The freedom in following Jesus comes from no longer trying to get him to do what we want, but to revel in his desires and his working.
Wayne Jacobsen - Lifestream.org
Think about that for a moment. Can you even seperate what you think God wants and what you want? For me this is an invitation to sit down and see what Jesus is doing and see how He wants me to join in, or maybe just to applaud something he wants to amaze me with.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Freedom
Sunday, 8 August 2010
It was all over before it even started....
Heard somebody speak about Revelation 13:8 today. "The Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the World" Hit me right between the eyes that God had planned the rescue of mankind before Adam had taken his first breath. What an amazing God.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
During a particularly testing time of our holiday, when everything seemed to be be going wrong, I found myself on my own, bodyboarding in the sea. I looked over at a 'perfect' German family, much like my own, with Mum, Dad, & two teenage girls. They were having a great time, all surfing perfectly together. I found myself longing for what they seemed to have, but then I heard a voice in my head that said quite clearly - 'Stop looking at them' I understood almost immediately that God wanted me to concentrate on my own life and not compare myself to others.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Map and Guide
The thought came to me today as I was driving to a client and having to refer to a Map to get directions it was like relying on the Bible, like a map on our journey with God. Although the map is useful it isn't half as much fun as having Jesus sat next to you on the passenger seat, passing the time with you and guiding you through each twist and turn.
The Bible can map out the whole of past, present and future for us, but only Jesus, by his Spirit can engage with every step of the journey.
The Bible can map out the whole of past, present and future for us, but only Jesus, by his Spirit can engage with every step of the journey.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Seek first...
Matthew 6:33 can be looked at in a whole new light - instead of
seeking to make yourself righteous - working hard to put yourself under the lordship of Christ by rigorous spiritual discipline. Instead to look for the kingdom. See with new eyes and literally 'seek out' how God is working. The Message calls it 'steeping your life in God-reality'.
seeking to make yourself righteous - working hard to put yourself under the lordship of Christ by rigorous spiritual discipline. Instead to look for the kingdom. See with new eyes and literally 'seek out' how God is working. The Message calls it 'steeping your life in God-reality'.
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Only Jesus can save you from your sins
I have been a Christian for 21 years, and have discovered that looking like you are doing all the right things like; attending meetings, trying to read your bible more, going to conferences learning more about God, being more committed to the church, trying to pray more and reading the latest christian book cannot and will not make you any less immune from the effect of sin in your life.
In fact, living like this produces the dreadful paradox that you are more aware of your sin than ever before but are powerless to stop it ruining your peace. You are caught on a treadmill of greater sin awareness and driven to do more and more of the things that you think will protect you like; reading the latest christian book, or going to this conference or this prayer meeting, or becoming even more committed to church, taking on more things in the vain hope that these holy things will somehow cleanse you of the sin that you now see is clinging ever more tightly.
This will go on until you burn out or like me you let sin take a step
too far and then you say STOP! stop everything knock all these false dead ends down and start again with nothing but Jesus and a trust that he loves you and is doing the best for you.
Only then, when HE directs, do you find that relationship with him and him only inside you is turning you into the person he knows you can be, and the
blessing to yourself and others that you have been striving to be, slowly and gently letting him save you from your sins.
In fact, living like this produces the dreadful paradox that you are more aware of your sin than ever before but are powerless to stop it ruining your peace. You are caught on a treadmill of greater sin awareness and driven to do more and more of the things that you think will protect you like; reading the latest christian book, or going to this conference or this prayer meeting, or becoming even more committed to church, taking on more things in the vain hope that these holy things will somehow cleanse you of the sin that you now see is clinging ever more tightly.
This will go on until you burn out or like me you let sin take a step
too far and then you say STOP! stop everything knock all these false dead ends down and start again with nothing but Jesus and a trust that he loves you and is doing the best for you.
Only then, when HE directs, do you find that relationship with him and him only inside you is turning you into the person he knows you can be, and the
blessing to yourself and others that you have been striving to be, slowly and gently letting him save you from your sins.
Friday, 2 April 2010
Do you love me?
Watching the film Blade Runner the other day I was struck as the hero Deckard says to his heroine Rachel, 'Do you love me?' She replies 'I love you' He then says 'Do you trust me?' To which she replies 'I trust you' What struck me is that here is the essence of what God wants for his church, and that all the church must learn from him. All he wants is for her to love him and trust him.
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