Fearfully and Wonderfully

The Darkening

2011-09-26T08:14:00.000+10:00

They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Ephesians 4:18 (NIV)

We can’t afford to allow our hearts to harden. We can’t let our understanding to darken. The truth is, we can’t survive without God, but if we allow these things to happen then separation from God will surely result.

There are many distractions that can turn our eyes from our Lord. Complacency often comes like a thief to steal our attention. Pride and self-sufficiency make us believe we can go on without our Lord. Ignorance serves to blind us and excuses cripple us.

Our Lord will never leave us, but there is a danger that we will leave him, and so it is very important that we daily refresh our relationship with God. Turn to him continuously for guidance. Pray to him and praise him, acknowledging our Lord as our King and Saviour. If we allow him to breathe life and light into the very core of our beings, then we will never be separated from our Lord and his family.

Ask, Seek, Knock

2011-08-23T09:06:00.000+10:00

Part of the joy of being a Christian is that we are able to participate in the glory of our Lord. We are awake in our faith. We are alive in God’s grace. We are not simply fragile keepsakes for God to look after, but precious members of his family.

And as members of his family, we are encouraged to seek out our God in all that we do. He wants to guide us and to teach us so that we will learn and grow and evolve. We are invited to ask God for all that we need because he longs to bless us.

Rather than becoming stagnant in our faith, we are urged to always move forward. We must nurture our relationship with God, but we can’t do that if we shy from speaking with him or avoid spending time with him.

This is why we must ask, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7). It is how we fight complacency, how we stay in relationship with God, and how we learn to rely on him.

The Christian Life

2011-08-08T08:46:00.000+10:00

Some people try to categorise Christianity into a small container. They feel the need to label it and box it into a simplified understanding by focussing on one facet of it and ignoring all the others. Some think the Christian life is about pain, sacrifice, duty and rules. Others think the Christian life is about rainbows, freedom, joy and songs. In truth, it is about all of the above and more. Boxing these aspects is to not understand them properly.

A Christian life is a complex creature that is always evolving and growing even though its very core remains forever the same. It is full of unexpected contrasts that can both confuse and elate. It is full of fire and ice, full of passion and the mundane, simplicity and complexity, death of self and life in abundance.

A Christian life is worth living and dying for because truly knowing God’s love is everything.

Mighty Oaks

2011-07-19T10:58:00.000+10:00

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendour. Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

Oaks are old, solid trees, with roots that run deep. With their huge leafy canopy, they are also trees that are highly visible in their glory and they carry an air of might and strength. The Lord calls us to be oaks of righteousness. This means we are called to be strong and mighty in our faith. We are not to be hidden but to stand out proudly for all to see God’s glory.

This is the life that God wants for us. He has even prepared us for it if only we would embrace it. We no longer need to stay in the darkness, for he is our light in which we are nurtured. We don’t need to hold onto despair for he has lifted us out of the ashes of this world.

But it all comes down to choice. We can choose to live in poverty of spirit, always searching, yet forever lost, or we can choose to live in and for our Lord and become the mighty oaks he wants us to be.

Pic: Moreton Bay Fig Tree at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.

Forever

2011-07-04T20:01:00.000+10:00

So much changes and so much is lost. Fads burn out quickly, fashions come and go, all things eventually decay, even whole civilisations can vanish. We realise that nothing is here to stay. With the fleeting nature of all things, we are stripped of all hope and all reason for being since everything is so temporary. But we do have hope and it rests in God.

Our Lord will always remain. God’s words are everlasting. His promises will never change. His truths will always be true. His purity will never tarnish, his wisdom will remain strong, and God will never fade away or die. He will remain the same today as he was in the past and will continue to be in the future. Forever.

We can rely on God because he is rock solid and forevermore. We can invest all we have into God because he is eternal, indestructible and unchanging. And what is even more wonderful and breathtaking is that he wants to share all that he is with us. He gives us hope, he gives us purpose, and he gives us a future that will never pass away.

A Lamp To My Feet

2011-06-17T19:15:00.003+10:00

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

God’s word is a lamp to our feet because it lights our way and protects us against stumbling in the dark. His word arms us against any obstacles we might have to face. His word equips us with all that we need in each and every stage of our journey.

His word is his promises. His word is his wisdom. His word is his guidance. His word is powerful. His word is precious. His word sustains us. His word grants us a new beginning and a new life.

These are the things that will keep us on the right path. These are the things that will bring us courage, strength and the knowledge of God’s true and perfect love for us.

To learn God’s word is to learn God’s way. To walk God’s way is to find true meaning in our life.

How to Avoid Problems

2011-06-13T09:07:00.000+10:00

There is a trick to avoiding problems: it is being equipped to recognise the problems before they develop, knowing how to deal with the problems when they develop, and moving beyond the problems once they have been dealt with so that they no longer have power over us.

So how do we equip ourselves? We read the scriptures, we use them as a template for our lives, we build a rich relationship with the Lord and we learn to rely on him. The inevitable result is not the end of all problems, but instead our perception of the problems changes.

When we regularly immerse ourselves in all that is godly, we become so well equipped for dealing with the problems, that they are no longer insurmountable or even life-shattering. We no longer run from them, we are no longer ruled by them and we are no longer chained down by them.

The Lord gives us strength and the power to overcome them.

Pic: Under the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Delight in the Lord

2011-05-30T08:41:00.000+10:00

Delight in the Lord always.

Delight in the Lord’s presence, knowing he is always there, even when you may not feel it.

Delight in the Lord’s strength, knowing he will shield you from harm even when you are fearful.

Delight in the Lord’s kingship, knowing he is the master of your life and will steer you in the right direction, even when you feel lost.

Delight in the Lord’s blessings, knowing they are the warmth of his love for you, even when you may feel alone.

Delight in the Lord always.

Inner Beauty

2011-05-23T08:58:00.000+10:00

At times it may be easy to see the world as a dark and terrifying place. We may feel disillusioned, discouraged or afraid. We may see only ugliness everywhere and believe we have to guard ourselves against what might come our way. This can be both perplexing and exhausting, and it is certainly no way to live. Because of this, we need to remind ourselves to look for the beauty in everything.

There is beauty in the vivid blue seas under a bright summer sun. There is beauty in the ochre sands of a hard-baked desert. Beauty is alive in the seasons. Beauty can be found in shape and colour, sound and smells. And there is beauty in every single one of us. It has nothing to do with who we might be, or the label of our clothes. It has everything to do with God.

Beauty surrounds us because God surrounds us.

Beauty is in God’s light shining on us all. Beauty is in our appreciation of God, gratitude to God, and desire to live for God, because of that light. When we look for it we will find it and the world won’t be such a fearful place anymore.

A Time for Everything

2011-05-09T02:00:00.007+10:00

With the rush of the world, the haste to get onto the next task, the push to succeed, we can quickly grow impatient if things don’t happen fast enough. Discontentment will then ripen because we want things done in our own allotted time, on our own personal terms.

But the Lord reassures us that there is a time for everything and that he has all things under control. If something is meant to happen for us then it will happen at the best possible time, in the best possible way. And, if it is not meant to happen, then the Lord will direct us onto a new path. There is no need for frenzy, there is no need for panic. There is only a need to keep moving forward with faith in our hearts, trusting that the Lord will guide us through.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NIV)

A Known Heart

2011-05-02T02:00:00.006+10:00

As a child did you ever break something by accident and try to hide the evidence to avoid getting into trouble? I did. I broke a drinking glass. I watched it as if caught in a bubble of slow motion. It slipped out of my little fingers, turned elegantly in the air, and shattered on the floor.

I have no idea how long I stood there and stared at the broken pieces at my feet. There was nothing I could do to fix the damage. The discovery of the crime was inevitable. The fear, the guilt, the certainty of doom, all clouded my thoughts. Of all the things I could have done, I picked the stupidest: I remember trying to stuff broken glass down the drain. I was, of course, caught. And I did, of course, get into deep trouble – not because I broke the glass, but because I tried to hide it.

God loves us so much more, and He is eager to forgive us when we make mistakes, so why do we continue to hide things from Him? Why do we carry the guilt and fear when we could easily give it all over to Him? We need forgiveness and God will give it, but we have to come forward and ask Him for it.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) is a prayer that can help us do this:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

By saying this prayer with an honest heart, we begin to put an end to our childish responses. It will begin a maturity in our spiritual lives as we learn to trust His will, His power, and His love for us. It will help us to open our souls to God and allow him in. Through God’s guidance, our desire to change will build and our need to leave behind old habits will grow.

Our Lord knows what we bury deep within our hearts. His love surrounds us. When we truly understand this we will become more able to accept his guidance. We will know that our Lord has forgiven us. We will know that he is not towering over us in judgement, but instead protecting us from evil. There is no hiding, there is only God’s love.

Did you ever try to hide anything as a child in an attempt to escape getting into trouble?

Break Time

2011-04-05T12:58:00.000+10:00

As some of you may have already guessed, I am taking a break from this blog during the month of April. I'll be back in May. In the meantime you can find me on my writing blog: W.I.P. It: A Writer's Journey. I will be taking part in an A-Z Challenge.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)

Dissatisfaction Defeated

2011-03-21T11:16:00.000+11:00

We are always looking for more, bigger, better. Rarely are we satisfied with what we have today. Rarely do we live in the now in its fullest and take joy in every moment of every situation. We get caught up in the routine of everyday and we forget. We forget that each moment is special. We forget that each breath we take is a gift. We forget that it will all be over in a heartbeat; gone and irretrievable.

The only way to escape the dark fog of dissatisfaction is to stop searching for fulfilment in ourselves, our jobs, our relationships. The only place we will find it is in God. Our situations become irrelevant to the deep-seated peace that comes through knowing God and knowing that we matter to God. Awareness of his love for us lights a fire within us that can burn through any sense of the ordinary.

God promises eternal life with him in his kingdom. Our eternal life with him is not later. It begins now. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad.

Salt of the Earth

2011-03-08T09:43:00.000+11:00

For thousands of years salt has been used as a preservative, a purifying agent, and in the ancient world it was a sign of God’s covenant. Not only that, salt is also essential to the survival of all living creatures, including ourselves, and it enhances flavours in our foods.

So, when Christ called us ‘the salt of the earth’ in Matthew 5:13, he meant that we are to preserve God’s Word in our lives and to be living examples of his grace and love. We are to guard each other against destruction. We are to show the world the wonderful difference God makes in our lives.

Our faith is essential to our survival and if we lose that faith through complacency, bitterness or any other means, then we lose the way to our salvation, we lose our purpose for being, and we lose all hope. If we cling to all that is of God, seek to do good in everything, and continually pray to the Lord, then we will never lose God’s saving grace.

How do you stay salty in your life?

I Am Yours

2011-02-28T10:04:00.000+11:00

This week this blog turned one year old. In celebration I will repost one of the original posts -- one of my favourites:

Yesterday I needed to interrupt my husband from an involved job so I could gain both his attention and his help. He immediately stopped what he was doing, smiled and said, “I’m yours.”

It was such a simple phrase but it meant so much to me. With those words he told me I had his complete attention. He showed me he was eager to help, and he waited patiently for me to ask him whatever it was I needed of him. Because of this his words spoke volumes of his love for me.

Then I realised that these are the words we should regularly say to our Lord. I am Yours. These words tell our God – and remind ourselves – that we are eager for his direction, that he has our full attention, and that we love him so deeply that we are willing to do the things he asks of us.

But the most wonderful thing is that these are the words God says to us. We are his and he is ours.

The Fall of Tyre

2011-02-21T18:12:00.000+11:00

Are you familiar with the story of Tyre? Tyre was a powerful city in its time, known for its skilled artisans and its great wealth. It was the jewel of ancient Phoenicia. The people there, however, became beguiled by their own greatness. They congratulated themselves on their power, their knowledge, their beauty, and they grew prideful. They denied the Lord in favour of their own personal glory. And so they fell (Ez. 28:18).

They failed to remember that everything they had was given to them by the Lord. They forgot that the most important thing in life was not wealth or splendour or recognition, but a relationship with God. They thought they were secure in their grandeur. They thought their power and influence made them mighty, but instead it made them weak.

We should always be careful to avoid such snares. We should always remember that it’s God’s strength and wisdom that we borrow, not our own. Because of this, we should never neglect our time with our Lord, nor think of ourselves as too grand, too smart, or too independent. We should always keep God in the forefront of our thoughts, our actions, our whole lives, and we will not fall as Tyre did.

Do you ever wonder what might happen to our current civilization?

note: photo of Pompeii. If you look carefully you can see Mount Vesuvius in the background. It's the only photo I have of the place before my camera battery died.

God’s Love

2011-02-14T08:55:00.000+11:00

Because it’s Valentine’s Day, I felt I should publish a love theme post. What greater love is there than God’s love?

No matter how wonderful it can be, we all know human love is flawed. Even in the strongest relationships, there will be moments of impatience. There will be the occasional unjustified anger. There will even be instances of unkindness. It’s because we’re human and why we need forgiveness.

However, we can’t judge God by this flawed love.

God is different to us. He doesn’t love us because we loved him first. He doesn’t love us because of our appearance. He doesn’t love us on the condition that we’re successful and doesn’t love us for our money. He doesn’t even love us because we have somehow earned it.

God is love and it's in his perfect nature to love us, regardless of our flaws. God’s love is forever and will never fade with time. He will never neglect us or grow bored with us. Love will never be a duty for God. God’s love is pure. It is whole and it is perfect.

And God loves you. Wholly and deeply and eternally. How awesome is that?

What are some little things that make you certain of God’s love?

It’s a Wonderful World

2011-01-31T08:55:00.000+11:00

I remember the first time I saw the flowers pictured above. I was amazed because I’d never seen anything like them. They looked strange to me and they looked plastic from a distance. It was only when I took this photo that I realised they don’t have a waxy shine, but a soft fur.

My mind boggles at the thought of all the amazing and wonderful things our Lord has created. There is so much variety, so much beauty, in this world. When we grow arrogant enough to think we understand all that He created, He shows us something new and reminds us we can’t even begin to understand.

These flowers took my breath away. What takes your breath away and reminds you of God’s wonder?

Walking on Water

2011-01-25T09:07:00.000+11:00

The story of Jesus waking on water has always captured my heart. It’s an amazing miracle that sets Jesus apart from us. But the thing is, He isn’t apart from us. His power is with us always.

Many forget that Peter stepped out of the boat as well. He too walked on water, however brief. The only thing that stopped him was his fear and doubt.

What I love best about this story was that Jesus didn’t hesitate to save Peter from drowning. The scripture says, “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.” (Matthew 14:31 NIV)

Immediately.

Jesus didn’t wait to watch Peter splash about or gulp in gallons of water. Jesus didn’t punish him for his failure or lack of faith. Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

This is what Jesus does for us every day. He reaches out his hand. He will catch us when we need to be caught. He will carry us when we need to be carried. Yes, through Jesus’ power we too can walk on water, but we are no less loved if we can’t. So there is no reason to hold back. There's no reason to be afraid.

Have you recently held back because of fear or doubt?

In All Things

2011-01-17T10:37:00.000+11:00

With the recent flooding we’ve had here in Australia, lives have been lost, homes destroyed, crops devastated. This has been a terrible time for many of us. It would be all too easy to blame God. He has the power to save us, so why doesn’t He?

In times of tragedy, heartache and misery, we have to remind ourselves that God has already saved us. He is in control and in all things He works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He loves us too much to let us fall.

We may never understand why He protects us from some tragedies and not others, but we can trust that God will work even the worst of things for our good. Already we have seen the community come together to help those in need, we’ve seen amazing acts of bravery and selflessness. Though it might be hard to believe, many of us will forever be changed for the better.

Please pray for all the people who have been touched by the terrible floods, pray for those who grieve, and those who are on the verge of giving up. Pray that they find strength in God’s comfort.

Assertive Faith

2011-01-11T08:32:00.000+11:00

When I first became a Christian all those many years ago, I thought I didn’t need to do anything else. I knew we can’t earn our salvation so I thought all the hard work was done. I was a shy little thing with mostly non-Christian friends so I also told myself I didn’t need to share my faith. My life didn’t change at all except that I quietly believed.

But then I learned something remarkable and wonderful: our Christian faith is not a passive thing. Our faith is not meant to be contained. It is not meant to be hidden or quiet. We are made alive in our faith and so we are called to live that life.

And that requires action.

When we live fully and openly in God, our lives are enriched in ways we could not have imagined. We are called to be no less than holy so only our best efforts will do. We no longer need to drift aimlessly through life. We no longer need to pretend we are our own masters. We can shout out God’s praises with joy and be proud of our membership in His Family.

This is a gift from God. Let us live that gift.

New Hope

2011-01-04T09:51:00.000+11:00

There is something special about this time of year. Everything seems new, with a fresh dose of hope thrown in. Possibilities are grand and the feeling of positivity is strong. This is the time of year we can put aside our past mistakes. We can change, be better and start anew. This is what we tell ourselves.

But what generally happens is our resolutions hold for a couple of days, maybe a couple of weeks, and then we begin to fall back on old habits. Old reactions surface, old thought patterns return. We begin to lose hope. This is because we have it wrong.

The true hope we have doesn’t come from us. We can’t fix ourselves under our own power. It’s God’s power that changes us. And it’s not just this time of year we have new hope. God offers us new hope every single day, every single minute. We constantly live in new hope because of our Lord Jesus.

He gave us this hope because He has already forgiven us. He has made us perfect in His eyes. All we have to do is accept His forgiveness, embrace Him in our lives and Trust Him.

Yes, we will make mistakes. Yes, life won’t always be easy, but He will always, always be there for us. Our natural response to Him is to keep trying, keep striving, and keep sharing our joy of Him.

How does God's offer of a new beginning every day change your life?

The Song in our Hearts

2010-12-20T08:46:00.000+11:00

I love Christmas carols. I love listening to them in the car or when I’m cleaning the house. Anytime really. They put a smile on my face and a spring in my step. There is a danger, however, when we hear them so often. We can sometimes forget the meaning behind the words. We can enjoy the music, but forget the message.

Silent night. Holy night. Let’s not forget the hush of awe that night holds for us. Our Lord and God came to earth as a mere babe. He experienced the pain and ugliness of life for us. He wept for us. He gave us hope when we had none.

Let our praise for our Lord be the song that sings in our hearts – not just in this season, but always.

May you all have a blessed Christmas.

What’s your favourite Christmas Carol?

Break Time

2010-12-06T10:06:00.000+11:00

The next couple of weeks will be super busy for me so I won't have time to write any new posts. I will be back on 20th December to wish everyone a blessed and happy Christmas.

And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name.
Luke 1:46-49(NIV)

Saved

2010-11-29T10:28:00.000+11:00

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

This is a promise from God. Our sins are behind us when we confess to our Lord. Our mistakes are forgiven and forgotten when we turn to God. We are saved and there is nothing that can separate us from our Lord.

We don’t need to prove ourselves by doing great works. Great works are meaningless if they don’t first come from God.

We don’t need to redeem ourselves by paying off all we owe to God. That debt was already paid by Christ Jesus when he died on the cross.

We don’t need to force our way into favour with God. He already loves us.

All we need to do is trust him.

When we do this, we become richly blessed. We become God’s children. We become heirs to his Kingdom. We become saved.

Insufficient Words

2010-11-22T09:19:00.000+11:00

There are insufficient words for the gratitude I feel for my life,
for the people whom I love,
for the countless gifts and blessings I’ve received.

I can’t express the thankfulness I feel for the power of a smile,
for the touch of reassurance
and the support of a helping hand.

I can’t articulate my appreciation for the world we live in,
for the smell of Jasmine in the morning,
for the cleansing rains,
for the shade of a tree in summer
and the warmth of a blanket in winter.

All I can do is kneel at my Lord’s feet and praise His Holy Name.
He knows my heart. He hears the words I can’t express.

He delights in you and me.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:1-3 (NIV)

The Inconsequential Moments

2010-11-15T08:46:00.000+11:00

I was sitting at the local coffee shop on the weekend and my husband teased me about the amount of crumbs I dropped while I ate my raisin toast. It was an inconsequential moment, but it made me smile and thank the Lord for sending me this precious man. It made me thank the Lord for laughter. And, because I could share this moment with not only my husband, but also the Lord, it made the moment not so inconsequential.

Our lives are made up of a string of inconsequential moments that can pass without notice or thought. But when we share everything with our Lord, the big moments, the little moments and the inconsequential moments become transformed into poignant moments, special moments, blessed moments.

This is when I realised that there is nothing inconsequential about our lives. Our Lord knows this. Do you?

Of Worry, Warts and Bunnies

2010-11-08T08:25:00.000+11:00

I don't know about you, but I can be a stress bunny - so much so that my husband bought me bunny ears to wear. I worry about everything. I worry about work, the family, the house, my health. When I make a decision, I wonder if it's the right one. I even worry about the increasing speed of each passing year.

Then God reassured me I don't have to live this way. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life..." He says in Matthew 6:25(NIV). God promises many wonderful gifts. He promises us salvation, eternal life, joy, fulfillment and even peace. The thing about God is that we can trust everything He tells us. So, it's true: I don't have to worry, I can experience joy, I can be content and I can find peace.

So why don't I feel this peace?

The key of course lies in the definition. When God promises us peace, He doesn't mean a sixties movement. He doesn't mean that everyone should agree with everyone about everything. Neither does He mean we should stand back and watch our sister or brother fall because we would rather avoid confrontation or awkward situations. Jesus reassured his disciples in John 14:27 (NIV) - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." It's a peace not of this world, but a peace of the inner spirit that can only come from God and has nothing to do with our worldly situations.

To receive joy, contentment and peace there is only one condition: we must accept these promised gifts by responding to God. It's much like getting a voucher for a free gift in the mail. All we have to do is go to the store to pick it up. Sounds simple enough. But the problem is 90% of those vouchers are never redeemed. It might be because it's inconvenient, we're too busy, we forget about the voucher or time runs out. Likewise, we must redeem God's promises. God's gift of peace is ours for the taking if we turn to God and claim this free gift.

I need to remind myself that there's no need to be a stress bunny or a worry wart. Paul said it best in his letter to the Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV): "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

--
This piece was published in the November issue of Sancitfied Together Online. You can find it here.

Love One Another

2010-11-02T08:21:00.000+11:00

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18 (NIV)

Both friendship and love take time and effort. Neither are passive things. Neither are simply labels if they are genuine. We may feel good when we say we love others, but if we do nothing when they are in need then we have fooled ourselves.

We are asked not only to love our friends and family, but our neighbours also. We are asked to love the stranger, to love the foreigner, to love those we don’t understand. And, to love anyone is to take a certain responsibility for their well-being, both spiritually and physically, as we would for any of our closest friends.

It may seem daunting at first but through God we are given both the desire and the ability. When we focus on the love God has for us, for all the things He has done for us, all that He has sacrificed, it becomes difficult to keep that love contained. We discover that He has given us the grace to love others even if they seem difficult to love at first.

The power of God’s love is transformational.

Embrace Your Powerlessness

2010-10-25T10:25:00.000+11:00

None of us like the idea of being powerless. It’s a difficult thing to accept because we’re told throughout our lives that we are masters of our own destiny. We’re told we must be in control. And so we try to control our lives; we sometimes even try to control other people’s lives. We take on the world with the conviction that we have the power to at least control our corner of it. But in truth we don’t and we can’t.

No matter what we do we can’t control the weather, we can’t control the passage of time, we can’t choose our family, we can’t pick the gift or abilities we are graced with and we have no idea what’s around the next corner. We are powerless to the drunken driver, the debilitating sickness, the unexpected tragedy.

And so I ask, wouldn’t it be better to hand all control over to the One who does have the power? Wouldn’t it be better to allow God to rule you, rather than your schedules, your jobs, your financial situations? After all, God knows you better than you know yourself and He cares what happens to you. He knows everything. He has already saved your eternal soul, so why not let Him save your life on earth as well? You have nothing to fear when He is in control.

Embrace your powerlessness. Accept it. Revel in it. Praise the Lord for it. Because He is the one with the power and He knows how to use it.

The Beatitudes

2010-10-18T08:45:00.000+11:00

This past week of struggling with sickness reminded me of the beatitudes found in Matthew 5:1-11. When I was a new Christian I struggled with these verses. They basically said that those who suffer, mourn and struggle are blessed.

How is it a blessing to feel wretched? How is it a blessing to go hungry, to suffer loss, to be persecuted? How can I rejoice at those times? It sounded like a foolish declaration by a dreamer. Where was the reality?

God is the reality. He changes everything. When we suffer as Christians we cry out to Jesus. He provides for us. He comforts us. Because of Jesus we gain the kingdom of heaven (v3), we inherit the earth (v5), we are shown mercy (v7), we will see God (v8), and be called His children (v9).

It’s not the pain or suffering or struggles that bless us. It’s the fact that those things draw us closer to God. We cling to Him and cry out for relief, forgiveness, healing, and comfort. Our relationship with God is our blessing. When the focus is on God, we are transformed, the weight of our suffering becomes bearable, and we are blessed.

I'd just like to thank eveyone again for the prayers. I'm still not 100% but I can at last say with confidence I'm on the mend.

God of All Comfort

2010-10-11T09:03:00.000+11:00

I am quite sick at the moment so I won't be able to post anything coherent for a few days. So, instead I thought I'd post a passage from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5(NIV):

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ⁵For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

Many blessings to you all. I'll be back as soon as I can.

In the Light

2010-10-04T10:37:00.000+11:00

The picture above is a pigmy pigface that grows around my mailbox. The flowers only bloom in spring and they only open in the light of the day. They close again at night.

We are like these vibrant flowers. We bloom when we turn our faces to God’s light. But we wither in the darkness. His light alone makes us glorious.

Our Lord sustains us. He wraps us in His warmth, His love, His care. He gives us everything we need to grow and blossom into the people we are meant to be.

So, turn your face to our Lord and soak in His goodness and His blessings.

Every Spiritual Blessing

2010-09-27T10:18:00.000+10:00

I had a very good friend whose life was less than perfect. We’ll call her Becca. Her language was colourful, her habits questionable, her past mistakes regrettable. I invited her to church one time. She scoffed. She claimed the church was not a place where she belonged. She shuddered, not in distaste, but in fear.

“God will smite me the moment I walk through the doors,” she joked.

Of course, if that were true, then God would have obliterated the human race in holy fire and brimstone a long time ago. Becca didn’t realise she was no more terrible than the rest of us. She was no more unworthy than the holiest of saints. She didn’t know that it’s not about brownie points, punishment or perfection.

None of us deserve God's love.

None of us can earn His forgiveness.

But all of us belong in Him.

When we approach Him and ask for forgiveness for our wanderings, He won’t judge the filth under our nails, He won’t condemn us for the sludge in our darkest corners, He won’t smite us for our past. God will accept us as we are. He doesn’t hold back from us. He doesn’t wait for us to deserve His gifts. He doesn’t keep a tally or a scorecard. He blesses us with EVERY spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph 1:3).

Our God is an amazing God.

Giving to Refresh

2010-09-20T09:02:00.000+10:00

Spring in Australia is a wonderful time. It’s a time to open up the house, give it a good clean and let the air flow. New warmth fills our lives, the clutter disappears and everything seems… happier.

Much the same happens when we give of ourselves. When we throw open the doors to ourselves, when we give with a generous heart, then we allow room for our Lord to not only refresh our minds and souls, but to give us even more blessings.

However, when we hold onto things, they begin to stagnate. We begin to gather dust and cobwebs. We then wonder why we find it so difficult to refresh or refill – there’s no room left!

So, give to others freely. Give to others generously. Give them your time, your patience, your kindness, your prayers, even your financial and material possessions if necessary. The rewards are great.

--

Note: For some time now I've struggled to maintain two blogs. I started my writing blog because I wish to pursue a career as a novelist. This career is taking up a lot of time but I don't wish to quit this blog since writing about faith is also a passion. Therefore, I came to the difficult decision to reduce the number of posts here to once a week so I can avoid burnout.

Blessings,
Lyn

One Week Break

2010-09-13T07:32:00.000+10:00

I will be taking a week off from this blog.

I'll be back on 20th September.

In the meantime,

Blessings to you all

and may you feel God's presence

in your whole life.

May you be filled with His love

May you accept His forgiveness.

²⁴To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— ²⁵to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Jude 1:24-25 (NIV)

Review: Cast of Characters – Max Lucado

2010-09-10T10:49:00.000+10:00

This book is a collection of Lucado’s stories taken from many of his best selling books. It’s about the people of the bible, made real and relevant. It’s about God’s power in these people’s lives. And it’s written in a way that makes it relatable and appealing.

At the end of each chapter is a list of questions that can be used for reflection and discussion. So this book can be used as a mini bible study in small groups or on your own.

This book comes across as a “Best of” album and, while it works for music, I’m not convinced it works in a book. I found it a little disjointed at times and the lack of flow between chapters meant I couldn’t read large chunks of the book at a time, regardless of the attempt of an overall theme.

If you’ve read two or three of his books from the list these stories were taken from, then I think you’ll still enjoy it. I previously read five of the twelve books so the feeling of déjà vu popped up somewhat frequently for me which I found a tad disappointing.

Regardless, I found myself reading through the chapters with a smile. Lucado has a knack for bringing the bible stories alive. Through the simplicity of skilled storytelling, he makes great points and teaches God’s word in a way that touches the heart. This book makes a good read, and a good mini study.

3/5 stars

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

God’s Love

2010-09-08T09:03:00.000+10:00

How often do you hear, “Love thy neighbour”? How often do you want to do just that but their selfishness makes you want to hold back or their insensitivity makes you impatient? How often do you beat yourself up for failing to be the Christian you want to be?

We all want to do as God tells us but we can’t if we try to go it alone. He gives us the power to be the people He wants is to be. This power is based on love. We can’t give love if we don’t first accept it. I’m not talking about the fickleness of human love. I’m talking about the faithfulness of God’s love. When we let it, God’s love fills us up and overflows in a river of kindness, patience, forgiveness, and mercy.

God’s love is the only love we can rely on. God’s love is a power like no other. It can change us. We no longer need to rely on others to give us acceptance, recognition, or self worth. Our love is born from gratitude towards the amazing things God has done for us.

How does God’s love sustain you?

Can or Can’t?

2010-09-06T08:36:00.000+10:00

You’re too young! You’re too old! You aren’t skilled enough. You wouldn’t understand. You don’t have the resources. You don’t have the experience. You don’t have the qualifications. We’ve all heard some variation of, “You can’t!” But what do you do with those words? Do you let them sink in and allow them to stop you from your goals? Or do you ignore them and turn to God for support and affirmation?

David heard those words when he offered to face Goliath. His brother gave him a hard time about it and the very king of all Israel doubted David’s ability to face the giant. “You are too young,” King Saul said to him. (1 Sam 17:33). But these words didn’t stop David. He instead held onto his confidence in God. Because of his faith, he went on to become one of the greatest kings in history.

No matter what we do, someone will oppose us, someone will tell us we can’t, someone will share their doubts about us. But it’s what we do with the words that will make a difference to our lives because it’s all about where we put our faith. Do we trust what people have to say? Or do we trust God’s voice?

What do you do when you hear criticism and doubt?

The Universal Language of God

2010-09-03T07:46:00.000+10:00

A few years ago I went on an exchange program to South Korea. It was a truly amazing experience. One of the church services I attended in Seoul stood out the most. The translation technology had broken so I listened to the entire service in Korean. I didn’t understand a word of it, but I understood the passion for Christ. The whole amphitheatre rang with praises for God. The leaders spoke with genuine fire in their hearts. Their love for God radiated from them.

It was the most memorable service I ever attended because the focus was all on God. I couldn’t get caught up in logics. I couldn’t get lost in interesting facts. I couldn’t wander through inspirational stories. All I had was the wordless experience of witnessing God’s power in the life of that church. The passion was so evident that the speakers would burst into song in the middle of their sermons. Even for them, words alone weren’t enough.

It’s because there are no words for the depth of love God has for us. There are no words for the gratitude we feel for Him. God speaks to us in ways that go deeper than words.

How does God speak to you? What’s the most memorable service you’ve ever attended?

A Spring in My Step

2010-09-01T07:30:00.001+10:00

There’s a spring in my step

When the blossoms bud like jewels

And the world embraces renewals.

It reminds me of Christ

And the promises He made

So I no longer need to be afraid.

There’s a spring in my step

Because my Saviour’s blood did spill

So my underserved life will be fulfilled.

A plan set out by God

Conceived from the start

To speak to my trembling heart.

There’s a spring in my step

Because my Lord did inspire

A spark that became a fire.

I wrote this to celebrate the first day of Spring here in Australia. The photo is my rosemary bush in flower.

The End of Winter

2010-08-30T10:29:00.000+10:00

This is my last post before the end of winter here in Australia. It’s been the coldest winter we’ve had in a long time. I’ve enjoyed more stews and soups than I can remember. I’ve snuggled down under thick blankets and worn heavy clothing. But the cold is coming to an end. The days are beginning to grow warmer.

Personally I love winter and I’m a little sad that it’s passing. But, there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven Ecclesiastes 3:1(NIV). And so I’m looking forward to longer days, warmth and sunlight. I’m looking forward to ice in my drinks again and fresh summer salads. I’m looking forward to my tomatoes ripening and my herbs growing.

Our Lord gives us these things to celebrate His presence in our lives. He gives us these things to appreciate with joy. For us, change is inevitable. We can fight it and miss out on the gifts God gives us, or we can embrace change and make the most of every moment.

What are some things you’ve enjoyed most about the season that is about to pass and the season that is to come?

Father, Forgive Them

2010-08-27T09:04:00.000+10:00

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34a (NKJV)

This cry from the cross, this agony drawn out in a bloody breath, spoke volumes of Jesus’ love for us. He saved us despite the evil things we did to him. He saved us despite the agony he went through. He saved us because he knew it wasn’t about him; it wasn’t about the moment; it wasn’t about the decay in our actions, thoughts and hearts. It was, and is, about God’s Love.

On the cross Jesus touched our hearts and spoke to our souls. When he rose again, he changed us forever. How can we not respond to such a love?

Being Led

2010-08-25T09:36:00.001+10:00

When I was young I used to have big plans about all the things I was going to do with my life. I was going to be a great artist, a world traveller, a famous writer, an adventurer, a movie star, an animator, a dancer, a singer and I was never going to get married. Some things came to pass, others did not, and there are still others yet to come.

Did I plan even half the things that happened in my life? No. God had better plans for me. I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better man. He is good for me in ways I could never have written on a shopping list for the “perfect man”. He taught me to trust, and to love, and to be myself.

I never dreamed I would end up leading youth groups or fellowships, or even the elders of the church. But I did. I never dreamed I would grow such a passion for my Lord. But I did.

He leads me in ways that are both scary and exciting. He takes me down roads I would never have walked on my own. He carried me through darkness and safely delivered me into His Light.

I can’t imagine what tomorrow will bring, but knowing my hand rests in His, I will gladly walk with Him wherever He will lead me.

Where has the Lord led you?

He is Greater

2010-08-23T07:06:00.000+10:00

The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world – 1 John 4:4 (NIV)

Devastation, floods, droughts, pollution, war, famine, violence, selfishness, pride, greed, fear. All these things belong to the world. They cause us grief. They cause us suffering. They cause us to lose hope.

But there is hope.

God gives us this hope when all else seems hopeless. He grants us courage in a world where we tremble. He lends us strength in a world that saps our spirit. He cradles us in His love in a world where we don’t deserve such a love.

He is our light in the dark because He is greater than the world. He is greater than we could ever be, greater than anything we could ever make, greater even than creation itself.

He gives us hope and a future because He has overcome the world. I can't express how blessed we are to be a part of God's family - loved, saved and protected because He is so Great.

How does God give you hope?

Gone Fishing

2010-08-20T07:37:00.000+10:00

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

I used to go to the local bay and fish off the jetty there. I don’t think I ever caught anything even though I’d tempt the fish with tasty bait or wiggle the hook in the middle of their schools. I think the main reason I caught nothing was the fact that I was impatient and kept trying to force the matter.

Jesus told his disciples that he would make them fishers of men. He taught them to spread the good word of the gospel just as he teaches us. You and me. Jesus didn’t use hooks or bait. He didn’t try to force anyone to make the leap of faith. Instead he used himself as an example to others. And that is what his disciples did also.

So too we are to be living examples. To live our lives as Christ would. To be kind and loving. To show our love for others. Not to judge, but to be self controlled. When we do this we won’t need the hooks or the bait. God will shine through us and others will see His glory.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps 1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)

What are some things you do to be a living example for Christ?

Cascade

2010-08-18T08:39:00.000+10:00

I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. Mark 9:41 (NIV)

The benefits of belonging to Christ and living in God’s kingdom are many. God’s blessings are bountiful and it is a great privilege to be counted as one of his own. But it is not a thing to hoard away as a private treasure. It is not a thing we are meant to hide for fear of it being taken away. No one can take it from us and we only gain more by giving more.

So, walk tall, showing pride to bear Christ’s name and know that anyone who blesses you because of that name is also blessed. It doesn’t diminish your own blessings, but instead increases it. It’s a wonderful cascade of blessings. A thing to be shared. And it’s all because of the love of God.

Child of God

2010-08-16T10:07:00.000+10:00

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John 1:12-13 (NIV)

To be a child of God is to know that we belong to God, that we are dearly loved by God, and that we will inherit his kingdom.

To be a child of God is to know that we are God’s creation, that he chose the time and place of our birth, and that his individual plan for us began before even the world was born.

To be a child of God is to live refreshed and daily renewed in his Spirit. It is to be washed clean by Christ’s precious blood and to be set free from the shackles of sin and darkness.

To be a child of God is the greatest blessing we can know.

Meanings: Thank You

2010-08-13T08:00:00.000+10:00

My husband recently listened to a science podcast. He told me that scientists discovered that the phrase that was used most by couples with a successful relationship is, ‘Thank you’.*

One would think that, “I love you”, would be the winning phrase, but those words are all too often bandied around and abused. They lack power because on their own they are just mere words. On the other hand, saying, “Thank you,” is showing that love because it is an expression of our gratitude towards the person we thank – for who they are, for what they have done, or what they have promised.

To thank someone is humbling, it pushes pride aside, and it’s not asking for anything in return. And the added psychological bonus is a boost in happiness and healthiness.

This led me to think about our relationship with our Lord. When we thank God for His presence in our lives, we are saying that we accept Him, we value His promises, we appreciate His love, we are grateful for His sacrifice. When we thank Him, we show our love for Him.

Have you sat in humble thanksgiving with the Lord today?

*Unfortunately I can’t find the podcast to link it here, but the theory behind it can be confirmed here.

Meanings: Selah

2010-08-11T08:10:00.000+10:00

This is a Hebrew word you will find scattered about in the Psalms. Because the Psalms were songs accompanied by musical instruments, it is thought to be a musical mark that notes a break in the song, or to mark a musical interlude. But it is more than that. It is also popularly believed to mean, “Stop and listen.”

To me the word is a reminder to contemplate God’s word. Rather than scanning the Scriptures and calling them read, I try to read smaller portions at a time. I then stop and I think about what I have just read and I pray for understanding.

Our faith is not a thing to be rushed through. It is a new way of life that is set apart from the frenzy of the world. It is an inclusion of God. And God is timeless. Selah.

Meanings: Amen

2010-08-09T09:22:00.000+10:00

I remember as I child I prayed to God late at night when I should have been sleeping. I would ramble on with Him and tell Him all about my day, my hopes, my dreams. I knew I should finish the prayer and say, “Amen”, but I thought the word was like a goodbye or a door that closed. I didn’t want to speak it because I wanted God to stay with me forever. I didn’t realise then He would never leave me. I didn’t realise “Amen” didn’t mean, “Ok, I’m done talking with you, Lord. You can go now.”

The word, ‘Amen’, instead means, “It is so” and it is derived from the Hebrew āmēn which means “truth”, “certainty”, and “verily”. It’s not a goodbye or a full stop. It is so much greater than mere punctuation.

To me, it is a declaration of God’s Truth. It is a one word song of praise to Him. It is a mighty agreement to His presence in my life.

What does the word mean to you?

Be Holy

2010-08-06T09:02:00.000+10:00

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:13-21 (NIV)

Soul Trade

2010-08-04T09:30:00.001+10:00

Countless stories have cropped up over the ages about those willing to sell their souls for something they desire, usually knowledge, youth, fortune or power. As Christians we would like to believe we would never do such a thing. However, is it possible to sell your soul without realising it?

Apparently thousands of gamers sold their souls to a gaming company. The company wrote the clause into their terms and conditions. Who ever shuffles through all that fine print? The company intended it as a light-hearted joke, but it made a very good point. You can read about it here.

So many of us sell our souls and we don’t even realise it. We neglect to read the fine print. We think it’s enough to attend church. We think it’s enough to believe in Jesus. We think we are saved if we are good people. But we are mistaken.

We deny God when we decide we don’t need Him. We deny Him when we think our actions alone can save us. We deny Him when we don’t include Him in our lives, when we toss Him down our list of priorities, when we fail to recognise his awesome greatness.

So, rather than pushing our Lord away, embrace Him and all that He offers. Remind yourself daily of His worthiness, His wonder, His amazing love. Give Him your soul, your mind, your body and your strength. He will keep you safe.

Our Queues

2010-08-02T11:53:00.000+10:00

I did a short stint of university level psychology. In an experiment to demonstrate the way people think, a situation was set up where a loud crash was heard in an adjoining room to where people were waiting. If the majority in that room didn’t react, then neither did the test subject. It works the other way around as well: if the majority suddenly got up and ran from the room, then the stranger who had no idea what’s going on ran also.

We are creatures of community and learn to rely on those around us – even strangers. This leads to the question: from whom do you get your queues?

The world says we have to fight for our rights and our freedom. God says He has given us our freedom. The world says we have to earn respect. God says we must respect everyone, whether they ‘earn’ it or not.

God says we don’t belong to the world. We belong to Him. This means we are set apart from the world. This means we can get our queues from God Himself. We don’t have to run and hide because everyone else around us runs and hides. We can lend a helping hand and show a caring heart in places where no one else is doing these things.

God is our queue because He has transformed us. He is our Lead, and our Compass.

Who is the greatest influence in your life?

Christ’s Supremacy

2010-07-30T08:00:00.002+10:00

Christ is Supreme.

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Colossians 1:15-16 (NIV)

He is our God. He is Mighty. His is King.

And yet, Jesus wept. John 11:35 (NIV)

He became one of us. He cried for one of us. He felt the pain to be one of us.

His love was so great that He came to save us. Regardless of this love, we betrayed Him. We reviled Him. We broke His body.

And He forgave us.

Christ is Supreme.

Not Your Own Understanding

2010-07-28T08:00:00.004+10:00

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

A few years ago I considered going to Bible College. What I didn’t expect was the number of doors that closed in front of me. God’s message was very clear. He said, “No.”

I was so surprised. Surely He wanted me to learn as much as I could about Him and His word. Bible College seemed like the obvious answer.

I still don’t know why I wasn’t meant to go. I can speculate. It would have led me into a different direction for my life.

But often what we think is right for our lives may not be right. There is so much we don’t know, can’t know. God, however, knows everything. He knows what is best. He will show us the right way, the best way.

All He asks is that we trust Him.

Our Only Hope

2010-07-26T07:00:00.002+10:00

Ever feel like the world has grown weary of God? Do you shudder at the nightly news reports and wonder how we could have fallen so far? Do you shake your head at the greed, pride and depravity in our world? Have you lost faith in humanity?

It’s not faith in humanity we need to restore, but our faith in God. He is the only one who has the power to change us for the better. He is the one who gave us Hope through Jesus Christ. He gave us a future because, without Him, we had none.

So, Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector 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. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

And let us share His Good News with others so that they too can see His Glory, accept His Salvation, and be transformed.

Wallpaper of the Week – Isaiah 41:13

2010-07-23T08:56:00.000+10:00

Our Lord does hold onto us, He does protect us.

Our Lord reassures us that we don't need to fear.

He promises He will help us.

We can accept His hand

because we can trust Him.

We can accept His protect

because He does not lie.

We can accept His help

because He loves us,

And he will ensure

no harm comes to us.

Feasting and Fasting

2010-07-21T09:37:00.001+10:00

Occasionally I listen to the podcasts from Mars Hill Church. They are always so full of teaching and the Word of God. I do recommend them because they are always fresh.

One such podcast was on feasting and fasting and what they truly mean to us. In the abbreviated form:

Fasting is taking the thing away that’s a barrier to God – it doesn’t always have to be food. It can be technology, a sport, a hobby, any distraction.

Feasting is transforming that very thing that could distract us from God, into that which takes us to God – we don’t have to feast on food alone either. We can feast on our sight and appreciate the world God created. We can feast on our hearing and praise His mighty Name. We can feast on the little things. We can even feast on our very breath. Feasting is finding gratitude toward God and knowing He loves us and wants us to experience joy.

I love the different perspective on these definitions. We can worship God through both.

Creation from Nothing

2010-07-19T09:27:00.000+10:00

This post was inspired by Karen’s post here. She posted a beautiful song, “Bless Your Name Forevermore”. The first lines in the song are:

From the darkness came the light,

Out of nothingness You made life;

This got me to thinking… When we create we can only make things from other things. A building is made from bricks and mortar. Bread is made from wheat, which is grown from a seed. A light is made from a match, a spark, a switch.

When God created the world He made it from nothing. To create, He doesn’t need to plant, to gather, to process, to invent. His Word is so powerful that creation is shaped by it.

How Great is our Lord?
How Glorious is His Name?

Wallpaper of the Week – Psalm 25:4

2010-07-16T07:00:00.000+10:00

When we walk the ways of the world

we become desensitised and dehumanised.

When we walk the ways of our Lord,

we walk in His Glory,

we shine with His love,

we live in His Salvation.

Doing a Martha

2010-07-14T08:57:00.000+10:00

I used to see a particular friend on a regular basis. We’d go out to dinner at the local café and she’d come back to my place for a coffee and we’d chat some more.

On one occasion I was running late. I had enough time to either spend quiet time with my Lord, or clean up the house. I decided to clean up the house in case my friend came over after dinner.

Something inside me said this was wrong. I needed time with my Lord more than I needed a tidy house. And, to prove the point, it turned out that my friend couldn’t stay so she didn’t come back for coffee.

The Lord had tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me again how important it is to spend time with Him. He should never be our second priority.

Have you ever had one of those moments? Every time I think of mine, I think of Martha. She was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made by Jesus’ visit, but her sister, Mary, sat at His feet and listened to what he had to say.

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

A Different Life

2010-07-12T07:00:00.004+10:00

A friend asked via Facebook, “If you didn’t know Christ would your life be any different?”

My initial reaction was, “Well, of course!” But then I thought about it some more. I’m a good person and was always a good person (as the world understands a good person). When I became a Christian I didn’t experience any major change in my life. So maybe, my life would be the same.

The possibility that this might be true shocked me. I still make foolish mistakes. I still think in selfish terms far too often. I still sin. I am no better than anyone else on this earth.

Then I thought about it some more. I may not have gone through a lot of outward changes, it may have only been an inward transformation to start with, but it impacted my life in a way that made all the difference.

God changed the way I think: I try to relate everything back to Him. He changed the way I respond to the world: I have to daily remind myself that I no longer belong to the world. And through those changes he impacted other people’s lives.

The difference lies in the choices we make, in our actions and inactions, and, most importantly, in the strength to speak out for Christ. This is how our lives are made different. This is how we are truly set apart.

We can all live “good” lives, but Christ changes us so that we want to shout out His name to any, and all, who want to hear. God’s love burns within us like a furnace and demands we share this warmth, this life, with others. How can we not share the Good News about our Lord?

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15 (NIV)

How different would your life be if you didn’t know Christ?

Self Thinking

2010-07-09T13:00:00.002+10:00

A Thoughtful Life – Part 3.

This is the final post for my short series about living the thoughtful life. So far I’ve covered thinking about our faith and thinking about others. Today I will cover the surprising need to also think about ourselves.

I am not promoting selfishness, but it’s important:

To think enough about yourself to know your purpose in God’s plan;
To know enough to practice self-control;
To know the things which tempt you so that you are more able to avoid them;
To know you are allowed to ask God for the things you need and even want;
To build that personal relationship with God.

When we accept the person God created in us, when we think about how we are fearfully and wonderfully made, then our love for our Lord and His people grows even greater.

Outward Thinking

2010-07-07T13:00:00.004+10:00

A Thoughtful Life – Part 2

My last post was about living the thoughtful life through thinking about our Lord and our faith. Today’s post is about living the thoughtful life through being sensitive to the needs of others.

That bread which you keep belongs to the hungry; that coat which you preserve in your wardrobe, to the naked; those shoes which are rotting in your possession, to the shoeless; that gold which you have hidden in the ground, to the needy. Wherefore, as often as you are able to help others, and refuse, so often did you do them wrong.
--Augustine.

It’s not enough to be an isolated bubble of faith in the world. To care for others is not an optional addition to our faith. It is an integral part. It is what love is. And to care for anyone we must be sensitive to their needs. This requires time. It requires thought. It then requires action.

When we truly think about others, then we are more able to help them and more able to share God’s love.

Faith Thinking

2010-07-05T09:20:00.000+10:00

A Thoughtful Life – Part 1

This week in a short series I will describe the “thoughtful life” that we are asked to live as Christians, what it’s all about, and why it’s so important.

The thoughtful life, or the thought-filled life, enables us to experience all of God’s blessings because it opens our world to something greater than ourselves. Being thoughtful means we are informed, aware, and self controlled. Being thoughtful reminds us who we are and to whom we belong.

Part of this life - and what today’s post is about – is the necessity to think about our faith. It’s not enough to simply accept Christ into our lives one moment and then forget Him the next.

Any great artist must work at their craft. Any great thinker must exercise their mind. Any great relationship must be nurtured. To do our best, we must work at what we do and maintain what we have.

And so we need to learn all we can about our Lord and our faith. We must think about these things to grow strong so that we aren’t easily turned away. We must think about these things so that we can fully appreciate all that He has given us, all that He means to us.

God is worthy of our thoughts. He is our most precious treasure, now, and forevermore.

Think of that. Think of Him.

Extreme Sport

2010-07-02T07:24:00.000+10:00

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3 (NIV)

As humans we are extremists. We often find it difficult to sit in the grey. We fidget in the in between. Because we are taught early in our lives the difference between right and wrong, we think we must always live in the absolutes of yes or no.

And much of the time this is true. There is no other path to God except through Christ. This is an absolute. This is a Yes! And this is the best extreme there can be.

But there is also the not so extreme. In the Romans verse above, Paul urges us moderation. We are to think of ourselves with sober judgement. We aren’t meant to think too much of ourselves, but neither are we to think too little.

In Proverbs 30:8-9 (NIV) the prayer is one of financial moderation. Give me only my daily bread.

Many verses speak of self-control. While we are meant to die to the self this does not mean we are meant to deny all happiness, joy or a life.

God blesses us with wonderful extremes and He also blesses us with the not so extreme. It is all a blessing when we live our lives with the measure of faith God gave us.

What extremes do you tend to lean toward?

The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns

2010-06-30T13:00:00.007+10:00

Richard Stearns is the president of World Vision U.S. and in this book he asks us the big question, “What does God expect of us?” He calls us to embrace the whole gospel by being active in our faith. To demonstrate the importance of this, he carries the reader through his personal journey from success as a corporate CEO, to a more profound success by carrying out God’s will in his own life.

By asking, “Are you willing to be open to God’s will for your life?” Richard took me out of my comfort zone just as he was taken out of his. And for this, it is well worth the read.

The book shines the most through his personal experiences and the stories he tells of the real people he encountered in the poorest countries of the world. The book, however, slows down in the middle because, although at times astounding, he’s a little too heavy on the statistics for my liking. He also had a tendency to be a little repetitive.

Apart from that the book is well worth reading and covers some important issues in today’s world.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Changed

2010-06-28T09:24:00.000+10:00

When we turn our mind toward our Lord, acknowledging Him as our Saviour, Master and Friend, we are changed.

With every breath that we take, it’s taken for the Lord. With every sight we see, we can see beyond the physical and behold the power and glory of the Lord at work. With every sound we hear, it becomes the song of the Spirit prompting us to respond in love.

Even our very thoughts are changed. We understand more fully the strength of the Lord. We are able to acknowledge his power and majesty. We are humbled by his grace and love.

When the Lord becomes our Centre, we become more prayerful, more thankful, more trusting, more open and more willing to do all that we can for the Lord. As a result, a deep-seated sense of peace overcomes us and we are able to know a satisfaction and a sense of belonging that we didn’t know before.

Wallpaper of the Week – John 15:5

2010-06-25T10:47:00.001+10:00

A few years ago a need arose in my church for someone to run a service, including giving the sermon. I had never done anything like it. I was shy, I stumbled over my words, I blushed and I was just not into the public speaking thing. It was an impossible task.

Jesus asked the disciples to find food to feed thousands of people. It wasn’t like they could pop down to the local shops and buy supplies. They didn’t have enough food, they didn’t have enough money, and they didn’t have enough time to mess around because the people were hungry now. It was an impossible task.

But nothing is impossible with God.

I put pen to paper and then God gave me the words. God gave me the courage to stand in front of the entire congregation. It wasn’t my strength or my steady voice. That was all God. I only listened, trusted and obeyed.

The disciples listened to Jesus and obeyed him. They found a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. It was Jesus who did the impossible and made the food plentiful enough to go around.

God doesn’t ask us to do the impossible, He asks us to listen, trust, and obey.

Forgive me O Lord

2010-06-23T08:30:00.002+10:00

I come to you battered.

I come to you broken.

I am not the creature I want to be.

Please, forgive me O Lord.

You are worthy

You are mighty

You are purity and perfection.

Please, forgive me O Lord.

Surround me with your love

Show me your mercy

Teach me your ways

Be my Comfort and my Rock

You are my Heart and my Forever.

I thank you, O Lord, for forgiving me.

The “Super Comments Award”

2010-06-21T13:00:00.026+10:00

I’m back from a week’s break. I had a wonderful time, and thank you so much for all your comments. Even though I was sick with flu, I managed to relax, read and write (all my favourite things).

To my delight, while I was away, I received an award. Thank you to Betty at Cut and Dry for giving me the “Super Comments Award”. According to the rules I’m supposed to

1. Answer the questions below.
2. Name seven bloggers to pass the award on who have left super comments on my blog.
3. Come up with ten new questions and pass them on to the winners.

Like Betty, I’m not going to come up with new questions but use the questions provided already

Ten Questions/My answers:

1. What is your favourite colour? : - Purple
2. What is your favourite flower? : - Roses
3. When you go out to eat what is your favourite restaurant/or meal? : - Summer Salt. It’s right on the beach at Cronulla/ Fav restaurant meal is the duck.
4. Have you been to any of your high school reunions? If so did you have fun? : - Nope. I was overseas at the time.
5. If you had a couple of free hours to go play hooky on a weekday, what would you do by yourself? : - Write
6. What is your favourite piece of clothing in your closet right now and why? : - Cow slippers. They are so comfortable and keep my feet warm this winter.
7. Pearls or diamonds? : - Diamonds. I like all things that sparkle.
8. What is your favourite ice cream flavour? : - triple chocolate with swirl
9. What is your favourite Holiday and why? : - holiday means a different thing in America as it does in Oz. In Oz it means vacation. My favourite vacation destination would be any of the Queensland Islands. My favourite holiday season would be Christmas.
10. If you could have a $1,000 shopping spree anywhere, in which store would you spend it? : - um. No idea. I desperately need a new oven.

And now to pass on the award:

Anna Margaret @ Fabuleux Fifty
Mari @ Mari Larkin
Leslie @ Goodbye, House! Hello, Home!
Noreen @ Life Blessings
Raymonde @ Everyday I Walk With You
Karen @ Hallelujah Anyhow

One Week Break

2010-06-12T14:00:00.001+10:00

Just letting you all know that this weekend is the Queen's Birthday long weekend here in Australia. I get to spend some extra time with my husband and I'm looking forward to it.

I will also be taking this week off from blogging to have a rest and a refresh. I'll be back on Monday 21st June.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)

Many blessings to you all.

Lyn

Our Choices

2010-06-11T14:00:00.001+10:00

Do you choose darkness

or do you choose Light?

Do you choose lies

or do you choose Truth?

Do you choose war

or do you choose Peace?

Do you choose death

or do you choose Life?

Do you choose a moment

or do you choose eternity with God?

These are the choices we make every day.

Do you choose self or do you choose God?

Tools to Weed

2010-06-10T14:00:00.001+10:00

Winter is approaching here in Australia. We’ve had only two dry days in Sydney since May 17th. That’s a lot of rain. On the weekend my husband and I enjoyed a morning of sunlight (before it rained again). We went into the garden only to discover the weeds had taken over – again.

I’m not a huge fan of weeding. I prefer to do the job when there isn’t a lot to do, when the garden isn’t completely overrun. It’s easier and the sense of satisfaction is rewarding rather than just exhausting.

Weeding is much like maintaining our faith. We need to weed the sin out of our lives. It’s easier when we do it on a regular basis before sin takes hold and overruns us.

And it’s easier when we use the right tools:

God’s word equips us with the protection we need, like gloves that protect us from the thorns.

God’s truth lets us recognise the weeds in our lives so we can pull them out the moment they appear.

God’s salvation gives us the power to change. We are no longer slaves to the weeds.

God’s strength helps us to persevere. Weeding is not a thing that is ever finished. They try to take root in even the best maintained garden.

God’s love is our motivation. Because of God’s love for us we are able to love Him and because of this we want to glorify God with everything we do.

What do most like and/or dislike about weeding?

Prison Break

2010-06-09T14:00:00.007+10:00

Once we stumbled in the dark,
blinded by our pride.

We were lost with nowhere to go.

We were imprisoned in chains

with no hope and no future.

Once we were doomed.

Then Jesus came.

He cast a light in our prison cell.

He broke those chains.

He set us free.

The debt we owed was cancelled.

The slate we tarnished was wiped clean.

Forevermore.

We are loved.

We are saved.

We are God’s Children.

WWJD?

2010-06-08T14:00:00.001+10:00

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 (NIV)

What would Jesus do?
Would he laugh at an enemy’s misfortune? Would he turn his back? Or would he reach out and offer a helping hand?

What would Jesus do?
Would he judge a person unworthy of his attention? Would he only associate with the ‘accepted’ crowd? Or would he love unconditionally and offer his friendship to all?

What would Jesus do?
Would he hold a grudge because he didn’t deserve ridicule and criticism? Or would he forgive all our wrongs?

What would you do?

Finding Satisfaction

2010-06-07T14:00:00.000+10:00

Only through God do we find true satisfaction in our lives because He gives us purpose and fulfilment. So, what is satisfaction?

Satisfaction is contentment: being satisfied with everything we have no matter our circumstances. (Philippians 4:12 NIV)

Satisfaction is the absence of fear: we are able to trust God with all aspects of our lives. And in that trust we don’t need to fear anything. (Hebrews 13:6 NIV)

Satisfaction comes from being equipped: The more we learn about God, the more we are prepared to face anything that life throws at us. If we learn His ways then we will respond more in His ways also. And peace will be ours. (Philippians 4:9 NIV)

Satisfaction is dependant on saturation: The more we allow God in our lives the more His power becomes evident and the less likely we will take Him for granted. (Luke 9:23 NIV)

Satisfaction is dependant on fellowship: Through fellowship we are encouraged, strengthened. We find a sense of belonging in the family of Christ. (Hebrews 3:13 NIV)

What areas in your life do you know your satisfaction takes a hit?

Wallpaper of the Week - Isaiah 30:23

2010-06-05T14:00:00.000+10:00

Express Yourself

2010-06-04T14:00:00.001+10:00

I read an interesting statistic the other day. Apparently people who argue on a regular basis are twice as likely to live longer than those who suppress their feelings.

This surprised me. I’ve always related arguing with stress and stress is a known factor for shortening lives.

But what that particular statistic tells me is that it’s not about the arguing; it’s about the need to express ourselves. It tells me the importance of being real and honest – with ourselves, with our partners, with every relationship we have.

And I think it’s most especially important to be honest with our Lord because this relationship, more than any other, matters most in our lives. This relationship will have the greatest impact to our lives and it will affect every other.

So, tell God about your happiness, tell Him about your delights. Tell Him about the things that upset you and the things that make you angry. Tell him your hopes and your dreams. Tell Him your secrets.

God will never turn away from you. He won’t think less of you. He will love you. He will give you His time, His patience, His forgiveness, His guidance.

He will give you everything you need.

Do you find it difficult to be honest with our Lord?

Pray Continually

2010-06-03T14:00:00.001+10:00

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

What does it mean to you to pray continually?

To me it means to be in constant conversation with my Lord. I try to chat with God and think about God as regularly as possible. It’s a switch I try to keep in the perpetual ‘on’ position.

I won’t tire Him out as I would a friend. I won’t shock Him or bore Him. It’s how I include Him in every aspect of my life.

I can kneel at His feet, I can bow my head and I can recite an eloquent prayer of worship. But I can also pause for a moment from what I’m doing and say, “Thank you,” and in that breath encompass everything. I don’t even have to stop. I can think of God while I work. I can praise Him while I write. I can glorify Him while I clean. I can offer my all in everything I do.

It is His desire that we share with Him all that we have. This is what it means to me to pray continually.

Finding Home

2010-06-02T14:00:00.002+10:00

Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed;

save me and I will be saved,

for you are the one I praise.

Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV)

Believe this truth and it shall be done.

Believe it and your world will open

in a way you may not have ever imagined.

Praise your Lord

and discover that

He is your Master

Your friend

Your life

Your everything.

You will find love.

You will find belonging.

You will find peace.

You will find Home.

Our Constant

2010-06-01T14:00:00.002+10:00

Do you remember Bobby McFerrin’s song, “Don’t worry, be happy”? It was a catchy fun song of the 80’s that quickly turned into a real groaner. I think this happened because it lacked any real truth behind it. It rang of falseness because we all know that no one can be happy all of the time. We face inevitable failure if we try.

A very real part of life is the ups and downs of our emotions. We will feel agony, pain, devastation, misery. We will feel happiness, elation, delight.

But God is our constant.

He is our peace through the hardships, the mood swings and the challenges.

He is our joy through the chaos that life so often brings us.

My prayer to you today is from Romans 15:13 (NIV): May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Can you think of other verses that express God’s constancy in your life?

Balance

2010-05-31T14:00:00.001+10:00

I was reading about various diets and discovered a large number that encourage bad eating habits. Often these fad diets are endorsed by beautiful celebrities, but in my opinion these food choices only put more stress on our bodies. These diets even warn against bad health, bad breath, and other more unpleasant side effects. This just sounds crazy to me.

I’m not a dietician and I’m not a nutritionist, but I’ve learned through my faith in God that balance is the key to a healthy, productive life.

God asks us to be active and not lazy. But we must also rest.

God asks us to live in the community and help others. But we must also find quiet time alone with Him.

And so we can also find balance in our lifestyle and the food we eat. God provides nutrition for our bodies through a wide variety of foods. As custodians of our bodies, we need to eat to keep ourselves strong. Not too much, not too little. If we find this healthy balance, then we won’t need any fad diet.

Ask God to help you find balance in every part of your life.

Wallpaper of the Week - John 3:16

2010-05-29T14:00:00.001+10:00

I love caving. I love exploring the depths of the earth. It's fun and exciting and appeals to my sense of adventure.

The image above is in a cave system in Victoria, Australia. What you see is not the entrance to the caves, but a mere hole in the cave ceiling where the light is able to shine through. This is the only area in the otherwise dusty caves where there is such life.

Jesus is this life-giving light for us. If we choose not to bask in His glory, then we will wither and die. But if we do choose His light, then we will grow to be strong and vibrant.

On Lying

2010-05-28T14:00:00.001+10:00

Lying is bad, right? It’s a sin because it’s a deception and it breaks trust. But is all lying bad?

We lie to build people up. When a friend asks if they look good, then our reply is generally yes. It’s only cruel to point out they are looking a little tired. It’s only mean to highlight their weight gain. It’s insensitive to suggest they would benefit from visiting a hairdresser they can’t afford. All those things are irrelevant anyway. And so we lie.

We lie to preserve the peace. A friend of mine claimed she paid only $200 for a ring. I was with her when she bought it and so I knew it cost her triple the amount. She needed me to agree with her. I knew an argument would follow if I reminded her of the truth, so I claimed I couldn’t remember. It was an easy way out.

We lie to protect our loved ones. We lie to protect ourselves. We lie to save someone’s feelings. We lie to support our friends. We lie to cover embarrassment.

It’s easy to justify lying. But it doesn’t make it right. These white lies are part of the “little” sins I spoke of yesterday.

God will never lie to us. We can completely trust Him 100% of the time. God doesn’t have moods to pander to. He doesn’t need to make himself look better than He is and He is able to protect us without deception.

There are ways of saving someone’s feelings, protecting someone’s safety, avoiding arguments without lying and without being so brutally honest that we end up hurting someone.

When Jesus said, “everyone who sins is a slave to sin,” he wasn’t lying. (John 8:34)

So, walk away from the chains Jesus broke and strive to be more like him.

100 steps

2010-05-27T14:00:00.002+10:00

Mathematical truth: if you have 100 steps in a process and each step has a 99% success rate, then the chance of gaining a successful completion is only 37%.

I’m not a mathematician so these numbers boggled my mind. I had expected a higher percentage of success.

This led me to thinking about Christianity in the community. When we accept just a small amount of sin in our lives, then we represent the 1% of failure. Failure to trust God. Failure to glorify God. Failure to be living examples of Christ. We might think it’s a little sin. We might think it’s inconsequential, but sin – all sin – is abhorrent to God. And sin impacts the community in ways that can be devastating.

When we feel all warm and fuzzy over the 99% of good Christian living we are able to achieve though trusting our Lord, we are ignoring that 1%. But when we combine all of us together, as we must since we are one community, then that minor 1% on a personal level becomes a magnified failure in the community.

No wonder everything seems so broken in our society. No wonder we struggle and we suffer. It’s because we too often accept those “little” sins. We think they don’t have much of an impact. We don’t even notice them eating away at our peace.

So, the next time you feel that spark of pride begin to rule your thoughts and your actions, give it instantly to the Lord. And if it’s not pride, then ask Him to show you where your 1% of weakness lies. Ask the Lord to show you where you may have relaxed your vigil.

What are some of the things to keep you alert against sin in your life?

Is Aging an Illness?

2010-05-26T14:00:00.010+10:00

I read an article recently about how the treatment of ageing could be revolutionised by a new approach that classes it as an illness. David Gems, a biogerontologist, is quoted to have said at a conference in London, “If ageing is seen as a disease, it changes how we respond to it. For example, it becomes the duty of doctors to treat it.”

This statement upset me a great deal. Yes, ageing is a difficult process. I’m not as physically or mentally fast as I used to be. I’m more fragile. I have grey hairs, laugh lines and my eye sight is failing. But I’m not about to call it an illness.

Ageing is a natural process. It reminds us that this world and these bodies are only temporary. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

I’m not about to go all dark ages on anyone either and claim we aren’t allowed to cover up those grey hairs, or can’t use technologically advanced moisturiser. What I am saying however is that we don’t need to be afraid of our mortality. We don’t need to become obsessed with our appearance.

God will love us no matter how withered we become. He will be our strength when we grow weak (Isaiah 46:4). He is the light that shines out from us and makes us eternally beautiful (Revelation 21:23). He is our home. He is our forever.

Bargaining with God

2010-05-25T14:00:00.001+10:00

One of my favourite movies of all time is Ladyhawke which was made in 1985. In the opening scene Phillipe Gaston (played by Matthew Broderick) is attempting to escape the dungeons of Aquila. He makes a bargain with God. If God rescues him, then he swears to never pick another pocket as long as he lives. God does get him out and the first thing that Phillipe does with his freedom is to pick another pocket. He says to God, “I know I promised, Lord, never again. But I also know, that you know, what a weak-willed person I am.”

The audience generally laughs at this point. We’ve all been there. We make a bargain with God and try to coax him into giving us the things we want. Then we don’t fulfil our end of the deal.

A small village in Bavaria, Germany, struck a bargain with God in 1633. The village of Oberammergau vowed to put on a play about Jesus every 10 years if God rid them of the plague. They have kept their promise for almost 400 years now. Their faith and dedication can be commended. But does this make it ok then to make a bargain with God?

I say no. God can’t be bargained with. We can’t flatter Him into anything. We can’t influence Him. We can’t make compromises with Him. We can’t buy God’s favour with good deeds or right behaviour. And we can’t earn a place in God’s household.

Honour God. Thank Him. Rejoice in His name. Trust His guidance. Do the best that you can every moment of your life. But don’t try to bargain with Him. God is so much greater than that.

What might be the things that lead you to attempt to make bargains with God?

Best Friends

2010-05-24T14:00:00.001+10:00

I’d like to tell you about a girl I’ll call Cathleen. I knew her in primary school when I was around 10 or 11 years old. I saw her as a friend and we hung out together in her group.

She was the alpha. She was tall. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back in a golden shimmer. All the boys liked her so she learned early in her young life how to wield her power. I was short and all my friends told me I was ugly. I didn’t have Cathleen’s confidence. I think she only tolerated me because her best friend, Rachael, was also my best friend.

Then one day I did something wrong. I have no idea what it was. Perhaps I finally stood up to Cathleen’s continuous put-downs. Whatever it was, she didn’t like it. By the end of the week the entire school was against me.

My best friend didn’t want to get involved. She didn’t want to get caught up in a tug-o-war. I didn’t blame her - much. I knew if she tried to defend me she’d also get torn to shreds. She did offer what she could and I took that small offering because I had nothing.

Years later I realised that it was Rachael who influenced me the most. Her friendship had made the difference. It was the life-line that made it possible to bear all the hate.

Rachael’s friendship is the kind we offer God. It’s weak, it doesn’t always stand its ground against hardship and we often try to keep one foot in our old ways and the other in our new. But God doesn’t judge what we can give. He accepts it with His arms out wide.

He will always be there for us. He will always be the friend we need, even when we struggle to be a friend in return.

Did you ever suffer from bullying at school? What got you through? How is God the perfect friend to you?

Wallpaper of the Week - 1 Peter 5:7

2010-05-22T14:00:00.003+10:00

I snapped this photo along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. My husband and I took a side trip up a dirt road and found this view. It's such a beautiful place.

Cast your anxiety on the Lord today. He cares for us so deeply that He wants to carry the weight of our troubles.

Awards and Kindness

2010-05-21T14:00:00.002+10:00

Last week Glowingirl from Sugar Tails gave me the Versatile Blogger award. I feel very honoured and I wish to thank her for her generosity.

According to the rules, to accept this award I have to tell you seven random things about myself. So, here goes:

1. I have a passion for my Lord and Saviour.
2. He is the Light of my life.
3. He accepts me as I am - every bit of me.
4. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without Him.
5. I wish the whole world could see His Greatness, His Glory, His Love.
6. I have an 8 year old cat named Cortana who follows me around everywhere. I love her to pieces, but she is sick at the moment. She has very much been on my mind lately. Please pray that the right thing happens for her.
7. I have started a new blog about writing called W.I.P. It. If you are interested in writing and blogging tips, then please feel free to visit. I’m hoping I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew.

Ok, so I cheated a little bit on the random element ;)

Now, I’d like to pass on this award to some bloggers I really value:
Karen @ Hallelujah Anyhow
Barbara @ Barbara’s Bakin N Bits
Rochelle @ Learning to Trust
Leslie @ Goodbye House, Hello Home
Dorcas @ 4 Sweet Angels

This week Karen from Hallelujah Anyhow also gave me the Sunshine Award. Thank you so much Karen! I am supposed to pass this award on to bloggers who show positivity and creativity:

The Old Geezer
Living By Faith
Wagging Tales (have to encourage other Aussie writers)
An Instrument for His Glory
Cut and Dry

Who Are You?

2010-05-20T14:00:00.000+10:00

Are you are mother or a daughter?

Are you a father or a son?

Are you a sister or a brother?

Perhaps you are an accountant or a secretary?

A writer or a painter?

A fighter or a runner?

A speaker or a listener?

A leader or a follower?

Perhaps you are none of these things?

Perhaps you are many?

Or maybe

you are still trying to decide?

Who are you?

You are Christ’s

You are Loved

You are Eternal

You are Saved.

God’s Peace

2010-05-19T14:00:00.005+10:00

In this crazy world of fears, anxieties, distractions, can we really trust that God will give us peace?

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

Not only does He promise to give us rest for our souls, but we can trust Him to do this…

Because He created us -

He made us in His image.

Because He knows us –

He is omniscient.

He knows exactly what we need

when we need it.

Because He loves us –

God is love.

Because He is truth –

This is the immutable character of God

Because He is able –

Nothing will keep us from our Lord.

What are some of the things you do to remind yourself that you can rest in God’s Peace?

I Don't Want To Be Brave

2010-05-18T14:00:00.002+10:00

I don’t want to be brave

For fear I might face the storms alone.

I don’t want to be strong

For fear I might think I can be independent.

I don’t want to be clever

For fear I might listen to my own wisdom.

I don’t want to be comfortable

For fear I might never move on.

Lord, I want to rely on you in everything I do.

I want to borrow your strength

And never think it’s mine.

I want to hold onto your truths

And never make up my own.

I want to remember I am safe

with you and nowhere else.

These are the things I ask

This is my prayer.

True Love

2010-05-17T14:00:00.001+10:00

After last Monday’s post about my mum I thought I’d continue the theme of the people who influence our lives. Today I’m going to talk about my husband.

He is a serious man who comes across as aloof and unattainable by anyone who doesn’t know him. For a long while he was just a friend in a crowd of friends. I didn’t know him very well. I don’t think anyone really knew him. But then I found his sparkle.

Ok, so real men don’t sparkle, blah, blah, grunt and scratch.

But, real men need to be reminded that they shouldn’t be afraid to shine. My husband shines for me.

This adorable man taught me what love meant. He taught me that it didn’t have to be a struggle, it wasn’t a one way thing, and it can be forever. He offered me friendship, he showed me patience, he gave me respect.

We discovered we could trust each other. We could be 100% ourselves with each other. We don’t need to hide. We don’t need to pretend.

This is the kind of love that God offers all of us – and more. We don’t need to hide or pretend with Him. We can trust God with everything: our deepest darkest secrets, our joys, our fears, our dreams and our struggles. It’s a precious love that we should never take for granted.

I thank the Lord daily for my husband. Do you daily thank God for a special someone?

Who has influenced your life the most?

Wallpaper of the Week - Colossians 4:5

2010-05-15T14:00:00.000+10:00

This photo was taken at Fitzroy Falls, NSW, Australia. The Falls feature as a fantastic highlight to some wonderful walking tracks in the area.

Fast Food and Christ

2010-05-14T14:00:00.008+10:00

I was feeling a tad frivolous this morning, and food is never far from my thoughts, so I resurrected an amusing list I created for a youth group I used to lead:

10 Similarities Between Fast Food and Christ:

The more you have, the more you want
They both taste good
When you ask for them, they both come quickly
They are both filling
If you leave them too long, the desire for them fades
We often turn to them for comfort
We often want to try them when we hear other people rave about them
When we partake of either, we then need to exercise. (Exercise our bodies and exercise our faith)
We are what we eat
Just as fast food comes in many shapes, sizes and flavours, so too does the body of Christ.

5 Differences Between Fast Food and Christ:

Christ says that if we drink from the spring of eternal life we will never be thirsty, but the fast food people want us to remain thirsty so that we keep buying their drinks.
Fast Food encourages lazy people to remain lazy; Christ welcomes lazy people, but then changes them.
We have to pay for fast food, but Christ is free
Christ's promises are fulfilling, unlike the promising smells of fried chicken.
With Christ we are given eternal life; with fast food we shorten our lives.

Can you think of other similarities and other differences?

In Hiding

2010-05-13T14:00:00.000+10:00

Do you ever hide things? Do you hide things from other people? Do you hide things from yourself? Do you try to hide things from God?

Some scientists are obsessed with hiding things. Those from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany and the Imperial College in London claim to have made a small bump on a gold surface disappear using a sheet made of photonic crystal.

The “invisibility cloak” is only 100 microns by 30 microns. (One micron = one thousandth of a millimetre). And the bump they made vanish was 10x smaller again. So, we are talking miniscule. Smaller than a freckle. Smaller than a speck.

It might sound inconsequential, but it’s a big step in science.

Do you put this much effort into trying to hide things? Have you been carrying around secrets?

While I am impressed by the scientists’ efforts, I’m also reminded that we can’t hide anything from God. He sees all and knows all.

We can’t pretend with God that everything is superdooper when really it’s not. He knows the truth. He wants us to share with Him all these things we hold locked up inside. It’s not because He needs to know what’s going on inside us. He already knows. It’s because we need to tell Him. We need to be honest with Him – and honest with ourselves. We need to give Him our lives, not just a small portion of our lives. We need to give Him our everything.

And we need to be Real.

Pray to God and ask Him to show you what you’ve been hiding from yourself. Pray for the courage to hear the truth.

Like Poison or Honey?

2010-05-12T19:07:00.002+10:00

Did you know that the poison from an oleander plant is so strong that it can poison a person who simply eats the honey made by bees that have digested oleander nectar? That’s some serious honey.

When we ‘digest’ all the things the world has to offer – gossip, greed, pride – it’s like eating the oleander honey. It becomes poison to the soul that spreads like a disease. It will eat away our love for others. It will corrode our love for God and it will convince us that we don’t need to rely on God.

However, when we ‘digest’ God’s word and make it a part of our lives, then our natural response is to spread the goodness. Not only do we benefit, but everyone around us benefits. Rather than reacting with equal insensitivity when someone wrongs us, we respond instead with love. We stop the poisonous cycle. This is because we have become more open for God to shine through us.

So, fill yourself with God. Embrace His ways. Practise His truths. And share the sweet honey of His salvation.

note: I wrote this as guest poster for Elizabeth Mahlou's Blest Athiest blog. Thanks, Elizabeth, for the privilege.