Inspiration

Podcast: Play in new window

My friend Rebecca Walker-Jones has written and posted a fabulous Christmas song –
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3999256/07%20Emmanuel.mp3
She is delighted to have it shared and used by the Christian community. You can catch some of her other work on Youtube.
I loved meeting and getting to know her. She had a really interesting faith journey, with a strong belief and love of God and a very strong moral Christian code. Her interest and love in the person of Jesus came later.Whilst she lived in Dorset, I enjoyed meeting her for a chat over coffee, or walk in the meadows as we talked about who Jesus is and what He means to us. She now lives in Alabama.
‘As I sit beside this tree exchanging gifts
All I want this year
Is simply this
to love my Lord and Saviour
better than I do
to know him with all my heart.’

Did you see this last year? I was shown it at a Christmas day service and loved it.
http://youtu.be/GkHNNPM7pJA

It uses all the latest digital and communication media of today’s world to tell the story of Jesus’ birth. Maybe you can share it this year? What is your favourite version?

This is an excellent Youtube clip sent to me by Fiona Castle of an interview by Nicky Gumbell of a great guy called Shane Taylor. He tells us, in his own words, of his story, through years of drugs and violence to his conversion in prison.
It is great to be reminded of how God can work through all kinds of situations and transform lives through the work of the Holy Spirit and those who are faithful and reach out to others.
Do you have a conversion story you can share to inspire others?

Just to say Thank you for a fantastic weekend and all your hard work, we are now looking forward to holding our own local conference in Thame, Oxon in the autumn. I hope you all get a well earned rest and feel very blessed this week.

For many couples the idea of celebrating difference is an alien concept. Most individuals seem to think that they should be able to change their partner into the person they want them to be and get disillusioned if they can’t. Sound familiar?

So why is is so important to celebrate difference? Because if we don’t, we can make a difficult situation even worse. By acknowledging differences individuals can enjoy what comes easily and naturally in a relationship whilst being conscious to accept the more challenging aspects of their partner. (I’m not talking about any form of abuse here. That is an entirley different kettle of fish. Whether, emotional, social, financial or physical, abuse is not acceptable. Instead can I urge you to seek professional advice from a centre such as Relate. It is vital informed and ethical advise is sought in order to minimise any further abuse)

So how might you learn to adapt to those annoying habits or unmet expectations in your relationship?

One way is to seperate the problem from the person. Sometimes we get muddled up with the person being the problem as opposed to the problem being the problem. I regularly encourage my clients to seperate and even name the difference in order to detatch it from their partner. This then frees them to love and accept their partner whilst working on the problem or difference together. A united front presents itself as the couple work together against a common enemy instead of each other. And with God working as part of the equation, anything is possible.

So why not become more like an alien, acknowledge and externalise your differences and then work on managing them together. I’d love to hear how you get on!