Ruthpastor's ramblings

A revelation/answer?

2011-01-03T01:44:00.001+02:00

Not long after my previous post, my thoughts took me on a garden path trail that lead me to thinking about children's camps and our desire to either manage or be a part of this kind of thing. As I reflected on this I recognized that when we are dreaming about this or being a part of youth & children's ministry that is when we feel alive. It then really dawned on me -- a revelation or maybe an answer to my previous questions -- that our passions awaken life & purpose within our souls. And that when we are not pursuing them it leads to depression and a numbness or death within us. I felt really strongly that we need to pursue our dreams and passions, that we should follow these things that God has placed in our hearts. That people are important and will be an integral part of our lives, but that we shouldn't make future decisions or placements based on people or relationships. Because these will always change, grow and move then we are left wondering. But if we base our decisions based on what God has placed in our hearts then it is something solid to always go back to. Sure, people are very important, and not to be treated lightly or like resources, and they will journey with us along the way, some for a short time, and others for longer.
The other thing that I realized after this, is that we can also be encouragers in other people's lives to keep on pursing the dreams and goals that God has placed in their hearts. We are all so good at getting comfortable and sitting on our dormant goals and dreams. Another facet of our lives and camping ministry can be to encourage others to pursue what God has created them to do, to live their lives following their passions and dreams. I found this picture the other day that makes this very point and is a great reminder to not succumb to everyday numbness!

Random Thoughts

2011-01-01T02:24:00.000+02:00

Normally my thought processes tend to go from A-B and in other linear directions. At the moment they seem to be all but linear, as I go round & round in circles, tangents & diverging to each pendulum swing and back. Life seems to be at some sort of crossroad, but one which we are camping at, rather than standing and choosing a path to go down. I have no doubt we will choose a path at some stage, but it seems at the moment as though we are stuck here for awhile. On one hand I feel very strongly that I don't want to waste my life just collecting stuff for myself, yet I have a very strong urge to enjoy the good things of life, one of which I believe is family. Christmas & New Years are times that you feel this even more than other times. There is a longing and ache in my heart for this, but I also feel that my life can't be dictated by this.
I am also stirred by the people in this world who are less fortunate than I, for the people who are marginalized and who have no voice. In my own brokenness I can be stand up for them, and help to bring justice.
Are these two things incongruous? Can I feel happy, safe & welcome in a family and then reach out, or do those things make us complacent so we just stay within our happy confines and either forget about or pay money toward those 'other' people that pop up on our screens every now & again.
What to do? What to think? How to act? I don't want life to be complicated, I just want to love, live & enjoy, but it seems as though my thought processes get in the way of doing this. Yet people who don't think might have a simple life but would that satisfy me???
I have come to learn in life that there are only a few people with whom are comfortable with you asking all of these questions. Living life in question for some people seems confrontational. But for me it is not necessarily about finding the answers but merely in just no holding anything too tightly.
I also find when I have too much time on my hands, then I begin to think too much too -- I wonder if this is a good thing???

Purify my heart

2010-12-06T10:40:00.001+02:00

A couple of weeks ago we sang this song at church, and since then I have kinda noticed that God is really starting to dig away stuff and do what I asked Him to -- to purify me. Its a dangerous request, and it hasn't been at all comfortable!
I know for sure that God is digging out a stump in my garden, I just don't understand what it is, and how to help it get out faster. I do believe though that once it is gone, there will be a release that I need, and a new growth period.
In the meantime, God is faithfully, little by little answering prayers, and revealing to us what He has in store for us next year. Today Jon was offered a 3day a week Music job -- that has just become available.
Although at times scary, it is exciting to be walking with God. He is a good God, and I totally trust Him as my Father :-)

A pillar of cloud & prayers answered

2010-11-29T05:17:00.000+02:00

Although I have been struggling lately with our 'unsettledness' and other issues related to settling into a new place, it is amazing really what God is teaching me, and how he is so faithfully answering our prayers!

**About a week ago as I was teaching at the school my nephews go to I asked a few questions about any permanent relieving days, and was told they were all covered for next year. I prayed about it, and asked God to change that circumstance if He wanted me to work there. Less than a week later the Principal rang and told us she needed a person to cover her release day every Friday for next year! Praise the Lord I now have 1 day a week at that school. Amazing :-)

**On the weekend while spending some time with God, I was asking him to give us a really clear sign as to where we should be for the next 5-10 years (so we can actually start to bear fruit in a ministry) whether here or in Ukraine, or where? Just a sign so I can know. It was like He replied, that if I knew what was going to happen within the next 5-10 years I would start to get bored. He wants me to move & groove with Holy Spirit as He leads, and that will keep me fresh. If we had it all laid out for a few years, we would become stale. It was then He gave me a picture of the pillar of cloud that Israel had while in the wilderness. I felt God saying that He had a cloud for us, and that at the moment it was standing still, but that when He wanted us to move, then we would see and know that the cloud was moving. But for now, be content, do what the Holy Spirit is laying on your heart, and wait for God to move the cloud. Great & so re-assuring revelation for me!

**Yesterday we realised that we would need to move if we wanted our own space, and we were wondering how we would cover the rent. We decided to pray about it. I started looking for a cheap place to rent up this way, and of course came up with nothing even remotely close to this area, or a price we could afford. As we talked more about it, we realised that the answer was right under our own noses. Jon's parents have a portacom across the road, that is small but prefect (esp the rent -- its free!) for what we need right now. It will give us our own space, and a place to make into a home -- of sorts. It's funny how God works, but I love living more and more dependent on Him rather than having everything all sown up. Great learning curves!

Attractive inside and out.

2010-08-23T16:25:00.003+03:00

Today I was struck with the fact that I need to get my focus on God everyday like having a daily shower. If I don't then I feel skanky and smell and people will notice sometimes worse than other days.
A daily shower and daily time for focus on God needs to be part of my daily routine.

Gives me such a cool feeling, almost a high when God is speaking and I am listening and learning. Really love learning.

I want to be a harvest hand

2010-08-05T11:30:00.001+03:00

I lack purpose when I just live life. I feel frustrated and aimless.
The times in my life were I have felt fulfilled is when I am in the midst of the harvest. When I know I am making a difference in peoples lives. I feel useful and needed.

I wonder just like a natural harvest if things come and go in seasons. Whether Jesus meant for us to be involved and busy in a harvest then a bit of downtime (winter) for rest.
It is this time that I find the hardest. Sitting around, if I can be planning and dreaming this helps, but the longer the period of inactivity for me, the harder it is to keep motivated again.

Ask you Lord to speak clearly in regards to camping here in Ukraine and specifically the one near Karhylyk.
Possibility of 3 camps a year and winter in another place...God please direct -- your will not mine.

Start to finish

2010-08-01T13:31:00.002+03:00

I am not enlightened

I do not have all the answers

I will never arrive

The box is not all there is

Each day I will contradict myself

If I have it sorted I have narrowed my possibilities

My theories are just that

I will continue learning and growing

Interesting...

2010-07-04T15:31:00.002+03:00

Really enjoyed this music clip...you could interpret it anyway you wanted, but I love the idea of the drum, and marching to the beat of a different drum. Also loved the care, courage & determination the leader showed. Charisma in action...

Joy -- not just a word!

2010-07-03T11:45:00.000+03:00

Joy is life in excess, the overflow of what cannot be contained within any one person. (Peterson --The Message)

If this is true, then if our demand and want is huge we will never have an excess overflow.
But if we are happy with less and chosen our portion to be small and what is neceassary then we will always have overflow to spill onto others.
Demand should not drive our lives...living for others should.

My garden

2010-05-30T15:09:00.000+03:00

Ministry is determined character. If my character is weak and pathetic and drifts around according to whatever then so will the ministry.

I plant a garden and hope it will grow without any real care to the basics of things that are important. Fruit and plants will come but not the abundance or quality that there is potential for.

I don't want to keep producing pathetic plants in my own strength. I want my relationship with God and my character to be the focus of my life and the rest to be an outworking.

Relationship is key -- first with God, then the others will be right.

Worship as a lifestyle

2010-05-30T15:07:00.004+03:00

This can be likened to a marriage relationship. We spend our lives pleasing and loving each other and it's not something we even think about or plan or have to do. One of the crescendos of this love is outworked in the marriage bed. Sometimes we can approach this time as if we push the right buttons then we get a euphoric experience for ourselves.

Worship is the same. Our lives should reflect the love we have for God and it should be an integral part of our reactions and life. It shouldn't be something we have to force ourselves to do or plan. Worship service on Sunday can sometimes be seen as the crsecendo of our love for God. If we approach this with the idea of pushing the right buttons so we can have a mountain top experience then this is empty and also selfish. It should be an overflow of our whole life, and a corporate time to show our love to God. It will only be as good as our daily relationship...just the same as the marriage bed is only as good as our daily loving relationship with our partner.

Passion 2010

2010-05-28T12:53:00.002+03:00

The kind of grace at the cross demands complete abandon and surrender.
I'm going to use my life to make Jesus famous.

You can live your life in your own story--which will end OR
We can live in the BIG story--not caring what role but living for His fame and being a part of something bigger and forever.
Trade your little story in for the big one!

Take your hands off

2010-05-19T21:48:00.001+03:00

As we pray and seek advice about going back to NZ, I feel as though God is saying to me WAIT! Be still & know that I am God. Stop trying to work it out yourself. You wont be able to know all the details, just surrender and trust. It isn't you who should be choosing where you live -- it is God, will you trust me?
I then read one of my friends blogposts about something very similiar (click here to read)
And then I got this in my inbox... I will post the whole thing here as it is worth reading. It was a timely reminder!

Take Your Hands Off -- by Warren Wiersbe
Read Psalm 46:8-11

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (v. 10). The Hebrew word translated "be still" actually means "take your hands off." God is saying to us, "Take your hands off, and let Me be God in your life." So often we want to manipulate and control. We talk about those who are "hands on" people. In the Christian life, God uses our hands. He used Noah's hands to build the ark. He used David's hands to kill a giant. He used the apostles' hands to feed 5000 people. But sometimes only God's hand can do the job. Sometimes our hands get in the way because we are manipulating, plotting or scheming.

A friend of mine used to remind me, "Faith is living without scheming." Whenever I discover myself pushing and prodding, God says to me, "Take your hands off. Be still, and know that I am God." The difference is simply this. If we play God in our lives, everything is going to fall apart. But if we let Him truly be God in our lives, He will be exalted, He will be with us, and He will get the job done.

Are you facing a problem or a challenge today? Are you wondering what you will do? Give it to the Lord. A time will come when He will say, "All right, I will use your hands." But until then, keep your hands off. Know that He is God. He does not expect us to do what only He can do. We can roll the stone away from the tomb of Lazarus, but only He can raise the dead. We can hand out the bread, but only He can multiply it. Let Him be God in your life.

To remain still seems to go against human nature. You want control. But as a believer, you need to remain yielded to God's will and give your burdens to Him. What problem are you facing? Are you keeping your hands off and allowing Him to work in your life?

Social Justice

2010-05-06T10:37:00.006+03:00

A thought thread that has been running through my head for the past week or so is the idea of social justice. Quite a few things have contributed to this...

Check out their website

A21 campaign

One Day's Wages

The Cappuccino Club, sponsoring university students in the Philippines

Christian Enterprise in Kargarlyk, Ukraine (our neighboring town)

As I have read/watched each of these organisations I have to ask the question "What is required of me?" Like I said in my other blog I really want to strive to have my faith as the center of my life and action, not an appendage. The verse that comes to mind is Micah 6:8

1. Walk humbly with God -- foundation to everything else

2. Love mercy -- my attitude to others

3. DO justly -- the action (especially to the foreigner, orphan, widows & poor)

I know God is working on me in this area...I think this is one of the latest papers that I have been enrolled in. I really need a lot of work in these 3 areas.

I was reminded again when watching "Faith Like Potatoes" that my relationship with God is the foundation for anything else. It all spills from this.
I was also reminded the other day that my attitude needs to be "I have been forgiven much -- so I should forgive a LOT."
In regards to the 3rd one (which is no good unless the first 2 are in place) I was challenged by this...Are we in love with the idea of helping so much that it blinds us from helping?? Especially watch the 8-16 min mark in this video...

Selfish Living v Kingdom Living

2010-04-27T20:51:00.003+03:00

This is what God has been speaking to me about lately...this is my challenge! (click on the image so you can read it)

Present & Future

2010-04-14T13:19:00.001+03:00

I was reading Isaiah today...and in light of not yet having children, and on-going disucssions about our future I was encouraged.

Isaiah 60
People Returning for the Reunion
1-7 "Get out of bed, Jerusalem! Wake up. Put your face in the sunlight.
God's bright glory has risen for you. The whole earth is wrapped in darkness, all people sunk in deep darkness, But God rises on you, his sunrise glory breaks over you. Nations will come to your light,
kings to your sunburst brightness. Look up! Look around! Watch as they gather, watch as they approach you: Your sons coming from great distances, your daughters carried by their nannies.
When you see them coming you'll smile—big smiles! Your heart will swell and, yes, burst!
All those people returning by sea for the reunion, a rich harvest of exiles gathered in from the nations!
And then streams of camel caravans as far as the eye can see, young camels of nomads in Midian and Ephah, Pouring in from the south from Sheba, loaded with gold and frankincense, preaching the praises of God. And yes, a great roundup of flocks from the nomads in Kedar and Nebaioth,
Welcome gifts for worship at my altar as I bathe my glorious Temple in splendor.

This is an awesome picture of the future...I want to be a part of this, I want my influence to be so that others too are a part of this. Although we may never have children, our sons and daughters (people who we can & have invluenced) are the people who we can see also walking towards God's future party. This should put a smile on our face! Our influence is important and far reaching, lets use it for the future.

Isaiah 59 We Long for Light but Sink into Darkness ^9-11Which means that we're a far cry from fair dealing, and we're not even close to right living. We long for light but sink into darkness, long for brightness but stumble through the night. Like the blind, we inch along a wall, groping eyeless in the dark. We shuffle our way in broad daylight, like the dead, but somehow walking. We're no better off than bears, groaning, and no worse off than doves, moaning. We look for justice—not a sign of it; for salvation—not so much as a hint.
This is the present...we long for justice, righteousness, truth, honesty and we need salvation. God is missing in action. But it is our job to bring these things into our world. We long for light, and need to walk toward it, and bring other people with us.

²¹"As for me," God says, "this is my covenant with them: My Spirit that I've placed upon you and the words that I've given you to speak, they're not going to leave your mouths nor the mouths of your children nor the mouths of your grandchildren. You will keep repeating these words and won't ever stop." God's orders.

This is my call...this is my purpose in life. Maybe not biological children, but my influence is far-reaching. I am an agent of change to the coming generations.

To ponder...

2010-04-11T16:40:00.003+03:00

Jonos sermon

2010-04-11T16:11:00.000+03:00

God has shown me HUGE mercy. He has freed me, turned my life around, given me a second chance and cleared my debt.

What should I do in response?
Freely received, I should freely give!
I need to show mercy to my fellow men, the little things they owe me (time, money, frustration, kindness etc) I should be merciful. Not let them walk over me, but the balance is to forgive and show mercy for the first response.

Demanding life to revolve around me should not be part of my behaviour. This is not my dialect.

The woman showed her love for God. The righteous man was cold.

The situation was that Jesus had these people in his sphere. Do I have people in my sphere that need God?
Messy spirituality. Cutting edge of life. The sharpening of my faith.

I want this, not really sure what it looks like practically... Lord show us, lead us, guide us.
May we be merciful and characterised by being friends of sinners.

There is nothing I can do to earn Gods mercy and grace. It was a free gift.
Don't charge others for this mercy and grace. It should be passed on free of charge.

Why do I want God to speak to me?

2010-04-11T16:05:00.000+03:00

Make me feel better?
Relieve my guilt?
What he can give me?

Really it's because I want my life to be real. That my heart is full and fresh and it flows out and is a natural part of my life. That I am challenged to become closer to the wholeness of who God is and how to live that in my everyday living.

That's what I really want.

I want to be part of...

2010-04-11T16:03:00.000+03:00

A dynamic church

Where challenging in your face sermons aren't few and far between
Where worship is not a list of songs
Where home groups are meant for me, where I can be encouraged, and encourage.

Different church traditions

2010-04-11T16:00:00.001+03:00

The further we are away from God the further we are away from our brothers and sisters who worship God in differing ways or believe different things.
We need to be focusing on our relationship with God so it is close and in our interactions with others we should be encouraging them to become closer to God. Not convert them to a religion or denomination but push them closer to God.
Do my interactions with others push others closer to God??

Behaviour

2010-04-11T15:56:00.000+03:00

October 26 2009

Christianity is not modified behaviour, your behaviour doesn't change but your heart desires do.

Readers are leaders

2010-04-11T15:55:00.000+03:00

25 November 2009

Thoughts...
We believe books have knowledge and kowledge is power.
We also believe the readers are leaders.
I have also noticed that Christians here in Ukraine just don't have the resourecs and books that we have in English. We definitely have a " wealth" of good Christian English books.
So maybe our investment should be into getting good books translated and published at a reasonable price?

Wakeup conference

2010-04-11T15:51:00.000+03:00

November 21 2009

It's- been a long time since I've felt stretched and free -- these past 2 weekends have been good for me.
Thoughts:

*Teamwork is what we are missing need to come under leasership that is working rather than trying to fill old wineskins

*Don't worry about future...don't let it crowd out God and trusting him
Write down some pros and cons make a decision --just do it like the book I'm reading (Just do it -- Kevin de Young)

*Adopt a child?? -- small seed of maybe after reading Castaway Kid

Work...

2010-01-20T16:56:00.002+02:00

It seems as though I am blogging more about other people's blogs these days than writing stuff myself. Maybe i just find other people's thoughts better written!
Was pointed toward a really good article (although quite long & at times hard to understand) about work & the Christian view of it and economics and such. Rather interesting if you would like to read the whole article by Dorothy L Sayers then click here.

Here's a few snippets of what I especially enjoyed...

"But is it astonishing? How can any one remain interested in a religion which seems to have no concern with nine-tenths of his life? The Church’s approach to an intelligent carpenter is usually confined to exhorting him not to be drunk and disorderly in his leisure hours, and to come to church on Sundays. What the Church should be telling him is this: that the very first demand that his religion makes upon him is that he should make good tables.

The official Church wastes time and energy, and moreover, commits sacrilege, in demanding that secular workers should neglect their proper vocation in order to do Christian work – by which She means ecclesiastical work. The only Christian work is good work well done. Let the Church see to it that the workers are Christian people and do their work well, as to God: then all the work will be Christian work, whether it is church embroidery, or sewage farming. As Jacques Maritain says: “If you want to produce Christian work, be a Christian, and try to make a work of beauty into which you have put your heart; do not adopt a Christian pose.” He is right. And let the Church remember that the beauty of the work will be judged by its own, and not by ecclesiastical standards."

Weathering the storms of life

2009-12-15T21:42:00.003+02:00

I got the following excerpt from this blog. I really like it. Learning to dwell deeply & weather the storms of life that inevitabley come shows maturity and not being tossed about by the stuff on the surface. I like the picture this paints...

“The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philipians 4:7)

There are depths in the ocean, I am told, which no tempest ever stirs – beyond the reach of all storms that sweep and agitate the surface of the sea. And there are heights in the blue sky above, to which no cloud ever ascends; where no tempest ever rages; where all is perpetual sunshine; where naught exists to disturb the deep serenity. Even at the center of the cyclone there is rest. Each of these is an emblem of the soul which Jesus visits, to whom He speaks peace, whose fear He dispels, whose lamps of hope He trims.

During the test of a submarine it remained submerged for many hours. When it had returned to the harbor, the commander was asked: “Well, how did the storm affect you last night?” The commander looked at him in surprise and said: “Storm? We knew nothing of any storm!”

Dwell deep. When doubts assail and stealthy shadows creep across your sky, filling you with a sense of doom. Where thunders roar, and lightnings frighten with their glare, and old foundations seem to crumble beneath your feet. Dwell deep and rest your soul amid eternal things. Upon the surface storms may rage, and billows break on every beach of life, and fling disaster far and wide. If your soul is dwelling quiet in the depths, naught can harm you evermore. Therefore dwell deep, and rest your head upon the heart of God.

- Anonymous

“When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble” – (Job 34:29)

PRAYER!

2009-11-12T20:05:00.000+02:00

“Up in a little town in Maine,things were pretty dead some years ago. The churches were not accomplishing anything. There were a few Godly men in the churches, and they said: ‘Here we are, only uneducated laymen; but something must be done in this town. Let us form a praying band. We will all center our prayers on one man. Who shall it be?’ They picked out one of the hardest men in town, a hopeless drunkard, and centered all their prayers upon him. In a week, he was converted. They centered their prayers upon the next hardest man in town, and soon he was converted. Then they took up another and another, until within a year, two or three hundred were brought to God, and the fire spread out into all the surrounding country. Definite prayer for those in the prison house of sin is the need of the hour.” – Dr. R.A. Torrey

Signs & Wonders fuel God's Light

2009-10-01T10:03:00.002+03:00

I was reflecting today on a comment made to me the other day about our church having a celebratory meal to thank God for what He has done this year.
As I thought about this I realized that it is not about what God has done this year...but more like 'what have we allowed God to do this year?' A famous man once said, "The world has yet to see what God can do through one man wholly committed to Him." God is willing and wanting to work amongst His people, but we have to open that door and allow Him to work amongst us.
The question could be asked us "How much have we allowed the Holy Spirit to change us, shine through us this past year?" Although it is early for the New Year and looking back on the past year, it is always a good time for a spiritual checkup.
I have been reading Acts lately (& also Faith Like Potatoes) and been struck by the fact that where God's message is preached and responded to, signs, wonders & miracles testify to that. They point to God, they bring Him glory, not the messenger, they encourage others in their faith. What signs, wonders & miracles have we seen in the last year?? What signs, wonders & miracles have we asked for in the last year???
The Holy Spirit is God's Light -- how much shines through is up to us.
Will this time next year be any different?? How will I invite the Holy Spirit to fuel my light & point the way to God????

A mark in the sand

2007-12-28T12:13:00.000+02:00

An eventful trip, a lesson learned, another rock on the monument -- there are many ways to describe the weekend train journey on the 14th-16th Dec to an unpronounceable (to me) Ukrainian town at the top of the Crimean peninsula.
Let me start at the beginning...
Jon has been playing with a band, and they have had a few concerts, including one in Lviv -- which was a great weekend away. So when I heard about another one in Crimea, I applied for the time off and was looking forward to another great trip.
The trip there was the normal train journey, but as we stepped off the train on a platform (that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere) with snow floating down I remember commenting on how surreal it was for me. An interesting choice of words.
We were taken from there to our hotel where we dropped out luggage and then back to our host's place for breakfast. Not understanding the language it took me rather a long time to figure things out...there were different people there I didn't know, or understand why they were there...things started to become clear as it was translated to me that we were actually part of a youth conference...one that had been in the making for awhile...one that was covered in prayer...where God was really the center. This didn't make too much difference to me...all I wanted at this stage was a shower & sleep. Thank goodness we headed back to the hotel for just that...all was going well.
The next thing that I remember rather clearly was arriving at the church...on entering this building we got the normal stares...and then almost instantly a lady came up from behind and introduced herself to me. Being the dumb foreigner that I am, I gave the standard blank face of 'I have no idea what is going on' until my friend (a God-send actually) helped me out. We exchanged names, and I got the normal response to my name -- it being rather hard to pronounce the 'th' at the end of Ruth in this culture. (I normally get called "Root"!!)
This was about 4pm, and the band started to set up & practice...and here started the long wait & fast! We had not eaten anything since our breakfast at about 10am, so here was hoping we could grab a bite to eat between practicing and the conference starting at 6pm. No such luck...it was practice, then straight into it. I lost interest at the point my stomach started talking louder than the translator! There was a short break...then straight into the concert, finishing about 11pm. I was asked to sell CD's (what I would describe as a bad joke!) after the concert...as you can imagine I wasn't really that successful!! LOL
So by the time we got back to the hotel...to then eat bread with salami & cheese (for the 3rd time that day) I had really had enough. It was at this point that I was regretting my decision to come. I was not looking forward to the next long day ahead!
So Saturday morning arrived...a bit of confusion as to when we were suppose to be at the church...but I decided food was in order, so to the cafe we went...today I was going to be prepared! It seemed that I needn't have worried. The lady who I had met on the first night went out of her way to look after me with food & drinks this day -- not that I could really understand her questions.
So it was after the afternoon session and I was sitting at the back -- bored, cold & no-one to talk to that I started writing down my complaints, that I was feeling homesick, was 4 days overdue ...and my obvious need to learn the language. I wrote about 4 things that had been bothering me. I was really just counting down the hours until we left for the overnight train -- drawing plans for our house to try to keep myself positive.
I'm not sure what changed...but as the last guy got up to preach...I really wanted my friend to translate it for me. He started to talk about losing your first love. He read from Revelation where God was talking to a church...he acknowledged that he could see their hard-work, their faithfulness, that it was good BUT his one accusation against them was that they had lost their first love. The preacher described it as putting activity before relationship. This really spoke to me, it took me back to NZ and the youth work we had been doing, but where was my relationship with God now...I really felt touched & convicted by God. I knew God was speaking to me. I was surprised because it had never really occurred to me that God would convict me through translation of a sermon. I was humbled, glad to hear God again & also very thankful for my friend who was willing to translate for me.
But it didn't stop there...God wasn't just breaking a small peep-hole in my cynical wall, He was goin for 3 strikes! The next thing was the youth pastor got up, and started to give what we call an altar call which for some reason always makes me feel uncomfortable. I think this maybe due to the fact of having it done so many times and no-one responding -- I'm not sure of why my feelings are on this. But this time it was different...I think you could have probably seen my jaw drop as 3 people immediately walked forward when he gave the invitation. It is hard to explain, but I was shocked and again humbled to see how hungry these people are for God, to see fruit and people crying out for Him. It was here that I realized that comfort brings complacency and that because we have everything we need our desire for Him is weakened. It was here that I started to cry, I felt so convicted of my bad attitudes. I felt so humbled, and blessed that God still choose me to be a part of this conference (even though I wished I wasn't there) and that He wanted to teach me & show me some very special things. I was feeling so blessed but yet so undeserving of that blessing, that despite my pride and aloofness these people where being a blessing to me.
Then to really blow my socks off...here came the 3rd strike. As we were standing at the back (I couldn't stop crying) the lady (the one from the first night, who had kept looking after me, despite my coldness) came up from behind and through my friend translating asked me where I was from, how long we had been married etc. She then asked if we had children. I answered no. She asked if we wanted children. I answered yes, very much so. She said to me..."You will have a child, and he will be strong in God. The devil will not want this, but he will be strong in God. Everyday you need to tell him that you love him, and every day you need to tell yourself that you are a good mum for him because God has given this child to you because you are a good mum." I was blown away! She then kinda disappeared off, although I thanked her and apologized that I couldn't speak her language. I really couldn't believe what had happened. With all my bad attitudes, my complaints, God had spoken to them all...he had blessed me when I deserved it least. My tears where like the waves washing away the barriers that I had placed in my mind. I still find it hard to be here...I still struggle with the language and not understanding what is going on and feeling rather useless, but I need to remind myself of this mark in the sand. To start to focus on my relationship with God, my husband & my friends with my heart in the right place, rather than 'doing all the activity'. I get the feeling that is just the beginning...I'm not sure of what's next but I am sure that God loves me & HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!

Chosen

2007-07-15T16:47:00.000+03:00

"You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name." John 15:16
Today was our last day at church & this verse is what will be my anchor for the coming years. The example that was given is as though God was talking to us at halftime -- team talk & that He is saying that we are chosen for His side, not that we chose to join his team. He gave us the invitation to play for Him & I have accepted. Like a marraige promise, He promised to love us, & I have reciprocated that inviation by accepting His ring & promising the same back. It means that as I choose to play on His side, I also choose to accept the terms & conditions -- that I play by His rules & not make up my own 'Jesus' who fits my lifestyle. God has always been looking for people to join his team, to call His own.
The second part of the verse was really revelational too. I understand it best in sports terms. After the team talk & knowing that I have been chosen -- that I have made the team, I now need to get out on the pitch & play my hardest. We are being sent out to go & play & play hard.
This was so pertinent & spoke to me especially today, as I have so enjoyed my cricket in the past 2-3 months. I have rejoiced & felt accepted & part of the team on the weeks I have got the email & found I have made the team. I turn up to training each week, I learn new things, & I practice what I know. I play on the team, still making mistakes but knowing that I have been given the skills, ability & strength to compete. I will always be able to learn more, get better & work better on the team.
I am excited about my part in the team, my job to plant, water & produce fruit that will last. That is why I am here, that is why I have been chosen for God's team.
I want to buy a ring, & engrave "CHOSEN" on it & wear it on my right hand to symbolise this awesome revelation & remind me constantly my position & to keep on playing!
GO GOD'S TEAM!

The facilities will come

2007-05-20T18:50:00.000+03:00

God spoke to me the other week during church. I think we were challenged about never under-estimating God & I was praying about our dreams for a camp or something similar where we can minister to kids maybe in Ukraine or wherever God puts us. God really clearly said to me that we should love & help kids & that the facilities would come. That as we have our house fill to over flowing that God will provide the next extension that is needed. I was challenged that if we go & try to sort the facilities out first that they would become the focus rather than the real ministry of loving & helping children. I am so excited about what the future will bring!

I AM NOT NUMBER 1!

2007-05-20T18:29:00.000+03:00

I have been challenged a lot lately about this. It is so easy to go through life believing this lie, and only looking out for yourself, moaning when things go wrong & making sure u are comfortable! Well lately i have realised that this is not even that fulfilling. I have been reminded that i should be asking God to bless others, & when i feel the need to start moaning about things i should give thanks for what i have. I know i am incredibly blessed not just with material things but with so much more. Envy will rot your soul, give thanks for what you have & pray a blessing on everyone else!

FREE accommodation

2007-03-19T00:13:00.001+02:00

Had a really interesting revelation today during church. The topic was…You are invited. And we were reminded that God invites himself to our place…to spend time with us in ‘our zone’ all the while He is preparing for us place in an eternal venue. As I got to thinking about this eternal venue He was preparing, I was reminded of times I have booked accommodation in the past years…and how I try to get a good deal with all the extras for the best amount of money…but really you only ever get what u pay for! So that makes me think two ways, firstly how awesome heaven is going to be, yet I don’t have to pay any bills (God has paid it for me – what an awesome package deal!)… and secondly that the time & money I spend down here on earth should be as investment for not just my place up there, but other peoples & so other people get to enjoy it also. Kinda like us here in UK saving now, to ‘send back home’, that kind of investment. We make our decisions based on that, we live our lifestyle around that, & our recreation & other luxuries come second to our saving. Kinda puts things into perspective really. I have come to see more clearly how to live life with a heavenly perspective.

28 -- A memorable year!

2007-03-06T14:23:00.001+02:00

I have a theory that every 7 years a new era dawns…a new season in life starts. I can feel a new season starting for me…I have changed & grown so much in the past year…and I just know that things will be taking a different direction in the next 7 years to come.

God has really been teaching me things this year… I have been challenged in my thinking & a new focus for life has started to emerge.

I have come to see money & stuff as not important…and don’t need to be clung to!

I have been challenge to not be ashamed of God & that I should live my life as follower of Him out in the open.

I have realized how fast & short life is that I should be focuses on eternal things & making a difference in that realm.

I have also come to realize how significant I am & how much I am loved.

We want to serve God 100% and so we are preparing to do this in Ukraine. My friend gave me this encouragement the other night… “God has reminded me in the past that He will show Himself faithful & in difficult decisions such as these, you need to move forward with the info you have now & God will direct you as you move, not as you stand still!”

So as we plan & dream for life in Ukraine, we know that God is with us, loves us & will direct & provide for us!

BRING ON THE NEXT 7 YEARS!

Busy but not effective, tidy but not used

2007-01-21T19:53:00.001+02:00

I was challenged today with this idea. I think so often I have been guilty of creating a busy & comfortable lifestyle that has the right stuff and looks good, but isn’t actually effective toward the Kingdom of God big picture vision. To quote Phil Callaway…“Jesus came to comfort us, not to make us comfortable. I guess I've been comforted enough; it's time to offer some to others. That you would live life on purpose. That my children will hear God's voice despite a noisy culture, and that they will obey.”

Really what I have been challenged with is a departure from selfish living. In looking out for myself & how things are for me, making sure I am happy & safe & have good memories (& a hot shower!) My priorities & what i focus on in life in this last year have been forced to be reviewed. Phil also goes onto say... “But is safety what we're here for? Isn't Complacency the most dangerous place on earth? Isn't Suburbia sucking the life out of our teenagers more than any foreign country ever could?”

I don’t think I can stress how much of an eye-opener & life-changing experience it is for people to get out of their comfort zones & explore other cultures & the world. In NZ we are so isolated, that it requires more effort, but it is certainly worth it.

I am reminded of the Proverb about the well being clean where there are no oxen, but with the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. We can choose comfortable, clean & tidy lives over messy, unpredictable selfless living, but we do so in exchange for fruit & harvest – the only things in life that really matter. I know what I want to choose, & I pray that others will keep me accountable to this!

"Catching the fire"

2007-01-15T17:05:00.001+02:00

I read this really thought-provoking small book the other day. It was “Catching the Fire” by Don Fleming. I happened to pick it up, and it really grabbed my interest because everything he said rang true in my heart with my thoughts, frustrations & questions about church that I have had in the past decade.

The proportion of the book discussed the blockages the western church has in regards to authentic Christianity. These include, convenience, fervent prayer, our view of the world, expectation of a pain-free life, walking by faith, mistaking sophistication for maturity, giving, hospitality, personal ambition, how we view our time, and the Word of God.

As I read each of these I agreed and things suddenly started to come clear. It wasn’t the particular church we were attending in NZ that had it ‘wrong’, it was that the whole system of church & Christianity in the west that has become a lukewarm sickness. The refreshing I have felt in the ‘developing world’ has been the fire & authenticity of a hot relationship with God. I really have no desire whatsoever to go back to the ‘western’ church setting. I feel that if we were to sink back into that mould, we would not grow to our full potential. Although there are lots of things to be thankful within the western church setting, I believe that the food we need at this time is fresh green natural vegetables & water from a simple ‘non-western’ lifestyle. Anymore rich meats & other goodies would continue the sickness that I have been ill with for awhile. I am so glad I have been made aware of what has been wrong with me, and now have a new prescription for spiritual life.

UK -- Training/University

2006-10-30T14:04:00.000+02:00

No year is a wasted year in God's kingdom.
We are shepherds -- we need to keep doing our job, using our gifts and honing our skills.
We are soldiers in an army we need to be alert, keeping our weapons ready.
We are athletes in a race we need to be eating right, training and keeping ourselves fit.
We are students under God's direction we need to keep learning, studying and seeking out the truth.
Although we may feel 'in limbo' and it is much easier to lie down, watch tv & hope time passes quickly, we need to keep on with our lives seeing it from a Heavenly perspective -- where time is to be used not spent!

A meaning-full life

2006-10-30T13:27:00.000+02:00

My goal in life is...
To live righteously, honestly & Godly in this present world.
Living righteously means that the guidelines and boundaries for my actions come from the morals I know to be true.
Living honestly means that my life lines up. I have integrity and my beliefs are acted upon, not just sitting on the shelf of head knowledge.
Living Godly means that my focus is on God's will & His kingdom.
Living in this present world, means that I am acting & responding to today's culture rather than running from it.
The only thing that I am passionate about in life is God's work. I belive that only 1 life so soon will pass, only what is done for Christ will last.
The only thing that brings any meaning to my life is teaching, & caring for others. Being hospitable and sharing our lives with those around us.
Through the absence of these things...it has been made obvious to us that our calling and gifting is that of pastoring. We realise now with much greater clarity that we are shepherds, and our life doesnt make sense unless we are looking after sheep. That is what is missing...that is the piece of the puzzle that gives our life sense & meaning!
Wow, this is so liberating...we are shepherds...that is our job...when we do this we will have hardship, heartache & hardwork, but it is were we will find true fulfillment...it is what we we made to do.

I'll take the hard road!

2006-09-02T00:46:00.000+03:00

Here's a bit about what God is teaching me at the moment...

We really enjoyed our time in Ukraine, and it wasn't until right near the end that I really started to fit in and make some really great friends. It is amazing there 'first love' for God, and people 10 years younger are teaching me so much. It is been interesting the journey God is taking me on and cleansing me of my bitterness and frustrations from the last few years.

As you can imagine leaving the Ukraine was very painful and continues to be, but we are praying about going back next July for maybe a longer term of 1-5 years.

On our way back to London we spent time firsthand remembering the Holocaust with Auschwitz and also visiting Schindler's Factory & Corrie Ten Boom's house. I found out how much freedom & other things I take for granted. We also watched the movie "The Hiding Place" and I was very moved by their ability to rejoice always! They believed enough to live it not just say it. Amazing ladies! A poem that Corrie quoted really struck me, it was "Everything looks like a confused piece of embroidery work, meaningless and ugly. But that is the underside. Some day we shall see the right side and shall be amazed and thankful." She also said that we should be trusting God anyway, and that often the hardest part of our lives turns out to be the jewel on the front of the picture. Been thinking a lot about how we try to take the easy road as much as possible, and now I have stumbled across a book by Tommy Tenney called "Trust & Tragedy" and it is amazing how this lines up with what God is teaching me at the moment. This year in London is going to be hard for us but I'm also excited by what God can teach me. I can see that we often avoid the hard road for the easy one, but in doing so we miss the jewels that are found on the road less traveled.

Another thing God has restored to me since being in Ukraine is a love & care for people. I was reminded today of one of my Bible College vision statements which was was to be a loving mother or something like that. I feel as though God has given me a massive loving heart to reach out my arms and gather as many people into them and just love them. Although it is hard here, it is great to feel the winter in my heart thawing out and & some growth happening again.

My views on church

2006-06-05T16:08:00.000+03:00

I seemed to have settled my views on church at least for the time being now. I kinda think that maybe we go to a church like Hillsong or something 1-2 times a month, as a real good time of worship corporately and teaching. I am finding that maybe a commitment of once a month or 2-3 weeks is much more do-able and then also enjoyable than once a week. It seems to roll around too quick and its like you are locked into some kind of "have to" kind of pressure.
But that for me the 'real' church will be found with a couple or few people who we get on well with and can discuss stuff and challenge each other and actually truly 'fellowship' with and we just spend time with each other and have meals together and want to do that because we are not having to go meetings and programs and stuff. Or as my wise friend (Dave Marsh) once said, find people who can mentor/challenge & input into you and then people who you can mentor/challenge & intput into.
Anyways, that's my thoughts on the subject as of now... maybe it might change with kids, maybe not. I think I have been affected by the 'tranquil' lifestyle in Paraguay, cos the water in my river is flowing slow, cant be bothered with the rush of the currents!

Micah 6:8

2006-04-10T00:52:00.000+03:00

What does the Lord require of me? What am I suppose to do in this life? I need to do justly, not just do, but be honest about it, and make sure it is just. I need to love mercy, care for those who are in need, and care also for their souls. And I need to walk humbly with my God.

The order of these requirements need to go from the bottom up. I need to firstly and fore mostly walk humbly with my God, otherwise my love for mercy and cry for justice will be cantered in myself and how I see things should be working out. Walking humbly with my God requires immersion in His Word, and time spent in His presence, the ability to learn and grow from others and the objectivity to look at myself and see how I fit into God's scheme of things, not the other way round. It is about putting God in the centre of my life, submitting to His ways and following His commands. It is a life lived as His servant.

To love mercy requires us to act. Loving is not passive, if we really love mercy we will act loving toward those in need. We will give off our time & resources for those who are hurting, hungry and in need of love. This maybe in the physical, emotional and also the spiritual arena. This is the real love in action part of our lives. This is where the rubber meets the road, and where people will know we walk humbly with our God by our actions that ooze of His love and care. They will know how much we care, and then will want to know why!

To do justly gives the edge to the rest and defines the whole arrangement. This is not just a walk-over love, this requires a thought process and supernatural understanding of they way things should work out. It requires a discerning and a wisdom that will bring things to light that would otherwise be hidden. It is the necessary tool to bring lasting and long-term healing to situations. This is the part of our lives where you need to be sensitive but also courageous, where prayer is the most powerful lubricant and where God's ways can be see very clearly without any doubt. People will not wonder what we are about and why things are the way they are when doing justly is one of our values.

God working through us will give us love, care & compassion for the care and cure of souls, with the temperance of justice that is need to bring situations to complete healing.

This is my prayer and desire for us as we head off on the journey with God in our family.

Miss Understood

2006-04-08T05:11:00.001+03:00

I reckon this has to be the worst emotion we can feel, loneliness and broken heart aren't that great, but hey at least you know why you feel the way you do, but being misunderstood, well that's a different matter. Its kinda like feeling 'what the hang' I have no idea here, why I am getting treated this way, or what is going on. Why cant you understand where I am coming from, and what I was trying to do. You see I think I have spent a lot of my life feeling misunderstood, and wonder whether this strange phenomena is only apparent to me or others also.

I know for a fact the Jesus must have felt this way often while here on earth, as His agenda was out of this world, a lot of people misunderstood his intentions and actions and wondered who & what the hang He was doing.

Im not so sure about the answers here, I sure would like to be able to make my intentions and actions clear and honest and that be accepted so I don't feel as though all the time I am justifying myself or trying to explain what I mean. Maybe this is what I will have to live with all my life, maybe my name is destined to be Miss Understood?

Gone past

2006-04-08T05:11:00.000+03:00

As I was playing Far Cry the other day (yeah that game is awesome) I was reminded of how important it is to destroy the troops behind you so you can confidently go forward. I kinda reckon that's the same in our lives. First we got to recognise its a battle, be on the alert and treat it like one, but importantly we need to have destroyed the stuff in the past that would sneak back up on us and attack us, so we can focus on where we are going and the battle in front of us. We also need to carry only the necessities and a backpack is all we have to fit this in, plus our memory bank. Really have to focus on dealing with stuff & moving on!

Making your wildest dreams come true!

2006-04-08T05:10:00.001+03:00

O yes I have discovered the secret to fulfilling my dream of being the person I want to be and not the person I would hate to be!!

To not be the person I don't want to be (I.e.. like so & so or other characteristics I determine I don't want to be like) the only cure is to be a women of God's Word and prayer and choose my friends/mentors wisely & deliberately. There, simple as!

Paraguayan Revelation

2006-04-08T05:10:00.000+03:00

"Last night I had the strangest dream" Actually it was a revelation, or an enlightening...
I realised that for this next stage of my life, I need to be reading the Bible to study it and learn & understand WHAT I BELIEVE so I can firmly stand on this foundation.

In the past 3-4 years I had been reading the Bible to CONVICT & LISTEN to GOD'S VOICE, as I lead & pastored young people. But the focus has now changed.

Im going to focus on the foundation not the outworking.

In the next 2-3 years I am going to study... Biblical view of work, future events, money & materialism, the Holy Spirit, & evangelism/discipleship and anything else that takes my fancy!

One thing to remember

2005-12-13T00:46:00.000+02:00

13th December--Thought 4 the Week :
Wow, this is my last weekly email to you all (sob sob). So I think I better say something profound, so here goes… “If the world caved in around me, to You I will still hold on, cos You’re all that I believe, You’re the one that created me, Jesus because of You – I’m free!”
If I can pass anything on to you, or that you will remember one thing from the time we have been involved with Litehouse youth ministries, that would be that the one and only thing that matters in life is your relationship with God. If you have a personal relationship with Him, and are developing that each day through prayer and reading the Bible, cos you want to and love to, then absolutely everything else flows out from this. If you stand firm on that and purpose to live you life only for God, then you will know true purpose and fulfillment. My prayer is that you will all stand strong, that you won’t be distracted by stuff that doesn’t last, and that you will help each other to do the same. May God bless you as you choose the best path of a lifelong relationship with Him.
“Just live your life with God inside, and you won’t regret one moment of it.”

Extra ordinary gifts

2005-12-07T03:29:00.000+02:00

7th December--Thought 4 the Week :
I had a big clean out at home the other day and came across a pamphlet from TEAR Fund, that I had received last year. It was entitled “Extraordinary Gifts” and displayed gifts like goats, & cows etc that I could purchase as a Xmas gift for someone in another country. This idea struck me as something quite practical and significant in another person’s life.
We have been challenged this year to look past our own community and REAL authentic in our faith by showing God’s love to those around us.
Maybe this is a way you can practically care for someone who is less fortunate than us. You know how much you hate a mosquito buzzing around your head at night? Well, you could purchase a mosquito net for $7 and a family in Cambodia who sleeps under it dramatically reduces the risk of contracting malaria. Or you could purchase safe water for a child for $5. A Bible is $20, a goat, $50, a pig $45. I have plenty of brochures, if you would like one, please just ask, or you could also visit www.tearfund.org.nz
Let’s give a gift this Xmas that counts for eternity rather than one that ends up in next year’s garage sale.

No regrets

2005-11-29T03:51:00.000+02:00

29th November--Thought 4 the Week :

I was watching a DVD the other day called ‘The Interpreter’ and it had a story in it about an African legend. The story went a little like this…
If a member of your family was murdered by someone, on the year anniversary of the murder, the person who committed this crime would be taken to the river, a weight tied to his foot, and taken out to the middle of the river where he was let go. The family members on the bank had two options. They could watch him drown, and live with the grief all their lives, or they could swim out and safe him and be able to live the rest of their lives without bitterness and grief. It illustrated quite profoundly the power of forgiveness to me, or the opposite of hanging onto to our grievances and bitterness.
As we look back over this year, and reflect on what has happened, may I encourage you to forgive and let go of those things that are hurtful or bring grief and bitterness. Let’s head into 2006 with no regrets!

We need others

2005-11-22T04:05:00.000+02:00

22nd November--Thought 4 the Week :

Wow, we had an awesome time on Sunday at Youth Church. It would be cool to hear how you were spoken to etc, why not comment on the website??
I was reading yesterday in Proverbs 28:13, it talks about confessing your sins, which is exactly what we did on Sunday at Youth Church. We confessed them, and asked for forgiveness. But the interesting part of the verse is that it goes onto say that we also need to give them up, leave and forsake them. It is one thing to confess them & ask God for forgiveness, but another to then stop doing what we have been that is wrong, we need each other to help us with this. On Sunday Mark Smith spoke about making a covenant with each other to help keep the fire burning, may I also encourage you to do so. Let’s not get sucked into the Kiwi way of thinking we can make it on our own, we need each other to help us walk in God’s way everyday. Let’s be REAL AUTHENTIC this week, including the way we are honest with each other and not afraid to ask for help!

Powerful Stories

2005-11-15T02:39:00.000+02:00

15th November--Thought 4 the Week :
I watched a DVD last week of Michael Frost (pastor of Small Boat Big Sea check it out at --www.smallboatbigsea.org ) and he was talking about how powerful stories are. He made the comment that it isn't nice feelings, or lovely emotions that kept the Israelites going when times were tough, but instead it was the story of the Passover & what God had done for them, and therefore what He was going to do. And it’s the same with us. We have an awesome story of what God has done for us at the cross – the amazing sacrifice & severe pain that He went through. This is what gives us the strength to go on, and the endurance to push through. We need to be constantly telling this story and reminding ourselves and others that this is what is so important about our faith. This is the one & only central and all-important story that makes our life story worth living.
This week at Youth Church we have a chance to reflect on and celebrate this. Come ready to the hear this story again, re-told in a different way.

Our God is a great big God

2005-11-08T04:15:00.000+02:00

8th November--Thought 4 the Week :

Last week I put the challenge out to share stories of God at work in our world. WOW! During the week, we had an awesome example of how big God is. As most of you will know, we took a proposal to the church leadership team in regards to staring a youth church. The feedback in that meeting was unanimously positive, and our YOUTH CHURCH STARTS ON NOV 20th!
I am reading through Isaiah 40-45 at the moment and its all about how big & great God is, and how small we are in comparison. I encourage you to read it, as it puts things into perspective, and all it makes you want to do is jump up & down, dance, and yell – “HOW GREAT YOU ARE GOD – YOU ROCK.”
I'm looking forward to Nov 20th, when we can turn the music up & shout that at the top of our lungs together!

A hurricane of love!

2005-11-01T02:11:00.000+02:00

1st November--Thought 4 the Week :
Following on from last week’s challenge to spread God’s love around, both BURN & also Sunday morning’s message gave us the same realization. At BURN we were challenged to ask God for a compassionate heart for those who are hurting or lost. It is only when we feel compassion (not pity) for others that we will be compelled to do something about it. Then on Sunday morning we were challenged (if you missed it – ask me so you can borrow the DVD) to show we love God by loving others by being Jesus with flesh on. Not creating more programs & events but to be a hurricane or tsunami of God’s love to others with no thought of our own sacrifice. This is what an unbelieving world will marvel out, and for what we should be recognized for. Ask God this week to extend your borders, ask Him to give you an opportunity where you need to give of your time, money or stuff to someone less fortunate than you. I am looking forward to hearing your stories, of how you have been able to spread God’s love this week. (There’s a spot on the website where you can paste them!)
The people who had nothing because of the house fire were very thankful for what were able to take to them last week – I believe they saw God’s love in action as the community gave what they could to them. Let’s have some more stories like this to tell next week!

Simple but Hard

2005-10-25T05:38:00.000+03:00

25th October--Thought 4 the Week :
This last weekend we made a trip up north for Jon’s great auntie’s funeral (she was 100) and his dad’s 60th bday. We traveled up with Jon’s brother and had some interesting discussions in the car. One of these discussions was about how the church has made Christianity complex, when really it is extremely simple. So simple that we came to the conclusion that it can be summed up in one word – LOVE! In fact Jesus used the same concept to sum it all up in Luke 10:27 when he tells us to love God & other people. It’s that simple, but also that hard!
The funny thing was that today the front page of the BOP Times caught my eye about a family that had nothing, & now there house has also been burnt down. My first reaction was not that of love, but I felt in my spirit a conviction that if I want to live an authentic life for Christ, I need to be spreading His love around. So I bought the paper to find out how I could help to show love to these people. I would like to give them some money and maybe some things as well. If you would like to be a part of this, and help to share God’s love around, then contact me before the end of the week, and we can make a contribution together. How will people know God cares, unless we care?

Courage

2005-10-18T04:40:00.000+03:00

18th October -- Thought 4 the Week :
If we lived in a perfect world how God first intended, then one of the things we wouldn’t have to deal with would be fear. Fear is not from God, it is not what He intended for our lives, and if we live our life in fear of one thing or another then we are robbed of the abundant life that He has planned for us. Fear of other people’s thoughts, or actions toward us comes from our sinful nature and needs to be dealt with everyday.
While we were at camp in the holidays, we were challenged to be courageous, and step up to what God has called us to be and wants us to be. Courage is required to stand strong for God, to be different from the crowd, & to be the person He has called us to be.
There are 2 verses that come to mind when thinking about be courageous, the first is in Joshua, where God tells him to be courageous and the reason why he could be was because the Lord was with him. We can claim that promise too. The other verse is found in 2 Tim 1:7, and it tells us that God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but instead power, love & discipline. You see being courageous goes 2 ways. Firstly God is with us and gives us the power, but we also have to be disciplined in our thoughts and actions, so God’s power can work in and through us.

Authentic Life

2005-09-27T05:45:00.000+03:00

27th September--Thought 4 the Week :
Okay so last week we explored the idea that people in general really do want to know what makes life worthwhile.
Why is it then that so many aren’t interested in coming to church or listening to a Gospel presentation?
I believe that the answer to this is what they don’t want to know. They don’t want to know memorized answers, or religious sayings that don’t really make sense to everyday living. They don’t want to hear about the dos and don’ts of religion. They don’t want to know what you should do when they can see that no one is doing it anyway. In fact they probably don’t want to hear anything.
What will tell others that life has a worthwhile meaning is whether or not our own life portrays and lives out meaning. Do we really live out what we believe or is it just something that we just go along with. Can I challenge us all this week to take the time to think about what we believe, and then go that little bit deeper and ask why. Because that will then cause us to be authentic in how we live.

Life Worthwhile

2005-09-20T05:39:00.000+03:00

20th September--Thought 4 the Week :
I found this song the other day... "Everybody's looking for a one way system As if there's only one way out of this prison Everybody's looking for that one piece of wisdom As if there's just one answer to all of our problems And the biggest one way of all the one ways The central circulating poo Is m o n e y, oh why? Why oh why, oh my oh my, all mine They steal our lives and sell them back to us And palm us off with the freedom of choice The choice of a million and one lifestyles Built on a billion and one false smiles And life giving pills, philosophies, and products All of which claim to be the one for us All mine, mine, make it mine, make it worth my while Make it worth my while, and maybe then I’ll think about it Make it worth my while, and I’ll see what I can do."
Wow, this really grabbed me, because we all tend to think about the reason behind life every now & again and without God our life makes absolutely no sense. (John 14:6) And then if I fully believe this am I letting others know what makes life worthwhile? Because like this song suggests they do really want to know.
(Part Two next week -- "What they don’t want to know!")

Flap your wings

2005-09-13T07:43:00.000+03:00

13th September--Thought 4 the Week:

For those of you that went to BURN last Friday you will recall that we were challenged to “flap our wings.” You see, if Christians were birds, most of us would think we are chickens. We live our Christian life in church (our cage) and never realize what the world out there is like. God didn’t intend for us to be chickens, He intended that we are eagles. He wants us to flap our wings, and enjoy the freedom to soar that He has given us. When we are up there soaring, we see life from a different perspective and come to realize our purposes much more than when we are cooped up in a cage thinking we are chickens. So how do we escape the cage? First we need to be prepared to take a few risks, maybe even be laughed at. The other chickens will think you are nuts for going hard for God, worshipping Him with all your heart and actually obeying His voice when you hear it. If you want to flap your wings and experience freedom & peace in your heart then don’t let others lock you up or hold power over you. Be the eagle that you were created to be, and live your life with no regrets. 1 Corinthians 15:58 is the verse to check out this week.

Good things take time

2005-09-06T06:15:00.000+03:00

6th September --Thought 4 the Week:
We have been learning in 40 days that growing to be like Jesus doesn’t happen overnight (but it does happen!). The words that come to mind when I think of this is “patience my child.” I am not a very patient person, I love to get stuff done NOW. You see when God promised the children of Israel a land flowing with milk & honey (hmm yum!) it took about 40 years to get there. But along the way they learnt some important lessons that wouldn’t have happened if they had been tele-ported straight there. Someone once said, “Bad stuff happens to everyone – successful people deal with it.” Can I encourage you this week to not give up, but ask God what you can learn about Him & to help you on your journey to His promised land. Check out Philippians 1:6 -- it’s a great verse.

Married to Christ

2005-09-06T05:09:00.000+03:00

30th August--Thought 4 the Week:
Two verses have caught my attention this week. The first one is found in Matthew 5: 6 which says “Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” I don’t know about you, but when I watch the news or notice things in our society that indicate that God’s righteousness isn’t being upheld, I feel hurt and sad. I long for the day when things are “right” the way God made them. It also makes you ask the question, “Is that always what I hunger and thirst for?” Will this Sat night when we watch the rugby be something that you wont miss, but when it comes to next Friday night & BURN will you think twice about going if you are tired or cant be bothered?
The second verse is found in Revelation 19:7 and it talks about Jesus coming to receive his bride (those who are Christians) “who has made herself ready.” I hadn’t really thought of this before, but do you realize it is our job to make ourselves ready for Christ’s return? When we got married, I spent hours in preparation to make myself ready for the big day. What are we doing to make ourselves ready to “marry” Christ? Can I encourage you to start by making things like BURN and our weekly bible study a priority in your life. Organize your time, so that you won’t be caught out not ready when your life on earth here is over.

Motto

2005-09-06T05:08:00.001+03:00

23rd August --Thought 4 the Week:
I thought I would share with you a verse I have pinned on my wall by my bed. I see it every morning & every night and it is like a motto that guides my life. It is 1 Corinthians 15:33 -34 and in the Contemporary English Version it says: “Don't fool yourselves. Bad friends will destroy you. Be sensible and stop sinning. You should be embarrassed that some people still don't know about God.” I find it a good verse to remind me of three things in life that I need God’s perspective on. The first part of the verse reminds me about relationships and how influential my friends are. The second part of the verse talks about my behavior and how I should aim to live a life pleasing to God, and the last part of the verse reminds me of my mission here on earth – to tell others about God. Why not write this verse (or another one that you have chosen) out and pin it by your bed to remind you to look at life from God’s perspective each day.

Truth

2005-09-06T05:08:00.000+03:00

16th August --Thought 4 the Week:
“God’s laws are not inventions. Even God does not invent right and wrong. Truth and right are founded in His own changeless being. God’s laws are merely descriptions of true reality. They tell us from His perspective what is truly right and fit and good. For example if we took at a bottle of cyanide and put a new label “Jelly beans” on it. If you ate it, you would still die instantly. But you wouldn’t know why. The label does not create what is in the bottle; it simply defines it.
God has told us what is right and good and what is stupid and wrong. We can discover this truth, do it and live; or we can reject it and be destroyed as individuals, families and nations. God is only after two things for your life –that you be happy and holy. And He knows that you cannot be really happy until you are holy.” Adapted from “Fire on the Horizon” by Winkie Pratney

ONE THING

2005-09-06T05:07:00.000+03:00

9th August--Thought 4 the Week:
As we begin the 40 Days of Purpose, we are challenged to look at what we are here for. We have learnt that we are not just here randomly, but for a purpose, and that purpose begins with God. In fact, it is all about God. God made you and He wants you to be with him forever. Does this drive your life?
David in Psalm 27:4 tells us that his ONE desire, and ONE thing that he asks is to live in the presence of the Lord all the days of his life. Psalm 84:10 says that ONE day in the presence of the Lord is better than a thousand somewhere else.
It is so easy to live our lives just for ourselves, but there is no eternal purpose in that. Can we really say that we want our whole life to be lived with God, in relationship with Him? Is this our ONE focus in life, is this our purpose. What is the ONE THING driving you this week?

Removing stuff

2005-09-06T05:06:00.000+03:00

2nd August--Thought 4 the Week:
“There are other ways to cut yourself off from evil, though none of them as scary as cutting off your hand or gouging out your eye. (Matt 18:8-9) Seen in the light of permanent death to our most significant body parts, what does it matter if we say goodbye to a cherished friend, habit, commitment that gets in the way of our devotion to God?

In the great days of evangelism, missions and revival 200 hundred years ago, the Church would call for repentance of five things:
1. Sin, a self-centered attitude of heart and Life
2. The Flesh, an addictive focus on emotional gratification through our 5 senses
3. The World, our lives without God at its center that demands our time & loyalty
4. The Devil, any demonic, occultic involvement
5. Our own righteousness, the ‘good’ things of our lives we have never surrendered to God.
Real trust in God involves giving up anything and everything that vies for allegiance to Christ.”
What are you prepared to part with? (Excerpt from “Fire on the Horizon” by Winkie Pratney)

Extreme

2005-09-06T05:05:00.000+03:00

26th July--Thought 4 the Week:

“You want extreme? No one in history ever was born like Jesus, lived like Jesus, talked like Jesus and loved like Jesus. Not even His enemies could find fault with Him. He defies comparison, because there is nobody else you can put in His class. Period. He split history in half. He not only claimed to be God, but showed His kingdom every way you can ask to anyone who really wanted to see it. When you come to Jesus, He doesn’t give you options or alternatives, just a core decision: ‘Follow Me.’ If you do, you are a disciple. If you don’t, you drop off the map forever. And that, my friend, is extreme.” (Excerpt from “Fire on the Horizon” by Winkie Pratney)