Philip K Stone

just because?

Have You ever been criticised for doing something you thought was good? Or criticsed for doing something you know to be right?

I bet we all have, and maybe at some time we have been quick to criticise others for not doing it our way. Sometimes I think there are people that can’t accept something unless they do it, unless they get the praise, or maybe they are jealous becuase they didn’t do it first.

God Loves working through humble people, people who are simple enough Just to do something because, like buying someone a bunch of flowers just to make them smile or taking someone away for a trip just to give them a break or spening an hour with someone because thy are lonely, or visiting someone in hospital to let them know they are loved, or calling round to a home and taking the ironing to relieve a tired parent, or cooking a meal for a family because they are having a tight budget month for a few examples, no big reasons needed, whereas critics stand and gossip into their reasoning.

Why did they do that? What are they wanting in return? And even sometimes So and So must have come into money, doing that for them? The fact is these people would rather that these acts of kindness went unseen.

Jesus always lived a life that was always giving, helping and loving… just because!

What is because? Is it maybe just the fact that you care about people, that you are not prioitised with materialism, praise and power? That You have tapped into the Love that God wants us to have for people and live out in our actions?

Next time you go to criticise someone, just think, could they have done that “just because?”

Jesus in Town!

I love reading the Message Bible sometimes just to help me grasp and understand verses. Yesterday I read in Matthew 11v4-6

Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what’s going on: The blind see, The lame walk, Lepers are cleansed, The deaf hear, The dead are raised, The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side. “Is this what you were expecting? Then count yourselves most blessed!”

Yesterday the thought came to me, this is not a criticism by any shape or form, its a challenge! If Jesus were being represented in Lurgan, Craigavon and all the surrounding areas in the way He would like to be, could we quote verse 7 about our town? I guess the challenge I was getting yesterday afternoon was How am I letting God use me and what am I not Doing that could let God use me!

We live in an age where seeing is believing, yet the Kingdom of God is one that has to be believed before we can see! But could it be possible to catch a glimpse of His Kingdom in our town if an atmosphere of Miracles brooded over our homes, streets, shopping presincts.

“The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side.” – What a statement by Jesus, How God must love EVERY soul, no matter what their state, This is the Gospel Jesus taught, a Gospel with no limits or boundaries, with no exclusions – This is for everyone! for the Whosoever!

I Like Jesus Question – Is this what You were expecting? probably meaning “Guys can you not see I’m God, I can do more than you can imagine or think?” How could anyone not follow a God that WILL blow you away with His awesomeness, I struggle to understand why people look to dead idols as their gods!

Praise Be to our God who is ALIVE, in touch with us, who has and desires relationship with us!

Remember for Jesus to be in our town, He needs to be Alive and Kicking in Our hearts, and we are the only people who can sustain and keep that!

How is Jesus in your heart today?

Everlasting God

This Song is one I have thoroughly enjoyed woshipping with this past 6 weeks, I Hope the words Bless You as they have blessed me.

To Order a Copy go to Cross Rythms

Everlasting God – Brenton Brown, Ken Riley

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord,
we will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord (repeat)

Our God You reign forever, Our hope, Our strong deliverer

You are the everlasting God, the everlasting God,
You do not faint You won’t grow weary
and You’re the defender of the weak
You comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles

©2005 Thankyou Music

Living with Anticipation

In most areas of my life, I try not to look directly at what I’m facing, sometimes because I know its gonna be tough, stressful or maybe hurtful. Don’t worry I try not to do this when I’m driving.

But in Life Sometimes you need things to look forward to, anticipate (I find that anyway)

I like the definition of the Word anticipation, it means ‘pleasurable expectation’

In God I consider the fact that I will learn more about Him, will experience Him in New ways, the fact that God will speak to me again, the thought of Heaven, the thought of Growing in God, getting to know him better and more. Because we don’t get to know God fully in an instant that for me creates anticipation in my spirit.

In Family life I consider Days away together, meal times, holiday times and of course play times to be things I anticipate when I’m away from family, I just love the fact that I can’t wait to get home! To know that one day we may have more kids (I’m NOT announcing anything), possibly in years to come if we are spared Grand kids – Thats exciting!

In Work Life, there will be stressful days, hard days, days when You want to run away, but for me getting Big orders and knowing that I will get more in the future, or knowing that I can perform to the best of my ability meaning better business etc, it creates in me expectation and anticipation!

In church Life wow look at How God has grown church so far, that makes me excited for the next 10 years! People getting saved, lives getting transformed, Sickness being Healed, a community being Loved – Its exciting.

I could go on and mention other areas in Life, but heres what I’m trying to say! God wants us to have Vision, Dreams and plans, without them we will perish, For me anticipaion is similar to petrol in a car – Without You go nowhere!

Today I hope and pray that You either Live with anticapation or if You haven’t until now, choose to live with it! God Bless

Gods Promises

Have You ever heard someone say – I got a promise from God? I’m sure You have, we probably all at some hard place in our lives, or maybe when we’ve been on the mountain top received a promise from God.

But sometimes we get a promise and there is never any movement, no fulfilment, maybe the time hasn’t come yet for that promise to become reality, but when I read the story of Joshua marching around the walls of Jericho, The promise to be given this city was made on the instruction that Joshua and the Children of Israel would have to march around the city, for Six days once, then on the Seventh day they had to go round the walls seven times – (Read Joshua 6:1-22). But What I’m trying to say is Joshua and the Children of Israel were Obedient and also obedient to detail! so they got what God had promised them!

Sometimes we can say, But God hasn’t given me the instructions,
1.Have you given the opportunity for God to speak to a listening ear?
2.Are You spending time with God?
3.Is everything right between You and God?

Remember Just the way Joshua, Noah or Abraham (to name a few) received instruction from God, It wasn’t alsways given in one big list, but maybe it was given through constantly and consistently seeking God for further instruction – Try it!

My thought today, shout at me if you disagree, but I am choosing to believe that Promises are a Reward of obedience to God, They are not a handout from heaven, they are either granted to a believer for being faithful, enduring hardships, and coming through the trials, or else they are given to us prior to trials and hardships. The fact is when you get a promise from God, don’t spend your time telling people about it, start finding the path God wants to take you along to get Your Promise!