Archive for May, 2007
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31
May
2007
Petrol Time
On a rather practical note I have been looking at ways to help me create more time to do the things I want to do, so Tuesday night I went on a trip to B & Q to get a petrol lawnmower, and boy is it good, saved me 30 minutes last night, and that was even after I cut the neighbours grass, Now that’s what I call a good investment!
Hope all is well, little inspiration to share this week! Bring on the weekend!
24
May
2007
Whats my interest rate?
Continuing on My Eternal Quest/Journey I had the thought this morning of How in a sense we have be lent by God to this scene of Time, to produce Kingdom Growth or maybe to cause heartache and strife, trial, worry and maybe pain to others and sometimes self, I am very simple guy and sometimes I Hear from God in very strange ways, I get pictures, or comparative illustrations to help me digest and see Gods Rhema Word to me. So this morning on my quest I was seeing my life as a believer to be like a loan, Gods the Banker and wants to see His Kingdom Grow, so He has lent me (an instrument of his vast kingdom) to this world, to do exploits for God?
My Question I guess was not ‘so Phil what are you doing?’ It wasn’t ‘what could you do?’ but rather ‘what increase am I responsible for to Gods Kingdom?’ ‘What am I ‘Living’ that is producing kingdom results?’, we know at the minute in the UK interest rates are at the highest in many years but spiritually speaking what is my interest rate, not what am I showing interest in but rather what increase am I giving back to God.
The parable that springs to mind obviously is the one of the Three Guys given the talents, my purpose was never to steer away from investing in this kingdom stuff, cause God doesn’t want us to play safe, and wrap up in cotton wool, God wants us to humbly bow, roll the sleeves up, wash feet, comfort those who need it, bless those who God plants on our heart, and influence this world with the saving Grace that God has touched our lives with.
The Challenge to me and maybe You today is simple, what am I doing that is Bringing Glory and increase to God?
22
May
2007
Now or Later?
I came across a question this morning in my reading that did something to me inside.
‘Are you preparing for Life now or Life Later?’ Everything I’ve been listening to and reading lately seem to have the eternal theme woven through the teaching I listen to and read. Everything at this point in my journey in life is urging me to consider my eternal status, its brining into question what exactly am I doing that is building Gods Kingdom in my life, my family, in my town, country and world.
I had a privilege of standing with Stevie and Steph as they headed up an outreach event in Mourneview last Saturday, FA Cup Day, it really convicted me about the lack of evangelism that I am involved in at present. Seeing Lost people enjoy Saturday made me think about my kingdom role, at the minute I think I am in a transition stage in that I’m trying to find my role, ok I do stuff in church, but I want to get involved in stuff out of church. Sorry this is just were I am at the minute! I know all the theory but I’m trying to put feet on the theory now.
16
May
2007
Ready for the test? What about the challenge?
Christian, Why do you read your Bible? ok, its a strange question, but seriously? What motive causes you to spend seconds, minutes or hours if your really good every day in Gods word? I’ve since a young age had a great interest in Gods word, looking back at much of the Bible knowledge I gained through my young years, I would have to be the first to admit that so much of it was head knowledge.
In my early teens I did a Sunday school exam, results were always good, in fact I think one year I got 2nd in the UK or something ridiculous, but upon receiving the certificate it felt useless, ok I knew the facts about the particulars in each passage questioned, but had I caught it? Was there a meaning in it that I had applied to my life, something that had created change and brought me closer to God? The truth is NO, its had puffed me up with ‘silly’ (this is not an irreverent comment – trust me) head knowledge, ok its good to know facts about the stories, like how there were 5000 men not to mention women and children at the feeding of the ’5000′ so why is it called the feeding of the 5000? but anyway, to know the number of Days everything took, names of people, family genealogies in the Bible, all this is good, but there is always a hidden message in every passage of scripture, a hidden message that’s just for you, something that can if you let it, change your life.
The Bible is Full of Rhema words for everyone, from God, but when you read Gods Word its not about remembering the facts and figures although they come in handy for table quizzes etc, its not about reading the Bible in a year, or 6 months, its not about memorizing 365 verses a year, although if that’s done with a pure motive – Brilliant! but rather may you hear God as you read, may you see what He wants you to know, and most importantly may you obey Gods calling on your life!
I’ve often wondered why God put so much in the Bible? but then I have been comforted to find in life that everything I have faced, am facing and will face is covered in the word of God, But I need to search it to find it!
Our challenge is to Find God and live for Him, Knowledge is Good, but we only get once chance to live for God, so make this a chance not wasted!
While on the topic of challenges, if you tithe money to your local church, what about tithing your time? Is it worth thinking about being with God 2hrs 24 minutes a day (not to mention your offering)? I know we work late and have our late nights, sleep-in mornings etc, but if we could challenge our time management I think its an investment that will not only benefit us in this life – food for thought! (This is me challenging me as well) Have a good day!
14
May
2007
Trusting Answers or Trusting God
I’ve found through life that most things I come across cause me to be childlike and analyse everthing with the 5 W’s, I’m not one and never have been one to accept things at face value, everything I have has come through what many would see as ‘silly processes’ because I not into satisfying the quickie Sales man. So I’ll be first to admit that when good and bag things happen, I have questions, Of late the nature of these questions have been changing more to an eternal slant, What’s Gods plan in this? Is this Gods Will? How can God let this happen? Why has God blessed me in this way? God what are you doing? Many questions. And never think that we have no right to question God, It’s in this tough and hard process that we will develop into the person God wants us to be, just look at David & Job guys who had everything, lost everything but never lost God, their names are written in eternity as Great men of God? Why because they never just accepted things for face value, like Jacob they wrestled with God, and they Trusted God.
In asking questions one normally expects to receive answers. sometimes I wish I could even have a direct fax line from God so that when I don’t hear Him speak that at least I could read it, but then that’s what the Bibles for…right? In my journey through life I’m discovering that when Answers come, Great, but where am I placing my trust? Am I trusting these answers to be the “Be all and end all” or maybe I should listen to the answer and make that a reason to trust God More.
I think everyone has questions in their life that have no answer, no matter how spiritual once can try to be, it just doesn’t add up, its nearly like you put God in the dock and play the blame game, ‘God surely you got this wrong’. In our world we only see the people directly around us, its a very small picture in relation to Gods Galaxy.
Today don’t expect to find answers that will sort everything out, the mysteries and ways of God are at times beyond what our minds can fathom. Trust Him, and if that’s to Hard You need to Trust Him more. Answers bring Comfort but God is the Healer of our Hearts and the Restorer of our souls so Turn your eyes to Jesus and Receive His love and compassion!
