Marching Forth!

It's easy in life to be overwhelmed with circumstances beyond our control.  The trials and seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be legion, and the most enthusiastic people can waver and faint from the onslaught.  There are temptations within and pressure from without; physical weakness and illness can sap our resolve.  There are always suggestions to doubt and temptations to quit.  And when you aren't sleeping well and perpetually exhausted it just adds another level to the difficulty. You might not be able to relate to this, but based on Psalm 77 I believe Asaph knew this very well.  He was a man who cried out to God in his trouble and was heard.  There were times when sleep eluded him, and in the darkness fears and doubts crept in.  He had intimate and historical knowledge of God's goodness and mercy towards His people, but these aspects of God's character were difficult to reconcile with the present troubles Asaph experienced.  He knew Go...

" Will You not revive us again, t hat Your people may rejoice in You ?" Psalm 85:6 The psalmist penned this rhetorical question he believed God would answer in the affirmative.  During a time of prayer last night the Holy Spirit brought this verse to remembrance and shed light on the subject of revival.  God is the source of all life, and He has promised to provide eternal life to all who repent and trust in Jesus Christ as LORD and Saviour.  Having been born again by the Gospel, we are spiritually made alive by the Holy Spirit within us.  One fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy, and therefore rejoicing ought to mark our lives and personalities as children of God. During my Christian pilgrimage I have enjoyed fellowship with people of various backgrounds and different doctrinal points of emphasis.  Some are especially enamoured with the subject of "revival" and a fervent desire to see or experience a revival of religion.  Some read solid books like W...

" The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, b ut the mouth of the wicked what is perverse. " Proverbs 10:32 The meaning of words can shift over time, but thankfully God's Word will endure forever.  In today's vernacular the word "acceptable" can by synonymous with passable, even just sliding by.  The Hebrew word translated into English is defined by the Strong's concordance as: " delight, (be) acceptable, delight, desire, favour, (good) pleasure ."  By this definition, "acceptable" words are in agreement with the righteous, Almighty God.  A heart made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ will be revealed with righteous speech. The same word is used by Solomon in  Ecclesiastes 12:10-11 :  " The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright--words of truth. 11  The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd ....

I've been on hiatus from regularly playing golf this year, and a couple weeks ago I began getting "back in the swing."  It's always a bit of a slog to work through the lack of rhythm, physical fatigue, and bad habits which accompany a extended layoff.  I started golfing in my youth because it was fun, and I have reached an age where it is also an effective exercise.  Walking the course is a great way to stay active and challenge yourself at the same time - which is even more challenging when constantly duffing, hooking, and slicing everywhere! Just recently I was talking to friends about how Gammy (my Grandma - but don't ever call her that!) over the age of 65 had a hole-in-one.  Over the years I have had a couple of pitches roll in and a few approaches bounce off the stick, but I never really came close to an ace.  Someone in the conversation added how a woman had three holes-in-one in a single round!  When standing in the tee box addressing the ball I ...

Growing up it was common for us to do chores on a Saturday.  In addition to household duties like laundry, washing up after dinner, sweeping the floor, mowing the lawn, vacuuming carpet, or cleaning bathrooms, sometimes we would have different tasks like washing the cars, trimming ivy off the fence, or removing fly screens from the windows, scrubbing, and spraying them down.  I was always impressed by my mum's ability to clean a window.  I would use the same Windex, paper towels, and press until it squeaked like she did, but it seemed I had to do it over and over until it looked half as good as her first go. As the sun streamed through the sliding glass doors into the dining room yesterday, it was obvious the glass needed a good clean.  I pulled out the trusty Windex and proceeded to clean each door two times each side - because I knew full well that even with rotating the towel I couldn't remove the dust and film with a single pass.  After wiping the windows...

It is remarkable how quickly knowledge of God can evaporate over a generation.  For instance,  during the days of Joshua the children of Israel served the LORD.  Judges 2:10 explains the general condition of the people despite what great things God had done after the death of Joshua and that generation:  " When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel . "  Stones of remembrance had been set up, the Law had been recorded and passed down, sacrifices offered, feasts kept, and tithes and offerings brought to the tabernacle, yet the new generation did not know the LORD.  This shows knowing about God is not the same as knowing Him. Obedience to God because of love and appreciation of Him can quickly degenerate to empty tradition.  In Australia we are seeing a great rise in people who, instead of identifying as Christian, claim they ...

" Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. .." Hebrews 12:14 I have been meditating on this verse lately, and the wisdom and simplicity of it is marvellous.  The writer of Hebrews exhorts the pursuit of peace with all people, yet never at the expense of holiness.  There is a peace the world holds as an ideal not hardly realised, a coexistence which requires accommodation and compromise.  Genuine peace can never be obtained without resolved conflict, but the world's way of peace is to avoid conflict at all costs.  This pseudo-peace is far removed from the peace Jesus Christ offers those who trust in Him.  Jesus said in  John 14:27 , " Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid ."  The peace Jesus gives is not contingent on external circumstances but is secured in the hearts of all who look to Jesus C...

Last night in Tribe we discussed  Proverbs 10:26 which reads, " As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, s o is the lazy man to those who send him ."  King Solomon employed a couple of interesting similes to describe a lazy messenger from the perspective of the one who sent the message.  If you have ever taken a swig of vinegar, you know it is difficult to do so without wincing.  The high acidity in time also weakens tooth enamel and can lead to decay.  Most have had the unpleasant experience of sitting around a warm fire only to have the smoke follow you around.  Smoke irritates eyes and makes them water and burn, and this makes it difficult to see clearly.  A lazy messenger is unsuited for the task, a tooth-grinding irritant to those who sent him. Whilst reading the Bible before bed I came across a striking contrast in  Proverbs 25:13 :  " Like the cold of snow in time of harvest i s a faithful messenger to those who send him,...

" Do not trust in oppression, n or vainly hope in robbery;  i f riches increase,  d o not set your heart on them. 11  God has spoken once, t wice I have heard this:  t hat power belongs to God ." Psalm 62:10-11 It is easy for Christians who trust God to begin to place their faith in other things.  Though our hearts are to be fixed on the LORD and our confidence in His Word, a subtle shift can occur.  That is a reason David exhorts the reader to not place our hope in uncertain riches.  Money brings with it the power to obtain but dollars can also exert power over any who discover comfort in them. David wrote, " Do not trust in oppression, nor vainly hope in robbery... " and the English definitions of the original Hebrew words provide clarity.  I imagine very few of us would admit we "trust in oppression, " and oppression is translated from a word which is defined in the Strong's concordance as, "injury, fraud, distress, unjust gain...

It occurred to me recently that the health of the church is not best measured by church attendance or financial giving but in personal holiness.  The sanctification for Christ of each individual member does a great deal to provide strength and fruitfulness in the church.  The whole church is comprised of many individual members, and our connection to Christ as our head (individually and corporately) places us in a humble posture to be led by the Spirit.  At some point we must take personal responsibility to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God according to His Word ( Micah 6:8 ).  When our hearts are hardened in sin, however, solid biblical teaching or Spirit-led worship will not force godly transformation upon us. It is a remarkable thing that the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the hearts of God's people who repent of their sin and trust Him.  The thing which I find beyond comprehension is God gives us choices all along, never forcing u...

I am amazed by the way God opens doors unexpectedly.  Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting with three senior chaplains in the NSW police force.  For some time (off and on) I had been praying about how churches or myself could support and encourage our local police, and perhaps this meeting was a first step in God's answer to that question.  As we concluded the meeting with prayer, exchanging details and shaking hands, I was given a Bible printed by the Bible Society Australia tailored for police.  Within the pages (in addition to scripture) are topical articles and prayers. When I looked closely at the cover, I noticed in the NSW Police Seal a motto written in Latin:  "CULPAM POENA PREMIT COMES."  Since I do not understand Latin I turned to Google for the translation which basically means, " Punishment swiftly follows crime. "  I had never considered what a good motto would be for a police force, but I suppose it is a good one because the ide...

How good God is to those who fear Him!  God is good to all men beyond measure, but those who trust and seek the LORD can receive the full benefits as His dear children.  All the gifts God graciously provides for men and beast on earth will end, for this world is passing away.  But blessings from God are retained by those who receive the Gospel and inherit eternal life for Christ is our inheritance who abides with us and we with Him.  All men are freely offered the blessings of God's kingdom, but only those who repent and trust in Him can receive and retain them all. See what the psalmist wrote in  Psalm 103:1-5 :  " Bless the LORD , O my soul;  a nd all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD , O my soul, a nd forget not all His benefits: 3  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your m...

" S ell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34   For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also ." Luke 12:33-34 Jesus often emphasised the wisdom of investing in the kingdom of God rather than living for self.  Everything a person acquires will be passed to someone else or be lost, stolen, broken, ruined, or forgotten.  There is no life found in the accumulation of money or stuff:  real abundant life can only be discovered through faith and obedience to Jesus who is our life.   Christians store up treasure in heaven when we choose to obey God and walk according to His Word and will.  Even a cup of cold water given in His name is cause for God to set aside an eternal reward for the cheerful giver.  The part of the passage which especially spoke to me this time was the exhortation to " prov...

When you have faced difficult trials have you ever wondered, "Why is this happening to me?"  Life is hard, and like the old Morton salt catchphrase says " When it rains it pours ."  The difficulties we face are easily compounded.  The salt slogan originated because moisture in the air has a way of making salt clump together, but Morton salt had magnesium carbonate added so it would still pour freely in damp conditions.  Alas, there is no additive we can bring into our lives to neutralise the pain of a fiery trial.  But we have far more in Jesus Christ who will never leave us or forsake us.  He allows us to go through the fire so He might bring us through further refined for His glory. An example of this is seen after God delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  Being slaves for hundreds of years was tough to be sure, but the decades spent in the desert before entering Canaan were difficult too.  God had a purpose He was accom...

How blessed are those who fear God, for He will protect us without fail.  He provides everlasting assurance (without any fine print or disclaimers) that He will continue to protect and provide for us without fail.  When I travel I typically purchase travel insurance, but all insurance policies have limited coverage conditions.  Not so with our God!  Before we even make a claim He knows of our needs and is able to help in real time.  He is not limited by distance or regular business hours and remains faithful and true forever. Lifetime warranties are great, but God does not restrict His goodness towards His people to our lives on earth:  His promises and power endure forever!  He does not only care about our mortal frame but preserves us body and soul.  There is no limit to His goodness and everlasting love.  See what is written in  Psalm 121:5-8 :  " The LORD is your keeper; t he LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6 The...

As believers in the LORD Jesus, we are called to walk by faith and not by sight.  To say this is counter intuitive is really an understatement, for from our earliest days we learn to rely upon our vision.  Seeing with our eyes makes navigating the world something we take for granted.  It is good for us to remember the God who created man's eyes can certainly see, and He can see far beyond what we could perceive or imagine. Man looks on the outer appearance, but God looks upon the heart.  Jacob was able to fool his father Isaac by a crude disguise fashioned of goat skins on his arms and neck, yet God sees through the most sophisticated schemes and motives of men.  Samuel looks upon the oldest son of Jesse and envisioned him being a stately and worthy king, but God had rejected him because his heart bore no resemblance to His own.  Whether we have 20/20 vision or suffer from cataracts, it is imperative we acknowledge God's vision is infinitely clearer than...

During our family's recent trip to Texas, one of the tourist stops we made was at the Alamo in San Antonio.  The restored church is the original building which still stands in the middle of a complex adorned with green trees, plaques, artefacts, and a gift shop.  The Alamo was a historical place of interest as my middle name found its inspiration from William B. Travis, a Lieutenant Colonel and rebel commander who was willing to die to defend it. After the fall of the Alamo by the courageous who refused to surrender to General Santa Ana and the Mexican army, "Remember the Alamo!" became a rallying cry by rebels who continued the fight.  Remembering the courage and resolve of the departed and their violent deaths for the cause ultimately resulted in Texan independence.  Quoting from a website , " The Alamo defenders remind us "why people fight for an ideal," says Alamo tour guide Rosemary Mitchell. "They cared to fight for what they believe in, no...

" God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, a nd to be held in reverence by all those around Him. 8 O LORD God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O LORD ? Your faithfulness also surrounds You ." Psalm 89:7-8 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, for all wisdom springs from the mighty God who created all things.  This glorious King is not to be reduced to "a friend next to ya" but ought to be reverenced by His redeemed.  It is one thing to imagine what God is capable of, but better yet to praise Him for all He has done and also promised to do.  He spoke the universe into existence and sustains it faithfully according to His infinite power and grace.  God is the source and spring of all life seen and unseen by men.  Having great fear of God we give Him the credit He is due, avoid what is evil, and delight to do what pleases Him. Whilst reading through Genesis as a family we came across a couple of verses which provided ...