Twisting God’s Arm?

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Lanie| 1 Comment

By Faith Rawley

Currently I’m trying to sell my car – not very easy!  I’m doing this for a few reasons: firstly to save money, secondly because Ben and I can get by with one car – with a little compromise.  But mainly I need to sell the car in preparation for moving to California for nine months to do a ministry school there.

So far we haven’t had much interest and at times I do feel a bit anxious about the whole thing because we have a deadline by which time we definitely need to sell it, but also the longer it takes to sell the less money we will save for going away.  In prayer I find myself thinking, ‘God, we’re following you to do this school so you need to sort this sale out for us’ (that’s the blunt version).  The verse: ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33) comes to mind.  As selling the car is part of the plan to move in a direction that we feel God is leading us we believe we are trying to seek His Kingdom first, in the best way we know how to, but I’m still waiting for the ‘all things shall be added’ part – is that twisting God’s arm?

I’m reading ‘When Heaven Invades Earth’ by Bill Johnson and in it he looks at that verse in Matthew.  Johnson says,

‘It has always seemed to me that the phrase “and all these things shall be added to you” meant that if my priorities were correct He’d make sure I got what I needed.  After understanding the model prayer better [from Matthew 6], I’m not so sure that was His intent.  He was saying that, if we seek His Kingdom first, we’ll find His Kingdom comes fully equipped.  It brings with it His answer to our material and relational needs.’

Even though we are putting God’s Kingdom priorities first that doesn’t mean that God’s outworking of the ‘all things’ will be according to what we think should happen, in the time frame we think it should happen.  Maybe I’m thinking too small by just focusing on the car sale as that being God’s answer to our material needs?  Maybe I am actually still more concerned with my material needs being met than trusting that by truly seeking His Kingdom, there is no lack in it or in Him?  My outlook is now shifting from focusing on getting the car sold to believing that His Kingdom will bring with it the answers, provisions and blessings we need, even if they’re not the ones we were anticipating.

 

Watch this space…..

 

 

**So since writing the post, we have sold the car!  A friend of ours bought it from us and she actually gave us the full asking price for it!!  She recently came back from attending the same course that we are planning to go on, so wanted to bless us in our preparations.  We are totally blown away by God’s provision in this situation.  But we also feel privileged to be part of the answer to someone else’s needs.

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What Drought?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Lanie| 3 Comments

By Carole Rawley

A few weeks ago the UK government announced that as a country we were in a state of drought! Ironically, as soon as this was broadcast the heavens opened and we have been experiencing a continuous downpour ever since (with little breaks of sunshine in between). As I write this post, I am looking out onto my lush green garden full of colourful flowers, which have all benefitted from the heavenly watering!  But even with this ‘answer’, I have heard lots of complaints about the rain!!

I am reading through the book of Numbers at the moment and have been struck by how many times the Israelites complained to Moses:

‘Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the Lord! Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!”

 Numbers 20:2-5 (NIV)

 

For them, there was no rain! No rain in a desert is a scary thought!! But as we continue to read throughout the history of the Israelites, God provided for their needs over and over again.

I’ve been examining my own heart to check if I’m also like this sometimes. There have been many times of need in my life where I have needed Gods’ provision; physical healing, emotional strength, financial provision, spiritual refreshment…. the list goes on.

Sometimes I have been full of faith and at other times felt weak and helpless. When we don’t see God’s immediate provision, does it mean we start to trust Him less? Do we forget about his past provision for our needs in the light of the looming present day ones?

All I can say is that God is FAITHFUL. One of his names is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.  

 

‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

 

That means He never changes!

So whatever you’re crying out to God for today, remember there are no droughts in heaven and that He promises to be our Provider. He has no shortage of faith, strength or power. We are His children. Let’s continue to trust our Heavenly Father.

 

 

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Do I Trust You?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Lanie| 4 Comments
By Mary Bea Miller
When I first heard this song I was in a very dark place.   Something had happened to me that I interpreted as God not being trustworthy or not loving me or caring for me as I thought He would and should.  I had been angry and miserable for over a year.  When He broke into my dark place, He exposed my self-righteous judgement of His actions for what they were, and I was challenged, and quite anxious, to rebuild my relationship with Him on a solid foundation of unconditional trust.  This song became like a mantra.  I would listen to it, sobbing, crying, trying to catch my breath, and then put in on again.  Over and over until He worked its beautiful truth into me, like leaven into the dough, permeating the whole lump of me.  I am so grateful for this revelation of TRUST.  God has permission to do whatever He wills in my life.  (He is LORD, after all.)  And I am committed to trust Him no matter what.

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Walking

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Lanie| 7 Comments

By Lori Neeley

I love walking outside in the sunshine. It seems like that is when God speaks to me the most. I put my walking shoes on, grab my iPod, and head out to spend time with God. I love breathing in the fresh air. The warm radiant sun on my face energizes me and the beauty of God’s handy work fills up my senses. As I march around the neighborhood to the drum beat of my worship music, I may appear as just another walker, but I am very much in the “Secret Place of the Most High God.”

I often throw my head back and gaze into the painted blue sky. I can almost see God looking back at me. I know He is there.

On the cloudy days, I can look up at the gloomy overcast sky and think to myself, “Behind those clouds the sun is shining as intense as ever.”  I know God is still on His throne.

Some days the dark, gray clouds can’t hold the sun back. The sun’s powerful rays tear holes right through the clouds. Beautiful, vibrant streams of light race to earth.

I love that.

Those are good days! God’s Love will break-through.

To be honest, there have been days when the weather is rainy or frosty and cold.  I have looked out my window and excused myself from my walk. I have learned, however, if I choose to only spend time with the Lord based on the ideal weather conditions, I am the one missing out.

Other days the weather outside is perfect, but my soul is overwhelmed. It is in these dreary times that I desperately need Him. There have been days I’ve walked and cried the entire time. He was there on the road with me on those days. I felt His peace and comfort.

 

Mercy and Grace shall follow me all the days of my life…
Ps. 23:6

 

In Daniel 7:9, Daniel sees a vision of God’s throne. The throne has wheels. Some commentators describe it as a “chariot throne”; one that can turn and move.

Whether this “chariot throne” is literal or symbolic, I know this from experience:  His chariot goes with me as I walk around the block.

His power and provision go everywhere you go, too.  Whether you are walking in the rain, driving in your car, or vacuuming your living room carpet, He is there. 

His “Throne of Grace” is anywhere you bow your knees to His Lordship;

Anywhere you sit at His feet to worship;

And there every time you run to Him in time of need.

 

All He asks is that you meet with Him. Get going.  Your chariot awaits!

 

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may

obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb. 4:16

***Guest contributor Lorri Neeley was raised in a charismatic Christian home and has loved Jesus for as long as she can remember.  She has been married to Don, her high school sweetheart, for 25 years.  They have three children who all love Jesus.  Lorri serves faithfully and with abandonment in her local church and her favorite thing in the world is to study God’s Word.

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Master’s Pieces

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Lanie| 8 Comments

By Teri Wetzel

While on a retreat recently, the women of Main Street Church participated in a special project.

Each woman was given a small, 1” x 1 1/2” piece of paper with an image on it. The shapes were simple, although some contained more shades of color or angles than the others, but they seemed quite random on their own.

The women were tasked to reproduce their image, as exactly as possible, on a 5” x 7” canvas.

 

When completed, the tiles were gathered.

 

 

And arranged.

 

And slowly it begins to make sense.

 

That is how it is in the body of Christ, too.

We each have a part to play…a tile with a unique image to contribute.

On its own, each individual part may seem random, small, and without overall purpose. But as we are fitted together with other believers, our part, and the overall picture begins to take shape.

It is not until we have the context of those around us that our part makes sense.

Often we need to step back, stop focusing on just our own little tile, and see the bigger picture.

 

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.  

Rom 12:4-5

The overall image is dependent upon each individual’s contribution. Interpretations of color and distribution of space can be quite different from person to person. Nevertheless, the larger picture is still discernible and powerful.

This is like the Body of Christ. 

Each person brings their own unique personalities, skills, and gifts. These do not look the same or match perfectly, as you can see i

n the picture– which highlights the need of the oil of the Holy Spirit and grace be liberally at work among us. And the need for continual growth toward the “ideal image” of Christ.

However imperfect we may be right now, when assembled by the Master, a beautiful picture or functioning community is born. Each piece is important to the whole and the whole is essential to the individual, just as God created it.

 

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the 

whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. 

Eph 4:15-16

So, where is your “tile”? Have you allowed the Lord to “fit” you in to the big picture, i.e. are you a part of a local body, or church? And are you “showing up” or bringing your unique gifts and talents into the mix, i.e., being who God has made you to be?

The more we are conformed to Christ, the more accurately we reflect His glory, the more perfectly we reproduce His image in the world.

 

One tile at a time.

*With special thanks to Sarah Wetzel, a “piece” the Master has beautifully fit into our family, for her help with this project and blog piece.

 

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“The riches of your love, will always be enough”

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Lanie| Leave a comment

By Wendy Hitchen

Do you ever go through a phase where one song is constantly on your mind?

Currently, this is the one. It’s on repeat in our house and also we’ve sung it regularly at church over the last few months.

“My heart will sing no other name…” When I’m tempted to elevate the name of other things (riches, friendships, self interest) above His name, I want to sing His name only.

Jesus.

“The riches of Your love will always be enough…”  Finances, family, relationships can leave me thinking I don’t have all I want, but I choose to remember He is always enough.

 

Always.

Forever Reign

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Looking Higher

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Lanie| 2 Comments

By: Abi Burton

Psalm 37: 1-7

“Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.

Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.”

I have been thinking a lot about being satisfied and appreciating all that I have; not just looking to what is next. For me, this passage in Psalms is basically describing success as God sees it; not in the way the world judges, but as we are meant to measure it.

A couple of things really stand out to me:

1) This is about the long term

             2) Don’t compare yourself to others

The psalmist writes “wait patiently” and “don’t worry”; those things that others have that you want (promotion, nice clothes, fancy cars) “soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither.” He’s not saying they aren’t attractive; just like spring flowers they are beautiful and attention grabbing. He’s also probably not saying that we can’t enjoy them if we have them in our lives. But the challenge is not to make them the focus – if being able to acquire the ‘spring flowers’ is what drives us forward then we are missing the bigger picture; those things are temporal but what God has for us, if we choose to take it, is eternal.

The second thing that jumps out at me from this passage is that when it comes to you, God is interested in you. His plan for you is uniquely yours. If you “trust in the Lord and do good then you will live safely in the land and prosper”. If you “take delight in the Lord” then “He will give you your heart’s desires.” This plan is tailor made for you! God knows exactly what makes you tick, your heart’s desires, and His plan is to fulfill them in your life. The only premise is to trust Him- but who greater to trust than God himself? His plan for my live is certainly greater than anything I could have dreamed up for myself.

So focus your attentions on that which lasts – the success that God brings has greater value than just the spring flowers:

“He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.”

What an incredible promise; only made possible by the one who created both in the first place.

So set your sights a little higher than the spring flowers; instead look to the sun, that which brings them life, growth and beauty in the first place- this is the plan God has for you.

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Personality Test

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Lanie| 9 Comments

By: Faith Rawley

Currently, I am enrolled on a management training course through work.  Among other things, we have spent a lot of time trying to gain a greater understanding of our own personalities and styles of working.

We’ve had to do a number of ‘questionnaires’ that are used to then analyse our personality type, how we view life, how we take in information, how we make decisions, and how we learn.

As I was doing one of these questionnaires I started to feel highly uncomfortable with answering the questions.  I appreciate that these questionnaires are only meant to give you a guide to your personality and not box you into a specific type, but I was surprised at what I felt when I was completing it.

On the one hand, I’m sure we all have things that we’d like to change about ourselves.  We have traits that aren’t always the best or most loving, especially when it comes to how we respond to the people around us.  I know I could do with being more patient and flexible in situations so that I don’t get frustrated when things don’t work to plan.

But as I did the questionnaire I found myself feeling bad for the way I was thinking to respond.  I even started to get cross at the questionnaire thinking that the questions seemed to suggest that there is a ‘best’ way to be and a ‘not-so-good’ way to be.  Of course this is ridiculous – it’s just a test and isn’t trying to make me feel bad about myself.  So why did I?

 

 

I began to realise that in some of the questions I found myself wishing I could put down the more ‘acceptable’ response to some of the questions.  But actually maybe that was less about how the quiz was designed and more about the fact that I don’t always appreciate who I am.

Too often I view the traits and characteristics that I have as being somehow inferior to those that I see in other people.  I’m not as loud or confident seeming in a big group; not as happy-go-lucky as others, probably not as imaginative or intuitive either.  But I am a good friend and I can engage with people more deeply on a one-to-one level; I am organised and efficient and can get a job done when it needs doing; and I’m observant of people’s feelings and what’s going on around me.  I guess what I realised is that in lots of cases there aren’t ‘best’ and ‘not-so-good’ qualities to have, there are just different qualities.  I need to appreciate how God has made me and not think that my traits are inferior compared to someone.  Maybe they’re thinking the same about me?

 

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The Word of Our Testimony

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Lanie| 1 Comment

By: Kathi Kelly

Have you ever been encouraged by someone’s testimony? I am not just talking about a testimony of a person’s salvation but every day life testimonies of God’s goodness. I am privileged to be part of a wonderful Life Group that meets during the week in my home. This week we were talking about money. After having a lively discussion we each gave a testimony of God’s provision in our lives. It was amazing to hear these true stories of God’s grace and blessing – some small things and some huge things.

I started to think about the power of testimony and was reminded of Revelation 12:11 which says:

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony…”

As people who have received salvation through Christ our starting point is that we can overcome all things because of Jesus’ death on the cross. That is a reality for us each day but we also overcome through the word of our testimony. We testify to who Jesus is and to what He has done for us, to bring Him the glory.

Sharing testimony encourages us in our faith. When I became pregnant with our third child we knew from the beginning that we would need a bigger car for our growing family. We began to pray with faith for a new one. I remember getting towards the end of my pregnancy and hearing a testimony one Sunday morning about God’s provision of a new car for a man in our church congregation. I found myself getting really excited because I knew that if God could do this for him then He could do it for my family too. And six weeks after our baby was born He did exactly that. My husband was having a conversation with a friend one day and out of the blue they said they wanted to give us the money to buy a new family car. There was even enough money left over to have a much-needed holiday! I still stand amazed at God’s provision.

It is not always about receiving material things or finance, it is about how God works in our lives and brings us into places where we can flourish as His people and live according to His wonderful plans for our lives.

When we share testimony about what God has done it elevates Him and brings Him glory as well as encouraging and inspiring those around us. Don’t hold back on sharing what God has done for you, with people who know God and those that don’t yet, they may just need to hear what you have to say today!

 

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Just How Far You’ll Go

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Lanie| 1 Comment
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit you will find yourself in places you never thought you’d go!
In Acts chapter 8, Phillip was surprised to see how far he was taken by the Holy Spirit. In speaking with the Ethiopian, sharing the Gospel with him and then baptising him, Phillip was certainly working with the Holy Spirit. Then in verses v39-40, he found himself transported 40 miles north to Azotus – somewhere he’d never expected to be!
The same is true of us in our own lives- when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we often find ourselves somewhere we never expected to be; perhaps up at the front of the service bringing a word of encouragement, sharing some teaching in a 5 minute preach or leading the worship.
For me, I never imagined that I would one day find myself in front of the band, leading the worship team on a Sunday morning.
Whilst I wasn’t a shy person, when it came to singing in front of others I found myself shaking like a leaf, and my voice came out like I was being strangled! It was ages before I felt confident to sing out the front of church – let alone on my own during the sound check.
But then I had a bit of a breakthrough; someone shared at a musicians session on living with the Holy Spirit and how everything we do can be inspired by Him. It might sound crazy but this felt like news to me! I knew I could sing and that it was a talent from God, but until that point I had just thought that was where God’s involvement stopped!
From then on, even though I was still nervous, I believed I wasn’t just singing on my own; I was singing because of where God wanted to take me, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, not simply because there was a space on the singers rota.
This change in my thinking in turn changed my attitude and expectation for every service and God began to use me to sing songs from His heart or His word. I definitely never imagined to one day be so freely sharing like that, but you’ll be continually amazed by where the Holy Spirit can and will take you- it’s a journey that continues for a lifetime!

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