Archive for April, 2007
You are currently browsing the Philip K Stone blog archives for April, 2007.
30
Apr
2007
Religious Excuses
Have You ever attended a meeting or gathering somewhere and the turn out, well its not what the person leading the meeting had maybe expected, or maybe you are the only one turns up. All of a sudden the famous verse ‘where two or three are gathered together in my name….’ is quoted and somehow that fixes the low turnout, but does it? Its what follows that normally concerns me, the importance of the meeting in reduced, the potential of it is disposed and all of a sudden the blame game starts as to why so few attended.
Never once in my bible to I see Jesus downsize a meeting when only one is there or 5,000. Jesus was just glad that they had come to see Him and wanted to Be blessed by his words and actions. As a cell coach sometimes I see cell leaders discouraged when there are only a few turn up for cell, often the busyness of life means people can’t make it, but I have come to know small numbers can really help develop people in their walk, the worrying thing for me is that sometimes I worry that those who depend so much on others to make a meeting ‘work’, how on earth do they get on in the closet when its just them and God? Lets not get caught in the numbers trap! If we focus on our relationship with God, everything else will fall into place!
27
Apr
2007
Where is God?
Have you ever made plans then thought, where is God in this plan? Or done something and thought … I forgot about God in this? Sometimes believe it or not we can get in a small run of success or achievement and nearly drop God till we fall. We know the theology of How we need God and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, but sometimes the reality and workings out of this on our lives is not what the theology says, Maybe our dependence is in the wrong things, maybe we’ve hit a bump on the road and things have been knocked out of Sync, maybe the worst thing has happened and you have turned your face from God because He’s to blame, there are many things that us humans blame God for.
Gods word tells us to Humble ourselves, to realise our position in all this, to realise that we are tiny creations of a Great Big all powerful, all knowing in control creator of the Universes hands. Now I don’t know about you but when I see the true perspective of Who we are then I realise why I need God, I know its maybe old Time theology, but its Essential to have God involved in everything in your life, its the only way we are going to move and grow in God, lets expose our whole selves to God, and Seek Him First in Everything!
I’ve realised a key in life and its this, ‘God is where You want him to Be!’ This is not something I’ve been taught but rather something I’ve caught.
26
Apr
2007
How can I Be a better Christian?
I’m sure if you are a believer there have been times in your life when you have asked the Question: How can I Be a better Christian? The Fact that you ask that question is not something to be frowned upon, it actually shows that You have a desire to Grow in God, to deepen your roots and to bear much fruit in your life. In Colossians 4v2-6 I think we find concrete advice on how to improve our relationship to God and improve our witness to the world
‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, Pray for us to that God may open the door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I Should. Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of Grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.’
This is such a simple passage in scripture, but there is so much meat in it!
My question to me today and You is, What am I Devoted to? Where is my heart? What do I really want? Where do really I want to be? What do I want to do for God? Am I happy were I am? what are my chains? Or just in the comfort zone of western Christianity? Here’s a fact to remember when considering these verses, This is about surrender, Total surrender, no terms and conditions, no get-out-quick clause, its about eternity, its about other people and their eternal destination as well. We have a role to play in helping our friends and families find God and secure their eternity, The community we do life with is our responsibility, our daily mission field, We’re on a mission to See lost people found and to see the captives set free from sin and satan, but We need to be in the growing place in order to do this, we need to be deepening our roots and growing towards the Son of God and there we will find fulfilment in our walk and journey with the Creator and Saviour of the Universe!
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Please Pray Continually for Alain at this time!
25
Apr
2007
Potential Fulfilment
As I attended the Funeral Yesterday of Lindsay, I like many had so many things going on in my head, questions, anger, frustration, bewilderment, much of my confusion started with the word Why? Watching Al Say a final farewell to His wife whom He Loved with every fibre of his being was hard for so many to watch, but I just thank God that He Has Al in the Palm of His hands not just at this moment for every day He Lives.
Two words came to me yesterday and I’ve been letting them bounce around in my head the past few hours, Potential and Fulfilment. They are two things that you could say rub off each other for the good. We all have been given dreams, ambitions, passions, desires about what we want to do in life, God has given us these I believe, We all have the potential to do these things, so often though, the size of these dreams birth fear which steers us from ever achieving the goals we desire. But as Yesterday Progressed testimony was presented in so many ways of How Lindsay Reached for every dream that Life threw at her, Even though Her life was cut short we would say, she definitely reached for Her dreams by realising Her potential in God and that’s why she lived such a fulfilled life. We all have the opportunity to reach for and live in fulfilment but first we must find the potential that God has entrusted to us, and nurture it with the love that you would nurture your own child.
What is your potential fulfilment?
Continue to Pray for Alain at this time!
22
Apr
2007
Pray for Strength
Lindsay Passed into Glory this morning in the early hours, This morning i just want to ask you to remember Alain at this time as he gathers up the pieces from this devastating blow in His young life. Alain has been a faithful servant to God and there seems many questions that surface at a time like this when His Young wife is taken to glory. Please pray for Strength for alain at this time. Please also remember Lindsays Parents Arthur & Liz, Brother Nik and sisters Zoe and shansha, also for Alains parents Alan and Gerry and for sisters Grace, wendy and Norma. At this time lets rally again to support our church family who are grieving, …if one suffers, we all suffer…
Thanks be to God for Lindsays life and for having the priviledge to know her!
