Of course you have!

What do you do?

You go to bed and sleep – until you are refreshed and ready to wake up and start a new day!

Sounds simple … and sensible, doesn’t it?

So why do we feel we need to push ourselves to stay awake and  be on top of things , when we really need to rest and come back to it more alert and ready?

I have no idea … except maybe we feel – we should?

Which also doesn’t make sense!

Yes, I know there are times when there are deadlines to meet and barriers to break , that we have enough strength to burn  the midnight oil ( metaphors galore here!!) but you know, it dawned on me … that we actually are madeto take rests, to regroup, to chill, wind down, rest, sleep … whatever!

Today, tonight, my concern for many of us, is that we know how to be wise about the working, the resting, the playing and to give a place to each . Because each aspect is an important part of a functional, productive life!

If I want to produce good stuff, I also need to sleep, chill and be nourished sufficiently to carry out the plans I have! Let’s stop feeling guilty about our lives – Work, rest, play! In other words- Love God, Love Life, Love people!

Simple? Yes! Simple wisdom, but we need to heed it!

As I was reflecting back over the plans made last year, I was pleased to see how I had grown and developed in these areas of my life. Some of the plans I had made I had really done well in and made progress, and in one or two areas I have only taken a few steps forward.

Some of them were surprising developments that I hadn’t planned for but were all part of a plan for me as it were! Other areas? well I’m glad for another year in which to try again!

I reflected on the Scripture verse from Proverbs 16:9 - A man’s heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps… and was so aware that it is good for us to make plans and to set out to achieve and grow and learn, but also how important it is for us to leave the directing of our steps to the Captain of our Soul!

I was reminded of the passage in Job where Job says “But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. (Job 23:10 Amp) and was encouraged to know that He has led me… sometimes in ways unfamiliar, sometimes through overcast valleys and through some lovely sunny seasons too!

I was encouraged to plan again for this year and to make my prayer again, according to Psalm 25
⁴ Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

Will you make this your prayer today as you look to the future?

Be encouraged – for He surely knows you and will lead you well!

It’s not pleasant being out in this sort of weather and most people don’t like it, stay indoors and wish it was summer!

As I was driving to work I noticed that a couple of the fields, that are often prone to flooding, were very badly waterlogged!

As I was watching it and was thinking how awful it must be for the land owner, a flock of swans arrived and skidded to a halt on the temporary “lake”. It made me laugh because then I noticed about a dozen or more ducks happily swimming around too, and a couple of seagulls joined the party shortly after!

It looked a really happy scene in the middle of this flooded area, and it made me realise how easy it is to see only the bad stuff that happens … a flood, and to overlook the opportunity that arose for the swans and ducks to have a party!

Yes it maybe a little overly dramatic to  look at it this way, but my thoughts took me into thinking how prone we are to moan and bewail the “stuff” that life  throws at us so often.

I looked at the swans and was reminded of the Scripture verse (Matthew 6:25-27 and Luke 12:5-7) where Jesus tells us how much God cares for us … much more than the birds who are fed and well dressed!

I also began to think about how those swans made the most of the opportunity that was before them… a flood – or a surprise lake to land on?

I suppose what I was thinking is another way of “when life gives you lemons… make lemonade”

I hope to make more of serendipitous  “floods” this year… see them as opportunities to do something  a little bit risky, maybe, or different , but have an adventure with it!… How about you?

I’ve been pondering the Christmas story, and am very aware of inaccuracies and discrepancies people point out… yet despite those I do believe God would have us know the story of Jesus’ birth, as vague as some would make it out to be!

I found that Luke’s account tells us that the couple, Joseph and Mary had to find a place for their son to be born in a place where the animals were housed because there wasn’t a lodging room available.

It may have been, according to some accounts, that there never was an “innkeeper “ – but that the lodging rooms, that should have been available with family, were not given to the couple because of the disgrace of her pregnancy… they were rejected by family!

Or… it maybe that the place they were planning to stay was too busy and they needed to find somewhere where their baby could be born.

The thing that has played around my head is not the details or inaccuracies, but the fact that still, today, in the time we live in, it’s so easy to have “no room” for Jesus, or at best to put Him in an outhouse where we won’t be bothered by Him! Maybe because we are embarrassed to be associated with Him and what we think we believe, or maybe, because we are just too busy with life, and people, and demands, and, and, and…

Christmas is a time of reflection and I have found myself challenged as to what “room” I give to Jesus in my life.

Am I too busy to walk beside Him, letting Him be God in my life? Or too busy trying to do good things to show Him, or others, “my faith”? Or just too busy to give Him time, thought and consideration?

Too busy to recognise His hand on my life? And to reflect on the extraordinary thing that He did in becoming a human, living and growing in a messy, fallen world, like me, and being challenged by all the contradictory philosophies around?

Am I too caught up with the political issues (a census?!), or people, or business?

Or maybe I do give “a” room in my life … but not the freedom of the whole house… or even just pack Him off in some stable where I’ve done my bit but don’t need to let Him into my heart?

Oh the challenge of Christmas… and I don’t mean the presents for all, the food and preparations… I mean the challenge of God being a baby and growing up, and living, dying and living to give me … everything. What a gift!

Make room today… more room – for God!

Happy Christmas!

I have been fascinated how Elijah so easily forgot the victories he’d previously known, the miracles- both initiated and seen by him, the promises of God and the Words God spoke to him! …and how that is so… ME!!

Don’t you find it easy to forget the gifts of God to you, His life, His promises, His victories and provision in your life?

It’s easy to identify with Elijah, as he has had enough, is so wearied and tired of the journey and the battles to keep strong! I find his story to be one of such hope and encouragement when I’m past myself and wanting to stop, give up and find hope is frail!

Amazing how God sends His angel (not Himself) to give Elijah the very simple, basic , stuff he needed – which by the way, was probably not what Elijah would have chosen – bread , water and sleep. Now if it had been me(!!) – a spa retreat, a few days break, even a prophetic word of encouragement would have been  a help… not bread and water and a rest in the wilderness!!

Sometimes it is the simple Bread of Life (Jesus… and His Word) and the Fresh Water (time with the Holy Spirit) that we need to have – no deep stuff, no intense studies, no thrashing out eternal values and reasons,… just plain Bread and Water! And it gives us strength for the next leg of the journey.

You know – I don’t know why God didn’t come with miracles, powerful words of encouragement or commendation… I only know He is God and His ways are higher than mine, and He understands who I am and where I am… and gives me the strength to journey through the hopeless, the despair and longing for things to change… strength to come to the “mount of God” to meet with Him there.

I want to encourage you to give God time today… time to rest in His Words (bread) and be refreshed by His Spirit (water) so you can go on.

He is before you to lead you, behind you to strengthen you… and always with you for He promised never to leave or forsake you.

Take heart  today… and step out for the next leg of the journey! You will meet Him – for He is faithful!

Recently I’ve been doing some sorting of records, teaching notes, lesson plans, books, etc … It is taking quite some time to go through records of years and years, most of which is not really relevant, now, but some is!

Some of these files brought back very happy memories… some very funny, some very testing times and situations, and memories of God’s faithfulness and Grace!

Isn’t it amazing how things that were vital at one point in your life are not so years later, and I suppose things that we have no idea about their importance now, will become so later.

It made me realise the transient nature of our lives and the importance of the words of Jesus when He said, “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. “Matthew 6:33-34 (Msg)

I worried and was troubled over some of the things in the past … and I remembered both the stress and anxiety they caused me as I filed through those papers! But I also vividly remembered the way God gave me answers, help, wisdom and peace through some of those stressful times … And now those things are long past … many people won’t remember them, but I do, and I’m grateful for the lessons I learned about looking to God and trusting in His ways! I’m also grateful for the many more files I still have to plough through over the next few days, haha!

So I will … “Give my entire attention to what God is doing right now, and I choose not to get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help me deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

How about you?

Even their troubles and heartaches seem to come over with such a sense of success and achievement!

Isn’t it funny how “my own story” never seems enough, or exciting … or even worth telling?!

I began to listen to what others said about their lives and their journey in life and so often they would despise or have a disdain for their “own story”.

I thought around that for a while, and realised how precious the “most ordinary” story is! Your story is yours… it tells a bit of who you are, where you’ve been and what has affected your life to bring you to this point, and although you can’t change where your story has taken you… you have a choice to set your course for the future. You can, as it were … write your pages!

What will it be … a life of despair, sorrow, regret and “what ifs”? Or will you choose a road of adventure and exploration?

“I don’t have much choice,” you say.

Ahh! But you do! You may not have money enough to travel the world, or buy all the dreams you have…but a life that is set out to see another life encouraged, another life built up, another life given hope, is an amazing adventure.

God has such amazing plans for each of us and if we would but seek His ways for us – well … our pages can truly be a story of hope and glory!

From the Message Bible, Matthew 6:33 says this^,  “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers – most of which are never even seen – don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

Maybe it’s time to put God first and His ways in your life, then see where He leads.

Remember … it’s not a matter of duty and rule keeping … but a life of God’s free grace and hope, a life filled with amazing possibilities, because God is Amazing and wants us to experience His Life!

How about checking out a local church, if you’re not already involved in one, and ask about Jesus and the life He offers?

If you don’t know of a church that could do that … get in touch with us and we’ll do our best to introduce you to the Life God gives, and a Church that can help you on your journey!

Mark and I have just come back from a long journey: our journey from home and back again took place in cars, ours and someone else’s, busses, shuttles, transits, travelators, trains, planes, metro, walking – lots.

We had a great time chatting to our hosts on the first evening, to our travelling companions on the journey, reading and listening to lots and lots of various instructions in different languages and finding out places and ways of getting to our destinations by ourselves!

Some of them were wonderful… the transit train from airport security to the gates for flight and the same on the return journey, had a very pleasant lady’s voice, but quite insistent that we “don’t get off this transit at this stop”! Three times she insisted that passengers did not “get of the transit at this stop”, as it wasn’t where we were supposed to be! Another instruction was at both ends of the flight the chief flight attendant thanked us for travelling with the airline and, “would advise you to collect all your belongings before leaving the cabin. Please be careful when opening the overhead lockers as objects may fall out due to movement during the flight, and do have a pleasant onward journey to your final destination!!!

Pretty obvious … but it is a journey we are on! It will have a “final destination” (heaven… when a new adventure will begin!), but for now our “journey in life, our journey together as a local church, will have many mini journeys! Some may feel pretty epic and not so mini, as we navigate people, issues, problems, attitudes and changes… on our way to our “final destination”!!

Our scenery changed many times, on our trip and at times was repetitive Sometimes it was motorway, sometimes country, or city, sea, air … some we loved, others were – take it or leave it!… so with the journey of life – some places we can’t wait to leave behind and others we would linger a little longer! All part of the journey. So with Church – folks – we haven’t made it yet!!! And won’t ever ‘til heaven comes! We will always have changes, tweaks, etc – some things we will return to, other will be left behind…..we need to embrace the changes of the journey and not stress over things that are not our natural inclination… remember … “this too will pass”!

The transport wasn’t always easy to navigate … it took patience, asking, working with it to be able to actually appreciate it, and we had our preferred methods, which weren’t always what we got! But it added to the adventure!

Apart from starting out and our ending up – we were not in control of the timings… or the mode of transport, the speed, the stops or the comfort! That wasn’t always easy – we needed to trust the drivers, the pilots and the coordinators of our trip! One part of our journey was when we were in the shuttle bus back to our friend’s car, in the long stay car park. We had no idea where it was, where we were going and when to get off … we just had to be ready when they nodded “now” They knew and weren’t worried and just because they hadn’t given us detailed instructions didn’t mean we were lost , nor did we panic…they knew and we kept our eyes on them- The leaders!

Sometimes you may not know the why, how, when or where… but God does and He has prepared your paths. He has also given your pastors the plan they need, for this season in church life. We need to learn to trust God and them – they’ll get you there – just “don’t get off the transit at this stop!”

Life ‘s journey is full of mini adventures and journeys that make up the whole – lets help each other, be willing to trust and go with the uncomfy! Let us spur one another on and ride the ride where it’s not the scenery we prefer… remember the supposed end of our trip was greeted with the words, “Please be careful when opening the overhead lockers as objects may fall out due to movement during the flight, and do have a pleasant onward journey to your final destination!”

There may be a few falling objects… due to movement during the flight…. but enjoy the ride – We are not there yet!

Our final destination – we have a way to go! Some walk fast on the travelator, while others take a time to ride and not walk. Some will get off when advised not to. Some will moan, some will sing, but if we will be patient and enjoy the journey – where ever the pilots take us – then we are fulfilled, nourished, and spurred on for the next part of the journey – to our Final destination! “Infinity and beyond!”

Happy journeying!

Where you’d like to give your opinion but sometimes it just might not go down too well?

Or where you’re asked for your thoughts and you know really well that, whatever you say, they won’t hear it or will be highly offended?

Wisdom is very often “when you say nothing at all!”

Wisdom knows when to speak a word in season, when it is right to say what is asked for; even when you know it won’t go down too well!

Oh for wise people to speak out, and stay silent… and knowing which is when!

The Bible has a lot of things to say about what we say! That our speech ought to be seasoned with salt… palatable and easy to digest! Colossians 4:6

It also warns us that our tongue can be as powerful as a ship’s rudder… steering a whole conversation in a certain direction!! James 3

My prayer today is that we would learn to measure our words and seek God’s thoughts before we jump in to answer or give our advice and opinion!

^4-9The Master, God, has given me
a well-taught tongue,
so I know how to encourage tired people. Isaiah 50:4

Amazing how you don’t have to have the last word to be right, or win the argument!

Happy speaking today!

Eve fascinates me… not because all the artists impressions of her portray her as beautiful, slim, with incredible long hair (in various shades) that obviously was washed in pure spring water with built in conditioners! … but because she lived!

She fascinates me because she lived after the biggest a faux pas (dict: social blunder or indiscretion!) in the history of the world!

Consider when we mess up, make mistakes, react badly … sin … whatever we choose to call it … none of us really cause the consequences of our mistake to have such far reaching effect s as the eating of the tree of knowledge did for, not only Eve, but mankind for ever after! How could anyone live with that? But she did!

I admire her … oh not because she sinned, disobeyed and encouraged Adam to do the same, (think I might have a t-shirt on that!), but because she got up went on and LIVED again …

Wow! To know there is life, real life after sin, mistakes, wrong stuff, that gives me hope! Not a blocking it out of our minds, never visiting it again, pretending it never happened sort of life, but a Life that knew the Grace and Mercy of God, and lived in the fullness of it. That’s why I admire Eve!

She had walked with God and knew Him, knew His ways, His closeness. Took instruction from Him and learned great life lessons … from God Himself. Then blew it!

Whoa! This sounds like what I can do … walk with God, know Him … then mess up!

I admire her … for she, like many mothers (and fathers for that matter), watched her children mess up and repeat mistakes she’d made. She suffered the loss of her sons and the ache of knowing it was probably her fault!  What would people say of her? She lived with that. What would they say of her husband? Her family? She lived with that!

I think if Eve, in a time before the Grace and Mercy and Love of God was fully revealed through Jesus, can face the consequences of her wrong decision … not just for her but mankind, AND, find grace and mercy to start again, have children, cope with one being killed by his brother, watching that brother being banished, and effectively outcast. Enjoy her husband’s love again and have another son … teach them about the love and ways of God. Then why can I not embrace the forgiveness of Jesus, grasp hold of His healing for my life and take courage … that there is life after my mess?

I surely can … by the grace of God!

Look up today … God knows your weaknesses and mistakes, your intentions and failures … and LOVES you!  He has made a way for forgiveness and reconciliation, for hope… for life in all its fullness. Take courage dear one … His grace is made perfect in our weakness and His strength is given to us, not just to go on … but to LIVE!