Unmasking

'Contemporvant'

2011-05-17T17:14:00.003+12:00

It's been a while since I've posted, not because I haven't wanted to, but because I only want to post when I feel I have something worthwhile to share. And there are too many half-thoughts without resolution brewing to post, so while I let them simmer a bit longer, here is a video my attention was just drawn to that I love. What do you think? Does it make you laugh or sigh, or like me, both?

The Unforgiving Debtor

2011-01-28T09:09:00.003+13:00

It's a well-known parable. I grew up with it.

This guy owes a huge amount to a king but begs for mercy and is forgiven. He, in turn, refuses to do the same with someone else who owes him a comparatively insignificant amount. So the king throws him in jail after all.

I was reading this parable this morning and the last verse struck me.

"That's what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters* from your heart." - Matthew 18:35 (NLT)

Of course this parable is about forgiveness.
But for some reason I'd always read it more in light of 'do to others as you'd have them do to you' - ok, I won't demand someone to give me a few dollars if I've not had to pay my debt to someone else - that kind of thinking.

But to forgive from the heart? That brings it home much more sharply - and painfully!

I have been forgiven much.

Then why do I keep grudges?
Why do I avoid some people because of messy dealings YEARS ago?
Why, when thinking about some people, or even worse, talking about them with others, do I focus on the negative or dwell again and again on things they said or did that I didn't like or agree with?

That's not forgiveness.
That's as idiotic as someone walking away having escaped prison for a huge debt, then shaking down someone else for owing them a few dollars.

We see the stupidity of the actions in the parable. So why do we repeat them every day?

Out of the storm

2010-08-12T06:51:00.004+12:00

'Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said...' - Job 38:1

So starts God's response to Job in this timeless book of 'Whys', grappling with suffering.

For the next few chapters He reminds Job of Who He is, what He has done and is capable of doing, through looking at His creative work in the universe.

I've been chewing on Job for the last few weeks with the youth of my church, and on Sunday we will present some of our thoughts to the main congregation in a special service.

Remember Job's life?
He had everything, then he had nothing.

Raiding parties, fire from heaven and a sudden storm from the desert took his livestock, servants and most preciously, his children. Later he was covered with sores. His wife mocked him and his friends, who had started out so sympathetically, then blamed him for his trouble.

After pleading with God to answer him, to help him understand WHY this was happening, God answered - out of the storm.

A few things struck me about that one verse:

God chose a storm as the context to speak to Job in. He could have spoken to Job in a quiet whisper as with Elijah, (1 Kings 19) but he chose a storm.

Think of the parallels here. Job's been in turmoil - a 'storm', with his suffering. Why doesn't God speak as a balm instead?

Worst of all, Job's children were killed IN A STORM. Yet this is how God chooses to meet Job to answer him.
Nothing in the verse or chapter suggests that God calmed the storm first, then spoke, or that like Jesus in the boat on Lake Galilee, He spoke and the storm was silent. (Mark 4)

No. The storm raged and God spoke out of it. And He didn't explain why Job was suffering but reminded him in detail that He was God, all powerful and IN CONTROL.

As a Christian, do I expect God to still storms before speaking into my life? Or do I trust that He can speak out of a storm without necessarily stopping it?

Do I listen and learn from Him when He uses the things that hurt me most to show something of His character?

As storms are raging and God is speaking, am I focussing on the wind and waves or looking to Him? (Think of Peter stepping out of the boat to walk to Jesus on water - Matthew 14.)

How do I feel about God speaking out of a storm but not explaining the storm - pointing instead to Himself?

These are timely thoughts for me. May they be a help in some way for you too.

Destruction and building - at a bank?

2010-04-28T10:04:00.005+12:00

So I've been home now for two months.

At the bank yesterday, I got chatting with the teller as she dealt with my business. After explaining what I had been doing for the last years, she told me that she had a sister in law who worked in an orphanage in Romania.

Then, conspiratorially, she leaned in and told me with a smirk, "She said God told her to go! And every time she sees me, she asks, 'How is your walk with God?'"

I could hear the disdain in her voice. She went on to tell me how she hates 'Bible-bashers'.

I thought of defending the sister in law and missionaries in general, realising that despite what I'd told her about the work I'd been doing before, she never realised I was also 'one of them'!

But something stopped me. I am not ashamed of being a Christian. I want others to know the depth of joy and freedom that come from relationship with God through Christ. But I am not and do not want to be identified as a Bible basher. My first question when I see a non-Christian friend or relative is never going to be 'How is your walk with God?' I want my life to draw people to Christ, not irritate and repulse them.

So I said nothing.

We chatted more about other things and enjoyed each others' company.
When I return to the bank, I will look out for her and we can continue our conversations.

I thought about Jeremiah 1:10 this morning:
'See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.'

In some ways, I see this as a Christian's manifesto as well; certainly as mine.

With Christ in me, I want to uproot and tear down wrong foundations built of God, faith in Him and Christianity. I want to destroy the myths and annoyances that rightly turn people away from following the same faith as the people who annoy them. I want to build and plant the Kingdom of God - the way it is and should be.

The bank is not just for banking now, but for uprooting, tearing down, destroying, overthrowing, building and planting. The right way.

Exploring the lake

2010-03-22T10:23:00.009+13:00

I was in a kayak a few days ago, exploring a couple of different bays in a lake. Such was the lake that when I was in one bay, I couldn't see another. It struck me while I was paddling that this can be a good way to think about decision making in my current situation - not knowing what to do next. (Yes, I'm in a big transition right now - my other blog has particulars.)

Just like when I pushed off into the water with my kayak, I never heard a voice from above or saw flashing neon arrows in the water to guide me to the 'correct' bay, I do not sense any specific leading from God as regards my next step in life. So in the kayak, what did I do? I paddled around and explored, and had a wonderful time!

See the metaphor... I wore my life-jacket and stayed away from the rough and very exposed part at the centre of the main body of water, because I knew that without anybody with me, it would be a risk to go there. I also avoided going too close to the territorial-looking black swans. Having been dive-bombed by seagulls before, that could be down to my nervousness about agitating large birds!!

God has given us brains. In decision making, there are many choices that we know are not good for us, so I think He expects us to figure that one out without expecting Him to tell us not to do them.

The whole time I kayaked, I stayed on the lake. WOW! Can you believe it - I never went off kayaking up the hill, into the farm or forest.

Stupid observation, but I was heartened to realise that wherever I paddled, I was on the water. No matter which bay I went into, the water was there, lifting me and enabling me to move.

God is present. And there is nowhere that I can lose Him. His will can be likened to the water of the lake. God wants me to love Him, to love others, to live as He has designed me to. Intentionally disregarding that would be for me to say I'm going kayaking but end up exploring a farm or forest instead. And as His followers, it will be obvious to us when we are not living to honour Him... as obviously wrong as trying to paddle up a grassy hill. But other than that, unless He has shown me specifically which 'bay' to go to, He is present in every bay! And maybe He asks us to let Him carry us like the water, but then go for it - paddle around, explore and choose which direction to go in.

Each bay was beautiful. Only one was filled with lilies, where I took this picture. I never knew on entering this particular bay that I would see them, but they made my day!

If you are struggling with decision making, I hope this will encourage you. If God doesn't seem to be telling you much about what to do, avoid things that you know are stupid to do, commit yourself to living in a way that honours Him, then go for it.... explore, make up your mind and see where you end up!

The water is everywhere in the lake.

Little Gem

2010-01-16T05:53:00.005+13:00

I heard this today:

'What's down in the well comes up in the bucket.'

Or to put it in Bible-verse-speak:

'The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.' - Luke 6:45

Worth examining our buckets to see what to clear out in our wells.

So what's changed?

2009-12-14T00:00:00.009+13:00

Four weeks ago, I thought I would be living for almost one more year on the ship I live on, sailing to the Gulf and beyond. I didn't just think this, I was planning for it. My work was preparing orientations and training for our people to have an effective time in the countries we were going to and it was a lot of preparation.

Then on 17 November, everything changed. We heard that the ship had to stop by the end of this year. (Long story, but you can read about it on my other blog, here.)

Everything changed. Now, along with 300 other people, my future is uncertain. I don't know how much longer I'll stay on this ship. I don't know where I'll go afterwards. I don't know much right now at all!

But as I thought about this, I asked myself, 'What has actually changed?'
My first response - 'Everything!'

But the more I think about it, I realise that not much has changed at all.
Before 17 November, we were not going to go to the Gulf, even though we thought we were. I was not going to stay for another year on the ship, even though I thought I was. The future is what the future is. That didn't change. God knew all along that this would happen. The main thing that's changed is that we've found out that what we THOUGHT was going to happen, wasn't. That's really it.

This makes me realise how fragile our hopes and plans can be. We can throw everything into planning for what we think will happen, and then when it doesn't, we are confused or angry at God. But if nothing we were planning for was going to happen anyway, doesn't that show that our hopes were in the wrong things?

Paul sums it up beautifully in 2 Corinthians 4:18.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary but what is unseen is eternal.

My future is still uncertain. I still don't know what tomorrow brings, but maybe now I realise more than ever that I NEVER knew! My security was only in what I expected would happen. And when life throws a curve-ball, I get upset. No wonder! My hopes and plans were based on the seen. And I can't guarantee that what I think will happen will.

I am excited in the midst of this 'change'. I italicise 'change' because the main thing that has changed is our perception of future events. But I'm excited because this is forcing many of us to stop fixing our eyes on the seen, the planned for, the known.... and focus on our walks with God. Because He is absolutely unchanging. And that I know for sure!

Learning from the Wise Men

2009-11-19T13:26:00.004+13:00

No, it's not Christmas yet, or Epiphany, but such is my job that I'm planning for it already.

It's been eye-opening for me to look at the Magi, the Wise Men, and see what I can learn from them about following Christ whole-heartedly.

Below is a summary. May it challenge you as it has me:

Learning from the Magi about Whole-hearted finding of Jesus:

1. They looked, open to being led
Matt 2:2 – ‘we saw his star…’
How do we look for God’s leading? Through His Word? Prayer? Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit? Others?
What do we do when God gives us a clear sign?

2. They obeyed, despite the cost
Matt 2:1-2 – ‘from the east… we have come…’ (A long way!)
Are we living a costly faith? (Luke 14:28) What does this look like?

3. They studied, prepared to answer
Matt 2:5-6 – ‘so it is written by the prophet…’
1 Peter 3:15-16 – Do we prepare ourselves to be able to give an answer to people who ask about our hope?

4. They believed, even though the King looked like a little baby
Matt 2:11 – ‘they saw the child…. And worshipped him…’
Do we trust God, even when we don’t see Him working in ways we expect?

2 Cor. 5:7 – do we walk by faith or sight?

5. They worshipped, giving of their best
Matt 2:11 – ‘… worshipped him… gold, frankincense and myrrh’
How do we worship? With our lives? With what is precious to us? Or is our focus less on God and more on our own enjoyment?

6. They repented (turned to go another way), taking God seriously
Matt 2:12 – ‘… warned in a dream…. Departed by another way’
Do we live lives of repentance?

7. They returned, back to their own country
Matt 2:12 – ‘…departed to their own country…’
The Magi went another way home. They had left hopeful to find the One to worship and they returned having found Him.
How does our encounter with Christ impact our normal, everyday lives ‘back home’? Will people be able to tell that we have met the King?

Prayer

2009-11-17T18:53:00.004+13:00

"Prayer does not always bring the answers we want but it does set up the conditions for us to respond to whatever answers we get."
- Viv Thomas in 'Second Choice - Embracing Life as it is', page 34.

An eternal truth and very timely reminder.

Psalm 40:2

2009-11-13T02:42:00.007+13:00

I was pulled from the mud
Many years ago
I was washed
Given new clothes
Set on a solid rock.
Yet I seek the mud
It seems cool at first
Inviting
And then it stains me
I dabble -
A smear here
Just covering my toes there
And before I know
It's pressing around me
I can't breathe
Chokes me
Then I realise
My feet are still on the rock.
I'm just pouring mud over myself.
Lord, let it rain
Wash this stupidity away.

I am clean.

Why do I seek more mud?
Again?
Instead, let me rejoice
At my new clothes
At the rock that holds me
Let me shout to those who are sinking
Come -stand on the rock
And sink no more!
I will shout joyfully
As one safe
And clean.
But why don't I?
Why do I reach instead
For another handful
Of Filth
to pour over myself?

Ready or not!

2009-11-01T17:48:00.004+13:00

Because the ship I work on is having its annual 'Dry-dock' time of maintenance, many people are sent off the ship to work with local ministries during that time. Over the last few days I was involved in debriefing about 70 of our people who had just returned from two weeks of work with locals, then after two days of debriefing, were heading out again for two more weeks with new hosts.

The work is good but many people get very tired, and nervous about heading out again so soon.
What do you do when you have very little energy and so much is required of you?

Luke 9 was a chapter I read during my quiet time while at the debriefing. Jesus' disciples were in such a similar situation!

After seeing Jesus working miracles and demonstrating His great power, now He sends THEM out to work with HIS authority.

So they go, do amazing things, and even Herod gets to hear about it!
When they come back, they tell Jesus all about everything that happened.

He takes them to a remote place, and there they spend time with Him to debrief.
But the crowds follow. The debriefing is way too short. People are everywhere, demanding His attention, His time.

How would the disciples feel? Come on - they've just returned from their short-term mission. Now it's down-time with Jesus. Go away, people!

Of course, they can't say that straight. They're meant to love people, not shoo them off because they're tired of ministry. So they find a more plausible reason to get rid of them...

'Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."' - Luke 9:12

That's a good reason. They should go. We only have a bit of food, and we want Jesus for ourselves. Let them sort themselves out.

But Jesus puts a definite full-stop on their hoped-for time of rest:

He replied, "You give them something to eat." - Luke 9:13

Us??? We're exhausted! We've just come back from our mission trip! We need a break! We have nothing!

And that's the best place to be.
Jesus takes the 'nothing' they have - (after all, 5 loves and 2 fish is basically nothing when you see more than 5000 diners!) - and HE multiplies it.

Just like He multiplied the nothing they had to offer when He sent them on their mission trip.
Just like He multiplies the nothing we feel when He calls us for a task.

What excites me about this passage is how Jesus knows how much rest His disciples need. He did take them away. They did spend time with Him. But while they may have wanted longer, He knew what was enough, and He pushed them to the front again - 'YOU give them something to eat.'

The disciples gave Jesus what they had.
He multiplied it.
He gave it back to them.
They gave it out to the people.
They received back a basket each of left-overs.

Our 70ish people are out again on new teams. Yes, they're tired from the old teams, following months of very busy work in Asia. But I am confident that, like the disciples, as they give the little they have to God, He will multiply it and people will be blessed.

And He knows if we're ready or not. More than we do.

Michael Jackson?

2009-10-07T15:27:00.004+13:00

I said goodbye to a friend at Changi Airport two days ago, and as we were walking through to the gate, we saw a crowd of screaming youngsters gathered around a stage.
Michael Jackson mania had hit the airport. An impersonator - (I should say THE impersonator - according to the MC, Michael Jackson even used him when he didn't feel like meeting people), was wowing the crowd, moonwalking and taking photos with kids who probably never knew who the original was.

I thought, 'What a life-achievement to be an impersonator. Not to be known for anything you did, but that you were very similar to someone else. What a sad goal.'

Then it struck me - while not impersonators, we are called to be IMITATORS of Christ.
I don't want people to say of me, 'She's pretending to be Jesus.' But I would love for people to live around me and be drawn to Christ, because I want to act as He would have me act. I want to remind people of Christ by modelling my life on His.

Those kids in the airport can only say that they had their photos taken with someone who looked and acted a lot like Michael Jackson.
I pray that our lives will cause people to say, 'That person pointed me to Jesus Christ Himself.'

A little gross, but...

2009-08-18T07:36:00.004+12:00

A few days ago, walking carelessly, I nearly ripped a quarter of the nail from my big toe. The only thing keeping the damaged nail to my toe was the bright blue nail-polish that I'd thickly applied a few days before.

Before I bandaged the toe up, I could see the visible crack, covered over by the nail-polish. I had liked the nail polish before. Now I love it! It has covered over the crack and held things together. I'm very grateful, since the next day I had to fly half-way around the world, and that sans a toe-nail just isn't fun.

1 Peter 4:8 says: 'Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.'

Love is a bit like my blue nail-polish. It may not seem essential to love people, but who knows what it can cover over. I am sure that we have no idea of some of the hurts we have been spared from because we have been covered by others' love.

This makes me reflect again on the greatness of God's love. While we were yet sinners...

Paint your toes blue to prevent injuries of idiocy. Love each other deeply, and cover and protect each other with that love.

When we ask 'Why'

2009-08-09T20:16:00.007+12:00

Today's message at church was on Habukkuk 2 - waiting for God when we don't understand why things happen.
I was leading the music, and in my preparation, I looked online for any hymns based on that chapter. (http://www.hymntime.com/tch/scr/scriptur.htm is a good resource for that, if you're a sucker for hymns like I am!)

Anyway, I found this one. Don't know how the music goes so I just read it out. But wow, what rich words:

LORD, WE KNOW THAT THOU ART NEAR US
Jane Crewdson (1809-1863). (Written during a long illness)

Lord, we know that Thou art near us,
Though Thou seem’st to hide Thy face;
And are sure that Thou dost hear us,
Though no answer we embrace.

Not one promise shall miscarry
Not one blessing come too late
Though the vision long may tarry
Give us patience, Lord to wait.

While withholding—Thou art giving
In Thine own appointed way
And while waiting we’re receiving
Blessings suited to our day.

O the wondrous loving-kindness
Planning, working out of sight,
Bearing with us in our blindness,
Out of darkness bringing light.

Weaving blessings out of trials,
Out of grief evolving bliss;
Answering prayer by wise denials
When Thy children ask amiss.

And when faith shall end in vision,
And when prayer is lost in praise,
Then shall love, in full fruition,
Justify Thy secret ways.

Look and Remember

2009-07-24T22:28:00.005+12:00

This Psalm has been weaving its way around me in the last few days:

Psalm 36
For the director of music. Of David the servant of the Lord.

1 An oracle is within my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before his eyes.

2 For in his own eyes he flatters himself
too much to detect or hate his sin.

3 The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful;
he has ceased to be wise and to do good.

4 Even on his bed he plots evil;
he commits himself to a sinful course
and does not reject what is wrong.

How encouraging! David sees evil and he tells it like it is. I can stand outside looking out at the place I now am and read these first four verses, and they will be accurate. You could do the same.
It's reality. We live in a broken, sinful world, full of broken and sinful people.
It's depressing.

David sees the reality, but the psalm doesn't stop there. How does he respond?

5 Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.

6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the great deep.
O Lord, you preserve both man and beast.

7 How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

8 They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.

9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

Yes, the situation is bleak, but God is God! He loves! He is faithful! He is righteous! He is just! He is greater than anything else David could think of comparing Him to. And as we remember Who He is, we can see bleak situations in the light of His light. There is hope, because God is God!

David continues:

10 Continue your love to those who know you,
your righteousness to the upright in heart.

11 May the foot of the proud not come against me,
nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12 See how the evildoers lie fallen—
thrown down, not able to rise!

He still sees the darkness around him, but he asks God to remain faithful and hold him close.
The last verse can be seen in the future-tense - 'See - God will sort it out! He will!'

Be encouraged. As you look around you and see the terrible results of sin in all of society, remember.... GOD is!

Remember.

The Rivendell Duck

2009-06-07T23:43:00.004+12:00

Memory lane time - a recent browse through my journal has reminded me of this precious lesson I learned about a year ago...

I had taken a team to where 'Rivendell' in the Lord of the Rings movies was filmed. While there, we each spent a few hours in silence in nature, open to whatever God would do.

I sat at the edge of a river, about 50 metres downstream of a swing-bridge. I had my journal with me and was feeling dry that day. Unexpectant that God would show me anything, but ready to write down whatever I saw.

Then a saw a duck at the far end of the river.

And this is when my journalling started. Here it is as I wrote it....

The Rivendell Duck

'It started off at the far side of the river, moving swiftly with the current, cleaning himself as he drifted.

Lord, is there anything this duck could teach me about life with You?

Could he visit me if there is?

Maybe half an hour has passed. He's still here. He came pretty much as soon as I had hoped for him to. I had no food. He just came, curious, to say hi.

Lord, what can this duck show me?

He cleans himself so much. But differently to me. He is home in the water. He stands on a higher rock, then cleans, dipping his bill in the water and using it on his bill to probe between his feathers, into the down, searching, grooming. Cleaning. Then another sip of the water he stands in. More cleaning.

Then his friend joins him - within arms' reach. They both clean, then both sleep - head under wings, standing in the shallow water, right by me.

Lord, what can these ducks show me?

He's still here. His friend left after about ten minutes of napping.

He has eaten a full banana, much from my hand. Now he's cleaning himself again. Always with water. In water. Dipping his bill in and letting the water clean him.

Lord, You are the life-giving stream - river of water. Through You, dead seas come alive.

The people here mince across the stream with the swing-bridge, but this duck lives in the midst of the water.

Let me live completely in You. Letting You carry me. Finding my food in You. My rest in You. And Lord, clean me. search my and by Your Spirit, Your power, remove my sin and weaknesses. Let me never try and clean with a dry bill. I need to do work, but it is You who changes me. Your water. Life-giving.

The duck is still here, within arms' reach. Thank You so much, Lord, for this precious duck. May I be in You as he is in this stream.

The swingbridge and the water. 'Ways to cross a river'

First it was the tourists. Slowly, holding onto the sides, looking ooh and aah at the river, snapping off a few photos.

Then the three older women with the dog. Cautious but triumphant, posing for a 'victory photo' just before completing the crossing.

Then the young man. No camera. Just ambling and gazing at the sun's reflection on the water's surface.

They all crossed the swing-bridge.

Dangerous.

Exciting.

Maybe ten metres above the stream. Perhaps 30 metres wide?

They all crossed over. The stream was beautiful, inviting, but beneath them.

The stream draws them, but the bridge is the best way to be close to it, to conquer it.

Then there's the braver man. Bridges? Pah! He wants to rough it, be real.

He stands only in his shorts. And wades. You can see his body tense as the water reaches his thighs. Arms high in the air. Like an orangutan, he clumsily and quickly crosses over. Too cold. Too swift. Too close for comfort. Maybe the bridge was a better idea.

Meanwhile, the water continues to flow, bringing life and the sound of refreshment.

And the whole time, my friend the duck has been in it, cleaning, drifting, hunting, scratching, visiting, sleeping.

Why cross over this enticing stream? Are we not called to plunge into it?

What's around the corner? A waterfall? A bend? Stagnation?

I'll never know by sitting on the bank or crossing to the other side.

Let the current take me. Life is an adventure of trust and mystery.

Father, consume me!

(PS - the duck stayed by my side for two hours! Then, after a few minutes away, he came back!)

National Treasure

2009-05-27T02:21:00.005+12:00

I was just telling someone about visiting the National Museum of Taiwan yesterday, and seeing that their National Treasure is a cabbage carved from jadite, followed by a stone that looks like a piece of pork. (See my other blog for evidence!)

We laughed about it, then she said, "I wonder what God's National Treasure is?"

What? Or who?
What do you think?

Perspective

2009-05-11T10:34:00.005+12:00

If you look on my other blog, you'll see pictures of a short holiday I just came back from, here in Taiwan.

Very close to where we stayed was a Buddhist temple, complete with what I heard was the world's largest bronze Buddha.

Standing underneath it, I could believe that. It's huge. Imposing.

But all you have to do is walk for five minutes to a tower, and this Buddha loses its wow-factor and is swallowed by the mountains.

Go even further, and the mountains fill your vision. All you see of the Buddha is this dull glint.

What can seem massive and imposing in our lives may not be as big as we think it is. How can we discipline ourselves more to step back a bit and see these issues surrounded by God, as they are?

Depending on where you stand and how you look, you will get a totally different perspective on what is dominating your view.

Do you know the song where the one line goes:

'And in His presence, our problems disappear'?

I don't like singing that because I don't think it's true.

However, in His presence, our problems do gain perspective, and I guarantee they're nothing as big as He is!

Another Bible Gem

2009-05-02T21:10:00.006+12:00

This is similar to two posts back. It's amazing to read the Old Testament with the knowledge of the hope of Christ.
I found these verses in Job this morning. I want to yell into history, to people who felt this - 'There is a way! His Name is Jesus!' I want to shout this into broken and hopeless lives today - 'There is hope - there is LIFE in Christ!'

Read these verses and praise God that He has brought them to fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ:

Job 9:29-35

29 Since I am already found guilty,
why should I struggle in vain?
30 Even if I washed myself with soap
and my hands with washing soda,
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit
so that even my clothes would detest me.
32 "He is not a man like me that I might answer him,
that we might confront each other in court.
33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us,
to lay his hand upon us both,
34 someone to remove God's rod from me,
so that his terror would frighten me no more.
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,
but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

Praise God, now we CAN!

The Suffering Servant

2009-04-10T13:47:00.006+12:00

This is the first time I'm blogging about the same thing on both my blogs, but I think it's that important to focus on.

I have the privilege of living with international people, and praising God with people from around the world makes Him so much bigger in our eyes!

As we focus on the Cross of Christ this Easter, listen to this prophecy from Isaiah. Listen to the accents. Know that Christ came for all nations. Praise God with me - and I pray He becomes bigger to all of us!

Photo: scene from our Communion service last night

Gem of a verse

2009-03-22T16:15:00.004+13:00

Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.
- 2 Samuel 14:14 (TNIV)

A wise woman said this to King David, in trying to convince him to reconcile with his son, Absolom.

What hope is in this verse! What good news!
Praise God for the eternal truth in this verse. We, through our sin, are forever banished from God, but He has made a way of reconciliation - through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It's all His doing. Without Christ, we have no hope.

Praise God that He has devised the perfect way - we can be 'unbanished'.

Cabin Inspection

2009-02-06T21:34:00.006+13:00

I live on a ship. And as one of the leaders, one of the jobs I sometimes have to do is inspect crew cabins, a safety and hygiene requirement for the ship.
Along with a colleague, I am required to check that garbage has been taken out, floors vacuumed, linen changed more than annually (!!), electrical appliances have been safety approved, and all food is covered.
We provide some incentives for people on board to keep a nice cabin. If they get a number of '1's (perfect score - nothing wrong in the cabin), they can get a free coke. And if they get a 5 (BAD NEWS), the captain comes to visit... scary stuff!

It's funny to see how the young people on board deal with these inspections. A few forget, but most go into cleaning mode on Thursday nights or Friday mornings, before our Friday afternoon inspections. It's hard to find a vacuum cleaner at these times!

Today a young woman saw us inspecting a cabin a few doors before hers, and gasped, 'Is it Friday today?!', while running to her cabin for a quick tidy-up.

Many people take pride in their collection of '1's, and I've been bribed with sweets, crackers, ingratiating smiles and florid apologies if they are present when I find something wrong. We all have a laugh about it - it's something we have to do but better to make it fun.

If we ever find uncovered food, no matter how tidy the cabin is otherwise, it's an automatic 5.

Today I gave two 5's for this reason. In one cabin, it was for a tub of open flour, (go figure!), but the other was for a sandwich sitting on someone's shelf in an otherwise spotless cabin.

Her cabin-mate was in the room:
'But she's the baker. She's just come back from work and put it there.'
'Was she just here?'
'I don't know, I just got here.'
'Then we have no way of knowing how long it's been there. It attracts cockroaches. Sorry, I have to give you a 5.'
'Noooooo! We've never had worse than a 3 before!!'
'Sorry.'

We were friends before and we're still friends now. A cabin inspection is just a cabin inspection. But this brings parallels to my mind.

- As Christians, do we tidy the 'cabins' of our lives up when we know people are going to notice?
- Before then, is there frantic cleaning up and hiding of the rubbish?
- What are the cabins like during the rest of the week? (According to my carpenter friend who helped me inspect today, the immaculate cabins are often a shock when he comes unexpectedly to work in them at other times.)
- Do we live according to rules - 'Thou shalt nots', and not see the heart of why Christ calls us to live a certain way? Someone who understands and deals daily with the very real issue of cockroach infestation on a ship would never leave their sandwich open on a shelf. As we understand who God has called and enables us to be in this lost world, we would not willfully entertain sin, no matter how 'small', because we are being transformed into Christ's likeness.

We don't know when we will meet Christ. He will either come when we least expect it, or our lives will end first, often unexpectedly. I'm sure He won't treat our lives like a cabin inspection, but I wonder if we'll be ready.

'Lord, I'm so glad You came... look what a great Christian I've been! I've been doing this, this, that and the other! My attitude has cleared up a lot, I'm involved in evangelism, I'm loving my neighbour.'
'Uh-huh, and what about this 'sandwich' on your shelf?'
'That?! Oh, I just put that there for a moment.... it wasn't there before!'
'But it's there now.'
'Um. Yes. It's just a little sandwich....'

This causes me to rejoice at God's incredible grace - we have so much worse than sandwiches on our shelves! But it's also reminding me that sin is sin is sin, no matter how insignificant it may seem. When Christ returns, I want to have nothing to be ashamed of. I want to hear 'Well done, good and faithful servant' instead.

God, silent?

2009-01-11T02:20:00.004+13:00

I'm sitting in Singapore airport, redeeming time between flights.

Someone the other day was talking with me about deeply wanting to hear God speak to them, but never hearing anything.
I've never heard an audible voice from God and in my life have only met a handful of people who have.
So does this mean God is silent?
As we spoke, it dawned on me that when we want to hear God speak to us, it's usually to do with Him telling us something about US - our direction in life, choices we are facing, comfort we need...

Then I realised - God is speaking ALL THE TIME! Just not in a way we are expecting to hear. Read Psalm 19. The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim His handiwork. They may not have an audible voice but their message is broadcast around the world.
Romans 1. God speaks through His creation - people are without excuse for not coming into relationship with Him.

God is always speaking, but the catch is, He's not speaking about us. He is speaking about Himself! And what a vastly better conversation subject! He doesn't want to revolve around us and our day-to-day stresses as if that's the most important thing; He wants us to be consumed by Him.

Lord, I have a problem, I need You to speak to me...
I am GOD... look around. The heavens are declaring my glory.
Hello??? Anyone there? I have an issue here! Tell me what to do!
I am GOD.... the skies are proclaiming the work of my hands.
Why are You so silent?

I challenge myself along with you to look for the myriad of ways God is already speaking, and come to grips that He doesn't revolve around US. The more we focus on Him, the more we will realise how much more sense it makes to do so, and as we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, all the other stuff will be sorted.

Listen.... Do you hear Him?

Reality check

2008-11-28T22:15:00.004+13:00

The sea is His, for He made it,
and His hands formed the dry land.
- Psalm 95:5

Reading this last night, I was reminded again about the fact that God, who is unseen, is, in a way, even more REAL than what is seen. I mean, I see things He made. He made them, so He is far more worth noticing and paying attention to!

A book I'm reading (The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard) talks about this too.

The spiritual is more real than the physical. The seen will pass away - the unseen will last.
So why don't we live so much more in faith, trusting in the unseen - the permanent, the REAL?!

Driving lesson

2008-11-13T11:23:00.005+13:00

I remember my first driving lesson, years ago.
I sat behind the wheel and held it nervously. My instructor asked, "How do you steer?"
"I don't know - I guess I just do it." I answered.
"That's right," he said. "Don't think about steering. Just steer. Look ahead to the furthest point in the road you can, and steer. Your hands will follow your eyes."

Isn't this good advice for living the Christian life? I've been chatting with people about difficulties and distractions from following God, and we usually end up with 'focus on Christ, and live! The other stuff will sort itself out.'

If we look to the side when driving, we'll end up crashing into a fence or tree. If we take our focus off the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of the cross, we will be consumed by things less important, and we will crash.

Our hands will follow our eyes.
Our lives will follow our focus.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV

Lights on

2008-10-13T03:37:00.005+13:00

You, Lord, are my lamp;
the Lord turns my darkness into light.
- 2 Samuel 22:29 (NIV)

What an incredible joy is in this verse! We think often of light representing goodness, godliness - we read and sing of being lights of the world, being radiant for God, letting our lights shine. But this verse makes that truth even deeper for me.

Look at the hope this little verse holds:

Firstly, the LORD is our lamp. We are not shining our lights, but His. All the light is His. It is God's glory that we want to radiate, not our own.
We can not shine anything of eternal value in our own strength. So let's not try. And let's not worry ourselves because we think WE can't shine for Him. Because that's true. You, Lord, are my lamp.

And secondly, what really excites me about this verse...
Everyone has regrets. We all have periods of darkness in our lives. We talk about how when God forgives, He forgets the sin and we can move on. But I think that's only a part of it. God doesn't just forget the sin - He is able to use the effects of our sin for His glory. No matter what we have experienced or done 'in the dark', God is able to redeem it.

Have you ever been encouraged and drawn closer to God because of the testimony of someone who has been transformed by Him, or someone who has been faithful in hard times? Do you know people who are able to relate and minister to hurts in others because they have also 'been there'? God is able to use our dark times to create beauty in our lives and in the lives of others.

What an incredible God we love and serve. Not only does He give us light to live by, but He transforms our darkness, no matter how dark, into light, so that as we shine for Him, we are satisfied and He is glorified.

Lord, shine in us!

Just so you know...

2008-09-27T23:57:00.006+12:00

I've kept this blog going for a few years now, mainly to process my own thoughts about what I'm learning about God, but I've been encouraged by those of you whom I've never met before who have been in touch about different posts. Thank you!

I've just moved on from working in discipleship training with young people in New Zealand to something else, and have started a video and diary blog that you're welcome to follow if you want to: shirleyontheship.blogspot.com
I will continue with this one as well - already brewing a couple of ideas for future posts. :)

Faithful God

2008-08-21T08:42:00.004+12:00

I want to share how in awe I am of how faithful God is to Himself - His ways, His timing, His means are perfect, and to think that He loves and extends His faithfulness to us is incredible.

For me personally, this has hit home in the last month, as I've ended about a year of waiting for future direction to having Him show me clearly one day last month, resulting in my packing up my life in New Zealand within three weeks and getting involved in a ministry that I'm passionate about.

So am I raving that He is faithful just because great things are happening in my life at the moment? No. Granted, it is easier to remember and praise Him when we like what He is doing, but as I look back at the struggle, impatience and frustration of the last year, knowing He had something in store, but having to be patient at His timing, I see so many ways that He used that time to teach me to depend more on Him. And trust His faithfulness.

I took this photo a few days ago of a falcon I was privileged to get to hold. It's become one of my favourite photos already. Seeing the beauty, creativity, power and care God has displayed in this bird causes me to praise Him.

But I love how when I zoom in to the eye, there is my reflection. A small blip when looking at the picture for the first time, but detail that is there.

We may not see God's faithfulness. But zoom in and know that He sees us. And He loves us.

Your eye is on the sparrow

And Your hand, it comforts me

From the ends of the Earth

to the depth of my heart

Let Your mercy and strength be seen

You call me to Your purpose

As angels understand

For Your glory, may You draw all men

As Your love and grace demand

And I will run to You

To Your words of truth

Not by might, not by power

But by the spirit of God

Yes I will run the race

'Till I see Your face

Oh let me live in the glory of Your grace

- Hillsong

rules, rules, rules

2008-07-01T14:38:00.006+12:00

A quick thought...

How easily we can get caught up in the 'rules' of Christianity - do this, don't do that, serve this way, be this way... and basically live a life of following rules.

What's the most important rule God gives us?

LOVE Him!

Isn't that a weird rule?

Almost like He knows how we feel the need to do, do, do all the time. Instead, He not just invites, but stresses the importance so makes it into a rule - to love Him!

And that's the most important thing.

Let's never forget that.

New Zealand

2008-06-09T11:25:00.003+12:00

Please watch this short video I made about my country, New Zealand. Many reading this blog have never been here and images of a natural, peaceful paradise spring to mind. It is beautiful, and I love living here, but there's more than meets the eye.

Please pray for my country. Thank you.

Invisible footprints

2008-05-23T13:56:00.010+12:00

Your path led through the sea,

Your way through the mighty waters,

Though Your footprints were not seen.

- Psalm 77:19 (NIV)

This morning was the first time I really noticed this verse. Isn't it beautiful? Of course the psalmist is remembering how God led the Israelites across the Red Sea when escaping the Egyptians, but when this verse stood out to me this morning, it meant so much more.

God is there. His plans for us may bring us face to face with an insurmountable 'ocean', or many. He may not always lead us around the sea, but through the mighty waters. They are mighty, but He is the Almighty God!

We may not know how He is leading. His footprints may be invisible to us, yet He causes us to follow. And perhaps, only in hindsight, will we look back on the situations he brought us through instead of around, and say, 'You went ahead, You led me, though I didn't see it at the time.'

What a joy, what a privilege to know and follow our great God! Praise Him for His trail-blazing, mighty presence, even when we don't recognise it at the time.

Great youth message

2008-05-20T10:45:00.004+12:00

Cloud gazing

2008-05-06T01:49:00.010+12:00

I'm in Holland at the moment and have just spent the weekend with six young people that I got to know through OM's TEA programme, which I help lead in New Zealand. As well as reminiscing, sharing stories and enjoying each others' company, we were able to share our hearts with each other - what is God doing in our lives now? What are our joys? Our struggles?

A common theme was transition. A few of us, myself included, were unsure of what our next steps with God would be. And we were all frustrated and impatient because of this. What does God want us to do? Where? When?!

Reading Numbers 9 a few days ago has helped me with God's perspective on this. Maybe, if you're also wondering what's next and, like me, don't have the patience of a saint, it will help you too.

First, some background. The Israelites has escaped miraculously from slavery in Egypt, and were looking forward to the Promised Land. There is nothing to say that God couldn't have led them there directly. A direct route would have been about 200km and taken two weeks to travel. But God keeps them in the desert.

Of course, this was largely due to their sin, but I would suggest that it was also a crucial time for them to know and trust God.

He gives the Israelites a project - build His tabernacle. And once it was set up, He confirmed His presence through a cloud. This cloud would dictate when and where they moved:

Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. At the LORD's command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the LORD's order and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the LORD's command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. At the LORD's command they encamped, and at the LORD's command they set out. They obeyed the LORD's order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
- Numbers 9:17-23, NIV

The Israelites had a goal - to get to the promised land. But here they are, stuck in the desert, cloud gazing!

Imagine the scenario...

'OK, the cloud has parked. Let's set up camp! Hmm, not the nicest location, but that's ok - we're on our way to the Promised Land! Might just stay here a night or two to get some rest.'

The next day...

'Great! The cloud is moving! Pack up everyone - let's get out of this pit-stop. The Promised Land is calling!!'

A few days later...

'Stopped again? OK, I am a bit tired. Hope it's for a bit longer than a night though - setting up this tabernacle and all our tents is hard work!'

A week later....

'Lord? I'm ready for your cloud to move on now. We've had a good rest, and it's getting a bit boring staying here.'

A month later....

'Hello?! Cloud?! Yoo-hoo! This place is getting old already. Promised Land please!'

A year later...

'What?! It's moving? But I don't want to leave now! I've just redecorated my tent and paved the doorway! We like our neighbours and the kids have found a fabulous sand-pit to play in! We're having a concert next week by the big rocks to the west. This is home - I can't up and leave!'

Do you feel that God treats you like this sometimes? You're ready to take on the world for Him and He seems silent. You're settled and comfortable and He shakes you to the core. Why?

The Israelites were told to do just one thing. Follow that cloud. Be where God goes. Wherever that may be and whenever He chooses. Whether they camped under the cloud for a night, a week or a year, God was with them. He never abandoned them, even when He seemed silent. And He had His reasons for His timing.

As I wonder about what's next and get impatient at the lack of clear direction from God, I must learn from His commands to the Israelites in the desert.

- Make my priority His worship. The first thing the Israelites were to do was build His tabernacle. Worshipping God should be a feature of my every day, no matter where I am.

- Focus on Him. Watch for Him. When His Spirit convicts me of where I should be at, go. And stay there until it's clear that His cloud is moving.

- Don't get too restless or too comfortable. God is beyond our time. His will may not fit into my patience. I must adapt. He may make His will clear when I don't want to move. I must submit.

- Keep the 'Promised Land' in mind. My purpose in life is to glorify God in all things and to make Him famous. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I need to keep that as my focus and not let 'everyday life' take over. This life is ultimately a blip on the screen of eternity. His agenda is always better than ours.

So if you too are in restless transition, or feeling comfortable, I encourage you to do some cloud gazing. And don't take your eyes off your God! When He moves, follow.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33, NIV

People watching

2008-04-23T13:30:00.007+12:00

Greetings from Sydney airport where I'm killing time in transit on my way to Europe.
One of the best ways for me to do this is to watch people.

I'm reading and thinking a bit about what Christianity means and looks like in its full reality, the way God designed for us.... and wonder how different that will make a follower of Christ's look to the world. And how quickly? Could I spot a Christ-follower in my people watching? And what would identify them?

Well, when I was waiting to board my flight from Auckland to Sydney, an older woman came to sit in the same row of seats as me. We 'good morning'ed and as I went back to my book, she pulled out hers - a Christian devotional.

Aha - there's one.

A few minutes later she was off to catch her flight.

Then, on my plane, a middle aged man came to sit next to me. As he sat down, I spotted the Christian fish and F.R.O.G (Fully Rely on God) bracelets on his arm. We 'good-morning'ed and he then pulled out his book to read - 'Is Jesus Enough?'

I was intrigued and wanted to have a chat anyway, so I asked him what he thought of the book.
"Yeah, it's good," he said. "Written by a South African farmer."

That was that. I tried a couple more times during the flight to start conversation, but he didn't want to. When we were delayed on the tarmac, he was muttering under his breath.

Now I don't want it to sound like I'm judging him, though I guess it does. He may have been having a rotten day - the circumstances of his flight may not have been good. But honestly, I was discouraged. His bracelets and book were indicators of his faith, but that's all I had to go on.

Now I have to turn the microscope on myself. What would he or others have seen in me? I too was reading a Christian book and my Bible. But? Could they see Christ in me?

No answers in this post. But as I think about it, maybe you'd like to as well.

If Christ is our LIFE, how should that look to others, even in the every day?
Because I'm convinced that by our submitting our lives to the God of the Universe,
for Him to do what He will, He's too big for people not to notice something!!

I'd love to hear your thoughts. I have more, but they can wait for another time.
For now, more people watching. More Christ-in-them spotting.

I wonder if anyone will see Christ in me...

Sincerity, Part 2

2008-03-29T17:12:00.009+13:00

I was browsing through a local community newspaper this morning and saw this announcement in the classified section. Never has a classified so captured my imagination, or stirred me like this one.

According to what was written, being in Neil would have been 5 in 1945, which would make him 68 this year. What prompted him to place this notice, 63 years after the incident?

I would imagine that a feeling of guilt had a lot to do with it. Pretty convicting guilt for him to contact the newspaper. How many hours of Neil's life have been spent in regret, in sorrow for what he did and wishing he could reverse it?

Is this a strong reaction to a seemingly minor incident? Did Neil need to do this?

He must have thought he did, and good on him for trying to deal with his guilt by asking for forgiveness.

In my last post I spoke about sincerity, dropping the mask and not having any wax covering up who we really are before God, ourselves and others.

I've been thinking, how does this work itself out practically? This newspaper notice helps me realise how important it is to be humble and seek forgiveness of others, even if it exposes us as not being as perfect as we wish everyone thought we were.

Sincerity often means putting things right, even if it hurts our reputation. It's not hiding behind a mask or wax of, 'that was years ago and not even that big a deal,' or 'I was only 5!'.

The Bible echoes this. David captures what hidden guilt can do to someone in Psalm 32:

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah

Psalm 32:1-3 (NIV)

This 63-year old sin obviously affected Neil. I think many of us have stomach-churning thoughts of how we have wronged others, recently and in the past, and not dealt with.

Like David, do you know there is deceit (the opposite of sincerity) in your heart? Can you get what you did out of your mind? Does it feel like your bones waste away? Does it feel like God's hand is against you and that your strength is sapped when you think of things you have done?

Pretty dire stuff. Covering up is dangerous. We may look good on the outside, but it eats at us.

What is the solution? Sincerity!

David continues...

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "— and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah

Psalm 32:4 (NIV)

Amen for a God who forgives! Not only forgives, but cleanses us and takes away the guilt.

Perhaps Neil has asked God for forgiveness for what he did to Charmaine. Maybe he knew also that he should seek her own forgiveness.

Sometimes that's harder. I can confess something to God - well, He knows already what I've done! But it's much more embarrassing to confess it to the people I've wronged.

But God wants our sincerity, and to honour Him in all we do.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

1 John 1:5-10 (NIV)

May I encourage you to think about Neil this week and ask God if there's any areas in your life where, in order to be truly sincere, it may mean possibly losing face and asking forgiveness of God and someone you have wronged.

Yours sincerely...

2008-03-26T16:28:00.013+13:00

Once upon a time, people used to fuel their egos and show their status by having statues made of themselves. Making a statue of someone was tough work. You have to chip off all the bits off the block of stone that don't look like the person, and that's a great skill, needing a lot of time and care.

I imagine that many a sculptor sneezed or got a fright at a delicate moment, weeks into their project, and their statue would suddenly get more acne scars than vanity allowed. Or worse still, the nose would clatter to the floor. Oops.

Now an honest sculptor would phone their client, apologise for the delay, and assure them that a new statue would be ready for them in just a few short months.

At some point, a sculptor tried the less honest path. The statue had been perfect, almost complete before the accident. And he refused to start again for no extra pay. Seeing the candle burning near him, the inspiration hit. He remoulded the scar with wax. Pretended it wasn't there.

It worked! He completed his statue and got paid handsomely. It looked so good! So perfect.

In the pub with friends that night, he boasted about his swindle, then moved house and changed phone numbers before the sun shone too brightly the next day and his client realised with horror that his likeness was melting.

This became a common form of trickery among the Roman sculptors and potters, so much so that the public soon cottoned on. From that point, quality craftsmen would provide an authentication that their product was guaranteed to be 'sin cere', without wax.

We are also called to be without wax.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. - Romans 12:9 (NIV)

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. - 2 Timothy 1:5-6 (NIV)

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. - 1 Peter 1:22 (NIV)

What does it mean to be sincere, to love sincerely, without wax?

When I was a child and having a horrible day, someone asked me how I was. "Fine!" I barked.

"Really?" he said, "You don't look like you're fine."

This has stuck in my memory. One of the things that breaks my heart the most is seeing falsity in myself and others, especially as Christians. We can be so good at showing others what we want them to see, hiding the deep cracks and pain underneath..

In fact, it is in opposition to this that I called this blog 'Unmasking'. The Greek word for sincerity is Anupokritos, meaning 'without play acting'. (From the tradition of masked plays.)

God wants sincerity. And I think people do too. How many times have you been in a conversation with someone who is warm and friendly, but totally hollow, and you can tell they don't really care? How many times are we that person?

Am I sincere before God?

Do I see myself as I really am - a broken, sinful mess whom HE has redeemed and is transforming, or do I congratulate Him sub-consciously for saving an asset like me?!

Am I sincere with myself?

Do I bring the junk in my life out in the open before God or cover over it by ignoring or other destructive behaviour? Do I even admit that I have issues sometimes?

Am I sincere with others?

When I ask, "How are you?", am I interested in the answer?

When someone talks with me, am I really listening, or just formulating what clever thing I intend to say next?

Do I gush over something or someone, but in my heart, know I'm lying?

When I say, "I'll pray for you", will I?

Am I prepared for people to see me without wax, or am I afraid that they will turn away from what they see?

Am I really loving them, or just hoping to give that impression?.

Am I sincere about my faith?

Do I enjoy the blessings but gloss over the demands?

Do I expect God to meet me on my terms, or His?

Am I prepared to say, "Here I am, warts and all, send me?" and trust that He can work even with a cracked statue like I am?

God asks for our sincerity. Imagine how it would change the world if we got rid of the masks and lived real lives for His glory.

Yours without wax, (well, that's the goal anyway!)

Shirley

It is well...

2008-02-09T10:53:00.001+13:00

What a rich legacy we have in hymns. I've been thinking about Spafford's classic, "It is well with my soul" today, and it forces me to ask myself if I can honestly sing the same thing.

Apparantly, Spafford wrote this song in response to losing his four daughters in a ship collision, not long after his financial ruin. He was a grieving man, yet this song surges with hope.

The Bible echoes this.
God allows everything to be taken from Job, yet he still praises His Name - albeit, probably not with a smile on his face, yet he still praises God.

Paul in chains praises God and reflects on how his imprisonment is causing others to be more bold in sharing the gospel. (Philippians 1:12-14)

Think of the other men and women in the Bible and throughout church history who have praised God in the midst of trial, and how God has used them to greatly glorify His Name. (If you want more examples, get your hands on the Foxe's Book of Martyrs.)

Is God really the source of our hope, our peace, our joy? Has Christ's death and resurrection turned into victory in our lives? Can we, in every situation, praise His Name, because we know that we are completely His?

Can we sing these words from the heart?

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Hasty

2008-01-27T00:57:00.002+13:00

Have you ever been so impatient that you just want to take or do the first thing on offer? If you are a regular follower of this blog, you may remember that I'm in a transition stage of life, wondering what God will have me doing next, and where. I'm not the most naturally patient person, so this process is frustrating, even though I want to wait rather than jump into the first possibility that comes my way.

I'm in Germany at the moment, and it's been a good time to connect with people and think big together with them for the Kingdom of God. Exciting things are happening around the world, and there's so many ways to get involved. Even as I type, I'm seriously weighing up 'job' offers from three different continents - all doing some pretty incredible things.

But what is best?

I read this week about Esau and Jacob, and it's been very timely in this situation.

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.)
Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."
"Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?"
But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
So Esau despised his birthright.
Genesis 25:29-34 (NIV)

Esau was famished. He wanted food quickly and when he saw Jacob's stew, it fit the bill.
He was so consumed with his need for instant satisfaction that he gave up his birthright to get it.

Am I in the danger of being like this? So hungry for ways to serve God that I jump at the first opportunity that comes my way, and in the process miss something even greater that He designed me for?
In satisfying my immediate desires, am I being too hasty?
Once Esau's birthright was given to Jacob, it was too late. He couldn't get it back.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't believe that God always has one plan for each person and that if we don't pay attention, we can miss it and ruin our lives. He is much more gracious than that! But I do think that in our decision making, it is far more important to seek the heart of God than accepting the first options that appeal to us.

Because He may have made us for so much more.
Let's not ever despise our birthright in our haste.

Resolution revolution

2008-01-07T14:02:00.004+13:00

Happy New Year! I don't know about your cultures, but here in New Zealand, it's quite popular to make New Year's resolutions. I prefer to think of mine as goals, and this year I have a couple. I find it helpful to have a goal to aim for, or I can get lazy.

For Christians, the coming of a new year can be a time to reflect on our walks with God. As a child, I remember resolving to never sin again. Yeah, right! Even this year, I see so much room to grow and mature, and it can get overwhelming to think how far we are from where we would like to be.

It can be easy for me, a task-orientated DOer, to make a list of what I want to DO for God this year. I can resolve to be a better Christian, to pray more, to serve others more, etc etc. But I will fail.

"For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."
Romans 7:19 (NIV)

Peter was a lot like this. He had high aspirations. He resolved to follow Jesus, even to death. But he didn't. Instead, he denied his Lord three times when it really mattered.

In John 21, when Jesus restored Peter over a smoked fish breakfast on the beach, what did he do? Did he criticise Peter, pointing out his failure? Did he tell Peter to try harder next time? Did he laugh at Peter, 'yeah, right'-ing his resolutions?

No. Jesus wasn't interested in Peter's resolutions. He just asked one question. "Do you love me?"

What is our answer to that question?

We can get so caught up in resolutions, what we can DO for God. God doesn't need us to do anything for Him. He demands our love. And with love will come obedience.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command."
John 14:15 (NIV)

It's better to focus on loving God than planning all we want to do for him. The greatest resolutions, without love, aren't worth anything.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)

"Jesus does not need your resolutions, your recommitments, or your promises to try harder this year. If your resolve to obey God last year did not help you to be faithful, it will not make you successful this year. Jesus asks for your love. If you truly love Him, your service for Him in the new year will be of the quality that He desires."
- Blackaby, 'Experiencing God day-by-day devotional'

Let's revolutionise our resolutions this year, by deepening in our love for our Father instead of just promising to do things for Him.

""What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
"Which of the two did what his father wanted?""
Matthew 21:28-31(NIV)

Memory verse time!

2007-12-17T20:19:00.003+13:00

When's the last time you memorised a verse or passage from the Bible? Well, here's a challenge for you. Try memorising one right now! Watch this video a couple of times and you'll be well on your way to learning one of my favs. Enjoy!

Yep, nothing more or deeper than that this time around. It's God's Word - what could I say to top that anyway?!

Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. As for me, I'm off to the beach with friends - wohoo!

The Prayer of Asa

2007-12-11T10:19:00.002+13:00

OK, you've probably heard of the prayer of Jabez. But have you ever heard of the prayer of Asa?

I've read about Asa before... one of the kings of Judah, David's great-great-grandson. A man who loved God, fought some battles and had a severe foot disease before he died. Among the lists of kings in the Bible, someone easily overlooked.

I rediscovered Asa this morning, while looking for verses about dependence on God.
In 2 Chronicles 14, we read how Asa's army of 580,000 were up against a 'vast' army of Cushites, or as some translations write, 'a thousand thousand' or 'a million'.

Not good odds. Now, if this were a Hollywood movie, Asa, the hero, would ride among his men, his face sweat and dirt stained, clashing swords together with them and saying something terribly brave - "We may die tonight, but let us die like men!" or something inspiring like that.

Instead, in verse 11, we read what Asa did:

Asa prayed: LORD God, only you can help a powerless army defeat a stronger one. So we depend on you to help us. We will fight against this powerful army to honor your name, and we know that you won't be defeated. You are the LORD our God.

2 Chronicles 14:11

And of course, like in Hollywood movies, Asa's army beat the bad guys and everyone was happy. But that's not the point. Asa's prayer is incredible, and can hold a lot of truth for us too.

How much do we depend on ourselves in different situations? How much do we trust in God? And what is our motivation for doing things? Like Asa, is it to honour God's Name?

Asa's army wasn't insignificant. (I would be nervous to have over 500,000 soldiers facing me!) But he realised that against the vast army, they were powerless. Asa also knew the vastness of God, and that He wouldn't be defeated, no matter how big the enemy was.

I think we can be easily over-confident in our own abilities, forgetting that we are in a spiritual battle, and the enemy is vast! But God is greater, and He can bring victory.

Our confidence can also lead to pride. "I did this, I did that!" We are on this earth to glorify God. Not depending on Him in all things and taking credit for ourselves is flying in the face of that.

God wants us to depend entirely on Him:

Everyone who honors your name can trust you, because you are faithful to all who depend on you.
Psalm 9:10 (CEV)

'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6b (NIV)

The more we trust in our own strength, the more deluded we are. God wants 100% dependence on Him for His strength. And He delights in using the weak things of the world to glorify His Name. Think of David with Goliath, the boy with loaves and fish, the widow's coins, the baby in a manger...
I think I'm going to make a poster of this verse and try and develop the habit of praying more like Asa.
LORD God, only you can help a powerless me defeat (insert sin, temptation or situation here). So I depend on you to help me. I will fight against this powerful (whatever it is) to honor your name, and I know that you won't be defeated. You are the LORD my God.
Now if this were a Hollywood movie, the credits would go up after the final victory. Unfortunately, Asa, though he was close to God, depended on others later in life, to his demise. He depended on another king years later, and got a severe telling off:

At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: "Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war."

2 Chronicles 16:7-9 (NIV)

Whether we choose to put our trust completely in God or not, there are consequences.

As we depend on Him, God uses our weaknesses to show His strength. (See also 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 and 2 Corinthians 12:5-10.)

If we choose to do things in our own strength instead, God may just leave us to it, as He ended up doing with Asa. His ways are always greater than ours - we're missing out on the best solution to anything by going it alone!

Another verse I found today:

I have made everything; that's how it all came to be. I, the LORD, have spoken. The people I treasure most are the humble-- they depend only on me and tremble when I speak.

Isaiah 66:2 (CEV)

God treasures those who depend solely on Him. Let's be like Asa when he was young and learn from his mistakes as he got older.

waiting... (thoughts from a river bank)

2007-12-03T16:28:00.002+13:00

Waiting. What does that mean to you?

For a 'Doer' like me, it only spells impatience. I don't want others to wait for me and I don't like waiting for others. The concept carries negative connotations. Why wait for something - why not get it now? Waiting is lost time, wasted time. Maybe that's how my mind reads 'wait' - 'waste'.

Yet Scripture is comfortable with waiting. Patiently too!

Apart from the many verses which speak of waiting, the Bible is rich in imagery that in our instant culture, we can miss the significance of.

Why does God speak of seeds growing, trees by a stream, building towers, growing children? All these things take time.

Last week I was with our TEA team in Wellington, and we went to an area of forest where the elvish town of Rivendell was filmed in the Lord of the Rings movies. There, we each found our own secluded spots by the river, and waited. We'd had a busy week, and here was an opportunity for some solo time with God. We didn't have an agenda, no bells and whistles, no great expectations. Just sat there really. Waiting.

I told them to take their watches off so as not to be distracted. I set my alarm for 3 hours time, found a rock and .... well.... waited.

Now, it would be cheesy to say God met me there in my waiting, almost as if sitting by a river for three hours was a formula, results guaranteed! In fact, I found it very difficult to be still, to stay awake, to stop thinking of 100 things that needed doing. Waiting was a discipline!

But as I sat and thought of what creation could reveal of the Great Creator to me, I was struck by the sense that everything happens in its own time, the way God made it.

Golden leaves drifted down lazily from the trees on the cliff opposite me whenever the breeze blew. The rock I was leaning against was cool in the shade but by my feet, the sun was gradually warming the other rocks, to the point that they were quite hot to touch. It took time.

Birds wheeled around together in full song, completely ignoring me. The sapling by my bag was just there, but one day it would be one of those mighty trees. It would take time.

And all this time, the river babbled and sang its song in front of me.

I was reminded of some Christian songs that speak of waiting, all based on Isaiah 40:31:

'Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord...'
'As I wait, You make me strong...'
'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...'

Waiting is linked with strength? Not waste?

I thought again of the sapling by my bag. It would take years for it to grow to full size. But then how strong it would be!

This reminded me of Psalm 1:

Blessed are those ...who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night. They are like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

We are to be like trees. But trees are not instantly big or strong. For years first, they grow their roots by a water source, and as they wait, they are made strong.

I looked at the stream. A reminder of the Living water we are invited to drink of and never thirst again. (Jeremiah 2:13, 17:13, John 4)

Still the 'I-must-be-busy' side of my personality protested. How can I WAIT when there's so much to do?!

At this point I couldn't even sit still any more. I had moved to a rock right by the water's edge and was fiddling around with a leaf, making a makeshift boat. (Yeah, I'm so disciplined!)

Placing the boat in the water, I watched it for some time as it started twirling first, then half sinking, then finally moving gently with the current downstream until it was lost to my sight.

Waiting may seem passive to us. We may not think we're going anywhere. But by immersing ourselves in the streams of Living water, we may be having our roots nourished and not even realise we're growing, or we may be gently (and sometimes roughly!!) carried by the current of what God is doing, and when we look back, we see how He has carried us further than we could have imagined.

Soon afterwards the three hours was up. I was amazed how each of the TEA team members felt the time had flown, and that in different ways for each of them, they had sensed God strengthening them as they sat by the river, waiting for Him.

You may remember from a previous post that I'm at a bit of a crossroads in life, trying to discern where, what, how God would like me to continue living for Him. It can be frustrating to not have clear answers sometimes, and a few weeks ago, I spoke with one of my pastors about it.

"Make friends with the waiting place." I was told.

"Yeah, right" I thought. Wait = waste.

But waiting for God is not idly sitting on my butt waiting for a voice from heaven. It's living life to the full every day, making decisions, doing what needs to be done, but through this finding strength in time with Him, asking for His leading and trusting His timing.

I have done this solo bush time before and want to continue this discipline. That's what it is to me - a discipline. But it's probably one of the best things I can do. Instead of focussing on how I can do this or that for God, in forcing myself to be still and wait for Him, I recognise again that I am just clay. The potter can do whatever He wants, and can take however long He likes to make something beautiful. There's strength in that, not waste.

Radical

2007-11-15T18:16:00.001+13:00

There's an older couple I cherish and love to visit. They live literally in the middle of nowhere - at the end of a windy dirt road, a 25 minute slog from any main road, and almost 2 hours from any decent sized settlement in a remote part of the country. They had to clear the bush and build the road to their property when they bought the land. Their house was built from scratch, a work of love using found lumber and river stones. They have no electricity, no phone. It's one of my favourite places in the world and my dream house, mainly because I see how something of such beauty came at such cost.

My parents visited them last week. It was the first time my mother met this couple. On her return, I asked, "Isn't it amazing?! Aren't they great?!"
She agreed, but said, "There's no way I could live there."

That's where we're different. Nothing against my mum, but she prefers the comfort of electricity and the security of being close to a doctor. I relish the thought of pioneering, getting my hands dirty, roughing it. Every time I stay there, I feel refreshed, and realise how much I love being away from all the mod-cons that we take so for granted. I don't even miss them. In fact, I hunger for more simplicity.

I think we have turned comforts into needs in our minds. Tell a Western person that they can live quite happily and safely without electricity and they'll look at you funny. But it's not only possible - people did so for millenia, and many still do out of necessity or choice.
Take a TV or computer away from someone and they'll cry blue murder. But life continues, and for many who make the lifestyle change, they realise how incredible it is to get outside or read a book... or whatever.
Remove the car - people walk. And get stronger.
Unplug the internet and people slowly start doing things that they used to before 1999! It CAN be done!

People who DO these things are seen as radicals, extreme, idealistic. Because how could we expect 'normal' people to do such things?

OK, I may sound like a hippie now... in many ways I guess I am one - (I love their flowy shirts!!), but this is all a picture to me of the life Christ calls us to.

No, there is no place in the Bible where Jesus says, "Turn off the TV and follow me", but He does ask us to follow Him no matter what and be prepared to sacrifice all our other perceived 'needs'.

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:25-33 "(NIV)

I get so frustrated by the thinking that following Christ should fit into our daily routines, should be comfortable and not shake too many feathers.

People thought my friends were mad when they set off to start building their house in the bush. But they persevered and worked hard over many years, and the result is incredible. They still face trials, but they stick with things. They had considered the cost, and faced it.

My mum, when she saw their lifestyle, knew she wouldn't be able to handle living that way. Good for her - she considered the cost. As for me, the notion of living like this couple appeals and I'd like to think I could do the same. But if I were given the opportunity tomorrow, would I last it out? Could I really handle it? I would have to do some hard thinking before making any commitment. I would need to carefully consider the cost.

The concept that our Christian life is meant to be radical, totally different from the world, and extreme, seems to jar people. It's more comfortable to focus on the 'blessings' of Christianity - which are there, yes, and incredible. But Jesus asks us to be radical. He warns us to consider the cost.

And we are to follow Him radically, with everything we are, with everything we've got. And it IS possible. The Holy Spirit makes following Christ fully possible.

I think we have turned Christian 'comforts' into needs in our minds. At the end of the day, God is ALL we truly need - when air and food and water and life here run out, He is IT! Are we replacing a total devotion to following, loving and representing Him to a lost world with nice songs on Sunday, motivating speeches and chatty fellowship? These are all great, but are we living sold out lives for Jesus at the same time?

Sorry if this is turning into a bit of a rant. I'm just sick of the condescending looks, the tut-tuts, and 'you're young and idealistic. Just wait a few years.' or 'everyone's radical when they're young.'

Does your Christian walk look radical to others? Does it refuse to conform to the pattern of this world?

If you're not prepared to live radically for Christ, sit down now and consider the cost. What are you doing following Him then?

Gratitude

2007-11-08T14:45:00.002+13:00

An invitation.
Stop.
Your body and your mind. Just pause.
Be grateful to God.
Take as long as you like, but be grateful.

How often do we do this in our busy days? Worship Him now as you pause - He has done great things!

Maybe this video will help you. It was an act of worship for me to put together.
Be grateful to God with me today!

If you'd like to, use the comments section to write down something you are grateful to God for. Let's see how great a list we can make!!

controversial....

2007-11-05T15:49:00.003+13:00

I'm saddened to see some things in the church today:
- lack of Biblical knowledge. It is said that only 1 in 5 New Zealand Christians read their Bible regularly - I'm sure this statistic is similar around the Western world.
- wacky theology.
- lack of love.

If we are to take seriously the greatest commandment and love God with everything we are, surely we will get to know Him through His Word, and use some discernment when people say all sorts of things about Him?

More challenging for me, when others display a lack of Biblical knowledge and base their theology on what I believe is a non-Biblical foundation, how do I respond? In love?
And what fights am I picking?

Max Lucado tells a story:

Some time ago I came upon a fellow on a trip who was carrying a Bible. "Are you a believer?" I asked him.
"Yes," he said excitedly.
I've learned you can't be too careful. "Virgin birth?" I asked.
"I accept it."
"Deity of Jesus?"
"No doubt."
"Death of Christ on the cross?"
"He died for all people."
Could it be that I was face to face with a Christian? Perhaps. Nonetheless, I continued my checklist. "Status of man."
"Sinner in need of grace."
"Definition of grace."
"God doing for man what man can't do."
"Return of Christ?"
"Imminent."
"Bible?"
"Inspired."
"The Church?"
"The Body of Christ."
I started getting excited. "Conservative or liberal?"
He was getting interested too. "Conservative."
My heart began to beat faster. "Heritage?"
"Southern Congregationalist Holy Son of God Dispensationalist Triune Convention."
That was mine!
"Branch?"
"Pre-millennial, post-trib, non-charismatic, King James, one-cup communion."
My eyes misted. I had only one other question. "Is your pulpit wooden or fiberglass?"
"Fiberglass," he responded.
I withdrew my hand and stiffened my neck. "Heretic!" I said and walked away.
- Max Lucado, A Gentle Thunder, p. 139, 140

I am not a post-modernist. I do believe in absolutes. But it's breaking my heart to see others, especially in the blogging world, ripping each other apart because of doctrinal differences.

Yes, let's saturate ourselves in God's Word and obey it, but a plea to everyone reading this, including myself - if someone believes something different to you, think carefully about your response.

Yes, let's speak truth, but don't forget the love. And don't get caught up in controversy that, at the end of the day, is miniscule compared with the cross of Jesus Christ.

Don't worry, be happy

2007-10-29T18:08:00.001+13:00

Along with the TEA team that I work with, I've been memorising Philippians 4:6-7 last week:

Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

These are timely verses for me as I'm dealing with restlessness where I am and uncertainty about what God has in store for me. It's not a fear issue - more a patience one, since I want to get on with it!

The challenge to pray is huge. And according to these verses, the more we pray, the more of God's peace will come in and out of our lives.

In 1 Samuel 7, when the Philistines were closing in, Samuel prayed for the Israelites. And he prayed. But before then, he demanded that the Israelites destroy their idols and live wholeheartedly for God.

This should affect how we pray too. 'Thy, not MY Kingdom come and Thy, not MY will be done!'

The more we surrender to God, the more our prayer life will be in tune with His desires, and the more we will feel His peace, even when answers in His time are slower than our own!

The biggest challenge for me in these verses in Philippians was, 'With thankful hearts...'

A girl on our TEA team led the group in prayer the other night, and before we prayed for her unsaved loved ones and a country in the world, she asked us to pause for a few moments and think of what we are thankful to God for.

It was revolutionary for me. The more we focus on God's mercy, grace, peace, forgiveness, beauty and everything He does, the more insignificant our worries about the state of the world become, and the more confident we can be in intercession that He has the power to answer any prayer in greater ways than we can imagine!

So may I challenge you as I challenge myself. Don't worry about ANYTHING, but pray about EVERYTHING. With thankful hearts, offer up everything to God - and be thankful for His peace in any situation!

Amen!

Hopes dashed

2007-10-08T11:00:00.001+13:00

I'm a New Zealander. There's something I must explain about New Zealanders, or Kiwis, as we call ourselves. Something I'm not particularly proud of. Rugby here is a religion. For any North Americans reading this, think American football without the helmets and shoulder pads, more running with the ball and huge sweaty goliaths crashing into each other. I love it, though it's nowhere near religion status in my book!

Anyway, the Rugby World Cup is taking place at the moment in France and the UK. The last time NZ won the cup was 1987, and since then, the country goes mad every four years as we rest our hopes on winning it back again. The All Blacks, New Zealand's national team, and pride and joy, are a world class team, and were hot favourites to win the cup this year. They were our best team yet...

Yesterday, in a quarter final game against France - a game where we didn't even send out the strongest team because, well, France isn't as good as us, we lost.

That's it. Out. Tournament over. A country literally in mourning. Hopes dashed.

I'm disappointed but don't really care. What saddens me is knowing that the police would be kept extra busy over the next few days now with extra call outs to domestic violence and alcohol related incidents. Rugby here really is a religion, and Kiwis don't always lose gracefully. It's often women and children who bear the brunt of the loss at the other end of the world. Tragic.

In my quiet time yesterday, I looked at 1 Samuel 4, and was struck by the similarities between the Israelites and Kiwi fanatics at this time.

The Philistines had attacked and Israel had lost badly. They were determined to win the next battle. What could they do to ensure victory? How could they be guaranteed a win? The elders came up with a 'fool-proof' plan:

When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."
1 Samuel 4:3

There is no hint here that they sought after God in this. They just came to a decision. The ark was the best secret weapon they could have! Surely they'd beat the Philistines now!

We sense from verse 13 that Eli, the high priest, allowed this to happen, but reluctantly. Perhaps he gave in to mob pressure. His two sons, not known for their integrity, accompanied the ark as the Israelites prepared to pulverise the Philistines.

They were now undefeatable! They were going to claim back victory! It was already theirs! See their confidence in verse 5, not unlike New Zealand's confidence in the All Blacks leading up to Sunday:

When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook.
1 Samuel 4:5

Notice what they wanted to have help them? Not God. The ark.

(...so that it may go with us and save us...)

The enemy were terrified. But that turned into a steely resolve for them - do or die. They fought hard. And they won.

The Israelites were defeated. The all-powerful, almost 'magical' ark hadn't done what it was meant to do! Hopes were dashed. All was lost. Even the source of their hope, the ark, was taken from them.

The All Blacks and the Israelites had both thought themselves invincible. Both put their faith in their 'secret weapons' - the ark for the Israelites, and superior skill, training and coaching for the All Blacks.

Both were embarrassingly defeated.

How much can we be like this too? What or who are we placing our faith in? Do we come to situations feeling invincible, because we know we are doing 'the right thing' or 'this always succeeds'? Even the most godly sounding things can not and should not replace an absolute dependence on God Himself in all areas of our lives.

Am I trusting in my 'arks' - things which seem great and good and right - even Christian - but expecting God to follow and toe the line because of that? Do I even have a sense of dependency on Him in ALL things, or do I just expect that things will go well in a certain area because they always have?

When things get challenging, who or what is the first thing I turn to? Like the All Blacks, do I depend on my own strength and skill? Like the Israelites, do I think that by doing 'nice Christian things' I am getting God on my side?

Our hopes will continue to be dashed until we learn (and relearn!) to not put our trust in anyone or anything over God Himself.

Even as I write this, I'm thinking of all the everyday things I often do without a sense of dependency on God - driving, talking with others, even doing my quiet times. (My own strength has done me alright in the past in these areas... why not keep going as is?!)

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5

Whatever?

2007-10-05T12:11:00.001+13:00

Browsing other blogs, I'm amazed that some people can post so regularly and yet have something good to say each time! I do tend to post less often, but usually do out of a real sense that I have something to say. Today is different. I have no idea where this post will go but I really feel I should write this. So here goes... hold on for the ride!

I'm dealing at the moment with an uncanny feeling of restlessness - wanting something more - to get deeper with God, more radical, more 'front-line', whatever that means. This is good. I welcome such a feeling as it's been causing me to examine my life and see how it fits in with how a disciple of Christ should be living.

BUT at the same time, I know God is preparing me for whatever His 'next' plans for me are.
And am I willing to follow Him, whatever He asks of me, wherever He leads?

Verses like these are uncomfortable for me at the moment, because if I am to truly follow Christ, I can't pick and choose how. He calls the shots...

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Matthew 10: 37-39

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. "
Mark 6:33

"I can do all things through him who gives me strength."
Philippians 4:13

Can I really trust God to do 'all things' He wants to through my life? Am I willing to submit to His authority and leading - in whatever?

These are huge questions for me as I ponder what's next. I have dreams and passions, many of which I believe are prompted by God, but what if He calls me to something I don't find so savory? What if He asks me to do something I really DON'T want to do? How deep is my discipleship really - am I prepared to take up my cross, not argue or fuss, but follow?!

No rosy answers in this post, but I encourage you to challenge yourselves in this too. What does it mean for you to be a disciple of Christ? How much say do you still expect to have? How much do we need to daily relinquish?

Father, give me strength to follow - whatever it means.

Worship

2007-09-25T18:15:00.002+12:00

For those who only know me online, you may not know that a big part of who I am is linked to my guitar. :) Anyway, in a period of less busyness, I've finally completed a project I've wanted to do for a long time.

The video below is of a song I wrote almost 10 years ago, called 'Worship', and based on Isaiah 58.

Here's the verses I based it on:

Day after day, you worship him and seem eager to learn his teachings. You act like a nation that wants to do right by obeying his laws. You ask him about justice, and say you enjoy worshiping the LORD.

You wonder why the LORD pays no attention when you go without eating and act humble. But on those same days that you give up eating, you think only of yourselves and abuse your workers. You even get angry and ready to fight. No wonder God won't listen to your prayers! Do you think the LORD wants you to give up eating and to act as humble as a bent-over bush? Or to dress in sackcloth and sit in ashes? Is this really what he wants on a day of worship?

I'll tell you what it really means to worship the LORD. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives.

Then your light will shine like the dawning sun, and you will quickly be healed. Your honesty will protect you as you advance, and the glory of the LORD will defend you from behind. When you beg the LORD for help, he will answer, "Here I am!"

Don't mistreat others or falsely accuse them or say something cruel. Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun.

Isaiah 58:2-10 (CEV translation)

I hope this song is a blessing and a challenge for you as you seek to worship God more today...

Carried

2007-09-13T12:04:00.001+12:00

I saw this video for the first time a few weeks ago, and it made me cry. What an incredible picture of our Father's love for us, and the fact that we don't have to try and fail in our own strength, but allow Him to be our strength instead.

Rick Hoyt, the young man in this video, has cerebral palsey, but loves to race. He is unable to do this on his own, but through his father, Dick's, love and determination, he has completed a number of marathons and even triathlons.

Nothing is impossible for our Father who loves and carries us. May this encourage you to press in closer Him.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5

Push

2007-09-05T09:52:00.001+12:00

It's been a while since I posted last - there's been so many ideas for posts, but just no time! I'm back home again, recovering from jet-lag, and wanted to share one thing that's been on my mind in the last week.

Through the year, I've thought a bit about the woman who touched the edge of Jesus' cloak. (Remember her? Bleeding problem... pushed through the crowd... etc?) You can read her story in Mark 5:25-34.

During a prayer day we had at the conference I was at, the image of this woman pushing through the crowd really struck me. Take aside all the social taboos that she was breaking by touching people in her unclean state, and she STILL had a big job reaching Jesus. She had to push and shove her way through a huge crowd to get close to Him. I wonder how long it took her. How much it bruised her to get closer.

The woman didn't give up though. She pushed until she reached Jesus.

Do I do this in my walk with Christ? Do I expect things to be easy and rosy, or am I prepared to push against doubts, distractions, temptations and whatever else stands between me and Him?

What stands between me and Christ? What stands between you and Christ? Are we fighting to push them out the way?

The woman is an example to me. She pushed. And kept pushing. I want to do the same.

(Side note - I'm planning to do a painting on this theme - will post it when I've done it... knowing my procrastination, it may be a few months away!!)

hindsight

2007-08-11T01:43:00.002+12:00

"When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the
mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?""
Mark 16:1-3

The women knew that they had an impossible task. They had seen Jesus put in the tomb, seen the large stone rolled across the entrance to seal Him in. They knew guards would be there. Yet still they came to care for His body in death. They knew it was an impossible task - they wondered together about the stone. But they still walked together to the tomb.

An impossible task. A bleak outlook, shrouded in grief. Yet the women never hesitated to honour Christ. They were not blindly serving; they knew the factors. They discussed them together. But their desire to honour Christ overruled the physical impossibilities.

Hindsight is liberating. As I read this account, the happy ending is already in mind, altering my view of the events. I smile as I sense the uncertainty amongst the women - 'don't worry - you'll see... just wait a few verses!'

What strikes me is that they, who didn't know what was to come, served anyway.

How often have I, have you, looked back on difficult or even tragic events, and seen how God was able to use them for good? How much more hindsight we will have in eternity, when we can be amazed at God's incredible ways of orchestrating all things, even what we couldn't understand, for His glory!

My prayer is that when situations arise that confuse, sadden or frustrate me, I can remember that one day I will be blessed with hindsight to these times and realise God is at work. How will that affect my attitude and actions, living for His glory with no room for regrets?

Like the women on their way to the tomb, let me not allow physical factors to override my devotion and obedience to God. Let me not hesitate or be naively blind, but knowing the issues, trust and obey anyway. Perhaps God will use my obedience and do greater things than I could have ever imagined!

dependence

2007-08-06T07:45:00.001+12:00

Be careful what you pray for.

This week has been full of lessons for me, I think partly as a result of a prayer and thoughts I wrote in my journal way back in May, while thinking about Mark 6:7-15. I wrote:

Jesus called His disciples for three reasons. (To be with Him, that He might send them out, to have His authority - see a previous post on this topic here.) Now that He had spent time with them, it was time to send them out. He told them to take basically nothing. Just a staff. But He didn't send them with nothing. He imparted His authority. And that's more than enough. They had no fixed route or schedule. But His authority was enough.
How dependent am I on the authority of Christ to go before and through me in my own endeavours? Just thinking of the trip coming up (which I am on now,) I need to know where to sleep each night, how to get from the airport to the destination, how will I juggle the luggage? I'm taking a laptop, a MP3 player, sleeping bag, mattress, clothing for a month, adaptor plugs, watch.... and these are 'essentials'.
How, in the modern world, and in modern missions, can we simplify and let Christ become our dependancy, without being bad stewards of His resources to us?
The disciples came back from their trip, having achieved what Christ sent them to do. It was a successful mission. How much of that success stemmed from their utter dependence on God?

So that's what I wrote in May, reflecting on the trip that I'm now on. It's been a growing desire of mine to be more radical and like the first disciples in my walk with Christ, instead of accepting the conventional, safe and comfortable which is so prevalent in Christian circles now.

I landed in Amsterdam last Saturday. My luggage didn't. And God rocked my world. Hours in the airport after two days of flying, in limbo because I'd missed a connection to Germany, alone with just the clothing on my back and some very important, precious and valuable things missing was an answer to May's prayer. I had no choice but to depend on God utterly. It sucked! But God was teaching me.

The next morning, my prayer was, "Lord, show me how You bring good out of all things. Not necessarily MY good, but Yours. Show me how my missing luggage glorifies You."

I got on a train to Germany, still without luggage, and to cut a long story short, it was an incredible day. Not only did I have a totally unexpected meeting with an old friend at a train station where we were both in transit, I also was able to share something of Christ with a troubled traveller on the next train. And arriving at the conference, a stranger let me use his sleeping bag and mattress so I wouldn't get cold.

God was in control. He used my changed schedule to allow these encounters.

Three days later I got my luggage back. I'm glad I'd lost it. Sure, that's easy to say in hindsight, now that I have a toothbrush and change of underwear, not to mention the more important things, but I really believe God has used this minor emergency to give me a glimpse of what utter dependency on Him can be.

Now, how to be more radical with my luggage back? And what about every day, especially as a Westerner, with STUFF! Even though I'm in missions and poor in the eyes of my society, compared to most of the world's population, I'm unimaginably rich. How do we depend more on God when all we seem to need is at finger's reach?

I think the core of the answer for me is prayer. I want to live in a crisis of daily dependence on God, and that starts on my knees. That's scary, because it's so hard.

Amazingly, the church I visited today had a similar theme in the message, looking at 2 Corinthians 12:9 -

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

I remember again my favourite verse from the CEV translation:

Deep in my heart I say, "The LORD is all I need; I can depend on him!"
- Lamentations 3:24

Be careful what you pray for. Be joyful that God answers!

T-shirt part two

2007-07-25T17:03:00.001+12:00

Another t-shirt I spotted that makes me think:
I don't have too much to say about this one. It does sadden me that so many people feel this way, and sadder still that many have a good reason to.

If we really lived as salt and light in the world, loving God with all we are and others as ourselves, what might this t-shirt say instead?

As always, your ideas are welcomed.

This little light of mine...

2007-07-20T15:46:00.001+12:00

The other day I was thinking, 'How do I explain a Christian's absolute dependency on God for all things?' and 'How do I understand my own dependency on God?' These thoughts were probably prompted by reading about the disciples' failures and knowing my own, coming back to the basics and thinking, 'What does it really mean to depend on God?'

I think the image of a light-bulb sums it up best for me.

On its own, it can do some pretty cool stuff. It can roll nicely, hold down some papers, (until it rolls off,) it can be thrown and caught with care, it can make shapes in play-dough, and more.

But this was not what a light-bulb was designed to do. It was designed to shine, and nothing less.

A light-bulb will only shine when plugged in to a socket, and power switched on. As soon as the power is turned off, it just sits there. Warm from the memory of shining, but now dull. On its own, it's able to do many inferior things, but it has to rely on outside power to do what it was designed to do - the best thing for it!

How much is that like the Christian life?

Without Christ, we are still able to do things. And they may be good. But are we living as we were designed to? Are we 'plugged in' to God and radiating His glory everywhere we go?

I think life will always feel incomplete unless we live to do this, since we were made for nothing less.

We are unable to shine on our own. We may think we're doing a good job, but only when we are connected with an exterior power - loving, obeying and developing our relationships with Christ, can we live as He want us to and be effective for Him.

There may be times of separation from God. We may fondly remember our past glowing moments, but we can not recreate anything on our own. We have to go back to the source.

Anyway, there's my random thoughts. Be encouraged. You and I were designed to radiate God back to Himself and to the world. We have the power to do this, but let's not fool ourselves in thinking this power is in us - instead, plug in to the source and don't settle for anything less.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
- John 15:5
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
- Philippians 4:13
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
- Matthew 5:14-16

Loving those I don't like

2007-07-18T10:22:00.002+12:00

Thinking about and feedback from the last post makes me realise what a real struggle it is to show genuine love to people you don't have a positive emotional connection with.

I mentioned in the comments of the last post that reading 'Mere Christianity' by C.S. Lewis has helped me in this area - well, understanding it anyway, not necessarily putting it into practice!

Here's a paragraph from his book that hit home for me, emphasis mine:

"...it would be quite wrong to think that the way to become charitable is to sit trying to manufacture affectionate feelings... The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbour; act as if you did. As
soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him..... Whenever we do good to another self, just because it is a self, made (like us) by God, and desiring its own happiness as we desire ours, we shall have learned to love it a little more or, at least, to dislike it less... The Christian, trying to treat every one kindly, finds himself liking more and more people as he goes on - including people he could not even have imagined himself liking at the beginning."

There's plenty more in there, and though I don't completely agree with all Lewis' conclusions about loving people, (it's the pacifist in me!), it's well worth a read... just get the book!

Potential

2007-07-11T16:35:00.001+12:00

Talking about loving others from the previous post, I had tea with a friend today, (hi Chris!), and we spoke about this as well. How do you love the unlovely? How do you love people you don't like?

I find that the hardest thing. I do love people, but I have so many conditions attached. Sometimes someone comes along who doesn't fit my definition of 'likeable' - they have interesting social skills, or habits, or attitudes. They're too loud, or too quiet. They chew their food funny.

How am I to love them as myself?
My dad just forwarded me this video. It's fantastic - one of the most clever advertisements I've seen. And it immediately made me think of this issue.

As you watch it, try and guess what they're advertising.

Perhaps one way I can start really loving people is to realise that God has created each person with potential. As the slightly cheesy saying goes, "God don't make no junk."

In every community, every church, there are the more socially awkward people. When I talk to them, it's usually because that's the right thing to do, not because of genuine love. There are the annoying people. I avoid them because they're 'not my personality type'.

Maybe instead of focussing on what puts me off in a person, I should remember this advertisement and know that great potential lies in them.

I wonder if a part of loving people is getting alongside them unconditionally, helping them draw out this potential for God's glory.

I know for sure that others are put off by me too.
How incredible would it be if we just loved each other, looking beyond the surface and seeing the potential inside.

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
- 1 Corinthians 12:21-27

Meaning of life

2007-07-10T15:35:00.001+12:00

I turned 30 on Saturday. Entering this new decade was not really a big deal for me, but it did give me moments of reflection and wondering what I'm doing with my life.

On the morning of my birthday, I woke up at the beach house I was staying in with friends, and prayed that God would give me more insight as to how to live my life meaningfully. A birthday wish, I guess. After all, Jesus began His public ministry at 30, and it does sound grown up, something I don't feel!

In my Bible reading, I was up to Mark 12:28-34. I'd asked for meaning-of-life revelations, and God points me back to the most important commandment:

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:30,31

So simple. Love God with all I am. Love people as if they were me.

So incredibly difficult.

How often do we complicate matters, setting goals, having certain standards to live up to, trying hard to be successful by doing so many ultimately meaningless things? All along, the MOST important thing is to love God and have that affect everything, especially our relationships with people.

Lord, I've asked for a more meaningful life. With Your strength, enable me to love You fully, and have that love overflow into a genuine love for others.

Defining God

2007-07-02T15:00:00.002+12:00

I saw this t-shirt the other day and since then, it's been bugging me.

It's funny, because I'm not entirely sure why.

Of course, the message of the t-shirt seems to be the popular spiritual post-modernist view that all paths lead to God, just choose what's best for you. That irks me and I don't think I need to go into reasons for that!

But on the other hand, the message is true. God is too big to fit into any human idea or construct of Him.

Maybe this t-shirt annoys me because by saying God is too big in this way, it is defining God in human terms, and just putting Him into another box. The "I will be whatever god you want me to be" box. Yeah, it sounds cool and politically correct, but what if God is different? He is, after all, God; we aren't! Who are we to say He is a certain way, just because that fits our popular view of the day? It may not be fashionable to think He has chosen to reveal Himself to people through Christ, but if He has, as I believe He has, that fact stands despite what people think of it.

I also don't like it because this t-shirt has the cross symbol on it. I don't consider Christianity a 'religion'.

Religion consists of man's attempts to reach God, to understand and even placate Him. But Christianity flies in the face of that. It readily admits that God is greater than we can ever imagine or define. (Just read the end of Job!) But amazingly, and confusingly, He has chosen to allow people to commune with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Maybe I should design a new t-shirt, something like this:

Not as catchy, but I prefer that theology.

Have you got any other/better t-shirt ideas?

Sorry for the brevity... I ripped the tip of my finger while playing guitar, so typing is not fun right now!

What's love got to do with it?

2007-06-26T14:26:00.001+12:00

Jesus looked at him and loved him. Mark 10:21a

This sentence has really struck me over the last few days.

Picture this scene:

A young, well dressed man runs up to Jesus and falls at His feet. He begs to know how to inherit eternal life. He is obviously zealous for God. He wants to do the right thing - it's more than a passing interest. What a candidate for a follower!

Jesus reminds him of the commandments. Yes, yes, he knows them well. He's a good man - he's kept these since he was a child.

But Jesus didn't, and doesn't just want 'good'. He wanted everything. A living sacrifice. All or nothing.

Seeing the man's desire to follow God, but also his heart, Jesus looked at him and loved him.

Then, in that love, He didn't pull any punches:

"One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Mark 10:21b

The man's face falls, and he leaves sad. This is asking too much.

It strikes me how Mark specifically writes that Jesus looked at the man and loved him. He was about to tell him crushing news, that all his efforts to be good were not enough. God demands total surrender.

Why would it be loving of Jesus to tell this to the man? Isn't it turning away a potential disciple? Isn't it too harsh?

But what is love? Is it a warm, fuzzy, acceptance of anything-goes-as-long-as-the-person-is-happy feeling? Is it being satisfied with good effort and brushing problems aside? Nonsense.

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."
1 Corinthians 13:6

Jesus loved the man, so He answered his question truthfully. Yes, it was a big ask, but had the young man trusted Jesus, he would have also realised that God enables people to sacrifice for Him:

"Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27

I get frustrated with myself (and others) for sometimes watering down the Gospel to make it appear more palatable. I can justify it by thinking I'm being more loving of people to tell them 'nice' news.

Who said the Gospel is 'nice'? It is the power of God that brings our salvation, and nothing to be ashamed of. (Romans 1:16) Jesus never softened it. He made sure people considered the cost of being His disciples. (See Luke 14:25-33) And He is our example.

Jesus looked at the rich young man and loved him. Because He loved him, He told Him the truth in love.

We are told to make disciples. We are told to preach the Gospel to the ends of the world. We are also told to love people. These are not mutually exclusive things.

Let us never be pharisaic Bible-bashers in our quest to share the truth, but let us also not water the Gospel down to a sappy broth in a misguided sense of niceness towards people we share with.

Jesus knew the rich young man would walk away. But He still looked at him, loved him, and told him the truth.

As we seek to be living sacrifices, realising that only by God's grace can we live for Him, and as we strive to love God with all we are, and love others as ourselves, let us share the Good News in its complete beauty to those we meet, trusting that nothing is impossible for God.

Deaf or mute?

2007-06-11T09:53:00.001+12:00

This week our TEA team is looking at evangelism and how we can share Christ with others.
It can be a daunting thing - do people want to hear what I have to say? How do I broach the subject of Christ in a conversation? What do I actually say?!

I'm still going through Mark in my own quiet times, and looking at Mark 7:31-37, where Jesus heals a deaf and mute man, was encouraging me in thinking about evangelism.

People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." Mark 7:37

Christ makes the deaf hear. Just as He healed the man in this passage, He also has the power to heal anyone who seems deaf to God's Word. So many people, when faced with the Good News about Christ, seem to just hear noise and controversy, and miss the beauty and truth God offers.

The Bible tells us to expect this. (See John 12:40 and 1 Corinthians 2:14). But all is not lost. Christ can make the deaf hear. It is not impossible for Him to do this.

The only thing the people in Mark 7 did towards this man's healing was to introduce him to Jesus. We can do the same. Are we trusting the results to God, even when they seem impossible, and doing all we can to introduce people to Jesus Christ?

How often do we as Christians feel mute when it comes to doing that, introducing people to Christ? (Otherwise known as evangelism.) We get in a situation and don't know what to say or how to say it. The thought of the others' reaction silences us. Evangelism is a clammy, awkward business.

Christ can make the mute speak. His power at work through me can do anything.

"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." Luke 12:11-12

Instead of fearing my silence, am I trusting that Christ can make the mute speak? Instead of worrying about the spiritual 'deafness' of people I speak about Christ with, am I resting in the fact that He makes ears open?

All the people did in Mark 7 was introduce the man the Jesus. He did the work.
Am I, are you, leaving the results to God and just making the introductions?

Called for what?

2007-05-12T14:05:00.001+12:00

If you're anything like me and have struggled over the years to have a meaningful quiet time, you may like to try what I've been doing in the last month. Choose a book of the Bible and as you read through it, stop and write down everything that shows you of the character of God, or how to live, or other insights.

I've been going through Mark, and it's making the book come alive! After three weeks I've only just moved onto Chapter 4 - there's so much in there when you spend time looking.

Anyway, here's some thoughts from a few days ago.

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.
Mark 3:13-15

Why did Jesus call His disciples?

"...that they might be with Him..."
Jesus called them first and foremost for fellowship with Him. This makes sense, since Jesus came to earth to bring people into fellowship with God. He wanted to know them well, for them to know Him well, for His time with them to grow them and show them how to follow.
"...and that He might send them out..."
Jesus didn't just want a comfortable clique. Their time with Him was for a purpose. He was preparing them to do His work, There was a world, and still is, that needed Jesus. His disciples were learning how to be His ambassadors throught their time with Him, so that they could represent Him properly and show Him to others.
"...and to have authority to drive out demons..."
Jesus gave a measure of His power to each of His followers so that they could effectively do His work. It's His power, given to them, and this is one of the reasons He called them.

Jesus called and empowered His disciples for specific reasons. We are called too.

To be with Him.
Do I treat 'being with Him' as my top priority in my walk as a Christian? Or do I get caught up in 'doing for Him' that it gets shunted? If I am not spending significant time getting to know my master and developing a relationship, I was not be effective as His ambassador. How can I represent someone I don't know? And do I think life is all about serving and doing, and like Martha, miss sitting at His feet and enjoying His presence?
That He might send me out.
I am a Christian in a fallen world for a reason. What am I doing about it?
To have His authority.
Never let me think I can be a good Christian on my own. Christ calls me. Christ empowers me. My role is to follow Him.

So, fellow disciples, remember what we are called for, and let's rest and rejoice in the fact that when God calls us, as we respond, He does the work!

High places, low places

2007-04-26T10:35:00.002+12:00

It's been an interesting week last week. I was in England for some meetings, and it was exciting to be a part of God's work there. But at the same time, I was facing a big disappointment and feeling like I'd failed in something after having felt I'd given it up to God and it being a non-issue for the last 4 months. Friends reading this, you probably know what I'm talking about from my last prayer letter. For anyone else, it's got to do with healing.

This year has been a special one for me in connecting more with my Maker, and in many ways, I've felt like I've been on a mountain top in my walk with Him. There have been (and always will be) struggles, but this has felt like a year of victory.
Until last week. Dealing with this disappointment and realising I'm back to square one in a certain area of life has taken my attention off Him, and I've felt far away.

I thank God for His kindness though - He knows our struggles and His Word speaks to us where we're at.

I've just started spending time in Mark in my quiet times, taking a few verses at a time and meditating on them. Here's what I wrote in my journal in the middle of last week, during this 'low place' time, reflecting on Mark 1:9-13:

In human terms, a spiritual 'high'point' of Jesus' life must have been his baptism. As He publicly shared His commitment to God, the heavens opened and God publicly showed His love for His Son.
Often after such a spiritual high, we as Christians can feel invincible. 'If God is for us, who can be against us?' Surely we will go from high to high, strength to strength when we are feeling close to our Father.
But Jesus went from there to the desert where He was tempted by the devil for 40 days - a longer period than that moment when the heavens opened.
When close with God, I must expect opposition. Satan doesn't want us to be close. He came to ruin and destroy. Why am I surprised when I fall off my high place and land with a horrible bump in the desert?
The test of character in Jesus was how He handled the temptation. In His temptation, He did not sin. It is not a sin for me to suddenly fall into temptation. The test of character is what I do as a result. Do I continue to live as if I was in the high place, even when in the desert, trusting that nothing can separate me from the love of God?

Here's the prayer I wrote that day. I'm still praying it today. Perhaps you are also dealing with things that appear to distance you from God. Maybe you're also disappointed. Why not pray this prayer with me - insert your own thoughts where I have left mine out.

Lord, I have felt far from You this week, and disappointed about (.....) Please draw me close and take away the loss of focus on You that I've been having. I accept whatever You want in relation to (.....) and I want to say in relation to everything. But I have felt far because of it. Whether that's spiritual attack or not, I don't know. But I know that nothing can separate me from You - Father, glorify Your Name in me as I study Your Word and try to live for You - in fact, live through me instead - all my trying leads nowhere.

Movie time!

2007-04-05T17:01:00.001+12:00

OK, so not my normal posting style, but I thought you might like to see this. This was filmed in February with our last TEA team and should give you a good idea of what I get up to at 'work'!
Your prayers for these TEAms are valued.

The important stuff

2007-03-29T12:16:00.001+12:00

I talked to a friend the other week who had been having serious car trouble. She was so excited, "I bought a new car! It's SILVER!"
I wowed with her and congratulated her, then asked what it actually WAS.
She knows my mind - the colour of a car is probably the most important thing to me. (My brother the car-nut would roll his eyes now.) And she either knew that or she shared my apathy about engine size and horsepower and make and model, and the fact that it's silver was the most exciting thing for her too!

I still giggle about this.

I've been challenged by a few books I'm reading and situations I've been in to remember what the important stuff is. As we come up to Easter, the cross of Christ is so much more than important. Everything in my life is bought, redeemed, savoured, only because of what Christ did on the cross.

I've been thinking about how much I talk about God or Jesus, to Christians or non-Christians, but don't mention the cross. It's like talking about the colour of a car and missing the important stuff.

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14

I will not boast in anything,
Not gifts nor power nor wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom...

Give me a sign!

2007-03-24T11:59:00.001+12:00

I'm going through a challenging study on Matthew by Greg Livingstone at the moment; here's one thing I'm chewing over...

"He reproached the cities in which most of His miracles were done because they did not repent." - Matthew 11:20

Jesus did more miracles in the Capernaum area than anywhere else, but still people didn't turn to God. Some even said He was controlled by demons!

One thing I hear quite often is that it's hard for people to trust in God because He doesn't reveal Himself clearly to them. They would find it so much easier to follow if He gave them a sign.

Like Gideon, we want to make sure that we have God's will right by asking Him to make it clear in some way. Like Thomas, we demand to see and feel before we believe. - "Send a miracle, give me a shooting star, make the fleece wet and the ground dry, let me touch your scars, do the impossible - unless I see it, I can't trust."

The people in Capernaum had no excuse. They saw the blind seeing, the lame jumping up, shrivelled limbs straightened, the dead raised. How much clearer could it be that Jesus was not just a good teacher?! Yet they still didn't respond.

Perhaps we're no different. Perhaps waiting for a sign is really an excuse to sit on our butts and not do what we know is right.

Jesus says, "Follow me." We don't need to know everything. We don't need signs to confirm that He is in control. Let's just follow Him!

"Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
John 4:48

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:28,29

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8,9

Cool

2007-03-08T15:54:00.001+13:00

I'm reading a book by John Piper called, 'Don't Waste Your Life'. If you want a great book to read, get this one. I'm furiously underlining bits and chewing over challenges as I go, but this paragraph is stuck in my head...

Of course, we don't use the word cool to describe true greatness. It is a small word. That's the point. It's cheap. And it's what millions of young people live for. Who confronts them with urgency and tears? Who pleads with them not to waste their lives? Who takes them by the collar, so to speak, and loves them enough to show them a life so radical and so real and so costly and Christ-saturated that they feel the emptiness and triviality of their CD collection and their pointless conversations about passing celebrities? Who will waken what lies latent in their souls, untapped - a longing not to waste their lives?

This resonates strongly with me. I've been accused over time of being idealistic, or perhaps expecting too much from my relationship with God. But let's face facts. We're talking about real life here - and a mighty God. Living for Him is more than amazing. Living for anything else is mediocre. That's not idealistic - it's the ideal! And yes, it's radical - just like Jesus was and is.

Lovingly shake yourself and others, and ask them, "Is what I'm living for worth dying for? Or is it just cool?"

Prayer

2007-02-14T11:49:00.001+13:00

I don't like cartoons or jokes about God. They can be irreverent, and I hate anything that puts words in God's mouth. Who are we to imagine what He will do or say?

That said, I came across this cartoon the other day. At first I thought it was cheeky, then I realised it's probably one of the truest cartoons I've ever seen:

We say all things are for God's glory. That it's all about Him. How much do we really mean it?

Is the ultimate goal of our prayer God's will or our own wants? How do we respond when He answers in ways we may not like, but result in the glory of His Name?

Challenge yourself as I'm trying to challenge myself. When we pray, think, "What is God getting out of it?" What prayers should we stop praying? What prayers should we start?

Whose gifts?

2007-02-12T11:42:00.001+13:00

I've been thinking a lot about what it means to depend on and credit God in everything, especially when there are many things I can do (seemingly) on my own.

Came across these verses yesterday, and once again, God's Word showed me how no glory should go to myself for anything, but it's all for Him.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If you speak, you should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If you serve, you should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11

...whatever gift you have received...

Every talent, ability or wisdom we have, in fact, everything we are, is a gift from God. Not earned. Nothing we should take pride in. I can twist my thumbs into funky contortions only because God made me that way. (My brother can wrap his leg around his head!) That doesn't make us more special than anyone else. God chose to allow us to do those things.

Even abilities that are grown or developed through training are not for us to boast about. God gave us the talents, the bodies and the brains that we have, and He is the One who enables people to excel in what they do.

...to serve others...

That's important. Many people treat their gifts as their badges of honour, and nobody benefits from them. I think that the more we use what God has enabled us to do to build His Kingdom here on earth, the more joy we have in the Giver of the gifts, and the more satisfaction we get from using what He has given us.

Having that others focus also stops us focussing on ourselves. That helps me anyway to not get into the trap of thinking "I am doing such a great job!" Because, remember, it's not me.... it's only what God has enabled me to do for His glory.

...faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms...

I am totally uncoordinated with anything to do with sport. I like to blame my upbringing without much physical education, but as well as that, God has chosen to give other people the 'sport genes'.

I used to get quite jealous of people at school who could run or swim well, or even do a cartwheel, and even now I shy away from friendly games of volleyball or frisbee because I'm tired of embarrassing myself!

Let our understanding that there are things others do better than us NEVER lead to a feeling of being less important or gifted by God. His grace to us comes in various forms - He gifts each one differently. And since they're His gifts after all, instead of us feeling jealous or hard done-by, we should encourage each other in those various gifts, because in using them for God's glory, we are doing what He gave them to us for.

...one who speaks the very words of God. ...with the strength God provides...

The greatest gift God has ever given us is not escape from Hell or a happy life. It's HIMSELF. His Spirit lives in us, conforming us more to the image of His Son, Christ Jesus.

God in us can do more than we ever could. God in us can defeat every temptation, every sin. Because He is God!

In acknowledging His gifts as His, not ours, and surrendering every part of our lives to Him, we invite Him to do His thing through us. Let the words we speak be His words. Let our strength be His strength. Because we are a new creation. God lives in us!

The challenge for me is to continue to remain surrendered to God in everything. Instead of depending on myself to give a 'good' effort, God in me can do 'the best'! Why don't I let Him all the time?!

...so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever...

Because that's what it's all about. It's all about You, Lord. You deserve credit and praise, glory and power for everything You do. Please show us all how it's about You, not us.

Amen!

Saved his life

2007-02-08T18:23:00.001+13:00

Yesterday was a reality check. A horrible one.

My dad got knocked off his bicycle by a motorist who never saw him and ploughed into him. He got thrown across the road and doesn't remember the next half hour, waking up when they put him in the ambulance.

He spent the day in a neck collar in hospital. They were worried he'd broken his neck.

Thankfully, he's only bust his shoulder and hurt his foot, and apart from that and the expected cuts and bumps, he's totally fine.

The ambulance officer said that if he hadn't been wearing his helmet, he would be dead.

You can see the crack in his helmet in the photo. That could have been his head.

I guess it's a reality check on how fragile life can be. It was a very close call for my dad. I had a close call a few years ago, and it's taught me not to expect anything, but be thankful for every opportunity at life God allows us.

Can I encourage you to grab on to life fully and live each day without regrets, because it's only when faced with how easily it can be taken away do you realise how precious each moment is.

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

- Psalm 90:12 (NIV)

maggotty manna

2007-01-06T16:51:00.001+13:00

OK, full credit for this post must go to Charles Price and his book, 'Christ in you'.

I heard Charles Price speaking over a week a few years back while I was on a ship, and God used one of his messages especially to challenge and humble me, and bring me to a deeper surrender to Him.

A friend who was also there sent me this book a few weeks back, and it's been SO good to read.

One analogy between our Christian life and manna really struck me.

Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."
However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

Exodus 16:19-20

God provided enough manna for the Israelites to live, and He gave clear instructions to them to not store it up, but trust Him each new day for His provisions.

How much can that be like my walk with God? Instead of seeking Him anew each day, I can depend on my past experiences, feelings of 'being close', study and learning, and think I'm doing ok. While all these experiences may be valid, and should be a part of my growth as a Christian, I never want to depend on a past encounter instead of seeking God today!

God's Name, Yahweh means 'I AM', not 'I was'.

By dwelling on yesterdays in my relationship with Him, I'm missing today. And it can be frustrating to try and recapture a feeling of closeness - perhaps by listening to the same message, reading that chapter of the Bible again, singing that special song, going to that conference for another 'pick-me-up'. What may have touched me a year ago may also not be where I'm at now. I would hope and pray that God doesn't have to keep revealing Himself to me in the same ways all the time, as that would make me wonder if I'm doing any growing! But by dwelling on past encounters with God, the means can become more important than the end.

We are to seek Christ. Daily. And be prepared for Him to reveal Himself to us in different ways on different days. And if He seems quiet, we shouldn't hunger for 'old manna', but trust for His provision today.

The Israelites were to trust God daily for His provision. I want to do the same.

...for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22b-23

As Charles Price writes:

'God is fresh every morning, and the moment I start to draw on yesterday's provisions for today's needs my experience is in danger of growing stale.' (pg 34)

What a great attitude to start the new year with.

'Lord, each day, your compassions are new. You want a daily, living relationship with Your people. I don't want to depend on yesterday's relationship with You. Please grow me TODAY as You will, and make me seek and follow You TODAY in every way.'

I think that a huge danger of not taking our relationship with God as a daily reality, is that over time we feel confident in ourselves and neglect seeking Him, which can cause us to feel distant, waking up one day and realising that we've somehow strayed.

Here's part of a song I wrote about 10 years ago that talks about this. Let's never get this way by depending on yesterday's manna:

Well, I clap my hands and sing in church, and study from the big book
With the leather top and sheets of notes and random verses underlined.
I say how much I love the Lord, I sometimes even mean it -
But He don't seem that important as I used to think He was.

I mean, He died for me and all the rest, but what's He ever done to make
My situation easier, more bearable for me?
You see, I'd like it if my credit card got 'miracled',
Or if my car would run for once. It wouldn't hurt to look like Elle Mc P.

And my allergy is bugging me, my flatmate's moving out on me.
I've got this deadline up ahead - I don't know what to do.
I mean, You seem to be a God who took an interest in your people,
But I'm not an Israelite - I didn't live that long ago.

And do you even comprehend the types of agonies I'm going through?
You've got things easy - can't relate to me - You're not a person!
Do you know it hurts when people mock you, laugh right to your face?
And have You ever felt alone, or have YOU ever been betrayed?

"My children, I know you - you say you know Me.
But there's this distance between us, and it don't look like it's shrinking.
It's like an undercurrent, tearing you away.
You've been suckered so far - you've strayed."

Hide your plants! Here I come!

2006-12-14T16:30:00.001+13:00

I kill plants. I'm great with kids and animals, but something about plants eludes me. I can't keep them alive. At least animals or kids make noise when they're hungry, or smell when dirty. Plants just sit there, and don't make a fuss if I leave them. Not a peep. They just wither and die.

When I was at Uni, my mum would come and visit my plants. She would pretend to drive out to see me, but go straight to whichever one I'd most recently adopted, water and prune it, scold me, and more often than not, take it home with her to recuperate - permanently. (Or bury.)

The photo is of my latest casualty - discovered by my mum again. I had it on a shelf above my desk at work and when she pointed it out to me, I didn't even realise it was mine. Sad. It's probably been dead for months.

She's given me a new plant... we'll see how long it lasts.

Anyway, something Christian. We are compared to plants in the Bible. Jesus calls Himself the vine while we are the branches. Apart from Him we can do nothing. (John 15:1-7) We are compared to seeds growing and called to bear fruit.

But looking at my dead plant today made me think again how important it is to make sure we are growing in our relationships with God.

Am I watering my 'plant' by saturating myself in God's Word daily?

Am I growing stronger by staying in the light - not going (physically or mentally) anywhere unglorifying to God?

Am I adding fertiliser through Christian teaching and fellowship?

Have I cleared stones of doubt, temptation or other stumbling blocks?
Am I allowing God to prune me - even if it hurts?

What am I doing about weeds?

Sadly, like real plants, I think we can slip into complacency and lose our drive to draw nearer to God without making a fuss. Nobody may know we are spiritually thirsty or drying up. We may not even notice ourselves. We can quietly wither and die.

I pray that each one of us will take super-seriously our walk with God, and not neglect our growth. The best thing is that we have the best gardener there is to care for us, but let's not neglect our responsibility.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7

For His pleasure

2006-11-16T18:52:00.001+13:00

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Romans 11:36

Travelling around the country with the current TEA team, we've seen some gorgeous stuff. Now, I've seen most of it before, but every time I go to some of these places, I get wowed. God is so creative. The colours, the sounds, smells, textures... and He allows us to appreciate it.

The photo is of a new favourite spot - the Blue Pools. Tucked away a half hour walk from an obscure part of a main road south, you turn a corner, and the colour hits you. Stunning.
A few days later we hiked in the mountains in gorgeous sunshine, to be followed by a drive through a gorgeous snowstorm the next day.

I find it so much easier to worship God when surrounded by His creation. We've been thinking together as a team what it means to worship God. It's something so much deeper than singing a few heart-felt (or sappy) songs. The Bible tells us that He made all things for His pleasure. That means the exquisite things I've been seeing the last few days, as well as you and me! We were made to please God - to give glory to Him for all things.

It's a great thing to look at something beautiful and not just appreciate it, but reflect your wonder back to the Almighty Creator. It may be easier when seeing some of the things I've been seeing the last few days, but His creativity is all around us, even where we least expect it. I've been chatting with an older guy at the backpackers I'm in. He's a miner and has a rough, 'lived-in' face. However, when he smiles, his eyes sparkle, the creases work together and reveal the most open, joyful smile. God's handiwork is even in the worn-out and faded.

Here's an exercise you may want to try... go outside - draw a mental metre square around you. Spend time in that square and look in wonder at what you find inside. The shape of the pebble, the grace of the blade of grass, the shimmer of the dew. Examine these things and reflect your wonder back to Him.

These things were all created for His pleasure. We were created for His pleasure - He delights in our worship. So what are we waiting for?
If you like, after doing the square metre exercise, let me know what you found and how it was. Share the wonder! :)

Rock-head!

2006-10-11T15:11:00.006+13:00

Yes, I'm into rocks at the moment - 3rd rock-themed post in a row now!
I'm reading Ezekiel at the moment, and it's a fascinating book.

Ezekiel was a pretty unique person. He was a lone voice for God during a time of people living selfishly, and God asked him to communicate His message in some unique ways. Ezekiel used street theatre, complete with shock tactics - lying on his side and cooking on poo for about a year is not the type of street drama we do these days! God even took his wife's life and told him not to mourn publicly, in order to communicate a message to the people.
It is widely believed that Ezekiel was only 30 years old as well. So he wasn't an old, eccentric man. He was a young guy, doing tough things because God told him to.

This is meant to be an encouragement though. Did Ezekiel want to do these things? I would guess not all of them. Did he get opposition? Definitely. Was it difficult? How could it not be?!
Even God told him when he was called to be a prophet that people would not listen to him:

He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel- not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate. Ezekiel 3:4-7

Yippee. How encouraging is that?!
The thing that excites me is the next verses:

But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house." And he said to me, "Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen." Ezekiel 3:8-11

God totally prepared Ezekiel for everything He planned for him to do! Yes, the task was awful, but God knew Ezekiel and prepared him for what he had to do.

I believe that Ezekiel was a unique person in history, called by God for a uniquely difficult job. We may never be Ezekiels. But God knows what we can handle as well, and I believe that He prepares us for whatever will come.

We know from Scripture that God never lets us be tempted by more than we can handle. (1 Cor 10:13) From Ezekiel's example, we also see that He prepares His people for His work. The tougher the assignment, the harder He'll make your head!

A personal example of this happened for me in church on Sunday. I sat next to an Iranian girl, and through the service, I felt I should explain the gospel to her afterwards. I fought against the thought - she's in church - she's taking communion - she's a Christian!!
Anyway, I spoke with her afterwards and found out it was her first time in a church building. We spoke for a while and I was able to share with her from a clear gospel tract. She responded so well and it was such a blessing for me too.

I'm a shy person, and it's not natural for me to share my faith with people sitting next to me, especially in church! But I believe God prepared me for His task, even though I sat for half the service beforehand umming and aahing about it, since I didn't really want to!

I think He asks us to do the tricky things sometimes so that we know it's not done in our own strength, and that makes us give Him the right credit afterwards too!

So if you feel your forehead getting a bit hard and rock-like, be excited - God is preparing you for something way out of your comfort zone! Trust Him and go for it!

Rock music

2006-10-03T17:01:00.001+13:00

"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Luke 19:40

Sticking with the rock theme of the last post...

I had a dream last night, influenced by the message at church on Sunday. Normally my dreams are totally random and more than a bit weird, and I don't read anything into them at all. This one was also just a dream, but I've been thinking about it a bit today, and like what it reminds me of.

In my dream I was song leading in an international conference. It was disasterous though. My guitar stayed out of tune, the other musicians weren't listening to each other, I forgot how one song went, and then the lighting guys turned all the lights off for ambiance, but didn't think that that meant we couldn't see our hands in front of our faces, let alone the music sheets!
In my dream I was a bit flustered, but I remembered the picture of stones crying out in praise to God if people didn't.
I remember thinking, 'Wow. I'm having all these issues but stones don't even have mouths! I was DESIGNED to glorify God, they're just stones! If God can cause them to worship Him, surely He is able to empower me to worship Him too!'

Thinking about that today, I know that worship is a whole lot bigger than music. In fact, I don't like calling congregational singing 'worship', not because it isn't, but we can so easily limit it to that.

But my life - and yours - are designed to glorify God. He has given us all we need to live a life that pleases Him. (2 Peter 1:3) All things are for Him. (Romans 11:36)

I don't want any stone to have to take my place in what God has designed me to do. He's given me a mouth to speak, shout and sing His praise. My eyes are to see His creation and praise Him, my hands are to comfort others, pointing them towards Him, my feet are to spread His great news to the nations, so people of every tribe and tongue will praise Him.

He's given me these things specifically for His purposes. Stones are just stones. No eyes, mouth, hands or feet. Yet, even they could cry out in God's praise when His people are silent.

It would be the most shameful thing to hear any kind of that rock music, knowing why the stones are singing!

'And I will not be silent! I will not be quiet any more!'
- David Crowder band

Let's Rock!

2006-09-21T17:19:00.004+12:00

'coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags' Proverbs 30:26

'Coney' = rock badger, hyrax, or dassie - for any South Africans reading.

This concept has been in my mind for a few weeks now. The writer of the proverb introduces the conies along with ants, locusts and lizards as four things which are small but extremely wise.

I love the image of a small, helpless creature seeking shelter and safety in rocky crags. What a juxtaposition! Without the rocks, the coney is as good as dead. Nowhere to shelter from wind, rain, enemies. On its own, it's helpless, and a target.

I'm guessing you see the picture. What a great thing to aspire to in our relationships with God. More and more, let's realise that without Him, we are NOTHING. He is our shelter and protection in storms, but more than that, if we try to go it alone, it's like a coney in a field - in plain sight of its predators.

I pray that I will be more 'coney-ish' with God, and press into Him daily, even when there seems to be no threat around.

The concept of crags is great too. With caving and exploring rocky places, I've often been jammed into crags. The rock is under you, over you and around you on every side except for where there's a crack of light to show 'outside'. I have to mould my body to form the shape of the rock, because it won't move! I can push it and beat my fists against it, but it's solid. My attempts won't change it one bit.

The coney parable makes me ask how much I'm letting God envelop me, as opposed to my trying to mould Him to meet my wants and expectations. Because how stupid is that?!

God uses the picture of His being a mighty rock many times in Scripture. He is the one sure foundation we can trust in.

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Psalm 61:1-4

I encourage you, as I remind myself - let's be conies, remembering that we are small and weak, but God has provided us with a mighty rock that is higher than us! We can hide in Him because that's what He created us to do!

Little things

2006-09-18T11:33:00.001+12:00

I got beaten up by a mosquito the other day. Nasty, eh? Who would have thought that something so little could cause so much mess?! Well, actually, I knew that already, since this is not the first time a mosquito has turned my eyelid into a golf-ball. Ah, the joy of allergies!

But there is an analogy in here somewhere...
Little things can have big effects. You can take this positively or negatively.

Positively - I've just had a month in Germany and Switzerland and so many people did 'little things' for and around me which blessed my socks off. I am still dumbfounded at the hospitality and love I was shown by so many people - many of them may not even realise the impact their small kindnesses had on me. I have come away from this time so refreshed, so blessed, so thankful. And not because of anything major. God uses the little things we do for each other to glorify His Name.

Negatively - more than ever I see the impact of something little like not getting into God's Word first thing in the day, or not being totally disciplined in my attitude or thoughts. It turns my day on its head! The enemy also uses our little slip-ups and laziness to draw us further from the vibrant relationship with Himself that God calls us to.

There's a truck-load of verses that I could use for this. Have a look at Matthew 25:14-30. Here, Christ asks us to be faithful with the little things He gives us. Only when we are faithful in the little things, can we move on to bigger challenges.

So let me encourage you to be faithful in little things today. Don't underestimate the effect a tiny mosquito can have on an eyelid.... and think of the joy or pain your little things can cause depending on your faithfulness to do them.

Service with a smile

2006-08-14T19:20:00.001+12:00

I've been learning a lot about servanthood in the last few weeks. It's funny how one can feel all comfortable with their Christian walk, and then God allows things to happen that make you realise (again) how useless you are in your own strength and how it's essential to be daily dependant on Him. That's been my experience in this area anyway.

I guess you could say I'm in a service industry. My work involves meeting others' needs. It's something I enjoy and get a tremendous amount of satisfaction from. It's especially rewarding to see how my often little acts of service can have a positive effect on someone's life.

Recently, I realised (grumpily) how much I depend on others' gratitude in my service though. I don't intentionally do things in order to get praise in return, but after a few weeks of working hard in a situation, with very little thanks, I began to feel resentful and even though I continued 'serving with a smile' on the outside, my attitude became rotten. I was serving out of grudging duty, but not love.

It's so annoying to see! So human - once again!
Jesus didn't place much value in our serving others when it was easy. Anyone can do that:

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
Luke 6:32 - 35

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 5:46-48

Instead, as a Christian, I have surrendered my rights and my feelings of what's fair to Christ, my master. I should serve, regardless of the reward I get or the gratitude (or lack of it) of people I'm serving. Because, guess what? They are not the ones I should be serving anyway. Everything I do should be as an act of service to Christ. And why should I hanker for praise when I am a 'doulos' - a bond-servant myself? I have no more rights.

"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'?
Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "
Luke 17:7-10

This may sound harsh, but it's actually great. We will NEVER have complete satisfaction in serving ourselves, or even serving others apart from Christ. He calls us to give up our rights, attitudes and desires for human reward. Is he a hard task-master? Sometimes, yes. But he is the ONLY One worth serving.

I'm just a bit tired of convenient Christianity - we'll love you, Lord, as long as we stay comfortable. We'll give as long as our wallets are full... etc.
It's been humbling to see that I was being just as hypocritical. I'll serve, Lord, as long as I get thanks.
It's not about us! Let's get over ourselves and learn what it means to carry our cross and serve with a smile, even though nobody smiles back.

Enough of a rant from me. Now I have to pack - going to the other side of the world in the morning - wohoo! Auf wiedersehen!

Truth

2006-08-03T16:46:00.001+12:00

I've just come back from the supermarket where I had a conversation with a Hari Krishna.

He wasn't in an orange robe, and had a hat to cover his shaved head and pigtail, so when he first approached me as I was putting my groceries in the car, I thought he was just being friendly.

Then I saw the books under his arm and braced myself.

He said that it was my lucky day, as he had a book to give me. By this time, I could see the title, (Bhagavad Gita), so I said, 'Ah, you're a Hari Krishna.'

He grinned and asked if I knew about them. When I said yes, and that I was a Christian, he smiled and said, 'Great! Me too!'

What followed was a few minutes of him trying to convince me that the two were the same, and that the 'purest' Christians had become Hari Krishnas, while I kept telling him that Jesus is the only way to God and that, respectfully, he was wrong.

One thing he kept coming back to was asking me, 'But have you TRIED being a Hari Krishna? How do you KNOW it's not right unless you've tried?'

After my quoting verses like John 14:6 and repeatedly saying things like, 'Why should I look for God when I've already found Him?' and 'If a parent tells a child not to touch a hot stove, does it make them purer to disobey and touch it?', he realised that I didn't feel like becoming a 'purer' Christian and abruptly left.

I kind of wish he'd stayed for longer. I would have loved to examine his truth with him - it's sad to think he's so passionate about something so empty and blind to a dynamic, real, life-giving relationship with the Father that doesn't need a guru.

But this little encounter was also an encouragement. The guy didn't have a leg to stand on in his attempts to convince me to 'try' his god. When you've found the sun, why bother with candles or a weak torch? When you know the truth, everything else is a lie. Even when I was talking with him, he was getting more and more passionate and argumentative, and I was just grinning as I repeated my answers. He didn't have a chance and it was ridiculous to see him trying so hard.

For those reading this who know Christ personally, don't let others sway you. Hold on to the truth and in light of it, you'll see how empty everything else is. And if you know it, show it.

If you are reading this and you don't have that 100% certainty and knowledge that you are not believing something wishy-washy, but have a real, personal relationship with the Holy Living God because of Jesus Christ, I encourage you - He is the Way, the Truth and the Life - and not just worth 'trying' but surrendering your whole life to.

On Christ the Solid Rock we will stand...
ALL other ground is sinking sand.

"you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Amen!

That's NOT FAIR!!!

2006-07-14T13:27:00.001+12:00

'It's not fair.' That's something I've been thinking a lot about and discussing with others over the last few weeks.
It's not fair that some people get all the breaks, while others get nothing, or even worse. It's not fair that weather spoils our plans, that we don't get along famously with everyone, that we get sick, that the world keeps turning without waiting for us to catch up.

Jesus shares a parable about some workers in Matthew 20:1-15. It's a very unfair story. Some work for ages and then get paid the same as others who only worked for a short time. I heard this parable preached on the other week and it's helped me a lot in accepting that yes, it's not fair, and that's ok!

Whoever thought that God had to be fair? Where's the rule for that? Some people get a better break than others because God chooses it that way. It may not seem fair to us, but then, it's not about us anyway. Just as the manager chose freely to give some of his workers an extra treat, God does what God does to give Himself glory, whether that seems fair to us or not. We just get grumpy when we the world (and God) doesn't revolve around us.

We seem to think of God's unfairness in a negative sense. But it hit me the other day that I should be eternally greatful for His unfairness.

I am a sinful person.
I deserve to die for that.
God is perfect.
He took the punishment for MY sin through Christ's terrible death on a cross.
THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!

In my relationship with Him, I stuff up daily.
I give Him lip service but my life doesn't match.
I sing 'Hallelujah' but harbour resentment in my heart.
But He continues to call me His child and loves me.
THAT'S NOT FAIR!!!

If I'm prepared to accept the nice 'not fairs' from God, I should be prepared to accept those that are a bit less comfortable.

Aren't you glad that God is totally not fair? Otherwise, not one of us could call Him Father.
And when His unfairness causes us to question Him, it's good to remember that He uses ALL things for His glory, often in ways we don't comprehend now.

It's not fair, but it's good. It's all about God and He only plans the BEST for His glory... and that ends up always being the best for us too.

Letting go....

2006-06-30T14:34:00.001+12:00

Greetings from an internet cafe in Queenstown, where I am with our current TEA team. (For diary and photos, go to www.teaprogramme.blogspot.com)

The last few weeks have been a lesson in letting go for me. Perhaps, like me, you're a control freak, and sometimes that extends further than it should.

Every time I'm away from home, it's a lesson in letting go. Will the responsibilities I delegate to others be taken seriously, or will I have to go into damage control when I get back? I even had a nightmare that the website I manage was destroyed by my dad while he was caretaking it and that all sorts of other disasters happened because others were doing my work! Stupid, but that shows the extent of my unhealthy need to 'hold all the reins'.

A couple of things have happened in the last few weeks that have helped me (uncomfortably) to relearn daily the lesson of letting go. I can't fix everything, or everyone. Sometimes I have no control, and that's scary, and sometimes painful. I'm still thinking a lot about a person I've had to 'let go' of and trust to God's care, because I can't help them, though I'd love to.

We've been studying faith and the promises of God with the TEAm in the last few days, and what a release it is to remember that when we let a situation or someone go, we're not actually dropping it or them, but entrusting them to the One who can do far more than we ever could, even if we could do something. God is SO faithful, and that's important to remember.

So while I've had to let go, it's easier knowing that instead of dropping responsibility, I've just given it to the most responsible and trustworthy One there is. So why is it still so difficult?? I guess clay is never comfortable in a potter's hands.

The gift

2006-06-08T16:26:00.001+12:00

I was given a car this weekend. Not just a car - a really nice car! Racing wheels, turbo-boost, spoiler, ABS stuff, electric windows (!! novelty for me!), sunroof, alarm, awesome boom-box stereo, muffler almost the size of a watermelon, and, for me the most important thing - in my favourite colour!

I was totally blown away by the generosity of the person who gave this car to me. Totally unexpected and not even needed. They had given me my previous car - also such a generous act, four years ago, and felt I needed an upgrade.

I am so thankful for this gift. It's enabled me to pass on my old car to someone who needed one - my mum, and since I'm planning to move to an area where it snows a lot in the near future, and my old car wasn't good with cold, seeing that this one had a snow button just made me smile. God provides things unexpectedly sometimes.

Anyway, this car. My one brother is a car-fix-it guy and works in the auto trade. He saw the car and oohed and aahed over it. It's apparantly the kind of car that boy racers like to drive.
I had to laugh about that, since I only care about a reliable and safe vehicle to get me from a to b with as little fuss as possible. Revs and torque and diffs are all another language to me.

But that got me wondering - what type of people drive this kind of car? When people see me in it, will they assume that I'm one of those racer types? How will that change the way I act? Will it throw them when I jump out in my very un-boy-racer clothes?!

Not that I'm intending to change one thing now that I'm driving this car!

I got thinking about another gift I've received. This gift surpasses any car. God chose to let me have new life and a real relationship with Him because Jesus Christ took the punishment for everything I've done or will do wrong. He's given me a new status - His child.

Maybe I should wonder about this gift in a similar way to how I've been wondering about the car. What type of people are children of God? When people see me, will they recognise me as fitting that status, or will I be a mismatch - like me in my car? How should that change the way I act?

I'm not prepared to change anything about my image to fit this new car of mine. But if I take on the mantle of being God's child, I must accept the responsiblity of living according to the status.

I am to be like salt and light for the world. (Matthew 5:13-14)
By loving people as Christ commands, the world should be able to see that I am His follower. (John 13:35)
I am to even clothe myself with Christ, or as the CEV translation puts it, let Christ be as near to me as the clothing I wear. (Romans 13:14)
I must turn the other cheek. (Luke 6:29)
I must carry my cross. (Matthew 10:38)

Not to show my status, but to show the world Christ.
If I receive the gift, I need to live up to it.

Mooshy, frilly, lovey-dovey stuff

2006-06-02T10:37:00.002+12:00

I was leading music at my church last week, and knew the message was on Song of Songs - Solomon's love songs. How on earth do you choose songs to compliment that book? I thought of writing one, but even I was blushing after a few seconds!

To be honest, I wasn't really looking forward to the message at all. I'm not married, have never been in love with someone, and am quite happy to stay that way. Do I really have to sit through all this?

Well, it wasn't as mooshy, frilly or lovey-dovey as I'd feared. In fact, it was one of the best messages I'd heard in a long while. (Thanks, John, the speaker!)

Of course I knew there were parallels between the human love story in Song of Songs and God's love for His people. But one thing came out that I thought was really interesting...

"My lover is mine and I am his" - ch 2:16
turns into
"I am my lover's and my lover is mine" ch 6:3
turns into
"I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me." ch 7:10

See the progression? From initial romance, which is quite selfish, "I've got this great new guy! He's all mine!" the bride progresses to a more other-centered love. It's mutual. She then loses herself completely in her love for her groom. She belongs to him and she's happy with that, because she knows that his desire is for her.

What a way to grow in our own relationship with God!
I rave about a favourite book of mine called Cat and Dog Theology. 3 years ago, this book helped me take the step from the first stage of love for God to the second. Without even realising it, I was loving God because He was MINE. He died FOR ME. It echoed in my prayers, my singing, my evangelism even - 'God loves you - you are the most important thing to Him.' He may as well have lived FOR ME.
I've realised what an incomplete picture I had of God. I am HIS. I exist for HIM - HIS glory and HIS fame. It's not actually about me at all.
As I grow, I hope that I will more confidently say of God each day, "I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me."
It's ok to throw myself into God and belong to Him, because He is God and even though it's all about Him, we can romance Him knowing that He desires us.

Fall more in love with our great God with me.....

All about Attitude

2006-05-19T17:38:00.001+12:00

I love this quote:

"The longer I live, the more I realise the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.

It is more important than the past, than education, than money,

than circumstances, than failures, than successes,

than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.

It will make or break a company, a church, a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day

regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have,

and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me,

and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our attitudes."

- Charles Swindoll

These verses are great too...

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

- Philippians 2:1-11

Enough said.

Love this lyric!

2006-05-02T18:07:00.002+12:00

I was at a Christian musician's conference over the weekend. It was a great time of refocussing on God and enjoying praising Him with so many others.
Anyway, a band called Hillsong United led us in a time of singing and this one lyric stuck in my head... I can't remember how the music goes any more, but what a great line...

My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise

What a purpose for life! The pic is of a member of the last TEA team I was with, doing just that at the lake in Rotorua during team devotions one morning.

Why not lose yourself in bringing God praise today, in whatever you happen to be doing.

Not all it's cracked up to be...

2006-04-19T10:35:00.002+12:00

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."
Jeremiah 2:13

I've been thinking about this verse a fair bit lately after reading a write-up about it in one of my favourite books, Cat and Dog Theology, and also talking with people about life and hopes and dreams.

We can be pretty good at seeking for purpose and satisfaction in pretty lame things. I remember when I was about to turn 6, I got this idea in my head that if only I had - wait for it - an umbrella, (!) life would be great. I got one for my birthday and was deliriously happy, but not for terribly long.

That pattern has continued throughout my life. If only I had a disc-man.... if only I had a car.... if only I had a dog.... if only I had a 12-string acoustic... mmmmm!

Some of the things we seek purpose and satisfaction in are not bad in themselves. Desiring financial security, a spouse, family, good ministry - all these can be great for people. But look at the sin mentioned in the verse above. The problem was that in seeking these things, people rejected God, the ONLY true source of purpose and satisfaction.

As Christians, we will never be totally satisfied in anything less than God alone.

Think of the woman at the well in John 4. She'd done a lot to find her own satisfaction - 5 husbands and counting! But she'd been digging her own leaky cisterns and kept being thirsty.

God is the spring of living water. Jesus invited the woman to stop wasting her time digging the leaking cisterns and find satisfaction in Him alone.

'Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."' John 4:13-14

A nice reminder to me to stop flapping around and wasting energy on digging my own leaky cistern, but instead stop and enjoy TRUE water - LIVING water.

Why do we find it so hard to live completely for God when that's what He's designed us to do, and unless we do that, we keep looking for the next thing to satisfy us? Our leaky cisterns keep leaking while the living stream flows and beckons.