Total Surrender

God has been continually bringing me to a place of surrender to Him. Sometimes it's hard to just let go, and give God our hopes, our dreams, our deepest desires for our life; but when we do, He is truly able to do miracles through us.

Instead of hanging on to these things, each day I must let go and allow God's love to fulfill me in every way. And it's true - when I simply love and give myself to God, I am the most fulfilled and content person I have ever been.

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."
Philippians 3:7-8 TNIV

Simply Love, That is All

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

God has been teaching and reminding me lately that life is simply about loving Him, every day, with all my heart. In all the busyness and demands of life, I've gotten tired and lost focus at times. But God keeps bringing me back to the central reason I exist: To love Him.

This is a very light burden to carry: Each day, to get up, and to determine in my heart to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Everything else I need to do will take care of itself as I seek Him, and rely on His grace to get me through each day.

It's so simple, isn't it!

Food

Reflections on 1 Kings 18-19

Sometimes we're on top of things, we have great victories, we're confident and strong.

At other times, we've had enough and we may feel like giving up.

After his great victory over the prophets of Baal, in this passage we find Elijah sitting under a bush in the wilderness wishing he could just die.

What does the Lord do? He feeds him - he sustains him. God has not finished with the prophet yet.

Lord, I'm a human being like Elijah - sometimes I'm strong, other times I'm fed up. But in both times, you feed me. It is you who sustains me, whether I'm having victory after victory, or feeling crushed by those who want to destroy me.
Thank you that you stoop down to feed your little ones, us frail human beings. My food is to do your will.

Sheep, Wolves & Lions

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your fellow believers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

1 Peter 5:6-9 TNIV

This Scripture was such an encouragement to me last night. There have been some challenges in the church lately, because we are really starting to move forward and people don't like change.
Our enemy, Satan, doesn't like the changes we're making either, because our aim is to reach those who are hurting, lonely, and don't know Jesus.

It is often a confusing time, because sometimes it's hard to pick the sheep from the wolves. They look so much like sheep, but this is merely clothing. Underneath, it has been revealed, there is a ravenous wolf wanting to snap people up with false doctrine and all sorts of destructive ideas. And yet, the disguise is so convincing! It never ceases to amaze me.

But we must stand firm. We must take care to discern good from evil.
We will emerge from this stronger, with a more unified and effective church - I declare it now.
God will build his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Eleazar the Determined

"Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite.
As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle.
Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword.
The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead."

2 Samuel 23:9-10

Eleazar is such a picture of perseverance. When the Israelite army retreated, he remained and struck down the Philistines that day - he kept going until his hand was cramped on to his sword!

We need more leaders like Eleazar, who have such fearless determination to do what God has called them to do that they will not quit, even in their thoughts.

Lord, help me to be a warrior in the Spirit like Eleazar.

David's Secret

"The God of Israel spoke,
the Rock of Israel said to me:
'When one rules over people in righteousness,
when he rules in the fear of God,

he is like the light of morning at sunrise
on a cloudless morning,
like the brightness after rain
that brings grass from the earth.'"

2 Samuel 23:3-4 TNIV

Here David reveals his 'secret' to leading people in a way that pleases God: Lead in righteousness, and in the fear of God. It's very simple, but these two things should encompass all we do as leaders of God's people.

We should do what is right before God and before people. Not using people or the ministry to meet our own needs; living an upright moral life; being transparent and accountable; obeying God in every respect. And we should fear God - remembering that one day we will give an account to him for how we have acted as leaders, how we have treated those under our care.

What is the opposite of this verse? It would be to lead unrighteously, and to fear man rather than God.

The second one is the one that hit me. I must not live or lead in fear of people. What can man do to me? It is God's opinion of me that matters, not theirs. I am following his lead and his plan for my life, not theirs. People are important, but their opinion of me is not final. God has the final word on my life, and that means that I can take criticism, or even hurt, from others in my stride because above all, God loves me, and so long as I obey him in everything, I have his tick of approval on my leadership.

Pour Me Out

I'm a little tea pot
Short and stout

Here is my handle;
Here is my spout

When I get all steamed up,
Then I shout!

Tip me over,
Pour me out.


Forgetting the part about getting all steamed up (I do not consider unrestrained anger as being compatible with ministry!), I don't think my current situation is dissimilar to that of the humble tea pot.

Here I am, Lord; use all of me. Today you stretched me by placing me in a ministry I didn't think I could do, but you did a bit of a miracle and used me for the benefit of your Church. I'm glad to be used by you, for your glory alone.

In a small church, it tends to be "all hands on deck", and today was no exception. We find ourselves serving in all kinds of ways; some we never thought we would venture into.

But God is good; despite what skills we think we do or don't have, all he wants us to do is trust and surrender to Him.

Any person, if they are willing clay in His hands, can help to build His Church; and that is a precious thing to God.