I have recently been amazed again at the kind of lengths that the Holy Spirit will go to in order to orchestrate His will to bring blessing and life. It’s healthy and fitting to realise how much God does in the background to show His love for us and to show us that we didn't do it ourselves.
Last week I was preparing for a short talk that I would give to the Year 9 and 10 boys on camp. Usually a main idea comes quickly, something to base the talk around, but this time while the thoughts were a little muddled I felt confident that the Holy Spirit would lead me, in time, to know what to say and how.
And He did. The talk came together but in such a way that I would not have planned it, and with a method of delivery that I would not have planned myself. I really enjoyed sharing the talk and felt so thankful to the Holy Spirit for leading it that way.
In Acts 10 the Holy Spirit works all over the place in order to bring about salvation to a family and acceptance into the church for non-Jews. Cornelius is visited by an angel. Peter has a vision while in a trance. The two men are drawn together to meet and the rest is history. No man could take the credit for what took place, the Great Conductor had orchestrated the whole thing.
At times life can seem confusing or frustrating as we only see the picture of things at the surface. Beyond what we can see, God is working, the Holy Spirit is moving to bring about His plan to save and to bless.
Can you think of an example of how the Holy Spirit has orchestrated an event in your life?
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Mentor
I love the concept of mentoring. I love having mentors – some close, some far, some living, and some dead. I thank God that we can learn from others who go before us and build our faith and hope for the future.
Recently I started to think about the ultimate mentor. I started to imagine what it would be like to have one mentor with all the best qualities of all the best human mentors I can imagine and even more.
Imagine someone who knows everything, seen everything and been everywhere – someone who has been around since the very beginning of time.
Imagine someone who worked closely with great men such as King David and St Paul.
Imagine a mentor who is literally all-powerful, and is ready to share all His power and knowledge with you – willing to actually give you the power and whisper the truth into your ear.
Imagine someone who knows absolutely everything about you and yet totally believes in you anyway.
Imagine that mentor always has time for you, warmly inviting you and walking with you everyday.
Imagine a mentor who is always looking out for you, who leads you, speaking to your heart and helping you to make the best decisions, and gently warning you about the bad ones.
We couldn’t find such a resourceful and loving mentor in all the earth, if we could, we certainly couldn’t afford it. But freely He offers to mentor us, and patiently He waits for us to ask.
Recently I started to think about the ultimate mentor. I started to imagine what it would be like to have one mentor with all the best qualities of all the best human mentors I can imagine and even more.
Imagine someone who knows everything, seen everything and been everywhere – someone who has been around since the very beginning of time.
Imagine someone who worked closely with great men such as King David and St Paul.
Imagine a mentor who is literally all-powerful, and is ready to share all His power and knowledge with you – willing to actually give you the power and whisper the truth into your ear.
Imagine someone who knows absolutely everything about you and yet totally believes in you anyway.
Imagine that mentor always has time for you, warmly inviting you and walking with you everyday.
Imagine a mentor who is always looking out for you, who leads you, speaking to your heart and helping you to make the best decisions, and gently warning you about the bad ones.
We couldn’t find such a resourceful and loving mentor in all the earth, if we could, we certainly couldn’t afford it. But freely He offers to mentor us, and patiently He waits for us to ask.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Holy Spirit – the shy superhero?
The most powerful being in the world is also the most humble. God the Spirit – omnipresent and omnipotent – seems to be easily overlooked as a specific object of our worship. For example I can only think of a handful of songs that focus on the Holy Spirit.
I am wondering if the fact that the Holy Spirit is often overlooked is because of His amazing and wonderful way of deflecting attention. It seems that as you focus on Him that He prefers to give glory and honour to Christ or to the Father.
In the same way the work of the Holy Spirit makes ministers look good, or more accurately makes ministries effective as He inspires and empowers, overcomes and opens hearts.
It also seems that any encounter with the power of the Holy Spirit leaves you emboldened and more likely to focus on the needs of others – rather than simply worshipping Him.
Perhaps it is difficult for us to imagine Him as a person, and indeed I think it would be untruthful to limit Him to our concept of a person (although we are made in God’s image). While the Holy Spirit is certainly personal, we don’t often attribute to Him personal characteristics, and we don’t seem to attain to be like Him the way that we would think to imitate Christ. But why not?
While Jesus certainly performed the greatest act of service for us, the way that the Holy Spirit serves the kingdom and indeed each believer is absolutely amazing. The way that He so invisibly serves humanity is something that we should certainly seek to imitate.
We can often limit the image we have of the Holy Spirit as the support staff or agency of the Godhead, as we focus on His roles as helper, comforter, and counsellor. But He is fully and wonderfully 100% God, in Him we see the mighty power, awesome strength – and yet such willingness to serve His people.
Holy Spirit – You are amazing!
What do you think / feel / believe? I’d love to hear your comments / concerns.
I am wondering if the fact that the Holy Spirit is often overlooked is because of His amazing and wonderful way of deflecting attention. It seems that as you focus on Him that He prefers to give glory and honour to Christ or to the Father.
In the same way the work of the Holy Spirit makes ministers look good, or more accurately makes ministries effective as He inspires and empowers, overcomes and opens hearts.
It also seems that any encounter with the power of the Holy Spirit leaves you emboldened and more likely to focus on the needs of others – rather than simply worshipping Him.
Perhaps it is difficult for us to imagine Him as a person, and indeed I think it would be untruthful to limit Him to our concept of a person (although we are made in God’s image). While the Holy Spirit is certainly personal, we don’t often attribute to Him personal characteristics, and we don’t seem to attain to be like Him the way that we would think to imitate Christ. But why not?
While Jesus certainly performed the greatest act of service for us, the way that the Holy Spirit serves the kingdom and indeed each believer is absolutely amazing. The way that He so invisibly serves humanity is something that we should certainly seek to imitate.
We can often limit the image we have of the Holy Spirit as the support staff or agency of the Godhead, as we focus on His roles as helper, comforter, and counsellor. But He is fully and wonderfully 100% God, in Him we see the mighty power, awesome strength – and yet such willingness to serve His people.
Holy Spirit – You are amazing!
What do you think / feel / believe? I’d love to hear your comments / concerns.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Golden Arrow
A long time ago there was a boy who had what others around him recognised as potential. Although he was just seven years old he had such a gift with archery that he was able to hit an apple at thirty paces. Those around him were always quite astonished when he showed them his skills and praised him. He enjoyed their praise but he enjoyed hitting targets accurately even more.
His father had been a champion archer and he trained his son regularly, keen to shape the potential that everyone could see. Alas, the boy did not care so much for training and the pressure that his father would put him under. He began to resent the training, and eventually came to absent his father’s lessons.
His father found him sitting under a tree. He cursed him saying, “You are good for nothing. You are too lazy. Everyone says you have potential – but you don’t, they are just ordinary. You have just been lucky. And your arms are weak.”
For many years no-one saw the boy shoot an arrow. Indeed, that day with his father an unseen arrow had pierced his heart. He passed his days as apprentice to the blacksmith. He worked steadily but quietly, his head down and his shoulders hunched. The blacksmith, a large man of gentle strength, noted how the boy had faded away since he was the seven-year-old with all that potential.
There came a time when the boy was entrusted to repair and restore the sword of a beautiful young lady, she was the daughter of a nobleman. Whereas normally it was the blacksmith who would speak to the customers, the blacksmith had intentionally left his shop when it was time for the young lady to come – he hoped that somehow the boy might come back to life.
And so he did. Well, at least it was a beginning. The boy enjoyed the young lady’s words as she described what a wonderful job he had done on the sword. He started to imagine how he might see her again or gain her affection – or at least her attention.
He went out secretly with a bow that he knew his father wouldn’t miss. He found a clearing in the woods where he could set up a target and practise. His strength in his arms had grown as he worked with the blacksmith, and his technique had not been lost, but alas he struggled to even get close to the target, as if something inside him stopped him. Downcast, he returned home.
It was only a matter of days later that he heard some news both terrible and exciting. The young lady had been taken by the dhier. Now the dhier was a terrifying foe of a beast. It had the strength and body of a horse; teeth and claws like a tiger; the ability to jump so far that some thought it could fly; and the mentality of a piranha. It lived in the darkest part of the woods and that’s where it had taken her.
Everyone knew from legend that only an arrow of gold could pierce the armour-like skin of the dhier. The father of the young lady was quick to take all his gold to the blacksmith – for what else could he do to save his daughter? Murmurings went about the village wondering who would be best to take the arrow and hunt the great beast.
The blacksmith didn’t wonder. He worked quickly and accurately and when he was finished he handed the arrow to the boy. He was shocked and tried to give the arrow back to his master who simply said, “There is no time to waste. The girl must be saved. I believe in you.”
His heart was warmed with his words and with adrenaline. He hurried towards the woods with a borrowed horse. As he rode he had time to wonder – vacillating between certainty that he would do it, and a deadening fear of missing. At least the dhier would kill him quickly and he’d never have to face the humiliation.
But he wanted to save the girl. His concern for her made him focus. Now he knew he was close. He could hear the snapping of branches and felt his horse’s shoulders become tense as it sensed the movement of the beast.
Soon he could see it, but unfortunately it started to notice him. It turned and reared up in front of them, causing his horse to rear up and out of fear fall backwards before bolting away. His leg was crushed and the dhier looked determinedly angry – ready to stalk and strike this pitiful threat of a boy.
The boy’s head was spinning, his leg was throbbing, he struggled not to pass out from the pain. His eyes become focussed again on the dhier as it moved slowly towards him. He could not let it get close and he needed to kill it quickly with one shot – without hitting the young lady.
It was still twenty or more metres away. He studied its gait as it deliberately and menacingly lifted its shoulders high and thumped its feet back onto the ground. He knew that this was his opportunity. He must strike the heart as it was exposed when the dhier lifted its left leg. He watched and lifted his bow.
He could now feel the slow rhythm of the beast’s movement. He would only have one shot. He stretched the bow with the heavy golden arrow. The failure of his past fell away like some kind of enchantment. The moment came. He released the arrow. It flew straight and true – and met its mark.
The dhier felt the shock and the weight of the arrow, and just as legend had said the beast fell immediately. The young lady rushed towards the young man – her fear had left and her concern was for him. Their eyes met – they knew each other. The young man was still struggling on his hip. He gestured to the young lady towards her sword which he had brought and had fallen from the horse’s saddle. She swiftly and with some feeling took the sword, walked towards the beast and with all her might and the anger and the fear that she felt – she struck off its head.
They would always remember that day together. The experienced formed them and forged their new life together. Others regarded them with respect and even solemnity. They enjoyed their life together and loved to share their tale with the children of their children.
His father had been a champion archer and he trained his son regularly, keen to shape the potential that everyone could see. Alas, the boy did not care so much for training and the pressure that his father would put him under. He began to resent the training, and eventually came to absent his father’s lessons.
His father found him sitting under a tree. He cursed him saying, “You are good for nothing. You are too lazy. Everyone says you have potential – but you don’t, they are just ordinary. You have just been lucky. And your arms are weak.”
For many years no-one saw the boy shoot an arrow. Indeed, that day with his father an unseen arrow had pierced his heart. He passed his days as apprentice to the blacksmith. He worked steadily but quietly, his head down and his shoulders hunched. The blacksmith, a large man of gentle strength, noted how the boy had faded away since he was the seven-year-old with all that potential.
There came a time when the boy was entrusted to repair and restore the sword of a beautiful young lady, she was the daughter of a nobleman. Whereas normally it was the blacksmith who would speak to the customers, the blacksmith had intentionally left his shop when it was time for the young lady to come – he hoped that somehow the boy might come back to life.
And so he did. Well, at least it was a beginning. The boy enjoyed the young lady’s words as she described what a wonderful job he had done on the sword. He started to imagine how he might see her again or gain her affection – or at least her attention.
He went out secretly with a bow that he knew his father wouldn’t miss. He found a clearing in the woods where he could set up a target and practise. His strength in his arms had grown as he worked with the blacksmith, and his technique had not been lost, but alas he struggled to even get close to the target, as if something inside him stopped him. Downcast, he returned home.
It was only a matter of days later that he heard some news both terrible and exciting. The young lady had been taken by the dhier. Now the dhier was a terrifying foe of a beast. It had the strength and body of a horse; teeth and claws like a tiger; the ability to jump so far that some thought it could fly; and the mentality of a piranha. It lived in the darkest part of the woods and that’s where it had taken her.
Everyone knew from legend that only an arrow of gold could pierce the armour-like skin of the dhier. The father of the young lady was quick to take all his gold to the blacksmith – for what else could he do to save his daughter? Murmurings went about the village wondering who would be best to take the arrow and hunt the great beast.
The blacksmith didn’t wonder. He worked quickly and accurately and when he was finished he handed the arrow to the boy. He was shocked and tried to give the arrow back to his master who simply said, “There is no time to waste. The girl must be saved. I believe in you.”
His heart was warmed with his words and with adrenaline. He hurried towards the woods with a borrowed horse. As he rode he had time to wonder – vacillating between certainty that he would do it, and a deadening fear of missing. At least the dhier would kill him quickly and he’d never have to face the humiliation.
But he wanted to save the girl. His concern for her made him focus. Now he knew he was close. He could hear the snapping of branches and felt his horse’s shoulders become tense as it sensed the movement of the beast.
Soon he could see it, but unfortunately it started to notice him. It turned and reared up in front of them, causing his horse to rear up and out of fear fall backwards before bolting away. His leg was crushed and the dhier looked determinedly angry – ready to stalk and strike this pitiful threat of a boy.
The boy’s head was spinning, his leg was throbbing, he struggled not to pass out from the pain. His eyes become focussed again on the dhier as it moved slowly towards him. He could not let it get close and he needed to kill it quickly with one shot – without hitting the young lady.
It was still twenty or more metres away. He studied its gait as it deliberately and menacingly lifted its shoulders high and thumped its feet back onto the ground. He knew that this was his opportunity. He must strike the heart as it was exposed when the dhier lifted its left leg. He watched and lifted his bow.
He could now feel the slow rhythm of the beast’s movement. He would only have one shot. He stretched the bow with the heavy golden arrow. The failure of his past fell away like some kind of enchantment. The moment came. He released the arrow. It flew straight and true – and met its mark.
The dhier felt the shock and the weight of the arrow, and just as legend had said the beast fell immediately. The young lady rushed towards the young man – her fear had left and her concern was for him. Their eyes met – they knew each other. The young man was still struggling on his hip. He gestured to the young lady towards her sword which he had brought and had fallen from the horse’s saddle. She swiftly and with some feeling took the sword, walked towards the beast and with all her might and the anger and the fear that she felt – she struck off its head.
They would always remember that day together. The experienced formed them and forged their new life together. Others regarded them with respect and even solemnity. They enjoyed their life together and loved to share their tale with the children of their children.
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