Podcast 22 - Saying thank you

Saying thank you

"Thank you Jesus." This is how I start my prayer time each day, with these three words. There is so much to be thankful for. A list of specific things would go on and on and on. But sometimes in the making of that list of things, our focus can sway from Jesus to the things.

So sometimes it is good to pause and simply say, "Thank you Jesus."

The story of Jesus healing the ten lepers reminds us of this. 

Jesus traveled on toward Jerusalem and passed through the border region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one village, ten men approached him, but they kept their distance, for they were lepers. They shouted to him, "Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master! Won't you have mercy on us and heal us?" Luke 17:11-13 TPT

How many times have we shouted out to Jesus, "Please help me Jesus, I need you. Please help me to get through this day." 

When Jesus stopped to look at them, he spoke these words, "Go to be examined by the Jewish priests."  They set off, and they were healed while walking along the way. Luke 17:14 TPT

Jesus heard their shouting and responded, telling them what to do. They obeyed. Jesus healed them on the way.

One of them, a foreigner from Samaria, when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God.  When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, "You are the Messiah." This man was a Samaritan. Luke 17:15-16 TPT

Only one of the ten came back and gave thanks. He recognised who Jesus was. Then Jesus inquires about the other nine.

"So where are the other nine?" asked Jesus. "Weren't there ten who were healed? They all refused to return to give thanks and give glory to God except you, a foreigner from Samaria?" Then Jesus said to the healed man lying at his feet, "Arise and go. It was your faith that brought you salvation and healing." Luke 17:17-19 TPT

Jesus is merciful. He hears our shouts. He responds.

Then it is up to us...

Do we obey? 

Do we give thanks? 

Do we get greater revelation of who Jesus is?

Do we remember?

This morning I was reading this in Revelation ...

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Revelation 2:4 NKJV

The Amplified version really does amplify it ....

But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. Revelation 2:4 AMPC

Urggghhh.  Selah - pause and think on that.

Simply pausing regularly and saying a heartfelt, "Thank you Jesus" can help us maintain and nuture the love we have for Him. So let's take time to do that today.

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are]  in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC

Podcast 21 - God is interested in you

God is interested in you

'Hi Mum, can I talk with you about  ......'

'Yes, no problem'

'Okay, well ..................'

There is a problem - and its with me! When this child comes to talk with me, I am sitting at my desk working. They start to talk to me. I stop for a moment, look at them, acknowledge them, but then, I continue on working. My thought process is something like, I need to get this work done, I can listen to them at the same time. The child keeps talking, I am still listening (well, that's what I tell myself), but my focus on the work takes over. The child is still talking and I realise their voice is just like a string of words and I actually have no idea what they are talking about. Yes, there is a problem - and its with me.

I am so grateful that we have a Heavenly Father who can multi-task. He can listen to me, and you and many of the other 7 billion people on this earth at the same time. He doesn't get distracted by my problem when He is listening to yours. He is simply amazing. He knows each one of us, He really knows us, and He knows all about our problems before we tell Him.

You saw who you created me to be before I became me! Before I'd seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book. Psalm 139:16 TPT

He knows what we are about to say,

You are so intimately aware of me Lord, 

You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I'm about to speak before I even start a sentence!

You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. Psalm 139:3-4 TPT

And He cares. He cares deeply for each one of us, thinking about us continually.

Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! Psalm 139:17 TPT

He doesn't get distracted like me because He can truly multitask - every single moment, thinking about all the people He has created. I can't even think about 4 children at once! 

But what I am understanding more and more, is that God isn't just thinking about us. No, He is doing on our behalf, creating opportunities for us to encounter more of His love for us. For example ...

Perhaps through an unplanned meeting with someone which leads to a conversation which then leads to heartfelt prayer and an action that results in the start of a relationship being restored. 

Perhaps through being obedient and doing something that you wouldn't normally do, only to find out that God had you there for a different purpose, to be a blessing in a way that you had not planned.

Perhaps through a prompting to pray in the Spirit, having no knowledge of what you are praying, to then seconds later avoiding having your car and children t-boned at the round-a-about.

Yes, God is thinking about us and doing things for us....

You've gone into my future to prepare the way,

and in kindness you follow behind me

to spare me from the harm of my past.

With your hand of love upon my life,

you impart a blessing to me.

Psalm 139:5 TPT

God has his hand of love upon us, you and me. He is interested in all we do and say. He isn't distracted for a moment by anything else that is going on in the world. 

And He wants us to have that same deep desire and love for Him, and then for others he has brought into our sphere of influence.

Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us. 1 John 4:19 TPT

However sometimes it is hard for us to believe there is a God in Heaven who is interested in us, as our unprocessed pain hinders us from fully receiving His love. Pain can prevent us from understanding that He is always thinking about us and doing things for us. 

So today, let's ask God to show us if we have any blockages to receiving His love due to unprocessed pain. Praying Psalm 139 verses 23 and 24 is great place to start.

God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart.
Examine me through and through;
find out everything that may be hidden within me.
Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares.
See if there is any path of pain I'm walking on,
and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting ways -
the path that brings me back to you.

Podcast 20 - Building a deep and secure foundation

Building a deep and secure foundation

There is a song I remember from Sunday school, the wise man built his house upon the rock, click here if you don't know it. This song recounts what happens we choose to build on different foundations - the rock or the sand. It is based on this scripture,

 

What good does it do for you to say I am your Lord and Master if what I teach you is not put into practice? 

Let me describe the one who truly follows me and does what I say. He is like a man who chooses the right place to build a house and then lays a deep and secure foundation. When the storms and floods rages against that house, it continues to stand strong and unshaken through the tempest, for it has been wisely built on the right foundation.  

But the one who has heard my teaching and does not obey it is like a man who builds a house without laying any foundation whatsoever. When the storms and floods rage against that house, it will immediately collapse and become a total loss. Which of these two builders will you be? Luke 6:46-49 TPT

This is Jesus talking to his followers, challenging them to listen and obey, to really hear what He is saying and to put His teachings into practice. 

Why are you so polite with me, always saying, 'Yes, sir,' and 'That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I tell you? Luke 6:46 The Message

When I hear this question I think about the times when I have not done things (thought, word or deed) Jesus' way. Those are the times when my flesh takes over - my pain, my selfish desires or my need for instant gratification. Some of them happened just last week!

But despite my mistakes, I know there is a God who forgives me, and has grace sufficient for me - and you. He really wants us to know this truth, that He is stable, a deep and secure foundation for us to build our lives on.

These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.  Luke 6:47 The Message

We always have a choice. We can choose Jesus, or we can reject Him and look elsewhere. When we choose Jesus, and purposefully move forward in His ways, we can stand (maybe wobbling a bit), no matter what storms and floods come our way.

If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of this house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. Luke 6:48 The Message

Words cannot express how grateful I am that Jesus has been my foundation over the past 22 years. Many storms and floods have come and I have no doubt that the only reason I and my family are still standing, and now thriving, is because of Jesus. His love, His grace, His mercy, His patience and His wisdom in guiding us on how to build a foundation - His way. Not like the way of the foolish man....

But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss. Luke 6:49 The Message

So that brings us back to this question from Jesus, 'Which of these two builders will you be?' 

There are a couple of responses to this question, firstly for those who don't yet know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, today will you choose to say, "Jesus I want to do life your way, forgive me for building my own unsustainable foundation. Help me to follow your ways."

Secondly for those who are already following Jesus and want to build a stronger foundation in Him, will we choose to say, "Jesus, help us to build a deeper foundation in You. Show us what needs to change in our lives, and help us to make those changes. Help us to be the wise man who digs deep and builds securely on the Rock so that we will not be moved when the storms and floods come."

Thank you Jesus for your mercy and compassion and unfailing love for us. Thank you that you are ready and waiting to be our deep and secure foundation. In your mighty name we pray, Amen.

Podcast 19 - Fragility, faith and choosing to trust