“…other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than what was sown.” Luke 8:8
I am writing from Darwin where our team from PCS and my family has been for the last four days. In our very first devotions time up here I asked the team – why are we excited? How do we know that it’s going to be a significant time here in Darwin? What is our evidence to support the idea that we’re really going to make a difference?
Our faith itself is the evidence. God plants a thought, an idea, or a possibility in our hearts about the future. It is just like a seed that is planted in soil. When we look at the soil we cannot see any evidence of the seed. All that potential is locked away inside the seed, hidden in darkness under the ground.
But the seed is a promise. We cannot control the potential and we cannot make it grow. We can only focus on the condition of the soil and give it the very best chance. And in the Maker’s time, the seed breaks through and starts to show what it and He can do.
Five days in and I am glad to report that we have seen some of our faith seeds sprouting. We were given the opportunity to do a sausage sizzle, serve pancakes and then do a concert at a local middle school. Of course the food was popular, but the response at the concert, the positivity and openness that was there showed us that the church here in Darwin will have many more chances to partner with that school.
It is exciting to be involved in a faith adventure like this; and it is a joy to see seeds bear fruit as our faith and God’s favour combine. The students on the trip (a fantastic bunch) have seen the results of stepping out of their comfort zones to bless and connect with others. We have also had the chance to see the wonderful, strong tree of a church that is being planted here in Darwin by Troy and Nicole Davis. It is thrilling and fulfilling to be part of such a risky and purpose-filled adventure.
What seeds do you have in your soil?
Be encouraged. Your faith is the evidence (Hebrews 11:1). Look forward to the joy if seeing those seeds sprout into healthy plants and strong trees.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Surfing the excitement wave
Anticipation. Excitement. Hype. Sure they come and go, but when they are there it’s a lot of fun. It’s a chance to surf the wave, enjoy the ride and make decisions just before they need to happen.
In two days I will be travelling to Darwin with my young family and a great team from my school. None of us have ever been to Darwin and everyone is quite excited about the opportunity. We’re looking forward to getting on the plane and going to an exotic place where we can see crocodiles and meet lots of interesting people.
For me, I’m excited about our plans coming together, and I really enjoy the way they come together when a bunch of people share a purpose and trust each other. We have been planning all year and now the opportunities are falling into place. We also have a sense that the details will fall wonderfully into place as we get there.
Nerves are always part of doing something new. I am glad that for all our team members, we will be doing new things that are outside our comfort zone. For some it’s acting in dramas, for others it’s being part of a team like this, for two of us it’s taking three kids under six on a plane!
But nerves are always mixed with excitement, and we get to choose how we will manage that. We choose what we will call it.
I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. There’s something very special about being part of a team that it focussed and well-prepared. We’re getting to work with an experienced team up in Darwin from whom our team will learn a lot. And we trust that God has a great purpose for us as we go to serve Him, we anticipate His favour and blessing on what we do.
I thank God for things to get excited about. I thank God that we can look forward and choose to anticipate great things happening.
What can you get excited about today?
What great things could happen in this season of your life?
If you’re the praying type, please pray for our team as we travel to Darwin (22-30 Sept). Pray for our safety and for great opportunities in schools, in Aboriginal communities – especially with young people and kids.
And if you’re the reading type – you can follow our travel blog at:
http://darwinadventure.tumblr.com/
In two days I will be travelling to Darwin with my young family and a great team from my school. None of us have ever been to Darwin and everyone is quite excited about the opportunity. We’re looking forward to getting on the plane and going to an exotic place where we can see crocodiles and meet lots of interesting people.
For me, I’m excited about our plans coming together, and I really enjoy the way they come together when a bunch of people share a purpose and trust each other. We have been planning all year and now the opportunities are falling into place. We also have a sense that the details will fall wonderfully into place as we get there.
Nerves are always part of doing something new. I am glad that for all our team members, we will be doing new things that are outside our comfort zone. For some it’s acting in dramas, for others it’s being part of a team like this, for two of us it’s taking three kids under six on a plane!
But nerves are always mixed with excitement, and we get to choose how we will manage that. We choose what we will call it.
I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. There’s something very special about being part of a team that it focussed and well-prepared. We’re getting to work with an experienced team up in Darwin from whom our team will learn a lot. And we trust that God has a great purpose for us as we go to serve Him, we anticipate His favour and blessing on what we do.
I thank God for things to get excited about. I thank God that we can look forward and choose to anticipate great things happening.
What can you get excited about today?
What great things could happen in this season of your life?
If you’re the praying type, please pray for our team as we travel to Darwin (22-30 Sept). Pray for our safety and for great opportunities in schools, in Aboriginal communities – especially with young people and kids.
And if you’re the reading type – you can follow our travel blog at:
http://darwinadventure.tumblr.com/
Monday, September 13, 2010
Light troubles – Weighty Glory
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17
We have a lot to look forward to. Both in this life and, with Jesus, in the life that will continue, there is more to look forward to than we can imagine. It is so easy in the day-to-day for our hopes to be limited and even dashed because of our focus on the temporary. But we are invited to consider the glory that is beyond this life – a weighty wonderful glory.
I love it when Ps Tom Messer from Arizona shares at our church, as he did yesterday morning. He is in a stage in life where he is enjoying counting his grandchildren and even his great-grandchildren. Ps Tom is a sage. I enjoy his preaching not just for what he says but for who he is and the manner in which he shares.
Ps Tom seems unfettered by the temporary. He is unconcerned with pleasing people and he is comfortable to challenge people. There is no drivenness about him but a sense of simply walking with Jesus. Of course he has faced in his life many hardships and difficult seasons, but now he can enjoy much of what has been achieved by them – and he seems to have a sense of eternity about him.
Seeing a good man in such a glorious stage of life helps me to look beyond temporary troubles. I can see in Ps Tom the result of a life of believing and not giving up and all the achievement in character that goes with that. I am thankful for sages, and I hope that I can become one.
You are invited to focus on the eternal in disregard of the temporary things that will compete for your attention. The important things are hard to see but a life of faith will help to train your eyes for that kind of vision.
And you are invited to see your current troubles as temporary, light and small. This is a correct perspective. When you focus on your troubles they become big enough to fill your vision – they become everything you can see.
Know that God is achieving glorious results through your temporary troubles.
What is your temporary trouble achieving for you in your future?
We have a lot to look forward to. Both in this life and, with Jesus, in the life that will continue, there is more to look forward to than we can imagine. It is so easy in the day-to-day for our hopes to be limited and even dashed because of our focus on the temporary. But we are invited to consider the glory that is beyond this life – a weighty wonderful glory.
I love it when Ps Tom Messer from Arizona shares at our church, as he did yesterday morning. He is in a stage in life where he is enjoying counting his grandchildren and even his great-grandchildren. Ps Tom is a sage. I enjoy his preaching not just for what he says but for who he is and the manner in which he shares.
Ps Tom seems unfettered by the temporary. He is unconcerned with pleasing people and he is comfortable to challenge people. There is no drivenness about him but a sense of simply walking with Jesus. Of course he has faced in his life many hardships and difficult seasons, but now he can enjoy much of what has been achieved by them – and he seems to have a sense of eternity about him.
Seeing a good man in such a glorious stage of life helps me to look beyond temporary troubles. I can see in Ps Tom the result of a life of believing and not giving up and all the achievement in character that goes with that. I am thankful for sages, and I hope that I can become one.
You are invited to focus on the eternal in disregard of the temporary things that will compete for your attention. The important things are hard to see but a life of faith will help to train your eyes for that kind of vision.
And you are invited to see your current troubles as temporary, light and small. This is a correct perspective. When you focus on your troubles they become big enough to fill your vision – they become everything you can see.
Know that God is achieving glorious results through your temporary troubles.
What is your temporary trouble achieving for you in your future?
Monday, September 6, 2010
Joy’s bridesmaid
"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24
Focussing on joy in this blog this year has been well, enjoyable. I have happily been meandering around thoughts and topics as they have come across my heart. I like finding alluvial gold. As I learnt in Primary school about the gold rush, that’s gold that you find on the surface rather than mining for it. I haven’t sought to mine the scriptures or other people’s ideas on joy but rather see what God shows me next as I try to simply seek Him rather than ideas for a blog.
There is one thought that I have kept finding again and again, something that I think has become a theme among my thoughts on joy. Here it is. I believe that joy is totally dependent on faith. Okay perhaps you’re a few steps ahead of me and that was more obvious than earth-shattering, but let me continue.
Without believing in something or for something or in someone I don’t think that joy is possible. When I am feeling full of faith then I find that joy is already there, it’s easy. At times when I am struggling with doubt, joy is difficult even to imagine. Doubt is a joy-thief. It stops our joy and rips us off.
I’m not suggesting that joy is the goal of faith. Faith is about who and what we believe in. But joy comes with faith. Faith makes it possible to smile even when there is evidence that you should not. I guess then that joy is a handy indicator for faith.
I have learnt that being blessed or counting my blessings isn’t enough to precede joy (otherwise everyone in Australia would be full of joy, right?). Without a spark of faith, we can’t feel the benefit of the blessings, it’s like our heart trying to read with its eyes shut. Without faith we cannot see that some One has designed that blessing because He delights in us.
But with faith - faith that overcomes insecurity, faith that breaks self-pity, faith that brings hope to despondency – we can have joy too. Believing helps us to smile. Once again we see that this great narrative is about our hearts and about a Heavenly Father who cares for them deeply.
What do you do to increase your faith?
Focussing on joy in this blog this year has been well, enjoyable. I have happily been meandering around thoughts and topics as they have come across my heart. I like finding alluvial gold. As I learnt in Primary school about the gold rush, that’s gold that you find on the surface rather than mining for it. I haven’t sought to mine the scriptures or other people’s ideas on joy but rather see what God shows me next as I try to simply seek Him rather than ideas for a blog.
There is one thought that I have kept finding again and again, something that I think has become a theme among my thoughts on joy. Here it is. I believe that joy is totally dependent on faith. Okay perhaps you’re a few steps ahead of me and that was more obvious than earth-shattering, but let me continue.
Without believing in something or for something or in someone I don’t think that joy is possible. When I am feeling full of faith then I find that joy is already there, it’s easy. At times when I am struggling with doubt, joy is difficult even to imagine. Doubt is a joy-thief. It stops our joy and rips us off.
I’m not suggesting that joy is the goal of faith. Faith is about who and what we believe in. But joy comes with faith. Faith makes it possible to smile even when there is evidence that you should not. I guess then that joy is a handy indicator for faith.
I have learnt that being blessed or counting my blessings isn’t enough to precede joy (otherwise everyone in Australia would be full of joy, right?). Without a spark of faith, we can’t feel the benefit of the blessings, it’s like our heart trying to read with its eyes shut. Without faith we cannot see that some One has designed that blessing because He delights in us.
But with faith - faith that overcomes insecurity, faith that breaks self-pity, faith that brings hope to despondency – we can have joy too. Believing helps us to smile. Once again we see that this great narrative is about our hearts and about a Heavenly Father who cares for them deeply.
What do you do to increase your faith?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)