Let the words of God permeate our entire being. 'Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you .... Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night' (Deut 11:18-19).
'We need to know, learn, and teach God's word and put it into practice in our lives. Great blessing comes from living openly and honestly, walking in the light of God's truth as He reveals it in Hos word.' N. Gumbel.
It is clear from the Psalms and many, many biographies of women and men of God that everyone will have bouts of distress/depression/sadness etc. Life is not easy, we face constant battles, since the world is full of sin.
Psalm 43
Clear my name, God; stick up for me against these loveless, immoral people. Get me out of here, away from these lying degenerates. I counted on you, God. Why did you walk out on me? Why am I pacing the floor, wringing my hands over these outrageous people?
Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, so I can find my way to the sacred mountain, to the place of your presence, to enter the place of worship, meet my exuberant God, sing my thanks with a harp, magnificent God, my God.
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God — soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.
True joy and delight are found in God's presence, hold on fast to this promise and He will deliver.
He puts a smile on my face. He is my God.'
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Monday, 9 April 2012
I have 2 feet...
.... One for the boot of trust, and the other for the boot of obey .... The right and left boots of Christianity.
These are the answers to trials, struggles, temptation, worry, anxiety, fear, and failure.
Psalm 42:6-11
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, from Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of white-water rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer.
Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, "Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?" They're out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities, taunting day after day, "Where is this God of yours?"
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God — soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why disturbed within me? Put your hope in God
Though we have feelings God has forgotten us, we know in reality He is there. The rock on which we can stand, when all around is the sinking sand.
Jesus said many. many times: 'Do NOT worry.'
God you want all of me, I can't quite reason as to why. But I know that is what you want. I want you to have all of me, but I struggle to give it all, because there is still that little piece of me asking: Why; why me? It is difficult to accept such a beautiful gift for free. Again, I'm not sure why. You beg for me to take it, but I'm like that hesitant child at the back of the crowd, longing for what the other children have, and not quite believing I can actually have it.
Do not worry, Trust Me, have faith little one, I will wait for you. I love all of you, every single atom, in every single cell. I know the numbers of hairs on your head, and I know your thoughts. Come to Me and lean on Me, I will make everything new, and cause you to sing a new song.
I will be praising again. He puts a smile on my face, He is my God
These are the answers to trials, struggles, temptation, worry, anxiety, fear, and failure.
Psalm 42:6-11
When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, from Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of white-water rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer.
Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God, "Why did you let me down? Why am I walking around in tears, harassed by enemies?" They're out for the kill, these tormentors with their obscenities, taunting day after day, "Where is this God of yours?"
Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God — soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why disturbed within me? Put your hope in God
Though we have feelings God has forgotten us, we know in reality He is there. The rock on which we can stand, when all around is the sinking sand.
Jesus said many. many times: 'Do NOT worry.'
God you want all of me, I can't quite reason as to why. But I know that is what you want. I want you to have all of me, but I struggle to give it all, because there is still that little piece of me asking: Why; why me? It is difficult to accept such a beautiful gift for free. Again, I'm not sure why. You beg for me to take it, but I'm like that hesitant child at the back of the crowd, longing for what the other children have, and not quite believing I can actually have it.
Do not worry, Trust Me, have faith little one, I will wait for you. I love all of you, every single atom, in every single cell. I know the numbers of hairs on your head, and I know your thoughts. Come to Me and lean on Me, I will make everything new, and cause you to sing a new song.
I will be praising again. He puts a smile on my face, He is my God
Sunday, 8 April 2012
Happy Easter
In keeping tradition, I went for an early dawn walk up a nearby hill this morning to see the sun rise. I have done this for a number of years now with my Mum up to the top of Beacon Hill just outside Loughborough, where we meet up with other Christians for a small Easter Sunday service to celebrate Jesus rising from the dead. Today, since I'm in Blenheim, NZ, I went for a walk up the Wither Hills just behind where I live to see the sunrise on Easter morning. How glorious it was (and is!)
He Is Risen, Alleluia! He Is Risen Indeed!
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed
Living He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering in anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Saviour, Jesus is mine
Oh Glorious Day!
Fill today with your Praises to Him, for He is Risen, and that is AWESOME :-)
Happy Easter everyone!
He Is Risen, Alleluia! He Is Risen Indeed!
One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed
Living He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering in anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me
One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
One day the trumpet will sound for His coming
One day the skies with His glories will shine
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Saviour, Jesus is mine
Oh Glorious Day!
Fill today with your Praises to Him, for He is Risen, and that is AWESOME :-)
Happy Easter everyone!
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Love and Mercy
'See people with the eyes of love. Don't be quick to judge. give people the benefit of the doubt. Assume the best.' Nicky Gumble.
I tend to be an optimist but there are occasions I will demonstrate my pessimistic side. I always do try to see the best in people, and I VERY rarely take an dislike to someone, I wish it was never, but if I said never, I would be lying. Despite this, I will always try my up most to see the best in someone, and see them 'with the eyes of love.'
In today's quiet time Nicky Gumble describes a scene in South Africa in a courthouse where there was a hearing about various atrocities during the apartheid. A policeman had murdered a woman's son and husband, and when the court asked what this woman wanted doing with the policeman, she said she wanted him to visit her on a fortnightly basis so she could show him love he deserved as her son since she had so much love in life to give still after losing her husband and son. Spontaneously someone in the courtroom started singing Amazing Grace, but the policeman had fainted with the shock of the woman's mercy and love.
I'm not sure I could ever be that merciful, but I would try. Jesus was exactly like that though, and certainly would have done the same as the woman in the courthouse. In Luke 9:54-56 the disciples were wanting to take revenge on some prophets they didn't believe were working under the power of God, but Jesus rebuked them. There are many, many examples in the gospels of Jesus showing love, mercy, and justice to those we would think of as sinners/unworthy/nasty/evil people.
Numbers 35:1-36:13 shows how Israel starts using a court system to bring wrongdoers to justice.
The principle of lover should underpin everything we do. That is not to say we should stand by and let bad stuff happen, just because we should 'show love' to people and therefore be reluctant to bring justice. Part of loving people is to protect. This tension lies in everything. We should not take revenge or retaliate, but we also have a duty to the state to prevent crime and bring wrongdoers to justice. We should always act out of love.
I tend to be an optimist but there are occasions I will demonstrate my pessimistic side. I always do try to see the best in people, and I VERY rarely take an dislike to someone, I wish it was never, but if I said never, I would be lying. Despite this, I will always try my up most to see the best in someone, and see them 'with the eyes of love.'
In today's quiet time Nicky Gumble describes a scene in South Africa in a courthouse where there was a hearing about various atrocities during the apartheid. A policeman had murdered a woman's son and husband, and when the court asked what this woman wanted doing with the policeman, she said she wanted him to visit her on a fortnightly basis so she could show him love he deserved as her son since she had so much love in life to give still after losing her husband and son. Spontaneously someone in the courtroom started singing Amazing Grace, but the policeman had fainted with the shock of the woman's mercy and love.
I'm not sure I could ever be that merciful, but I would try. Jesus was exactly like that though, and certainly would have done the same as the woman in the courthouse. In Luke 9:54-56 the disciples were wanting to take revenge on some prophets they didn't believe were working under the power of God, but Jesus rebuked them. There are many, many examples in the gospels of Jesus showing love, mercy, and justice to those we would think of as sinners/unworthy/nasty/evil people.
Numbers 35:1-36:13 shows how Israel starts using a court system to bring wrongdoers to justice.
The principle of lover should underpin everything we do. That is not to say we should stand by and let bad stuff happen, just because we should 'show love' to people and therefore be reluctant to bring justice. Part of loving people is to protect. This tension lies in everything. We should not take revenge or retaliate, but we also have a duty to the state to prevent crime and bring wrongdoers to justice. We should always act out of love.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
I Aim For Perfection, But Settle For Excellence
2 Corinthians 13:11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Or 'aim for perfection'. I like these words! I'm a perfectionist really, but I get frustrated when I fall short (which is what I inevitably do). But we should aim for perfection, not be perfect. We have been called to aim high (i.e. reach for heaven - really high!!) but we must avoid the dangers of perfectionism .... frustration, boasting, knocking someone else out the way to get there, etc.
Aim for Joy:Proverbs 8:22-31God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—before he did anything else. I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got its start. I arrived on the scene before Ocean, yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes. Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape, I was already there, newborn; Long before God stretched out Earth's horizons and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather, and set Sky firmly in place, I was there. When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean, built the vast vault of Heaven, and installed the fountains that fed Ocean, When he drew a boundary for Sea, posted a sign that said no trespassing, and then staked out Earth's foundations, I was right there with him, making sure everything fit. Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause, always enjoying his company, delighted with the world of things and creatures, happily celebrating the human family.
Proverbs is speaking of Wisdom (who is personified), or Jesus. He was there at the beginning with God. Full of joy, we should aim for this too. This passage reminds me of an awesome scene of nature and you just can't help but praise God because you know He made it, and what is before your eyes is just awesome! When I see something like that I always feel so full of joy, this is what we should aim for.
Luke 9:10-27 shows us how to aim to be full of Love like Jesus was. 'Denying ourselves and daily taking up our cross.' And: 'For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?'
Even if we are the most successful person of all time and 'gain the world', it will be no good. We must abandon our lives. This passage demands perfection but we all will fall short since we are human. This does not stop us aiming high though, we should always try.
'Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you criticise, pause. Before you give up, try again.'
Or 'aim for perfection'. I like these words! I'm a perfectionist really, but I get frustrated when I fall short (which is what I inevitably do). But we should aim for perfection, not be perfect. We have been called to aim high (i.e. reach for heaven - really high!!) but we must avoid the dangers of perfectionism .... frustration, boasting, knocking someone else out the way to get there, etc.
Aim for Joy:Proverbs 8:22-31God sovereignly made me—the first, the basic—before he did anything else. I was brought into being a long time ago, well before Earth got its start. I arrived on the scene before Ocean, yes, even before Springs and Rivers and Lakes. Before Mountains were sculpted and Hills took shape, I was already there, newborn; Long before God stretched out Earth's horizons and tended to the minute details of Soil and Weather, and set Sky firmly in place, I was there. When he mapped and gave borders to wild Ocean, built the vast vault of Heaven, and installed the fountains that fed Ocean, When he drew a boundary for Sea, posted a sign that said no trespassing, and then staked out Earth's foundations, I was right there with him, making sure everything fit. Day after day I was there, with my joyful applause, always enjoying his company, delighted with the world of things and creatures, happily celebrating the human family.
Proverbs is speaking of Wisdom (who is personified), or Jesus. He was there at the beginning with God. Full of joy, we should aim for this too. This passage reminds me of an awesome scene of nature and you just can't help but praise God because you know He made it, and what is before your eyes is just awesome! When I see something like that I always feel so full of joy, this is what we should aim for.
Luke 9:10-27 shows us how to aim to be full of Love like Jesus was. 'Denying ourselves and daily taking up our cross.' And: 'For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?'
Even if we are the most successful person of all time and 'gain the world', it will be no good. We must abandon our lives. This passage demands perfection but we all will fall short since we are human. This does not stop us aiming high though, we should always try.
'Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you criticise, pause. Before you give up, try again.'
Monday, 2 April 2012
Wholeheartedly
'Caleb and Joshua followed the Lord wholeheartedly' Numbers 32:12
This is what we are called to do: follow Him wholeheartedly, put our faith and trust in Him, and offer ourselves to do His will.
Psalm 40:1-5
I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships; The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you! I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words. Neither numbers nor words account for you.
Sometimes it's difficult to trust God, especially when things seem so impossible or difficult, but remember the times He delivered us, the numerous times. God is faithful and will listen and save us. He is unchanging, He can't help but save us, it is His nature.
'Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you criticise, pause. Before you give up, try again.'
This is what we are called to do: follow Him wholeheartedly, put our faith and trust in Him, and offer ourselves to do His will.
Psalm 40:1-5
I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's "sure thing," ignore what the world worships; The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you! I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words. Neither numbers nor words account for you.
Sometimes it's difficult to trust God, especially when things seem so impossible or difficult, but remember the times He delivered us, the numerous times. God is faithful and will listen and save us. He is unchanging, He can't help but save us, it is His nature.
'Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you criticise, pause. Before you give up, try again.'
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Don't be fooled!
'There is hope for your future.' Jeremiah 31:17
Today is April Fools Day. But don't be fooled, this is the devil's best trick. He fools us into thinking stuff that is not true. He seeps fear into us and deceives us into thinking, we are no good, God can't love us, or that there is no hope.
'I don't know what's right and what's real any more,
I don't know how I'm meant to feel any more.
And when do you think it will all become clear?
'Cause I'm being taken over by the fear. Lily Allen 'The Fear'
A lot of people feel like this, in fact, I think all people at one point or another will feel like Lily Allen's song. But there is 'good' and 'bad' fear. 'Good' fear, like I said yesterday, is awe and reverence of the mightiness of God, in contrast 'bad' fear comes from what is opposite of God. In Luke 8:22:25 we see the difference of fears:
'One day he and his disciples got in a boat. 'Lets cross the lake,' he said. And off they went. It was smooth sailing, and he fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize. They woke Jesus: 'Master, Master, we're going to drown!' Getting to his feet, he told the wind, 'Silence!' and the waves, 'Quiet down!' They did it. The lake became smooth as glass. Then he said to his disciples, 'Why can't you trust me?' They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, 'Who is this, anyway? He calls out to the winds and the sea, and they do what he tells them!'
The disciples were petrified they were going to drown, I feel for them! I'm not a great swimmer, and get scared of deep open water, I understand how they felt. Contrast this with their fear and trembling of what Jesus did in front of them. They were in 'absolute awe, staggered, stammering.' Non Christians have no fear of God, because they don't believe, why be afraid of God and His mightiness, majesty, and judgement if you don't believe He exists? Kind of like the monsters under the bed I guess! A child will truly be scared of them because he believes they exist under his bed, I am not because I know monsters under the bed don't exist. (Well I'm fairly sure anyway!!)
A healthy fear of God is to have faith in Him. We should take to heart and throw at the devil everything the Bible says about God and us. As I shared before there are many, many hundreds of cool things said in the Bible, that are absolutely true. Jeremiah 31:17 is just one: 'There IS a hope for your future.' Don't let the devil tell you it's not true.
Take my moments
And my days,
Let each each breath that I take,
Be ever only, for you, oh God.
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