Through who's eyes do you see people?

I have had some really great conversations recently with two people, who I might try to avoid. You know the sort of people I mean. They want to talk for hours, usually when you in rush to get somewhere. Well if you stop to talk to them it is very apparent why the want to talk to you, because they are craving some human contact. They are very lonely people.

One person told me what has happened to them over the last few years. They are not a Christian, and hearing their story made my heart crumble. As I was listening to her, I was praying that the Lord could reveal Himself to her, and show hear what she has been searching for so many years. This was someone who could really benefit from a loving Christian community around her. I told her that I would pray for her situation. I am praying for her, but also that I could find someone closer to her age in the church to befriend her.

The other person is a Christian but has also had a very hard life. She has strayed off the path set be for her. But yet was able to tell me a story of what happened to her last weekend. That reassured me of God's faithfulness. As I was listening to her, I heard the Lord speak to me. "You would of preferred she hadn't come and spoke to you, but listen to her story, I have been doing a great work in her. You must see with My Eyes, see people how I do. These were the people who came to Me (Jesus) when I was on earth. Do not judge with the worlds standards, judge with Mine."

I felt so convicted by these words. How often do you judge with the worlds standards? I know I do it to often. We are so surrounded by media images that impose the worlds view of people (You must be beautiful and successful to be of value). That it is easy to forget how we should see people. (Everyone is precious and irreplaceable in God's eyes.)

What's easier?

As you know I have been searching for direction in my life this week. I have taking some time to really seek God about the calling on my life, and where I should be putting my next footsteps.

I tell you, it has been an interesting week. Little pockets of insight have been given to me each day. And what I suppose shouldn't be surprising, I have been shown a very different path than the one I thought I was going to be walking on. What also shouldn't be surprising, it will cost me a lot more than I thought it would.

I don't want to share to much about the direction I feel God is leading me until I have had some more confirmation from the Lord. Remember what I said about my emotions having a big part in thinking what God is saying to me. Time and confirmation will tell if what I believe I have heard is from God or from me.

But I will say this, the option I thought I was going to be led down wouldn't of been any sacrifice. It would of been great, certainly something I am passionate about and would find really great. But now at the end of this week of really seeking with no other agenda, but that of wanting to serve and operate in my calling. I am now looking at something that will really cost, it will mean a lot of sacrifice. Remember what I put in my last post Samuel 24:24 "I will not sacrifice to the Lord that which cost me nothing".

Don't you find that we are always looking for the easy option? Certainly I think I do. I think it is part of me being naturally lazy, always looking the option that will be more efficient. In fact the first proper job I ever had was in a garden centre, when I was 13. The words my boss said at the time have stuck with me for the rest of my life. "Jason, before you ever do any job, always take 5 mins to think about the best (easiest) way of doing that job. It will save you far more time in the long run." I have found these words really helpful. But you see that is mans way of doing things, the logical way of doing things. The Lord I know and love often does things quite differently.

Who does the Lord get to slay Goliath? Saul big, strong and mighty the King of the people, or David a young shepherd boy. Logic would say Saul, God says David.

Who lead a assault on the midianites? Logic says the greatest strongest leader, God says Gideon the least of the least. How many soldiers should he have? Logic says the most amount possible, God says no fewer, no l mean a lot fewer.

How shall the Lord save the world from its sin?

You get the idea.

Do you remember what you prayed 7 years ago?

As I was walking to work this morning I had a verse going around and around in my head. It was Samuel 24:24 "I will not sacrifice to the Lord that which costs me nothing". A friend of mine said about this verse a few months ago, and I heard it again this morning on a Hillsong DVD this morning. It really grabs me every time I hear that verse.

Yesterday my wife and I were praying for insight for where to put our next step. Steph saw our daughter Eden and was reminded how she loves to eat. Sometimes she would be so full inside but still want more to eat that she would have to spit out the milk from her mouth. It isn't until she has filled her nappy that she has enough room to eat more. Steph said she thought that God was speaking to us through this. She felt that the Lord would not reveal His plan fully to us until we put something down, because He did not want us to waste any of it.

I was praying as I walked in this morning that God would continue to reveal His plan for my life. After having the verse in Samuel going round in my head. I remembered what the Lord said yesterday. Then the Lord stirred my memory from 7 years ago. When I was 18 I can remember saying to the Lord, "I offer my life to You, I will give up everything and follow You". The Lord replied to me very clearly and said "But you have nothing to give up. When you do have something to give then I will ask". At the time I didn't have a job I was living in temporary accommodation I had bit of outstanding debt on some credit cards. I had no savings and no possessions of real value. Doesn't this sound like David in Samuel 24:24 "I will not sacrifice to the Lord that which costs me nothing."

Now I have a very secure job, my own house, well you get the idea. Scary very scary.
God will hold you to His word. So what did you pray 7 years ago?

Water walking

I am re-reading "If you want to walk on water you need to get out of the boat" at the moment. I saw it on my book case on Tuesday and felt drawn to read it again.

Don't you find book's have an anointed time to read them. The first time I read this book, I remember not feeling too challenged. But now it couldn't be more relevant. Which makes it a very scary book to read.

If your unfamiliar with the book, its based around Peter getting out of the boat to walk on water with Jesus. It is incredibly challenging if you are in a situation that needs you to get out of your comfort zones. At the moment I am feeling that I am being led into a different season. I have been trying to ignore it. But I can't ignore it any longer. So I have decided to take some time to really pray about what God has install for me and my family.

What do you put your trust in? This is one of the questions in the first chapter of the book. I know the spiritual answer in God, but think about it for a minute what really does give you security. I think for me is my Job; to know each month money will come in and pay for the mortgage and food for the family. Thinking about it like that is really scary. Do I really put my trust and security in Jesus or do I put my trust in the world I have created around me?

Please be praying for me at this time, while I ask for the Lords Discernment about the direction of my life.

Had a cracking day, yesterday

Yesterday was great. It was the first time I had led worship in 2 months. I had a bit of a break due to the birth of my beautiful daughter.

There is really nothing better in the world, than operating inside your calling. I had spent a lot of time praying about my set for Sunday. I didn't have a band practice so it was a off the cuff job. I found my inspiration where I often do, in the shower. I was singing away and suddenly found myself constructing the set in my head. I had been really searching before in the week for inspiration, but had not found it until then.

I started my set with the first verse of "Praise my Soul the King of Heaven" and then flowed straight into "Praise Him you heavens" and then back to the hymn. It was awesome, as soon as we changed into Praise him you heavens, it felt like the worship went up a level. And then again, when changed back to the hymn. From there on there was a real feeling of the manifest presence of God. It was a great honor to lead that day.

It was certainly one of those times when to hair on the back of my neck started to stand on end.

Is it God talking or my emotions?

Yesterday I was feeling very down. I was bored and fed up. I had a very uninteresting day at work and the weather was rubbish. So because of this I started to tell myself "Maybe the Lord is promting me to move jobs".

It is amazing how the way we feel often dictates what we think God is saying to us. God is an unchanging God he unlike us isn't controlled by emotions. He is beyond that. God who was and is and is to come is faithful and unchanging, if He wasn't he wouldn't be God.

There are times and seasons, but I believe if God is moving you to a new ministry. He will have already made the paths straight. So it is perfectly clear what you are moving too. Yesterday I wanted a change but I didn't have somewhere to move on too.

Guess what the Sun is out today and I feel much better. I am so glad God is not like me. Do you ever feel like God is talking to you, when its really just your emotions?

Bath or Shower?

As you probably know my wife and I recently had a baby girl. She is to awesome for words. As she is breast fed she needs her mum most of the time. But one of my responsibilities as the father is the give her a bath before bedtime.

She loves her baths. We bought her a plastic seat that holds her comfortably in safe position in the bath. Generally she just lies their, looking peacefully around at her surroundings.

Now I am a shower man I love my showers in the morning, in fact I'm pretty useless in the morning if I don't have one. When I was in the shower this morning scrubbing away. I thought about the difference between showering and bathing. In fact it was something my mum, said to me a few months ago. "A shower is a quick way of washing, but you have to scrub and put in the effort to get clean. But in a bath you simply lie their. You can't rush a bath."

Jesus said that we were to come to him with a childlike heart. Now my daughter has no option to have a shower and scrub because she can't even stand up. She has no option but to just lie their, her baths are usually very long.

Don't you think that in this impatient world we live in we try to have a shower with God's presence? (a quick fix) But Jesus said we should be more like my daughter and just bath in God's presence. Not Striving, trying to do the job ourselves. But just be with him, and he will wash away the dirt from this world.

After spending quality time with the Lord we do have a healthy glow, from being washed in Glory. People, even non-Christians notice the difference. Look at Moses after he had been with the Lord, when he returned to the people they couldn't even look at him for his face was shining with the Glory of the Lord.

So lets find the time to have a bath with God.

Are we operating in our calling?

We are here on earth for a very short period of time, when you compare a lifetime to eternity. So while we are here we better make it count. I wake up thinking this most mornings, and ask myself the same two questions. Am I where I should be? Am I making a difference? (0r in otherwords "Am I operating in my calling?)

Do you know what, I'm always worried that I'm not. I wonder am I really making difference, and often think surely I could serve the Lord better somewhere else. But do when I recount what I am doing I realize that I actually am making a difference, and more than likely in the right place.

Some one once said "Be prepared to go, but content to stay", I always found the latter the harder. I think because you always think that the fields are greener somewhere else. (but rarely are!). Some good friends of mine have recently been called away from our church, when I first heard that they were leaving I was really upset. But after I had prayed about it, and Jesus had told me quite clearly that it was His will. I was really exciting for them, I was still upset that they were moving but exiting because I knew that God has something awesome for them to do.

I think a good way of indentifying if you are in the right place; is to look at your giftings, and see if you are using them. If you are, you are probably in the right place. If not, it is possible that God may be calling you somewhere else. (If you are unsure what your giftings are ask your friends they will soon tell you what they are)