Trust

I have been reflecting on day 2 of my kayaking course. We were learning to get out of a capsized kayak. However, in the course we are learning to be instructors/guides, we had to pair up, and one person would talk through with the other, to let them know what was going to happen.
One person was in the kayak, and the other was standing in the water. The person standing in the water would tip the person in the kayak upside down, and then back up. This happened a couple of times, before the 3rd time where we had to exit the kayak while it was still under water.
The object of this exercise is to build up the confidence of a kayaker to capsize and know what to do to get out.
However in the start of the exercise, a trust is needed with the instructor (the person in the water), and that trust builds as the exercise goes on... you see we didn't have a way of controlling the boat ourselves, we had to trust the instructor, that just as they tipped us over, they were going to bring us up the right way, and if something went wrong when we were trying to get out, we trusted them to help us, either getting us up right or out.
That got me to thinking about our relationship with Christ.
As we trust Christ, we grow in our trust of Him, we come to know that even when we can't see Him, cause we are upside down, He is still there, keeping an watchful eye on us, ready to tip us back up. And as we learn and grow in our trust, Christ trusts us more and more with His plans. Just like , once we show that we aren't scared to go under the water, and that we trust the instructor, he will give us more instruction on what we are to do, until we are able to get out oursleves.
Then we wait for our Rescuer, who will empty out the kayak and help us get back in.
I think it is a very good example of what Christ does for us.

kayaking

today, i have really learnt that if you don't use your skills you lose them.... at least a bit.
You see, i am doing a kayaking course at the moment, and it has been a while since i have been kayaking... and when i got on the water today, i remembered how to paddle and stuff, however my technique wasn't quite right, and i needed a reminder on how to execute the different strokes correctly. I could just go and paddle and have fun, however the strokes that i would use wouldn't be as effictive as if i executed them properly.
I was thinking about that tonight, and started to think how true that is in our spiritual lives... we practice listening to God so that we can reckonise God, and not the enemy. We read the bible and really press in to recieve what God wants to reveal to us. We go out and share the gospel, a word from God to our friends or people we meet. But if we stop these things for a little while we become "rusty", and go back a step, and relearn or be reminded to do these things and how to recieve from God.

I pray that makes sense to you....

Any way i got to go, i have some homework from this course to do.

Lately i have been reading Genesis, and about Abram/Abraham, and one thing that has stuck out to me... that even though in the New Testement Abraham was called a man of great faith in God.... Here in Genesis God reminds him a number of times of God's promise to him... and at one point Abram even took things into his own hands and had a child with his wife's maid servant... However God worked in Abram's life, and as a result grew Abram's faith, and gave him a new name Abraham.
Which gives me hope, i need to be reminded of the promises God has spoken to me and sometimes i try to do things my own way. Yet because of God great love and grace for me, people still call me a person of Faith.
I praise God, that it is through Him that i have Faith, the Faith that stands the test against the enemy... if it wasn't for Christ. My faith would be dead, i would of let it slip away long ago... I also praise the Lord God Almighty, cause He is growing my faith, like he grew Abram/Abraham's.

tonight an interesting night...

Well, tonight has been interesting... and it is only 9.30pm....
it started off talking to a couple of friends that are/have been going through some stuff... Hearing that a mate is home from hospital, Praise God...
Then i went out for a prayer walk... as i went along praying that God will impact this city, and that He will shine His light, do His work and that people would be and feel safe....
When i got home (a couple of minutes ago)... i came in the front door (not done that often, i usually come in the back), I found that i have a resident for the night sleeping near the door... (for those that know my place... he was in the corner of wall of the old mud drum shop and the fence, that is attched to the house.... if that makes sense).
Anyway, he was asleep so i couldn't offer him a coffee, or food or anything like that..... all i was able to do was get a bottle of water and place it next to him and write him a note saying that he is welcome to stay there.....
I prayed that people will be safe and that He would do His work.... i praise God that He lead someone here and they found it would be a safe place to stay... and i pray that i will actually get to met him... And That God would work in His life....

another reminder

As i was typing the last blog i was also reminded of another comic that i read last week.... In it the a group of Hereos were in danger, and Thor saw what was going to happen.... that his friends will end up dead.... and went to his father to find out how it will happen.... Once he found out, thor went to help them... his father forbid it... (and this is the part that i really wanted to tell you about) Thor then said to his dad "they (humans) may have turned their backs on us... but i will not turn my back on them"
This comment is true of God... of Jesus... tho a lot of people in the world have turned their backs on God... on Jesus... Jesus will not turn His back on them... on Us... Jesus Christ loves us that much that even tho we (humans) reject and turn our backs on Him... He'll always be right there looking out for us... and ready to welcome us into His family....
Hallelujah

Reminder from a comic book....

I have been reading some comics that a friend lent me.... and in the series that i have just finished reading "World War Hulk"... The Hulk made a comment near the end, that comment was "They call you what ever they want... saviour.... destroyer... But the only thing that matters is what you choose..."
That comment reminded me that through our words and actions we can build people up, and God can use us to bring them to the Saviour... or our word and actions can tear people down, destroy them, and turn them away from the Saviour. Especially when we do/say things in the name of the Saviour.... Jesus Christ...
And what we say/do.....it is OUR CHOICE....
The Holy Spirit can guide us in what to say and do.... however Ulimately it is OUR CHOICE....
because God gave us a free will.

acceptance and love.

today i went along to one of the local church services.... it was the first time that i had been to that church and i knew noone there. I had a really good time... it was easy to see that this church was a part of God's Church, for i got there at 10.30am for their service, i was welcomed with a smile, then introduced to someone else my age. After the service i enjoyed lunch with them and nearly everyone there introduced themselves to me, then played indoor cricket, pool and a little bit of basketball (all in their main hall). They included me, and it was coming naturally to them.... and they were genuine about it.
How often do we include people into our circles, churches and anything that we are doing....
And how often are we genuine about it.
You see that is exactly what Christ did... He included those that were on the fringe, the people that didn't know anyone, the people that were different to the "norm" or more like what is seen as the "norm". Christ loves everyone....
We are called to love and accept everyone like Christ... and the only way that we are able to do that is by accepting Christ love for us... and allowing that love of Christ to flow through us....
Christ gives us the ability to love others because of His love for us, you see we don't deserve this love... But Christ chooses to love us... He wants to love us.... and it is by His grace that we have a relationship with Christ and recieve that love....

Jesus thankyou for Your love for me, help me to see everyone one the way that you see them and love them like You do.... Amen

reflection of 2007

Well since this is my first blog for 2008, i thought i would begin with reflecting on 2007
A lot of things happened...
I have seen friends come and go from our cell group and some stayed...
Housemates have moved in and moved out...
Been to New Zealand... travel approx 700km there in 6 days (and not in a car)
Saw some beautiful countryside.
Ran a training program - Combat training
Been to Vancouver and helped with Battle School
And just helped and hung out there for a while after.
Went camping
Seen friends move to Vancouver....
Spent time with friends on the Gold Coast.
Seen spiritual grow in a number of my friends..
Seen at least 5 friends that became Senior Soldier.
Been to Melbourne at least 3 times.
Seen spiritual growth in my self...


I Praise God for the work that He has done in me over the past year, it has been really cool... And His gentle proding and calling me to step up more... this is one thing that i have been realising over the few months of the year... You see, i am used to someone else being the leader, and leading the charge.... and i just got alone side them and helped... God has been calling me to step up.... to lead people to Him, closer to Him.... I don't know how to, but i am learning, and there is a lot for me to learn from God on this....
Some of my friends say that i have an impact on the people around me.... i don't always see how, cause to me i don't do much.... so i know that any impact i have is because of Christ... However i sometimes take the credit/praise, instead of giving the credit/praise to God.... And then when i realise that i have been taking the credit/praise.... I start to question my motives in why i do some of the simiplest things. Whether i do them cause i really care about a person, or do i do them just in order to feel like people love me.... And then fall into where the enemy wants me... worried about why i am doing things, and not wanting to do things in the wrong motive and also wanting to do God's will, and nothing that isn't of Him..... and therefore sometimes not doing anything at all....
We can't just sit and do nothing.... that is what the enemy wants us to do...
You see, if we are doing nothing, the Gospel isn't being preached, there is no praying, there is no one to look out for and loving the people on the fringe of society.... We are called to do something... to preach the good news to the world, to share it, to love one another.... These are things that everyone is called to do, and can do... You see preaching the good news doesn't mean that you have to stand up on a platform and preach a sermon (tho some are called to that). It means for us to go out and share the good news with our friends, family, and people that we meet.... Now you don't need to know the bible like the back of your hand, you just have to answer one question... What has God done in your life...
A lot people (in the Western World at least) have heard about Jesus and His story, and they don't think that the story is relevent to them or even this current era... However Your story they haven't heard.... they haven't heard what Christ has done in Your life... They can't argue with your experience, with your story...
so don't just do nothing, at least you can tell your story... that is enough to have the enemy shaking in his boots....

this blog has changed focus as i typed.... and has become a little long.... Sorry...

Anyway I pray that God will fully bless you in 2008, may you to step up into what God is calling you to...

Lux