Pray and release...

The difficulty in coming to terms with something that is bothering you is that you have to let it go.

There is considerable challenge in accepting that which we don't wish to accept or that which we are not ready to accept.

Yet, how long do we hold on to that which bothers us. Sometimes it can be a little thing, like a prickle in our sock, and other times something so huge that it threatens to consume our peace of mind.

Our peace of mind is significant. If we are disturbed or distracted or distraught, then we are not able to be still with God. We are bothered. We are irritated. We are obsessed. We are confused. We are concerned. We are wasting our time. Our stewing and steeping in our issues does not improve them or solve them. It just tears at our hearts and our mind. It damages our relationships. If we have something pressing on our heart about another person every time we speak to them or spend time with them, whatever it is is between us. They may not know. We may choose to never share what it is that bothers us. Sometimes we know from past experience that such discussions are pointless, only resulting in a situation becoming much worse. Sometimes too we know the other person may not be receptive- and that no matter what we say or how we present it they will not understand. Is that our worst fear? Do we worry that the significance of whatever of our burden will be minimised or destroyed if the person at the heart of it deems it trivial or irrelevant?

We don't need to have our issues/concerns/baggage validated. If you carry it, it exists. The question is- how long do you want it to weigh you down? How long do you want to rail against it and wish it was different? Do you want it to be different.

This is where forgiveness comes in. Forgiveness is huge. It is bigger than we think it is- and sometimes we think it is enormous. Quite often we think it is so big that we can't do it. We can't forgive. It is simply too much. How can God ask us to forgive? Doesn't God know how important it all was? If we forgive doesn't that mean it no longer matters.

Forgiveness means we trust God. It means that we entrust our most precious concerns and fears [and baggage] to God. It means that we look at others through God's eyes and we understand that we need to forgive them in order to receive God's grace and forgiveness.

Remove the chains. 

Let us free ourselves. 

Let us release our burdens. 

Let us forgive so we can have peace in God.

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart

   and lean not on your own understanding;  

in all your ways submit to him,    

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3. 5-6

"He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20

God is LOVE....

Sometimes to love someone is the hardest thing to do. It is like your heart seizes up and contracts and it is this hardened muscle that no matter how much you massage it, coax it, rub it, encourage it will not breathe out enough to release love.

God and I are in an epic battle at the moment in regard to love.

I watched Mark Brown's clip on Youtube (How to truly love). God wants us to love beyond our expectations, beyond our comfort zone. If we love within our expectations and our comfort zone, then we aren't loving in the way that God loves us. God calls us to love.

1 Corinthians 8.3: Whoever loves is known by God

I pray for God's eyes and God's heart to help me love better. I am out there beyond my expectations and my comfort zone. Some days are easier than others.

I feel like Job as I wonder whether being beyond our comfort zone ever becomes comfortable.

1 John 4.8: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Don't get comfortable...

God calls us to be extraordinary, to step out for Him.

Being a Christian is not meant to be comfortable. Our faith and our God can offer us shelter, peace and comfort but we are not called to live comfortable lives. We are called to be obedient, to follow Jesus, to honour Him in all we do, to shine as light within our communities, to share the Word, to be salt in a world that has lost its way....but we aren't called to be comfortable.

Be uncomfortable. Be disturbed. Let that guide you forward.

ACT.

Just breathe....

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.


2 Corinthians 12.9


When we feel overwhelmed, disappointed in ourselves or afraid that we will not measure up we need to remember that in God's eyes we are perfect. God sees us complete in Christ.


We should not relish our weaknesses or wear them around as a badge declaring our pride in our flaws. They should not be held as an excuse or a rationale.


It is through our weakness that we receive God's grace.


God takes the worst of us and uses it to work with us, through us and for us.


What a humbling thought.

The mood.....

I had a great day. Then I came home. In the space of five minutes I was having a bad day.

I have sat and stewed and thought about how bad I am feeling.

I came to a realisation. Now that I am in my bad mood I want to indulge it. I want to unleash my bad mood.

If I let the mood go it is like I have not been upset/bothered/irritated/hurt by how I have been treated and what has been said to me.

It is like I am entitled to my bad mood. I earned it because of what I have endured.

WHAT A LOAD OF COMPLETE AND UTTER RUBBISH. Am I deranged? Who wants to be in a bad mood? Who wants to dwell in the land of irritation, anger, confusion, fear [pick whichever adjective applies to your bad moods].

I revoke the power of the bad mood. I reclaim my good mood.

" You will always harvest what you plant....So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." 
Galatians 6.7-9


It is human to undergo the emotions that lead to a bad mood. It is what happens next that defines us as followers of Christ.

As for me, I have put my mood back in my pocket, recovered my smile and will now go out into the household to share some love. There is much joy to be found in my day.

Open the eyes of my heart Lord......

for I want to see you.

That song has been running through my head all day. Every quiet moment I hear those words echoing again and again.

Are my eyes open? Am I seeing God at all potential moments?

The noise and busyness of our everyday lives can stifle our ability to discern God at work within us and within our lives.

Open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes...open my eyes.............................

Be still...listen...look...wait...God is at work here.

How has GOD blessed you today?

It is too easy to focus on what goes wrong in our day. There are many little and big words, actions and situations that can irritate, annoy, frustrate, scare, dismay, anger and derail us. Sometimes it can be much harder to find the good in our day.

Today is a glorious day. From the moment I awoke I could feel it would be a day to make me smile and bring me joy. No matter what happens I will keep smiling. I know that GOD is with me and that he will strengthen, defend and empower me. He will guide me. He will lead me. He will comfort me.

He will bless me. All that my day brings will carry a blessing from the Lord. His blessing tells me of His love for me.

When I am living for GOD each day can be glorious. I will look for the blessings in my day.

Today is a glorious day...

Knock Knock.....

Last night I was reading and reading Paul's prayer for spiritual growth in Ephesians 3.14-21. It is so empowering and uplifting.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grown down into God's love and keep you strong. 


And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.


Now all glory to God who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever. Amen 

This morning I had a work colleague read this as the Word they wanted to share.

I love those moments when you don't just get a message from God, but he keeps sending it to you until you go 'aha'. Hopefully He doesn't need to 'knock' too many times before we hear him.

And yes, I went 'aha'!

Food for thought, Food for the soul....

I am stuck in Ephesians at the moment. Not in the sense of being bogged down, because Ephesians is exactly where I want to be. I just keep returning again and again and each time discover a new meaning and a new word to contemplate.

Ephesians 2.10 has been resonating for a little while: " For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago". You know- the one at the top of my page! Those words are so powerful. We can be so disparaging and discouraging of each other and ourselves. We can question our worth, our contribution, our achievements. Yet we are God's masterpiece. God, all powerful, amazing, incredible, magnificent, glorious, inspirational God the Creator- we are His masterpiece. What an incredible thought. We who doubt ourselves, who diminish ourselves, who stumble, who fall, who are weak, who fail, who don't always get it right....we are His masterpiece. Next time you start that negative self talk, stop and say instead "I am God's masterpiece". Let everything else fall away.

You are God's masterpiece.....and so am I :0)

Thrillseeker...

I love The Amazing Race. I find the show interesting and exciting. I have a great interest in the world and watching the show allows me to explore the world and have amazing adventures while at home in my pjs. I can enjoy the spectacle without facing the numerous challenges- many of which I would doubtlessly fail. I could never eat a camel's eye, deep-fried roach or abseil down a tall building.

Luckily I don't need to. I have been to theme parks and I enjoy the moderately thrilling rides. You won't find me on the rides that shake you up and down, turn you left and right, throw you throw the air or dangle you many metres above the ground. Those rides don't interest me. I hear the cries of 'Challenge yourself, do it so you know you can and it is not as bad as you think'. Yet, I am not interested. I do not need to go on extreme rides to prove myself or demonstrate my courage or show that I am as tough as others.

The greatest challenge and the most amazing race in the world are the one and the same- to give your life to Christ and live a Christ-centred life. It is more exhilarating and action-packed than any ride or reality show. The challenges are never-ending and deeply personal. What I learn and the way I grow outmeasures the ability to be turned upside down without vomiting or eat haggis.

A matter of potential...

Sometimes we get it all backwards. We worry about whether we are successful enough, good looking enough, rich enough, own enough....We focus on whether we are living up to our potential. Are we all we could be?

We ask ourselves the wrong questions. We focus on the signposts of society. The question is not whether we are all we could be, but whether we are who God intends us to be.


God has a plan for us that supercedes any plans we may make or any ambitions that lay claim to our heart. It is not our potential or our dreams that should guide us or direct our steps. We need to focus on the challenges God sets for us, and the plans that God places before us. It is only by fulfilling God'splans that we will become the person that God intends us to be.... that is our potential, and it can't be measured by dollars, possessions or titles. Our potential can only be truly measured by God, and achieved with God.