faith

The Little Things that Chip Away

August 13, 2015Uncategorizedbible, Christian, church, daily, Daily devotional, Daily readings, Devotion, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, Hope, inspiration, Men, New Wine, Prayer, Strength, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight Leave a comment

Jesus replied “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matt 22:37-40

A couple of weeks ago I went to collect my teenage children from church after their amazing trip to Soul Survivor, a fantastic five day convention for teenagers, where thousands come together to worship and learn more about God, aswell as indulge in water fights, foam parties and silent discos. If you are a teenager or a parent with teenagers I would highly recommend it. My children always come home completely on fire for God. This said, I knew the whole coachload would be on a real high. However, the one person who wasn’t was the coach driver! From the second he got off the coach he was muttering under his breath and throwing his weight around. He bellowed at a boy who knocked on the window to wave to a friend and barked as he unloaded bags and threw them at people nervously waiting for their luggage.

It struck me how quickly this had the potential to chip away at their happiness (and also the parents who were standing back observing!). These teenagers had had an incredible time away with each other and with God and were revelling in the joy of that. It seemed the coach driver was on a mission to single-handedly tear this down brick by brick. The atmosphere was poisoned by his miserable attitude. How much better would it have been for everyone, including himself, if he had hung his actions on this commandment.

Many people struggle in this world, not because of something tragic happening in their lives, but because of the little things that chip away at them day by day, grinding them down bit by bit…stealing their hope. Many predators catch their prey in this way. Picking at them until they lose the strength to fight back and defend themselves.

If we turn all this on it’s head and say “Why don’t we build each other up a little bit at a time?”, what a different world we would live in. Encouragement is a powerful tool to lift people up. Whether you’re a person of faith or not, learning to do everything out of love and care would make such a difference in so many people’s lives, including your own. When you smile at someone in a shop or hold the door open for them you’re injecting something positive into their life and it also makes you feel good too!

The scripture says “All the Laws and Prophets hang on these two commandments” because it’s the ultimate way to live: To love God with all your heart, soul and mind and be rooted in Him and as he fills you with His love, to love others out of that. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth the effort. It’s often the small things that are the most powerful and have the greatest impact. In what ways can you increase this in your life today?

You Light Me Up

May 20, 2015Christianbible, Christian, church, daily, Daily devotional, Daily readings, Devotion, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, Hope, inspiration, Men, Prayer, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight Leave a comment

“You, O Lord keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into Light” Psalm 18:28

I was just listening to Philippa Hanna’s song Lighthouse in my car. In it she sings a line “I feel not good enough but you light me up” It’s repeated twice in a row and crescendos on the second which gives it impact and it made me think about how our opinions, feelings and standards of ourselves get in the way of God’s blessing so much. We are like stained glass lanterns, beautifully crafted in bright colours. Each pane representing a unique and special facet of the character God created us with. I have a lantern just like this at home and it has a little door with a tiny catch on it where you put the candle. Situations, opinions, tough relationships and criticism come at us frequently throughout our lives. These play on our minds and sadly grind us down and make us feel unworthy….What have I got to offer anyone? How can God love me, I’m ugly and undesirable? Often this criticism comes from within. Over time we have believed the lies and they darken our perception of ourselves. As a result, the lantern stays dull and no one gets to see the beautiful colours. We keep the latch firmly shut, trying to appear to be doing well and keeping our real self hidden.

God longs to change all of that. If you open the catch of your heart and allow Him in, He will light you up. He will shine through you in true colourful brilliance. He delights in you and your uniqueness….He thinks you’re so amazing that He sings over you. When you let Him into your life the darkness falls away and all the true colours of who He made you to be will be illuminated. The lies will burn away and you can rest in the truth of the valuable, cherished person you are. Open the catch of your heart today and let him light you up.

“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph 3:17

Let your Dreams Set Sail

April 22, 2015Uncategorizedbible, Christian, Christie Wimber, church, daily, Daily devotional, Daily readings, Devotion, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, Hope, inspiration, Men, New Wine, Prayer, Strength, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight Leave a comment

“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11

I love the ability God has given us to dream, to use our imagination. Imagination, I feel, is something used so little now compared to years ago. I remember playing regularly on a ladder that was laid flat on my Nan’s back yard with my brothers and imagining it was a huge ship. You weren’t allowed to step off it or you would drown in the sea (unless it was lunchtime, in which case nothing mattered but food!). We would imagine great voyages and fighting with pirates. Children seemed to use their imagination so much more before the types of toys they have now that are all singing and dancing. My son loved the Tweeny ‘Jake’ and I was so excited for him when my mum bought him one for his third birthday. I knew he’d love it! It was quite a surprise when he opened it and all he did was shake it and say “What does it do!”

We live in an age where everything is done for us and sometimes become lazy even in our dreaming and especially in working with God to make those dreams come to fruition. I had dreams in my heart that had faded due to busyness and illness. In January 2015 God spoke to me through a word a friend gave in church and it changed my life. She said “I feel God is saying there is someone here who is like a ship that is stuck in the harbour and God is saying that while ever it sits there it’s getting damaged. God is saying it’s time to set sail out onto the ocean”….I knew this word was for me and in relation to the dreams in my heart.

Are there lost dreams in your heart? Do you need to begin dreaming again? Helen Burns once said “While ever there is breath within you God can use you and do great things in you” Dream big – don’t just get stuck in one place, and allow God to work in those desires He has for you and has done since you were planned in the secret place.

Squelching in the Mud

February 23, 2015Christianbible, Christian, Christie Wimber, church, daily, Daily readings, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, Hope, inspiration, Men, New Wine, Prayer, Strength, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight Leave a comment

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 33:18,19

I set out walking today having no idea of the state of the terrain. The sun was shining, the air was fresh and the sky blue. Everything felt just right for my walk. Shortly after I set out on the track the ground began to give way underneath me and very soon I was surrounded by mud. My feet began to slip in different directions and I had to walk very carefully and slowly.

As I waded through it at a snail’s pace the mud-filled track seemed endless. I began to think about a friend of mine who set out on an amazingly exciting journey in her life and just when she was feeling that all the conditions were perfect for it, it turned into an incredibly heartbreaking situation.

We all arrive at mud-filled parts of our journey at times in our life and when we do so the track can feel endless and the pain and disappointment can be excruciating. It’s difficult to keep your eyes on God as you’re so afraid of sinking, of sliding and of falling. Every step feels unstable and unsure. Everything seems grey, sludgy and messy.

It’s at these times when hope is such a precious gift…The hope that you will once again, in time, walk on fresh green grass and stony solid paths. It’s hard to focus, but if you ask God to fill your heart with hope and the strength to move through it, you can be sure he will. He will place large stones in your path so you can find a way through and stand and rest a while. He will cause streams to trickle across your way and wash your mud covered boots. He will uphold you so your feet do not slip. Whatever you’re going through today, let Him walk you through it one step at a time. Put your hope and trust in Him…He won’t ever let you down.

That Familiar Bed of Security

September 19, 2014Christianbible, Christian, Christie Wimber, church, daily, Daily readings, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, Hope, inspiration, New Wine, Prayer, Strength, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight Leave a comment

Myself and my family have just moved house, which is why I’ve been absent from blogging for quite a while. In fact, I’ve been going through a fair few life changing events this summer, which I’ll blog about over the coming weeks :).

Way back in March when I began blogging I attended the New Wine Women’s conference, where Jane Achiloi shared some mind-blowing testimony. One of the stories which really spoke to me was about giving what you have and God blessing and using it. After a fair while of seeking God my family and I felt it was right to sell our house, pay off all our debts and for me to leave my job, which was crippling me, and go into ministry full time. It was a huge step of faith, as you can imagine, and I’m extremely happy to say we’re on the other side of it now and living in the blessing of God’s provision :).

God has caused everything to run smoothly, but it hasn’t always been easy. I remember feeling so strange and insecure on the day we moved out of our beautiful home, where we had lived for 16 years and brought up our children. As I stood in our rental house looking around at all the boxes piled up, wondering where on earth we were going to put everything, I had this overwhelming feeling of ‘What on earth have we done?’ During those moments I couldn’t imagine how we were going to settle into this new house. I dragged my tired body up the stairs and into my new, smaller bedroom and there was something safe and familiar….my bed! As I crawled into it and pulled the covers over my head I felt safe and secure. Psalm 4:8 says “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”.

Whatever situation you are in today where you feel alien or insecure, our Father is constant and we can always crawl safely into His arms. He will never leave you or forsake you…Deut 31:6. Sometimes we just need to rest secure in Him for a while, until we feel safe again. No matter where we are, He is always with us.

The Father’s Heart

June 13, 2014Christianbible, Christian, Christie Wimber, church, daily, Daily readings, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, New Wine, Prayer, Strength, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight One comment

As Father’s day approaches and Dads all over the country begin to look forward to their full cooked English Breakfast and their brand new pairs of socks, it’s a good time to think of, and appreciate our incredible Father God.

“If we take all the goodness, wisdom and compassion of the best mothers and fathers who have ever lived, they would only be a faint shadow of the love and mercy in the heart of the redeeming God” Brennan Manning.

This Compassion Sunday at church we heard about some fantastic things that God is doing in our city and across the other side of the world. It struck me once again how vast our Father’s heart is for His people. Hearing about the hungry being fed, the babies of the destitute being clothed, those abandoned and lost being housed, those in pain being cared for and the broken and abused being loved. Whilst all of that was mind-blowing, it only revealed a tiny glimpse of the depth of the Father’s heart.

Our Father’s heart is SO vast.

It’s unending…..it goes on and on and on.

It’s all emcompassing….there’s room for EVERYONE, no matter who you are or what you’ve done.

His love is unconditional and abundant….it NEVER ends.

He sings over you, He lifts you up, He strengthens and heals you and He delights in you. He’s planned a future for you.

As Jesus showed us in the story of the prodigal son, He lovingly allows us to learn, and not only that, but He is patient with us and doesn’t condemn us.

I love that His heart for us is to be the unique person He created us to be, to be free and to learn. He loves to see us grow and celebrates every step we take. He brings discipline for us to learn and forgiveness to set us free. He is both the boat that keeps us afloat and the light that rises to give us hope.

Psalm 103 gives us an amazing definition of the Father’s heart. He is our Father….

v3-12 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

…..v17-18 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey.

Of course the Father’s heart is revealed most through His Son. Jesus said in John 14:9 “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” What was accomplished for us on the cross is EVERYTHING. Wayne Jacobson says “We did not see what really happened there between the Father and his Son that opened the door to His love so vast and so certain that it cannot be challenged even by our darkest days. Through that door we can really know who God is and embrace a relationship with Him that our deepest hearts have hungered to experience.”

So this Father’s day “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” Eph 3:17-19

Take Afternoon Naps without a Worry

May 21, 2014Christianbible, Christian, Christie Wimber, church, daily, Daily readings, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, Hope, inspiration, New Wine, Prayer, Strength, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight Leave a comment

“Fear is not real. The only place that fear can exist is in our thoughts of the future. It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me danger is very real but fear is a choice.” ― Will Smith (After Earth).

During watching the film After Earth (which I wouldn’t particularly recommend) Will Smith made this comment to his son. I thought it was so incredibly true and I’ve got to be honest, I’d never really thought of fear in such simple terms….our worries about future events. We waste so much time worrying about the future, imminent and far off events, yet most of those worries will never become reality. If some of them do, we will spend time feeling sad, or hurt in the moment, so why do we put ourselves through those things prematurely? Our Father God will walk with us no matter what we face, no matter where our footsteps fall. There are some great promises of this in the Word…..

Psalm 112:6-7 says “Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.” I love the way the Amplified Bible puts it in v7, it says “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.”

We can rest secure because we are assured in Proverbs 3:25-26 “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.”

Trust in the Father who loves you, rest secure in Him and enjoy His peace which passes all understanding. He will NEVER let you fall :).

Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life;
don’t for a minute lose sight of them.
They’ll keep your soul alive and well,
they’ll keep you fit and attractive.
You’ll travel safely,
you’ll neither tire nor trip.
You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry,
you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep.
No need to panic over alarms or surprises,
or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner,
Because GOD will be right there with you;
he’ll keep you safe and sound.
Proverbs 3:21-26 The Message

Beauty in Dark Places

May 1, 2014Uncategorizedbible, Christian, Christie Wimber, daily, Daily readings, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, Hope, inspiration, New Wine, Prayer, Strength, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight Leave a comment

On Sunday, Alison Kennedy (a missionary from our church) was home from China and came to speak. Preaching is not something she normally does but she shared the wisdom God had placed on her heart so beautifully and so faithfully.

One of the most powerful parts was when she showed a photograph of a pool of water where all the sewage goes. Next to it were some beautiful yellow flowers. She asked us “Which part of the picture are your eyes most drawn to?” Everyone agreed that they were most drawn to the lovely flowers. She shared how interesting it is that we are immediately drawn to the beauty in the picture.

She said this…”We need to have our eyes wide open, to ask God to see beauty where we wouldn’t normally look, because even in the darkest places there is beauty to be found.” What an incredibly wise and profound statement.

I’m definitely going to make this my prayer from now on. Maybe you feel the same :).

Living Hope

April 28, 2014Uncategorizedbible, Christian, Christie Wimber, church, daily, Daily readings, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, Hope, inspiration, New Wine, Prayer, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight Leave a comment

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” 1 Peter 1:3-5

Wow!!!! I read this today and was totally blown away by the depth of promise in it. First of all I love the phrases of ‘His great mercy’, ‘new birth’ and ‘living hope’. If you’re feeling a little low today or (like me) have gone back to work, dwell on this and feel your heart and soul rise….In His great mercy He has given you new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus. What an incredible and uplifting statement of truth! It really struck me that it says ‘living hope’. Sometimes we feel a whisper of hope or experience a moment of hope in a situation and then it seems to dissolve away. Not this hope! It is living and constant, it’s organic. As if that isn’t enough we are then promised an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade….precious and kept in heaven just for us. If you are struggling with something or need a word of encouragement, remember this…He has delivered you, brings you wholeness and healing, promises you eternity in heaven and until then you are shielded by God’s power. If you need to, speak this truth into your heart over and over again until you start to believe it!

Spread your Wings

April 8, 2014Uncategorizedbible, Christian, Christie Wimber, church, daily, encouragement, encouraging, faith, guidance, Hope, inspiration, New Wine, Prayer, Strength, Women, WorshipFace in the Sunlight One comment

But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength
They spread their wings and soar like eagles, Isaiah 40:31 The Message

I love this picture. A picture of a beautiful bird of prey, often so active, hunting and looking after it’s young. Here it opens out its large wing span and soars through the clouds. No need to flap its glorious wings but just glide on the thermals.
Being a person living with a chronic illness I am no stranger to fatigue. I find this verse so uplifting…..so comforting….that I can open up my heart and soar on the thermals of the Father’s love and as I do so He renews my strength. I’m not switching off from Him, not standing still. I don’t need to strive. It is in choosing to stop doing, that I gain everything I need. As I rest in Him I am moved by His love and His provision.

Are you too busy? Are you feeling tired, physically or emotionally? Choose to spread out your wings today and rest in the Father’s provision. Be still, lean into Him and let Him take control.