The Nativity

Just thought I would write a quick Christmas blog-as I am sitting here watching the Nativity and am reminded that Jesus is the reason for the season! I am a sucker for Christmas carols but only recently took time to find out what the lyrics were for some of them. One of my favourites has got to be Tidings (God rest ye merry gentleman). This season in particular are we reminded of the prophecy spoken in Isaiah 9. Joy is spoken of entering the world as the birth of a child will bring peace- that child will be Emmanuel (God with us). 

In the midst of this season, be it a joyful or possibly a mournful season we must remember that God is with us. For many families this is a hard season- but hold onto the promise that God is with us- He has sent Jesus to give us life and life more abundantly.

Mary and Joseph also greatly encourage us to be people of faith! In a culture where you were stoned if you were adulterous and ostracised if you did anything wrong, Mary and Joseph sacrificed a lot. They had to let go of their reputation. Would we be so willing? Despite the obstacles of 2012 and the shaking that has taken place in our lives a lot of us, if not all of us, are carrying something God given just like Mary. Something that separates us from the people we are around that may even cause us to be rejected. But we are to bring God's Kingdom here to earth - the earth awaits for what we have to bring - that which is of joy peace and righteousness in the Holy Spirit, and as we carry these things in 2013 we need to walk by faith. Just as Mary responded  to the angel "Let it be to me according to your word". We need to walk with the same faith. God has planted many things in our lives that are able to come to fruition in 2013. Are we willing to accept God's Word and not focus on the what if's. Mary could have wondered "What if I end up stoned?" "What if I am rejected?" "What if Joseph leaves me?" But Mary accepted the word. And we see Romans 8:28 - things working out for their good. Mary could have easily been ostracised and left to raise a baby on her own after escaping stoning. But God had it that He would divinely position Mary in a relationship where she would be protected and enabled to nurture her gift in a safe environment as Joseph stood by her.

I pray that Christmas will be a time of inexpressible joy for we are reminded of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! In the hard and good times of this season you will remember that God is with us and as you hold onto the confession of your faith you will see God do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ask or think. I also pray that just as God positioned Mary in a safe environment to her nurture her gift- I pray that God will do the same for you in 2013. Surround you with relationships that help bring out who God created you to be! 

Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good night! 

Despicable Me

Phineas was a man who upheld the Word of God. God had spoken and said that the Israelites were to live set apart, however they began to mix and mingle with other nations and serve their idols. Someone in the camp profaned the Name of the Lord by bringing their sin into the camp. Phineas was moved to do something... he picked up a spear and ran across the camp. The tent stood before him and knew his decision had been made. He opened the tent and thrust his spear through the Israelite man and and the Midianite woman who lay before him.

Yes this story is in the Bible!

I'm not saying we should go around with spears in our hands, but what are we actively upholding?

I have heard this scripture in terms of putting death to things such as fornication and other ungodly deeds. But I was thinking about it in terms of, in general, how will we live a life of no compromise?! How much will we actively uphold the Word of God?! Do we know God and His Word enough to uphold His Ways? 

In terms of how we live, I was thinking how much do we uphold in our lifestyle? In a world that grows cold, where hatred is rife and wars destroy - we must uphold love! We must not be thermometers but thermostats that set the temperature of love. We must KNOW love!

I was watching a movie 'In Time' and the gist of it was that there were different time zones that people lived in depending on wealth because time was the new currency. In the poor time zones people were always rushing because they were struggling for time-if they ran out of time they died. In the rich time zones people could relax because they had plenty of time..plenty of time to waste. Someone from the poor time zone manages to escape to one of the richer time zones and the police are looking for him. They know who to look for because he has from a poor time zone, and because he has habitually been concerned about time it is engrained in him to rush even when he is in a rich time zone. 

We are like that- the Bible says that we have been translated into God's Kingdom of light- we are used to the world's way of rushing, living in poor time zones of love. Having not enough to go around. But we enter into God's Kingdom having to have our mind's renewed of that old, poor mentality. A lot of us are in God's Kingdom rushing around being sparing with love because we do not realise what we have. We don't uphold God's commandment of love because we rush in fear instead of walk in love. We are to walk as He walked, be as He is in the world. Jesus said that others will know we are His disciples because of how we love one another. The police knew the man was from the poor time zone because of how he carried himself. What does your lifestyle testify to the Kingdom you belong to? 

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

⁶ Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm;
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy as cruel as the grave;^[a]
Its flames are flames of fire,
A most vehement^[b] flame.

⁷ Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor can the floods drown it.
If a man would give for love
All the wealth of his house,
It would be utterly despised.

Love this scripture!! A amn who gives everything for love will be utterly despised. Christ gave everything for love. People give everything love and others will look on and despise perceivable foolish acts. In certain situations love is seen as ridiculous- it is not how you would respond to certain situations, but we are to walk in love. The question is are we ready to uphold love at the risk of being despised? When  others don't  agree with our actions, when we receive negative responses will we still uphold love?! Just like Phineas will you uphold or compromise?

Get out!!

Matthew 14:22-33

The strong waves began to beat violently against the boat as it was tossed to and fro by the ferocious wind. The safety of the boat was jeopardised by the storm, but it was safe nonetheless. The disciples had been sent out into the boat by Jesus and told to go to the other side. They had been sent out by Jesus....alone....in the midst of a storm...

Have you ever felt like this? You feel you are going in the right direction, and may even feel that God led you in this direction but you feel far away from Him in the midst of the storm. Let's read on to find out what happens to the disciples....

The disciples looked up to see a figure moving slowly across the troubled water. Overcome with fear, the disciples started to cry out in fear, until a calm voice was heard... the figure was Jesus walking across the water. Fear was now overtaken with shock. Peter called out to Jesus, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." Jesus replied with just one word, "Come." Peter stood up boldly and looked across the waters to Jesus. He was going to do this. His Lord had spoken, and all Peter had needed was the Word and now he was going to act on it. The wind blew softly as Peter took his first step out of the boat. It was almost as if creation had stopped to see this moment, because time seemed to have slow down. All that could be heard was the water now gently lapping against the boat waiting to see how far Peter would go. Peter took two steps on the water. He was doing this! As if right on cue, when Peter took his next step the furious wind blew again seemingly taking his peace with it. Peter looked around him to see thunderous, dark clouds hanging over this moment. He tried to remember what Jesus had said to him to bring him to this place, but all he could now hear were the tossing of the waves, reflecting the tossing of his anxieties in his heart. As Peter's fears began to swallow him with no compassion, the seas began to swallow Peter's final step and he quickly began to sink. The Lord had called him to this place. Surely the Lord would save him. "Help me!" Peter anxiously yelled. Before Peter was lost in the stormy seas of dread, Jesus' hand caught Peter and helped him back into the boat.

It was not long ago that I blogged about this scripture and I was a bit .. worried ... to write about it again because it could all get quite repetitive. But the Lord really impressed this scripture on my heart over the weekend and so I would like to share, something short.

In the midst of storms and situations we will all find a place of safety and security. Now that thing might not really be secure and it might not really be safe, but to us it is our place of safety and security. Think for a moment, what does the boat represent in your life. In the midst of the storm, what is your boat? Where are you hiding out? Now I know that boats are your safest option when you are travelling across the water, but work with me here- we are going somewhere with this....so what is your boat? Peter is in his boat but sees something, as said in the previous blog about this scripture, that challenges where he is now. I would be thinking, "How does the storm not overcome Jesus!" If there had been no storm I would have just been shocked, but the fact that Jesus walked on water in the of the storm!! The situation, the storm was not holding Him back and Peter wanted the same. He wanted out and Jesus called him out. Now hear this...

Some of us are hiding out in our boats, just drifting along. The storm has not caused us to capsize so we are satisfied with our state of security. It is not to say that the possibility of capsizing is not there, because we all know a boat is not 100% safe. But Jesus is calling us out of the boat to walk on the water. To come closer to Him. We can no longer be happy with hiding in our places of security or more realistically insecurity, He is calling us out to experience more of His goodness. And did you know all of creation is waiting for you to take that step! Many of us need to get out of the boat as we know we have already Jesus say "Come." We continue to hide in the boat but we have a light to shine. The amazing thing about when we step out, is that it can only bring glory to God-when you do begin to walk on water in the midst of the storm (and I believe you will) it will not be because of anything you have done, but because of Jesus. You need to get out the boat, not so the world can see what you can do, but so the world can see what He can do! That storms and situations are for us to walk over not be tossed by. Get out! Whatever step you need to take, I encourage you take it and walk in who you are! Step out and stand out and show what God can do. 

A side note of encouragement. We can often get distracted by the storms around us, even as we walk on water, but we need to keep our eyes on Christ at ALL times! And what happens if we do get distracted and being to sink? (8) I was sinking, so de-e-ep in sin (8)... He is there to catch us! His hand is not short! He is our Redeemer, our Rescuer! Don't worry about failing when you step out of the boat, He is hoping the best and will catch you at any time!!

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us

Philippians 1:6 He who has begun a good work in you, is faithful to complete it

Acceptance

"Erm...yeah you! You can be on my team!"

"Okay then, I'll have....you!"

We have all been in that position at least once in our life. The two team captains are picking teams and you're waiting to be chosen. So much rides on the direction of that finger as it points to each individual child. Once the finger is in your directions the palpitations cease because guess what? You have been chosen and accepted into a team. And what about those of us who were unfortunately were not even picked last but due to being last ended up on someone's team, or if the teams were uneven had to sit out. That desire to have significance, to be accepted is common amongst most if not all. People are always striving to be noticed, for that significance, to be loved. 

God shared with me some things, that I would like to share with you. Without faith we cannot please God (Hebrews 11) and have faith as I believe in Him and so He is pleased with me. When Jesus was baptised, God said, 'This is my Son with whom I am well pleased." What is interesting is that Jesus had not yet done what He was sent to do, but yet God said He was well pleased with Jesus. WELL PLEASED! He is well pleased with me and accepts me!

Ephesians 2 says it is by grace through faith we are saved. We are always in need of salvation as we are being transformed into His likeness. It is not by works that God is pleased with me and accepts me and I access grace to become who He has called me to be. It is by faith. 

Not only that, but He says as well as accepting me, He is coming back for me! I have been in situations where I have been chosen and then rejected but God has chosen me and not changed His mind - He's coming back for me! He has said that I am loveable! We need to believe that He who has begun a good work is faithful to complete it. 

It can be so easy to get caught up in other peoples' opinion of us and to live for the acceptance of others but Proverbs says that the fear of man is a snare. It is a trap! Those who live to please people can not live freely, especially because the opinion of people is always changing. Lecrae put it nicely when he said "You live for their acceptance, you die from their rejection". You need to love you and who God has created you to be. Not everybody is going to accept you, but how can you expect anybody to accept you when you don't accept yourself. You are worth loving and accepting. Christ showed that when He died on the cross for you!

A message I heard recently really challenged me in this area. The pastor made reference to Mary and how she responded to the angel Gabriel. When the angel Gabriel told Mary she had found favour with God and that she was going to be the mother of Jesus, she didn't question her acceptance or who she was. She was able to carry and give birth to such a gift because she was already in a place of acceptance that wasn't achieved but received. We know this by her response- it was a response of faith. She replied to the angel, 'Let it be according to your word.' It's not that God can not use us in a place of doubt- there are many people in the Bible that God used who He had to affirm but notice that they looked to Him for their affirmation. However the longer we grapple with our acceptance is the more of ourselves we focus on and the less of God. We need to keep our eyes on God for He has chosen us.

Mark Driscoll also put it nicely when, in a recent message, he explained that identity is not achieved but something that is received. We are made in God's image, but after the fall that image was distorted, and so Christ died on the cross to restore who we are. We then do not have to work for who we are- we don't have to try to be somebody but we receive who we are from God. He accepts us and affirms us. We don't have to wait for somebody else to notice us, He has already noticed you and is waiting for you to find out that He is pleased with you!

**Perfect love casts out all fear**

Are we ready for Divine Intervention?

Everyday people plan...whether it is their budget for the month, their career path or what they will wear tomorrow...everyday people plan. Depending on the sort of person you are, you may not want to have those plans disrupted. You plan to wear that great summer dress tomorrow to a barbecue and then you wake up to see rain clouds and hear thunder roll across the sky reflecting the mood that has just come upon you because now you have to think of something else to wear! I'm not sure if it's just me but I don't like it when plans change.

I'm a teacher and as teachers we plan - we plan to a T...but also teachers you must be very ready for the inevitable. That plan may very well change. You gear yourself up to teach a child 2+2 only to discover that not only can they do this already, but are masters at subtraction! The plan must change! And me, I am resistant to change! Once a plan is in my head- we must go with the plan. The plan is there for a reason and if it's not broke don't fix it-just stick to the plan!  

Not only do we plan everyday but plans change everyday and they way we respond to those changes can determine a lot in our lives- we can be bitter and resentful or we can look for the jewels in the storm. I recently thought to myself, if anyone interrupts my plan, I'm not too happy - and then kind of thought - "What if God interrupts my plan?"

These thoughts stem from a Biblical story I read:

Tired and exhausted, a traveller ventures on a long road hurrying to get to his destination, when out of nowhere robbers come upon him and beat him up. The thieves beat him, take his clothes and anything else of worth and leave him for dead. He lays there lifeless with nothing but the cold wind reminding him that he is alive. Some time later a priest travels down the same road, rushing to the temple. In the distance he sees a man half clothed covered in blood. Afraid the robbers may still be out there, and concerned about the time, the priest crosses over to the other side of the road pretending he had seen nothing. Just when the man thought all hope was lost, a Levite came walking down the road. He too seemed to be late and in a hurry. The Levite sees the silhouette of the man but pays it no attention. He has not the time nor the patience to involve himself in this situation and crosses to the other side of the road and continues to his destination. The man is all but ready to give up hope when a third man, a Samaritan, trails down the road. The Samaritan sees the man, the cuts, the bruises and feels compassion. Quickly, the Samaritan runs over to the man and begins to attempt to nurse his wounds. Realising that the man had been seriously injured the Samaritan carries the badly hurt man to an inn and pays for the man's stay there. 

This, you may have guessed, is the story of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told and I've been meditating on it for a while. It being a typical Sunday School story and I've never thought to delve deeper- but one day God began to share with me some truths. Both the priest and the Levite were religious men who, from the outer appearance, loved God. They were both in ministry and may have even been on their way to minister and when they saw a 'disruption'. 

So many times we ask God to come - we ask Him to fill us love - we ask Him for more, and I believe that everyday He answers our prayers! Love is not just a feeling, Love is an action. The priest that morning may have spent time praying about all the crime in the area and how there needs to be more love, and there on his travels was an opportunity of love. Can we be interrupted? Though things may not go our way, there's every opportunity for things to go God's way if we align ourselves with His will and Isaiah 55:9 says His ways are higher! If God interrupted my day with such an opportunity, would I just cross over to the other side? I believe it's a possibility in this day and age where business is a lifestyle, and schedules are loved above people.

The fact that these were religious men never ceases to amaze me and reminds me of the label and stereotype that comes with ministry and loving God and how so any that don't fall into the 'box' of ministry are undervalued. Sometimes we can get twisted and believe that ministers are those who stand on stage, at the pulpit and deliver the Word. Or those who lead worship on a regular basis. Forgetting that we are all ministers 24/7 as Paul calls us ministers of reconciliation and we are told in Romans 12:2 that to present our bodies as a living sacrifice is our spiritual sacrifice. James 1:27 also mentions that true religion is to look after widows and orphans! So many times we get it wrong and cross over the road, taking no responsibility for the hurt and the broken we dismiss and pretend don't exist as they interrupt our plan to spiritual maturity, but when really God has allowed them to cross our path that we may grow in Him and show His love!

Can God interrupt your plan?

Growing up in a culture where women are despised, Mary had tried her hardest to work well. She had managed to obtain a bottle of expensive perfume. A year's wages it cost! It may have even been her most valued possession and she may have had great plans for it, but one day her plan would change. Jesus was coming back into town! Mary loved Jesus with all her heart. This Man, this great Man had brought her brother back to life! Mary had met no one like Him- well then again He was no ordinary Man! He taught them Biblical Truths she had not heard spoken with such authority before and loved the freedom that came with His presence. She truly owed this Man her life! He was coming to their house and so they were preparing a dinner for Him. The whole day a thought had plagued Mary's mind about something she could do to show Jesus her love for Him. Only one action stood out, and only that action would stand. When Jesus arrived, Mary knew what she had to do. Whilst the food was being prepared Mary grabbed her expensive perfume and poured the perfume on Jesus' feet and wiped it with her hair. Her plans had changed...for the better....

(John 12:1-11)

Can God interrupt our plans? We need to be ready to go with the Holy Spirit- ready to give it all when needs be. 'ALL' may not look like what we expect, but we need to be ready to trust God and go in the way that He leads us!

Don't Look Back!!

"Jesus, I am so going to follow YOU!! I want to see the blind healed and see people delivered"

"Follow me"

"Yeah, Jesus, I'm just waiting for some money to come through and then I will be with You!"

"Jesus my friends are watching...I'll have to wait until they are not looking"

With the best intentions a lot of people in Jesus' time wanted to follow Him. But in Luke 9:57-62 we hear the excuses people made for not following Jesus. This challenged me in terms of what Jesus responded to the excuses:

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Wooo what a serious illustration. Jesus is known for telling such creative stories - helping you to paint pictures and relate the Word of God to your life. I'll begin with why God led me to this scripture. I recently attended a conference and I heard a powerful message on going to the nations and then we had a time to pray. In myself I began to feel a sadness and started asking God why although it seems people want a change in the nations, there's little change (not dismissing all the changes that have taken place) and God replied with that scripture...now this was more directed as in a moment I'll be like - yes God I'll be praying for unity - this will last for a couple of days....and then the momentum has gone! How any times do we put our hands to tools to do work and then turn away?!
People turn away for different reasons. I love a parable in Matthew 13:44-45 where the story is told of a man who finds hidden treasure in a field. He sells ALL he has for that field. How many of us would have found out the price of that field- realise we would have to sell everything, and then just turn away?! How many of us would have turned away because our family and friends are ridiculing us?! I'm not only on about being a Christian. As a Christian we follow Christ, wherever He leads us- we are daily making decisions whether to follow Him or not. It could be in forgiving someone - it could be in letting go of a bad habit. Are we willing to follow Him even through the storm? Even when it costs us everything?! I like that in the parable the man finds treasure. When we are following Christ we have found treasure- will we hold onto the cheap metal of this world because we're not willing to let go for the treasure? We find out the cost and then we turn back....no perseverance no faith ... we turn back...

People in our lives are always turning away- we lose many people in our lives - some decide, some are taken - but we have all experienced someone turning away from us. Our examples of how to relate to people, can be affected by these experiences. We approach people or situations and when things get hard we turn away. Unfortunately our past can be filled with abandoned dreams and relationships. Two stories I want to share with you that challenge such life experiences:

A young man goes on a journey- well escapes home. He has had to run away. He arrives at the home of his uncle and is approached by a beautiful young woman; as soon as he sees her he falls in love with her. It is Rachel, his Uncle Laban's youngest daughter. Jacob said to his uncle that he will work 7 years for him if he can marry Rachel and Laban agreed. Jacob worked 7 gruelling years for the love of his life. At no point did he turn away- believing that after 7 years it would be all worth it-love spurred him on, and the 7 years flew by quickly. At the end of the time, the wedding day approached and Jacob married the young women hidden by the veil and knew her (in the Biblical sense), when he awoke he discovered that it was not Rachel, but Leah her older sister. The treachery! Jacob had served Laban for 7 years! 7 years so that he could spend the rest of his life with Rachel-but it all seemed like it had been in vain! He had not got what he worked for! (How many of us would have turned back because of this?!) Laban had tricked Jacob because it was the custom of that time to marry the older daughter first and promised to give Jacob Rachel if he served another 7 years. "Wooo, well Uncle Laban, Rachel is foine but she ain't that fine! I'll keep Leah and move on!" If some of us were Jacob that would have been the response. We find we have to work harder for something and turn back. We find we have to pray more, praise harder, love more....and so we turn back! Jacob could have just thought he had failed and then quit. But Jacob LOVED Rachel (and love is a strong word- that's a whole nother blog!), he loved and so agreed to Laban's plans and worked another 7 years. After 7 more years - 14 years in total - Jacob married the love of his life. A beautiful story....but feeling that it doesn't relate....Here's the second one....

She doesn't love Him anymore, doesn't really know He exists. Doesn't know who she is and so she is battered and bruised and dressed down - living amongst paupers. But He wants her back. Wants to treat her like the Queen she is and show her she is loved. So He meets her where she is at and treats the way she should be treated. In return she continues to hurt Him by spending time with other men, going low places. (How many of us would have said "Low her, she's not worth it!" But He thought she was worth it) He had to win her back. At the right time, when it seemed all hope was lost for her...He gave his life for her. He gave her EVERYTHING! He had His heart set on her and so He gave His ALL for her. If you haven't noticed, 'He' refers to Christ and 'she' is the Church or us. God gave His Son for us- He didn't back out of His plan and change His mind when He saw how hard it was to get us back-He gave His life for us! ( (8) Oh, how I love Jesus (8) )

We then are to love others with this same kind of love- based on the way that Christ loved us. Not based on wordly circumstances where people have left us or we have left others - but love as Christ loves. I believe we should approach our dreams in the same way. Psalm 37:4 says that we are to delight ourselves in the Lord and He will give us the desires of our heart. Some of have interpreted that as He will give us certain desires. A lot of the things that I would like to do I believe have come from God - establishing His Kingdom on earth. What happens when I turn away? I don't believe that His Kingdom will not be established but there will be a delay and I will not get to partake in the joys of His Kingdom. I'll explain it like this. An entire nation leave Egypt led by Moses into the wilderness. They have been promised a land where they will be established, however this land is inhabited by all sorts of different nations - which may not have been a problem, but they were giants! The people started complaining about the Promised Land, about being in the wilderness and wanted to turn back to Egypt. Upon leaving Egypt they were happy, but when the going got tough they believed Egypt was better! They would rather be in bondage than push to freedom! A short journey then turned into 40 years in the wilderness- a new generation emerged from this nation and they entered the Promised Land. The generation before (minus 2 people) wanted to turn back and so didn't get to partake in the promise - but it doesn't mean that their nation was not established. We daily have a choice as to whether we want to go deeper in God or stay in the shallow end.

More is definitely required- listening more to the voice of God- following as He leads, spending more time in prayer! Do we give up when loving others? Do we give up when our dreams flop? Even when our characteristics contradict who we are in God, will we push forward until we look more like Him-trusting Him to complete what He has already started?! We get distracted when we look back, like Lot's wife. We look back to what we thought was better. We look back and let our past shape our future afraid history will repeat itself. We look back when as Paul said we should be looking ahead!

As difficult as the journey to deeper may seem we can not turn back, especially in these times. We need to keep moving forward. Galatians 6:9 says not to grow weary in doing good. Though it feels like we are not getting anywhere or receiving results that contradict what we are working towards (a Leah) we need to continue to push forward. In Luke 18 Jesus encourages us to persevere.  I want to be fit for the Kingdom of God - I want to be known as a faithful servant who doesn't turn back when things get tough but know that God can trust me with His Kingdom and I move forward in Him! In Ezekiel 47 Ezekiel describes a vision where he is shown the temple and water flowing from it. The water gets deeper and when it is really deep there is more life in and around the water. Will we stay in the shallow end, where everything is nice and easy but dead- or go in deep where there is LIFE?

Here is an example of somebody giving it all: http://whydidthescotsman.co.uk/
And I know there are many more! Will we join them in going deeper, or turn back?

The Goodness of God

A long time since I have written so I hope whatever writing skills I had has not grown rusty but I will get started...so.....

It all started when I was en route to Audacious conference in Manchester- making a decision to go in faith, however in the morning I was feeling that it was a bad decision and when things started to go wrong, I felt that that was 'confirmation'. Well I began my journey to Manchester, LATE :( *sigh*, enjoying good worship music getting me ready for the week ahead when I miss a turn and find myself in Liverpool!! That was the last straw! I had tried to keep positive all morning but now I had been pushed over the edge! Everything was going wrong - but just at that moment I began listening to a song "Glorious" by Katie and Bryan Torwalt and there's a line that says 'I know nothing apart, apart from Your Goodness God' - that challenged me ALOT! I made a decision to stop seeing the negatives of the day but to focus upon God's goodness :) .....and this is where I was led .......

....well I arrive at the conference (in good time I must add- if I had stressed any more that would have been a waste of a rise in blood pressure) and a scripture is shared:

Psalm 31:19

 Oh, how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!

Amazing! Now that was confirmation!!! I had encountered God's goodness - not because on that particular day, at that particular time God had decided to share His goodness with me - but I had chosen to set my eyes on something that existed before time began!!

David said 'Taste and see that the Lord is good' in Psalm 34:8. If anybody knew about negative situations it was David! A number of times people tried to kill him - his own son tried to take over his throne!! But during all those circumstances what did David focus on? In Psalm 27:13 David says:

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

He sounds like somebody who has tasted the goodness of God because he is looking forward to seeing more of the goodness of God - he knows it is something worth expecting! What are we expecting to see? And what are we even taking in with our eyes? Hebrews 12: 1-3 says how we need to keep our eyes on Christ (the goodness of God) and lay aside any hindrances - we should be focussing on the goodness of God- that's all we should be drinking. We can see that in all his situations, David looked for the goodness of God (Psalm 63). 

It can be hard to believe that the goodness of God exists at a time when we are surrounded by suffering and pain, but like David we must believe and expect - Jesus tells Martha when He goes to raise Lazarus from the dead, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?". We have access to God's glory, His goodness. In John 1:51 Jesus tells a man that he will see heaven open and angels descending on Jesus. Now remember the last time we heard such imagery was in Genesis when Jacob went to sleep and had a vision of a stairway into Heaven where angels were ascending and descending. This tells us that Jesus is the stairway into Heaven - and where is Jesus - Christ IN US the hope of glory (Colossians)!! If that is the case we have constant and open access to the goodness of God! Let me give you an example:

Two thieves receive the death penalty for their sins. Life seemed unfair from the start- having to steal to survive- and life was consistent with being unfair to the end as they are strapped to a wooden cross waiting for cold greeting of death...but life unexpectedly throws something at them. In between the two thieves was a Man called Jesus. One of the thieves turns to look at Jesus and with hate in his eyes spits curses at Jesus - he's glad to see the back of this life - it had nothing for him anyway.... the other thief corrects the man and turns to look at Jesus, and sees the Saviour of the world and asks Him if he can go to Jesus' Kingdom. Jesus looks at this man , this robber, who has known nothing but crime and tells him that he will be with Jesus in Paradise! ... Woooo! The goodness of God in motion! One man chose to dismiss the goodness of God and the other received as he saw the goodness of God! The goodness of God is on display - Romans 1:20 says we are without excuse! Titus 2:11 says that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men!! We are constantly exposed to the goodness of God, He is the Father of Lights- but how will we respond?

In Romans 12:1-2 we are challenged to give our lives to God in response to His mercies- in response to His goodness we are to worship Him with our lives! Lamentations says His mercies are new every morning!! Great is His faithfulness! And in response I do all to His glory!

This week I have learnt to focus on God's goodness and 'forget not His benefits' - anytime I need a reminder- i will have to watch the Father of Lights DVD where God's goodness can be seen in action! 

*Meditate on His goodness*