http://bigchurch.com/blog/ms_warriorthingy/?pid=f3104 [SIZE 2][B]Nobody worries about Christ as long as he can be kept shut up inchurches. He is quite safe inside. But there is always troubleif you try and let him out.-- G. A. Studdert Kennedy[/B][/SIZE][COLOR darkred][SIZE 4][B]A Christian……..a follower of Christ……how do you follow Christ? How do you love Christ? Whose will………His will? How do you hear Him when He speaks? Do you hear Him? Do you listen? Which are you…….one like the woman caught in adultery……..or the prideful scorner hurling stones?Are you like the humble tax collector who comes before God admitting your brokenness……….or are you like the Pharisee…..better than the broken one?Are you saved? You know the beginning…….you know the ending…….but what comes between? What does this mean?Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. What does it mean to you?I have to admit, there is nothing easy in being a follower of Christ. It’s easy being saved, easy reading the Bible, going to church, praying but when it comes to actually living our belief and faith……we fail miserably. Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. I have taken these two verses to heart in a big way. Because being a follower of Christ is sometimes burdensome. Giving up your desires for His desires, asking for His will in your life as opposed to your own….this is not an easy thing. But He equips us, and gives us the strength we need to walk the walk with Him.Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. When you ask God to create in you a clean heart…….it means sometimes He has to break you down, bring you to your knees……..and it hurts! Coming face to face with God with all your brokenness has got to be one of the most painful things you will ever do….but I can tell you from the depth of my heart that it is the most spirit refreshing thing you will ever do! The closer you draw to God, the lonlier you feel as a Christian. There is nothing sadder than talking with a fellow believer about the wonders of the Holy Spirit, the amazing grace of God, and they look at you with glazed eyes. I know this because I too once stood with glazed eyes, just “not getting it”. When I talk about listening to His Word while I sleep, or listening to His Word on my IPOD as I walk, other Christians look at me as though I am whacko! Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. What does that verse mean to you? It means exactly what it says to me. And if we are mocked for loving God this way……….who is being mocked……is it me………is it God’s work in me……..is it God Himself? Mt. 11:15[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR] http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_141989.html?pid=f3104 Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo I'm not back!I just got a nasty surprise on my bank statement this morning. BC had slugged me for $25 AUD. I'm convinced I turned my auto renewal to the OFF position..... Fri, 05 Dec 2008 19:29:14 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_141989.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140582.html?pid=f3104 I just couldn't resist this last one coz I want to share with you what God told me this morning in my Bible reading. Last night I was crying to Him coz even though He is right near me, and I know thi Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:07:22 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140582.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140542.html?pid=f3104 verybusybee.......Pat you are so beautiful, and your encouraging words have brought tears to my eye....thank you my friend! I pray abundant blessings for you always! Love you! aneleh.....Hellen you Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:42:25 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140542.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140539.html?pid=f3104 Lahlimama.....crazy handle and crazy girl!! Still waiting for that blinkin snow you promised!! You are not a frog, you are not a frog!! Keep repeating it ok? Love you! Philopatir....Hey my fellow Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:54:59 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140539.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140538.html?pid=f3104 Foreverhoping.....my beautiful Lynne...God's precious gift to me! You are a gentle soul, and just such a precious friend! I pray and pray that one day I will get to meet you...you are gonna get hugged Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:16:07 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140538.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140533.html?pid=f3104 If I forget to leave a message to anyone...please forgive me...this is so hard to do...I am crying like a baby...my hands are shaking, and I'm in a bad way...crikey please pray me through this?Pricele Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:23:00 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140533.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140526.html?pid=f3104 Please forgive me...this could be a long post! As you know I took a break, and coming back was of my own accord...presumably just a visit, but I don't believe it was God's desire for me.Some unusual Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:11:29 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140526.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140522.html?pid=f3104 Once upon a time, in a little town, lived a girl who loved to go out walking with her friend, Joe. Joe was actually an invisible friend. He was very wise and very kind, and though nobody could see h Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:27:23 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140522.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140521.html?pid=f3104 I wrote this poem not too long ago, and figured now is a good a time as any to publish it! Daddy, please..why is my heart still hurting?Why can't I just let it go?Why can't there be a happy ending?Dad Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:16:12 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140521.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140431.html?pid=f3104 Pro 16:28 A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. The Bible has a lot to say about idle gossip. You'll find a lot of it in the book of Proverbs.As RT said in one of h Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:48:46 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140431.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140380.html?pid=f3104 My Princess......GIVE ME YOUR PLANSI know you have an idea in your head on how everything should unfold in your life. Even today you have an agenda. Because I love you, I need you to give Me back al Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:23:48 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140380.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140347.html?pid=f3104 Ever do something on impulse....and then later whack your head in true Homer Simpson style coz you know you have been kind of out of line?I am so impulsive....and my impulsiveness gets me into a whole Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:37:47 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140347.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140291.html?pid=f3104 The heart of a child is the most precious of God's creation. Never break it. At all costs, never break it. -- Joseph L. Whitten Children are a very precious and valuable commodity. In fact, God plac Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:19:37 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140291.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140283.html?pid=f3104 I don't see myself as a bully. I mean look at me....do I look like a bully to you? I'm only 5'2" tall.....is that the profile of a bully???? Yet I have this perverse pleasure in tormenting some men.. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:25:46 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140283.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140249.html?pid=f3104 My son would roast me alive if he heard me refer to him as my gorgeous hunk!!! He is an awesome young man.....I am so proud of him, and it just fills my heart with joy to watch him grow in his relatio Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:07:29 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140249.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140237.html?pid=f3104 I found a great little analogy to unpack....how God's Word can get twisted and distorted!I come from Victoria, Australia and as you know I showed a few happy snaps of the Victorian coastline.Loki made Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:47:02 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140237.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140174.html?pid=f3104 Sometimes, things happen in your life that impact you so profoundly, you know you will never be the same again.No matter how hard you try to hold onto the "old you", it just can't happen. Things happ Tue, 11 Nov 2008 02:18:40 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140174.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140161.html?pid=f3104 My Princess....COME TO MEI saw you before you were born. Even then you were on my mind, my daughter. I knew you were coming, and I did everything possible to extend my love to you and extend my invit Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:37:42 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140161.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140127.html?pid=f3104 This pic is taken at Cape Schanck....a kind of wild and dangerous spot along the peninsula. It is so awesome sitting here and watching the waves crash on the rocks......you just can't help but be re Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:07:56 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140127.html?pid=f3104 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140126.html?pid=f3104 This is Gunnamatta beach, one of the best surfing beaches for the local boys! I remember as a teenager, coming here with a bunch of guys and girls....we were surfie chicks....didn't surf but faithfull Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:57:10 -0800 http://bigchurch.com/blog/11025/post_140126.html?pid=f3104