…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10b
My three year-old daughter Zoe just loves to jump on the trampoline. She can spend what seems like hours jumping, singing, dancing and giggling. She loves it.
What do you enjoy?
I have realised this year that I really enjoy ideas. I enjoy getting them and playing with them and expressing them. I love the idea that other people might be blessed or inspired by them too. It gives me a buzz – in my mind and my heart. It energises me.
So what floats your boat?
It may not seem like a big deal to other people, it may not be obvious to observers. But it gives you life and brings you joy. When you let it, it flows out of you easily.
How could you let God use it in your life to connect with Him and participate in His purpose?
Writing this blog has made me realise how much I enjoy sharing ideas in writing. While I have always thought about writing and enjoyed getting ideas, I would always stop because I didn’t believe I had the time to write a whole book. Realising that I can do what I love just a bit at a time – ten minutes there, half an hour there has set me free to enjoy what I enjoy.
What’s stopping you?
God gives you life to the full. He loves to see His kids enjoying themselves. Take some time today to put a smile on His face.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Desire vs. Demand
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods…
Psalm 63:5
My church is doing a Freedom Fast. For 21 days we are going without “choice” food (sweet, meat, salty, tasty etc.) as Daniel did. The focus is to unify us in prayer for our city, as each person participates as they feel led.
When our pastor first shared about the idea I was intrigued. We would be deliberately forsaking the “joy” of food for a time. It’s a joy - an indulgence that I value highly and experience frequently. It would be a challenge. Does it make sense to avoid joy?
I have looked forward to how my soul would be challenged by such a fast. I am taking this opportunity to find out how much I rely on food for comfort, pleasure, satisfaction and joy – where I should ultimately be leaning on my ultimate Source.
Last week I had the chance to attend an incredibly excellent student leadership day run by World Vision. I was more than impressed by the way that they communicate their message and value the potential of young people and their influence. The thing that affected me most personally on the day was information about how the way I waste food actually affects access to food for the world’s poorest people.
Of course the obvious applications are to do our best to reduce the amount we waste, or to make a bigger difference by encouraging others to do the same. But I was stirred with a different thought. What if we could reduce demand? It is our ability to demand and quite easily purchase whatever we want that drives up prices and consumption.
Demand is fuelled by a great gulf of yearning within our souls. Misplaced as it is, without God, we in the affluent West seek to satisfy ourselves through what we can acquire materially.
There is nothing wrong with desire. It is a beautiful thing that God has put within us to lead us to Him, to others, to purpose. But demand is ugly. We actually believe we “deserve” what we have and what we want, driven by greed and self-pity.
Is your soul satisfied with the real Source?
Do you still search for joy and comfort from elsewhere?
Keen to mess with your demands? If you have a spare 15 mins, check out the “Global Food Crisis” video that messed with me.
http://www.worldvision.com.au/40HF/Videos.aspx
Psalm 63:5
My church is doing a Freedom Fast. For 21 days we are going without “choice” food (sweet, meat, salty, tasty etc.) as Daniel did. The focus is to unify us in prayer for our city, as each person participates as they feel led.
When our pastor first shared about the idea I was intrigued. We would be deliberately forsaking the “joy” of food for a time. It’s a joy - an indulgence that I value highly and experience frequently. It would be a challenge. Does it make sense to avoid joy?
I have looked forward to how my soul would be challenged by such a fast. I am taking this opportunity to find out how much I rely on food for comfort, pleasure, satisfaction and joy – where I should ultimately be leaning on my ultimate Source.
Last week I had the chance to attend an incredibly excellent student leadership day run by World Vision. I was more than impressed by the way that they communicate their message and value the potential of young people and their influence. The thing that affected me most personally on the day was information about how the way I waste food actually affects access to food for the world’s poorest people.
Of course the obvious applications are to do our best to reduce the amount we waste, or to make a bigger difference by encouraging others to do the same. But I was stirred with a different thought. What if we could reduce demand? It is our ability to demand and quite easily purchase whatever we want that drives up prices and consumption.
Demand is fuelled by a great gulf of yearning within our souls. Misplaced as it is, without God, we in the affluent West seek to satisfy ourselves through what we can acquire materially.
There is nothing wrong with desire. It is a beautiful thing that God has put within us to lead us to Him, to others, to purpose. But demand is ugly. We actually believe we “deserve” what we have and what we want, driven by greed and self-pity.
Is your soul satisfied with the real Source?
Do you still search for joy and comfort from elsewhere?
Keen to mess with your demands? If you have a spare 15 mins, check out the “Global Food Crisis” video that messed with me.
http://www.worldvision.com.au/40HF/Videos.aspx
Friday, June 11, 2010
Out of the overflow
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
John 4:13-14
Ever been told to, ‘get a life’?
It really does seem that some people have more ‘life’ than others. For some, life is small, crowded and restrained, while others seem to be boundless, open and optimistic. I have experienced both, but I’d like to have more of the latter.
My workplace is going through a period of particular stress at the moment as the school goes through an inspection. Pressure has been building for quite a few months as we prepare for a few days this week when people will come to see how perfect and compliant we are with our paperwork.
In a season of stress, or a culture of stress, it’s very easy to get caught up in it. It’s like our inner resources are depleted, and we’re running on empty when it comes to our attitudes, emotions and responses.
But surely it doesn’t have to be that way. Real, abundant life, with joy and hope to spare is surely possible. The difference is our source, or how we are resourced to endure and enjoy these seasons.
If the sum total of my resources is myself then I’m going to run out of ‘life’ pretty soon. If it includes a great bunch of friends then it should take a little longer to run dry. We need something, or actually someone, who is way beyond us and our experience, knowledge and power.
God is an infinite source. We could never reach the end of His life, His love, His power and His grace. I want to live out of this overflow of God. (Thanks to my good mate Ric Burrell for saying it often). I want to be fuelled by Him and for that power to flow in all that I do so that it can be about Him and not me.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:3
I love this picture in Psalm 1. God is like a river. A source that is never ending and always refreshed. We need only to keep our roots in the flow.
So often I need to be reminded of the choice that Jesus presents in John 4. So often I forget how much I need the God-source and wonder why ‘life’ is running out as stress, fear or worry set in.
Like the woman at the well in John 4 we need to continue to make that choice, to seek the living water of Jesus. It’s exciting to think too that this ‘life’ springs up in us to become a blessing to others.
Thirsty?
Choose well.
John 4:13-14
Ever been told to, ‘get a life’?
It really does seem that some people have more ‘life’ than others. For some, life is small, crowded and restrained, while others seem to be boundless, open and optimistic. I have experienced both, but I’d like to have more of the latter.
My workplace is going through a period of particular stress at the moment as the school goes through an inspection. Pressure has been building for quite a few months as we prepare for a few days this week when people will come to see how perfect and compliant we are with our paperwork.
In a season of stress, or a culture of stress, it’s very easy to get caught up in it. It’s like our inner resources are depleted, and we’re running on empty when it comes to our attitudes, emotions and responses.
But surely it doesn’t have to be that way. Real, abundant life, with joy and hope to spare is surely possible. The difference is our source, or how we are resourced to endure and enjoy these seasons.
If the sum total of my resources is myself then I’m going to run out of ‘life’ pretty soon. If it includes a great bunch of friends then it should take a little longer to run dry. We need something, or actually someone, who is way beyond us and our experience, knowledge and power.
God is an infinite source. We could never reach the end of His life, His love, His power and His grace. I want to live out of this overflow of God. (Thanks to my good mate Ric Burrell for saying it often). I want to be fuelled by Him and for that power to flow in all that I do so that it can be about Him and not me.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:3
I love this picture in Psalm 1. God is like a river. A source that is never ending and always refreshed. We need only to keep our roots in the flow.
So often I need to be reminded of the choice that Jesus presents in John 4. So often I forget how much I need the God-source and wonder why ‘life’ is running out as stress, fear or worry set in.
Like the woman at the well in John 4 we need to continue to make that choice, to seek the living water of Jesus. It’s exciting to think too that this ‘life’ springs up in us to become a blessing to others.
Thirsty?
Choose well.
Friday, June 4, 2010
The Fervour of Favour
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17
I’ve come to realise that favour is a big deal, that it is something worth praying for and seeking out in life. I’ve learnt that as we make plans or decisions and especially as we communicate them, it is of considerable value to have God’s favour. Lately I’ve felt the excitement of having a few plans and communications have that kind of favour.
The word favour is found 150 times in the NIV Bible (although you have to spell it “favor”). It’s a concept familiar and significant with the people of the Bible and within the culture of the Kingdom of God. It’s like a holy X-factor that takes a plan or a person and adds success in that season.
God, our loving Heavenly Father, is always looking to bless us, and indeed, we are blessed according simply to our status as His children. But there is a certain mysterious and wonderful way that God chooses His timing to answer a prayer or breathe on a plan.
I’ve had many ideas over the years that I have thought were fantastic, but they didn’t get anywhere. I remember when I was at uni and doing some volunteer tutoring in a high school, I went along to Sydney Uni’s Christians in Education group to inspire others to do the same thing. It inspired no-one. Looking back I realise that it’s not good to try and inspire a group the first time you meet them, at least that’s how it went for me.
It’s exciting to put an idea out there into the universe, to test it out and see if anyone agrees. It’s really exciting when God breathes on an idea. Then, momentum and interest come naturally without arm-waving and arm-twisting. We can just enjoy the flow.
I don’t think there’s a formula to it, but I think that’s what makes it so wonderful when His favour is there. That kind of success is somewhere beyond our efforts and determination. I think that we can pray for it, and it’s helpful to be using our gifts and pursuing His will, but we can’t force it.
We can do nothing but relax and trust in His timing. God is way beyond delivering a formulaic response to our prayers, I kind of like how the mystery sets us for an authentic relationship with Him and to rely on Him for the results.
What could you pray for now, for God’s favour?
I’ve come to realise that favour is a big deal, that it is something worth praying for and seeking out in life. I’ve learnt that as we make plans or decisions and especially as we communicate them, it is of considerable value to have God’s favour. Lately I’ve felt the excitement of having a few plans and communications have that kind of favour.
The word favour is found 150 times in the NIV Bible (although you have to spell it “favor”). It’s a concept familiar and significant with the people of the Bible and within the culture of the Kingdom of God. It’s like a holy X-factor that takes a plan or a person and adds success in that season.
God, our loving Heavenly Father, is always looking to bless us, and indeed, we are blessed according simply to our status as His children. But there is a certain mysterious and wonderful way that God chooses His timing to answer a prayer or breathe on a plan.
I’ve had many ideas over the years that I have thought were fantastic, but they didn’t get anywhere. I remember when I was at uni and doing some volunteer tutoring in a high school, I went along to Sydney Uni’s Christians in Education group to inspire others to do the same thing. It inspired no-one. Looking back I realise that it’s not good to try and inspire a group the first time you meet them, at least that’s how it went for me.
It’s exciting to put an idea out there into the universe, to test it out and see if anyone agrees. It’s really exciting when God breathes on an idea. Then, momentum and interest come naturally without arm-waving and arm-twisting. We can just enjoy the flow.
I don’t think there’s a formula to it, but I think that’s what makes it so wonderful when His favour is there. That kind of success is somewhere beyond our efforts and determination. I think that we can pray for it, and it’s helpful to be using our gifts and pursuing His will, but we can’t force it.
We can do nothing but relax and trust in His timing. God is way beyond delivering a formulaic response to our prayers, I kind of like how the mystery sets us for an authentic relationship with Him and to rely on Him for the results.
What could you pray for now, for God’s favour?
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