God, Me and the Future ...

Soooo when Rachel asked me to do a blog, I thought eeeeekk scary times! But I realised that people are probably going through the same things that I have gone through, so I would really like to be able to encourage people that these situations are not permanent! They do end, and with the power of God we can get through tough times and doubts etc.

For me the thing I have always struggled with since I've been a christian is what is God's plan for me? Where do I fit into his world? Why hasn't he shouted in a booming voice, “NAOMI I WANT YOU TO BE MIDWIFE AND YOU SHALL WORK AT THE DGH”?? I never felt a really calling or belief that God had any role for me, any specific job, any specific thing He wanted me to do. I wasn't one of those people who has known since they were 5 that they wanted to be a firefighter or a teacher or an engineer or a train driver or something. Actually I used to want to be a vet until I realised I didn't really like dogs, so that plan went straight down the drain...

One verse that has really stuck with me the last few years is Jeremiah 29 v 11, [God was speaking through Jeremiah to his people who had been exiled from Jerusalem] and it says...

 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, they are plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope”.

Another is Psalm 139 v13...

“You created every part of me. You put me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

These verses really spoke to me when I was doubting God, in that I knew that God knew me, I knew that God has always had a plan for me and that he will show me his plan when the time is right!

So yeah, just a quick encouraging word that God HAS got a plan for you and that he always had! I've had many doubts over the last few years, especially end of year 11, going up to college and not having a clue what on earth I wanted to do with my life. Persisting with church and going to True, has really helped me see that it's not what I want to do, it's want GOD wants to do!

Yeah, so from finishing GCSEs and not having a clue, I'm now hopefully going to university in September, I know where I want to go after that, I have been blessed by God with an absolutely amazeballs group of christian buddies and have a hope and future with the holy spirit guiding me through it all!

Make GOD the centre of your life and the rest will happen :)

xxx

Living for Jesus?

By Shereen Shafiee

The word "Christian", what does it actually mean? How do we live it? 

We live in a world that is becoming increasingly secular. How are we supposed to maintain a "Christian" status? How do we live our lives for Jesus whilst everyone seems to be doing the opposite?

It's not easy, walking with Jesus. In fact it's one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. You become an outcast, to the world, to your friends and sometimes you think "Is this whole Jesus thing really worth it?" because you don't see results.  I just want to remind you to keep standing. Just keep pressing. Don't give into your past for comfort, let's DO something different. Let's really, authentically seek CHRIST. You've probably heard that one before. But this isn't some little Christian cliche that I'm saying - I'm telling you to go and get on your face before God and just pour your heart out. Take each day, day by day and you will find that your entire perspective will CHANGE. It's not that it will make life any easier and suddenly all your problems will disappear... its just that when those problems come they'll look a little different. You will still smile as if you have this secret between you and God. You'll smile because you're comforted by your Father's arms.  You'll SMILE because... you know that deep down, these attacks are making you better and not bitter.

So, I want to encourage you to be bold. Take a stand for Christ. You shouldn't have to just tell someone you're a Christian, they should see it in you. This is something I have to constantly work on and God is still moulding me. You see, this Christian life, it shouldn't just be words. Let today be the day that you decide who you will serve. Will you serve the living God, Jesus? Or will you continue to live for the god of your emotions,  indulging in a life of selfish ambitions? God doesn’t want us to just attend church, ministry begins outside of the church. Christianity is more than singing or playing instruments, it’s having a relationship with the Creator. When Jesus said “follow me”, He didn’t mean “look at me from a far”, “life will be easy”, nor did He say “watch others”. Jesus simply bids us to follow closely beside Him, having an intimate connection to Him and His presence. So let’s put aside the games and distractions and start actually living what we read. 

Salvation is free and available to all who accept the invitation. Unfortunately, so many “accept Jesus as their lord and personal savior”, but never allow Him to reign on the throne of their hearts. So I want to encourage you today to really live this out. It's okay to be different to the world, Jesus said we would be. But that's what makes us so special! God chose us, loves us and knew us before we were even born. He even knows the amount of hairs on our head  (Luke 12:7)! Sometimes I think, how amazing is it that the same God who called the universe into existence would invest into me?! One person among the billions of people, stars and galaxies- One soul in the entire universe and history of people who ever lived. That's not something you can really fathom. But it does make you think, the least we can do is live for Him. Like really and truly, let Him have our whole heart. 

Now this is something that I have to constantly remind myself as well, I'm always falling short and making mistakes. But I know that He's always there to pick me right back up. 

Luke 12:6-7 "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." 

 Ephesians 1:4 "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes." 

"You did not choose me, but I chose you..." John 15:16.

He loves us, He knows us and He chose us! Let's rejoice in that. Let's allow Him to have His will in our lives. SO, let's start today! We will DESIRE what we constantly give our attention to. So let's start giving our attention to the only living God. Amen