If there was anything I was reminded of after all the crazy in the media this week it's this...
That no matter how much we don't want it to be sometimes, our lives are inextricably linked!

A famous girl made a decision to perform in a certain way and it created a firestorm of opinion.
A country decided a while a go to fight over its leadership with all manner of weapons.
A global business wanted to make more profit so fixed things in their favour to achieve that goal.

The result was never isolated!
Many are concerned about the influence this performer is having on young women around the world.
Others are talking about invading a country.
Most of us are a little poorer to help achieve a business goal.

We are linked...

And on a more personal level, every choice we make in life never ends with us.
For example, a husband over spending from the family bank account affects all of his family in the end.
There are plenty more personal examples I could share, but I will stop there because I might strike a nerve with someone.

Some good news...

Just as a bad decision we make can have a negative influence on others, so can a good choice have a positive influence!
We just have to remember that our lives, our choices, they all have a flow on effect to others even if we never planned for them to.

The Bible says this...If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
1 Corinthians 12:26 niv

Jesus taught us that our lives can be described as being like salt. We have influence and we flavour the world all around us, and where ever we go.

My hope and prayer for you this week is this...
That you see the huge power for good and for God your life you can be.
And that we all make great choices to influence our world for the better.

Something to think about...

Yesterday was a very special day for us as a family!
4 years since we moved to Taupo.
21 years since I last had the opportunity.
1st time ever for the kids.
We went up a mountain to enjoy a day in the snow!

Why mention all that for my 'simple thought' this week? Am I skitting? No that is not my agenda at all!
It was the fact I was reminded how in life their should be some highlight moments that are savoured and never forgotten. Moments that you can say you were blessed by God or moments where something changed for you...

I have said for years that as a Christian, you can think by reading the Bible, that life should be one amazing day or adventure after the other.
When you read the stories of Paul, David, Abraham, Moses...it can appear their life experience was one dramatic event or adventure after another. It can appear that way because we are reading over a few short pages all the 'highlights' or lowlights of their journey. We don't see all the quieter times. The day by day just doing God honouring living.

My day again in the snow after all those years...
The day I met Jesus for the first time...
When I got married to Suze...
The day my kids were born...
Coming to Taupo and God speaking to me about seeing lives changed here...
They are all big days, big events along my life's journey.

I choose to savour them and remember them.
I also choose as a follower of Jesus to look forward to the next ones, while all along staying faithful to the process of His work in my life.
I don't expect something life changing everyday, but I do expect God to met all my needs for each day. I simply choose to follow and that matters more!

Can I encourage you this week to enjoy the highlights and remember them?
Stay faithful through the times in between. And look forward to what the next highlight God brings your way...

Something to think about...

I have been so challenged recently, made so uncomfortable, even stirred.
And that is a good thing I think!

Why? Because of what I have been reading.
You see I have stopped reading things (books) I want to read and started reading things that will challenge me to the core of who I am and what I believe. I can't stand the idea of being the same as who I am now for the rest of my life. I am not bad, I just want to keep growing and developing. I want to continue to discover who God really is and grow in relationship with him.
After following Jesus for over 20 years I have realised that on some level I can operate out a learned culture and not solely based on a divine relationship.

With all the material around for Christians to read these days, you can pick and choose until your fingers go numb. How to be a winner, how to be a success, how to live your dreams, how to be financially secure...are all good on some basic level but I have found they can leave a believer in Christ frustrated, bored and unfulfilled.
When I read what I have been reading and look through the Gospels I don't see much about that stuff. What I do see is people passionately following Jesus. Giving their all and being happy to do so. Serving those around them even to some sacrificial level. Being involved with God to bring healing and hope to the world around them. I see my adventure!
That is Christian Cool and not just Christian Culture and comfort.

If you are reading this and feeling frustrated or even bored...personally I don't think that is the life that Jesus saved us for.
Maybe you can be like me and want to actively make sure you life matches the Gospel of Jesus.
Have a read through the Gospels and the Book of Acts in a Bible.
Sit down and talk the things of faith with someone who is a 'grunty' follower of Christ.

Stir it up my friend. Get in the game and never just watch.
That is part of what following Jesus is I think!

Something to think about...

Have you lost something?

If you are like me, then sometimes you lose things...
Somethings are important and missing.
While others are not so important but plain frustrating when missing.
Today I was upstairs and couldn't find something that has been in the same please for a very long time...and now you guessed it...it is missing! Time to blame the kids... LOL

So what do you do when you have lost something?

Most of us hope we will stay calm and sort it out.
The reality is that if you are kid, you give up in 5 seconds and call out to a parent to find whatever it is.
If you are a little more grown up, you might possibly panic a little?
Or maybe get a bit irritated and frustrated?

Here is some practical advice from Locky today:
1. Stop and breath
2. Think about the last time you saw it, used it and go back there?
3. Is there another 'logical' place it could be?
4. Pray and ask God to help you

Now you may be wondering why this semi practical bit of advice giving?
Here is the angle I am getting to...

Sometimes in life we realise one day we have lost something we used to have.
Maybe it was something you used to do.
Something you used to be like.
Something you used to feel.
Or even someone you used to have relationship with.

When that happens you have a few options.
Can I suggest you do things kind of like you should naturally?
1. Stop and breath
2. Think about the last time you had it, used it and go back there?
3. Is there another 'logical' place you could be to have it again?
4. Pray and ask God to help you
You may need to tweak the wording for your situation but you will get the idea I hope.

If you are reading this and maybe reminded of what you may consider to have lost during life's journey, can I encourage to stop for a moment? Take some valuable time to review things. Decide calmly what you need to do to get whatever it is back in your life again.
And then take some action...

Something to think about...

No Junk Mail

Last night I cleared our mailbox of what many call Junk Mail.
We joke sometimes that there is so much of the stuff that it took a tree or two to make it...
And as I walked back down the driveway I thought of others in our street who don't get all this stuff. The main reason it seems is that they have a little sign you may have seen which simply reads 'No Junk Mail'?

I don't know why I thought much about it, but it did strike a thought in my mind...

We have access to so much.
You get posts on your Facebook, even to your phone 24/7.
We can read news online at any time.
You can hear about earthquakes via an app the moment they happen.
We can entertain ourselves with music, games and tv programmes around the clock.
So Much Stuff!
And it just keeps on coming...

At the end of the day I think you sometimes need to ask yourself...is it all worth it and is it all good for me?

Maybe those No Junk Mail signs are what we need to use, not just on a mailbox but also for our hearts and minds?

Proverbs 4:23 says this...
Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

It doesn't mean that we need to put a wall up around our lives.
I think it means for us to just be wise about what you let into your life...

You don't need every new thing on the market.
Not every new song released is going to be good for you.
Not every latest release movie will be helpful.
Not every 'post' is going to help you and me get closer to Jesus.

I am looking a fresh at what I let into my life through a No Junk Mail filter.
I want to get closer to Jesus, not closer to the world.
I want my life to reflect His goodness, His glory and His power!

Something to think about...