September 01, 2010
CALLING!
As a nation, Australia awaits the calling of a new government into power, due to an inconclusive national election held weeks ago, and still unresolved. This can bring a certain feeling of instability to the citizens of our country, as they are unsure of the direction and vision that is ahead, and often people can feel insecure about vision and direction for their own personal future, because they have no clear way forward. Our government forms the ‘building blocks’ that we as a society live out, in both peace and hopefully positive vision for our national future.
In our spiritual lives as Christians, we are quite often reminded that we are “just passing through” this world. With no effective ‘government’ in our hearts, we can feel vulnerable and unstable in our future plans, due to a lack of vision and direction. We understand that Jesus died for our sin condition, and belief in His name is the way in to relationship and to a life of faith that brings blessing and a great future here on Earth, but we can lack the motivation and conviction to go out and make a difference in our world.
Our hearts’ ‘government’ could be regarded as our ‘calling’... it’s what we are motivated and encouraged by.
We are ‘called’ but often don’t realise it!
Romans 12:2 tells us that we should differ from the world we live in, or at least from its ‘system’ and be transformed into the likeness of Jesus as we follow Him. Proverbs 28:18 says:
“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed are those who heed wisdom’s instruction.”
When we get a ‘revelation’ that we are not only in relationship with God and headed for Heaven in Eternity, but we are called to make a difference here on the Earth, we can live with both expectancy and faith in even an environment of uncertainty and lack of direction. Jesus ‘calls’ us to social justice, to love the unlovable, and to assist those in poverty, among other things. But unless we realise that we are ‘called’...we will perhaps leave it to someone else to do.
Taking responsibility as a Christian, means that we realise that we are called, and we actually do something about it!
We are going to be starting a new series of messages in church very soon….Pastor Michael has named it “CALLED!”
God bless you.
Posted by Valery on 09/01 at 01:04 PM
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March 03, 2010
A DAUNTING NEXT DECADE?
Deciding how this new and exciting decade from 2010 onwards will look for you?
Often we can look back on the years and wonder how they could have flown so fast.
But we look up at the looming decade ahead as though it were a 60 storey building that we’ ve been asked to climb…it’s daunting!
Deciding what the next decade will hold for us is not only an exciting prospect, but one which God and we can handle together, depending on our orientation.
What does that mean?
Well, our orientation is often the difference between how we will approach, travel and land in the next handful of coming years.
Will we partner with our Creator in dreaming and desiring for the future?
How will we include Him in our everyday?
How will we land when we are in the same position…looking down the barrel of another fresh decade, wondering what it will hold…just what will be our position?
First of all, our thoughts must be aligned with His: That’s a good position to have!
“Commit your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3)
Yes, even though we have “works” already in place, the Bible urges us to commit them all to Him, and our “thought” will be established!
What does this mean… to “commit”? This Bible word actually means ” to roll, roll down , roll away, remove” Picture a camel with a heavy load…it bends gently down to the ground, and
rolls its burden off to the side. How does that sound? Yes! to “commit” in this case means to roll off our cares about the future…onto God Himself…
Why would that be? Because they are just too heavy for you, and God wants to help you, in fact to handle it, for you.
I Peter 5:7
“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you”.
Now it doesnt seems so much like looking up at a big tall building you could never hope to climb, right?
Have a wonderful decade, church!
Posted by Valery on 03/03 at 02:32 PM
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December 31, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
wow! 2010 is here!
Happy New Year….in fact, Happy New Decade!
It’s easy to get carried away with all the well wishing and party going to celebrate the new year of 2010! But amidst it all we may often anticipate what’s up ahead as a “question mark”....
We can get so concerned in a negative way with what may be about to occur, both personally and globally, that we start to allow fear to creep into our lives, and, before we know it, we’re overcome with a fear and trepidation about our future that we were never designed to carry! I’ve felt it, you’ve felt it…this appears to be the human condition!
An ancient prophet in the land of Israel once wrote down the words of God Himself that should fill us with both confidence and joy as we read them, particularly as we begin not just a new year, but an entire new decade….they are found in the book of Jeremiah:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. “
What more do we need? Our Creator and the author of the Universe, not just our planet, says that He has everything under control, including the plans for our own personal future….we don’t have to know them, just trust in Him that He does! Remember, pray, and He will be listening!
God bless you, and oh yes! Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Love
Valery and Michael
Posted by Valery on 12/31 at 08:37 PM
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