i think i should of....

....consumed a little less red bull in the past 36 hours!!!!

but its got me a thinking!!! and we all know what happens when i start a thinking!!!!

Whilst i try and recover myself from being a caffeine addict i shall attempt to put down some meaningful words down.

I have been greatly encouraged recently, i put this down to being back at the church i call home, i put it down to anonymous prayers that have been prayed for me, i put it down to Jesus just wanting to do business with me again, i put this down to being back in contact with those that gave me such encouragement before even though they are not necessarily aware of the encouragement they give!!!

Firstly i have a verse

Give your worries to the Lord

and he will take care of you

He will not permit the godly

to slip and fall

This verse can be found in the book of Psalms, Psalm 55 v 22 to be exact.

I often claim this verse as my own, it was the first time that i think i ever heard God speak to me directly. I was a young boy probably about 15 and it must of been very early in my walk with Jesus after moving on from the child like faith. I was down and in need of encouragement so i picked up my bible and was like "Lord, show me something" i did the whole close my eyes, open random page and point trick, and my finger landed beside this verse. The verse i have quoted above is not how i found it having grown up and used different bibles since then, but the last part of the verse as i remember it from my youth bible is "He will never let good people down"

He will never let good people down

I am not known for my worrying, outwardly anyway, many of you will know that i am as laid back as they come. But, (and i know this is bad grammar by starting with but), i do have many worries, like for instance, right now im worried about my future, i like most men my age, want to get married and be an awesome dad and have a semi decent car!!! And me being me, i am really good at not taking my own advice...

...All through my life i have passed this verse on to people and told people not worry and to give it to God, but i rarely take my own advice! I'm too happy to dispense it! My mother talks a lot of sense and although i must drive her up the bend with my blasé lifestyle, i do heed her words and i thank her for them. I ought not to worry about the car, the wife and the family. I'm trying to live in the here and now...

...One of my favourite Rob Bell NOOMA DVDs is Number 17 in the series, it's called Today. So often my thoughts wander to the past and how things were and to the future and how things are going to be!! Whilst i would say i am now more comfortable with the things in my past, the ghosts in the closet are all but exorcised...i was though, in despair over the past...over things said...not said...things i'd done...things that had been done to me. I learnt to deal with it, God broke me and he dealt with me...

Rob puts it quite well

"There's a certain kind of despair that sets in

when we believe things were better back then.

When we're stuck back there.

When we're not fully present.

When we're still holding on to how things were,

our arms aren't free to embrace today"

Our arms aren't free to embrace today

And so i am trying to embrace each day...and i finish with a verse from James

You don't even know what tomorrow will bring-what your life will be

James 4:14

Goodnight and God Bless

And thus i sit pondering...

...yes, pondering! it's what i do quite frequently!

It is a beautiful sunny monday afternoon and i'm having quite the lazy day! After not sleeping over all the weekend due to birthday roadtrip banter in Avoca, Co. Wicklow i decided to lie in until about half two! Yes, shameful i know! But much needed sleep!

As we speak, i mean write, the cookies i made are coming along nicely! A nice treat for ma e padre coming home from work i think! But then again, i can't remember if they like peanut butter cookies so i could end up eating the whole bunch!

I am aware that i said pondering! So what am i pondering as i stare out the window and listen to some of the music that i have listed on the RHS thats Right Hand Side of my blog! Jenniferever have a new album out! it's much worth a listen to. I think i just want to say firstly how good it feels to be loved, not just by God, but by family. I count it such a blessing! I have an aunt who never stops looking out for me and praying for me ever since i was a wee un, and here i am at nearly 23 and she's still praying for me! I just want to thank her. Her constant words of encouragement keep me going.

Never underestimate the power of prayer...I strongly urge that. I know that do not pray not nearly as much as i should, but i am thankful to those that have kept praying for me. There are times when i compare myself the prodigal son, and i think there is a little bit of prodigal son in all of us. But here i am, i'm nearly back where i want to be! *Cookies are done*

Right! i think thats me for today! i'm off to cut the grass and decide on a new iPhone ringtone!!! I'm bored of Bonkers!!!

I'm feeling in the mood to share some thoughts....

.... and so i give to you an excerpt of a talk i did once. yes by gosh gee whizzz! Niall actually was allowed to give some sort of address!!!! It's not too long but i think i touched on some good points which i didnt mind reading again! its good to keep them fresh!!!

Christianity is about relationship and not about religion. Religion has one basic characteristic, its followers are trying to reach, find and please God through their own efforts. Religion reaches up toward God. Christianity is different, it is God reaching down to man. Would it be right of me to say that Christianity claims that men haven’t found God but that He has found us. For some of you this may seem like a hard concept to grasp, some of us may prefer religious effort and to deal with God on our own terms, it puts us in the driving seat, and it makes us feel good being “religious”.

I don’t believe that Christianity is religious striving. To be a Christian is to respond to what God has done for you. God sent his only son to die upon a cross so that you may live and have eternal life in Him. Christianity is not a religious treadmill its a relationship with your creator. Psalm 139 is good passage to read, to justify how much God loves us, and why it is more about a relationship we should be striving for and not religion. We can get caught up in religifying Christianity by putting it into form, legalism, rules, systems and party lines. We substitute works for faith and trust, and the laws take precedence over grace. Instead of responding to God’s love we reach out for it on our own terms and neatly keep God at arms length.

However our God is not a god that stays at arms length. When he enters our life he demands all of your life. Can we forget about the religious game of church that we can play so well on a Sunday. God wants all of you, he wants your heart, your soul and your body. Just as you have your relationships with your friends and family, God wants to know and share in every little thing about you.

Romans is a book about Christianity and how it is far more than religion. Think of Paul’s early life, he was Jew, and a rabbi, he knew the law inside out yet he did not experience the peace and grace that comes with knowing the living God until he met him on the dusty road to Damascus.

A Christian is not someone who simply follows Christ’s great teachings. A Christian is one who is one with Christ in a personal relationship. That’s why Paul says in Romans 6:6, “Our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”

Choice is always a part of life. And with every choice you make, you’re actually turning toward sin or toward Christ. There is no middle ground. You do not remain the same. You’re always changing.

And guess what — you become like the one you obey. If you serve sin, it means frustration, disillusionment, a kind of cynical hardening toward the gospel. But if you serve Christ, He molds your life. The one to whom you offer yourself will take you and be your master, and you will be his slave. And you become like the one to whom you belong!

And so we choose one of two masters. We serve God or sin. Some think that while they may “sin a little,” they’re still master of a particular habit or practice. It doesn’t work out that way. You don’t master a sin; it masters you. You belong to the power you choose to obey. You accept Christ by faith; but unless your faith in Him is constant and real, sin will still rule your life.

We can develop this relationship with Christ by being in the company of those who are like minded. As we spend more time with friends who believe as we do, then parts of their character rub off on you and vice versa. This also works with your relationship with Christ, the more time you spend with him, the more insights into his character you get and the more it rubs off on you. It is my belief that our ultimate call is to be like Jesus, we are not called to sit on our backsides and say yeh I believe in Jesus. If we are to be true Christians we must be like Christ, and therefore we must immerse ourselves in the good news, the gospels of Jesus Christ. God will mould us into vessels for his spirit and his spirit will flow out of you and into those around you. I personally struggle with reading my bible every day and I set a small challenge to each of you!

Get a friend, if you share a room use your roomie and sit down for 10mins a day and read the gospels of matthew mark luke and john together. That is my challenge, read the word and feed your spiritual body. The gospels will teach you how to be like Christ.

....so i figured

....its been awhile since my last post!

Why is that?

I don't really know! Life has been interesting of late!

Summer has gone by really quickly as usual! Summer Madness was great! I've been transferred to O2 Portadown, and life there, is well challenging to say the least. I got a final written warning for doing my job. I went to see U2 at Croke Park with my bestest friend NQ. A lifetime ambition of mine was fulfilled! Only 4 more to go!!! I briefly tried dating again only to not much avail! Still i learnt alot and had alot of fun getting to know someone again!!! So thank you RN.

I am starting to get back into the swing of going to Craigmore again. For those of you who don't know who/what/where Craigmore is i suggest you read some of my previous posts.

It amazes me how after being away for so long, i can almost seamlessly fit back in! It's an absolute testimony to God's church acting like it should, like a family. I have missed soo many good friends there, it is good to be in fellowship with them again.

And yes, i forgot to mention! I of all people failed final year at uni! I am that guy!!!! But not all hope is lost! I will be retaking my exams next year, so i may just yet get a biochemistry degree and still not use it!!!!

If anyone has any insider knowledge on what i should do with my life please comment below!!!

I'm done rambling! Hopefully get a more meaningful post up soon!!