"Being" for God

Today Kate Irwin is our guest blogger.  Kate is currently living in Ethiopia working in the Grace Centre for Children and Families.  Thanks Kate for sharing with us today.

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Nicole asked me to consider writing something for this blog while I was still in Australia.  I have pondered on and off what to say.  Today, I sat in the Grace Centre office in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia and read an email from Nic with the results of Emily’s trip to the cardiologist and I was reminded again how hard it is to be so far away and how often I feel stuck between two worlds.

When I am here in Ethiopia I often think of Australia and wish I could be there, with family, with friends, a part of that world BUT when I am in Australia I think about this world in Ethiopia and long to be here where God has called me to be.  To find oneself never satisfied with where one is a sure way to drain the joy from life.

It reminds me of the story of the Rocketeer...

 I wonder, do you ever find yourself split between two worlds – in one place but looking at another?   Wishing you were in another place.  For me, just like the Rocketeer,  this is something that I struggle with on a sometimes daily basis.  I am learning (sometimes painfully slowly I am sure) to be in the place that God is calling me to be and to focus on the people I am with.  This does not mean that I forget people in Australia nor does it mean I stop communicating with those in Australia but it does mean making a conscious effort to value the people I am with and to BE with the people I am with.

Too often I find myself focusing on anyone and anything and any place other than the one I am in, the people I am with and the things I am doing.  Here, in a culture that is all about relationships and being with the people you are with, I am constantly challenged to be in the place God called me to be – focused on the people I am called to be with and to be thankful that I am here.

For me, this is a lesson that I need to learn over and over and over, but the joy that comes from being where God called me to be, focused on the people God called me to focus on, is a source of joy that knows no bounds. 

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 Written by Kate Irwin

Only By the Grace of God I Go!

A while ago I felt that God had given me the verse, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Nice verse I thought at the time, very true indeed.  But this verse has kept coming back to me and won't leave me alone. Only now am I beginning to see that God wants me to know in experience what I know in my head, that his grace is sufficient for me and his power is made perfect in my weakness.  At the moment I'm being taught what living in the grace of God really requires of me - complete abandonment of my self,and utter trust in Christ's redeeming power and strength. And it is both amazing and scary.

As someone who has lead small groups and bible studies for a number of years, it is part of being the leader to be prepared, organised and guide the group through questions and issues relating to scripture to help them grow closer to God.  But as Child Friendly Bible Study examines the book Respectable Sins :Confronting the Sins we Tolerate (by Jerry Bridges) I feel completely inadequate as the leader and I'm not used to that feeling.  I don't like being out of control.    I am overwhelmed by a great sense of inadequacy as I am confronted by my own sin that God is revealing to me and I ask myself  "how am I supposed to lead these women through this book so they are strengthened and grow closer to God when I haven't got it altogether myself?"  

I am deeply moved by the statement from the tax collector in Luke 18:13 and identify with him,

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

I am a sinner and  I need God's grace.  In fact, I need the gospel each and every day.  God is showing me how I do so many  things in my own strength and act in my own willpower.  I wasn't aware of myself doing this and had thought I had outgrown such tendencies.  How wrong I was.  How arrogant of me to think I had outgrown this sin.  I am humbly reminded that our hope is secured only in Christ  as "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24).  And I take hold of the promise in 1 John 1:9,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  


The assurance that my sin is forgiven completely encourages me to go to God with my sin without fear and to face up to it.  Through the gracious love of God I am rescued.  Also, it is by God's grace that I have permission to lead Child Friendly Bible Study.  It is a group that is such a blessing to me and I am so privileged to witness God's wonders happening in the hearts of these women.

So as I wrestle with the verse "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" I pray that you will also be challenged to examine your life and ask God to reveal any hidden sin in your heart and seek to live your life in God's grace and not your own strength.

Photos courtesy of www.christianphotos.net

God's Transforming Word

Today I wish to welcome Naomi Bell, a member of Child Friendly Bible Study.  Naomi has been taking the journey to read through the Bible in a year, and today is sharing some insights from her experience of reading through God's Word.  Thanks Naomi!


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Why did you decide to read through the bible in a year?
 Naomi: At the beginning of this year I was feeling a little proud of myself for actually finishing reading through a year long devotional book for the first time. I had started many many books before and never stuck to anything for more than a few weeks/months. So to actually finish this one and only about a week late was an accomplishment for me. So I started thinking 'where to next?' and 'what should I read now?'. I have used 'The Word For Today' as a daily devotional in the past and I noticed they also have a plan for reading the Bible in a year, so I decided since I had never done that before I should challenge myself to keep going with my daily reading and the Bible would be it.
  

What is something you have learnt from this process?

Naomi:  So far I have learnt that whilst I thought I knew all the stories of the Bible, having been brought up in a Christian home and been a Christian for some time now, I really dont know that much of the details at all! When reading through the Old Testament I have discovered how amazing God is and how fascinating the people of the Old Testament are.

Is the experience what you expected?  Why or why not?

Naomi: I guess my only expectation was that I would struggle to read every single day since I had in the past found the bible very hard to read and to understand. So it has been very unexpected to find that I am now feeling like I just want to read more and more and for the first time in my life I have that feeling of not wanting to put a book down. I have always struggled to read books and still don't read novels at all so it is very exciting to feel this way about the Bible of all books! 

Would you recommend others to try reading through the whole bible?  Why or why not?

Naomi: I would definitely recommend others to give it a try and also to take the time to pray about it and ask God to help open your heart and mind to absorb as much as you can. Reading the bible each day has really opened my eyes to how much I have been missing out on all these years and is helping me to grow into a stronger Christian. 

What is God challenging you from this?

Naomi: I think God is challenging me to know more about my faith and why I believe so that I am better equipped to share it with others. Particularly with my children, since my 5 yr old has starting asking a lot of tough questions about God, Jesus and heaven just this year. I don't believe in coincidences and God's timing never ceasing to amaze me! 

What's next for you after this?

Naomi: I guess when I've read through the whole Bible in a year the only thing to do would be to go back and do it all again every year. Maybe if I am needing even more I might have to do some studies to go alongside it as well. Only God knows for sure whats next for me and I sincerely pray that through my daily reading this year I can develop a closer relationship with him and be more aware of his guidance in my life.

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 Many of us have had such great aspirations to read through the entire Bible but for different reasons give up.  I pray that Naomi's response will encourage you to pick up your Bible and discover more about the God you love and reignite the passion you first had for Christ.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."                           (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Called by Name

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying.  As she wept, she bent over to look in the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."  At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,but she did not realise that it was Jesus.
"Woman," he said, "why are you crying?  Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary".
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to my Father.  Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.".
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!"  And she told them that he had said these things to her.  (John 20:10-11).

Mary Magdalene, a woman who knew deep unmerited forgiveness and grace from Jesus, now stands, full of grief, reeling from watching her Lord crucified, to now discovering that his tomb is emtpy!  What more could she take.  As she is processing what is happening Jesus appears and speaks to her.  For whatever reason, Mary does not recognise him, until Jesus calls her by name.  How moving is that!  The risen Lord calls this woman who's  a crying mess, and speaks her name. This gets Mary's attention.  This small sentence takes my breath away because it reveals how Jesus relates to us.  The resurrected Christ, conquerer of sin, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, perfect redeemer calls us by name and speaks to us by name.

 "That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far from all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the age to come. " (Ephesians 1:19b-21). 

The God of all power comes down to our level, to ultimately endure the humility of the cross.  And for what?  Love. Love for you, for me, for everyone.  How personal, how intimate, how real.

But how does Mary recognize Jesus?   Mary knew Jesus's voice and she followed him.  Having been forgiven of adultery, spent hours traveling with Jesus, listening to his teaching, watching him perform miracles, Mary devoted in her love, knew her Lord and followed him with all her life.  Therefore, when " The watchmen opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his own sheep follow him because they know his voice.  " (John 10:3-4).

So in a world that has many idols of God and even as Christians we construct "God-fantasies" to help fulfill what we want, and when we want it, will you recognize Jesus's voice when he calls your name?  Does the God you profess align with the historical account of Jesus in the Bible?  How do you know your God?

By being like Mary, deep, devoted and daring in her love for Christ which is rooted in his unconditional love for her, his teaching, his witness, we too can know Jesus within a real, personal and honest relationship.  When we remember that it's all about Jesus and less about us,  we will hear his quiet voice in our lives.  Are   you ready to hear and follow Jesus?

" In the middle of the race" - Part 2

Last week I discussed some steps to help us to keep going when we feel like we're struggling "in the middle of the race" of faith.  Today I wanted to discuss spiritual muscle and stamina.

The author of Hebrews uses the image of the Christian life like being a long distance race.  Marathon runners require a strict regime of training over a long period of time to produce the stamina, strength and a endurance needed to run a marathon.  To achieve this, one must learn discipline and accept discipline from their trainer who understands what needs to happen in order for their athlete to win the race.  God disciplines us to help us run the "race marked out for us".  How does God train us?  One way is that He uses hardships and tough times as part of his methods.  "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons" (Hebrews 12:7).   Why does his discipline us?  So "we may share in his holiness".   God wants us to look like his son Jesus and that requires him to do some hard stuff on our hearts in order to transform our inner being to be like Christ.  "No discipline is pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).  When received submissively, God's discipline is good and beneficial for us.

I know the pain of God chiseling away on my life and I know that there is alot more work for him to do.  Is God chiseling away in your life at the moment?  Don't despair but be encouraged "because the Lord disciplines those he loves" (Hebrews 12:6).

God also tells us to  live lives that don't hinder us  or others spiritually, ""Make level paths for your feet", so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed." (Hebrews 12:13).  We are called to be characterised by upright conduct so as to help and not hinder the spiritual and moral welfare of others.  Our conduct is shaped by our habits, our habits are molded by our thoughts, and our thoughts are driven by our heart's desires.  When sin motivates our hearts the effect is played out in our actions.  But when we allow Christ to work on our hearts, the evidence is also there "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law. " (Galations 6:22-23).   The spiritual disciplines of prayer, study, meditation, fasting, submission, confession, worship, solitude, simplicity and celebration (see Richard Foster's book Celebration of  Discipline) are the ways we can put ourselves before God during those times of hardship so that his Spirit can transform our hearts.  This is how our spiritual muscle grows.  These disciplines are not taskmasters or an end to themselves but exercises that build endurance and strength for the road of growth. The more we practise them, the closer we grow to  God and the more we understand that it is only by relying on God and not ourselves that we truly live.  So persevere and focus on Christ.  Through Christ we are changed, strengthened,  renewed and able to weather life's storms.


Question:  Is your spiritual muscle weak and dying  or  healthy and growing?  What is the next step for you?

"In the middle of the race" - Part 1

I went to read my Bible this week and just sat there numb.  No great prayers of praise and joy, no eloquent phrases of thanksgiving, no deep and honest prayers of humble confession - just NOTHING.  Zip, silence.  My head and heart felt alot like the day outside my window, damp, cold and foggy.  Times with God are sluggish and the words just don't come to me so well when I'm praying these days.  I am weary.  You know that weariness when you've feel overwhelmed but don't know how to respond because it's all too much now.  Motivation is scarce.  At the start of my Christian life, enthusiasm abounded but now that I'm "in the middle of the race" it's hard to see where I'm going some days.


So what do we do when we feel this way?  How do you get through these times?   God tells us what we need to do in Hebrews chapter 12.  Take a look at these steps :


* Remember the great faith heroes of the past.  We're not alone in this journey of faith.  Good role models can spur us on and inspire us to not give up.  The bible is full of amazing people of faith who bear witness to the power of faith and God's faithfulness. Go back to your bible and read over some of those stories.
 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, (Hebrews 12:1a).


* Ask the Lord to reveal the sin in your life, confess it and turn away from it.  Sin trips us up and interferes with the work we are to do for Christ and our relationship with God.  It is vital that we take sin seriously and confess it.  Resisting this step leads you away from God.
 let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles (Hebrews 12:1b).


*Understand that the Christian life is not a sprint but a long distance race requiring perseverance.  Our culture is all about instant gratification but believers in Christ are called to persevere, to wait even to the point where you won't receive your end goal now but when Christ returns.  We need spiritual muscle and stamina to run this race called faith.
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1b).


*Concentrate on Jesus.  Life's stresses, pressures and busyness can shift our gaze from Jesus onto ourselves so subtly and quickly.  It is a conscious action to readjust our eyesight back onto Christ.
 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2).


*Be encouraged for you have a Saviour who understands.  Take heart that Jesus knows weariness and endured constant opposition yet was victorious.  Jesus is therefore your hope and he gave us the Holy Spirit to be our encourager and helper in spiritual maturity.
 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow easy and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3).


We are not left to fend for ourselves as we navigate life's  storms. We have been given God's revealed truth in the Bible and the gift of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us to help us.   Above all, we have Christ, the foundation of our hope and the object of our faith.  In him we are secured and assured of our eternal life.


Next week I'll continue with Hebrews 12 and talk about growing spiritual muscle that gives you stamina in tough times.


Question:   When things get tough what is your tendency, to give up or persevere?  What step above do you struggle with the most?

Blindness

Have you been diagnosed with pantry blindness?  Read the following piece of information and judge for yourself if you've got this syndrome.

"I'm hungry!" says darling daughter.
"Then go and get a something to eat" says mum.
"But there's nothing to eat!" whinges darling daughter.
"There's food in the pantry" says mum.
"I can't see anything to eat" complains darling daughter.
So mum gets up from her comfortable chair and opens the pantry to see bread, cereal, flour, sugar, rice, 2 minute noodles, baked beans, dried fruit, nuts, coconut, bread rolls, cup-a-soups.  But apparently theres "NO food in the pantry!".

There can be plenty of ingredients in the pantry to put something satisfying together that will fill a tummy but so often we don't "see" what's in front of us because we're looking for something else, like the packet of chips or biscuits, the chocolate bar, the instant food full of sugar and salt that is always so appealing.

I find that we also  treat the bible with a selective blindness too.   Do you find yourself going back to the same favorite parts of the bible that are easy to understand and leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling inside but ignore those parts that are difficult to understand and reconcile or what you'd consider "boring" or "irrelevant"?

Leviticus is a book in the bible I'll admit I wouldn't voluntarily choose to study but in taking the journey to read through the whole bible this year, I'm in the position where I can't skip over those bits in the bible that I don't enjoy so much.  So here I am reading Leviticus and although I  would still say it's a dry read, I have a growing healthy respect for it.  Here is a manual for the new nation of God on holiness.  If I was to pick out a verse that summed up the main point of Leviticus it would be, "You are holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own" (Leviticus 20:26).

I guess for us modern readers we question what's the point about reading how the Israelites were to perform the different types of sacrifices but as I read through each chapter, I'm gaining a vivid picture of how much sin was a part of the Israelites everyday existence.  From their relationship with God, to each other, their animals, crops, health  and food, God had something to say about it.  Nothing in their life was apart from God.  The worshiper was even required to kill the animal for the sacrifice and then the priest would take over and prepare the offering.  Can you imagine doing that?  Blood would go everywhere and would feel warm and sticky,  the smell would be sickening.  Visually the worshiper is observing that the consequence of their sin is death.  That's confronting!

God still calls us today to be holy and set apart for him. "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy because I am holy"." 1 Peter 2:15-16.  Holiness is not optional, it is a requirement and  not just for the Israelites in the days of Moses but for us too.  Because sin is just as an insidious and pervasive problem for us as it was for the ancient Jews.  However, through Christ the problem of sin in our hearts is dealt with.

"The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean  sanctify them so that they were outwardly clean.  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9:13-14).

Through Jesus we are made righteous, not by anything we've done but all by what Christ has done on our behalf.  Does that make you want to pray and give thanks?   It does for me.

Have a go looking at the parts in the bible that you normally avoid and see what God has to say.  You may be surprised!