December 2008

Stepping Out in Faith - Part II

As I said in an earlier post, there is something about this interaction between father and son in Genesis 22 that catches my attention. Isaac does not argue with his father. He does not even question his father’s faith in God to provide. He is simply satisfied that his father knows best. But once again, it is the image we are left with immediately following this conversation that strikes a chord in my heart… at the end of verse 8…

And the two of them went on together.

What a beautiful picture of trust and faith. Abraham’s unwavering faith in God and Isaac trusting his father’s judgment. As I meditated on this passage this week, God led me to see two distinct applications.

The first is personal… directed to me as a Husband and Father… which means it is appropriate to those of you who are also husbands and fathers… whether now or future… Am I willing to follow God, no matter where He leads me, with absolute faith and trust in Him and His plan for the future?

The second application is for us as a church. Are we prepared to sacrifice anything that God asks of us, in order to achieve His purposes in and through us as a church?

This story of Abraham and Isaac challenges us to this end… but it also encourages us with this promise… a wonderful truth… that God wants each of us to trust Him for the journey ahead. When history look s back at us, could it be said of us and God… that the two of them went on together.

the shadow of the Almighty

Psalm 91:1-2 tells us…

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of YAHWEH, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Have you ever fully contemplated what it means to say, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” To take your place under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY, means you are protected by His omnipotence. There, in that secure place, there is infinite and unending security in the Almightiness of God. No matter what the circumstance… no matter what lays ahead… whatever it is that you are facing in life… even when things seem to be going from bad to worse… you can rest assured that God Almighty is powerful and faithful to His promises toward you.

One author put it this way…

If we believed this, if we really let this truth of God's omnipotence get hold of us, what a difference it would make in our personal lives and in our ministry as a church! How humble and powerful we would become for the saving purposes of God! Paul speaks of "the immeasurable greatness of God's power in us who believe."

I am going to spend some more time thinking about what it means to know God as El Shaddai - God Almighty.

Happy Birthday Connor

Today, my eldest son turns 9. Just one year short of a decade and already he knows so much... more than me it would seem. Oh to have the wisdom of a nine year old! I don't remember much about being nine. The year was 1980. The big thing about 1980 that sticks in my mind is that the Rubik’s Cube was released onto the world... tormenting us to find the correct variation out of 43.2 quintillion possibilities. I must confess to peeling the stickers off and putting them back on in the right place... simple!

PS... the one wearing the tie is Connor.

Something pink and Shiny

Tomorrow is my wifes birthday. As usual, I don't really know what to get her. I once bought her a new electric frying pan. It was fantastic. You could even roast in it. I liked it. She liked it. It wasn't until some time later when I was having a conversation with a friend, that I discovered that you should never buy electrical products for your wifes birthday... especially kitchen stuff! I didn't know that. I mean, where do you learn such things? Perhaps it is just one of those lessons that has to be learned through experience.

Anyway, this year I though I would cover all the bases, so I just asked her what she would like. I know... a good husband is supposed to know. But I asked anyway. She said... with out even stopping to think about it... "something pink and shiny". Armed with that information, I set off on a journey of discovery. There is something fun about the hunt for that perfect gift. Pink and shiny... pink and shiny... how hard could it be? Pink and shiny...

I went to the phone shop...  ... too much

I went to the shoe shop...  ...too high

I went to the handbag shop...  ... too 80's

I went to the kitchen shop... just in case...  ... too risky

I went home!

Defeated, dejected, and running out of time! Pink and shiny is just too hard. In the end I settled for a diamond eternity ring. I know... how romantic. You bet. She loved it. Funny thing though... whilst we were at the jewlery shop trying it on, she just happened to wander over to the display case where the really expensive things are. "Look" she exclaimed... "pink and shiny".

Sorry my love... mayby next year! Happy birthday.

New Year Resolutions

Every year I review my journey as a follower of Jesus and spend some time looking toward the year to come. To do this effectively I resolve to allow the Word of God to shape my thoughts and actions. The Bible is good at asking the tough questions. Here are my new year resolutions...

1. Commit to making my relationship with God the priority of my life.

Mark 12:30

2. Pray more often.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18…

3. Be more diligent in studying God’s Word and live a life characterised by obedience.

Joshua 1:8

4. Learn to think and act from an eternal perspective.

1 Peter 1:13

5. Develop whatever gifts and talents God has given me for His glory.

Ephesians 2:10

6. Joyfully bring my tithes and offerings to the Lord without grudging or stinginess.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

7. Love my brothers and sisters in Christ with genuine love and encouragment.

1 John 2:9-10

8. Make meeting with others on the Lord’s day for prayer and worship a priority.

Hebrews 10:24-25

9. Ask God to develop in me a heart for the lost.

1 Timothy 1:15-16…

I trust that as you begin this new year, you will take the time to stop and consider what it is that God might want to do in you and through you, as you follow Him.