Perfect Timing?

There once was a girl called Mary...

She was engaged and has been keeping herself for her husband.
Angel turns up. Tells her she is going to be pregnant.
Bad timing?
Why not wait until after she is married?
Would be more convenient. Would cause less of a stir.

Then Mary finds out that while she is very heavily pregnant she has to travel.  Joseph has to report in at the 'family town' as part of a government census.
Not in luxury, but on a donkey.
Not for a few hours, but a few days.
Bad timing?
Why not wait until after she has given birth?
Would be more convenient. Would cause less of a problem.

Mary's experiences remind me of this...

God's timing is not about convenience and comfort.
God's timing is about His grace, favour and a demonstration of His power.
If God's timing is all about our timing, there is less need of His grace, favour and a demonstration of His power...

What are you facing that seems a bit weird in regards to God's timing?
Stay faithful.
Do your best to trust Him.
Wait and see what God does!

Something to think about...
&
Merry Christmas my friends!

Rocket Man

“If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years on this planet, it’s that the happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more profound than merely their own self interest,”  John Glenn

I read this quote the other day as news of this mans passing spread around the world.
A man who had been around the world unlike many others, as the first american to orbit the earth!

He was one of my early childhood heroes.
As a kid fascinated with the 'space race' and digging through my uncles National Geographics for anything relating to it - John Glenn was up there with the biggies...

Jesus famously said that "to truly live life you must give up your life".
We rightly tend to focus on the sacrifice part of these words. But can I also get you to consider another component to this equation?
Jesus was I think telling us as well that life is truly lived when it is not the average life.
When life becomes predictable. When life is lived to merely survive. When it is devoid of faith, mystery and adventure it isn't truly living the life God has planned for any of us.

As you close out the year and for many look forward to resting, can I ask you to consider what you would like your life to be like in a new year?
Do you want to look for ways of getting by, surviving, avoiding challenge and making too many mistakes?
Or do you want to push towards living it beyond all those things?
Living for something bigger.
Living to honour Christ with your faith filled choices and exploits?

I think you should do the second option! Become a John Glenn of your faith. Maybe take some time over this Christmas to ask God what 2017 could be like for you?

Something to think about...

Sheep

I know a little about sheep as I grew up on a farm with them...
Even dabbled in raising my own pet versions ironically all called "racer". I mean, when you of sheep you think of speed and agility don't you....not!

So when I look at the mention of sheep in scripture it generally makes me smile. Why did Jesus use them as an object of our faith, something He used to help us understand the kingdom?

If you want a list here is a link.
Here are a sample of the many options.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15 niv

Jesus is not an average shepherd or one learning the ropes and making mistakes along the way.
He is the good shepherd. He has shepherding skills.
He knows exactly who you are and where you are currently at, and where you are heading on your faith journey.
And check this out - He would lay down His life if needed to protect or rescue His sheep. Spoiler alert - He has already done just that :)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 niv

Shepherds in Jesus time were a little different to now. The sheep back then used to follow the shepherd as opposed to now, where the modern shepherd pushes sheep from paddock to paddock.
Sheep back then listened for the shepherds voice and were ready to move when he moved.
They trusted his voice and leading because he never let them down. They understand that if he spoke it was for their benefit. Interesting when you see the parallels for us today!

For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:26 niv

If you are reading this and have left the flock - just come back :)
Let Jesus be the shepherd and overseer of your soul once again.
I think He knows what He is doing...

Something to think about...

Towers

I have been thinking lately about certain objects that appear in scripture, some reoccur many times, and what that mean for my faith today...

As I was thinking and praying about this weeks Simple Thought I remembered a scripture about towers. It in turn reminded me of a song we sang at Church when I first went - don't worry - not about to bring it back to ya - but the message of it is very powerful.

Check it out...

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 nkjv

I hope reading the scripture causes you to ask a few questions. Questions like:

How can a name be a strong tower?
I find it intriguing the writer don't talk about a place, but a name, as the tower that is strong.
When we think of towers it is always an imposing structure with maybe a spiral staircase and a lookout. Here we are told to look at the name of the Lord as our tower.
Here is why I think he did that...
Firstly if it was place we would all at some point head off on a pilgrimage to it. If it was in Taupo for example, all the Christians would come running. But God can be your strong tower where ever you are.
Second the name of Lord is the highest place. Scripture tells us there is power in His name. That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and tongue confess that He is Lord.
I don't know about you, but I want to be associated with that name!
That is the best "name drop" you can have!

Do I need a strong tower?
At some stage you are going to face a moment or series of moments where you are going to need God in this way. Where life has happened and you are needing a rescue, needed to be lifted up.
If you look at the Hebrew for tower you can translate it as tower. Nothing staggering there. But a tower is actually a place that lifts you off the ground. Lifts you above the circumstances. Now that is an image you can grab. An image of Jesus being the safe place and lifter of your life above whatever you are facing.

Why are the righteous needing to ran to it?
The righteous are running to it because that is what the righteous do.
We always come running to Jesus. We make the most of the best and safest place to go.
When things happen I am unhappy about or I find challenging I simply run to Jesus.
I consider that my best option out of all the options open to me.
You can trust the name of Jesus. You can be safe!

Something to think about...

Coins

If you are like me, then on most days you can put your hand in your pocket and find those little round metal disks we call coins.
I generally remember them when I am getting changed and they fly all around room.

Now if you think about these things called coins, there is something they all have in common.
While they may be of differing sizes, colours and with different inscriptions they all share something.
They have value...

Jesus talked about the value of the coins that the widow put in the offering. She gave all the value she had, God noticed, and God honoured her for it.
Jesus talked about the value of giving to God what belongs to Him and to the systems we live in, what belongs or what we owe them.
Jesus another time asks one of His friends to catch a fish. This particular fish was discovered to have coins in it. Value enough to pay something Jesus and his friend needed to pay.

And then Jesus shares another story...

8"...suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10 niv

God sees value in you!
If you are lost He does all that is needed to find you and rescue you.
In fact God loves and cares for you so much there isn't anything He won't do to find you and to restore you.

Jesus mentions a lamp. Why?
God will light up the darkest places to find and rescue us because of the high value He places on each of our lives.
Jesus is also described as the light of the world. He lights a lamp of His Son to come and seek us out.
Isn't that awesome?

Maybe today you are feeling a bit lost or left alone in the dark?
Please know that is not where God wants you to feel left! Let Jesus light up your world and circumstances and have a revelation of your value to Him.
If you are lost - please know God is looking for you right now.

Something to think about...