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How to get rich quick if you're a kid


These are just some of the links I found on Google when I typed in 'get rich quick.'

How easy it would be to click on one of these links and get caught up the whole thing.  The danger is that  Money and Wealth become the centre of life.

Getting rich quick isn't new to today's world.  In my quiet time time yesterday I read in Genesis 13 of Lot and Abraham parting ways because they had too much property and lifestock between them to live in the same area.  Abraham let Lot choose, he chose the lush, flourishing country that would give him the quick turnaround.  So that left Abraham with the land that had to be worked on and toiled.

The problem with the land that Lot chose was that it was near Sodom, the city that God eventually destroyed because it was so full of sin, they were just so self centred and only interested in themselves and their wealth.  As time went by for Lot he eventually moved inside Sodom and lived there becoming a respected citizen.  He was on a downward spiral being heavily influenced by the inhabitants of Sodom, to the point of offering his virgin daughters for their pleasure.


No matter how rich or wealthy we become in this world,  through the things of this world, We will still be poor and in danger of becoming like Lot.

True richness comes from knowing the saving grace of God.  

Be satisfied with what you have and don't seek the riches of this world.

The apostle Paul puts is simply in Philippians 3 while talking about what he once found important and valuable.

'I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.  Yes, everything else is worthless when compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him'

Mother's Day

As we celebrate Mother's Day today, I Think about Su who celebrating her first one.  It's been a long hard road to get to here.

I'm also conscious that of other women who are celebrating their first Mother's Day, whether it has been a struggle, through unplanned pregnancies or as planned as possible.

As I think about those celebrating their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 53rd Mother's Day.  I was reminded of those who would love to be celebrating as a mother, but for reasons that are beyond their control are unable to at this time.  I know today will be a very difficult time for them as it was for Su for many years.  My heart goes out to those of you that are struggling with this day.

But I've also been thinking of those, like me, who have lost their Mothers.  On days like this it can be a struggle.  I've shed tears this morning, but Levi came and gave me a big hug.  This helped but also made me think 'I wish my mam could have met Levi, she would have loved him so much.'  I came across this poem called 'Your Mother is Always With You', a beautiful poem:-

Your Mother Is Always With You

Your mother is always with you...

She's the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street.

She's the smell of bleach in
your freshly laundered socks.

She's the cool hand on your
brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside
your laughter. She's crystallized
in every tear drop...

She's the place you came from,
your first home.. She's the map you
follow with every step that you take.

She's your first love and your first heart
break....and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space...
Not even death....
will ever separate you
from your mother....

You carry her inside of you....

- Sherry Martin 

My Prayer:

Dear Mother God,

I ask a blessing on the mothers of this world.  I know that there are mothers out there who really struggle with parenthood.  I ask that you pour your holy spirit down on them and help them.

Be with those who no longer have a Mother to help them along in life, whether they be 2 or 62.  It's hard to lose a loved one.

I ask a blessing on those celebrating their first Mother's Day.  That their children (and husbands) give them the special day they deserve.  


And finally I ask that you be with those who are not yet mothers but would dearly love to be.  I pray that they will get through this day and that in time you will richly bless them with a family of their own, be that through birth or adoption.  

I ask all these things in Jesus name

Amen

Patience

The millisecond the traffic lights turn green people start honking the horns in their cars.

In a supermarket people start whinging and moaning if there are more than two people waiting at the checkout, and often leave a trolly load of shopping because they can't be bothered to wait.

People run for a tube train and get angry if the door closes just before they reach it, even though there'll be another train in 2 minutes.

Even church services.  If a service starts to run over longer than the usual finishing time, people start to get fidgety.



We live in a world of impatience, a culture where everything has to be done here and now.  I'm not saying  I'm not impatient but I'm learning patience.

The main thing that has taught me patience was going through the whole adoption process.  There were times when I thought it would never end but we could not have prayed for a better outcome.  We have our son Levi, a real blessing to us.

I have to wonder if, let's say, the population of London had to endure the 40 years in the wilderness.  How would they have ever gotten through it?  I'm not sure they would.

Rudeness also comes with impatience.  People become very self centred.

The world would be a much better place if only there was more patience.

Not Perfect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipwEtvWL_3c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9HuJJ-5AyY


Who among you proclaims to be perfect?

Who among you does no wrong?

If you think you are the answer to these questions then I would call you a liar.  Each one of us is born with sin within us.

Even when we become Christians we are not free from sin in the sense that we will sin no more.  We should aspire to sin no more.  We have all screwed up somewhere along the line.

I've had dark moments in my Christian walk.  It's not all airy fairy.  In fact the Christian path is a difficult one to take, but with the God's help it can be achieved.  The great thing about God is he uses these dark times to help us grow, and he forgives us EVERY time.  I'm not saying, however, that's a reason to do whatever we want to do because God will forgive us.

Listening to Mark Hall talking about how the world views the church really spoke to me.  I've always said that the church is full of broken people.  As Mark says, that is what the world needs to see when it looks at the church rather than a group of judgemental holy people.

We as Christians are not above the rest of this world. We are of this world but have have been saved by God's divine grace, we screw up sometimes, and you know what?  It's ok because God uses us in our weakness.  There are many times in the Bible when God has done this.  Simon Peter denied knowing Christ three times, yet he went on to be a major player in the Christian church.  Job lost everything, it was the darkest time anyone could endure yet he stayed faithful to God and was rewarded.  There have been many saints through the years that have been imprisoned for their faith.

I'm not asking for perfection, and I'm speaking to myself here too.  All I ask is that we strive to serve God always, even through our screw ups.

Separated at birth?

My doppelganger.  And a great speaker.  Malcolm did a great series at Spring Harvest last year

Word of God Speak

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie3efn_p7CQ


How many different ways do you speak with your friends?


Facebook
Twitter
Phone
e-mail
Text
Face-to-Face
Letters (a dying art)
Skype


I'm sure there are many more ways.  Using Skype as an example, you can speak in type or you can have video chat, and you can be on opposite sides of the world.  Technology has made speaking to one another so easy.


When it comes to God, technology doesn't really help.


We know how to contact God.  We can speak to Him through prayer.
But, how do we listen to Him?
Are we open to what He has to say to us?
How do we know that He has spoken?


There was a short discussion on this in church on Sunday.  The first thing we need is to be ready to receive God.  Just as in a telephone conversation, if one side has hung up how can they listen.  We need to be ready to listen with our whole being.


There were a few ways which came out on conversation from various people about the different ways God had spoken to them.


Through scripture
Through songs
Through other people
Through circumstance
Through sensation.


Let me expand on that last one through my own personal experience.  I have been a steward at Spring Harvest for many years and had decided not to go this year.  Then a few weeks ago I phoned a dear friend to ask his advice on something and the conversation came round to Spring Harvest and the fact that I had decided not to go.  Now, my friend had said that he had a sense all through that day that he was being told to get my to Spring Harvest.  It was at this point in the conversation that I received a strange sensation all through my body, from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.  I can only explain this sensation as the Holy Spirit, as it was not a sensation of cold or heat.  When I told my friend I had just had a sensation all through my body, he said he had received the same thing at the same time.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that I had to be at Spring Harvest this year.


Another way God has been speaking to me is through people.  I lead church services from time to time.  Recently people have been speaking to me about entering into ministry, which I initially dismissed.  After more people started saying things I thought I'd better sit up and take notice.  So I have been testing my 'calling' by speaking to various people about their opinions, all of whom I trust and therefore trust what their opinions.  Everyone was positive.  Not one person has tried to say it's the wrong thing.  I've also been talking about it to my minister, who also believes I should train to be a minister.  As part of this testing I went to Spurgeons bible college open day which was a wonderful experience and very positive.  I felt a lot of things that were being said were directly aimed at me.  I can only put all of this down to the Word of God.


So those are a couple of personal experiences of mine.  My prayer for you all is that you will be open to receive God's voice and instruction in whatever medium He chooses to reveal Himself.


If you have had experiences of God's voice I'd love to hear about it


Mike