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