The shape of things to come.
Every now and then you get a snapshot of what the future may look like. Ally (my wife) and Abi (my daughter) won a competition for a make-over and photo shoot. Once dolled up and ready for the camera I hardly recognised my daughter! She could’ve easily passed as a 14 year old! In a moment I’d lost three years of her life and a glimpse of the future. She is gorgeous now but she is going to be a stunner!
Last Sunday, Jon was preaching in Suburbs Church, Bristol (our partner church); Mike (Suburbs pastor) preached magnificently in One Church Gloucester and I preached in an Eastern European church. Again, another snapshot of the future.
The foundations of these decisions are based on Trust All relationships and founded on trust. This quality brings confidence and frees us to fly.
Calling
We have a sense of purpose. We could be building a business and making some bucks but instead we are building His kingdom because we are called.
Release
The enemy strategy is to bring bondage and captivity but Christ came to set us free. As we are released so we, in turn, give permission for others to fly too.
As we move towards the vision of ten expressions, so this glimpse of the future will be multiplied!
The shape of things to come.
Sing it to me one more time!
I was on the train earlier this week; en route to Birmingham. I caught a later train which more than halved my fare and, more importantly, guaranteed me a seat. I was just settling into my book when a mother and toddler filled in the seat behind me. I eyed them cautiously. “Is it a screamer?”, I thought to myself. There’s nothing worse than being next to a screaming child when trapped on a plane or a train!
Mercifully, the mother had come pre-armed. Sweets, biscuits and books were ready to be deployed. I settled once more into my book. And so did he. The three year old, that is. Which is fine until the sweets ran out. He started to sing.
When I say sing, I mean, really sing!
I know exactly what the wheels on the bus do…. And, apparently, it’s not just the wheels that go round and round either… On the seventh rendition, I was beginning to boil over.
Shut that kid up, why don’t you!
And then it happened. Peace. Tranquility. Not because the kid had a dummy shoved in his gob, because that song was going stronger and shriller. But because I had a world view change moment. Why shouldn’t that kid sing? In fact, why can’t we all sing? If I’m allowed to talk on my mobile, why can’t I sing, too?
I have a joy in me that’s worth singing about, yet I conform to a pattern around me that appeases the other fellow life passengers. How quickly we slip into these mindsets. Go along with the crowd. Not wanting to rock the boat. Fearful of confronting a bad habit in a colleague yet find the gumption to talks about them behind their back.
Enough already. It’s time to conform to worldly patterns no more. It’s time to sing!
This made me chuckle. Now if there’s anything that gets a strange look on the train, then it’s a passenger laughing to himself and that’s when I realised how boxed in I am. That’s it!
So I joined in. Full on. I knew the words so why not? The wheels on the bus go round and round…
And the kid stopped singing and he stared at me as if I was some kind of weirdo!
There may be trouble ahead…
This sounds like another announcement from the governor from the Bank of England or another press release from Brussels!
However, I’m referring to an article that cropped up in the Times last week.
One in four British couples speak to each other for less than ten minutes a day, while the same proportion cannot remember the last time they sat down to dinner together. Two thirds of respondents said they would rather be online than eating with their partner. 4% said they ignore their partner completely. Times
I’m no marriage expert, but if that is true, then our marriages are seriously headed towards disaster. In fact I predict another metaphoric cruise liner about to hit the rocks!
Your marriage will not work unless you intentionally work at it. Steer a course that God has marked out for you in Gods word and stick at it. Even in the storms – stick at it. Even when you are bored – stick at it. Even when the other half has given up – stick at it. Relationships become more sticky when you stick at it!
Here’s some top tips to improve your relationship. And they wont cost you a penny!
Pick one and implement today.
1. Start each day with a kiss
2. Listen carefully
3. Encourage each other
4. Do it their way
5. Telephone during the day
6. Forgive quickly
7. Touch
8. Ask, “what can I do to make you happier?”
9. Say, “I love you” frequently
10. Pray for each other daily.
Breakthrough 2012 – 22 Jan
R.F.M.
This was the chalk marking on the engine of an old fashioned steam train. It was thirty minutes before this beautiful piece of engineering was about to be called back into action. It gleamed in the sunlight because it had been lovingly restored for over six months. Rusty parts had been replaced and a complete paint job.
But the real work however, was hidden and dirty. Restoring the engines was vital. Otherwise it was just a museum piece. With the engine overhauled and cleaned, the team had stoked the engine with coal and wood and now we were ready for action. It only required one last act.
The fire. Ready. For. Match.
The early church gathered, at Jesus’ request, in an upper room. Ready. Expectant. And they were not disappointed. The fire fell.
Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
They were changed forever. No going back. Transformation.
Can you chalk R.F.M. on your heart today?
Breakthrough 2012 – 21 Jan
When applying for a new job, your potential employers will ask you for a reference. Someone who will speak on your behalf about your track record.
When buying a second hand car, what you are hoping to discover is how well the car has performed in the past – not just how it sounds and handles today! Again, that folder of service receipts show the track record.
When peering into the future of your own life and choosing to step boldly into the unknown it’s good to remind yourself of Gods track record of your own experience.
The Psalmist would regular remind himself of the wonderful things God had done in the history of Gods people to reinforce his detirmination to drive forwards. Sometimes under incredible stress.
Come and see what our God has done,
what awesome miracles he performs for people! He made a dry path through the Red Sea,
and his people went across on foot.
There we rejoiced in him. For by his great power he rules forever.
He watches every movement of the nations;
let no rebel rise in defiance.
(Psalm 66:5-7 NLT)
Stop for a minute.
Remind yourself of Gods faithfulness and whisper a sentence of gratitude.
Then boldly stride forwards, anticipating another breakthrough moment!
Breakthrough 2012 – 20 Jan
I must confess, I’m feeling the pace today and with the fasting goal so close to completion – the temptation to give in feels so strong.
Sometimes you just have to dig in deep and draw on reserves that have held you strong in your faith over the years. Here’s one of them…
Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
[28] Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. [29] He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. [30] Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; [31] but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
My hope is in you, Lord!
That’s my declaration this morning! I capture those negative thoughts like a highly trained ninja and speak out this matured confession. It maybe old but it’s never lost its power!
Breakthrough 2012 – 19 Jan
“My Dads a pastor and he’ll put you in hell!”
I still wince as I remember saying this to my friend in the junior school playground. To be fair it was in response to him jibing me that his Dad was a policeman and he threatened to put me in jail! (what’s funny is that was the only useful thing I could think of that pastors actually do!)
Boasting is such a futile thing unless you can follow it through. Many times we make sweeping statements on our feeble efforts and endeavours. Trying to tart them up so they look better than they are.
How big is your church? This is a classic example of comparison and is no better than “my Dad is better than you Dad” My advice is to give this up with immediate effect.
Make your boast in the name of the Lord.
He is a solid foundation and He will come through
In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm. May he send you help from his sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem. May he remember all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
Interlude May he grant your heart’s desires
and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the LORD answer all your prayers. Now I know that the LORD rescues his anointed king.
He will answer him from his holy heaven
and rescue him by his great power. Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
but we boast in the name of the LORD our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse,
but we will rise up and stand firm. Give victory to our king, O LORD!
Answer our cry for help. (Psalm 20:1-9 NLT)
Breakthrough 2012 – 18 Jan
The Philistines had captured the ark of the covenant. The golden box that represented the presence of God – but had sent it back because it brought curse and sickness to their community. David attempted to bring the ark home but, due to transportation issues, a terrible fatal tragedy occurred. The mission aborted, the ark was parked up at the nearest farmhouse. It belonged to Obed-Edom…
1 Chronicles 13:13-14 (NIV)
[13] He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. [14] The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.
Obed-Edom had the best three months of his life. He still went about his normal everyday duties. Ensured his family and friends were looked after but something had changed. Whatever he put his hand to was blessed and the world and it’s mother knew about it!
He was now living in the presence of God.
Want to see breakthrough in your everyday living? Invite the presence of God into your everyday living! You’ll soon clean up your act and guard your thoughts but it’s well worth the trade!
Breakthrough 2012 – 17 Jan
I’ve been doing some weeding this week.
No, not on my garden – its far too cold for that, but on my heart.
Checking my attitude and motivation. What’s actually growing down there.
It’s amazing what you find lurking behind some rock. Somehow I have managed to justify this position for years and so the weed grows. Threatening to choke the good seed sown over the same period of time.
Find it. Pull it. Bin it.
In fact, burn it if you have to!
I am looking forward to this Sunday…Breakthrough Sunday. I’m bringing my seed AND my weed. One to sow, the other to throw.
You don’t need to root into the bins of your past but tend the garden you inhabit today.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)
[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. [24] See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Breakthrough 2012 – 16 Jan
Matthew 4:1-4 (NIV)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. [2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” [4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
I must admit theres a couple of times over the last 48 hours that felt like giving up on my fast! I had to make some crumpets for my children (when I say make, I mean put them in the toaster and butter them!) it’s amazing how much of a battle that now becomes. Just one tiny bite. It doesn’t really matter, does it? I am now on the path of justifying an action that is not part of the overall plan.
In truth, one tiny bite doesn’t matter. I’m not some kind of modern day religious legalistic Pharisee.
I’m not going to die. Neither is God going to abandon me!
The issue is distraction.
Whether its hunger or getting wound up by a family/work situation (as another example) the enemy tactic is to get you to focus on the minor, the small things. Allow the big things to take care of themselves. That’s the one we have to watch out for.
The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing!
You are sowing seeds (the Word of God) and weeding your field (shedding sinful attitudes) in order to see a breakthrough harvest. Don’t get distracted.
