Fear

'Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.' Proverbs 9:10

Fearing God does not mean being scared of, instead it means having revered respect for, or being in awe of. C S Lewis puts it as a "feeling of wonder and a certain shrinking" or "a sense of inadequacy to cope with such a visitant of or prostration before it". Or, "There is the convergence of awe, reverence, adoration, honour, worship, confidence, thankfulness, love, and, yes, fear." Robert B. Strimple.

I think Proverbs has it down to a tee. Fearing the Lord is definitely wise! He is after all all-powerful and mighty, the creator and saviour of the world!

Proverbs 8:13,20: ‘To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behaviour and perverse speech ... I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice.' Or as the book of James puts it, ‘Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere’ (James 3:17).

A glimpse of Gods beauty and majesty  : )

God-confidence

‘These are all warning markers – DANGER! – in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel – they at the beginning, we at the end – and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.’

‘No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it’ (1 Corinthians 10:11–12, MSG).

Everyday life is a test. How do we respond to the situations we find ourselves in and to the people around us? I've always loved the story of Jesus raising the dead son of a widow. Mainly the phrase: 'When Jesus saw her, his heart broke.' She was a widow, so she already knew sorrow, and now she was at her only son's funeral. A woman truly alone. Jesus's heart broke. Just in those three words there is so much compassion and love. We should understand that His heart breaks for each one of us, just as intensely as it does here.

We should have the up most confidence in God for any situation we find ourselves in, as Paul says in Corinthians. Jesus raised the dead, so what do you think He can't do in your life?!

'All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.'

'Just because you can't see the air doesn't mean you stop breathing. And just because you can't see God doesn't mean you stop believing.' NG

Generosity

'Don't obey God to get things. Obey God to get God. "I am your shield and very great reward". The best reward is Him!' Mike Pilavachi.

We are taught to always be generous. It should not just be an occasional act, but a way of life. God delights in people who love like this, He doesn't promise a trouble free life, but He does promise to not let them fall:

Psalm 37:23-26
The LORD makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.

We should not think of being generous to get things in return.

Luke 6:27-36
‘Love your enemies ... If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it ... No more tit–for–tat stuff. Live generously’ ... 'I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.'

We are called to be generous just as God is generous to us, how many times do we think about giving something/lending something to somebody only after working out whether it works for us in terms of when we need what we are planning to lend or give. For example lending a bike to someone, don't you automatically work out in your head, 'well I need it on this day ... so, you can have it after that'? Or, 'I have $5 in my purse, and I need to buy milk, so I'll give you $3 so I have enough to buy milk'? God calls us to be freely generous. Lend the bike, and you walk instead, give the $5 and go and get $2 more from the bank account a little further up the road, how difficult is it really??!

Be generous with encouragement. It is verbal sunshine. It costs nothing and it warms hearts.

See every day as a bonus. Each day, without exception, is a gift from God, entrusted to you. Enjoy it and spend it wisely.

TRUST Me

Psalm 37:4-7
Keep company with God,
get in on the best.
Open up before God, keep nothing back;
he'll do whatever needs to be done:
He'll validate your life in the clear light of day
and stamp you with approval at high noon.
Quiet down before God,
be prayerful before him.

Over the past few days since I first read this passage I keep coming back to it. God is urging me to trust Him, it's sometimes rather difficult though! There was even word at church last night that was something about trust, and waiting for God, He will deliver. I put the NIV passage on here the other day, but this time I looked at the Message version (see above), since it's nice simple straightforward language that sometimes brings new light to the verses.

In this case 'take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart,' is worded as:

'Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done.'

Delighting in the Lord is not simply singing his praises once in a while. It's fully immersing yourself in Him: 'KEEP NOTHING BACK.'

God knows me intimately, knows what I'm thinking, and is urging me to talk it over with him, not holding it back, or pretending it's not there.

Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this
Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him

Please Lord God hear my prayer.

Awestruck Wonder

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my everything
And I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows, of living colour
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be
to You the only wise King

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder
At the mention of your name
Jesus your name is power
Breath, and living water
Such a marvelous mystery

I was reminded of the line: 'Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder, at the mention of your name' in quiet time today. Quiet time today is entitled 'Awe and Amazement.'
Awe and amazement at: The choice of God, the ministry of Jesus, and the wonder of forgiveness.

Yesterday I mentioned how I was struck by the beauty of the Lord through his creation. How can we be anything but amazed and 'struck with awe' when it comes to anything God is or has done for us.

Awestruck: to be filled with/overcome by/filled with reverence and respect for/astonished by wonder.

Awe: A mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder inspired by authority, genius, great beauty, sublimity, or might.

Half an hour ago I was grumbling to God about something. To be perfectly honest, I was whining like a child! But, reading through the quiet time today, He has yet again spoken right when I needed it and about the right thing. He's saying: 'Hang on a minute, wait....THIS is what I'm about, THIS, above everything else, all else is second.' Be filled with the reverence and respect for, and be astonished at His works, great beauty, and might.

Remember yesterday? 'Take delight in the Lord, commit your way to the Lord, trust Him, be still, AND WAIT PATIENTLY.'

How quickly I forget, it was only yesterday!

Delight in the Lord

Psalm 37:1-9
Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him.

Take delight in the Lord, and commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him. Since starting this daily quiet time, and actually spending more than 5 minutes reading a passage and going: 'Oh that's nice, right lets get on with the day,' I've found God in more things throughout the day, I'm closer to Him than I have been in a good while, and it feels amazing.

I was on a training bike ride 2 days ago after finishing a night shift, and it had been raining all night, but the sun was starting to poke through ready for the day, the clouds were still quite low on the hills, giving a misty feel about the valley. It was BEAUTIFUL. Cycling along I was suddenly overwhelmed by the beauty and generosity of God. I took delight in His beauty and His creation, and praised Him. I pray that I can find this daily through the things I do on a daily basis.

We need to renew our strength in the Lord each day, to quiet down before God, and be prayerful before Him, wait patiently before Him (verse 7). This is the source of our 'righteous reward' that will 'shine like the dawn' (verse 6).

Well I mentioned a training bike ride, it's today I've been training for. I'm riding the first leg of the annual Grape Ride in a team of 3 that will complete a 101Km route around the Blenheim area. I go from Renwick to Picton which is 40Km. It sounds rather windy out there this morning!

I pray for calm weather, please Lord make the wind calm, just a you did on the Sea when the Disciples got frightened in the storm. Mostly I pray for safety, there are a large number of cyclists (2500!) and we're on state highway routes that are still open to general traffic. Lord keep us all safe, and let it be FUN =) Amen!

Be prepared, know your weapon!

It's OK to be tempted....just don't actually go through with it.

Even Jesus was tempted....for 40 days straight! It was the devil doing the tempting but God 'allowed it', as it was the Spirit that led Him into the wilderness.

Luke 4:1-13
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

The devil raises doubts by say IF....or did God really say.....? 'He raises doubts which are at the very core of our own identity as God's children in order to soften us up for other temptations.' (NG).

It is by no accident Jesus answers the devil using scripture. We should do likewise. Everything is in there, that is why it is important to read, learn, and memorise it, it is our tool of defence against the devil, if we don't know what our tool/weapon is or how to use it, we don't have a chance. I look at it a bit like goalkeeping: If I don't know I can use my hands to save the ball, I just stand there and use my feet, which ends up in many goals being scored! However if I know I can use my hands and do so, training hard to practice using my hands and diving for he ball, I can save any more goals from being scored.

Unfortunately Bill Shankly was wrong in saying football is more important than life and death, as Paul says in Ephesians, 'This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish....'

Ephesians 6:10-18
God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

I could quote many awesome things God says about us to prove the Word is the weapon against the devil and that what the devil tries to say about you is wrong, but I'll stick to a few of my favourites that have certainly helped me in the past (and still do):

I am a jealous God, you will have none others before me....

Don't let anyone look down on you just because you're young, instead be an example to the believers, in truth, hope, and love.....

You are my child, whom I love, with you I am well pleased....

God has an amazing plan and purpose for you, a plan to prosper, and not harm....

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves, He takes great delight in you and rejoices over you with singing....

He knew you before you were born, He knows you intimately, and even knows the numbers of hairs on your head....

God's Goodness

‘Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.’ John Wesley.

‘In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28).

‘I’ll tell the world how great and good you are, I’ll shout Hallelujah all day, every day’ (Psalm 35:28).

God is good, all of the time. That is His nature. We shouldn't think of God's goodness in relation to our circumstances, but in spite of them. By His nature god CANNOT be bad, therefore He is good. We should enjoy His goodness.

Luke 3:22, You are my Son, whom I love. With you I am well pleased.
We should enjoy being a child of God, experiencing His love, and expecting His pleasure, He is pleased with us and is pleased to give us the Kingdom as we seek it (12:32). Sometimes we forget how good God is to us and we grumble like the Israelites in the desert did. He had amazingly saved them from Egypt with miracles no one could deny and days later they are grumbling from lack of hearing from Him, lack of food, and being lost. When I read this in the Bible I always think that they were pretty dumb (I think that about the disciples too!) I think, can't you see, how can you not get it?! But fortunately we have the benefit of hindsight, it's easier!

In saying that, how often do we forget God's goodness? Almost certainly it is daily, either in the big or little things.

Thank you God for your Goodness, please let me remember your goodness all the time, and not grumble.

Pretending

Why do we pretend with God? He knows us intimately, every hair on ours heads, and knows us before we're born. The Bible encourages us to be open and honest with God, to ask and petition for everything. Yet we sometimes hide the big stuff that's weighing down our hearts because we think God won't care, can't help, it's too big/too little/not bad enough/too bad.....Etc.

We are so dumb sometimes!! God clearly cares, He proves it again and again, the big and the little.

I'm a big offender, constantly falling into the trap: well, I prayed about it once before, and nothing happened, so there's no point keeping praying....oh that's far too big for God to handle.....or....that's too little, I won't bother God.

And being honest?! Well again the Bible encourages us to constantly question God about stuff we don't understand, and the Psalms are full of David ranting to God when he feels abandoned. Why are we s afraid to shout and stamp our foot at God? He knows when we are angry and annoyed anyway, and He wants us to be honest, we should talk to Him about it, not bottle it up, only then can He help. Simple honesty:

Psalm 35:11-18
11-12 Hostile accusers appear out of nowhere,
they stand up and badger me.
They pay me back misery for mercy,
leaving my soul empty.

13-14 When they were sick, I dressed in black;
instead of eating, I prayed.
My prayers were like lead in my gut,
like I'd lost my best friend, my brother.
I paced, distraught as a motherless child,
hunched and heavyhearted.

15-16 But when I was down
they threw a party!
All the nameless riff raff of the town came
chanting insults about me.
Like barbarians desecrating a shrine,
they destroyed my reputation.

17-18 God, how long are you going
to stand there doing nothing?
Save me from their brutalities;
everything I've got is being thrown to the lions.
I will give you full credit
when everyone gathers for worship;
When the people turn out in force
I will say my Hallelujahs. (MSG)

David is one of my heroes, he rants and raves to God about all the bad stuff with the honesty God craves from us, yet he knows God is God, and has the most awesome faith that everything is in God's hands and will be right in the end:

Praise you in this storm by Casting Crowns
I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHlQ6sBEO9A

Saved!

'We cannot take our salvation for granted. We are reminded of the holiness of God and the fact that it required something amazing to allow us to have the kind of relationship with God which we are now able to enjoy.' Nicky Gumbel.

Jesus is our salvation, His name means 'Saviour'. He atones for us. God enabled us to be at one with him through the at-one-ment of Jesus.

We can take refuge in God, the source of our salvation:

Be still, there is a healer
His love is deeper than the sea
His mercy, it is unfailing
His arms are fortress for the weak
Let faith arise
I lift my hands to believe again
You are my refuge, You are my strength
As I pour out my heart
These things, I remember
You are faithful, God, forever
Be still, there is a river
That flows from Calvary's tree
A fountain for the thirsty
Pure grace that washes over me

Psalm 34:11-22 (The Message)
11 Come, children, listen closely;
I'll give you a lesson in God worship.
12 Who out there has a lust for life?
Can't wait each day to come upon beauty?
13 Guard your tongue from profanity,
and no more lying through your teeth.
14 Turn your back on sin; do something good.
Embrace peace—don't let it get away!
15 God keeps an eye on his friends,
his ears pick up every moan and groan.
16 God won't put up with rebels;
he'll cull them from the pack.
17 Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.
18 If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath.
19 Disciples so often get into trouble;
still, God is there every time.
20 He's your bodyguard, shielding every bone;
not even a finger gets broken.
21 The wicked commit slow suicide;
they waste their lives hating the good.
22 God pays for each slave's freedom;
no one who runs to him loses out.

Faithfulness

Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless you
and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.

God is so faithful to us even when sometimes we don't deserve it, in turn we should be faithful to Him. I looked up the definition of faithfulness:

Adhering firmly and devotedly, loyal, to a person, cause or idea....worthy of trust or belief, reliable....consistent with truth or actuality....steadfast....staunch ally, an unshakable attachment or allegiance.

In other words God is so in love with you He's stuck himself to you with extra strong super glue so nothing can tear Him away from you!

Our only response to that can be to be faithful back. Be faithful to His calling, His promises, and His message. In chapter 2 of Luke we read about Mary and Joseph as they find out Mary is pregnant with Jesus, and the shepherds listen to the angels.

They were faithful to God's calling.
Joseph was still faithful to God's calling despite probably been ridiculed, and gossiped about that his soon to be wife had gotten herself pregnant before marriage. Joseph doubted. He planned to divorce her quietly, but he was faithful when God asked him to step up and carry out His plan.

They were faithful to God's promises.
Mary believed what God had told her was to happen, she treasured them them up and pondered on them in her heart. We also know she doubted too. 'How can this be Lord?'

They were faithful to God's message.
The shepherds believed the angels and went to find Jesus, just as the angels had said. It was the middle of the night, they had sheep to look after, yet they went immediately. It was dark, it was easier to lose sheep, they could have waited till morning, after all it was a baby the were going to see, He would still be there!

All through the Bible we see people of faith, but notice how they also face at least a tiny bit of doubt with it. This is human. It's OK to be a 'doubting Thomas' but hold onto God's promises because He is faithful.

Blessed

‘All enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise. The world rings with praise – lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favourite game … I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced … minds praised most … we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment … lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.’ C S Lewis

Blessed - to be the privileged recipient of God's favour, and to be fortunate and happy because of it.

Psalm 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Lord, thank you I am blessed

Wishing your life away

'Don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you.' (1 Cor 7:17 MSG)

This thought is difficult sometimes, especially when you don't like where you are at the current time, whether that's a job, in a relationship (or not in one), or even at the dentists (where I will be in an hour!!)

The Bible doesn't pretend Christian life is really easy and all happy smiley faces. It's full of battles that are lost as well as won (Israel as a whole), death of loved ones (Lazarus), sorrow for the children they don't have (Hannah and Samuel), being widowed (Ruth), being in the wrong country (Joseph, Daniel, Israelites), Etc. Paul in the New Testament describes the Christian life constantly as a battle.

‘Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Ephesians 6:12).

But what he does get at is that our struggle shouldn't be against worldly stuff, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We shouldn't worry about not being in the place or situation we wish we were in here on Earth, but concentrate on the bigger stuff. The Devil tries to distract you from your true purpose of battling with him directly like it says you should in Ephesians by trying to get you to worry about, wish, and battle for earthly things.

Therefore trust God in all things, He has you where He wants you, 'for such a time as this' (Esther's story).

‘Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together. We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need. What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name’ (Psalm 33:18–21).

I know I sometimes wish I was someplace else, but Lord help me remember Esther's mighty story - for such a time as this. You brought me here, please work through me for your Glory in this place, where I am right now, always. Amen

The Rules of Football!

'God will guide you as you walk through life. You have to do the walking; but he will lead you one step at a time.' Nicky Gumbel.

Nicky gives a good example of needing the boundaries God sets in our lives:

He was at a football match arranged by a friend of his for a team of boys. Unfortunately his friend who was the boy's coach and referee for the match didn't turn up in time. Nicky had to be the ref. He wasn't sure on all the rules, there were no team colours so he didn't know which team was which, and he didn't know the boys names. The game started with Nicky as ref but descended into chaos - he let things play on because he wasn't sure of making decisions. Boys ended up frustrated and injured and shouting, mainly at Nicky! His friend turned up. He had a whistle, knew the boys and the rules. The game was restarted within the confines of the new ref's rules. It was an awesome fun game.

Some people see God as a bunch of rules and regulations and if you don't tow the line you go to hell. These people have the wrong end of the stick. Yes God makes rules and wants you to follow them, but only so you don't get hurt. You have the free will to disobey if you wish, but God sees before you do where it will end. His commands are out of love - think of it more like a parents set of rules than law of the land type rules. Like the footy game, the rules God makes for our lives are more for the maximum enjoyment, they enable the fun, and take away the frustration.

Going back to the footy game, I know what it's like. For years me and my siblings and a few friends used to play down the recky, with jumpers for posts, and no ref. It ALWAYS ended in an argument - 'the ball was in...no it was out.....post and in....! Etc. When played with a ref who decides what was in or out or hitting the post, you might not entirely agree with the refs decision, but it's taken out of your hands, and you respect the position of the ref and his authority, and accept it.

Do not worry

I love it that the Bible has 365 different passages/sentences saying: 'Do not worry.' One for each day of the year :-)

We cannot know what the future holds for us, God makes that plain. But that's not to mean we shouldn't plan. Plan things always looking to God's word, if it's the right thing you will know somehow. Doors will open or shut.

I got a tad freaked out yesterday hearing various comments from friends at work about their plans for training jobs in their specialities and other house surgeons that they know. I'm now coming up to the last 6 months of my 4th year post grad (August), and still am not in a specialty training programme. Friends back in the UK are half way through registrar posts.

But I should take reassurance not from the worldly things that are happening but what God is saying.


Psalm 33
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
5 The LORD loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love...
... 10 The LORD foils the plans of the nations;
he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.

God had clearly planned for me to go to Africa and the tropical medicine school last year, He also clearly planned NZ for me. He is not satisfied that I would settle for a nice comfy job in the NHS in the UK, He wants more for me, awesome, good things for me. I have a God who does not 'settle' for good things. When He made man it wasn't just good, it was very good.

I believe God has said my path for now is training as an orthopaedic surgeon in NZ, I should learn and pray to be confident about this and know that He will lay the way ahead.

Breathless

'Knowing the despair of guilt, before we can experience the breathless wonder of forgiveness.' P T Forsyth.

There are several analogies for the way God forgives us, one of my favourites is the beach one. Have you ever seen a beach at the end of the day with kicked up messed up sand from footprints and games and picnics etc? Compare it to then the early morning after the tide has come in a swept the beach clean. It's so calm and new and fresh, like no one has ever been there ever before. That is how God forgives.

It was explained to me a different way years ago. It was about doors. You put your sin behind a door and shut it, asking God for forgiveness, He forgives you. Then for whatever reason the despair of guilt may catch you about that particular sin again, and you come to God, asking for forgiveness. And He goes: 'What?! What do you mean, I don't remember that happening.' And you say: 'Look, don't you remember? You put it here behind this door, I'm sorry, please forgive me.' You try to pull the door open, you can't. Again you try, and God lets you open the door....there's nothing there, it's empty, gone, vanished, forever. 'But...you put it there, I saw you.' 'I may have done in the past, but I forgave you, so it went, gone. It can't be undone, and I don't remember the sin, because it's no longer there, it vanished when you asked me first time.'

The breathless wonder of forgiveness. Have you ever been very breathless, either after running, or hiking up a hill, laughing so much, asthma attack??! Etc? I was yesterday, I was rafting and we stopped to climb around and up the bank so we could jump off the rocks into the deep water - apparently for fun! I was rather terrified, but I did it, seeing the others do it, I could trust that it's be OK and my life jacket would help me surface! As soon as I surfaced though, I was entirely breathless with all the adrenaline rushing through me. Breathless with the awesomeness of it! Once I recovered, I thought it was pretty cool...but may be not ever again!!

Sacrifice

Psalm 31:24: Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Ever seriously thought about Jesus dying on the cross? I mean we all know the story and what the Bible says, but have you ever actually sat and thought long and hard about what He actually went through?

OK, He was beaten. Well I've been beaten up before, got a few bruises, I've also dished a few out (when a boy started on my brother I threw a punch at his face and ribs, and received a few back before running for it!) - I'm not proud of hitting him, but it saved my brother a beating from a much larger boy! I obviously thought at the time it was better for me to take the flack rather than my brother since I was older, and supposed to protect my brother, even though my brother probably deserved it (he taunted the boy by saying something to him).

But this wasn't like that, a few punches here and there. Have you seen the film Passion of the Christ? That's more what we're talking about, he was beaten within a mere inch of His life. Watching that film turns my stomach (and I can take blood and guts - I'm a surgeon!) I feel horrified about what happened. Looking at what happened, he probably had internal bleeding in his belly, broken ribs, haemo/pneumothorax, concussion or even a sub/extradural haemorrhage, may be even the beginnings of tetanus from the muck whipped into His wounds. He could have said no, stop, it's not worth it, but he didn't.

‘In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God … humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord’ (Philippians 2:5–11).

Our response to Gods' amazing sacrifice?....I can do nothing but fall on my knees and praise Him who saved my life. So off to church I go!

Be Holy

Be Holy because I the Lord your God am Holy.

Kind of hard don't you think?! We're always going to end up doing wrong stuff, it's human. What makes Christians different is NOT that we don't do stuff wrong, but that we have accepted Jesus who pays the penalty for us instead of us having to take it.

'There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.' (Romans 8:1)

'Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.' Martin Luther King

BUT...

'Nothing more exhausting than trying to gain the approval of people who are created by the same God who is in love with you.'

Do not conform to the world around. God says, 'BUT you...' are to live differently.
It's difficult sometimes to stand up and say no, I do things differently. But I've slowly learnt to be better at it. I think the main fear with anyone standing up and being different is what others will think about you. But why are you trying to gain their approval? What's it to do with them? I've also learnt that when you do stand up and be different, people are mainly quite accepting. Now whether they then are thinking that you're weird and strange, who knows, but I've noticed they don't outwardly show that they think you're strange, which is fine by me!!

Not my will, but yours God.
I used to be extremely shy. Wouldn't speak up in class, terrified of speaking to someone I didn't know, or to more than 3 people at once. Kind of difficult to be like that when you're a doctor!! 6 years of University, and God (directly and through my work/lessons at University) has (mainly) cured me of this. Looking back I think most of the problem was battling wanting inside to be the individual God made me to be and what I thought society wanted from me. The key phrase being 'what I thought....'
I still can be quite shy on occasions, but as you probably know/experienced I can quite happily talk the hind leg off a donkey to anyone and everyone if they catch a subject I love...like footy/rugby/medicine/Africa.....!!!! - Providing it's not in front of many people of course!

Trust God to save you from all opposition

PSALM 31

1 In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.

6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
as for me, I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
8 You have not given me into the hands of the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.

9 Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
10 My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.
11 Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13 For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, LORD;
I say, “You are my God."
15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
17 Let me not be put to shame, LORD,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18 Let their lying lips be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly against the righteous.

19 How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
from accusing tongues.

21 Praise be to the LORD,
for he showed me the wonders of his love
when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.

23 Love the LORD, all his faithful people!
The LORD preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.

There are many times I can find when I look back and see when God rescued me. When we face difficulties God will rescue us. A rescue against all the odds.

God is my refuge
God is my rock
God is my rescuer

'Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord'

Upside down?

Ever had something or someone that turns your life upside down?!

Psalm 30:10-12
‘You changed wild lament
into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song;
I can’t keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
I can’t thank you enough'

The Psalm's are awesome :-) I love music and I think we should all 'burst with song' constantly! I always have some tune or other in my head. The phrase bursting with song reminds me of kids who just HAVE to tell you something they found out, they jump up and down and yell to get your attention, and don't stop until they've said whatever they were bursting to tell you. God always says we should be like little kids!

God isn't just going to turn us around though, He's going to turn the world upside down. Mark 13:1-31 talks of pretty scary stuff, but it does assure us that we will recognise Jesus coming again. I used to think that I wouldn't be able to tell whether someone was a 'false prophet' but God assures us we will know it's Jesus coming, we won't miss it:

‘And then they’ll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky – no one will miss it! He’ll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole’ (Mark 13:26-27).



'The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.' Bono

Hearts!

'We worship God, not simply with words about how big He is, but by the confidence we show in His bigness.' Louie Giglio.

Some sweet medical facts this morning!
The Heart:
1. The size of you fist
2. Weighs about 400 grams
3. Beats over 100,000 times a day
4. And over 35 million times a year
5. 2.5 billion times in a lifetime - pumping over 1 million barrels of blood
6. The blood vessels are over 60,000 miles long (over TWICE round the world!!)

WOAH!

God is concerned about our hearts - physical, and spiritual. As medics we get concerned about good vs bad things for your heart - eat the right things, exercise, make sure your blood pressure and cholesterol are OK etc. We should be as concerned about the spiritual - God is.

Guard you heart
Feed you heart
Love God with all your heart

Guard your heart from sin. Don't put yourself in a way of temptation, don't even think about it. Today's verse is from Proverbs 6:20-29, but there are many others in the Bible that say the same thing - one of the Commandments even - Do not covet.

Feed your heart - it needs spiritual nourishment - good stuff, not filled with cholesterol and fat. Healthy God stuff! Don't you feel so much better after going for a run/biking then eating fruit? Maybe it's just me! It may not taste as great as chocolate, but what you don't get with the fruit is the taste of guilt that you do with chocolate!

Love God with all your heart. He's not concerned with your flambouyant outside - He knows what's within. Keep it holy and all for Him. He is a jealous God. Love God with all your understanding and strength.

A Trouble Free Life??!

God never promises a trouble free life. But he does promise to be with you, to help and guide you through all your troubles.

I sometimes wonder why non-Christians get the impression Christians don't have any trouble/get sad/have bad stuff happening to them etc. Then I realise it's a combination of things:
1. Misinformation - the Good news is preached, with all the 'nice bits' in it and misses out the more 'unsavoury bits'
2. We are generally a pretty happy bunch! This is because despite troubles befalling our ways there is a hope, one of an eternal future that will outlast everything.

Psalm 30:4-5
Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

I love the Psalm's they're so real. David who wrote a lot of them, shows that he too was very human, and struggled with all the stuff that befalls us. Yet he always trusts God to do the right thing, and praises Him for it.

As Christian's we must take the long view, of eternity (a very long view!!) Therefore 2 things to remember when stuff gets you down:
1. Trust God to be in the situation, He WILL guide you if you ask.
2. Hope of a new morning - it WILL end, He promises.

To end 2 quotes I saw on Nicky Gumbel's twitter feed, the first very apt for the above, and the second also, but point three made me chuckle too! =)

'Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.'

'Jesus promised his disciples three things - to be : 1. Absurdly happy. 2. Completely fearless. 3. Constantly in trouble.'


Lord you are absolutely amazing, I'm sorry I sometimes (mainly constantly!) question your promises that fill the Bible. It's so clear when I read it that you are God and NOTHING can stand in your way, but I instantly forget it when I put down your Book and go about my daily life. I know I shouldn't separate 'daily life' and you Word. Help me Lord to combine the two much better, and constantly think of you.

Habits and Trust

It was said by the pastor in church today that it takes 21 days of doing something before it becomes a habit.

Awesome I thought, I'm half way there (that is, it's day 12 of lent - yes I am counting the Sundays!) and still doing good with the whole quiet time thing and daily blogging of my thoughts that come from quiet time/church. Then I remembered a line from a poem I heard ages ago about habits:

Don't let your parents down;
They brought you up.
Be humble enough to obey;
you may be giving orders someday.
Choose your friends with care;
you become what they are.
Choose only a date;
who would make a good mate.
Guard your thoughts;
what you think, you are.
Be master of your habits;
or they will master you.
Don't let the crowd pressure you;
stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

Master your habits, get into good habits, not bad ones, or they will overcome you.

Proverbs 3:1-6
My child, remember my teachings and instructions and obey them completely. They will help you live a long and prosperous life. Let love and loyalty always show like a necklace, and write them in your mind. God and people will like you and consider you a success. With all your heart you must trust the Lord, and not your own judgement. Always let Him lead you and He will clear the road for you to follow.

Trust was also talked about in church today - trusting God completely for His ways are good. Definitely a word from God today since I read about trusting God in another blog yesterday evening. They were talking about trusting the tree they climbed, knowing it wouldn't fall down because others had climbed it before and so had they. Their prayer was simple: Help me trust you Lord, like I trust the tree.

I know how this feels, I've climbed a ton of trees as a kid, and always trusted the trees completely. And only the other day I was thinking about trusting God in His promises and His words. My continuing prayer: Help me Lord trust you like this.

We sang this song today, I've always loved this verse since I first heard it:
I'm caught in the rhythms of grace
They overcome all of my ways
Realigning each step everyday
To live for Your glory

A new revelation about the meaning hit me today thinking about habits and trust. I'm fully caught up in God's Grace, so much it thoroughly saturates me. Trusting in God and continuing my 'habit' of quiet times, studying God's word, and listening to Him speak through His word helps realign my steps for the day to walk with Him and not away from Him. For all this is for His glory, my life.

Confidence in God

Having the confidence in God is believing you're better than you believe you are, because God say's you are.

Having the confidence in God to have even faith as small as a mustard seed to move mountains. If that small amount of faith moves mountains, think how smaller our faith only has to be for moving things smaller than mountains! Not that you should aim small - aim for that actual mountain!! Do not doubt in your heart, but believe (Mark 11:23).

Mmmm...awesome words but still really difficult in practice. There's some stuff that I've been asking God about and for, for years but hasn't happened....yet anyway. When I remember this stuff it gets really difficult to believe the words written in Mark's gospel.

But I know God is there, He is for me, and not against me, He has a plan for my future, the most awesome one, one far better than I can ever imagine. This I know, and do believe, even if doubts creep into my mind and start to bash away at this truth, Jesus is with me and therefore I will not be defeated.

The most awesomest thought of all.

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory
and He is here

Just one thought today: The absolute enormity of the sacrifice of Jesus. He bore the reaction of God's anger to all of my sin (and the rest of the world's) on Himself, to save me (and everyone else).

How can I not thank Him for what He has done, I could never provide enough of a suitable offering to God for atonement of my sin, but Jesus did, so I don't have to.

I only receive forgiveness as a gift, not ever earned. The most awesome gift ever in the whole wide world.

Some cannot fathom the cross, say it is foolishness, for others it is offensive, for others it is life changing. For it to be life changing we have to ask God. He is there waiting for everyone, eagerly expecting and wanting the question to be asked, He will never force down the door. The handle is on our side, not His, we are the ones who have to make the first move. This is the gift of free will.