Make Me A Conduit ...

Tonight's thought comes form a conversation with someone on Facebook today. Someone who I see as inspirational and enthusiastic in their efforts to promote the church and the Gospel. Truly a person who lives out this thought/concept/practice. 

It comes from a chorus:

Make me a channel of blessing today,

Make me a channel of blessing I pray;

My life possessing, my service blessing,

Make me a channel of blessing today.

Another term I often refer to is, conduit. That we might be a conduit of God's blessing so that the blessing we experience might be passed on (flow on) to others. This challenges the notion that often comes from people being desirous of the Lord blessing their lives. (full stop) 

In other words, there is no thought or notion that the purpose of their lives being blessed is that the blessing flows through them to others. For others to be blessed through them. It is like they are buckets or wells, wanting to capture the blessings of God, however they seal them up as though they are theirs for containment, only for their pleasure.

'Lord, my desire is that Your blessing (Your favour) might be upon me, and operate through me, to touch and impact and affect the lives of others with whom I might have contact. Especially Lord, those who are in some way broken, hurting, empty and searching. That their lives might encounter You in a way that is very real and life changing in a positive sense. Lord, empty me of all I have and am, that others might be won to the Kingdom.'

Be blessed as you become a conduit for the Lord!

What You Need ...

Well there continues to be some frustration as I wait for an internet connection, how true it is that you don't know what you have until you don't have it. However, a few $'s later and I have a USB pre-paid for use.

Anyway, here is the real stuff for today. Have a read of this AMAZING passage and take it to heart:

Joshua 1:1-9

The Message (MSG)

1 ^1-9 After the death of Moses the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua, Moses’ assistant:

“Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

I have taken the liberty of highlighting the aspects that stood out for me, though I could easily have highlighted even more. Here's the thing, both for me, and I believe for you. This is God's promise to US. The very words He uttered to Joshua, I reckon He echoes to you and I today.

God has a purpose for our lives. He desires that we be successful and reach the goal set before us. He does not desire that we fail, and thus the Lord supplies the enabling for us as is required. Does it mean the journey will be an easy one? No! Does it mean I will be unscathed from attack or attempts to bring me down or to turn me off course? No! And lots more No's. However, the God of the many champions of the past is both MY God and YOUR God.  And because of this we can have Strength! Courage!

We have some part though in this journey, we have to give it all we have and take it serious. No half-hearted responses, everything, heart and soul. Note the other advice. Ponder, meditate and practice. 

Lets do this. Lets take up the mantle of leadership that is ours and faithfully be God operatives in the field of mission with purpose and deliberate action.

Bless ya real good in your engagement in this journey!  

Bitter-Sweet ...

Anyone caught up in the business that sees you moving will understand something of these thoughts tonight. It doesn't really matter if it is long periods of time you spend in a place or short, the fact that you have to move carries with it some of these emotions at opposing ends of the spectrum, bitter-sweet.

We have just commenced a brand new year and often with this experience is the setting of new goals for one's life. I mentioned a few days ago that, 'marking a line in the sand,' for things to be different from here on. This is often a positive moment or experience. We get an opportunity to start afresh, reality is, we could start afresh at any time of our choosing. For those then who are Salvation Army Officers and moving at this time, there is an opportunity that we might begin something new, something different. Our aim is that we might make a good start.

However, I am mindful as this day draws to a close, that there is also a bitterness in the circumstances. Relationships that have been formed will become fractured to some degree, some from distance, but also from the need to give the people who replace us an opportunity to make their mark, for them to get a good start. We will reflect on those who have encountered Christ and experienced life-change through this encounter. Those who have experienced grief and loss. The opportunities of celebrating milestones with people. With the moving comes the knowledge that our paths may not cross for some time. The privilege that has been ours to journey with these people is in some respects is now passed on for someone else and there can be a sense of loss for us in this.

I am drawn to a song of this morning in worship which reminds me of a 'constant'. In speaking of God, this phrase echoes numerous times, 'Your love never changes...' He is always the same. The Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and the End. Who WAS and IS and ALWAYS WILL BE. Now isn't that something to grasp with all we have and hold onto firmly?

'Lord, may it be that in this moment of bitter-sweet I hold onto that which does not change, that which is true and positive - Your love for me.'

Who's plans ...

Some of you will be aware what an interesting year 2012 was for me. It commenced with me seeing myself in a 'made to fit appointment'. I think we were really kicking some goals in a way that we hadn't for a while. You will know that expression, 'like a pig in mud', well that was me for a while. 

Well, it came tumbling down pretty quickly too. It took me to places I had never visited and would want for no person to find themselves. I felt robbed, cheated, attacked, angry, disappointed, disillusioned .... (I think you get the picture).

Have a read of this part of Joseph's story:-

Genesis 50:15-21
The Message (MSG)

^14-15 After burying his father, Joseph went back to Egypt. All his brothers who had come with him to bury his father returned with him. After the funeral, Joseph’s brothers talked among themselves: “What if Joseph is carrying a grudge and decides to pay us back for all the wrong we did him?”

^16-17 So they sent Joseph a message, “Before his death, your father gave this command: Tell Joseph, ‘Forgive your brothers’ sin—all that wrongdoing. They did treat you very badly.’ Will you do it? Will you forgive the sins of the servants of your father’s God?”
When Joseph received their message, he wept.
¹⁸ Then the brothers went in person to him, threw themselves on the ground before him and said, “We’ll be your slaves.”
^19-21 Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid. Do I act for God? Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I’ll take care of you and your children.” He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.


The passage is often highlighted for an act of forgiveness. However, the element I want to focus on is highlighted in bold, the fact that God can use any situation. I believe He revealed where I am not to be (which differed to where I might have been headed or seen myself at some point in time), in the intervening time this last six months. In a few more days Jen and I will return to ministry together in a Corps (Geelong). We are excited about this chapter in our lives and ministry. We love the journey with people, and the Corps setting enhances this considerably. I am sure this will not be without it's own set of challenges, and on this seek your prayer support.

I seek to remain faithful and obedient to what it is God has to say to me or where He seeks to lead me. I desire that His Kingdom grow with lives changed through an encounter with Jesus. That I too might grow, more and more into who He created me to BE.

Please join me in this prayer - thanks, and may He bless ya real good!
 

It is time to get in the ring.

There are times that I desperately 'want' something, but after obtaining it, the novelty wares off and it gets put aside. You might note I did highlight the word 'want'. Confession time, I also believe too often things are too easily placed in our reach and available to us with means such as credit, etc. and thus we accumulate more than we actually require.

There is something in the advice about going away a while and doing the almost unmentionable in our vocabulary today, praying about it and even saving for it. Making it a goal and working toward attaining it (if we have resolved with God that it is something that might be appropriate/beneficial).

What about spiritual matters though? What is it you might desire above other things? What are you prepared to do to receive something spiritual? Have a read of this short passage a moment:-

Genesis 32:22-32
The Message (MSG)

^24-25 But Jacob stayed behind by himself, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he couldn’t get the best of Jacob as they wrestled, he deliberately threw Jacob’s hip out of joint.

²⁶ The man said, “Let me go; it’s daybreak.”

Jacob said, “I’m not letting you go ’til you bless me.”

Would you be prepared to wrestle with a representative of God to receive a blessing from God? Is it not what is represented on those occasions within Scripture where we are called upon to contemplate persistent prayer? To keep coming before the Father with our request and not giving up until the answer is received, the blessing experienced.

Of recent days, I have been challenged to consider prayer and what it is 'I draw a circle around', seek answers too, from God. It may be a matter of stretching my faith, believing where I don't always see the answer already, practicing faith in a God who is mighty, the creator and sustainer of all things. It is about not giving up on occasions and really going for what I believe is laid upon my heart.

I wonder, are there things that you would, or even 'need' to be wrestling for? If so, can I encourage you to get in the ring, and not let go until you receive the answer, the blessing.

Bless ya real good!  

New Beginnings ...

Here I am at the commencement of a New Year. I had one determination heading into this period, to re-commence the discipline of a Blog.

Many use the start of a year for the purpose of making some form of resolution. They see this as a way of marking it as a starting point. A line in the sand positioning whereby they note, 'from here things will be different, I will now do ...'

I cannot help but be drawn to a reminder that 'any time', no matter what day of the week, time of day, whatever else marks the instance, 'any time' is the best time to make a decision to accept Jesus as Saviour of one's life. It is the purpose for which Jesus came, and we have been reminded of this over the Christmas Season.

My reading this morning was from Genesis chapter 3 which gives an account of the fall of man from the favour of God, through a disobedient act - 'sin'. This caused a separation between God and man, the creation of God. And we learn throughout the Scriptures that God desires most of all to be in relationship with all people. Jesus comes to bridge that gap, to bring the relationship back into a healthy state. If we accept Jesus, does it mean we will no longer sin? No! But that is something for another Blog.

Just now I want us to be certain that our relationship with God, through Jesus, is right. Secondly, that we are centered in God, so that we might assist others in discovering and accept Jesus as their own Saviour.

I pray that the journey is a good and fruitful one for you and I. My desire is that this year will be a Kingdom year, with life after life being added (regularly).

Feel free to pass on this Blog and thank you for your encouragement over past days.

Bless ya real good!

I've got my eye on you ...

You might recall the words being uttered to you in the past, especially when you were a child. What it meant was, "watch what you are doing, because I will be watching you." It usually was a warning. Beware, if you step out of line, I will know about it.

It was actually something of my experience. The community I grew up in, seemed small enough that you could virtually be assured, if you did something wrong (and interestingly it wasn't so much a matter of what you did, if it was right, it didn't seem so much to matter, it was when you stepped over the line, the boundary, in error), you would be found out. There was always some very helpful person, that out of concern, would let my parents know.

How different this is when I think in terms of God watching over me, keeping His eye on me. What a great Psalm this is:

Psalm 121 (New Living Translation)

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

1 I look up to the mountains—

does my help come from there?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth!

3 He will not let you stumble;

the one who watches over you will not slumber.

4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel

never slumbers or sleeps.

5 The Lord himself watches over you!

The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

6 The sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon at night.

7 The Lord keeps you from all harm

and watches over your life.

8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,

both now and forever.

It is such an important understanding to come too, that God is not merely interested in bringing me to task for the mistakes I make, He is purely interested in me, enough to always have His eye watching me. The Psalmist captures the essence of this a bit more by stating that God purposes to do this to keep me from harm. It reminds me of the importance of staying in tune with Him to heed the warnings He might have of impending danger or potential harm. As well as the words that might encourage me to step out in faith, the reminders that He is with me in this.

"Lord, I want that You always keep Your eye on me. Thank You for caring for me this much, to take such an interest in every activity of my life. Help me to heed Your voice as You communicate with me through this journey. Help me to be obedient to You."