Psalm 148: Giver of Life

by Andi Norton

Psalm 148 (NIV)

Take a quick look at this:

It's a brilliant film, but imagine it, a world where all creation (the trees, the rocks, the creatures of the deep, the sun, moon, bright shining stars, the weather, the Wolf and the lamb, all in unison singing one song).

Crazy right?
Well not really!

God says all of heaven and earth is to praise Him.
In today's psalm it describes all of creation, not just the living creations and mankind, but the weather, the planets all that came from His hands everything we see is to praise Him.

He is the giver and the sustainer of life, by His hands all things were made to bring Him glory.

We have understood through meditating on these words that our very purpose is to do just this, bring glory to Him through fulfilling what He created us for, to bring Him great pleasure through a life of abandonment to Him. This is our act of worship.

As we awake on a beautiful morning like these we have been having this past week, we can hear creations songs, whether the bird song of the morning (or the seagull call in our case), the silent waves tossing, the air breathing between the branches of the trees, all of creation is singing it's song.

All of creation is singing aloud longing for His return, this is my longing too. All of creation one day will be very much like this illustration we see in the famous 'Roger Rabbit' Movie (maybe less cheesy) but it describes that creation will be united in one song, "the wolf will romp with the lamb" is one of many illustrations picture in this chapter, (Isaiah 11).

But until that day, we continue in our Love song to Him, we continue to become further abandoned to Him, we long to go deeper into Him, all through our life of worship, but the question is why?

Verses 13-14 sum it perfectly:

Let them praise the name of God—
it's the only Name worth praising.
His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky;
he's built a monument—his very own people!


Simply it's our purpose, and in coming into that purpose we find complete wholeness, complete satisfaction, a greater longing for more, hope, sustainment.

Lord, I thank you that you chose me, you created and moulded me, You called me, I long to know You more. Lord as i abandon myself to You in a life of Worship would You let me meet with heaven and all creations song, and see You glorified.

Psalm 142: Get your priorities right

by Andi Norton

Psalm 142 (NIV)

David certainly was a man who had his priorities right. He would turn to God in every circumstance of his life - whether to rejoice, seek comfort in his sadness, cry for help in his desperation or simply to give thanks. He would always acknowledge that nothing is possible without God.

Far too many times, I find myself sifting through an array of people, possibilities and practicalities before I get to the crucial point that I need to acknowledge God in my difficulties. Now I’m not saying it's not good to share our troubles with each other as it is important to share burdens with one another, but if we fail to acknowledge God as our greatest resolve, we may find that the problem will just reoccur or be unresolved.

David was in some horrific situations, but he was a man who had perspective too. He was a man who immersed himself in the presence of the King (yes even in a dark and dingy, cold cave). He would meet with the Father and have an open conversation, pouring out, with full honesty his irritation, desperation and pleas.

I think the reason David was such a 'F.R.O.G' man (a man who Fully Relied On God) was because he had felt the failings of this world.

Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
no one cares for my life.
I cry to you, Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living. (v4-5)

We all too have felt many failings in this world I'm sure, but we know the truth of who our God is:

He is good and is one who cares for us, He doesn't wish for us to suffer with anxiety, fear or uncertainty, He is a God with a plan and purpose for us, and we can take heart that he wishes no harm to come to us (Jeremiah 29:11).

It's good news, but if we fail to acknowledge it (which i know i do when i become fearful and worry) we will seek comfort, reassurance and resolve in all the wrong places.

Philippians 4 states:

The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This should be our first point of call in any difficulty (whether a technical issue on a Sunday morning, or a greater issue like a financial anxiety, bereavement, or dysfunctional relationship).

If we stop and prioritise our action, we will find that we may only need to make one, and that is to seek, seek, seek God, and He will help with managing any other actions that may need to follow.

Lord would you help me to make my first response to always be to turn to You.

Psalm 136: God of Love?

by Andi Norton

Psalm 136 (NIV)

I've been extremely blessed this term to be invited to deliver a number of question and answer sessions related to all things related to the Christian faith throughout secondary schools in our conurbation and in every session this question is asked:

"If God is a God of love, then why does He allow (cause) bad things to happen?"

Now this is a complex question that needs to be approached sensitively and covering several factors, but the one thing is clear from this psalm is God IS a God of love and His love endures forever.

The psalmist lists an in-depth list of all God has created to show His love for His children.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights —
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
I love science and have greatly enjoyed looking into the sustainable factors needed for human life to exist. For example gravity could be positioned at anywhere in the expanse of space, but it happens to be just where it is so that You and I can exist. For more about this watch this

But what about this question that is so frequently asked? What about the second part of this Psalm? It talks of how God saved His people from their enemies, and yes He did strike down those who stood against Him with disasters and plagues but all because He loves His people.


10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

The reality is God has the power to destroy us all, all He has to do is move gravity an inch and we would cease to be, but He chooses not too because He loves us, He longs for us to choose a relationship with Him.

In all that God does, although we sometimes (even us Christians) can not comprehend it "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) and that His love endures forever

I often reflect on why did I have to go through such suffering under the addiction of drugs and a broken home when I grew up, but God allowed it and now uses it so that I can lead others to His wonderful love through a heart of empathy.

I can truly say our God is 100 per cent a God of love.

Thank You Lord for the love you display throughout your creation, through Jesus, and even in the things which seem so negative, but on deeper thought are actions which even display your purpose and plans for us, this is great love.

Psalm 130: A life of service

by Andi Norton

Psalm 130 (NIV)

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

Last week I encouraged us to think back to all God has done in transforming us from a hopeless, bound, people to the new creation we are through Jesus.
Today's psalm has a similar reflection, in verse 3 it states if God was to keep a record of sin, we'd all fall short.
But (oh how we love this word 'But') there is forgiveness!
Forgiveness is something we all have and something we all are thankful for I'm sure (and let me state the word 'thankful' doesn't even cut it), but there are times when we can take it for granted, and there are many who do not even comprehend it.

But the psalmist says we've received this pardon so that we can 'with reverence', serve Him.

God desires a people who will serve Him, who will be ambassadors of His message (2 Corinthians 5:20), but in order to do this we must remind ourselves a fresh of this extremely awesome gift He has given us. We need a revelation of it. For when we receive revelation, we become passionate, full of joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength. It fuels us and we become a fire, we become a light that radiates God, and this task becomes so natural.

It's out of this heart of thanksgiving, we wish to lay our lives down in humble service to our God, it's not out of duty but out of complete reverence for who He is and what He's done.

He first loved us, and my cry in response is I too love Him, I want to give my all to His purposes, His plans for my life, and serve Him wholeheartedly in this short expanse of time He's given us in this mortal flesh, and my prayer is the same for You, because this is our calling.

We know what it's like to put our hope in other things and it has only brought hopelessness, hunger and desperation, But this forgiveness has given us the contrary.

And so you and I:

5 wait for the Lord, our whole being waits,
and in His word We put our hope.

And we do so trusting Him, serving Him, whole heartedly until His return.

Lord would you help us to do as these words say:

Romans 12
1 So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

Psalm 124: Where'd you be?

by Andi Norton

Psalm 124 (NIV) 


If the Lord had not been on our side...... (vs 1)

Todays Psalm opens with a great statement, what if the Lord had not been on our side.

Imagine it: Where would you be, if God didn't step into your situation? If He refused your desperate cry and ultimately left you to the clutches of death?

I've been teaching Year 6 students these past two weeks about what is our identity in. This has been a great time of reflection for me also as I share my testimony of what I once was like and how God radically transformed me.

The reality for me is if the Lord had not been on my side, I would have most likely be hopelessly lost, no future ahead of me and potentially dead when 10 years ago in that hopelessness I jumped in front of a car....Woah!


If God hadn't been there for Moses?
if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us,
They would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
The flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us,
The raging waters
would have swept us away (vs 2-5)

The good news though, is God heard my cry, He intervened and stepped down and grabbed me out of the pit I was in.


Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped. (vs 6,7)

We are so blessed to have a God who always responds to our cry, who always watches over us, who has a plan for each one of us, and those plans are to prosper us, to give us hope and a future.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (vs 8)

Why not take time to think of all He has done from you, and thank Him that He is a God who always hears and answers?

Psalm 119:97-120: Who needs a map?

by Andi Norton

Psalm 119:97-120 (NIV) 


I had mixed feelings of long road trips with the family when I was younger. I used to look forward to getting to the destination, making camp and enjoying endless ice-creams and splashing in the sea, but I dreaded the journey. One because, being the youngest, I would be left to sit in the middle of the car, feeling carsick most the way, and two, there was always an argument as my mother would get frustrated with my father when they took a wrong turning for the 100th time and finally admitted we were lost.

It would be at this point someone would say - Where's the map?

In today's technological age where we are blessed (or not so in many cases) with Sat-Nav, we regularly find ourselves relying on google maps to guide our route and show us the way.

The same is true of our spiritual journey we need God to mark our way, guide us, to light our path (Psalm 119:105) and get us to that final destination.

If we fail to use the wonderful gift He's given us, how much harder does the journey become?

If we choose to not only use the gift of His guide (and by this point we know I mean His word, the Bible) but to study it, to meditate on it (Psalm 119: 97-104) we get a clearer picture of where we are going, how to get there, what to do if we are faced with "a cow on the country road" (challenges) and our journey can become one of greater faith that we will reach our destination.

We can have hope in His promises, in the truth of His word, we will not become disheartened, we will be empowered to tackle any challenges with faith as we remind ourselves of how He has overcome all of them for us already.

We are so blessed to live by the sea and occasionally as in these words (Psalm 119:97 - mem: meaning meditating by waters) I like to go and meditate on God's word in the beautiful surroundings we live in.

Let's take time to stop, it is an attitude response to remind ourselves to get into God's word, for when we do we don't only get a better picture of where we are going, but of the one who is showing us the way.

Lord forgive me when I strive on in this journey you've called me to with you on my own. Thank You for your word, which is a lamp unto our feet. As we meditate on it, would you reveal more of yourself to us, direct us, shape us, mould us and fill us with faith for the journey ahead.

Psalm 117: Always Faithful

By Andi Norton

Psalm 117 (NIV)

Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord.
(vs 1,2)

Most likely the smallest psalm of all the psalms, but the gift of thanks giving shouted in these few lines is a big declaration.

We sing it day in day out of a god whose for us, who is our provider who is ALWAYS FAITHFUL.

Priscilla's blog on Tuesday is one which stirs my heart with the challenges that we as Christians face on a daily basis, and it's in these challenges that you and I face I stop and thank God that He is faithful. I thank Him that He has a plan for us, not to bring us harm but a future we can hope for, and no matter what the trial we face He promises a face to face invite to the banqueting table, and that He is faithful to His word.

Most of you will know when I met Nikki, I was working as a volunteer, no money, no house (I was lodging with a kind member of the church I was serving) and had no future job.

So when faced with getting married and the months whizzing by and no sign of any jobs in youthwork, I got on my knees and prayed (logical response, but was actually my last action).

I remembering saying to God i needed something handed to me on a platter, and you know what?
Three days later I got a phone call from the Director of Bournemouth YMCA offering me job for 3-months in the lead-up to the wedding. When we left for our honeymoon, we wondered what would happen when we came back but we knew that God would be faithful. On my return they offered a permanent position which came with a accommodation and reasonable salary for us to start our lives together.

Time after time God has stepped in when I've prayed, showing that He is faithful, that He is trust-worthy. On our Friday morning gatherings together we press in and ask God to move, and we are seeing Him doing just that.

If we pursue Godly ambitions and desires God will pour out His Spirit, for He is faithful.
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

We have much to thank our God for His love towards us, His faithfulness, for I cry out to the Lord and He heard me. You're Always Faithful and true - Let's us shout it aloud!

Spend a few minutes listen to this amazing truth:

Psalm 105: Get out of My Way!

By Andi Norton

Psalm 105 (NIV) 

Like most kids in their teens I often dreamt of being a rock star. Many of my weekend evenings were spent in a sweat-filled, testosterone-pumped club, ‘moshing’ (jumping) to my favourite bands with the dream of one day, I would be the one on that stage.

I worked hard with my band in London, playing all the right venues, spending hours on musical arrangements and harmonies to produce the best material, to the point where I dropped out of University to try and pursue it seriously.

There was urgency in me, a striving, and a pursuit to make my dream come true. Nothing would stand in my way. As a matter of fact I became so fixated on seeing this dream come true, I pushed friends, and family to the side, I became ruthless and nasty in my actions to others, because this was my purpose, this was my goal.

Now although this is quite a negative portrayal, it does reflect something of God in this psalm, and I love it! The Psalmist writes down the history of God’s commitment to His people, in fulfilling what He set out to do, to keep His promise, the covenant in His word that He first made with Abraham.

He's God, our God,
in charge of the whole earth.
And he remembers, remembers his Covenant—
for a thousand generations he's been as good as his word.

The psalmist shows a great account, the history to God’s promise, right from the oath He made with Isaac, through to Joseph and then with Moses. What a focused God! What a great God! There were oppositions, hardships and challenges - but none of this fazed God - and nothing was going to get in His way. God is a God of his word; His covenant is fixed and will be fulfilled.

God keeps His promises! What promises has He made to you or us as the church? Believe them, pray them back to Him, remind Him, just as Moses did, Joseph did, when it appears that it’s just not going to happen. It will for He is a faithful God, committed to You 100 per cent. It will be fulfilled.

But in the same way all these people God has listed in this psalm were called to act for Christ, to go on a pursuit for Him. We too have been commissioned by God, will we not relent in what He has called us too? God has promised to fulfil what He has started in us, to go with us, so let’s move into action.

Remember this! He led his people out singing for joy;
his chosen people marched, singing their hearts out!
He made them a gift of the country they entered,
helped them seize the wealth of the nations
So they could do everything he told them—
could follow his instructions to the letter.

Psalm 99: Prayer, Persistence, Power

By Andi Norton
Psalm 99 (NIV) 

We've all heard it, we've all seen it, but often we we can doubt it, yes this is prayer.
Many of us know stories of great healing, miraculous provision, bondage's broken in the name of Jesus in prayer, some of us first hand.
Myself I have had great things come out of prayer: God has provided a job and a house when Nikki and I got married, a new job when we had Daniel, miraculous financial provision in times of desperate need.
One faith-filled cell night when I was struggling with severe eczema, the group laid hands on me and within a couple of days it had completely gone and I've never had eczema to that severity again.
But what about the times when our prayers aren't answered, when we wait and wait and yet nothing. Our thoughts can be one of "Is God even listening!".
We know from these words God is listening, and he want's justice for these injustices we face personally and throughout our world, and he will answer, maybe not always when we want it, but He DOES answers.

V6 

Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the Lord
and he answered them.

Friends of my parents in Kansas told us of a story in which they were praying about the issue of abortion in their nation, day and night they interceded (prayed) for God to step in and do something radical. Day and night they persisted. A week went, nothing, A month-nothing, and so on. Then on the 365th day, on the news they announced that several cities including Kansas were setting a law in place to ban abortions and to close clinics.

God does hear, but we must persist, to reach out with the things that are on God's heart, to fight and seek justice from God.

We see in these verses that God is Mighty and He is Holy, but He cares about the little and the great and that He does answer. but we must persist.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Phillipians 4:6

We are seeing great things happen in our times of worship together, and we persist with our times of prayer for this. Often we find when we meet on a Friday mornings that our hearts in a united place as we press into pray. God is stirring a heart of intercession, to draw men and women to stand in the gap and intercede for the injustices in our community/world that are on his heart.

Do you believe there is Power in the name of Jesus, that He cares, He listens, and He is ready to respond?

Lord, thank you for the gift of prayer, to come and speak with you. Would you give us faith to step out not just in the quiet place but on the street, in the work place to grab the opportunities you give us to see lives transformed in the power of Your name.

Psalm 93: Trials - smashed!

By Andi Norton

Psalm 93 (NIV) 

Brothers can be a right pain, and mine was no exception.
On a holiday trip to Ibiza when I was 8 we took a trip across to a private island. I was playing catch with a bottle of water by the pier when my brother intercepted and lobed the bottle into the sea. In my annoyance I ran to get it. I jumped off the pier and into the sea, grabbed the bottle then realized my feet were stuck when I tried to wade out – and then worse – I found myself sinking. I was chest high in quick sand and shouting for help. My family were half-way down the beach and couldn't hear me. I cried out to God in prayer and then a man came out of no-where and pulled me out. – True Story.


Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea—
the Lord on high is mighty.

I can relate to these words, the sea does still scare me at times and watching movies of people shipped wrecked or stranded at sea, does make me shiver, but I know our God is so much mightier than the sea, than the trials we face whether physical trials, emotional or spiritual. Nothing is too much for Him.

Many of you know I'm a huge comic book geek, so the recent release of the new film Avenger's Assemble was like a dream come true.
I don't want to ruin the film for you but there's a great portrayal in this film that helps us see the hugeness of our God strong and mighty.
The world is in a hopeless state as the threat of the evil Loki is taking over the earth with his alien army. The team of Avengers, led by Captain America, storms into battle but one by one they take a beating. But ironman boasts that their team has the Hulk!
Then enters the Hulk, the strongest of all, angry with the injustice that is taking over, and his one mission is to smash it to a pulp.
Loki and the Hulk began their battle until Loki becomes infuriated and says enough, "You will bow down to me!"
With this the Hulk grabs him like a rag doll and pulverises him leaving Loki with both his bones and pride broken as he realises he's no match for the Hulk who in his exits says, "Puny God." Justice is served and the Hulk has made it quite clear who is stronger.

The reality is our God is bigger than even this, He doesn't have to become angry, turn green and start smashing the joint up. He is the creator of the rolling sphere, with just one word of His lips were the heavens made. We read in Mark 4:39 that Jesus himself rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace be still" And the wind cease and things were calm once more.

We as Christians may not have a Hulk, but we have someone greater, The King of kings and The Lord of all, The beginning and the end, He is unshakable, indestructible, never ending, He has smashed sin to dust, and will come and stomp out all injustice.


The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.

When all around me gives way, when the sea and wind in mine or your life becomes violent and we find ourselves in a hopeless storm. We can thank God that He listens, He cares, He is for us, that He's on our team, that He has already destroyed our enemy and as Sean so well reminded us yesterday, the trial will come to an end.

Lord, you are Mighty, there is none higher than You, we thank you that You are for us, and for the promise of that final day when all trial, all pain will be gone. Remind me/us when facing the storms that can invade our lives that You are bigger, You are stronger.

Psalm 87: A huge crush

By Andi Norton 

Psalm 87 (NIV) 


Some of you will know that I met Nikki when I randomly popped into a co-op for a cheese and ham sandwich.
This visit turned to a discussion, which led to an invite to my church.
Although I wasn't looking for a relationship, but within a few days I found myself developing a huge crush on her.
I longed to be with her everyday. I would walk a mile after uni to meet her and walk her home, we would phone each other to talk late into the night and some calls that went into the early hours of the morning.
There's a deeper longing to be together and we knew within three months we wanted to get married, to fulfill that desire and longing that was in our hearts, to make our resting place together.

God has a longing and desire for Jerusalem and to make it His resting place.

He has founded his city on the holy mountain.
The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the other dwellings of Jacob.
We are privileged to capture a glimpse of Jesus' end plan for His church and His desire to come to this earth again and take up His throne.

Throughout scripture we can see that Jerusalem is significant in this.

• Abraham and Melchizedek: God chose Jerusalem above all other cities for Him to come dwell (Gen 14/Psalm 110) 

• Moses God said He would choose Canaan as a place for His name.
  
• The tabernacle was brought down to Nob near Jerusalem. It was this place that God selected from among all the cities of Israel to be the place where He would place His name forever. (Psalm 132) 

God is constant and perfect, His promises and every word He speaks is true so it's clear that God never gave up on his plans. Although Israel may have turned there back on Him, He continues with His plan and to choose Jerusalem as His resting place, and the great news is that we will meet with Him and will make music and sing.

As they make music they will sing,

“All my fountains are in you.”
It is in God that man lives, moves, and has his continual being (Acts 17:28).

God is the fountain of all things for man. We owe to Him our life, breath, and all things. When the of psalm 87 comes — both Jews and Gentiles, every nation, tongue and tribe — will exclaim that their fountain is indeed in Jesus. All will rejoice in Him and render praise to Almighty God.

My crush for Nikki endures, but God is showing me how much deeper my longing for His day should be. That day when our King comes riding victorious, takes up His throne and all the people of God join together in making music and singing.

Psalm 81: Set a reminder

By Andi Norton

Psalm 81 (The Message) 


Imagine, you've been a slave for years, working for a king. In blistering heat you would be forced to work as a manual labourer for free for many hours at a time.
Hopeless, no escape in sight, this has become your meaningless existence.
Has God abandoned us, would be your cry?


Then comes the day that God sends a man Moses to set His people free.
He sends plagues to kill your and His enemies, He sends a pillar of fire to free your escape and hold back the enemy. He then sets the seas apart for you to escape across and brings the mighty waters down on your enemies.

You then in the desert are provided with manna from heaven.

God cares, God saves, God Rescues, God Liberates, God Provides, and the people rejoice.


1-5 A song to our strong God! a shout to the God of Jacob!
Anthems from the choir, music from the band,
sweet sounds from lute and harp,
Trumpets and trombones and horns:
it's festival day, a feast to God!
A day decreed by God,
solemnly ordered by the God of Jacob.
He commanded Joseph to keep this day
so we'd never forget what he did in Egypt.


Three times a year the people of God would rejoice and give thanks through the festival of Bread and in this case wine, remembering all that God did for them, freeing them from Egypt.

The reality is when we think of what our God has done for us, we rejoice, and it's important to set time aside to do so as we see in this psalm.

But as we know from the story the people of God, soon turned from rejoicing and began to worship other gods, they did not remind themselves of what God had done. They grew weary with the desert and lost perspective.


11-12 "But my people didn't listen,
Israel paid no attention;
So I let go of the reins and told them, 'Run!
Do it your own way!'
This last week I've been doing a study on fear and why people fear for work. As Christians we fear because we lose perspective, we may draw away from God rather then pressing into Him and rejoicing for what He has done.
We forget the truth of His word (as I'm sure Israel did in the desert) - the promises of God.

It's good to set time aside to remind ourselves of all God has done and has promised us is to come.
This way we will not lose heart, we will not stray away.
God is worthy of all our praise, surely we should give Him it.


The challenge is to set a reminder, time aside to bring our thanksgiving to God for all that He's done and yet to come.

Thank You Lord for all that you've done and all that's to come. For you're promises, for the Hope we have in you. Help us to keep perspective, to not loose heart, to abide to You.

Psalm 75: A call for order

By Andi Norton

Psalm 75 (The Message) 

You say, "I'm calling this meeting to order,
I'm ready to set things right.
When the earth goes topsy-turvy
And nobody knows which end is up,
I nail it all down,
I put everything in place again.
I say to the smart alecks, 'That's enough,'
to the bullies, 'Not so fast.'" (vs 2-4)


School. We all remember it well I'm sure, and all of us will have mixed feelings about it. However we relate to it, the one thing we will all share I'm sure is a fear of being sent to go see the Head Teacher.

Although I had a fear of the Head throughout my school life (probably from being outside her office door one too many times), the thing that amazed me about her was how she managed to call for order whenever in an assembly or class. Suddenly what was a tidal wave of mayhem and noise, with two words from her mouth, 'Thank You' she brought things to order (to how they should be, calm and controlled), with children sitting neatly in their rows silent with arms crossed and backs straight.

This psalm show's us of a God whose in complete control, He holds the very stars in His hands, He holds the waves back stopping them from flooding us all. He controls photosynthesis and produces the very air we breath.

OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL 

Jesus promises that us He will bring things back to how they were in the beginning. Man walked with God and because of what Jesus has done for us through His obedience to death we have had our topsy turvy lives brought back to order, and we can have union with God once more.

If that's not enough He will abolish all injustice, all pain, 'take out the bullies', 'silence the smart aleck', put wrong to right. He will bring order once more, and so I think our response needs to be one like vs 1 in this Psalm.

1 We thank you, God, we thank you— your Name is our favorite word;
your mighty works are all we talk about.

Remind us constantly God whenever we feel like life is spiraling out of control, or we feel down hearted, that You have promised to bring things to order. Help us to be heavenly focused and to live our lives out in the promise of what's to come.

Psalm 57: What sort of tea bag are you?

By Andi Norton

Psalm 57 (MSG)


I find myself in a pride of lions
who are wild for a taste of human flesh;
Their teeth are lances and arrows,
their tongues are sharp daggers.

Imagine you're fleeing for your life, away from a mad man bent over in pride and jealousy, and the only place you have to take refuge is in the cold isolation of a cave.

I'm so thankful the closest I've come to this is hiding from some boys off the local estate in the town where I grew up, who wanted to steal my bike. I hid in the local woods near my house for 20 minutes and it seemed like a lifetime. I remember how sorry for myself I felt, how afraid I was.

Then I remembered that God is my saviour, my protector and I prayed.

Suddenly all my fear dissolved, my anxiety faded and I was confidently able to ride home thinking about it no more.

We are so blessed to live in a country where we are free to be Christians (to a point), unlike countries like China or Egypt, where Christians have to flee for their life and hide away.

What amazes me about so many stories I hear from Christians living in these countries is their perseverance and focus to carry on, to continue spreading the gospel regardless of persecution. And when locked up in prison or worse, they turn in an instance to God in prayer and worship, to speak aloud the truth of His word.

The point is they've got a heavenly perspective, they know their God, they know and live out the words of Philippians 4:4-13, as does David in this Psalm.


I'm ready, God, so ready,
ready from head to toe,
Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune:
"Wake up, soul!
Wake up, harp! wake up, lute!
Wake up, you sleepyhead sun!"


9-10 I'm thanking you, God, out loud in the streets,
singing your praises in town and country.
The deeper your love, the higher it goes;
every cloud is a flag to your faithfulness.


11 Soar high in the skies, O God!
Cover the whole earth with your glory!


A quick question: What sort of tea bag are you?
When put into hot water (difficulty), what do you see seep out?
Are you anxious, fearful, or full of faith, rejoicing and turning to God in worship?



These past weeks have been a real trial to my family and me as we walked through some difficulties together. But it's only when we come together in prayer and worship and catch that heavenly perspective that all those concerns sink away.

In those moments I want to reach for my guitar and say wake up soul, and press into God my provider, my strength.

Thank You Lord that you are for us, that any trials and troubles we face are momentary in the great scheme of your glorious plan. Thank you for your spirit that comforts and protects and the Hope we have through Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 51: Learning Authentic God-Worship

By Andi Norton

Psalm 51 (The Message)


16-17 Going through the motions doesn't please you,
      a flawless performance is nothing to you.
   I learned God-worship
      when my pride was shattered.
   Heart-shattered lives ready for love
      don't for a moment escape God's notice.

Notice the words here above, I learnt God-Worship when my pride was shattered.

Those two words 'God-Worship' conjure a picture of authentic worship, a worship that is true to the core, worship that we would describe as 'red hot'.

There are times when I am leading worship, I find myself looking out at the congregation and feel discouraged because it can feel that although the music is pumping, the lyrics are edifying, I have Chantalle spinning on one side, Shirley-Ann dancing on the other - but the congregation can seem static.

I can come away thinking where did I go wrong, the problem here was that I wasn't giving my attention to God, actually what I had done was just gone through the motions.

The focus for our worship and praise needs to come out of a pride-less heart, a heart that's been shattered by the grace of God. David in this psalm has just spent a time rebelling against God in his relationship with Bathsheba, and after the death of his son is confronted about his sin from a friend. Convicted, He repents.

If we think back to what God has saved us from, from a life of complete hopelessness and the life now we have in Him, it brings our focus into place.

These words encourage us into a place of Authentic Worship (7-15)

Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
      and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
   Unbutton my lips, dear God;
      I'll let loose with your praise.
Worship out of a place of rescuing is awesome, I love seeing new comers in church who have been recently saved, how red hot they are, how abandoned they are.

The reality is this type of worship spurs others on.

We must make sure our focus is right; remind ourselves before we enter His gate where He has save us from.

Let us be Red Hot worshippers who encourage others into worship, through our own. Amen.

Psalm 45: Wedding Preparation

By Andi Norton

Psalm 45 (NIV) 

(Please, Can I encourage you to read the whole psalm. It is so amazing) 

Weddings, we've all been to our fair share, some good ones, but the occasional one will be fantastic.

Dressed with the wonderful bridesmaid dresses, flowers, grooms tie all colour- coordinated, add to that a brilliant word shared by the minister, fantastic speeches mixing humour with wit and then of course the magical kiss and first dance.

I think the best part of any wedding is when on the odd occasion a friend of the bride and groom writes a song just for them, we were blessed at our wedding with one of these.

In the psalms we can see just that, and it was customary that whenever a new king was enthroned his song was sung - and it was titled, 'The wedding song of the Sons of Korah.’

We can see the words of a great poet in motion as the psalm kicks off, but this time there seems to be a change. As the psalmist describes a victorious king clothed in majesty and splendour, truth and humility, who pierces the heart of his enemies. We are then brought to focus on this king to be special. For this King will have nations fall at His feet, this King's throne will last for ever and ever, it will NEVER END!

It describes a King who will reign for ever, our King Jesus echoing the words of Isaiah 9:7

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and
upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

This song sings of a great truth to come. That Jesus will return to the earth and with His people march and take up His throne, it fulfill everything Jesus said he will do.

He said He would die that he would rise again and then when He ascended that He will return.

When Jesus comes a second time He is coming for His bride - for a great wedding - now this is going to be the ULTIMATE WEDDING!

And we can see in this song there is a direction to us the bride (the daughter in the song), a direction which we need to listen to and pay careful attention to (vs10)

As like any wedding day it is the role of the bride to be beautiful, hours will be spent on choosing the right dress that flatters, hours spent on hair and make-up to look radiant and beautiful for her future husband, as she leaves her father's house to start a new union with her husband.

The same is expected of us from our future marriage with the King of kings.....

Forget your people and your father’s house.

11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
   honour him, for He is your Lord.

13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;

The reality is Jesus is returning for a spotless Bride, and very often we can look at our lives and not see a very purified, spotless life, we can often see as Priscilla described so well a murky fish tank of a life.

The good news is though that we have been purified and sanctified by Christ, that was the point of His first coming.

“Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless

Ephesians 5:25-32 (NIV)

And He is coming again for His bride for the ULTIMATE WEDDING DAY! Hallelujah!

So in the mean time, rejoice, celebrate, look to what's to come, prepare yourself, groom yourself, there is a great work to be done to prepare for a wedding, and so we must get ready, but never loose focus that he has accomplished all of it already, all we need to do is stand firm and get ready for the Great and terrible day. (Joel 2)

Lord, Thank You that you gave yourself up for the church, to purify her to prepare us for your Victorious return.
Lord, you describe that day as Great and Terrible. Great for us your bride but terrible for so many who don't know you. Lord, help us to radiate your love to those who don't know you. To stand firm and prepare ourselves for that day.

Psalm 39: Aliens with Hope

By Andi Norton

Psalm 39 (NIV)

It can be hard sometimes to keep things suppressed, whether a frustration, a negative word or just a plain annoyance at something.

But nothing is worse than being in the place you just can't see how an end.

In the early stages of our daughter, Lilla, being born and the endless nights of crying which this year have turned into footsteps down the hall to our bedroom where we are woken up by either a heavily breathing face peering into ours in the darkness or worse a full-load mount on our faces as a child leans in for some comfort. You get to a point where you can't take it any more. The big princess eyes and smiles have worn off and the suppressed frustration of yet another night’s sleep broken results in a telling off and a march back down the hall with your little 'princess' as you tell her it's time to sleep in her own bed.

This is a reality for us right now, it can feel that we call out to God night after night that our daughter will sleep, but night after night she doesn't and you come to the point when you cry, "How much longer God?"

I then am reminded of these words from psalms:

"What am I doing in the meantime, Lord?
Hoping, that's what I'm doing—hoping
The truth is this is quite minor really, and there has been many times when I've pursued God to give me an answer or provide for a need, guide me, and ALWAYS He does, maybe not when I'd like it, but He does.

God provided me with a job the week after returning from my honeymoon, He soon later provided us with free accommodation.

When we had Daniel (my son) He yet again provided financially for us to be able to move to a bigger flat.

Countless times God has provided finically for us when we've truly needed it, whether it was an unexpected tax rebate, or an anonymous envelope through the door, God has always come on through.

He heard my cry on the dark road when I eventually physically couldn't take it any longer and saved me from an eternal regret.

The reality is God will never let us go beyond what we can with stand - It's in His word - and it's a promise!

You'll save me from a rebel life,
save me from the contempt of dunces.
I'll say no more, I'll shut my mouth,
since you, Lord, are behind all this.
Our God is faithful!

If there's one thing we can learn from this passage is that we live in a world that is not God's full plan for us, we are aliens to this world, but we are the light to which those who are aimlessly walking through it can catch a glimpse of this Hope God brings that is in us.

The trial we face is momentary to the life that is promised to us - an eternity in face-to-face contact with the Everlasting Father, the one who cares, who does listen and will in His right time answer.

The question to ask God in these times is what do you want to teach me God, use this to mould me shape me, prepare me for when I see you face to face.

I hope that through these challenges God has done just that, shaped me, and built a character of faith, hope and security and reliance in Him.

But He's also a God who cares so we can cry out to Him, but never loose hope remember no mater what the trial, it's momentary. You are an alien to this world and greater things are yet to come.

Lord, use the trials to teach me God, use them to mould me, to shape me, to prepare me for when I see you face to face.
Remind us of the truth of you're words, the promises you have sealed over our lives, to never loose hope, so that we can be lights in the darkness that surrounds us.

Psalm 33: I love it when a plan comes together

By Andi Norton

Psalm 33 (MSG)


I love to stop and take a day out every so often to be creative - write a song, record it, maybe even make a video. I get engrossed for hours and then stand back and admire something that I'm truly happy with, as it's turned out just how I planned it in my head.

Often Nikki will produce great pieces of art or wonderful clothes for our children or the ultimate cake and she will be pleased to see that it brings great satisfaction to those it was designed for (my tummy in the case of cake).

In the same way God takes pleasure in His creation when it fulfills what it was designed for and in the opening verses of Psalm 33, we can see that we were designed for worship, to praise our Creator, to show Him gratitude for all He's done for us.

Good people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising.
Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs!
Play his praise on a grand piano!
Invent your own new song to him;
give him a trumpet fanfare.
It's a great encouragement of where we are as a church in our worship at the moment. As I read these words I can see our times of worship together - Sunday mornings, Friday prayer and Gatherings. A people longing to come to their Creator and praise Him, and God loves it when we do it.

I love the film Toy story in which Buzz Light year is struggling with his identify, being Andy's toy, and Woody is trying to tell him he's not a real space ranger but an action figure designed to bring pleasure to his owner Andy.

Buzz is completed unsatisfied until he comes to the understanding that he was created to make a child ecstatically happy.

It's the same with us, we were designed to bring pleasure to our Creator through worship:

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.


I love it when a plan comes together, and so does God, when we get completely lost in wonder of all our Creator has done for us, when we depend completely on Him as everything we need.

Lord , thank you for life, a purpose in You
We say we depend on You;
You are everything we need.
our hearts brim with joy
since we've taken for our own Your holy name.
Love us, God, with all you've got—
that's what we depend on.
Receive our worship that it may bring you great pleasure.

Psalm 27: An invitation requires action

By Andi Norton

Psalm 27 (NIV)


Our lives are consumed with invitations – weddings, a social gathering or birthday parties. You only have to log in to Facebook to be bombarded with new event invites to FarmVille, Gangster groups. Ah well, it's nice to be popular.

The point is, our lives are consumed with a variety of choices of how best we spend our time, and we find ourselves pulled in hundreds of directions.

I don't know about you, but when I see the large list of events I have coming in from my job, and social things through Facebook I'm faced with a choice - do I decline as life is so busy? Or do I accept? And if I accept then I have a further choice of what do I have to sacrifice, to free up this time?

Recently I’ve had to face a tough choice to turn down additional work that has been given to me, which could be useful financially, but the reality is I’ve been neglecting my responsibilities as a husband and father and there's a need to come back to the basics.

It has been my desire for a long time to have more time with my family and my wife, Nikki had said to me several times that she wanted me around more - to spend time with me. But the desire wasn't enough, action was needed too, and when taken, a joy came in knowing that I could spend more time with the one I love being with the most.

The reason I'm telling you this is to ask you, how often do we all find ourselves in these situations? Not just with our loved ones but, more vitally, with God?

We know that our one-to-one time with God is important however; we also know the truth that time spent with God leaves us refreshed, strengthened and equipped, as He whispers words of encouragement and promises over our life.

David knew what it meant to spend time with God and I love David's desire in these famous words:

One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
I know that this is probably all of our desire and one day we will have the full joy of these words, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord 'Face to Face' WOW.

But the reality is there is a door with no lock and the door is always open for us to walk on in. Up to a table with two chairs, on one side is a warm welcoming God longing for you to come and meet with Him. Like a child awaiting Christmas He longs for you to come and take your seat, to prioritise our time, seek Him out, and know the truth of His words that He will speak over our lives in that time together.

The question isn't do you have the desire? As I'm sure you do. The question is will you act out on the desire you have and seek Him out, pursue Him, grab every opportunity to spend time with Him, for the door is unlocked.

I know I have the freedom to come to God whenever I want and if that's not amazing enough, He promises to always be there. When I give him my priority I'm able to accomplish any multitude of mountains I may face, as he strengthens me in His presence with the Hope I have in Him.

Lord, help us to stop and look at our lives daily to prioritise what's important, to act upon the desire you've set in our heart and to seek You out.

Psalm 21: Tag, You're in

By Andi Norton

Psalm 21 (The Message)


He wanted a good life; you gave it to him, 

     and then made it a long life as a bonus. 

You lifted him high and bright as a cumulus cloud,
      then dressed him in rainbow colors. 

You pile blessings on him;
      you make him glad when you smile. 

Is it any wonder the king loves God?
      that he's sticking with the Best?



This life can come with some heavy blows, pounding even!

Time and time again when I faced a battle with drugs and alcohol, sin was rapidly pulling me further and further into a black hole of depression and despair. I was cut off from a sense of reality and being free was alien to me. But for many years in this pit my biggest desire was to be freed of it.

I tried so many times in my own strength, and pulled upon the strength from others around me, looked for expert advice, but none were strong enough to save me from my enemy (myself, and the life that was surrounding me).

How is it that I could try so hard and not accomplish something that could be broken in a single moment by a loving God on a dark road one evening with two simple words - 'Help God'.

GOD IS STRONG!

I remember singing in my childhood of a God who is big, strong and mighty, there's nothing that He can not do, and as cheesy as that may appear now, the truth that surrounds these words is so real to me.

I may not be like David facing the oppression of an enemy surrounding Him, but I know the feeling that must have come with it and the rejoicing that comes from knowing God's strength in these times.

I'm so thankful that God started my walk with Him this way, because I know that in God's strength anything is possible. In our weakness, He is strong, and if we cast our concerns to Him, He will step in.

It's like a tag team wrestling match, in which I'm in first knowing that my partner is stronger, but foolishly I try and battle the big opponent on my own. I take a huge battering and when I'm unable to take anymore, I turn to my partner, and say 'Tag, You're in'.

He comes in, and in one blow, KO. But why do we take so many blows, why do we try to do things in our own strength so frequently?

Since making the decision to let God step into my life in all the situations I face, I have known many blessings. I've known the smile of God upon my life, and like the king in today's psalm, I can say I love God, and I'm sticking with the best. I wanted a good life and God gave it to me.

We serve a Victorious King, He's already won the battle, so let Him step into the wrestling ring of your life and in His Strength you can rejoice that we are more than conquerors, because of Jesus.

Lord, constantly remind us that all things are possible for You, and not to just to turn to You in times of trouble, but to submit all things to You daily, because in Your strength we know a truly good life.