"Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain!" ~ these were the words I mentioned to my wife this morning as I looked out our lounge room window and saw the refreshing 'heaven-sent' rain. Opening wide the side door we heard the welcomed ryhthm and shouted together "Hallelujah!" The internal noises of household appliances had drowned out our appreciation of the glorious external blessing. Until that is, we looked outside ourselves and witnessed the wonder of God's provision. [Now there's a message in itself, don't you agree?]
Now note the Word of the Lord from Leviticus 26 verse 4 in reference to the reward for our obedience ~ "I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees of the field their fruit."
Wake up Australia, obey God and truly welcome the rhythm of His Promised Rain!
Deuteronomy 28:12 (NIV) ~ "The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands."
Saturday, 21 April 2007
Friday, 20 April 2007
Remaining Connected
I admit I'm a great fan of information technology, so much so that not a day goes by when I'm not accessing emails via computer or reaching for my mobile phone. And yet while it can be quite convenient to feel as though we're interconnected and available, at the same time it can also be a real inconvenience ~ considering the reality of constant interruptions and frequent malfunctions associated with advanced technologies.
While watching the newly-released movie, Perfect Stranger, I noted with interest this narrated quote ~ "We value the importance of being interconnected, yet everyday we live disconnected lives". Don't you agree this comment reflects an element of truth about society today?
As the saying goes, "No man is an island". We are relational people who long to remain personally connected with others around us. But I fear that easy access to advanced technologies can often cause us to withdraw from vital personal interactions resulting in an impersonal type living and, dare I say it, ministry.
Herein lies the personal challenge to make sure that we remain connected where it counts most. And there's no better place to start than with Jesus Christ.
John 15:5 (MSG) ~ "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant."
While watching the newly-released movie, Perfect Stranger, I noted with interest this narrated quote ~ "We value the importance of being interconnected, yet everyday we live disconnected lives". Don't you agree this comment reflects an element of truth about society today?
As the saying goes, "No man is an island". We are relational people who long to remain personally connected with others around us. But I fear that easy access to advanced technologies can often cause us to withdraw from vital personal interactions resulting in an impersonal type living and, dare I say it, ministry.
Herein lies the personal challenge to make sure that we remain connected where it counts most. And there's no better place to start than with Jesus Christ.
John 15:5 (MSG) ~ "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant."
Thursday, 19 April 2007
The Pastor's Cat
The following story was sent to me by email this week. Enjoy!
"Dwight Nelson recently told a story about the pastor of his church. He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and drove away so that the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten. That's what he did, all the while checking his progress in the car. He then figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he moved the car a little further forward, the rope broke, the tree went "bong!" and the kitten instantly sailed through the air out of sight.
The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they'd seen a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, "Lord, I just commit this kitten to your keeping," and went on about his business.
A few days later he was at the grocery store, and met one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food. This woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, "Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?" She replied, "You won't believe this," and then told him how her little girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the child had begged again, so the Mom finally told her little girl, "Well, if God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it." She told the pastor, "I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won't believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed right in front of her."
Remember, never understimate the Power of God and His unique sense of humour!
"Dwight Nelson recently told a story about the pastor of his church. He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and drove away so that the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten. That's what he did, all the while checking his progress in the car. He then figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he moved the car a little further forward, the rope broke, the tree went "bong!" and the kitten instantly sailed through the air out of sight.
The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they'd seen a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, "Lord, I just commit this kitten to your keeping," and went on about his business.
A few days later he was at the grocery store, and met one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food. This woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, "Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?" She replied, "You won't believe this," and then told him how her little girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the child had begged again, so the Mom finally told her little girl, "Well, if God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it." She told the pastor, "I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won't believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed right in front of her."
Remember, never understimate the Power of God and His unique sense of humour!
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
A Gift Never To Be Taken For Granted
Today's ministry highlight was the passing comment of one of our nursing home residents at the conclusion of our worship service. "No one ever realizes how much the Son of God has done for us."
What a great spiritual reality check! The apostle Paul too understood that there are times in life when even people of faith seem to take things in life for granted. With this in mind, he wrote these words directed to the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 4:30 (MSG) ~ "Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted."
Yes, the gift of God's indwelling Holy Spirit empowering our lives is not something to ever take for granted. It's a gift to truly treasure!
What a great spiritual reality check! The apostle Paul too understood that there are times in life when even people of faith seem to take things in life for granted. With this in mind, he wrote these words directed to the church at Ephesus.
Ephesians 4:30 (MSG) ~ "Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted."
Yes, the gift of God's indwelling Holy Spirit empowering our lives is not something to ever take for granted. It's a gift to truly treasure!
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
Power In Prayer
US President George W Bush today made this statement in response to the senseless shootings at Virigina Tech yesterday ~ "...our nation grieves with those who lost loved ones at Virginia Tech. We hold the victims in our hearts, we lift them up in our prayers, and we ask a loving God to comfort those who are suffering today."
These God-directed comments no doubt give voice to the thoughts of the Amercian people and those of us around the world who join with them in intercessory prayer for an outpouring of God's presence, peace and promise of comfort in the lives of the remaining students and family members who are bereaved as a result of this tragic event.
May they find comfort and empowerment for the future in the arms of our loving God!
2 Corinthians 1:3 (MSG) ~ "All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times..."
These God-directed comments no doubt give voice to the thoughts of the Amercian people and those of us around the world who join with them in intercessory prayer for an outpouring of God's presence, peace and promise of comfort in the lives of the remaining students and family members who are bereaved as a result of this tragic event.
May they find comfort and empowerment for the future in the arms of our loving God!
2 Corinthians 1:3 (MSG) ~ "All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times..."
Monday, 16 April 2007
Grace Sufficient
This week we are considering 2 Corinthians 12:9 in our devotional worship services ~ "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness...so that Christ's power may rest on me.” It's a wonderfully empowering verse of Scripture that reminds us of God's ability to raise us to a supernatural level of faith living.
Even as we were reflecting on this passage today, I experienced a personal renewal of God's grace sufficient for the moment for me. Grace sufficient to forgive an insensitive staff member her loud interruption to our worship time. Grace sufficient to listen intently to a dear elderly resident recall a significant life experience that she has mentioned to me now on numerous occasions. Grace sufficient to not take offense of a new attender to worship who chose, despite a warm welcome, to sit in on our devotions wearing huge, fluffy earmuffs.
Yes, praise God for the sufficiency of His grace to empower us during and beyond the 'weakness' moments of life!
Herbert Howard Booth wrote about the wonderful sufficiency of God's amazing, personal Grace.
Even as we were reflecting on this passage today, I experienced a personal renewal of God's grace sufficient for the moment for me. Grace sufficient to forgive an insensitive staff member her loud interruption to our worship time. Grace sufficient to listen intently to a dear elderly resident recall a significant life experience that she has mentioned to me now on numerous occasions. Grace sufficient to not take offense of a new attender to worship who chose, despite a warm welcome, to sit in on our devotions wearing huge, fluffy earmuffs.
Yes, praise God for the sufficiency of His grace to empower us during and beyond the 'weakness' moments of life!
Herbert Howard Booth wrote about the wonderful sufficiency of God's amazing, personal Grace.
"Grace there is my every debt to pay
Blood to wash my every sin away
Power to keep me spotless day by day
For me, for me!"
(SASB 303, chorus)
Sunday, 15 April 2007
Sabbath Rest
Languages have always interested me. Perhaps that's why I chose to study and use German as a communication medium and, in addition, 'learn' Hebrew with Jim Briggs all those years ago, even if it was only a literal reading of Genesis 1 which is now long forgotten. One Hebrew word I still recall is שבת (pronounced shabbāt). Of course, this is the root for our English word, Sabbath. Though we understand it to mean 'rest', its literal translation is 'ceasing' with the implication of ceasing from work.
Having just returned from a week's furlough in Sydney with family, today we enjoyed a real shabbāt ~ for as we ceased from our regular form of Sunday platform ministry and corporate worship, nevertheless, we celebrated personal worship in our own 'home church'. Though a different form of Day of Rest for us, still we experienced the same heart devotion of love expressed to God.
I am convinced that full time Christian ministry makes the concept of 'ceasing from work' difficult. For when we are not officially 'on duty' we are still to be available to God for His service. We might rest from the normal schedule, but we never cease to be used of God.
Trusting your Sabbath too was one of celebration and prayer, much like ours!
Matthew 11:28 (MSG) ~ "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me ~ watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Having just returned from a week's furlough in Sydney with family, today we enjoyed a real shabbāt ~ for as we ceased from our regular form of Sunday platform ministry and corporate worship, nevertheless, we celebrated personal worship in our own 'home church'. Though a different form of Day of Rest for us, still we experienced the same heart devotion of love expressed to God.
I am convinced that full time Christian ministry makes the concept of 'ceasing from work' difficult. For when we are not officially 'on duty' we are still to be available to God for His service. We might rest from the normal schedule, but we never cease to be used of God.
Trusting your Sabbath too was one of celebration and prayer, much like ours!
Matthew 11:28 (MSG) ~ "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me ~ watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
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