tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41104220383340687012024-03-13T01:37:34.739+00:00Hope For TodaySharing thoughts on how knowing Christ can make a difference to your life.Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.comBlogger292125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-4460251175332854622019-07-10T11:01:00.001+01:002019-07-10T11:01:59.187+01:00Book Review: Phoebe by Paula Gooder<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Biblical fiction is one of my favourite genres to read, and Paula Gooder's book, "Phoebe" did not disappoint me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I really enjoyed reading the imaginative account of Phoebe. Phoebe is a deacon mentioned briefly in Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome. In Paula's book, Phoebe journeys from Corinth to Rome to bring the Christians there a letter from Paul. It turns out that Rome was Phoebe's childhood home and we learn that there is another reason why Phoebe needed to return to Rome. At the end of the book, Phoebe prepares to visit Spain to spread the good news there. But it's not just a physical journey she embarks on as she also has a spiritual journey to take. The friendships she makes in Rome help her to grow spiritually, to receive God's love for her in a deeper way, to open her heart to being loved by others, to receive healing from her past and to also give and receive forgiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of the characters, such as Paul and Prisca were portrayed differently to the picture I've always had of them, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book as a whole. Rather it gave me the opportunity to consider a perspective different from my own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I found myself drawn to many of the characters, Phoebe (of course), also Felix and Peter. Paula succeeds in bringing these men and women of the Bible to life. The book reminds me that they were real people with real lives and experiences which we can learn from. The chapter in which Peter explains about God's forgiveness was one which I found personally very helpful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second half of the book is Paula's notes on the culture and the history of these first Christians. This section added another dimension to the book. I found this section interesting and her notes gave me a better understanding of what it would have been like to live as a first century Christian. Within the notes, the reader learns more about things such as the practice of freeing slaves and adopting them as sons, the roles of women at the time, the love of God, forgiveness, the variety of Christian worship, persecution etc. What worked best for me was to read the notes alongside Phoebe's story. Although if you prefer, you could read the notes once you had finished Part One.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One indication for me as a reader is whether a book such as this gives me the desire to go back and read God's Word for myself. To see what the Bible has to say. Paula's book does just this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are someone who enjoys read Biblical fiction and also likes to understand the Bible, the cultural and historical setting of the day, then I recommend this book to you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of the ways to connect with Paula:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.gooder.me.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.gooder.me.uk</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Twitter:</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/paulargooder?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Eprofile%3Apaulargooder&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gooder.me.uk%2F" target="_blank">@paulagooder</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PaulaRGooder/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/PaulaRGooder</a></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Vicki</span></i></b></div>
Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-39008628055041052532019-07-04T11:57:00.000+01:002019-07-04T11:57:14.139+01:00Book Review: made Like Martha by Katie M Reid<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recently finished reading 'Made Like Martha' by Katie M Reid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This book is based on a passage in the Bible about two sisters, Martha and Mary. The account of these two sisters can be found in Luke 10:28-42. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In her book, Katie, who would describe herself as a Martha character, explains how being made like Martha is not actually a bad thing. For too long Martha has been described in a negative way as opposed to her sister, Mary, who is held up as the ideal. Katie's book shows how we can learn good things from both these characters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Katie writes: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>"Jesus never asked Martha to be Mary, and he didn't ask you to be either. he simply pointed out that you do not have to serve from a place of striving and worry, because he is already enough for you."</i> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That will come as a relief to many of us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In her book, Katie writes about two mentalities. First, the hired help mentality which is a wrong mindset many of us have. We believe we have to work/earn our salvation, to please God, to gain or keep his love. What we do is born from this mentality. However, as Katie writes, our worth is based on God, in whose image we are made, it is not based on what we do. The second mentality is the beloved daughter's mentality. She provides assessments in her book so readers can tell which mentality they have and if, over time, they are moving away from the first and towards the second.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we understand our true identity in God then we are freed to serve from a place of peace, not striving. Serving from a place of strength, not stress. Resting in our position in Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Chapter 7 there is a list of 'already enough' statements which </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"help you combat guilt for overdoing it or underdoing it in areas of your life. May these truths help you focus on what is already yours because your position in Christ is secure. And may they reiterate that Christ is already enough whether you find yourself in a desolate or spacious place, a hungry or satisfied state, a harried or hushed season."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Chapter 8 she looks at reasons why we might find it hard to rest. I found the following quote particularly helpful to me: </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"Spiritual rest is not a location but a position, not condemnation but an invitation, not arriving but appreciating what and who is already mine."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another quote I love is this:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"Jesus didn't ask Martha to stop being a doer. And he doesn't ask us to be someone else to be accepted. We are created to be doers and that's a good thing indeed. We don't have to apologise anymore for being modern Marthas. She's fantastic, and so are you!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Katie ends her final chapter with <i>'The Beloved Daughter's Decree'</i>. Great Biblical truths which all of us need to know in our heads and our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Included at the end is a Bible Study which can be worked through alone or in a group. It is there to help readers to live confidently as God's beloved daughters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is so much more I could say about this book, but the best thing you can do is buy it and read it yourself. I gained so much from it and was encouraged by it. I chose to read it in the first place because the story of Martha and Mary has a special place in my heart. I recommend this book to anyone who feels the same about these sisters and also recommend it for anyone who has struggled to accept the person God has created her to be and has felt 'less than' because she is more like Martha than Mary. This will encourage you and bless you in your relationship with God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Katie has provided extra resources to go with her book which can be found on her</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">website: <a href="https://www.katiemreid.com/martha-resources/" target="_blank">https://www.katiemreid.com/martha-resources</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can connect with Katie in the following ways:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.katiemreid.com/" target="_blank">https://www.katiemreid.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Katie_M_Reid?lang=en-gb" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/Katie_M_Reid</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KatieMReidWriter/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/KatieMReidWriter</a></span></div>
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</span>Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-22061423208928258402019-06-13T12:21:00.001+01:002019-06-13T12:21:24.767+01:00God - Our Ultimate Father<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">God - Our Ultimate Father</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This coming Sunday, Father's Day, can be a difficult day for many people, for a variety of reasons. Some may have never known their father, others may not have had a good father, for others their father may no longer be with them. Perhaps you are one of those who finds the day hard. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, I want to focus on God, our ultimate Father. No matter what our experience has been concerning our own father, God is available to each one of us as a good and loving father. His desire is for each of us to know what it truly means to be his child and to know him as Father.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We all have some idea of what a good father looks like. The good news is that God exceeds and goes beyond that picture we have. He is the only truly good, loving and perfect Father.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+103&version=NLT" target="_blank">Psalm 103</a></b> gives a lovely description of God as our ultimate Father.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />1</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Let all that I am praise the Lord;<br />with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span> Let all that I am praise the Lord;<br />may I never forget the good things he does for me.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3</span> He forgives all my sins<br />and heals all my diseases.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">4 </span>He redeems me from death<br />and crowns me with love and tender mercies.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">5</span> He fills my life with good things.<br />My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">6</span> The Lord gives righteousness<br />and justice to all who are treated unfairly.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">7</span> He revealed his character to Moses<br />and his deeds to the people of Israel.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">8</span> The Lord is compassionate and merciful,<br />slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">9</span> He will not constantly accuse us,<br />nor remain angry forever.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">10</span> He does not punish us for all our sins;<br />he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">11</span> For his unfailing love toward those who fear him<br />is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">12</span> He has removed our sins as far from us<br />as the east is from the west.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">13</span> The Lord is like a father to his children,<br />tender and compassionate to those who fear him.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">14</span> For he knows how weak we are;<br />he remembers we are only dust.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">15</span> Our days on earth are like grass;<br />like wildflowers, we bloom and die.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">16 </span>The wind blows, and we are gone—<br />as though we had never been here.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">17</span> But the love of the Lord remains forever<br />with those who fear him.<br />His salvation extends to the children’s children<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">18</span> of those who are faithful to his covenant,<br />of those who obey his commandments!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">19</span> The Lord has made the heavens his throne;<br />from there he rules over everything.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">20</span> Praise the Lord, you angels,<br />you mighty ones who carry out his plans,<br />listening for each of his commands.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">21</span> Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels<br />who serve him and do his will!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">22</span> Praise the Lord, everything he has created,<br />everything in all his kingdom.<br /><br />Let all that I am praise the Lord.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What are some of the things we learn about God as our Father in this psalm?</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. God our Father loves to give us gifts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just like a loving father loves to give good things to his children, God loves to bless us with many gifts and everything he gives us is good. He knows just what we need and when to give it to us. He gives, not because we have earned it or deserved it but purely because he loves us and loves to give to us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. God our Father is unfailingly loving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps your father was a strict disciplinarian, you felt you could never live up to his expectations or he never recognised that you tried your best. God is not like that. He is never harsh with us. He never reminds us of our mistakes and failings, he doesn't treat us unfairly. He always believes in us, his anger does not burn against us. Instead, he always shows us compassion and mercy. He encourages us to keep trying. He is patient with us. He knows our weaknesses and supports us, helping us to overcome. In this psalm, we are told three times about God's love for us. We are told God's love is unfailing and is forever. We know that nothing in this world lasts forever. But God, who is over and above everything in this world, who created everything has a love for you and me which endures forever, not just whilst we are on this earth, but on into eternity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span>The Hebrew word for <i>'tender'</i> (in verse 13) can be translated as <i>'womb'</i>. The idea being that our Father has a mother's nurturing love for his children. For me, this image is such a beautiful one. Will you allow God to nurture you? To carry you and care for you? Perhaps you need to spend a few moments meditating on just this verse and its meaning for you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. God our Father knows us inside out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a child, no one knew me better than my parents did. They understood who I was. I could talk to them about my feelings and whatever I was going through and I knew they would listen. They knew my nature, my personality, my interests, my gifts etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In verse 14 we read <i>'For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.'</i> Another translation words it: <i>'For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.'</i> (NKJV)<br /><br />I read in the Passion Translation that 'frame' also means 'to be in distress' or 'frustrated'. This means God knows all about whatever is causing us to feel distressed. He knows our frustrations. He cares about these things, whether they are big or small. He is with us in them. For me, this brings me such encouragement and comfort. Our Father doesn't dismiss what we are facing and he doesn't dismiss our feelings. Rather, he recognises them and shows us his concern and compassion and is available to us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. God our Father forgives all our sins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you experienced the truth of that for yourself? God doesn't just forgive some of my sins, he forgives all of them. He never gets to the point where I have reached beyond his forgiveness. How freeing to live knowing we are totally forgiven and no longer under any condemnation. God never brings up our past sins, he removes them from us completely. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are just some of the things which stood out to me as I spent time in this psalm meditating on God as my Father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spend some time reading and meditating on this psalm. Ask God to reveal to you more about his role as the Ultimate Father in your life. Receive his gifts, his love, his knowledge of you and his forgiveness which he longs to pour into your life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you read today's devotional which part in particular really spoke to you? What do you believe God is wanting you to know?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i></i><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: red;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: red;">Both my devotional books are available to buy through Amazon. "Dear Friend...52 Weeks to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" If you would like to know more or would like to buy a copy then please click </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #757575; font-family: &quot; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #757575; font-family: &quot; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: red; font-family: &quot;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&i=stripbooks&crid=34GKVRJ688SD9&sprefix=dear+friend+v%2Caps%2C158&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_13" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #37afc0; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></span><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #757575; font-family: Roboto,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-4155822451997720932019-06-07T09:29:00.000+01:002019-06-07T09:29:14.289+01:00"I can't, but you can Lord"<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">I can't, but you can, Lord</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For a few years now I've become more interested in contemplative prayer and it is changing the way I pray. One form of contemplative prayer is breath prayers. These are great to pray at various moments during the day and help to bring me back to an awareness of God's presence with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recently read the novel 'Sensible Shoes' by Sharon Brown and I've utilised a breath prayer which came from this book. The prayer is this:<b> <i>"I can't, but you can, Lord."</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I face new situations or need to move out of my comfort zone, fear can be a natural emotion for me. I'm so quick to think such thoughts as: "I can't do this. I'm not good enough. This is beyond me. I'll fail." Perhaps you too feel and think similarly when you face the unknown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The above prayer is really making a difference in the way I live and respond to different situations. First, I acknowledge I am not able to do whatever it is before me; I acknowledge before God my weakness and frailty. But I don't leave it there. If I left it there I would never do anything. I would never have the confidence to do what God is calling me to do. So, the next part of the prayer is to remind myself that whilst I can't do this on my own, God has the power to do anything and it is his power working in me which enables me to move forward. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I pray this prayer I'm reminding myself of various truths recorded in the Bible. Truths such as the ones mentioned below.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Paul writing to the Corinthian church says this: <b>Each time he </b>[<i>God</i>]<b> said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+12%3A9-10&version=NLT" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:9-</a></b> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is impossible for people is possible for God. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A27&version=NLT" target="_blank">Luke 18:27</a></b> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have recently started a part-time job with Fegans, (a Christian Charity) as a Parent Support Co-ordinator. I am enjoying it but as with any new job, it comes with its own set of challenges. Most of the time I work from home but there are also times when I need to meet up with the team which is about thirty miles from where I live. Preparing myself for that first time took a lot of trust and reliance on God. It involved getting to know them and sorting out the best option for transport. (I usually rely on my husband to get me to and from a place and I don't have a lot of confidence when it comes to being with new people and new situations.) This breath prayer was so important to me that day and enabled me to manage the experience and manage it well. At the end of the day, I had so much to give thanks to God for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My new role also involves me going into local schools and giving them information about the new parenting programme for our area. I arrived early for one of these appointments so I sat in my car for a few minutes and quietly prayed this prayer. As I went into the school I sensed God going before me and being with me as I met with a few key members of staff. Again the outcome was positive and a real encouragement to my faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've also found another use for this prayer. I don't know about you, but sometimes, when I know I can do something I can forget that the only reason I can do it is because God has gifted me to do it in the first place. If I'm not careful or mindful of God, I start to rely on myself and on my own strength and ability. So I've been praying this prayer on those occasions when I might be tempted to put my trust in myself and not trust in God. It reminds me that whilst I might think I can do whatever is before me, the only reason I can actually do it is because God is the one who really has the power and he is the one who has gifted me. I need to keep reminding myself that anything I am able to do is only because he has first enabled me to do so. I find it is helpful in keepng me humble rather than taking pride in myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+3%3A5&version=NLT" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 3:5</a> Paul said this:<b> It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.</b> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or as it's worded in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+3%3A5&version=TPT" target="_blank">The Passion Translation</a>: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Yet we don't see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, for our true competence flows from God's empowering presence. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The breath prayer helps me to keep focused on God, the one who can do all things and who chooses to work with me, frail and weak as I am. It reminds me that all the glory goes to him and that I am his servant. It gives me the courage to step out and do what he is asking of me, not because I am confident in myself but because my confidence is in him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am finding this breath prayer is making such a difference to me in any and every situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the next few days and weeks will you try praying this breath prayer? Pray this prayer when you are afraid but also pray it when you know you're tempted to rely on yourself rather than on God. Record when you pray it and what the outcome of that prayer is. If you'd like to, please write in the comments what your experience has been so that we can encourage one another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may like to learn more about breath prayers. The internet is a great help with this and also gives examples of other breath prayers to use. Again, I'd love to know which breath prayer is making a difference in your life and why that is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "quot";"><span style="color: red; font-family: "quot";">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "quot";">Both my devotional books are available to buy through Amazon. "Dear Friend...52 Weeks to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" If you would like to know more or would like to buy a copy then please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&i=stripbooks&crid=34GKVRJ688SD9&sprefix=dear+friend+v%2Caps%2C158&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_13" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #37afc0; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-26871488754324590622019-05-18T14:25:00.002+01:002019-05-18T14:25:23.260+01:00From Lament to Praise<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Dear Friends,</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe_au0LA4MJa0TYZBg42DfJPiFNEKSEBrb6ZYD9Ewaxo_gbL1WpQcLfPXN4BPSwQ3K-28FfNF7ZpVpphm72J_wJU_5quNCz0r8Wy6fqufptbzLf1t87uLcmY5g_3m6vs2TKb205oXQQmy/s1600/sadness-717432_1920+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1600" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLe_au0LA4MJa0TYZBg42DfJPiFNEKSEBrb6ZYD9Ewaxo_gbL1WpQcLfPXN4BPSwQ3K-28FfNF7ZpVpphm72J_wJU_5quNCz0r8Wy6fqufptbzLf1t87uLcmY5g_3m6vs2TKb205oXQQmy/s320/sadness-717432_1920+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">From Lament to Praise</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week I wrote a post about ME Awareness. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week so I wanted to write a post which relates to this.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of you will know I have spent several months in the book of Psalms, reading, meditating and praying them. They have been and continue to be such a blessing to me as I suffer from depression. I have found that the psalmists express so well my thoughts and feelings.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today I want to share with you one psalm in particular. It is</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <a href="https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+102&version=TPT" target="_blank">Psalm 102</a> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">from The Passion Translation:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"A prayer for those who are overwhelmed and for all the discouraged who come to pour out their hearts before the Lord."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1 Lord, listen to my prayer! Listen to my cry for help!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>2 You can’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress.<br />Stoop down to hear my prayer and answer me quickly, Lord!<br />3–4 For my days of happiness have gone up in smoke.<br />My body is raging with fever, my heart is sick,<br />and I’m consumed by this illness—<br />withered like a dead leaf. I can’t even eat.<br />5 I’m nothing but skin and bones.<br />Nothing’s left of me but whispered groans.<br />6 I’m depressed, lonely, forgotten, and abandoned.<br />7 I’m sleepless, shivering in the cold, forlorn and friendless,<br />like a lonely bird on the rooftop.<br />8 My every enemy mocks and insults me incessantly.<br />They even use my name as a curse to speak over others!<br />9–10 Because of your great and furious anger against me<br />all I do is suffer with sorrow,<br />with nothing to eat but a meal of mourning.<br />My crying fills my cup with salty tears!<br />In your wrath you have rejected me,<br />sweeping me away like dirt on the floor.<br />11 My days are marked by the lengthening shadows of death.<br />I’m withering away and there’s nothing left of me.<br />12 But then I remember that you, O Lord,<br />still sit enthroned as King over all!<br />The fame of your name will be revealed to every generation.<br />13 I know you are about to arise and show your tender love to Zion.<br />Now is the time, Lord,<br />for your compassion and mercy to be poured out—<br />the appointed time has come<br />for your prophetic promises to be fulfilled!<br />14 For your servants weep in sympathy over Zion’s ruins<br />and feel love for her every stone.<br />15 When you arise to intervene,<br />all the nations and kings will be stunned<br />and will fear your awesome name, trembling before your glory!<br />16 Yes, you will reveal yourself to Zion<br />and appear in the brightness of your glory<br />to restore her and give her children.<br />17 He responds to the prayer of the poor and broken<br />and will not despise the cry of the homeless.<br />18 Write all this down for the coming generation,<br />so re-created people will read it and praise the Lord!<br />19 Tell them how Yah looked down from his high and holy place,<br />gazing from his glory to survey the earth.<br />20 He listened to all the groaning of his people longing to be free,<br />and he set loose the sons of death to experience life.<br />21 Multitudes will stream to Jerusalem to<br />praise the Lord and declare his name in Zion!<br />22 Peoples from every land, their kings and kingdoms,<br />will gather together to worship the Lord.<br />23 But God has brought me to my knees, shortening my life.<br />24 So I cry out to you, my God, Father of eternity,<br />please don’t let me die!<br />I know my life is not yet finished.<br />25 With your hands you once formed the foundations of the earth<br />and handcrafted the heavens above.<br />26–27 They will all fade away one day like worn-out clothing,<br />ready to be discarded, but you’ll still be here.<br />You will replace it all!<br />Your first creation will be changed,<br />but you alone will endure, the God of all eternity!<br />28 Generation after generation our descendants will live securely,<br />for you are the one protecting us, keeping us for yourself.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we feel overwhelmed, discouraged, when we are suffering from anxiety, depression etc we can pour out our hearts to God. We don't need to pretend everything is OK and we don't need to try and hide how we are feeling. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The psalmist tells God exactly how he is feeling - his days of happiness are no more, he is consumed by his illness, withering away, depressed, he can't sleep or eat, he is lonely, forgotten, abandoned, misunderstood and criticised. This psalm encourages us that we can speak to God just as the psalmist did. <span style="background-color: white; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We can tell God exactly how we are feeling without fear of rejection or </span>condemnation<span style="background-color: white; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">When we are experiencing intense suffering it can <u>feel</u> like God has turned his face from us. As though he doesn't want anything more to do with us and is leaving us to cope alone. We can't rely on our feelings during these times because they are not telling us the truth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I love the wording of verses one and two:</span></div>
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<b>Lord, listen to my prayer! Listen to my cry for help!</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><b>You can’t hide your face from me in the day of my distress. </b><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><u>Stoop down</u> to hear my prayer and answer me quickly, Lord!</b></div>
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<span style="color: black;">"Stoop down to hear my prayer". The psalmist is confident God will hear his prayer. Those words "Stoop down" conjure up such a wonderful image to me. God doesn't keep his distance, he doesn't just turn his head to listen, he actually stoops down. The God Almighty comes down to our level, beside us, to give us his full attention and listens to us. The perfect example of this 'stooping down' is found in Jesus, who gave up his place in heaven to be with us on earth. His presence, his Holy Spirit, is with us right now, indwelling us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">The psalmist, having poured out his heart to God, then has a shift in his perspective in verse twelve: </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: white; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><u>But then</u> I remember that you, O Lord, </span><span style="background-color: white; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">still sit enthroned as King over all!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">By coming to God and pouring his heart out, he is then able to turn to praise. His circumstances haven't changed but his attitude has as he remembers who God is. That God is the one who is above all things, who is Sovereign and who endures forever. The one who is loving, compassionate and merciful, who keeps all his promises, who will reveal himself in all his glory. He listens to and answers our prayers. Protecting us and keeping us for himself.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I wrote the following prayer after reading and meditating on this psalm. It's one I have already shared on social media but it may be one that you would like to pray now for yourself:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Lord God, won’t you listen to my cry? I’m discouraged and weak. It’s more than I can bear right now. Are you there God? I feel abandoned and misunderstood. I’m withering away. I can’t sleep and I can’t eat. My body has turned against me. BUT then I remember that you, God are enthroned forever. All else will fade away, but you remain the same forever. I praise you that all your promises and purposes are fulfilled in Jesus. Amen.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read through Psalm 102 again and use them as your prayer to God if they reflect how you are feeling.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spend some time in psalms, meditate on them and if you feel you don't have the words to pray then use them in your prayers.</span></span><br />
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<i><b><span style="color: black;">Vicki</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Both my devotional books are available to buy through Amazon. "Dear Friend...52 Weeks to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" If you would like to know more or would like to buy a copy then please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&i=stripbooks&crid=34GKVRJ688SD9&sprefix=dear+friend+v%2Caps%2C158&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_13" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: border-box; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: padding-box; background-position-x: 0%; background-position-y: 0%; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; color: #37afc0; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid/" target="_blank">https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid</a></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Some helpful online resources:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.mindandsoulfoundation.org/" target="_blank">https://www.mindandsoulfoundation.org</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.kintsugihope.com/" target="_blank">https://www.kintsugihope.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-29423331851823778112019-05-13T14:44:00.001+01:002019-05-13T14:44:09.669+01:00ME Awareness Week - My Personal Story<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">ME Awareness Week</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week (6th - 12th May) was ME Awareness Week and I had planned to write a blog post about ME from a personal perspective. However, as we know, life doesn't always go according to plan and I wasn't able to blog last week. At first I felt frustrated at missing out on doing this, but then, I believe, God reasoned with me and so I came to see that there is no reason why I cannot share about it a week later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I believe that having Awareness Weeks for various physical and mental illnesses are incredibly important. As a society we need to be more aware of what others face, we need to understand better their struggles and learn how we can support them and show compassion for them in their difficulties. Whilst awareness weeks are good, let's not stop talking about these things when the week is over, but let's continue to talk and be open. It's not always easy to share because it means allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. But when we share our own stories it encourages others to do the same and there is blessing when we do so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, I want to add my story to the many others that are out there, because each person's story is unique to them. I want to help raise awareness of this illness and one way I can do this is through my blog. This is not a post which is meant to draw attention to 'Poor Me, see how I've suffered.' I want to write this with the message of hope I have - although I still have ME, my relationship with Jesus is one which brings me hope in the midst of the struggle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although more is known now about ME than ever before, it is still a misunderstood illness as many of the 'invisible' illnesses are. (Fibromyalgia and depression to name just a couple.) I think it's so important to raise awareness of these so called 'invisible' illnesses and encourage a culture where people feel safe to be honest and open about the things which they are going through. We need to create a place where people receive love, compassion and acceptance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I became ill with ME when I was in my early twenties but because little was known about it in the mid-nineties it was not diagnosed until a couple of years later by which point I had become really ill as a result of constantly pushing myself to keep going. I remember feeling incredibly weak all over, severe nausea which resulted in losing a lot of weight as I just felt too ill to eat, muscle pain all over my body, so so tired, not the normal tired you feel at the end of the day, but something much worse, poor sleep, poor concentration and constant headaches/migraines. Going up the stairs in our home was such a task, I could have been climbing a mountain for all the effort it took me. Depression, not a symptom of ME but a side effect for some of us, soon kicked in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I remember one GP telling me before I was diagnosed that all I needed to do was take a walk in the fresh air! I was devasted by his response and lack of understanding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, there were a number of factors which led to developing ME. I was working as a supply teacher and was very busy as several teachers were off sick at the school I was in. I too became ill with some sort of virus but I refused to give in and let down the other staff. Until the end of the week when my voice gave out completely on me as I walked in the school building, and they then sent me home. I was getting married in a few months time. Of course, getting married is a special time but was also very stressful. Particularly because I knew just what kind of wedding dress I wanted, but could not find it anywhere! We had bought our new home a few months before the wedding, and whilst living at home with our respective parents, Jason and I were busy working on it. There was much to do before we could move in. At the same time I worried about my sister and a relationship she was in and that played on my mind a good deal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the ME was at it's worst I could do very little. I had pushed my body for so long that eventually it said, 'Enough is enough', and it gave up on me. That was the scariest time when I first realised I no longer had control over my body. Housework was beyond me. Most of my days were spent sleeping in bed as I had no strength to do anything. I gave up work and my involvement in church. I remember sometimes the thought of trying to wash my hair was just too much. Holding a pen and writing Christmas cards left me with muscle pain in my arms; at times a book could be too heavy to hold. (The Kindle is a wonderful invention!) I experienced brain fog when I couldn't reamember a particular word or a very random one would come out of my mouth. If you've ever had something like this then you'll know how stupid it can make you feel. And here I was in my twenties, not long out of Uni, with a teaching degree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I felt useless and worthless - I was good for nothing. I could not live up to my own expectations of what a wife and mother should be. I put so much pressure on myself and then of course the guilt set in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One day during a Sunday morning service the preacher made sure we all had a square piece of paper and pen. He asked us to write down something we were good at. I don't remember what the actual message was, perhaps something about God giving each one of us gifts to use for him, which is a good message but as I sat there with the pen and paper in my hand I was paralysed. I had nothing to write on that paper, I couldn't think of one single thing I could do. My self-esteem was rock bottom, I had nothing to offer anyone. My friend next to me whispered 'Write down that you're good with children.' I wrote it down, but I didn't believe it. I had written a lie (as I saw it.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ME robbed me of my health in most of my twenties, all of my thirties and it is still having an affect on my forties. However, I am much better than I was in the beginning ten-fifteen years. I have been taught how to manage my life better, how to pace myself and to make myself have regular rest periods during the day in bed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know up to this point, you may be thinking where's the hope in all this. Please bear with me because it is coming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One thing I know for sure - my illness is not a punishment from God. Although</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, I do believe he will use situations in our life to get our attention. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In his book, The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis wrote:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God may well have been wanting to get my attention for a long time but I just wasn't listening to him. I was a Christian, a follower of Christ, but there was something he wanted me to know if I had only taken the time to listen. And I believe that being ill with ME was one way for him to gain my attention. I do just want to reiterate here that I am not saying he gave me ME, but I am saying he has used it to draw me closer to him and because of it he finally got my attention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You see, I believe that what God wants more than anything else is for each one of us to have a close, intimate relationship with him. He loves us so deeply, pursues us so passionately, and will never give up on us. My pain has caused me to slow down, be quiet enough and still enough to hear him. It has taught me the value of just being with him and resting in him. He has done an incredible transformative work in me which I don't have time to go into now. He has changed me and is changing me, as the Bible says:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].</b> <a href="https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=philippians+1%3A6&version=AMP" target="_blank">Philippians 1:6</a> (AMP)</span><br />
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I'm not sure I would be the person I am now had it not been for living all these years with ME. I sometimes wonder who I would have been had I not become ill with ME and I realise afresh the extent of God's grace to me.</div>
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Through living with a long-term illness God has taught me various Biblical principles which each one of us would benefit from living out. Such as:</div>
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<li> the value of a Sabbath rest;</li>
<li> regular alone time with God;</li>
<li> recognising my weaknesses and limitations and depending on his strength;</li>
<li>doing that which he has called me to and no more than that;</li>
<li>understanding that my identity is founded on being a child of God and not on anything else.</li>
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Some days are harder than others and it's on those days when life is more difficult that it's important to remind ourselves this is not where our story ends. We just need to read the Bible to know what awaits us. </div>
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In the second to last chapter of the Bible we read:</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He will wipe away every tear from their eyes </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and eliminate death entirely. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No one will mourn or weep any longer. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pain of wounds will no longer exist, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">for the old order</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> has ceased.” </b><a href="https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation+21%3A4&version=TPT" target="_blank">Revelation 21:4</a> (TPT).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Halellujah! Praise God! What a day that will be!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is there something you are struggling with? Perhaps it's poor health, money problems, relationship worries, addictions? Who can you share with who will support you in your pain? Ask God to give you wisdom to know you who you can open up to so you aren't bearing it all yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What things have God taught you through your difficulties? Can you share this with another to encourage them in their own journey?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is there someone you know is going through a difficult time? Is God directing you to be a support and encouragement to them? In what ways can you do this?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both my devotional books are available to buy through Amazon. "Dear Friend...52 Weeks to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" If you would like to know more or would like to buy a copy then please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&i=stripbooks&crid=34GKVRJ688SD9&sprefix=dear+friend+v%2Caps%2C158&ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_1_13" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-54638470250262208772019-05-02T14:02:00.000+01:002019-05-02T14:02:34.376+01:00God's Faithful Love in All Circumstances<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I preached last Sunday in my home church on the faithful love of God found in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+107&version=NLT" target="_blank">Psalm 107</a> (NLT). I was encouraged as I read this psalm in my quiet time and knew it </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">was something I wanted to share with others and encourage them with too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(If you would like to listen to my sermon on which this blog post is based, please click <a href="http://dynamic.church123.com/podcast/3F5F36D0-7CBA-48EB-8D9A-1F3FD0885C8F" target="_blank">here</a> and then click on the date: Sunday 28th April 2019.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I found four examples of God's faithful love in this psalm. (Please take time to read the whole psalm before reading any further.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. In our Spiritual Desert, v4-9</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you experienced a time which you would describe as being in a spiritual desert? Perhaps that’s where you are right now? You once loved to sit with God, read your Bible, hearing God speak to you and communicating with him in prayer. You felt his presence close beside you. But now, nothing and you feel spiritually dry. But now you go through the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">motions of reading your Bible and praying and get nothing from it. Y</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ou come along to church but you don’t receive anything. People say to you what a great morning it was and how they could feel God’s presence here, yet you felt nothing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes God uses a desert experience to strengthen our faith in him. To bring us to the place of believing without a doubt that he is with us even though it doesn’t seem like he is, even though we cannot feel him there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can I encourage you to keep reading your Bible, even if it's one verse a day which you meditate on. Keep praying using the psalms or other prayers when you have no words of your own. Keep meeting with others rather than isolating yourself. And also cry out to God in your distress, and keep crying out to him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This psalm teaches us that God will answer us, he will rescue us, and bring us safely through so that once again we will find our home in him. Our spiritual hunger and thirst will be satisfied in him. We will realise he never abandoned us in our desert time, and because of his faithful love for us, he was actually with us every step of the way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. In our Captivity v10-16 </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in iron chains of misery. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is why he broke them with hard labour; they fell, and no one was there to help them. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For he broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Bible tells us that we were once slaves to sin and held captive by sin. We were powerless to save ourselves and that’s why God sent Jesus to save us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus said: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favour has come.” <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A18-18&version=NLT" target="_blank">Luke 4:18-19</a></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus has set us free from the power of sin and given us new life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But sometimes there are still things in our life which may be keeping us captive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you experienced a time when you felt you were held captive and in darkness? Is that how you feel right now? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I suffer from depression, and anyone else who does too will know what a deep, dark place, that can be. Even in the darkness, I know God gives me the power to get through each day and each season. I have found I can experience freedom whilst living with poor mental health. because God shows me his faithful love. My depression doesn’t keep me bound because I know the end of the story, I know </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God wins out in the end. He gives me hope in the midst of my depression.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is there anything which is holding you captive today? Your health? An addiction? An attitude? Does it have a grip on you which you can’t shake loose? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are two things you can do today which I believe will help you: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cry out to God in your distress, just as the Israelites did, because he is a faithful God and he is with you and will stand with you. He will answer you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tell someone about it. All the time you keep it to yourself, it has more power and control over it, when you give voice to it, it breaks some of that power. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">3. In our Rebellion v17-22</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaR9LudGdxS1p58BfFpWoT7BzLXWmjOxUkLn7hgRd6a5Xaj6uDQdW6gQdBGl2hgRwsJlwyzdv3y5cqtMHzvy0NQXKJv3Vp4CunAPlod9LmEVcBrRohzV0DzaqmljmMgwbMd1RAjfuvqxY/s1600/fork-2115485_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLaR9LudGdxS1p58BfFpWoT7BzLXWmjOxUkLn7hgRd6a5Xaj6uDQdW6gQdBGl2hgRwsJlwyzdv3y5cqtMHzvy0NQXKJv3Vp4CunAPlod9LmEVcBrRohzV0DzaqmljmMgwbMd1RAjfuvqxY/s320/fork-2115485_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some were fools; they rebelled and suffered for their sins. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They couldn’t stand the thought of food, and they were knocking on death’s door.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Time and again the Israelites rebelled against God. They chose to go their own way and follow their own desires. But God, in his faithful love, never abandoned them. When they turned to him and cried out to him he heard and saved them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are not that different from the Israelites. Sometimes we </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">choose to go our own way rather than following his will for our lives. He doesn’t give up on us because he is always faithful, but he will lovingly discipline us just as a parent disciplines their child. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is there a particular sinful attitude or sinful action God is drawing your attention to in your own life? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If so, he’s not doing it to bring you under condemnation. He is revealing it to you because of his faithful love for you. He wants to restore you, to draw you into a closer relationship with him and make you more like the person he’s created you to be, more like Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you want to know his healing restoration then won’t you just cry out to him, be honest with him, admit your weaknesses and ask him to save you. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. In our Storms v23-31 </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXTeFWKvMCBDPT9aRM0Xb5h1zDEuSKAXN7SNNyJVCL719uxGL23Hx6EqLnHVNjDrUwS_9m9m4y4qUpZC0RhV9bjTV5MpkRCUsM7mXiN_ZZqJYXP0DubBjMd5qqiDOLgm6X8NXw3A9EeAO/s1600/boat-2624054_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNXTeFWKvMCBDPT9aRM0Xb5h1zDEuSKAXN7SNNyJVCL719uxGL23Hx6EqLnHVNjDrUwS_9m9m4y4qUpZC0RhV9bjTV5MpkRCUsM7mXiN_ZZqJYXP0DubBjMd5qqiDOLgm6X8NXw3A9EeAO/s320/boat-2624054_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbour! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although these verses were written years before Jesus walked this earth, they remind me of a time when he and his disciples were out on a boat in the middle of a storm. The disciples were terrified whilst Jesus lay fast asleep below deck. They woke him up and he, being God, spoke the words and the wind died down and the sea became calm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are times when you and I go through the storms of life, maybe you’re in the midst of one right now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is your storm? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is it that is overwhelming you? What is causing you to feel like you’re going under the waves and drowning? Is it poor health? Money worries? Difficulties at work, school or college? Relationship problems? Maybe it’s a number of things which have built up and become too much for you to bear. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want you to know God is with you in the midst of your storm. He has not abandoned you to go through it alone. He is faithful and he loves you. His presence brings peace. He can still the storm and bring you safely to harbour. So cry out to him in your distress because he hears. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In each of these situations, we learn that we can cry out to God in our troubles and he will rescue us from our distress. Whatever the situation God is always faithful and loving. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes it may not feel that God is answering us as quickly as we would like him to. But these situations all show us that he is with us in it all and that he will answer if we will just cry out to him. It's in the challenges of life we can learn to trust him more. Each time, just like the Israelites, we learn to praise him for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them </b>(v8, 15, 21, 31) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each of these situations may look and feel hopeless when we're in the middle of them, but God can do the impossible and he can bring hope each time. With God, there is always hope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord. v43 </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was important for the Israelites to have a record of their history so they could look back to remind themselves and have a testimony to share with others about the faithful love of God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s important for us too. We need to read the Bible for ourselves so we can remind ourselves of the character of God, who he is and all he has done. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s also important for us to look back over our own life experiences and remember that as God has shown his faithful love to us in the past, so he will continue to do so in our present and in our future. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever he may send you, </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May he guide you through the wilderness, </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Protect you through the storm </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amen.</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Blessing from the Celtic Book of Prayer )</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you experienced any of the four different situations mentioned above? Are you able to look back and see evidence of the faithful love of God?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you going through one of these difficult times at the moment? Will you cry out to God and keep crying out to God until he answers you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In <b>v1-2 </b>we read: <b>Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will you do this? Let’s be people who share about the challenges we have faced, how God has been with us in them and about the times he has brought us through. Our lives are a testimony of God’s faithful love. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each one of us has a story to share. Let’s tell our story!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">This is my latest book, published in November 2018.<br />"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. <br /><br />The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more or to order a copy click</span><span style="background-color: #f3fdfe; color: red; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?crid=17O6XMWNVCKXO&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&qid=1554555550&s=gateway&sprefix=dear+friend+vicki+%2Caps%2C1119&sr=8-2-fkmrnull" style="background: transparent; color: #37afc0; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"Dear Friend... Vol 1 is available from Amazon as a paperback book and also to download on Kindle.<br /><br /><br />To learn more or to order a copy, please click</span><span style="background-color: #f3fdfe; color: red; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"> </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=17O6XMWNVCKXO&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&qid=1554555613&s=gateway&sprefix=dear+friend+vicki+%2Caps%2C1119&sr=8-1-fkmrnull" style="background: transparent; color: #37afc0; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-70151032422691941602019-04-21T14:43:00.000+01:002019-04-21T14:43:46.695+01:00Book Review: Wholeness by Christy Wimber<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was interested in reading this book partly because of who the author is but mainly because the theme of the book is of interest to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christy Wimber shares openly in this book about her own struggles and also how God has changed her thinking on the subject of healing and wholeness. I admire anyone who allows God to change the way they have thought about a topic, especially when they have thought this way for some years as this is not easy. As I read I felt challenged to be more open to God changing the way I think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The theme of the book is not an easy one to write about as it can be an emotive one. However, as someone who has lived with chronic ill health and depression for many years, I found the book was written very sensitively. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In her introduction, Christy writes, <i><span style="color: blue;">"My prayer is that I can encourage the church to reopen and reexamine some of its beliefs and practices surrounding healing. But I don't only want to challenge the church; I also hope to also encourage us, as individuals, to provide a refuge where deeper healing and wholeness can take place. At the same time, I am really hoping to encourage those who feel overlooked and unheard, and those who feel they have no voice."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christy writes about how our scars show the pain we have gone through in our life, but that they also show we have survived. She writes that it's important not to hide our scars from people because when we reveal our scars it gives others hope that they too can survive whatever pain they are going through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Included in this book are chapters on addiction and shame, how they can keep us from wholeness and how we can receive freedom and healing from them. In another chapter Christy explores the importance of trust and how choosing trust despite what we face, is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">vital for us on our journey towards wholeness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christy looks at the question, if God heals, why am I still sick? And in a chapter which I found particularly helpful, she looks at the meaning, purpose and goal of healing. In this chapter, she stresses how important it is for the church to be a place where others come and encounter love and acceptance which she says is healing in itself. How the church should be a place where people can receive help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One chapter has been written by Katherine Welby-Roberts who suffers from anxiety, depression and chronic fatigue. She gives practical suggestions as to how we, as the church, can respond to those with mental ill health. It's a very helpful chapter which provides the reader with insightful information. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do just have a couple of points to make which explains why I have given this book four stars rather than five. First, I did find it was a bit repetitive at times. Even within the same chapter, there was repetition which I felt was unnecessary - the repetition took from the clarity of the writing rather than adding to it by strengthening the point made. In my opinion, it would have benefitted from some additional editing. Secondly, the book seemed to end quite abruptly. I felt it would have been good to have a conclusion at the end to tie all the main points together. I do want to stress that these two points are just my personal opinion as a reader, and you may not feel the same when you read the book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in understanding the Biblical concept of wholeness, either from a personal viewpoint or because they want to be able to better support and encourage others in their own journey of wholeness, or because they want to be able to minister more effectively to others in their church and community. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-8918346722638431972019-04-11T11:07:00.001+01:002019-04-11T11:07:37.571+01:00In The Garden of Gethsemane<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>In The Garden of Gethsemane</i></b></span><br />
Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/heathertruett-625085/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=556051" style="color: #333333; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px !important;">Heather Truett</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=556051" style="color: #333333; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px !important;">Pixabay</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In recent weeks I’ve been thinking and meditating on Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane. Whilst it represented to Jesus one of the most painful times in his life, I have drawn much comfort from it and it’s this comfort which I want to share with you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. </b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+56%3A8&version=NL" target="_blank">Mark 14:32-41</a> (NLT) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus tells his three closest friends that his soul is crushed with grief. He is deeply troubled and distressed. The Garden of Gethsemane is a great metaphor for what was happening within Jesus. Olives grew in the garden and an olive press was used to crush the olives in order to produce olive oil. Jesus experienced there what it was to feel crushed. It was incredibly painful but something good came from that crushing. We have received eternal life and a relationship with God as a result. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus’ friends may have been close in the physical sense of being nearby. But at the same time, they weren’t close to him emotionally or spiritually. They had no idea of the torment Jesus was feeling. He must have felt so alone and abandoned by those who were closest to him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I find such comfort in knowing that Jesus knows what it is like to experience suffering and pain. He knows exactly what it means to suffer and he understands what you and I go through. Others may have abandoned us in our suffering, unable to understand exactly what we are going through. We may feel so alone. Yet Jesus is right there with us in our pain and our suffering. He doesn’t leave us to face it on our own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus knew who he needed to go to with his pain and he opened his heart to God. His example is one we can all follow. Most of the time we may keep to ourselves what we are going through. We may feel it is too painful to share with others. Yet we can go to God and pour out our hearts to him. We can be honest with God. We don’t need to hide anything from him. He cares. We can cry our tears and receive comfort from him as we do so. I love the following verse: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. </b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+56%3A8&version=NLT" target="_blank">Psalm 56:8</a> (NLT) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus’ prayer in the garden has shaped some of my own prayers. Jesus prayed: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” </b>(v36) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, we see Jesus’ honesty. He knows everything is possible for God and he asks God to take this cup of suffering away, knowing that God can do so. Yet he follows on with total surrender to God praying he wants God’s will to be done and not his own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus prayed this prayer three times, there must have been some kind of battle raging within him, but in the end, his desire to do God’s will won out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It isn’t easy to get to that point of surrender. To share with God what you want, but then be willing to go on to say, "But </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">your </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">will be done, God." I think it’s something that can only be learned in the trial. It’s easy to say we want what God wants when that’s in line with our own wants and desires. But to say we want God’s will when it is the opposite of our will is a whole other matter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yet it is possible when we keep in close relationship with God, when he means more to us than anyone or anything, and when we trust that his will is far better for us than going our own way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Luke’s </span>Gospel<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, we read, <b>“Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.” </b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+22%3A43&version=NLT" target="_blank">Luke 22:43</a> (NLT) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God didn’t abandon Jesus at his hour of need. He sent one of his angels to strengthen him. This is evidence that God heard, listened and acted on Jesus’ behalf. This enabled Jesus to stand strong and fulfil what God had planned for him to do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The strength God gave Jesus to fulfil his purpose, he also gives to us. Time and again when I have prayed and said I just can’t take any more, God has met me in my need and he has strengthened me so I can continue to face the day. It is especially in my weakness I am aware of his strength working in and through me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will you do as Jesus did? Get alone with God, away from others and any distractions. Will you share with him honestly about how you are feeling, the struggles you are facing? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imagine God sitting beside you, listening to you as you pour out your heart to him. Then be quiet before him and rest in his presence. Wait and receive his comfort. Do you sense he wants to say something to you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What can you learn about the way Jesus prayed to his Father that could help you in your praying?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>(This blog post first appeared in COME Together Newletter Spring 2019)</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">This is my latest book, published in November 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more or to order a copy click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?crid=2HS1UPWS628J0&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&qid=1554883651&s=gateway&sprefix=dear+vicki+%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-2-fkmrnull" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"Dear Friend... Vol 1 is available from Amazon as a paperback book and also to download on Kindle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">To learn more or to order a copy, please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=2HS1UPWS628J0&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&qid=1554883683&s=gateway&sprefix=dear+vicki+%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1-fkmrnull" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid/" target="_blank">https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid</a></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-36560038649224102592019-04-06T14:03:00.000+01:002019-04-06T14:03:06.605+01:00Faith in Art<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've never really thought about faith in art until last Sunday morning when Martin Relf (a local church leader) came to preach. His message was on <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+4&version=NLT" target="_blank">Mark 4</a> and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the Parables of the Farmer Scattering Seed, the Growing Seed and the Mustard Seed. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He illustrated some of his points using Vincent van Gogh's painting:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 'Sower with Setting Sun' <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXHXCAwcCH2B0k7nQvpCCJFA_iqjgCntLvhoglMhU2VD0dhEXceoEff79288mClrP2dReZd2aXe2rKGFu87nEtzQA7rgrv7UkKTFiuukcgLwCikRsQZ5gfOxYRE9Z7XcPjGs42AsHRAf7/s1600/IMG_1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="744" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXHXCAwcCH2B0k7nQvpCCJFA_iqjgCntLvhoglMhU2VD0dhEXceoEff79288mClrP2dReZd2aXe2rKGFu87nEtzQA7rgrv7UkKTFiuukcgLwCikRsQZ5gfOxYRE9Z7XcPjGs42AsHRAf7/s320/IMG_1033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Faith in Art</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I listened I was both encouraged and challenged by Martin's message and have been reflecting on it ever since. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is such a powerful message in this particular painting by Vincent van Gogh. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It seemed good to me to share with you what I have learned from Martin's message as well as my reflections during this week. I hope you too will be encouraged and challenged. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. The Sower.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Sower is anonymous. We cannot see his face and because of this, he can represent me and you. The sun is setting behind him, he has been at his work all day long, faithfully sowing his seed. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How faithful am I in my service for God? Do I persevere in what God is calling me to do? Just as it takes time for a seed to grow in the natural world, any seed we plant takes time to grow. We need to have patience and keep sowing faithfully whether we see the fruit of our labour or not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is the seed you have been sowing? </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is it the seed of God's Word, sharing it with those who need it? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is the seed your own life - giving up your own will and life that you might submit to God's will for you? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As a seed, I need to die to self, </span><span class="gr-progress" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">because</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> it's only when I am planted and die I can then bear fruit for God. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2012%3A23-26&version=NLT" target="_blank">John 12:24-26</a> (NLT) Jesus says this:</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honour anyone who serves me.</b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is the seed you've been sowing faithfully for years your prayers for loved ones and you're yet to see the fruit of it? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe you've been faithfully serving God and you have dreams he's planted in your heart but as yet there's little to show. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to encourage you not to give up, to keep going, keep sowing, keep serving, keep praying, keep dreaming, keep persevering, just as the faithful farmer does in Van Gogh's painting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God will bless our faithfulness even if we do not get to see the fruit of our sowing in this life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This isn't easy, is it? To keep going and believing when we see nothing for all our efforts. I find this so challenging. Do you? Van Gogh never got to see in his lifetime the fruit of all the seeds he sowed. But those who have come after him have been blessed and continue to be blessed and impacted by his life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God calls us to faithfulness. Even if we are not recognised here on earth by others, we are by God and there is much joy when he sees us laying down our lives for him. Ultimately, what we do is for him and for eternity, it is not about us, and so we come back to the statement that the sower in the painting is anonymous because it is not about him at all.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. The Seed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed, the farmer scatters his seed everywhere. He doesn't pick and choose where to sow his seed. We see how the seed fell on different types of ground and in some places it just didn't grow. There was nothing wrong with the seed - it was all good seed. This parable reminds us that as the sower we are to sow the seed everywhere, it's not for us to say, "Well, this is where the seed will work best, this is where I'm going to invest my time." Or, "I'm not sowing in this area because it's not going to grow here." It's not our responsibility to decide these things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God calls us to sow his seed everywhere. He is the one who is responsible for the fruit. It can be discouraging not to see any growth after we sow our seed. Perhaps sometimes we blame ourselves or even judge and criticise others for their lack of response. Let's not do that, let's remember what is our responsibility and do it whole-heartedly and faithfully for God, and let's leave to the Holy Spirit what is his responsibility.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We sow the seed, God plants the seed in the heart and he watches over it. God is the one who gives the increase. Be encouraged, dear friend.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. The Sun.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sun, seen shining on the sower's back, is God, shining on him. Ever present, ever watchful. God is ever present in our life. He sees all we do for him and his face shines on us. Nothing we do for him is ever wasted.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love the blessing from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+6%3A24-26&version=AMP" target="_blank">Numbers 6:24-26</a>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you];</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Lord make His face shine upon you [with </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">favour]</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness];</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval],</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’ </b>(AMP)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. The Tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we look at the tree we see how battered it has been from the wind, it has been bent, but it is not broken. Branches have been cut off. It may perhaps have looked dead at one time, but there is new life and there is hope in the budding of new growth. The art historian, James Romaine says</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> "In the presence of the tree, we have an image of resurrection."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was a time when you and I were dead in our sins but Jesus has brought new life to us, we have been reborn. We may have faced some tough life situations, we may have been battered by the winds of adversity but we are not broken because we have the Holy Spirit within us, restoring and redeeming us. There will have been times when God has needed to do some pruning in our lives, he has removed that which has hindered our growth or kept us far from him. And in its place, we have experienced even more fruit, all that he might be glorified in us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus said in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A1-8&version=NLT" target="_blank">John 15:2, 5, 8</a> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God <b>"cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more... Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing... When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(NLT)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I finish, I want to leave you with one last thing which Martin said on Sunday:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">"Don't underestimate the individual impact of a life laid down for Jesus can make."</span> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What kind of seed have you been sowing? What helps you to keep sowing faithfully?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Look again at the four sections above, which one speaks most to you now and why do you think that is?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the coming week read the parables in Mark 4. Ask God to speak to you as you read them. Make a note of what you sense he is saying to you.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Vicki</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more or to order a copy click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?crid=17O6XMWNVCKXO&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&qid=1554555550&s=gateway&sprefix=dear+friend+vicki+%2Caps%2C1119&sr=8-2-fkmrnull" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">To learn more or to order a copy, please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=17O6XMWNVCKXO&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&qid=1554555613&s=gateway&sprefix=dear+friend+vicki+%2Caps%2C1119&sr=8-1-fkmrnull" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-16763601371462884822019-03-29T16:52:00.001+00:002019-03-29T16:52:03.405+00:00Battling the Voice of Condemnation<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKopcvKhkyChQa7YZA7hpW_y1iLa7CzPdQt_G5NGebJDcGQ0N-2THrfd4mImDvzqiCKUnW2OvN4Z2sRfql6BvFel7kEZoXhcH3lskAv6gohuEHgoyjLFA2gcls9vWtc10kakkjQdt8ntPs/s1600/adult-alone-anxiety-1161268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKopcvKhkyChQa7YZA7hpW_y1iLa7CzPdQt_G5NGebJDcGQ0N-2THrfd4mImDvzqiCKUnW2OvN4Z2sRfql6BvFel7kEZoXhcH3lskAv6gohuEHgoyjLFA2gcls9vWtc10kakkjQdt8ntPs/s320/adult-alone-anxiety-1161268.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Battling the Voice of Condemnation</i></b></span><br />
(Photo by <a href="https://www.pexels.com/@juanpphotoandvideo?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels" style="background-color: #e8e8e8; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "segoe ui", roboto, oxygen, cantarell, "helvetica neue", ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Juan Pablo Arenas</a><span style="background-color: #e8e8e8; color: #333333; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "oxygen" , "cantarell" , "helvetica neue" , "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> from </span><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/adult-black-and-white-darkness-face-1161268/?utm_content=attributionCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pexels" style="background-color: #e8e8e8; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "segoe ui", roboto, oxygen, cantarell, "helvetica neue", ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Pexels</a>)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How often do you listen to the voice of condemnation rather than God's voice which speaks words of love and encouragement to you? Maybe you don't struggle with this. But it is something I battle against time and time again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's Mothers' Day this coming Sunday in the UK and it's in the area of being a Mum where the voice of condemnation is at it's strongest and loudest. I heard somewhere that the Devil personalises his words of condemnations so that they seem as though they are coming straight from my own mouth. He is so cunning at getting me to think and feel and believe these words are truth. It's as though he has the tape in my mind on a loop or on repeat over and over again. I tell myself I'm not good enough as a Mum, I've let my children down and not been there for them when they were young, I've failed them, I haven't shown them enough love or said the right things to them, any difficulties they've gone through/are going through are all my fault, it's all on me because I failed as their Mum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What are the words of condemnation you keep speaking over yourself? Any condemnation we encounter is from our enemy, the Devil and we need to fight against him. He is a powerful enemy, but we have God who is in our side and he has the ultimate power.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is there we can do in this battle against the words of condemnation the Devil pierces us with?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can come time after time to God and ask for his help to overcome. God doesn't get fed up with us keep coming back to him. He wants us to come to him, he wants us to rely on him and his strength to overcome the Devil. We can come to God as many times as it takes. It would be nice if we only had to come once and it was sorted but I've not found this to be the case in my experience. At least not when I've had years of listening and taking notice of the voice of condemnation. But we can persevere and God gives us the power we need to persevere. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rather than beating ourselves up that we're back in the same place we were a few months back, let's go as many times as it takes to God who will tell us the truth so we can overcome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To battle against the voice of condemnation, we need to be regularly feeding on God's Word. When we do this God will give us truths to prepare us for when the battle comes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For example, I've been meditating on the book of Psalms for some weeks now. As I was reading Psalm 71 God drew my attention to particular verses in that psalm:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>O Lord, you alone are my hope.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Yes, you have been with me from birth;</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>No wonder I am always praising you!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+71&version=NLT" target="_blank">Psalm 71:5-6</a> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God was reminding me of how he has always been there for me and cared for me, ever since I was a baby. As I looked back over my life, I remembered how he has been with me during my childhood, as a teenager, a young adult and now in my middle-age years. The psalm reminded and encouraged me that he would continue to be there for me on into my old age.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I sensed God was telling me that just as he has been with me, he has always been there for my children in the same way. He was caring for them whilst they were growing in my womb and he has been with them through their childhood and as they now head into their years of young adulthood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also sensed God was saying to me that I am bearing a weight and burden which is not mine to carry on my own. Yes, he has given me my children but he does not expect me to take all the responsibility for them on myself. Their successes or failures are not all on me. They are his responsibility. He has always been with them, watching over them, caring for them, protecting them, nurturing them. I can completely trust God with my children. God is a part of my children's lives, whether they recognise that right now or not. As their Mum, I might believe the voice of condemnation which tells me that my children will end up with messed up lives all because of my parenting, but God tells me I just don't have that much power and that there is no truth to that voice of condemnation. The truth is God is the only one who is all-powerful and he is the one who has control over everything, over me and over them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I sensed God saying those things to me, it really felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders and I was so encouraged by his words to me. My children are not my sole responsibility. It's OK if I, when I make mistakes in my parenting because God doesn't make mistakes. God is the one who can redeem any and every situation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This doesn't mean I can now neglect my responsibilities when it comes to being a Mum to my son and daughter. They have been gifted to me by God and I do have a responsibility to him and to them. God is the one who planned me to be their Mum and he expects me to work with him in raising my children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As their Mum, I can continue to pray for them, that they might first and foremost desire an ongoing relationship with God. I can seek to be the best Mum I can be for their sakes as I ask God to make me into the Mum he always meant for me to be. I can pray to God for wisdom as I parent. But no longer do I need to carry and bear the load God never intended for me. I have God beside me, the same God who loved and knew me and cared for me when I was in my mother's womb. And still continues to do so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now when the condemnatory voice of the Devil starts to sound in my mind I have something definite to fight with. I have God's Word, the sharpest sword there is and the Devil cannot stand against it. The more we read God's Word, meditate on it and listen to what God is saying to us, the sharper the sword gets and it will always be at hand, ready for battle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our best defence against the voice of condemnation is God's Word - our sword. Keep reading God's Word and ask God to teach you the truth that is in it. Ask him to show you how best to use your sword and equip you for battle. You know where the Devil likes to strike best. You know where the chink in your armour is and where you're weakest and most vulnerable. When God gives you something you know will help when the battle comes make sure you make a note of it and find ways of keeping it in your mind so that it is readily available for the day of battle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also, keep going to God for help, don't make the mistake of thinking you can or should handle the fight on your own. We have a God who will fight for us. It's in him that we have the victory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just one final truth to share with you which God gave me from his Word today. It's a promise he makes to each one of us and is an encouragement as we face whatever our battle is today:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I will strengthen you and help you.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah+41%3A10&version=NLT" target="_blank">Isaiah 41:10</a> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What are the words that the voice of condemnation speaks over you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When this happens how can you use the Bible as a sword? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you read your Bible ask God to give you truths to combat the voice of condemnation. When you find a truth, write it down somewhere and commit to memory ready for the time when you need it most.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Go to God again and again, as many times as it takes, and ask him to help you fight the battle you are facing against the Devil.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKirgutAbjUT8AXU3MdtkJuNyMWkUw_UtBuVZNUzCog2ThdDcgqEYGR3Tn3SXeLyTCw1yMqMd23K03WUVioBOHae-NqDa1qk5X_o-IU-AmT29d0m8q5tjMaNVxYW8W0de3B13bGMLxl2p/s1600/IMG_0734+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKirgutAbjUT8AXU3MdtkJuNyMWkUw_UtBuVZNUzCog2ThdDcgqEYGR3Tn3SXeLyTCw1yMqMd23K03WUVioBOHae-NqDa1qk5X_o-IU-AmT29d0m8q5tjMaNVxYW8W0de3B13bGMLxl2p/s200/IMG_0734+%25281%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">This is my latest book, published in November 2018.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red;">The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more, click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?crid=3MUQL3XT2VCI9&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&qid=1553877621&s=gateway&sprefix=deat+friend+vicki+cottingham%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-2-fkmrnull" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"Dear Friend... Vol 1 is available from Amazon as a paperback book and also to download on Kindle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">To learn more, please click </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3MUQL3XT2VCI9&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham&qid=1553877651&s=gateway&sprefix=deat+friend+vicki+cottingham%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1-fkmrnull" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid/" target="_blank">https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid</a></span><br />
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-62575023186273451412019-03-22T08:46:00.000+00:002019-03-22T08:46:12.762+00:00I Am Flawsome<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I learned a new word last week and that word is 'Flawsome'! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One evening last week, my husband, brother-in-law and I attended the 'Honesty Over Silence' Tour run by Kintsugi Hope. Kintsugi Hope was founded by Patrick Regan and Diane Regan and the tour is based on Patrick's book with the same title.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>"'Kintsugi' is a Japanese technique for repairing pottery with seams of gold. The word means “golden joinery” in Japanese. This repairs the brokenness in a way that makes the object more beautiful, and even more unique than it was prior to being broken. Instead of hiding the scars it makes a feature of them."</i> (<a href="https://kintsugihope.com/" target="_blank">kintsugihope.com</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyrM9rkzIR9FjIwcSB2FOPokFi2oUg3nrXY3tVTq53cKQWiX68B7IOXmexwreMHCeAia7oLLZ2Zw8uhLJFR0cxy0lBDji6PSpyrSicXqDjDjZnK7PT8fdYpKR10aVaJ1d94gfqPiMTjbV/s1600/IMG_0996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="320" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyrM9rkzIR9FjIwcSB2FOPokFi2oUg3nrXY3tVTq53cKQWiX68B7IOXmexwreMHCeAia7oLLZ2Zw8uhLJFR0cxy0lBDji6PSpyrSicXqDjDjZnK7PT8fdYpKR10aVaJ1d94gfqPiMTjbV/s320/IMG_0996.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am broken. We are all broken in different ways. Yet, when we hand our brokenness over to Jesus he creates something even more beautiful with our lives. We don't need to pretend that we are perfect, we don't need to pretend we have it all together. With him, we can be who we are and know we are fully loved and accepted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we are honest around others about our brokenness and our flaws, it allows them to be the same. Each of us needs to learn to accept ourselves and in doing so we encourage others to accept themselves too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, flawsome - what does that mean? It's the words 'flaw' and 'awesome' combined and means 'an individual who embraces their flaws and knows they're awesome regardless'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had mixed feelings about this word to start with. I didn't have a problem with the 'flaw' part. I'm very aware of my own flaws. It was the 'awesome' part of the word I struggled with. I think because, to me, the only one I would ever describe as awesome is God. It's not a word I tend to generally use and definitely not one I would use myself. However, the more I think about it, the more I like the word.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2%3A10&version=NLT" target="_blank">Ephesians 2:10</a></b> is one of my favourite verses:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.</b> (NLT).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love that you and I are God's masterpieces - not because of ourselves and what we may have achieved but because the master artist (God himself) has made us as such. Do I think he looks at me and you, and says, "You are awesome!"? Yes, I think perhaps he does. But not because we have become that ourselves but because he is an awesome God who does not create rubbish or make mistakes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There's a verse in <b>Psalm 139 </b>which says something very similar:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A14&version=HCSB" target="_blank">Psalm 139:14</a></b> (HCSB)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If all I see and concentrate on are my flaws, then I am not seeing myself as God sees me. I am actually telling God that what he has made is not good enough. Equally, if I have the opinion that I am awesome then I have too high an opinion of myself. I become proud and will look down on others and see them as less than me and not worthy of my time or attention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, if I believe that I am flawsome, I accept that I am imperfect, that I am someone who makes mistakes and gets things wrong, but I won't beat myself up about them because I have Christ living in me and he gives me grace and love. He helps me to see myself as God sees me and I can agree with Paul when he says:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A6&version=AMP" target="_blank">Philippians 1:6</a> </b>(AMP)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's not just about seeing myself as God sees me, but also importantly, seeing others as God sees them. Recognising their flaws and scars tell a story of who they are and that also because they are God's wonderful creation that they have worth and value. Loving them as God loves them and appreciating them for who they are.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How do you feel about the word 'flawsome'?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you honest with yourself and others about your own flaws? What do you think helps you to be more open in sharing?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can you accept that God has made you his masterpiece? Can you accept the way he's created you to be? If you struggle with this, what do you think might help you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PS I first came across the term 'Kintsugi' when reading Claire Musters' book, "Taking Off The Mask". She wrote a guest post for me (Beauty out of Brokenness) back in November 2017. If you're interested in reading it, please click here: <a href="https://vickicottingham.blogspot.com/2017/11/beauty-out-of-brokenness-by-claire.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my latest book, published in November 2018.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more, click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1553198754&sr=8-2&keywords=vicki+cottingham+dear+friend" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Dear Friend... Vol 1 is available from Amazon as a paperback book and also to download on Kindle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To learn more, please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1553198754&sr=8-1&keywords=vicki+cottingham+dear+friend" target="_blank">here</a></span><br />
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-84230805851624878022019-03-19T15:49:00.000+00:002019-03-19T15:49:56.595+00:00Book Review: The Making of Us by Sheridan Voysey<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I heard that “The Making of Us” by Sheridan Voysey is a book which explores the experience of life not ending up as we planned, and who we become as a result of this; how life in our forties is often very different from what we expected it to be when we were in our twenties; I knew it was a book I wanted to read. As a young adult, I had many hopes, dreams and plans for my life, yet these were all upended when I became ill with a long-term illness. My life today is very different from the way I had expected it to turn out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the introduction to his </span>book<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Sheridan writes: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>"Beautiful things can emerge from life not going as planned. It can even be the making of us.” </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sheridan writes about the pilgrimage he takes with his good friend DJ, following in the footsteps of St. Cuthbert. Together they embark on what is both a physical and spiritual journey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As Sheridan and DJ go on their journey, Sheridan writes about what they see and the people they interact with on the way. But what was most powerful to me were the conversations between the pair. Their discussions go deep, as they can only do when they are between two people who know each other really well. Oftentimes, conversations only scratch the surface as we are reluctant to reveal who we really are and allow ourselves to be vulnerable. As I read, I felt like I was a silent companion with them on their journey. I loved to listen in on their conversations and learn from them and their experiences. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sheridan writes about how our broken dreams can shatter our sense of who we are, and how our true identity can only be found in knowing we are children of God. Whether we are known by others or not, each one of us is truly known by God and he sees our significance. He poses the question: Who is the real us? Who we once were, or are now, or the person we will become? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He writes about seeking God’s will, moving forward and trusting God to direct us as we do so. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sheridan writes, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>“it’s easy to stagnate when life goes wrong – to withdraw into the past or hide in one’s room. But there are new paths to tread. New ventures to pursue. Go somewhere new. Walk on.” </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two chapters which particularly spoke to me were chapters four and eight. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In chapter four Sheridan considers our calling - how God makes his call known to different people in various ways and how the way ahead can often be confusing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In chapter eight he writes about learning to stop comparing ourselves with others and accepting our own limitations and weaknesses. It is then in this place that God can break in with his divine grace and power and use for his glory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following quote was particularly meaningful to me: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>“Service born of suffering. Fruitfulness from lack. Divine life flowing through the cracks. Adversity can release our greatest gifts into the world. Bringing healing. Bringing hope. Birthing life.” </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So much of Sheridan's book resonated with me, some of which I’ve already shared in this book review. Something else I could relate to and agree with was when Sheldon said to DJ, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>“’I’m starting to wonder if there’s a link between our ordeals and our gifting,’ I add. ‘Something special seems to happen when the two combine.’” </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we get near to the end of the book and Sheridan and DJ reach the end of their pilgrimage, Sheridan shares about his experience of seeing St Cuthbert’s Gospel of John. Sheridan has such a way with words and I love how he relates each one of us with St Cuthbert's incredible handwritten piece of art. He writes this: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i>“An artwork. An icon. A window to God. A masterpiece of pattern and word. Complex. Priceless. Changing through time. Marked. Unfinished. Flawed. With its intricate design and dramatic story, that book caught my breath. And maybe the reason why went deeper than its beauty. Maybe it echoed something else. </i></span></span></div>
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<i style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Beautiful, tarnished, incomplete. Made to reveal God, made for eternity. With its winding lines like a pilgrim’s journey, that book is us – all we are and will be.” </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sheridan concludes his book with “The Creed”. In my opinion, it’s another beautifully worded piece of poetry, with scriptural truths entwined throughout. I believe it’s a lovely prayer to pray each morning and one which we can all make our own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Discussion Guide or Study Guide is a great addition to a book and, in my opinion, Sheridan’s Reflection Guide at the end of his book is one of the best I’ve come across. The best way to use it is to read a chapter of the book and then work through the corresponding chapter in the Reflection Guide. The Reflection Guide will help you to process what you have read and apply this to your own journey. I think there is also something to be said for two friends reading the book and then coming together to go through the Reflection Guide. You can hold each other accountable and support and encourage each other as you process and reflect on what you've read. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The questions provoke </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in-depth</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> reflection and the Scripture passages help in bringing God’s truth into your life, which in turn help to bring revelation and lasting change as we apply the truths to life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having finished the book and reflected on it, I believe that it’s everything we experience in life – the good, the bad and the ugly – and what we learn as we journey with God through this life, that makes up who we really are and who God wants us to be. It reminded me of how important it is to go on this journey with God at my side. It is when I keep in step with his Holy Spirit and partner with him, that real transformation can happen so that more and more I become the person God made me to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although this book is aimed at those in their mid-thirties/forties, I believe that it is beneficial to anyone, whatever their age may be. Those who are younger have the opportunity to learn from Sheridan’s experiences and insights which will help them to navigate their own journey. Those who are older will still be blessed as it is never too late to learn something new. It is never too late to reflect on where we have been on our own pilgrimage and where we are heading. We will never truly be all we are made by God to be until we see him face to face at the end of our pilgrimage. Every step we take draws us closer to making us more like Jesus.</span><br />
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Sheridan Voysey is a writer, speaker and broadcaster on faith and spirituality. </div>
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The author of seven books, including The Making of Us: Who We Can Become When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned (March 2019), Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams into New Beginnings, plus Resilient and the award-winning Unseen Footprints. </div>
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He is a presenter of Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2 and a regular contributor to other media (featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC News, Channel 5, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, ABC, Moody Radio, and in publications like The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Mail and Third Way). </div>
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He is married to Merryn, walking buddy to a cute canine named Rupert, and he speaks at conferences and events around the world.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Making of Us is available at various bookstores </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">including </span><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_27?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the-making-of-us-sheridan-voysey&sprefix=the+making+of+us+sheridan+v%2Caps%2C216&crid=38UNGOINMZHOQ" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Amazon</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-making-of-us/sheridan-voysey/9780718094232" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Waterstones</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="https://www.eden.co.uk/the-making-of-us-sheridan-voysey/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Eden</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are some of the ways you can connect with Sheridan:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://sheridanvoysey.com/" target="_blank">https://sheridanvoysey.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sheridanvoysey/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/sheridanvoysey</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-31550891892414705382019-03-15T07:18:00.002+00:002019-03-15T07:18:47.729+00:00St Patrick's Prayer<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>St. Patrick's Prayer</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">St Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17th March. Now, whilst I've heard of him and am familiar with a part of one of his prayers I knew next to nothing about him so I decided I'd google him. I discovered he lived in the fifth century and he is the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Roman Britain and was kidnapped and taken to Ireland when he was sixteen years old. He did manage to escape but later returned to Ireland where he was credited with bringing </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christianity</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to the Irish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I learned of a legend surrounding him that he explained about the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) using the leaves of the Irish clover as an illustration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below is part of one of St Patrick's prayers, known as 'Morning Prayer' or 'St Patrick's Breastplate'. It's a prayer that St Patrick is said to have written when he needed to know God's protection and strength.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I arise today </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through belief in the Threeness,</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through confession of the Oneness</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of the Creator of creation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I arise today</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through the strength of His descent for the judgement of doom...</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I arise today, through</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's strength to pilot me, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's might to uphold me,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's wisdom to guide me, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's eye to look before me,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's ear to hear me, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's word to speak for me,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's hand to guard me, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's shield to protect me,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God's host to save me f</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rom snares of devils,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From temptation of vices, f</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">rom everyone who shall wish me ill,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">afar and near...</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ with me, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ before me,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ behind me, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ in me,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ beneath me, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ above me,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ on my right, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ on my left,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ when I lie down, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ when I sit down,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ when I arise, </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ in every eye that sees me, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christ in every ear that hears me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I arise today</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through belief in the Threeness,</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Through confession of the Oneness</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">of the Creator of creation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This prayer is grounded in scripture. I would say much of it seems to come from the psalms. What a great prayer to pray as we start the day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we recognise our human weakness and frailty and the need we have for God's strength living in us:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>God is awesome in his sanctuary. </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+68%3A35&version=NLT" target="_blank">Psalm 68:35</a></b> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As we ask for God's guidance and protection as we step out into the day ahead of us:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+32%3A8&version=NLT" target="_blank">Psalm 32:8</a></b> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Knowing that he hears our voice and has his hand on us:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I love the Lord because he hears my voice </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>and my prayer for mercy. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+116%3A1&version=NLT" target="_blank">Psalm 116:1</a></b> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trusting in the promise that God is with us all the time whatever we are doing, wherever we are. That he goes with us, goes before us and goes behind us:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>You go before me and follow me. </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>You place your hand of blessing on my head. <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+139%3A2-5&version=NLT" target="_blank">Psalm 139:5</a> </b>[read v2-5] (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I said, what a great prayer to pray as we begin each day. What confidence and courage and strength we can receive from God as we pray this to him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the years people have voiced and written down for us some truly beautiful prayers (including those found in the Bible). I like to read prayers written by others - prayers which come from the heart and express what I am feeling myself yet sometimes struggle to put into words. What a gift these prayers written by others can be to us when we make them our own prayers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why not take the words of St. Patrick's prayer and pray them for yourself?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What other prayers in the Bible mean a lot to you and why is this?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you found other people's prayers helpful and a blessing too?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my latest book, published in November 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more, click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1552578314&sr=8-2&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Dear Friend... Vol 1 is available from Amazon as a paperback book and also to download on Kindle.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Right now the paperback version is at the reduced price of £4.40 (usually £6.99)<br /><br />To learn more, please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1552578314&sr=8-1&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a></span><br />
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-40397340503942255942019-03-08T13:25:00.001+00:002019-03-08T13:25:59.320+00:00Hope for this Life<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am thrilled to have this guest post from Shauna Letellier to share with you today. You may remember I recently wrote a book review on her latest book, 'Remarkable Hope'. (If you haven't yet read it but would like to, then please click <a href="https://vickicottingham.blogspot.com/2019/03/book-review-remarkable-hope-by-shauna.html" target="_blank">here</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over to Shauna...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thomas Chisholm was not a formally educated man. But in 1941 he wrote in a letter, “My income has not been large at any time due to impaired health in the earlier years which has followed me on until now. Although I must not fail to record here the unfailing faithfulness of a covenant-keeping God and that He has given me many wonderful displays of His providing care, for which I am filled with astonishing gratefulness."*</span></div>
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You will not be surprised to learn that a man who writes such a letter is also the author of the poem which, when set to music, became the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”</div>
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With a long history of poor health and financial strain, Chisholm penned this lyric: </div>
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Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, </div>
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blessings all mine with ten thousand beside.</div>
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Chisholm would have been the first to admit that the assurance of a glorious future reality does not automatically alleviate ongoing pain in this life. In a dying marriage, the glory of heaven doesn’t numb the sadness. To the parent sitting in the waiting room of Pediatric Oncology, that bright future is barely visible. To the Christian battered by a series of small disasters, eternity with Jesus is a long way off, and the way forward is strewn with more trouble.</div>
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Jesus was also familiar with long-term sadness. The prophet Isaiah writes of Jesus, “He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.” At the pinnacle of his obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was engulfed in agony, and his Father sent an angel to strengthen him.</div>
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“In this world you will have trouble,” Jesus said. The stories of people who saw Jesus and the stories from our own lives are proof. Simeon--a righteous and devout man waited decades to see Jesus. Mary and Martha endured the agonizing decline of their brother, Lazarus. As Mary the mother of Jesus witnessed the murder of her blameless son, her soul was pierced. God’s chosen people are not spared the battering waves of uncertainty and trouble.</div>
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But in our despair and distress, God will supply all we need to hold fast to him. We observe it repeatedly throughout the gospels.</div>
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Simeon heard a promise. “You will see the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26).</div>
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Martha of Bethany received a next-step instruction. “Believe, and you will see the glory of God” (John 11:40).</div>
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Mary the mother of Jesus was reminded of her all-powerful God and his provision. “Dear woman, here is a son who will care for you after I’m gone” (John 19:26-27).</div>
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God revived their hope in ways they never could have imagined. Each word of warning, confirmation, and instruction was a means to solidify their hope of his promised future. </div>
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He will do the same for us. Our hope is a confident expectation—"an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).</div>
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For those who’ve placed their hope in Christ, discouragement and confusion are not indicators that the mooring has come loose. Regardless of how we feel, or how well we understand our circumstances, we are bound to a fixed hope.</div>
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Christ Jesus is our remarkable hope. As we read of his past faithfulness to the people he encountered face-to-face, and fellow believers like Thomas Chisholm, our faith is strengthened and our assurance grows. We can know with confidence that he may shock and surprise us, but he does not ultimately disappoint. In the circumstances of today and in the grand scope of eternity, God’s faithfulness is great indeed.</div>
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*Osbeck, Kenneth W. 101 Hymn Stories (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications 1982), p. 84.</div>
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{Excerpt adapted from Remarkable Hope: When Jesus Revived Hope in Disappointed People, by Shauna Letellier. © 2019 FaithWords, Nashville}</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Shauna Letellier is the author of Remarkable Hope: When Jesus Revived Hope in Disappointed People. Drawing upon her degree in Biblical Studies, she weaves strands of history, theology, and fictional detail into a fresh retelling of familiar Bible stories in her books and on her blog. With her husband Kurt, she has the wild and hilarious privilege of raising three boys along the banks of the Missouri River where they fish, swim, and rush off to ball games.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'Remarkable Hope' can be purchased at all good bookstores including <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Remarkable-Hope-Revived-Disappointed-People-ebook/dp/B07F72J7JN/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1551469685&sr=8-1&keywords=remarkable+hope">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://wordery.com/search?term=remarkable+hope+shauna+letellier">Wordery</a> and <a href="https://www.eden.co.uk/shop/remarkable-hope-when-jesus-revived-hope-in-disappointed-people-4739150.html">Eden</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are some of the ways you can connect with Shauna:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://shaunaletellier.com/books/remarkable-hope/" target="_blank">https://shaunaletellier.com/books/remarkable-hope</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/shaunaletellierwriter/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/shaunaletellierwriter</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/shaunaletellier?lang=en">https://twitter.com/shaunaletellier</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-49711664146138008232019-03-05T14:14:00.000+00:002019-03-05T14:14:17.483+00:00Book Review: Remarkable Hope by Shauna Letellier<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As an email subscriber to Shauna Letellier's blog, I had the joy being invited to be a part of her book launch team on Facebook for her new book "Remarkable Hope: When Jesus Revived Hope in Disappointed People" and</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I jumped at the opportunity as I love the way she writes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'Remarkable Hope' is the kind of book I like to read. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like books which focus on the men and women of the Bible and which help us to understand their lives a bit better and the culture they lived in. There is so much to learn from these Biblical characters which can be of benefit to us in our personal journey with God. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Shauna uses her knowledge and understanding of the Bible, insights she has gained from studying it, research she has undertaken and her God-given gift of imagination to bring us a creative retelling of the lives of various Bible men and women. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She brings all these things together in her latest book 'Remarkable Hope' and does it in such a way that each character comes to life as she shares their story, their thoughts and emotions. As I read this book, I realised afresh how these men and women are just like you and me with their strengths and weaknesses, their fears and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">their faith, their doubts and their hope. Through it all shines the truth that our hope truly is in God alone. A God who often works in unexpected ways. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shauna clearly demonstrates throughout her book that <span style="color: blue;"><i>“Biblical hope is expectant certainty. It is knowing that Christ guarantees everything he has promised and purchased.”</i></span> (from Remarkable Hope)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In ‘Remarkable Hope’ we read about some of the events in the lives of Simeon, John the Baptist, Jairus, Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Peter, Mary the Mother of Jesus and the two disciples on the Emmaus Road. Each chapter ends with a beautifully worded prayer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shauna’s book is more than just a retelling of the lives of these Bible characters. Out of her creative retelling, she provides the reader with spiritual insight and lessons to be applied to our own lives and the things we face. For me, this is what takes her book to another level. Because, to be honest, I don’t just want to read about the lives of these people, I want to learn from them. I want a book which helps take me further in my own faith in God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I read through this book, I found I was highlighting so much. Words written by Shauna which were founded on Scripture and which spoke deeply to my heart and encouraged me. I believe this will be the case for anyone who reads her book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are lots of quotes I could share with you but here’s just one: </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="color: blue;">“Our hope is the secured certainty that Jesus is present in every dizzying disappointment. As we trust him, we will find he does not disappoint. He sets us on the course he always intended for his kingdom and his glory. As his trusting children, we get a front-row seat to his wild and surprising plan, which unfolds exactly as he knew it would.” </i>(from Remarkable Hope)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shauna writes in her introduction: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><i style="color: blue;">“My prayer is that through this series of Bible moments retold, we who have clung to Christ will be greatly encouraged. As we observe his faithful commitment to those who hope in him, we will be wowed by his unseen plan, comforted by his words, and revived by his presence. We will finally chime in with Paul and declare that our ‘hope does not disappoint’ us. Because when we are downcast and disturbed, our hope is in God, who gives more than we can imagine but rarely what we expect.” </i>(from Remarkable Hope)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, what I read in her book does answer her prayer. So why not read it and see for yourself? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do like these kinds of books to have a study guide included because, for me, they add to the reading experience, whether they are used by the individual reading the book or a group using it in their book club or church small group. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although there isn’t a study guide included within the book, if you go to Shauna’s website (<a href="https://shaunaletellier.com/books/remarkable-hope/" target="_blank">click here</a>) she has provided a study guide as a free resource to download for anyone who is interested. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'Remarkable Hope' can be purchased at all good bookstores including <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Remarkable-Hope-Revived-Disappointed-People-ebook/dp/B07F72J7JN/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1551469685&sr=8-1&keywords=remarkable+hope" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://wordery.com/search?term=remarkable+hope+shauna+letellier" target="_blank">Wordery</a> and <a href="https://www.eden.co.uk/shop/remarkable-hope-when-jesus-revived-hope-in-disappointed-people-4739150.html" target="_blank">Eden</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shauna Letellier is the author of <i>Remarkable Hope: When Jesus Revived Hope in Disappointed People</i>. Drawing upon her degree in Biblical Studies, she weaves strands of history, theology, and fictional detail into a fresh retelling of familiar Bible stories in her books and on her blog. With her husband Kurt, she has the wild and hilarious privilege of raising three boys along the banks of the Missouri River where they fish, swim, and rush off to ball games.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are some of the ways you can connect with Shauna:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://shaunaletellier.com/" target="_blank">https://shaunaletellier.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/shaunaletellierwriter/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/shaunaletellierwriter</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/shaunaletellier?lang=en" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/shaunaletellier</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span></div>
Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-58852879437627522032019-02-19T14:38:00.000+00:002019-02-19T14:38:17.698+00:00Book Review: Lies Girls Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free by Dannah Gresh<div style="text-align: justify;">
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The book "Lies Girls Believe and The Truth That Sets Them Free" by Dannah Gresh is aimed at girls between the ages of nine and twelve, although I think it would also be good for young teenage girls too. It’s definitely a book I wish was available when my daughter was younger. </div>
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Whilst your daughter reads this book, you would find it helpful to read the companion book “A Mom’s Guide to Lies Girls Believe”. (See my review of this book <a href="https://vickicottingham.blogspot.com/2019/02/book-review-moms-guide-to-lies-girls.html" target="_blank">here</a>) </div>
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This book looks at lies about God and lies about myself such as I’m not good enough, and God doesn’t love me all the time. It also covers lies about sin, my family and other relationships, being a girl and about the future. It gives help on recognising the lies and replacing them with God’s truth. </div>
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What I like about this book is that it is interactive. It’s not just a book to be read but a book for your daughter to work through and write her thoughts in. </div>
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In the book, your daughter will meet a fictional character, Zooey. Zooey shares what is happening in her life and the problems she is facing. (Things which our own daughters may quite possibly be facing or will face too – such as issues with social media). There is then space in the book for your daughter to write down what she would say to help Zooey. At the end of each chapter is space for your daughter to write down some answers to questions to help her speak truth to herself. </div>
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I like how the book is structured, the content is great and it is scripturally sound. </div>
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This book could help open up communication between a daughter and her Mum. Once your daughter has gone through the chapter by herself, the aim is that Mum and daughter will get together to discuss what they have read and learned. As her Mum, you are available if your daughter is finding any of it difficult to understand or work through. </div>
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As much as I believe this is a valuable resource for your daughter, I would just say that if your daughter is at the lower age of the group this book is aimed at or if she struggles with reading you may need to read it with her and help her through it. If so, I would still recommend you read the companion book for Mums first before you go through her book with her. </div>
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Also, no matter how good a book is, if your daughter does not enjoy reading then she will not read this book. If that’s the case, I would still recommend you take a look at the companion book for Mums as you may find it helpful to know and better understand some of the battles she may be facing with the lies she believes. It also gives advice/suggestions on how you can use God’s word to plant truth in your daughter’s mind and heart.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-54490502988888092252019-02-18T14:19:00.001+00:002019-02-18T14:19:41.284+00:00Book Review: A Moms' Guide to Lies Girls Believe by Dannah Gresh<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"A Moms’ Guide to Lies Girls Believe" by Dannah Gresh is a book to help </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mums plant truths in their daughters’ hearts whilst they</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> are </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">young. We can’t make our daughters embrace God’s Word but we can plant seeds of truth in them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are three parts to this book: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Part 1: Getting Ready to Help Your Daughter – challenging the lies Mums believe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Part 2: Lies Girls Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free – planting truths in your daughters’ hearts (main section of the book). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The author has researched the material for her book and carried out a survey of over 1,500 girls aged between seven and twelve years of age. The author identified from the survey the twenty most common lies girls believe and has included them all in this section. Such as lies about God, themselves, sin, relationships and the future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Part 3: The Truth that Sets her Free – how to identify lies and replace them with </span>truth<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. This is explained with a three-step process. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whilst you, as a Mum read your book, your daughter reads her book “Lies Girls Believe” at the same time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Included in each chapter of your book is the whole chapter from your daughter’s book so that you know what your daughter is reading. I thought this was a good and helpful idea. There are tips for having a conversation with your daughter regarding the content and what she is learning. Each chapter includes a ‘Truth Nugget’ (verses from the Bible), a section called ‘Talking with God’ and ‘Talking with your girl’. The aim is having read a chapter you come together to talk through what has been read and you, as her Mum, then help her with the practical side of implementing what she has learned - to reject lies and replace them with </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">truth<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: blue;">“Most of today’s tween girls suffer on what is called a spectrum of angst. It’s not a matter of if they will struggle – with depression, anxiety, fear, loneliness, and anger – but how much.” </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This book looks at our emotions, how they are affected by our thinking and how our beliefs underpin it all. It is our belief system, the way we think and feel which affect our behaviour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wish these books had been available when my daughter was in her tween years and I recommend it to any mum who has a young daughter. Being a mum is not easy, we worry about not being good enough, and we lay a tremendous amount of guilt on ourselves. This book is one which encourages mums in their parenting and encourages mums to keep communicating with their daughters. It is a book which is very practical and grounded in scripture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"A Moms' Guide to Lies Girls Believe" is available to buy from a variety of places, including <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moms-Guide-Lies-Girls-Believe-ebook/dp/B07F7RZX1V/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550499108&sr=8-1&keywords=a+moms+guide+to+lies+girls+believe" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.eden.co.uk/shop/a-moms-guide-to-lies-girls-believe-4728871.html" target="_blank">Eden</a> and <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=a+moms+guide+to+lies+girls+believe&search=Find+book" target="_blank">Book Depository</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shall be posting a book review of the companion book for daughters "Lies Girls Believe" very soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-88965804043291911262019-02-15T11:12:00.002+00:002019-02-15T11:12:48.227+00:00What's In Your Hands?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last week we looked at the example of Moses and how he initially responded in fear when God called him to serve him. (You can read it <a href="https://vickicottingham.blogspot.com/2019/02/dont-let-fear-hold-you-back.html" target="_blank">here</a> ) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This week we are continuing with the example of Moses and exploring how God wants us to respond in faith, not with fear. We read in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+4%3A2-5&version=NLT" target="_blank">Exodus 4:2-5</a>: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand.</b> (NLT) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The question God asked Moses is the same one he is asking us today: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Moses, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it was a shepherd’s staff. He was a shepherd and had been for forty years. He knew how to care for, protect and lead his sheep. He knew how to live in desert conditions and how to take responsibility for those in his care. These were all skills needed when it came to leading God’s people. And let’s not forget his experience in the palace, his experience of the Egyptian culture which would be very useful when God sent him to communicate with Pharaoh. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is in your hands is a question which relates to your gifts, talents, abilities, experiences, resources. Anything in fact. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What do you see when you look down at your hands? One of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the things </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I see in mine is a pen. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For you, it may be a guitar or another musical instrument, a teacup</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (perhaps you are great at befriending people over cups of tea), a duster (cleaning brings you incredible joy and satisfaction). Perhaps you are good at making someone feel at home, or you are skilled in technology, or you have experience of living with and managing depression. Maybe you are good at relating to a particular age group, or you are skilled in art and design or </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">baking or </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">thinking outside of the box. Maybe for</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> you, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it’s something else. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So I ask you again: “What do you see when you look down at your hands?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God told Moses to let go, to release that which was in his hands. I don’t think that was easy to do. Do you? God was asking Moses to let go of that which he had control of, to surrender it over to God and to allow God to use it as he wanted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know how difficult this is from personal experience. We like to be in control, in charge. It’s scary to let it go. But I can also say that it is rewarding. I believe this surrender to God is something he asks of each one of us. But he won’t force it on us. He wants us to choose surrender. He wants us to want to give up what we consider belongs to us and hand it over to him. The truth is, that nothing we have belongs to us, because all we have comes from God in the first place. It’s just we sometimes forget this and become possessive over it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But when we do surrender it to God something amazing happens. What was an ordinary ‘tool’ in our own hands becomes extraordinary in God’s! Moses’ staff was no longer just a staff, it became a snake, a miracle, and evidence of God’s power. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you prepared, in faith, to hand over whatever you have in your hands to God and see just what he will do with it? What we give him, he gives back to us so that we can partner with him and do some incredible things, greater things than we could ever have done on our own. Now that’s exciting! Don’t you think? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m reminded of the feeding of the five thousand. (You can read the account <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+14%3A13-21&version=NLT" target="_blank">here</a>). A young boy surrendered his small lunch, five loaves and two fish to Jesus. And in Jesus’ </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hands, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it became so much more. Jesus used what was in this boy’s hands to perform a miracle to feed over five thousand people, and with more to spare. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you are reading this, you may be feeling a bit daunted right now. It is scary when we step out of our comfort zone to do something which we know is beyond our own abilities. I read this quote recently (I can’t remember who wrote it) but it greatly encouraged me. I hope it will you too: </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>“The will of God will never lead you where the power of God can’t enable you.” </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God isn’t calling you to use what you have in your hands on your own. He’s calling you to work with him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wonder if you’re reading this and thinking to yourself: “But it's too late for me,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> time </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">has passed me by.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think there must have been times when Moses felt the same. After all, he wasn’t getting any younger. But time is not important to God. Whilst we are still here, he still has something for us to do. Our availability is what is important to God. Moses had waited a long time, but now was the time for action. Perhaps you’ve been waiting a long time too, but God is saying to you that now is the time to act. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is your response? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will you choose to respond in faith, recognise what God has placed in your hands, surrender it to him so that he can use it and you for his glory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to finish with one of my favourite passages in the Bible: </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His power</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen. </span></b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3%3A20-21&version=AMP" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Ephesians 3:20-21</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (AMP) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is in your hand? I believe it’s important to realise that nothing is insignificant to God. You may see it as something which is not worth much, but that’s not how God sees it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will you surrender it over to God? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will you act in faith and use what he has placed in your hands to serve him and fulfil his purposes? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take some time with God and ask him how he wants you to use what he has placed in your hands. It may be something you’ve not considered before or he may want to use it in a way that is very different </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">from<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">how you would expect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's and last week's devotional is based on a sermon I recently preached in my home church on Sunday 27th January. If you would like to listen to it, please click <a href="http://dynamic.church123.com/podcast/1EB211B8-E5C1-42BE-AE45-FC77D6AF53F0" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my latest book, published in November 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more, click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550227688&sr=8-1&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550227688&sr=8-1&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank"></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Dear Friend... Vol 1 is available from Amazon as a paperback book and also to download on Kindle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To learn more, please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1550227688&sr=8-2&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-41515133436690896482019-02-08T13:53:00.000+00:002019-02-08T13:53:40.386+00:00Don't Let Fear Hold You Back<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Don't Let Fear Hold You Back</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you ever made excuses for not doing what God is asking of you? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have, you’re in good company. Today I want to look at the example of Moses. God has been teaching me so much through the life of Moses. I've been finding it both a challenge and an encouragement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bible tells us that Moses’ parents knew God had a purpose for their son. I believe right from a young age, Moses knew that God had chosen him for a specific purpose. He had a heart for God’s people and identified himself with them. </span></div>
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<b>One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel. He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man’s defence and avenged him, killing the Egyptian. Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn’t.</b> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+7%3A23-25&version=NLT" target="_blank">Acts 7:23-25</a> (NLT)</div>
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So Moses fled to the desert and after living there for forty years he encountered God, calling him from a burning bush. </div>
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In Chapters 3 & 4 of Exodus, we read about God calling Moses to save God’s people from slavery. But Moses’ automatic response is one of fear. He made various excuses as to why it shouldn’t be him. I believe there were three things which caused Moses to feel afraid. </div>
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<span style="color: red;">1. Fear of Failure. </span></div>
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Moses was passionate about God’s calling on his life, however, when he tried to do something all those years back, it ended in failure, as we’ve already seen. </div>
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I believe he then allowed his mistake to define him. <i>“I failed at what I did for God, therefore I am a failure.”</i> Moses wasn’t a failure, but he allowed his actions to define him and they became his identity. </div>
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What about you? Would you define yourself as a failure? Have you stepped out for God, done what you believe God was calling you to do? Have you Followed the dream, the goal God had given you? Only to find that it’s failed and now you too think you’re a failure. Is your identity wrapped up in your mistakes and your mess? </div>
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I don’t believe Moses had got it wrong when it came to God’s plan for him, but I do believe that because he didn’t consult with God he acted at the wrong time and in the wrong way. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps that’s the way it is for you too? Perhaps you rushed to do something<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">for God, before checking with him to see if it was the right time to act and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">because</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> you didn't check with him perhaps you went about it the wrong way. But now, God is calling you, telling you that now is the time to act.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I think Moses’ mistakes led him to doubt himself and to lose his self-confidence. But I think deep down he did not lose the dream God had given him. Somewhere very deep down. And God needed to re-awaken it in him. God needed to reignite the fire. It's so easy for our confidence to take a nose-dive when things don't go the way we had planned or envisioned.</span></div>
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I wonder if, over the past forty years, Moses had felt abandoned by God? Yet God had never abandoned him. He’d been with him the whole time, using the desert as Moses’ training ground for when God’s time for him came. All Moses had been through, from the moment he was born was leading up to this. </div>
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God hadn’t given up on Moses, and he hasn’t given up on us either. </div>
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<b>But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”</b> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+3%3A11&version=NLT" target="_blank">Exodus 3:11</a> (NLT)</div>
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Basically, he was saying, <i>"I’m not good enough."</i> </div>
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God’s Response to him was, <i>“You may not feel like you are good enough, but tell them, I AM is sending you and I AM enough. You need only to rely on me."</i></div>
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God says the same to us. You and I may not feel we are enough when it comes to doing what he asks of us but GOD IS MORE THAN ENOUGH. </div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Here is another of Moses' excuses:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”</b> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+4%3A10-12&version=NLT" target="_blank">Exodus 4:10-12</a> (NLT)</span></div>
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Moses’ past had led him to lose confidence in himself but what he needed instead was a God-confidence. God was able to use Moses’ past mistakes, to teach him that it is not healthy to put all our confidence in self, rather our confidence needs to be in God. With God, we cannot fail. </div>
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Don’t let fear of failure stop you from doing what God is calling you to do. </div>
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<span style="color: red;">2. Fear of what others will say.</span><br />
<b>But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” </b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+4%3A1&version=NLT" target="_blank">Exodus 4:1</a> (NLT)</div>
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Do you fear what others will say or think of you? </div>
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God tells Moses that if he just does what he tells him to do, then people will know. Moses needed to focus on what God was telling him to do, not on the opinion of others. </div>
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God tells us to do the same – to focus on him and what he asks of us instead of worrying about what others think of us. What he thinks is of far greater significance. </div>
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Don’t let fear of what others may think of you stop you from doing what God is calling you to do. </div>
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<span style="color: red;">3. Fear of being the wrong person. </span></div>
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<b>But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.”</b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+4%3A13&version=NLT" target="_blank">Exodus 4:13</a> (NLT)</div>
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Moses was basically saying to God, <i>“Anyone would do a better job than me. I’m not the right person for this. I don’t have what it takes.” </i></div>
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Moses was wrong – God hadn’t chosen someone else to rescue his people, he had chosen Moses because he knew Moses was the man for the job. God doesn’t make mistakes. He knows what he’s doing. </div>
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Do you ever think like Moses? Do you ever compare yourself with another and think – they would be so much better at it than I am? </div>
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If God wanted someone else to do what he is asking you to do, he would have chosen them instead. But he hasn’t, he’s chosen you and he’s chosen you for a reason. He knows that you and he together have got this. </div>
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If you think anyone else would do a better job than you – then, like Moses, you're wrong!</div>
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Don’t allow the comparisons you make between yourself and others stop you from doing what God is calling you to do.</div>
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<u>To Think About:</u></div>
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Are one of the fears mentioned above holding you back from stepping into God's plan for your life? Or do you struggle with another fear?</div>
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When God calls you to do something, do you believe that he is more than enough to help you fulfil his purpose for you?</div>
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Do you focus more on what others think and say than on what God is calling you to do?</div>
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If you are someone who keeps comparing yourself with others, how can you stop this unhealthy way of thinking?</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">This is my latest book, published in November 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more, click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1549633546&sr=8-2&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">"Dear Friend... Vol 1 is available from Amazon as a paperback book and also to download on Kindle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;">To learn more, please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549633546&sr=8-1&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid" target="_blank">https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/bloggergrid</a></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-23552962228610899272019-02-01T11:03:00.001+00:002019-02-01T11:03:41.953+00:00Book Review: Still Emily - A Memoir by Emily Owen<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I recently finished reading "Still Emily" by Emily Owen and I have to say it's in my top ten books I've ever read.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's a book about an incredible woman of faith (I don't know she would describe herself that way, but it is my opinion of her. Why not read her book and see for yourself?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She was diagnosed at the age of sixteen with NF2 (Neurofibromatosis Type 2) of which I knew nothing about until I read her book. It is a really terrible illness which has robbed her (and her family) of so much. And yet, Emily never gives in to it. She doesn't let it rob her of her faith in God. Neither does she allow it to define who she is. Her faith and her identity as a child of God shine through and she is still the same person she was before her diagnosis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think there are two reasons why she is able to overcome such hard struggles. First, because of her faith in God which she was grounded in from a young age, having been brought up in a Christian home. Secondly, she has the love and support of an amazing family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After her first operation, something went wrong and her parents were told that Emily may not survive what the doctors think was a stroke in her brainstem. Emily writes that her parents <i>"were confronted, unwillingly, with a decision that no one should ever have to face: what would they say if asked to turn off life support? They faced a literal life and death decision. And yet they knew that, at the same time, it was a death to life decision. From death to never-ending life with God who, through seventeen years, I had learned to trust. So, through their heartache, they agreed that if necessary, they would say 'yes'."</i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can't imagine having to make that decision for anyone I loved, let alone a child of mine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily did not die that day, but she did need to relearn how to do everything again, even something as basic to us as breathing. Neither was that the only operation she would need. She has had over twenty operations since 1996 to remove tumours not just on her brain but elsewhere on her body too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In her book, Emily writes how NF2 took away her hopes and dreams for her life and she went through a time of questioning whether God would bother with her now. However, God showed her she was still important to him and he has given her new plans and purpose for her life. Now she is able to write and speak about her experiences and her faith, and all for his glory. I believe that she has probably reached and will continue to reach more people than she would have done had it not been for having to live with NF2. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily shares openly and honestly about herself and the challenges she has faced. Her book shows us her courage to overcome them, her faith in God and how he enables her to live victoriously for him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are so many more examples I could tell you about but the best thing you can do is read the book for yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have, however, been granted permission by Emily, to share an excerpt from her book. It is just after another appointment at a hospital when she and her parents are shown scans which reveal the tumour in the right side of her brain has grown and needs to be operated on.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I left the consultation, head whirling, I was told that I’d receive a letter with a date for surgery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Surgery that would take my hearing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: blue;">A date with deafness.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">My parents and I walked out of the hospital, trying to absorb news we’d hoped was a long way off. As we stepped outside, the heavens opened and soaked us. </span><span style="color: blue;">Rain </span><span style="color: blue;">was a symbolic reflection of the day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Making our way to the car, we kept our heads down, trying to avoid the raindrops.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">But we couldn’t dodge the raindrops any more than we could dodge my tumour.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">It was there and it wasn’t going to disappear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">As we drove out of the car park, my eyes turned towards the water pouring down the car windowpane.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">I could hear rain drumming on the roof.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">My gaze travelled unseeingly upwards until, in the grey sky, I saw a rainbow.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I stared in wonder.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The rainbow was beautiful and I felt as though God had put it there just for me, reassuring me that I wasn’t alone.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We continued th</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">e drive home, and as we </span><span style="color: blue;">sped</span><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"> the 100 miles along the motorway, we saw rainbow after rainbow after rainbow.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’ve never seen anything like it, before or since.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Despite the grey day, the bad news I’d received, the dread of more brain surgery and a silent future,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">the rainbows were there.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I reached out.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I grabbed them.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I still look for rainbows:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A smile from a baby,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">chocolate,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a lunch date with a friend,<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">a letter in the post.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anything that brightens my day.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I find the rainbows.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I cling on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Still Emily" is a book which has blessed and encouraged me in my own journey of faith. I really recommend that you read it too. We all face struggles and difficulties in life, they may not be the same as Emily has faced, but life is undoubtedly hard for each one of us at times. I am sure this book will help you to realise that you are not alone and that God is with you too and it will strengthen your faith in him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to just leave you with one thought:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxy6I22d_UQ7r82fCqCoe3q0iSPGq693ahPwWu8IMxcdQSerbSniVGrMcmj69JFA-cc_WwCB_Oq7XYyeW7882xtKFN48JayYb4iU9lEKfWmGyR5xvXUpLZgW7vLDch0Zd2l6IdBIf1YAE/s1600/agriculture-colors-countryside-1253748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxy6I22d_UQ7r82fCqCoe3q0iSPGq693ahPwWu8IMxcdQSerbSniVGrMcmj69JFA-cc_WwCB_Oq7XYyeW7882xtKFN48JayYb4iU9lEKfWmGyR5xvXUpLZgW7vLDch0Zd2l6IdBIf1YAE/s200/agriculture-colors-countryside-1253748.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Will you and I follow Emily's example and look for rainbows even when they are hard to see?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR_as3pVCvb60JLEU2-PVfsUJe-bwOu809Wsm53Rb3icnpgLpCnF7K3DmoCEFe8e7hcPl3tfNNQc6kqlknuQbyIbONsBGeC4mZwMRQlk1RPXJde9yeebKZQmjdBfOjTEu4f_FP4c4LFtH/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="646" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnR_as3pVCvb60JLEU2-PVfsUJe-bwOu809Wsm53Rb3icnpgLpCnF7K3DmoCEFe8e7hcPl3tfNNQc6kqlknuQbyIbONsBGeC4mZwMRQlk1RPXJde9yeebKZQmjdBfOjTEu4f_FP4c4LFtH/s200/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily lives in Leicester. Some of the things she splits her time between are writing, speaking, hospital appointments, and being wrapped around the little fingers of her nieces/nephews/godchildren. The Power of Seven, her latest book, is – coincidentally – her seventh book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can connect with Emily in the following ways:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/EmilyOwenAuthor" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/EmilyOwenAuthor</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/EmilyOwenAuthor" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/EmilyOwenAuthor</a><br />
<a href="http://www.emily-owen.co.uk/" target="_blank">http://www.emily-owen.co.uk</a><br />
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-47303017710382815202019-01-25T14:58:00.001+00:002019-01-25T14:58:04.543+00:00I Dreamed A Dream<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUqEICNYtD308ZnncDEabfrVgZnz_c-QcRFZGPlv816uNOM1k4W_Whjd-8YKKMNvN6Mn1rxsFZYssHHGmxy0pwDSI9qx8efCpKtgQ9ylOV1ZoUU-fAyyRyrTnImmew8SPi8pqXm2wKiLP/s1600/architecture-door-entrance-277552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUqEICNYtD308ZnncDEabfrVgZnz_c-QcRFZGPlv816uNOM1k4W_Whjd-8YKKMNvN6Mn1rxsFZYssHHGmxy0pwDSI9qx8efCpKtgQ9ylOV1ZoUU-fAyyRyrTnImmew8SPi8pqXm2wKiLP/s320/architecture-door-entrance-277552.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>I Dreamed A Dream</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you're thinking this is going to be about the song from the musical, "Les Miserables" you'd be wrong. I chose this title to get your attention - I wonder if it worked? Although I'm not writing about that particular song I am writing about a dream I had.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Experts tell us that everyone dreams each night but whilst some people wake up aware that they have dreamed during the night, others have no memory of theirs. I am in the former group, I don't think there's a day when I don't wake up and remember the dream/s I've had during the night. I'm not quite sure what this says about the quality of my sleep!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It doesn't usually take me long to forget my dreams, although very occasionally I will remember a special dream. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to share one with you which I had more than twenty-five years ago, it greatly encouraged me and gave me such joy at the time and continues to do so when I remember it. In the Bible, dreams were one of the ways God chose to communicate with his people and I believe he can still use our dreams as a way of saying something to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my dream, I was at home with my parents and my sister. We were sitting at the dining room table having a meal together when there was a knock at the door. I jumped up to answer it with no idea as to who was behind the door. To my surprise and joy when I opened it, I found Jesus standing there. I still remember to this day how I felt in my dream. I was filled with such joy and a sense of privilege that I, out of everyone at home, was the one who got to open the door and greet Jesus. I can't fully put into words how amazing the experience was. Some parts of the dream are vague, I think I invited him in. Then later on in my dream, Jesus was continuing to knock on doors down the street and people would come out and follow him. I remember being one of the many who was following him as he continued to walk on, knocking on people's doors. I can remember turning to the people around me as we walked, and sharing with great excitement that I was the one to answer when he knocked on our door. I was full of such joy. I sensed that Jesus had returned to earth and was bringing everyone together who loved him and he was leading us all to heaven to be with God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I woke the following morning the dream was still fresh in my mind. Never before or since have I had such a beautiful dream which filled me with such joy and peace. Whenever I think about that dream I still experience the emotions I felt all those years back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why am I telling you this? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, it reminds me of the verses in Revelation where Jesus says:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."</b> <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+3%3A20&version=NLT" target="_blank">Revelation 3:20</a> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus stands at the door of my heart, your heart and he knocks waiting for our response. Just as he knocked on the door in my dream and waited for me to open the door. He could have just appeared inside my home. He doesn't need to knock. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">He doesn't force his way into our hearts.</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">And yet he knocks because he wants us to invite him in. He wants us to open our hearts to him and allow him access to the whole of our heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jesus said, <b>“All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them." </b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A23&version=NLT" target="_blank">John 14:23</a> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was so happy to invite Jesus into my home in my dream, but am I that full of joy and that sense of privilege when answering as he knocks on my heart and inviting him in? Do I welcome him and tell him to make himself at home? Or do I begrudgingly let him in and tell him that certain areas are out of bounds?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is it Jesus finds in my heart and your heart as he indwells us? Is there anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, envy, pride, lust etc? Or is our heart changing and becoming more like him? Does he find a heart which desires to submit to him and do the things which please him? A heart of joy, compassion, love, kindness, forgiveness etc?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There's so many books and TV Shows providing us with help to de-clutter our homes. But will we give Jesus the key to our heart and invite him into every area and ask him to help us to de-clutter our hearts, minds and souls? Will we ask for his help to remove clutter that shouldn't be there so that we then have the space in our hearts, minds and souls for things which are good and pleasing to him?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I look at the clutter in my home it can seem an overwhelming and impossible task to accomplish. It can feel like that when we look and see all that's inside us, but Jesus is available to help us. He's willing to come into our mess and work with us, but once again he waits for the invitation to do so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you ready to ask for his help and invite him to help you deep clean your heart?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can pray like David did:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Create in me a clean heart, O God.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Renew a loyal spirit within me.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+51%3A10&version=NLT" target="_blank">Psalm 51:10</a> (NLT)</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God says to us:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follo</b></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>w my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. </b><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel+36%3A25-27&version=NLT" target="_blank">Ezekiel 36:25-27</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (NLT)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Imagine Jesus came and knocked on your door. What would your thoughts and feelings be as you opened the door to him?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are you giving Jesus access to all areas of your heart or are you withholding some?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ask Jesus to reveal to you the state of your heart and then ask him to help you to de-clutter and remove anything that shouldn't be there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my latest book, published in November 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more, click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1548427148&sr=8-2&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Dear Friend... Vol 1 is available from Amazon as a paperback book and also to download on Kindle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To learn more, please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548427148&sr=8-1&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-87164966761380907152019-01-17T17:49:00.000+00:002019-01-17T17:49:06.970+00:00Reflecting On My Past Year<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Reflecting on the past year</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know many of us take advantage of a new year to reflect over the past year. I imagine that last year for you was probably like mine - one of highs and lows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you've gone through some difficult times last year, it can be easy to glance back and remember only the bad times and conclude that the whole year was just awful. I know for myself, I can be so quick to focus on the negative. There were some difficult, unpleasant times for me last year. I had several hospital appointments and it seemed like I was always going to see my Doctor about one issue or another. We also faced hard days with our family. The year ended with a bad spell of migraines for me and another horrendous migraine the very first day of the new year. With my thoughts fixed on those things, it's easy for me to conclude that the whole of last year was awful and that this year will be no different. Especially as I can tend to be something of a pessimist. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But when I actually take the time and sit with God to reflect on my past year, I remember how it really was. The truth is that whilst there were some unpleasant times, there was much which was also really good and I have a lot to be thankful for. Even in the difficult times, I know God has been with me in them. He never left me to face them on my own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were highs such as my son, Josh, getting engaged to a lovely Christian girl; taking my parents to Belgium for a few days to celebrate a milestone in their birthdays; self-publishing my second devotional book, and the joy of living out the calling God has placed on my life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jason, my husband was such a help and support during 2018 when it came to my writing. He and I have </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">been able to get away for short breaks, such as staying with my sister and her family and attend Spring Harvest</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (a Christian Conference).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What has also meant so much to me are the friendships which have grown and developed over the year. For those who have been good friends to me through the good and the bad. The start of a new friendship with another lady at church. And also the friends I have made through </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook groups such as the ACW (Association of Christian Writers) and through being part of several book launch teams. These friendships have proved to be a real blessing to me throughout last year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I believe the whole year was awful, this affects my emotions and my thoughts in a negative way, but I have a far better outlook when I look back over the year with God and see it as it really was. And I can remind myself that even through the hard times God was still there with me in it all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This reminds me of a certain part of Jacob and Joseph's story. You can read it all in <b>Genesis 37 - 50</b>. To summarise, Jacob was grieving the loss of his favourite son, Joseph, and then he is told that his other sons need to take Benjamin, his youngest, with them on their next visit to Egypt if they are to be given any grain. This is his response:</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jacob exclaimed, “You are robbing me of my children! Joseph is gone! Simeon is gone! And now you want to take Benjamin, too. Everything is going against me!”... </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My son will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left. If anything should happen to him on your journey, you would send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>” Genesis 42:36 & 38</b> (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His response is a natural human reaction to what has been and is still, a very difficult time in his life. He believes everything is going against him and that Benjamin is all he has left. His emotions are clouding his thinking and so he is not able to see the truth. The truth is, that despite his trials, not everything is going against him because God is still with him. God has not deserted him and is still blessing his life. Benjamin is not all he has left, he has his other sons and he is a wealthy, successful man. Can you imagine what he would have said to you after reflecting on his year?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the other hand, Joseph responds very differently to his trials. He has been sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused, and thrown into prison. He has been separated from his father for many years and yet he is able to say to his brothers:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>“Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt."</b> Genesis 45:4-8 (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.</b> Genesis 50:20 (NLT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Joseph has gone through so much but throughout he has fixed his eyes on God. He is aware of how God has been with him and working good from bad. What do you think would have come out of his reflecting on his year?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jacob and Joseph have both experienced terrible suffering, yet their perspective on this time is totally different. Jacob has lost sight of God and can only see what is bad, which leads to negative, unhealthy emotions, words and actions. Joseph, on the other hand, has focused on God and sensed him with him every step of the way, working good from what can only be described as bad. This is evident in his speech and actions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know which Bible character's example I'd rather follow. How about you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>To Think About:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you haven't already done so, spend some time with God reflecting on 2018. What can you thank God for? Are you able to see how God was with you even during difficult times?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What has the year taught you about yourself and about God?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What lessons can you take with you into 2019?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Vicki</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you enjoyed reading this devotional blog, then you may like to know that I have two devotional books both of which are available to buy from Amazon. (The content of these books is material adapted from past blog posts.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is my latest book, published in November 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Dear Friend...52 Weekly Devotions to Encourage, Challenge and Inspire" Volume 2. </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The book's format is the same as my first one with the added extra of room for journalling after each devotion. To learn more, click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge/dp/1726131254/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1547644819&sr=8-2&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Dear Friend... Vol 1 is available from Amazon as a paperback book and also to download on Kindle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To learn more, please click <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Friend-Devotions-Encourage-Challenge-ebook/dp/B077H74YL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547644819&sr=8-1&keywords=dear+friend+vicki+cottingham" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-91255924872842231752019-01-13T16:12:00.001+00:002019-01-13T16:12:37.184+00:00Book Review: "Fully Alive: Learning to Flourish - Mind, Body and Spirit" by Susie Larson<div style="text-align: justify;">
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What I particularly liked about Susie Larson's book, "Fully Alive" is that she writes so honestly and openly about the storms she has faced in her own life and how she has, with God's help, come through them. She shares in her introduction how “The storms reveal the lies we believe and the truths we need.” </div>
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In "Fully Alive" she writes that maybe you need an emotional miracle, a physical one, or a relational one, and how this book can give us the help, if we need it, to change our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual mindset. </div>
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I like how each chapter follows the same structure. Each one starts off with personal experience from Susie as she shares about what she has learned herself; ‘Put it into Practice’ in which the reader applies what they have read; Soul Searching in which there are questions for reflection; Spiritual Reset – a time for prayer; Digging Deeper which includes reading some passages of Scripture and more time for reflection. </div>
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The chapters cover issues such as fear, worry, grief, discouragement and selfishness. The chapter, ‘I feel Guilty and Ashamed’ was one which I found really helpful. She wrote about the importance of deliberately interrupting and redirecting your thought life so that it doesn’t go down those same old negative, unhealthy routes. Another chapter that was especially helpful for me was the one on ‘I’m insecure – Jesus, show me how you see me.’ </div>
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There are ten chapters in this book and it is written as a ten-week journey so that the reader can give time to each chapter, working on whatever God may bring to their attention as they read it. Susie has written a book that is easy to read. Easy in the sense that her writing is easy to grasp and understand. However, in another sense, it is not easy reading. If you read this book and ask God to come on the journey with you, it can be painful at times as God draws your attention to an area which needs his healing touch. The reader has to decide whether they will work through this, which will ultimately be for their good, or to ignore the prompting. With God, good can come from the pain, as long as the reader is willing to persevere.</div>
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If you do choose to read her book, then you may want to consider sharing with someone close to you who is willing to go on the journey with you. Someone who can encourage and support you on your way. </div>
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"Fully Alive" is available to buy now, including from <a href="https://www.eden.co.uk/shop/fully-alive-learning-to-flourish-mind-body-and-spirit-4687910.html" target="_blank">Eden</a>, <a href="https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=fully%20alive%20susie%20larson&search=Find+book" target="_blank">Book Depository</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fully-Alive-Learning-Flourish-Mind-Spirit-ebook/dp/B07D6XSMZP/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547395679&sr=8-1&keywords=fully+alive+susie+larson" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Vicki</span></i></div>
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Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4110422038334068701.post-60907506299468499132019-01-09T13:42:00.000+00:002019-01-09T13:42:56.263+00:00Book Review: Of Fire and Lions by Mesu Andrews<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dear Friends,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Of Fire and Lions" is another </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">great Biblical fiction novel penned by Mesu Andrews, this time it is based on the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The majority of the book is told through the eyes of Belili (the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fictional </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wife of Daniel). Belili (or Abigail) is one of the young people who is taken into exile to Babylon, along with Daniel and his friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The book begins with Belili and Daniel in their old age, having lived many decades in Babylon. As they look back over the years and remember their past, we get to learn about their experiences of living in exile and the cost of being faithful to God in a land where he is not worshipped as the one and true God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Belili is such a relatable character. We see her as a child and her early encounter with God which forges her personal faith, but then because of circumstances against her, we see how she drifts away from God for a time. However, God always has his hand on her and draws her back to himself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Belili carries a lot of guilt and feels she’s made so many mistakes as a mother and for many years she is unable to forgive herself. She is not so different </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">from</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> many of us who carry guilt relating to our own parenting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Towards the end of her life, she realises her mistake in failing “to trust Yahweh’s power and sufficiency in both their lives [the lives of her children] and my own.” What a good lesson for us all to learn – to trust God with our lives and the lives of those closest to us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She feels she has failed to convince her children to place their faith in God. But Daniel lovingly reminds her that it is Yahweh who does the convincing. It is our role as parents, to love them. This is a good reminder for each of us who are parents. We cannot make our children choose to follow God for themselves but we can unconditionally love them and keep praying for them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Belili goes on such a journey of faith, with ups and downs, much as we all do. Towards the end of her life, she learns to love God above everyone and anything else whatever the cost. She surrenders herself to God. I wonder if you and I can say the same? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One conversation between Daniel and his son-in-law, Shesh, which spoke to me was when they were talking about the return of the Jews to Jerusalem. Shesh believes Daniel should be the one to lead them home and says, “Who in Babylon has been more faithful than you?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Daniel’s reply is this, “Our service to God isn’t about comparing yourself to others, my son. It’s about measuring obedience to our individual calling.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is something each one of us would do well to learn and remember. Let’s not compare ourselves to anyone else, let’s just concentrate on being faithful to the calling God has given us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I enjoyed reading the imaginative retelling of events from the book of Daniel, such as when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are thrown into the fiery furnace and when Daniel spends the night in the den of lions. Another account which made me think completely differently is Mesu’s interpretation of the time when King Nebuchadnezzar is punished by God by giving him the mind of a beast and living as a beast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The character list at the beginning of the book is helpful. Especially if you’re like me and easily forget who is who. The Readers Guide at the end is useful if you wish to read this in your book club. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my opinion, this book is definitely worth reading. It will help you to better understand some of the events in the Bible and the history of that time. I believe it can also help you in your own journey of faith in God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The release date for "Of Fire and Lions" is early March 2019 but it is available to pre-order from <a href="http://amazon/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Vicki</span></i></div>
Vicki Cottinghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05432517911867849268noreply@blogger.com0