Wednesday, January 26, 2011

imagination

Human beings have a thing called an imagination.
It is this ability to see into a future and pretend what it could be like.
Sometimes people are described as having a ‘vivid’ imagination, where it describes them as having one just that little bit more extravagant than others around them.

Most kids have a vivid imagination. I know that I certainly did growing up.
I dreamed of being an astronaut.
I dreamed and played out being a soldier in World War II.
It wasn’t that hard to dream really.
John Lennon even wrote a famous song with the simple title ’imagine’. He challenged people through it to picture what the world could be like. He actually understood that imagination was the first step to things changing in peoples lives.

The history of achievement is all based on this imagination thing.
People imagined flying and set about to make it happen.
Someone else dreamed of splitting an atom and made it happen.

For us now, should anything be any different?
Should someone who believes in a God who created everything have an imagination?

Ephesians 3:20 says these words...
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

It is saying that no matter what we can imagine or dream up...God wants to do even more!
It is not saying to not imagine.
It is saying that God is even bigger than it.

Obviously there is imagination that is not cool.
The Bible also talks about selfish or vain imagination.
I guess for me, what I take from this word is that if I use it for God’s glory, if I desire to have Him lead me in it...something truly amazing can come from mine and your lives.
Imagination should take us somewhere very special.
It should be a trigger point for where this year can take us.

Something to think about…

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Lists

I have been thinking this week about life…
And I have decided that a person can only be one of 3 things when it comes the Kingdom of God.
- Growing
- Stagnant
- Shrinking

The Bible also describes it as being:
- Hot
- Luke Warm
- Cold

I am in no way wanting to beat you up or do the same to myself for that matter.
But I have decided in my heart that I want to be the first one on both of those lists.
I want to be Hot. I want to be Growing.
And I want it be obvious not to others, but to myself.

You see, if you are really honest like I have been, you will know which one you are already as you read this.
And as it is with me, the ball is in our court.
I want to experience everything I can in God this year.
I want to see everything he wants me to see.
I want to spend myself completely on building His Kingdom personally (in my life) and corporately (in His Church).
I am changing stuff about my life to make this happen.
Not just sitting there hoping that it will happen.

The Bible tells us to encourage one another…
Well I want to encourage you to go hard.
Don’t be afraid to be passionate for God and His Kingdom growing on this earth.
Fight for it!
Fight for what could be and in fact should be.
Please don’t settle for average.

If there is anything I have seen over thousands of years of history between God and Man is this…
That God responds to us and our passion for Him.
Let’s go after Him together and with everything we have. And let’s see Him do some amazing things this year!

Something to think about…

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

four

While my family and I are away on holiday, I thought I would unashamedly rehash an older simple thought for today. I am supposed to be on holiday anyway...

Whatever challenge you may be facing this week, check out these 4 very simple thoughts:

thought one
Jeremiah 8:18
O my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.
The Bible calls God our comforter. In fact one of the original Greek words for the Holy Spirit means the same thing. He is the one called to come along side us when we need help.
I always ask the Holy Spirit to help me, to comfort me...to lead and guide me...

thought two
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
God doesn’t expect you to be superhuman and carry all your burdens and even everyone else’s on your own.
Simply hand them over to him.
Talk to him along those lines…Hand it over...don’t hang on to them.

thought three
1 Corinthians 10:13
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
I believe the principle here is the same for when are struggling. God will not let the present trial you are under ever be beyond what you can survive through.
He even will provide a way out.

thought four
James 4:8
Come near to God and he will come near to you.
This is cool. I know that when I feel under pressure, the best pressure release I have is to simply come before God.
To get in his presence. To get away with him.
To let the peace of God rule over my heart.
It helps get things back into perspective. To know God has get things under control even if I don’t understand them.
I mean, he is the creator if everything.
Nothing is beyond his reach or influence.

Something to think about…

Wednesday, January 05, 2011

bubbles

I bet when you were a kid you liked bubbles!
In fact, I bet you probably still like them even if you don’t want to admit it…
Every time a bubble flies past me or one of my kids we can’t help but be fascinated by them.
We even have some ‘special’ mixture at home that makes them harder to pop.
You can catch them. Stack them.
And have all sorts of ‘bubbly’ fun.

As adults we can sometimes take something as innocent and simple as bubbles and turn them into something completely different. Bubbles that are lot more sophisticated.
They can be invisible.
They can be as large as a person.
So large you can actually fit inside one…
In fact I have seen them so big they can surround an entire group of people.
Bubbles to keep others out or keep others in.

I think bubbles were never supposed to last.
A bubble that lasts too long is dangerous!

Now I am not going to give you some woolly woofter speech about letting people in to make the world a richer more vibrant place. I think that cheapens the point really...
But I believe a life really lived is not about having bubbles around you. While it may protect you for a while, eventually that bubble will mean more to you than living itself.

I want to encourage you to look at your life.
Take a sharp object. Pop the bubble that may exist.
Maybe this year you could let someone new into your life?
Maybe that bubble has stopped you believing for something amazing to happen in your life? Well pop it!
Maybe it has stopped you from trying something new? Pop that one as well!

POP.

You might just be pleasantly surprised by what lies out there for you in 2011?

Something to think about…

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Happy New Year!

Hello 2011...and all you cool people in it!
Can't wait to live this year with you!