Song of the Week | Hillsong 'Born Is the King'

Merry Christmas

A star is born!

Song of the Week | Kutless 'O Holy Night'

Song of the Week | Hillsong 'Glory To God'

Three Thousand Nine Hundred & Thirty

Ever had one of those days that you thought was never going to end? Thought it couldn't get any worse? Muttered the phrase 'you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family' over and over in your head?

Today was one of those days. The ground could have opened & swallowed me up and I wouldn't have really cared. But God would have. He's always got a plan!

Did you know that the words 'But God' are said in the Bible 3930 times? That's a lot!

"But God delivered him..."

"But God gave the increase..."

But God is in the strength of my heart..."

Think about that in today's context, think about it in your life. Yes I had a rubbish day, but God made sure it is ending in a good way. I had loads of work to do, some which I thought I wouldn't get done, but God gave me the time and patience to finish it. Arguments happen, opinions differ, but God holds us close together and gives us the strength to overcome everything.

It's often hard to hear God amongst the drilling in the street, thoughts in your head and quite often, the shouting in the home, but God is there, at all times, always, and will never leave you alone.

Song of the Week | MercyMe 'Drummer Boy'

Song of the Week | Chris Tomlin 'Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)'

An amazing way to begin advent!

Song of the Week | Hillsong United 'Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

Song of the Week | Philippa Hanna 'Cherry Coloured Coat'

We love Philippa Hanna here at Cross Refereces. This stripped back version of Cherry Coloured Coat is fantastic!

Song of the Week | Switchfoot 'Love Alone Is Worth The Fight'

Song of the Week | Laura Story 'I Can Just Be Me'

Lovely live version of a beautiful song!

Song of the Week | TobyMac 'Speak Life'

Song of the Week | Big Daddy Weave 'Yours Will Be (The Only Name)'

Song of the Week | 7eventh Time Down 'Just Say Jesus'

Song of the Week | Love & The Outcome 'He Is With Us'

Song of the Week | Chris Tomlin 'God's Great Dancefloor'

Helping Foodbank, Helping Others

I do a lot of volunteering for my local Foodbank. I was thinking, a year ago I was made redundant & hence was able to get involved in the project as I now work from home so could organise my work around the volunteering times. When I used to work for 'the man' I was unhappy & brightened up my day by buying a coffee most days from the local Starbucks. That's £3.50 a day. As I haven't done that for a year I was thinking about how much I've probably saved by doing that, an incredible amount! I also thought, what if you made a coffee & put it in a flask to take with you on the way to work, just once a week, rather than visiting the coffee shop. What could you do with that £3.50?

I looked on the Asda website for some of the non perishable items on the Foodbank shopping list.

Baked Beans 25p
Rice Pudding 15p
Chopped Tomatoes 34p
Tin of New Potatoes 15p
Tin of Sweetcorn 35p
Tinned Mandarin Pieces 23p
500g Pasta 29p
Strawberry Jam 29p
80 Tea Bags 27p
1 Litre Orange Juice 65p
1 Litre UHT Milk 53p

That's £3.50 exactly.

Next time you're about to walk into Starbucks, or Costa, or Cafe Nero, or one of the other coffee shops on our high streets, think about that money you're handing over for one latte, mocha or cappuccino. Put your money to a better use & help someone in crisis through your local Foodbank. Rather than a heart on your foam, spread the love to someone who needs it! Thanks.

Song of the Week | Matt Maher 'Lord I Need You'

Song of the Week | Mandisa 'Overcomer'

Song of the Week | Hillsong 'High & Lifted Up'

Song of the Week | Philippa Hanna 'Hollywood'

Song of the Week | Rebecca St James 'Power Of Your Love'

Song of the Week | Tom Read 'Do Not Stand At My Grave & Weep'

A great song, taken from a poem & with real meaning when you think about what Jesus sacrificed for us.

Song of the Week | Brenton Brown 'Hosanna'

Song of the Week | Natalie Grant 'Hurricane'

Song of the Week | Sidewalk Prophets 'Help Me Find It'

Song of the Week | Matthew West 'Hello, My Name Is'

Song of the Week | Ivyrise 'Line Up The Stars'

Song of the Week | 'Victor's Crown' Darlene Zschech

Send It Upwards

It's been a while since I wrote a blog post from the heart, I felt on Sunday during church that I should do.

I have so much to be thankful for. You may remember I was made redundant last September. At the time I was a bit worried (I don't worry about much) but I was. I gave self employment a go until Christmas to see if it would work, and it did. The redundancy turned into a blessing and my life is so much better than it was. My wife & I became members at our church, feel closer to God than ever, closer to each other too, manage to volunteer at our local Foodbank & here's some extra special news, we are expecting our first child in August! HUGE news!

I've been thinking about how becoming a Dad is going to change life. I see adverts on the TV (have you seen the Robinsons one?!) & get all emotional. There was a 'Save The Children' advert on about a boy who sleeps cold & hungry every night. I want to ensure everything is as perfect as it can be for our child, and I trust in God that it will be.

Before all of this I spoke to God, but sometimes it was just because I felt I had to. Whereas now-a-days I have full-blown conversations with Him. There is a lot more that I could say but words escape me. What I want to finish with is that even in the lowest of valleys, if you send it all to God, you'll find a way out of that valley. And a wise man once told me that from the lowest valleys, grow the tallest trees! Become the tallest tree!

Song of the Week | Building 429 'We Won't Be Shaken'

Taken from the new album of the same name, this is 'We Won't Be Shaken' by Building 429. Fantastic!

Song of thr Week | The City Harmonic 'Manifesto'

Song of the Week | Elizabeth South 'I Will Trust You'

Song of the Week | 'Glorious Bride' Ian Yates

Song of the Week | 'Entertaining Angels' Newsboys

Song of the Week | Gungor 'Beautiful Things'

A great song for a bank holiday Monday!

Song of the Week | Brenton Brown 'All Who Are Thirsty'

Song of the Week | Third Day 'Cry Out'

Song of the Week | The Afters 'Every Good Thing'

Song of the Week | Hawk Nelson 'Words'

Avenge

I mentioned a while ago I wanted to explore Christianity within The Avengers film.
I thought I best do this today as tomorrow I have tickets to go & see Iron Man 3.

The first thing I want to mention is that the film is very much like the Christian story. Mankind needs a hero because it started meddling with something. The people on the street in the movie look to a rag-tag bunch of superheroes with different powers. Christians looks to a hero that has already saved us. The situation that has been gotten into - being under attack - is similar too. There are powers in the film that shouldn't have been messed and hence the reason the 'war' occurs, just as in our lives, we messed around, were tempted by sin & are now under assult of it. One huge difference though, whilst Captain America, Iron Man & co fight for victory, we have already won through Jesus Christ.

One of the themes in The Avengers is that humans are not alone. There are many layers, Thor being from another planet & with that another planet, another race attacking our Earth. In the bible there are many layers, demons & angels, gods & God. God is ruler over all, however that doesn't stop others fighting for the 'crown'. I don't have the knowledge to delve into this any further but hopefully a minister or pastor has written about it somewhere.

There are two other points within the film where areas of Christianity is explored. The first is when Iron Man mentions Jonah before flying inside the enemy & bursting through it's skin. It's just a small part of the film, but the fact is we can take things out of the bible, which many-a people view as outdated & use this in our lives. The stories within the pages are all relevant, even today!

The second is when Captain America says "There's only one God ma'am, & I'm pretty sure he doesn't dress like that." He recognises the difference between the one true God & those who claim the title. As someone who has been frozen for many years & enters a modern world he doesn't really know, he still has 'traditional' beliefs in God that perhaps the rest of America & the world has forgotten about. The Captain's faith is not shaken, which to me is a mindset that we all need to return to. Whilst a number of the other characters have super strength, or witty comments, he represents honour, integrity, strong values & faith.

It's an awesome blockbuster & part of a story of films that I can 'geek out' at, but it's great to watch it from a Christian perspective too. I like the idea that the Blu-Rays of these superhero films on my shelf build together to create a bible of their own that can, in some ways relate with our modern culture & through themes & issues rasied & explored, can turn viewers to think about their lives & towards Christ. The understanding that we all need a hero resonates throughout my faith that the big JC is our ultimate savior. 

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. - Romans 12:19

Song of the Week | Martin Smith 'Onward Christian Soliders'

Onward!

Song of the Week | Rascal Flatts 'Changed'

Song of the Week | Philippa Hanna 'Lighthouse'

New video for Lighthouse by Philippa Hanna, single out today!

Song of the Week | Paul Baloche 'The Same Love'

Paul Baloche - The Same Love (Official Music Video) from integritymusic on GodTube.

Song of the Week | Plumb 'One Drop'

Song of the Week | Reuben Morgan/Hillsong 'Forever Reign'

I'm running to your arms!

Song of the Week | Joel Houston 'The Stand'

LOVE singing this...

Song of the Week | Paul Baloche 'My Hope'

Song of the Week | Colton Dixon 'You Are'

Song of the Week | Philippa Hanna 'Lighthouse'

This is taken from BBC Songs Of Praise earlier this year. A few words from Philippa & then her awesome song 'Lighthouse'.

Song of the Week | Sanctus Real 'Promises'

Song of the Week | Jason Castro 'Only A Mountain'

There are so many mountains in life, but remember, they are only mountains!

Song of the Week | Phillips Craig & Dean 'The Great I Am'

Such a powerful song!

Song of the Week | Audio Adrenaline 'Kings & Queens'

Awesome song from an amazing band. All profits going to the Hands & Feet project.

 

Song of the Week | Rend Collective Experiment 'Desert Soul'

My new favourite song!

Song of the Week | Big Daddy Weave 'Redeemed'

Happy New Year

Blessings to you and yours for 2013!