God, I will follow you because you died for me
Gave to me your life to set me free
Anyone who asks shall receive
Jesus in your heart
It's time for you to start
Giving God all the glory
‘More than a man’ Stryper 1986
Throughout that day I couldn’t help smiling whenever I thought about it. Whenever I’d remember where I was going that night I would chuckle to myself. That day was last Thursday – and the reason, that had a lot to do with a band called ‘Stryper’.
Back in ’89, when I was in Year 7 I went to my very first concert, and Stryper was the band. It was at the State Sports Centre and I remember it was so loud that my ears rang for two and a half days. It was great!
Now Stryper is what you would call a ‘glam-metal’ band. The music was loud and heavy but the image involved hair that was as big as it was long, tight leather clothing and even make-up (if you’re still unsure, think ‘Kiss’). Stryper’s trademarks were being completely decked out in yellow and black (their clothes, the instruments and the stage); and their Christian lyrics, backed up by throwing Bibles out at the crowd during the show.
Last Thursday morning I bought a ticket online to go and see the band that night in the city. The same bunch of guys who went back in our teens were getting together again to see Stryper 22 years later. Throughout the day I’d think about seeing everyone again and seeing the band and I would laugh to myself. This was going to be a lot of fun. And I wasn’t disappointed. During the concert I couldn’t help feeling a lot of joy.
It was so good to hang out with old mates. What a blessing it is to have shared experiences with great people that you still enjoy being around. The concert had given us a great excuse to get together – some of us hadn’t seen each other for more than 15 years! It was surprising that things hadn’t changed more – mostly just a few more silver hairs and photos to show of our kids. I realised I am now old enough to become nostalgic about being a teenager. It’s great to remember that there are things worth remembering.
The band played an excellent show! I wasn’t expecting a lot, they are all pushing fifty and I hadn’t even listened to their music for literally decades. But the band blew us away. You could see that the guys in the band were enjoying themselves. They were doing something that they love and were purposed for. They were proud that they had created something of a legacy with their music, and they were still around and ready to enjoy it.
I really felt blessed when I remembered the way that the band, its music and lyrics, influenced me as a young teen. Even though I hadn’t heard the songs for such a long time, the words of the choruses would came back to me as they sang and take me back to when playing those songs (on a cassette tape *chuckles*) would fire up my faith. The simple, catchy lyrics taught me simple things about salvation and living as a Christian. I thank God for Stryper and the way their songs gave me strength through that time.
And now I have another great memory to thank God for. Stryper songs have been playing in my head since the concert and I don’t mind at all. It seems that the ringing in my head has now stopped and I’m thankful for that too.
If you get all nostalgic for a moment, what can you look back on and be thankful for?
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Tears for joy
When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
Psalm 126
Exile is not fun. The Israelites, God’s chosen people, I think it’s fair to say, a proud people, were forced into exile in Babylon. By force they were separated from their homeland and the places that were important to everything they believed. They mourned and wondered if God had given up on them.
There are times of exile that we go through in our lives. There are times when we seem far away from where we thought we’d be. There are times when we feel like we’re on our own or when things just don’t make sense.
This Psalm reminds us that there are hard times like that – but that those seasons of exile will come to a close. The next season is coming, a new season is coming. Now as we start to feel the air warming up and the days starting to stretch we know that Spring is ever so close, we also know that Winters of exile will pass away.
I wonder if during their exile, they ever thought they’d sing such a song – truly a song of joy. They came back proclaiming God’s power and faithfulness as their joy overflowed. There is hope that those in exile will return and that those who mourn will laugh.
When in the middle of a Winter season, it is easy to wonder what the point of it is. We can be encouraged that they came back, “carrying sheaves.” Even though they couldn’t see it or feel it during Winter, the seed was in the ground, in good soil, waiting for its time to break through to fruition. We cannot see with our eyes what God is planning to reveal in the next season. But we can hope, believing that Winter is indeed a productive season.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
Don’t just cry tears – sow them! If you are in a Winter season, a season that feels like an exile – be encouraged. Know that your tears are not wasted and that your time of difficulty is not in vain. God is faithful in every season, whether we can see the evidence or not.
Invest your tears in pursuit of God. Dig deep in difficult times, knowing that your hunger for Him will always and ultimately be satisfied. When everything else feels like a mess, focus on Him – He does not change, He will always be with you, and His plan for you is good.
Invest your tears in real growth in your character. It’s more than a cliché. God uses these times to make the changes that we can’t see until the next season when we start to see their fruit. It is in these times that He can move the furniture around in our soul and prepare us for the next stage in our pursuit of Him.
we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
Psalm 126
Exile is not fun. The Israelites, God’s chosen people, I think it’s fair to say, a proud people, were forced into exile in Babylon. By force they were separated from their homeland and the places that were important to everything they believed. They mourned and wondered if God had given up on them.
There are times of exile that we go through in our lives. There are times when we seem far away from where we thought we’d be. There are times when we feel like we’re on our own or when things just don’t make sense.
This Psalm reminds us that there are hard times like that – but that those seasons of exile will come to a close. The next season is coming, a new season is coming. Now as we start to feel the air warming up and the days starting to stretch we know that Spring is ever so close, we also know that Winters of exile will pass away.
I wonder if during their exile, they ever thought they’d sing such a song – truly a song of joy. They came back proclaiming God’s power and faithfulness as their joy overflowed. There is hope that those in exile will return and that those who mourn will laugh.
When in the middle of a Winter season, it is easy to wonder what the point of it is. We can be encouraged that they came back, “carrying sheaves.” Even though they couldn’t see it or feel it during Winter, the seed was in the ground, in good soil, waiting for its time to break through to fruition. We cannot see with our eyes what God is planning to reveal in the next season. But we can hope, believing that Winter is indeed a productive season.
Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
Don’t just cry tears – sow them! If you are in a Winter season, a season that feels like an exile – be encouraged. Know that your tears are not wasted and that your time of difficulty is not in vain. God is faithful in every season, whether we can see the evidence or not.
Invest your tears in pursuit of God. Dig deep in difficult times, knowing that your hunger for Him will always and ultimately be satisfied. When everything else feels like a mess, focus on Him – He does not change, He will always be with you, and His plan for you is good.
Invest your tears in real growth in your character. It’s more than a cliché. God uses these times to make the changes that we can’t see until the next season when we start to see their fruit. It is in these times that He can move the furniture around in our soul and prepare us for the next stage in our pursuit of Him.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Consider it joy
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3
Hard times are hard. Trials are not fun – just ask some current Year 12 students if you’re unsure. To consider trials joy seems nonsensical. To “count it all joy” seems ridiculous.
There are many other things that we could easily consider trials to be – awful, miserable, difficult or horrible. We could count it as pain, gloom or doom.
But we do have a choice. We cannot always control or predict or make the trial stop but we can choose the way we look at the trial. It is easy and even attractive to be swallowed up in negativity as we consider and describe a difficult time.
And we can choose to focus on the benefit of the trial, that is, the growth that takes place in our faith and perseverance. No trial is fun, but by focussing on the good fruit that it will bring, we can consider it joy. It is a posture of faith, to believe that there is a point to the pain even when we can’t feel it.
I couldn’t say that I’ve ever considered a difficult season in life pure joy, but with a bit of perspective I can see what I’ve gained from them. Now and then when I’m going through a trial, when I can see clearly, I start to be able to consider it joy. When you can feel that sense of hope it is easy to face the trial or fight the battle, and it becomes easier to trust the One who will see you through it.
You decide how you will consider the trial. You get to choose.
Can you think of a benefit from a difficult time from your past?
Hard times are hard. Trials are not fun – just ask some current Year 12 students if you’re unsure. To consider trials joy seems nonsensical. To “count it all joy” seems ridiculous.
There are many other things that we could easily consider trials to be – awful, miserable, difficult or horrible. We could count it as pain, gloom or doom.
But we do have a choice. We cannot always control or predict or make the trial stop but we can choose the way we look at the trial. It is easy and even attractive to be swallowed up in negativity as we consider and describe a difficult time.
And we can choose to focus on the benefit of the trial, that is, the growth that takes place in our faith and perseverance. No trial is fun, but by focussing on the good fruit that it will bring, we can consider it joy. It is a posture of faith, to believe that there is a point to the pain even when we can’t feel it.
I couldn’t say that I’ve ever considered a difficult season in life pure joy, but with a bit of perspective I can see what I’ve gained from them. Now and then when I’m going through a trial, when I can see clearly, I start to be able to consider it joy. When you can feel that sense of hope it is easy to face the trial or fight the battle, and it becomes easier to trust the One who will see you through it.
You decide how you will consider the trial. You get to choose.
Can you think of a benefit from a difficult time from your past?
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Joy complete
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:9-11
Complete joy. Imagine that. That’s what Jesus wants for you. Jesus wants His joy to be in us and for our joy to be complete. We waste time thinking that God wants us to feel bad, heavy, guilty or ashamed. He wants us to remain in His love, and live full of joy.
Joy mixed with doubt or fear isn’t complete joy. Eighty percent joy isn’t complete joy. This concept of “complete” joy comes up half a dozen times in the New Testament. Perhaps it was a saying in their language and culture. Jesus and others expressed the desire for joy to be complete; perhaps we could say, “whole” or “finished” or “total”.
As a father, I love seeing complete joy on my kids. My image of this is them playing and giggling with abandon, free of anything that would hinder or dilute the joy. It is my desire for my kids to have joy without fear.
Jesus told us how we can have complete joy. He made it very clear that it is in His love that we receive His joy. His love, our joy. His love precedes our joy.
Can you remember that spark of joy that came when as a teen you heard that someone ‘likes’ you? The idea that someone has noticed you, chosen you, and is ready to express their affection for you makes you feel pretty special. The idea that the Creator of the universe knows us personally, that He has noticed you and chosen you is so wonderful that it is hard to believe.
I recall a time when in my late teens I had been carrying the weight of the world for a while. I was holding it together on the outside but feeling pretty lost inside. At the right time, my youth pastor said he had something to say that he felt was from God to encourage me. It was simply, “God loves you.” In that moment I received His love again. The burdens were gone. I was overwhelmed with joy.
Receive His love. Consider it. Meditate on it. Let it fill your thoughts. Let that understanding be refreshed in your heart and in your soul.
Your Heavenly Father wants you to receive and remain in His love. And He wants your joy to be complete. His love overcomes fear.
Unconditional. Unfathomable. Unstoppable.
How can you deliberately remain in Jesus’ love today?
Complete joy. Imagine that. That’s what Jesus wants for you. Jesus wants His joy to be in us and for our joy to be complete. We waste time thinking that God wants us to feel bad, heavy, guilty or ashamed. He wants us to remain in His love, and live full of joy.
Joy mixed with doubt or fear isn’t complete joy. Eighty percent joy isn’t complete joy. This concept of “complete” joy comes up half a dozen times in the New Testament. Perhaps it was a saying in their language and culture. Jesus and others expressed the desire for joy to be complete; perhaps we could say, “whole” or “finished” or “total”.
As a father, I love seeing complete joy on my kids. My image of this is them playing and giggling with abandon, free of anything that would hinder or dilute the joy. It is my desire for my kids to have joy without fear.
Jesus told us how we can have complete joy. He made it very clear that it is in His love that we receive His joy. His love, our joy. His love precedes our joy.
Can you remember that spark of joy that came when as a teen you heard that someone ‘likes’ you? The idea that someone has noticed you, chosen you, and is ready to express their affection for you makes you feel pretty special. The idea that the Creator of the universe knows us personally, that He has noticed you and chosen you is so wonderful that it is hard to believe.
I recall a time when in my late teens I had been carrying the weight of the world for a while. I was holding it together on the outside but feeling pretty lost inside. At the right time, my youth pastor said he had something to say that he felt was from God to encourage me. It was simply, “God loves you.” In that moment I received His love again. The burdens were gone. I was overwhelmed with joy.
Receive His love. Consider it. Meditate on it. Let it fill your thoughts. Let that understanding be refreshed in your heart and in your soul.
Your Heavenly Father wants you to receive and remain in His love. And He wants your joy to be complete. His love overcomes fear.
Unconditional. Unfathomable. Unstoppable.
How can you deliberately remain in Jesus’ love today?
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