He means what He says

He means what He says

October 23, 2015

"What you say goes, God, and stays, as permanent as the heavens. Your truth never goes out of fashion; it’s as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up." Psalm 119:89-90

We are all tempted on occasion to say things we think others what to hear. Our motives are varied – we want to be popular, avoid confrontation or sometimes to manipulate a situation to our advantage. We may achieve what we want in the short term however as a general rule the success of this strategy tends to be short-lived. Either we can’t maintain the pretence or our performance doesn’t measure up to the expectation we have created and we end up getting deeper and deeper into situations we can’t escape from

Shaped by his grace

Shaped by his grace

October 22, 2015

"Let your love, God, shape my life with salvation, exactly as you promised…Psalm 119:41

I love making bread. I enjoy the whole process of mixing the dough, kneading it, watching it prove and rise up, then shaping it into rolls, loaves, or pizzas. Ultimately I love to eat it too! It’s really satisfying to see the finished product being enjoyed by others and knowing that I made it from scratch.

Father God feels like that about you. He doesn’t want the world to shape you, neither does He send difficult circumstances to break you down so He can build you up. In every circumstance His desire is that His love will soften and shape you. With that perspective, our outlook on our lives, our futures and our destinies is altered. By letting God’s love for us mould our attitudes, decisions and approach to life we are liberated to take risks, to step out and try new things, and to know real freedom to be who He has called us to be – children of the King of Kings.

Live today in the certainty that God loves you

You're not alone

You're not alone

October 21, 2015

"I’m feeling terrible—I couldn’t feel worse! Get me on my feet again. You promised, remember? When I told my story, you responded… Psalm 119:25-26a

The most fantastic thing about the Psalms for me is their brutal honesty. The writers never sugar coat the fact that life is hard sometimes. I’ve had some difficult experiences in my life – bereavement, broken relationships, serious health issues – and I’m certainly not unique. Maybe as you read those verses today you are thinking, “I can’t do this any more – I want to give up”

Ambulance control is staffed 24 hours a day with trained teams on hand to respond to any incident. They have strategies and protocols to try and cover every eventuality. When we dial 999 we expect someone to answer and help to come to us when we need it.

The simple truth to hold on to today is that you’re not alone and you never will be. God is not a liar and the Psalmist reminds us – He promised to get you on your feet again. He listening out for you right now – ready to respond. He knows exactly what you need; encouragement, physical healing, restored relationships, joy, financial freedom – and His heart’s desire is to give it.

Take a moment to give your burdens to Him – give God the opportunity to respond and get you on your feet again.

Real choices

Real choices

October 20, 2015

"How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word." Psalm 119:9 MSG

In the Western world we are bombarded with choices, decisions and diversions every day, fifteen types of coffee when we enter the coffee shop, 150 television channels to choose from and deciding which cute cat video we should watch next on our phones, tablets and laptops.

Young people have to balance all these distractions with the decision as to whether they should listen to their peers, their parents, the internet or what is popping up on their mobile phone.

Stay on course

Stay on course

October 19, 2015

"You’re blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God." Psalm 119:1 MSG

When I was 17 I did the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. It’s a programme designed to develop leadership skills in young people through serving their community and physical challenges. I had to complete a three day expedition, in unknown terrain, with a group of friends, using only our maps and a compass to navigate. The first day went well and on Day 2 we set off optimistically for a rendezvous point 20 miles away. We soon were hopelessly lost on the Antrim Plateau – flat and featureless. We had relied on our eyes and not the maps we had been given – ignoring our training. We didn’t take proper bearings and in the days before mobile phones, had to wait until our instructors realised we were late for our scheduled meeting. Needless to say I never did get that Gold Award!

Our Father God doesn’t leave us struggling to find our way. He has given us the Bible and the Holy Spirit to help us understand and apply its truth in our lives. He uses others to speak encouragement and revelation into our lives and when we pray, He listens. All we need to do is to check in with Him all the time – using the tools He has given us and steadily following the path He has for us – one of blessing, hope, peace and joy!

True weight

True weight

October 16, 2015

"And he said, Please show me your glory” Ex. 33:19 (NKJV)

This is an amazing event. Moses had encountered God in the most remarkable way; we are told that He spoke with God as we speak with a friend face to face (Ex. 33:11). But Moses wanted more…He wanted to see God’s glory. In this exchange God tells Moses that no one can see the full glory of God and survive.

The Hebrew word for glory here is ‘kabod’ which comes from the root word for weight or heaviness. God is weightier than anything else – once we recognise the great weight and magnitude of His glory, all other things are revealed in their lightness, their levity…including ourselves.

Burn away the fog

Burn away the fog

October 15, 2015

"But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength” Judges 5:31

I love to spend time outdoors; for me there is nothing more enjoyable than waking in the mountains after a night spent camping. On many occasions I have woken to thick morning fog clinging to the hills. There is an eerie silence and the mist lies heavy on everything.

What always amazes me is how, when the sun comes up, its warmth starts to burn off the fog – patches of light stream through the clouds and, as it does, you can see and hear the countryside coming to life. The clouds lift and the true beauty of the scene becomes clear.

This song of Deborah reminds us that those who love God are like the sun rising in all its strength. We, the children of God, bring light and warmth to the world around us. The love and power of God within us has the ability to burn away the fog of this world and enable those around us to see things as they really are. The true beauty of life, a life designed and blessed by God, a life with God at the centre that shines with His grace.

As you look at the world this morning, things may look shrouded in mist, the way forward might not be clear and there may be some uncertainty but He is with you. Look to God, rest in His presence, and let the power of His love rise in you. He has promised to never leave or forsake you – the fog will lift and His light will light your way.

He sings over you

He sings over you

October 14, 2015

“The Lord your God is in your midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy; He will be quiet in His love [making no mention of your past sins], He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zeph 3:17 (AMP)

I love the thought of God rejoicing over me with joy. It is a remarkable picture – The God of all creation delighting in me. When I read this I can’t help but picture a parent holding a newborn baby – I see the parent’s heart swell with love and pride as they comfort their distressed child.

That is how God views you. The great warrior who holds all power in His hands today wants to calm and comfort you in the quiet confidence of His love.

Our Father in Heaven

Our Father in Heaven

October 13, 2015

"Our Father in heaven..." Matt. 6:9

These words are so familiar but like so many things we see regularly, they can lose their impact. Here Jesus teaches us that these words should characterise our starting point for communicating with God. The power of the revolutionary new perspective Jesus gave us for how we should approach God should not be underestimated.

Hold your nerve

Hold your nerve

October 12, 2015

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand I will not be shaken”. Psalm 16:8

There are times in life when you need to hold your nerve. You set out on a course but the going gets tough, the certainty you had at the outset has faded and the whole process feels a lot more difficult than you ever expected it to be. Isn’t it amazing how we can shift our focus to the things that are going on around us rather than remembering who is with us?

One thing I have learned is that when I take my eyes off God I lose true perspective. Things once confidently seen as just a bump in the road become almost insurmountable obstacles. The bills you’re not sure how you’re going to pay, the difficult situation at work or the calling of God on your life that seems a million miles away.

This verse reminds us that God is at our right hand. He is with us and as a result we can confidently state, “I will not be shaken”. God’s love for you, His provision and sustaining power is not dependant upon your awareness of Him or on your ability to keep Him by your side. Remembering this however will help you get the right perspective.

Lift you eyes today, look to the author and finisher of your faith – He is at your right hand. Hold your nerve, press on - His presence changes everything.

You will not be shaken!

The right kind of ground

The right kind of ground

October 9, 2015

"He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field” Matthew 13:24

This was one of the first parables I remember learning about as a child. We were taught about the four types of ground and coloured in pictures of the four scenes. It was all so well packaged and neat. Each person represented a type of person who responded to the Gospel.
When I was older and re-read the parable I began to see myself in each of the four scenarios and I started to feel a little uncomfortable. The security blanket that I was a “good responder” to the Gospel had all of a sudden shown me up. I wasn’t just one type of ground… I was all of them.

Watching and waiting

Watching and waiting

October 8, 2015

"Be patient, therefore, brothers,until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” James 5:7

The seed our eldest daughter planted at nursery had finally been left alone. It was a titanic achievement. No more digging up and replanting or scolding. It was a welcome relief!

Then, almost stealth like, the phrase snuck up on us, “Is it here yet?” You’ve probably experienced something similar long car journeys but my wife and I thought we’d navigated this particular pitfall quite expertly when we explained that the new seedling needed to be watered and tended to.

It needs to be buried

It needs to be buried

October 7, 2015

"Truly, truly, I say to you,unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12 v 24)

My eldest daughter is incredibly similar to me, so when she came home from nursery school last year waving an orangey brown potting tub full of soil, I knew exactly what to expect.

“Dad it’s a seed! Look!”

Cue, continual removal and replanting of the seed back beneath the crumbly depths of the compost.

Planning to Plant

Planning to Plant

October 5, 2015

"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love” Hosea 10:12

I’ve been meaning to start planting with my two young daughters. They’re still quite young but the older one has recently taken a shine to the idea of having a vegetable patch. She’s planned it, drawn it in full technicolour, she knows exactly where it’s going to be (down the back, beside the oil tank) and what she would like to plant.

When I ask her what she expects will grow from the seeds she will plant with me, there is no hesitation - she confidently replies “vegetables.” To her it is unheard of that you could plant tomato seeds and harvest peppers, or sow cucumbers and reap pumpkins.

Blessed to be a Blessing

Blessed to be a Blessing

October 5, 2015

"No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1 v 5: NIV

I love this verse. It reminds me so much of when I began my own business. It was in the middle of the recession. Everybody, including family and friends, was telling me I was mad. My wife was the only one that believed, stood by me and trusted in me. I had a very secure job but was clearly hearing God speak to me to get out of it. I stepped out in faith and over 3 years later we have never looked back; God has poured His blessings out us as a family and we have been able to give to others.

The Upside down Kingdom Part 3

The Upside down Kingdom Part 3

October 2, 2015

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Cor 9:8

Sometimes I struggle when people hurt me. I don’t suppose that I am any different to most people but if I am not careful what goes on in my mind I magnify the one thing so that it distorts the picture of who that person is. If I do not make a choice that affects how I relate and how I think about them, I am working off the wrong grid and my picture is not the whole truth.

The Upside down Kingdom Part 2

The Upside down Kingdom Part 2

September 30, 2015

"Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” PS 35 vs 27

What is you view of God when it comes to money? We view with suspicion the notion that God wants to bless His people in every area of their lives and that includes money. We get squeamish at that thought. I guess when we see the excess and distortions in some parts of the church it puts us off and we react negatively. For too long though we have bought into the idea that God is the God of just enough. He does not want us to starve but will keep us in place of just enough struggle to keep us focused. This verse turns that notion of God and he works completely upside down.

The Upside down Kingdom Part 1

The Upside down Kingdom Part 1

September 30, 2015

Jesus has a way of taking what are accepted norms and turing them upside down. I remember leaving my secure, well paid job in my mid-thirties to follow what we believed was the call that God had on our lives. I did not have a job to go to and had spent some time working out our finances knowing that for a period of time we would be okay. God spoke to us though about being more generous in our giving - in a time when I would not be earning. Initially I thought that we would surely go under but the amazing truth is that we saw God multiply and bless us in so many ways as a family and we always had more than we needed.

Steams of Life

Steams of Life

September 29, 2015

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" Gal 5 v 1

Yesterday we talked about how Jesus said that His life would flow from the inside of us. This gives us insight into the depth of the work that Jesus has done in us. Paul describes the work God has done using the word “Freedom”. The original word is “elutheria” which means “Freedom from corrupt desires so we do the free impulse of the soul what God requires”

Streams of Life

Streams of Life

September 28, 2015

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" John 7:38

There is something about this thought at the start of a new week that is both an encouragement & a challenge. Jesus is talking about us experiencing His life flowing from the inside out - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness & self control - I want that to be my experience. The interesting point is that the quality of your life is not dictated by our outward circumstances. The life described here by Jesus is one that is birthed internally and then flows outwardly into our worlds. As a result, when we are in the middle of challenges and hardship our state can be peaceful and joyful.