Jeremiah 29v11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare, and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

This is a scripture I believe the Lord has given me recently. Taken in the fact that God's plan for the exiles is welfare (shalom, peace) in a future and hope. There's a glorious promise. It's a promise that still rings true today.

I have been really challenged recently about humility. I joke with my friends, "I am the most humble guy in the room you guys!! No, no, you are not more humble than me!" but actually, I need to challenge myself on this.

Yesterday, I decided to go to the SWYM South Cluster group, as it had been a while since I had been. Brad and Robin Ringer are on their yearly rounds of doing SWYM stuff, which is awesome. I'm always inspired by the teachings by bring.

We were thinking about purity and I could go on for ages about the session, I want to reflect on the end part. As we prayed, we asked God to highlight anything in our life we need to sort out. A big one was me was pride. The other was bitterness. I was quite shocked by this.

How often have I thought, "Why are they doing this? Haven't I paid my dues?" or "How did they get there so quickly when I slaved over it for years?" How many times have I thought I am too good to do the washing up at camps and events? How many times have I considered myself "better" than others, or "more worthy?"

My first prayer request when I joined SWYM was to remove pride. It's my prayer request again. It's time to be a servant again. I remember being told the best leader is the best servant.

What does this have to do with the scriptures? I guess sometimes, I wish ridiculous wishes. Why am I not doing this? Shouldn't I be doing that over that person? God has plans for welfare in my life, not evil. God has a future and a hope for me. And it's the best future. The best hope.

There's my dream. God's big picture! God's future. God's hope.

What about you my friends? It's nice to see a Desmond brought down a level, I think so. But what does this have to do with you?

Jeremiah 29v11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare, and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Dan

When did slipping become okay?

I'm really challenged recently. I guess a lot with myself, but watching other people around me.

When did slipping into sin become okay? When did it become acceptable? And why the heck aren't we doing anything about it?

This is quite a challenging thought to write. I sometimes sound so righteous and I'm possibly the least righteous of you all. But I am going to try and walk this way as much as possible.

It's quite funny. I question people about the speed they drive their car, yet I am angry in an unjust way towards people. I tell people to love their neighbour, yet a lot of my speech is questionable.

We start to go against what God has asked us. How many of us get drunk? Ephesians 5v18 tells us,  "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit" where people may say "Well hang on! What about beer?" Wine was the drink used when this scripture was written, but covers alcohol. Lot's daughters (back in Genesis) got him drunk and caused him to cause major sin. Noah got drunk and was seen by his family in a shameful state. Doing things we regret, that could be considered ungodly.

We are commanded to love God with our body, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22) yet, we seem to get angry with people so often and say horrible things about them. (I am a victim of this)

Just a few examples I have been challenged by. I am also challenged by 1 Peter 4v1 - 5:

¹ Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. ² As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. ³ For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. ⁴ They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. ⁵ But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

I hope this isn't coming across as a judgemental blog, but as one we can be encouraged by. Jesus died for us. His body was broken for us and his blood was shed for us. We don't need to live in such a way, where we fall into sinful habits (as mentioned above) but we can live in relationship with God. We can know God and spend the rest of our earthly lives with him, with the joy that we will spend eternity with him. (John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life")

We have to make the choice of whether we want to live in this ungodly way, or spend eternity with God. I know I have not had much motivation last year to choose God. This year, I want to choose God not just with my heart, but with the way I live. I want to put those selfish ways behind way and move forward as a follow of Christ.

What will you do? Will you choose the ways that seem desirous to us, or choose to follow Christ?

Love to you all!

Dan

First job next week...get back into a good sleeping pattern. Everytime I come back to Cheddar, my sleep pattern goes bizzare (Bizarre? I have no idea!)

So in my last entry, I talked a lot about the more negative ends of 2011 with my depression, but also being very thankful on how God is bringing me to a better place (if you haven't read it, do give it a read. I hope you will be encouraged and perhaps learn more about depression should you feel uneducated in the subject)

But here are the highlights of 2011...

1. So this year, I've been doing a lot of music stuff. I released an EP. I played 3 of my top gigs of all time (My launch gig in July, supporting John Prockter in Taunton and Seaton in August) and have more dates booked for 2012.

I may have told this story before, but ahh well, I love it! In the Prockter gig, I was packing up my car. I had noticed numerous people had taken away free CDs (lush) and a lady approached me, saying thank you. As always I replied "You're welcome" and she said "No, thank you. My non Christian friend was moved by your last song and wants to come to church to find out more about God" Wow. Encouragement? God's plan is huge and although I have no idea on how he is working, he is. He used me. Priviliged? Yes!

2. I was running my "Deeper" youth club and we were doing a session on discipleship. David Shadbolt, a guy hugely into prophecy taught us an exercise I thought we could use on hearing God speak to us. Basically, half your group have their backs against the walls, eyes closed. They have one person in front of them, but don't knwo who it is. They listen to God to give him a word, message, picture, something. One lad (let's call him Rodney) prayed for another lad (let's call him Freddie) and Rodney said "I feel like you are running away" and I thought...well that's not very encouraging. Freddie came to talk to me afterwards about how much this word spoke to him and brought out some stuff going on in his life. Wow! Amazing!

3. Again, with Deeper. My good friend Leah "The Deacon" Bruce called me up maybe...I think in May. She says, "I'd love to do a joint weekend away with you. We come to you, then you come to us!" My word, what a genious. So after a few months of planning, at 9pm on Friday 30th September, a bunch of northers (In comparison to Devon!!) appear at one of my churches. We spend a weekend having lots of fun, eating lots of cake, and talking about God.

We decided to do a talk about sex and relationships...only Leah would talk with the lads and I would chat with the girls. I decided to open up about a few past experiences of heart break and God's view on sex. It seemed to really hit home with them.

I guess seeing God working with those two youth groups and getting to work with a good friend (we did do some work, honest!!) is such a blessing for me. Best part? We'll do it again at the end of next month. Glory? I think so.

4. (I think my last one) I guess just being able to get close to some friends. I find at this age, you know by now who your good friends are. Me and my pal Jamie McSeveney went to see UFC 138 in Birmingham. What a lad! What a night! I'm not a huge sports guy but being into UFC, that was such an experience! Doing music with great people (Big ups to Irve Griffiths, DJ Tribbsy, Emily Hurlock, George McBurnie, Leah again) house group (Sam, Jenna, Bekah, Tribbsy, Sarah, Tom) and my boys who I got to see a few times this year from Cheddar (Rossiter and Pettler) and my flatmates (Tim and Tom)

Even when times are hard, God gives me some amazing people in my life!

Dan

Hmmm...

Okay so I haven't really been doing an awful lot of blogging. To be honest, there hasn't been a lot I really want to talk about in the public eye. It's easy to come across as holy and righteous when blogging (I would say I can be a victim of that!) but I've not felt very holy and righteous this year.

Normally, when people do these end of year blogs, they talk about what an amazing year they have had. Although I've had a lot of personal highlights, this year has been one of the most difficult years for my life. I'll explain.

Back in June, I was diognosed with depression. For those who know my story, I had depression when I was 13/14. So it's sadly nothing new. And if I'm truthful, it's something I've wondered if I've had for a while. But I decided to finally see a doctor (with a push from a friend) and go for it. How the heck do you respond to news like this? Celebrate with cake? Mourn? Well...cake was involved, but definetly not in the form of celebrating.

I guess it leaves you with the questions, why the heck do I have to go through this? I think I asked God this question numerous times. I mean, for goodness sake...I've had it once, why again?

A few things came out of this, which I believe are good. I'm not saying I enjoy the depression, because it is horrible. And you don't understand it unless you've had it (And if you tell me everything's going to be okay...I may throw something at you :-P) but I believe a few things have changed in my life since then.

I believe it has made me a more pastoral personal (When I say more, the being sensitive stuff isn't something I am very good at, but I am learning more and more) and just being there for people. A few of my friends also were diagnosed with it this year, and God's really used me to input in their lives. See, you can't try and give advice about how they should feel. With depression, you feel a certain way a lot of the time with no particular reason. For me, I just hated and doubted everything about myself. I would say "I'm rubbish!" or "Why am I here?" or "I'm not good enough to do this. I'm pathetic" and although there are still struggles, God helps me to handle this and to know I am loved and chosen by him (Do you hear it friends...glory!)

It has also helped me grow up and become more who God wants me to be. Adulthood has been a challenge for me and I was telling a friend recently "I can't believe I rent accomidation, have a full time job, pay bills...dude...I have a car!! Word!" and recently (because I am financially in a place where I can do this) I opened a savings account. I'm learning to dream big and I believe God wants me to learn sound engineering and build a recording studio.

I couldn't tell you if I am over it (because when you've had it, do you really fully get away from it? I can't answer that...) but God has brought me into a much better place, where I am much happier and have something to say to the public. My good friend Jess Harrison told me last week how much better I seem to be doing. And it was good to hear out loud, because I felt it.

Here's my point in all my rambling: I have been fighting, but wanting to give up for a long time now (Who knows how long? My friend wanted to tell me I was depressed for over a year!) and I feel I can stand up properly for the first time in a long time. My life isn't perfect, but God is opening my heart, helping me dream and knowing life is worth living for him! If you ever feel down, or think you may have depression, God will help you through it. Stay close to the people around you, not just so they can tell you what they think, but to pray for you, listen to you and to love you. That's how I'm getting through.

I hope this encourages you. I'll see you in July when I update my blog again (I now do a monthly newsletter. Email me at dandesmond@hotmail.com to be added to it)

Peace and love,

Dan

Reflections...

I'm a very reflective person. I'm always looking back at situations and most of the time, I am never thankful. I am not thankful for the good things that happen.

I wouldn't say my manners are terrible. I say thank you when I am given something, I try very hard to say please and I always show appreciation for a slap up meal!! 


I've been looking back this morning at my journal. I've been thinking back about 2011 so far. And I gotta say, it's been a crazy few months so far. Very busy, lots going on inside and a mix of situations.


I'm very much a "glass half full" find of person. I look at the negative in everything. I don't mean to. I don't even like negative things. When people never have anything good to say (this is in real life and facebook statuses) I get quite frustrated. Yet, I look at things with a tint of negativity.


But so many good things have happened this year, where I as a Christian believe God has been fulfilling his plan in my life. Let me share with you a few public examples:


1. How does someone call themselves a successful youth worker? You can't. Because how is success measured? It can't be. But there have been milestones within my youth work to say the very least. Two young people I work with, one who is a mentee has preached twice this year. Not just in a youth group of 2 people, but at a youth event and 6 days later, church. Another young person is becoming increasingly passionate about worship and his keyboard skills are growing so much. To be involved in their lives and for God to use me has been very exciting.


2. I'm very passionate about music. How good I am is entirely different. But I said about a year or two ago to some people, God took music away from me and now he has given it back. I have not only run two music camps this year, launched a music club in Exmouth for people who want to learn music, I have recorded an EP due out in the next month.


Small dreams coming true, seeing fruit in my labours all thanks to God. But there comes a place where you wonder if you are tired? Fed up? This verse from the Bible is really speaking to me at the moment - Isaiah 58v11:


The LORD will guide you always;
   he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
   and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
   like a spring whose waters never fail.

And through this, I am excited about youth work, music, life. It's time to see the glass not only half full, but overflowing. It's time to say "Lord, stuff in life sucks. But you have delivered upon your promises and given so many good things to me in my life and I thank you for it."

Dan 

Why lent?

So, let me ask you all my friends. Why do you do lent?

It's entertaining (to me) because I always ask people what they are doing for lent. Is this really the right thing to be doing? Isn't the 40 days of lent truly fasting?

People who are reading may not be Christian, maybe you are, but I love this Bible verse from Matthew 6v16 - 18

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Do I give things up for lent for my own glory? Do I do it to make me look good? To make me FEEL good?


Well, let's look to why people fast first. People fast because it's a big thing in their life. I love food. I think about food a lot.


If I fast food, I will think about food. BUT, if I am fasting, I want to be praying to God. Let's say I am about to take some sort of test. I have revised but want God to be present while I do this test. When I think of food, I will pray.


Couldn't that be the same for lent for people who follow God? 40 days of being reminded to pray when we think about the thing we've given up instead of trying to get people to feel bad for us because we've given up something like bacon or coffee.


Here's the challenge: Don't talk about what you are giving up. I am trying to do this. I am trying to do it in secret so that God gets the glory.


Dan

Counts Your Blessings

I don't know if you are anything like me, but I have quite a big issue in my life. I always seem to focus on the negative.

Like, imagine you've had a wicked day, about 20 different amazing things happen but that one bad thing (Maybe someone saying you didn't clean the church oven well enough? Just an example from the back of my head) is the one thing you dwell on? This is the story of my life.

But there have been a lot of amazing things happening recently too. And I guess it's now time to count my blessings.

So I remember saying to a few friends recently that God took music away from me and now has given it back in full swing. I've never considered myself and still don't consider myself an amazing musician, but I love it. I love to listen to it, I love to write it and flipping well love to play it. I also have a passion for teaching too.

This last year, there are some big things happening. I run with other people two camps (one that is successful and the other we'll find out what it's like at the end of the month) I've just launched a music group for young people eager to learn an instrument and learn skills of working in a band and just having a good time.

I believe God has given me some songs to play for people too (you can hear them on www.myspace.com/dansoloproject but please don't think I'm blogging to force you to listen to my music) and in April, I should be recording an EP to give to people. I also have a few shows lined up and a few places to lead worship for Christians.

I mean, that's saying something. God has blessed me with some wonderful friends, a lovely place to live, finance, clothes, enough food (Sometimes maybe too much)

It's time I count my blessings more.

Bible verse for this blog is Joshua 1v9 as God is commisioning him:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Dan