'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!!
Monday, 12 March 2012
Sunday, 11 March 2012
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!
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!
Saturday, 10 March 2012
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
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
Friday, 9 March 2012
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!
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!
Thursday, 8 March 2012
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'
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'
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
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
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
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
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.
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.
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