Philip K Stone

Unknown Uncertainty

Have You ever had someone say ‘Just believe and trust in God and all will be OK‘, sorry to be honest but sometimes I look back at the person and think “You don’t have a clue, You’ve never been were I am right now?, just you say that then go back to your lovely world were all is perfect!”

When we believe in something there can be two things, 1)unknown agendas, and 2)uncertainty, But in almost 20 years of being a Believer, I’ve come to learn that Trusting God helps break through the worries of the unknown and the many uncertainties that life continually throws at us.

We Live in uncertain times, the pace of life has become ridiculous, the speed of change in the world seems to be pulsating at the speed of light, relationships between peer groups are changing, socially the world is seeing everyone become alone, behind their 17″ TFT Monitors, stuck in the corners of their homes as they write Bebo’s, Myspace, Facebook etc, game online, email their neighbours, Msn messenger & skype not to mention mobile phones make it so easy to communicate but make ‘company’ disappear, the fact is we have cut ourselves off from each other, the fear of war, rumours of war, the increase of natural disasters, plane, train and car crashes hit our news headlines daily, paedophiles are on the loose, criminals are seeking to kill, steal and destroy, sorry for all this negative jargon, but what is going on? Why is Satan having a field day in so many areas?

Why aren’t more believers rolling their sleeves up, and bringing the presence of God into these problem areas, Why are we almost ashamed and afraid to show the world our Saviour? If we were to be taken to heaven today, would communities grieve for us? Would they say that Church/Believer did so much for us? Why has ME become the most important thing? We sing its all about Jesus, We’re told to love our neighbours but yet reaching the broken, poor, unsaved and weary is so hard? Is it because its never been done right in our country?

Has it always been a couple of passionate young people sprinkled across our land raising needs of our communities, to continually harp on about how things need to be done, then as they see little encouragement, their passion fades and they take a seat only to grow older forgetting about the needs, because the fathers and forefathers did that as well?

Its time no say ENOUGH, We have a God who is Certain and who is known by many in this Land, Its time to see this generation released into serving a lost world, building, blessing and befriending those who need love and hope brought into their world.

I’m 25 and currently thinking were do I fit in to Gods plan, Being a Christian is easy when daily you do life with others who believe in God, but practically how am I growing and increasing my faith? I can bless a mate who needs something, but what about the woman 3 doors up who can hardly feed her kids, what about the beggar at Tesco who is always needing more? What about the families who have been torn apart by family death and murders, What about Starving uneducated kids in third world countries, their future is totally unknown and very uncertain.

Life is short and we must make known our certainty in Christ!

Start Your engines…

‘Called By My Name!’

I’m just back from a short Break with Amy, the Kids were looked after and for a good 36 Hours Amy and Myself got to do all the things people without kids at present do, like sleep, read, watch movies, walk, talk, shop, laugh & cry (without being interupted). Was so good to spend time with each other and look ahead to the arrival of a new Baby and all that will happen in 2008.

On Thursday night I had the privilege of completing something that I have to confess was a first for me, At the age of 25, at 10pm on a cold snowy evening I became a child and built my first snowman with the help of Dean. Now this next sentence is gonna sound weird, but it one of the most emotional moments I’ve had in a long time, until the next morning when Ben & me got to build a snowman out the back of our house, and that really did bring tears to my eyes! It was great and all I can say is bring on the next snowfall!

But now the snow is gone and life goes on.

This morning as I woke at 9.10am (the joys of having a night away) with the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 going through my head at roller coaster speeds:

“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

The Part ‘Called by My name’ stuck out, I could hear God asking what Name am I called by? Yes My name is Phil, but what name am I called by? What words do people use to describe me? You see its possible to humble ourselves, we can pray and seek God and turn from evil, We can all hear from heaven and receive forgiveness when we are before God, but we cannot choose what people call us…. or can we?

I’ve just starting reading my first book in2008 – 360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell, in its first pages he tells of how we can be leaders were we are, we don’t need to be in an authoritative position to Lead, we can lead from were we are. If we take up the challenge to lead from were we are and influence people from were God has placed us in a positive and healthy way then I believe it is possible to be Called Christ Followers, Today my head has been spinning thinking this through, and it did raise some ugly stuff that will need sorted, but Today as you look in the mirror, ask yourself, do people associate me with Christ? Am I living a Contagious Christian Life? Hope you get something out of this…

Little Inspirations

I’m a very proud father, proud of the Kids God has allowed me to have while on this earth. (Proud in a good sense of the word) I used to always think about how one day, I would love to have kids, to teach them everything, little did I realise that it would be my Kids who would teach me!

In four years Ben and Maddie have taught me more that school ever taught about about life. None of what they teach me is theory, it all happens to be very real, some of their teachings can be hard to stomach, as I realise I need to change, But sometimes I nearly feel God speaking to me through my kids. If He Used a Donkey, its not to hard for Him to use my children!

Its amazing what a child saying the words ‘Daddy, I Love You’ can do, Talk about inspiring, In 2008 I’m gonna listen carefully to the words of my kids. If you are blessed as I am, Listen to Your Kids! And Learn from Them!

New Year Targets

The word resolution has lost its meaning, every year millions of us humble beings try to make resolutions that are almost physically impossible,we promise ourselves to have great bodies, Lose 5 Stone, gym 6 days a week, eat no sweet stuff ever again, to become super spiritual, to gain an unlimited Bible knowledge, to Read the Bible in 5 Translations , To Read the top 50 Christian Books etc etc all this in 365 Days?, things that we know won’t really happen unless timed stopped for an age to give us a chance.

I’ve moved into the real world this past number of years, realising that many small changes let big changes occur, often I find the big changes to be softer and easier when done in this way, The fact is we all need strategy in Life, you look at any person that has accomplished something good, something that left a mark, they had a strategy, a strategy that was strong, possible and potentially life changing when reached. The main characteristics of these people are two fold, 1)They had a Vision of seeing their dreams become reality, 2)They had a Passion and Nothing was going to Stop them.

In Life we all Need Vision and Passion, The Scriptures remind us that “Without a vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18, But Believers have a Bonus, Through Using Prayer to Fuel their Vision and Passion God ignites the Vision and Passion in our lives and that will See Great things happen and even Greater Things accomplished! And lets remember to give the Praise and Glory to God when we reach that point!

Two words Kept repeating in me today as I penned a few thoughts etc for 2008, As I Was writing things Down I Felt an Urge to Pray for a Godly Determination to see my Goals accomplished this year, So often and I am pointing the finger at Myself when I say this I have goals and visions and Godly plans But I try to accomplish everything with my own hands – Why I keep doing this I don’t know as it has a 100% Failure rate!

If You wonder what areas of Life I address when doing this, Here they are:

Spiritual
Physical
Domestic
Professional

I have to say I made a positive Start in 2008 by having a very good Day 1, Tomorrow will soon be my today, so I better get ready to make it a Good Day to, bless ya!