Sometimes when I am listening to my Bible App it does something kind of weird. After reading me a section, sometimes instead of moving to the next chapter or book, it repeats the same thing again.
The first time it happened I was driving to Rotorua and couldn't touch my device to fix it.
I got the same 20 verses on repeat for I don't know how many times!
When I finally stopped driving and resolved it, I actually wondered if what just happened was actually the best thing for me? Maybe hearing the same thing 5+ times in a row got it to sink in?
Maybe that was the best thing me?
And maybe that is exactly what God wanted for me?
When I am teaching myself or someone else a difficult guitar part I actually instinctively repeat it again and again until it 'sticks'.
There is something about repetition to help you learn something of value for later or to achieve a result.
Many times in our culture and climate now I see people try something once and then if they are not successful walk away, convincing themselves and others they tried and it didn't work.
Thomas Edison didn't give up after his first failed light bulb!
Can I encourage you to maybe add some Rinse & Repeat to areas of your faith?
Try not to be in too much of a hurry to keep moving on from what you are possibly wrestling with.
If you need to read the same verse 50 times...
If you need to listen to the same sermon 75 times...
If you need to try and learn the same life lesson 100 times...
Using Rinse & Repeat could be the best thing for you?
Something to think about...
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Inspire
You are probably like many of us, and seeing as part of your social media existence, different videos appearing to watch?
To be fair I skip a lot of clips for time and to avoid filling my mind with some of the dubious material available online. Occasionally there are videos that can be very powerful indeed.
Today one impacted me immensely.
I have it linked here if you are interested?
The essence of it is this...
A series of young kids have different interactions with their sporting heroes.
They are people they look up to. Probably dreaming of one day becoming themselves?
The look of awe on their faces is very obvious.
There is pure joy expressed getting to interact with them, if even for a fleeting moment.
The lasting impression appears palpable to me watching it!
I really felt stirred by God to share this with you.
Why?
Because you are I are actually called to do what these sports stars did for this young people.
To inspire them to greatness in Christ.
Right now people are watching us.
They are looking to be inspired.
And you can inspire them today!
Can I encourage you press into God, to give everything you have for the cause of Christ!
Do it not just for yourself, but for those 'younger' than you looking for meaning, looking for truth, looking for something more than this world has to offer...
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27 niv
Something to think about...
To be fair I skip a lot of clips for time and to avoid filling my mind with some of the dubious material available online. Occasionally there are videos that can be very powerful indeed.
Today one impacted me immensely.
I have it linked here if you are interested?
The essence of it is this...
A series of young kids have different interactions with their sporting heroes.
They are people they look up to. Probably dreaming of one day becoming themselves?
The look of awe on their faces is very obvious.
There is pure joy expressed getting to interact with them, if even for a fleeting moment.
The lasting impression appears palpable to me watching it!
I really felt stirred by God to share this with you.
Why?
Because you are I are actually called to do what these sports stars did for this young people.
To inspire them to greatness in Christ.
Right now people are watching us.
They are looking to be inspired.
And you can inspire them today!
Can I encourage you press into God, to give everything you have for the cause of Christ!
Do it not just for yourself, but for those 'younger' than you looking for meaning, looking for truth, looking for something more than this world has to offer...
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel. Philippians 1:27 niv
Something to think about...
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
What a fantastic question?
Questions are all part of life and faith...
When you are young you probably drove your parents some what nuts with lots of 'why' questions.
As an adult we question many things for all sorts of reasons.
God even asks questions. In fact God has been asking mankind questions since the beginning of time. Never to punish or make someone feel bad, but because He wants the best for us!
On Sunday we had a fantastic guest speaker/musician sharing on their very personal journey.
Specifically they shared about a 'meteorite' moment which trigged health issues for them.
I hope I have this right from my recollection, but they only truly realised where they were at, when someone or a group of someones, asked them some fantastic questions...
Questions if we are brave, honest and patient with ourselves and our response, can be truly life changing.
They can lead you to new places and revelations.
They can help in ways you never dreamed.
If someone genuinely cares for us it should make it easier to not be offended when they ask away...
I hope you know that I care for you, even if it through a screen at this point? So can I ask you some questions today?
They will be for fantastic if you aren't offended and can process them in the way I truly mean for them to be, something that could help you, grow you, make sure you tracking well...
So what are your answers to those questions?
I have my own.
And they are causing me to ask for help. To press into God.
To look for things I enjoy more to add into my daily routine.
Something to think about...
If you would like someone to talk to please be brave and ask for help.
Your Mental Health is so important. I want you to be well.
When you are young you probably drove your parents some what nuts with lots of 'why' questions.
As an adult we question many things for all sorts of reasons.
God even asks questions. In fact God has been asking mankind questions since the beginning of time. Never to punish or make someone feel bad, but because He wants the best for us!
On Sunday we had a fantastic guest speaker/musician sharing on their very personal journey.
Specifically they shared about a 'meteorite' moment which trigged health issues for them.
I hope I have this right from my recollection, but they only truly realised where they were at, when someone or a group of someones, asked them some fantastic questions...
Questions if we are brave, honest and patient with ourselves and our response, can be truly life changing.
They can lead you to new places and revelations.
They can help in ways you never dreamed.
If someone genuinely cares for us it should make it easier to not be offended when they ask away...
I hope you know that I care for you, even if it through a screen at this point? So can I ask you some questions today?
They will be for fantastic if you aren't offended and can process them in the way I truly mean for them to be, something that could help you, grow you, make sure you tracking well...
- Are you truly happy with your life and how things are going?
- If you are totally honest is there something you know right isn't right in your life and/or needs addressing?
- What place does God take in your life? Is He a big thing or a small thing?
So what are your answers to those questions?
I have my own.
And they are causing me to ask for help. To press into God.
To look for things I enjoy more to add into my daily routine.
Something to think about...
If you would like someone to talk to please be brave and ask for help.
Your Mental Health is so important. I want you to be well.
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
How I hear from God?
One of the super amazing and cool benefits of giving your life to Christ is this...
You get to hear God speak to you!
That's right, God wants too, to not only speak, but for you to hear His voice.
Why do you need to?
Life is pretty good and pretty challenging on varying tips of the scale. God makes all the difference for me. When I need it, He speaks direction, inspiration and more, and it changes the balance of life for me.
Each year for the last 9 years I have been in a position to be able to head to Auckland for our annual Elim One Conference. And every year I have found God speak clearly to me in ways I have needed. The timing is always perfect. How I felt before going is always countered by what He encourages me with while I am there.
Because it has happened so consistently I now have a healthy expectation of hearing from Him over those few days.
As I was thinking about this amazing privilege this morning, I couldn't help wonder if there were some keys for me that could be keys for you?
Here are few I have jotted down...
Removal of Distraction
The more I am locked into a routine of business.
The more I am controlled by social media curiosity.
The more my heart is drawn to simply be entertained.
Well the more I distracted...
I even wonder if the noise of life is normally so much I couldn't hear God even if he was speaking clearly.
Conference for is more than a venue or a speaker, it becomes for me a place where I am not distracted by life and can simply focus on listening.
Expectation is Key
As I hinted in my intro I expect to hear God speak.
It is not an arrogance thing but a simple child life faith thing.
God is my Father in Heaven and I am His kid. Good Fathers communicate with their kids, God came up with that idea! So I go expecting and to this point, I have never been let down.
Take Notes
Human beings have a habit of hearing and then forgetting the conversation details.
So I take note of what I believe God is saying immediately. I write it down wherever and whenever.
Over the following few days and weeks I go back over it, meditate over it, pray over it, ask God more questions around it.
In doing that, I have discovered the conversation is not lost and the impact is immeasurable.
I figure that if God spoke I should take notice.
I also never want to skite that I hear God but not be able to say distinctly what it was...
Something to think about...
You get to hear God speak to you!
That's right, God wants too, to not only speak, but for you to hear His voice.
Why do you need to?
Life is pretty good and pretty challenging on varying tips of the scale. God makes all the difference for me. When I need it, He speaks direction, inspiration and more, and it changes the balance of life for me.
Each year for the last 9 years I have been in a position to be able to head to Auckland for our annual Elim One Conference. And every year I have found God speak clearly to me in ways I have needed. The timing is always perfect. How I felt before going is always countered by what He encourages me with while I am there.
Because it has happened so consistently I now have a healthy expectation of hearing from Him over those few days.
As I was thinking about this amazing privilege this morning, I couldn't help wonder if there were some keys for me that could be keys for you?
Here are few I have jotted down...
Removal of Distraction
The more I am locked into a routine of business.
The more I am controlled by social media curiosity.
The more my heart is drawn to simply be entertained.
Well the more I distracted...
I even wonder if the noise of life is normally so much I couldn't hear God even if he was speaking clearly.
Conference for is more than a venue or a speaker, it becomes for me a place where I am not distracted by life and can simply focus on listening.
Expectation is Key
As I hinted in my intro I expect to hear God speak.
It is not an arrogance thing but a simple child life faith thing.
God is my Father in Heaven and I am His kid. Good Fathers communicate with their kids, God came up with that idea! So I go expecting and to this point, I have never been let down.
Take Notes
Human beings have a habit of hearing and then forgetting the conversation details.
So I take note of what I believe God is saying immediately. I write it down wherever and whenever.
Over the following few days and weeks I go back over it, meditate over it, pray over it, ask God more questions around it.
In doing that, I have discovered the conversation is not lost and the impact is immeasurable.
I figure that if God spoke I should take notice.
I also never want to skite that I hear God but not be able to say distinctly what it was...
Listen to me;
listen, and pay close attention.
Isaiah 28:23 NLT
...You’ve opened my ears
so I can listen.
Psalm 40:6 MSG
Something to think about...
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