Mark and Helen Smith

Holy Sex!

Have you every noticed that Christians are often very embarrased about anything to do with sex? The thought  of a Sunday sermon about sex just doesn’t fit, somehow. But why should that be, when all around us people are surrounded by images, adverts, suggestions and influences, primarily geared around sex? Of all the issues people face today there can be no doubt that this is the big one!

So being the brave pastors we are, Helen and I decided to face it head on and stage a seminar at our Church, called, ‘Holy Sex!’ It should be interesting, to say the least. Fascinating to see people’s reaction in the congregation when we first announced it a few weeks ago; mmmm – whisper, whisper, chat, chat, giggle, giggle!

Doing some research, it’s very encouraging how many Christians are actually talking frankly on the subject – loads of great books, forums, websites and teaching series.

We’ll be covering issues such as:

• The meaning of sex in the context of covenant and the Jewish Tabernacle

• The nature of sex – why it’s so emotive

• Sexual sin and guilt from the past

• Dealing with sexual pressures

• Sex in the context of marriage and relationships

If you’re in the Dumfries area, come and join the seminar – Friday 11th December, 7pm at the River of Life Christian Centre, by Dumfries Station.

Giving is Living!

I have been looking at the generous nature of God – His wonderfully giving heart!……from Genesis onwards we can see how he gives…. life to Adam, authority over the earth, his wife, his land…we go on to see how God gives health, peace, rest, victory, wisdom… and there’s so much more!! God’s Nature is to give. John 3:16 – He gave His only son! When we accept Jesus into our lives… 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are new creations! We are told in Scripture that we are made in the image and likeness of God!!… so… it seems to me that our redeemed nature is a generous one – a giving nature ! If we squash that in us by being tight fisted, holding onto “my” stuff… money, “rights” etc. then we are fighting against the new nature of God in us! So, in the light of this, there must be a real freedom, an “anointing”, as it were to be generous to others, to build the house of God, to live big lives and see that as Jesus gave everything for us , and because He is the Way,the truth and the LIFE…then as we allow theSpirit of God to rule in us …we LIVE! And we live life to the full!!
Today – live in the opposite spirit of the world… live the life of God … be generous, be a giver !!
Blessings!!

A hopeful day!

Hope Springs

Today is such a beautiful day – full of the hope of Spring!

Birds singing, the grass is looking greener, the sun is shining, my laundry is washed(!) and I can see some daffodils out at last!!
Such a day … allows you to hope!

I sometimes have thought that we don’t allow ourselves to hope! It’s as if we dare not allow ourselves the luxury of daring to hope that our dreams, our promises from God will ever come to pass in case we are disappointed.

Let me encourage you today – to dare to hope again – hope births faith and God has promised He will never disappoint us — we have that hope!

So get outside on a lovely day like today! – take some deep breaths and say to yourself – God is Good!… and allow your self to hope again.

YET….

A Hymn of Faith
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The LORD God [a] is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

So many seasons of life ….YET…. I just praise God for His YETs!!!
Tough days, recession times, challenges around us…. YET!!!
This passgae is a real encouragement to worship our faithful God in good times and bad . Put your trust in His goodness and faithfulness to you today! Look up and see His favour!

Be blessed and stirred to press on as you ponder this word. xxxxxxxxx

Keep things simple

Keeping it simple audio

It’s so easy to over-complicate things. It’s so easy to make the Christian Faith so complicated… by putting conditions, ways, rules on church, issues, things that we don’t fully understand – we wrap up in complicated discussions and arguments . We try to justify our “point of view” or our “opinion” and life gets full of head issues!Jesus kept things simple, e.g.:

Follow Me
Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you
Abide in me and I in you and you will bear much good fruit
Do to others as you would have them do to you
I am with you always – to the end of the age.

Why is it that we read in to things, motives behind what others say, or do?
God gave simple instructions in Micah 6: 8 Continue Reading…

Never forget this…

A work in progress

1 Corinthians 1:7-9 (The Message)

“Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.”
I was reading Corinthians in The Message over the weekend, just for a change, and was so struck by this short passage. I have been going over it again and again and just letting it settle in my spirit… God is going to keep me steady and on track!!! Wow! that is such a comfort to know and that He will never give up on me! I love it! All His master plans and designs for my life – He will bring to completion … Paul says it again to the Philippians in Phil.1 v 6 “There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”
It makes me really want to allow God more access to my life to see His handiwork in me – that I might bring Him honour!

Have a “muse” on it yourself … it is a wonderfully encouraging Scripture … a work in progress – a masterpiece at that!

Have a look at some of our pictures from Bec and Emile’s wedding:

Click on the picture above to see more…

Trusting God for the daily stuff of life

Luke 12 : 22 – 34 (Message Bible)

22-24 “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.

25-28 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

29-32 “What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

33-34 “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Trusting God for the daily stuff of life!

So easy to say and talk about, but the practical outworking of it all takes steps of faith … little steps and bigger ones too – but steps nevertheless!

Just remember He loves you so much … He cares so much that you don’t fret or worry over the things that have the potential to wreck you… finances, relationships, direction.etc. He has placed in His Word the promises of His Peace, His provision, His Wisdom, His Grace and mercy… so why do we fret and worry? Possibly because we feel we need to “sort it all out”?!

Possibly!

Could we possibly… “Cast the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” (1Peter 5:7) What amazing Care He has for us!

Can I encourage you today to try for yourself… and see…He is faithful!

Let go and let God!

Be blessed as you learn to trust and rest in Him!

xx Helen

Two become One

Well, it was wonderful…. the wedding… and the preparations. The fun of being together, preparing, planning (even stressing!), talking etc – God is so good!!

It got me thinking again,of how amazing it is – marriage, I mean!

How two separate people , with their own dreams and desires, passions and hopes come together in marriage, and when God is in the centre, they combine to become one!… One dream – together, one heart – together, one passion – together … their future purposeful and blessed ….. it’s amazing the way God brings couples together to be strong in Him to build His kingdom. One can put a thousand to flight, two can put ten thousand to flight! …  such a wonderful plan ……. I’m so for marriage!

Well they were deep thoughts! – I hope you caught some of it!  … I’ll be back when I’ve returned to earth!! haha!!

Hello for the first time!

Hello!

This is a new venture for me – blogging, but it could be good

My place for sharing some God thoughts for life, family and friends!

As Mark has said in his spot, we are all keyed up for our oldest daughter’s wedding next week!…something I, as Mum, have prayed about for a long (long!) time…. and here it is, almost upon us!

Such a joy to be able to know God has led her, and built her into the lovely woman she is today , ready to be a wife to a great guy, of whom we are very proud too!

Psaln 37 has wonderful thoughts on Trusting God – with ALL your heart, Commiting your way to Him, Delighting in Him: Continue Reading…