Having trouble finding a Post Box (UK only) ?

I have had a hard time finding Post Boxes in the UK when I need one. I found a great site that will help you locate the closest Post Box to you! Enjoy!

http://dracos.co.uk/made/locating-postboxes/

Are You a Good Person?

LORD OF DISABILITIES AND PHYSICAL AFFLICTIONS

Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

(Exodus 4:11 ESV)

This morning in my devotions I was reading Day 30 of the book "90 Days of God's Goodness," by Randy Alcorn.  I found it was the first time that I have read someone take on this idea of disabilities and physical afflictions from a Biblical perspective.  I found it truly uplifting to know that actually, God is very aware of our physical afflictions, disabilities and suffering.  He does care and loves us, why?  Because he is the one who gives them.  

Randy Alcorn says, "Remarkably, God takes full credit here for giving disabilities. God doesn’t say the Fall makes people deaf, the Curse makes them mute, or Satan makes them blind. God says that he does. He doesn’t attempt to give a full list. But doesn’t he clearly intend us to understand that he also gives people Down syndrome, deformities, cancer, and diabetes?  Just because we don’t like the idea that deformities, diseases, and suffering come from God’s own hand does not alter Scripture.  Our discomfort will not change God’s mind. We don’t get a vote. 

Many Christians deliberately distance God from disabilities and diseases, sometimes arguing that people won’t trust a God who would deliberately dispense such things. Yet I have spoken with disabled people who didn’t find comfort until they finally came to believe that God had made them as they are.  

Right-thinking believers find reassurance in knowing that such life-altering abnormalities don’t happen randomly or because of bad luck but are granted to us with divine purpose. God doesn’t helplessly watch us suffer because of bad genes, an accident caused by Satan, or careless or evil people. Rather, he offers us help in dealing with any disability he has given us….  If we believe that God has made these individuals as they are, then we can love them as he intends."

It is truly remarkable that God wants us to accept our afflictions, deformities and disabilities because he made us as we are!  We are crowning glory of His creation even with our afflictions and disabilities.  It is no wonder that God often used people throughout the Bible and throughout history who had deformities, personal afflictions and disabilities.  Moses, and his speech impediment.  David, and his small stature.  Paul, had personal physical afflictions and was apparently not very good looking.  Today, I think of Joni Eareckson Tada whom God has used powerfully for His glory.  

I am humbled by the fact that God has taught me that God has made us all as we are and loves us completely and I in turn can love others as God has created them.

Inside Out... Personal Impact

BUY "INSIDE OUT" by Larry Crabb now (click here)

"Most of us are terrified to be open with each other, not because we’re afraid of hurting or discouraging people, but because we profoundly fear that others will retreat from us. We hate to admit that the people we depend on are simply too weak to stay deeply involved once they face all that we are. We don’t want to accept the fact that, since the Fall, no human being has the capacity to love us perfectly." 

~ Inside Out by Larry Crabb

If I were to be really honest, I would say that this is so true in and of my life and heart! 

Transparency

I was really caught by two facts in the quote above in my own words:

1) Even though I think I may be deeply open, friendly, accepting and loving toward others... really deep down it is true that we are terrified that when people really see us for who we are they will retreat. There have been times where I have started to be more open, only to have people close down the conversation, change it or just really walk away. The writer of Proverbs truthfully hit the mark when he said, "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)" and "A friend loves at ALL times... (Proverbs 17:17)." Finding a true, honest and open friend who loves us through thick and thin, highs and lows, good and downright bad is a treasure but that is what leads me to the second fact.

2) No human has the capacity to love us perfectly (even our spouses!). I believe that I have unknowingly held people to a higher and more perfect standard of love, respect and care in friendship then is humanly possible.  The truth is, we are all fallen, and we are all affected by sin.   Therefore no one, not even myself, can have a perfect capacity to love in every circumstance in every possible way, which actually brings a greater more profound dimension in understanding the love that God has for us as he lavishes his love on us through Christ bringing us into a relationship with Himself! He can and still does loves us perfectly, despite our sin, evil waywardness, our circumstances. But I, and we, am still commanded to love God and others.  This means, I am not off the hook, I must still love and learn to love with a deeper capacity than I ever have in the past because of what God has done for me. This is where the hard inside work for change begins as I look at my motives for loving and being loved. Just some random thoughts as I meditate on these words for my own life. Feel free to add your own thoughts :)

Quote

Quote from my devotions today just continues to remind me of the great hope that we have a disciples of Christ!

"You and I are characters in God's story, handmade by him. Every character serves a purpose. God loves a great story, and all of us who know him will recall and celebrate and continue to live in that story for all eternity. Before we fault him for the plot twists we don't like, we should remember that Jesus has written this story in his own blood." Randy Alcorn ~ Ninety Days of God's Goodness

Unleashing Potential in God

Luke 1:37

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.

When I seek to do God's work through my energy, strength, knowledge and effort it limits the potential I have in Christ to live for God's Glory and expand His kingdom.  I get nowhere, really!  But when I allow God to work in me and through me by His Spirit, in His power, in His strength, in His knowledge, God will bring Himself Glory through my life, not because of my efforts but because of His grace and will!  The potential my life has in God working in me and through me is limitless.  God can expand His Kingdom through me, even though I face impossibilities around me, nothing is impossible.

God I pray that you will work in me, use me, despite my sinfulness.  Please, bring yourself Glory in and through me.  Please do the impossible things through me, change people by your spirit, lead people to understand the Good News of Jesus Christ!  Please do the impossible!  Unleash great potential through my life for Your Glory!  Amen.

Getting Closer to the Last Days

Getting Closer to the Last Days

Acts 2:14-21

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷    And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

       that  I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

       and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams;

¹⁸    even on my male servants and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

¹⁹    And I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

²⁰    the sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

²¹    And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Comment:  Many of those who had gathered to hear and see this phenomenal sight of the disciples (Galileans who were unlearned) speaking in different languages were convinced that the disciples were drunk.  Yet Peter stand up among the people and address them saying that it is basically too early to be drunk but that actually there was something greater going on!  He quotes the prophet Joel from the Old Testament sharing that a new day, a new era was being ushered in that was a partial fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy which will be like that of the last days, God would pour out His Spirit on people.  Peter was telling his people that it was time to wake up, that the Day of the Lord is coming, and as he finishes in verse 21, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”

Application:  God is working out His sovereign plan for this world.  He sent Christ who is now alive and risen, awaiting the go-ahead from God to come back and gather the elect (those who believe in Christ as Saviour and Lord).  It is a reminder to me that God is preparing His final judgment for all of humankind.  We must be busy doing the work that God has called us to, to reach out and share Christ, or as Christ says, “make disciples of all nations.”  I am reminded that I go in God’s power, through the Holy Spirit and not on my own strength because it is actually God who saves people and not me!  He is our salvation from beginning to end.  Otherwise, we could boast in our own salvation. 

Thank you God for your grace and salvation.  For finding me and saving my life from sin, giving me purpose and hope that far exceeds anything that this world can offer!