On a journey!

For a while now i have felt i am being lead on a journey to i know not where, it started about September 2009, i would guess, all though my faith and belief is strong, my knowledge and commitment needed more focus, i began Bible study, and as my knowledge and commitment to God grew, so did my feeling of being on a journey to do something, i know not what.

One of the keystones of this Journey (so far) was my Baptism on the 13th March 2011, but the feeling is growing that God has a lot more in store for me, i know not what.

I feel compelled with the need to get more involved in Ministry and Pastoral care, but the concept is frightening.

I am not very confident with speaking in front of a congregation and communication with people, also i do have a tendancy to carry peoples problems with me and can't let go, i get so worried about other peoples problems, but have difficulty showing it as i don't want to appear to be interfering, this is where i need to learn to show my compassion, while respecting a persons need for privacy, while caring enough, not letting it worry me so much it drags me and my family down (if that makes sense).

I always have been very empathic, but maybe this is why i am being led in this direction, to challenge myself, i need and want this challege.

I am also very keen to make churchs more approachable for people not used to churches and less intimidating, i overheard at church some months ago someone saying to a visitor in church, that she was saving a chair for her friend!!

I feel that this is a challenging time for myself and the church, reading church magazines and literature, there is a lot of good happening which is so moving and inspirational.

I would love to go on a christian course or workshop of some description.

The Beatitudes

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

    ¹ Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

    He said:
   ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

    ¹ And God spoke all these words:
   ² “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
   ³ “You shall have no other gods before^[a] me.
   ⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
   ⁷ “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
   ⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
   ¹² “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
   ¹³ “You shall not murder.
   ¹⁴ “You shall not commit adultery.
   ¹⁵ “You shall not steal.
   ¹⁶ “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
   ¹⁷ “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
   ¹⁸ When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance ¹⁹ and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
   ²⁰ Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
   ²¹ The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.