Year: 2020

Playing Church

Psalm 95: 6-7, NCV

Come, let’s worship him and bow down. Let’s kneel before the LORD who made us, because he is our God and we are the people he takes care of and the sheep that he tends. 

After seeing a poster on facebook about Playing Church I was prompted to look up the internet and find out what the bible said about it only to come up with this fascinating story.

“When I was a little girl, I loved to play church with my friends. We would line chairs up in rows and pull out a cardboard box we used for the pulpit. Then the great debate began over who would preach and who would sing. The more aggressive kids wanted the up-front jobs while the quiet ones were happy to just sit and watch the “show”. Sometimes one of the kids would pretend to be the Holy Ghost walking around the chairs saying “Boo!” If the leaders did a good job, we would play church for hours. However, if they were not entertaining enough, the kids in the chairs would soon get bored and go in search of more exciting recreation in the front yard. All in all, playing the church game was great fun and a delightful way to pass an afternoon.”

Whilst there are many people who Play this game let us remind ourselves of the woman who was dramatically changed as the result of experiencing true worship. Her amazing story is found in Luke 7:36-50:

“Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is–that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (NIV)

Epilepsy stopped me from attending Church

This is one of those spontaneous posts as I don’t usually post twice a day.

Last night (Saturday) I suffered a Complex partial epileptic seizure which left me feeling tired.

Upon waking this morning I literally couldn’t get my head off the pillow as I was still tired after a good night’s sleep. My wife had to call our minister to let certain people know I would be at church.

    Photo by Joseph Redfield on Pexels.com

    It is currently Sunday evening in the UK and I am pleased to say that I am back to my old self

    My apologies for no catagories or tags this is a first on the mobile. 😃

    Anxiety

    Philippians 4 V 1 – 9 New International Version 

    Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

    4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

    2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.Related image

    Final Exhortations

    4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

    8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

    Hide me now

    Under your wings

    Cover me

    Within your mighty hand

    When the oceans rise and thunders roar

    I will soar with you above the storm

    Father you are king over the flood

    I will be still and know you are God

    Find rest my soul

    In Christ alone

    Know his power

    In quietness and trust

    The New Jerusalem

    Revelation 21 New International Version – UK 

    A new heaven and a new earth

    21 Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling-place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death”[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’

    5 He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’

    6 He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practise magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.’

    Admittedly for some reason I do not like the tune to ‘The Holy City’ but it is a song about the above passage of scripture.

    Although I may not like the tune what I do like is the image i portrays in your mind, a Jerusalem where there is no death,mourning,crying or pain.

    Lets face it Jerusalem at the moment is a long way of that nowadays.

    God also tells us he is the Alpha and the Omega and people will not go thirsty, also the victorious will inherit his kingdom. Wheres as the wicked will be condemned to hell.

    “The Holy City”

    Last night I lay asleeping
    There came a dream so fair,
    I stood in old Jerusalem
    Beside the temple there
    I heard the children singing
    And ever as they sang,
    Methought the voice of Angels
    From Heaven in answer rang
    “Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
    Lift up you gates and sing,
    Hosanna in the highest.
    Hosanna to your King!”

    And then methought my dream was chang’d
    The streets no longer rang
    Hush’d were the glad Hosannas
    The little children sang
    The sun grew dark with mystery,
    The morn was cold and chill
    As the shadow of a cross arose
    Upon a lonely hill
    “Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
    Hark! How the Angels sing,
    Hosanna in the highest,
    Hosanna to your King!”

    And once again the scene was chang’d
    New earth there seem’d to be,
    I saw the Holy City
    Beside the tideless sea
    The light of god was on its streets
    The gates were open wide,
    And all who would might enter
    And no one was denied.
    No need of moon or stars by night,
    Or sun to shine by day,
    It was the new Jerusalem
    That would not pass away
    “Jerusalem! Jerusalem
    Sing for the night is o’er
    Hosanna in the highest
    Hosanna for evermore!”

    Light of the World

    One of my favourite Salvation Army Band pieces is called ‘The Light of the World’ writtten and composed by Dean Goffin. I suppose one of the reasons I like this piece is the main hymn/theme going through it which is O Jesus, thou art standing. You will also hear the chorus Behold me standing at the door come in the piece and if you listen carefully you will hear the bottom end of the band emphasise the knocking.

    Holmun Hunt also painted a picture of Jesus sanding outside a door knocking and I believe this can be seen in St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

    Image result for jesus knocking at the door painting

    O Jesus, thou art standing,
    outside the fast closed door,
    in lowly patience waiting
    to pass the threshold o’er:
    shame on us, Christian brothers,
    his Name and sign who bear,
    O shame, thrice shame upon us,
    to keep him standing there!

    O Jesus, thou art knocking;
    and lo, that hand is scarred,
    and thorns thy brow encircle,
    and tears thy face have marred:
    O love that passeth knowledge,
    so patiently to wait!
    O sin that hath no equal,
    so fast to bar the gate!

    O Jesus, thou art pleading
    in accents meek and low,
    “I died for you, my children,
    and will you treat me so?”
    O Lord, with shame and sorrow
    we open now the door;
    dear Savior, enter, enter,
    and leave us never more.

    I always watch my videos before putting them up and I had seen many videos of the Light of the World but not this one and I got to admit i was moved to tears.