Finishing Strong...

If I want to finish strong, I need to be honest with myself (and with others) about where I am – so, how am I doing?

As a man of God, how am I doing;
At work
At home
With my wife, my friends
In prayer
With patience, self-control (or the other 7 segments of the fruit of the Spirit)
With priorities, serving others

If I want to finish strong then I've got to evaluate how I'm doing at this stage of the journey

List of 24 characteristics of a godly man – this list appeared in a book written in 1666! So some of the language/phrases reflect that fact

A man of knowledge
A man moved by faith
A man fired by love
A man like God
A man careful about the worship of God
A man who serves God, not men
A man who prizes Christ
A man who weeps
A man who loves the Word
A man who has the Spirit of God residing in him
A man of humility
A man of prayer
A man of sincerity
A heavenly man
A zealous man
A patient man
A thankful man
A man who loves the saints
A man who does not indulge himself in any sin
A man who is good in his relationships
A man who does spiritual things in a spiritual manner
A man thoroughly trained in religion
A man who walks with God
A man who strives to be an instrument for making others godly

How am I doing? I'll think through these. How are YOU doing?

The time for waiting is over...

Time to stop playing

Clash of Kingdoms

A real man leaves this world with more in his wake than he took.  It is time to stop playing and shirking responsibility and start living out the call.  What does that mean? It means seeking, really seeking God's call.  Confirming that call with the church and then throwing all behind pursuing that call, living it out, exploring it, making it happen.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.    (1 Corinthians 15)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.   (Ephesians 2)

God has poured his grace upon me.  His grace is not in vain.  I will work harder than any through that grace to do the works God has prepared in advance.  

I believe my call is to teach and preach the Bible.  I know no more than that.  I do not know the context, but I do know that much, so I need to develop that.  

If that is my call, which it is: I must spend my money to that purpose, use my time to that purpose, choose my words to that purpose, set my heart to that purpose, live and give my life to that purpose.

I must remain accountable to the call.  I must stop playing and define my life so that God's glory is revealed most fully.  I do not want to come before the throne of God, bow the knee before King Jesus and know that I wasted my life.  

It is time.  Time to move beyond mediocre into the passionate God-exalting life that has always been planned for me.  It's time.  Time to put childish things behind me.  It's time.
  

"... Be strong, and show yourself a man"  (1 Kings 2)

Man up.

J McGuinness
November

Who told you to quit...

Its been a while but I am back to my journal. Why did I fall away? I could say one thing or another but it boils down to sin. Putting others things in the place of God.

 
 

LENT - I have started to give up tv for Lent. Not as a definitive legalistic thing but rather to say that God is more important than tv in my life. My ratinoale is this - giving up tv will give me more time to read and to build my relationship with Jesus. It also gives me more time to be relational - purposeful about contacting my friends and family. David Walker put a great verse on my Facebook - Philippians 4 v13 - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

 
 

 
 

What really matters?

Giving up stagehands and 9 hours a week means nothing if I don't use that time to glorify God. That means making use of that time to think missionally. Without vision the people perish.

Why Should I Blog?

 

1 ... To write.

Writing has enormous value for thinking. Through writing you delve into new ideas and insights. Writing forces you to develop half-thoughts into clear sentences. It makes you structure thoughts that can seem straightforward until you go to speak them. It teaches you the process of thinking. If you strive to write well you will at the same time be striving to think well. This process will help in sharing new ideas and insights. People can follow your good thinking and writing.

2 ...

To develop an eye for what is meaningful.

I should look at what I write and think is this worth writing about. This will nurture a habit of looking for insight and wisdom and value in every situation, no matter how mundane. This seeking will allow me to see more of what God has to teach me. The gathering of these ideas will spill over and enrich more of my life than the part of it that blogs.

3 ... To teach.

Where does the outlet for teaching take place? A blog is a perfect place to develop and share the 30 second God-moments that so often come to us daily.

Thoughts developed from John Piper's blog at www.desiringgod.org

There is a redeemer.

There is a redeemer - Jesus, God's own son. Special lamb of God...messiah. Holy one. The fact that there is indeed a redeemer has caught me today from the lyrics of the song. There is one. God has provided one. And he has done so for his glory.

What can your roofspace teach you?

The roofspace of our house is causing me worry. Its got condensation issues. But its been good at reminding me of a few things: Firstly - I shouldn't worry. Jesus told us in Matthew 6 v32 that God knows about all these things. And I should seek first God's kingdom and righteousness and all the rest will be added. Secondly - I long for the day when I have a place in the Kingdom of heaven and there will be no more worrying or weeping or pain. And finally I need to give God more credit for being in control. This is meant to be - and the response I have to it will glorify God.