Trust In The Lord

I've been reflecting (once again) on Psalm 20 this evening. I find I have blogged on these words before, probably around the time my car was written off (see verse 7). Or it might have been when something particularly scary was happening to me. I won't therefore repeat the whole Psalm again, but just want to emphasise two verses tonight.

Psalm 20:4-5 (NIV)

4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
5 We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests.

I'm still praying.

I am reviewing the situation...

... and although I can see some progress, and drawn quite close to my Lord over the last few weeks, I still feel I'm not quite where I should be.

So, as the song has it, I am reviewing the situation.

"I think I'd better think it out again..."

The Deaf Shall Hear!

Isaiah 35: 1-5 (New International Version)
Joy of the Redeemed

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,

2 it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendour of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendour of our God.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.

Hallelujah!

Fancy A McJob?

Something that was said after the morning meeting at the Army has got me thinking... this time about the state of the UK employment market. I am reliably informed that that the current jobs market is such that most adverts in the paper generate about 100+ applications for each vacancy. Well, I was informed this morning by a fellow Salvationist that McDonald's recently announced that it receives 2,200 crew applications per day, and of that number hires 140.

I was intrigued, so I checked it out on the Internet when I got home and found this article in confirmation on the Daily Mail website. This speaks volumes about the current position in the UK jobs market at present:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1193538/Bank-workers-teachers-2-000-day-applying-McJob-unemployment-surges-200-000.html

In the meantime, a report in this week's popular press revealed that McDonald’s are apparently serving 25 million extra meals this year. They served 470M orders since January - up from 445M in the same period of 2008. An increase in drive-through sales is up by 12%. Domino’s Pizza also reported a 25% increase in profits and KFC is also reporting strong growth.

Unity and Harmony

Psalm 133 (New International Version)
A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Prayer Changes Things

A few very powerful quotations on the subject of prayer, discovered as part of my devotions and reading over this weekend:

"God will do nothing except in answer to prayer." - John Wesley
"Bear up the hands that hang down, by faith and prayer, support the tottering knees. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the Throne of Grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down." - John Wesley
"Groanings which cannot be uttered are often prayers which cannot be refused." - Charles Spurgeon
"You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God...This kind of prayer, be sure, the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame." - William Booth
"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go". - Abraham Lincoln
"All I know is that when I pray, coincidences happen; and when I don't pray, they don't happen". - Dan Hayes

I'm still praying.

:)

Much More...

It's Day Three of my campaign of dedicated, persistent, specific prayer against certain strongholds in my life. Going to really ramp it up this weekend. However, just had to blog the following - after popping out to lunch today, the following chorus popped into my head by means of encouragement.

Much more hath God in store,

Much more, much more.

Greater glories we may yet behold,

Greater blessings as the days unfold,

Greater triumphs than have yet been told:

Much more! Much more hath God in store.
Chorus 44, SASB

I'd like that. Thanks to those friends who have passed on their encouragement as I get down to some serious business with God. I continue to pray.

Be Specific

I'm encouraged enough today, on this day of all days, to be specific in my prayers. I'm told that if you want a specific answer, you need to make a specific prayer for it. So, today, there'll be none of the prayers that ask for 'deliverance' from an undesirable situation, or for 'blessing'. I'm going to be spending some serious time to make a concerted and specific request of God.

Even though I don't list that specific prayer here on my blog, those that know me very well will know exactly what I am praying for today.

Amen.

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Matthew 21:22
"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Luke 11:9-10

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

(All scripture verses New International Version)

Tired!

tired:
- needing rest: in need of rest or sleep, or weakened and made less active by exertion
- no longer interested: having lost patience or interest
- overused: no longer new or fresh because of overuse

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." - Dr Samuel Johnson

(There's another phrase that came to mind when I was jotting down some random thoughts about being tired. That's the phrase 'tired and emotional' - which is a British euphemism for being drunk, chiefly used by the satirical magazine 'Private Eye' since 1967. The phrase is probably the best way that I can describe myself this week. However, I hasten to assure you, dear reader, that does not mean I'm drunk. I just think my batteries need recharging!)

Isaiah 40: 29-31 (New International Version)
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

All About Change - part two

Matthew 18:2-4 (New International Version)
2 He called a little child and had him stand among them.
3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Proverbs 3:5 (New International Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust.

All About Change

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." - Mary Engelbreit

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." - Victor Frankl

"If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change." - John A. Simone, Sr.

"If you would attain to what you are not yet, you must always be displeased by what you are. For where you are pleased with yourself there you have remained. Keep adding, keep walking, keep advancing." - Saint Augustine

...and finally...

"Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine." - Robert C. Gallagher

Blessed be the Rock

I Will Call Upon The Lord
Who is worthy to be praised.
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

The Lord liveth, and blessed be the rock,
And let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Words and Music by Michael O'Shields

Three

Just had another email asking me some more questions, this time based on the number three. Once again, it suggested that I should spam all my friends with my answers. Thought I would blog my responses, see whether this would inspire me. Or you!

Three Names I go by: Sergeant-Major, Dad, Bagheera
Three Jobs I Have Had In My Life: Insurance Underwriter, Care Co-ordinator, Project Administrator
Three Places I Have Been: Corfu, Cardiff, Crayford
Three Favourite Foods: Chinese, Fish and Chips, Cheese
Three Things I Am Looking Forward To: Answered Prayer, the SAFE Music School, Christmas
Three of my everyday essentials: My Bible, my mobile phone, my trousers

An interesting website on threes: http://threes.com