Next year...be still

"Be still and know that I am God." Be still. The last day of 2009 - A chance to start over - renewed, although that only works if it is the Holy Spirit who renews us. Be still...

The Lord Reigns...

30/12/2009, 1:54 PM

Psalm 96 v 10 - "Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns." - What would the impact of this be? If I tell those whom I know that the Lord reigns - what would the response be? Disbelief - how can the Lord reign in this world of pain and sin? (See Spectacular Sins by John Piper). Rebellion - "He will not reign over me." or acceptance? Are those whom I know that are not yet Christians waiting to hear me say The Lord reigns. Do they disbelieve because I am appear to be no different, or because I am not being courageous enough? Do they look at me and say he does not really believe what he claims to because he does not plead with us to make that decision for Christ?

Daniel Resolved...

This morning I read some of Daniel. Daniel resolved to not defile himself. I need to resolve more. Resolve to read, write and pray more. Resolve to make every moment count. Resolve to draw closer to God. Resolve to be a spiritual leader. Daniel (God is my judge) was renamed to reduce his contact with God - Belteshazzar (Bel protect his life). As was Hananiah (The Lord shows grace), Mishael (who is like God?) and Azariah (The Lord helps). Is there a modern day equivalent that I can apply? Are we in this day and age being renamed to exclude Christ? Are we called Christian? Is our identity eroded? Can I marry these two thoughts? Is there a way to resolve not to have my Christian identity eroded away by others (or by myself?)

Make Every Moment Count

Everything that God does is purposeful. It has a purpose. God does not do things that have no purpose. Therefore every breath that I am given is for a purpose. And that purpose is to glorify God - to make him look bigger. So I am part of God's purpose. I exist to glorify him. Everything I do should contribute to that aim.

New Start...Again

As I think about the year ahead I have decided to do three things more often.

1 - Read. My bible, books, cereal packets, everything.

2 - Write. I intend to journal more, to write more, in order to take the half-thoughts that form when I read the Bible and force them to become exact.

3 - Pray. Speak more in conference with my King.

Quiet Time

How hard should it be to commune with the God of the everything? My quiet time is one of the most frustrating areas of my Christian life and its all my fault, probably. I am lazy when it comes to my relationship with God and this is where it shows up most.

Why do I fail?

1. Firstly I must recognise that I fail because I'm human. I am not perfect and therefore I am prone to fail the God I love.

2. I am lazy. I don't make an effort.

3. I don't make time. There is always something else to be done. I am in too much of a rush to get to work, or too busy in work or too busy watching tv.

4. I don't value a relationship with God. I just don't.

Where to from here?

So how can this be changed and how can I pick up my relationship with my King Jesus and move on? Well tonight I'm going to sit down with my Bible and a notebook and spend time with God. And we'll start there and see where this journey takes us. Watch this space...

The world has changed

I think the world changes for everyone at some stage every day. We gather experiences that shape us, for good or bad. We see things that move us, that stick with us and that form our opinions and beliefs.

My uncle died on Friday. So the world for our family has changed. And in the struggle that follows, especially for my two cousins, the world will change rapidly. The realisation of a life that is gone. The little bits of life that don't fit any more.

And in a changing world the desire for a God who will not change can only increase. We desperately seek a firm foundation in the quicksand of our life. Something to hold on to as everything swims around in our reality. The only trouble with that is that the God who does not change, the God who is omnipotent, has allowed our tragedy and there are no easy answers to that. The calling home of Raymond has undoubtedly been to the greater Glory of God but has been a bitter blow to those left behind. And we must struggle through that. And God is at our side when we do. God told Hezekiah that he has heard our prayers and seen our tears. This time 15 years have not been added though...

Father - we suffer terribly sometimes - but all under your control.