Wednesday, July 25, 2012

distracted


Have you ever wondered why the Bible talks about ‘fixing your eyes’ on Jesus?
I mean, it seems pretty obvious doesn’t it?
There can’t be much better thing to do than to look to Him?

If it is such a good idea to look to Jesus, and it is obvious, why then is it so hard sometimes?
And that is the point of what the Bible is trying to teach us I think…
While it may be good, obvious, right and all that sort of thing, many times we don’t do it.

Does that mean we are bad?
That there is something inherently wrong with us?
I don’t think so!
I think it is because we are easily distracted...
And when I ‘we’ I am most definitely including myself!

Confession time…
I sat down today and worked out all my distractions from the last week.
- Facebook
- TV Series that I watch regularly
- Checking out guitar effects pedals
- Rugby League games on Sky
Now these are not bad on their own and under control.
But when they distract me from my relationship with Jesus and also distract me from doing some things to help build His kingdom...then maybe they aren’t so good?
I can make all the excuses I like...but I know in my heart whether I am being distracted or not, whether my focus is first and foremost on Jesus or not?

So today, take a moment to consider how focused or how distracted you are.
Then make adjustments if you have too.
Don’t beat yourself up. Just make a change...

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 AMP

Something to think about…

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

'spirit'


I think people want to be attractive.
This is not just a women’s issue or thing…
Most people want to be attractive, not just to get that special relationship with someone, but for friendship and relationship in general.

Typically we look at what we think might make us more attractive and focus on that.
Get some new ‘threads’.
Update your car.
Try a new hairstyle.
All of which focuses on the external of ourselves.

What I think makes people attractive is not just the outside, but the very deepest part of our inside.
Something that many call ‘spirit’.
The Bible seems to back that idea up. In fact it puts phrases with ‘spirit’ to help illustrate just what sort of ‘spirit’ we should have, and what will ultimately make us more attractive to others.

Words like contrite, gentle, truthful, fervent are added to it to encourage us in a certain direction.
While words like fearful, impure, evil paint the opposite picture.

The question I asked myself today was this…
“What sort of ‘spirit’ do I have and what sort would people say that I had?”
I think it is a good question.
A question that adds in a self audit.

It seems to me that what we are on the inside, says the most about the person we really are and how others will see us. It is a true measure of our true attractiveness.

If you think you need to some work done on this area there is an answer, a way forward that goes beyond your own outside efforts to change.
You probably need more of the ultimate ‘spirit’…
The Holy Spirit!
Let more of him into your insides.
Come before God with a right ‘spirit’.
Let him change you from the inside out...

Something to think about…

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Burden Part Deux


I can’t help but want to add a little bit more to last weeks message. 
I hope you don’t mind?

We were talking about finding something that breaks your heart in this world, that maybe, just maybe, that could the thing that leads to your ministry?
Our prayer is that you find your ‘Popeye Moment’.
That it so impacts you that it creates a stir, a drive down inside that gets you to say…

“Someone has to do something about this—-and it might as well be me!”

Moses saw the plight of his people and it affected him.
I believe that was what God ramped up in him years later to lead those very same people out of bondage.

Mother Theresa saw the conditions of the underclass in India faced, and it changed the whole course of her life and what she invested her time into.

[you name] saw the [what ever it may be] and it caused you to change things, to make a difference.

Apart for the God Factor, what was the reoccurring thing that happened for Moses, Mothers Theresa and
potentially you?

They ‘saw’!

Most of us are familiar with the phrase, “I will believe it when I see it”...
Well finding your burden is kind of like that except a whole lot more special.
You will find it when you see it, when you notice it.
Something will leap out at you, that you can then let in if you actually let it?
It can percolate your insides if you let it?
It could very well be the ministry of your life if you let it?

The Bible talks in many places about having eyes that are open or eyes that are seeing and perceiving.
My prayer for you right now is that as you reads this, that your eyes will be open for God to show you what He would like you to see.
And when you see what He wants you to see…
It will do something to you!

Come and be an ordinary world changer with me!

Something to think about…

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

imitate | instead


Here is a statement I came up with that I would love you to think about today...

“Spend more time being the person you want to be, 
than trying to not be the person you don't want to be.”

Most of us do the later more than the former.
We try to not sin.
We try to not offend.
We try to not think wrong things.
We try to not do things we know are not right.
We try and try and try...but somehow we still make similar mistakes.

Avoidance of something can help some of the time.
But there is another level we can go to where victory is part of the outcome.
When you change the focus you can change the result.
That is one of the reasons that God asks us to simply to turn our eyes on Jesus.
That if you do, that you can have victory.
How?
Because you are focusing on the answer to your problem not the problem itself… you have a new focus and a direction to lead you to freedom.

Here are two words that will help you and me.
Imitate | Instead

3 John 1:11 niv
...do not imitate what is evil but what is good.

Hebrews 6:12 niv
...imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Paul even encouraged people to imitate him and his way of life, because he knew that it worked, not because he was arrogant. Paul had his thorn in his flesh but that don’t stop him. He stayed focused on Jesus.

Ephesians 5:18 niv
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with the Spirit

Replacement is far better than avoidance!
It can take the power of ‘that thing’ away.
Besides, doesn’t that Bible say, where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom?

So whatever you are going through right now…
Why don’t you simply just change focus?
Imitate those of faith who have victory so you can have victory yourself.
Instead of doing ‘that thing’, do the right thing.

Focus on Jesus afresh today.

Something to think about…