Who will you be?

One of the privileges of pastoring and mentoring young people is that you get to help them take aim. Helping them understand who they are and who they can be. Taking the lid off the boxes in their mind and helping them see that so much is possible for them.

If they learn to aim straight. 

Aiming straight has a lot to do with our relationship with God. It is about allowing our will and how we live to be formed by His principles. It also has a lot to do with becoming comfortable with who God made you to be.

A personal hobby horse and something that makes me truly sad with just a hint of being outraged, is seeing young people giving up their potential and education and hanging around a "ministry". Truly, I think it`s great for a young person to take a little time out and go to Bible School or do a discipleship course of some kind. But that should all be preparation to help them on their journey, not to knock them off course. 

Often it is a mistake to think that by giving up a "normal" life for an extended time, you are steering your life in a more spiritual direction. Ok, so this is a lady who has done all that and moved nations several times and hasn`t done anything in a "normal" way who is talking here. But you`ve really got to know it`s right for you. Because I believe that what God truly wants is not a generation who have opted out of "the world", but instead a generation who are influencing the world. In every sphere and strata of society. In every nation of the world.

So if you`re weighing up your options this summer and you chance upon this blog. Fulfil your potential. Denying your potential is not something that is close to the heart of God.

Check out Mathew 25:14 the parable of the talents. Those talents are practical, not just spiritual gifts and when you develop them then you not only please the heart of God, you also find a rich personal fulfilment. 

Seeing doors

Doors fascinate me. In Herrnhut and the surrounding region there are some fabulous thick hand carved doors and gateways. Some set in stone frames, some just rotting away; a pale reflection of the wealth and rich craftsmanship that once thrived here.

But there are also many simple doors to be seen. Some that are easily noticed. Some that are tucked away. In shadowy alleyways or forgotten corners. Some with locks on. Some with old handles and clasps. Some just hanging in their frames.

Jesus spoke about doors. He holds open the door of eternal life to us. He is that gateway for us. The Bible also tells us of the door of hope in the valley of trouble or despair. It`s always there. There is always a way forward, but sometimes we have to look for it. Sometimes we are looking for a door that looks different to the one we actually need.

Often we focus on wanting particular doors to open for us. But sometimes I wonder if we miss our way or waste our energy because we are looking to the wrong door. I believe that one of the secrets to seeing doors open in your life has as much to do with being open minded about which door is the right door for now, as it does with actually seeing a particular door open.

When I feel hemmed in in a particular area and I know that I need to see progress or for something to open up, I start asking where the door is that I don`t yet see. Part of the adventure with Jesus is that the humblest looking doors contain the most breathtaking journeys. Kind of like not being able to judge a book by it`s cover.

It all comes back to learning to see things from God`s perspective and not our own.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:7

Labelled or marked?

So let`s clarify my problem with "labels".  It`s the description of a label that I find confining. My heart is much more about our hearts and God`s heart. I don´t want my heart to be labelled. In fact, what I want is my heart to be marked.

Marked by God. By His character. By the things that He builds into my life. I want to be marked by His love. By His mercy. By His joy and His compassion. I want to be marked with a teachable heart. 

When someone looks at me, I don`t want a personal or ministry label or title. I want them to see through the window of my heart and see the colours of the character of God. Depth. Beauty in Him.

One of my favourite scriptures comes right at the end of the book of Psalms. 149 v 4 tells us that God "beautifies" or "crowns" us with salvation. As we lay hold of the riches of what it really means to be a new creation through Jesus, we allow God to change us and grow us in our character. He shapes and beautifies us, sculpting away the old and crafting the person He has destined you to be. After His heart. After His plans and purposes.

Which is why God`s heart is more about who we are than "what" we are. Which is why I really don´t do this label thing so well. As we allow God to craft us as a person, then our giftings come forth and He shows Himself through us in both practical and spiritual ways. It`s also why I feel sad when I see Christians searching after "their" calling or gifting or "the" thing they are supposed to do. We are not defined by knowing that our main thing is this or that, evangelism or prophecy, teaching or administrating. That is not our identity. He is our identity. If you feel bad because you can`t tell others what your main gifting is, praise God! Just get on with allowing Him to mark your life with His character and His heart. Then you will be ready in season and out of season to be the person He wants you to be, wherever you are. Your giftings will become obvious.

So Father God, please continue to craft me after your own heart. Mark me with the characteristics that please your heart. Show the colours of who you are through me. And thank you that you don´t put me in a box and label me. Thank you that the journey continues. 

Days of Wisdom

Birthdays when we are young are mostly full of excitement. Suspense and wonder at how the day will be and how it will feel to be a year older fill the lead up to most children`s birthdays with anticipation.

Some of us manage to maintain the joy of birthdays as we get older. Others dread facing one, for one reason or another. Somehow totalling up the years can make us nervous. It can also make us satisfied, when we look back in the right way and look ahead with the right attitude.

I love the way that God looks at our lives. He sees us as individuals. He knows every hair we have on our head. And He counts our days. Every day we live and walk out is written in His book.

That`s why I find Psalm 90 so cool. Verse 12 says: "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."  One of the German translation puts it a little less poetically (thanks Luther) and talks about remembering that we must all die one day. 

Why talk about birthdays and death in one article? Well, a birthday is a celebration of what has been. It is also an anticipation of the great days that are ahead. As Christians we don`t rely on luck or chance to run our days and fill up our years. We know that God is in charge and that we are co-workers with Christ. Together we manage our time. 

Whatever the number of days or years we live, we want to live by God`s principles, close to Him and growing a heart of wisdom for ourselves, our lives and the lives of those around us.

I pray that my days and your days would be lived as days of wisdom. Wisdom to recognise the times and seasons. When to rest and when to play. When to reach out and when to be still. Wisdom that helps us to number our days.

Running for cover

Few things undermine us so completely and in so many areas as betrayal. It penetrates deep and seems to rip us up from the inside out.

Victims of betrayal run for cover. A confusion of emotions cry out inside them. A cry for vengeance and also undermining waves of self condemnation.

So many situations in life cut us deeply. Betrayal by a loved one or someone we have invested time and emotional energy in, happens to us all on some level at some time in our life. Particularly painful is betrayal by those you admire or who are meant to protect you. From childhood playground spats to the complicated forests of adult relationships, betrayal and how to deal with it is an issue we don`t often hear teaching about.

Forgiveness and mercy are crucial. But even after the release that mercy brings, the memory of that betrayal can still be very painful. Every day brings an opportunity to choose: run for cover or refuse to chew on the bitter roots of that act of betrayal?

Acts of betrayal are usually more about what is going on in the betrayer than about those they betray. But the victim cannot afford to remain in a victim mentality. Betrayal hurts. Deeply. But if bitterness sets in, you remain on the run when really the betrayer is the one who is running, from themselves and the responsibility of the consequences of their action. One day God will focus on the issue with them. Leave it to Him and His timing.

Matthew 6.12: Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us.

Regaining definition

Sometimes God brings us to a point of reassessing our lives. We think about where we`ve been and where we are heading to. Many of us do this around New Year.

In the Jesus Haus, some of the renovation has meant rediscovering the old treasures in the house. Like beautiful vaulted ceilings that had dividing walls built up into them when it was a hospital.

To enable a room to become the new space it needs to be, we have sometimes had to regain the old definition of a room. To knock out a few walls. Even when the walls have been useful in the meantime.

Sometimes God reminds us of things that we have known or lived before. He calls us back to them, to regain something that has perhaps been missing or crowded out of our lives. Sometimes we`ve moved on from things whilst God is developing new areas in us. But then comes a time of calling back. When He reminds us to regain a particular focus or definition and fuses that with the new things we have recently learned.

It reminds me of something Jesus said: ...every teacher who has been taught about the Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old... Matthew 13:52

A new year isn`t always about embracing the new. It`s sometimes also about regaining the old.

The Door of Hope

The gateway of a new year unleashes different emotions in different people. For some it signifies hope; new possibilities, new chances. For others it`s depressing or frustrating, raising feelings of helplessness or of being trapped.

There is something about the unknown possibilites of a new year that can both excite and daunt people. And of course, looking back over the progress or pain of the previous year often has a lot to do with this.

Some people seize a new year and throw themselves into it, taking control and making new choices. Others continue with the attitude that life "happens" to them and live as someone who "manages" this or reacts to what is happening.

I don´t think it is totally explained by different character types. I think attitude and mindsets have a lot to do with it.

Uncovering disabling mindsets or releasing hope into our thinking can be sparked off by one simple question. "Who is reigning here?". 

It`s a simple enough question in any given situation, individual heart or group of people. Is life simply happening to us? Who or what is ruling? And why are we allowing that?

It raises the questions of responsibility and motivation, responses and proaction.

A new year is like a door of hope. The possibilities are endless. Who and what will you allow to reign in your life this year?

There`s a challenge.

1 Peter 3:15 In your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord

Securing Shame

Talking of shame, it`s amazing how many of us learn to live with our fears. If we don`t face feelings of shame or inferiority, they grow to be part of us.

As intimidating as shame is, it can often become a kind of comfort zone. We develop coping strategies and start to believe that this is just part of our character.

Whenever I see beautiful houses with bars at the window I think of the windows of our hearts. Bars can be great. I lived in a house with bars myself. I was glad of them. They were a deterrent to intruders. But bars also prevent those inside from getting out.

Often, instead of facing the bars that have built up around our heart, we dress them up. Like these houses with their beautiful flowers. 

Jesus didn´t come to dress up our inferiority or to beautify our shame. He came to banish it. You don`t have to make the most of your fears. You can give them to Jesus. When we truly surrender the security and familiarity of those things that have a negative hold on us, Jesus meets us with freedom and mercy. We learn to think differently, speak differently and respond differently. 

We learn to walk free.

Galatians 5.1: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 

Invest

Without relationships, our lives would be so barren and empty. They bring so much joy, comfort and encouragement. But they can also be a challenge.

Great relationships involve give and take. They require teamwork. Everyone has to work at them in some way. Even if you are not consciously working on a relationship, you are still investing in it every time you relate with the other person.

We can invest positive things in our relationships. Encouragement, expressions of appreciation and time. We can also invest negatively through criticism, awkwardness and moodiness. 

One of the most significant ways we can invest in relationships of all kinds is to choose to make ourselves vulnerable. Wisely. But vulnerable. Letting other people know who you really are and how you really feel and think.

Many people are truly afraid to let others see the real them. Who they really are. But as we get to know Jesus more, we learn that our only true security is in knowing that He loves us unconditionally. He is changing and developing us and it`s ok to be who we are. We can leave our problems and bad moments and actions at the foot of the cross, receive forgiveness and move on into the day free from shame. 

When we are free from shame, we are not so afraid to make ourselves vulnerable to others. It`s also interesting to see that making yourself vulnerable in relationships with others can open the way for others to respond in the same way to you. Somebody has to make the first move. 

It`s true that sometimes you kick the ball in a relationship and get it kicked back in your face. But if you never give it a try, you could be missing out on something great. 

The ball`s all yours. 

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment....We love because He first loved us.

Time to talk

It`s true, somethings are better left unsaid (see Unspoken, below). But there are also times when somethings just have to be said.

The tricky thing is how to let it out. Usually, when things need to be spoken, it`s because something must be addressed. An attitude, a hurt, an explanation.  Sometimes things ought to be said because without them, people are left in ignorance. Like an encouragement or affirmation. How does someone know you appreciate them if you don`t let them know it?

I`m continually amazed just how crucial 2 things are to good communication. Timing and attitude. 

And they both need to be in balance. Speaking the truth in the right way at the right time. Encouraging and affirming at that moment of need or success. Avoiding an argument in the heat of the moment so that you can take time to consider the real issue and discuss it quietly later.

Food for thought. A recipe for great communication and more peaceful relationships! Speaking at the right time, in the right way, from a right heart.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 & 7: " To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to tear and a time to sew; a time to keep silence and a time to speak."

Unspoken

I`m fascinated by the true power of love. The world thinks of love as an emotional bond. A feeling.

But true love is also like a reflex action. It makes us react and respond spontaneously. It is also something to be learned. Like a journey of discovery.

Love is a joy and a challenge. Whether we are talking about romantic love, love amongst family members or in friendship.

Corinthians tells us that Love is the most excellent way. You can be as "spiritual" as you want, but if you don`t express that in love then it just makes a clanging repulsive impression. Hmmm. 

There`s also that brilliant phrase "speaking the truth in love" in the book of Ephesians. If we pastor, prophesy or simply want to be helpful. If we teach, correct or truly want to encourage. If we really want to become great and excellent as Church then we have to learn to do it in love.

Being honest, but saying it in love. Now there`s a challenge. So the next time you want to open your mouth to speak your mind, check out your attitude. Because you may be right, but if you can`t say it in love, it will repel.

Some things are better left unsaid.

Ephesians 4:14 & 15 "...that we should no longer be children...but speaking the truth in love...may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ..."

Inspiring Excellence

Excellence isn`t about getting everything right. It isn`t about fulfilling rigid expectations. It isn`t an unreachable goal.

True, biblical excellence is totally inspiring. It`s about going further. Reaching above and beyond where you`ve been before. 

A people of excellence stand out from the crowd. Not because they have "got it all together". They stand out because they are not afraid to reach beyond limitations. They break new ground. 

Not through striving and not through manipulation. Instead, full of the Spirit of God, they are determined to allow His power to be made perfect in their weakness. They are not afraid of failing, because they know their Father in Heaven loves them. 

There is something inspiring about true excellence. And there is something inclusive about it. We admire excellence because we enjoy the sense of achievement it represents. Godly excellence has a quality of peace. It is the most fulfilling kind of success. 

And best of all, it sends that message that says "Look what`s possible with God. He`s done it through me. He can do it through you too."

"But He said to me: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12.9

Healthy Church

I`m a great believer in the importance of Church life. It`s so vital for every believer to be united in a body of local believers. Because our faith is worked out in our daily lives. Both with God and with others.

Church isn`t something we attend. It`s us. Followers of Jesus Christ, learning, growing and living together. A healthy Church expresses the reality of the love of Christ. To members of the Church and to non-members and non-believers. 

A healthy Church carries a fragrance. A unique fragrance. You get a taste of this aroma when you experience a corporate Church meeting. If the Church is truly healthy, you`ll also be attracted to the fragrance of each individual.

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life." 2 Corinthians 2.14-16

Why not take a moment to consider the fragrance your life is giving off? It`s also worth remembering that the fragrance of a Church is the product of each individual member. The leaders may define the Church culture, but it is the members who affirm or sabotage it.

The pot and the kettle

This is England. No, they`re not playing cricket. It`s bowls. A traditional English passtime. It`s most popular amongst those more senior in years. They have a little more time to pass!

The game has a slow, relaxing pace. It is social and festive. Which brings me back to the blog below. Time out. Easier said than done.

I first got the idea for the blog below on a Saturday. A free Saturday as opposed to a busy Church Saturday. I told my husband about it. He laughed and quoted the old English saying "Isn`t that the pot calling the kettle black?". He meant, of course, that it was typical of me to be thinking of work when I was supposed to be relaxing. So I waited a couple of days to write it.

Now, after yet another full week and a day or so of being "grounded" for doing too much, the Sabbath subject continues. Even when there is free time, it isn`t always easy to know what to do with it. Especially when a couple or family are all trying to relax at the same time in the same space!

So lately I`ve thought a lot about the Jewish "Sabbath" context. 3 things stand out. Firstly, it is a regular, planned time. It has an element of tradition. The traditional aspects of the time bring the family together. Secondly, tradition can help expectation. So that everyone expects to play their part, eat their part and spend time together. Thirdly, it also leaves room for the individual to rest with God and rest from work.

So if a Sabbath is part of God`s plan for our health, we have to learn to plan it a bit too. To make a few healthy traditions. To prepare so that we can relax. Not always so easy, but amazingly rewarding. We`re on a learning curve with time off... and reaping the benefits! Try it sometime.

Exodus 20.8-10 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work; you nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.

Enduring urgent times

A stop sign can be totally frustrating. Especially when you are in a hurry. So much to do. Time is tight. They can often feel like they are holding us back. Focused on our destination, we just want to keep going. But a stop sign is a life saver. 

We live in urgent times, aware of the Bigger Picture. Aware of God`s greater plan; one that endures through time and generations. That`s humbling and exciting to be part of. Urgency can be a great motivator.

If we are heavily active in Church life, it can be especially easy to feel a healthy responsibility to be fruitful and busy. To keep going. There is just so much to do. It`s like being on a treadmill and never sensing a good time to get off. It doesn`t slow down. We learn to develop stamina. To endure.

But to maintain stamina we need to learn to trust the Bigger Picture to God. To realise that as important as each one of us is, God is able to keep His greater plan on track. Even if we take a little break. In fact, God feels so strongly about this that He included a Sabbath rest in the Ten Commandments. He has designed us to give ourselves fully to work and equally fully to rest. In the right proportions...and regularly. 

So next time you feel too guilty or too pressured to take a day off, open your Bible. Read Exodus 20. Devoting a day a week to rest, time with God and to refuel your tanks, ranks high on God`s list of priorities. You see, He truly does have The Bigger Picture in perspective. He knows you need to endure. He understands the urgency. And this is His solution. This is one of the huge secrets to enduring stamina and enduring urgency.

A stop sign might be frustrating, but it`s what keeps the traffic in order. It allows the traffic to keep flowing. And yes, they truly do save lives.

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God." Exodus 20.8

Who colours your dreams?

Every generation of Christians inherits from those who have gone before. Truth. Understanding. Church culture. And so much more. Somethings we like to build on. Others we`d rather change. We also inherit a dream. Something greater that we carry within us. Are you aware of that?

People, situations & events all influence how we see that dream. How we dream that dream. How we bring our part of the dream into reality and how we pass it on to others. Being a Christian isn`t just about you. It`s about you and Jesus and your part in a much bigger picture.

You see, Christians were made to be part of a bigger dream. God`s dream. A dream for generations and the nations. The world takes dreams and makes them serve the individual. God gives dreams that serve Him and His plan for the nations.

No matter how personal your dream, no matter how big or small it is, let Jesus colour it. Because if you are following Jesus, your dream is part of something greater. Let Him take those desires and colour them for His purposes. You might have to revise your dream a little. You may have to take another look at the blueprint. But when He has finished with it you will understand. God uses each one of us to display His greatness, in the little and the big things of life. In the momentous and the seemingly insignificant.

It`s just a case of allowing Him. Of co-operating. So who`s colouring your dreams? Is it the world, or is it Him?

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3.20-21

Soul Stairs

Is our soul good or bad? Sometimes we get confused. Jesus saved our souls. He restores our souls. They are made to worship Him. To be intimate with Him. They are living and active; they feel, think and respond. But not always in a good way. That`s the problem.

When we become a Christian, a transformation begins. Our earthly soul has to undergo a spiritual process. To learn to make the right choices and responses to God, to others and to events. To live that abundant, free life that Jesus won on the cross for us. Giving our lives to Jesus is the beginning of a journey. 

Like climbing stairs. One step at a time. 

One choice at a time, we are transformed. We learn to stop living under fears, shame and the past. We allow the power and life of God`s truth to change the way we think and respond. We learn to walk in the freedom Christ has won, to live as a new creation.  

You see, Jesus didn´t just die to "save" our souls. It`s not just about going to Heaven. He also rose again so that our souls could be "converted". To transform the way we live and have our being. So that our soul can truly live in freedom. It was for freedom that Christ died and rose again; to truly set us free.  

King David put it like this: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." Psalm 19.7

As we open our heart up to the Truth of His Word, we learn to understand and walk in the freedom Christ has won for us. We learn His principles for responding and reacting to others and situations. We learn to live "in the Spirit". 

Why not open your Bible now. Let Him touch you with His Word, respond to Him  and put some soul stairs behind you today? 

Leaving room for God`s dream

We usually mean well. It`s just that it`s a bit insulting to God really isn`t it? Telling the Creator of the Earth how to do something. Be honest. Have you ever fallen into that trap?

There`s a need, you really think it`s time God did something about it and you have a great idea how He could do that. Should do that. Must do that. Only He doesn`t seem to be listening.

I know why. It`s because He`s busy waiting for us to stop dreaming our dreams and to start dreaming His. It`s one of the hardest things for humans to do. Waiting for God. 

Sure, there are lots of times in life when we need to just apply our human wisdom and be responsible, responding to need by using our skills and initiative. But there are also many times in life when taking a moment to check with God how He feels about the situation and wants us to proceed would be the smartest move we could make.

God`s ways are so much higher than ours. He`s so much more creative. Next time there`s a situation going on, take a moment to check which direction God is dreaming in. You might be in for a few surprises.

 

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55.9

The Keeper of Truth

It isn`t always easy to know who we can trust. Generous hearts sometimes trust too easily. Cynical hearts shelter behind walls. Picky hearts are choosy who they confide in and who they will learn from. Which is right?

Having a teachable heart is crucial to living as a disciple of Christ. A teachable heart is a humble heart that desires to grow. It looks for opportunities to learn. It`s part of God`s plan that we learn not just straight from Him, but also from one another. 

We can`t skip the issue and just huddle alone with God. Jesus taught His disciples and then commissioned them to go and teach others. There is an inheritance to be shared and passed down among the generations and among the nations.

But how generous should we be? Should we soak up everything that everyone tries to teach us?

I believe that the Keeper of our hearts has given us one golden rule to help us. The Bible refers to God as the Keeper of Truth. It doesn`t matter how impressive the person is, if their message is not found in God`s Word, don´t accept it. Sometimes people speak with great authority, but their message is not pure. Sometimes it is a mixture of God`s Word and their ideas or interpretation. Sometimes it is their own revelation.

Isaiah 8.20 guides us: "If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

God`s Word is Truth and Light. The Keeper of Truth has given us a great gift. Knowing the Word will help protect you from soaking up distorted teaching.

 

Why not open a Bible today and read it?

Facing Shattered Dreams

Talking about unity is easy. But many of us have been cut, right to the core. Expectations shattered. Dreams dragged down. We had such hopes of working, living or loving together and then it all went pear-shaped. Is unity really viable?

I believe it is. I also believe that God allows us to go through times of pain and disappointment. He crafts greatness in us as we face our shattered dreams and choose to move on with Him, working out our part of what went wrong. Choosing to continue to pursue the excellence of unity. An excellence that is attainable, despite our human imperfections.

Unity is a choice. It is something we pursue. Some people pray to receive unity, but I believe that we have to make very active decisions to see unity become a reality in our relationships and church life. Each one of us has a responsibility to pursue the peace so vital to unity. We have to learn to make peace with one another and with the events that have occurred.

Being a peacemaker requires character and humility. It means we are prepared to face the nitty gritty issues. We choose mercy and forgiveness, laying aside our natural heart cry for vengeance. We place the situation in God`s hands. We pray mercy for those who have hurt us and whom we do not understand. We choose to walk on in excellence, being responsible for our own reactions and attitudes. We are humble enough to admit that our way may not necessarily be the right way. Refusing to harden our hearts, we refuse to become cynical. We continue to believe that unity is attainable. 

Don`t let shattered dreams distort your character. Instead allow God`s gentle hand to craft greatness in you. If unity didn´t work out last time for you. Forgive, let it go, apply mercy and move on. 

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5.9