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Update #1 On ‘Join Me In Prayer For Sarah’

Riding The Wave Of Prayers

 First i have to thank all of you amazing loving people for the show of extravagant love to me and Sarah. We’ve been simply overwhelmed with your prayers, kindness and love through this journey.

The Plan…

The plan was set. Go to the chemist to get pain killers (Sarah is not allowed d to leave the house for a few days), nip into the doctors to sort out a sick note for the next two weeks, then go for a [Cortado’ coffee at Costa at the train station with half an hour to enjoy our new fave coffee (mainly keep Sarah as relaxed as possible), then Sarah can put her last eye drops in before we catch the 11:04 train that will get us to Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London ready for the operation. 

The Hypo…

This was all going well up until Sarah had locked herself in the toilet by passing out with a hypo. The idea was that she went in to put in her eye drops as we still had 15 minutes until the train arrives (the platform is about 1 minute away from the coffee shop. As i was stood outside the door while staff kept walking past suspicious of the weird man lurking around the toilets. With 5 minutes left i knocked on the door, with the sound of the music and the coffee machines i could just make out what i thought was Sarah. Then as i realised too much time had passed and we’d missed our train i asked one of the passing staff if they could open the door as i think my wife is having a hypo. Sarah had know her blood was creeping down and she had a biscuit and sugar in her coffee but she felt and seemed ok.

I opened the door to find Sarah in a zombie like state (the only description i can find that closely resembles a hypo) not knowing where she was, what she was doing or where we were going! I’d like to state at this point that we only really had one must do for this morning, and that was to try and keep Sarah’s blood sugar stable as they won’t operate if it’s too high, low or on the move. I prayed:

“Jesus, There is no way they can operate now, i did my best but i don’t know if there’s another train, if Sarah can even stand up, never mind walk,  and Sarah’s blood sugar always ends up too high after a hypo and we always have a long struggle getting it back down. i hand it all to you, please help”.

I got Sarah to her feet and she could just about stand up without her knees giving way. We managed to leave the coffee shop and after catching Sarah from behind as she started to fall back down the platform steps (i was behind trying to push her up) we finally got to the platform. This is where Sarah normally guides me as she knows the trains. Usually the trains are announced, but today there were none, but a train arrived straight away and we got on anyway. I told Sarah to just sleep on my shoulder and hope that this train is going the right way! The inside train announcement only said which station it was pulling up to and not the stations of the full journey. 

Sarah woke and asked “where are we?” “I’m not sure, but i hope it stops at Clapham Junction”. Then a few minutes later we arrived at Clapham Junction. We then walked to the other platform and a train was waiting there too. We finally arrived at the day surgery unit a couple of minutes before the 12:30 appointment.

Sarah did a blood test and it was 8.6 which is really good for her, but we knew that it often goes into the 20’s after a hypo and there’s no way they’ll operate if it goes any higher or continues to rise. Sarah went in around 13:00 but there were 4 people before her, I stayed in the waiting room.

The Waiting Room

I wanted to update everyone but i’d never used the mobile WordPress app to post before, so i kept the post “Praying in waiting room for Sarah” short so i could begin praying. I started with my voiceover reading all of your prayers, i prayed through each comment individually about 2 times each from the 1st post “Please Join Me In Prayer For Sarah” then i had about an hour of personal prayer before loving sister Janet would arrive to drive us home.

The Operation

Sarah’s op happened around 16:30, her blood sugar stayed perfectly stable at 6.8 the whole time! (Amazing!) Her main worry was the really painful needle that she sees going into her eye and it feels like her eyeball is bursting out of her face! I need to quote Sarah at this point:

“I felt a real peace i’d not felt before, i knew everyone was praying for me and i knew God was with me the whole time. I felt no pain at all with the needle and the surgeon was surprised how well the operation went. I also heard him say:

‘There are always bubbles in this (not sure what he was talking about) always bubbles, but there aren’t any at all, i can’t explain it?!’ 

The Next Morning

I’m typing this post Saturday morning  at 11am while Sarah is sleeping. I’d like to thank you all once again for giving time in prayer and the loving encouraging comments that helped us through this amazing journey (and still help us as we read back through them). I’ll update again soon.

Sarah said to me this morning:

I felt like the whole day you had your arms around me, and God had his arms around both of us!

The Man In Black

My Thoughts 💭 

Sarah & i have just got home from “The Johnny Cash Roadshow” at Epsom Playhouse. When they introduced Johnny Cash as a Singer, Songwriter, Christian & Sinner, i knew it was going to be good! 🙂

Description from the Epsom Playhouse

Johnny Cash Roadshow

7 November 2013

The UK’s No1 Tribute, fronted by respected singer/songwriter Clive John, re-creates with astounding accuracy and truly captures the essence of what it was like to be at a real Cash show! Also featuring Jill Schoonjans as June Carter, Amanda Stone and Sheena Beckett as the Carter Sisters all aspects of Cash’s life are covered with impeccable taste.

The show takes the audience from the 1950’s right up to 2002 and all the stops in between. All the greatest hits are included, Ring of Fire, Walk the Line as well as the Johnny and June duets Jackson and If I Were a Carpenter and so many more, all the while accompanied by an amazing video back drop with evocative images and shots from Johnny Cash’s life.

 I hadn’t heard many Johnny Cash songs (even though i play a few) but i was pleasantly surprised with the strong Christian message in some of them! Now i’m totally Country’d out! I’ve added a few songs played tonight, enjoy! 🙂

Called To Become

Poetry Logo

Called to become

You are called to become a perfect creation.
No-one is called to become who you are called to be.
It does not matter how short or tall or thick set or slow you may be.
It does not matter whether you sparkle with life or are silent as a still pool,
Whether you sing your song aloud or weep alone in the darkness.
It does not matter whether you feel loved and admired or unloved and alone.
For you are called to become a perfect creation.
This becoming may be gentle or harsh, subtle or violent.
But it never ceases, never pauses or hesitates, only is –
Creative force – calling you.
Calling you to become a perfect creation

Edwina Gateley
Psalms of a Laywoman.

My Thoughts 💭

One of our ministers (Nik) just emailed me this amazing poem which was read out whilst on her retreat. Thought it would speak to some of you too! 🙂

Let Us Pray

Prayer Logo

Let us pray for the Church and for the world, and let us thank God for his goodness:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray with faith.

We pray for your Church today, gathering all around the world in tiny churches and great cathedrals, to praise you, to hear your holy word, and to meet with you in bread and wine. Give us a sense of expectation as we come and inspiration as we go. Help us to put our differences behind us and to behind the great commission of Jesus to make disciples of all nations.

We pray for a world which struggles to live justly and in peace. We pray for those who have to search for daily food or walk long distances for clean water. We remember with sadness those whose live are cut short by preventable diseases and malnutrition, and those who have fled their homes for fear of violence. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done as it is in the heavenly places.

We thank you God for your forgiveness and for revealing that you are Love. Thank you for those people who sustain us by sharing this love to us. Thank you for the network of people with whom our lives are inextricably linked and who make up the fabric of our family and community life. Make us alert to each other’s needs and quick to serve and encourage one another. May our gentleness with each other reflect your gentleness with us.

We pray for those who are laid low by suffering and those who are experiencing the outrageous assault of pain. We trust your love for us and for all people, and your deep desire for our well-being. As we name in our hearts those who are in the grip of suffering, help us so to pray and to act that they may know your comfort and healing, both now and in the coming days.

We thank you for those people who have tonight given us examples and models by which we try to live. We thank you for those who have lived and died in quiet holiness and whose prayers have helped to sustain the world. Help us to live in the light be which they lived, and to worship the source of that light, Jesus Christ our risen Lord.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of all people, we commend ourselves to your unfailing love. Merciful Father, accept these prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

My Thoughts 💭

Tonight at our café style evening service we were lead through this lovely prayer above. Thought you might want to join in with us. 🙂

Thinking Of You Mum

My Mum

My Thoughts 💭 

Today would’ve been my Mums 64th birthday. Some of you who have read My Testimony or my About page may remember that she died in the same month i was registered blind 13 years ago. My family & i miss her lots, so i’ve added some of their facebook comments below,

Paul (my brother) Today would have been my mums 64th birthday. Not a single day goes by that I do t miss and think about her but it’s special days like today that still hurt the most. If you see a loved one today tell them you love them cos you never know what the future holds and missing that chance to say how you feel stays with you forever. Happy Birthday Mam xxxx

Saira (my niece) RIP nana, happy 64th birthday!! She will be so proud of my mum Ambber Williamson and also laughing at her she’ll me so proud of my uncles Paul Stevensonand Steve Rebus and my auntie Charlotte Karyn Tidmarsh we all love you nana!!♥

Amy (my niece) Got my dates confuse yesterday lol…. But would like to wish my nanna a happy birthday… Wish she was here to celebrate but truly know that she is always around… i was told she was one of my guardian angels & know that she was right as a year ago today i found out i was carrying our littlest baby… Lori Valerie-Ann,…. Love you lots Nanna.

Daily Prompt: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry…

The Daily Post Logo DP

Photographers, artists, poets: show us DINNER! 

…for tomorrow we die. The world is ending tomorrow! Tell us about your last dinner!

Sicily 3

 ⇧ Fillet Steaks ⇧ 

Sicily 4

⇧ Love heart potatoes ⇧  

IMG 0098

⇧ Doughnuts ⇧ 

Elephant s Foot

⇧ Elephant’s Foot ⇧  

Hot Chocolate

 ⇧ Hot Chocolate ⇧

My Thoughts 💭 

Lucky i’d be dead tomorrow, as i think i’d die anyway after eating all of this! 😀

Yay, I’m Now Connected!

Connect Logo

I’ve spent most of this week changing my email subscription status on the many blogs i follow. I didn’t know that after all this time, i wasn’t getting any posts through!! I thought that you didn’t post much. lol. 

As i don’t use the ‘Reader’ to follow blogs (its just too clunky with how i use zoom and speech on my mac, so i read your post via Email) i wasn’t keeping up with you guys at all! So sorry if you thought i was being ignorant, but as from this week, I’m back and you should see me around your blog soon! 🙂

“I am loved”

Love Logo

My Thoughts 💭 

Last night during the evening service at our church, Nik our Minister read the following and asked us to discuss which one from the bullet list really stood out to us, and why?:

“I am loved”

‘but what does this mean to you?‘

• The whole of me my body, mind heart and soul, that is my strength, my thoughts my deepest longings and all my emotions are loved by God.
• God knows me AND loves me (not God knows me but loves me)
• I am loved for who I am. Completely, Utterly, For Ever.
• Others may dislike me, but God loves me
• I may hate myself, but God continues to love me
• He loves me for what I am and what I will be.
• He loves me because he understands me.

it was really interesting hearing the different answers from the diverse brothers and sisters in our congragation.

So I wondered if you could comment with your answers/thoughts to the same question above?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Infinite

“IN A NEW POST CREATED for THIS CHALLENGE, SHARE A PHOTO THAT SHOWS US A GLIMPSE OF THE INFINITE“

Me  Sarah looking out over the sea 2

⇧ Sarah & I looking out over the seemingly infinite sea ⇧

My Thoughts 💭 

This challenge was hard for me, but as both me and Sarah are both registered blind, it doesn’t take much distance for things to seem infinite!!!

Spirit Levelling

Spirit Level

My Thoughts 💭 

Travelling back home on the train this morning, I was showing Sarah the new (but hidden) spirit level on iOS 7 on my iPhone (to get to it, just open the compass app and then swipe from right to left with one finger to reveal). As I was tilting my phone up and down and showing that when the surface is level the whole screen goes green, suddenly I had the thought….

This is the same with our spiritual lives. How balanced/instep am I with the Spirit that dwells within?!

Are you instep with the Spirit?

Verse Logo

Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

More Thoughts 💭  

At or around harvest time I like to think about my life and how much its changed from the fruitless dead tree and how God is healing me by his Love and Grace by trying to grow the fruits for his glory. I need to keep my roots deep in him and be in step with the Spirit so I don’t just wither and die.

Yay, I’m Back!

Emails Logo

Yay, I’m back!!! I can finally use my computer again after a couple of months of intermitant computer failure. It became impossible to use and I thought it was the hard drive giving up, but after I reinstalled the operating system it is back to being well fast! 🙂

I’m sorry to everyone who follows my blog (I havn’t abandoned you) and I now have a few emails of your amazing posts to catch up on (see image above)

Diet or Die – Part 2

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Romans 12:1 (VOICE)
Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship.

My Thoughts 💭 

wow what a roller coaster of a journey so far this year as I battle with my life long overeating fleshly desire! God has taught me so much this year about facing giants and humbling myself before him in prayer each morning to die daily, pick up my cross and follow Jesus.

If only my body would’ve heard my prayer too! lol. 

I started my inner revolution at the end of January (see Part 1) and as of this morning i’ve lost 1Stone 5lbs (19lbs) and i’m truly blessed with the work God is doing in me.

📖 Verse 4 2day! 

Romans 7:10-12 (VOICE)
This commandment was supposed to bring life; but in my experience, it brought death. Sin took advantage of the commandment, tricked me, and exploited it in order to kill me. 

Over the years i’ve always made my own commandments/rules when setting up a diet or healthy eating plan such as:

  • only having one takeaway a month
  • cutting down on fried foods
  • Not eating supper late at night just before I go to bed
  • And on, and on, and on

This only aroused my sin and focused my mind on the foods I was cutting out, as my body loved them and had lived on them up until this point. Predictably I failed (or learnt how not to do it) then carried on eating junk food to put on more weight than I started with!

It was only when I stopped trying to make lists etc and give it all to God, did I notice a huge difference. 

I’m able to eat all foods which has stopped me focusing on the ones i’d usually cut out, but now I feel so good I don’t want to choose anything that’s going to bring me down or make me feel tired. I no longer feel that I want takeaways as i’m enjoying the feeling that healthy foods give me.

I had to fight temptation from every angle, but even when I lapsed, I didn’t stay down feeling like a failure, I jumped right back into prayer and staggered on through my personal storm. 

 🙏 Prayer 4 2day!  

“Father, I ask that You would give me a moment to pause, right now, to contemplate what You say is true about my nature—that I am both dead to sin, and alive in Christ. This is too deep, too profound for me. I need You to lead me into the Truth so that I can be free to live according to my new nature as the Spirit leads and empowers me. Amen.”

Back To Part 1

Part 3 (Dec 2013)

Please keep me in your prayers! 🙂

Prayer For Unity

Prayer Logo

Lord Jesus we prayed that your people would be one, forgive us Lord and take away the pride and arrogance which divides your church. Break down the walls that separate us; unite us by your spirit ant teach us how to love each other.

Help us to humbly kneel before you and surrender all, Please guide us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds as we seek to find your good and pleasing will, Amen.

My Thoughts 💭 

The church I attend on sunday mornings has been without a pastor for well over a year now, so I post this prayer to try and help the body of believers unite and stay faithful to our awesome God.

I’d also love prayers from all of my amazing sisters and brothers here for this church as we seek to find a spirit filled, mature and wise pastor.

My 1st Passport!! :D

Passport

My Thoughts 💭 

Yipppeee my 1st passport arrived in the post today!!! 😀

It may be a shock to some of you that i’m 38 and never had a passport, but after my interview on Saturday morning at the passport office in Victoria, London to prove face to face that I am me, it finally arrived today.

So, I was wondering if all of you lovely friends could suggest some great places to see and experience?! I’ll finally be able to post some photos from places other than Norfolk! lol.

Me, Sarah, Ben (The Dynamic Force) and Rosie always talk (jokingly but seriously) about a “WordPress World Tour” where we would travel around and maybe meet some of the amazing people who we share our everyday journeys with on here! Is this a crazy dream?! 😀

Is Your Church Showing Unity?

Verse 4 2day logo blog

John 17:20-26  (NIV)
Jesus Prays for All Believers

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you[a] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

My Thoughts 💭 

How united is your church body?

Unity Is vital for us to carry out God’s will to be one united body. The world is watching us, so lets make known the unity and love of Jesus and show the world that they have a saviour and he loves them.

Our 6th Wedding Anniversary

Steve  Sarah Wedding 2

To celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary Sarah & I visited Hunstanton, Norfolk for a few days. We’ve stayed in the ‘Old Hunstanton Lighthouse‘ for our honeymoon and then each year for the next 5 anniversaries, but this year we didn’t have the time to stay for a week, so we stayed in a lovely guest house in the town instead. I didn’t take any cameras with me and only had my iPhone, but I had fun taking photos anyway! 😀

The Burleigh Guest House

⇧ The Burleigh Guest House ⇧

Gideons Bible

⇧ England, UK is a secular country so this was a lovely surprise ⇧

Me and Sarah

⇧ Me and my lovely wife ⇧

The wold trail sign

⇧ The wolf trail posts lead you towards the wolf along the cliffs ⇧

Sarah  the wolf

⇧ Sarah and the wolf ⇧

Sarah jumping for joy

⇧ Sarah jumping for joy! ⇧

Me on the beach

⇧ Me on Old Hunstanton Beach ⇧

Sarah sea 1

Sarah sea 2

Sarah sea 3

Sarah sea 4

⇧ Sarah enjoying herself in the sea ⇧

On our last evening we decided to have Sarah’s favourite doughnuts and watch the beautiful sunset from the sea front. 

Sunset breakers

Sunset sea front 1

Sunset sea front 2

Sunset 4 people

Suset sea front building

I decided with the image below, that I would combine my love of sunsets with Sarah’s love of doughnuts. It took a few attempts to get the sun in the hole, but I got it in the end! 🙂

Sunset doughnut

⇧ Sarah watching her doughnut shine ⇧

Sarah on the train

⇧ Sarah wearing her new top sitting on the train on the way home ⇧

When we arrived home after a 6 hour journey, we had an hour to get ready and go for our romantic meal at our favourite restaurant. Our friends who own and run Sicily restaurant made it extra special for us.

Sicily 1

⇧ They first surprised us with a lovely card and present ⇧

Sicily 2

⇧ Then amazing fillet steaks ⇧

Sicily 3

Sicily 4

⇧ Love heart potatoes ⇧

Sicily 5

⇧ Vegetables with pine nuts ⇧

Strawberries creamand coconut ice cream and peach

⇧ And finally Strawberries & cream with coconut ice cream in a peach ⇧

Now i’m back at my computer with 771 emails, so i’m sure you’ll be hearing from me soon. I’m looking forward to reading your posts! 😀

Daily Prompt: From the Gut

Today’s Daily Prompt ~ “Photographers, artists, poets: show us JOYFUL“

Psalm 118:24 (NASB)
This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Sarah on Wedding Day PNG

Sarah on wedding day part 2 PNG

⇧ Sarah’s joy overflowing on our wedding day ⇧ 

Sarah Joyful

⇧ Joyful on our honeymoon too! ⇧

Steve  Sarah Photo Booth

⇧ Joy in our marriage as best friends ⇧

Sarah Smiling

⇧ Joy in the everyday ⇧

Sarah s Gran PNG

⇧ Sarah’s joyful Gran ⇧

Sarah's Dad

⇧ Sarah’s joyful Dad ⇧

Bruce running alone on the beach

⇧ Bruce finding joy on an empty beach ⇧

Bruce Jumping with joy

⇧ Bruce jumping for joy! ⇧

Joy cannot be pursued. It comes from within. It is a state of being. It does not depend on circumstances, but triumphs over circumstances. It produces a gentleness of spirit and a magnetic personality.
Billy Graham

Check out “Steve & Sarah” on the “Weddings”  page

There’s No Ceiling To Hope

Hope Logo

This is a post for all of my sisters & brothers out there who are struggling at the moment. I just wanted to try and inspire you with some of the Songs/Poems i’ve posted on here. Some will have already read them, but its really on my heart to try and help you as you fight with your day to day struggles. Peace be with you.

page links for my Songs/Poems: 

I Hope these songs/poems will reach out to people who can relate to some of the feelings i went through on my Journey! But i want you to know that you are never alone and a new Life of Love, Joy & inner Peace are waiting for you. Check out my “About” page to read a little more about my journey.

Praise God

Prayer 4 2day wireless logo

My Thoughts 💭 

Last night at our evening meeting, Ruth (one of our ministers) led us in an hour of praise and prayer to God. Ruth started with the prayer below and Sarah and I played 8 songs, and in-between the songs Ruth would say a prayer or a reflection which flowed beautifully for the whole hour.

It was deeply moving and I wanted to just share with you this opening prayer.

🙏 Prayer 4 2day! 

Praise God for: mountains and oceans, planets and stars
Praise God for big things
Praise God for: seeds and spiders, petals and drops of dew
Praise God for small things
Praise God for: rolling thunder and the crashing waves
Praise God for loud things
Praise God for: a breath of wind and a whispered prayer
Praise God for quiet things
Praise God for: soaring eagles and hairy gorillas
Praise God for strong things
Praise God for: snowflakes and cobwebs – a tiny baby
Praise God for fragile things
Praise God for: the flash of lightening and a humming bird’s wings
Praise God for fast things
Praise God for: the growth of a tree and the erosion of cliffs
Praise God for slow things
Praise God for: the moon, the sun, other worlds
Praise God for far away things
Praise God for: the person sitting next to me, my own heartbeat
Praise God for close-by things

Thank you that though you are so big,
you become small enough to meet us here on earth
though you are so strong, you show your love in gentleness
though you are loud as thunder, you speak to us in the sound of silence.
Thank you that though you could be faster than the speed of light
You choose to walk at our pace and to hold our hand.

Amen

War And Violence Are Not Entertainment!

Machine Gun

“War And Violence should not be entertainment!”

These were the words I received from a spirit nudge yesterday whilst trying to find PS3 games suitable for Vini (12 years old) to play at my home when he visits with my brother Ben and his wife Rosie.

My background with video games…

I’ve played video games my whole life, starting with ‘Pong’, then my Dad bought a ‘ZX80’ & a ‘Video Genie System’ and all I remember playing on it was ‘Space Invaders’. Then came the ‘Commodore 64’ and we broke many joysticks playing ‘Way Of The Exploding Fist’ and many more fighting and shooting games, then the ‘Commodore Amiga!’ This was a fantastic games machine in the late 80’s & 90’s and really stepped up the quality and quantity of these genres.

Now The PlayStation…

Since I was a boy i’ve always wanted the most violent and brutal shooting and fighting games but nothing could be made as there just wasn’t enough processor speed or memory to do the job. 

I’ve always thought playStations are amazing, I’ve owned a ‘PlayStation 1 & 2’ and I currently own a ‘PlayStation 3’ used as my DVD player for bible studies (this still makes me smile).

Since the release of the ‘PlayStation 1’ I’ve loved playing ‘Tomb Raider’, ‘Resident Evil’, ‘Silent Hill’ and ‘Grand Theft Auto’, GTA was especially brutal and pushed the boundries of just how wrong can we make a game, but I loved it!

📖 Verse 4 2day! 

Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Back to childhood…

For the last couple of years, God’s been cleaning out over 36 years of pollution that controls my thoughts, actions and tongue. Now with this latest message I hope to put the final nail in this huge coffin and be free of this addiction.

War and violence are horrific, brutal, destructive and uncaring, it leaves a trail of devastation through generations. It doesn’t matter which side you’re on, it still kills husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and on, and on, and on….

Are we that tangled up in the worldly culture that we have been deceived and we don’t even know it?

Is God trying to steer you away from something you know you shouldn’t really be doing?

Are you just a fan of Jesus? Or do you know him? Do you trust him to transform your life with the renewing of your mind, and turn you into the person that God wants you to be, and not the person the world wants you to be?!

🙏 Prayer 4 2day! 

Father, please help us to be aware of the world and its destructive popular cultures. Help us to be the people you want us to be and not the people that blindly put idols on the throne where you belong, Amen.

Daily Prompt: 21st Century Citizen

Today’s Daily Prompt: “Photographers, artists, poets: show us MODERN”

I love the 21st century! As a blind person its never been more accessible. Technology has enabled blind and partially sighted people to interact and be less isolated.
In just the 13 years i’ve been registered blind technology and peoples awareness has improved dramatically, and i’m excited to be apart of whats coming next! 😀

Video taken from my older post ~ “The Sound Of My Eyes“

Is Your Worship In Vain??

Verse 4 2day logo blog

Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV)
“‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules”

Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)
13 The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”

My Thoughts 💭 

We spend countless hours checking, then double checking if everything is plugged in correctly, microphones, instruments, sound desk etc but we fail to leave time to plug our hearts into God! 

  • Have you followed the rules (I mean order of service) correctly and to the letter?
  • Have you dared to remain seated instead of standing during the song as you wouldn’t want to be frowned upon would you?
  • Do you make sure you speak nicely during prayer, putting style over substance? 

📖 Another Verse 4 2day!  

Isaiah 1:15 (NIVUK)

When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!

More Thoughts 💭 

I hope this will challenge you to focus on connecting your heart to God and not being distracted by what other people are doing, what clothes they’re wearing, if they are sitting, standing, dancing, running, kneeling. Just connect with God as you can’t worship for someone else! When you do, nothing else will matter anyway!

Don’t just go to Church, BE THE CHURCH!

Daily Prompt: Person Of The Year

Today’s Daily Prompt: “Person Of The Year!”

Photographers, artists, poets: show us BIG.

Sarah Standing Tall PNG

Bruce Standing Tall

My Thoughts 💭 

I would nominate my lovely wife Sarah for person of the year, she is simply amazing! 🙂

When I thought of the word ‘Big’, I immediately thought of these two photos I took of Sarah & Bruce with my fisheye lens on holiday in the lighthouse at Hunstanton, Norfolk.

More Daily Prompt Challenges:

Daily Prompt: You’ve Got The Power

Today’s Daily Prompt ~ “Photographers, artists, poets: show us RULES”

 My Thoughts 💭 

I was struggling with today’s prompt, so I asked my wife Sarah and she reminded me of this…

My lovely wife Sarah happily showing she has the power as a type 1 diabetic to eat anything she likes and whenever she likes, especially when it is a doughnut dunked in lots and lots of sugar! 😀

Sarah eating a sugar doughnut

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Spiritual Boot Camp Day 23

Please check out this challenging Spiritual Boot Camp series on the book of James by Shelly (Deeply Rooted in Him).

Shelly's avatarDeeply Rooted in Him

Well we are at the halfway point this week so let’s remain faithful as we dive back into James 4.

James 4:4

4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

James starts this verse by address the people as “adulterous people”. “The people of God in the OT are considered the wife of the Lord (Jer. 31:32), and in the NT, the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:22-23). It is reasonable, therefore, to understand “adulteress” intended to jar the reader and awaken him to his true spiritual condition.”1 As we read this passage, we too, are to be jarred and made to really look at our own spiritual condition. When you look at your life, is it more in line with the ways of the world or the ways of…

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Daily Prompt: Take Care

Todays Daily Prompt ~ “Photographers, artists, poets: show us HELP!”

My Thoughts 💭 

When you’re unwell, you can decide to focus on the dark clouds that start to surround you. Or you can dance in the storm! 🙂

Bruce Poorley

⇧ Bruce feeling sad after his ear operation ⇧

Bruce dancing

⇧ Bruce dancing in the storm! 😀 ⇧

Related posts:

Daily Prompt: RSVP

Today’s Daily Prompt ~ “Photographers, artists, poets: show us CELEBRATION”  

I had to start this post with the best celebration blessing of my life! 🙂 

Steve  Sarah Wedding 1

⇧ Me and my lovely wife Sarah on our amazing day! ⇧

Wedding Cake

⇧ Our Wedding Cake! Mmmmmm 🙂 ⇧

Sarahs Birthday Cake

⇧ Sarahs Sunflower Birthday Cake ⇧

IMG 0144

⇧ Sarah returning to the beach (her favourite place!) ⇧

Marriage

My Thoughts 💭 

One of my fave ministries is “Telling The Truth” and this is an article on marriage by Pete Briscoe

Experiencing Life Today Logo

💬 Quote 4 2day 

“Getting married for sex is like buying a 747 for the free peanuts.” —Jeff Foxworthy

The Pew Poll reports that 44% of Americans under 30 believe that marriage is heading for extinction, but 95% of Americans want to get married someday.

That’s interesting, isn’t it?

There’s skepticism, but also intrigue. They know there’s something dynamic and special about this relationship, but our culture keeps saying, “Marriage was great for your grandparents, but it’s unnecessary bondage for this age of freedom.”

Time magazine recently ran a cover that simply asked in big letters, “Who needs marriage?” Good question. How would you answer?

Lie number 1: Marriage is an archaic institution irrelevant for enlightened modern people. Many believe this lie, the rest of us need to ask ourselves if marriage is even worth it. Why do we even need this anymore?”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. —Genesis 2:24

This is the way God always intended it: one man, one woman coming together, becoming one, enjoying oneness in Christ. It’s God’s original plan, and it’s meant to last. He’s never rescinded it. Marriage is simply one of God’s great ideas.

I’ve done dozens of weddings over the years, and I start them all the same way:

“Marriage is:

  • A holy estate.
  • Instituted by God.
  • Commanded in Scripture for all who enter it lawfully and in true affection.
  • Confirmed by Christ’s solemn words and consecrated by His gracious presence at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee.
  • Set forth by the apostle as signifying the mystical union between Christ and the Church.
  • Ordained for the consecration of union between man and woman so that the natural instincts being directed aright they might live in purity and honor.
  • Ordained for the increase of mankind and that children might be brought up in the fear and the nurture of the Lord.
  • Ordained for companionship, health, and comfort, which husband and wife ought to have of each other.
  • Ordained for the welfare of human society which can be strong and happy only where the marriage bond is held highly in honor.”
  • Satan lies. The truth is that marriage is divine, timeless, and significant. You might be in it or out of it—either way, marriage is partof God’s eternal purpose for the Body of Christ… and it will be until death we do part.
🙏 Prayer 4 2day! 

God, make me a vessel of Your truth. When I begin to doubt the validity and need of marriage, make me willing to take that thought captive. By Your Spirit and Your Word, convict me of Your divine purpose in the marriage covenant for my good and for Your glory. Amen.

My Name Is “Meth”

Wow, i read this on a friends Facebook timeline. This is so powerful and real! Please take a minute to read and share!

My Name Is “Meth”

I destroy homes, I tear families apart,
take your children, and that’s just the start.
I’m more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold,
The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.

If you need me, remember I’m easily found,
I live all around you – in schools and in towns
I live with the rich; I live with the poor,
I live down the street, and maybe next door.

I’m made in a lab, but not like you think,
I can be made under the kitchen sink.
In your child’s closet, and even in the woods,
If this scares you to death, well it certainly should.

I have many names, but there’s one you know best,
I’m sure you’ve heard of me, my name is crystal meth.
My power is awesome; try me you’ll see,
But if you do, you may never break free.

Just try me once and I might let you go,
But try me twice, and I’ll own your soul.
When I possess you, you’ll steal and you’ll lie,
You do what you have to — just to get high.

The crimes you’ll commit for my narcotic charms
Will be worth the pleasure you’ll feel in your arms, your lungs your nose.
You’ll lie to your mother; you’ll steal from your dad,
When you see their tears, you should feel sad.

But you’ll forget your morals and how you were raised,
I’ll be your conscience, I’ll teach you my ways.
I take kids from parents, and parents from kids,
I turn people from God, and separate friends.

I’ll take everything from you, your looks and your pride,
I’ll be with you always — right by your side.
You’ll give up everything – your family, your home,
Your friends, your money, then you’ll be alone.

I’ll take and take, till you have nothing more to give,
When I’m finished with you, you’ll be lucky to live.
If you try me be warned – this is no game,
If given the chance, I’ll drive you insane.

I’ll ravish your body, I’ll control your mind,
I’ll own you completely, your soul will be mine.
The nightmares I’ll give you while lying in bed,
The voices you’ll hear, from inside your head.

The sweats, the shakes, the visions you’ll see,
I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.
But then it’s too late, and you’ll know in your heart,
That you are mine, and we shall not part.

You’ll regret that you tried me, they always do,
But you came to me, not I to you.
You knew this would happen, many times you were told,
But you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.

You could have said no, and just walked away,
If you could live that day over, now what would you say?
I’ll be your master, you will be my slave,
I’ll even go with you, when you go to your grave.

Now that you have met me, what will you do?
Will you try me or not? It’s all up to you.
I can bring you more misery than words can tell,
Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.

Author Unknown

This is powerful. I think that it should be posted in every school.
In the email that this was poem was attached to it was said that it was written by a young Indian girl who was in jail for drug charges, and was addicted to meth, and that she wrote this while in jail. She was released from jail, but, true to her story, the drug owned her. They found her dead not long after, with the needle still in her arm.

My own little world

This video really challenged me to look at the mission field between my own two feet. I hope it will challenge you too to realise that there is such a huge need right on our own door steps or in our own town/city. It helps show that if we really loved these people around us instead of judging the way they look, act or the situations they find themselves in, then we can understand and show the compassion, grace and love of Jesus and help transform lives!

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The A21 Campaign

At our church meeting on sunday morning i was moved by  Rebecca West and her talk about the A21 Campaign, and how she is running a 10k run to help raise money and more awareness for this great charity. Rebecca started by playing the video above then told us a little about what she was doing to help.

Rebecca’s message:

Hello, me and two other friends are doing a 10 k run on the 18th of May, called We Own The Night, in London Victoria Park!

We wanted to use this opportunity to raise money for an amazing charity called A21. (More details below)

The charities aim is to abolish sex slavery across the globe and provide medical care, life skills and job training so those that have been effected by slavery.

There are more slaves in the world today than at any other point in human history, with an estimated 27 million in bondage across the globe. Men, women, and children are being exploited for manual and sexual labor against their will.

BUT! we can start with one life and the little amount you can give will release a life of slavery into a life of freedom.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you so much for your support!

Rebecca West

Heres how you can find out more about A21 and donate through Just Giving.

How you can donate on the Just Giving Site

http://www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-West2?utm_source=emailvision&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FR_page_creation

Related post:

My Own Little World