Exercise

P 2661 Skip the DIY, use your faith instead!

/ DVH

Romans 8:12-14:“So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!” 🥳 🎉🎶

Romans 8:29-32: “God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him. After God made that decision of what His children should be like, He followed it up by calling people by name. After He called them by name, He set them on a solid basis with Himself. And then, after getting them established, He stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what He had begun. So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing Himself to the worst by sending His own Son, is there anything else He wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us?”

As I have said before, when we gave our lives to Jesus everything changed. Since then you may have had feelings, or experiences, or not. That doesn’t matter… If you want HIM — then He wants you! So, if neither of us ever has another feeling, then the Lord will still be delighted with us, because of our faith in what Jesus did. “Then Jesus told him, (Thomas), “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”John 20:29.

Now we need to live this life reminding ourselves of everything we have been given. Start rejoicing in what you already have. We have the love and favour of God on us … it is the kind of love we’ve always dreamt about! Praise God, He can’t lie, and if He says we are blessed … then we are blessed! No matter what is in front of us right now, what we can see, or even what we are experiencing does not alter, change, discount, or spoil what Almighty God says!

That’s what faith is, it’s taking what He says over what is going on around me. I cannot begin to count the times in this tumultuous period we’ve all been living through, when the Lord has said to me: “Just hold on, I’ve got this. It’s going to be bumpy but you’ll be OK.” Having faith in these times is hard, but it is good for us, I think that our faith has gone a bit soft, and we need the exercise … just saying is all …

You may notice that I often refer to the cross a lot. That’s because we can’t afford to walk past that glorious, terrible event.  We dare not walk past  the very place where we were given everything. He took our punishment and now all our sin is gone. The cross marks the New Covenant just as clearly, as the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies marked the Old one. It is a momentous place!

Maybe we think that we are nice people, trying hard to live a worthy life. But ‘nice’ doesn’t cut it. We need to be perfect in holiness to please God, or even approach Him. And praise God Jesus did that for us, and freely gave us the very qualities we needed. Our active faith builds our confidence that what He said is true. In order to give my faith substance, I need to live the life I have now, like whatever I read, think or say about Jesus Christ is the absolute truth. He utterly trusted His Father in all things, even unto death, I must do the same if I am to follow Him.

SomeOne wonderful will help me, but I must take that first step! Because when Christ died for me there was an exchange – His life for mine. When I said yes to this fact, I exchanged my life for His. So I cannot fuss about the things of this life that are destroyed, spoiled or gone from me, because my Saviour lived that way! I need to put my whole being – my mind, my mouth, my feet, my total commitment into carrying out whatever He says to me personally through His book. BTW, I don’t check everything I hear against what the bible says because I doubt God. I check everything I hear in His book because I doubt me!

Jesus put His whole life on the line to fulfil His Father’s will – He did that by living in the strength, power, holiness and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. My efforts to live that way without supernatural help will fail! I cannot maintain perfect holiness by myself. Everything Christ did He did in the power of the Holy Spirit. He allowed the Holy Spirit to live in residence within Him. He didn’t just lose His Father when He hung on that cross – HE LOST HIS HELPER! No wonder it broke His dear precious heart. 

We are so blessed! We live in a time when the Holy Spirit is here, with us. We must protect our relationship with Him because we cannot live. or bear the things of this life alone. Jesus couldn’t either He had the Helper too. Life is hard, it chews people up and spits them out. But the Holy Spirit knows the path we should take … we follow Him, and He leads us as He led Christ. Skip the DIY — use your faith. 👋

P 2558 “You’re the goodness in my life.”

/ DVH

So click on the arrow and enjoy!! Those of you who are Toby Mac fans will recognise my title immediately. This a great track he made with Blessing Offor. ps If you have not met TobyMac, I highly recommend his music. This man is not singing lyrics that are theoretical, rather his music is drawn from his own personal walk with God – he has had his tough times like all of us. Blessing himself is well-named!

It’s Christian hip hop BTW. I’ve been introduced to the joy of hip hop by my three darling granddaughters – I love it! Well, the good stuff – there are icky ones and I give them a swerve. I think that music that is written from real life – using real words – is a big plus. In my head those rhythms and words kind of bop away in the background of my thoughts. Music is a great tool to help us pull focus as well as comfort us when we are struggling. And I love the cheery, chatty aspect of hip-hop. 

On to today’s blog … the other day hubby and I were chatting away and he made a comment that got stuck in my head and eventually my heart. He said: “Why is it that the church focusses so hard on what we shouldn’t say instead of focussing on and teaching us about how we should talk to other people?”  My answer is the same as usual … I always stick with my trusty “I dunno!” That phrase is very helpful, it takes all the pressure off me having to be brilliant instantly, and answer knotty questions. Particularly the ones that I have no clue about. But I thought about what he said quite a lot, afterward.

In the dim dark ages when I was a child, there was a professor on TV who talked about science. His manner and natural curiosity created a fascination with that subject that still continues in my life today. His catch cry was “why is it so?” — that got so stuck in my psyche somewhere and now I ask myself that question a lot. It seems to me that it is far more important to teach people how to SPEAK LIFE to each other, than it is to teach them not to be rude, gossip or swear. Abstinence creates a vacuum and things can fall into it!

In my experience, speaking life to others can actually become a way to relate to others – kind of a way of life – a good habit. I’ve watched hubby do it over and over again when we go on the road and he is talking to people-who-don’t-know-Jesus-yet. I’m not talking about flattery, or what my dear mum would call ‘palaver,” which is hollow and sounds wrong even when it comes out of your mouth. 

I’m talking about noticing a positive quality in another person and lovingly appreciating it, out loud. You operate with the purpose of building others up. It really doesn’t take that much more effort to find something good about someone else. Sadly, the bad things usually slap you right in the face, and you are left scrambling to escape. But if you can find a good thing to say to someone who clearly got out of the wrong side of the bed, sometimes that soft answer will totally turn away wrath.

Meanwhile the great point about speaking life, is this —when it is properly executed, it opens spiritual doors – and then you can shove love through the crack!!  It is all about paying attention to the person in front of you and noticing them enough to say something truthful that will build them up. When I am stuck I ask the Lord to show me what He sees.That’s a brilliant method BTW. The Holy Spirit is always so switched on to everyone’s hearts. I once asked the Lord what was wrong with a woman working at the check-out in a chain store, because if she was happy her face didn’t know about it! 

He said: “Her feet hurt.” So we did the usual, how-are-you-today-I’m-fine-how-are-you? And then I said: “This job must be so hard on your feet!” She looked at me with relief and she said: “They really are so sore today.” Like Aladdin said in his movie – it opened up “a whole new world” and we were able to pray for her sore feet! The conversation was over in minutes and she was smiling when we left.

The whole thing was a win-win situation, because I got to exercise my faith, take a risk and open my mouth. At the same time she felt seen, cared for, and momentarily understood! I mean nobody much sees the check-out person in a store, right? We can all just do the obligatory ‘how-are-you-today’ without even looking at them …but people don’t usually want an answer! My dear hubby always leaves people with a smile from ear to ear. Living like this changes the colour of everyone’s day. It’s great to speak life to everyone you meet. Bless you! 😇

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29.

P 2257 Finding your way….

/ DVH

I’m aware that because of the way the internet works, every now and then some poor sod staggers onto this site, thinking it is about running, or exercise, or fishing, or cooking or … whatever. I have previously used some pretty unusual titles, and I suspect that that means there may be people who have never even heard of Jesus Christ, wandering in through my cyber-door. 

Well, welcome! 🥳  I urge you not to bail out too quickly. Instead, spend a few minutes reading this, because my daily blog is not huge, and you just might find out something you don’t know.

However, first things first… I don’t want your money! 😂 Everything is always about money nowadays so I thought we’d better clear that up right away! At the same time, I don’t want to sell you a  … ‘you-beaut-all-purpose-gizmo that will wash the car or feed your pets and bath the baby as well as fix your marriage!‘ My advice about your marriage is… you broke it… you fix it! 

BUT…I know SomeOne Who would be DE-lighted to help you! His Name is Jesus. So today, I would like to encourage anyone who has happened to wander in here, to take the time to read the bible. It’s online for free, at biblegateway.com  You can even read it on your phone – did I mention it is free? I suggest that you read the bible in a modern version where they speak conversational English, or you can even find one in your own native tongue. It helps if you start with reading a Gospel. You will find that word in the index. There are four Gospels. I’m personally, a huge fan of the Gospel of John. John explains exactly Who Jesus Christ is. 

The book of Luke is great if you are sick, he shares a lot about Jesus healing people. Matthew is full of facts and figures for those who enjoy statistics, and Mark is written in a story form. Mark’s Gospel follows Jesus’ life from the beginning right up until the end. All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus from four individual POVs. You know, everybody ought to read the bible at least once! Then you need to decide, for yourself, if you believe what you’ve read … or not. Stuff like – IS Jesus Christ Who He says He is?

At this point, you will probably need to know that the bible is not like other books. Other books give us info. God’s book reveals Who He is, to anyone who is deliberately looking for Him. “Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that He is real and that He rewards those who sincerely try to find Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Almighty God deliberately came to this earth in Person, 2000+ years ago, to show us how much He loves mankind. 

That’s Who Jesus Christ is – Almighty God in Person. While He was here, Jesus healed people, counselled them, and taught them stuff. But the biggest thing He ever did, He did when He voluntarily died on the cross for all our sins. Your sin, mine, the Pope’s, people who are liars, drug dealers, alcoholics, promiscuous people, gossipers, murderers … everybody’s sin. Christ chose to be punished for all of mankind. 

The question I want to ask you today … before I bail out, (as promised!) – is this. Do you believe what Jesus says?  If you think the bible is another ancient story like Pinocchio, or Aesop’s fables, then nothing will probably change. Except you might give this site a swerve next time! 🤪 But, if you believe that Jesus Christ is Who He says He is – then take the time to find out about Him, read His book. 

Look carefully to see what kind of a man Christ is. See if you think He is God. Then you need to decide what you want to do about it. You could start by asking Him to make Himself real to you. I met Him 50 years ago, and He totally changed my life. Thanks for dropping by …👋🏻

P 2243 On your mark…

/ DVH

Start TAKING FAITH STEPS. Seriously, if we keep sitting around in our ordinary little lives, no wonder we are disappointed. Perhaps we once went to a meeting and someone told us we could aim for the moon!  And then, in the everydayness of this life, the enemy took us out with discouragement, disappointment and despair – I call those things the three D’s. They will grab you around the throat and throw you on the floor, weeping because you think you’ve failed. We only fail, when we fail to try! Every single thing we do in faith, no matter how big or small, or hard it is, brings Glory to God! That’s what we are here for, to glorify Him in the face of opposition.

Faith is always needed. We exercise faith when we cross a road! The God kind of faith is about stepping out and doing that thing the Holy Spirit is quietly prompting us to do. Maybe we have bills to the sky and we are tempted to stop tithing or giving, “just until we get past this hard bit.”  Or… when we ask our neighbour if we can pray for them. That’s really using our faith. Faith is not a theory, it’s an action. All of the fruits of the Spirit are verbs, action words. If you can’t find His fruit in your life then you are probably not meeting opposition – with faith. It is good to remember, that when His fruit is eaten by someone else, it nourishes their spirit. 

I want you to think about NOT living by faith, for a moment. Do we really think satan is going to leave us alone if we do nothing? What would you do if you were the bad guy? Would you soothe the people with the power to change the world off to sleep and distract them until they run out of time? The bible is clear, our side wins in the end. It’s not the end yet guys. Don’t fall asleep bored, or join the rat race striving to get bigger better brighter things!  Get up and fight for the people God has all around you.   If we are always preparing, or recovering from our past, we will never get to GO! Go anyway!! Limping if you have to.

We’ve been brainwashed to think that winning means we come out on top all the time! That’s a fairy tale. When we decided to follow Christ we chose to follow SomeOne Who knows all about a higher purpose. Christ served God’s higher purpose, and when we live by faith we actually can’t lose. Our God always has a bigger plan! Read Hebrews 11 – many people actually died knowing they couldn’t lose. Initially it even looked like Jesus lost – however His death opened a door for us that cannot be shut ever again. We are not living this life we live for visible success.  We have eternal eyes.

We are no longer our own, we’ve been bought with a price … I l💖ve this scripture!! …”You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honour and glorify God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20. How do we glorify God with our BODIES? That doesn’t just mean we toddle off to church or bible study or sing loudly. We glorify Him by living this new life we have been given for His purposes, not our own. Jesus is our example of how our new life works. 

Father God planted His Holy seed, Jesus Christ the Righteous One, into this earth – and you and I, we are part of Christ’s harvest. But His harvest isn’t meant to stop with us … look outside your door … there are people everywhere with no hope. Today, right here, right now, we have the hope of the world living inside us! So what are we going to do about it? Faith is not pie in the sky when we die. Faith is our new way to live. Galatians 2:19-21 “For through the law I died to the law SO THAT I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

God asked us to live this life here in such a way that we bring a taste of His heaven to the people around us. We give them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy for mourning – love for hate.That’s what the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control does. It brings a taste of heaven here. Our primary mistake is that we think it is meant to be easy. Dying to yourself while you are still alive isn’t easy. However, we are not alone as we step into this new faith dimension. The Holy Spirit will help us.

You know if you have ever joined a gym, or started an exercise routine, your muscles screech at you when you first start. When we start using our faith muscle it will be hard, because our faith has been frozen over by a lack of movement. But the more we use it … the more supple and stretchable it becomes. Faith is made to grow – and that kind of growth will demand our growth too. Ready? Set? Go!! 👋🏻