New Year's Resolutions

Although I believe that EVERY day, not just January 1st, is a new beginning, New Year is still a great time to take stock and evaluate. As a family, we each write a New Year's Prayer, put them away in a special jar and then get them out in a year's time. It is wonderful to read of God's faithfulness to us.

However, I like the idea of writing a prayer to begin the year which I can then look back on frequently as the year progresses, as an encouragement to keep on going. Wendy Blight talks about how to do this on her blog. I'm starting to read the Bible in a year, so I'm writing it here as a sign of that commitment - it'll be harder to get out of now! Maybe I should pray for some self-discipline here...

Another book review...

As well as joining the NavPress Blogger Review Program, reading and reviewing some wonderful books - primarily on discipleship, my passion - I have also joined Booksneeze. The first book I have to review is 'Outlive Your Life' by Max Lucado. All the author's royalties go towards work supporting children and their families through World Vision.

I never read anything written by Max Lucado without feeling that I am eating a tasty treat: an echo of the Psalmists who say 'The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.’ (Psalm 19:9-10, New Living Translation) and ‘How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!’ (Psalm 119:103). His happy style of writing slips down so easily that I was able to read this book before bedtime all in one go: and then re-read it to let the truths he illuminates sink in.

The message is simple, the truths nothing new.  Yet with inspiring examples of real people – both modern day and from Bible times, predominantly the book of Acts – Max leads us through the Christian life: what it means to come to Christ and to live as His follower. I am stirred anew to embrace concepts of caring, compassion, boldness and, above all, being open to Jesus’ call to help the lost, the lonely, the poor.

Read this book. I hope it will inspire you, as it did me, to look at your life anew. To recognise the many blessings God has gifted you with, and to take action to use them. Even something as simple as the gift of a smile, an encouraging word, a cup of water... Just give.  As Max says, at the end of Chapter 1: ‘Here’s a salute to a long life: goodness that outlives the grave, love that outlasts the final breath. May you live in such a way that your death is just the beginning of your life.’

Imagine living a life of such goodness and love. We can do it.

Real-life Discipleship

I have just read a book which has made me so excited that I have underlined scores of sentences, jotted notes in the margins and bookmarked numerous pages with tiny post-it notes. Real-life Discipleship, by Jim Putman. Having said that, the ideas the book offers of living out the Christian faith are nothing new. Biblically based ideas of developing the Christian life have not changed much over the ages. Yet this book is one of the most encouraging I have read for some time. Becoming and making disciples is essential to the Christian life and so Jim shows, and reminds, us of how we should do this.

The book summarises the key features of the discipleship process: this is not only intentional and relational but also strategic: we can all learn how to make disciples. While being familiar with the idea that spiritual growth leads us from being like children in the faith to becoming adults, Jim shows these in a spiritual growth wheel, elaborating on the typical characteristics, beliefs, behaviour, attitudes and actions of each stage in the discipleship process. This was extremely helpful: not only was I able to identify where others are in their spiritual journey, I was also challenged as I recognised immature characteristics in myself, which I had thought were long gone.

One idea, new to me, is that of Bible storytelling: a highly interactive method of studying the Bible which, along with learning Biblical truth, helps develop disciples into leaders.

This is an intensely practical handbook. It has encouraged me to continue seeking to help others grow through the context of small groups and, were I a church leader, I would want to adopt the ideas suggested. Being part of a small group which seeks to grow disciples into mature believers is not necessarily the only way to maturity – witness the lives of some of the great saints – but, for many, it is an essential part of the Christian life. Real-life Discipleship is a superb resource.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Keep on

Keep praying. Keep thanking God. Keep on the watch.

Colossians 4:2, Laubach

Mark 11:24

For this reason I tell you: plead for anything you like, and
believe that you will surely get it; and it shall be granted to
you.

Kleist and Lilly
Romans 4:21

He felt assured that what God had promised him, God
was able to fulfill.

Lamsa  
1 Thessalonians 5:17

Without a break let your prayers continue to be made.
Matthew 21:22

And whatever you ask for in your prayers, with faith,
you will receive.'

Rieu

Ballentine
BECAUSE
Hebrews 11:1

Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we
hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at
present remain unseen.

Jerusalem

My life as a home...

Notes from the most recent ladies breakfast...

The Home: an analogy  

Theme: a house symbolises each of us.

Roof: covering, protection.

The name of the Lord is like a strong tower – the righteous shall run unto it and be GLAD!

 Proverbs 18:10  ¹⁰ God's name is a place of protection—    good people can run there and be safe.

May our homes be roofed with God’s name and His protection.

Walls: represent safety  and security.

Door: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.   Matthew 7:7-8 (New International Version)

As we think of the Door, let’s also of the door of our hearts, praying that it may always be open and welcoming to God.

Windows: Open to the fresh air of the Spirit

Chimney: Smoke is a sign of life. May my life show signs of the true Life which is Jesus who says I AM the Way the Truth and the Life

Is Jesus welcome in every room in our lives? Is he welcome in the room marked ‘Work’? The room labelled ‘Self-worth’? The room – maybe the attic – where we keep our failures?

May my life be a home

whose roof spreads God’s love

over all who enter it;

whose walls offer

God’s protection

whose chimney breathes

signs of warmth and life

whose door is always open

to the lost and the weary, and

whose windows are thrown open to the Spirit’s

gentle whispers.

Preparing for Christmas

Tidying  away the rubbish. Impatience, keeping the peace for the sake of it

Cleaning up having the honesty to face up to mistakes, failures

Decorating  doing the ‘extra’ stuff – inviting others round, going to an event to support a friend... 

Christmas

The Christmas story, retold by a little girl. And Christmas retold as if Mary and Joseph used our modern networking sites

Advent!

Advent services. Look at this - so beautiful.

I Cannot Tell

I cannot tell why He Whom angels worship,

Should set His love upon the sons of men,
Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers,
To bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that He was born of Mary
When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and labored,
And so the Savior, Savior of the world is come.


I cannot tell how silently He suffered,
As with His peace He graced this place of tears,
Or how His heart upon the cross was broken,
The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, He heals the brokenhearted,
And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
For yet the Savior, Savior of the world is here.


I cannot tell how He will win the nations,
How He will claim His earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
Of East and West, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,
And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,
And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor
When He the Savior, Savior of the world is known.


I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,
Or who can say how great the jubilation
When all the hearts of men with love are filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
And myriad, myriad human voices sing,
And earth to Heaven, and Heaven to earth, will answer:
At last the Savior, Savior of the world is King!

Words: William Young Fullerton, 1857-1932
Music: Londonderry Air (aka "O Danny Boy")

Create in me a clean heart

Some notes from breakfast this morning: 8 of us gathered round my table in the conservatory:

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

A blog entry by Karen Ehman over at Proverbs 31 entitled Getting Cleaned Up  (5 Nov 2010), talks about our urge to ‘clean up’ before we have visitors: the expectant mother who cleaned her house just BEFORE her mother arrived to help her clean it ready for the baby’s imminent arrival; those of us who cut our toenails BEFORE we go for a pedicure; clean our teeth better than they have been for months BEFORE we visit the dentist.  She says it’s not just a matter of ‘house-cleaning and hygiene’ – we do it on a grander scale. 

‘An innate urge asserts we must somehow "clean up our act" before we can come to Jesus. We feel it when we meet Him for the first time. Our bulky baggage of sin burdens us down. So we try to "clean up our act" so we can then come to Him.’

But as David said: "Create in me a clean heart O God."

Yes, we do the pleading.  He does the cleaning.
 

Even those of us who have walked with Him for years sometimes surmise, when wading in the swamp of our sin, that we too must surface-clean the tarnish so very hard before He will ever want to use us again.

So yes, we can remember anew that Jesus doesn’t want to wait for us to clean ourselves up before we come to him, because we can’t.  We have to approach him ‘warts and all’ as Oliver Cromwell said when he was to have his portrait painted: we can’t just polish up our attitudes, refurbish our good deeds, and brush our misdemeanours out of sight. We have to come to him honestly, just as we are:

Just as I am without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,

-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - though toss'd about

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings and fears within, without,

-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,

-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

-O Lamb of God, I come!

Brian Doerksen has a beautiful rendition of this lovely old hymn.

Just as confession – which I like to think of as honesty before God – is private, I think there’s a public face to this mindset as well. There is great healing and refreshment in not ‘putting on a clean face’ to others, whether these are friends, neighbours or colleagues. The world sets great store by appearance; we can offer a reality that does not paper over cracks, so that we don’t pretend to be something we are not. Often, people who perceive us as ‘religious’ because we ‘go to church’ also put us in the ‘good’ box. We’re not ‘good’ – we’re human.  I think it’s really important to be clear, transparent about our faults and failings. Or is this too dangerous, if we are to survive in the world of work and difficult neighbours?!

Some questions:

How best to keep ‘honest’ with God?
What are the ‘dangers’ of being ‘honest’? With God, with others – especially at work.
Do we admit to faults and failings, mistakes, things we forget to do…?

Let hope keep you joyful

Romans 12:12: Let hope keep you joyful; in trouble stand firm; persist in prayer.
Psalm 25

Unto Thee O LORD, Unto Thee O Lord

Do I lift up my soul
Unto Thee O LORD, Unto Thee O Lord
O my God, I trust in thee
Let me not be ashamed let not my enemies triumph over me.






Remember not, remember not,


The sins of my youth, the sins of my youth,


Remember not, remember not,


The sins of my youth, the sins of my youth,


O my God...






Teach me Thy ways, Teach me Thy ways,


Thy ways O lord, Thy ways O lord


O my God...


Do I lift up my soul



1 In you, LORD my God,






I put my trust.










2 I trust in you;




do not let me be put to shame,




nor let my enemies triumph over me.




3 No one who hopes in you

will ever be put to shame,

but shame will come on those

who are treacherous without cause.




4 Show me your ways, LORD,

teach me your paths.

5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,

for they are from of old.

7 Do not remember the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love remember me,

for you, LORD, are good.













My head is high, God, held high; I'm looking to you, God;

No hangdog skulking for me.




3 I've thrown in my lot with you;

You won't embarrass me, will you?

Or let my enemies get the best of me?




Don't embarrass any of us

Who went out on a limb for you.

It's the traitors who should be humiliated.




4 Show me how you work, God;

School me in your ways.




5 Take me by the hand;

Lead me down the path of truth.

You are my Savior, aren't you?




6 Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;

Rebuild the ancient landmarks!




7 Forget that I sowed wild oats;

Mark me with your sign of love.

Plan only the best for me, God!




8 God is fair and just;

He corrects the misdirected,

Sends them in the right direction.




9 He gives the rejects his hand,

And leads them step-by-step.




10 From now on every road you travel

Will take you to God.

Listening to God

Renee Swope has just posted about this...so this was my comment. Brief.

She says '...discover God’s purpose for our lives through dependent hearts that seek to listen to His...'

I know God's purpose. It is to trust him, regardless of the circumstances. It is only when I truly trust that I can begin to hear what he is saying to me.