Everywhere.

This song is one of the first that Lawrence has written and played for us at Youth. It carries such a grand weight of God’s presence with it and has paved the way for amazing times of worship.

It’s all about finding God no matter where you are, a song of hope that lifts the spirit, the acknowledgement that God is present absolutely everywhere. He is not a far away, distant God that must be called down to listen to us. He’s so close, He’s the air we breathe, the life we live, the gravity that holds us…and so much more. Heaven is completely surrounding us. Always.

Come summer, spring or fall
When mountains seem so tall
I feel You right beside of me
Yeah, You’re everywhere.

PS If you have not yet bought your copy of the devotional you can do so for £3.50 through our website.

Walk By Faith.

This is perhaps the most difficult song to explain, without falling into old cliché’s or saying something that has not been said a million times before, but here goes:

Walking by faith is more than just having faith. To be ‘faithful’, we have to take it to its earthly meanings as well – as in devotion and loyalty, obedience to a friend or lover, and all such connotations. Nor is faith something that is static, or unchanging. Faith is not something you can sit on, or keep locked away. Faith is something that you carry around with you, wear on your sleeve and never leave home without. So we know what faith is, and that it travels with us, but even all of this does not sum up the title or themes within this song.

I will walk by faith
Even when I cannot see
Because these broken roads
Prepares Your will for me

We are called to walk by faith. Not for faith, of faith or anything else – but walk BY faith. Our faith is what carries us, supports us, keeps us moving, directs where we’re going and informs every decision we make.

And enjoying it too.

Well, hallelujah, hallelu,
hallelujah, hallelu…

PS If you have not yet bought your copy of the devotional you can do so for £3.50 through our website.

A Beautiful Collision.

During the summer, I spent a lot of time at home and alone with my guitar. I wanted to learn some new worship songs to aid my home time with God and practice my talents. This was the sound of my summer, the plea for Fusion to happen. This whole event was based upon the themes of this song, and the album it comes from. It is a discourse of an emptied vessel, waiting to be filled. It is a broken and scared voice, finding the beauty that is meeting with God.

Interestingly, the album also has a subtitle, “3+4=7” – which I only just found out what it meant. David Crowder, the artist, explains that the number 7 has always been believed to be the divine number. It is perfection. 3 is attributed to God (as in 3 days, the trinity, the multiple of 3 is 12 which was the tribes and disciples…etc…) and the number 4 is us; our humanity. When these two meet – 3+4, we get perfection. 7.

“When our depravity meets His divinity, it is a beautiful collision.” - David Crowder


PS If you would like a copy of the devotional they are £3.50 each. E-mail Andrew for more details.

Empty Me.

We hope you are really enjoying your Fusion Devotional book and CD – and we thought it may be nice for the performers on the CD to discuss some of the themes and reasons why these particular seven songs were chosen, to perhaps open up some more possibilities for prayer while listening. These are purely my interpretations of the songs – you may have another – but that’s the joy of music; everyone interacts their own way.

Enjoy!-AG

PS If you would like a copy of the devotional they are £3.50 each. E-mail Andrew for more details.

Empty Me

As Lawrence and I were planning what songs to perform for the CD, I pitched for a short introduction song – only 30 seconds long – that provided the listener a chance to ease into Fusion, with perhaps a few words, forming a prayer that would lead into what would happen next.

Upon our travels, screwed up pieces of paper of possible verses and time spent finding chords and melodies to sum up our intentions, Lawrence found the perfect song had already been done before.

Empty Me is the way to start Fusion. To be emptied of everything that is of ourselves, in order to make way and accept all that which is God’s. It is us who has to make the first step. As scripture says:
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8 (NKJV)
From that, it’s quite evident that we have to show the willing, to offer and sacrifice before God moves in our lives.

Holy Fire, burn away my desires for anything
That is not of you, but is of me
I want more of you, and less of me
Empty Me

Redirect... or, Fusion is HERE!

In our church we have started getting things ready for Christmas, and as you can imagine it is a hectic time. A couple of our leaders happened to be talking one day and realised that we had not really included in our festive plans any way of involving the community or reaching out. This kept him up for most of the night with the concern that if we were suddenly to go missing would anyone notice the church had gone?! By the morning plans were in place to present every home in our community with a gift and invitation (that’s the benefit of having an excellent business man on the leadership :o)

Sometimes it is so easy for our plans to gently miss our purpose, being busy can easily blind us. We have the hope of salvation, this is why we are needed wherever we are. As Christmas approaches this is our trumpet call.

“My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.” Col 2:6-7 (Msg)

Fusion startes today!
If you are coming down to the Fusion prayer event tonight I look forward to seeing you there. These blogs will start up again on Monday.

Reconsider.

This weekend I have had a fresh appreciation of what Paul meant when he wrote the following:
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28

In work I have discovered [much to my annoyance] that my new manager is not a great communicator. In fact this is more of an understatement than you would believe.
On numerous occasions I have found myself being invited to high level meeting with no prior warning [of the subject of the meeting or that I would be required to say anything, or even chair the meeting!]. It has only been because I know what it is he should know, and that I can look as though I know what is going on while I try to figure out what indeed is going on, that I have been able to survive such meetings and still contribute productively to them. In fact it was just the other week that I was mulling this over; despite me finding the annoying regularity of this, it has in fact increased my ability to think on my feet, be immediately responsive, and sound as if I have always known what it is I am about to say.

What I had no appreciation of was that God was using my manager’s short comings as a training ground without me knowing.

On Sunday Karen, who was due to preach, was not feeling well and so Pastor Andrew stepped in with a sermon that he had ready. During our time of worship though God terrified me by doing exactly what my manager in work does; I felt that God wanted me to say to Pastor Andrew that if it was OK with him I could preach.
This was not a reasonable offer since all I had was a passage of Scripture and no idea where God may lead me with it. But I tapped Pastor Andrew on the shoulder in full confidence that there was no way he would accept my crazy offer and so I would be ‘off the hook’ (demonstrating my obedience to God without having to actually do anything – result!).
That isn’t, however, how things panned out. Pastor Andrew accepted my offer believing that God was definitely up to something. And He was!

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Cor 9:8

God will always provide you everything you require to do what it is he has asked. You may not receive everything you require before you start but you will as you obediently listen and follow.

PS I couldn’t find a suitable picture and so this one made me smile hence its inclusion :o)

Virtual Reality and prayer.

Fusion is coming closer.

If you are planning on coming along (all night or for an hour or so) you will be in for a treat because God intends to bless you and bless through you - trust me!

Are you curious as to what will be awaiting you at Fusion?

Well we'll have a 'virtual reality' prayer zone. Here you'll be able to see what the world be like is you did not allow God to shine through you whereever you are now. I'd like to say that it is hi-tech but it is just a bucket you can put over your head...

[Jesus said] "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matt 5:14-16 (Msg)

It's going to be great!

Remedy.

Humour is an attribute that we always look for in a friend/spouse/pet etc… we’ll perhaps not pets :o)

However, it is probably not the humour we seek but the laughter it generates. We feel better when we laugh, it does weird things to us; releasing chemicals in our body that create a feeling of happiness as well as deadening pain. Marvellous.
Isn’t God amazing for creating laughter!

Humour is all about timing.
Trust me; I have thought of something funny (seriously hilarious) but at the wrong time and it created nothing other than pain and resentment.

My wife and I have a favourite film, The Royal Tennenbaums. In fact, regardless of what anyone else says, it is the best film ever. I think one of the reasons that we love it so much it because it can make you cry and laugh [out loud] all in the same scene. You see timing is everything:
“There is a time for everything...a time to weep and a time to laugh...” Eccl 3:1, 4

Our lives are all about timing.
None of us can use one word to describe our lives (well, except perhaps ‘exhilarating’) because we go through seasons; there are times to weep and yet this can never fully describe us because there are always times to laugh. Weeping only lasts a night, laughter comes in the morning.

You may be feeling as though life if full of weeping, too much to bear. But this is never how the story ends. Timing is everything; God will yet surprise you with a smile. Epitaphs are always too short to truly describe what God has done/doing in our lives. We may weep but we will laugh – salvation is ours, so laugh out LOUD!

Religion.

Religion is nothing unless it is alive; unless there is evidence of it [faith] living in us.

If you view society through the media you could be forgiven for thinking that we actively seek the degraded and corrupt, but in reality there is something unequivocally attractive about purity. Despite all the corruption in the world we can identify and adore the pure (in part this is one of the deep ironies of the Christmas story and why it is so deeply sad that so many festive carols can be heard playing in shopping malls and yet people do not hear the hope of salvation that it announces).

We may be mocked and ignored but everyone is looking to see if what we have is real and pure.

“Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself… Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” Eph 4:29-30, 32 (Msg)

Rekindle.

“Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. In the night I remember your name, O LORD, and I will keep your law.” Ps 119:54-55

I am looking forward to Fusion next week. Things are going to happen; not because it is Fusion but because there is the opportunity for people to spend unusual time with God.

A few of us are also going to spend the whole night there (probably not praying the whole time, undoubtedly some incidental dozing will occur :o) and this has been exciting me. Have you ever spent the whole night in God’s company [listening, praying, worshipping, reading]? I haven’t. Since this is the case I have been thinking that it is unusual, and it may well be but it should not be unexpected. This is God we are talking about – why would you not want to spend the whole night in His presence?! We are also praying for Newport and so surely this is serious and urgent enough to motivate us to seek God’s face like never before?!

Is this unusual? The more I think about it I have begun to realise that it a reasonable response. God is excitingly near!

I call out at the top of my lungs, "God! Answer! I'll do whatever you say."
I called to you, "Save me so I can carry out all your instructions."
I was up before sunrise, crying for help, hoping for a word from you. I stayed awake all night, prayerfully pondering your promise.
In your love, listen to me; in your justice, God, keep me alive. As those out to get me come closer and closer, they go farther and farther from the truth you reveal; But you're the closest of all to me, God, and all your judgments true.
I've known all along from the evidence of your words that you meant them to last forever. Ps 199:145-152 (Msg)

If you are coming along to Fusion at any time why not let us know, it’ll be exciting knowing who we are going to meet in God’s presence.

Refresh.

“Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. God always keeps His word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” Heb 10:23-25 (Msg)

I always enjoyed going on walks with a friend of mine. Sure they were recklessly ambitious at times [with no regard of the obstacles we may encounter or the effort it would take] because he would take out a map and confidently point to the some interesting sounding location and say, “we’re going there.”
The idea that we were going somewhere means that I could walk all day without tiring.

Shopping, or rather endless browsing through stores, does not excite me. This is because there often seems no end in sight, no destination, no hope, and so I seem to get tired quicker even though I have travelled less.

We have eternal hope, the promises of God over our lives, keeping a firm grip on these keeps us going. In fact, let us encourage each other [inventively] to keep a tight grip on the promises God has spoken, spurring each other on. If you are a creative person do this creatively (write, paint, film, sing, draw, whatever it takes), or if you are a practical person do this practically (doing things to encourage others).

Redemption.

“As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” John 15:9

We do not belong to the world?!
We play football, watch TV, laugh at Ant & Dec, go see Take That just like everyone else… hang on; no I don’t, but you get my point. On the surface of things so much of our lives look like the lives of those around us. But they aren’t.
We live in the world but we are not of the world.

The entire focus of our lives is to become more like Christ (or in other words to allow the Spirit of God to transform us from the inside out) – if this isn’t our focus then we need to question the validity, existence and point of our faith!

What makes us different?
A million rapid and unchartered thoughts.
We are watching a movie. The guy next to us is watching the screen keeping up with the plot, just like us, thinking ‘that actress if buff!’ We, while perhaps sharing such notions, find ourselves thinking something far more revolutionary as well – does what I’m watching marry up with what Christ teaches me is upright and good? Does this benefit me or harm me?

We are in the supermarket and person in front of us grabs the bag of coffee they had last time; they enjoyed the flavour and the packaging caught their eye, what is more it is reasonably cheap. We stand on the same spot and look at the coffees. Without thinking we scout out the Fair-Trade brands, because we do not want to rob the workers of their wages, and find the flavour we adore. We fantasise about enjoying this coffee later listening to some good music.

The world says tantalise your eyes, we say purify our minds.
The world says look after number one, we say we are here to bless others with right living.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Rom 12:2

Replace.

I find it amazing that God would replace our emptiness with His fullness. In fact He looks for emptiness; if we are full of ourselves what is there that He can give us?!
This is something that Rebecca St James describes in a recent blog on her MySpace:

“I had a good weekend last weekend - an event called Thrive that was actually telecast across the country to churches. I want to share with you a little story that was actually happening behind the scenes with me. I was actually not feeling very well the day of my concert (physically, emotionally and spiritually just feeling quite venerable) and I was a little nervous about sharing the stage with the calibre of the other women at the event – women such as Kay Arthur, Liz Curtis Higgs, and Lynne Hybels via video to mention a few. If there was ever a time to feel it was ’game on’ musically and every other way for me, it was now – and I wasn't feeling that way at all. I spoke to a friend right before I went on and asked her to pray for me. She said to me, "Rebecca, I want you to remember the whole biblical idea of being 'jars of clay'. Even if we have only a few drops left in the bottom of the jar – that's a good thing! It allows God to fill us up--rather than us being filled up on our own strength." She said I want to encourage you to go out there knowing that God can use you probably more effectively in your weakness than He could if you were feeling strong today.

I want to tell you it just changed my total perspective and outlook so, so much that day. It was like an instant transformation! My spirit just felt so much lighter and free. I was able to share honestly with the audience about how there needs to be a place for honesty and vulnerable within our relationships. It promotes community and an atmosphere where we can then turn to God together. It's a powerful and beautiful thing!

I hope that encourages you in your week this week to be straight up with those that are closest to you about what's going on in your life - and to find your strength in God and in the community that He's given to surround you.”

FUSION is imminent… 10 days and counting!

Fusion is only 10 days away!
If you have not seen it already here’s the poster.

The main focus of this event is ‘unpacking prayer’ by this we will be looking, with God, at how he can influence the world around us through us. He has called each one of us to a mission field (home, office, school, factory, hospital, wherever it is God has placed us). We are called to be salt and light.
As always, ironically, this event is not so much about prayer as it spending time in God’s presence and allowing Him to redirect, strengthen, influence and send us out. But if you want to call that prayer that’s good for me :o)

In ‘unpacking prayer’ we will be reflecting on what fusion is all about – live breathe pray change. We will only be praying through the night (8pm – 8am) and so some of us are looking to enjoy the entire night in God’s house! What about you?
If you have not let us know already mail me to let me know when you will be at fusion!

Remember.

Sometimes I forget.
For people who know me this is not headline news… but it is import in understanding me.

Sometimes I may even forget you.
I don’t mean to be offensive, it just happens that way. I remember (many years ago) walking through town with a friend. We bumped into a lady from church [who I knew very well] and we started chatting. After a bit she enquired if I was going to introduce her to my friend. I immediately apologised for my rudeness: “I’m so sorry; where are my manner. Anyway, Suzanne [for that was my indeed my friend’s name] this is……………” The pause did not end. I had forgotten her name. It was gone, completely gone! The ground refused to open up under me leaving me to apologise for the second time in the conversation as I admitted to having forgotten her name.
Her name was Emma. Emma Emma Emma!
I can remember it now. In fact I may never forget it again!

The reason I am saying this is because it is good to remind ourselves of the obvious sometimes.

In house group Karen did a really cool interactive study with us.
She had a bunch of ordinary objects and challenged us to use them in expressing to the group something about God. It was awesome!
(Good training for street preaching. Jesus used to tell impromptu parables etc based on things that were surrounding the crowd he was talking to. He was keeping it relevant and accessible as he spoke about the kingdom. If we do the same we can’t go far wrong :o)

Anyway one of the objects was a bag of flour.
Plain flour!
What would you say about flour?!

Karen astounded me.
Flour is nothing on its own. It is not nutritious, or delicious or pleasant in any way (I have eaten some in the past!). It is plain. Useless.
But as an ingredient it becomes an invaluable component in bread, pastry, cakes, sauces, scones, biscuits, Yorkshire puddings… the list goes on!
We may come before God empty handed. Useless, we think; how could God possibly use us to further His kingdom? But when we surrender to Him we are willing ingredients. In doing so we will find God adding other things to our lives and before long God make a ‘cake’; something more than what we put in and bursting with the lightness of heaven and the flavours of God!

Whatever we have, surrender it to God and see what He can do. You’ll never be able to double guess Him; He’ll astound you every time!

When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered, "Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece."
One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, "There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that's a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this."
Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.
When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted." They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves. John 6:5-13 (Msg)

Remind.

I was briefly scanning through on the the blogs belonging to the Washington Pastor Mark Batterson. In it he described the relationship between him as a pastor and the congregation. It mad me smile and think:

“For what it's worth, we believe that church is a tag-team sport. When people come to church they tag me and say ‘go for it – share what God has put on your heart.’ When they leave we tag them and say ‘go for it – share your faith with your friends.’”

That’s the deal; that’s how ‘church’ works. That is how we are called to live.

Not long to go now before Fusion, I hope you guys are getting excited. I also hope you are looking forward to laying your hands on the first edition of the fusion devotional… It’s going to be awesome, because God has definitely laid His hands on it.
If you want to secure yourself a copy you will have to come along.

Release.

I am always astonished when people say what impact something I have written has had on them. Sometimes I listen to them and wish that I had been impacted in the same way they had!
Often when I am using these blogs to reflect on God’s Word I begin to realise [ever so acutely] how far I am from the man of faith which Christ wants to develop in me. And yet somehow my scribblings, which seem to resonate from my hollowness, have a lasting effect on others. Not because of my insight but because of God’s Word.

As this baffled me once again I began to realise what was happening. Even though I may box in God’s Word in my life (although I don’t mean or want to), His Word is not confined or restricted; it is beyond my control – that is why it impacts people:
“Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It's what you've heard from me all along. It's what I'm sitting in jail for right now – but God's Word isn't in jail!” 2 Tim 2:8-9 (Msg)

God’s Word is not in jail. We cannot restrict it. We may quote it emptily, not allowing it to touch our heart, but it is not our words; they are God’s and they will not return to Him without accomplishing what He desires.

The Apostle Paul knew this and so didn’t mind when people preached the Gospel out of wrong motives, because he knew the true Gospel was an untamed thing that cannot be controlled, whether it be out of good or bad motives.

Praise God: The truth is not in chains!

Request.

I used to live in a small house on the crest of a hill overlooking Risca. I only rented it and it wasn’t the greatest house in the world but the garden more than made up for property’s short comings. When I sat in the garden, with the house behind me, all I could see was hill after hill of beautiful Welsh landscape. It was as though all of man’s construction had melted away and I was looking out over God’s canvas. Whenever I had the chance I would sit out there and watch the sun go down. Despite having seen it so many times it was always as though there was too much for me to take in; my eyes could no longer process the beauty and I would simply sit there filled with a sense of awe and wonder.

The same thing is often true of the Bible; it radiates the beauty of God’s instructions. But it is all too much to take in. On more occasions than I can remember I will find myself reading a familiar passage and then all of a sudden something new appears. It must have always been there, but now it captivates me and I do not know how it could ever have passed unnoticed. As with the landscape at sunset, perhaps the Son’s light caught it just for that moment causing it’s beauty to radiate and catch my eye.

This is what happened to me at the prayer meeting the other day when we read this passage:
When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matt 9:36-38

When Jesus saw the crowd following him he was stirred with compassion. He wasn’t stirred with a desire to preach, or tell them about God’s Kingdom, or perform some miracle; he was simply filled with compassion, and it was this that motivated all of the above.
How often do we find ourselves in a crowd but fail to be stirred with compassion for their salvation?
I remember one Sunday when Ruth and I raced off to IKEA immediately after church. When we had picked up whatever-it-was-we-needed, I was surprised to find such large queues at the checkouts. Something in me nearly snapped; had none of these people been to church? Did they not know about this Jesus who had rescued them? Who created and loves them? I could have cried at that moment (but I didn’t, I was just a bit shell shocked). I wanted to shout out “JESUS LOVES YOU!” for everyone to hear (but I didn’t).

I wonder if we are not often stirred with the compassion of Jesus to pray ”Lord, send the workers because the harvest is here” because we are worried in case God’s reply is, “Go. I send you.” I wonder how often my life exhibits self-preservation rather than a desire to preserve the lives of others.

Lord of the harvest, send out the workers you have prepared – whoever they are and whatever the cost. Fill us with compassion for those who need you, the Good Shepherd.

Recycle.

In the prayer meeting at our church the other night we read a passage from Matthew 9 which quoted Jesus as saying the following:
“Men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." Matt 9:17

As I let these words reverberate through my mind I began to realise again how good God is (not that it is easy to forget!).
God’s desire is to pour out new wine. He is not interested in giving us anything old or stale, no matter what our condition is.
But He is also not willing to harming us.
Therefore if He wants to pour out new wine, and He realises that we will not be able to cope with it in our current state, He does something amazing; He renews us. He transforms our old wineskins into something new and fresh, something that will be able to contain the new thing He is doing.

Over the last few months we have been witnessing more and more miraculous healings in our church. It is amazing! But it seems as though God is doing this little by little; He is preparing us, renewing us for an out pouring of His presence – an overflow.
God does not want us to rupture or ruin, but neither does He does want to hold back the ‘new wine’ He has in store for us, our churches, and our city. We will be renewed by His Spirit but we must desire and accept this renewal for it to happen.

Lord, make into new wine skins ready for your outpouring.

Rely.

A friend of mine, who happens to have the fancy title of director of Bath Youth For Christ, made me think when I read his latest news letter from the organisation.

He said that they faced a sizable deficit for the next financial year but to continue achieving all that they are among the youth of Bath he realised that he had to trust that God was able to deliver. This challenged his faith; he had to believe, as though it existed, in something that not only did not exist but that he could not see how it would exist!

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Heb 11:1

If that is a definition of faith I wonder how often I see it in action in my life?
Sometimes things that I attribute to ‘faith’ are not.
While my wife and I may give generously [on occasion] we do so because we have prepared for it (putting money aside each month because we know there will be times in which we will want to give it away). However, we do not give by faith. We have never given away more than we can afford being assured that God will meet our needs.
In fact isn’t it strange that God calls us to live generously but does not always say that we will live comfortably. The apostle Paul lived amazingly generously but he was quoted as saying:
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:12-13

I guess faith listens out carefully for God’s whispers and lives trustingly. This is not always comfortable because our senses give contradictory messages; we can’t see it, our spirit says God can do it but our mind can’t work out how.
Faith is not about living recklessly but obediently.

I was once told about a guy that God had burdened with a desire with a significant humanitarian/outreach project. It was going to cost too, but he was so certain of God’s calling that threw in everything he had. He re-mortgaged his house, now this was not enough but he reasoned that it would get things started.
God, however, had alternative plans. He instructed him to take all the money from his house and give it away! God told him to go to a national Christian conference and give everyone £10. This terrified him because what if he lost it all, but he was obedient and trusted God. He gave away everything with the proviso that people were to use the £10 to spend on something that could raise money (put on a meal for friends and charge, make a sell cakes etc). In the end this recklessly dangerous plan paid off and God provided everything that was needed.

Faith can bless you with a few grey hairs and a beamingly confident smile :o)

Reciprocate.

In my daily devotionals the other morning I read a passage from Deuteronomy where Moses laid out a challenge/command before the Israelites – will you follow God?

It sounds like a ‘no brainer’ doesn’t it.
To follow God or not to follow God. If that is the question you’d have to be a serious moron to decide upon the latter! But it is easier to do the latter.

This is what Moses said to the Israelites:
“Love God, your God.” It sounds easy doesn’t it? We naturally ‘love’ God, how could we not? But more often we are not consumed by ‘love’ but something more akin to ‘spiritual lust’, desiring God without the relationship or commitment [on our part]. That is not how we love God; loving God takes commitment over everything else: “Walk in his ways. Keep his commandments, regulations, and rules so that you will live, really live, live exuberantly, blessed by God, your God, in the land you are about to enter and possess.” Deut 30:16 (Msg)

My friend’s MySpace has the heading “I Choose Life!”
When we wake up each morning and commit ourselves to being Christ’s disciples, choosing to follow him [through the day, in every decision and encounter], we are suddenly living. Living exuberantly, blessed by God.
I’d say it is better to have a blessed day than a day free from trouble!

Relearn.

I’m reading a book at the minute called ‘Understanding God’s Will’ by Kyle Lake. In it he explains how God’s will in our lives cannot be contained in a formula. God’s will is not some ‘blue print’ from which we should never deviate. It is more fluid than that, it is about living. God’s will is that we learn from him, and this is what our discipleship is all about.

I was thinking about this as I happened to read the start of Ephesians 5 and I suddenly realised these few verses are Paul perfectly describing what God’s will is for each of our lives:
“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behaviour from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.”
…but there is of course a warning here for us, because Paul knew [our] human nature…
“Don't allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide…” Eph 5:1-3 (Msg)

What I found interesting as I thought about the day that Jesus called his first disciples to follow [and learn from] him was what their actions revealed. When Jesus called each of them immediately left jobs, staff, family, friends, homes, businesses… everything!
What does this tell us about being a disciple?
Well, it tells me that rather than it being something else that I attach onto my life, it is my life! Unless we seek first God’s kingdom we do not seek it at all!
Homes, families, businesses, and jobs are important, and more often than not our discipleship (our learning to imitate God) will take us in these directions, but they are simply the temporary location of our training. They do not share an equal status with our discipleship training (which is God’s will for us, our life of faith).

Recollect.

Pastor Kyle Lake died in a tragic accident back in October 2005. How he lived was as poignant as what he preached, however the sermon that he was due to preach on the day he died concluded like this:

Live. And Live Well.
BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now.
On a crystal clear, breezy seventy-degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun.
If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool autumn day FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE.
Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time.
If you bike, pedal HARD… and is you crash, then crash well.
Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done – a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed.
If you must wipe the snot form your three-year-old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own.
If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And grieve well.
At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke.
And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven.
And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavour. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life.
Because it is most definitely a Gift.

The countdown has begun… 20 days and counting!

Guys. Good news!
It is only 20 days until the next Fusion prayer event.

As usual the venue will encourage you to encounter God through various ‘prayer stations’. These will be focused on the key aspects of fusion: live – breathe – pray – change.
This too will be the focus of the Fusion devotional booklet [and CD] which will be available on the day at an astonishing 50% off – that’s right, half price!

Fusion is all about devoting time to God.
To permit His transformation in our lives.
As we draw near to God, He draws near to us. And as we find God we hear the prayer of our hearts echoing Isaiah: “Here I am. Send me.” Is 6:8

“There's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.” Luke 15:7 (Msg)

Release.

I have been listening to the latest Delirious? CD ‘Mission Bell’ again this week. The whole thing seems to reverberate with the words once spoken by Isaiah:
I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Is 6:8

Isaiah did not utter these words at a point in his life when he thought he was up to the job. In fact he was having a bad day. A real bad day.
There had been a sudden death in the family, worse than that – it was the king who had died. Worse still it looked as though his income could be in jeopardy. And to just top things off rather than finding comfort in God’s house he became more aware of his brokenness and sin!

But then God met with him.
Despite feeling completely empty, grief stricken, dazed and confused, when He encountered God all he say was, “Here I am. Send me.”

It is not often that God sends the mighty into the battlefield.
Instead He will send the broken, the uneducated, the sidelined, bewildered, timid and insecure. This is because in His service He can make the broken whole, the uneducated wise, the sidelined leaders, the bewildered confident, the timid bold and the insecure certain of who they are in God. And all this to His glory!

“Here I am. Send me.”
This is the prayer that is at the centre of Fusion. It is the prayer that draws us near to the heart of God with a desire to proclaim His salvation through our every deed.

Reason.

I’m sorry to go back to Lazarus again… Wait a minute; no I’m not! The story has gripped me once more and there is something here that I need to get hold of.

A man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha… So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love so very much is sick." John 11:1,3 (Msg)

The sisters knew that Jesus loved Lazarus. It must have been obvious to them on every visit. Therefore Lazarus must have been aware of the depth of the relationship he had with Jesus. As far as I know only John and Lazarus were described as being people that he loved (obviously he loved us all but there was something deeper here – you know, best friends).

Was all of this going through Lazarus’ mind as his breathing became more laboured?
As he lay there fighting to get the air that he needed.
He was not ready to go and yet he could not hold on. Had his trust in Jesus been in vain?
Were the tears that ran down his cheek because of pain or confusion and doubt?
What was the reason for this happening?

Lazarus knew that Jesus was his redeemer and healer and master, but now he faced death without him. Had he tried to hold out just to hear the Master’s voice call him out of bed? But all he could hear were his sisters’ words of comfort and strength mixed with the tears they tried to hold back.

As he felt his last breath go, had it all been in vain? Had his hope faded?

Lazarus died.

But then a voice, calling him awake.
Death retreated and life took up residency once more.

Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" John 11:43 (Msg)

This was not his old life, this fading life; it was a resurrection life.
If you caught his eye, saw the look on his face it would be enough for you to fall to the ground, accepting Christ into your life.

Sometimes it seems like our dreams die, our lives are dashed.
Jesus could have done something but he didn’t.
Was our hope in vain?
No. It sometimes takes death before new life can take up its residency.
There are sometimes tears of pain before the streams of living water come.

Listen. Christ has not delayed, he is calling out to you in a loud voice.
COME AWAKE.

Reverent.

rev‧er‧ent [rev-er-uh nt, rev-ruh nt] –adjective
Feeling, exhibiting, or characterized by reverence; deeply respectful.

Ingrained in me – probably from childhood somewhere – is the connection between the words ‘reverent’ and ‘quietness’. As children we would occasionally find ourselves visiting an astounding cathedral and as children we would be imbued with a natural desire to run around. Mum would of course collar us (as our echoey footsteps thundered passed) and tell us to be quiet in such a manner as to suggest that the location required it.

Over lunch today I read the following passage from Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi and all of a sudden this notion that reverence has to be restrained is smashed:
“Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.” Phil 2:13 (Msg)

If we want to be reverent before God we must be energetic in our life of salvation. Anything less would simply not be respectful, and it would be unwise not to be respectful to the one who gives you breath every day.

How will you show your reverence and sensitivity before God today?
Will you exuberantly shine, enjoying [and showing] your salvation life?
It would be the polite thing to do, I think you’ll agree.
How deep is our respect for what God has done in our lives?