Amazing Grace

For it is by Grace your are saved, through Faith ......

Someone doesn't like my blog. I have looked at it to try to work out what I might have said to offend someone. But I don't get it. Perhaps it was some atheist who wants to get all believers off the web (don't they know that you can't stop people praising God, they Bible says if you try, then the stones will cry out, Luke 19.40). Perhaps some liberal who doesn't like my Evangelical approach. Maybe I have upset someone by suggesting that Christians are supposed to live their faith as well as speak it. That we must care for people in need for instance. Or maybe it is my mistake and no one tried, and I touched the wrong button. Still reviewing your words is not a bad thing.

The Truth will set you free .....

Who will deliver me?

Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression Psalm 19:13

I find my self so often doing that which I do not want to do. Is it just me or does evey one have this problem? I do the wrong thing. I know I am doing the wrong thing. But I do not seem to be able to stop myself from doing it.
Recently I have spent time reading Larry J. Crabb's "Papa prayer" A good book and a great read. The thing that I find most appealing is the idea of rethinking my attitude toward prayer instead of seeing prayer as presenting a shopping list to God, wanting to spend time with him. To get to know him, to have his heart not my own heart.

When we spend time with him, we change, our heart changes and we gain a servant heart that sees things from a God perspective and not one based around world values and self interest.

I so want to live for Him, and I am changing because he is changing me. A work in progress and a grateful recipient of Amazing Grace.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19.14

For the sake of unity ......

“I’m praying not only for them
But also for those who will believe in me
Because of them and their witness about me.
The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.
The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.
Then they’ll be mature in this oneness,
And give the godless world evidence
That you’ve sent me and loved them
In the same way you’ve loved me. JOHN 17:20-23 Msg

Of all things that cause non-believers to stumble, I can think of no greater thing than disunity. "When they learn to live like Christians then maybe I will give it a go"
Now don't get me wrong here, I am not one to say that we should accept anything for the sake of unity ...... but arguments about little things. Is it really true that churches have split because of the colour of the furniture or whether we stand or sit down at the benediction? Even issues like style of Worship through music, should not hold us apart. Do you think God really cares whether we use an organ or a band? It is our heart he looks at!
When we major on minors, the world watches shakes it head.
When C.S. Lewis was critised for spending time with Christians not part of the Evangelical "club" he replied, along the lines, that there is far more that unites us than holds us apart, and we will be spending eternity together so isn't it a good idea to start now?
Yes let us stand for the truth of Scripture. Yes let us speak the truth in love when our brothers and sisters need correction, but let us do so in a way that promotes unity, being of one heart and mind with the Father.