Sunday, August 29, 2010

Couldn't wipe the smile off my face

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?

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.

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?

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?

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Be a fan

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy…” Philippians 1:3-4

I realised I’m not a real fan of the Australian Cricket Team. They’re the team I go for, but I always expect them to win and I’m quick to rubbish them when they are doing poorly.

Lately I’ve considered how much I enjoy being a real fan of people. There are quite a few people in my life that I consider myself to be a fan of. I’m not talking about famous people that I look up to, but people in my life that I easily believe in and look forward to the successes of.

It actually gives me a whole lot of joy to be a fan of people I know. It blesses me to see the best in people and to watch their potential unfold. A few times now I’ve seen that happen and felt that excitement for someone else for the future ahead of them.

Now that I realise that it brings me joy to see the best in others, I like to consider how I could deliberately favour people, by speaking well of them to others, by praying for them, or by encouraging them personally.

I get the sense from Paul’s letters in the Bible that he was a real fan of some of the people in his life. He wrote about the joy of thinking of them, praying for them and seeing them. Paul likened it to the joys of parenthood, believing in people as if he was their own father cheering from the sidelines and celebrating their victories.

It has done my heart good to believe in people. If I can honestly enjoy another person’s journey and be excited about someone else’s potential then it is going to multiply joy in my life. Enjoying others’ success is way better than envying it.

Who are you a fan of?

PS – Joy became part of our family today. We have a new member of the family in the form of a beautiful little bunny. Josiah suggested the name ‘Joy’ and Zoe suggested ‘Lily’. Sarah decided on ‘Joy Lily’. Of course I love the name. Certainly a year of joy for the Gee family.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Together pleasantly

How miserable and unpleasant it is when brothers live together in disunity!

Very few people enjoy conflict, although some seem to. We are all affected by conflict in some way, especially if you spend any time with other human beings. It can give you a bad moment, a bad day or a regrettable week. Even when we avoid it, the conflict continues on the inside.

What if, for the sake of joy, we considered how we could live in greater unity?

I’m of the opinion that much of our conflict is not about the ‘issue’ that might seem to divide us at a certain time. Rather it is about our hearts and the way we relate to each other. It is useful for us to ask ourselves why we have a pattern of conflict with a certain person or around a particular issue.

How often does it simply come back to fear? Fear amplifies our concern. It makes us find points of difference that don’t actually exist. It makes us respond defensively. Fear makes us want to control the variables in order to protect our interests.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? James 4:1

Is there anything, within you, that could be causing you unnecessary conflict?


Of course, even though most perfect person can’t stop conflict from coming their way from others. Surely we all have enough difficulty controlling ourselves to know that we cannot control anyone else. I’m very glad that, “Make every effort” wasn’t deleted from the following next verse.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3

May we be ready to forego our pride; and may we be ready to extend grace to those who aren’t ready to. We’ll need that grace sooner or later as well.

What’s is stopping you from enjoying the “good and pleasant” part of living, “together in unity”?

Enjoy this picture from God’s Word.

How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron's beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.

It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

Psalm 133

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Wonderful chaos / A spot of joy

Wonderful chaos

Last Sunday I saw it. I could feel it. Pure joy.

We had driven for most of the day. It was our first time to travel so far as a family of five packed into the car. We had all been feeling the effects of so much change over the last few months and were very glad to be heading down the coast to our family’s favourite place in the world.

We had been there for less than an hour but we headed straight down to the beach to let the kids play. And they played. Sand is an invitation to play and they accepted whole-heartedly. They found their own space and started to dive in to the sand and pick it up and dig. They were giggling and running and beaming with smiles. It wasn’t long before the water started to call and they were in it up to their knees, now covered in water and sand.

Sarah ran around with the kids. My beautiful twelve week-old, Simeon, was cradled in my arms in a sling. I stood watching the treasure of my life, knowing that I am the richest man in the world.

In play, in that beautiful place, stress was washed away and joy rose up in our hearts. The whole trip was worth it for just that half hour.

There’s something wonderful about chaos. Just mix sand, waves and kids together - three variables that will always improvise so wonderfully together. You can’t stop the waves. You can’t stop sand from getting everywhere. My kids will always have fun when they play in both.

We need to let go of our attempt to control the variables of life. Real life - real joy - can’t be controlled. It bubbles up and takes us by surprise when we let go, when we play, when we take things moment by moment.

Let go. Embrace the chaos. Let joy overwhelm you.


*********************************************

A spot of joy

Psalm 139

I just enjoyed the best part of a week in my favourite place in the world. It has the beach and it has the bush. In fact it has a lot of empty beaches and a lot of bush full of wildlife. More than all this, my favourite place holds a lot of personal history. In many ways I have grown up there.

I love the beach. There’s nothing like a huge, open beach. And I love it when we have it to ourselves as a family. I love the beaches of the south coast. Beautiful blue water, white sand, and backed by national park. What a great place for getting back to zero. Such a wonderful place for washing the stress away and being reminded God’s love and power are wild, mysterious and immense.

I love the bush there. I have taken countless walk there – through my teen years and now as a father. You can see just enough blue sky through the high canopy of green leaves. There’s enough fern and scrub to hide quiet kangaroos resting in the sunshine. I love the sound of the wind through the trees, it always reminds me of God’s power moving constantly and strongly. Walking in the bush, I always seem to spot interesting surprises.

There’s something about having a special place. A place you go to where you and God have history together. Where you’ve sought Him so many times before and found Him. I’m so blessed to have that place that I always look forward to being there. A place where I have done a lot of growing up, a place where my heart searches and my soul is restored.

Where is your special place?

When was the last time you were there?