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On persevering prayer: I look at a stone cutter hammering away at a rock a hundred times without so much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the 101st blow it splits in two. I know it was not the one blow that did it, but all that had gone before. ~ quote
"in the future you will walk out in the fruit of your faithfulness" kim walker smith at Intimacy Worship Conference 2010
finding your devo time hard, stuck in leviticus?
KEEP GOING and KEEP COMING BEFORE GOD – keep being faithful and storing His Word in your spirit – because one day you’ll walk out in the fruit of your faithfulness…..
as we draw near to God, he draws near to us, this is his promise – James 4:8
sometimes we can feel our quiet times, our personal devotional time, that it doesn’t have any significance. we come and read the Word, we come and pray and worship and talk to God but sometimes it doesn’t feel like we’re connecting much. sometimes we really feel His presence and encounter Him and He speaks, but other times it can seem like He is silent and that we’re just reading and not being transformed spiritually.
We live by faith though, not feelings, not by sight.
each time we come and spend time with God matters, for us and to Him.
as we are faithful our relationship with Him grows.
one day we will walk and live out the fruit of our faithfulness. we will live in the fruit that comes from spending time in the Word, in spending time in prayer, in spending time in worship.
our quiet times are not waste times, they’re not dead space.
when He speaks something comes alive in us – His Words bring life to our spirit. They water our soul. They satisfy our heart. They bring strength and hope to our lives. They guide us and help us to navigate temptation and the war waging in our flesh.
God is speaking always in our quiet times, and in a way – its like our spirit IS receiving His word in even the “dull times” and the times when He seems quiet and there is no great revelation and no great power.
don’t give up.
don’t give up.
don’t give up.
the time you spend with God matters.
and it matters because HE loves to have that time with YOU.
you are His beloved child.
He delights in YOUR presence, as a Father delights in their child.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" Luke 10:29
i think the part that stood out the most for me today reading this familiar passage was that the lawyer wanted to justify himself. he saw himself as righteous enough, fulfilling the requirements of the law, above reproach. He knew the heart of the law, but wasn’t living it. He knew the right words, but it had not penetrated into real life and into his spirit and soul.
i pray that the words of God would be planted in my life, more than mere words or ideology, but part of the fabric of my life and living. i pray that obedience would flow from the overflow of my relationship with God, that i would live to know Him and make Him known
"And who is my neighbour?" Luke 10:29
and who is our neighbour? is it the person in the house next to me? someone who goes to my church? someone nice and friendly?
yes and no.
it is everyone. not matter how nice they look. how nice they act.
it is the marginalised, the orphan and the mean. it is the single mum and the divorcee. it is the blended family. it is the widow and the elderly. it is the kid with ADHD. it is the rebellious teen. it is the working dad and SAHM mum. it is the teacher and the doctor and the check out operator and the banker and the shop assistant. it is the undeserving and the deserving. those we click with and those we dont. its the person that sits beside us in church and the person that sits on the opposite side of church and the person that goes fishing on a sunday morning. its our workmates, school mates.
and we are meant to show them love and mercy, kindness and grace.
to demonstrate the love and grace and reality of God.
its in the kind words, and the forgiveness and the smiles and the encouragement. its in the letting go of our rights and our offenses. its in the going out of our way and out of our comfort zone. its a life in a way without boundaries. our only boundary is love and the will of God.
"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:18-23
when i read this i so appreciate its simplicity – a story that can can so lived out in real life.
we all know people who respond to the good news and come to church and maybe grow for a bit but then drift away or give up or are drawn away by worldly attractions such as money, career, relationships etc… and we so know people who respond and flourish.
i want to be a fruitful flourishing responder. good soil.
i want to receive the seed of God’s Word and be one who produces a crop. who holds on, who seeks first the kingdom, who has good roots and finds peace in God.
my husband is a gardener. he loves getting out in the garden and planting things and growing things and eating the things we’ve cooked. we’ve learned that good soil produces good food. the better the soil the better the result. to make good soil we added fertilizer and nutrients. we added manure. yes. crap. i always think that the poop in our life helps make the soil better. it can keep our hearts softer and more receptive to God.
this parable also shows me how damaging fear and worry and the cares of this world are to my life. troubles are a reality of life, but it is how we respond and react to them that matters. wealth and money are not bad in themselves but when they became master and matter more to us than generosity and following God they can choke the life out of me.
and you know, those that are in the rocky place or the thorny place or the path… its not a final destination. rocks can be removed. thorns pulled out. paths relocated. ground prepared. the farmer works hard to pull up the thorns and to dig the rocks out. i believe that God is the farmer and that we partner with Him to produce good soil in our lives. we say YES to His care and His tending, His rock removal and His healing, His uprooting and His planting.
as a housegroup leader this is also encouraging… that i can keep working on the soil of my housegroupies lives and hearts.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.
for me worship can be more than a song.
more than lyrics.
more than music.
more than a band.
more than instruments.
more than voices.
worship is a responding to God.
it is worshipping him. simple eh.
it is saying YES to everything he is and does and will do.
it is saying YES to who he is.
it is saying YES to what he will do in us and through us.
it is about giving God the worship according his name.
it is about sharing also how awesome he is through song and music.
it is about surrender.
it is about joy.
it is about love. not love dove love but honour and respect and gratitude love. and love because they are awesome love. and love for all they have done love.
it is about connection with God. relationship.
i need Him more.
we love simon barnett in our church… apart from the fact that i grew up with him as our WHAT NOW kids host… we razz our pastor and say they look alike… but this is so touching and beautiful. this is on secular normal radio, and he is saying goodbye to his daughter as she moves out of home. so touched my heart. ka pai simon, thanks for been such an amazing role model for us and also shinning the love of God to the world. fantastic parenting advice. and okay i so lost it and leaked when HE cried! on morning radio!
Along with I.O.U.S. and A.P.T.A.T. and A.N.T.H.E.M. I now use A.I.M.S. to help me maintain my Christ-consciousness through the day.Through the day I will pause and ask, What are you’re A.I.M.S. And I will answer:
A. I will call to mind the stupendous truth that Jesus is ALIVE. (Luke 24:5–6) “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”
I. I will remember the breathtaking reality that Jesus is IN me. (Romans 8:10). “Christ is in you.”
M. I will ponder the all-comforting fact that Jesus is MIGHTY. (Matthew 28:18)."All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
S. And I will savor the sweetness that Jesus is SATISFYING. (John 6:35) "Whoever believes in me shall never thirst."
from DESIRING GOD
i encourage, urge you to watch this. its one year on from the Christchurch earthquake, devastating a city, killing 182 people, changing our nation. and this is the response of the church, how they got out of their broken walls and into their broken communities.
27 million need heavens mercy! We’ve got to rise up, open our eyes up. Be her voice, be her freedom, come on stand up! There are 27 MILLION people enslaved in OUR WORLD right this very minute… What are YOU gonna do about it? www.dosomething.org buy the song from itunes to help contribute
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.
so what are you totally loving this week?
… check out what other peeps are loving whatever day of the week it is over at Paisley Jade
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.
Be joyful: Intentionally look around for measures of joy each day. There is joy in simply being alive and in being redeemed by God. Remember, joy is a choice we make, not a feeling we hope to get from our circumstances. It’s good to look for the good, to celebrate it even in small ways. Doing so is a moment of victory. Lysa TerKeurst
2017. my daughter singing about jesus
2018. time to nap this afternoon
2019. meeting new people at church
2020. the fun a shared lunch brings after church… so much delicious food… so much good conversation…
2021. leftovers for dinner
2022. the simplicity of playing scrabble and how that says I LOVE YOU
2023. the way my kids love each other. mostly. you know kids, they have their moments
2024. breaking from routine.
2025. fringe
2026. housegroup baking competition
2027. 2 people got healed in housegroup last week!
2028. the ability to send a text to say “praying for you”
2029. the reality and majesty and goodness and greatness of God
2030. the grace and call of God
2031. new worship music
2032. giving someone a ride home from church, good time to catch up
2033. conversation
2034. good books
2035. fresh perspective on the sacrifice of Jesus
2036. sunshine and dry washing
2037. rain and filled water tanks
2038. candice and caramel slice
2039. for the opportunity to be a housegroup leader
2040. ballet and sports
2041. pork chops
2042. good advice
2043. girls night out – out to the movies – only group in the theatre – The Vow
2044. that we weren’t outside when it began to full on rain!
2046. good friends and marshmallow cake
2047. old home movies
“Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don’t see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. Before I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me.” Ann Voskamp
so there we go. venturing on in life to 3000 things that i am grateful for…
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11
i love the promise of this passage.
ask. and you will receive.
seek. and you will find.
knock. and the door will be opened for you.
everyone who asks, seeks and knocks will be satisfied.
you know though… sometimes asking and seeking and knocking does not receive an instant answer. sometimes we have to with perseverance and hope and faith keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. in the asking, seeking and knocking we can be assured and confident that God holds our life in His loving hands, that He has a plan and a purpose for our lives and that He is GOOD. He knows the times and seasons. The circumstances and reasons. Keep asking, seeking and knocking and in all keep trusting.
its not bad to keep asking and keep seeking and keep knocking. because in that process we draw closer to God and we see things from His perspective and we align our hearts with His plans and purposes. and sometimes i wonder if that is the point… that in the asking, seeking and knocking we find God, not just the answers to our prayers, that its all about the GIVER, not the getting.
God is good, a good Father.
how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! AMP
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-8
Jesus did not say, “Dream about your Father who is in the secret place,” but He said, “. . . pray to your Father who is in the secret place. . . .” Prayer is an effort of the will. After we have entered our secret place and shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is to pray. We cannot seem to get our minds into good working order, and the first thing we have to fight is wandering thoughts. The great battle in private prayer is overcoming this problem of our idle and wandering thinking. We have to learn to discipline our minds and concentrate on willful, deliberate prayer.
We must have a specially selected place for prayer, but once we get there this plague of wandering thoughts begins, as we begin to think to ourselves, “This needs to be done, and I have to do that today.” Jesus says to “shut your door.” Having a secret stillness before God means deliberately shutting the door on our emotions and remembering Him. God is in secret, and He sees us from “the secret place”— He does not see us as other people do, or as we see ourselves. When we truly live in “the secret place,” it becomes impossible for us to doubt God. We become more sure of Him than of anyone or anything else. Enter into “the secret place,” and you will find that God was right in the middle of your everyday circumstances all the time. Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless you learn to open the door of your life completely and let God in from your first waking moment of each new day, you will be working on the wrong level throughout the day. But if you will swing the door of your life fully open and “pray to your Father who is in the secret place,” every public thing in your life will be marked with the lasting imprint of the presence of God. ~ Oswald Chambers
your kingdom come, your will be done, Matthew 6:10
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
how do we seek first the Kingdom of God? how do we see His Kingdom come, His will done?
how do we make this real in our lives?
how do we walk with God?
1/ practice the presence of God
2/ pursue His priorities
3/ pour out for His people
1. practice the presence of God
be God conscious, throughout the day turn your heart and mind towards God. think about Him as often as possible.
2. pursue His priorities
the interesting thing is that often His priorities are different to ours. eg we would choose bitterness and slander over His ways – forgiveness and love
the plans for our lives look like they bring life but they bring death, but the plans God has may look like death but bring life.
HIS ways, HIS will, not our ways and our will. if we want His Kingdom, we need to be prepared, and surrendered to do HIS will.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
3. pour out for His people
we dont hide away to walk with God but we live our lives in our real world. we are called to be the light of the world, demonstrating the love and grace and reality of God as the light of a city on a hill can seen from afar.
how do you walk with God in the places you walk the most aka work, home, school???
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven. Matthew 5:12-16
"My life is my ministry and my ministry is my life. I am called to live out of my own authentic life in Christ. This speaks volumes as to who I am called to be before Christ and the world.
I am not called to live a transformed life because it looks good on my resume or because it makes a difference in the quality of my preaching/teaching. I am not interested in spiritual transformation because this seems to be the thing to do if I am going to stay current. The point of a transformed life is not to get me somewhere in my work with a church.
The reality? Every man and woman in Christ is called to live out of an authentic life in Christ. This life is my ministry. My ministry is my life. This morning as you are at home with your family, your ministry is already happening. As you go to work, your ministry is already being lived out. Your ministry is happening wherever and whenever you live and are present in another’s life." Your Life Is Your Ministry is a post at the wonderful blog The God Hungry which i read frequently!
i totally believe that as we live our lives we are called to be demonstrations of the love of God to those around us. we are demonstrating His love in the ordinary events of life as well as the extraordinary. ministry can be defined so narrowly – as preaching, or worship leading or something like that, but our whole life is ministry – ministering God’s love and grace to those around us. serving our friends and family and strangers.
practically this can be making a meal for a family with sick kids, or mowing your neighbours lawn because they’ve broken their leg… or because the grass is long. it can be sending a "thinking of you, how you doing?" email to a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or even a smile to the check out chick at the supermarket you shop at. or learning her name. simple things.
“People were Jesus One Thing. And they still are. People who are sick. People who are lonely. People who are wandering, depressed and hopeless. People who have gotten themselves tangled up in suffocating habits and destructive relationships.” Bill Hybels from Just Walk Across The Room
we need to remember that God doesn’t use us on Sunday from 10-12 only. but every day and every moment. with our children. with our workmates. with our families. with our friends. be a demonstration. be a minister. serve God!
Jesus is THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, but here, he says WE are the light of the world – that we are to shine Him to those around us, unashamed and bright, bold and vibrant.
Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favour and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favour and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!
Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous–possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! Matthew 5:3, 6
how upside down is that.
blessed are the hungry, the poor, the pure.
in our world we exalt those who have, who are rich, who have prestige, who get the most toys, who are popular, who achieve success. those who are satisfied are those who are esteemed and “have it all.”
but God says those who hunger for Him, those who seek first the Kingdom of God, those who long to see Him, who intentionally pursue Him will find Him.
when you’re hungry you look for food, you look for something to fill the gap and ease the discomfort.
when we’re spiritually hungry we do things to fill that spiritual longing.
in the spiritual realm, only those who are hungry can get fed. One of the worst things that can happen to us is spiritual complacency. Being hungry for the things of God is one of the best things that can happen to us. Most people don’t feel that way. They would rather have the feeling of being full. But Jesus promised us that fullness would follow hunger. No hunger, no fullness. Therefore, what many people hate is actually a sign of spiritual health. Longing for more of God is a healthy sign. No one hungers for God on their own. That is not the nature of man. No man hungers for God unless the Spirit of God is drawing him (Jn. 6:44).
Hungering for God doesn’t cause God to move in our lives, but it is a sign that God is already at work in us. We should praise God for spiritual hunger and be encouraged. He doesn’t make us hungry and then let us starve. He does so in order to fill us with His blessings and love. We need a hunger that will never be satisfied until the marriage supper of the Lamb. youversion note
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