Wow, it's been two weeks since I updated. On no, I'm turning into the very thing that I dislike - people who don't update their blogs for weeks on end.
This past week has been full on. Work has been busy, and last weekend I went (with Karen) to the Rick Joyner/Jack Deere conference at Churchlands. What a blast - Rick was average, but Jack Deere packs a wallop. Jack preached one of the best messages I have ever heard on tithing and giving on Sunday night. I actually got to meet him in person, and was very impressed with his gift of teaching. He's joined the likes of Joseph Prince and Chuck Swindoll as one of my favorite speakers. Guaranteed to be challenged, encouraged and educated all in one hit!!!
The other awesome thing about Churchlands was the worship. There was this young lady leading the worship on Friday night, and it was just the most amazing and uplifting worship experience I have had in a long while. I could get used to having quality worship leading like that all of the time. The amazing thing was that when I spoke to this young lady after the session about how much we were touched by her leading and the resulting worship, she was just so blown away and blessed. The genuine humility she displays is hard to find these days, and she is destined for greatness if she continues to seek God the way she does. There was also a new song (never heard it before) which was written by a guitarist from Churchlands. It was amazing, and I can't wait until it is released on their forthcoming CD.
God has been showing me that there are many people who want quality worship in churches today. It is surprising though how many people still think that worship is about us!!! My goal is to lead people in worship that doesn't conform to any formula, but that will simply glorify God and please Him. That will only ever happen when my spirit is subject to His Holy Spirit. It is usually when I think I have screwed up that I actually discover that God has mightily used me to impact into someones life through singing a song or something I have said. We may impress with a performance, but we can only communicate spirit to spirit when we lay our own lives and agendas down and "go out on a limb" for Him. Our most unimpressive attempt at "performing" is usually the one that brings people to their knees before the Throne of Grace. As one young lady said to me after my rather choked up attempt at singing the first verse of a beautiful old hymn last Sunday morning, it gave her and her husband goosebumps.
I must confess that I have never particularly liked the sound of my own voice, and have never considered that anyone would like it either. However, I am learning that when God gives us a gift we must use it, and we must recognise it!! This is hard to do when you have always been taught that we must be humble and modest. The two aspects are not mutually exclusive though, and it is a hard thing to learn that God sees us rather differently to how we see ourselves. The Bible exhorts us to have a realistic opinion of ourselves - and this most often results in us putting ourselves down. We are not good at accepting compliments or praise because we feel that it is wrong to have a high opinion of ourselves. I am learning however that God has a high opinion of me because the word says that when He looks at me, He doesn't see "me", but He sees my life wrapped up in Christ. He sees the ME that He created ME to be! He only sees my potential, not my weaknesses, and He always has a word of encouragement - not discouragement.
Praise God - when I am least able - He is most able! When my voice is failing or all choked up because of my brokeness inside, His annointing comes to the rescue. When my "impressiveness" goes out the window, His annointing descends from above, and power is released from on high.
People may (and do) say that God has blessed me with a gift of singing, but my belief is that God has blessed me with the gift of exhortation, and that manifests itself in many ways.
It only takes one heavenly minded person to make a lasting impact on us, and I thank God for that young lady at Churchlands last Friday - she has inspired me to pursue the avenue of true worship - the kind that impresses God and causes us to cry out Glory to our Lord and King.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Let's turn it around ...
I am on the mailing list for the Left Behind newsletter, and everyday they email me "God's Daily Promise" which is kind of a daily devotional. I am constantly amazed at how relevant the subject matters are to my own life.
The scripture verse for yesterdays email went like this ...
"Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth."
Colossians 3:2 NLT
It reminded me that some years ago at my previous church there was a pastor whose favorite saying was ... "some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use".
I've always considered that he had it back to front, and just lately I've become more convinced that ... "some people are so earthly minded that they are of no heavenly use". The writer of Colossians seems to agree.
Let's not let the earthly things cloud our minds so much that we fail to see into the heavenly realm which is where the battles are actually fought. For proof of the fact that our earthly battles are fought in the heavenly realm, read 2 Kings 6:14-17.
The scripture verse for yesterdays email went like this ...
"Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth."
Colossians 3:2 NLT
It reminded me that some years ago at my previous church there was a pastor whose favorite saying was ... "some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use".
I've always considered that he had it back to front, and just lately I've become more convinced that ... "some people are so earthly minded that they are of no heavenly use". The writer of Colossians seems to agree.
Let's not let the earthly things cloud our minds so much that we fail to see into the heavenly realm which is where the battles are actually fought. For proof of the fact that our earthly battles are fought in the heavenly realm, read 2 Kings 6:14-17.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Tuesday arvo at work ...
Good news ... Brett's brother was brought out of his coma on Sunday, and is progressing slowly. Keep praying for his salvation and healing.
God has blessed me in so many ways. It is something that I have always been concious of, but I have experienced a real spirit of thankfulness lately. Reminds me of the words of that Kathryn Scott song ... "every blessing You pour out I turn back to praise, Blessed be the name of the Lord" ... because that typifies what God wants us to do every moment of every day. God has been honing me and releasing several gifts in my life lately, and I know that He is melting my heart and reshaping it!
Just the other week at work around the lunchroom table, we were talking about our childhood experiences, and how they shaped our lives. My childhood was not an easy one - even though I was blessed to be born into a Christian family - as my recollections of primary and high schools bring back memories that I would rather forget. As I recounted the emotional pain that I endured, and verbal abuse that I copped when I was younger, Brett remarked that it was not surprising then that I stuttered when I was a child. The truth was that I had actually forgotten that I used to stutter badly, and I know that God has done a marvelous work of healing in my life. At this same time, I felt challenged that I should contact one of my old primary school teachers to tell him that I forgive him for the emotional torment that he put me through. Hmmm - I know that I can't do that one in my one strength, so I guess it's time to ask God for a miracle.
You might be wondering why I need to tell him that I've forgiven him, if I haven't spoken to or seen him for nearly 30 years. The answer is found in the content of a sermon I heard in Chiang Mai this year - preached by an american guy called Steve ( must be a good guy with a name like that) . The greatest gift Jesus passed on to us (sorry all of you prophets, teachers, tongues speakers, healers, etc) is the gift of the power to forgive, and to do it, he had to lay hands on his disciples so that they had the power within them to do this impossible task. If I am ever asked to preach a sermon at church, it will most certainly be on the subject of forgiveness. Jesus said in that passage that he was giving to us (his church) the power to forgive, or not to forgive - the choice is ours, and history will be shaped by the decisions that we make in this regard. Have you ever wondered what would have become of Paul if Stephen (in Acts) had not prayed that prayer of intercession and forgiveness for Paul and his cronies? Your choice (and mine) whether to forgive or not to forgive may change the future course of history - and maybe someone else's life - scary isn't it!
My childhood memories are not all bad news though ... when I was in 3rd year at Merredin High School, God brought a friend across my path who would prove to be a lifeline. I was boarding at Merredin from Monday to Friday with a lady who I will call Mrs K (not her real name). I hated being in Merredin, having no real friends, and life sucked to put it bluntly. For lunch EVERY day, I would be given MOULDY cheese and pickles sandwiches. That is why even until this day, I cannot stomach the sight or smell of pickles. When my new friend - Noel - invited me home to eat my lunch with him and his mother one day, his mum just about freaked out when I opened my lunchbox, and she saw what I had to eat. I used to open the mouldy sandwiches, wipe the pickles off the cheese, eat the cheese for lunch, and then throw the rest into the bin. From that day onwards, I had an open invitation to go home with him at lunchtime and share fresh bread and all sorts of different toppings. Noel became my closest friend, and would often come home with me to our farm on weekends. Then we grew up ... and apart. Well just last week, Alan (the keyboard player from Bethel) told me that Noel, his wife Deb, and their kids were coming over to his place for dinner last Wednesday. I hadn't seen Noel in over 12 years as they now live in Mt Barker, so I jumped at the chance to gatecrash the party and to catch up with him again.
I can still clearly remember the day when my eldest brother - whose name is also Noel - became a hero in my 11 year old eyes. It was morning, and THE schoolteacher (who boarded with us on the farm) was harassing me about getting ready for school, on his insistence that I had to ride to school with him, rather than make my Mum drive me the 2 Kms to school. My brother Noel walked into the kitchen at that time, and upon hearing the proceedings, promptly told my teacher to leave me alone and to get off my back. He became a hero to me that day (and continues to be a hero in my eyes even until this day, but that is another long story).
Bitterness is not just something that will screw up your face - it can screw up your life as well! Remember that one of the conditions of us being forgiven by God is that we must forgive others that have wronged us. Look for the lifelines that He has brought across your life, and then thank Him for them.
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
This verse became a lifeline to me and Karen the first time we heard it ... but more about that later!
God has blessed me in so many ways. It is something that I have always been concious of, but I have experienced a real spirit of thankfulness lately. Reminds me of the words of that Kathryn Scott song ... "every blessing You pour out I turn back to praise, Blessed be the name of the Lord" ... because that typifies what God wants us to do every moment of every day. God has been honing me and releasing several gifts in my life lately, and I know that He is melting my heart and reshaping it!
Just the other week at work around the lunchroom table, we were talking about our childhood experiences, and how they shaped our lives. My childhood was not an easy one - even though I was blessed to be born into a Christian family - as my recollections of primary and high schools bring back memories that I would rather forget. As I recounted the emotional pain that I endured, and verbal abuse that I copped when I was younger, Brett remarked that it was not surprising then that I stuttered when I was a child. The truth was that I had actually forgotten that I used to stutter badly, and I know that God has done a marvelous work of healing in my life. At this same time, I felt challenged that I should contact one of my old primary school teachers to tell him that I forgive him for the emotional torment that he put me through. Hmmm - I know that I can't do that one in my one strength, so I guess it's time to ask God for a miracle.
You might be wondering why I need to tell him that I've forgiven him, if I haven't spoken to or seen him for nearly 30 years. The answer is found in the content of a sermon I heard in Chiang Mai this year - preached by an american guy called Steve ( must be a good guy with a name like that) . The greatest gift Jesus passed on to us (sorry all of you prophets, teachers, tongues speakers, healers, etc) is the gift of the power to forgive, and to do it, he had to lay hands on his disciples so that they had the power within them to do this impossible task. If I am ever asked to preach a sermon at church, it will most certainly be on the subject of forgiveness. Jesus said in that passage that he was giving to us (his church) the power to forgive, or not to forgive - the choice is ours, and history will be shaped by the decisions that we make in this regard. Have you ever wondered what would have become of Paul if Stephen (in Acts) had not prayed that prayer of intercession and forgiveness for Paul and his cronies? Your choice (and mine) whether to forgive or not to forgive may change the future course of history - and maybe someone else's life - scary isn't it!
My childhood memories are not all bad news though ... when I was in 3rd year at Merredin High School, God brought a friend across my path who would prove to be a lifeline. I was boarding at Merredin from Monday to Friday with a lady who I will call Mrs K (not her real name). I hated being in Merredin, having no real friends, and life sucked to put it bluntly. For lunch EVERY day, I would be given MOULDY cheese and pickles sandwiches. That is why even until this day, I cannot stomach the sight or smell of pickles. When my new friend - Noel - invited me home to eat my lunch with him and his mother one day, his mum just about freaked out when I opened my lunchbox, and she saw what I had to eat. I used to open the mouldy sandwiches, wipe the pickles off the cheese, eat the cheese for lunch, and then throw the rest into the bin. From that day onwards, I had an open invitation to go home with him at lunchtime and share fresh bread and all sorts of different toppings. Noel became my closest friend, and would often come home with me to our farm on weekends. Then we grew up ... and apart. Well just last week, Alan (the keyboard player from Bethel) told me that Noel, his wife Deb, and their kids were coming over to his place for dinner last Wednesday. I hadn't seen Noel in over 12 years as they now live in Mt Barker, so I jumped at the chance to gatecrash the party and to catch up with him again.
I can still clearly remember the day when my eldest brother - whose name is also Noel - became a hero in my 11 year old eyes. It was morning, and THE schoolteacher (who boarded with us on the farm) was harassing me about getting ready for school, on his insistence that I had to ride to school with him, rather than make my Mum drive me the 2 Kms to school. My brother Noel walked into the kitchen at that time, and upon hearing the proceedings, promptly told my teacher to leave me alone and to get off my back. He became a hero to me that day (and continues to be a hero in my eyes even until this day, but that is another long story).
Bitterness is not just something that will screw up your face - it can screw up your life as well! Remember that one of the conditions of us being forgiven by God is that we must forgive others that have wronged us. Look for the lifelines that He has brought across your life, and then thank Him for them.
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
This verse became a lifeline to me and Karen the first time we heard it ... but more about that later!
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
The world keeps spinning ...
Well, it's Tuesday night, and it feels like it should be Friday already. Sunday night at Bethel Life Centre was full on ... worship was great ... and work has been flat out these past two days. And tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that will be no different at this rate.
The guy that works for me (Brett) had some sad news first thing Monday morning. His younger brother was involved in a very serious car accident on Friday night, and is still in a coma in RPH. I am praying that God will use this situation to impact him with the gospel of truth and life. I trust that he will soon realise that there is absolutely no hope without Christ.
My oldest son Thomas (www.tomdts.blogspot.com)is currently in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand with YWAM. He will be staffing DTS for the next two years, and is at the moment busily learning more Thai with a tutor.
My other son Shane (4myking.blogspot.com) has just started a new job in graphics for a printing company here in Perth, and is also involved in schools and youth ministries at Thornlie Church of Christ.
My daughter (youngest) Camille is in year 12 at Thornlie Christian College, where she is the School Capain (Head Girl). I've just read her mid year report - wow - I'm impressed. God has truly blessed me with three wonderful children who are a huge blessing to me.
The person who keeps me sane is my beautiful wife Karen, who is truly a gift from God. She is delightful to know, and is my best friend (on this earth at least). In a few months we will celebrate 23 years of memorable marriage - full of blessings and a fair smattering of tough times - but the grace of God helps you to finish the race. Every difficulty overcome is another stone added to the foundations to make us stronger. ("On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand ...")
Quote for today: "The Lord's blessing is our greatest treasure - all our work adds nothing to it." Proverbs 10:22
The guy that works for me (Brett) had some sad news first thing Monday morning. His younger brother was involved in a very serious car accident on Friday night, and is still in a coma in RPH. I am praying that God will use this situation to impact him with the gospel of truth and life. I trust that he will soon realise that there is absolutely no hope without Christ.
My oldest son Thomas (www.tomdts.blogspot.com)is currently in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand with YWAM. He will be staffing DTS for the next two years, and is at the moment busily learning more Thai with a tutor.
My other son Shane (4myking.blogspot.com) has just started a new job in graphics for a printing company here in Perth, and is also involved in schools and youth ministries at Thornlie Church of Christ.
My daughter (youngest) Camille is in year 12 at Thornlie Christian College, where she is the School Capain (Head Girl). I've just read her mid year report - wow - I'm impressed. God has truly blessed me with three wonderful children who are a huge blessing to me.
The person who keeps me sane is my beautiful wife Karen, who is truly a gift from God. She is delightful to know, and is my best friend (on this earth at least). In a few months we will celebrate 23 years of memorable marriage - full of blessings and a fair smattering of tough times - but the grace of God helps you to finish the race. Every difficulty overcome is another stone added to the foundations to make us stronger. ("On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand ...")
Quote for today: "The Lord's blessing is our greatest treasure - all our work adds nothing to it." Proverbs 10:22
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Well, today is the day ...
I finally succumbed to this blogger thingy ... both of my sons have them, and several friends have them too! Get ready to find out all you wanted to know about me but were too afraid to ask. I will endeavour to use this blogger thingy to keep you informed of what my awesome Creator God is doing in my life. My prayer simply is that you will be encouraged by what you read. Comments, both affirming and critical will be appreciated. Come and walk through life with me ... and my family, as we step out into the destiny that God has planned for us.
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