New Creation
Gymea/Miranda Uniting Church Young Adults Group

Random Thoughts Archive 2004
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The Magic of Christmas – Lynda Young

Where is the magic of Christmas? It is certainly not in the crowded shopping centres, nor in the crazy holiday traffic, and neither is it in the sitcom Christmas specials on TV. While you may think it is in the sparkling lights and tinsel, it is not. Or maybe you may think it is in the presents wrapped in bright paper and ribbons; but it is not. And then there are the Christmas feasts of Turkey, multitudes of barbeques and mountains of prawns to be enjoyed, but that too falls short of the true magic of Christmas.

So, where can we find the magic of Christmas?

We find it in the prophecies foretold, in a promise fulfilled, in the coming of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. God, in all his purity, came to this imperfect world in the frail vessel of a baby. He knew what would come. He knew he would have to endure pain, betrayal, rejection, but he came anyway. He came for us. 

Just as the star of Bethlehem led the shepherds to him that night so long ago, Jesus became a bright shining beacon to lead us to salvation. That is the magic of Christmas.

The Magic of Christmas is LOVE: God's pure and complete love for us.

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Luke 1:30-33
 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 

God's Will not ours – Lynda Young

Daniel 3:16-18
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego serves as a great reminder of the faith it takes to accept that God's will is not always the same as our will. God does not always choose to save us from the fire: the fire of tragedy, the fire of sorrow, the fire of loss. 

Often we focus on the things that we want and then ask for those things from the Lord. When we do not receive what we have asked for, then we cry out or complain, or  start pointing the finger of blame. We forget to remind ourselves that God's will is crucial and may not be the same as our will. 

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were fully aware that God's will could have been for them to die in that furnace. They knew it, and they accepted it. Their faith was strong, no matter which way God revealed his will. It is not always about us as individuals; it is about the Lord and his Kingdom.

Imagine if Jesus had saved himself from the cross...

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Matthew 26:42
 42He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

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Future Looking – Lynda Young

How many of us want to know the future? How often do we yearn to know what will come? So many people these days are seeking out fortune tellers and clairvoyants for their answers. They read star signs or get into numerology or some other form of divining the future.

The Lord wants to protect us from all that. He wants to protect us from the things that turn our attention away from him. He wants to protect us from the things we should not rely on. He wants to protect us from pain we do not need to suffer.

Think how much more Jesus suffered because he saw it coming. He knew what he had to go through before it happened. Anticipation makes a blow worse, than just receiving the blow alone. 

The Lord knows what is best for us and reveals his will for us only when we are ready. God wants to spare us the anticipation of pain. We are instead granted the anticipation of his promises and blessings.

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Isaiah 8:19
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people enquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Malachi 3:5
5 "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.

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How to avoid problems – Lynda Young

There is a trick to avoiding problems: it is being equipped to recognise the problems before they develop, knowing how to deal with the problems when they develop, and moving beyond the problems once they have been dealt with so that they no longer have power over us. 

So how do we equip ourselves? We read the scriptures, we use them as a template for our lives, we build a rich relationship with the Lord and we learn to rely on Him. The inevitable result is not the end of all problems, but instead our perception of the problems change. We become so well equipped with dealing with the problems, that they are no longer insurmountable or even life-shattering. We no longer run from them, no longer are ruled by them or chained down by them. 

The Lord gives us strength and the power to overcome them.

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Mark 12:24
Jesus replied, 'Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.'

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One in Christ – Lynda Young

In everything we should respond with gentleness and kindness. We waste our time in heated arguments over issues that, in the big picture, mean very little. God created all of us and he created all of us to be unique. It is a wonder with all that uniqueness there isn't more chaos, and yet there is one thing in this universe that has the power to bring such a wide diversity of people, thought and cultures together: it is God himself. 

There is a deep desire of belonging built into all of us. We look for, and stay in places where we are loved and respected. Conversely, if we are not loved and respected, then we move away. If we are for Christ, then we are one in Christ, and we should remember this and show this by our actions. This oneness is not a unity of everyone thinking exactly the same thing, but it is a oneness that shines with God's presence and power. This is what it means to be united in Christ. We would then build up our faith rather than tear it apart.

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Romans 12:4-5
4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
  

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Valuing the Differences – By Lynda Young

Sometimes people can have such an unmoving opinion on a matter, that they do not have room or time enough to listen to what anyone else may have to say. So too, sometimes Christians can covet their own understanding of the scriptures to the detriment of anyone with a slightly differing opinion. In their stubbornness or pride, they may be in danger of damaging their faith, or worse, damaging the faith of those around them.

Instead, I think we should all value and respect the differences in each other. This does not mean we should simply agree with everyone, but we should show enough respect to listen to what someone may have to say, whether we agree with them or not. We should also show enough respect to think about what someone has to say; we just may learn something new. The added bonus of this kind of behaviour is that others may then become more willing to return respect to us and actually think about what we may have to say.

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Titus 3:9
"But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless."   

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Fear - by Jayson Fox

Fear! It's one of the controlling forces in our lives. Fear can dictate what we do, where we go and who we speak to. And fear is such a natural emotion.

But there are two types of fear - there is fear of the known and fear of the unknown.

For example it is right to have at least some fear of snakes because we know that many snakes are poisonous and can cause us harm or death. And it is right to have at least some fear of heights because we know that a fall could kill us. We have been told from an early age that certain things in life are dangerous and certain things in life are safe and our trust in that information dictates our fear.

A bungee jumper will have explained to them before the jump that they have nothing to fear because the harness and cord holding them have been designed for their safety. If the jumper trusts what they are told then their fear will be little if at all and any fear they do have will be controlled, but if they do not trust what they are told then their fear becomes a fear of the unknown which completely takes them over.

It is similar with our fear of God. We should fear Him in reverence because we know that he is all powerful and all knowing. But that is where our fear should end. If we trust in God's love for us then we know that we have nothing to fear from Him, because when we fear what scares us is consequence and we know that in Christ all fear is removed because the consequence of our actions has already happened. To fear God is to doubt His love for us and casts doubts also over our love for Him because if we love Him we trust Him and know that there is no foundation for fear.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

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Sharing - by Lynda Young

The Lord's Prayer begins with "Our Father". Notice that the words are not, "My Father", but "Our Father". This community word, "our", was not a mistake. It was chosen on purpose so that we might gain a greater understanding of who our God is. It is a reminder to us that we aren't meant to keep the Lord to ourselves. We aren't meant to lock him away in a deep dark place within us, and silently covet all the wonderful things He has done for us. 

He is not meant to be a secret. 

He is there for ALL of us and He is big enough to share. We are called to tell others of him. We are called to fling back the shutters and let His light shine like a beacon so that we can all feel the joy He has given us.

And, if we pray in this manner, saying the very words, "Our Father", then it has the effect of broadening our minds and prayers to the world and the people around us. As long as we pray with the meaning behind the words, we are given a sense of family. Close family looks after one another. When our prayers turn to others, the Lord's work is strengthened in ways that will guarantee to bring glory to Our Lord.   

Matthew 6:9
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
   " 'Our Father in heaven,
   hallowed be your name,

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Building a House - by Lynda Young

Our life in Christ has been likened to building a house. We are urged, first and foremost, to build on a solid foundation. We should take pride in our house and keep it well maintained. Renovate, extend, expand, but always maintain with regular doses of the Scriptures. We need to read them, and correct our behaviour to align ourselves with the Lord. Commune daily with Our Father. Give him each day before we face it. Give him our problems, our fears, our tasks, so that He can open the way for us and better prepare us for what is to come.

Over time cracks may appear, but if the house is well maintained, then they are easily fixed. The gutters may fill with leaves and silt, but they too are relatively easy to fix, especially if regular maintenance is done.

The more regular the maintenance, the easier the job.

The more regular the maintenance, the less damage occurs when the storms come.

And then the house becomes a home.

Luke 6:47-49
47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

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No matter our mistakes - by Lynda Young 

Sometimes we make mistakes that make us feel unworthy of God's love. We feel we are not fit to walk into his throne room, and are weighed down by the guilt or the discouragement so that we find ourselves almost paralyzed to do His work.

And yet, no matter our history, our acknowledgement of our lack of worth or our inability to do only right, we are implored to never turn away from God. Our state of mind, our self-esteem is irrelevant. All our power and worth come from the Lord Himself.

Don't let these weighty things hold us back. The Lord wants us and is eager and waiting for us to accept him as father, teacher, and friend. The Lord's love is unconditional. He will not turn away from our ugliness because Jesus Christ made it possible for the throne room to be open. We are Heirs. We are his children. We are loved. Hold on to that, and never turn away.

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1 Samuel 12:20
"Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart."

 

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Idle Worship - by Lynda Young 

*idle:
1. a) Not employed or busy: idle carpenters. 
    b) Avoiding work or employment; lazy: shiftless, idle youth.
    c) Not in use or operation: idle hands.
2. Lacking substance, value, or basis

 

Are your prayers hastily spoken? Do you occasionally skip church or bible study because you are tired or the weather is bad? Can you go through a day without speaking to, or even thinking of, God? Then maybe you are guilty of idle worship.

 

There is a recurring theme in the bible: rid yourself of other gods and serve only the Lord. Christians tend to file that warning away as irrelevant to them. Perhaps it is because they feel that by becoming a Christian, or going to church, or praying, they automatically serve the Lord by default.

 

We tend not to think of money as a god, nor our lifestyle nor our general busy-ness, but when it comes down to it, they are. More often than not, we serve them more readily than we do our Lord. Society tells us that we must strive for success; we must strive for the 2 cars and beautiful house with a view. But these things are not important. They blow away in the dust.

 

This doesn't mean we should deny ourselves worldly success, or the 2 cars or that house with a view. What it means is that these things must not take us away from God. If we find ourselves too busy to talk to God, then something is dreadfully wrong. We may call it idle worship, but Our Lord calls it something very different: He calls it idol worship and the consequences are dire.

 

If you have allowed other things to take your attention from where it should be, then don't let it continue. Refocus now. The Lord loves us more than we can imagine. What a wonderful thing to focus on.

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1 Samuel 7:3
"If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods... and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only."
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*The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  

 

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Living Free - Andrew Donldson

Mum was telling me recently about the death of the husband of someone she worked with. She told me that this man had had a heart attack earlier in life and in order to keep healthy after the heart attack, to prevent another one, he was put on a strict diet. But this man chose not to heed the doctor's warnings and proceeded to eat fatty foods at any given opportunity, much to his wife’s despair. In the shopping, she wouldn’t buy any of the forbidden foods (chocolate, ice cream, lollies, etc) but while she was at work, her husband would go down to the store and buy himself a tub of ice cream and eat it while she was gone. He eventually died as a result of the unhealthy living, despite being told how he needed to regulate his eating patterns.

In the same way, we have had a heart attack, but not on the muscle that pumps blood around our body. God has shown us that we are sinful and that our behaviour is going to lead to our eternal death if we don’t fix up our act. We were once slaves to sin as Paul says, but Jesus paid the ransom that freed us from that bondage. Why then, do we constantly go back to the prison of sin so often?

Let’s make an effort not to turn around and go back down the path of sin that we’ve been delivered from, but rather live out our new life in Christ in the freedom He brings.

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Proverbs 26:11
 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly

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The Less Prominent Gifts - by Jayson Fox

The athlete steps up to the podium to collect their medal, cameras flash, the crowd cheers and their national anthem resounds around the stadium. Millions upon millions of people watch at home on TV as this athlete receives Olympic glory. But did they do it alone... sure they ran the race, they were faster on the day but what about the coach who trained this athlete, what about the training partner who ran along side them day after day, the parents who supported their child all the way and got up early each day to take them to training and what about the friends who encouraged this athlete to be the best they could be. Doesn't the gold medal really belong to all of them in some way as well.

Our Christian lives are pretty similar, some are blessed with gifts that are outward and all can clearly see... but are they any more blessed than others or does God bless any more through them than he does through others. We all have gifts which God has given to us and they all work together for His glory, each an integral part of His great plan.

So the next time you see the outward works of someone with obvious blessings and gifts and you thank God for what they have done through that person stop for a second and think about all the gifts and blessings that God has given to others (and to you) that aren't so obvious and praise him for the way he works through them also.

The great evangelist Billy Graham is credited with having played a part in bringing thousands upon thousands of people to Christ but it was one man who first encouraged him - the less prominent gift of exhortation played a huge part in the manifestation of the obvious gift of evangelism.

The body is made up of prominent limbs and appendages such as the head the arms and the legs but is held together by the bones and tendons and is driven by the heart and brain - although these can't be seen the body wouldn't survive without them.

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1 Corinthians 12:4-6
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

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Holy, Holy, Holy - by Lynda Young

When worship becomes routine, and when prayer becomes rushed, when you find your faith suddenly seems to lack spark, then it may be time to reassess what you are doing.

Ask God to revive your spiritual life. Don't let it wither. When you come to the Lord in prayer, first stop everything else that you may be doing, bow down in his presence, then fill yourself with awe of God. Don't immediately launch into a list of things you want from the Lord, instead be silent. Just be with the Lord. Learn to bask in his glow.

There is no need for eloquence, only honesty.

There is no need for ritual, only reverence.

When we repeatedly come to the Lord with long lists of wants, as if we were five again making up a list for Santa Claus, then our focus moves away from God and onto our wants and desires. God is more than that and deserves more than that. 

As Our Father, he deserves our love; as Our Friend, he deserves our time; as Our King, he deserves our respect; and as Our God, he deserves our reverence and praise. 

Never forget that God is holy. Being aware of being in the presence of holiness can have the effect of wiping away all sense of the routine, all sense of blah. The miracles that we may have doubted before, suddenly become possible again, not only in our heads, but in our hearts as well.

Do you need the fire back in your relationship with God?    

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Revelation 4:8
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 

1 Thessalonians 5:18-19
18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19Do not put out the Spirit's fire;

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Conditional Promises - by Lynda Young

John 15:10
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
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I am sure that many of you have heard that God's love is an unconditional Love. There is no greater love than the love of sacrifice, the love of patience and kindness. God's love is all these things and more. It is a perfect love that we can barely comprehend at times. 

It would be easy to feel comfortable under such a love. It would be easy to take advantage of such a love. You could be tempted to sit back and expect everything to happen around you and for you. But there is a catch: God's promises are not unconditional. Throughout the bible his promises depend on obedience.

That immediately brings to mind the phrase, "do this, or else!" but it is not about that. It is, I think, a reminder of the relationship we should have with our Lord. It should be a healthy, growing, two-way relationship. We often expect a lot out of the Lord and yet give very little in return. Do this to any friendship and that friendship will wither and eventually die, no matter how strong that friendship was when it first started. 

Just remember: if you are enriched by a good friendship, think how much more you'll be enriched by a good relationship with the Lord.

Spend some time with the Lord your God today. It is worth it.

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Deuteronomy 30:9-10
9 Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers, 10if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. The Offer of Life or Death

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Super Heroes Unite! - by Lynda Young

Have you ever thought of yourself as a Super Hero? If not, then you should give it a go some time. If you are not sure how to do such a thing, then think of the little kids who know how to do it. They stand tall, they feel immortal and they leap into action using their super powers. Nothing can touch them because they are special. They appear normal, but they know that it is their powers that make them special. 

Now you give it a go: stand tall, feel immortal, and don't be shy using your super powers.

"But I don't have any super powers," I hear you say.

Ah, but you do; we all do if we choose to accept them. We have inherited those powers from our Father. Through Him we are immortal, so we should feel it and act it. We don't have to be afraid of anything except losing the source of those powers. We may not leap tall buildings in a single bound, but the things that can be achieved through prayer are nothing short of miraculous. 

We have been given an incredible gift; the gift to talk to God. To deny that gift would be a terrible tragedy, not only for ourselves, but for those around us, and for our Father. We have been given a great power, and we were meant to use it. Neither were we meant to stand alone. Superheroes are always stronger when they work together. They combine their powers and even more miraculous things happen.

So, if you were meant to be a superhero, what then should be your superhero costume? That's easy: clothe yourself in Christ.

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Colossians 4:12 
"Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured."

1 Corinthians 15:53
For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality 

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Being Thankful - by Lynda Young

Be thankful for all the things the Lord has done, be thankful for all the things the Lord continues to do, and especially thankful for all the things we do not see, all the things we are protected from and all the things we are spared from.

It's easy to be thankful for the things we see, but too often we forget to be thankful for the hidden things. We get caught up in our worries, our fears, our small world as we perceive it. We thank the Lord for the obvious things, but hold back thanking Him for the things that inconvenience us, for the the things that we do not like, for the situations we'd rather change if we had a choice.

Being thankful can ease those concerns of ours because being thankful also reminds us that we have put our trust in our Lord. 

While we may not understand something, a situation, a person, He understands everything.  

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Matthew 5:3-12
    3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
       for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    4Blessed are those who mourn,
       for they will be comforted.
    5Blessed are the meek,
       for they will inherit the earth.
    6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
       for they will be filled.
    7Blessed are the merciful,
       for they will be shown mercy.
    8Blessed are the pure in heart,
       for they will see God.
    9Blessed are the peacemakers,
       for they will be called sons of God.
    10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
       for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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The Ripple Effect - by Lynda Young

When bad things happen, it is not because God sends bad things to us to test us or to see how we jump in such situations. It is not even sent as a lesson for us to learn from, as many believe, though learning from such situations is often a positive by-product. No, often bad things happen simply because our "house" with God is neglected. 

Too easily we allow the busy-ness of life take priority. Before we know it we begin to lose the fruits of the Spirit. We may lose patience over an issue, or lose our love for our neighbour, or even lose our self-control. Bad things begin to happen as a consequence, all because we have let our relationship with God slip. 

On the other hand, if you are someone with a rich relationship with the Lord, don't think for a moment you are immune to tragedy. We all live in this world together. We are not isolated beings. We all breathe the same air and walk on the same earth. Because of this, the world we live in is so small that the ripple effect of just one person whose house with God is untidy, will inevitably cause even an innocent by-stander to feel the blow.

With this in mind, we can begin to understand how crucial it is to spread the Word of God, to stand firm in our faith as an example to others, and to make the Lord our number one priority. Only then will we begin to see a different kind of ripple effect; an effect that touches people's lives in a way that can be done only by the power of God.

What kind of ripple effect do you make each day, each hour, each minute?  

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Haggai 1: 9
"You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house."

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When Bad Things Happen - by Lynda Young

I was in a car accident coming home from work on Thursday night. It was a big one where three cars were involved. Two of the cars needed a tow, one of which was a complete write-off. No one was seriously hurt, just seriously shaken. After thanking the Lord for keeping us all safe, and thanking Him for His very real presence after the accident, I couldn't help but ask Him why it even had to happen in the first place. After all, His power is so great that he could have prevented it. 

I felt guilty for asking Him such a question. I thought, by asking such a thing, I was not trusting the Lord Almighty's Will. But I couldn't pretend to just accept it and move on. I needed to ask the question before I could move on. I needed to be real with my battered emotions.

That's when I realised that, when bad things happen, we are allowed to ask the Lord, "Why?" We are allowed to lament. We are allowed, and required, to bring real emotions to Our Father. Our relationship with God cannot fully blossom if we continue to hold back a part of ourselves; whether it be the good part, the bad part, or the downright ugly part. God wants us to give all of ourselves. He wants us to bring anything and everything to Him.

So, the next time something bad happens in your life, and it will because we are living in a fallen world, then ask the Lord why, lament to him, be angry at him if you must, but do not turn away from him.  He is there, holding us tight, giving us what we need when we need it. We cannot understand everything. We aren't even meant to understand everything. We must always remember that His grace is sufficient, and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

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"And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." 
2 Corinthians 1: 7

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God's Power - by Lynda Young

22"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. 23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.." 
Mark 11:22-24

This passage reveals that we have been given an incredible power through God's love. And, in the words of Spiderman: with great power comes great responsibility. Be careful what you ask for and, to be certain what you ask for is in alignment with God, always give your desires back to our Lord as Jesus did: "yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42)

Of course, don't for a second believe that this passage means it is up to us to get the job done. It is not our power or strength of faith that heals us, nor answers our prayers. It is solely God's power. We need to focus on God and know that his power is sufficient. We need to trust God and know that he does not wish to harm us.

How does God want us to ask him for what we need? With a child-like faith, full of love and trust. There is a certain expectation in a child that just jumps off a wall and knows the parent will catch him. It is complete trust. It is a state of mind. But it is God's power that catches us.

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Sideline View - by Andrew Donaldson

Yesterday, due to the fact I was injured and unable to play, I coached my soccer team from the sideline like a normal coach. It was interesting to see things from the sideline perspective as opposed to seeing them from the middle of the field. You have such a broader view of things than you do when actually playing.

It was frustrating, however, to watch my team get beaten when I could so clearly see what should be done. From the sideline though, I couldn't do much about it. All I could do was to yell at my players and tell them what I thought they should be doing. It was up to them to listen to what I said and for the majority of the time they didn't do it, and when they didn't it usually resulted in them losing the ball or conceding a goal.

It is much the same with us and God. We are all playing in this game of life and God is our coach and can see all the things we need to do, better than we ever could, and He tells us to do it. We can choose to do one of 3 things:

1. Block out his voice
2. Hear what he says but ignore it
3. Listen and obey.

Next time you hear God's voice calling you to do something, which of the three options will you take? 

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Matthew 7:24-27
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 

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Shining - by Jayson Fox

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" Matthew 5:16

It's a pretty common verse isn't it, probably one of the most repeated verses in the gospel. It's actually on my desktop at work at the moment and I know a number of songs that are based on it.

But sometimes you can put the emphasis on the wrong word in a sentence and it can change the meaning of it completely and the emphasis in this verse is often, incorrectly, put on the word "your". We often focus on how we can shine for Jesus in this world and the danger in this is that when we start to focus on what we can do we start to lose focus on the source of every good thing.

What use is a candle without a burning wick or a light bulb without electricity? We are simply the vessels through which God can do wonderful things but like any vessel we need fuel to work properly.

Therefore the correct emphasis in this passage, I think, is on the word "light" and that light comes from letting the Lord Jesus shine through us, through what we do and what we say and how we act and how we don't act. We are like a lightbulb, we are completely useless unless we are plugged into the right source, but when we are plugged in, that source will use the way we have been made to provide light.

Similarly this can compare to a car. What point is there in filling up your car with petrol and then keeping it in the garage? Likewise this passage tells us to "fuel up" on God's word, "fuel up" with prayer and "fuel up" with the Holy Spirit and then rather than sitting around doing nothing go out and use yourself as a vessel to get people to where they need to be.

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Perfect Justice - by Lynda Young

We live in an unjust time and the concept of justice is a difficult one to fully understand. Usually today it is accompanied with thoughts of revenge, or sarcasm or something inadequate. And yet, God is perfect. His justice is perfect.

We might wonder why Jesus didn't come in Sodom's time to save the people. He said himself they and their city would have been saved if he had (Matthew 11:23-24).  Of course, if he had come at that time, when the Roman roads hadn't yet been built, when travel was not so easy, when the passing of information had no great network, and when the language had not yet become almost universal through trade, then, yes, Sodom would have been saved, but countless others would have been lost.

We are quick to judge not only others, but God as well. We forget he is God. We forget he is perfect and faultless in every way.

We should never blame God for the terrible things that can happen to us. We should never forget to trust God in his holiness, sovereignty, wonder and perfectness. He loves us; his intention is not to harm us.

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 Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

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Blind Faith? - by Lynda Young

When you hear the term, "blind faith", what do you think it means? Does it mean we are meant to just believe because we are told to do so? Are we meant to do the right things and go to church simply because it is expected? Or does it mean to you to have a complete and absolute trust in God?

I am not so fond of the term, blind faith. There are too many of the wrong connotations in the term. Our faith should not be so blind. If you are someone who does have that glorious, absolute trust in God, then I doubt it is because you were simply told to do so. 

There is a reason we have faith in the air we breathe: it keeps us alive. There is a reason we have faith in the ground we walk on: it is solid. So too, there is a reason we have faith in God: He is just as real as the air we breathe and just as solid as the ground on which we walk, and He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:5).

And yet, we cannot simply be told it is so. We must learn it in our heads until it reaches our hearts. We are meant to be informed. We are meant to think about our faith. Our faith then becomes not so blind. Suddenly we aren't just following the masses because it is the popular thing to do, and we grow past being only Sunday Christians.

Our faith becomes real and strong as our relationship with God becomes informed and solid. 

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 Luke 14:28-30
28Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

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Miracle Dangers - by Lynda Young

Yes, miracles happen. Yes they are signs of God's Glory and Wonder. And praise be to God for not only the very existence of these things, but also for our recognition of these things.

But, there is a danger for those of us who go searching for signs. The miracles can become a distraction from very thing which was the original reason for our search. It is a waste of time looking for a physical sign to prove to us what we already know is true in our hearts.  

Likewise, a Christian judging the quality of their faith on the "spiritual experiences" they receive will inevitably find only dissatisfaction.  

Our Salvation does not depend on the strength of our faith and has absolutely nothing to do with the experiences we receive or the work that we do.

Our Salvation wholly depends on the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a gift that cannot be earned or bought. Believe it, and Praise God for it. 

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 Mark 8:11-12
11The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it."

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The Right Way - by Lynda Young

"Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right." - Isaac Asimov, scientist and writer (1920-1992)

Though Asimov was a self-proclaimed atheist, this statement is quite apt from a Christian point of view. The Pharisees were moralistic but they did not do what was right. They sentenced an innocent man, who also happened to be our Messiah, to death. Their carefully crafted rules closed their hearts and got in the way of the Truth and their own personal salvation.

We too may find ourselves clinging to "rules". If we see others acting differently, or acting outside our perceived rules, then the temptation is to treat them differently, perhaps even unfairly. Before we know it, we ourselves become guilty of doing what is wrong.

So, what is right? God's Way is right. 

God's way does not include judgementalism, does not include gossip or envy or jealousy or fear of things that are different. God's Way is patient, kind, thoughtful and loving.

Align yourself with God and your way will become like God's Way.  

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 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

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Consider Carefully - by Lynda Young

We know in our hearts and we know in the scriptures that we are meant to clothe ourselves in God (Romans 13:14). Prayer, fellowship and daily readings all help to achieve this.

But there is a danger. Because of the very routine-nature of these things, we can easily grow complacent. We may let our focus slip, we may find ourselves falling asleep in church, or we may scan the scriptures and call them read. 

How then can we expect to learn, to grow, to shine as Christians if we are half-hearted in our faith?

Be ever vigilant. Watch out for the subtle things that may turn our attention away from God. Think about God's word, pray for understanding. 

Immerse yourself in God.

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Mark 4: 24
"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more.

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God's Time - by Andrew Donaldson

In this day and age, we are taught very early on that everything happens quickly. We have fast food restaurants everywhere, atms, microwave ovens, home delivery and the list goes on. We expect everything to be done for us and done almost instantly! And when this doesn't happen we act as if something is wrong. 

Over the last couple of days, our fridge hasn't been working. We've had it empty for a few days until the guy fixed it and then proceeded to tell us to defrost it for 30 hours and we couldn't use it until after that. I was annoyed to say the least. It was a massive inconvenience to me, having to walk that extra few metres to the garage to the other fridge. This really showed me just how much we do want things done when we want them to be done. 

This isn't how God works. He doesn't respond to every snap of our fingers like a servant. God is the inventor of time and thus does not follow our expectations of how time should be spent. He doesn't operate on time constraints. He is above time - His creation. But yet we expect God to provide to our every beck and call when we want Him to.

I've had the flu for the last week or so and I just wanted God to heal me so I could get back to everything I was doing. Once again I showed that I wanted things done in my own time, not in God's time.

The slogan/theme for KUCA Campout 2001 was 'In God's Time' and I'm not sure whether any of the kids learnt anything from this, but I most certainly did, because I still remember it to this day and it is a constant reminder to me of the fact that we should be operating under God's time, not our own.

We must trust God's ability to do what's best for us in the time that is best for us and know that it will be good. God made everything in 6 days, and He did it in His own time that He has decided. And He "saw that it was good" (- Genesis 1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25 and 31) The same applies to our lives. 

In God's time all will be good.
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2 Peter 3:8-9
8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

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