The One Who Never Gives Up

When I was in highschool my relay team qualified to race in the state school sports. We trained most lunchtimes for the 6 weeks leading up to the championships. On the final day of training one of us dropped the baton. Our principal was horrified and decided that we were not allowed to compete! Obviously our parents weren’t happy with this decision and they all jumped on the phone that night demanding a change of heart. He called us all in for one more trial at 6:30am the next day. If we could complete the lap without dropping the baton we could step onto the bus and head to the competition. Thankfully we made it to the championships that day.

I wonder has anyone ever given up on you? When that happens there's a whole gamet of emotions that we go through. Why did I try in the first place? What am I supposed to do now? Should I try again? Were our expectations even the same?

Our principal wanted us to represent the school he was so proud of. If we were going to compete, he wanted us to win. Our parents, on the other hand, just wanted us to be involved, to experience running on the State’s finest track along with hundreds of other kids.

God is not our school principal. He’s not raging on the sidelines, horrified that we keep dropping the baton. He’s cheering us on as we navigate people’s expectations of us and the inevitable emotions that follow. And He will never ever give up.

“Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent...In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Psalms 4:1,8 NLT
"...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it..." Philippians 1:6 NKJV
“And let us not grow weary while doing good for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9 NKJV
Undone

He's not gonna leave me undone
His palms are still moulding
My heart for the Son
What feels like a breaking’s
Design in the making
He’s not gonna leave me undone

You’ll never, ever, ever walk out on me
You will keep writing each page of my destiny
Never will I ever lose my security
You’ll never give up on me

He’s not gonna leave me undone
His palms are just working on
What I’ll become
What feels like a shaking
Makes beauty breathtaking
He’s not gonna leave me undone

You’ll never, ever, ever walk out on me
You will keep writing each page of my destiny
Never will I ever lose my security
You’ll never give up on me

My Warrior Music Video

Fireproof

It wasn’t that long ago that a bushfire ravaged my parents farm. Thankfully, they had been prepared well in advance, filling buckets, preparing hoses, soaking the house in water, maintaining the vegetation and ploughing the ground around the house paddock to create a firebreak. As the fire-front approached, they took refuge with confidence. My brother was even able to heroically save some stock.

Not all the animals survived unfortunately and the fences were all burnt to the ground. I will never forget the aerial shots of our farm, post-bushfire. The entire region was blackened except for the house paddock. Not one of our sheds or shelters were touched. It was as if the whole family and their belongings had been surrounded by a forcefield. Incredible.

When I think about about much I treasure my time with Jesus each day, reading the Bible, asking Him questions, making decisions on how I will respond, it reminds me of this picture. It’s as if a massive load of refreshing water is being poured out over my life and my day. It’s that supernatural forcefield, that powerful encounter with Heaven itself...

He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am... You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven.” Matthew 16:15-17,19 MSG

My Warrior Music Video

Anchored

One of the craziest experiences I had while living on the ship, was when we hit an incredible storm crossing the South China Sea. The voyage was 11 days long and I’d spent most of it feeling sea sick. By the time the storm hit I had joined a group that was literally lying on the floor, taking refuge, in the very middle of the ship. Wave after wave slammed against the starboard side. Earlier I had helped our laundry team secure all the washing buckets while water crashed over us, and now as I lay on the floor, I was thankful we weren’t still there on that deck. The waves were now higher than before, lapping at the windows of the main lounge area.

Suddenly, the ship keeled and I kid you not, we all slid from one side of the room to the other! I actually saw someone somersault past me! The captain’s voice came over the loud-speaker, assuring us all that even though the sensation inside the ship was ridiculously tumultuous, the actual ship was only tilting slightly and there was nothing to fear. As the storm passed and the ship’s crew sprang into recovery mode, there was a vast amount of cleanup to be done. The photo above is my cabin. Everything that wasn’t secured ended up on the floor. I hadn’t been ready for this at all. Thankfully, the more experienced crew members had, and most of the expensive equipment on board had been secured and saved.

When I think about the concept of putting Jesus as Lord of my life, putting a concerted effort into living as He would have lived, and taking every opportunity to spend time listening for His direction, it’s not at all about trying to meet a standard or gain approval from Him. For me, it’s all about wisdom. I was so thankful the captain of our ship was in control on that voyage. As storms have hit my life, I’ve made it through knowing that I’m securely anchored to the one who knows me intimately and loves me completely.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for those who come to me and hear my words and put them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on a rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” Luke 6:46-48 TNIV

My Warrior Music Video