Legalism creeps in .........

The winter chill has arrived and the trees on our footpath have withdrawn their sustenance and it's leaves have fallen away for yet another year.  The winter blue sky seen through the bare branches of a tree, that only a short while ago was overflowing with flowering beauty and was a shady haven underneath.

                        

One  "day" we can be growing for God and then the next "day" we realise we are like this bare tree, still connected to God, but have somehow along the way lost our zeal, vitality, and passion for the gospel and are no longer growing strong in Christ.  We're confused because we appear to be doing all the right things yet are "bare".

For me, this "day" arrived when I was challenged from the book "Prayer and the Knowledge of God", by Graeme Goldsworthy, about the way I view my relationship with God. I began to see that I so often think in terms of how close or not close I am to God.  I view my relationship with God from a human perspective that says I need to do more praying or study of God's word or be available more for others, rather than viewing my relationship with God through what Christ has done for me.  I was gobsmacked to say the least because I desire to be a commited Christian and I know that being disciplined in prayer and studying the bible are ways to draw near to God.  But as I continued reading I could see in my life that although I knew in my head that I am saved by grace, I found in practice I have slowly travelled from that point of grace to becoming a Christian who is unawares that she is being driven by legalism.  To people who know me they may think I'm being hard on myself, or overdramatic but I am convicted of the sutle ways I've become about "doing" things first rather than living from the fact of God's grace.   

Legalism is attempting to gain God's acceptance by acheiving self-righteousness, a right standing with God.  As Chrisitans we can so easily succumb to legalism , even when we know it is wrong, sometimes without knowing we are doing it.  So what do we do about it?  The only answer is to keep reminding ourselves what God has done for us through Christ, that is, justification by faith. 

For it is by faith you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

I am finding afresh the wonder of God's grace given to me through Christ's actions.  It is like breathing new life into an old tired soul who has been working hard.  It is like the spring, when new growth appears on the supple branches and flowers are budding, promising great things.   

"Since prayer is an aspect of our sanctification, our development or growth in godliness, it too must be understood as the fruit of what Christ has done for us " Graeme Goldsworthy "Prayer and the Knowledge of God" page 13. 

Yes, prayer, studying the bible, being involved in your church and outreach are all important, but if done out of a sense of gaining God's or peoples acceptance first rather than as the fruit of what Christ has done for us, then  it's time to get back to the basics of the gospel. 

We are sinners who have been justified through Christ's work on the cross.  We are forgiven because of Christ not because of our good deeds.  Therefore, no one can boast - EVER!  I pray, I study God's word, I lead Bible studies, I elder, I ring to catch up with people, not,anymore, because I should or even that it's my responsibility but because first and foremost now, I love God.  And I love God because he first loved me.  It is all about love.  Love that God initiated and freely gave to me as an undeserving sinner.  Rather than look upon myself as worthless, I look upon myself as deeply loved beyond measure and I am overwhelmed. 

                              

 So please, if you catch yourself on yet another guilt trip, or condeming someone else because you perceive them as not being dedicated enough at church or in their Christian lives, then ask yourself are you succumbing to a legalistic attitude?  Where is God's grace for you and others? 

Remind yourself of what God has done for you and always keep that as your context.  This is understanding your life from God's perspective rather than our own human perspective. 

Time-out

Life is full of attention grabbing devices.  We are a society immersed in television, computers, laptops, tablets, iPads, iPhone, blackberry's, computer games consoles, you-tube, blogs(!) and so much more.

 I don't believe these things are bad in themselves and there are many positives to having technology advanced so much. Medical achievements for one have benefited from greater miniaturised technology.  Connecting with family and friends no matter wherever they are is a huge blessing when we feel fragmented by distance.  But as I reflect over my daily life, I realise how I have simply allowed my life to absorb this technology without question.  I allow so much of my time to be consumed with checking emails, Facebook, reading copious amount on the internet, checking the phone, catching TV programs.  I have filled up my time with techno-busyness.  And I feel tired and lacking a spiritual depth with the Lord.  I don't blame technology, I am simply acknowledging my submissiveness to it.

Earlier this year I felt a growing urge to withdraw and just be with God.   A need to re-learn how to be still physically and mentally.  To re-learn how to talk to God for more than a few minutes and then rush off to the next thing.  I wanted to re-learn how to sit,  listen and wait upon God.

Why? Because,

 "To pray is to change.  Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us.  If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives.  The closer we come to the heartbeat of God the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed  to be conformed to Christ." (Celebration of Discipline, page 42, Richard Foster). 

I quick smartly realised that it wasn't going to be easily to unlearn some bad habits, that it meant making changes to my daily routine, a realisation of underlying attitudes towards the way I prioritise my time. In reality, it is a discipline to really pray and to listen to God.  And just like any discipline, it takes time, practice, patience and perseverance.

It is taking awhile, but I am again learning to quiet my thoughts after so many years of jumping from one virtual place to another, glimpsing and grabbing information.  Dwelling on a psalm or another piece of scripture helps as it directs my thoughts to God.  My mind is focused on something specific and I am training myself to slow down my thinking when I am sitting with the Lord.  Journalling is also a process I use to slow my thinking down which can allow me to hear God's quiet voice.

There are many ways to pray that help us draw near to God, this is simply one way that I do it.  In many ways, I need to simplify my praying so that openness and honesty prevail in my communication with God and just as a child approaches her father in complete confidence and trust, so we are to come to our heavenly father.

How do you be still and listen to God?  Do you have a special place you like to go?

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Bearings in Christ

As I was away at the beach for our annual family holiday I got to do something I just love.  Each morning I enjoyed a long walk along the Esplanade at Mooloolaba in Queensland.  The early morning sunshine and the salty sea breezes are just invigorating as I silently walked along. It's a time to myself I treasure. It's also a time I would reflect over the year that has been and the year that is ahead.

As I reflected over the hardships of last year I am not left with a bitter taste in my mouth with a voice of "good riddance to 2011!" echoing in my head.  Instead I am filled with praise and a thankful heart as I remember how God faithfully provided for me and my family.  Through my daughter's Emily's heart surgery, my Mother in law's breast cancer and chemotherapy, through navigating my first year as an  Elder in my church,  starting up another women's Bible Study group, my eldest daughter starting school, continuing theological study, God has been with me in it all revealing how he truly  is my Jehovah Jireh.

 Sometimes it was his peace he provided as fear was threatening to swallow me; sometimes it was courage to trust him when life seemed too hard and dark; sometimes it was strength to take the next step and not to listen to my own doubts. The end result, is that Christ  changed me in 2011 and I so thankful for that.

So what about 2012?  This passage from 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 got my attention.  Read this :
 

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!  (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 MSG)

2012 isn't a list of tasks or jobs to be ticked off a list but the time to do all my ordinary stuff with my "bearings in Christ" entering into people's lives for the purpose of showing them Christ's love.  I should be willing to go to all places and reach all types of people in order to share the message of Christ's saving love.  I am to be more that just a talker of salvation but to be in on it and live it.  What a challenge!  The hint to that Paul gives us in order to be out there witnessing is to keep our bearings in Christ.  Oxford dictionary (http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/bearing?region=us) defines bearing as "the direction or position of something, or the direction of movement, relative to a fixed point". Christ is our fixed point, our anchor.   To help me keep my bearings in Christ I will,

• continue with my reading through the Bible plan I started 12 months ago and am halfway though it.  Also journal as I go so I will concrete new understanding and insights that I gain
• Focus on praying with notice to pray for opportunities to share Christ with people who do not know him yet.
• Continue theological study
• Allow accountability for people to help me keep my bearings in Christ 

So I stand at the precipice of 2012 excited and ready to fly with what God asks of me.  Don't get me wrong, I am not perfect or great but God promises 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Lets trust God in our weaknesses so that his grace is shown to others.  What does 2012 hold for you?  Are you willing to follow Christ this year?

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Tossed About

When I was younger, my dad used to take me out on our dinghy to do some fishing in the Bribie Island passage. We would bob up and down in that little boat when a larger boat's wake washed past us. It didn't take much for us to be swishing about. We can also get tossed about through life.

I was married at age 21 which is young for many these days, only 3 years after becoming a Christian. Those 3 years were a whirlwind of growing in faith and falling in love with my husband. It was a great time in my life. While I was at university my faith was nurtured by Student Life, a Christian organisation that reaches out to university students. They provided a protective and encouraging environment for me to learn about God and exercise my faith. But in the month after I finished uni, I got married, moved out of home to a new city, moved from the only church I had ever known and started a new job. I found the first year of marriage difficult for many reasons. But one reason being that although I had agained a wonderful husband, I had suddenly lost my supportive Christian cocoon. I spent the following 2-3 years feeling tossed about by ideas, philosophies, culture, work ethics and attitudes. All of a sudden that protective Christian "home"was gone and I had to grow up. I found myself losing my footing in my faith and began slipping into unhealthy habits and choices. I remember feeling desperate for this "tossing" to stop and I longed to feel sure footed and established in my understanding and faith. Scripture like James 1:6, 

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 

and Ephesians 4:14-15, 

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

spoke to me.  I needed to know more about my God and mature in my understanding of him.  But how?

It was around this time that I went on an Emmaus walk. It was on this walk that I recognised my need for a mentor in my life, to help me get into God's word, to pray for me and to keep me accountable. So when I got back I spoke to my pastor and within weeks his wife was mentoring me which was the beginning of a friendship that has had ongoing multiplying spiritual impacts in my life that has overflowed into the lives of other women that I nurture in bible study groups now.

Over the weeks and months of being mentored, the tossing subsided. God's words became my anchor and prayer became my lifeline. When the world's voices were pulling me in every direction, it was the sure and reliable word of God that I found dependable and trustworthy. Why? Because I believed by faith that the bible is God's revelation of himself to me.  I began to  love God's word and to know his character is completely trustworthy and true, and I began applying his teaching into my life. Remember the parable of the wise and foolish builders? 

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.   (Matthew 7:24-27)

The foolish builder built his life on a foundation of  choices based on listening to voices other than God and when life's storms came the foundation was revealed to be unstable unreliable and untrustworthy. But the wise builder who chose to build his life on a foundation of God's word and applied God's truth into his life found his foundation to be  reliable and sure during life's hardships.

I chose Jesus as the anchor  in my life, steadying me through rough seas.  So dear friend, who are you listening to?  Who will you choose to guide you?  Which way will you go?

Question :  Do you need a prayer partner, mentor or close friend to help you stay "on course" for God? I encourge you to seek out the help you need, as a life that is anchored in Christ, is a life with a purpose, secured and protected.

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Transforming Prayers

Have you ever had a week that has just gone from bad to worse?  And you've thought, things couldn't get any more awful?  That was my week last week.  It began with the news of a loved one dying and spending time with family at the funeral, to my youngest daughter getting a chest infection and then my other daughter having an anaphylaxis reaction requiring and epipen injection and a trip in the ambulance.   And I'm left asking myself, what more can I take Lord?


I am not the only one who has felt times when life gives you curve balls leaving you feeling numb and hurt.  The anguish of our hearts during times of grief and pain can be indescribable.  But they can be expressed to the Lord.    David wrote many prayers from an anguished heart to the Lord.  In fact David shows us how it is done in Psalm 22.  He starts off asking Why? Why? Why?

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest. (Psalm 22:1-2)

Interestingly, David stops to remind himself of what the Lord has done for Israel. Rather than continuing on that thread of where is God, he deliberately puts his eyes onto God.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.
In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame. (Psalm 22:3-5)

David again cries out to God about what is happening to him, pouring his specific concerns out to God.

But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
“He trusts in the LORD,” they say,
“let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.” (Psalm 22:6-8)

Again David stops and remembers what the Lord has been for him.

Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God. (Psalm 22:9-10)

Notice how David consciously brings his thoughts back to God.  We see again in verses 12-21 David expressing his deep distress to God using metaphors to portray the attacks from his enemies and his inner sense of powerlessness under their fierce attacks. But in verses 22-31 we witness a change in David's prayer, he's praising God!  How is that possible?  It's possible because David never loses sight of who God is and his love for those who fear him and call on his name.

The transformation of David's prayer from cries to praise comes from remembering who God is, what he has done and the trust in his certainty of deliverance and in God keeping his promises. Remember that David's praise to God is in anticipation of God's deliverance. David's situation hasn't changed but his attitude and perspective has shifted, enabling him to praise God, and acknowledge the universal rule of God, "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.(Psalm 22:27-28).  As David prays his fear is dissolved as he remembers the power of God and his character.

I just love this prayer as it shows me how I can express my deepest hurts to God when times are hard and also how prayer changes my eyes from being focused on me to being focused on God and who he is, enabling me to praise him during hard times.

So as we go on with life let us focus our attention on who God is and his promises as revealed to us in scripture, as God's word is the anchor to our souls, keeping us firm and secure no matter our circumstances.  That's not easy,  but it is worth it.  

  

Question: When things go bad, what is your response?

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Distinctive Disciples

All my life I have had curly hair.  The typical frizzy, hard to manage, dry curly hair and all I remember when growing up was how much I longed to be the rest of the girls who had straight hair.   I desperately wanted to have the same hair as everyone one else and not be different. Uniformity was what I had wanted and believed that that would mean acceptance.    It took 20 years for me to  be able to look at myself in the mirror and say, "I like my curly hair, and I like that it's different to everyone else's hair."  Having something about me that was distinct was something I was uncomfortable with for years and would hide my difference away,  but distinctiveness is a call for all Christians to accept.

Distinctiveness is a theme I see popping up throughout the bible.  Noah was described as a "righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." (Genesis 6:9) when everyone around him were evil and filled with wickedness (Genesis 6:5).  God called Israel to be his own and a kingdom of priests and a holy nation , set apart from all the other nations on the earth (Exodus 19:5-6) and be his witness in the world.  Many of the Old Testament prophets were distinct and different not only to the other nations but also to the Israelites so as to remind them of God and his promises and to persuade them to cease their rebellion and return back to God.   Jesus also tells us that being his disciple means being different from the world around us.  In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12, Luke 6:17-26)  which introduces the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us descriptions of what Christian discipleship and identity looks like.  They are:

• Poor in spirit 
• Mourners of their own sin and also the sin in the world
• Meek
• Hungry and thirsty for righteousness
• Merciful
• Pure in heart
• Peacemakers
• Persecuted

Wow!  Jesus tells us that these are the qualities that all of his disciples will show as they are directed and transformed by the influence of God's kingly rule in their lives. This distinctiveness arises from being the opposite to what the world values and places as important.  It is in that difference where the power lies.  Just as salt is essentially different from the medium that it is put into, therein lies it's power and potential to change, so it is with the  Christian.  Being 'distinct' is not just for a few, it is for all of us who believe in Christ as our Lord and Saviour.  That  distinctiveness is cultivated in us as we obey God and focus our hearts and minds on him with a singlemindedness and complete commitment of our lives.  How Jesus wants us to live is the complete reversal of the world's cultural system and values.  

Hand in hand with these virtues are the blessings experienced in part now and will fully enjoy when Christ returns.

• The Kingdom of Heaven
• Comfort
• Inherit the earth
• Filled with righteousness
• Shown mercy
• See God
• Called sons of God

Again, WOW!  A pretty good list of blessings to receive.  

In our distinctiveness and our determination to be "salt'  and 'light' (Matthew 5:13-16) we will bear witness to the character of God and his saving grace through Jesus.  That truth changes hearts and rebuilds people from the inside out.  So be distinct as a Christian in all that you do, giving the praise and glory to God.  Someone may discover Jesus because you dared to be who Christ has called you to be - his. 

Question:  Have you lost your 'saltiness' or distinctiveness for God?

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Trust

I haven't blogged for awhile as we are dealing with some major health problems with my youngest daughter who will require heart surgery next week.  During the last few months I've wallowed in despair as I've wondered 'what if the surgery doesn't go well?' or 'what if she gets a post-op infection?' 'what if this or what if that.....' and so on.  These thoughts have whirled around and around in my head spiraling my fear out of control and exhausting myself with sleepless nights.  Ultimately, my fear was rooted in the question, do I trust God?  For all of Emily's life, I have taken responsibility of caring for her needs and concerns but the realization of Emily's heart condition brings a sudden jolt to my way of living.  I was caught up short as I realised that I had up to this point, I had been guilty of paying a degree of lip service to God when I've said I've trusted Him. 

 I wish I could say I never doubted God's provision for my daughter or me but that's not true.  I've had many days where I've cried in fear of what could happen to Emily.  Fear paralysed me to even go to God.  I just sat in my worries, letting my worry feed my fear and take me further away from God, the one who could give me hope and peace in this situation.


God's word has been the rope that has pulled me out of this well of fear.  During my daily readings at this time I came across Deuteronomy chapter 31 and was deeply encouraged by the Lord's words to Joshua, the young man who was Moses' apprentice.  The time was drawing very near when Moses was to die and the Lord was preparing Joshua to become the next leader of Isreal who would carry them  across the Jordon River and claim the promised land that God was going to give them.  How did Joshua feel? I know I would be shaking thinking, "I can't fill those shoes", "this seems impossible"," I think you've made a mistake Lord".  But God's response to Joshua was, " The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Oh how I needed to hear those words echoed in my life right now.  These steady and purposeful words just cut through the paniced thoughts that were threatening to consume me.  God says that he has gone before us, and as I reflected over this whole situation, I am amazed at how smoothly all the appointments and processes have gone.

God says that he will never leave us nor forsake us:  One of my fears was I assumed that only I would be able to travel down with Emily to hospital and stay, meaning I would be seperated from my husband and other daughter during this time.  The sense of loneliness was overwhelming and terrifying.  But through God's gracious provision my husband will be with me and my other daughter will be with us also.  I will not be alone, in fact my family will be with me.  God has not abandon me or Emily.  In fact, God's provison of spealist care and medical attention drives me to praise God in thankfullness.   

Lastly, God commanded Joshua to not be afraid and to not be discouraged.  In other words, we are told to not focus our attention on our fears or causes of discouragement.  So where should we focus our attention?  Onto God as he is the author of peace. Jesus tells us the same in John 14,

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me. "  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  (John 14:1, 27).

So as the coming week approaches I will trust in God for his provision for Emily and my needs, I will remind myself of these passages of scripture and live and breathe them as they are a part of me rather than just words that I've read.  I praise God for who he is and for his grace.

Question.  How is your faith being tested at the moment?  What scripture has been your lifeline at the moment?

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