Wednesday, February 25, 2009

As I drove to an event on Saturday I had some time to think...I was thinking about what God is doing in my life.Thinking about what he might be wanting to do in my life.Wondering if I really do want God to do anything he wants in my life...

For years I have been at church services where we have sung about this thing we call surrender.
The whole idea of surrendering your will for His.
When you are in the moment with God in a service, it is really simple I think.
The reality after the moment is where it becomes more challenging. Maybe even a test.

Surrender can seem to many of us such a negative thing…
Our examples of surrender we have seen don’t always lead to positive results. Every movie I have seen shows people who surrender as people who have lost.
It is like you lose something that someone else takes by force from you.

But as with most things in the Kingdom of God…...it is a little different.
I believe that surrender in Gods eyes is not focused on what you give up, but more on what can be gained.

Romans 6:16 (nlt)
Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)?

Surrender is ultimately saying to someone else, that they know best. “Have your way in my life”.
With God surrender takes you beyond where you are now.
It will even unlock more of your life, not restrict it.

So I was driving.
And I surrendered once again to what God wants to do in my life. I decided that is the way I want to go. God’s way.
I want everything that he has for me, not just what I know now...

So this week, take a moment...even right now.
Surrender to God whether it be your life or even just a part of it.
…and see what God might do...

Something to think about…

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Now a word of warning about this weeks simple thought...I hope you aren’t too squeamish?

One night my wife and I were invited to our old landlords house for dinner.
We were looking forward to it.
And for me, I loved walking into their home to the smell of something being roasted in the oven.

There is something about that smell.
It reminds me of lots of good things.
It reminds of food that most of the time tastes fantastic.
So as I sat on their couch I have to admit my mouth was warming up to the eating that was about to take place.
My saliva ducts were definitely preparing themselves.

Now these people owned a dog.
A big dog.
If you hadn’t met it before it was quite intimidating!
But as with most dogs, once it got to know you, it was awesome and extremely friendly.

It was this same dog I could see from my vantage point on the couch.
He was slowly walking around the dining room.
He was acting a little strange.
Then all of a sudden he threw up on the carpeted floor.
A huge pile of vomit!We saw it all in its technicolour brilliance.

Now if that wasn’t enough…
Moments later he returns and proceeds to eat what he has just vomited!
Needless to say my feeling on being there for dinner changed quite dramatically.
Gone was the excitement about eating a roast.
Now I was feeling sick!

In proverbs it actually talks about this…

Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

For me this year I have been reminded about how foolish I can be.
I have started the year wanting some things to be different in my life, but found in some areas I have made the same old mistakes. Struggled with the same old dumb habits.

The whole point the writer is trying to explain is that we make mistakes.
But we are only foolish if we keep repeating them. Foolish if we think anything will change by doing nothing about it.

To counter this stuff in my life I have challenged myself.
The challenge is to try new things as much as possible.
That way I have less chance of repeating old habits.
And it is heaps more fun anyway!

Things like…
Eating fish on holiday when I don’t like fish normally.
Every time I go to Denny’s, ordering something different.
Changing my gym routine.
That sort of thing.

As long as you trust God…
And do something about it…
Your life can change!

Something to think about…