Just something to think about...

Rom 4:5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

God does not want anything from me...

repeat after me again, God does not want anything from me, and again, God does not want anything from me.

How do I know? God IS love and love is...

not self-seeking/isn't always "me first," (1 Cor 13)

God doesn't even need anything from you! God is complete in of Himself!

BE CONVINCED OF THAT! (Btw, I'm speaking this probably more to myself than to any of you =P But it doesn't make it less true.)

Possibly controversial statement - If someone is fully convinced about the goodness of God, that person will not fall into sin. (Any issues with this, PLEASE let me know dear readers).

Evidence - The original deception which the serpent used (and still uses all the time!) was essentially this - God is holding out on you aka God is not perfectly good and God is not loving you.

When (I say when because we all can and will get there) you are fully convinced about the love and goodness of God, that He is FOR you and is NOT looking to get something from you, you don't need to step out of His will. You won't even want to!

So again - God DOES NOT want anything from me!

Better to write this now...

Before I forget or get lazy to write.

Humans in general like to escape reality. We want to get away from our cares, concerns, demands, problems etc. That's why we play games, watch movies, read books, watch TV, go on holidays etc. It's our way to escape the 'reality of life' for just a bit.

In some way, the Christian has access to better. We DO have a way to escape reality which is better than any secular way. To enter and stay in the presence of God!
To do so is to enter heaven, where there ARE no issues, where even if there are, you KNOW that Daddy will take care of things, where other issues like doubt and fear and guilt and pain are dealt with as Daddy and Jesus and the Holy Spirit pour in love, confidence, passion, strength, grace and forgiveness.

To enter God's presence is the escape the 'reality' that what we have here on Earth is all that we have, and the enter the HIGHER reality that 'soon and very soon, My King is coming' and 'we will be with the One we love, with unveild faces we'll see'.

Thought for the day

If something is truly worth fighting and sacrifice, don't complain about it after the sacrifice! That devalues things, and if you are, consider if you were really giving freely and cheerfully.

By all means, don't give to God something that cost you nothing, but giving with a cheerful heart applies before, during and AFTER the giving!

Back from the States!

Yes, I've been gone.

Yes, I will update about the States soon =P

So much, overflowing, which is the way it should be =D

A foundational question to ask...

"Who do you say I am?"

So who DO you say Jesus/God/Holy Spirit is?
Have you thought about it?
Not in the perfect answer (though if that IS your answer then great and so be it =) ) sense, but in a personal-I-can-give-specific-examples sense.

Because this is FOUNDATIONAL to how you live your life. And as you ponder and think and raise examples to yourself and keep thinking and pondering, something inside you changes. Because as you look at WHO God has been in your life, something fundamental in you changes to realize perhaps, that God IS your provider. And you worry that bit less, and you ponder some more and more, and you find that more and more true. And so you worry even less.

Your actions betray your beliefs. And your beliefs will determine your life. So answer this question which Jesus put to the disciples daily:

"Who do YOU say I am?"

The book in between...

There's a book in between Malachi and Matthew. A book spanning 400 years (so people estimate) and one which says alot about God. One which has no words written in it and yet is very important. For those looking no, there's no actual book there, but in between, on that page in most Bibles which says 'New Testament', for 400 years, God kept 'silent'. Nothing was written in the Bible during those 400 years. So was God really silent, did God really do nothing? How could God abandon His chosen people for 400 years? Or did He? There's a big difference between waiting ON God and waiting WITH Him. God didn't sit on His bum and go: "Ho hum, We'll just let them suffer for 400 years and then We'll do something." God was waiting. For what? Perhaps if nothing else, for Joseph and Mary to finally be born and bethrothed. For John to be ready to be born. In that 400 years, God was probably still preparing for the coming of Jesus in His human genealogy. Just because God doesn't say anything doesn't mean that He doesn't care. And so we learn, to wait, not alone, but with God, not ON God, but with Him, not trying to move His hand, but waiting in His arms, not squirming and yelling, but in quiet and content trust. Dad, I'm really NOT good at waiting, but teach me and help me to abide in You, knowing that You WILL move, and that You ARE for me. Thank You for loving me, I love You too.

What's in a name...

one thing I've been learning is naming before numbering, but not without it (from Peter McHugh). The principle is simple, Daddy is interested in your identity first before what you do. Thus you are before you do. Perhaps I could put it this way, prophecy before fulfilment. Or, dare I say it, title before function (GASP! Please don't anyone kill me, I will clarify this ><*). What does it mean? It means that the way Daddy functions and is, is that He gives each one a vision, a destiny, an identity BEFORE He expects (I'm not necessarily sure this is the right word) results. That is, who we are is not based on what we do, what we do comes from who we are. Example one - My new favourite Bible character: Gideon. Why? He's a chicken wuss. No, really, I mean it. He IS a coward, or perhaps, he was, until God worked and changed him. He wusses when God first calls him. He wusses in tearing down the altar of Baal. He wusses when the townspeople come to get him. He wusses when God sends him out, and he wusses AGAIN just as he is about to fight the Midianites. Why do I love Gideon? Because I see alot of me in Gideon. =P There IS a part of me which is afraid to do all these things which God calls me to do, a cowardly part of me which doesn't want to step out. Why do I love God even more? Because He STILL uses Gideon, and more than that, He helps Gideon along the way. I mean, really, Gideon gets to test God like 4 times before doing anything and God accepted that, God even initiated the last test (the one before fighting the midianites) and made provision for Gideon should he be afraid. But even more than that, God gives Gideon a new identity, God CALLS OUT of Gideon his destiny: Judges 6:12 - When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." That was the LAST thing one Gideon's list of things that he would be called, but God called out Gideon's identity MIGHTY WARRIOR. God looks at us for what we are called and have the capability to be, not what we are now! Which leads me to prophecy. If God was interested in performance, prophecy would be so different. So often prophecy is about who we ARE and who God sees us to be, to encourage us that HEY! THIS is who you are. Prophecy calls us into our identity, NOW. God doesn't wait until we've done what we 'needed' to do before sending a prophet and going: "Oh, good, you've now become a great leader." God sends a prophet before and says: "You ARE a great leader." And from that vision, from that identity, then we start to do the things which great leaders do, knowing that this is how God sees us! And so...... title before function. Now, I know, I know, we always teach that you function as a leader first before you get the title. But perhaps, that is a teaching which needs to be clarified as we teach it. A title is not something that you EARN. It is something that you are. What we really mean is that you need to recognize first YOURSELF, that you are a leader, from there you act like a leader, and THEN at the right time, a, hmmm... official title is given. What we really mean is this: a true leader isn't a leader because of a 'official position' a true leader is a leader because God has called them to be and they believe they are one regardless of whether or not there is an 'official title' given. This ended a loooooooong way from where I thought it would, but, yeah... Father, let me live from a place of identity, and not from performance, I pray and ask this in Your Name Jesus, amen.

How DOES one reconcile this?

Mat 22:37
Acts 9:31

The Love of God, and the Fear of God. There IS a reason why I'm picking on 2 NT entries, and that's primarily because some perhaps might think that the Fear of the Lord is some OT concept which is not appicable under the Covenant of Grace. Nup. The NEW TESTAMENT church lived in Fear of the Lord too.

In saying and learning about acceptance before performance but no without performance, in understanding that love should motivate why I do what I do. Where does fear come in?

Part of me says that this is one of those mystery before mastery but not without mastery things. That in part, I WILL have to accept that you serve the Lord out of fear AND love. That I will never quite ever be able to figure this concept in words to explain it clearly, and it's one of those things that just... IS.

Is it wrong to serve out of reverent respect for God, certainly not. Is it wrong to serve out of love, also not. So how DOES it happen? To be honest, I don't really know. The Greek word for fear used here is phobos, from which we get phobia. Now there might be an alternate meaning which is: reverence for one's husband. But honestly, Saul still falls smack down to the ground and calls out Lord. John in revelation does the same and this is the disciple that Jesus loved k, if ANYONE was a friend of Jesus, John was. And Jesus has to tell John, Don't be afraid (phobou).
There is something about GOD which you just will have to reverently respect. PERHAPS interestingly John actually doesn't cry out that he has unclean lips aka a few peeps including Isaiah. So I don't know. Maybe this: Just because you can boldly approach the throne of grace, makes it not less the throne of the MOST HIGH GOD. To have love for someone in no way means that it diminishes your respect for that person's authority and wisdom. In fact, if you love someone, and you know that person well, all the more you should hold respect and reverence for who they are and what they have done. The fact is, I hold the opinions of Mom, Dad and Karen higher because I love them, what they think matters to me. One way that love is shown IS to have respect for someone.

So... perhaps this, and I have no doubt I will have to come back to this post again and again since me human and me like to swing one way or the other between love and fear. Love not in the sense of just cuddles and sugar high love, and fear not in the sense of He's gonna scorch me to bits in His holiness and lightning and thunder and glowy scary eyes (which all Three Of Them probably have anyway), but... a mature love which knows and understands and respects Who He is. One which views Him as greater, and yet has come down to have great, great intimacy with us.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me in this. So often I put you in a box of how I should relate to You, sometimes not even giving You the due honor of relating multifacetedly with You. Please enable me to mature and grow in my relationship with all of You. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

So why DO we give thanks for food?

Seriously, why do YOU give thanks?
Are you REALLY thankful?

Why should we even care to ask this? Well, quite simply, giving thanks for food is something which is so automatic, so INGRAINED, we just do it. I once had a comment that I ALWAYS started my thanks with the same words, and it's true!

BECAUSE it's so ingrained, we DO need to think about our motivation, or we could just be perpetuating an underlying lie. For instance, appeasement. If I don't give thanks, God will not love me. LIE! But if you DON'T think about it you reinforce this thought EVERYTIME you give thanks. Another - ritual. It's what I've always done, so do it lor. LIE! If you're doing it for the sake of doing it, you're basically also feeding to yourself that God isn't actually personal. After all, He doesn't care about these little prayers of thanks, when in actual fact, God is EXTREMELY personal.

So why DO we give thanks? I'll leave YOU to think about it. =)

Meditation Vs Brainwashing

Now that I have your attention =P

In the Bible we're often told to meditate on the Word, that is, chew on it, slowly, over and over, play it back to yourself again and again. Which really sounds like brainwashing ain't it? In fact aren't you just psyching yourself which is why things change?

It's easy to think that way, and in a manner, meditation IS brain washing, you're washing your brain of lies, and letting it soak in the TRUTH.

So in essence? The difference is the content. Meditation works because you meditate on the TRUTH. So if the enemy comes and whispers to you: "You're just psyching yourself, that's why it works." You can go tell him: "Well, you're just afraid because I'm sharpening my Sword." =)

Perhaps confusing post ahead...

Free streaming thoughts, so you have been warned. =P

Something which has always sort of nagged at me is how I generally pray to God the Father, not Jesus. And perhaps at a deeper level, I'm not really so sure I necessarily know Jesus all that well.

Now I don't mean academically, but, there is something of it that I KNOW Daddy, I kind of know the Holy Spirit too, but Jesus, hmmm... Not really, or perhaps, the Jesus which I really know seems to be just His human side. The Jew from Nazereth in history in skin.

Which I think (MY OWN OPINION!) is an issue, which I DO have to change.

If you don't know God and only know Jesus and the Holy Spirit, something is WIERD, cause Jesus says that if you know Him, you WILL know Daddy.

If you don't know Jesus and know God and the Holy Spirit, something's wierd too, cause salvation is ONLY through Jesus and, well, yeah, it's just wierd.

If you don't know the Holy Spirit and know only Daddy and Jesus, then well, you're missing out, cause you don't have power.

It's kinda like knowing someone who is a father, cricketer and piano player. They're ALL him, but you kinda can't really say you know KNOW him if you only know 2 aspects of him.

So well, yeah...

Jesus, I WANT to know you, to get to know you as ALIVE and as God. Please help me and speak to me. In Your Name I pray, amen.

P.S Paul knew all three, so that's good enough reason for me too also! =P

P.P.S If there's some major theological flaw in this post, PLEASE get back to me k all you regular readers (if I actually have any =P)

Need a dose of thankfulness and joy?

Consider this excercise:

Go through a list of things that you have, and consider carefully whether having them is a priviledge or a right.

Thank you Father, that I am priviledged to be able to call you just that: "Father".
Thank you so very much.

The Holy Spirit...

...is like and engagement ring. =D

No, serious - 2 Cor 5:5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

The fact is, those of us who now have the Holy Spirit, have a guarantee, a 'visible' sign that we ARE going to be married to Christ our bridegroom. If ever anyone questions us, "How do you know Jesus is actually coming back for you?" We can point to the Holy Spirit, much as a bride-to-be can point to her engagement ring. A sign which says: "Already promised to someone"

We are already promised to Jesus, take heart, take comfort, be encouraged, and live as His bride-to-be!

What do YOU have?

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Peter KNEW what he had, what was it I wonder? What was Peter thinking that he had? A relationship with God? Power from on high? The presence and the power of the Holy Spirit? Authority in Jesus' name to heal the sick?

Perhaps all of the above. But do we know what we have? Not on some theoretical level, but Peter knew it, KNEW and it was a deep knowing much as you know that you have $50 dollars in your wallet. It was something which Peter had a clear understanding of possessing. He did not second guess or think about it. (Which is quite like Peter's personality, but still =P)

Peter was certain about his inheritance and position and possession. What do YOU have?

How do you...

...read the Bible?

Do you read it as a piece of history?
As a compulsory text book?

Why is it that a "contemporary" testimony stirs something within my heart, causes me to yell out in my spirit "THIS IS WHAT I WANT!" and not the Bible?

Because of how I view the Bible, because subconciously I still think "That was then, this is now."

NO! The Bible is as valid a testimony then as it is now, the stories, the miracles, they can, should and ought to stir your faith as much as ANY modern day testimony of God's miraculous power. God is THE SAME, yesterday, today and FOREVER!

Random thoughts..

So yeah, it might be random =P

I've come to realize I don't actually think that fast! =P Oh noesssss.
I tend to need a night or two to chew over things, especially new and challenging things which challenge fundamental thoughts that I hold.

That's part of why it's so important for me to CONSTANTLY chew on the Word, so that words which Daddy drop into my heart are there ready, rather than me having to well, wait to give an answer which sometimes can't wait. =D

No one is perfect, therefore everyone makes mistakes and well, yes, the truth is no one can ever actually accept you perfectly as you are. Except God.

There's two ways to look at this. It's really sad cause no human can ever really fully always accept you as you are without any expectations so to speak. OR God is the only one who is enough, which is and has and will always be the truth, GOD is enough.

Following that train of thought, a couple of verses

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Galatians 6:1
[ Doing Good to All ] Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (in Context) Ephesians 4 (Whole Chapter)

Daddy knew this, which is why we DO have to bear with one another, and restore each other GENTLY!

So have to work on gentle, please help me Father.

God is God and I am not...

Somehow, God just keeps drawing me back to this again. To be still and KNOW that He is God. He is in control, and that He loves me, is the most amazing and comforting thing in the world. Just reading psalm 8 again, it's just so filled with awe and disbelief that God, GOD would love man, would care for man, would make man to be over so many things. It's AMAZING!!!

Psalm 8
For the director of music. According to gittith.[a] A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise[b]
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings[c]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Good news,,,

... Has a momentum, has a force of its own. It's actually very HARD to stop the spread of good news. Something within the human nature WANTS to share about things which have happened, especially happy things!

Something within us just wants to be able to share in the joy of others. Something within us wants to celebrate with them.

so what about THE Good News? Perhaps it is time to ponder whether it really IS Good News to us, or whether it has become a routine part of life we take for granted.

Psa 8:3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

Lord, let me NEVER lose the wonder that You love me and would send Your Only Son to die a painful and horrible death for me that He did not deserve. And let me never forget that Both of You did so willingly out of LOVE!

Jaywalking lessons...

No, I didn't.

I contemplated it. I was in a hurry, there were no cars, people were doing it.
So I thought: "What do I gain from this?!"

The answer was rather immediate: "You gain My favour."

Mat 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Something to chew on...

Rev 21:14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The city in this verse talks about the New Jerusalem. Perhaps symbolically, but probably more in truth. Upon 12 men, the 12 apostles, God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit built the church. Much like the 12 foundations which hold the city up, which is the bride, which is the church. Just 12 ORDINARY men.

The thought?

Don't EVER doubt what God can do through you, if you will just surrender your life to Him.

Something to consider...

I know we often encourage our people to be "prepared spiritually" before coming for LG and stuff, but, perhaps something to think about. Alot of the people which Jesus ministered too WEREN'T spiritually prepared by our definitions.

I mean hey, if you're going to be spreading the Gospel, NO ONE is gonna be spiritually prepared, they won't know Christ yet!

My point? Perhaps it's good training for us who DO know Him to be able to listen in to Him so that we can have LGs/services where those who ARN'T spiritually prepared can STILL recieve, for us to be prepared that people WON'T be prepared.

But anyway, just something to think about. =)

From John...

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

It ends with:

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

I still don't get it, not fully, but belief itself is not enough, or perhaps, belief is tested and will continue to be tested, and we need to grow from faith to faith. Perhaps it was just a surface belief which the Jews had, and with harder teaching, teaching which challenged their pride, their true colours were revealed. Maybe that's why Jesus said you are REALLY my disciples.

When God challenges me and my ways and thinking, how will *I* respond?

Controversial statement...

Think about this:

Accepting Christ alone is NOT enough.

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Coming back to earth...

THIS is why God keeps telling the Israelites to write stuff down. They forget far too fast. I'm the same, I forget FAR too fast, especially when the going gets rough, and all I see is the storm, and I forget that God has already said: "Let's go over to the other side. " I forget that He WILL bring me through all of this.

So i've speed read this whole blog again, and I'm reminded of all the wonderful things which God HAS taught me and spoken into me. Yes, I have to grow, but hey, you know what, I don't have to be the same as anyone else.

Fractured thoughts, deal with it =) Sometimes i DON'T have to care what other people think.

Thank You, Abba Father, for the simple but powerful reminder that You ARE in my life, even when I sometimes don't see it. You DO love me. *hugs* I love You too.

Jer 29:13

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Simple but powerful truth - This is about an EVERYDAY thing, this is EVERY time you come to quiet time, or when you are seeking for an answer or when you need advice from Daddy. This is at every church service, and every prayer meeting, and EVERY time you come into LG or seek to enter into Daddy's presence.

PUSH 100%! DON'T settle, if you haven't found Him, KEEP PRESSING ON! He WILL be found!

Kinect...

is FUN! =P

Something to think about...

The fact that grace is free doesn't cheapen it, it makes it even MORE valuable!