Also...Life's Too Short

...to live on a weak foundation.

Yesterday in church Paul Benger wrapped up a great little series on ‘life’s too short’, this week he touched upon the subject of building our lives on the right foundation.

Matthew 7:24-39

We need stability. A rock bed underneath us. Be safe and feel safe. We need something or someone in our life that gives us stability. Unless there is a foundation in our life that is secure the building comes down.

Live a rock kind of living.

5 rocks to build our lives upon...

1) The Rock called Jesus

Jesus has taken our curse and nailed it to the cross. Paid the price for our lives, so that we can receive everything that God has for us. He is the Rock that our lives are built upon. Who do we trust – what we believe determines what we do in life. Believe that Jesus has done it all. This is the good news of the Gospel. He is the Cornerstone. 1 Peter 2:6 – As the Scriptures express it, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed."
He is faithful, Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

2) The Rock called God’s Word

Which report will you believe? God’s word is written about you...what does he say about you? His word is precious...without it what have we got?
His word is our weapon – the sword of the Spirit.
His word is our internal GPS, Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

3) The Rock called Faith

God shows us things before we receive them. Through faith we turn them into reality. Faith ACTS and WAITS, patience and faith. Noah had to BUILD and BELIEVE. Act and Trust.

4) The Rock called Hope

God gives us opportunities to grow, to move forward. His desire is for us to grow, to reach our full potential. The enemy tries to stop this, but we can overcome – stand your ground. Be rock-like.
Philippians 3:12-14 - (12) I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. (13) No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, (14) I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven

5) The Rock called Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

The Christian spirit is to love people. To believe the very best of people – not the negative. The way to LIFE is to LOVE people. Don’t excuse HATE in your life. God has a better way to live.
Mark 12:31 – 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these.

Come on you Reds!

2-2 (4-3 penalties aet)
My team BARNSLEY got promoted to the Championship yesterday after a tense play-off semi-final against Swansea in Cardiff. It wasn’t very pretty to be honest and it went to penalties which was not good for the nerves....but we did it!

Life's Too Short

...to live without vision

Paul spoke in church this morning about vision, in particular having God’s vision for your life.

Proverbs 29:18 – Where there is no revelation (vision) the people cast off restraint

Matthew 4:17 – From that time Jesus began preaching saying ‘Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’

What is reality? Unless we have vision for our lives we live out of control. Jesus brought reality through the Kingdom of God. He introduced a God culture, a God way of living.

The Kingdom of God is not a piece of land, but the hearts of men and women who have learned to live a God culture where God is involved in the detail of my life.

Designer living is living life according to our ‘Designer’.

Living a God culture is about living...

A life with vision
A life with purpose
A life having a healthy self-image
A life being set free from the past
A life having strength in adversity
A life of generosity and giving
A life of happiness, joy and passion

Don’t get comfortable; don’t settle…keeping pressing on towards your goal. Don’t lose your resolve.

7 Keys to embracing a God culture

Change your vision
Change the image of yourself (get God’s image of you)
Change the thoughts and words that surround your life
Change the impact of the past
Change your response to adversity
Change your attitude to giving
Change your purpose to joy for living

You're Hired

Mark Wilkins spoke in church this morning. It was based on one of my favourite TV programmes at the moment, The Apprentice.

He asked the question, why have the apprentice candidates decided to go on the programme when many of them already have great positions or own their own businesses – because they desire to work alongside Sir Alan Sugar.

“I’d like to be Sir Alan’s apprentice because I like to do the best I can in life and therefore would like to learn from the best [Sir Alan Sugar]” Sharon (one of the candidates)

Jesus should be someone who we aspire to be with, follow, imitate, and learn from, to be a disciple of.

Today, ask yourself 3 questions

Why would you become an apprentice?
Who would you follow?
How do we follow someone?

Why would you become an apprentice?

Realise that you are not the complete article. Have a realisation that a better life is possible.

Luke 5:4-11; Luke 5:27-32

When Jesus called the first disciples, they recognised that Jesus was someone worth following. Peter – he didn’t think he was good enough. Matthew – His friends didn’t think he was good enough.

Realise, none of us are perfect. We don’t know all the answers. Jesus knows - Follow him.

Ephesians 2:1-8 – Realise everything we can have and know in following Christ.

Who to follow?

Jesus - he said in Matthew 7:24 ‘build you life upon me’
Church leaders – 1 Corinthians 4:14-16; 2 Timothy 3:14

How to follow?

Make sure humility is in your life. It’s not a weakness as some people think. It’s having a confidence in who you are in Christ. Realise what God has done in your life – live from that place.

The Apostle Paul recognised, even through hardship, because of his love for Christ that his ‘burden was light’. Keep your focus on Christ and what you have because of Him.

Jesus is saying to ‘all’, “You’re hired” - nobody is excluded. The choice is ours though when it comes to choosing to be His apprentice.

Love is the Greatest

Spoke in church on Sunday...

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Love God...Love People

Jesus said…Matthew 22:37-39 (37)'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'

Earth is our practice run for what we will be doing in eternity, which is spending time loving God and loving others.

In Galatians 5:6 it shows us that God values a faith which expresses itself in love - “For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.”

We should have a kind of faith that compels us to love people.

Love is a command

Said already (Love the Lord your God…love your neighbour)
Love is doing what God has commanded. Love is not just a feeling, it is much more. Feelings cannot be commanded. We should not just led by our emotions.

Love is a choice

1 Corinthians 14:1 – Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy

We should ‘pursue’ love, ‘go after’ it. Sometimes we give people what they deserve, loving someone is about giving what they need - that is called grace.

Love is a conduct

1 John 3:18 – Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth

It is not just words but also in deed.

Love is a commitment

1 John 4:16 – And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him

How do we love people practically?

Get to understand how God loves you.

Memorise scripture about what God says about love.

Start your day with reminder of love. Set the tone of the day. What matters most to God is love.

Practice acting in unselfish ways. Selfishness is the scourge of humankind.

Love is a muscle. Initially it’s hard to love but it gets developed over time. You need to exercise it everyday.

We cannot grow in love on our own. You need to be in the midst of people to grow in love.

From 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 – Six aspects of LOVE.

1. Love is Kind

In 1 Corinthians 13:4 it says love is kind and that kindness is expressed in action.

Four key things we can learn about showing kindness from the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.

Begins with our Eyes

We need to start seeing the needs of people around us.

In Luke 10:33 is says When he ‘saw’ him. It begins with our eyes, the way you see the world, the way we are sensitive to the needs of our world. We need to expand our vision and be more observant of the needs around us, the hurting and wounded.

Obstacle to kindness is ‘busyness’ - hurry is the death of kindness. The more we slow down in life, the more sensitive we will be. Ask God to give you spiritual radar, to open the eyes of your heart. Kindness can be learnt, not just born with it.

Use our Ears - Listening is a form of kindness.

We need to sympathise with the other person’s pain. To feel the other person’s emotions, we have to care. In verse 33 it says, “he took pity”. We do this by using our ears and listening to the other person’s pain. The secret to genuine sympathy is being there for the other person.

2 Corinthians 1:4 – He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Every problem we go through is a chance for us to learn to be more sympathetic with others’ pain.

Use what we Have

We need to seize the moment to be kind, don’t delay. In verse 34 it says “he stooped down and kneeled down” he came to the man’s level. He used what he had with him ‘wine & oil’.

a) We must be willing to be interrupted, it happens on their schedule, not ours. Love is often inconvenient.

b) We can’t let excuses get in the way “I’ve got my own problems” “I’ve got important businesses to care for.”

c) We must be willing to take risks. Fear keeps us from being kind. Fear makes us unkind. Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).

He spent whatever it took

It costs us something to be kind, our privacy, our time, our resources. What did the good Samaritan gain from it? Nothing materialistically, so why should we be kind?

Isaiah 58:10-11 – (10) Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. (11) The LORD will guide you continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy, too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring

God says, he guarantees he will meet our needs, when we are kind.

3 Ways to show practical kindness:

Proverbs 12:25 - Kind word – An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up

Proverbs 14:21 - Kind deed - He who despises his neighbour sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy

Proverbs 19:17 - Kind gift – He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done

2. Love does not Envy

ENVY is usually the underlying cause of problems in relationships

Envy is a painful awareness of what another possesses and a desire to have it. It is also resenting God’s goodness to others and ignoring what God has done for us.

Five ways to get rid of envy:

Don’t compare yourself with others
Comparing leads to pride or envy. Each person is unique and each path is different according to God’s plan for their life.

Start enjoying God’s grace to others
In Romans 12:15 it says rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

Be grateful for what you have

Philippians 4:11 – Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. (Apostle Paul)

Trust God when life seems unfair

Keep focused on God’s plan for your life

3. Love is Humble

In 1 Corinthians 13:4 it says ‘love does not parade itself, is not puffed up’.

What it is not:

• Humility is not shyness
• Humility is not meekness
• Humility is not low esteem

Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.

Four key things to practise humility:

Give preference to others
Make a pre-determined choice of putting others first. Romans 12:10 - ‘Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another.’

We have a choice, to be a person of love is a choice, it’s a decision.

Practise learning from others
Always be open to suggestions and criticisms, heart that is teachable. The day you think you know everything, you stop learning.

Practise admitting when we are wrong
Accept responsibility, take ownership, don’t justify.

Surrender your plans to the Lord
We need to submit to God’s Lordship.

4. Love is being Respectful

1 Corinthians 13:5 “Love does not behave itself rudely”, which means love is being respectful.

Love does not seek its own way, it seeks others. How to show respect:

You stop and you listen
You give your undivided attention to others. This shows that we genuinely care.

Keep your promises
Stay true to what you promised, hold onto what you say, let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no’.

Yield ourselves to serve others willingly

2 Corinthians 12:15 (Paul) – So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?

5. Love is Patient

In Ephesians 4:26 it says ‘In your anger do not sin’. There is an anger that is not sinful - that you can control. It is righteous indignation. It is different from an anger that is out of control.

How to Break Cycle of Anger and Gain Patience?

Break the pattern of anger
If you keep justifying your behaviour you will keep the habit. You need to confront the problem, if you don’t you will not conquer.

Proverbs 14:29 - A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.

Proverbs 25:28 – Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control

Guard your relationships
You need to make a heart commitment that no matter what you are angry about – don’t be angry at the person. Make a commitment to value and guard your relationships.

In Proverbs 15:1 it says ‘a soft answer (gentle response), diffuses anger’. What is a gentle response? It is being humble, even when it isn’t your fault.

Release your worries to God
Psalm 37:8 says worries and anxieties cause people to get easily frustrated and angered.
Philippians 4:6 ‘do not be anxious about anything’.

Change your expectations, but don’t lower your standards
Don’t lower your standard but just lower your expectations of people. Philippians 4:8 encourages us to focus on the positive (on strengths) and not the weaknesses.

6. Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

The ultimate test of love is the test of forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not:

Conditional
It is not based on someone’s response, it is something we do based on faith. If someone hurts us, it’s up to us to take the step to forgive. Forgiveness is unconditional.

Minimising the hurt
It is not minimising the offence and pain. We need to know the difference between being wounded and being wronged. We need to tell the person who has hurt us that we are offended but still offer forgiveness.

Resuming relationship without change
We need to see genuine repentance in the other person and real change of mind and behaviour before we get back to a close relationship again.

Forgetting what happens
God does not forget but chooses not to remember.

My right if it wasn’t me who was hurt

What is Forgiveness?

Relinquish your right to get even
We must surrender the area to the Lord and be able to release – that is real forgiveness. The root of bitterness can very easily spring up. Bitterness poisons you and others. It corrupts the fruit of our lives.

Respond to evil with good
Luke 6:28 “Do good to those who hate you, bless and pray for them.”

You repeat this process as long as necessary
We need to see everything through eyes of grace; following the example of Jesus.

Insect Eyes

An artificial insect eye that could be used in ultra-thin cameras has been developed by scientists in the US. Read on

"Even though insects start with just a single cell, they grow and create this beautiful optical system by themselves. I wanted to understand how nature can create layer upon layer of perfectly ordered structures without expensive, fabrication technology," said Professor Luke Lee. (;-))

London Marathon

This was one of my daily readings today...

Isaiah 40:31 - "Those who wait on the LORD will find new strength"

When you know Jesus, you're continually refreshed. Even when you are most weary, God will come to you. He'll gently carry you when you can't walk on your own.

How appropriate as I look forward to the big day! I may need some assistance towards the end.

Good Friday

I thought about my up and coming London Marathon attempt this morning. The kind of physical and emotional struggles I will no doubt endure....the pain, the agony, the suffering and the sacrifice and of course the passion. Then I thought again....

The Presence of God

Paul Benger spoke an important message this morning in church on the Presence of God.

1 Chronicles 13:7-14

David wanted the Ark of God returned, not to remain at the extremities but back to the centre.

We need that kind of attitude – to want to have the presence of God at the centre of our lives and not at the extremities.

As New Testament believers we don’t have a box, we have the presence of God in our lives. But we can still push God to the extremities.

Let’s look at the attitudes of 3 different individuals towards the presence of God coming back.

Uzzah

Uzzah died because he steadied the Ark of the Covenant, which became unstable on the cart as the oxen stumbled due to a pothole in the road.

We will all face potholes in the road. What is our response to them?
We’re not meant to help God out – we need to trust Him with our lives. Something’s need to be left to God, we can’t force it to happen (e.g. Abraham having children)

Beware of familiarity. Uzzah had probably become familiar with the Ark of God. Never become familiar with what we do in church. Always be in a place of expectation and anticipation.

The Ark should have been carried by people using poles and not on a cart. People carry the presence of God.

Michal

1 Chronicles 15:29 - But as the Ark of the Lord’s covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David dancing and leaping for joy, she was filled with contempt for him

Don’t be like Michal. People who shout from the sidelines have a ‘lot to say’.
Contempt kills fruitfulness. When we take on a cynical or negative attitude it kills our fruitfulness.

Obed-Edom

A blessed man, and not just because the Ark of God was at his home.
He was also a man of great character and integrity. Involved in the things of God.

He was a gatekeeper
He was a musician involved in worship
He was a doorkeeper in the house of God
He was a leader (1 Chronicles 16:38)

Let’s have the right attitude to God’s presence, not cynical or negative, not shouting, “we can do better” from the sidelines.

What will our attitude be as we enter this new phase in the life of our church? Let us shoulder the burden together. Have the Obed-Edom attitude.

'Success' Poem

This blew me away...

You can use most any measure
When you're speaking of success
You can measure it in fancy home
Expensive car or dress
But the measure of your real success
Is one you cannot spend
It's the way your son describes you
When he's talking to a friend

(Martin Buxbaum)

Are You Sleeping?

Great message in church today. Paul Benger completed his series on Faith.

“This message should send you to sleep!”

Psalm 37:1-9

Dreamers need to sleep. If you don’t sleep you won’t dream. God uses us at our best when we are at rest. (Adam, Jacob etc)

Psalm 3:5 - I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.
Psalm 4:8 - I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.
Psalm 127:2 - It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

God wants us to be at rest...not frantic, stressed, worrying etc. Lie down on your troubles - be at peace, be at rest.

Faith’s first position is rest (sleep) Trusting that God is on our side. Adam’s first day was a day of rest.

What kind of Christian/Church are we? Frantic/fretful? Always thinking ‘we must do more!’….‘If only we did more!’ Or are we a faith-filled Christian/Church? At peace/rest believing in the favour of God for our lives. We come from a position of having already won.

What causes us to be anxious? Look at Psalm 37

1) Refuse to respond to opposition (Vs 1-2)

Don’t worry about the wicked.

Psalm 37:23-26 – (23) The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. (24) Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand. (25) Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread. (26) The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.

Let our actions flow from a peaceful spirit...trusting God.

2) Refuse to look at what you don’t have (Vs 1-2)

Don’t be envious of others. Don’t measure your life by your possessions...your net worth. Or don’t measure your life by what you don’t have. (Moses – ‘What is in your hand?’ Use what God has given you...no matter how small or insignificant it may appear. When we use what we’ve got, obediently, God steps in! (Parable of the Talents)

3) Refuse to leave the place of rest (Vs 3-4)

Rest is a daily choice. It is categorised by trust and by doing good. Also by being planted in the House of God. Choose faithfulness. Don’t shrug off what you’re asked to do.

4) Refuse to take matters into your own hands (Vs 5-6)

Trust in God. He will cause your righteousness to shine. It’s not what we can do but what God can do! Leave your troubles with God, don’t be lazy, but trust God with the outcome.

5) Refuse to get mad (Vs 7-9)

When the person next to you gets a new car or a bigger house, when others are getting blessed, what is your reaction? It may be a stumbling block. Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. Don’t mourn with those who rejoice or rejoice with those who mourn!

Are you mad? Mad at God, mad with your life, mad at others? Answer = Rest, let God make your righteousness shine.

Faith’s first positive is SLEEP.

What Not to Wear

Jeannie Benger hit the spot again tonight with a challenging message on 'What Not to Wear'.

It’s all about how we look on the inside...do we wear God well? How do we reflect God to our world?

1) Don’t Wear Sympathy and Hurt

Do wear grace and compassion.
Don’t live under the constant sympathy of others
Live with people who show grace and compassion who spur us on. Sympathy doesn’t give answers. Compassion motivates us, grows us, spurs us on.

2) Don’t Wear Worry and Anxiety

Do wear faith and hope. Hope for our future. Believe God’s promises for our lives.
Don’t fear bad news. Be confident in God. Don’t focus on the problem, focus on the answer – God.

Proverbs 12:25 - Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Surround yourself with positive, faith filled words/people. Your environment is critical – chose the right people not the ‘sympathisers’.

Philippians 4:6 - Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

God is El Shaddai – more than enough!

3) Don’t Wear a Slave Mentality

Do wear a servant mentality.
Slaves are ‘helpless victims’ without freedom.
Choose to follow, choose to serve. A ‘whatever it takes’ attitude. A Kingdom mentality for a Kingdom of excellence. God deserves the very best.
Honour others above yourself...it’s not about me.
Serve with a heart of confidence (confident in the God we serve)
Serve with a heart of strength
Serve with a heart of thankfulness
Serve with a heart of sowing (time, finance, ideas)
Serve with a heart of release (releasing others to do)

4) Don’t Wear Negativity

Do wear positivity – encourage.
Guard your words. Be gracious with others. Show grace and generosity. From the abundance of your heart the mouth speaks. What’s in your heart?

Hebrews 12:15 - Look after each other so that none of you will miss out on the special favour of God. Watch out that no bitter root of unbelief rises up among you, for whenever it springs up, many are corrupted by its poison.

Let your words lift people and not tear them down.

England Roar

Great win in India to tie the series. Well done Freddie and the boys. What a result with so many of our first choice players out for various reasons. Some of them must be a little worried about their places for sure!

Handling Life’s Storms

Fantastic message in church tonight. Paul Benger spoke on ‘Handling Life’s Storms’ which was the second part of his series on Faith.

Acts 27:27-44

He shared with us a few facts about some of the characteristics of storms, in particular the recent hurricanes to hit the USA. He then contrasted this with the fact that ‘storms’ effect our lives.

We all face storms in our lives both literal (i.e. the kind that causes floods and blow our roofs off!) - to the more common ‘life storms’. Both types cause upheaval and are messy!

Sometimes though we experience ‘inconveniences’ which we react to as though they were storms.

Some of the characteristics of storms - Unexpected, unfavourable, unpleasant and unpredictable.

Storms are there to harm you - inconveniences can be doing you good. Don’t over react to them.

Storms come in seasons. In Acts 27 the storm Paul faced lasted 2 weeks!
If you are facing a storm right now remember storms come in seasons – it won’t last forever!

If it’s just an inconvenience...they’re part of the action. As Christians, rise up – have a backbone. The Spirit of God is inside of us, don’t succumb to the spirit of the age. Take a stand.

Four important responses in the midst of storms:

1) Don’t Abandon Your Trust in God

Don’t look for a reason why – trust God. Don’t focus on your smallness, focus on the greatness of God. Paul – “God has shown me, no one will die’

Don’t rely on yourself – don’t trust in human wisdom, it’s flawed. Trust God – do it His way. You’re only ‘right’ when you agree with God – it’s time to change your mind!

The storm will reveal what’s inside of us. How much hope we’ve got, how much faith we’ve got, how much joy we’ve got.

The storm doesn’t reveal stuff for God to see – the storm let’s us know what we need in our life.

2) Don’t Abandon the Ship and Crew

(Vs 30-32) – Too many people jump ship when the storm comes. God wants us to draw closer. The church to draw ranks as there is still much work to be done. The best place to be when the storm comes is in the House of God.

When the storm comes don’t project your problems on someone else...and don’t think the grass is always greener on the other side. Grass is grass!

3) Don’t Abandon Your Faith

Don’t go into crisis or panic mode. What’s inside of us? Faith?
Don’t be blasé – ‘It’s not a problem’ (They’re usually is!)

Lighten the load. It’s an act of faith. Hebrews 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.

Get rid of the rubbish on our lives. People often add to the load when storms come.
Eat something good. The food of faith - not negativity from negative people.
Keep doing what you need to do – don’t stop (don't give up). Keep giving, keep sowing…keep reaping.
Keep your language right. A language of hope. ‘God will do’.

4) Don’t Abandon Your Mission

They stayed with the ship...until they’d accomplished their mission. Changes happen so that we can fulfil our mission.

Consider the changes that we are about to face as a church. It’s all about us fulfilling our mission. What God has called us to do at this time. To see His church built in this place. A community of God’s people being drawn together. People coming to faith in Christ, prodigals being restored.

Let’s not abandon our mission!

Got My Number

I've just received my number for the London Marathon:

33964

My London Marathon Blog is currently down at the moment...Blogger is having problems with some of their sites. Check it out (when you can!) and why not sponsor me?! So far I've raised over £700 for Help the Hospices.

Great Expectations

Jeannie Benger spoke an encouraging message in church last night on having great and ‘God’ expectations.

We sometimes live with low or even no expectations - for our lives, our future, our families, our jobs etc.

Expect good things to happen. What are you expecting? Have God’s expectations in your life. Raise your expectation level. Expect much and expect great things for your life.

Ephesians 3:20 – God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

God is a gentleman, he won’t force the issue.

Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. God will give you good things!

Desire God desires. Desire is creative not passive. Have good and God ideas. He wants us to be a creative people – He is a creative God. Don’t be passive, having a tendency not to participate (i.e. letting others take the lead). Don’t sit back – create!

Live your life with dreams and visions – knowing they can be achieved through God.

2 Corinthians 10:13 – We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you

Live within the sphere God has placed you but also know your limits.
Fulfil the potential God knows you have. Influence (for good) those within your sphere – see those around you through Gods eyes.

We don’t want people to look at our lives and say ‘we don’t want what they’ve got’ BUT ‘we do want what they’ve got!’

We’ve been given authority in heaven and on earth to fulfil His purposes for our lives. Be fruitful. Find your place, serving God. Rekindle those dreams that have dimmed.

For us as a church – God wants us to be large and influential. We’re all responsible for that vision of growth. Live the dream together – expect great things!

Live a life of faith – believing God for great things.

Hebrews 11:1 - NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]

Stay focused. You might not win every battle, but you will win the war!

Quotes

Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia. Charles M Schulz

Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night." Charles M Schulz

This is the Day

Spoke last night in church...

Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it" - This is the day! (NOT - This is ‘A’ Day but this is THE Day the Lord has made!)

Lamentations 3:22-23 - Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Jesus prayed…

Matthew 6:9-11 – (9) This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, (10) your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (11) Give us today our daily bread.

Jesus prayed about the great purpose and will of God (Your Kingdom come, Your will be done) and then linked it back to today (verse 11). ‘Give us TODAY…’

There is a strong link between the eternal purpose of God and today!

WHY PEOPLE MISS THE VALUE OF TODAY

1) They Get Stuck in Yesterday’s Successes or Yesterday’s Negativity

In Psalm 77 the Psalmist dreamed of "the good old days." He looked backward and his attachment to the past limited his present. He would have done well to forget what was and focus on the what is. Looking back and dwelling in the past will limit our present.

Let me say three things about that:

(Firstly) Don't dwell on past sins and failures. Learn the lessons that failure teaches us, turn away from those sins in genuine repentance.

(Secondly) Don't dwell on "the good old days" which weren't as good as our memory tricks us into believing. Yes, have fond memories, cherish special moments of days gone by, but don't live there and forget about today!

(Thirdly) Don't rest on your laurels of past accomplishments. Some think they've done their lifetime of service for Christ and now they'll just sit back and let others do all the work. Past accomplishment should not limit present opportunities and service.

What happened in our past in some way influences our present and that can be a good thing IF we learn the lessons we ought to have learned. But it is not a good thing if we bring our former sins/failures, former joys and even former successes into the present and let them limit what we are doing right now.

Whatever you were in the there and then should not keep you from being what you can be in the here and now. Don't let your past limit your present. THIS IS A NEW DAY!

My day is not determined by what is happening around me, it is determined by WHO is living in me!

2) They Worry about Tomorrow

Matthew 6:25-35

KEY: Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

NLT puts it like this in Luke 12:31 – "He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."

And God said this - "For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT).

If Jesus is the Lord of your present, He has taken care of your past and assures you of a glorious future. With God, the best is yet to come.

Jesus is the same yesterday, TODAY and forever!

3) They Overestimate Tomorrow

Some people anticipate and yearn for the future as "better days which are to come." But people can (through longing for tomorrow) - despise today.

Both being apprehensive about the future and longing too much for it impacts the here and now.

You cannot hope for a good tomorrow without investing in it today - the seed you sow into the soil of today will determine your harvest of tomorrow

The purposes of God are future (YES) – but must be worked out on the present TODAY.

4) They Underestimate Today

Daily discipline that you exercise determines whether you fulfill the purpose of God. Do it TODAY. Don’t wait.

Today is the day of Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2) I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, today is the day of salvation! (What are we waiting for?)

John 4:35 – Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest! Today the fields are ready for harvesting!

Don’t let idleness deceive you. For while you give him today, he steals tomorrow from you. - A. F. Forester

Five keys to getting the most out of Today...

1) Live with Purpose

God has a purpose for your life. Created to worship…love Him (with all our hearts, soul, mind, strength) - My life is here by divine design to fulfill God’s great purpose.

2) Live with Focus

Focus causes you to do the things that are important. Life decisions require focus. Time is limited therefore focus is required. Focus on the things of God…the life He wants us to live for Him.

3) Choose to Take Risks

God has called us to live a life of faith, not mediocrity. ‘Have a go!’ – Be passionate about TODAY!

4) Make every Second Count

Your ‘perspective’ will cause you to value or devalue your time. Our perspective shapes of life…governs our priorities. Get God’s perspective on you life.

5) Live in Preparation

Be prepared so that you are ready when the call of God comes.

David (speaking to that GIANT)…1 Samuel 17:46 – This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

Be ready to take your opportunity when it comes.

The Power of Perspective

Paul Benger began a three-part series last night on Faith. The first part being on the ‘Power of Perspective’.

How we view things is really important. We’re not talking about the power of positive thinking – although even that is better than the power of negative thinking.

Our perspective can give us peace and joy OR torment. Look at Saul...

1 Samuel 18:1-16 (Saul’s perspective)

Saul began to view David as an enemy and not as an ally. His perspective became negative. Full of jealousy and fear about his position and place. Instead of joy...sadness. All of this because of the power of perspective.

God doesn’t want you to live with your view on life – But His view, His perspective. Have the same mind as God’s. See what he sees, be one in perspective. Philippians 2:5 – Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

Your perspective will lead your decisions. Your perspective will chose your friends. Your perspective will govern your priorities.

Psalm 4 (David’s perspective)

4 perspectives of David...

Verse 1 – God is working all things together for good

Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them

We often let our troubles change our view of God. We become introspective.
6 important areas to consider concerning God working things together for our good:

1. This is a trial of my faith not my endurance
2. God is enlarging me through this trial
3. God will relieve the pain and burden of this trial if we refuse ownership – give it to God. (Cast all your burdens on Him)
4. God will carry the burden for you
5. God has not changed His opinion of you
6. God will have mercy on you and will hear your prayer

Verse 3 – God has positioned me for good success

We are set apart by God for His purposes (saved and called). We are here to extend His kingdom. All things are beneath His feet and also beneath our feet. We will overcome and conquer. Get the right perspective – you are above and not below!
Circumstances don’t make you a winner or a loser. Paul’s perspective – Because of Christ, I can do all things.

Verse 6 – God will reveal Himself to me

God will light my way. His word is a lamp to my feet. In any sphere of your life look where God is shining His light. Look for His perspective. Get out of the darkness, out of the unclear places where we’re not making the right decisions.

Verse 8 – God will protect my life

Have confidence in God that He will protect you. Think eternally. Where are you looking to for protection? Peace comes from knowing God. Psalm 27:4-6 - God hides you. He puts you under His wings in the day of trouble. We’re surrounded by the protection of God.

Overcoming Our Fears

Mark Wilkins brought a great message in church last night - all about Abraham and how he had to come to terms with his fears.

Genesis 12-15

Despite the promises of God, Abraham still had to confront and overcome a number of fears. Rational and irrational.

He obeys and follows God but hits several problems along the way which causes fear and him losing sight of the promises of God.

Eventually the passage of time begins to cause him to doubt and question God. Begins to see things through human eyes...forgetting God’s promises for his life. He tries to accomplish things in his own strength.

The longer time goes on...we begin to question, did God really say that? This is a difficulty for us in our ‘instant’ culture. God teaches us patience.

Overcoming our FEARS...

The Cause – We lose sight of God’s promises for us. The passage of time causes us to doubt and question. We become afraid.

The Cure – We need to focus on the promises of God. Read what God has said in his Word about us, about the plans he has for us. (Isaiah 41) Build your faith...live in the promises of God.

The Outcome – We will grow stronger in our faith. Be able to stand in a position of strength.

Romans 4:17-22 – (17) That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many nations." his happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who brings into existence what didn't exist before. (18) When God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed him. God had also said, "Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars," even though such a promise seemed utterly impossible! (19) And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though he knew that he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred and that Sarah, his wife, had never been able to have children. (20) Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. (21) He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. (22) And because of Abraham's faith, God declared him to be righteous.