Trusting God in All Things

'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable ― if anything is excellent or praiseworthy ― think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me ― put it into practise. And the God of peace will be with you.' (Philippians 4: 4-9 NIV)

In Philippians 4:6, we read ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.’ Whilst we lie awake at night, tossing and turning in our beds, unable to sleep because of the multitude of things that worry and trouble us, God is waiting for our request.

The following comes from the devotions of Gail Rodgers:

It’s easy to begin depending on our own best thinking when we lose heart in expecting God to answer our prayers. Trusting God, when our path in life grows muddy, is not an easy task. The mud of weariness, busyness and hurt can cause us to trip and even fall. We wonder how we will ever get up again. Faith can feel like a thread that threatens to break.

Trusting God with your life, even when it makes no sense to you, is to choose to grab hold of the pearl of wisdom. As Christian women we know the vital connection prayer is to our God, yet we can let it slip away from fingers muddy from falling. We must be deliberate in choosing to cling to it. There is great wisdom and reward in depending on our God even in the silence.

Maintaining that vital connection to God in prayer is a choice. Step by step, through the fog on our pathway, we can choose to trust that God has our best interest at heart and lean on His strength to get us through our day… or … we choose to shrug Him off with little expectation and lean wearily on our own understanding.

(This article is under Copyright : Used with permission)

Prayer for Trust

Heavenly Father, most of the time I have no idea where I'm headed because I struggle to see the path in front of me.Not only that, but I'm not certain where or when it will end. I think that I am following your will, yet I realise that it's not certain that I am doing so. Nevertheless, I believe that the desire to please you does so. Please help me to maintain that desire in all I do, for I know that if I keep my focus on You and work towards pleasing You in all that I do and all that I am then You'll lead me along the right path, even though there may be times that I fail to recognise it. I will trust You always. Help me never to fear, secure in the knowledge that You are always with me, and that You will never leave me alone. Amen

New Meditation from Joanne Lowe: 'EYES OF LOVE'

EYES OF LOVE

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

Matthew 9: 35, 36 (King James Version)

Just as Jesus looked with eyes of love at the multitudes and was moved with compassion for them when He saw them fainting and scattered abroad, so He also looks with eyes of love at us. He is moved with compassion for us when He sees us hurting and heartbroken. Our family and friends can’t see the pain and despair that we are hiding in our hearts. They only know how we are feeling by what we tell them.

As Joyce Landorf Heatherley, a Christian author and speaker said on one of her teaching tapes about the people we sit next to in church “They look fine and they look darling but inside they are dying”. Only Jesus can look into our hearts and see the pain and despair and only Jesus can heal our broken hearts.

I don’t know what is in your heart today but Jesus knows and He cares about you. When you are heartbroken and the tears roll down your cheeks and in your heart, He is moved with compassion for you and He weeps with you. Jesus really does love you and it hurts Him when you are hurting.

If you are hurting today and feel like you can’t take another step or give another smile, run into His waiting arms and allow Him to comfort you as only He can. Thank God for a Saviour whose heart is moved with compassion for us. There is no one like Jesus. Nobody loves you like He loves you.

Joanne Lowe

September 15, 2009

joannelowe8@cox.net

www.joanne-freedominjesus.blogspot.com

A Theatrical Reunion for the Powys Theatre

Last Saturday I drove down to Newtown in Powys where I lived for about ten years, during which time I spent many happy hours as a member of the Newtown Amateur Dramatic Society which is based at the Powys Theatre, a small theatre owned by the Society. Saturday was an opportunity both to get reacquainted with friends from the Society and also to be reminded of various plays that I took part in, and as such, was a success on both scores. In some cases I had not met up with some of the folk for about twelve years, although others I had met with when I last visited the Theatre about three years ago.

Anyway, dear reader, I thought that you might like to share my trip down a Thespian Memory Lane, and so here are a few pictures from those days.

The following is the Cast List for the first play that I was in at the theatre, Lloyd George Knew My Father, written by William Douglas-Home. I played the part of Hubert Boothroyd MP. It was the first play of the 22nd year at Theatre Powys. I also show the face of the programme and the first two photographs below are from the play.

I took the part of 'George Westwood' in 'The Small Hours', a Francis Durbridge play.

Ray Clooney's play, Run for Your Wife, was a great comedy to be in. I took the part of Detective Sgt. Porterhouse.

Above and below are scenes from that wonderful Emlyn Williams' play, Night Must Fall, which was the second play in the 25th season.

In Murder Deferred i played Mick Clancy, the Irish barman.

Charity Cases was a comedy written by one of the members, Graham Harris, and it was the third play of the 25th season, following on after Night Must Fall. I played a drunk named Ferdinand Grapehillock, and was on stage for the entire performance. I had no lines to learn but plenty of grunts and noises to make during the performance. It was an extremely testing performance as I had to ensure that it was not over-acted!

During my years with the Theatre I took part in many classic Northern Comedies, and Cat Among the Pigeons by Duncan Greenwood was one of them.

The years that I spent with the Powys Theatre are very full of fond memories, not only for the plays that I was privileged to act in but also for the opportunity to act alongside some very talented players. During my time there I greatly appreciated the friendship and camaraderie that existed and continues to this day.

Meditation: THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST

THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST

Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, Chapter 1, vv15-20 in the New American Standard is headed ’Christ’s Character’ and in the NIV it’s given the title ‘The Supremacy of Christ’ .

What follows is an awesome description of the Lord:
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities ― all things were created by Him and for Him.

And He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He is also head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.

For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (NAS)

These days, when the name and position of Jesus is constantly being denied and abused, we can still be reassured that He reigns, and that it His divine will that will be done both in heaven and on earth. This is a good time to remind ourselves through whom and to whom we pray, and that He has the supremacy in absolutely everything.

It’s good to know that, as we pray, our faith rests on Him and not on ourselves! What a relief and what an assurance that is!

A new Meditation from Joanne Lowe: 'Don't Pick Them Up Again

DON’T PICK THEM UP AGAIN

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Ephesians 3: 20, 21 (King James Version)

There is a song that I really love and it is a song that has helped me learn to trust Jesus. Pastor Charles Albert Tindley penned these beautiful words. The name of the song is “Leave It There”. I wonder how many times we have sung these words and never did them.

These words have helped me so much “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.” I think if we are honest with ourselves we will have to admit that there are times when we take our burdens to the Lord and as soon as we are through praying and asking Him for help, we pick them up again.

When we pick our burdens up again, what we are saying is “We don’t trust You, Jesus, to solve the problems and crises in our lives”. May God have mercy on us and forgive us for not trusting His beloved Son. Do you take your burdens to Jesus and then pick them up again? If so, you are hurting Him and breaking His heart.

May God help all of us to do what the words of this beautiful song tell us to do “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there”. Are you willing to trust Jesus with your burdens? If you are, don’t pick them up again. He is waiting for you to trust Him. There are times when He can’t work in our lives because we try to solve our problems ourselves. Let’s get out of His way and leave our burdens with Him.

Joanne Lowe

September 10, 2009

joannelowe8@cox.net

www.joanne-freedominjesus.blogspot.com

The Great Debt Disaster & The Paymasters Helping it Along.

One of the most difficult matters that we have to face up to is the subject of personal debt. Even before the current financial 'Credit Crunch' people were often struggling to maintain their heads above water, constantly juggling their finances and robbing Peter to pay Paul, but over the last eighteen months that problem has increased drastically for tens of thousands of people. More and more people are facing the possibility of having their homes repossessed, often leading to a break-up in their relationships due to the immense stress that they are placed under.

The following report, which was posted by Milton Franks-Lhermann, lays it on the line when it comes to the massive debt problem facing the USA. However, there is no room for UK complacency, for I'm certain that the problem is just as bad, proportionately, here in the UK. We know that Saudi Arabia has poured billions of £'s into the UK, and almost certainly accounts for the manner in which the UK government behaves when it comes to the various policies enacted to differentiate between Islamic rights and the rights of other citizens, all of which helps the extremists Islamic factions towards achieving their goal of an Islamic State here in the UK, which, if nothing is done to stand against it, is likely to happen within the fifteen to twenty years.

Here is Milton Franks-Lhermann's report, headed America's Debt Disaster:
The United States of America is almost $12 trillion in debt, and much of that money is owed to foreign nations like China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. And in the next decade our debt is set to double, to a massive $24 trillion in 2019.

Like teenagers with their first credit cards, Congress and the White House are burning through money with absolutely no thought for the consequences - but the bill for this spending spree is going to come due, soon.

America's debt crisis is not a hazy menace in the distance. The national debt costs taxpayers $500 million in interest payments every day. That's half a billion dollars up in smoke -- yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the next day. And where does that money go? Much of it is shipped to foreign investors, including China's central bank. Experts say we owe China about $800 billion, but no one knows for sure. The Communist Party buys Treasury securities through anonymous middlemen, and refuses to divulge the full extent of its loans, calling them a "state secret."

That is worth repeating: We don't know how much money we owe to China, because they won't tell us.

Not only are we paying these foreign creditors a fortune in interest, we constantly depend on them to lend us more, and more, and more. And if they decide to ask for a higher interest rate, we will have no choice but to pay it.

This problem is huge, but we have ignored it for too long. Part of the reason is that these numbers are just plain hard to understand. Most Americans have a sense of how much a million is, and maybe even a billion. But a trillion?

To put it in perspective, consider this: a million seconds is about 12 days. A billion seconds is 31 years. And a trillion seconds? 31,000 years.

And our debt isn't just a trillion dollars... we already owe $11.8 trillion, and by 2019 we'll owe $24 trillion. President Obama's proposed budget for 2019 includes more money for interest payments than for national defence.

And just another thought . . .

There comes a point in your life when you realize:

Who matters,
Who never did,
Who won't anymore...
And who always will.

So, don't worry about people from your past,
there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

Just a thought . . .

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.'

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

Concentrate on this sentence... 'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

So, what's a title really worth?

Recently the media has made much about the disgraced Speaker of the House, Michael Martin MP, being 'honoured' with the title 'Baron Martin of Springburn, of Port Dundas in the city of Glasgow.' Now, I can readily agree with many of those who say that he should not have had this title conferred upon him, being, as he is, the first Speaker to be forced to resign from Parliament in 300 years, yet it beggars the question as to what these titles are really worth.

The whole system of peerages and titles has been questionable from the start, having often been abused by those with the power to influence or confer the titles. For example, being the illegitimate offspring of a member of royalty, especially if the offspring in question is a son, pretty well guarantees that a title will be conferred, and that title will be hereditary, which is even worse.

There can be no doubt that many people who have had titles conferred upon them have deserved to have their valour and integrity honoured, but the problem for me is that the huge swathes of characters elected to the Upper House or dubbed with a Knighthood, receive the honours as part of either a bargain struck with the government or as a retirement gift which will ensure that the ride on the Gravy Train of Corruption will be maintained. For a prime example of this we need only to look at the long queue of MPs, disgraced by the recent Expenses Scandal, who are waiting to be elevated to the Upper House. Ah well, it's said that there is honour amongst thieves, isn't it!

Would I ever want to accept one of these honours in the (unlikely) event that I was offered one? Most definitely not! Why would I want to be grouped together with the likes of those who infamously hold, or have held, the assortment of odd titles that they have received as a result of their lying and cheating their way through the political system of the Nation?

Beautiful Places that I love . . .

Above is the picturesque village of Castle Combe in Wiltshire, only a few miles from my home town, and a place that I think is the quintessential English Village. It has been used in many films such as Dr Doolittle.

I love the Autumn, and so I couldn't resist putting this picture in. I wonder whether the reason that I love the autumnal colours has anything to do with my being a Leo?

Like many people, I'm fascinated by water, whether in deep, dark, brooding pools, or the movement of waterfalls.

This is a great shot of the Yosemite Valley which doesn't just speak for itself, it shouts about its beauty everywhere you turn.

A view of Cader Idris in Wales, the Land of Beautiful Places!

Last, but most certainly not least, in this brief look at places I love, is this pic of the wonderful Cornish coastline. All of these places make me think about holidays and also about what a wonderful world we have been blessed with. What a great responsibility we each have to do all that we can to maintain and protect our heritage.

Poem for Today : 'I Saw You'

I Saw You

So still

I saw you

sleeping,

in the early morning,

sunlight playing

around your lips,

parted —

Smiling.

memories of sleep

in your eyes,

visible.

Thoughts of yesterday

through a half-formed tear:

echoes of last words,

shadows of lost hopes,

perfumes,

acrid,

mingling.

Reaching down,

touching you —

needing you —

loving you.

my tears

falling

into the darkness.

Realisation comes —

you are not sleeping.

© 1978 : Colin Gordon-Farleigh

A new Meditation from Joanne Lowe: 'Do You Have the Living Water'

DO YOU HAVE THE LIVING WATER

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 4: 10, 13, 14 (King James Version)

I drink a lot of water. I have a fifty two ounce mug that I got from Tom Thumb. Some days, I fill it with water and ice three times within two hours and I am still thirsty. No matter how many times we fill our water mugs and how much water we drink at one time, we will still get thirsty again. However, our precious Saviour has promised us that we will never thirst again if we drink of the water that He gives us. Jesus said “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst”.

Only the living water that comes from Jesus will quench our thirst for love and acceptance. People are looking for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. There are times when people do drugs, drink alcohol and have sex because their friends tell them that doing these things will make them feel good. That is a lie straight from the pits of hell. People who say these things are not friends.

The unconditional love that Jesus has for you will never end. Allow Jesus to fill your heart with His living water and you will never be thirsty again. You will find unconditional love and acceptance for all eternity when you give your heart and life to Jesus. Open the door of your heart and invite Jesus into your heart to be your personal Saviour.

Joanne Lowe

September 4, 2009

joannelowe8@cox.net

www.joanne-freedominjesus.blogspot.com

Emynau Cymraeg . . . Another hymn in Welsh and in English.

On Wednesday I published one of my hymns which has been translated into Welsh on my blog, and because of the welcome it received I am publishing another one today. Sung to the popular hymn tune Blaenwern, which many of you will recognise as the most popular tune to the hymn Love Divine, it's a hymn which speaks of walking with Christ, and the surety of knowing that He is with you in all that you do when you opt to serve Him all of your life. I hope, dear reader, that you enjoy it, and especially that you will enjoy singing it. Why not sing it in your morning service at Church or Chapel soon. All I ask is that you acknowledge its use to CCLI as usual.

O’r Rhyfeddod! 8.7.8.7.

Tôn: Blaenwern
Clywaf d’alwad O! Waredwr,
I dy wasanaethu Di:
Fendigedig Iesu, deuaf
I’th ewyllys, plygaf i.
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Brynwr gwerthfawr ‘rwyf yn rhydd,
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd,
Bodlon yn Dy waith bob dydd.

Drwy fy mywyd, cwsg neu effro,
Ddydd neu nos, O! ysbryd byw
‘Rwyt arweinydd a diddanydd,
Ti yw popeth im fy Nuw.
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd . . .

Teimlaf Di gerllaw yn fythol,
Cerddi gyda mi bob cam,
Yn ddiogel ‘rwyt yn gwarchod,
Cariad mwy na chariad mam.
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd . . .

Ti O! Grist, yw fy ngwaredwr,
Aethost drosof fi I’r Groes,
O! Fab Duw fy mhrynwr dedwydd,
Fe’th addolaf hyd fy oes.
O’r rhyfeddod, O’r llawenydd . . .
© Colin Gordon-Farleigh, 2006
Cyf. Olwen Williams

Here’s the English version of this hymn:

Oh, the Wonder! 8.7.8.7.
Tune ‘Blaenwern’.
Saviour, now I hear you calling
Me to serve You here below;
Blessed Jesus, I will follow,
Where You lead me I will go.
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Precious Saviour, I am free!
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture!
Purest joy of serving Thee.

In my waking and my sleeping,
At the morn or eventide,
Holy Spirit in this temple,
As my Comforter and Guide.
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture! . . .

Knowing You are always near me,
Walking always by my side,
Ever safely watching o’er me,
Blessed Saviour, friend and guide.
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture! . . .

I acknowledge You as Saviour,
Who hung there upon the tree,
Worship You, my blest Redeemer,
Son of God who died for me.
Oh, the wonder! Oh, the rapture! . . .
© Colin Gordon-Farleigh, 2006

Trouble with Toasters!

Last week, after putting up with a toaster that was gradually dying, we decided to buy a new one and looked through the catalogue to see what we should get, finally settling on a Russell Hobbs model that would take 4 pieces of bread at once. There were two problems with this first one, namely that the openings were too small for normal bread slices, meaning that you needed to either turn the bread round part way through the job or else trim the bread to size, and secondly, by far the most annoying problem, on completing the toasting cycle, only one side of the bread was browned.

Back to the shop we went with it and exchanged it for a Morphy Richards 4-slice toaster, pictured above, only to find that both problems still existed, although, to be fair, the size was not as much a problem as the first one had been.

Looking up some of the reviews on toasters we discovered that, just as many people believe about planetary habitation, we are not alone. It would appear that there are many people complaining of exactly the same two problems as us.

Surely it cannot be too difficult for the manufacturers to sort out these basic problems and market a toaster that works as one would expect it to? What sort of experience have you had? Why not post a comment and let us know.

Forging friendships across the world

One of the things that I like about the Internet is that it allows you the advantage of meeting folk that you might never have the chance to do otherwise, albeit that you meet them in a 'virtual world'. Recently, whilst looking for any information on the poet Richard Ball on the Internet, I stumbled across a Blog which is the home site of a poet named Billy Jones, aka 'Recycle Billy', and decided to follow through his site a little. It turned out that Richard Ball was one of the poets who had influenced Billy, and he has a great respect for Richard's writing, as I have myself. This gave us some good common ground, and so I decided to drop him a line, and then thought that it would be good if it was a line in verse. Hence I sent him the following:

I stumbled across your blog today,
and that's not all ---
for when I arrived at the starting point
you mentioned Richard Ball.
You say he was an influence
on the way you craft your words,
well, I was the first to publish him,
I wondered if you'd heard.
I had the mighty privilege
of counting him a friend,
and watching him with pen in hand,
as words would twist and bend
until he wrenched a poem
from the bowels of the page;
yes, Richard surely qualifies
as a 'Great Man' of this Age.

Billy says on his Blog, BloggingPoet.com, that it used to be (I quote), 'one of the most, if not the most, popular poetry blogs in the world with as many as 80,000 plus readers a month until keeping up my popularity wore me down.' Why not take a look at his site and see for yourself.

One of the things that I likes about his work that I read on the blog was the fact that, in much the same manner as myself, he writes for the 'ordinary man' with no pretence about being a great academic. He writes the things that he wants to say, communicating them in an easily read and absorbed format. In my experience this is what matters. What's the point in being so clever with what you write that hardly anyone wants to read it because they can't understand what you are getting at? Below I'm posting one of the verses that I particularly liked, and which spoke the words that illustrate and educate at one and the same time.

A Poet Dreams

His dreams were things he'd never seen,
things he'd never known.
Words repressed into regrets--
no voices on the phone.
And while he waits, he hesitates
to breach the great unknown,
step out into a world anew...
He hides there all alone.

Copyright 2009, Billy Jones

.

Poem for today: 'Waiting for You'

Here's a poem taken from my book Flight of a Bee, originally published in 1978 and reprinted again last year. Hope you like it. If you are really into poetry like me, then why not email me one of your poems that you would like to see featured on my blog under the header Guest Poet for Today.

Waiting for You

I stand
as agreed
Beneath
the friendly clock
on Platform Two.
Waiting,
dreaming,
waiting for you;
the soft ticking
of the clock
reminding me
at seven
you arrive.
At eight o’clock
I stand
Cursing
that sullen sound,
Questioning
where you went —
till when—
with whom.

Welsh Hymns/Emynau Cymraeg

I'm often being asked about those of my hymns that have been translated into Welsh, and so I'm going to publish a few occasionally here. Below is my hymn Jesus My Saviour reproduced in both Welsh and English. It is sung to the tune 'Bunessan' which is the tune used for the hymn Morning Has Broken. I hope you like it and enjoy singing it. If you use it in your church please ensure that you notify CCLI of its usage.

IESU NGWAREDWR (Jesus My Saviour)
(TÔN: Bunessan)
Iesu Ngwaredwr,
Geidwad trugarog,
Maddau ein beiau,
Gwir Fab y Tad.
‘Rôl edifeirwch
Duw rydd faddeuant,
Cawn iachawdwriaeth
Drwy’r Iesu mad.

Iesu ddaeth atom
O nef y Duwdod,
Ganddo mae’r ateb
I gyflwr dyn.
Angau yw cyflog
Pechod , ond talodd
Ein holl ddyledion
Â’i waed ei hun.

Deuwn, addolwn,
Gweision y deyrnas,
Tystion ei gariad
I ddynolryw;
Nawr a’n dragwyddol,
Nes gweld ei wyneb,
Caria’r colledig
Deillion a briw.

Nawr gorfoleddwn
Caed iachawdwriaeth
Drwy Iesu’r prynwr
Ddaeth oddi fry.
Ef yw ein Ceidwd,
Mab y goruchaf,
Bendith ei gariad
Roddwyd i ni.

Dyrchafwn foliant
I nef y nefoedd;
Fe ddaw’r diwrnod
Cawn weld ei wedd.
Canau’r angylion
Glod ei ogoniant
Ef yw’r Meseia,
Awdur ein hedd.
© 2009 Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Cyf: Eirlys Gruffydd


Jesus, My Saviour 10.9.10.9.
(TUNE: Bunessan)

Jesus my Saviour, Son of the Father,
Sins are forgiven, mercy divine;
With true repentance comes God’s forgiveness,
I claim salvation, Jesus is mine.

Jesus descended down from God’s heaven,
He is God’s answer to mankind’s sin;
Death was sin’s payment, once and for ever,
Our Saviour died that we might go in.

Now we must worship, serving the Kingdom,
Witness of His love to all mankind;
Now and for ever, until we see Him,
Burdened by all the lost and the blind.

We can rejoice now, our rich salvation,
Granted to us through Jesus above;
He is our Saviour, Son of the Father,
Gift of redemption, blessed by His love.

Send all your praises winging to heaven,
‘Waiting the day when you see His face;
Angels surround Him, praising His glory,
Promised Messiah, sent by God’s grace.
© Colin Gordon-Farleigh, 2006

New meditation from Joanne Lowe: Jesus is Praying For Us

JESUS IS PRAYING FOR US

“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”
Luke 22: 31, 32 (King James Version)

How thankful I am that my friends pray for me. I really do appreciate it when people pray for me because we can’t make it through this world that is filled with so much violence and corruption without prayer. However, to know that my precious Saviour is praying for me humbles me and fills my heart to overflowing with joy and happiness and gratitude. Jesus does not play favorites. If He prayed for Simon, He is praying for us.

Did you know that satan is trying his best to defeat every Christian and he will do all that he can to discourage us so that we will give up and stop serving Jesus? We must be on our guard every minute. Has this ever happened to you? It has happened to me several times. Things are going wonderful with no problems for a change when all of a sudden; satan hurls one of his vicious poisonous darts. Once again we have been kicked off of the mountain top and we are back down in the valley of discouragement and despair.

It is very important that we put on the whole armour of God before we get out of bed. It only takes one minute for satan to lie to us and attack us. We read in the Bible “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6: 10, 11). Don’t get out of bed without putting on the whole armour of God! Don’t allow satan to attack you. Prepare for the battle. Thank You, Jesus, for loving us unconditionally and for praying for us.

Joanne Lowe
September 1, 2009
joannelowe8@cox.net
www.joanne-freedominjesus.blogspot.com

A Hymn for Harvest . . .

Amongst the many hymns that I have written over the passage of time, one which has proved to be a great favourite with many people is Harvest Time, and with thoughts of the many Harvest Festival services likely over the next couple of months, I thought that it would be a good idea to share it with you, dear reader. Please feel free to use it in your services. All that I ask is that you report its use to CCLI (Christian Copyright Licencing International).

If you click on the picture of the music it will be enlarged and you should be able to print it off. If you have a problem then just email me! Here are the words:

Harvest Time

See, the land is ripe for harvest,

Look ye upward for your Lord,

He will soon appear in glory,

As He promised in His Word.

He’s returning for the faithful.

For the ones who know Him true:

Make quite certain you are ready

When He calls out loud for you!

The land is ripe, the land is ripe,

The fields are white as new:

Hasten now to reap the crops,

For the labourers are but few.

We’re told it is just a twinkling

Of an eye, it is so brief.

He’ll return in clouds of glory

For those with firm belief.

Yes, the land is ripe for harvest,

For the people to go home,

Yes, the land is ripe for harvest,

As He calls us for His own.

The land is ripe, the land is ripe,

The fields are white as new:

Hasten now to reap the crops,

For the labourers are but few.

'You're The Voice' CD due for release shortly

Children unite through music, to stand up against gun & knife crime.

From the deprived backstreets of Croxteth and Norris Green in Liverpool emerges a project of hope called “You’re The Voice”. This grass roots campaign has engaged 6,000 pupils through school assemblies and 25 pupils from each school have been brought together as a community choir to record a CD, in a symbolic joining of the community – once divided. Every Primary and Secondary school in these areas have signed up to this project. The 350 strong choir of 5-17 year old children, known as ‘A Voice Of One’ will release the John Farnham classic “You’re The Voice as an anti gun and knife song on September 14^th, 2009.

Project Director Liam Moore was born and raised in Norris Green and has tirelessly worked on this initiative. “This was an opportunity for the community to unite against the violence often associated with their areas. Through the power of music and this song, we hope to empower and engage children and young people to stand up against guns, knives and gang culture and become positive role models in their communities. We are aware that there are community projects in many areas but we have taken this one to the doorsteps of their schools. We aim to reach the young people before they become disillusioned with their lives.

Although it is a Liverpool led project it has a wider relevance to every inner city in the UK and we see this as a national campaign and intend to get the support of MP’s, Government officials, Police and Celebrities”.

Liam is no stranger to the music business as in 1996 he won “Stars In Your eyes” as Phil Collins. This success brought him fame and fortune and the chance to appear in front of superstar Phil Collins, who paid tribute to his performance. However fame led to despair and depression. At this point he became a Christian and his life began to change. Opportunities took him to America where he decided to become a Minister. Upon returning to Liverpool Liam found himself devastated by the series of events in his home town of Norris Green. The tragedies of Anthony Walker and Rhys Jones fired up a passion within him to make a difference. As a teenager he himself had been a disillusioned youth, became a gang member and brushed with the law – he has first hand knowledge of the reasons why young people feel the need to join gangs. “Much of gang culture is about wanting to be accepted, to be part of something and by putting together this choir we are giving them a purpose and self worth, despite the environment they come from. Some children have brothers and dads who are involved in gangs and crime so this project is spreading the message to adults too.”

Paul Halliwell, Deputy Head of De La Salle School has seen the benefits first hand of the campaign, “the lyrics of this song communicate the message that together young people can find their voice and use it, instilling in them self esteem and pride. They can make a difference to their communities by being positive, united and inclusive.”

Proceeds from the sale of “You’re The Voice “ will be split between the Rhys Jones Memorial Fund, Voice In The City programme, workshops and other community projects, combating gun and knife and gang crime.

¨ The release of the record will be the catalyst for the launch of the Voice In the City programme. The programme promotes positive citizenship, social justice and community cohesion through workshops in poetry, music, photography, performing arts, writing, sport and leisure and diversionary activities.

The above article is extracted from the September/October edition of The Voice Christian News & Views which is available absolutely FREE OF CHARGE every two months simply by registering to receive it through the post by clicking here and entering your details.