Today Someone...Christmas 2008

Dear Friends,

Wishing you and your loved ones
A blessed Christmas
And a peaceful New Year.

Love & Blessings,

Doreen, Doug and family.

Today Someone remembers Jesus Birth;

Jesus, great beyond all splendour,
Was born of man, humble and poor.
Riches for a manger He did surrender,
Palace courts for a stable floor.

O God, who is beyond all praising,
For love's sake, sent His Son as man;
A lowly life He lived, but sinners raising
Heavenwards, according to God's plan.

Lord God, love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King we worship Thee.
Immanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what You would have us be.

Let us Pray;

Dear Lord,

This Christmas we come to You,
With thanksgiving in our hearts;
You provide for all our needs...
This year and as the new one starts.

Let us no longer dwell on things
Ungodly, to which we may aspire;
But look upon the babe in a manger,
He is all that we should desire.

We thank You, loving Father,
For sending us Your only Son
To be born in a humble stable,
Through His life, our souls are won.

Now we ask You Lord to show us,
Your will for the year to come;
As we start afresh this New Year,
May we be all You want us to become.

Amen.

(by Doreen Hardie)

Today Someone ...Thank you Lord Jesus!

Dear Lord,

Today someone prays for the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

May His Grace and peace be with you;

He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing

In the heavenly realms for all that you do.

He chose you before the creation of the world

To be holy and blameless in His sight.

He predestined you to be adopted as His child,

In love, through Jesus Christ, our light.

God in His pleasure and free will-

Gave you His glorious grace,

By sending His beloved Son Jesus,

To die for your sins and disgrace.

Through His painful death on the cross,

His blood bought you redemption.

You were included in Christ when you heard

His word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.

Having believed, you were marked with His seal,

The promised Holy Spirit,

Who guarantees your inheritance-to the praise of His glory.

Nothing is earned by your own merit.

All things in heaven and on earth

Come together under one head;

With the Spirit of wisdom and revelation,

Along His path you are led.

The working of God's mighty strength,

Raised Jesus from the dead

And seated Him at His right hand,

So that you may have salvation instead.

He reigns above all power and dominion,

Every authority and title that's given;

Throughout the ages God has placed all things

Under Jesus, on earth and in heaven.

I pray that your heart may be enlightened,

By the hope to which you are called,

The riches of His glorious inheritance

On you He has outpoured.

Amen.

Ephesians 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfilment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Thank you Lord Jesus!

Dear Friends,

Let us be thankful today for God's saving grace.

It is not through our own merit that we are saved but by grace alone.

Thank you Lord Jesus!

We have to accept His death and resurrection,

as His ultimate sacrifice, so that our sins can be forgiven.

Thank you Lord Jesus!

We have to acknowledge that we are sinners.

Our sins nailed Jesus to the cross. When we ask for forgiveness, He forgives.

Thank you Lord Jesus!

We have to be open to the infilling of His Spirit.

He sent His Holy Spirit to be with us, our guide and comforter.

Thank you Lord Jesus!

We need to share His Word with others,

so that they too may share in the inheritance of God's kingdom.

Thank you Lord Jesus!

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

(John 3:16)

Thank you Lord Jesus!

(by Doreen Hardie)

Today Someone...A Gift of Love

A dedication to my great-niece, Camryn Rose Montague,

born 19 October 2008, in Sydney, Australia.

May God bless her always!

God's Word says;

Children are a heritage of the LORD:
and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
(Psalm 127:3)

...Pour out your heart like water
in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to Him
for the lives of your children...
(Lamentations 2:19)

Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not turn from it.
(Proverbs 22:6)

Do not provoke your children;
bring them up in the training
and instruction of the Lord.
(Ephesians 6:4)

And all your children will be taught of the LORD;
and great shall be the peace of your children.
(Isaiah 54:13)

Words of Wisdom;

These are beautiful words of wisdom;
Try to live by them,
and bring your child up in His word.
With God's guidance, how can you go wrong?

He is a loving Father.
As a parent you know
how much you love your child;
How much greater then,
is the love of God for us,
His children.

"Let the little children come to me,
and do not hinder them, for the
kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
(Mark 10:14)
He's just waiting to become our
best friend and Saviour!

You have been blessed with the responsibility
Of raising your child for His glory.
Do it well, and enjoy each and every day
As a blessing from God above.

Love changes Everything!

I was merely a woman,
God sent you as my child;
I am now a mother,
Gentle, loving and mild.

I was just a man
Until you came along;
Now I am a father,
Protective and strong.

We were a couple,
You have made us three;
With you, God has blessed us,
We are now a family.

Our house has become a home,
Our garden, your playground;
Life won't ever be the same,
Now that you're around.

Children are a blessing,
Sent from God above;
Changing our lifestyle,
Filling our days with love.

(By Doreen Hardie)

Let us Pray...

Dear Lord,

You have blessed us
With Your "Gift of Love".
A little angel sent down
From our Father above.

How do we thank You,
For our precious child?
So beautiful and perfect;
On us You've surely smiled.

Dependant on our nurturing,
Inquisitive of all that's new.
Eating, sleeping, growing;
Lord, made in the image of You.

Guide us as we teach her,
On Your path to walk.
May You be reflected
In her relationships and talk.

We are now parents,
Grow us in Your way;
So we may be Your example,
To our child every day.

Amen.

(By Doreen Hardie)

Today someone...Save me, O God

Dear Lord,

Today someone calls to You
For the salvation of his soul.
In his anguish, he looks for You,
As You can make him whole.

His throat is parched from calling,
Do You hear his voice?
His eyes fail, looking for the Lord,
Will he ever again rejoice?

"You, God, know all my faults,
My guilt is not hidden from You!
May those who believe, not fall,
Because of the sinful things I do!"

He is scorned by those who now hate him.
He is mocked for having done wrong.
He endures his shame for God's sake,
He's become a stranger to the throng.

"Dear LORD, I pray to you,
To answer me with Your salvation.
In your great love, O God,
Show me favour over this evil nation."

God will pour out His wrath
On those who harm His children.
He will blot them from His book of life,
Guilty, never to be forgiven.

"I will praise God's name in song
And glorify Him with thanksgiving.
He has come to save His people who,
In God's way, are faithfully living."

Amen.

(Based on Psalm 69)

Tell My People to feed My lambs...

"My flock is thirsting for a revelation of Me,
go forth and feed My lambs, refresh My sheep.
The time is coming when they will not follow the
Shepard's voice, to the water...to the food of life.

You must work now while there is yet time.
Any little bit of inspiration to another that
comes through Me will not go astray.
Trust in Me, share My Word with everyone.

Yes, share with everyone you encounter...
do not be afraid, do not be ashamed,
do not be embarrassed...I am with you.
Trust in Me the Lord God Almighty,

AND DO MY WILL."

(Revelation 14: 19-20)
19 So the angel swung his scythe on the earth
and stripped the grapes and gathered the
vintage from the vines of the earth
and cast it into the huge winepress
of God's indignation and wrath.

20 And the grapes in the winepress
were trodden outside the city, and
blood poured from the winepress,
reaching as high as horses' bridles,
for a distance of about 200 miles.

"I want My harvest of souls to be great.
Says the Lord...

I want the evil one to be ashamed of the
river of blood that pours forth from his
harvest that will be crushed in the
wine-press outside My gates.

I do not want him to have a harvest
two hundred miles long and five feet deep.
Turn those away from fulfilling their evil
desires and receiving the judgement reserved
for ‘him who deceives’.

Turn them to My riches in Glory,
so that they may fully understand
the love and MERCY of the
Almighty God!"

...And Pray

Dear Lord,

Today I come before You on bended knee,
I am a sinner, too dreadful for You to see.

You, Lord, set the example so great,
Gave me the free choice to imitate.

But each day I fall far short of You,
In my actions, all I say and all I do.

I cry out to You for forgiveness,
I am so ashamed of my sinfulness.

You died upon the cross me,
From all sin You set me free.

Jesus You rose to heaven above,
Dying for my sin, Your gift of love.

As my Saviour, come into my life,
Free me from this sin and strife.

Keep me in the palm of Your hand,
I know sweet Jesus You understand.

As I face each day anew,
I want to be more like You.

Amen.


By Doreen Hardie

Today Someone...Where Are We Going In Our Grief?

A familiar noise now startles me,

I sadly turn in anticipation,

Knowing you're not coming back,

Has become my daily realisation.

Days, months, years go by,

Still, heart-broken, I long for you.

One more hug, a look, a word,

Will never again happen, it's true.

That does not mean I must forget,

Or put away my feelings, so deep.

My love for you will never change,

Special memories in my heart, I'll keep.

Sometimes I can talk of you,

Other times the tears just flow.

Losing you was the hardest thing,

I've had to face in life, you know.

Just when I feel I can't go on,

The pain's too much to bear.

The Lord sends me His Comforter,

I can talk to Him in prayer.

There's not a feeling He does not know.

Or a heartache He's never endured.

He understands our every need,

Our happiness He has secured.

One day He'll lift us up to Him,

To dwell in Heaven for all eternity.

Oh how I long for that glorious day,

When united with my loved one I will be.

(By Doreen Hardie)

The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 is most encouraging when he says;

~“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”~

God doesn't promise us tomorrow, but He does promise us eternity filled with love we cannot comprehend.

Our grief can point us toward timeless truths that will help us weather future storms.

Through our trials, God bids us to choose:

Do we believe, or do we not?

Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations?

Can we surrender our concern in things that don't matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?

What is man that Thou art mindful of him?

We don't know much, but we know this:

No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us, each and every day, lies in the same safe and impregnable place, in the hollow of God's hand.

JESUS IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE,

NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER

EXCEPT BY HIS SON WHO DIED FOR YOU !

IF YOU WERE TO DIE TODAY DO YOU KNOW

FOR SURE WHERE YOU'LL SPEND ETERNITY ?

Today Someone...Contemplation

As I sit here and contemplate,

My thoughts drift back, you see,

To childhood friends and animals,

The way life used to be!

First loves and forever friends,

Childlike promises made to keep.

I wonder if they remember me,

Or hold me in their hearts, so deep.

Family times and memories,

Built up in days gone by.

How the way of life has changed,

It causes me to sigh!

Now I've raised my own,

And sent them on their way.

I pray for happiness and safety,

As on life's path they stay.

I glance into the mirror;

When did those lines appear?

Time has flown by so fast,

I've lost many I hold dear.

Grandparents, aunts and uncles,

Many friends, young and old.

A tear slips down my cheek,

So many memories left untold.

The day I came to know the Lord,

Was such an important event.

When God's love surrounds you,

From sin you can repent.

Then glory of Heaven awaits you,

Soon from this world you'll leave,

Without sadness or bitterness,

As eternal happiness you'll receive.

So when you see me sitting there,

A vague look on my face,

I'm contemplating my loves, my loss,

My life and God's amazing grace.

(By Doreen Hardie)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.

In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will—

To the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.

(Ephesians 1: 3-6)

In my sitting-room I have a bronze statue of a lady sitting, staring into space.

It's titled "Contemplation".

My Mum and I frequently sit and chat about life.

Some things we share, others are better left unsaid.

Often she just sits, and if I question her, she says;

" I'm just thinking my thoughts."

We all need to make some quiet time in our day to "think our thoughts";

To contemplate on God's grace and love.

What are we if it were not for Him?

God created us.

His Word, the Bible, is our daily guidance.

And at the end of the day He will take us Home to spend eternity with Him.

Make some time today to contemplate on all God has done for you.

Today Someone...A time of Loss

Victoria Katherine Petzer

22/09/1980 - 17/07/2008

My Dearest Friends,

Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

(Matthew 5:4)

Grief is the price we pay for love!

To love deeply is to grieve our losses deeply.

We wonder when grief hits hard, why did this happen?

To remind us of the brevity and fragility of life...

To deepen the faith of those who carry on...

It's hard to answer when everything seems dark.

All we want at this moment is to be relieved of our inner pain.

We feel separation anxiety.

We want life with our loved one in it...

We are afraid of the unknown.

Mourning means facing what hurts us, but remember God is here to comfort us.

Weeping may endure for a night,

but joy cometh in the morning.

(Psalm 30:5)

Morning always comes!

Your grief will ease with time.

It's not that you'll forget, it's that you'll remember it differently.

Your tomorrows are in God's hands, and He'll be there for you when every other support has gone.

Times and seasons change, but not "the God of all comfort."

He's promised never to leave you.

So be encouraged, today He'll be with you wherever you go!

May God bless you and bring you comfort.

Love & blessings,

Doreen.

Please visit our "Haven of Refuge Comfort Support Group"

Mommy Please Remember This

Dear Lord,

Today someone comes before You

With a heavy heart of grief.

Victoria has been called home to You

Our aching hearts need some relief...

Mommy I see you grieve for me,

For now I've gone away.

I understand you'll miss me so,

We always expect death another day.

Remember me the way I was;

Your sweetest little girl.

With long blond hair & twinkling eyes,

Around & around I loved to swirl.

Inside of me a tom boy lurked,

Although you dressed me in lace;

When given half the chance,

I preferred mud on my face.

The years went by so quickly,

And all my studies were through.

I enjoyed many adventures,

As into a woman I grew.

Now I have no worries,

About having to grow old.

I hope many happy stories

Of my life may still be told.

Each morning when you wake,

And a tear for me you shed.

Thank God for loaning me to you,

And for the life of love we led.

He's our Father, He understands;

He saw His Beloved Son die too.

He will be your comfort...

He will your happiness renew.

Mommy please remember this,

Don't think we're far apart;

With each little memory of me,

I'll be here in your heart.

Your little girl,

Victoria.

Amen.

Written for my dear friend Lis on the loss of her 27 year old daughter,

Victoria. 22/09/1980 - 17/07/2008.

No words can express the grief we feel, with you at the loss of Victoria.

She is not far away, with each memory, in our hearts she'll stay.

Today Someone...God of All Comfort

Dear Lord,

Today someone prays for comfort,

For those who have suffered loss.

God our Father in heaven understands,

He saw His Son die on the cross.

He knows the pain you are feeling,

His soul cries out to you.

He's holding you close to His heart,

He is carrying you through.

God, the Father of compassion,

Enfolds you with His comfort...

He tells you not to sorrow hopelessly,

Because eternal life, His Son has bought.

Our loved one's bodies have fallen asleep,

Their spirits have gone to be with the Lord.

When Jesus returns, He'll bring the dead,

And their bodies will be their eternal reward.

Although we weep at the death of a loved one,

Jesus understands, He wept for Lazarus...

His followers knew it was a sign of His love.

Let us grieve too, at our loss.

Right now you feel weary and empty,

There's a void that cannot be filled.

Each day feels so long and so lonely,

The pain within won't be stilled.

"Blessed are those who mourn,

For they will be comforted..."

These promises the Lord has given,

As your tears from Him can't be hid.

With God we need not fear,

No sadness should cloud our minds,

For each moment lies in His hands,

With Him, peace is what we'll find.

So cast all sorrow upon Him,

Fret not about what tomorrow may bring,

For the Lord watches over His children,

With Him, we can face anything.

Amen.

(By Doreen Hardie)

Today Someone...Happy Father's Day

1 Kings 8:57

May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us.

1 Chronicles 12:17

But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you."

Nehemiah 9:32

"O our God, the great, mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love...

Malachi 2:10

Have we not all one Father ? Did not one God create us?

We call God our Father.

This Father's Day let us remember to praise and thank God for treating us as His children.

He has always seen to all our needs as a loving Father.

We often fall short of God's expectations,

but like a gentle Father He guides us on the right path.

Matthew 6: 9-13

"This, then, is how you should pray: "

'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'

We call our father's Dad.

This Father's Day let us show our Dads how much we love them.

Let us thank them for their support and guidance in our lives.

Dear Lord,

Father's are a lot of fun,

Keeping their children on the run.

Always finding something for them to do,

Teaching them to discover things that are new.

As children get older, Dad's tactics change,

He shows them how their life to arrange.

Independence is what they must learn,

So they can cope with life's every turn.

Then they are ready to flee the nest,

Dad is proud, they've turned out the best.

But he's just a phone call away,

To give advice, and he's there to pray.

He will always love his little ones,

His grown up daughters and his sons.

God blessed him with these special gifts,

Many a time his memory to them drifts.

Even when Dad's hair begins to grey,

His children listen to what he has to say.

Wisdom over the years he has learned,

Respect from his children he has earned.

Remember your Dad this Father's Day,

Young or old, we all should say,

"Dad I love you, and thank you for being you!

I'll be praying for you in all that you do!"

By Doreen Hardie.

Today Someone...The Miracle Of Life

Amy had been poorly for five months. She had been to a variety of doctors who tried all sorts of medication to no avail.
Eventually, one "wise" physician discovered her malady.
Relieved, Amy sat looking at the doctor across his desk.
She had no idea of the shock she was about to receive.

"It's nothing serious," he said, "You're pregnant!"

Most woman wait anxiously to hear these words...
it's the greatest news when you are hoping to start a family.
Amy protectively held her stomach.
She could not believe what she was hearing.
What was she going to tell Matt?
What was she going to tell her parents?
What would her workmates think?
She had just bought a place of her own with the help of her Dad, would he disown her?
How would she manage the repayments?
Would she have to stop working?

"What did you say?"

"You're pregnant!" he repeated.

"How can I be? I've been sick and on medication for months."

"Oh!" the doctor said, a frown clouding his face as he scanned the details in her file, "I see...and you're not married."

Amy swallowed hard.

"I can get you an abortion because there is a good chance your baby could have been harmed by the drugs you were taking in your first trimester," he went on, "You see that is when the major formation of the fetus occurs..."

None of this was making any sense to Amy, she just wanted to get out of there...to clear her head...to let all this information sink in.

After driving around aimlessly for half an hour, she devised a story she would tell her friends when she got back to the office.

"The doctors say they have really messed up with my diagnosis, they say I must have an abortion because they have harmed the fetus with the medication they have put me on, because they hadn't discovered I was pregnant."
Her voice trembled as she bravely held back her tears.

The office was silent.

"So you will murder this precious child of God," one fearless voice piped up,
"just because the doctor wants to get rid of his mistake and make things right again. Think about it Amy, nothing happens accidentally. God is testing you. You have to trust Him that this baby is the gift He wants you to have...or you can murder it and live with that on your conscience for the rest of your life!" continued the twenty year old.

The office had slowly emptied; the others did not want to get involved in this sensitive debate.

"But what if it's badly deformed and will have no quality of life...what then?" Amy cried.

"God is a merciful Father, if He feels you are strong enough to handle a special needs baby He will provide you with the strength. If God feels this little child of His will suffer needlessly He will take him home to be with Him, it's God's decision whether your baby lives or dies not yours. Doctors have been incorrect before, tests have been proven wrong!" continued Anna.

That evening Amy phoned Anna in tears.

"Matt doesn't want a child, he agrees with the doctor that it should be got rid of so we can continue with life as it is, with no complications. His family doesn’t know about our relationship, neither does mine. We don't want to tell them like this."

"Well don't come crying to me when your world falls apart because of this decision. You know your parents will find out. What will they think of you for not confiding in them on this most important decision in your life?
They love you, Amy!
Sleep on it and we'll chat in the morning."

The next day, a tired, strained looking Amy booked some anti-natal tests and scans.

"I just want to know some facts about this fetus before I make up my mind, this is my decision alone." She told Anna, who responded with a warm comforting hug.

It was a tense, emotional week for the two girls.
Then one bright, sunny morning Amy walked into the office, she looked different, she was glowing and smiling.

"Anna come and see the scans of my beautiful, perfect, baby boy. I'm 24 weeks pregnant and all is progressing normally the gynecologist said."

They both looked in awe at the pictures of his little face, a perfectly forming hand was held up to his ear. There was no mistaking this was a real baby. Amy had seen and heard his heart beating during the examination in the doctor's rooms.

Amy proudly held her slightly bulging tummy, "I love him so much!" she exclaimed.

"Even if it's just you and me, baby boy, we're going to make it!"

Anna smiled and praised God for this miracle of life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a true story.

"Amy" is now the proud, single mother of her little boy.

She has the full support of her loving family who are grateful for her decision not to abort her baby.

The father, sadly, wants nothing to do with his son.

I want to thank you Lord, for this new life.

May this little boy grow in your image and likeness and come to know

you as his personal Savior.

Amen.

Claire, I am proud of the way you stood up for God's word on unborn life.

(By Doreen Hardie)

PRAYER FOR BIRTHRIGHT

O God,

Creator of the universe, we praise and thank you for the gifts of life, love and grace.

Strengthened by these gifts, inspire us to be sensitive to the needs of women who are pregnant and afraid.

Bless these mothers with the courage and strength to choose life for their unborn babies.

We ask this in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

PRAYER FOR UNBORN LIFE

O GOD OF LIFE AND LOVE,

You have given us the power to bring new life into the world.

But all too often the mother's womb, that should be a nursery of life,

becomes instead a place of it's destruction.

Help us to remove this evil and ensure respect for all life made in

Your image and likeness, called to fulfil its promise on this earth,

and destined to find a home with you for all eternity.

We ask this through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord.

Amen.

Today Someone...Jesus Prayed

John 17:20-26

Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:

“I pray not only for these disciples, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, so that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

And I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one, as We are one,
I in them and You in Me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that You sent Me, and that You loved them even as You loved Me.

Father, they are Your gift to Me. I wish that where I am they also may be with Me, that they may see My glory that You gave Me, because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Righteous Father, the world also does not know You, but I know You, and they know that You sent Me. I made known to them Your name and I will make it known, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them and I in them.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What an awesome prayer, straight from God's Word, the Bible.
Jesus praying to His Father for us, for all mankind...
from His initial disciples, to us, to the generations that will come after us.

Jesus twelve disciples knew Him personally, they knew and believed God sent Jesus, and was within Jesus. They had witnessed this love, this power.
Greater truths were yet to be revealed to them in the events of Christ's death, resurrection and ascension into heaven.
Jesus' love is further revealed in the sending of His Holy Spirit to be with them, and us, and all generations.

Jesus prayed to His Father for us:
that we may believe that God sent Him;
that we may know that God sent Jesus because He loved us;
that we may share in the perfection of God's glory revealed in Jesus;
that we may know God and His love through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.

How then can we reject our own salvation bought by the blood of Jesus on the cross for our sins, because of the love of His Father, God?
Jesus prayed that all mankind may come to know God's saving love through sharing His Word with others.

Are you going to spread Jesus' Word so all men may be united as one in God's love for eternity?

For this unity, and our salvation, Jesus prayed to His Father.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Lord,

Today someone comes before You

With humility in her heart.

How much the Father loves us,

Is clear, right from the start.

He sent His only Son, Jesus,

To be our guiding light.

He lived here in this world,

A brother in our sight.

He put our needs before His own,

As he taught us everyday

Of God's unending love

And how we should pray.

Then He'd find a quiet place,

And heavenwards, lift His face;

His Father's love would surround Him

And fill Him with His grace.

How obedient You were, Lord,

Accepting Your Father's will;

Help us to be more faithful,

You saved our souls from ill.

May we spread Your Word, Lord,

Boldly, not secretly;

So others may share in Your glory,

United, for all eternity.

Amen.

By Doreen Hardie.

Today Someone...My best Friend

Dear Lord,

Today someone prays for her best friend...

When I was still a young girl

With pony-tails in my hair,

Jesus gave me my best friend

With whom my life I'd share.

God knew the responsibilities

Of things I could not foresee,

So He sent a special person

To walk each step with me.

We were there for each other

Through times of family strife.

We studied hard together,

Preparing ourselves for life.

The wedding bells sounded

As down the aisle we walked.

Planning for our future,

We talked, and talked, and talked.

Our family was extended,

With babies one, two and three.

They have truly been blessings,

Our special gifts from Thee.

Lord You've walked beside us,

Every step of the way.

Your love resides within us,

You guide us when we stray.

Where the years have gone,

I really do not know.

But our love grows deeper

As along life's path we go.

Now I want to thank you

For your love so strong and true.

I would not be who I am today

If God hadn't given me you.

Happy Anniversary, to the love of my life!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today, 3 April 2008, is our 26th Wedding Anniversary.

I can truly say that God has blessed me with the most wonderful husband and father to our children.

Marriage, like life, is not always easy...it is something you have to work at.

Never put your partner down to others or to their face, we are all human and we all make mistakes from time to time, and it is in those times we need the support of our partner, not ridicule.

Never go to sleep angry with each other, always try to resolve any misunderstanding you may have encountered in the day before you go to bed.

Kiss your partner and tell him you love him every day. (or her)

Stand by each other in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity, in happiness and in grief.

Spend quality time together, with family and with friends.

Remain best friends, laugh together, share secrets, hold hands and continue making plans for your future.

Uphold your partner in prayer before God and ask Him to bless each day of your marriage.

Today Someone...The Masquerade

I had been the victim of school bullying.

My parents changed my school and I hoped that the years of bullying were over.

Then it started…the taunts, the whispers, the sneers…

No more! I screamed into my pillow. No more! Please!...

Then the mask…

The simplicity of it was; that no matter how afraid, insecure, or vulnerable I felt,

no one would see. They would only see the mask.

The mask was inspired by my brother’s primary school reader, “The Troll under the Bridge”.

I became; “Billy the Goat – the grass is always greener on the other side”. That was my mask.

Billy the Goat was an instant hit.

He was crazy, rebellious, aggressive, daring, and most of all…he was fearless!

Billy could drink more than anyone else, he was crazier and funnier than most.

He was a good sportsman too!

The mask embedded itself, and was in a way, desperately massaged into place.

Ah…to be accepted! To be part of the ‘in’ crowd.

The status!

I must say, that I never allowed any form of bullying to take place from my group.

I hated bullies, I suspect it was just that I couldn’t handle anyone else going through the same things that I went through.

The years passed and into adulthood I ventured, wearing my mask.

Even I was unaware of who the real me was any more.

Drink, drugs, broken relationships...

Who was I ?

I found myself in church, I had been given my last chance to change.

I took it...

As I gave myself to Jesus, and I accepted that my sins were forgiven something happened.

The mask of deception and fear that become so intertwined,

so embedded in my life that I couldn’t remove it, came off.

It was as if the Lord had slipped His Hand under the mask and supernaturally just popped it off.

I felt vulnerable, afraid, guilty, shamed, convicted of sin, and insecure.

However, I had never felt so free.

I felt this huge burden lift from me.

I had received the miracle of being reborn.

I was a new creation.

(Extracts from "Justin’s Mask-erade"

A brief biography of Justin Lippiatt.)

The Painted Face.

With painted face and huge red nose,

His tummy wobbles under bright, baggy clothes.

His over-sized shoes cause him to trip,

His belly goes "Pop" and he quivers his lip.

Happy children laugh with delight,

Because he is such a funny sight.

Tumbling about and falling down,

Everyone loves the clumsy old clown.

His painted face is his disguise

No one can guess if he's silly or wise.

What are his feelings deep within?

Is he sad beneath that grin?

Each new day as you face life's tasks

Do you go out wearing your masks?

Feigning an image you know is not true

Just to please others all around you.

But there is One who knows you inside,

And with you He will always abide.

With God there is no need for pretence,

Because He brought you into existence.

Face life, be who you are,

With God within, you're better by far.

Others will then show you respect,

And bright, happy days you'll come to expect.

(By Doreen Hardie)

Today Someone...Your rod & Your staff, they comfort me.

Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

(Matthew 5:4)

Grief is the price we pay for love!

To love deeply is to grieve our losses deeply.

We wonder when grief hits hard, why did this happen?

It's hard to face each new day when everything seems so dark.

All we want is to be relieved of the pain.

Each day only seems to get worse as we realise that our loved one is never coming home.

We won't hear that familiar voice again, or feel that comfortable warm embrace.

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

( Psalm 30:5)

Morning always comes!

Your grief will ease with time.

You will begin to see why the Lord called your loved one home when He did.

You may be grateful that he isn't around to witness certain changes.

When facing new challenges, you may find yourself saying,

"I'm glad, he's not here to see this. He would never tolerate that."

You'll never forget your loved one, even as life moves on.

You'll remember their passing differently, with more gratitude and less grief.

God's love and timing are perfect, we must not lose our trust in Him.

He knows how much each of us can bear, and He calls us home at His appointed time.

Being Christians, we have God's promise of everlasting life.

Our salvation was bought by Jesus death on the cross for our sins, and His glorious resurrection.

Our loved one's bodies have fallen asleep, their spirits have gone to be with the Lord.

When Jesus returns, He'll bring the dead, and their bodies will be their eternal reward.

Once life gets back to "normal" you feel so weary and empty, and the void left by your loved one's passing can't be filled.

Put your trust in God and do not fear or let your sadness cloud your mind.

Give Him each moment and you will find the peace and comfort you need.

Remember that times and seasons may change, but "the God of all comfort" will never change or leave you.

So be encouraged knowing that He'll be with you wherever you go!

An Invitation.

The Lord has prepared a mansion for you,

And sent an invitation,

The blessings you will receive there,

Will be beyond your wildest expectation.

Angels will be gathered at the gate,

To joyously welcome you home.

And God the Father, in all His glory,

Will be seated on His throne.

There you will find the peace you seek,

Love and harmony.

The pain and struggles of life will be gone,

Happiness is all you will see.

Thoughts of Heaven bring hope

Of living with God forevermore.

So be ready to receive His invitation,

When He comes knocking at your door.

Accepting Jesus died upon the cross for you,

Your sins to take away.

Asking for God's forgiveness now,

Will open Heaven's door for you one day.

And you will dwell in the house of the Lord

FOREVER.

Amen.

Please visit "Haven of Refuge Comfort Support Group"

Today Someone...14 February 2008

A Thankful Heart.

All our Valentine cards have lovely pictures of hearts on them...pink, red, lacy or plain.

Hearts depict love, but we also use them as a symbol of thanksgiving.

A thankful heart.

There are many passages in the Bible about being thankful, so today as I look at these hearts I am reminded that God wants us to turn to Him with thankful hearts.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,

Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before Him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God.

It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

and His courts with praise;

give thanks to Him and praise His name.

For the LORD is good and His love endures forever;

His faithfulness continues through all generations.

(Psalm 100)

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

(Colossians 2:6-7)

Let us pray:

Dear Lord,

Today someone kneels to pray,

On this St Valentine's Day,

For a thankful heart, for every blessing

That You have so freely sent my way.

Sometimes I'm unaware,

Of all You do for me.

If it weren't for Your grace, Oh God,

Where would I be?

God's Word dwells within me,

As each new day I start.

I sing songs of praise to the Lord,

With gratitude in my heart.

You clothe me with patience, kindness,

Humility, gentleness and compassion.

You teach me to forgive,

Just as You pardon my sin.

Over and above all these virtues,

You dress me with Your love.

Which binds them all together,

In perfect unity from above.

As members of one body,

We are called to live in peace.

The love and peace of Christ,

From our hearts we now release.

In this world of pain and strife,

Who knows what tomorrow may bring?

With an ever thankful heart,

God's praises I will continue to sing.

Amen.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbour as yourself."

(Luke 10:27)

Have a blessed St. Valentine's Day.

Today Someone...The Way it Was.

As children we follow our parents example,

Their outlook on life becomes our view too.

We didn't know any different.

It's just the way it was.

The Blue Bus for whites, the Green Bus for blacks.

We sat in the bus shelter, they stood in the sun.

We were served first, they waited their turn.

It's just the way it was.

We lived in residential areas, they lived in locations.

White schools, black schools.

Freedom for us, curfews for them.

It's just the way it was.

They waited on us at table,

And ate off tin plates in the yard.

It did not worry me, I was a child;

It's just the way it was.

Times and attitudes have changed,

And my children scorn at the way we lived;

They don't know how we accepted that

It's just the way it was.

As we look to the future,

What are their children going to say

About the life they have accepted because,

It's just the way it was.

Dear Lord, let us pray for peace,

Your love to fill our land.

Teach us to reject the injustice of accepting

It's just the way it was.

And Lord, may the new tomorrow bring

Repentance and acceptance in all our hearts;

May Your message of love be passed on,

This is the way it should be.

Amen.

Racism seems to be a world-wide problem...I grew up with it in South Africa.

Many of us have experienced the injustices of racism and it is up to us not to pass this attitude on to our children to be perpetuated through the generations. This is easier said than done as attitudes become ingrained from childhood.

I'm not a politician and I can't quote from History, all I can do is share the love God has for others.

Jesus is the example we must follow, He came not to condemn but to forgive.

He was criticised for spending time with those deemed "unacceptable".

He is Love.

God loves everyone unconditionally.

What father would give up his own son to a cruel, painful death to save sinners?

As a parent, I don't think I could sacrifice one of my children like that.

Jesus, His Son, did not argue but willingly gave up His life so that our sins could be forgiven, and our eternal salvation could be bought with His blood.

ALL of mankind is saved through Jesus' death and resurrection, not just a select few, a certain race, a specific culture...

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of ALL and richly blesses ALL who call on Him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:12-13).

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

(Romans 10:9-10).

If an individual has converted to Christ, and left his old ways behind, then he is my brother or sister in Christ, it has nothing to do with skin colour.

Let us add to our family, new brothers and sisters, by following Jesus' example, by letting His love shine through us and by rejecting...

THE WAY IT WAS.

Today Someone...2008 - This New Year

Dear Lord,

Today someone prays, at the start of 2008,

That you will discover the plans the Lord has for you.

Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

Plans to give you hope and a future.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord,

"Call upon Me, come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

Seek Me with all your heart, and you will find Me.

I will be found by you, and I will bring you back from captivity."

"Build houses and settle down;

Plant gardens and eat what they produce.

Marry and have sons and daughters;

Find wives for your sons, give your daughters in marriage."

"Seek peace and prosperity;

Do not be deceived by false prophets;

Do not listen to your dreams,

I have not sent them," declares the Lord.

"Listen to the Word of the Lord,

Do not do outrageous things;

Do not commit adultery with your neighbour;

Do not speak lies in the Lord's name."

"I will gather you from all nations and places, I will bring you back to Me.

If you, who are called by my name, will humble yourself and pray,

Seek My face and turn from your wicked ways,

I will hear from heaven and I will forgive your sins."

Amen.

This prayer is based on the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. (Jeremiah 29).

It is a word of encouragement from God to His people to get their priorities right and then He will bless them.
This message is echoed many times in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments . It is as meaningful for us today as it was for those in exile back then.

How? You may ask.

So often problems, work, relationships and the business of daily life cause us to lose sight of God.
Food has to be put on the table;
Exams have to be passed;
Homes need to be cleaned;
Distances need to be travelled;
Deadlines need to be met.

"I will pray later!"
"I will pray at Church on Sunday!"
"I will go to Church this Christmas and pray!"

The distance between the times we spend with God gets greater until we don't even realise we have pushed Him out of our lives.

We are all guilty of this...right back to the Bible days of those in exile.

Does God give up on us?

No.
All through the Bible God calls on His children to humble themselves and pray.
He wants us to make the decision to change and return to Him.
He promises to bless us in many ways when we turn to Him in prayer.
He says He will give us a heart to know Him, that He is Lord.
He is such a generous Father, God makes it so easy for us to know Him.

BUT...
He has given us the free choice to accept Him as our Lord and Saviour.
As we go into this new year...2008...let us choose to have God as the centre of our lives.
Let us begin and end each day in thanksgiving to Him for our salvation.

I want the Holy Spirit to transform me so that Christ is the Lord of every moment of every day.
I want God to become the be-all and end-all of my existence, the Alpha and Omega of my life.

Do you?

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
The old has gone, the new has come!”
(2 Corinthians 5:17)