Not what it used to be ...

Today saw me return to trackside for a few days of car racing at some of its best. However, I wasn't overly satisfied with the experience of today. Things were different to last year, or the last number of years in fact. Some aspects were located in different places, others were just not there, some things were not finished in being set up and the list could go on.

It got me thinking of the times I hear this about church too. Either people looking for a past experience, or past leadership or 'something' that was good for them on an occasion. The desire to have something or an experience exactly how 'I' want it.

And yet, how did I come to deciding that an experience or event was a good one in the first place? Was it not about attending? Participating? Being there expecting something to happen? So why would I not continue to look for something new in something different? Or, look for that which I do appreciate in the experience that was, like the great company I had, or the fact that I also got a few hours with my son.

It is so easy to not be looking or expecting something in an experience that is replicated on some regular basis. We close ourselves off from the blessing or challenge that might be available to us, just because it is not how 'we' want it to be.

"Lord, I desire to be more open to see, hear and BE all that You might desire of me. Help me to pull up short from being unsatisfied or closed to something new or different."

To BE like ...

Henri Nouwen wrote, "At every moment you have to decide to trust the voice that says, 'I love you. I knit you together in your mother's womb' (Psalm 139: 13)."

What most jumps out at you from this? Decide? Trust? The notion that someone, God, loves you? How He created you? Or is it even a questioning of how this choosing might be dependent upon the circumstance, after all, it is much easier to trust when things are going good for us, isn't it?

What might your choosing, your deciding be?

I know for me there is a strong desire to ALWAYS trust, 'whatever' the circumstances. There are occasions where this has been put to the test and yes, I have trusted, my faith has remained unwavering. Yet I can understand the occasions where this might be difficult for people.

Is this the thing that makes the difference though - this last aspect, whereby we listen to the voice that says, 'I love you. I knit you together ...' I cannot get away from this thinking that what really makes the difference is not God knowing me, but me knowing Him. And further getting to know Him, more and more and more. That the real factor here is my relationship with Him developing, growing, becoming more significant every day, because I spend time with Him. 

Think about it a moment. What tends to happen when we do this? Is it not true that we often begin to pick up on the attributes of this One we spend time with? Something of them begins to rub off on us? We begin to be influenced by them.

That is how I see it with God anyways. As I spend more time with Him, I hope I begin to BE more and more like Him. Do I always? No! But it is my aim, my desire.

To BE like Jesus, this hope posses me ...

My God...

It is interesting in conversation at times to see how many people have a belief 'in' God. Prevalent today is the thought that God is the same across religions. A figure, being, object, mostly out there somewhere and affecting some things in life, usually to be blamed for the bad things.

1 Kings 5:1-51-4 Hiram king of Tyre sent ambassadors to Solomon when he heard that he had been crowned king in David’s place. Hiram had loved David his whole life. Solomon responded, saying, “You know that David my father was not able to build a temple in honor of God because of the wars he had to fight on all sides, until God finally put them down. But now God has provided peace all around—no one against us, nothing at odds with us.

5 “Now here is what I want to do: Build a temple in honor of God, my God, following the promise that God gave to David my father, namely, ‘Your son whom I will provide to succeed you as king, he will build a house in my honor.’ ”

Here is what stood out 'my God'. The personal relationship that we have with God. It is what often sets Christians apart from others. It is the desire of God that we know Him, His love and care and plan for us each. In the storms and difficult times, He is not remote, removed from it all, He is right there in the midst of it with me - He is MY God and I am His child.

What sort of lead do you give ...

I wonder if you concur with me, this is a tough reading and call by Joab?

A bit of background, ever so briefly. Absalom has raised up for himself an army, ever so deceitfully and tactfully, against his own father, the king, David. A battle takes place and Absalom is killed. But here's the thing, David is torn between the victory that is his in the defeat of an enemy, albeit his son, and the fact that his troops return home safely. 

Here's the account:

2 Samuel 19:1-8 (NLT)

Joab Rebukes the King

19 Word soon reached Joab that the king was weeping and mourning for Absalom. ² As all the people heard of the king’s deep grief for his son, the joy of that day’s victory was turned into deep sadness. ³ They crept back into the town that day as though they were ashamed and had deserted in battle. ⁴ The king covered his face with his hands and kept on crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

⁵ Then Joab went to the king’s room and said to him, “We saved your life today and the lives of your sons, your daughters, and your wives and concubines. Yet you act like this, making us feel ashamed of ourselves. ⁶ You seem to love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that your commanders and troops mean nothing to you. It seems that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died, you would be pleased. ⁷ Now go out there and congratulate your troops, for I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a single one of them will remain here tonight. Then you will be worse off than ever before.”

⁸ So the king went out and took his seat at the town gate, and as the news spread throughout the town that he was there, everyone went to him.

Meanwhile, the Israelites who had supported Absalom fled to their homes.

I wonder where you might have placed your emphasis, your emotions? Would it be in celebration for your own troops returning as victors (this victory is yours), or might you be somewhat torn at the loss of your own son (though an enemy by his own making and action)?

The jury is out on this for me in some respects, for I am a strong believer in the fact that your (my) children are always your (my) children and you love them unconditionally (ie. whether they return the love, receive the love or not, you ALWAYS love them, regardless). It doesn't mean you like all of their life choices or the decisions they exercise. It does mean you might have to exercise grace, much and often.

However, here is the issue that Joab raises, David (King), you are the leader of these people. You might be torn with the loss of your son, this flesh and blood of yours who made his own choices and has suffered the consequences. But, don't loose sight of the people who have honoured you, faithfully served you, who were willing to give up their lives for you if necessary. Watch, because you have the responsiblity to look out for and look after, them too.

'Lord, here's my prayer through this. Help me ALWAYS to love my children, to protect them, direct and guide them, to lead by example for them. When it comes to leading well the people you have placed in my care, help me to be wise and lead well, that I might honour them and be a true example to them, encouraging and praising them appropriately , for Your Kingdom sake.' 

 

A plan for you...

What a terrific afternoon as we celebrated the commencement of a new session of cadets for training as Salvation Army Officers and sent out the second year Cadets on assignement.

The verse given for reflection was:

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

Here's my thinking in relation to this. There are many occasions in life whereby we would love to know what the plan is ahead of us, especially on the occasions where we are struggling to see a way forward, or things are tough and we want to know we will actually get through OK. At other times, life is sort of coasting and doesn't cause for us much concern, and the surprises seem at least to be pleasant and enjoyable one's.

But here's the thing. God has a plan for us (you and me) and we can be sure that this plan is 'always' for good. Look at the words: 'prosper, not harm, hope, a future, call - I listen, seek Me and find Me.' Now many of these aspects might carry with it various interpretations, for instance, to prosper does not always mean to have a lot of money (though sadly this is how many would interpret this), instead, we might do well in our field of work, our service to others. Know though, the promises of God are sure and they are beneficial. He desires good things for us and to be born through us for others too.

Now look again at the emphasis captured above. See how it is personalised. This is for 'you'. God is speaking to 'you'. He has a plan that includes 'you'.

I don't know about you but I want to be a part of God's plan. I desire for Him to use me for the sake of His Kingdom, for my life to be spent for this purpose. I hope you do too.

Bless ya real good!