You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2011.
When we’re living our lives with intentional gratitude we’re fixing our eyes upon Jesus and agreeing YES He is good and YES He is faithful and YES He is Lord and YES He is the one who loves us! Gratitude is an expression of faith.
1020. its auckland anniversary so yay for a day at home with the family
1021. chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven
1022. last night we had our new youth pastors round for a bbq – so much fun to get to know them and hear their heart and passion and talk God stuff
1023. getting an email from one of our housegroupies who is really encountering God afresh after doing something we suggested
1024 the Word – what a priv it is for us to have this great book of revelation from God!
1025. my daughter is delightful
1026. the joy on my sons face when he got a basketball in the hoop verses our youth pastor
1027. loving our housegroup series on the call of God. i’m so excited each week to share the lesson and talk with them
1028. how God makes us willing to do His will (phil 2:13)
1029. leftovers for dinner
1030. the miracle of texting. that we can connect and communicate with friends despite the distance.
1031. sunshine
1032. safe arrival of family in australia
1033. times of rest and refreshing
1034. the promise of a good day tomorrow – hanging out with the grandparents
1035. the unconditional love of family
1036. seeing results of new endeavours
1037. making changes
1038. a friday night in watching american idol with antonio
1039. A beautiful Mess blog. it satisfies something within me – visual and beautiful and inspiring
1040. grateful for everyone who hits like on my blog or facebook or retweets. always humbled and in awe and desiring God to get all the kudos and credit. desiring Him to speak through me.
1041. well done toast. with melted butter. delish and simple.
1042. the security of my country. as i watch the news i am glad i am a New Zealander. so blest. and want to use the blessings i have been given.
1043. isaiah – in isaiah at the moment and noticing a theme in the late 30’s-40s chapters… God is BIG – AWESOME – POWERFUL – who stretched the stars out and made the universe. He’s big enough to trust. Big enough to speak and see it come to pass. Big enough to worship. Big enough to love.
1044. God conversations that spark fire in our hearts freshly
1045. new friends and connections on twitter
there are so many big and small things in life we can be thankful for and when we intentionally look for opportunities to be grateful we find our heart filled with hope and joy and peace and thankfulness and this outworks in our everyday life.
so there we go. venturing on in life to 2000 things that i am grateful for…
throughout history, game changers have stepped forward in the faith to affect the way people communicate god’s truth in the culture in which they live. @stickyjesus
are you a game changer? sounds like it would be someone radical, cool, out there.
but really a game changer is someone surrendered to Christ and open for Him to use them here, there, everywhere – at any time, in their real lives.
God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all- surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7
my life has influence because God is at work in me and through me to the world around me.
i am uniquely positioned to be involved in peoples lives, shining God’s light, glowing in the dark, a visible representation of God.
i can pray.
i can have conversations.
i can live my life with love (ephesians 5:2)
if we’re breathing we’re called. if we’re saved, we’re sent. if we’re rescued and redeemed then we are recruited.
for all of us the call is the same.
know God and make Him known.
our rally cry:
get up on your feet (move)
you’ve been appointed (chosen)
share what you’ve been shown (communicate)
i will rescue you from humankind (courage)
open their eyes (influence)
i am sending you (authority)
it is a message bigger than you (salvation)
from Acts 26:16-18 @stickyjesus
i loved the sense of destiny this chapter of @stickyjesus stirred within me. reading the following passage made me recognize that at the right time God ignites a generation – ignites a PERSON – to step out and step up and declare His Word and His ways in a unique designed for the times way. God communicated to cultures and times in history in unique ways. God is the ultimate game changer. And now, in our times, He is using social media and the internet again to revolutionize the communication of the gospel. He raises up people to be leaders in this new direction and sends them out like the point of an arrow to break ground and seize territory and make a way for others to follow.
communication channels have radically changed since Moses walked down the mountain, stone tablets in hand. OT scribes wrote on parchment made from the treated skins of sheep or goats, and they used pens fashioned from reeds. the prophets preached in synagogues and countrysides. later, paul wrote his letters on scrolls of papayas and gave them to slaves who would deliver them ot the churches in other cities… in 1440 the printing press changed everything as bibles went from locked archives to retail. in 1517 martin luther nailed the 99 theses on the door of the university church in Wittenberg and changed the game. religious literature tracts were used as major channels throughout the turbulence of the protestant reformation in a movement that became known as “Tractarianism”. john calvin wrote, debated and preached tireless during the reformation. in the 18th century, john wesley travelled 250,000 miles by horseback in his efforts to spread the Word, and he preached in open fields to as many as 20,000 at a time. in 1922 aimee semple mcpherson preached what is believed to be the first radio sermon. television and revivals catapulted the reach of billy graham’s ministry. his first televised crusade generated 1.5 million letters to teh television station… @stickyjesus
i am confident and secure that God will speak to THIS generation. to THIS time. to THIS age.
He will use the best methods and the best forums to spread His message of Good News to THIS generation.
and He uses His children to be at the forefront of that.
the message is usually spread through people.
extraordinary moves of God begin with ordinary steps of obedience. steven furtick.
are you ready to be used by God?
you can be a history maker. you can be an eternity changer as those around you come to know Jesus.
your life WILL be used by God to demonstrate His love and grace and power.
the way you live makes a difference.
like paul, you can share your life and how God is moving in it. you can mobilize people to pray, to give, to rebuild, to extend hope, and to step forward with the fresh revelation and power that God promised every one of us. @stickyjesus
come join the conversation about @sticky jesus here: @stickyjesus read along.
Deuteronomy 4:9 – only be careful, wand watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip form your heart as long as you live…
psalm 78:5-11 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so that the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their forefathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. They did not remember his power (v42)
Psalm 106:13 But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel.
something that has been impressed upon my spirit for a few years now is the intentional decision to REMEMBER – to NOT forget the great things God has done, the prayers He has answered, the encounters I’ve had, the things He has spoken, the wisdom He has revealed, the blessings He has blest us with. The Israelites, though they saw the red sea parted, though they saw the great deliverance from Egypt, though they had the miracles of mana and quail… they forgot God. though the had tangible visible evidence – a firey column by night and cloud by day to guide them… they forgot Him. and their forgetfulness resulted in defeat and disobedience. because they did not make God a priority and remember His ways and who He is they allowed themselves to compromise.
you will follow what is highest in your heart – self or God.
make it a priority to not forget Him. spend time in the Word. keep a journal or blog the great things He has done in your life. stir up your memory – so that you may walk faithfully and have victory.
this past few years one of the major themes of my life has been God’s love… its like He’s being unfolding again again that He is love and that He loves me.
one of my favourite songs at the moment is an old hymn redone by An Epic No Less. its awesome! Ascend the Hill also do an awesome rockier version.
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
so when i was asked to be a guest writer over at What’s Next God blog one topic immediately came to mind – the Love of God.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.
so go share the love and check out the post over at What’s Next God?
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
last night in prayer i was praying about our housegroup and the convo’s i was in over supper and as people left and what they put on fb, particularly about the worship. i had used a new song – come like you promised by ascend the hill – in my worship set… for me i always want to have *the right songs* during our worship time – worship songs that give worship and honour to God that arent really just singing about us as some songs can be but also songs that really stir our hearts to draw near to Him. and in prayer i got this revelation:
there are two types of worship
1. Lifting God UP
2. Calling God DOWN
and my mind did a quick flick through the files of worship music (very minority report style) and i could so see it.
there are songs that LIFT GOD UP – that are all about WHO God is and His glory and majesty and power and what He has done. these songs for me, fix my eyes upon Jesus and expand my vision of who He is and what He can do – it sings truth into my spirit.
there are songs that CALL GOD DOWN – that are all about calling out to see God come and move and bring change and bring His glory and work in our lives and our nations… these songs stir our heart to pray and hunger for more of who God is and what He can do and that He can use us…
eg LIFT GOD UP – the anthem by planetshakers, revelation song by jesus culture, see his love by jesus culture, i exalt him by hillsong
eg CALL GOD DOWN – come like you promised by the athem, let it rain by michael w smith/jesus culture, you wont relent by jesus culture
so that was my wee buzz last night!
this week begins the first of about 7 weeks in our young adults housegroup about Who we are made to be by God… each week begins with I AM (something with C)
I want to begin this year by celebrating who we are and acknowledging the great work of God in each of us and through each of us and to each of us and surrendering ourselves afresh to the priorities and purposes of God for this year and our whole lives.
I want to begin this year by recalibrating our focus and corresponding lifestyle.
I want to begin this year with fresh fire and passion for the purposes of God.
The vision of our church is:
From the throne room of God into all the earth in every generation: connected, revived, equipped, pouring out
The heartbeat of our church is first and foremost that you know God AND then that that flows out into the world around each one of us.
No one is exempt in the kingdom of God. We’re all called. If we’re breathing we’re called. If we’re saved, we’re called. If we’re redeemed, we’re recruited.
You have to know you have a divine destiny – before you were born God formed you and called you. You have to know it doesn’t happen by accident – that life is intentional and the choice to say YES to God is up to you.
So let’s spend this first part of the year getting revived and then intentionally equipped so that we can pour out and live out our God-given purpose. Let’s make 2011 the greatest year of our lives to date! Let’s build the Kingdom for God’s glory!
Normal Christianity is a doing thing, not a personal closet thing.
You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
We are all unique and created by God to be who we are. We are created for a purpose and a plan.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
“God has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,”- 2 Timothy 1:9.
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5
The big question is:
Do you have a vision for your life?
Do you have a direction you are heading in?
Do you have a purpose and a priority that defines who you are and what you are doing?
vision defines the parameters of our life.
Vision means: “a clear sense of purpose regarding what God wants to do through your life”
Vision is all about knowing God and making Him known. In whatever way we’re called and passionate about. It MIGHT be ministry. It MIGHT be business. It MIGHT be as a stay at home mum. It might be as a teacher, doctor, journalist, artist, plumber, banker, barister… the main thing is to live out our lives glowing in the dark for Jesus that that world can see He is real and relevant!
Your job might facilitate great generosity that enables people called to missions to go to the nations.
Your job might place you amongst lost people who need to SEE that God is real and experience His love and grace and power.
Your job might provide for you and your family so that you can volunteer with childrens church or worship or give a day a week to just serve down at church.
Your life might be used to pour out to a housegroup or a youth group from which a Joshua called to lead his generation emerges.
The possibilities are endless!
“There is no thing as secular employment for the believer. Once we are born again, everything about us is redeemed for Kingdom purposes. It is all spiritual. It is either a legitimate Kingdom expression, or we shouldn’t be involved at all.
Every believer is in full time ministry – only a few have pulpits in sanctuaries. The rest have their pulpit in their areas of expertise and favour in the world system.
The call of God is important, not because of the title it carries, or doesn’t carry. Its valuable because of the One who called us. An assignment to be in business is as valuable in the Kingdom as is the call to be an evangelist. The privilege to be a stay at home wife and mother is equal in importance to being a missionary. Embrace your call with the faithfulness and thankfulness worthy of the One who has called you.” Bill Johnson – Dreaming With God
Your vision will probably flow from something you’re already doing – relationships you’ve already established, priorities you’re already passionate about.
Vision starts with a seed of inspiration that takes root in our imagination. It starts with us being inspired to DO something and BE someone that is then confirmed and pruned and grown by God. When a defining moment happens – like a prophecy or God speaking to us it is usually a confirmation of what God has already planted in our hearts.
Our lives are not our own. We are brought with a price. The blood of Jesus has redeemed us from our sin and death and eternal destruction so that we can now live in connection with God in this life and after earth. And the great plan of God to spread this good news of salvation is to use the people that experience it. We are his advertisements and witnesses. We are living testimonies to His work.
You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiselled into stone, but carved into human lives. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 MSG
You are a walking talking billboard for the reality of God.
You are demonstrations of His love and power.
You are created for something more than just breathing. God has called you to greater things – amazing supernatural encounters – not just personal quiet time ones but ones that shout out to the world HEY GOD IS REAL and HERE!
Let’s begin this year by asking God WHAT can we be doing?
How can we be helpful and productive in our church?
How can we be serving?
How can we shine to those around us?
How can we open our lives up more to the purposes of God?
How can God use us MORE to demonstrate His love and power to the world?
How can we be MORE activated to change the world?
And let’s make changes. Let’s be inspired to make changes – because when we catch the fire in our hearts it overflows into lifestyle. Guilt and shoulds don’t motivate from the inside out.
It may require us to pray more.
It may require us to sign up and serve in some capacity at church.
It may require us to change some aspect of our personal lifestyle to line up with the Word of God.
Feed your vision. Feed it with obedience and feed it with fertilizer – books, conversations, worship, prayer, podcasts etc. Fuel your fire.
“You stand here as a Christ follower in a definitive moment in time you are an ordinary person called to usher a holy Kingdom into an increasingly fragmented world. Its the perfect scenario for God to move in big ways just as He always has. Just as God called Esther, Joseph and Paul to go before the world’s kings at appointed times to alter history, He now calls you. While everything changes at warp speed, the holy mandate remains to communicate the gospel in the most relevant channels available, here, there and everywhere!”
Extraordinary moves of God begin with ordinary acts of obedience.
Let’s have a quick look at Moses’ call.
Moses’ first encounter with God is recorded in exodus 3. The way their meeting goes down should be extremely encouraging for anyone who has ever felt super ordinary and insignificant.
The setting is the far side of the desert.
Moses is tending sheep.
The sheep belong to Moses’ father in law.
A bush catches on fire.
Moses walks over to look…
In reality when you peel back the layers… it’s really quite ordinary. Moses is performing menial manual labour. Working for his father in law. Does it get any more mundane and ordinary?
We position ourselves for encounter by walking with Jesus every day. Being obedient and faithful in our ordinary lives. Having regular time of prayer and worship. Reading the bible regularly, if not daily! We position ourselves to be used by God as we live a life that pleases Him, being transformed and making outward the inward righteousness. Taking up our cross, dying to self daily, refusing to compromise and bow to the status quo of the world around us.
In the ordinaryness of our life God can shine – God WILL SHINE – and do amazing things.
Will you turn aside and check out the bush, like Moses did? Will you remove your shoes, draw close, and receive your assignment? Will you give the Lord permission to ignite your ordinary?
Jesus chose ordinary people to be His first disciples. Fishermen. Blue collar workers. Tax collectors. In the same way He chooses ordinary people now to serve Him. One of my “life verses” (a passage that defines who i am and the life i live!) is 2 Corinthians 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” We are but jars of clay. Humble vessels. The great power is of God. The light is of God. The glory is of God and from God and for God and to God!
God’s mandate for changing the world and saving the lost is to use seemingly ordinary people going about their ordinary lives – but we are not ordinary. While the world around is dead – we are alive. While the world around is lost – we are found. While the world around us is natural – we are supernatural. As children of God we represent our Father and are called by Him to tell others about the Good News we have experienced and found ourselves. The invisible element of our lives is the most important part because it’s eternal. Life is just a blink but what is won and done spiritually will last forever. One day the fabric of this world will tear, the sky will roll up and the physical earth will disappear and we will have accurate perception of God and reality.
Let’s begin this year with an accurate perception of who we are and who we are called to be.
You are eternity changers.
You are history makers.
You are lights in the darkness.
You are citizens of the kingdom of God.
You are saved, chosen and called.
The Big Question:
What are you going to do this year to live your call and your dream?
Some questions to ask yourself:
List your lifelong hopes and dreams. Don’t limit them by your current circumstances.
As you look back over your life and evaluate where you are now, determine the clues you’ve been given to help you understand your calling. Consider the things, people, causes or situations that have brought you joy and satisfaction, and have provided personal significance and meaning to you
Identify the area(s) where you would like to see your life make a difference, and for what you would like to be remembered.
List the memorable moments that have thus far shaped your life. Is there a pattern of opportunities that have arisen?
Brainstorm what you would do if you had the time, money, effort, energy, and passion to do whatever you want. Let your imagination run wild.
Assess your natural talents, skills and strengths for evidence of your calling. Are there any patterns, indicators or themes?
from Mark Driscoll – Mars Hill Church Seattle – The Narrow Door
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Luke 13:24
Salvation is one narrow door and that narrow door is Jesus. It is exclusive: there’s one door. It is inclusive: all are welcome. The narrow door divides heaven and hell and it is closing—there is no second chance for salvation after death. When you die, the door slams shut behind you and you will stand before Jesus. He is the one who will judge you. Now he is weeping, inviting you to run by faith through the door that he has suffered, died, and risen to open for you. The decision is yours.
God is better than us all. God owes us nothing and he’s opened a door.
To be sure, it’s a narrow door. And in this regard—I will not lie to you—Christianity is an exclusive religion. There is no salvation apart from Jesus. There is no forgiveness of sin apart from Jesus. There is no eternal life apart from Jesus. The path to salvation, the door of salvation, it is, in fact, narrow. In that regard, it is exclusive. There is no hope for sinners other than Jesus Christ.
But Christianity is also the most inclusive. All are welcome to pass through the narrow door. You see, in some religions you need to be of a particular race, ethnicity, or people group. However, all nations are welcome to pass through the narrow door. In some religions you need to learn Hebrew or Arabic. However, all languages are welcome to pass through the narrow door. In some religions you must be of a particular nationality, tribe, ethnicity, or culture. However, all tribes, tongues, languages, nations, and people are welcome to pass through the narrow door. …
You will die. The question is when. When you die, the door slams shut behind you, and you stand before God to give an account. And you will be judged eternally. Are you ready? These people were not. He says that there are many, perhaps even some of you, that when they die and the door of opportunity slams shut, which means that every minute of every day that door is slowly closing on us as we near our end, they were astonished that they died on this side of that door. That’s not what they were anticipating. They were religious people and moral people and decent people and pious people. And they said, “Jesus, we knew about you and we had meals with you and we were familiar with your teaching. How in the world could we die on this side of the door?” Jesus says, “Because you knew about me, but you didn’t know me. You were so familiar with me that you overlooked me. You had spent so many years looking at the door, you neglected to pass through it by faith.”
….
The world as we know it is not the world as God finished it. In Genesis 1:31 it says, “When God completed his work, he looked at all that he had made and he declared it to be very good.” And the sin and the suffering and the sickness that we endure today is the result of our rebellion. We’ve passed through that door and we have created this world to be an absolute place of horror for us, but it is our doing, not God’s. And Jesus says that there is a kingdom and that he, in fact, is a king. And for those who pass through this narrow door, returning back to their king, there is a heavenly kingdom.
Additionally, there is an eternal hell. There is an eternal hell. This is not a point for philosophical speculation. This is a fact. There is a real hell that will be full. Many will not pass through the narrow door. They will die on this side of that door and they will stand before God to be judged for their deeds and misdeeds. Some of you will say, “I don’t believe in that.” Dear friend, come to Jesus or you will experience it. And if I’m wrong, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you are wrong, you have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
I thought this message was fantastic. hard hitting. simple. real. the above is some of the transcripted notes. as a preacher i collect words and phrases and “ways of saying things” and this message resonated with the things i want to preach – the gospel, the message of salvation, the good news. click on the link above to download the message and hear it preached or read more notes from it.
some of the things that i just love at the moment…
totally love dessert nights at housegroup. okay they dont look as amazing as this image i used for the invite, but they still rock. some delish desserts!
the double rainbow guy made an ad here in New Zealand. its funny. i love the double yellow lines. and the double caravans. and the double letterboxes. and i love that every time my daughter hears it she beelines for the tv, stands there and totally speaks along with it.
the sound of rain.
songs with rain in them… calling for rain… like LET IT RAIN and MY SOUL LONGS by jesus culture… there is just something… i think it goes back to elijah and him praying for rain and seeing a cloud the size of a mans fist… i had a dream earlier this year about hearing the sound of approaching rain… and i have an affinity with verses that speak about streams and water in the desert… let it rain – open the floodgates of heaven… read this last night too and went WOW!
“You heavens above, rain down my righteousness;
let the clouds shower it down.
Let the earth open wide,
let salvation spring up,
let righteousness flourish with it;
I, the LORD, have created it.
Isaiah 45
words… words of affirmation, prophetic words, encouragement. my love language is words.
and as always. i love Jesus with all i am and all my heart and all my soul and all my days. For His glory and the building of His kingdom and the rescue of the lost.
dont you just love tweets. i resisted twitter until i realized what a wealth of quotes there was there. and i love words. i collect words and phrases and quotes like someone collects stamps, or like my son collects spiders and snails…
come follow me:
fireball3316 the Holy Spirit empowers us to connect with people and shine for Him and to speak truth and love to those around us
and these are my retweets from the past while…
XploreMyFaith There are times when we feel powerless because God wants us to reach to Him to draw from His power.
EvieNicole1 So thankful God doesn’t call the equipped… He equips the called.. We don’t have to be extraordinary to do the extraordinary.
billjohnson2011 We will always reflect the nature of the world we are most aware of. ~ Bill Johnson.
stevenfurtick Remember: when you’re doing ministry you’re going behind enemy lines. Don’t be surprised when you’re under fire.
ChristineCaine The more we reflect on God the more clearly we reflect God
JarridWilson The way you live reflects how much God lives in you. How much room do you give Him?
prayfor5 Beni Johnson – Was overwhelmed with the reality again the Jesus saved me
lensweet How many of us are like the one who, in the very presence of Jesus, could only see dirty hands? (Luke 11:37)
Frothy43 God reminder. Need to remember the awesome power of God, that dwells in us – for his glory, all about him – nothing to do with us – HIM.
markkelsey Loving reading Galatians. Nails the very big gap between religion and true faith. Blind obedience to rules or inspired faith in Gods word!
jaesonma God loves you not for what you do, what you have or who you know. God loves you for who you are ~ Be+Loved*
matthewprewett "I hated every minute of training, but I said, don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." – Muhammad Ali
brianjohnsonM #onworship Hearing God speak is a priceless gift.
Ez37 God, break our heart for what breaks yours. Help us to love like You love. Open our eyes, to see like You. We ask for the nations.
ma_ttie Whoever started that RIP Justin Bieber rumour is sick. It’s not right to get people’s hopes up like that.
stickyJesus Christ. Removes. Shame.
stickyJesus Christ. Crushes. Death.
ihopkc Cultivating devotion to Jesus takes time and effort. It’s something we do deliberately, not something we can cultivate on the run.
JoshNPeterson God is ALIVE and the future is LIMITLESS.
gjheslop Just because you can’t do something today, doesn’t mean you won’t ever. The determining factor is what you do to learn & grow in-between
petrovmortovski Prayer gives you PERSPECTIVE! You can see things from above that are hidden from the ground
petrovmortovski Prayer brings you PEACE and empowers you to walk thru life’s storms.
listening to: totally into Ascend the Hill at the moment – they have an awesome guitar sound and a real hunger for God’s presence and God to come and move! and Jesus Culture (as always!) just got their COME AWAY album for christmas, well second christmas with my SIL family. so glad, otherwise i would have gone and brought it myself lol!
on the box: confessing that i’m totally bored with tv. now The Event is finished, and Lost is past… well, nothing entertains.
today: went with my kids, my MIL and FIL and SIL and her 3 kids to Kelly Tarltons – an underwater world with sharks and fish and stingrays and penguins. lots to do and lots to see.
looking forward to: FIVE (our young adults service) starting again soon in feb, esp with the new addition of our new youth pastor
beginning: the teaching year of housegroup – last week we had a social night, the ol’ classic housegroup dessert night but this week we’re kicking into the meat of the year. i’m really excited about this term – our focus is on the call of God, personality types and living out the call – kind of a who you are created to be and how to live that to the max type thing. should be some fun nights including one called I AM CIRCUMCISED. each night is an I AM (something beginning with C) (like CALLED, CREATED, CODED etc). last week we crammed 22 bod’s into our lounge. praying for God to come and ignite us with a passion for Him and desire to know Him and make Him known. praying for wisdom for my husband an i and connections with the new people. praying for new obvious leaders to arise so we can multiply outwards.
loved: Tangled. trying to convince the kids to go again. they’d rather go ten pin bowling.
had to laugh: my husband got me out of bed last night to watch a doco on sleep. i sometimes, like now, dont sleep all that well. so watched the sleep doco, and then didnt go to sleep until 2 am…!
inspired: by the sunday message this week at church on being motivated to pray. was awesome and with some real practical ways to tap into our motivational leanings to motivate us for prayer. was a click moment.
wearing: a cardigan for the first time this year. its cold. and windy. and floody in some parts even in auckland. but counting my blessings really compared to others.
expectant: of a move of God THIS year
encouraged: by a suprize opportunity – got asked to apply for the position of the east auckland area coach for Mainly Music. which i had to laugh at in a way because i semi fell into the up front role of our group by default. they needed someone to sing and dance up the front and i’d rather do that than do any admin or dishes. we have a fabulous team and a wonderful group of mums from the community who come and so really it is kudos to all of us. but i am a words of appreciation chick and so i appreciate being asked to apply for the role and the encouragement that went along with that.
thinking about: what to make for dinner tonight… not overly inspired…
reading: in between books. just read 3 books by bill johnson which were very good. there were some real nuggets in there – like the differences in preparation between saul and david in regards to their kingship and following God. a click moment.
in the word: just finished numbers, in psalms, isaiah and ephesians. got some fresh stuff from ephesians last night – love that!
favourite worship song: really loving come like you promised by ascend the hill but in the ministry time yesterday my soul longs by jesus culture played and though i’ve heard it often it was real fresh and alive… come like the rain Lord!
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