Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas


Merry Christmas to you all and may God bless you abundantly this Holiday Season.
Suze, the kids and I love having you on this amazing journey with us! 
Can't wait to see you all again in 2018!

Until then, stay safe, enjoy a rest, press into Jesus...
Locky


Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Love this Quote 2...gets you thinking!

I have been thinking about our recent journey of faith and the many swirling thoughts and emotions that went along with it.

While I was pondering them I came across this random quote...
There is a lot a truth wrapped up in that sentence I think!

I think it is easy to believe when all is going well and your faith is not being tested...
When we had a secure roof over our heads I didn't occur to me that we could potentially become homeless. It was only when we couldn't find easily another home that I had began on some level to doubt. It is easy to tell yourself and/or others that God is faithful when it appears on the surface you aren't having to rely on that faithfulness.

In the light God has promised to never leave me or forsake me.
That He will always provide for us as a family.
I could quote you verse after verse.
Then in the middle of my 'dark night of the soul' I was faced with really discovering what I believe about my Father in Heaven.
Would He actually come through for us?

Even at its darkest, God was still at work, the darkness just seemed to hide His working from my vintage point. We never went without a bed to sleep in or a roof over our heads. We now live in a lovely home, which had nothing to do with my ability to provide but based all on His!

Jesus never promised we would never doubt.
And He has a track record of not writing off those with genuine struggles and questions around faith.

John 20:27 records this...
Then he [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

I am challenged again to move on from my human fears and doubts.
I need to choose to believe in His goodness and faithfulness.
I need to stop doubting and believe!

Something to thing about...

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

I generally say "yes"

Even that title kind of gets me thinking about how I approach my life...

When someone asks you for help.
When you notice a need.
When God puts something on your heart.
What is honestly your first 'heart' response?

I think I am a "yes" man.
If someone asks to see me, I generally say yes pretty quickly.
If someone asks me for something, if I notice a need I have the power to meet, I find a way to act on the yes of my heart.
When I think God is asking me to do something for Him, no matter what questions I have, I answer yes as fast as I can.

In fact I have learnt that saying yes more than no has been good for my faith and life.
Please don't get me wrong. I am not encouraging anyone to burn out with good intentions or strive to prove ones worth with saying yes to everything. Readers of my blog know I can say no occasionally.
But I do have a personal conviction that God is into us saying yes more than no.

Check out these cool verses and think and pray over saying yes maybe a little more?

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed (he said yes) and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 niv

28..Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”
“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”
29Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Matthew 9:28-29 nlt

Saying yes is not about having it all worked out.
Saying yes is an act of faith. It is based on the limited knowledge you carry and the trust you have in who you are following.
I don't say yes because I am perfect or know everything.
I don't say yes because I know exactly how it will go.
I say yes because I want a Jesus adventure.
I say yes because I want God to know He can count on me.

Something to think about...

Wednesday, December 06, 2017

I just say "ok"

Following on from last weeks simple thought on saying "no", I also have a philosophy of saying "ok".
This is not the same as simply saying "yes", but the idea that I need to sometimes just roll with what God brings into my life and the manner in which it comes.

Jesus asks us to have this 'kid like faith' thing going on...
For me that means as a child of God, I need to just roll with things sometimes and see what transpires. If I truly believe God is for me and not against me, that if I believe that He has everything sorted, then maybe "ok" is a cool response?

Even in our journey recently to finding a home, this has shown some truth again. No matter how much I stressed or expressed concern to God, He had it sorted.
It was not a matter of whether God would provide a home or not. No yes or no to that part of the equation...just that it will be ok.

Years a go a leader told me of some plans to grow the Churches ministry dramatically.
Everyone else in the meeting was quite negative. They quickly pointed out all the issues and faults with the plan. I felt I should just roll with it and see what happens.
As it turned out, the results were phenomenally good. It was ok.
I was reminded that day that God had it sorted and there was no need for yes or no.
Simply trust and keeping my eyes on the prize of Jesus.

Have you been facing circumstance recently seemingly leading you in a direction you didn't expect?
Can I encourage you to maybe do this?...just pray, trust God and roll with it...unless God says a yes or a no otherwise.

This for me is a posture of sometimes going with what is in front of you. Remember you probably don't have all the details, understand all the reasons for how God orchestrates the journey of your life.
You are simply doing your best to trust God with the course of your life...
It will be OK!

Something to think about...