Over-cautious?

On a particular game I enjoy playing on my iPod I often miss out on bonuses because I am too cautious. I don't want to die so I don't wait long enough to get the gems. 

I wonder how often it is like this in out lives when it comes to God. We miss out on His best because we are too cautious, not wanting to risk our reputation, appearing the fool or even our life. 

But the call of the Christian life is to surrender all of these things to God for His will in your life. It is His by rights though He won't take it by force. If all you have is His then what have you got to lose? Go on live big today.

Perseverance

Children's work is hard work at the best of times. So many times you want to give up because the kids don't do as you ask, they are constantly in trouble, many of them bring their own issues into the situation.

But what you do for a child could last a lifetime.

Today I teach much of the Bible knowledge I learned in childrens clubs as a child.

I am a different person because of the conversations I had with people

So don't give up! Stick at it!

The same applies to everyday life. I went to a study skills presentation the other day and someone said that unless you work for something it is worth nothing. The reverse is also true.

So whatever it is you are struggling with keep persevering! God will help you through it.

Christmas and Uganda

This year has been very difficult for me to get into the Christmas spirit as it seems so commercialised. My mum tells me that I need more clothes for school (I started 6th form this year so it is the first year for a long time that I don't have a uniform). I think yeah maybe but when you have seen kids with no parents who have 2 sets of clothes full stop it certainly takes the need out of it and I have stopped desiring earthly things.

This has given me opportunity to think about the spiritual side of things without the distractions. The thought that the best gift of all - God's own son was given at Christmas blows my mind.

So this Christmas spare a thought and a prayer for those who don't have as much as we do or consider giving to charity.

To make a difference to child's life by sponsoring them to go to school it cost only £10 a month. To give them food and shelter as well as an education it costs only £25 a month. If you want to do this comment below.

Being Observed

I was thinking this morning how lessons when a teacher is observed are always far better than any other lesson they ever teach. I thought of one teacher in particular that I didn't like their lessons very much but the lesson I was in that was observed was engaging, informative and fun. The thing is the observed lessons show that the teachers can do excellent lessons.

My dream is to be a teacher one day and I was thinking how I could get round this integrity issue. I thought to myself "wouldn't it be amazing if we could treat every lesson as if it was observed." Then I thought, well the thing is it's hard if there is no-one watching you, you don't have the nerves or the same motivation.

But the thing is there is someone watching - God. Imagine how much you would want to make a lesson perfect if Prince William was observing it. Then multiply that up to the King of Kings.

It's not just school lessons that this can be applied, it can be applied to the whole of life. Before you do anything remember that God is watching - will what you are about to do make Him proud or sad?

I'd like to finish off with a verse from the Bible:
Colossians 3:23
New International Version (NIV)
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Uganda

Woo Hoo in a week and 7 hours I'll be setting off to work with 300 orphans in Uganda.

I am very excited about this as I have been saving and fundraising for about 8 months to be able to go.

I love children and I think it will be an amazing experience.

I was talking to someone from Uganda and he says that the children benefit as it broadens their horizons.

Please keep the trip in your prayers - that we would learn much, that the children would get maximum benefit and that we would be safe, on the plane, in the minibus, that we wouldn't get ill etc.

I can't believe it is so soon. They ran the trip last year but I didn't get to go because it is with a different church to my normal one so I've been wanting to go for over a year now and it's in a weeks time!!!!

The Heart

As I was preparing for teaching at a children's club at church I was looking at the story of Samuel choosing David as King because he had the right heart.

Often we do good things to be noticed by others, to up our social status so that others will look up to us. I know I am guilty of this

But this is not how it should be. Colossians 3:23 teaches us to do "everything that you do heartily unto the Lord and not to men." What a challenge! To do EVERYTHING for God's glory, not just the corner of our lives that we would like to give up but everything.

So my question is are you up to the challenge for this is true worship.

Judgementalism

When Jesus was with the woman caught in adultery he began to write in the sand, there are many theories about what He wrote and we will never know for sure but the prevailing theory is that he wrote the people's sins who were ready to stone her. "Let Him without sin cast the first stone."

What would Jesus write in the sand if it was you standing there? Would you have the right to cast a stone?

Remember this before you go and judge someone. Judging someone damages both of you, it affects your attitude towards them and it damages you. How would you stand before a Holy God alone? I thank God that we can have Jesus as our intercessor.

But before you judge someone, remember, you're just as bad.