Archive for February, 2007
You are currently browsing the Philip K Stone blog archives for February, 2007.
9
Feb
2007
Don’t Do that!
Have you ever shouted or said these words to someone? Maybe you have said these Words, a little bit of time lapses and you have found that You are guilty of the same thing but didn’t give yourself a telling off for doing/saying it. When we see people push things to the limits, it does one of two things, first it may make us put our defences up to say I will never do that in my lifetime or second it may be something that in months or years to come may appeal to you as something that You would like to do or try to do.
People try to separate telling off and judging and I guess with Kids its obvious why we do that, but when people can think on their own maybe we need to be a little more careful on telling people off. When I read in Matthew 7v2 ‘for with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged’
Does that mean think before you speak? Or does that mean increase you tolerance of the things people do, don’t judge but let God be Judge?
I personally think its a bit of both, but we all (Lets be honest) struggle at times with both tolerance and letting God be judge. Today I encourage you to focus more on what you do in your life than what others do in theirs, lets remember You will give an account for YOU, God doesn’t give brownie points if you know everyone else’s mistakes.
Have a Super Weekend!
8
Feb
2007
Dynamic Secrecy
In the bible there is a lot of mention about secrecy, about doing things when not seen, Why is there so much power in it? I’m sure you have done at last one thing in your life when you have given someone something, or sent something to someone in the post with no clues were it came from, I bet you felt good the next time you seen them, as they told you about their anonymous gift.
There is a warning however on doing things in secret, but seeking recognition.
John 7v 4 For no Man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world.
Jesus in Matthew 6 v 6 Tells us to pray in our closets, to pray on our own, to pray when its just God and us in the room, and God will answer your requests openly. So Often We have not because we ask not! We tell our friends and family the things we would love but seem to forget to tell God about them.
Have you ever noticed when praying how its so natural to pray alone but you nearly feel that it has to be dressed up when you pray in front of people, yet on both occasions you are talking to God so there is no need for a change of tone or language.
People in this world always want quick fixes, but when it comes to praying, if you want to learn how to pray, just pray, morning, noon and night, ok use the various prayer patterns to help you get started, but God wants us to pray what is on our hearts, not clichés, not wee poems, but rather when you praying try to pray Gods word back to Him, start with a verse a prayer and You will be amazed when you Pray Gods word the power that comes from it. And also pray for the things that cause holy frustrations in your life, pray for those who Need Gods Healing, pray for those who need Help, Physically, Spiritually, Emotionally etc.
Today’s entry though is about secrecy and can I just encourage you all to Bless people in secrecy, to Get to know God in Secrecy, Its the things that we do in secret in Life that will determine the people we become, if Today your maybe sinning in secret Today I want to Remind You that God Sees the things You do in secret, and people also see the things that will be affected openly, a wee while later – Be sure your Sin will Find you out! so Stop today and Come back to Your Father God, He will always be Your Father, But He’s a father that wants you to live close to Him, and to live close to him we must be Pure and Clean!
7
Feb
2007
Who is blessed?
Today I’m just listing the characteristics and needs of people that will attract Gods Blessing:
Blessed are:
- The Poor in Spirit
- Those who Mourn
- The Meek
- The Hungry God Seekers
- The Thirsty God Seekers
- The Merciful
- The Pure in Heart
- The Peacemakers
- The Persecuted
- The Reproached
- Those Accused for Christs Sake
We all want to live lives that are blessed of and By God. Not only will we be blessed on earth for having the above attributes but also in Heaven. Dare to Change, and get ready for a flood of Blessing! The Question I asked was Who is Blessed? Gods answer is Anyone Who wants to be!
6
Feb
2007
Overwhelming Service
I often think its a privilege to serve God with the people I do life with, in my home and neighbourhood, my work and my town. What I realised a few years ago that I am, where I am for a reason, God has put me here. So this is where I must serve God. I remember growing up thinking if I ever want to serve God I would need to train to be a pastor, youth leader or some tele evangelist, I grew up believing the lie that Christians are only serving when they are seen. I have always been a background person, I enjoy doing bits and bobs and tend to sink in my seat when my name is mentioned from the front.
When John the Baptist was asked of Jesus to baptize Him, I often think ‘wow’, here’s a guy John, probably a normal dude, very basic in dress code, probably lived in very modest conditions, he was well known for ‘preparing the people’ for Jesus arrival, but that’s really all He’s famous for. But God chose Him to Baptize Jesus, this was the beginning of Jesus Ministry, but to think that a normal Joe Bloggs guy had the privilege to be involved in seeing Jesus Start His Ministry.
I often think when we come to serving God we are the biggest problem! I mean we tear ourselves to shreds, criticise the smallest of things we do wrong, lets take a different approach from this day on, We need to realise that firstly God has chosen us for the task that is in our hand, (no-one else) If we do it then we obey God, if we don’t then God can and probably will very quickly be able to find someone else to complete the task.
God wants to use YOU, Where YOU are, for such a time as this. If God had needed you in the 1500BC then that’s when you would have lived, but You are alive today for reasons that God only knows, so Seek Him, to know His Will, His Plan and His Purpose for YOUR life and walk in it!
I had a revelation last month that Christians to often measure themselves against perfection, Why? We Have Free Will, so we are never gonna get it 100%, We will never be Sinless, but we can Sin LESS!
Lets Stop being so Hard on ourselves and start Living in the Overwhelming Service that God has us alive to fulfil, knowing that if God gives us the vision He will also be our Provision!
5
Feb
2007
Soaking in God
Have you ever filled the bath tub and just chilled out for a lengthy period of time? Its kinda nice the odd time when i get to do this, unfortunately not very often (but i’ll not blame the kids). Its nice just to relax and enjoy a peaceful state of mind, in warm water of course, and if you are into candles then with them lit to – whatever works for you.
Last night Amy had to pop out after Church and I had a few hours to myself, a few hours to soak in God, How beautiful to sit at the feet of Jesus. In a day when everyone has no or little time, I realised how easy it is to make time for God, all it needs is a Will and a desire to be in Gods Presence. Its so easy to make excuses not to go to meetings, not to go to church, not to read your Bible, not to spend time with Gods people, but i know in my experience when i didn’t or don’t do these things its more Me being lazy, or me trying to find excuses.
I remember when we had kids people being horrified that we could still come to church and leaders meeting etc with the kids, wrapped up in the prams. Here me on this one, having children is not all hard, it will be fun if you want it to be, but You need to be creative and adventurous to make it fun, you don’t lose a limb when you have kids. I keep saying to Amy, lets bring the kids, ok at times when the tears start its hard to keep a child quiet. don’t lock yourself away from Gods people or Gods house. Bring your kids to Gods House when you can, casue one day you won’t be able to Bring them! And if they hardly get to go when they are young they are hardly gonna want to go when they are older.
Philip has often said around church that Children are not the church of tomorrow, but rather the church of today, if they are not in church today, there will be no church tomorrow – How true!
Today I encourage you to soak in God & DONT MAKE EXCUSES IF YOU DONT!
In Life we can do everything else if we want to, so today ask yourself do I really want to spend time with God? Or do i do it out of duty?
