The Journey to God

I start wondering if God may exist

I do some reading and talking to find out about God

I learn that Jesus Christ was God’s son and was sent to save me somehow

I discover that he was killed on a Roman cross though he deserved no punishment

I understand that his punishment was enough to pay for all the things people have done wrong

I understand that if I want to be right with God, I will have to believe that he did this to cover my sins

I admit that I do need this, that I have done wrong

I talk to God, and ask for forgiveness, for Jesus death to cover my wrongs

I receive forgiveness, and see how this affects me in my thoughts and feelings

I see that I am now God’s friend and am thankful, and I want to be with His other friends, and learn more about Him, I think about showing this by being baptised in water, as Jesus was.

I want to tell other people I know what has happened to me, and how it has made me feel, and that I believe God loves and cares for me, and all people. Sometimes they listen.

I grow in my faith and begin to read God’s book, and I notice that my desires change, I want to love God more, and others, and myself – and I do act more lovingly.

I discover that God wants to give me more power to do right, and help others, and ask to be filled with more of His Spirit.

I see that God has work for me to do specially, and begin to ask Him what He planned for me to do, and how I can get ready for this.

I become a disciple – and seek to live and act in the manner Jesus did, for God, and for others, as well as myself.

NO STRESS CHRISTIAN

Try and ‘be good’
our culture says
we can and should
be good – it says

To that aim we add
the obvious goal of Godliness
“Be ye perfect” the Bible says
and we strive with all our mightiness

But we fail and self-condemn
the world it mocks and blames
Nothing we show to hope in
for relief from guilt and shame
from fear and hate and harm
like them we play the game
we look to them the same
no faith is shown in Jesus’ Name!

Where did we get skewed?
“Be perfectly good” is not our goal
But love and be mature
Read and hear that’s what we’re told
mercy and grace is where we rest
to lean on Him and do our best
unafraid, we run to Him
When upset of sad or stressed

Yes Lord…