The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water. Gen 1:2
What area of your life feels barren with no form of life? What part of you feels as though it is under a roaring ocean and covered with darkness.
Ask the Holy Spirit to move over the water...
Father, grant me a Genesis week this week.
Tuesday 03 January 2012
Sunday 01 January 2012
Rhythm - One Word 365 for 2012
For as long as I can remember, I've been one of those people that is always striving. It was as though there has been a banner over my life which says:
'No matter how hard I try, I'm never good enough.'
This is a lie. And we all know where those come from. The father of lies in the pit of hell.
This lie has impacted how I live my life, the choices I make - daily and for changes in my life, and all my relationships, especially - obviously - my relationship with God.
So, this year, God (present with me and a strong Warrior here to save me - Zeph 3:17) and I are going to slay this dragon and deal with whatever is left of him.
This will be the year where:Strivings and all anguished dreams
In rags lie at my feet
And only grace provides the way
For me to stand complete
(Chris Bowater)
...and I actually get it.
Once, while worshipping God at a service at my Morden Baptist Church we were singing this song:
So I'm lifting up my hands
Lifting up my voice
Lifting up Your name
And in Your grace I rest
For Your love has come to me
And set me free
(Stuart Townend)
As I sang the words 'And in Your grace I rest' I saw a picture of a guy lying in a hammock. Your typical tropical scene - a hammock between two palm trees, the sense of peace and rest. He was chewing the end of a long piece of grass. And there were words underneath the picture:
'Not a care in the world'
Perhaps my new banner should be:
'In Your grace I rest - not a care in the world.'
There is a passage of scripture about this that just reads beautifully in The Message:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Matthew 11:28-30
This year I decided to get on board with some others who are choosing one word as a kind of touchstone for the year. You can read the original challenge for yourself. Join the One Word Community if you'd like.
My word will be RHYTHM and I'll be asking God to teach me the unforced rhythms of His grace until I exchange my old lying banner for 'In Your grace I rest - not a care in the world'.
What will you choose for 2012?
'No matter how hard I try, I'm never good enough.'
This is a lie. And we all know where those come from. The father of lies in the pit of hell.
This lie has impacted how I live my life, the choices I make - daily and for changes in my life, and all my relationships, especially - obviously - my relationship with God.
So, this year, God (present with me and a strong Warrior here to save me - Zeph 3:17) and I are going to slay this dragon and deal with whatever is left of him.
This will be the year where:Strivings and all anguished dreams
In rags lie at my feet
And only grace provides the way
For me to stand complete
(Chris Bowater)
...and I actually get it.
Once, while worshipping God at a service at my Morden Baptist Church we were singing this song:
So I'm lifting up my hands
Lifting up my voice
Lifting up Your name
And in Your grace I rest
For Your love has come to me
And set me free
(Stuart Townend)
As I sang the words 'And in Your grace I rest' I saw a picture of a guy lying in a hammock. Your typical tropical scene - a hammock between two palm trees, the sense of peace and rest. He was chewing the end of a long piece of grass. And there were words underneath the picture:
'Not a care in the world'
Perhaps my new banner should be:
'In Your grace I rest - not a care in the world.'
There is a passage of scripture about this that just reads beautifully in The Message:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Matthew 11:28-30
This year I decided to get on board with some others who are choosing one word as a kind of touchstone for the year. You can read the original challenge for yourself. Join the One Word Community if you'd like.
My word will be RHYTHM and I'll be asking God to teach me the unforced rhythms of His grace until I exchange my old lying banner for 'In Your grace I rest - not a care in the world'.
What will you choose for 2012?
Tuesday 27 December 2011
Dreaming BIG
When dreaming with God about your life, always leave lots of space for the impossible.
"When Jesus' time [came], He [appeared] out of nowhere, not meeting prior expectations." WordLive 2011/12/27 http://tinyurl.com/d5wrdjr
In my experience, our expectations are way too small for the outrageous, awesome magnitude of what God plans to do in us and through us.
I love the stories of Christmas because they all have elements of them that, whilst familiar, don't make any sense at all. And every time I hear them, some new impossibility that became possible with God strikes me again.
This year, it was the beauty of Joseph's love for Mary in the face of seeming adultery and obedience to God's words in a strange dream that highlighted God's BIG dream for the world to me. And I have to ask myself - in my own life, where others have done things that seem as bad as adultery, do I love them? When God speaks clearly in a dream, am I prepared to be obedient, even if others will think I'm crazy and I'll be labelled a fool?
Jesus didn't meet the people's expectations and seemed to appear out of nowhere. Perhaps the dreams God has for my life will not meet the expectations of others and will seem to appear out of nowhere. And perhaps that's what He intended all along.
"When Jesus' time [came], He [appeared] out of nowhere, not meeting prior expectations." WordLive 2011/12/27 http://tinyurl.com/d5wrdjr
In my experience, our expectations are way too small for the outrageous, awesome magnitude of what God plans to do in us and through us.
I love the stories of Christmas because they all have elements of them that, whilst familiar, don't make any sense at all. And every time I hear them, some new impossibility that became possible with God strikes me again.
This year, it was the beauty of Joseph's love for Mary in the face of seeming adultery and obedience to God's words in a strange dream that highlighted God's BIG dream for the world to me. And I have to ask myself - in my own life, where others have done things that seem as bad as adultery, do I love them? When God speaks clearly in a dream, am I prepared to be obedient, even if others will think I'm crazy and I'll be labelled a fool?
Jesus didn't meet the people's expectations and seemed to appear out of nowhere. Perhaps the dreams God has for my life will not meet the expectations of others and will seem to appear out of nowhere. And perhaps that's what He intended all along.
Tuesday 31 August 2010
Raise the dead
We are still called to roll away the stone from the grave. Jesus still calls forth the dead. And we are still asked to unwrap the graveclothes and let them go. ~ John 11
1-3A man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. This was the same Mary who massaged the Lord's feet with aromatic oils and then wiped them with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was sick. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love so very much is sick." 4When Jesus got the message, he said, "This sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God's glory by glorifying God's Son." 5-7Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but oddly, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed on where he was for two more days. After the two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea." 8They said, "Rabbi, you can't do that. The Jews are out to kill you, and you're going back?" 9-10Jesus replied, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in daylight doesn't stumble because there's plenty of light from the sun. Walking at night, he might very well stumble because he can't see where he's going." 11He said these things, and then announced, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I'm going to wake him up." 12-13The disciples said, "Master, if he's gone to sleep, he'll get a good rest and wake up feeling fine." Jesus was talking about death, while his disciples thought he was talking about taking a nap. 14-15Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him." 16That's when Thomas, the one called the Twin, said to his companions, "Come along. We might as well die with him." 17-20When Jesus finally got there, he found Lazarus already four days dead. Bethany was near Jerusalem, only a couple of miles away, and many of the Jews were visiting Martha and Mary, sympathizing with them over their brother. Martha heard Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary remained in the house. 21-22Martha said, "Master, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you." 23Jesus said, "Your brother will be raised up." 24Martha replied, "I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time." 25-26"You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?" 27"Yes, Master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the world." 28After saying this, she went to her sister Mary and whispered in her ear, "The Teacher is here and is asking for you." (John 11, The Message)
1-3A man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. This was the same Mary who massaged the Lord's feet with aromatic oils and then wiped them with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was sick. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love so very much is sick." 4When Jesus got the message, he said, "This sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God's glory by glorifying God's Son." 5-7Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but oddly, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed on where he was for two more days. After the two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea." 8They said, "Rabbi, you can't do that. The Jews are out to kill you, and you're going back?" 9-10Jesus replied, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in daylight doesn't stumble because there's plenty of light from the sun. Walking at night, he might very well stumble because he can't see where he's going." 11He said these things, and then announced, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I'm going to wake him up." 12-13The disciples said, "Master, if he's gone to sleep, he'll get a good rest and wake up feeling fine." Jesus was talking about death, while his disciples thought he was talking about taking a nap. 14-15Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him." 16That's when Thomas, the one called the Twin, said to his companions, "Come along. We might as well die with him." 17-20When Jesus finally got there, he found Lazarus already four days dead. Bethany was near Jerusalem, only a couple of miles away, and many of the Jews were visiting Martha and Mary, sympathizing with them over their brother. Martha heard Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary remained in the house. 21-22Martha said, "Master, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you." 23Jesus said, "Your brother will be raised up." 24Martha replied, "I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time." 25-26"You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?" 27"Yes, Master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the world." 28After saying this, she went to her sister Mary and whispered in her ear, "The Teacher is here and is asking for you." (John 11, The Message)
Monday 21 June 2010
He knows
In the deepest darkest moments of my life, the only thing that would console me was that Jesus knows. He knows it all. He understands things others may only guess at. And He cares. I didn't have much to say for myself during those times. All I recall getting out was 'Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.' But He knows.
If you are going through a dark moment - or perhaps are still walking through a dark valley - then this is for you:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:1-2
If you are going through a dark moment - or perhaps are still walking through a dark valley - then this is for you:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:1-2
Sunday 20 June 2010
It's all about You, Jesus / And all this is for You
Psalm 3:3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
Monday 08 March 2010
check mate
Unlike the very romantic waltz, where the man provides a frame within which the woman is even more beautiful, in chess, the queen is the most powerful piece on the board and her every move, whether in defence or attack, must be always to protect her king. The meaning of 'ezer kenegdo' lies much closer to 'life saver'... than the 'help meet' we have always been led to believe.
Thursday 11 June 2009
"All I ever want to be is what You made me"
There have been moments when I could not face
Goliath on my own
And how could I forget we marched
Around our share of Jericho's?
But I will not be setting out
A fleece for you tonight
Just wanna know that everything will be alright
Oh great God be small enough to hear me now
~ Nichole Nordeman
Father, that I might be like an olive tree, thriving in Your house. I will always trust in Your unfailing love.
Psalm 52:8
I call.
You answer.
And you came to my rescue
And I want to be where You are.
In my life be lifted high
In my world be lifted high
In my love be lifted high
~ Hillsong United
Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
Goliath on my own
And how could I forget we marched
Around our share of Jericho's?
But I will not be setting out
A fleece for you tonight
Just wanna know that everything will be alright
Oh great God be small enough to hear me now
~ Nichole Nordeman
Father, that I might be like an olive tree, thriving in Your house. I will always trust in Your unfailing love.
Psalm 52:8
I call.
You answer.
And you came to my rescue
And I want to be where You are.
In my life be lifted high
In my world be lifted high
In my love be lifted high
~ Hillsong United
Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”
Psalm 27:4
The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
Monday 18 May 2009
Java Setlist - May 17th, 2009
This post is participating in the blog carnival over at Fred's. Checkout Sunday Setlists from worship leaders all over the world...
Human – God breathed
The Killers have a song out called ‘Human’. The meaning of the lyrics is hotly debated. This song has been playing in my head for a while. For me, God is speaking about love being a verb. He has breathed His Spirit into me. For a purpose.
“Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold”
Am I a marrionette - movement but no heartbeat, no blood flowing? or Am I human - dust with God-breathed life - as His child, filled with His Spirit?
ESV - ...then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature...
Black Eyed Peas are singing:
People killing people dying
Children hurtin you hear them crying
Can you practice what you preach
Would you turn the other cheek?
Father Father Father help us
Send some guidance from above
Cause people got me got me questioning
Where is the love?
A Tim Hughes' God of Justice:
We must go
live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward
keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go
Fill us up and send us out Lord
…make me human again.
“Recently, I saw a group of people eagerly passing out snacks and hot cocoa on an Atlanta street. The group was dressed in a uniform of sorts that read “The Church Has Left the Building.”
Surprisingly, the church name wasn't on the shirt. No plug. No quotas being met. No guilt being given in the form of "we fed you now come visit us." That a church would simply want to serve—without any apparent effort to self-promote—is rare, indeed, in our culture today.
…
Too often it seems that professing Christians are more busy doing church rather than being the church to our communities. Of course, church is much more than a set of rituals. It isn't the performance of teachers, or musicians, or the pastor. Church is the life of Jesus on display through His people. The Church Has Left the Building - John Young on crosswalk.com
Is this me?
(I didn't use the quote in italics but it's part of what was driving the setlist for me.)James 1:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Micah 6:8 The Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free..."
John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!..."
Aaron Boyd - Bluetree, Belfast:"Whilst on a short-term missions trip to Thailand, we played at the Climax Bar, which doubles as a brothel in the red-light district. I didn't know what to expect; you have a mixture of every emotion at once. When you see old men walking down the street with young girls, you want to go vigilante. But then you see the look in the girls' eyes and your heart breaks. Everything all rolled into one."
'Their band and a few other members of their church went on a mission trip to Pattaya, Thailand recently. In Pattaya, there are over 30,000 female prostitutes over the age of 18! (That is not counting the ones under 18, or even the male prostitutes there) While they were walking around the town, they walked into a local bar there called...."The Climax Club", which was looking ofr bands to play. They agreed to give it a try and asked how long the owner how long he wanted them to play. The owner said, "As long as your friends continues to buy cokes." So they ended up buying cokes for 2-3 hours.
So for over 2 hours this band sang Jesus over these prostitutes who had no idea what they were singing! All of the sudden this song "came down from heaven," as one of the band members recalls. Then spontaneously they started singing.'
The song was God of this City (Greater things).
Setlist
Walk-in: CD track - God of Justice
Announcements & Prayer
God He Reigns - offering
*share the drive behind the set - see above*
Awesome God - chorus only (MW Smith)
God of this City - went in at 'There is no one like our God'
The splendour of the King - chorus and bridge only - How great is our God / Name above all Names
God of Justice vid - I was hoping to teach this one and sing it with the congregation, but our practice on Thursday was a bit hijacked by some other issues. Note to self: do not talk church during worship practice.
Coffee
Sermon series - Holy Spirit - Rev. Roy Newton - S.H.A.P.E.
{{You breathe in me / And I'm alive /
By the power of your holiness / You breathe in me / And you revive / Feelings in
my soul / That I had laid to rest /I used to be/ So sensitive / To the light
that leads / To where you are / Now I've acquired / These callouses / With the
darkness of / A cold and jaded heartSo breathe in me / I need you now /
I've never felt so dead within / So breathe in me / Maybe somehow / You can
breathe new life / In me again}}
Sunday 10 May 2009
Sunday Setlists - May 3rd, 2009
Probably last one into Fred's Sunday Setlists for this week. ;)
Walk-in: Jesus, Messiah
For who You are - *offering*
Announcements & Prayer
Challenge - don't sing the words if you are not ready to say them. We're singing a lot of things tonight:
'Lord, You have my heart and I will search for Yours'
'Let me be to You a sacrifice'
'I will worship You with all of my heart, mind and strength. '
'I want more love, power, faith and passion – more of You'
'I pour out my life'
'What can I do but offer my heart completely to You'
'I give my life to declare Your promise'
'I’ll stand with my arms high and my heart abandoned, my soul surrendered to You.'
'All I am is Yours.'
The Stand
Prayer
Once Again
Lord, You have my heart
Open prayer – for who YOU are
More love, more power
Coffee
Sermon – John Harding – Gift of Tongues
Walk-in: Jesus, Messiah
For who You are - *offering*
Announcements & Prayer
Challenge - don't sing the words if you are not ready to say them. We're singing a lot of things tonight:
'Lord, You have my heart and I will search for Yours'
'Let me be to You a sacrifice'
'I will worship You with all of my heart, mind and strength. '
'I want more love, power, faith and passion – more of You'
'I pour out my life'
'What can I do but offer my heart completely to You'
'I give my life to declare Your promise'
'I’ll stand with my arms high and my heart abandoned, my soul surrendered to You.'
'All I am is Yours.'
The Stand
Prayer
Once Again
Lord, You have my heart
Open prayer – for who YOU are
More love, more power
Coffee
Sermon – John Harding – Gift of Tongues
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