2014: A New Beginning

Today marks the beginning of a new year, a year of vast potential, purpose, and promise.  In His wisdom God designed the earth to orbit the sun and orchestrated the division of seasons, months, weeks, and days.  If all we counted were days without hours, time would hold little promise for the future.  There would be no possibility for a year to hold the potential of being "the year where everything changed for good."  A new year opens countless possibilities, and reminds those whose eyes have been opened to the new life we have granted us through faith in Christ.  Every day is a new day to seek God and worship Him, as we grow in His love and wisdom.  Our God is not one of second chances but new beginnings!  Every new day and every new year is one to take hold of as a gift from God and relish the opportunities and even challenges He places before us.

It is now 2014, two-thousand and fourteen years since the birth of Jesus Christ, the One who makes all things new.  Revelation 21:5-6 says, "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." ⁶ And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."  The way God makes new is not like a "refurbished" electronic device, but is a continual process as we follow after Him in faith.  We are continually being renewed as we put off the old man - our old ways of thinking, doing, and coping - and choose to be renewed in the Spirit of our mind through the Word of God, and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  We are not doomed to repeat past failures, nor are we required to bear the burden or guilt of them.  The future spreads before us bright and beautiful as we consider the new life God has offered us through the Gospel.

Sometimes we can feel like change in ourselves or our circumstances is impossible.  We have tried hard before and failed:  why should this time be any different?  Ask that question to barren Hannah, Namaan the leper, or the disciples of Jesus who toiled all night without catching a single fish.  Let us never forget that what is impossible with men is possible with God.  Which is harder:  to change external circumstances or to change the heart and mind of a stubborn, willful human being?  I speak of all men and do not exclude myself.  2 Corinthians 5:17-21 says this:  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  Here we see our position and calling before God as believers, unbelievable as it might be.  Consider this, believer!  If you are in Christ, old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  We have been reconciled to God and have been ordained to reconcile others to Him as well, for He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  It is His work, yet we are called to be ambassadors for Christ as long as He tarries.  This is both a sober task and a joyful duty.

The Israelites were not able to enter the Promised Land because of unbelief, and many Christians encamp in desolate places where the water is stagnant and the food stale for the same reason.  Day after day they trudge on, and God's promises and dynamic power are forgotten.  They do not feel new, thus they do not believe God can make all things new.  Because they have limited God by their shortsightedness, focusing on their past struggles or perceived odds stacked against them, God cannot do for them what they have tried again and again to do themselves.  You may scoff to yourself:  "A man limiting God?  Rubbish!"  Consider Psalm 78:40-42:  "How often they provoked Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert! ⁴¹ Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. ⁴² They did not remember His power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy."  Unbelief provokes and grieves God.  Jesus had the power to heal, yet He could not heal many in His home town because of unbelief.  Unbelief stayed His hand and blunted His miraculous power.  Unbelief causes us to forget God's power He has revealed to us, having redeemed us from sin and death.  If God has saved us from hell and transformed our hearts through spiritual regeneration by the indwelling Spirit, is anything too hard for Him?

For some people this new year will be simply another day ticking over to the next.  For others, however, it is a new year where God will have freedom through faith in His people to make all things new.  I find this most encouraging and exciting for my own walk, as well as far-reaching implications for lost people of this world who desperately need a Saviour!  May 2014 mark the beginning of a new walk with Christ that is richer, fuller, and blessed beyond reason as we faithfully follow Jesus Christ and shine bright for Him!

Hope Does Not Disappoint!

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

Romans 5:1-6

During a drive last night, part of this passage continued to rattle through my mind:  "Now hope does not disappoint."  Everyone alive at some time has been disappointed, and for good reason.  In every heart there are dreams and expectations that this ever shifting world has unceremoniously shattered.  In the KJV the word "hope does not disappoint" is translated "hope maketh not ashamed."  Paul told the Roman believers that the hope God provides would not leave them ashamed or confounded even in the midst of tribulation.  In the fierceness of the storm there will be calm for those who take shelter in their Saviour.  We commonly say we "hope" when we wish for something, but the hope provided by God is an absolute surety.  Christians can have the expectation that God will always work things for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purposes.

The hope God provides through faith in Christ and his unshakable promises in His Word is infinitely greater and better than any hope offered by this world.  The hope of this world is in reality utter and complete hopelessness.  This world will always disappoint.  One thing may make us temporarily happy, but only one little thing need happen to throw us angrily into despair.  Case in point - yesterday I went to a friend's house to watch the last game of the San Diego Charger's football season, a game with playoff implications.  For those of my fellow loyal Charger fans, we know how it feels to be disappointed again and again.  I hoped my team with win against the Kansas City Chiefs, but nothing for the Chargers can be easy!  I refused to even allow myself to hope for the victory as time ticked away.  Amazingly, the Chargers finished with a victory and squeaked into the playoffs.  The happiness of the victory had hardly sunk in when I reached home and found I had left my laptop power supply cable at my mate's house!  How frustrated I was!  Even when my "hope" of an improbable playoff berth had been realised, my own forgetfulness was enough to extinguish my happiness and replace it with irritation!

This situation brought me back to the words of Romans 5.  Those of us who have been born again by grace through faith in Christ have a sure hope that does not disappoint.  No matter what disappointments I face on this earth, my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  I am God's child even if tribulations and troubles come.  I do not need to wait for heaven to receive the proof, for God has sent the Holy Spirit as a heavenly downpayment.  He has poured out His love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given.  When I feel alone or forgotten, I know I have a High Priest in the heavens who stands at the right hand of the Father living to make intercession for me.  He allows even our forgetfulness to accomplish His glorious good.  The peace that God gives does not ebb and flow like the happiness we experience on this planet, but is a constant certainty for those who live to walk by faith and not by sight.

Football teams will disappoint, and we manage to disappoint ourselves at times!  But thanks be to God who has given us peace, access into His presence, and hope that does not disappoint.  When we were without strength and enemies of God, Jesus demonstrated love for us through His willing sacrifice on the cross.  Never, ever let anything in your life rob you of the joy and peace God has given!

Loving Fathers Displease

How important it is to have a biblical worldview!  God is revealed in scripture as the only true source of wisdom.  If we only see as men see, we are spiritually senseless and without wisdom from above.  Libraries contain a wealth of knowledge, and reading is required for understanding and application.  Without a vantage point provided by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we walk though life like an illiterate man wandering through a library.  He may be familiar with the appearance of books, flip through the pages of large tomes, and admire the pictures, but the captions and text remain unknown to him.

We live in a world that largely claims (by whose or what standard I cannot tell) man is inherently good.  Besides, who is permitted to say what is right and wrong anymore with authority?  The Bible has a very different view of things.  It tells us that there is none good, no not one.  When measured against God's righteous standard there is nothing good in us at all!  Jeremiah 17:9 describes the condition of man in clear terms:  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"  Man is not born righteous and learns evil through outside influence, but wickedness is his natural path.  Circumstances outside a person draw out sin which already resides within.  Proverbs 22:15 says, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him."

David was a great king and a man after God's own heart.  The expression of his love to his children, however, did not reveal itself through discipline.  Of David's grown son Adonijah it is written in 1 Kings 1:5-6:  "Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. ⁶ (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?" He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.)"  As Adonijah passed through infancy, childhood, and even as an adult, he lacked correction from his father.  It seemed Adonijah was a bit spoiled (perhaps that is too gentle), for the scriptures tell us David at no time rebuked or disciplined him for bad behaviour.  As an adult his pride was on full display, even demanding his father's throne for himself!  The KJV says "his father had not displeased him at any time..."  The original word translated "displeased" is most often translated "grieved."  Because man is born crooked, he cannot walk uprightly.  We cannot even draw a straight line a meter long with chalk unaided, much less live righteously before God all our days!

Some have a view of God that if He is indeed loving, He will acquiesce to our every desire.  This is not a biblical view.  God is altogether righteous and loving, but He is not like a man who gives into the whims of His children to speed them towards their own destruction.  David loved Adonijah, but the love he displayed towards him according to a biblical worldview was more like hate!  Solomon wrote in Proverbs 13:24:  "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly."  If your child is perfect in thought, word, and deed, discipline would be unnecessary.  But if the Bible is true in saying foolishness is bound up in the hearts of children, then discipline is not optional:  it is a requirement to be carried out promptly when necessary!  Discipline is displeasing to those who receive it, but in the end it yields peaceful, delightful fruit.  God loves man too much not to question us.  He at times will rebuke us:  "Why have you done so?"  Those who love Him will receive such love by taking to heart His rebukes.

I do not give my allegiance or loyalty to God because He always does what I want or has not displeased me at any time.  I have given my allegiance and chosen to trust God because He loves me and has proven Himself trustworthy.  Not one word of His promises have failed.  Jesus has demonstrated His love for me and all people by dying on the cross for my sins.  I am the crooked one, and He has opened my eyes to see the straight and narrow way of salvation through the Gospel.  I am grateful for God's love extended to sinners like me!

Symptoms or the Cause

It is easy to focus on the symptoms and neglect diagnosing and dealing with the source.  For years I have dealt with a shoulder injury by avoiding actions that cause additional pain.  I take care not to lie directly on my shoulder at night, and ensure I stretch properly and warm up before physical activity.  To this point I have not taken the time to seek a professional opinion or pay for scans.  Instead of having the cause fix, history says I prefer to treat my symptoms through strengthening exercises, avoiding painful activities, applying ice and pain relieving rubs, and using anti-inflammatory medications.  Eventually, I keep telling myself, I will have the shoulder examined and scanned.  But in the meantime, I will keep treating my symptoms rather than seeking out the cure.

I do not believe I am alone in this.  Governments, businesses, churches, families, and individuals sometimes see a symptom as a problem rather than ferreting out the cause and dealing with it openly.  Even the medical and scientific communities can focus on the wrong thing.  Billions have been spent on searching for cures of diseases that kill millions every year.  Cancer, for one, is a viscous disease that causes millions to die every year.  People hate cancer.  But cancer, strangely enough, is merely a symptom of a deeper, greater illness in the heart of every man.  Death itself, seemingly the final blow from our perspective on earth, is a symptom of a far worse evil:  that of sin.  Sickness, pain, sorrow, crying, and death are all products of sin.  When Adam rebelled from God, sin and thus death passed to all men.  The fact that people fall ill and die of cancers, disease, or even old age are indicators of man's true spiritual condition in the world.

Sin has a devastating effect upon body and soul.  God says the soul that sins shall surely die.  We mourn disease, suffering, and death in this world, but have we yet mourned over our sin?  Sin is the one who conceives such horrors.  The bodies of believers and non-believers on this planet will perish because we have all been born steeped in sin.  Death for Christians is turning the title page to the first chapter of eternal life in a glorified state.  For the unbeliever it is the penultimate blow, infinitely overshadowed by the second death where all who die in their sins will face the wrath of God for eternity in hell.  To cast a look at sin is to stare into the snarling face of death, truly horrific beyond description.  It is a horror Jesus Christ came to earth to save sinners from and usher us into eternal life through His sacrifice.

I think most people would claim cancer is a far greater evil than sin, but cancer is only a symptom.  Let us take our symptoms to the word of God and see if the effects of sin have clung to us as well.  Consider the list we see in Revelation 21:4-5:  "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  During your life have you every cried, experienced sorrow, or physical or emotional pain?  If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you have most certainly come in contact with sin.  The only cure is found in Christ through the Gospel.  When we repent and trust in Jesus as Saviour, He cleanses our souls from sin and gives us eternal life through Him.  We are all guilty of breaking His Laws, but Jesus has paid our debt.  He took our sins upon Himself, having become sin for us upon the cross.  Have you received this unspeakable gift?

John 11:25-26 reads, "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  This is the question Jesus asks all men.  Our answer will determine where we will spend eternity.  John 14:6 also says, "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  It is only after we recognise the severity of our disease we will seek after the cure, regardless of the cost.  Won't a man give anything to save his own life?  And what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?  Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  A choice of life and death has been placed before you.  Are you ready to stop treating the symptoms and deal with the cause?

Freedom in Confinement

No one likes the idea of confinement.  No one thinks, "I'd really like to see more restrictions placed upon my life."  But there is one Person who willingly accepted personal restrictions beyond anything we could ever imagine:  the Infinite, Almighty God took the form of a human being in the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus was in a human sense free to do anything He wanted, yet He voluntarily chose to take upon Himself the form of a servant and was obedient to His Heavenly Father in everything.

Jesus is the Creator of all, for without Him nothing was made that is made (John 1:1-2).  He existed from eternity past and had previously no date of birth.  But all that changed about 2,000 years ago when He was conceived in the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit (Is. 7:14) and was born in the city of Bethlehem (Matt. 2:5-6).  For the first time, God entered the confines of time.  God was also confined within a human body as Immanuel, God with us.  God become a human being, crying and wailing as a helpless infant after being born, wrapped in cloth, and laid in a manger (Luke 2:16).  Jesus was brought into a family where He put into practice the Law of God, and honoured His father and mother.  Though He was without sin and in Him dwelt the fullness of the Godhead (Col. 2:9), He learned obedience by the things He suffered (Heb. 5:8).

Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38).  He healed the sick, delivered those oppressed by unclean spirits, cleansed lepers, and raised the dead to life.  Jesus did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for sinners.  Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and was falsely accused of blasphemy.  He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and did not resist evil, for He walked in obedience to the will of the Father.  Think of it:  God allowed sinful men to bind him, scourge, and strip Him.  God allowed His body to be nailed to a cross and took upon Himself our sins (1 Cor. 15:3).  After the death of His body, God allowed Himself to be wrapped in graveclothes and confined in a tomb.  Glory to God in the highest, for He broke free from the bonds of death and rose glorified!

If we will repent and be born again through faith in Christ, we too can have freedom whilst being confined in these bodies.  His victory over sin and death has become our own.  Our regenerated souls long for God, drawn by His love, mercy, and grace.  It is a paradox that in confinement we can discover true freedom and salvation from within.  May we follow the example of Christ, seeking to serve and save others through the Gospel.  Thank God for His wondrous gift and the victory we have through His atoning blood! (Acts 20:28)

In Time of Need

I was riding back from lunch with a couple of mates when the car started making an odd noise.  The sound began a running commentary among all in the vehicle about the source of the sound.  As it persisted and grew worse, a passing driver honked and quickly ended the discussion.  We pulled over and found we had a flat rear tyre.  It turned out that my fellow passenger knew personally a tyre shop owner close by and directed the driver to the entrance.  True to his claims of good service, the process of the inspection and replacement was handled immediately.  This was a case of knowing where to go because you know someone you trust.

The situation had me thinking.  My mate who directed us to the tyre shop performed a role similar to that a Christian who leads others to Christ in time of need.  Had we been without his aid, it would have taken us a long while to locate the jack, remove the spare, and possibly find the spare too was flat!  Because my mate knew the tyre shop owner and the exact location of the shop, we were able to have prompt, quality service and be back safely on the road.  As a Christian, one who had taken refuge in Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour, I know He is able to help in time of need.  He is able to redeem lives destroyed by sin, marriages broken through infidelity, break addictions, give beauty for our ashes, and freely give us eternal life.

It takes recognition of our need before we will do anything about it.  We would have kept on driving with that weird noise until we were riding the rim had someone outside the vehicle not alerted us to the trouble!  It is one thing to know you have a problem, but it is another thing altogether to know what to do about it or where to go!  Having responded to Christ's offer of salvation through the Gospel, Christians are called to lead others to experience the new life, joy, and rest He provides.  In one sense, churches are intended to be hospitals where sick people are nursed back to spiritual health.  Church is like a smash repair shop, not a showroom.  We are all damaged through sin, battered through our foolish choices, and victims of living in a perverse world.  It is Christ who not only restores us to His intended calling and purpose to glorify Him, but transforms us from within.

Hebrews 4:16 reads, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Because God put on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, He knows exactly what it means to be human in this world polluted by sin.  He understands what it feels like to be misunderstood, rejected, hurt by family members who didn't believe in Him, arrested, falsely accused, tortured, and even killed by envious men.  Praise God Jesus did not remain in the grave, but rose alive three days later as He said.  He has ascended to heaven and intercedes for us even now.  He invites us into His throne room of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Do you see your need for mercy and grace?  Do you come boldly and humbly to Christ in time of need or do you look elsewhere?  Just like we inspect our tyres to ensure they are filled with air before we drive on them, we ought to inspect our attitudes and feelings to see if they are upright according to God's standards.  When we catch a glimpse of God in His glory, we see how far we are from walking in righteousness.  Our great lack becomes increasingly evident as we mature in faith.  Let us respond to Christ's loving invitation to find mercy and grace to help in time of need.  Let us lead others to Him, because we trust Him!

LORD, Open My Eyes!

One character I find most interesting in scripture is that of Balaam the prophet.  When King Balak sent prestigious nobles a second time to entreat him to return with them, they promised honour and advancement should he curse Israel.  God told him to go with them if the men came in the morning and called him.  In the morning, the text says Balaam rose, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.  It does not say that Balaam waited to be called, but presumed he was free to go anyway.  Numbers 22:22 reads, "Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him."  When opposition to God makes Him our adversary, that is a bad thing indeed!

As the Angel of the LORD stood in the way with a sword drawn, Balaam was completely clueless to the mortal danger he was in.  The donkey, however, was able to see the imposing angelic warrior.  Upon seeing the Angel, she quickly turned aside into a field.  Balaam was irritated by this unusual occurrence and struck the donkey.  Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow place and when the donkey moved to avoid him she crushed Balaam's foot against the wall.  The searing pain only irritated him more, and he struck her again.  Finally, the Angel of the LORD stood in a place so narrow the donkey could not veer to the side and turn around.  She simply dropped to the ground, prompting Balaam to strike her with his staff.

Numbers 22:28-33 reads, "Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?" ²⁹ And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!" ³⁰ So the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?" And he said, "No." ³¹ Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. ³² And the Angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. ³³ The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live."

More than a donkey enabled to speak by God, I am struck by the irony of the scene.  The donkey saved Balaam three times from the sword of the Angel of the LORD.  When confronted by the donkey after hitting her three times, Balaam raged he wished he had a sword in his hand so he could kill her!  She was three times his saviour, but Balaam's blindness saw her as wayward, careless, and lazy.  Then the LORD opened his eyes and he saw the peril that he unknowingly faced.  He looked into the austere face of grace.  No donkey could possibly outwit or outmaneuver the Angel of the LORD.  God allowed Balaam to be spared, even though he deserved to die for his sin and the donkey deserved to live.

How important it is for God to open our eyes so we can see how He has worked in our lives to preserve and protect us!  The irritations, annoyances, and side-tracks He allows work to advance and accomplish His glorious purposes.  May our eyes be open to see the glory of God so we might fear Him, falling down before Him in worship and reverence, submitted fully to Him.  In a moment man can be cut off from the land of the living, or even destroyed eternally for our rebellion.  Even as God spared Balaam for a purpose, may we be those who bless and refuse to curse.  When God opens our eyes, for the first time we see clearly.  Praise God that He opens the mouths of brute beasts to speak wisdom, causes our eyes to see Him in glory, and chastens us to walk uprightly so we might fulfill His perfect will.

Guest Post by Amy Lambert: Generous Faith

The following was originally posted on the blog called "The Mustard Seed" by Amy Lambert.  Years ago we attended the same church fellowship.  Amy is currently living and serving the LORD in New Zealand. 

The thing about learning to hear the voice of God is that He will often ask you to do some extreme things, things that we wouldn't normally do because they require more faith and trusting in Him alone. Now, before I tell this story, I want you to know that I have been praying for a while about how much detail to share. However, God challenged me to be transparent because people in the western world need to see examples of faith in the areas of materialism and finances. So, please know that my aim is to glorify God, not myself, and hopefully inspire others to surrender all to Jesus and trust in His provision alone. He is worth everything!

On a Wednesday night, my sister Anna (her actual name will be kept anonymous) came to me and handed me an envelope containing all of her money. She told me that God had asked her to give it away 2 weeks prior, but she had been holding on to it because she was afraid that she wouldn't have what she needed. She said that God told her to give it to me and that night with tears in her eyes, she handed me the envelope and chose to be obedient no matter what the cost. I thanked her, comforted her and took the money, wanting to support her obedience to the Lord. I then prayed and asked God what He wanted me to do with it because I actually didn't need it, I have more money than most of my younger missionary sisters and brothers here because I worked for 4 years saving up. I felt like the Lord told me to hold onto it for 3 days and then double the amount and return it to her.

The following day during worship night our leaders wrote on a whiteboard how much students and staff still owed for outreach funds and we were to ask God if He wanted us to support each other financially. Anna's name was on the board needing $3,000NZD. During worship I asked God what He wanted me to give and I felt like He was telling me to pay the full amount for her. While I prayed for confirmation (silently with my eyes closed) suddenly Anna came over and held me in a big hug. She had no idea that I was praying about what to give her and at this point she didn't even know that I would be giving her the money back that she gave to me. I started weeping in her arms because I knew this was God thanking me through her for my obedience to Him. So, I silently agreed to pay for her full outreach costs. The funny thing is that in my mind $3000 seemed like so much money when I thought about what else I could do with it, but once I agreed to give it away, it felt like mere pennies (this is God's grace in sacrificial circumstances).

About 20 minutes later, still in worship, I asked God if that was all He wanted me to give, I didn't want to hold anything back from Him because everything I have He gave to me in the first place. You see, I confess that I had been relying on finances as my security for the sake of what I called "being responsible." The more money I had saved in the bank, the more secure my future seemed. But, God revealed to me that it had become an idol in my life because I was placing my confidence in something other than the almighty God. I have learned repeatedly on this DTS that my Heavenly Father wants to provide for me and when I am fully trusting in Him, not leaning on my own resources, He ends up getting all the glory when the provision comes. Freely I have received, so freely I should give. I would rather be rich in faith than have financial security. So, I had a thought that I should give Bob (again, his real name will be kept anonymous) $2000. The more I tried to worship and pray, this thought persisted and I finally figured it was the Lord's prompting. Again, my brain tried to reason its way out of giving this huge amount of money but the Spirit persisted with the truth that we can't out give God and He always blesses generosity and He will provide for me in whatever His future plans are for me. There is no better investment for my savings than for my brother and sister to go spread the Gospel on outreach because this will reep eternal rewards! Besides, I told myself, I have a car at home I can sell so I can continue as a missionary next year, if God calls me back. The Lord told me again that it is a good thing to rely on the support of others because it is a blessing for them to join in His work in my life; I am blessed and they get the rewards of giving as well as attributed to the fruit of the ministry through me. So, I agreed to give the additional $2000 to Bob. This was an amazing night because I gave out of my abundance, but other students gave even though they had nothing to give, they just obeyed the voice of the Lord to them without questioning how He would provide (living example of 2 Corinthians 8:1-15). At the end of the night I had so much joy, freedom, and peace through being obedient to the Lord and the $5000 felt like pennies.

The next day it was time to give Anna her envelope of cash back. I wrote her a little note, put in the double portion, and left it on her bed. At lunch she came with tears and hugged me telling me how she felt like Abraham sacrificing Issac and God provided in the last moment for her when he saw that she had been faithful. That evening I was washing dishes and a brother (who had just returned from snowboarders DTS outreach so he didn't know me) said God gave him a word for me. The Lord told him that I worship in extravagance, like Mary in the Bible who poured out her costly perfume on Jesus feet, pouring out my inheritance to Him. He said it might look crazy to other people, but to me I am just expressing my love for the One whom I am so in love with. Now, everything I had given was in secret, so I took his word as direct confirmation from the Lord that He was pleased with my obedience.  Anna and Bob don't know that those donations were from me. Also, the financial support I received from others before I came was enough to cover my outreach costs this year, as well as my flight home. So, thank you to those of you who partnered with me in this way.

This week's lectures are on the topic of the Holy Spirit and one point that our speaker made is that life in a Spirit-filled community is very generous and characterised by giving (Acts 4:34-no needy persons among them). God has definitely confirmed this truth through my experience in the YWAM community this season. So, all glory to God for His awesome economy where the more we give away to others, the greater the blessing we receive. He is the ultimate example of this principal by giving the most costly gift of His Son Jesus in order to save humanity. I hope this testimony challenges you and results in a greater faith/trust in God.

You can read more from Amy Lambert by following this link.

Waging War

During the drive home from church last night I asked Abel, "So what do you think about the new house?"  After pausing a moment he said, "I really like it - except for the roaches."  I have not discovered any evidence of an infestation, but few mornings begin without me finding a roach or two lying belly up somewhere in the house.  Since recently moving in I have laid down a generous amount of barrier spray around doors, windows, and skirting inside and out.  Some people are fine with a bug here or there, but when I see a roach or evidence of mice I go into warfare mode.  I want to unleash the strongest, industrial strength poison on the unsuspecting squatters - keeping in mind the health and safety of my family!  I spare no pains to do damage on any filthy critter populations that try to move in and establish themselves in my house.

Roaches in a house are like sins in the heart.  They can find their way in no matter how vigilant one may be.  They may even be able to evade barrier spray laid down at suspected high traffic areas.  But when one roach comes to our attention, we can either ignore it, run away from it screaming, or wage war.  Bugs will not just "go away" on their own when you are supplying them shelter, food, and supply of water.  The cost for neglecting to eradicate a stray roach or mouse can lead to an infestation which could cause great damage to property and health.  Even when the evidence of bugs and pests is reduced, it is not time to slack off.  When the battle turns in your favour, it is not time to celebrate yet.  With tenacious discipline we must continue to observe the perimeter, check in cupboards, under furniture, and carefully monitor bait stations.  If we will use the right baits, poisons, and make necessary repairs to holes, even an infestation can be brought under control.

After being born again through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, a Christian must wage war upon the sins that creep into his mind and heart.  Self-examination is critical as we observe our thoughts, the use of our time, our actions, and attitudes.  One sin allowed to remain unchecked is too many.  We are called to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and refuse to allow Satan a foothold in our lives.  We must wage war on sin, for those who have been freed from it should live no longer therein.  Christ has imputed unto us His righteousness.  After being filled with the Holy Spirit we must remain vigilant, for it does no good to sweep clean our hearts but leave the door wide open for anything to enter.  I really like life on earth - except for sin.  When God brings it to our knowledge through the scripture and conviction of the Spirit, let us spare no pains to kill it off.  Show no compassion for sins Christ died to save us from.  Sin brings death, but Christ brings light and life to all who believe.

The True Christmas Miracle

I was touched by an effort of generosity and goodwill by WestJet.  Their video of Christmas giving has gone viral, no doubt prompting various responses.  It made me profoundly happy, seeing the shocked faces of people who were happy to receive their gift requests.  Check out the video below.

While I was genuinely blessed by the depiction, I realise Christmas and even apparent acts of "goodwill" are viewed these days with increasing cynicism.  For everyone like me there may be a skeptic who humbugs the idea, questioning the motives of a company for giving.  It's nothing more than propaganda, some might say.  It's a glorified commercial.  WestJet did not do this out of the goodness of their hearts because they are in the business of making money.  Think of the business this stunt might net them!  They probably could afford those gifts because they overcharge people with fees and bag restrictions, some might scoff.  The points by the skeptics and scoffers may be true.  I have no knowledge of the true motive behind the "WestJet Christmas Miracle" or how the idea came about.  But this video nails one thing square on:  Christmas is a time for giving and receiving.  But it is a gift far greater than electronic gizmos, toys, or apparel.  Jesus Christ is the greatest gift ever given man may receive.  Let every heart prepare Him room.

Jesus Christ is the greatest gift ever given because He is God made flesh, the Saviour we need.  He is the Creator, Deliverer, Redeemer, and Messiah sent by God to save people from their sins.  We cannot grow out of Him.  He does not need batteries, power cords, or software updates.  Through Him we have access by one Spirit to the Father.  The salvation and everlasting life Jesus Christ provides is beyond price, but He has given Himself to all who believe at His own expense.  He is the gift we always needed but never in our wildest dreams could have expected.  Jesus has been given not as a ploy to make a few bucks or improve customer loyalty.  He was not sent as some Divine manipulation to trick us into allegiance or service.  Jesus Christ was sent and became a sacrifice for sinners because of love, mercy, and grace from God towards man.  When Jesus was born the angels shouted, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."  God has given peace to men from a heart of love.

Though the WestJet "miracle" was thoughtful, generous, and kind, there is nothing to suggest it was love that motivated their giving.  Santa knew the names of the children (because he had their booking information!) but we do not know that he loved them.  People all over the world give and receive gifts during the Christmas season not motivated by love at all!  We can be motivated by traditions, obligations, greed, and all manner of unwholesome and unholy reasons to give or receive.  The Bible teaches that Jesus demonstrated His motive of love through His death on the cross for our sins.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  The cynics may grumble, the skeptics might scoff, but the truth of God's Word endures forever.  For those who receive the Gospel and are born again by grace through faith in Jesus, nothing can separate us from the love of God.  What a miracle, that God would humble Himself to put on human flesh to save sinners!  Jesus is the greatest gift ever given, and one we should receive and celebrate always!

The Heavenly Perspective

It is natural for our gaze to be drawn away from Christ.  In the midst of the storm the wind-tossed waves look threatening and imposing.  All our senses become focused on escape and self-preservation.  Jesus promised His followers in this world we will face tribulation, but exhorts us to be joyful because He has overcome the world.  God allows pain, trials, satanic assault, and trouble to compass Christians on all sides.  We can be joyful even in the midst of difficulty because Christ has already overcome all.  He is in control.  I am His, and He is mine.

When Stephen was brought before the religious leaders falsely accused of blasphemy in Acts 7, his fear of God swallowed up all fear of man.  Moved by the Holy Spirit, the truth he spoke infuriated the chief priests.  Upon hearing his scathing rebuke they were cut to the heart.  There is no doubt in my mind Stephen recognised their murderous intentions.  Instead of focusing on the multitude of angry faces with murder on their breath, he looked to the LORD.  Acts 7:55-56 says, "But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" They dragged him outside the city, removed their cloaks, and took up stones to slay him.  Even as the stones and boulders found their mark on his body, he continued to look to God.  In that moment Stephen did not pray to be spared a brutal death or seek divine vengeance upon his enemies, but on his knees pleaded with God to forgive them - even as His LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ had done from the cross.

Sacrificial love, grace, and forgiveness are the fundamental characteristics of every Christian.  To walk accordingly, we must turn our eyes to Jesus Christ in simple faith.  If our eyes are fixed upon the stones which have been thrown at us, if our ears are tuned to the accusations hurled in our direction, if our focus is on the angry faces of our enemies, we will lose the heavenly perspective.  We can walk in the power of the Holy Spirit only when we deny ourselves, walk in obedience to our Saviour, and look unto Jesus alone.  One might expect Stephen to be graced with a heavenly vision after fasting and prayer, yet he was ushered into the very presence of God through the indwelling Spirit in the midst of a fiery trial.  Perhaps you tremble at the prospect of future trials you will face.  If we will tremble before the LORD in adoration and worship, in the midst of the trial God will reveal Himself in greater glory still.

Let us decide to turn our eyes to Jesus and trust in Him.  A true vision of God brings our issues and the fearful unknowns into our lives into proper perspective.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom!

Honest Mistake?

Are you serious, I inwardly groaned.  How many times in baking have I put in tablespoons instead of teaspoons?  I suppose that's not as bad as cups for tablespoons, but it pretty much sabotages whatever is being baked.  This morning I was making crepes for the family and only after piling 4 tablespoons of sugar on 2 cups of white flour did I realised my error.  At that moment I faced a decision bakers and chefs from the beginning of time have been forced to answer:  do I try to salvage the dish or just chuck it all and start over?  Many times I have been able to salvage the dish by carefully removing the extra bi-carb or cream of tartar.  But not this time.  I dumped the lot into the bin and started over.

When we make mistakes, that is the right course of action.  If we make a mistake and hope nobody notices, our salvage attempts often produce a poor result.  It is far better to admit our mistakes freely, apologise genuinely, and humbly start over.  This humbling process begins with us confessing our sin before God.  We like to term mistakes like the aforementioned as "honest mistakes," meaning there was no malice in our hearts beforehand.  In actuality it would be better to call such an error a careless mistake.  Had I double checked the amounts and measured carefully, the mistake could have easily been avoided.  Whether or not I had evil intentions when I poured the ingredients didn't change the fact I had loaded the bowl with almost four times more sugar than what the recipe called for!  If my family can notice slight differences in texture and taste from one batch of pancakes or crepes from the last, won't God notice when I try to hide my flaws by my secret salvage attempts?

Repentance is a beautiful gift from God.  It allows sinners like me to have a fresh start.  God put in His law provisions for imperfection.  Through sacrifice, atonement could be made for the sins of people.  God knows we will make mistakes.  Jesus loves sinners, and proved it by dying on the cross for the sins of His enemies.  It was liberating to throw away the contaminated flour and start over.  I didn't have to worry about the taste being off or the ingredients sticking to the pan.  I didn't have to go through the process of spending an hour cooking the crepes only to discover they were inedible.  All the worry, preoccupation, and irritation of making a stupid mistake was over because I started over fresh!  When we have made a mistake, let us be quick to admit it and start over with a new beginning offered us by God's grace.  What joy and peace is ours when we quit trying to salvage our mistakes and begin afresh!

No Love, No Justice

Last night I started thinking about the legal systems of this world.  It seems to me the blindfold has fallen from the eyes of Justice, and her scales are a false balance.  I have not studied law, nor am I a solicitor or judge.  But I have studied the character of God and the divine law He instituted.  When we examine God through scripture, we see Him as the perfect Lawgiver and Judge of all.  He is the ideal.  He is by nature wholly righteous, just, loving, and good.  And this is where the legal systems of the world have lost the plot:  law today has become the means to an end rather than a means to God's end.  Justice according to God's standard is no longer the point.  Legal wranglings are all about knowing the system, interpreting law according to precedent, and at times even using law to legally do what is by nature unlawful.  Courtrooms have become a place of pride-fueled entanglements with the combatants not wielding swords and nets, but carefully crafted arguments to damage reputations and ensnare people in their own words.  Making other people look bad makes others seem better, and paid experts brandish opposite opinions using the same evidence.  Winning is more important than truth because truth is debatable.

There are many factors that have led to the breaking away of the legal system in America from the love of God and biblical truth to the relativistic slough it has become.  John Jay, the first Supreme Court Justice said, "It appears to me that the gospel not only recognizes the whole moral law, and extends and perfects our knowledge of it, but also enjoins on all mankind the observance of it."  Because God is just, without an intimate knowledge of God how can a man truly understand justice?  Then it struck me:  God's justice and love are inseparable.  He is loving and just, just and loving.  His love does not spring from pity and His justice does not grow out of pride.  Apart from the love of God, there can be no justice.  This was an amazing concept indeed!  Is there any place for the love of God in our courtrooms?  Is there room for mercy, grace, and absolute truth?  Without being born again through the Gospel, a man can only be selfish, proud, and unjust.  He cannot love as God loves or judge with righteous judgment.

From this biblical perspective therefore, the courts of the world who deny the existence of God and the truth of His Word are breeding grounds of injustice.  Jesus railed against such in Luke 11:52:  "Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered."  Are the lawyers or solicitors the problem?  No.  They are not different than any other person who goes through life in an unregenerate state.  The problem Jesus had with the lawyers He rebuked was their hypocrisy.  They made law so convoluted that the common man could not understand it properly.  It was not that the law needed to be so complex, but such a maze had been created that the lawyers hindered people from entering into godly knowledge.  The path of righteousness and justice they were to lead people through became so muddled and confusing they did not even bother to enter it themselves!  Justice could wink at sin if you filled her scales from behind her back.

The trouble is not just in courts, government, schools, or special interest groups:  the trouble resides in every single human heart because of sin.  The Law was a schoolmaster to show us our great sin and lead us by the hand to salvation through Jesus Christ.  He is the Judge of the living and the dead, and God has proved His authority through raising Him from the dead.  In Him love and justice come together in perfect harmony.  Our walk with Christ is not one according to outward conformity, but through inner transformation by the Holy Spirit.  God is righteous and just, and Jesus speaks peace to all who will bow before Him.  Psalm 85:8-13 reads, "I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. ⁹ Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land. ¹⁰ Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. ¹¹ Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. ¹² Yes, the LORD will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase. ¹³ Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway."

Life Observations of Pastor Bill Wilson

Our recent move has forced me to go through files and paperwork.  Most of what I find is junk, but I did come across notes I took during a session taught by Pastor Bill Wilson of Metro World Child.  He is a dynamic communicator with a heart to reach children with the power of the Gospel all over the world by meeting spiritual and physical needs.  Some might find his style at times a bit gruff or abrasive, but I appreciate his perspective because it comes from a man who loves deeply.  He is a man who has experienced a lot of tough stuff, yet God has brought him through stronger still.  Here are some of thought-provoking proverbs he shared during that fireside chat many years ago:

• Everybody wants to walk on water but they won't get out of the boat.
• Whatever it takes!
• Some preachers love crowds and hate people.
• Don't wait to get knocked off a donkey.
• Your commitment must be stronger than your emotions.
• Happy hinges on what happens.
• If Jesus shows up and wants fruit, you better have it.
• What makes me angry is what God will use to change me.
• Everything in life is designed to make you quit.
• If you don't have it, you don't need it.  Hone and develop what you have.
• Never discuss your problem with someone incapable of solving it.
• You don't decide on what your ministry is supposed to be:  you discover it.
• When everyone thinks the same no one thinks much.
• Everything is just like church.
• Be faithful in the small things.
• If you do what you know, you know what to do.
• If you want something you've never had before, you have to do something you have never done before.

The Importance of Attitude

Our attitude is a God-given looking glass into our hearts.  Attitude is an insightful tool, a gauge discerning Christians can utilise to discover whether we are walking in God's truth or according to the flesh.  We use thermostats to regulate the temperature of conditioned air, a thermometer to discern if meat is cooked through, and moisture gauges to measure the dampness of a room.  Our bodies are designed by God to function at an optimal temperature, and it is not difficult to discern if we are sick if we will submit to taking our temperature.  The instrument spells out the proof, whether we think or feel like we have a fever or not.  Yet when it comes to spiritual health, things are not so clear cut.  Many times in my own life I thought I was spiritually healthy and robust when I was suffering from the equivalent of walking pneumonia.  Examining my attitude and motives according to God's Word was the way that God drove home the reality that I was gravely ill from a spiritually vantage point.  The danger of not immediately seeking God to treat our spiritual sickness is we unwittingly open ourselves up for all manner of error.

A.W. Tozer wrote a most useful book called The Dwelling Place of God.  He introduces the subject in the following manner:  "These are the times that try men's souls. The Spirit has spoken expressly that in the latter times some should depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. Those days are upon us and we cannot escape them; we must triumph in the midst of them, for such is the will of God concerning us. Strange as it may seem, the danger today is greater for the fervent Christian than for the lukewarm and the self-satisfied. The seeker after God's best things is eager to hear anyone who offers a way by which he can obtain them. He longs for some new experience, some elevated view of truth, some operation of the Spirit that will raise him above the dead level of religious mediocrity he sees all around him, and for this reason he is ready to give a sympathetic ear to the new and the wonderful in religion, particularly if it is presented by someone with an attractive personality and a reputation for superior godliness.  Now our Lord Jesus. that great Shepherd of the sheep, has not left His flock to the mercy of the wolves. He has given us the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit and natural powers of observation, and He expects us to avail ourselves of their help constantly. "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good," said Paul (I Thess. 5:21) . "Beloved, believe not every spirit," wrote John, "but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1) . "Beware of false prophets," our Lord warned, "which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matt. 7:15). Then He added the word by which they may be tested, "Ye shall know them by their fruits."

Tozer suggests a series of useful questions intended to cause us to examine our attitude.  Instead of judging others, we are to make our own attitudes the focus of this examination, for ours is the only attitude we can do anything about.  Does this teaching or experience make Christ more indispensable?  How has this new doctrine or emphasis changed my attitude towards God or others?  Is it drawing me towards God or leading me away?  He writes, "Briefly stated the test is this: This new doctrine, this new religious habit, this new view of truth, this new spiritual experience has it affected my attitude toward and my relation to God, Christ, the Holy Scriptures, self, other Christians, the world and sin. By this sevenfold test we may prove everything religious and know beyond a doubt whether it is of God or not. By the fruit of the tree we know the kind of tree it is. So we have but to ask about any doctrine or experience, What is this doing to me? and we know immediately whether it is from above or from below."

One question that especially hit me as true is one concerning our view of others.  Again, quoting from Tozer's book:  "Our relation to and our attitude toward our fellow Christians is another accurate test of religious experience.  Sometimes an earnest Christian will, after some remarkable spiritual encounter, withdraw himself from his fellow believers and develop a spirit of faultfinding. He may be honestly convinced that his experience is superior, that he is now in an advanced state of grace, and that the hoi polloi in the church where he attends are but a mixed multitude and he alone a true son of Israel."  Man, that really hit home for me.  I remember going through seasons of spiritual growth when it seemed at every turn God revealed himself to me.  But due to my immaturity I suffered from a serious case of "plank-eye" syndrome for some time!  Once I was broken for my sin, I was able to see I had fallen into the trap of projecting my sins upon others.  I had issues submitting wholly to God and His rule, and therefore was unwilling to yield completely to authority He placed in my life.  When we begin to feel like Elijah - who thought he must be the only one still loyal to God - by His grace God will open our eyes to reveal that He has thousands who have never bowed the knee to Ba'al.  God corrects our misconceptions if we will listen to Him.

Attitude is huge.  We can be very right with our facts, but at the same time our attitude can be all wrong.  God is teaching me to examine my attitudes and motives in everything I do.  Am I afraid?  Why am I worrying about this or that?  Have I become envious or unsettled?  Am I hoping for praise from men or am I fully resting in obedience to God?  Am I experiencing the joy of the LORD despite trials of faith?  Am I glad to substitute anything for reliance upon Christ and His Word?  Praise the LORD that He gives us wisdom through the Holy Spirit to know if we are walking according to the Spirit or in the flesh.  God has given every man a conscience that agrees with His Law, and the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.  Attitude is a valuable tool to gauge where I am with my walk with Christ.  When I see the fruit of the Spirit evident as I walk in love according to God's grace, I can know I am heading on the right track!