'I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.' Jeremiah 29:11
Waiting and trusting go together. If you don't trust God, it's hard to wait on Him. But if you trust Him....you'll wait.
Here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of what you have for as long as God gives you life...Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty, and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the wok. It's God's gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. Ecclesiastes 5:18-19
Life is scary sometimes, when you don't know what's round the corner, or something now is happening that isn't great. I'm moving to Rotorua next week for a new job - to be a registrar. It's new, really exciting but also scary. I won't know anyone, the job is not like what I'm doing now - it's a step up so I keep thinking, will I be good enough? I don't want to leave the comfort of what I've come to know in Blenheim, but also I do - it's new and exciting.
But thinking about it in terms of what God says in the passages above: Trust me, it's not for harm, it's for good, and for your future, have a good time and make the most of it. Delight in your work, joy is God given.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3:23
Monday 13 August 2012
Monday 6 August 2012
Tell me what you're thinking!
'God you are my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe! That's right - he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you are perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing.' Psalm 91
I get scared sometimes that at work I'm not clever enough - to remember everything I need to now to treat patients, to have the right words to talk to other doctors, or the patients. I got very frustrated yesterday because I felt like nobody was talking straight to me. And I felt like if they just told me straight what they problem was - I could have a chance to fix whatever was wrong. Instead of dancing around the subject, or being sarcastic (I struggle to pick out sarcasm sometimes and don't realise what the person is saying is actually the opposite).
Paul kept it simple!
'I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did - Jesus crucified. I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate - I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it - and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that you life of faith is a response to God's power, not some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.' 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
What matters is not whether we use 'wise and persuasive words' but the 'demonstration of the Spirit's power.' We do not need to dress it up with 'eloquence or superior wisdom'. God 'chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise'. He 'chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong'.
This is why I love Paul's books - simple and straightforward, no messing around - just like me!
I get scared sometimes that at work I'm not clever enough - to remember everything I need to now to treat patients, to have the right words to talk to other doctors, or the patients. I got very frustrated yesterday because I felt like nobody was talking straight to me. And I felt like if they just told me straight what they problem was - I could have a chance to fix whatever was wrong. Instead of dancing around the subject, or being sarcastic (I struggle to pick out sarcasm sometimes and don't realise what the person is saying is actually the opposite).
Paul kept it simple!
'I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did - Jesus crucified. I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate - I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it - and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that you life of faith is a response to God's power, not some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.' 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
What matters is not whether we use 'wise and persuasive words' but the 'demonstration of the Spirit's power.' We do not need to dress it up with 'eloquence or superior wisdom'. God 'chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise'. He 'chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong'.
This is why I love Paul's books - simple and straightforward, no messing around - just like me!
Wednesday 1 August 2012
Be who and what God wants you to be
I'm a God-designed, purpose-intended, significant, lavishly-loved, princess-daughter (if you're a bloke read this as prince-son!) of the King of the Universe!
If God did not have need of me, I would not exist. Someone said this the other day, and it took me a while to actually process what it meant. It is actually as simple as it seems to be. I would NOT exist, if God did not NEED me.
'I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection.'
'We aren't making outrageous claims here. We're sticking to the limits of what God has set for us.' 2 Corinthians 10:13
'For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God - his chosen people.' Galations 6:14-16
God wants me - who I am, where I am, what I do. Therefore be 'set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns they dictate.' Do what God wants, not others.
I AM AN ORIGINAL CREATION OF GOD
p.s. Don't you just LOVE Paul's writings?! I am amazed every time I read his stuff! He just nails the point every time =)
If God did not have need of me, I would not exist. Someone said this the other day, and it took me a while to actually process what it meant. It is actually as simple as it seems to be. I would NOT exist, if God did not NEED me.
'I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom, but I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection.'
'We aren't making outrageous claims here. We're sticking to the limits of what God has set for us.' 2 Corinthians 10:13
'For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God - his chosen people.' Galations 6:14-16
God wants me - who I am, where I am, what I do. Therefore be 'set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns they dictate.' Do what God wants, not others.
I AM AN ORIGINAL CREATION OF GOD
p.s. Don't you just LOVE Paul's writings?! I am amazed every time I read his stuff! He just nails the point every time =)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)