No spiritual flabbiness please!

You have been raised on the Message of faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the Christians there, and you'll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God - no spiritual flabbiness please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Saviour of all men and women, especially believers. 1 Timothy 4:6-10 MSG

How many times have you set yourself a goal, started working towards it full of fire, and then waned as time went on? There are at least a couple of areas in my life that I have been particularly challenged when it comes to being disciplined. One was taking the time to read the bible each day. I would start off well, managing to read it daily for a couple of weeks. But then other 'things' would take over, maybe it was household chores that I thought just couldn't wait. Or some book-work that needed to be done urgently for our business. Slowly, but surely the daily bible reading disappeared off my daily schedule! I felt despondent and a failure as I really wanted to daily spend time with God in His word, but I didn't have the discipline required.

I believe God knew my heart's desire to spend more time with Him, and learn more about His character. So he helped me to develop the discipline I needed by allowing an extremely difficult, on-going circumstance to come into my life. Our daughter's fight against cancer, which has now been a three and a half year fight and continues. This is not an easy circumstance to live with. Yes, we believe she has the victory in Jesus, however we are yet to see the physical manifestation of that victory. Every day she has to face this battle, and we as parents have to encourage and stay strong in our faith and trust in God. How do we do that?

For me, the answer has been discipline, discipline, discipline! Discipline to read God's word daily, drawing from it strength, hope and courage. Discipline to push aside the other things that need to be attended to, and choose to put God first. It has been out of complete desperation that I have developed discipline in this area. It has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. As it says in Hebrews 12

For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness. For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness - in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God]. Hebrews 12:10,11 AMP

I thank God that I now make a consistent choice to read His word daily. Thank you God that you have bought me to a place that I have learnt how to be disciplined in reading the bible. Thank you have you have put a desire in my heart to know more and more about all Jesus has done for me and all that is available to me as His follower. Thank you for blessing me through disciplining me.

Question for today, is there an area in your life that you need more discipline? Ask God to help you develop the discipline required. Be aware that circumstances may come that will help you develop the discipline required. Always remember that despite the circumstances, God is there and He will make a way through.

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 1:13 NIV

Because Jesus loves us

The One who died for us - who was raised to life for us! - is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks, they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. Romans 8:34-37 MSG

We are all faced with circumstances. 'trouble', at some time in our lives that can cause us to take a long hard look at God and ask, 'What is this all about?' Sometimes we get an immediate answer. Sometimes the answer is revealed over time. Sometimes we have to wait until we get to heaven (and maybe it won't matter then!).  

We have a choice when going through the circumstances. A choice to either get caught up in the circumstances and all it throws at us. Or we can choose to remember that Jesus, is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. What an advocate to have! 

From personal experience, I know it can be very difficult to stay with the 'trusting Jesus is on our side' choice. I have had my own mental battles with thoughts flooding my mind, telling me the complete opposite to God's truth. At these times I have had to make a choice to search out God's word for the truth of the situation. And then choose to spend time in prayer and worship, rather than stressing out, thanking God for all He is doing within me during the circumstance. 

In these times of trial, we need to make a choice to remember who God is, as it says in Romans 8:31-33.

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? 

And God did all this because He loves us, not because of anything we have done. Simply, because Jesus loves us. It is no more complicated than that. Jesus loves us. How special to you feel when someone says 'I love you'? Maybe no-one has ever said the words 'I love you' to you. Well, right now, there is someone out there saying 'I love you' to you. He is the creator of the universe, your Heavenly Father and your personal saviour, Jesus.  His love is the best love to have! It is unconditional.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized <your name> that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. John 3:16 AMP

Questions for today, are you facing circumstances that are making it difficult for you to trust Jesus love for you? Ask God to lead you to a place in His word that will show you the truth about the circumstance. Meditate on that word day and night, hourly, if that's what it takes to get it into your heart.

If you haven't heard the words 'I love you' from Jesus, again, ask God to lead you to a place in His word that tells that truth. Put your name in the scripture, and I have done above with John 3:16. And again, mediate on that word continually until you know that you know that you know, Jesus loves you.

God can pour on the blessings

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, 

He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon,
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.  2 Corinthians 9:8-11 MSG

Sometimes we question God's generosity to us, especially when we are going through a trial. It can be very easy to look at everything we 'haven't got', rather than what we have got. I am speaking from personal experience! And it may not be in a financial sense that we are feeling 'forgotten', it may be in the area of health, relationships, creativity, career, and the list goes on.

But we are not forgotten. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:6,7 'Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And [yet] not one of them is forgotten or uncared for in the presence of God. But [even] the very hairs of your head are numbered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows.'

Sometimes we need to take a few moments to look around us and within us, looking for the blessings that have been poured out in those astonishing ways.  On the outside it may be the stranger who has shown you great kindness in the past week, it may be the unexpected favour you were shown in a situation, it may be the illness that healed faster than expected, the list goes on and on. On the inside it may be the resilience you have gained through the trial, it may be the greater peace that sits within you no matter what is happening on the outside, it may be the increased trust you have in your Heavenly Father. Again the list goes on and on.

So then, what are we to do with all these blessings we have received? Are we just to sit and say, 'Wow God, thanks for blessing me in so many different ways' ? Well, that is a good start. But I believe God wants us to both be thankful, and take action, by passing on the generosity that God has given us, to others. Then they also get the opportunity to be blessed in astonishing ways. As it says in the scripture, 

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but it is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.  2 Corinthians 9:12-13 NIV

Questions for today, are you in a trial and unable to see God's blessing? Why not take 5 minutes now and ask God to show you the blessings you are receiving in the midst of the trial? And then ask Him how he wants you to use those blessings to bless someone else and show them the love of Jesus. 

Forgiveness is His habit

Help, GOD - the bottom has fallen out of my life!
Master, hear my cry for help! 
Listen hard! Open your ears!
Listen to my cries for mercy.
If you, GOD, kept records on wrongdoings, 
who would stand a chance?
As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit,
and that's why your worshiped.
I pray to GOD - my life a prayer - 
and wait for what he'll say and do.
My life's on the line before God, my Lord,
waiting and watching till morning,
waiting and watching till morning. 
Psalm 130: 1-8 MSG

We all have a long list of things we have done wrong in our lives, starting way back from when we sat in the high chair and threw food on the floor wanting to see mum or dad pick it up, only so we could then throw some more food on the floor. During our school age years, teasing at least one other child in the playground, possibly giving a punch or kick as well. In the teenage years, making some unwise choices, some so serious they impacted the rest of our lives. As a young adult, navigating the workplace, again making mistakes and hopefully learning from them. And then if you are blessed to be a parent or a have responsibility over other people, a who new list of 'wrong-doings' is accumulated!

How wonderful it is to know that our Heavenly Father does not keep records on our wrongdoings? Rather, forgiveness is His habit. In Jeremiah 31:34 NIV, He says, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

His amazing grace is available to us all. His son, Jesus, is the way for us to receive that grace. "To Him, all the prophets testify (bear witness) that everyone who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him, giving himself up to Him] receives forgiveness of sins through His name." Acts 10:43 AMP 

By asking Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour, you can receive forgiveness for your sins. If you want to ask Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour now, click on this link.

If you have already made a decision to follow Jesus, then consider this letter from Paul to the Corinthians, 

The focus of my letter wasn't on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church. So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don't think I'm carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I'm joining in with your forgiveness as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief - we're not oblivious to his sly ways! 2 Corinthians 2:9-11 MSG

None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes and cause offense and pain of varying magnitudes. We are all offended and hurt by others in various ways. Jesus asks us to forgive as He has forgiven us. I realise that for some people the hurt and pain is so great that forgiveness doesn't seem possible. But with Jesus' help it is possible, 'Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, with God all things are possible' Matthew 19:26 NIV. Seek Him out and ask Him to help you to get to the place where you can forgive.

Question for today,  if there is someone in your life that has hurt you and you are finding it difficult to forgive them, ask Jesus to help you to get to the place where you can forgive. Claim the words of Psalm 130 over your life and watch and wait to see a transformation in your heart.

I pray to GOD - my life a prayer - 
and wait for what he'll say and do.
My life's on the line before God, my Lord,
waiting and watching till morning,
waiting and watching till morning. 

Lower yourselves in your own estimation

Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church) [giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves; all of you with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that it’s covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another.  For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)  - [and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favour, blessing) to the humble.  Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation], under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. 1 Peter 5:5,6 AMP

Humility is a word that we don’t often see or hear in the world we live in today. In fact often the world we live in encourages us to do the exact opposite, to strive to be ‘better’ than those around us, to ‘look’ better, to ‘have’ better things, to ‘do’ better things. What a trap this game of ‘betterness’ can be. What happens when we lose the looks, no longer have the things, and can’t do things anymore? What then? Who are we then?

God however, encourages us to clothe ourselves with humility toward one another. Have you ever been talking with someone and all they do is boast about themselves, and all they can do or have done? How does that make you feel? Does it encourage you and inspire you? Or does is deflate you and make you despise yourself and your life? The bible encourages boasting, but only boasting about God…

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise mane boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength of the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23, 24 NIV

Boasting about God, His kindness, justice and righteousness, helps leads us to a place of humility, as we are acknowledging to ourselves and others that He is greater than me. It helps to keep our focus on Him, and His goodness and faithfulness. The things of this world come and go, boasting in them can be a very short-lived practice, leading to pain and emptiness. However Jesus doesn’t come and go, Hebrews 13:8 says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. He is who we are to boast about.

Today, as you interact with people in your world, ask God to help you to humble yourself and boast about Jesus in your conversations.  Give encouragement and hope to others as they hear about Jesus’ kindness to you.

Make a fresh start

God, make a fresh start in me, 
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't throw me out with the trash, 
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile, 
put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways 
so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God, 
I'll let loose with your praise.
Psalm 51:10-15 The Message

Sometimes the school mornings in our home can be a little hectic with four children getting ready for school and various household jobs needing to done. Voices get raised and it can turn a little 'pear-shaped'. When we finally make it into the car, and especially when I have been one of the worst raised voice offenders, I often say to the children, shall we pretend to start the day again now. Followed by kindly saying something like, 'Good morning everyone, what a great day we are going to have today!'  The day, from an emotional sense, literally does begin again. We make a fresh start.

How wonderful is it that our God can help us to make a fresh start in every aspect of our lives. A fresh start that enables us to get to a place where we can be a witness for Him, a voice for Him. All we have to do is come to Him with a humble, willing heart, ready to submit and let Him breathe holiness into us. Humility is a key to opening the door of our heart and letting God's grace come flooding in. James 4:6 says

But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).

It by God's grace, the power of the Holy Spirit, that we can overcome the 'trash' in our lives and get to the place of 'unbuttoning our lips and letting loose with praise'. Our lives become so transformed that we cannot help but praise Jesus for all He has done and all He will do. People around us will watch and see the transforming power of Jesus working in us. 

Question for today, is there some area in your life in which you need to make a fresh start? Why not take the opportunity now to pray that scripture, Psalm 51:10-15, asking God to make a fresh start in you, to help you get to the place where you can let loose with your praise?

Nudging people towards receptive insight

The disciples came up and asked, "Why do you tell stories?"

He replied, "You've been given insight into God's kingdom, You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories; to create readiness, to nudge the people towards  receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they're blue in the face and not get it. Matthew 13:10-14 MSG

As a child do you remember snuggling up with someone you loved (Mum, Dad, Sister, Brother, Grandparent?) and listening eagerly as they read you a story? Waiting in anticipation for what was going to happen on the next page. Would there be time to read the entire book, or would the ending have to wait for another day? What would the ending be, happy or sad? Do you have a favourite childhood book that brings back wonderful warm memories for you? Was there a book that particularly influenced decisions you have made in your life? 

Jesus knew the power of story-telling. He knew that the right story at the right time could change people's hearts and minds. He knew exactly what people needed to hear and when. 

We too, with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, can have that insight. The Holy Spirit can give us the words to use to tell stories of what God has done in our lives, to help nudge people towards receptive insight. To help people regain the hope they have lost due to events and circumstances in their life. And we know that hope is a key element to enabling us to face each day. As the Bible says in Hebrews  We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.  Hebrews 6:19, 20a NIV Jesus is our hope. Let's be bold with grace in sharing the hope he had given us.

Question for today, do you have a story of what God has done for you in your life? Why not ask the Holy Spirit to prompt you next time He wants someone to hear your story, to help give them hope, and nudge them towards receptive insight about Jesus?

My determined purpose

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out-flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] that if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Philippians 3:10,11 AMP

How often do we take time in our 'busy' lives to stop and think, what is my purpose here on earth? Why I am here? Why am I doing this activity? Does it fit with my overall purpose? Are you just doing something because that is what you always do? Or because that is what your parents did? Or because that is what your friends are doing? What is your purpose?

In this passage from Philippians Paul is sharing about the change of purpose in his life after his personal meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Earlier in the passage of scripture he says, 

" Yes, all things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once through I had going for me is insignificant - dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. " Philippians 3:8 MSG

When we have a revelation of who Christ Jesus is and all He has done for us, our hearts are filled with a hunger for more of Him. The challenge in today's world is to keep that 'hunger' alive. So easily other 'things' can come into our hearts, trying to drown our 'hunger' for Christ. We need to be determined about our purpose, so that we can "progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with him."

Notice how the scripture says 'progressively'. Getting to know Christ more intimately is not an overnight process. It is a process driven by determined purpose. A process of making a decision to read God's word each day, asking Him to teach you more about himself. A process of spending time in God's presence, learning how to hear His voice. It is about prioritising time with God at the top of your To Do list. It is about making 'knowing Him' your determined purpose so that you can fulfill God's plan for you here on earth. 

Question for today, what is your determined purpose in life? If you are unsure what your determined purpose is, why not take some time today to sit quietly with Jesus and ask Him what it is? He has the answer..... I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.  He wrote this before you were born, in Jeremiah 29:11 MSG. 

A model of good deeds and works

And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity [having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive], with dignity and seriousness. And let your instruction be sound and fit and wise and wholesome, vigorous and irrefutable and above censure, so that the opponent may be put to shame, finding nothing discrediting or evil to say about us. Titus 2:7,8 AMP

Every day we are modeling deeds and works to people, whether we realise it or not. I once saw a very confronting video on You Tube, called 'children see, children do'. It illustrated very clearly that children are watching the adults in their circle of influence and copy their behaviours, the good and not so good.

What we do and say around other people can have a profound affect on their lives. If we want to be an effective witness for Jesus, we need to do a stock-take of our current deeds and works. What are we doing with our lives that shows Jesus grace and love to the people in our circle of influence? And just as importantly, lets consider what are we doing with our lives that doesn't show Jesus grace and love?

As James says, Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coast or a cup of soup - where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is an outrageous nonsense? James 2:14-17 MSG

We have a choice to align our words and actions with Jesus Christ's words and actions, as best as we can. Always remembering that we are not perfect, we will sometimes do and say the wrong thing. We need to remind ourselves, that 'You can no more show me your good works apart from your faith that I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.' James 2:18 MSG

We are here to be Christ's ambassadors, His light in this dark world. Being a model of good deeds and works in part of being His ambassador.

Question for today, why not ask Jesus what He specifically wants you to do today to model good deeds and works? Who does He want you to help? You can show Jesus love to someone today and make a difference in their lives.

Jesus, Who personally rescues us

And [how you] look forward to and await the coming of His Son from heaven. Whom He raised from the dead - Jesus, Who personally rescues and delivers us out of and from the wrath [bringing punishment] which is coming [upon the impenitent] and draws us to Himself [investing us with all the privileges and rewards of the new life in Christ, the Messiah]. 1 Thessalonians 1:10

At the beginning of 2014 I felt the Holy Spirit say to me, 'From this point forward, every time you write a blog entry, make sure the name of Jesus is in the entry'.  So in obedience that is what I have done. I remember a pastor once saying something like this, "Lots of people talk about God and God can be many different things to different people. Jesus is who we need to be talking about. He is the difference. As Jesus said to Thomas in John 14:6, 'I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except (through) Me.'

The scripture from Thessalonians reminds us that Jesus is our personal rescuer. Jesus' blood enables us to be passed over at the time of final judgement. Just as Moses's actions foretold in Egypt, 'By faith (simple trust and confidence in God), he instituted and carried out the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood [on the door-posts], so that the destroyer of the firstborn (the angel) might not touch those [of the children of Israel].' Hebrews 11:28 AMP.

We need to have the faith, the simple trust and confidence, that Jesus can rescue us from whatever we are facing today. He is ready to give us abundance of grace, love and peace. He is waiting to invest in us. All we need to do is ask Him and believe He can do it.

Question for today, is Jesus your personal rescuer? Have you made a decision to let Him invest in you? Why not invite Him to be your rescuer today, to be your truth, your light and your way? If you want to make Jesus your personal rescuer today, click here to find out what to do.

Live openly and expansively!

Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively! 2 Corinthians 6:11-13 MSG

Via Paul's challenge to the Corinthians, God is challenging us to look at the potential in our lives through His eyes. It is no longer good enough for us to say, "We are only one person, nothing that we will do will make a difference". We are not 'only one person'. Once you make the decision to ask Jesus to become your Lord and Saviour, and invite the Holy Spirit into your life,  you become a person with the Holy Spirit inside of you! The very same Holy Spirit who is part of the trinity!

Your life then is no longer small. As God says to us in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  He wants us to 'open up our lives' to Him. He wants us to take up the challenge with the help of the Holy Spirit, the counselor and comforter, and 'live openly and expansively'.

So what does living openly and expansively look like? Using the definitions from the Oxford dictionary it means we would be living 'frankly, honestly; publicly without concealment; able or tending to expand; extensive, wide-ranging; effusive, open, not inhibited, lives. Putting that definition in the context of God's kingdom, I would add to it, 'for the purposes of furthering God's kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.'

God, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit has given us all we need to live that exact type of life, an open and expansive life. Of course it will look different in each of our lives as we all have our unique God given gifts and talents. We have been given those gifts and talents for a reason, so don't hold back in using them. Pray for boldness and courage. Take a step of faith to use them fully as God intended. Remember what Jesus said to the disciples in the storm in Mark 6:50, 51 Take courage! It is I, Don't be afraid. Then he climbed into the boat with them, Jesus is with you every step of the way. He wants you to live openly and expansively today.