True Love

“True love stories never have endings”

Richard Bach

Valentine’s Day, a day in Australia where shop owners go crazy changing their window displays to invite thoughts of love.  They madly stock the shelves with a variety of gifts which often involve an abundance of heart shaped objects, flowers and over the top “mushy” cards in the hope there will be a rush of customers all wanting to shower presents on their beloved ones. It’s one of the biggest days of the year for florists and more often than not there is a wedding or two.  It is a day that at times seems to scream “couples” and “romance”.

While I think that the idea of Valentine’s Day is a combination of “sweet” and “commercial” I prefer the way it is celebrated in Antigua Guatemala.  In Antigua it is known as El Dí­a del Cariño, most closely translated as “The Day of Affection”.  It is the day where the people of Antigua show appreciation to those around them - neighbours, co-workers, friends, family, spouses and such.  What a beautiful sentiment.

On Valentine’s Day this year, I was asked to give the Communion message at Church.  Originally I giggled at the thought that I, a single mum, was to give a message on “the day of love” for couples. But then I paused to think of the one who loves me more than anyone could.  Below I share with you my Communion message:-

“Valentine’s Day, brings a myriad of emotions to a variety of people both negative and positive.  Love lost, new love, a parent’s love, heartache of unrequited love, yearning for love or just beginning to understand love - there are so many emotions brought up on this day every year.

For me though, it is a beautiful thing being able to share in communion on Valentine’s Day because in partaking in communion we are remembering and celebrating the ultimate act of love from the only being who loves each and every one of us with a pure relentless eternal love, our Heavenly Father.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that anyone who would believe in him would not perish but have eternal life”. John 3:16

That precious sacrifice, the aching separation of a father and son when Jesus bore our sins as He stretched out his arms and died on the cross.  And the magnificent jubilation in heaven resonating for all eternity when He rose again.  A journey full of the most extreme of emotions all given and acted upon out of love, so that we may have an eternal relationship with God.

So as we take the bread and remember Christ’s body broken for us, as we drink the juice and remember His blood that was shed for us, I encourage you to meditate on the fact that He loves you with a pure, relentless, unconditional true love to a depth that we will never experience from anyone or anything else in our lifetime.”

Have you experienced this love?  Have you truly realised the depth of the love your Heavenly Father has for you?  If not I encourage you to open up the Bible and spend some time studying it.  The Bible is full of verses which are testament of His love for you.

             

For those of you who have experienced God's love and do know how deeply loved you are, I encourage you to share in the comments below your favourite Bible verses that helped you to understand the depth of that love.  I would also love to hear why the verses you have chosen to share resonate with you.

                                                                                                                                 

References:       Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan

                         Webpage:   http://antiguadailyphoto.com/

         

                         Image:       http://www.freepik.com

Waiting Well

 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits and in his word I put my hope.  My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.” 

Psalm 130:5 – 6a

Sometimes I find waiting extremely difficult.  In fact I don’t recall ever meeting a person who enjoyed waiting.  Whether the waiting is for something exciting or potentially life changing in a negative way, either way, it’s during these moments that time seems to slow down.  Every second feels like forever and every tick of the clock is as loud as the sound of banging a hammer. 

While I find waiting difficult (most of the time) in this current season I have discovered that waiting can be a joy no matter what the circumstance.  How do I know this?  Because more often than not waiting is not the problem, it’s what we do while we are waiting that’s the make or break of the situation.

I have found that one of the biggest hindrances when waiting is our patience (or lack thereof) as well as that inner voice that questions everything, you know the one....

Why is it taking so long? Why aren’t there more people manning the counters? Why can’t my child get ready quickly?  Why can’t my life be like her life? When will I get to sing from the platform? When will it be my turn to preach? When will people see the value in me?

When waiting we tend to build up layer upon layer of “why’s”, “where’s” and “when’s” feeding our impatience rather than developing the ability to patiently wait upon the Lord.

When waiting is a struggle, how do we ensure that we are waiting on the Lord and resting in Him as we wait? One of the best things to do is declare God’s truths over each situation.  Seek God, ask Him to guide you to Bible verses that he wants to speak into each situation. By spending time doing this we will ensure there is less room for our frustrations and impatience to rise up to the surface.  More importantly, this leaves no room for the enemy to speak into any insecurities or fears we may have.  Some verses which I have spoken over situations in the past are:-

• If you are waiting to hear about whether you still have a job:“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

•   If you are waiting to see if you have enough money to pay the bills:“So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?” or “What shall we wear” For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31 – 33

•   If you are waiting for reconciliation/resolution:“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins…….If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:8 -9; 11

Every situation you find yourself in has a verse that you can use to speak life into that situation and each one of God’s truths combats the enemy’s lies.

Waiting well means learning to refocus by resting in the knowledge that “God has got this”, He is in control, His timing is perfect and He knows what’s best for us – he uses everything to draw us closer to him. So instead of seeing waiting as a negative thing, how about we use it as the “prime time” to dig deeper in his word – spend more time in prayer, learn more about where God is going to take you.  Be still and listen.

This week I encourage you to spend time in God’s word seeking verses to declare over whatever you are going through.  Feel free to expand on this blog by sharing some verses you have declared during the week in the comments below – I would love to see where God is speaking into your life.

                                                                                                                                                                

References:       Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan

                         Image: https://500px.com/photo/8725490/waiting-by-r-m

That "Light Bulb" Moment.

“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

Have you ever seen someone have a “light bulb moment”? I have used this term before but never have I really thought about how a light bulb moment looks on a person. For the majority of my childhood a “light bulb moment” referred to the image of a cartoon character who had an amazing idea indicated by the light bulb which had magically appeared on top of their head.  Now that I am an adult, whenever I hear the term it more often than not is in reference to a profound realisation that has been reached by someone.

Last Sunday at Church I witnessed an occasion where a dear friend went through all the all emotions of a light bulb moment in front of my very eyes.  The furrowed brow as she was silently processing the thoughts and ideas, the left eyebrow slowly raising and the tilting of the head as she was considering the possibilities and then the open mouthed look of wonder as the answer she was searching for dawned on her. 

Until this moment I may not have thought about how a “light bulb moment” looked, but what I knew so well was how it felt. I know this feeling because I have these moments of epiphany every time I study God’s Word. 

How powerful it is to grapple with ideas and discoveries when we set aside time with our Creator and ask for wisdom to comprehend the profound truths that we come across.

You see I too sit with a furrowed brow as I consider each discovery and try to connect it to my limited worldly understanding. And I too get that moment of wonderment when I sit in awe of our God who loves us so much that He would send His only Son as a sacrifice for us so that we may have a relationship with Him for eternity.

If you have not had the opportunity to experience a light-bulb moment in your walk with God then I encourage you to set aside time to spend with our Heavenly Father who yearns to communicate with you.

If you are not used to having a quiet one on one time with God or are a new Christian and don’t know where to start let me share a couple of things that help me:-

• Set aside time that fits your season of life.  If you fit it into your schedule/circumstance you are more likely to be consistent.  In the morning I commit the day to God in prayer and study the Bible using one of the numerous resources available.  In the evening I spend extra time in prayer during my “wind down time” before bed.  On the weekends I set aside extra time to journal, listen to podcasts, watch teaching DVD’s and so on.

• Join a Small Group Bible Study Group attached to your Church.  I believe small groups are so important.  It is wonderful being able to share testimonies, talk about passages which we find difficult to comprehend, share what we have discovered during our own personal quiet times during the week and support each other in prayer.  I love getting other peoples’ opinions before coming to my own conclusions because this often enlightens me to another perspective I hadn’t considered before.

• When you are at Church – take notes during the sermon, God can speak to your heart through the Pastor He has put in place to lead your Church.

Finally, this week I pray that you have the opportunity to have a light bulb moment so profound that you want to shout it from the rooftops!

                                                                                                                                               

References:     Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan

                         Image: http://www.lowimpact.org

Who Me? I'm......Fine!

Have you ever had a frazzled Sunday? You know, the kind of day where you do your best to get to Church on time but instead of getting your heart prepared to absorb the teaching of God’s Word you spend the morning “reacting” rather than responding? I am sure that many of you can relate.  To be honest, when I let my emotions and frustrations get in the way all I really want to do is hop back into bed, avoid people for 24 hours and then “begin again”.

One recent Sunday I was particularly frazzled.  The events that led to this emotionally charged morning had not helped my mood or attitude to life in general.  I tried to rally my emotions so I was able to give our Church Welcome Team the usual “hello" smile when one of them spoke:-

“Good morning, how are you?”. I gave a half-hearted smile and responded, “Fine thanks”. 

The response was automatic but it also kick started my inner monologue.  The conversation went a little like this:-

“Am I really fine? I don’t feel fine, I’m exhausted, I have been sick for many weeks, I am behind in my housework and cannot remember the last time I actually sorted the junk pile (aka my bedroom).”  If I was honest I should have said “I feel exhausted and overwhelmed” but God is still good!

Why is it that most of the time we tend to answer the question with an automatic generic response no matter what is going on in the background?

Is it because we don’t think the person asking really wants to know?  Is it because we are too busy to answer?  Or maybe, just maybe, it is because we are in a leadership position in the Church and feel we can’t be showing any “perceived weakness” in case it is misinterpreted as a lack of faith.

I have just finished reading “Loved Back to Life” by Sheila Walsh.  In this book there is a quote that really struck a chord with me and gave me “much food for thought” in relation to my responses:-

“What I think we as the church lack, though, is a place to talk about how things really are right now.  In our desire to be an inspiration to one another we often veil what is true, because what is true is not always inspirational……….If we were able to put aside our need for approval long enough to be authentic, then, surely, we would be living as the church.”

I encourage you to think about that quote for a moment and then ask yourself the following question:-

Am I seeking approval from my church family so much so that I am not living authentically, but projecting the idea of what I believe a Christian should look like? 

Thankfully the Bible makes it clear that God has created a time for everything, just look in Ecclesiastes 3:1-4, 7:-

There is a time for everything , and a season for every activity under the heavens: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance……. A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak.”

My prayer for us this week is that we will live an authentic Christian life.  That God will give us the wisdom to know when to humble ourselves and seek support, when to share, what to share and when to stay silent and listen.

                                                                                                                                               

References:     Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan

                         Walsh, S (2015); Loved Back to Life; Nelson Books USA

                         Image: http://www.imagesbuddy.com/img/how-are-you/page/22/

The Value of a Moment

"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."

Dr Seuss.

 

Its 5am, and I toss and turn trying to go back to sleep.  I focus, craning to hear a sound or a voice calling me to see what brought me out of my slumber.  It is still dark, the moment just before the birds awake.  The world outside is mostly silent apart from the odd car engine grumbling.

My mind is calm but curious as to why I am awake so early. Naturally I raise my internal voice to sing the bridge of the song still resonating with my spirit from Church the night before:-

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me.  Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Saviour” (Hillsong United)

 “Speak Lord your servant is listening” I say to my Creator and wait. Flashes of memories come into my mind, they are memories of my father’s parents.  I see my grandma giggling in delight as she gives me her “squidgy” hugs. I see my grandpa showing me how to spin honey out of the honeycomb in the back shed. I remember….. I feel the delight of just being in their presence as a child, the love. The memory moves on to when I had to say goodbye, the last time I saw them before they died.  What sadness and yet what beauty knowing that they had a relationship with Jesus.

Have you ever had moments like that?  Where you have allowed yourself to remember, let in the sadness, relived the happiness and re-process the confusion?

Have you ever allowed yourself to see the value in that moment?

Over the last 6 weeks I have been reliving moments of significance as I complete the study “Undaunted” by Christine Caine. Some of the memories have brought me back to a time in my life where my world was turned upside down and I was asking “why me?”. It has been a challenging and enriching process even though some memories were painful. 

I wonder if we stop ourselves from looking back as an observer because all we see are bad moments….

Can bad moments have value? Yes! I firmly believe that they often have greater value than the good moments because it is in the hard times that we tend to dig deeper into God and is the time of most growth. I know that sometimes it is easier to avoid certain memories but let me reassure you with something I know to be true.  

Every moment in your life can be overcome with Jesus.

God’s power is present whatever storm we are going through as true as it is when the sun is shining.  Every moment had and has value. 

God’s Word is full of His wisdom about our moments. His truth contains words of comfort, instruction, healing, praise, correction and encouragement.  You name it and there’s a verse for it! Even the questions – just look at King David pouring out his anguish in the book of Psalms:-

“Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.  Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.  My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?” Psalm 6:1-3.

I encourage you to take time to listen for your Creators voice in those moments of silence. To wait to see what He wants you to learn moment to moment. I encourage you to remember – not to hold on to the past but use what you learn to move forward into what God has planned for your future. 

You have a purpose, a calling that God is eager to move you towards.

Just remember even taking one small step moves you forwards.   

                                                                                                                                               

 References:          Hillsong United - Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Lyrics | MetroLyrics

                                Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan                        

 

 

Book Review: Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions by Lysa Terkeurst

For those of you who know me well it’s no secret that Lysa Terkeurst is one of my favourite authors. I just love how ‘real’ and relatable she is. 

Let’s be honest, we will more absorb and listen to a speaker/leader who is transparent about their imperfections using gut-honest personal examples than one who looks “squeaky clean” and whose family seems to have it “all together”.

I lead a women’s intensive Bible study group once a term. I had already worked through two of Lysa’s studies “When Women Say Yes to God” and “The Best Yes” previously but had decided to choose a different curriculum in order to “mix it up”.  Obviously God had other ideas and I am grateful to Him for that.

Initially I selected the book “Unglued” because a friend wanted to do the study and other people had commented to me regarding their struggles with their reactions of late.  It never occurred to me that God felt I needed to work on this issue myself – obviously it wouldn’t as in my mind I am the most perfectly controlled woman in the world when it comes to her reactions (wink, wink).  So, I decided to do this study because there seemed to be a need.

There are not enough words for me to be able to describe effectively how much I have grown during this process.  Lysa is an “open-book” when it comes to giving examples about her raw emotions and reactions in everyday life which has you nodding your head in agreement and recalling situations where you have done exactly the same thing.  She helps you recognise what kind of reactor you are, how it effects those around you and to realise what your triggers are.

I think my most favourite part of the book is the “Biblical Procedural Manual”. 

In this manual Lysa draws on biblical truths to speak into our lives which she then converts to a five step process in order to assist in our reactive moments.  This process is converted to five short statements which she encourages you to personalise. 

I have grown so much that nowadays when I recognise my trigger I start to pause and repeat my personalised five steps in my mind which helps me to calm, take a step back and respond rather than react.  If I haven’t noticed my trigger and am in the “heat of the moment” I pause, close my eyes and repeat this process which helps me to wind myself back down.

This progress Lysa calls “imperfect progress” recognising that progress is small steps forward no matter how many times you trip and fall along the way.

While reading the book is beneficial, to truly delve deeply into the growth process I would recommend purchasing the DVD and participant’s guide.  It can be worked through on your own but I believe that it is much better in a group as it’s nice to have the support and know that we are not alone in our struggles. It was eye opening to chart my progress, recognise my triggers and personalise my procedural manual.  I now have a treasured journal full of raw and honest answers about who I am, how my past has affected me and where I need to improve sprinkled with examples of God’s grace and abundant mercy.  The beauty of this journal is that it is also a testament to how far I have come during the 6 week process, a treasure that I am sure I will re-visit many a time.

I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

 

 

Permission to Linger

I have a confession to make. No matter how much I try, for some reason I just can’t
“be still”. In fact, I don’t think our society encourages the idea of rest.  Just look at the invention of faxes, emails, smartphones, Facebook and Twitter.  Work days are getting longer because we are reachable no matter where we are.  The world is so noisy. 

 

Because of all the things that compete to get our attention 24/7, it is difficult to stop and linger in God’s presence.

 

When I have shared this fact with others over the years many well intentioned brothers and sisters in Christ have told me where they thought I was going wrong. If I had a dollar for every time I heard “you are not doing it right if you don’t spend at least an hour in prayer and Bible reading each day” or “you are supposed to meditate on God’s word morning and night” I would be a wealthy woman.  At times after hearing this I would think “what is wrong with me! Why can’t I just stop!”

 I yearn to be like Mary in the Bible (Luke 10:38-41) sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to what He is saying instead of being like her sister Martha madly rushing around trying to get everything done. 

I hate to admit it but when I read this story in the book of Luke I can see I am Martha.  There have been times I have been rushing around in the evening getting cranky at my son for taking so long to get his school things ready for the next day only to discover he is reading his Bible – at these times I can almost hear God say to me what he said to Martha when she complained about Mary:-

 

“Martha Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41 (NIV)

Over the last few weeks God has revealed to me that resting in His presence is not as complicated as we tend to make it.  In fact any effort we make to linger is not going to work unless we make it fit how we work.  This means, if you are a morning person, set your daily quiet time in the morning.  If you are a night person do it at night. If you only have your lunch hour spare each day – read your Bible then. There really is no reason why we can’t find some time to spend with God each day. God will meet you wherever you are.
 
Sometimes I think we forget that God is with us always, He doesn’t just come and linger with us during our quiet time and then go away until the next time we decide to stop.  When pondering on this fact I came across the following verse:-

 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” Ps 139:7 – 8 (NIV)

I can honestly say that one of my current favorite places to meet with God is early in the morning at the gym. I know, I know, it sounds a little crazy but think about it... approximately 1 hour of time where nothing else is going to grab my attention.  It’s a great time to pray, listen to praise and worship songs or to the Elevation Church podcasts that I love.  1 hour of authentic lingering in the presence of God, learning more about Him and rejuvenating my soul.  The added bonus of this is that as I am focused on Him I am not focused on the fact that I really don’t like exercise!

 I pray this week that God reveals to you the best way to linger in His presence.  You may be surprised, you could have your own “gym-like” meeting place with Him that you have never considered before.

                                                                                                                                               

References:              Image:      http://notaloneministries.com/2014/06/waiting-god/

                                Quotes:    Holy Bible: New International Version. (2011). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan