I'm pretty sure I've quoted these verses on my blog before, but they've been on my mind again tonight as I consider, 'Who am I?" and think about the many, many things I do not know or understand, and the tasks I am called to that I don't feel equipped to do. This verses remind me that it's not about me and how equipped I feel, it's not about what I have to offer God, it's what He has offered me by His grace. It's about His power, which is made perfect in my weakness.
'But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.' 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
He's always been faithful
I'm just joining the music team in our church, and learning some new songs. This was on one of our CDs and I love the words especially, decided I would love it to be my life's theme song. Hope it encourages you.
Whatever you're going through, know that God is faithful. Read the countless stories of people in the Bible who have seen and experienced His faithfulness, get to know others who've seen it too. Record the times He's been faithful to you, so when times are tough you can look back and say with confidence, yet God is faithful.
He's always been faithful by Sara Groves
Morning by morning I wake up to find
the power and comfort of God's hand in mine.
Season by season I watch him amazed, in
awe of the mystery of his perfect ways
CHORUS:
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me
I can't remember a trial or a pain he did
not recycle to bring me gain. I can't
remember one single regret in serving
God only and trusting his hand
This is my anthem, this is my song, the
theme of the stories I've heard for so long.
God has been faithful, he will be again.
His loving compassion, it knows no end.
Whatever you're going through, know that God is faithful. Read the countless stories of people in the Bible who have seen and experienced His faithfulness, get to know others who've seen it too. Record the times He's been faithful to you, so when times are tough you can look back and say with confidence, yet God is faithful.
He's always been faithful by Sara Groves
Morning by morning I wake up to find
the power and comfort of God's hand in mine.
Season by season I watch him amazed, in
awe of the mystery of his perfect ways
CHORUS:
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me
I can't remember a trial or a pain he did
not recycle to bring me gain. I can't
remember one single regret in serving
God only and trusting his hand
This is my anthem, this is my song, the
theme of the stories I've heard for so long.
God has been faithful, he will be again.
His loving compassion, it knows no end.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
A process
A friend read this passage to me this afternoon from Romans 5:1-4, and talked about the 'process' of growth that each of us go through and how God uses our suffering to shape us into the people He wants us to be.
'...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.'
On my way home I heard a song that's often playing on 103.2, 'Break My Heart' by Jonny Diaz. The words that are often ringing through my head: 'Let me see through the eyes of the hurting, come break my heart... true grace sees a face not a burden, come break my heart, Lord, break my heart.' It's one of those songs that reminds me of an older pastor in our church who often challenged us about the words we were singing, I can imagine him saying, 'Dangerous words!! Are we really ready for God to break our hearts?!'
I want to be a person who God uses to reach out to others with His love, but I get in the way. Little old me, focusing on my own pain, instead of on Jesus.
'...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.'
On my way home I heard a song that's often playing on 103.2, 'Break My Heart' by Jonny Diaz. The words that are often ringing through my head: 'Let me see through the eyes of the hurting, come break my heart... true grace sees a face not a burden, come break my heart, Lord, break my heart.' It's one of those songs that reminds me of an older pastor in our church who often challenged us about the words we were singing, I can imagine him saying, 'Dangerous words!! Are we really ready for God to break our hearts?!'
I want to be a person who God uses to reach out to others with His love, but I get in the way. Little old me, focusing on my own pain, instead of on Jesus.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Delight
Been thinking tonight about that verse that talks about delighting in God. It's so easy to get distracted and to put our hope in other things. Searched Bible Gateway to find the verse (Psalm 37:4), and came across lots of other verses that talk about 'delight', but surprisingly (to me anyway) often in reference to the way God relates to us, rather than only the other way around.
This one in particular stood out to me in the context of a question Sarah asked today, 'Why does God love us?'. It still baffles me that the God who created this universe would 'delight' in us, that He would send His only Son into our world - though a King (the King of Kings), born in a lowly stable and laid in a manger - and that His Son would take our place, my place, on the cross, and pay the price for my sin, all those times I go my own way instead of God's.
Despite our sin, because of Jesus, He delights in us. Oh to delight in Him!
Psalm 147:11 'The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.'
This one in particular stood out to me in the context of a question Sarah asked today, 'Why does God love us?'. It still baffles me that the God who created this universe would 'delight' in us, that He would send His only Son into our world - though a King (the King of Kings), born in a lowly stable and laid in a manger - and that His Son would take our place, my place, on the cross, and pay the price for my sin, all those times I go my own way instead of God's.
Despite our sin, because of Jesus, He delights in us. Oh to delight in Him!
Psalm 147:11 'The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.'
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Decisions, decisions
Why are there so many decisions to make in life? Especially as a Mum. There are just so many considerations. Sometimes it's a little overwhelming.
I've really been struggling with the whole discipline thing, and spoke to my pastor and his wife a little while back, along with friends. A friend gave me a book, 'Don't Make Me Count to Three' which I started reading ages ago, but don't think I ever finished and didn't really have the energy to read before (sounds terrible I know). But recently I found it again and thought it'd be a good time to read it. Found it quite helpful to think through different issues, but I guess the biggest part I took away was coming back to what the Bible says, particularly in Ephesians 6. It tells children to obey your parents and honour your father and mother. I worry that my decisions may not always be the best, and whether it's fair for my children to have to 'obey' me. But I guess I have to realise that God has put me in this role, and He promises to give me His strength if I submit to Him. It's just so hard at times.
This afternoon I read a blog post from Bob Kauflin who recently visited our church and he highlighted the importance of coming back to the Bible as we think about how our churches should operate, in particular in terms of worship and music. He suggested it's easy to get distracted by what other people do or don't do and our opinions about that, rather than coming straight to God's Word and getting our views directly from there. Made me think how often we do the same with discipline.
Phew. Sometimes life is heavy. Sometimes I wish there weren't so many decisions I had to make.
I've really been struggling with the whole discipline thing, and spoke to my pastor and his wife a little while back, along with friends. A friend gave me a book, 'Don't Make Me Count to Three' which I started reading ages ago, but don't think I ever finished and didn't really have the energy to read before (sounds terrible I know). But recently I found it again and thought it'd be a good time to read it. Found it quite helpful to think through different issues, but I guess the biggest part I took away was coming back to what the Bible says, particularly in Ephesians 6. It tells children to obey your parents and honour your father and mother. I worry that my decisions may not always be the best, and whether it's fair for my children to have to 'obey' me. But I guess I have to realise that God has put me in this role, and He promises to give me His strength if I submit to Him. It's just so hard at times.
This afternoon I read a blog post from Bob Kauflin who recently visited our church and he highlighted the importance of coming back to the Bible as we think about how our churches should operate, in particular in terms of worship and music. He suggested it's easy to get distracted by what other people do or don't do and our opinions about that, rather than coming straight to God's Word and getting our views directly from there. Made me think how often we do the same with discipline.
Phew. Sometimes life is heavy. Sometimes I wish there weren't so many decisions I had to make.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Imperfect
I run an imperfect household. There are so many things I haven't figured out. Parenting is HARD work!!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Shine Conference
I went to the Shine Conference today, and had a great time. I haven't been involved with worship ministry in quite a while, and had almost forgotten how much I love it.
The morning speaker talked about the power of music, and the impact it can have on people and how we should be really wise in the way we use music in our churches - particularly in the selection of songs. Music has such a huge potential to point people to God and to remind them of His promises, even amidst the most difficult circumstances. I can attest to that - so many times I have ended up in tears when God has brought along the right song at just the right time to speak to my heart - He is truly an amazing God!!
In the afternoon I went to the vocals workshop which was fun, and very practical. Made me want to start singing lessons and join the worship team again soon!!
Had two good cups of coffee and met some lovely ladies, and was reminded again just how small Christian circles are!! Didn't meet any great single guys though... shame.
Elisabeth Elliot writes:
'The growth of all living green things wonderfully represents the process of receiving and relinquishing, gaining and losing, living and dying. The seed falls into the ground, dies as the new shoot springs up. There must be a splitting and a breaking in order for a bud to form. The bud 'lets go' when the flower forms. The calyx lets go of the flower. The petals must curl up and die in order for the fruit to form. The fruit falls, splits, relinquishes the seed. The seed falls into the ground....
There is no ongoing spiritual life without this process of letting go.' Passion and Purity, p163
The morning speaker talked about the power of music, and the impact it can have on people and how we should be really wise in the way we use music in our churches - particularly in the selection of songs. Music has such a huge potential to point people to God and to remind them of His promises, even amidst the most difficult circumstances. I can attest to that - so many times I have ended up in tears when God has brought along the right song at just the right time to speak to my heart - He is truly an amazing God!!
In the afternoon I went to the vocals workshop which was fun, and very practical. Made me want to start singing lessons and join the worship team again soon!!
Had two good cups of coffee and met some lovely ladies, and was reminded again just how small Christian circles are!! Didn't meet any great single guys though... shame.
Elisabeth Elliot writes:
'The growth of all living green things wonderfully represents the process of receiving and relinquishing, gaining and losing, living and dying. The seed falls into the ground, dies as the new shoot springs up. There must be a splitting and a breaking in order for a bud to form. The bud 'lets go' when the flower forms. The calyx lets go of the flower. The petals must curl up and die in order for the fruit to form. The fruit falls, splits, relinquishes the seed. The seed falls into the ground....
There is no ongoing spiritual life without this process of letting go.' Passion and Purity, p163
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