Thinking of Jesus

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Philippians 2:5-11

5 In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. 
6 Christ himself was like God in everything. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit. 
7 But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant. 
8And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death — death on a cross. 
9 So God raised him to the highest place. God made his name greater than every other name 
10 so that every knee will bow to the name of Jesus — everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. 
11 And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and bring glory to God the Father.
The first time I sung this song I was a young teen and still ‘XX’ amount of years on the words still have that meaning and power behind them.

Solemn Vow

When I first heard and sang this song I fell in love with it straight away and have loved it ever since. It is a song of dedication and commitment . The words of the song tell a story. Powerful words to an equally wonderful tune.

In verse one we red of the writer’s faith, in verse two we read how the writer see’s Christ. Verse three goes on to tell us the writer has nothing but love and how they wish to have his saving power. Finally in verse four the writer speaks of the suffering cry of him who died for all mankind

My Solemn Vow – Catherine Baird

Eternal Spirit, my unchanging friend,

I come with joy for Thou art ever near;

O bless my eyes with vision, boundless, pure;

My promise hear in realms where truth is clear.

My faith in Thee I boldly own,

Since Jesus led me to Thy Throne.

Spirit of truth attend me now,

While I present my solemn vow:

All that I am I pledge to Thee,

Spirit of love abide in me.

I see Thy splendour in the Holy One,

Thy might revealed in lowliness and grace;

O may I choose a stable or a cross

If He be there to sanctify my place.

O glory of the Christly name,

Be Thou my treasure and my aim!

All I possess, apart from Thee, is naught,

Still would I offer Thee my life, my love;

So shall the desert be a harvest field,

And my whole being Thy abundance prove.

Lord, I would witness every hour

To my Redeemer’s saving power!

O may I hear, in every suff’ring cry,

The call of Him Who died for all mankind;

Help me to share the Shepherd’s lonely watch,

Or climb the steeps His lost to find.

I dedicate my love to Thee,

That love may overflow in me.

The Gift of Time 

Luke 6:37-38 New International Version – UK (NIVUK)

Judging others

37 ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Wisdom bestows well-being

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Proverbs 3 King James Version 

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 3 V6 Is probably one of the most common verses quoted in the bible. I’ve lost count of the number of bibles or hymn books I have been presented with or given as a present with that verse on the inside cover.

Pleasure in God’s sight

Christian Devotions

Psalm 149 New International Version

Psalm 149

1Praise the Lord.[a]

Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.

2Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;
let the people of Zion be glad in their King.
3Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel and harp.
4For the Lord takes delight in his people;
he crowns the humble with victory.

5Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor
and sing for joy on their beds.

6May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
7to inflict vengeance on the nations
and punishment on the peoples,
8to bind their kings with fetters,
their nobles with shackles of iron,
9to carry out the sentence written against them—
this is the glory…

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Respect

Ephesians 6 New International Version

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honour your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a]

Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

If as a child you have been brought up in a Christian family or even in some cases non believers home, you will have no doubt been brought up to respect your earthly parents.

I like verse 4 where it gives a warning to parents not to anger or irritate your child but bring them up to know the Lord. I think that has got to be my favourite verse of this passage.

Yes we all can get annoyed with our offspring at times (mine is 27 now and still she drives me up the wall occasionally) but it doesn’t mean to say we love them any less. A year past in October Ii was the proudest man alive as my wee girl got married, though it wasn’t a Church do she was married in a hotel I still had the pleasure of walking her down this long corridor into the room where the wedding was held. I was one proud Dad

The difference between Poverty & Wealth

Christian Devotions

Proverbs 10:4 New International Version

Photo by Chris John on Pexels.com

A Proverb from Solomon

Lazy hands make for poverty,
    but diligent hands bring wealth.

There is a lesson to be learned from this Proverb, especially if we have a family to provide for. We must not be like the lazy person and bring home poor wages.

No! we must do the exact opposite and be that person that is willing to work hard and bring in good wages to support our family.

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Thankful Thursday 1st June

Therapy Bits

Today, I am thankful for the nice weather we’ve been having. It is so nice to see sunshine when I wake up in the morning.

I am thankful for Trish, for Frances, my mom, my sister, in fact all of my family.

I am thankful for my fan which is keeping me cool.

I am thankful for books, music, and my tv.

I am thankful for good food, a warm house, and a hot shower.

And today, I am thankful to be alive.

Thankful Thursday Jun 1 2023 | Annette Rochelle Aben (wordpress.com)

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Hated by all because of ‘My name’.

Yes, we more than overcome

In every trial and strain

For in the strife is when we run

To Him who knows our pain

I push into my God at night

I hide in Him all day

No matter what entails the fight

He is my hope and stay

Even though the wolves may prowl

To seek their prey fair game

Even though such hate does growl

Because we wear His Name

No matter if I’m cast away

And find myself alone

No matter what they all may say

To Christ I’m running home

For I can hide beneath His throne

At any time of need

And there He’ll take me as His own

My hand in His to lead

And so the fire and trials below

They push me higher still

Increasing though the battle grows

It is His perfect will

So my heart of trust it sees

My God amidst the pain

And overcome on wings so free

The weight of glory gains

By Lisa Lawlor

Charles W.Fry

Short Name:Charles W. Fry
Full Name:Fry, Charles W., 1838-1882
Birth Year:1838
Death Year:1882

Charles William Fry United Kingdom 1838-1882. Born at Alderbury, Wiltshire, England, he was a bricklayer by trade, and was ultimately a successful building contractor, but also, like his father, a versatile musician, playing the violin, cello, piano, cornet, and harmonium. He lead and orchestra and band at the Wesleyan chapel in Alderbury. A Methodist, he also helped the Christian Mission in Salisbury. When he witnessed the abuse heralded against the Salvation Army when they established their ministry in 1878, he offered to serve as bodyguard for the Salvation Army workers. The next day Fry and his three sons showed up with their weapons, consisting of two cornets, a trombone, and a small tuba, which they played, in between fighting off the trouble-makers. Their music attracted a crowd for the preachers. Thus the first Salvation Army brass band was formed, and his family band accompanied Salvation Army founder, William Booth, in evangelism campaigns. Other musicians soon accompanied the Salvation Army band, and then, when William Booth saw how effective band music was, encouraged formation of other Salvation Army bands. Fry died at Glasgow, Scotland, the year after writing his hymn.

Travelling with a Smile in our heart

Isaiah 35:8  (NIV)
8
And a highway will be there;See the source image
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.

Isaiah 40:3  (NIV)
3
A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord[a];
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.

Chorus

Travel along in the sunshine
On the King’s highway;
Travel along, singing a song,
Follow Jesus day by day.
Never mind what lies before you,
Never mind what others do;
So travel along in the sunshine
On the King’s highway.

With the weather being the way it has been over the last week or so in the UK I thought I’d share this with you.

Unfortunately I was unable to find the verses of the song but did find the chorus, a testimony that we should have a smile on our faces (though it can be hard at times) and Travel along in the Sunshine.

Send The Fire

Acts 2 V1-4

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

This is one of my favourite pieces of scripture and I have often tried to imagine what they heard and seen as they were filled with the holy spirit. Can you just imagine being filled with the holy spirit and speaking in tongues as the spirit enabled them.

I got to admit I have never witnessed anyone speaking in tongues so as a Christian I don’t know how I would react. Would I recognise it or would I become afraid? I would like to think as a Christian I would recognise it without fear