy Spirit?

No matter how much I try at home, I really struggle to sing or listen to worship songs at home.  I just find them so cliched and sort or samey, and as for Christian radio stations.........they'd be great if it weren't for the music.........and the presenters..........

That said, one of my favourite parts of our Church service is the worship and many times I have felt God's presence and the Holy Spirit working within me and I mean every word I sing and I think the songs are great, for me they just don't seem to translate outside of the Church environment!

Can you give good worship during Monday to Saturday?

Five Minute Friday.........In Real Life

The Gypsy Mama's topic this week is 'In Real Life' Five minutes un-edited writing.......go.

I start the day full of confidence, nothing can go wrong. Nothing terrifies me and I have the strength and the will and the patience to cope with anything.

I will not have a ridiculously stupid unnecessary argument with my teenage daughter.

My kids will go to school in perfectly clean and pressed clothes with their hair done up in the tidiest of styles.

I will clean through the whole house and make sure dinner is prepared ready for the evening.

I will know exactly who is doing what and has to be where over the weekend.  I am organised and have known our plans quite a few weeks in advance.

I have already done a quiet time/bible study and understood everything God was telling me, why do people find that so hard? It’s bliss!

Oh sorry……the title was ‘In Real Life’……..I thought it was ‘In My Ideal Life’…….

I'm Alright

Our homegroup starts back tonight after having had it's 'Summer' break.  The thing I initially found most difficult and uncomfortable within our group is the prayer time. The question is put forward "so anyone got anything they require prayer for? Any problems or difficulties we can pray about for you?" "Uh, no. Definately not me, I'm alright."

I daren't let go of anything, good ole smiley me.  Then what annoys me more is that the praying starts and I think 'seriously? That needs prayer? Do these people know what real problems are?' Uh, no they don't, because I wouldn't tell them!

Don't get me wrong I have a fantastic and supportive homegroup and despite my unwillingness to share, I have a strong feeling I was prayed for regularly because now when I say "I'm alright" I think I mean it, and I think people believe me!

I suppose I didn't want to be the one, and there will always be one, who always has a problem, things are never quite right, 'woe is me, I can't get my toddler to use the potty properly.' Newsflash, everybody goes through that and just gets on with it, it doesn't need a prayer gathering. Of course you should pray for that if you are finding it difficult, but asking other people to ask God to help you out with toilet training your toddler? I don't know.

I'm not sure if this was the tangent this post was heading down, but it's here now, so I might as well go with it.

I guess I'm wondering at what point it is valid to bear your soul to your brothers and sisters in Christ and say 'you know what? I'm struggling, I don't know if I can get through this, will you pray for me?'

So homegroup tonight, "any prayer requests?" will I say "I'm alright"? and if I do, will I mean it?

Weekly Song Round Up

How can I go forward when I don't
know which way I'm facing?
How can I go forward when I don't
know which way to turn?
How can I go forward into
something that I'm not sure of?

This has kind of been the last couple of weeks for me.  I don't know which way is up or whether I'm coming or going - but God does.

It's fair to say daily life has been a little bit of a struggle, marital problems, well-being not as good as it could be - and income - well, what's that?

Soooo hubby had taken over a lot of the running of the house, because a lot of the time I just wasn't firing on all cylinders, but at the same time we were praying for him to either find employment or establish a sustainable income through doing his own work whatever that may be.

This has been life for probably twoish years, frustration, anger, tears, hate, fear, and the tiredness, just wanting to sleep and never wake up.

It occured to me on many occasions that actually maybe our prayers for a job for hubby weren't being answered, because he was needed at home to look after the house and the kids and I hate to say it, me.

Although I knew financially it was desparately needed, I was terrified of it coming because I had no idea how I was going to slip back into the role I had so easily fallen away from.

Well it appears it has now come, it has crept up on us gradually, giving us a taster, showing us we have to cope, I do have to now make adjustments to my day and organisation is not my thing!

Hubby has been out working for two full weeks now, working for himself, and it looks like he may have some work for next week as well.

God knows I am struggling, it gets to 5 o'clock and I don't even know what we're having for dinner and it definately isn't in the house.  In fact a standard answer to "what's for tea?" is "I don't know, it's still in Tesco"

But things are going to have to change, and I take that as God showing me I am ready to take on more responsibility, I am getting better and I will be able to cope, my husband can go out and provide for his family and I can start to take care of things.

How can I go forward?  With God leading the way, I won't be afraid of praying for hubby to continue to get work and for me to have the strength to get through the day without him.

Isaiah 30:20-21(CEV)

The Lord has given you trouble and sorrow as your food and drink. But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, "This is the road! Now follow it."

Five Minute Friday.........Rest

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

Rest…..

Some people might feel I’ve had a lot of rest over the last year, especially the last six months.  My daily routine has included a nap of 1 – 2 hours.  My husband took over the shopping and cooking duties, because by 4pm I was useless and needed to sleep.  The food shopping was done on a daily basis because we only knew how much money we had to spend on a daily basis.

In the last two weeks that has all had to change and hopefully will continue so for the future.  I have had to step up to the plate because God has answered prayers for sustainable work and hubby has just completed two weeks, so I had to do shopping cooking etc, and some days had to forgo my rest!!!

However, I will not complain, I will ask God for the strength and well-being I require to take those duties back on again because He knows what is needed and He knows my husband needs work and I have had a bit of a wobbly couple of years!  In God I will find my rest.

O.K Give me your best 5 minutes on rest......

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