Tagged: Grace
This is how we change the World: Receive not Achieve
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ – 1 Peter 4:10-12
Last night Myself our COO and our various managing partners took a DISC profile test – we’ve been attempting to roll out a system that allows us to select appropriate and capable personality types to run a various clinics. The thing i enjoyed most about the test is once you’re done it gives you your results but the description is very positive. No matter what your personality it responds in a positive or neutral descriptors. Highlighting that there is room for every personality type in any organisation. No one is useless.
In the same way it gets me thinking about 1 Peter 4. If we work within the giftings we have “received” then God receives glory for giving it to us.
Our business model last year decided to change our work place to strength focused. What this meant was moving people from jobs they weren’t good at and finding them or creating for them roles that allowed them utilise their strengths.
For the Christian realising that all of use have “received” a certain set of traits. We are designed perfectly for our part in the canvas that God is painting. The story that is God and his pursuit of his creation (man). When you realise you are perfectly designed for his purpose there are three things we can realise:
Firstly – no one is useless
Secondly - that when you work to what you are designed for you are happier, but also you are more efficient doing what you’re mae to do
Thirdly – that when you work within your realm of “received” strengths you function within HIS grace (because you receive it, not achieve it) – therefore God is glorified when you work within your design.
This is how we change the world – work within your received gifts, take your focus on achieving and fix your eyes on receiving and embracing what God has planted into you. Together we paint the canvas of the holy God reaching down to reconcile relationship with sinful man.
Intermission: The Shepherd is too fast! or is the sheep too slow?
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
- Psalm 23
I was simply blown away this morning in my time with God, i have to pause from my human doing and being blog.
I’ve been listening to a series by Pastor Steven Furtick called “Grey Matter”
It challenged me this morning why? Because i’ve spent so much time being a human doing, what do i do next? What’s the next step with this company? What’s the next step with marriage? What’s the next step with ministry?
All the time what i’ve done is put me in the driver’s seat.
I’ve realise that one of the biggest indicators that perhaps things are off is that you seem to be deciding a lot of what’s next. You seem to be troubled by the next decision and the next step, you seem to be dictating a lot fo the direction. This narcism is hidden often in good intentions to glorify God, but beneath it stems a dangerous formula of pride and a lack of trust.
This analogy is inspired from Pastor Furtick. Simply put – we are sheep and God is a shepherd. Simple? Well practically how does it look. Well lets divide up the jobs.
The Shepherd leads, feeds, protect, is the guide, the one who takes the sheep to the destination that the shepherd has already predetermined (ephesians 1:4). The shepherd does not need to do this, but he does because he loves his job and more importantly he loves the sheep.
The sheep – is selfish, just thinks of itself all the time, where is it’s next meal. However a good sheep’s only job is to stay as close as possible to the shepherd, the closer he is the quicker he’ll get to the destination. The further away the sheep things get in the way of the sheeps line of sight of the shepherd. Maybe a wolf, maybe another sheep, maybe some trees distract it. But one thing is certain, the further the sheep from the shepherd the harder the journey, the more uncertain the journey.
Though we all like sheep have gone astray each of us gone his own way… God still layed on him (Jesus) the inequity of us all. – Isaiah 53:6
So this blog series is about one thing, catching the sheep (me) up to the shepherd. When you as a Christian find yourself asking what is the meaning of my life? You must only answer with one simple statement – to stay as close as possible to the shepherd. It’s really that simple, and eventually you’ll get to your destination but because you were so fixated on the shepherd you won’t even know how you got there.
Our lives are simple – do our best he does the rest – pray, do devotion and worship Jesus – that’s really it – the right decisions wil come, when you need to change direction you’ll know because you’ll be close enough to the shepherd to see him change direction, you’re only uncertain of where to go when the shepherd is too far for you to see if he’s turned or still walking straight.
So i commit to this blog daily for 7 days to catch up as much as i can to my shepherd i hope you’ll all journey with me.
There are no Weaknesses
“There are no weaknesses only strengths that have been misused” – Ben Trinh
I’ve been studying the topic of a strengths based on organisation. Funnily enough in my studies i’ve realised something. There are no weaknesses, only misunderstood or misused strengths.
This may be controversial, but i’ll stand by it. For example my strengths in the wrong role are actually a burden rather then a strength. One of my strengths according to this strength finder exam from the london school of business is “woo” – This strength basically describes the extrovert, someone who is energised by meeting new people and building new relationships, once rapport is made they move on. This is strength when it comes to networking, or a fast paced job (like physiotherapy) where one is forced to have 20 minute conversations all day with new people. The relationships rarely go deeper.
However this may be a strength, but sometimes a “weakness” i.e. for a person such as a counselor or psychologist, who must invest time and build deeper empathetic relationships.
I’ve come to this realisation within our organisation. Is that individual weak in that area? If so why? Why are the weak there, how can that supposed be weakness be a strength? and can i as a leader place them in a role that will maximise those characteristics as a strength? Find them a place that is carved to their character as i’ve been stating in my staff meetings.
I believe this point is also biblical. 1 Corinthians 12, Paul uses the analogy of the body to describe the church. In the human body are any parts considered weak? No, when they are all in their right place they are all equally useful and required for maximal efficiency for the body to achieve it’s purpose. It’s only a weakness when the hand is trying to be a foot or the knee trying to be a head etc.
The same and can be said in and of ourselves. God has made each individual unique. Our Job as a leader is to determine, are they a hand? a foot? and does my church or organisation have a position available for a hand or foot? or can we carve one out? If not than perhaps they need to move on elsewhere, to another job, another ministry etc.
It is encouraging to know we are all strong in our right way, and when we see ourselves this way, then we will not compare, we will praise God for his amazing creative nature for making me unique for the important role i have been predestined to do. I am useful and i am equally important in the head’s (Jesus) will and purpose.
So our prayer is not may you give me strengths or erase my weaknesses. Our prayer is simply, thank you for my strengths Lord and help me carve out a role unique to my character in this life to maximise my efficiency in your Kingdom.
Inspiration: The Cross you are
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is true worship. – Romans 12:1
What drives you daily? I begin this blog with a rhetoric because it is the resounding question currently voiced within our Church. It is the beginning of an exciting new season at Thyme Court Church. As 2011 draws to a close there is a sudden sense of change amongst our people.
Have you ever experienced that season in church where things just fit together, and suddenly all our leaders see eye to eye, our preaching is common in topic and woven together in such a phenomenal way that can only be attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit.
There is a sudden anticipation of change, as we await what God will do in 2012. The word in our Church has been inspiration. What is our source of inspiration? What is that “x-factor” that drives Christians to work harder, dream bigger and go further than the every day joe? To live extreme lives in extreme times?
Well Pauls sums it up well in this section of the book of Romans. He states two things, a cause and effect.
Cause: “View” He speaks of beginning this chapter with a “therefore” and an “in view of” – Basically he is speaking in retrospect. But retrospect to what? Well God’s mercy? In context the previous 11 chapters have been a synopsis of Paul’s perspectives outlaying his entire doctrinal beliefs. Many theologians believe this verse is where he transitions from theological doctrine to practical application. He begins his practical section with a statement basically implying that the practical Christian life is one lived in retrospect.
Daily we look back, in view of God’s mercy and this is our inspiration to live, to work, to do, to be, and to become all that we are called to be. What is God’s mercy? Well i won’t get into the full doctrine, but basically the amazing redemption, adoption, justification, sanctification, grace and mercy found in the person and work of Christ (aka the Gospel).
What is our inspiration? It’s the Gospel, that’s it, nothing else.
Secondly Paul then addresses this singular point. What practical response are we supposed to have to this Gospel? Well… Offer your lives as a living sacrifice. It sounds crazy but when you are exposed to such an amazing love story, whereby a God-Man Jesus gracefully lays down his life to save yours it’s no longer crazy to lay down your life, it’s only logical.
Yes our lives can’t match his, he has payed so much more, but Christianity has never been about repaying an eternal unpayable debt to an eternal God, but rather it’s always been about responding to what an eternal and Loving/ saving God does to us. In return in love, we give our lives gratefully, passionately and fervently.
This makes “crazy” Christians seem less crazy and somewhat logical. In fact with this in mind “uncrazy aka lukewarm” Christians seem like the crazy ones. How can you respond any other way if you truly have experienced and understand this story of amazing grace?
This is why we live for the cause, this is why people have died for the cause. Not to repay an eternal debt, but to respond to an eternal act of graciousness and love.
This is our inspiration… This is what drives us, what ignites us, what unites us and what allows us to go further, work harder, love more and give more than we ever thought we were capable. It is the gospel that forces us to move from selfish to selfless, proud to humble, weary to passionate, it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I see a church mobilised as one, and inspired by the cross, where people serve not because they have to, but because they get to. Where people love more, give more, serve more, do more not because they have to but because they get to, because it’s all we can do in response to this Gospel. Imagine what 1, 2 or 2000 people like this could do? It’s only by this that we can truly be the hands and feet of Jesus in our City.
Praise God, that it is only because you loved us first (1 John 4:19), that you set the standard, that you provided all the inspiration we will ever need.
Parables of Jesus: The Unmerciful Servant
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive someone who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[e]
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[f] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[g] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive a brother or sister from your heart.” – Matthew 18:21-35
Have you ever had one of those moments in your life where you were so moved by the people around you who love you? Perhaps it was a birthday, you thought no one remembered but everyone did! Or a loving spouse surprises you with gifts for no apparent reason, just because you’re you.
It triggers an emotional response within each of us when we have these moments doesn’t it? What is your response toward that person or persons during those moments? I think a common saying comes to mind “How can i ever repay you?” – That’s exactly it, you can’t. Because that moment of unmerited love is more than something that is simply physical, it is somewhat deeply spiritual.
The bible calls this grace and mercy.
Likewise this story although it’s a story of mercy and forgiveness i feel that we can take a strong lesson of grace from it. We read this story about this silly man and we think to ourselves how foolish is he to forget to quickly what was given him?
But then we take a step back and realise, isn’t that what we do? Wasn’t there a point whereby we were so moved by God’s saving grace, that he could love a wretch like me, so moved that we would go to the ends of the earth for him? Perhaps even give our lives for his glory? I know Paul felt this way when he writes that in view of this mercy the only response is to offer your lives a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1-3).
But then three days, three weeks or three months later, there we are, moaning and groaning again toward our LORD and saviour, full of bitterness toward our friends who have wronged us, distraught and slightly dare i say it, irritated by God who hasn’t made life as easy as it should be?
But perhaps a response to grace isn’t just an emotional thing? Perhaps it’s as much about self discipline (our current leadership series). Perhaps it’s about choosing to remember what was forgiven you, what was given to you, what was given for you. Perhaps it’s about daily choosing to remember who you are, what you owed and what price was payed for your soul.
We humans do forget so easily. Maybe next time i’m doubtful of God’s grace i can choose to remember his track record of grace, Maybe next time i’m bitter toward my church, my peers i remember my own debts forgiven by grace.
Tonight i realise that it’s his grace that drives us, that feeds us, enables us to do more, to be better and go further than what we otherwise could. It’s because Jesus took himself through the ultimate self-discipline to the cross, he went better, further than we ever could and as a response to this grace, we Christians can be inspired and empowered to live lives beyond our capabilities apart from the revelation of his Grace.
Jesus remains my daily choice for inspiration.
Parables of Jesus: The Lost Sheep
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. – Luke 15:1-6
Illogical. Logic is something i hold dear, I often find myself easily frustrated when people’s actions defy logic. Why do you do that? It makes no sense? But over the years i have realised something. Not everyone is logical, a lot of people are emotional.
So in this story i can somewhat understand the confusion of the pharisees as Jesus describes a picture of what the kingdom of God is like. He says it’s like a shepherd who when he loses one sheep, abandons the rest of his flock (who should i mention are left vulnerable to threats), and finds this lost sheep.
I have never understood this concept, how is this like the kingdom of God?
Well in the same pattern we have applied to our previous parables when we read it we must ask ourselves, who am i? who is God?. Well it’s obvious that God is the shepherd, and we are sheep. It seems that there are 2 sub-categories of sheep, a group and one that goes astray.
Yet Jesus loves each sheep individually, so much that it is irrational, that he will chase that silly lost sheep. Now if you look at it cynically you’l criticise the irrational nature of Jesus’ actions. But if you look at it through the eyes of grace.
“though we all like sheep have gone astray… each of us gone our own way” – Isaiah 53:6
If we look at this story and realise that we are actually the lost sheep, then we will praise God for his irrational tsunami of grace. We will praise him for his persistent love. We will praise him for never giving up on us. We will praise him because though we turn our own way, his love still reaches us.
I think when we read this story humbly, knowing that we are nothing it leads us to glorify God more. When we read it with the eyes of a pharisee, one who believes he is somewhat worthy of the shepherding afforded him, than it is not that we diminish God’s love in our life, but it is that we miss out on the reception of the most powerful gift the gospel can bestow… the revelation of grace. The revelation knowing that though you are so foolish, you have a received a free gift so undeserving, so compelling that you the found sheep will not stop praising your shepherd for the rest of eternity.
This is irresistible grace. This is God’s irrational love for his lost sheep (everyone).
Parables of Jesus: The Barren Fig Tree
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” - Luke 13:6-8
Have you ever felt like a tool? I did today, in Basketball i was so annoyed at losing, at which point I receive a call from my loving girlfriend and i bite her head off for no good reason.
As i’m driving home i realise that I am a complete idiot and i am stuck with what i like to call the “human” condition (that is the condition of always stuffing up). I take time in prayer and thank God for his patient sanctifiying grace in my life.
Jesus brings up this very issue in the above parable. A lot of people read this and think it’s somewhat harsh of the fig tree. But all this story is illustrating is yes we are the fig tree, we are created (planted) by God and sustained and cared for by God for a purpose, that purpose is to worship him which in turn produces good fruit i.e. love, compassion, social justice etc.
But we don’t he makes us, loves us and like the israelites in the OT we run away, turn our backs on him, complain constantly, worship created things, idolise pop stars and TV icons, and give our lives for seemingly anything (career, money, women, drugs, TV, video games, fashion, clothes, possessions etc) other than the God who loved and created us, longing for relationship with us.
We are fruitless year in and year out, and this story shows us just once more the picture of Jesus as our mediator to God the father. The father asks, why shouldn’t i just cut this tree down, get rid of these people, and Just as Moses acted as a human mediator for the lives of the Israelite people foreshadowing Jesus a superior mediator for us today. He stands before God and says please! Let me fertilise the soil, spend another year trying to do everything i can digging around it fertilising it (dieing on a cross…) and then and only then if they aren’t fruitful, than have your way.
Is this story harsh? The tree wasn’t producing any fruit, any man in his right mind would get rid of it, BUT not Jesus. he stands before it until he tried everything. God the Father accepts and Jesus i stuck with the task of loving and sanctifying the human condition.
One side note… the story denotes that there is a time where it’s too late for the tree. This won’t last forever. Jesus does it all, we need only accept and let him do his changing work in our lives.
Tonight as i read this parables i am humbled by my human condition, grateful for mediation of Jesus, filled with awe at the unfathomable grace and mercy awarded to me by God the father and desperate for the change done in me by the Holy Spirit.
So tonight no matter how imperfect you are, praise God that Jesus is our mediator and that through the spirit we might be able to move a little closer to producing figs (that is reaching our potential, becoming more fruitful for our good and God’s Glory)
Leadership Quote: Amazing Grace
“Twas Grace that brought me safe thus far… and Grace that leads me on” – John Newton
Tonight I heard a particularly profound statement from our Bible College Lecturer. He stated that he believed grace is the most glorious of all the attributes of God.
It was by Grace that God made man, that God sought man, that God forgave man when we turned from him, that he pursued man as we ran from him, that he made a covenant with man, that when we fell short on the covenant it was he who sustained it, and at the peak of his plan twas by grace once more that he died for man, redeemed man and restored and sustains the connection between God and man through his son.
If you notice something about the story of history it is full of us failing, God forgiving and God redeeming. We fall short and God saves us by grace.
the question was posed tonight… Why does God do it? The answer “because God is just like that” – Dr. Allan Chapple.
Tonight i was reminded that in leadership, in doing and being you can face many trials and tribulations. But in all the challenges of living life for God’s glory, sometimes it’s about remembering that it is God that has taken me this far. He will take me on.
No matter what it is you face, never forget that God is a tsunami of Grace and Mercy, he is all about giving us what we don’t deserve for our own good. Love him, seek him, do it all in his name and just as he has brought you thus far, he will continue to lead you on.
In leadership we will face many trials and tribulations, but in learning to lead and trying to do, we must remember that it is all from God and for God and so he just as he has sustained us, and the work we do HE will lead it on.
Parables of Jesus: New wine into Old Wineskins
Well firstly before we get into a exegesis of this exciting parable i’d like to being with a quote on leadership that i have learnt today, as per my new commitment:
“Knowing how to do a job is the accomplishment of labour, showing others is the work of a teacher, Making sure the work is done is the accomplishment of a manager, inspiring others to do and be better is the role of a Leader” – John Maxwell
Have you ever been given something brand new? I recently purchased a new macbook pro. I ordered it in the mail however i was unable to sign for it, i was incredibly irritated. It was on a friday afternoon, i saw the envelope stating that my computer had arrived but because i couldn’t sign for it I had to drive there to pick it up. However they were closed on weekends.
It was also 630pm so i couldn’t arrange for them to redeliver it, because they were closed and i couldn’t call. I got immensely frustrated. When i did finally get it i spent the whole night playing with my lap top. Why? Because it was new.
Likewise Jesus makes a similar analogy regarding wine skins in this parable. Who are we in this parable? We are the people who for some reason when it comes to God we seem to defy normal logic. We mix religious rituals with unmerited grace… suddenly that which is a gift becomes an obligation. Jesus is stating that with him here the old religious legalistic way of living is abandoned. No one should fuse these 2 world views, because to fuse it destroys both. Once you receive the new you don’t toy with the old. it’s not like when i got my superior lap top i spent the day playing with my old one. NO i spent the day with my new one.
Is it because we just can’t grasp the unsurpassing grace of Christ that we dilute his gospel? We so often deem conformity into church culture as the necessary pre-requisite for adoption when in actual fact Jesus is not interested in making people adopt a worldview or conform to a church sub-culture. Rather he is interested in people humbling themselves and embracing his grace, as they realise they are sinful, depraved and in need of a saviour. That they cannot save themselves.
When we embrace grace, we can embrace true freedom and then and only then enjoy the benefits of our adoption.
I live in the grace of God, and daily i surrender all to him as i realise how grateful i am to have to have, to do what i do and the serve the one i serve, through no merit of my own, but completely and wholly by the works, sacrifice and strength of the one who saves me.
Thank you Jesus for your grace, may we never look back.
Parable Intermission: RESPONSIBLE DEPENDENCE
continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. – Philippians 2:12-13
There is a theological term called an “Antinomy” whereby it would appear that there is a contradiction but with more information (most likely information we wouldn’t be able to attain this life) would not be an contradiction. We believe it, teach it because the bible does, and we live it out because the bible teaches only the truth.
The Antinomy demonstrated above in Philippians demonstrates the phenomenon that is the balance between God’s Sovereignty (God who works in you) and Human responsibility (work out your salvation).
Why do I bring this up as an intermission to our series on parables, i don’t know, it’s just something i’ve been struggling with. Not so much the theological conundrum that is predestination and free will (my goodness we don’t need another debate on the topic that can never be resolved), but rather the actual practical aspect of living my life for God’s glory, but myself being held accountable for my actions.
I have recently been reaffirmed of my call to full-time ministry, yes despite the fact that i am still in the business.
From the beginning this business has felt like a roller coaster ride, I have drenched every decision since graduating in prayer and counsel and I have felt the peace that comes with moving the right direction. Every step along the way doors have opened, people have come and go, but God hand of provision has been there making miracles happen every step of the way.
Day 1 – Fully booked brand new physio clinic
Week 1 – fully booked clinic
Month 1 – 200% increase in profitability
Month 2 – 300% increase in profitability
Month 3 – New physio, and good friend comes on board, and 350% increase profitability.
Month 4 – Second clinic is now set to open.
I share the above with you not to boast please be clear, because the growth is in no way due to anything i’ve done or does it in any way reflect my capabilities but rather God’s miraculous hand of provision. I share this with you because i want you to feel this antinomy.
have you ever felt in over your head? This is what the antinomy put in practice feels like. Suddenly i find myself doing a job so far beyond my capabilities and wisdom that it intensely frightens me. I am so dependent on God’s provision, it is his strength, his words and his guidance that have gotten me and here and is sustaining this business. But yet i have a responsibility. Yet i am also held accountable. This situation theologically speaking is called “responsible dependence”.
I am responible, yet so dependent on our great God’s provision. What has become a scary yet exciting revelation to me is that the life of a christian as we are made more like Jesus, this antinomy will become more and more clear. The more we do, the greater our responsibilities for the kingdom, the more we get “in over our heads”, so much so that we start to look around at what has been done through us, or what we’ve been a part of in the kingdom and we can’t help but breath an exasperated sigh of what must be described as awe and bemusement.
“God did all that? I was there, how did this happen?” – Louie Giglio states it so rightly… “When you’ve got your eye on Jesus, you’ll follow his lead, walking with him and then one day you’ll look around and wonder how on Earth you even got here…”
Rob Bell Describes it in his book “The Velvet Elvis” when sharing his experience going from a small-time preacher to a Pastor of over 2000 people literally over night- “Imagine if you woke up one day and you feel the same as you did last month but everything around you has changed”.
I can’t help but empathise, not to say this business is anywhere near an achievement for the Kingdom that God has done through Louie and Rob, but i am still overwhelmed, i feel as if so much has changed around me, and i am struggling to keep up.
BUT this antinomy leaves a few positive outcomes – the first of which is BOLDNESS – I can do my work without fear because it is not my work, but God working through me, the second PATIENCE – i need not rush, for it is in his sovereign control and lastly PRAYER – I can ask for his help, advice, wisdom and counsel because it’s his work not mine.
In myself this last month has been the hardest yet… The business is busy but the stress levels are high. From staffing problems, to logistical errors, there is no end to the teething that must be had in a baby business. But i praise him because i am learning, there is much to learn. Every time i learn i am reminded that i am in over my head, but i am encouraged because nothing is over HIS head.
Whether a business, a church, a mission field – It never ceases to amaze me what an all powerful God can do through man. May we grow in awe of God and how amazing he is, as he works amazing things through us. May we find ourselves filled with hope, grace, and sheer honour that God doe work through us. May we realise day in and out more and more how utterly responsibly dependent we are on our amazing God. May we boldness, patience and prayerfulness as we live out this exciting journey through him in us.
