Beth’s blog

Today, actually, my schedule wasn't particularly God-ridden. Well, at
all. There wasn't any church, no meetings or lifegroups unfortunately:
and I hadn't planned in my diary a time when I was focused on the
Lord, aside from my nightly bible readings and prayers and what have
you.
But, still, just today: God has spoken to me.
Even when I wasn't looking specifically for a message or an answer to
prayer; simply through my everyday life the Lord has reminded me; of a
very important thing.
So yes, today was, well a pretty lazy day. Did a few things, but had a
bit of time so I thought I'd waste it away on bbc iplayer, as you
do!:) and I'm not proud of it, but hey, 'the world's strictest
parents' was just my impulse click. I won't go into details, but it came down to one
upfront being, in my opinion, the arrogant and downright rude closed
view of someone who, underlying, is scared of anyone a little
different from themselves. Yes, it did get me mad; I'm not going to
lie, but she did go back later on in the programme. She overcame the
total snobbery that wound me up so much; and concluded with something
along the lines of 'I think I've just learnt that, like, we're all the
same'. Yes, of course, a happy ending to this bbc show! Anyway, I
wasn't too surprised, and at this point in the day: it didn't mean
much to me. But this was just the start.

As I go on, ummm Just imagine me jumping around
trying to explain this.. May help you understand? I’m so not a words person! Doing my best.

So, yes, that night, after watching 'World's Strictest Parents', part
of my Bible in a Year was (at the moment) reading through acts. We get
about 2 chapters a day; and that day just happened to be Acts 10. And
guess what it was all about? Why, how Peter, a kinda leader, was
reaching out to others who were different to them, who were saved:
when he got back the people asked him why. And he said that God had
told him not to judge anyone 'clean' or 'unclean'
I mean, I'll admit, sometimes when it's getting late at night: I kind
of skim through the dull chunks of writing that consist of the bulk of
the Bible in a Year. But there was one verse in acts 10 that I read,
that night, and thought: wow. It's 34; my version may be a bit
different to yours: 'Peter began to speak: 'I really understand now
that to God every person is the same'. Considering what I'd watched
earlier, I truly was astounded; and to be honest that doesn't happen
often to me when I'm reading the chapters fast to get them over and
done with; more the deep verses recited slowly from Max Lucado's
'Grace of the day'.
Once that thought had hit, though, my memory started to flood back
from the last sunday's preach. It was by Ollie Stevens; and on Peace?
Well, he had used acts 10 as an example! Pretty much; what I had just
read and understood and had been pulled out from the words on the page
and was directly related to what had been talked about on sunday. I
even checked my notes (which obvs makes it legit) haha.
I don't know what it sounds like to you but, bare facts, it just made
me love the Lord even more. Made me appreciate God's power and might
and glory and .... I could go on :')
Kinda obviously, it reminded me that we have to reach out to everyone,
too. I think for me; it isn't just the easy ones: we should be trying
to speak to those who, in the opinion of the world, have major issues,
but not only that but also, I think, those that don't appear to
outwardly NEED God's love. I think, perhaps,those are the situations
where God can really shine: if only we step out in faith. But, anyway.
Back to where I was.

Now it's the next sunday evening, and as I finish this the Lord has
completely and utterly made me realise that He's got it all in His
hands and under His control double, triple, whateverfold. There was a
guest speaker this morning; and, well, who could have the
cheek to call it chance?! He spoke about how we should
reach out into all nations, because we're all God's children: Christ
died for all nations; and that we should make disciples everywhere.
Different parts of the bible, including many of those I'd read before;
just encouraged everyone to get out there: and realise we're all in
the same boat. Fits in a treat, right? As part of the stuff I read,
too, I looked back to the day I had to read Acts 10, and there was one
verse that I positively beamed at. 2 Corinthians 5:20: 'God has given
us the task of telling everyone what He is doing. We're Christ's
representatives' hear that? Telling EVERYONE.

Okay, so, I don't know what you're interpretation is of all this.
Maybe God's trying to say something, here?
Well, anyway. There's a few things here. Not quite sure what this
blog's about. Or if it's even a blog at all. A whole smorgasboard of
experiences and prayer and actual VERSES (which is very unlike me!).
Maybe I'm just saying, be open to God; all the time. Your whole life.
I was going to say at the start.. Even though there wasn't a booked
church meeting, my life was still for the Lord. Every day. And He has
1000000x the power to show you and make sure of that.
Maybe I'm just saying, God doesn't just speak to people in weird
magical mystical dreams; with looser connections to life and
situations than contemporary dance; or perhaps I'm just trying to say
that those big preaches on sunday morning aren't for the masses. They
can relate to you. Personally.

anyway yes, :)
xx

A poem from Charley Farley!

Help me with my faith,
For I just want to jump;
Into Your loving arms,
Yet I land with an almighty thump.

Things get in the way,
I don't know where to turn,
When sad I realise You're missing,
for You I truly yearn.

Help me to stick by You,
And follow in your steps,
Help me spread Your word,
Until my final breath.

Give me a real purpose,
Guide me in this life,
Help me focus my eyes on You,
And save me from unnecessary strife.

Give me advice with relationships,
Help me make them good,
Teach me to reflect on life,
And know it was You who understood.

Give me desire to walk with You,
From above please grab my hand,
Let me follow Your will,
And use me as part of Your plan.

Prayer: God is LISTeNING

Woo! So yeah, Jez liked my first ever blog :') and so did some people
who read it, I guess that's the same people reading this one now (if
this all goes to plan) so thanks for the feedback, guys. Just, thank
God(: once again it's dark outside, my knees are keeping me up and my
bb keyboard is getting another beating.

Anyway, so a good idea that was thought about and suggested to me to
talk about is another big big thing that's apart of my; and well
everyone's I think, relationship with God. It's the way of
communication with the Lord, the way which I think we can truly
express what we want to the Creator: such a privilege, right. Because
it isn't necessary for God: I mean, He knows our every thought and
action and deed and emotion, He doesn't need us to tell Him! Yet, He
still is overjoyed when we take the time outta our day to sit there
and talk to him, spill our problems, hear out our moans and complaints
as well as our babbling excitement of the ups and downs of our lives.
It's a lot, isn't it. Once again, I think, picturing a good friend of
yours who you're close with helps me realise. Got someone? These days,
contact is easyyy. Straight after seeing them face to face and having
a big catch up, you're either at your laptop screen on facebook chat,
msn or in a cheeky skype call if they're lucky. When you're on the
move, of course, too: texting on bbm'ing.. What I'm trying to get at
is that most of the time, the person that you trust and who knows a
lot about your life is there, to talk and respond.
And that is, and must be, something to treasure.
(We'll come back to God in a minute.)

... Okay, actually, we'll come back to God now: think of this absolute
babe of a gift of communication, as prayer. It's the same. But better.
God is available, 24/7, 365 days a year (and a quarter.)
Because with your friends and all...

There's always been the time, when you've felt alone, right. Maybe
you're lucky enough for it to be the rare hour or so when they're
asleep, or with a broken phone or dodgy internet. However, it could be
if you're going through a bad patch, and you don't feel like there's
anyone, at all, who cares. like there IS no-one at the other end of
the phone, to talk to who will listen.
Well guess what... God's still there. He's never going to run out of
credit, and neither are you!

And that's the marvelous thing that prayer is. It's the honour we've
been given to contact and communicate, as little human beings, to the
powerful mighty Christ the Lord of all things. Kind of...
Unbelievable. You don't need do to anything, either, to get into his
presence. There's no test or selection process which we have to endure
to be listened to; we have been blessed that God IS lISTeNING; there
to comfort you and provide advice and anything else you need (queue
bible).

Okay so you may be thinking, well, this is great. But how the heckk do
I 'do' this crazily magnificent thing. How can I access this
too-good-to+be-true service, as it is, which allows me to talk to the
King of kings?! Well, it really is as simple as it seems. Just, talk
to him. Starting off with 'Dear Lord', may help, but then just...
Talk. Tell him how you're feeling. Ask Him what you'd like to be done.
Thank Him for the good things. Moan to Him about how unfair it all is.
Don't be hiding anything; because God knows your thoughts anyway! Be
honest with Him; He'll understand. Read through the book of Job and
you'll see this guy complaining about all the bad things that God's
put him through; the same with a bit in Jeremiah: we don't have to
gloss over the rough bits to suck up to God so He'll like us! The
Lord'll see right through that, and we won't go anywhere in a
relationship with him. A strong friendship, or anything more than
that, can't be built on lies and dishonesty: even if it is just on one
side..(Us.). So we can't expect to get close with God if we're not
honest with Him. It's important at the end, though, to bring it back
to Him.

Once you've lost your energy being mad at Him, just stop, and
remember. Remember all of the amazing things He's done for you, for
everyone, and his great love for you...

Because, at the end of it all, He's the important one. He doesn't need
us.. He wants us, because He loves us. we're the ones that need him.
And, honestly, prayer really does work. I know it sounds obvious! But
there are thousands upon millions of miracle stories, just google
them, and in the bible is says in James that when believing people
pray things happen. And isn't that just amazing. It's
probably one of the most encouraging things as a Christian, answered
prayer. It may not come quick though, or at all. Only God knows the
plan! years and years of long hard prayer could finally be responded
to; perhaps the healing of an injury, or the saving of a family
member. Years of perseverance, of week after week of no change; you
could begin to wonder is anyone actually listening up there?!
Persistence in prayer pays off; and believing that God's actually
listening and CAN make that change is vital. Because He is feeling
your pain. Your anguish. Your happiness, and your joy!

Surely, if you love someone, you're going to talk to them, right. Pour
your heart out to them. Rely on them to always be there. And that's
how, well I think anyway, prayer should be used: this blessing of a
pearl in which we can speak to the Lord our God.

Thanks, Beth(: x

Love

'So, today, as I was leaving his house, Jez shouted after me 'Fitz!
Write a blog!'. What about, I wondered? 'Anything,' as I walked out

the door, highly sceptical of the chances of this happening. English
exams are out of the way, why would I WANT to write ANYTHING that is
vaguely lengthy and requires thought and effort?

But, here we are. The now not-so-early hours of the morning are here,
and I'm thinking? Why not give it a go!
After a quick thought after my nightly bible readings, I figured
there's loads of things I could talk about. Quite a few which could
fill a page of God inspired thoughts, but there's one which sticks out
to me as I think about it now. It's something that I think we all
know, and kind of take for granted: God's love for us. And even that,
on it's own, sounds kind of cliché and unreal. Fake, you know?
Something said so many times, as lyrics or by preachers.
there's lots of things that I feel weren't quite realistic to me, and
this is definitely one of them.
One way I like to tackle this unearthly face of this henchly important
part of God, is to picture it as something you know, in life. 'Love'
is thrown around a lot these days, and I don't have a problem with
that: but, just stop and think about someone you love. Who loves you
back, okay? I don't mean, marriage love, it doesn't have to be.
There's many-a-people whom I love, male and female who are all close
to my heart with whom I would trust with my life. So you've got a
person, yes? Now just try and picture it, the sorta things you'd do
for them. Stay up late to talk, if they were having trouble? Be a
shoulder to cry on in the bad times, and someone to celebrate with in
the good? Be someone who'll try and make things better, and offer
advice: even if it is the stuff you don't want to, but need to, hear.
And they'd do the same for you, right. Because they love you.
Well, pretty much, God's the same. He's got nothing but your best
interests at heart. It's that kind of love that the bible is talking
about; in fact God is love: (VERSE). So under our understanding, God
is all those things!

Tell your problems to God, because He'll be up all night anyway.

That shoulder to cry on? He's ALWAYS there, literally, (VERSE) and if
you look around there's plenty of physical shoulders that He has put
in your life exactly for this purpose. ( Yeah, see? He's thought about
that. Because He loves you.).. And as for the good times, He's brought
them, so lift up your hands and praise Him for all his good work.

Someone who'll try and make things better? Wow, haha, no offence to my
bezzie mates but the Lord has quite a bit more power than them when it
comes to helping you. Just pray! (VERSE in james, about praying and
results.)

And finally, offer advice. Isn't that what the bible is there for?

That's kind of my final point, I think, then. The bible. The word of
God. Again, another cliché phrase.. Yes, I could go on. Every single
word in it is there from Him, to guide you every step of your life;
good times and bad. Don't think it's just to put on your bedside table
to look good, or that it takes a few highly religiously educated
intellectuals to decipher the secret code. No, not at all. If you just
take a look, you can find something that the Lord has put there for
you: to help you through your time.
He loved you so much, that he wrote you an entire BOOK filled with
what to do, advice and words to help you. That's a hench gesture of
friendship.

Oh, gosh, this is going on longer than I thought... I'm sorry! That
wasn't my final point. :S.
I was just going to mention, you know, just a casual aftercomment...
That place they call Heaven? Ooh, haha, yeah. There. Well, that's the
proof of the pudding. The icing on the cake. This guy, has pretty much
prepared the party of our lives up there! And it's going to be good..
Check out revelations for the details! Has your bestie ever consoled
'it'll be okay in the end' in a wishful tone of disbelief to comfort
you through a bad time? Well, we know for sure, that at the end it is
going to be a lot more than 'okay'. A guaranteed (VERSE) illness and
sin free world?! Yes pleasee!
Yes. He loves us that much. That that's prepared for us.

Actually, I'll stop, after this one more thing that He did for us.
Well, something Jesus did when he was put on this earth. This guy was,
literally, perfect. No kidding. But not in a swarmy, horrible
way...just innocent and pure. Well. He loved us so much that, totally
undeservedly, he died an intensely painful death.
Like, for us. Ever had the blame shoved on you for something a friend,
or enemy I suppose, did? It's kinda annoying, right. Because it's
unfair. Well... He did it. and it's a lot more than just being wrongly
accused for talking in class.. It's death. That little sacrifice that
was made...

Yeah.

That, is God's love for us.

Now, my hands are kind of tired, from typing on the small keyboard of
my bb in the dark. I didn't get through all the points I had vaguely
mindmapped in my head, but I've done my best to illustrate what
exactly this odorless-sounding phrase actually means.. In the real
world. To me.

So, I guess, I'm kinda thankful to Jez for casually asking me to write
a "blog', goodness knows what for. I meant to go on into what that
means about my love for him, and I've hardly whacked in any verses to
back up my thoughts.. There are many. We'll see.
But I'll go, now. So, yeah. God's love for us. What does it mean to you?(:
xx