Renewal

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:9-11 NKJV

These verses jumped out at me today because I realised on the weekend that God is reconstructing me. That explains the emotional rollercoaster ride! We really can go on for a long time without noticing things in our character that we'd function so much better without! I don't think God looks at us and says "I can't believe I made them like that" then goes about "fixing" us, but I do think He enjoys weaving more and more of His character into ours. The process can be... painful... unnerving... embarrassing... but being renewed in knowledge according to God's image and experiencing more of Christ in us ends up being liberating... enlightening... empowering and even exhilarating!

Living between two worlds

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 NIV

Often there's a tension between knowing God has a perfect plan and purpose, living out of that place of peace and then experiencing the emotions attached to day to day circumstances. When saying goodbye to my close friend this week, grief keeps pushing me between these two places but setting my heart on things above means I can experience the joy of my memories and the purposes God has sewn into this friendship. In fact it's left me appreciating the glimpses of heaven running through all my friendships!

10 Reasons to "Come up here..."

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. Revelation 4:1,2 NIV

So I was thinking about John in this passage, hearing God call him up to His throne and contemplating why I would say yes to this request from God and why I continue to say yes each day...
 
He is God and He deserves my attention more than anyone or anything else
He created me, everything and everyone I know and appreciate so deeply
He knows my thoughts, desires, passions, quirks and loves me still
He gave up His throne, became a ridiculed and tortured human and gave His life for those who laid it on Him
His thoughts towards me are good and perfect, and so are His ways
He is sovereign, in control and knows past, present and future
He has a plan and I want to know and understand that plan
I want to enjoy partaking in that plan
His presence brings me love, joy, peace, patience...etc
His presence brings me power that resonates throughout my surroundings

And that's just the start...

Christ in you, the Hope of glory

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. Colossians 1:27-29 NKJV

My husband and I were talking thismorning about whether some things have to give when you go down the track of having a big family and being in ministry. It was only a short conversation. We decided we just prioritise things differently! It's definitely hard work but everyone is laboring in some way; that I've learnt. Thank you Jesus that when You are working in us mightily, the laboring is more like pushing a trolley straight through a supermarket (hard work, but worth it in the end) than lifting a piano up a 10-story flight of stairs (just ridiculously hard work - no-one needs a piano that much)!

All things by Him, through Him and for Him

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:15-10 NKJV

That's right, He is incredible and He fashioned YOU for Himself. Enough said. Well, almost enough. I was thinking tonight about the creative power that my King embodies and it lifted my spirit just thinking about what He could create through me. There are no limitations really! "Keep on dreaming", I felt Him say to me. So I have created another page - a page that will contain songs that flow from my devotional times. 

Partaking in the inheritance

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:9-12 NKJV

I have many fond memories attached to this passage. While at Uni I lived with my relatives. At the beginning of each year my cousin and I would set goals based on these verses. We saw elements in this passage that gave us things to aim for, things we wanted to see happen in our lives. I don't ever remember it being a burden because we knew it was a framework rather than something we had to stress and strive for. Even back then, we knew that what was most important was that we spent time with Jesus and that His inheritance would be the wisdom, the ability to walk worthy, the fruit, the power, the patience, and the joy that would transform the year ahead into something to look forward to!

A faith, a love and a hope that's come into this world

We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth. Colossians 1:3-6 NKJV

A very good friend of mine asked me if I was a "shouter" this week. Do I let people know when I'm in need? I said I'm getting better at it. I am in need now. I really want you to pray these verses for us. I asked God on the weekend why I kept crying. He said to me that He was growing in me a deeper hunger to see His Kingdom flood this earth, to see His people rise up, link arms and be His hands and feet. He told me that He takes us into these deep places of emotional rawness to compel us with His heart for freedom and power in the lives of people. His heart is deep. Tapping into it can leave me shaky. I was shaking while playing the keys at church on Sunday. I watched my hands shaking and realised God is doing something new in me. My yearning desire is that this new thing will reverberate throughout my surroundings...This morning God encouraged me that His fruit has been amoung us since the day we heard and knew of His grace...

I've added a new link to this page - I'm slowly uploading the pages of a book that's been brewing inside of me since going through my darkest days almost four years ago now. It's called The Women of Virtue and it's a work in progress. I strongly believe that nothing with lasting impact comes without a story behind it worth telling. There is purpose in everything.

Fruit for the giver

For even in Thessalonīca you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphrodītus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:16-19 NKJV

I love Gods economy. In this passage it's the people doing the giving who end up getting their needs supplied. I am privileged to have as friends amazing givers who haven't waited till they had money to spare but often gave out of their own lack - God has supplied all their needs! There are so many testimonies out there of God's provision!

What's found at the end of my rope

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:10-13 NKJV

I read these verses Saturday morning in the midst of chaos at home. Hubby has done something to his back that's kept him flat, and running a household of six with one man down is...stressful...but the show must go on - there are still babies to feed, clean, love and nurture, oh, and a church to pastor! I've had these words running through my head constantly - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Actually, at the moment I can't imagine doing anything other than lying in bed apart from Christ who strengthens me!

Reading these verses again today I was struck by this idea of people having opportunity to show they care. Amidst the tears there have been moves of kindness that have left me awestruck by the beauty of friendship and the depth of mate ship - near and far, some even intercontinental.

Thinking on things

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy— meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Pilippians 4:8,9 NKJV

I will never forget when one of my all-time heroes, my Nana, taught me this passage - I took it to heart and began throwing out things that didn't measure up. Dodgy music, grotty romance novels, I even made a point of not picking up trashy magazines in doctors clinics! The impact this began to have on my thought life was amazing! Things that had formerly been a bit of an escape became unattractive and I found myself filling my head instead with inspiring dreams, creative and uplifting ideas, plans to encourage people rather than complain...the list goes on. And the God of peace, the very source of all these ideas, has been backing them all along the way!

Peace that surpasses understanding

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6,7 NKJV

During the night I was so tired, distressed and frustrated with my waking (and of course crying) baby, that I curled up in a ball and started speaking in tongues! Instant peace set in. It reminded me of being in labour with my fourth baby. No drugs, but plenty of speaking in tongues! I realised that this heavenly language is what flows out of me when I am at the end of my own strength; when my full dependence is on God. And it's always accompanied by peace that surpasses understanding!

Laying hold of that for which Jesus laid hold of me

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV

I was asked earlier this week how I came out of ministry burnout and the first thing that came to mind was that we began remembering the prophecies and dreams that we'd had about ministry. In a sense, forgetting what's behind and reaching toward the things ahead is what brought back the hope and the motivation to go on! I am determined to press on and lay hold of that for which Jesus' laid hold of me! What's that? In one word, HOPE!

Losing all things for Jesus?

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection... Philippians 3:7-10 NKJV

I have wrestled with this passage all week. I was trying to compare suffering the constant loss of people in my life to Paul suffering the loss of his social standing as a zealous, righteous Pharisee or his loss of physical freedom. They didn't compare very well! Paul's talking about things that seem important before you know Christ but lose their significance once He fills that place. I don't think he piled relationships into his use of "all things". Despite being in jail Paul hadn't lost his relationships - the existence of this and all his other letters proves that! On the contrary, gaining Christ brings new light on relationships - they are no longer grabbed at out of need for self worth or fulfillment but are treasured as glimpses of God's image on earth! Relationships are never really lost, just change in appearance!

Having no confidence in the flesh

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3:3 NKJV

This is such a freeing concept if we can get our heads around it. The Complete Jewish Bible translates this phrase as having no confidence in human qualifications. We spend a large part of our lives becoming qualified to do things, not simply to be equipped, but largely because other people are competing for the same positions. There's no limit to positions in God's economy. Being equipped is great, but if we see opportunities to reflect God's glory without worrying that we're good enough, imagine how much of God would be reflected!!