I had a revelation last night. You may already know this and I thought I did as well.
Faith without works is dead!
Yes, I know, astounding revelation.
But something hit me about our journey from church focused to Kingdom focused. In our joy of being released into freedom we have lost our faithfulness. Ouch! I can see my inbox filling with complaints already.
But as we have been set free of faithfulness to man (legalism) we have failed to move on to faithfulness to God. I have spent months being healed (and sometimes this is needed) and taken a back seat with some of my gifts and talents but now I'm not sure I was meant to stop being faithful with these during this freedom/kingdom transition.
Faithfulness is an “eternal” truth - it is both old and new testament. It is old covenant and new covenant. There is no way we can escape this truth. We are called to be faithful with what we have.
And works - dirty serving word or outworking of our faith? Legalised serving or the Kingdom advancing! Jesus was “moved by compassion”. We need to get the revelation that we should also be “moved” by compassion resulting in action.
I realised that this is true "agreement" with God. When two or more agree on anything......the scripture says......but I believe that also includes actions and not just words. Now I’m not saying prayer and declaration are not important - these truths have been some of the most powerful revelations in our journey. I am saying that “faith without works” is dead - and so our words and our actions need to agree. We demonstrate our Agreement with God through our actions and words.
In my freedom I agree with God that the lost need to be saved, I declare salvation with my words, I proclaim it over New Zealand and then I share the gospel whenever God opens the door. I’m sure we can all agree with this.
But I also believe in faithfulness at all levels.
We used to serve faithfully for man (legalism). We need to serve faithfully for God, as His sons.
We need to serve faithfully with our gifts and passions - our talents. This is the body of Christ, us, all doing what we have been created to do.
Faithful to God, faithful to the body and faithful to His bride!
Rom12:8
For, as we have a number of parts in one body, but all the parts have not the same use, 5 So we, though we are a number of persons, are one body in Christ, and are dependent on one another; 6 And having different qualities by reason of the grace given to us, such as the quality of a prophet, let it be made use of in relation to the measure of our faith; 7 Or the position of a Deacon of the church, let a man give himself to it; or he who has the power of teaching, let him make use of it; 8 He who has the power of comforting, let him do so; he who gives, let him give freely; he who has the power of ruling, let him do it with a serious mind; he who has mercy on others, let it be with joy.
Being set free of control of man and "religion" has not precluded us from being faithful to God and honouring Him through our faithfulness. Using our gifts and talents in the body and in the world - we are His workmanship, created to bear much fruit!
Encourage one another daily.....
Love one another.....
Be generous on every occasion.....
Ian Johnson shared wonderfully on Sunday about the power of agreement between brothers.
I am further inspired to bring my life into agreement with Gods plans and desires for me. I show my agreement by using the talents He has given me to achieve the plans He has prepared for me whilst living in the love and acceptance of a Son displaying the passions within me.
It is His Grace that enables me, not excuses me from serving faithfully.
Freedom reigns! (It does not sit hidden in a box!)
We should not wait to be perfect before we are faithful. God calls us to be faithful (like Moses - using what we have in our hands right now) and faithful with the little (parable of talents).
We don't have to wait until we are righteous enough (we are righteous through Christ Jesus).
We don't have to wait until we are holy either - we are holy through Christs holiness.
And we don't have to wait for permission from anyone - Jesus said "Go and make disciples of all nations, preaching the kingdom...." and that has never changed.
I am challenged to be faithful to God today, using what I have to change the lives of those around me.
I am challenged to be faithful to my family and my church family today.
I am challenged to bring my life into agreement with God no matter what I feel about my circumstances or about others.
Being a good and faithful servant of God is up to me, not to anyone else.
"Daddy I agree with you today about my plans, my future, my promises, my talents, my passions, my finances, my everything.
Help me faithfully administer these for your glory.
Amen"
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The pause between contractions at birth of vision
I've never had a baby myself. No really my wife did it all. But right now I'm reminded of the process as we/I go through a little pause between contractions in the birthing of this vision. I mean, there is heaps on and I'm really busy and all the wheels are in motion on all the great initiatives God has planted in my heart.
But today, right now, there is a lull before the next push. Why do some births have a 22 hour labour and others shoot out and are in pre school before you know it! I don't know - maybe it's Gods way of saying the baby is not quite ready yet, like a cake in the oven - bring it out early and it flops! Open the oven door to look at it too often and you loose the heat and it flops also!
So from babies to baking, vision needs to be prepared with al the ingredients and then left to bake. If the preparation is right the cake will be great and the vision as well!
If you cannot stop opening the oven door of your vision then a) take a holiday or b) start another cake or wash the dishes - anything but stop interfering with the baking process!
Now apply that to your vision:
ingredients
preparation
implementation
baking - waiting
and in the right time, Gods time, it's ready to enjoy.
Paul planted, Apollos watered but God made it grow!
And the birthing - my daughter came out real quick! Emergency caesar and out she popped - didn't even give me time to read the paper, massage my wife's back and be a great co-birther!
I think I'm destined to have quick births. Am I talking vision now?
Can feel the push again - here we go!
PS I am not a new father - my daughter has her 11th birthday next month. Birthing was only an analogy, not a curent issue in my life!
But today, right now, there is a lull before the next push. Why do some births have a 22 hour labour and others shoot out and are in pre school before you know it! I don't know - maybe it's Gods way of saying the baby is not quite ready yet, like a cake in the oven - bring it out early and it flops! Open the oven door to look at it too often and you loose the heat and it flops also!
So from babies to baking, vision needs to be prepared with al the ingredients and then left to bake. If the preparation is right the cake will be great and the vision as well!
If you cannot stop opening the oven door of your vision then a) take a holiday or b) start another cake or wash the dishes - anything but stop interfering with the baking process!
Now apply that to your vision:
ingredients
preparation
implementation
baking - waiting
and in the right time, Gods time, it's ready to enjoy.
Paul planted, Apollos watered but God made it grow!
And the birthing - my daughter came out real quick! Emergency caesar and out she popped - didn't even give me time to read the paper, massage my wife's back and be a great co-birther!
I think I'm destined to have quick births. Am I talking vision now?
Can feel the push again - here we go!
PS I am not a new father - my daughter has her 11th birthday next month. Birthing was only an analogy, not a curent issue in my life!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Attention: Encouragement needed!
God has really been speaking to me strongly about the "culture" we need to fulfill our personal dreams and assist others to fulfill theirs.
Yesterday I posted a couple of comment on my facebook pages and received two interesting pieces of feedback:
" Comments like these are stirring up deep deep wells. Had the opportunity to go out with Les on his run. We chatted and dreamed and chatted some more and realised that the more you talk about your dreams the hungrier you become to see them fulfilled."
" Yes Kim and with good people like you encouraging us we really should give it a go! I'm running out of excuses. Blessings as you organise the conference."
It is becoming increasingly obvious that it is easy to say "start dreaming" but it is another thing entirely to "enable" people to live their dreams.
I remember talking to Wyn Fountain, a pioneer on this kingdom message in New Zealand, when I first started this journey. He said he had been talking to churches about this for 20 years and ONLY NOW were a few starting to listen. He encouraged me to "push on" with my dreams and that the message God had put in my heart was "cutting edge."
The "transformation" God has Horizon on is even more remarkable given the underlying opposition to change and activities outside the church. I am so blessed to be part of the "re-plant" that God is doing at Horizon.
I am starting to understand Gods timing in this and this is helping me "persevere" through the tough bits. I must admit I struggle sometimes in believing God will "open" the way for my dreams when in my flesh I sometimes only see man in front of me.
But when the BIG PICTURE is taken I can see some of what is taking shape and am encouraged.
If the first season was deconstruction, this season is reconstruction and the final season may be something like "advancement or activation."
We are all on different stages of this journey. Some are ready to advance and others are just starting to be deconstructed.
What is important through this in finding people who can encourage you where ever you are on the journey. And it cannot always be Tim and I. If it is us then we have failed to catch the heart of the kingdom and our responsibilities as brothers and sisters in the same family.
It is the leaders responsibility to create a culture of encouragement and that is what we must start to build into Horizon for the future.
It is you and I who will be doing the encouraging.
Take a moment today to look at those around you. Have you got your encouragers beside you? Are you encouraging others?
Tim spoke last night about surrounding ourselves with people who will speak positively into our lives and keep us "encouraged" to believe in our prophetic words.
I believe developing a culture of encouragement will be vital in us starting to see our dreams become reality. I also believe that we will see more people come with us on the journey when we develop this culture across Horizon.
Heb3:13 says "encourage one another daily...."
Lets ask God today how we can start to build that as we journey together.
Every time I speak with someone who has started to dream, has started to see the exciting possibilities God has ahead of them, they always say the same thing!
Attention: I need encouragement!
Yesterday I posted a couple of comment on my facebook pages and received two interesting pieces of feedback:
" Comments like these are stirring up deep deep wells. Had the opportunity to go out with Les on his run. We chatted and dreamed and chatted some more and realised that the more you talk about your dreams the hungrier you become to see them fulfilled."
" Yes Kim and with good people like you encouraging us we really should give it a go! I'm running out of excuses. Blessings as you organise the conference."
It is becoming increasingly obvious that it is easy to say "start dreaming" but it is another thing entirely to "enable" people to live their dreams.
I remember talking to Wyn Fountain, a pioneer on this kingdom message in New Zealand, when I first started this journey. He said he had been talking to churches about this for 20 years and ONLY NOW were a few starting to listen. He encouraged me to "push on" with my dreams and that the message God had put in my heart was "cutting edge."
The "transformation" God has Horizon on is even more remarkable given the underlying opposition to change and activities outside the church. I am so blessed to be part of the "re-plant" that God is doing at Horizon.
I am starting to understand Gods timing in this and this is helping me "persevere" through the tough bits. I must admit I struggle sometimes in believing God will "open" the way for my dreams when in my flesh I sometimes only see man in front of me.
But when the BIG PICTURE is taken I can see some of what is taking shape and am encouraged.
If the first season was deconstruction, this season is reconstruction and the final season may be something like "advancement or activation."
We are all on different stages of this journey. Some are ready to advance and others are just starting to be deconstructed.
What is important through this in finding people who can encourage you where ever you are on the journey. And it cannot always be Tim and I. If it is us then we have failed to catch the heart of the kingdom and our responsibilities as brothers and sisters in the same family.
It is the leaders responsibility to create a culture of encouragement and that is what we must start to build into Horizon for the future.
It is you and I who will be doing the encouraging.
Take a moment today to look at those around you. Have you got your encouragers beside you? Are you encouraging others?
Tim spoke last night about surrounding ourselves with people who will speak positively into our lives and keep us "encouraged" to believe in our prophetic words.
I believe developing a culture of encouragement will be vital in us starting to see our dreams become reality. I also believe that we will see more people come with us on the journey when we develop this culture across Horizon.
Heb3:13 says "encourage one another daily...."
Lets ask God today how we can start to build that as we journey together.
Every time I speak with someone who has started to dream, has started to see the exciting possibilities God has ahead of them, they always say the same thing!
Attention: I need encouragement!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
One degree of separation!
I'm still being challenged by the journey we are on, both personally and within my church.
I keep thinking how it was for Moses and then Joshua as they tried to lead the people from captivity into the promised land. Remember we are not just going "to it" we are going "into it" and taking possession "of it" for God.
Why did some come out but not go in? Why did others go in but not take possession? And who started strongly but eventually stopped following God and died in the desert?
How do we help people "get" the Kingdom message and stay with it as it transforms us?
As I look back over our journey I see many who caught a greater revelation than me about the "Good news of the gospel of the Kingdom of God." People read books and studied their bibles and found great freedom and awakening of passions and dreams for God that had been long buried by religious spirits and legalism. The freedom and joy they received was inspiring to us slow learners.
But as I look around today some of those faces are not around or have seemingly lost that sense of freedom and my heart longs for their return. I have not gone past them is revelation, it is not that, but at some point the newly found freedom has been stalled or deviated away from the journey God has us on. I want to help people get back on Gods path as it pains me to see people left behind. I cannot comprehend what went through Moses mind when God said He was going to wipe out the Israelites and start a fresh. His passion and love for his people "swayed" God and He with held His fury.
God help me to speak to hearts and encourage people to get back on the journey.
Two scriptures come to mind and a great message I heard at a leaders training time many years ago.
Gal5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
At some point something may have cut in and derailed our journey to freedom. I guess this is the easy one although if it was people should have been able to see it more clearly. What decision took us out of freedom, what comment from a leader brought legalism, what encouragement from a friend brought rebellion or what character flaw emerged once we received a little freedom? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves. What decisions did the Israelites make in the desert after receiving freedom that stopped them from going into the promised land?
Can we look back twelve or eighteen months and see where we were on the Kingdom journey? Are we further or have we backed away?
Is receiving FREEDOM enough (salvation) or should we be moving towards a greater victory (Gods kingdom and our inheritance)?
This is not a "doing" thing but a heart issue. Are we still on the journey or have we settled at some point - some point of revelation or some point of error/hurt?
Who has cut across our path?
The second scripture that comes to mind is the parable of the sower in Mat13. The seed sown is the message of the kingdom. And there are several responses given - the enemy steals it, spiritual immaturity, the temptations of the world vs Gods word and finally the person who hears the word, grasps it and bears fruit.
Where are we on this journey? Has some of the truth we received been stollen? Has our "immaturity" meant that we could not handle the truth or is the price we have to pay become to great for us? I don't know your answer but God is testing me on mine.
I encourage you to take stock of your journey, see "who is/may cut in" on you and steel yourselves against it. Draw closer to God and he (enemy) will flee! As we capture our position as son's and daughters and live in the intimacy, dominion, authority and security of this the journey becomes easier.
Finally, several years ago Ian McKellor spoke at a leadership time on being 1 degree off course from Gods vision. He demonstrated how sometimes a small error can eventually take us totally away from the truth. Initially, we can still see the truth but our path starts to diverge the further/longer we are off course. Eventually we cannot see where we were and have no reference point to know we are off course.
It may only be 1 degree of separation but eventually, if not corrected, it will lead us off Gods path for our lives.
Today I hope that we will take the time to look at our journeys. See where we were 12 -18 months ago when we all "found freedom and joy". And now look at our lives today..
Are we further on the journey or has something "cut across" our path.
I want people to stay in the truth, to stay on course. I want to stay in the truth.
Be ruthless! The price Jesus paid for our freedom is too much for us to "dishonor" through offenses or immaturity. The cost of settling in the desert too great compared to the riches and blessings we will receive through "entering" and "possessing" the promised land - our inheritance!
God is gracious and full of mercy. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. As the prodigal son found out, it does not matter where or why we have strayed, it only matters that we return to the Father's house.
My prayer today is for the prodigals and those who have seen something "cut across" their journey. Today is the day of restoration. Today is the day for Gods family.
Today is the day of returning to the kingdom journey - and the fullness there of!
Today is the day to return to the path laid out before us by God, who orders the steps of the righteous.
I keep thinking how it was for Moses and then Joshua as they tried to lead the people from captivity into the promised land. Remember we are not just going "to it" we are going "into it" and taking possession "of it" for God.
Why did some come out but not go in? Why did others go in but not take possession? And who started strongly but eventually stopped following God and died in the desert?
How do we help people "get" the Kingdom message and stay with it as it transforms us?
As I look back over our journey I see many who caught a greater revelation than me about the "Good news of the gospel of the Kingdom of God." People read books and studied their bibles and found great freedom and awakening of passions and dreams for God that had been long buried by religious spirits and legalism. The freedom and joy they received was inspiring to us slow learners.
But as I look around today some of those faces are not around or have seemingly lost that sense of freedom and my heart longs for their return. I have not gone past them is revelation, it is not that, but at some point the newly found freedom has been stalled or deviated away from the journey God has us on. I want to help people get back on Gods path as it pains me to see people left behind. I cannot comprehend what went through Moses mind when God said He was going to wipe out the Israelites and start a fresh. His passion and love for his people "swayed" God and He with held His fury.
God help me to speak to hearts and encourage people to get back on the journey.
Two scriptures come to mind and a great message I heard at a leaders training time many years ago.
Gal5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
At some point something may have cut in and derailed our journey to freedom. I guess this is the easy one although if it was people should have been able to see it more clearly. What decision took us out of freedom, what comment from a leader brought legalism, what encouragement from a friend brought rebellion or what character flaw emerged once we received a little freedom? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves. What decisions did the Israelites make in the desert after receiving freedom that stopped them from going into the promised land?
Can we look back twelve or eighteen months and see where we were on the Kingdom journey? Are we further or have we backed away?
Is receiving FREEDOM enough (salvation) or should we be moving towards a greater victory (Gods kingdom and our inheritance)?
This is not a "doing" thing but a heart issue. Are we still on the journey or have we settled at some point - some point of revelation or some point of error/hurt?
Who has cut across our path?
The second scripture that comes to mind is the parable of the sower in Mat13. The seed sown is the message of the kingdom. And there are several responses given - the enemy steals it, spiritual immaturity, the temptations of the world vs Gods word and finally the person who hears the word, grasps it and bears fruit.
Where are we on this journey? Has some of the truth we received been stollen? Has our "immaturity" meant that we could not handle the truth or is the price we have to pay become to great for us? I don't know your answer but God is testing me on mine.
I encourage you to take stock of your journey, see "who is/may cut in" on you and steel yourselves against it. Draw closer to God and he (enemy) will flee! As we capture our position as son's and daughters and live in the intimacy, dominion, authority and security of this the journey becomes easier.
Finally, several years ago Ian McKellor spoke at a leadership time on being 1 degree off course from Gods vision. He demonstrated how sometimes a small error can eventually take us totally away from the truth. Initially, we can still see the truth but our path starts to diverge the further/longer we are off course. Eventually we cannot see where we were and have no reference point to know we are off course.
It may only be 1 degree of separation but eventually, if not corrected, it will lead us off Gods path for our lives.
Today I hope that we will take the time to look at our journeys. See where we were 12 -18 months ago when we all "found freedom and joy". And now look at our lives today..
Are we further on the journey or has something "cut across" our path.
I want people to stay in the truth, to stay on course. I want to stay in the truth.
Be ruthless! The price Jesus paid for our freedom is too much for us to "dishonor" through offenses or immaturity. The cost of settling in the desert too great compared to the riches and blessings we will receive through "entering" and "possessing" the promised land - our inheritance!
God is gracious and full of mercy. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. As the prodigal son found out, it does not matter where or why we have strayed, it only matters that we return to the Father's house.
My prayer today is for the prodigals and those who have seen something "cut across" their journey. Today is the day of restoration. Today is the day for Gods family.
Today is the day of returning to the kingdom journey - and the fullness there of!
Today is the day to return to the path laid out before us by God, who orders the steps of the righteous.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Yeah we're here! But where are we?
Had an interesting week.
At a couple of completely different meetings with different people the topic has drifted to a discussion on "where are we at the moment" and "how did we get here", followed by "and are we meant to be here?"
Measuring progress is so much harder when we follow Gods plans.
Goal setting and planning are a lot of fun but sometimes a complete waste of time when God is involved.
Since starting on this seed planting, obedience, let God have His way Kingdom journey there have been several occasions I've asked "are we where God wants us?" As an elder in a church where God is taking us in a new direction it is vital to be at peace about what is happening as Gods will for us unfolds. That is not the same as saying I understand it or/and that I would have done it this way.
But I find myself very much at peace about this journey. Somewhere back on this journey I said "yes" to God and agreed to pay the price to enter His plans and advance His kingdom. I did not know what the cost would be, that it would be so painful and that I would lose some friends along the journey. But honestly I was so sick of "churchianity" and self centered faith that something had to change. I had to change. My family had to change. My relationships with people had to change. My relationship with God had to change!
Seeds of change have been planted in Horizon, in Marketplace Christianity, in I'm a WorldChanager and in Dreaming with Purpose 2011. Seed I planted but God is responsible for growing.
I am here now, where ever HERE is, but I am at peace.
Am I happy or totally satisfied? I'm not sure really. The only way I can describe it is that I have a "holy frustration". I just want more of God and I want Him to speed things up! He probably knows I couldn't handle it at the moment BUT I STILL WANT MORE!
Hunger for change and for God has been a common factor in those who are making this transition successfully. It's been an 18 month journey with 18 months of the prophesied 3 year transition still to go. We have to maintain our humility and hunger for longer.
We have to keep growing - not through our efforts - but through our surrender to God. Paul talks of being transformed "by the renewing of our minds". God renew my mind! And keep renewing it!
If I had a word of wisdom for those on this journey it would be to "keep being hungry and keep seeking change." Gods people should always be pioneers but recent church history has seen many settle far to early.
Some may have settled for the provision of God (the desert) rather than seek the abundance of the promised land.
On this journey, on Horizons journey I felt that many had made the transition across into the promised land, they had entered, but not taken possession it it. We have been set free of the old but not yet taken hold of the new.
We don't want anyone to miss out on the abundance and victory we have when we enter Gods kingdom.
Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness........
Now is not the time to settle.
Now is not the time to look back.
Now is not the time to stop paying the price.
Now is not the time to say we have received enough revelation, enough glory, enough change.
Now is the time to say YES and MORE and YOUR WILL BE DONE LORD.
Fiona had an amazing vision at last Sunday mornings meeting - she saw God laying a path in front of us of emeralds and rubies. Emeralds represent essence of life, growth, integrity and new life. Rubies represent something of great value, costly glories, wisdom and prized treasure.
I think God is trying to say something! Stay the course!
I don't know where I am.
I'm not sure how we got here.
God did it VERY quickly.
But we seem to be on track.
The prized treasure of the glory of the Kingdom of God lies ahead of us.
At a couple of completely different meetings with different people the topic has drifted to a discussion on "where are we at the moment" and "how did we get here", followed by "and are we meant to be here?"
Measuring progress is so much harder when we follow Gods plans.
Goal setting and planning are a lot of fun but sometimes a complete waste of time when God is involved.
Since starting on this seed planting, obedience, let God have His way Kingdom journey there have been several occasions I've asked "are we where God wants us?" As an elder in a church where God is taking us in a new direction it is vital to be at peace about what is happening as Gods will for us unfolds. That is not the same as saying I understand it or/and that I would have done it this way.
But I find myself very much at peace about this journey. Somewhere back on this journey I said "yes" to God and agreed to pay the price to enter His plans and advance His kingdom. I did not know what the cost would be, that it would be so painful and that I would lose some friends along the journey. But honestly I was so sick of "churchianity" and self centered faith that something had to change. I had to change. My family had to change. My relationships with people had to change. My relationship with God had to change!
Seeds of change have been planted in Horizon, in Marketplace Christianity, in I'm a WorldChanager and in Dreaming with Purpose 2011. Seed I planted but God is responsible for growing.
I am here now, where ever HERE is, but I am at peace.
Am I happy or totally satisfied? I'm not sure really. The only way I can describe it is that I have a "holy frustration". I just want more of God and I want Him to speed things up! He probably knows I couldn't handle it at the moment BUT I STILL WANT MORE!
Hunger for change and for God has been a common factor in those who are making this transition successfully. It's been an 18 month journey with 18 months of the prophesied 3 year transition still to go. We have to maintain our humility and hunger for longer.
We have to keep growing - not through our efforts - but through our surrender to God. Paul talks of being transformed "by the renewing of our minds". God renew my mind! And keep renewing it!
If I had a word of wisdom for those on this journey it would be to "keep being hungry and keep seeking change." Gods people should always be pioneers but recent church history has seen many settle far to early.
Some may have settled for the provision of God (the desert) rather than seek the abundance of the promised land.
On this journey, on Horizons journey I felt that many had made the transition across into the promised land, they had entered, but not taken possession it it. We have been set free of the old but not yet taken hold of the new.
We don't want anyone to miss out on the abundance and victory we have when we enter Gods kingdom.
Seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness........
Now is not the time to settle.
Now is not the time to look back.
Now is not the time to stop paying the price.
Now is not the time to say we have received enough revelation, enough glory, enough change.
Now is the time to say YES and MORE and YOUR WILL BE DONE LORD.
Fiona had an amazing vision at last Sunday mornings meeting - she saw God laying a path in front of us of emeralds and rubies. Emeralds represent essence of life, growth, integrity and new life. Rubies represent something of great value, costly glories, wisdom and prized treasure.
I think God is trying to say something! Stay the course!
I don't know where I am.
I'm not sure how we got here.
God did it VERY quickly.
But we seem to be on track.
The prized treasure of the glory of the Kingdom of God lies ahead of us.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Dealing with life and death....
There is a funeral at our church today. I'm not very good at funerals.
A few years ago I held my first, and only, funeral for a person in my church in Tauranga. I understood Gods love for Dave and the transformation and joy God had brought into his life were real and tangible. I miss Dave and the insight he had on life once God had captured his heart.
Today we say farewell (for a while) to another man. I did not get the opportunity to get to know him but 200-300 people coming to his funeral today suggests he was a well respected and loved man.
I did get the chance to pray with him a few weeks ago on the last night of the Charlie Robinson conference. I don't know exactly how to explain this but for the first time I REALLY understood the Fathers heart for His children. I stood behind him as we prayed and I wept, uncontrollably for him. It was not the tears of desperation or sadness but those of love. They were not my tears but those of the Father for His child, His son. I couldn't interpret them on the night and did not want to say "God will heal you." It did not feel right to say it. I felt Gods love and appreciation and joy for the man - like a daddy waiting expectantly for his child to come be with him.
I don't understand death. I don't understand why some people are healed and others are not. I don't understand much about God.
But I know He loves us all. I know he cherishes every one of us. I know we will be with Him for eternity - both here on earth and in heaven. That's awesome!
It may not help now as we say goodbye, as we deal with death in our own ways.
But I know the Father love for this man.
He was special to our Father.
We are all special to our Father.
He loves us.
A few years ago I held my first, and only, funeral for a person in my church in Tauranga. I understood Gods love for Dave and the transformation and joy God had brought into his life were real and tangible. I miss Dave and the insight he had on life once God had captured his heart.
Today we say farewell (for a while) to another man. I did not get the opportunity to get to know him but 200-300 people coming to his funeral today suggests he was a well respected and loved man.
I did get the chance to pray with him a few weeks ago on the last night of the Charlie Robinson conference. I don't know exactly how to explain this but for the first time I REALLY understood the Fathers heart for His children. I stood behind him as we prayed and I wept, uncontrollably for him. It was not the tears of desperation or sadness but those of love. They were not my tears but those of the Father for His child, His son. I couldn't interpret them on the night and did not want to say "God will heal you." It did not feel right to say it. I felt Gods love and appreciation and joy for the man - like a daddy waiting expectantly for his child to come be with him.
I don't understand death. I don't understand why some people are healed and others are not. I don't understand much about God.
But I know He loves us all. I know he cherishes every one of us. I know we will be with Him for eternity - both here on earth and in heaven. That's awesome!
It may not help now as we say goodbye, as we deal with death in our own ways.
But I know the Father love for this man.
He was special to our Father.
We are all special to our Father.
He loves us.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Walking over mountains and through valleys
I'm in a tiny lull between busy times in the various projects I'm working on.
I've found myself reflecting on the passion and energy we have when we are busy and how easy that is relative to the quiet times. It almost seems harder to maintain passion for Gods plans when we are not driving towards some aspect of our dreams.
What does passion look like when we not running around madly doing stuff? Is it reflected in the peace we display whilst we wait for the next forward moment? Is it simply that we CAN "rest" whilst we wait for God to open the next door and don't have to be doing something just to show "everyone" we still are passionate! Is passion found in our speech when we talk of the project and the dream with the same joy and enthusiasm even when we not working on it at the time?
Obviously I believe it's a little bit of each.
We often have the mindset that other people will think we have lost our passion for our dream if we are not busy. To be honest I am quite comfortable that God is okay with this "lull between works" but I'm not sure those around me are. Do you feel pressure from people to be driving your project or passion just to keep others happy? Do you think you will lose their support if you don't give them something to do?
I often wonder if it is really man that puts pressure on us to be active - our friends, our family, our financial backers.........would they still support us if we just "rested" and waited for God to plan and initiate the next step. Because God would not stop backing us if we took a break and rested in Him. He would not get impatient if we stopped driving things and started following Him. He would not move on to a new project if we were waiting for Him to provide the grace for the next step.
Now none of this is happening to me at the moment so I'm not writing from any motive. I was just sitting here thinking about all that could be done and followed up AND YET I feel okay just resting for a few days and trusting that when the time is right I will get up and into it again - but with the grace and newly refreshed perspective that comes from spending time with my Daddy in heaven.
I don't have many dreams whilst I sleep but God has been starting to catch my ear in between the zzzzzzzzzzzz of a deep sleep. Two days ago I clearly remember a dream where someone said to read Jer29:12. I awoke with the words resounding in my thoughts (not forgetting my dreams like I usually do). So I immediately read the scripture: Jer29:12 And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
God was calling me away to spend time with Him, to give Him my thoughts and concerns, my priorities and strategies AND simply lay them at His feet. I have had many prophetic words about "resting my head on the Fathers chest" and "lying down by a quiet river and hearing God" and I'm only just starting to understand the importance of firstly timeout and secondly spending that time in a quiet place with my Father.
I am uncomfortable waiting here for Him. I am not used to it. I want to make some things happen that I know should be done. And yet no matter what I do it is wasted unless God is with me and "in" what I'm doing.
So the follow up can wait until tomorrow. The phone calls can wait until Friday. People may or may not come to my conference but it was Gods idea so I can leave the responsibility of gathering registrations to Him - at least for tonight.
Tonight I will rest again. I'll tell God a few things on my mind and I will try find His rest. I need it. Other things can wait.
My passion has not dwindled but the path to success sometimes goes via a quiet place with the Lord where nothing seems to be happening on the outside but everything is happening on the inside.
Tonight is Pentecost. We have a very important prayer meeting ahead and we are very expectant. Ian Johnson prophesied on Sunday that we should be expectant for what God will do and not be concerned that nothing appeared to be happening around us.
I think that's what a quiet time with God is meant to do.We look on the outside, at our circumstances, at our plans and nothing appears to be progressing - but God says LOOK OUT, He is doing something huge on the inside of us and He is moving mountains, filling valleys, making straight paths in the spiritual that we will soon walk on.
The future is better and easier because God made the way, whilst I was resting with Him.
And i still have my passion.
I've found myself reflecting on the passion and energy we have when we are busy and how easy that is relative to the quiet times. It almost seems harder to maintain passion for Gods plans when we are not driving towards some aspect of our dreams.
What does passion look like when we not running around madly doing stuff? Is it reflected in the peace we display whilst we wait for the next forward moment? Is it simply that we CAN "rest" whilst we wait for God to open the next door and don't have to be doing something just to show "everyone" we still are passionate! Is passion found in our speech when we talk of the project and the dream with the same joy and enthusiasm even when we not working on it at the time?
Obviously I believe it's a little bit of each.
We often have the mindset that other people will think we have lost our passion for our dream if we are not busy. To be honest I am quite comfortable that God is okay with this "lull between works" but I'm not sure those around me are. Do you feel pressure from people to be driving your project or passion just to keep others happy? Do you think you will lose their support if you don't give them something to do?
I often wonder if it is really man that puts pressure on us to be active - our friends, our family, our financial backers.........would they still support us if we just "rested" and waited for God to plan and initiate the next step. Because God would not stop backing us if we took a break and rested in Him. He would not get impatient if we stopped driving things and started following Him. He would not move on to a new project if we were waiting for Him to provide the grace for the next step.
Now none of this is happening to me at the moment so I'm not writing from any motive. I was just sitting here thinking about all that could be done and followed up AND YET I feel okay just resting for a few days and trusting that when the time is right I will get up and into it again - but with the grace and newly refreshed perspective that comes from spending time with my Daddy in heaven.
I don't have many dreams whilst I sleep but God has been starting to catch my ear in between the zzzzzzzzzzzz of a deep sleep. Two days ago I clearly remember a dream where someone said to read Jer29:12. I awoke with the words resounding in my thoughts (not forgetting my dreams like I usually do). So I immediately read the scripture: Jer29:12 And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
God was calling me away to spend time with Him, to give Him my thoughts and concerns, my priorities and strategies AND simply lay them at His feet. I have had many prophetic words about "resting my head on the Fathers chest" and "lying down by a quiet river and hearing God" and I'm only just starting to understand the importance of firstly timeout and secondly spending that time in a quiet place with my Father.
I am uncomfortable waiting here for Him. I am not used to it. I want to make some things happen that I know should be done. And yet no matter what I do it is wasted unless God is with me and "in" what I'm doing.
So the follow up can wait until tomorrow. The phone calls can wait until Friday. People may or may not come to my conference but it was Gods idea so I can leave the responsibility of gathering registrations to Him - at least for tonight.
Tonight I will rest again. I'll tell God a few things on my mind and I will try find His rest. I need it. Other things can wait.
My passion has not dwindled but the path to success sometimes goes via a quiet place with the Lord where nothing seems to be happening on the outside but everything is happening on the inside.
Tonight is Pentecost. We have a very important prayer meeting ahead and we are very expectant. Ian Johnson prophesied on Sunday that we should be expectant for what God will do and not be concerned that nothing appeared to be happening around us.
I think that's what a quiet time with God is meant to do.We look on the outside, at our circumstances, at our plans and nothing appears to be progressing - but God says LOOK OUT, He is doing something huge on the inside of us and He is moving mountains, filling valleys, making straight paths in the spiritual that we will soon walk on.
The future is better and easier because God made the way, whilst I was resting with Him.
And i still have my passion.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Been a bit quiet as I take time to see where things are going....
Hi Blogger followers. I've been a bit quiet lately as I'm just taking stock for the season ahead before I commit to anything new. Plenty on the go but needing time and a quiet place to find out What God wants to do next.
And I'm planning a few days off in next couple of weeks to refresh the body.
Back into blogger mode shortly.
And I'm planning a few days off in next couple of weeks to refresh the body.
Back into blogger mode shortly.
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