Have decided to go for a walk into the hills today. Its been a hard few months and sometimes the grind of life and hurts and upsets just get you down. I lose focus and slowly but surely my relationship with my creator starts to drift the wrong way.
Time to call a halt to this.
So i am going to the hills with my dog Rosie to chat with God. To stop and in the quite or noise of his creation, listen.
To ask for his guidance and strength.
When refreshed but tired, i will re-enter the fight. I'll let you know how i get on.
God bless
Wednesday 17 March 2010
Saturday 16 January 2010
Misunderstandings
Have you ever found yourself being misunderstood?. Have you ever tried to do the right thing and it turn out to be a nightmare, ever hurt someone without meaning too, been hung drawn and slaughtered without trial?. Shunned and disowned without being able to answer, Having your loved one's integrity being called into question. All this by people you trust.
Why are we surprised when we go through these things?. Jesus never said it would be easy, quite the opposite, he promises us many problems and hardships especially in the end times, brother against brother and all that.
So don't be surprised, the great thing is that when you are going through these things there is one sure thing, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Jesus sent the comforter to be with us, let him do his job. Its ok to be upset, he will get you through it, he will never leave you or forsake you.
Though you might feel you are on your own and isolated you are not, GOD IS WITH YOU.
RUN THE RACE, NEVER GIVE UP
God Bless
Steve
Why are we surprised when we go through these things?. Jesus never said it would be easy, quite the opposite, he promises us many problems and hardships especially in the end times, brother against brother and all that.
So don't be surprised, the great thing is that when you are going through these things there is one sure thing, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Jesus sent the comforter to be with us, let him do his job. Its ok to be upset, he will get you through it, he will never leave you or forsake you.
Though you might feel you are on your own and isolated you are not, GOD IS WITH YOU.
RUN THE RACE, NEVER GIVE UP
God Bless
Steve
Monday 14 December 2009
Hard love
One thing i have been learning this year is that you can't please all the people all the time. Sometimes you give your love to people, and your time and money, and what you get back sometimes is hatred,dislike,contempt etc. What we have found out is that sometimes people want to abuse your kindness and then just walk away when the " gravy train ' has gone. This has been a hard lesson for us to learn as we have always wanted to find the best in people.
I have always struggled with the principle that if people don't listen to your advice and continue going the wrong way that you should shake the dust from your feet and leave them to their own devices. It has taken me a year but finally i have got it.
You see sometimes people don't want to change their lives, nothing i say or do will change that in the physical world. All i can do is pray for them which is the most powerful thing in the world that anyone can do. Walking away from them doesn't mean i don't love them, by no means. It's just that i have to do what God wants me to do and pray for them, to see them released from their bondage. I can't change them, only God can.
Jesus paid them no heed as he knew what was in their hearts. Jesus new sometimes that some people weren't with him and what he stood for.
Does this mean i don't see them anymore? NO ,of course not, i still need to keep going on a friendship level with them but it does mean sometimes moving on and concentrating on other people that REALLY want to change their lives, that want God to be in charge, that want to worship him and live their lives as Jesus would want them to.
Sounds harsh , but is a biblical principle always remembering to do everything in love and i mean real love.
My friends have a good day
God bless
Steve
I have always struggled with the principle that if people don't listen to your advice and continue going the wrong way that you should shake the dust from your feet and leave them to their own devices. It has taken me a year but finally i have got it.
You see sometimes people don't want to change their lives, nothing i say or do will change that in the physical world. All i can do is pray for them which is the most powerful thing in the world that anyone can do. Walking away from them doesn't mean i don't love them, by no means. It's just that i have to do what God wants me to do and pray for them, to see them released from their bondage. I can't change them, only God can.
Jesus paid them no heed as he knew what was in their hearts. Jesus new sometimes that some people weren't with him and what he stood for.
Does this mean i don't see them anymore? NO ,of course not, i still need to keep going on a friendship level with them but it does mean sometimes moving on and concentrating on other people that REALLY want to change their lives, that want God to be in charge, that want to worship him and live their lives as Jesus would want them to.
Sounds harsh , but is a biblical principle always remembering to do everything in love and i mean real love.
My friends have a good day
God bless
Steve
Sunday 29 November 2009
Peace
"You Lord give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in him." Isaiah 26 : 3
How many of us have perfect peace i was wondering to myself today. As you can see from my first Blog i certainly don't, do you?How i desire it and yet it always seems too far away. It led me to where it says "who keep their purpose firm." The NIV says "whose mind is steadfast". The NKJ says "Whose mind is stayed on you."
The question is, what is my purpose and how do i keep it firm?.
You see a lot of people are asking what their calling is or what is there in ministry that i should be doing, i have asked myself this question many times and seem to have never or very rarely get an answer.
May i suggest that we might be asking the wrong question?.
You see this is where i'm coming from, its not about me or my problems or my ministry. Its all about Jesus. Before time began it was about him.
Colossians 1 :16b says "Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him." msg. Its all about Jesus. My purpose is the same as Jesus said, "my food is to do the will of the father." Because Jesus was the image of the father our will or purpose is to know him, love him, adore him follow him. When we do this we can then have perfect peace because we also then put our trust in him.
You cannot trust someone you don,t know can you?. So how do you get to know him?.
I meet so many christians that are week and feeble and don't seem to have power in their lives or a purpose. Usually after i have asked them 2 questions some of the reasons come out. Generally they are not reading their bibles and are not spending time on their knees before God. There are other reasons but these would seem to be the most popular.
If you had a friend and didn't spend much time with them how much of a friend would they be?. Would you know them well?. The answer has to be no.
God wants a loving relationship with you, he sent his only son Jesus to die for you, YES YOU. Yet all we have to do is have a relationship with him. The answers are staring us right in the face.
You want perfect peace in your life, get on your knees, read the inspired word of God,ask the Holy Spirit to direct you and he will never let you down. Trouble will still come your way, but because you are firm in your relationship with God and you trust him he will always meet your need
By the way, read THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE by Rick Warren, its excellent stuff.
God Bless
Steve Harvey
How many of us have perfect peace i was wondering to myself today. As you can see from my first Blog i certainly don't, do you?How i desire it and yet it always seems too far away. It led me to where it says "who keep their purpose firm." The NIV says "whose mind is steadfast". The NKJ says "Whose mind is stayed on you."
The question is, what is my purpose and how do i keep it firm?.
You see a lot of people are asking what their calling is or what is there in ministry that i should be doing, i have asked myself this question many times and seem to have never or very rarely get an answer.
May i suggest that we might be asking the wrong question?.
You see this is where i'm coming from, its not about me or my problems or my ministry. Its all about Jesus. Before time began it was about him.
Colossians 1 :16b says "Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him." msg. Its all about Jesus. My purpose is the same as Jesus said, "my food is to do the will of the father." Because Jesus was the image of the father our will or purpose is to know him, love him, adore him follow him. When we do this we can then have perfect peace because we also then put our trust in him.
You cannot trust someone you don,t know can you?. So how do you get to know him?.
I meet so many christians that are week and feeble and don't seem to have power in their lives or a purpose. Usually after i have asked them 2 questions some of the reasons come out. Generally they are not reading their bibles and are not spending time on their knees before God. There are other reasons but these would seem to be the most popular.
If you had a friend and didn't spend much time with them how much of a friend would they be?. Would you know them well?. The answer has to be no.
God wants a loving relationship with you, he sent his only son Jesus to die for you, YES YOU. Yet all we have to do is have a relationship with him. The answers are staring us right in the face.
You want perfect peace in your life, get on your knees, read the inspired word of God,ask the Holy Spirit to direct you and he will never let you down. Trouble will still come your way, but because you are firm in your relationship with God and you trust him he will always meet your need
By the way, read THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE by Rick Warren, its excellent stuff.
God Bless
Steve Harvey
Friday 27 November 2009
CHURCH TODAY
Hi anyone
As this is my first blog expect mistakes, they will come thick and fast. Its 11.37 on a Friday night and i am sitting in my kitchen typing this. Why you might ask?
Three and a half years ago my wife, Alison,myself and my two girls felt led by God to move to the small town of Dunoon in sunny Scotland (i have never seen such rain). God didn't tell us why, or did he, we might not of been listening. We immediately set about finding a church.
Let me explain, we have never been church hoppers, or spiritual gypsys as my friend calls us, but we wanted to find a church that loved each other and God passionately, taught the word of God, lived in community with each other and had something going for our children.
By the way this might offend anyone that lives in Dunoon but that is not my intention, It is maybe to show a different way, maybe just maybe like the early church.
What we found was small church with small church mentality who just seemed intent on disliking each other and the other churches. Of course this was veiled a lot of the time but obviouse to an outsider like myself. Might i add that not all were the same.
We are preaching the word of God right, no we are and so on. terrortries and boundaries, legalisim and the like. You know i could go on and on because there is so much to say about it but i wont all at one time as i can continue with that part of the story at another occasion.
By the way, we werent looking for the perfect church as those that know me know im far from perfect.
So what did we do?.
We prayed and fasted and under Gods leadership we set up Hope community, a place for the poor, the weary, the mentally ill, the addict,the lost, the lonely, the heartbroken, the not yet christian, the adulterer,the backslider etc. Where is this? Not in a building yet, we meet in each others homes as often as we can.
Its not about the size of a congregation, but a genuine love for Jesus and our neighbours. If size does matter to you, we have a massive total of 4 people.
We do however see more people in their homes, thats where we believe at this stage God wants us to be.
The reaction from some of the churches here has been terrible. They speak out against us and our characters and try and divide but you know God is the one who justifies.
We will continue to quietly go about our business showing Gods love and kindness to anyone and everyone praying that the Lord sends his holy spirit and starts to transform us and the people we deal with and the churches in Dunoon to bring Revival to this lovely wee scottish town.
God bless
Steve Harvey
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