1000 Things (26)

407. went to the most wonderful wedding yesterday, young couple from our housegroup. i love weddings. reminds me of my day and my marriage and my love.

408. wore a dress, first time in a LONG time.

409. sore feet when rested recover.

410. being able to make a playlist on my mp4

411. fantastic preaching by winkey pratney on my mp4 that fires my heart and soul for Jesus and revival

412. new friends. both in real life and met online.

413. a husband that rescues me from bugs.

414. school restarting and kindy restarting… happy children and time for me…

415.  keeping my daughters kisses in my heart.

416.  new rings!  cheap unfunky ones.

417. watching God minister to my housegroupies at the wedding reception through a new friend!

418.   page 104 The Jesus Culture book.

415. encouragement.

416. have MC’d a wedding. can tick something off the DONE list. went well. we were all nervous but it was such a priv to be part of the day

418. beautifully decorated cupcakes

419. avenues for expression

420. family. friends.

421. revelation that moves the heart

422. HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS by Jesus Culture. now i have all their cds. love their music.

423. new life.

my prayer today

the cry of my heart is that we will be young people who pursue God with all we are and all we do… a generation of people who know Him and make Him known, who live their lives for His call and His fame! my heart is that we would live our lives intentionally, living holy… praying and worshipping and learning and living…  pouring out for my King’s glory! living in response 2 His love 4 me first…  oh God, come and burn within me, be the spark that starts the fire!  let me be transformed for your glory.  let me ready for your glory.  breathe on me.  breathe in me.

I Surrender

God is Calling Us!

The purpose of Scripture is to show us God and inspire our trust in him. The Bible is a manual of faith in God that has been given to us “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17). It is God’s voice in the burning bush calling out to us as he called out to Moses – urging us to surrender our questions and doubts, abandon our misgivings and go forward with him. The path will open up as we walk, just as the sea opened up before Moses. God calling you! REINHARD BONNKE

Talking To Strangers…

Francis of Assai said “Preach the Gospel at all times, if necessary, use words.”  Our whole lives are opportunities to demonstrate God and His power to save and transform.  But there are times when WORDS are necessary to communicate the message of salvation.  People usually don’t learn about the Good News by osmosis!

As Christians everyday we encounter people who may need to know the Good News about God.  How do we go from “ordinary” conversation to talking about God?

And how do we go and talk to complete strangers about God?

We know we’re called and empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to GO but sometimes taking that first step can be the hardest obstacle to get over.

There are some simple “BEFORE” things that we can do or know that can set us up for successful conversations.

First:  Know what The Message is.

We don’t need to be Bible scholars, able to exegesis about the greater meaning of the third toe on the beasts left foot, but I think it is important to know your Bible – for personal reasons, you’re learning not just facts about God, but you are learning His promises and guidance for your own life, but also so that you have some answers to peoples questions.

1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have

Some people have religious backgrounds, others have studied philosophy and in this postmodern age everyone has an opinion on spirituality but the Word of God reveals to us WHO God really is and WHAT He has really done.

Know WHAT the Gospel is.  What did Jesus do and why?  Prepare yourself to answer people’s questions.

Second:  Know who YOU are, and what your style is.

Really?  Yes really.  In a way we’re all tailor-made with keys and strategies that help communicate the Gospel.   I’m not talking about just personality and being an extravert, but about a way of connecting with people and communicating the Gospel.

For myself, if I am out talking to strangers along Eastern Beach I often start with the question “Are you interested in God?”  This was a question and strategy that God gave me one morning while I was praying that I have found very effective.  Most people ARE interested in spiritual things!

I asked some of my evangelistically wired friends what they do when talking to non christians, if they had a personal style in evangelism.  One friend replied that he likes to use creation and science to open peoples eyes to the reality of God.  Another likes to pray and introduce people to God through Holy Spirit encounter.  Ray Comfort, international evangelist, uses the 10 commandments and tracts to communicate the need for a Saviour.

Discover your own personal style.  You will flow and be comfortable in that stream.

Third:  It’s a PROCESS

Remember – our job is to plant seeds and water seeds others have planted – it is God who grows the plant!  Every conversation you have is doing something!   Each time you talk to someone God is doing something.  He is doing a hidden work in their hearts to draw them to Himself.

Fourth: Nike It!

Just do it!  Just start.  Fight the fear and just do it.  When the opportunity arises to go to the beach with someone to invite people to church go along and join in.  Go and watch someone in action.   Some people are wired to love evangelism and talking to strangers, but most people aren’t.  There is no outclause on the Great Commission though.  Its totally fine to feel nervous about stepping out.  But don’t let that restrict you.  Overcome the fear.

Evangelism is simply sharing what you’ve been shown. Simple. Lets not complicate it.  We are called to be witnesses and ambassadors of the Good News of salvation, found only in Jesus Christ.  Lets get out there and do it – there is a whole world ready to hear!

Tweet Week

i’ve just recently discovered twitter – i know…

but it is such a fantastic source of inspiring quotes and challenges that it is a perfect fuel stop for an aspiring preacher like myself…

so here are some of my fav twits/tweets from this week:

“God still looks for common people to serve and uncommon God!” Max Lucado

When God created he did it with His word with faith and joy, but when he redeemed He did it with his Son with Pain and passion! Worship Him!

He is I AM. All that you need, all that you desire, all that you are seeking, all that you are crying out for. CF 20

God will reveal it to you. That unreachable, untouchable thing. God will give you eyes to see the impossible as possible.

Faithless life is simple until God slaps you in the face. RandyMB

“No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it.” Guy H. King

My formula for living is quite simple,I get up in the morning and go to bed at night. In between I do the best I can. Cliff Myer

See your struggle as God’s canvas. On it he will paint his multicolored supremacy. Max Lucado

Jesus didnt shed his blood on the Cross for programs, property,or principles. It was his RADICAL love for people. Rick Warren

In the beginning was the Word {thought,} the Word {thought} was made flesh. I am glad God didnt keep his thoughts to Himself. TFTenney

You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it

He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the cross. He who is king of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns

“If your life does not worship God, your lips do not worship God either.” AW Tozer

Refuse to be average. Let your heart soar as high as it will. AW Tozer

Transformed lives transform lives. Peter Morton

“How often have I said that prayer is the breathing in of the air of heaven, and praise is the breathing of it out again.” C Spurgeon

Surrender means you have to quit doing things your way and do them God’s way — quite a paradigm shift.

Never lower your view of God 2 the level of your experience. It would’ve kept Moses, Elijah, & Paul from changing their world. Brad Powell

GRATEFUL! There is nothing of value or significance in my life that doesn’t stem directly from my relationship with God. Brad Powell

Evangelism: Sharing what you’ve been shown. Simple. Done. Don’t complicate it. CF 20

Evangelism: You are one-of-a-kind. U bring unique beauty 2 the equation. Share Christ in YOUR shade of wonderful. CF 20

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 Fill up on God, leave no room for self.  Called Soldier

My dad used to say, “When the devil starts messin’ that’s when the Lord’s gonna start blessin’” Bring on the blessings Lord!

I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right. Billy Graham

some people i really enjoy their tweets:

Leslieblueeyes

CF 20

RandyMB

Called Soldier

Snapshot of my Weekish

listening to: well right now it is acutally I”VE GOT A FEELING by black eye peas on my mp4, and previous to that it was WHAT I”VE DONE by linkin park… but on the cd player it is Jesus Culture in 3 slots and Kim Walker in another and Hillsong United in the last one…  love to worship God – and in the car is the soundtrack for Once… brilliant irish music type movie…

coming up: the kids return to school and kindy this week so things return a little bit to normality.  in a week Mainly  Music restarts, with me back as the primary upfront person, but not as the main leader.  so that is good.  i did enjoy the flexibility of only once a month though.  oh well.  housegroup has started, started with a bang and a blast – wth a strong teaching by me on being consecrated.  our young adults service restarts on teh 14th and so we have a leaders meeting this week.  and i’m MCing a wedding reception on saturday, so it is a busy week.  and LOST begins on the 10th – yay!

excited: about what God is doing.  as always.  but feeling very moved/strong about this year.  pressing on in prayer and the Word and getting out to do more evangelism and seek God and speak truth in love and wisdom and grace.  to be bold and blatant.

on the box:  well House is back on.  love his dryness.  and as i said, LOST begins in about 10 days.  yay.  thats about it.

wearing:  jeans and a black shirt dress thing.  wore high high heels to church today, in prep for wearing them with my new dress for the wedding next week.  did i mention i dont wear dresses.  brave new year.  so my feet hurt.  my cons are comfy.

being listening on mp4 to: winkey pratney, way cool New Zealand/international preacher/evangelist/teacher, about revival.  He is just funny and straight up and loves God.  and i trust Him.

reading:  am between books.

in the Word:  in john, exodus, nehemiah, jonah

looking forward to: beginning running after dropping the kids to school, finding places to talk to random strangers about Jesus, my friends wedding,

challenges: particularly challenged by a pastoral issue with our housegroup – if you’re a reg reader here you may know one of our young guys died last year in a car accident.  last year dealt alot with that and working through the grief and loss and where God was at.  i thought we hadnt lost anyone.  but one of our girls looks like they’re still in a process and now i’m really concerned.  prayer moves mountains.  walking the fine line of support and got your back and being blunt.

Looking @ 2 Timothy 2

this week at housegroup we’re going to have BIBLE NIGHT – up to now we have just opened the bible at a place chosen by me, read and then talked/shared about it.  this year though after that we’re going to have some questions… we’re going to get more in depth and challenge ourselves!  so for this week i’ve chosen 2 timothy 2 to begin with.  following are the questions….  feel free to suggest some more!

What do u think is the most challenging part of this chapter?

How should we live our lives as Christians?  What does this look like in real life?

What did paul encourage timothy to flee?

What types of behavior do u think falls into this category?

So then – what should our response be?

What do u think v 20-21 means?

How do we prepare our lives to be used?  Do you think God only uses certain types of people?

How do we show ourselves approved to God?

What does it mean to cleanse ourselves?

What types of conversation should we be having?  What types of conversation do you think paul was warning timothy about?  Why?

Did this chapter make you think of any other passages in the bible?

What does this chapter reveal about who God is?

How can be make this real in our lives?  How can we apply the challenges in it?  Should be be applying the challenges in it?  Why or why not?

Contention & Spiritual Warfare!

what a day i’ve had.

first i wake up and feel strange and then when i stand i feel really faint, so take the joyous opportunity a holiday brings to climb back into bed to sleep again – but when i have to get up (cos the kids are then up) i am really unsteady on my feet and world spinning for about 10 mins…

then just before lunch caleb has a really nasty accident on his scooter – the neighbour boy knocks on the dor – caleb fell off his scooter – up i dash to the end of our long drive – and cant hear anything – and there is caleb, on the grass verge, with teh postman crouching over him, caleb is pale, sweaty (it is summer!) and not really crying but quiet crying which is so much worse (!) and he has a huge red patch on his left side where he has cut and also bruised his tummy – as well as scrapes and things.  half carry him down our drive lay him on teh sofa and do examination (i am just a mother, not a doctor) and icepack the side.  has fallen on his fallen scooter handle straight into his side.  worry about potential internal bruising/damage.  but after monitoring and all that i think hes okay.

eat lunch.

5 mins later daughter comes out of her room (she aws resting) and says, i’m itchy.  arms covered in welts.  give her allergy medication.  then tuck her back for rest.  then pace a bit and wonder… go in and look at her.  time to go to A&E.  they take one look – her face is swollen, eyes shut, red all over, welts on face and up arms and legs – and into resus room at A&E.  resus room for just in case.  they gave her more drugs and steroids.  monitoring.

tonight i am speaking a hard word at our housegroup for young adults – on consecration.  i feel teh contention.  i will not cancel.  i will preach harder.

ps.  as i write this caleb comes in screaming… he was scootering again and went so fast he couldnt stop and then crashed and has sliced up his arm, ripping a chunk out and the scab off a big patch where he hurt hismelf last week….  could be a lot worse.  but man.  contention.

Consecration

Its good to, at the start of a year, examine ourselves – who we are, what we are doing, where we are going, how we are doing – are we pleasing God – are there things we need to repent of and change – have we drifted away – are we drawing closer – are we called to do new things – are we being obedient?

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5

Why is it important to examine ourselves?

Because we are not living for ourselves.  We are not our own.  We were brought with a price.  And the life we live now we live by faith in Jesus Christ.

In John 15 Jesus tells us to abide in Him, to remain in Him, to stay connected with Him.  He is the vine and we are the branches and apart from Him we can bear no good fruit or do no good thing and those that leave Him and separate themselves from Him and unremain wither and die.

Lets look at john 15 a bit more…

¹“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

⁹“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command.

Lets put it another way.

1 samuel 6 has a really interesting passage about the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Israel.  The Ark had been captured by the Philistines in a battle and they displayed it in their temple… their false god statue fell down and broke demonstrating the supremeacy of God and then the people got sick and all these things happened that they discerned as the unfavour and displeasure of God!  So they determined to send the cart back to Israel.  They consulted their false priests and pysics about how to transport it…

When the ark of the LORD had been in Philistine territory seven months, ² the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD ? Tell us how we should send it back to its place.”

³ They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.”

⁴ The Philistines asked, “What guilt offering should we send to him?”
They replied, “Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of the Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers. ⁵ Make models of the tumors and of the rats that are destroying the country, and pay honor to Israel’s god. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you and your gods and your land. ⁶ Why do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When he treated them harshly, did they not send the Israelites out so they could go on their way?

⁷ “Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. ⁸ Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, ⁹ but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance.”

¹⁰ So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. ¹¹ They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. ¹² Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.

So okay.  What does that have to do with examining yourself – and the word I’ve been throwing around on facebook – CONSECRATION?

A new cart might look good.

It might be clean and brand spanking new.

It might look good on the surface.

But it sure isn’t the way God commanded the Ark to be carried and transported.

It it isn’t following God’s ways then a new cart just doesn’t cut it.  It doesn’t make the grade or impress God.

If you flick over to 2 Samuel 6 you see the new cart syndrome again…

We don’t want to have lives that are like a new cart.  Might look good on the outside but when you examine the heart – it falls way short.

Our lives need to be lining up with what God says in His Word and obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will not contradict His Word.  That is an impossibility.

If we flick back to look at john 15 – and just a tad before that in john 14 we see something black and white.

Jesus replied, If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  John 14:23

He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. John 14:24

If you love Jesus you will obey what He commands, in the Word and to you specifically through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  What is your conscience saying about how you are living your life?

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

¹¹ By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:7-14

If you are not being obedient to God Jesus is pointing out that your love aint fresh and real.  If you’re not being obedient to God then you are sinning and being disobedient.

You wont make it on a new cart.

Don’t settle for second best.  Don’t sell yourself short.  Don’t give up.

I was watching survivor the other night (groans!) and saw this analogy that so fitted.

Its like making friends with a snake.  The snake says “come and play with me.” The boy says “I don’t want to be bitten”.  “I wont bite you” says the snake.  The boy and the snake play.  The snake bites the boy.  “What did you do that for???” says the boy! “I’m a snake, its what I do.” Replies the snake.

Disobedience will bite you like a snake.  You can flirt with it and flirt with a compromising lifestyle but it will bite you.

We are only satisfied and fulfilled when we are living authentically connected with God.  He guides us and cares for us.  He is knowable.  Not far off and indifferent.  He has a plan for your life.  He desires to work in you and through you.  He will do awesome things through lives that are consecrated to Him.

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. ²¹If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

²²Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  2 Timothy 2:20-22

we shouldn’t want to be part of a generation that is settling for new carts and a small buzz.  Knowing God is awesome.  Encountering God is incredible.  God is the same today as He was yesterday.  And He will be tomorrow.  All throughout the bible there is record of how people consecrated themselves to meet with God.

Exodus 19 – when God appeared to the Israelites at Mt Sinai they had to consecrate themselves.

The priests had to consecrate themselves for ministry and service.

Ezra prayed and fasted.  Nehemiah was a man of prayer.  Esther called the nation into prayer and fasting.  Elijah consecrated himself.  Isaiah was consecrated by the angel with the coal.

Examine yourself.

Are you living to please God or please yourself?

Are there things you need to change?

Things God has revealed to you to put into action that you haven’t yet.

Character issues that He is proding and pruning away at.

If you’re not remaining in Him you’re not walking with Him.

As Christians we are redeemed and saved and made new and clean and forgiven by the blood of Jesus Christ, who cleanses us from all unrighteousness and sin.  Our spirits are made new and alive when we are born again.  But if we love Him, we will obey Him.  The Holy Spirit leads us into outworked salvation.  Show me your faith by your actions and obedience.  1 John says it plain as black and white, if you are a child of God you have stopped sinning.  You resist sin.  Romans 8, you resist the flesh, you deny the flesh, you desire to be obedient and you put boundaries in your life to enable you to do that.  You make the CHOICE to obey.  You repent of your sin and your change your life to stop doing it.   You consecrate yourself.

The good news is that we can make a change right now.  That we can pray and seek God and reconsecrate ourselves.  That we can repent and change.