Channels of Blessing

2 Corinthians 5:2-21 (The Message).
We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.

How? you say. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.


Is your life a channel of blessing?

Is the love of God flowing through you?
Are you telling the lost of the Savior?
Are you ready His service to do?


Refrain:
Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing, I pray;
My life possessing, my service blessing,
Make me a channel of blessing today.


Is your life a channel of blessing?
Are you burdened for those that are lost?
Have you urged upon those who are straying
The Savior Who died on the cross?


Is your life a channel of blessing?
Is it a daily telling for Him?
Have you spoken the Word of salvation
To those who are dying in sin?


We cannot be channels of blessing
If our lives are not free from known sin;
We will barriers be and a hindrance
To those we are trying to win.

 
My Prayer:
Channels only, blessed Master,

But with all thy wondrous power
Flowing through me, thou canst use me
Every day and every hour.

Out in the highways and byways of life,

Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife
Making the sorrowing glad.


Refrain:
Make me a blessing,
Make me a blessing,
Out of my life
May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.


Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;
Tell of His pow'r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True ev'ry moment you live.

Give as 'twas given to you in your need;
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed;
Unto your mission be true.

Why I Love Jesus ?

I have started to try my hand at music composition (?) / arranging (?) / whatever you call it.

I would love to know what I am doing but I really have no clue.

I have the melodies in my head (and heart) and the words "haunt" me day and night  so I thought this would be a great way to express where I'm at in my journey with God.

I started to link two such melodies together on the above theme.

I was reminded this week of a "old" chorus we used to sing in The Salvation Army and I though it would be great if we (the band) could play it at some point.

As with most things with my music thoughts, other melodies and words flooded my mind until I came up with two "oldies" that seemed to fit nicely.

O I love him, yes, I love him,
Since for me he bled and died!
O I love him, yes, I love him,
More than all the world beside!

Can you wonder, can you wonder;
Can you wonder why it is I love him so?
When I think of what he's done
For me the guilty one,
Can you wonder why it is I love him so?


 
I would doubt if many of the "younger" generation would know these choruses, but as I read through the words and listening to the melodies on my computer, I was reminded (again) that I probably should share the reasons why "I love Him So" to others around me.
 
I have a great opportunity to share these thoughts (as appropriate) in my current employment as I discuss the work of The Salvation Army to people who have had some dealings with us in the past and want to assist in it's work in the future - I pray for more opportunities to "share" this experience with others.
 
When I think of what he's done
For me the guilty one,
Can you wonder why it is I love him so?

Wonderful Grace!

The Salvation Army Doctrine #8.
We believe we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

Two songs using the term "grace" have been going over and over in my mind for several weeks.  The first came as I was looking on You Tube for a piece of music ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2iTQu78i1U ).  I knew the words and have heard it sung, but not played by a brass band.  I found it and it now becomes a a valuable addition to the Preston Salvation Army Band's repertoire.

Listening to it again today - I literally lost my breath and tears rolled - how stupid I feel (thankfully no one was home), but how awesome is the grace of God - who, no matter what I've done or where I've been....

He LOVES ME!

Yes, even me!


Wonderful grace
That gives what I don't deserve,
Pays me what Christ has earned,
Then lets me go free.
Wonderful grace
That gives me the time to change,
Washes away the stain
That once covered me

And all that I have,
I lay at the feet,
Of the wonderful Saviour who loves me


Wonderful love
That held in the face of death,
Breathed in its final breath,
Forgiveness for me.
Wonderful love
Whose power can break every chain,
Giving us life again,
Setting us free.

And all that I have,
I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour who loves me.


Song 2:

Oh, Be Ye Glad, Be Ye Glad,
Every debt that you ever had
Has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord,
Be Ye Glad, Be Ye Glad, Be Ye Glad.

Following Jesus ? Where to ?

This continues my thoughts and struggles on Following Jesus - Where to ?


This post is dedicated to all those who are actually out there doing something about it !! Those who have heard the cry of others and the call of God. Those who are getting down with the down trodden and assisting in the well being of others (in most cases, doing it without thought of themselves).



Does being a follower of Jesus mean following him to church every Sunday ?  Leading a musical section on Tuesday night ?
Working in a fundraising/PR function during the week ?

I was fortunate to met a man the other day in my work as a Wills and Bequest Representative for The Salvation Army, who was in desperate need of help (although we didn't know it at the time).

A telephone call near midnight on the Long Weekend sat me up in bed as this man pleaded for me (and The Salvation Army) to help him with his addiction.  After about 15 minutes of conversation, I realised that (thankfully) he was not desperate enough to do something stupid, but was desperate to call for help.

As the mobile phone cut out, I found myself in a place where I felt helpless.  I called the Police and we discussed the situation.  I felt a lot happier knowing that there was some one else that could assist in this matter.  We both made the decision not to follow through until the morning as he did not make any thoughts to hurt himself or others.

The next morning, I called the local Salvation Army Officers in the town nearest my caller - They were only too glad to assist in my request for a physical visit and check up of his health and well being.

A visit was arranged and now we are in the process of getting him some help.  I pray for his journey through this addiction and thank God for his openness and courage to admit he has a problem and his genuineness in asking for help.

I pray, too, for the Local Salvation Army Officers and employees who work in the locations God has placed them - may you be blessed and encouraged in the work that you do for others.

A song played on the radio www.lightfm.com.au the other day that I thought appropriate for this post.

You live among the least of these
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy
For me to turn away
All my needs You have supplied
When I was dead You gave me life
So how could I not give it away so freely?

And I’ll…
Follow You into the homes of the broken
Follow You into the world
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy, God
Follow You into the world

Use my hands, use my feet
To make Your kingdom come
To the corners of the earth
Until Your work is done
Faith without works is dead
On the cross Your blood was shed
So how could we not give it away so freely?

And I give all myself
I give all myself
I give all myself to You

© 2009 Meaux Mercy (BMI) / Meaux Jeaux Music (SESAC) (both admin. by EMI CMG Publishing) / Alletrop Music (BMI) (admin. by Music Services)



I was also reminded of the chorus in the Salvation Army Song Book -

SACB 57
Where he leads me I will follow,
Where he leads me I will follow,
Where he leads me I will follow,
I'll go with him, with him, all the way. 

Some Quotes from Servant Leadership to finish with:

"People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care." John C Maxwell.
 
"A leader lives with people to know their problems.  A leader lives with God in order to solve them." John C Maxwell.
 
"Whatever our career may be, true leadership means to receive power from God and to use it under Gods rule to serve in Gods way." Leighton Ford

Take Up Thy Cross....... And Follow Me.

Luke 9:23 (New International Version, ©2011)
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.


An e-mail sent to me this week set my mind on a piece of music that, whilst I love listening to it, stirrs my heart and makes me somewhat uncomfortable.

The little cartoon illistration is excellent:



 
 
We complain about the cross we bear but don't realize it is preparing us for the dip in the road that God can see and we can't.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
there will always be sunshine, after the rain....

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall;
But God's always ready, to answer your call.....

He knows every heartache, sees every tear,
a word from His lips, can calm every fear...

Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night,
But suddenly vanish, dawn's early light...

The Saviour is waiting, somewhere above,
to give you His grace, and send you His love....
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.


SASB 490.
I heard a voice so gently calling:
Take up thy cross and follow me.
A tempest on my heart was falling,
A living cross this was to be;
I struggled sore, I struggled vainly,
No other light my eyes could see.

Chorus
I’ll follow thee, of life the giver,
I’ll follow thee, suffering redeemer,
I’ll follow thee, deny thee never,
By thy grace I’ll follow thee.

I heard his voice unto me saying:
Take up thy cross and follow me.
My heart is thine, now thee obeying,
Speak all thy will, dear Lord, to me.
Make weakness strength, thy power now give me,
And from this hour I’ll follow thee.


My prayer/response:

My heart is thine, now thee obeying,
Speak all thy will, dear Lord, to me.
Make weakness strength, thy power now give me,
And from this hour I’ll follow thee.

Heavenly Anthems.

Romans 15:6 (The Message).
Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!


Today (at The Salvation Army Preston) we sang an old song to a new, contemporary tune.  I found myself scrambling for a pen to jot down some thoughts that hit me right between my eyes.

SASB 156 v.1
Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own;
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee
And hail him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

I wondered if I (we) was so wrapped up in my own "music" that I drown out the heavenly anthems ?  Or as the song suggests, after giving him the glory and the crown, is it His "music" that can be heard in my everyday life.

Awake my soul and sing!  I needed to hear this today.  How often do we get so caught up in the everyday "stuff" that we walk around in the daze of life and forget there are others around that need us to be fully awake and coherent to what God is wanting us to do?   It's then we can be made useful - not feeling useless!



My prayer for today:
Renew my will from day to day;
Blend it with thine, and take away
All that now makes it hard to say:
Thy will be done.

In My Life Lord - Be Glorified

I was looking through some music this afternoon, when I came across a tune that I had forgotten about.  We (Launceston) used to play it as the brass arrangement was written by one of our own.

I remembered the words to the chorus, but was stopped in my tracks by the lyrics of the first line of the first verse.

Today at Preston, we had an excellent church service with the Melbourne Staff Songsters leading us in a great time of worship.

The music was excellent and the the worship experience (for me anyway) was fantastic.

The Band played a new arrangement of Abide With Me (Creamer).  The group did an exceptional job and the comments after the meeting were very encouraging.

I suppose the issue of "what do I do it for", was raised (again) in my head.  I have Blogged before that I know that it's not all about me and that our efforts on Sunday's or in a concert setting are for His glory - NOT mine.

So whilst I believe we (Preston Brass) did an exceptional job today and many people commented - I believe that we are all on the same page and we are in it for God's glory and His alone.


Lord I long to see You glorified
In ev'rything I do.
All my heartfelt dreams I put aside
To see Your Spirit move with power in my life.

Jesus, Lord of all eternity,
Your children rise in faith.
All earth displays Your glory,
And each word You speak,
Brings life to all who hear.


Lord of all,
All of creation
Sings Your praise
In heaven and earth.
Lord we stand,
Hearts open wide.
Be exalted!


Today's Prayer:

I'm your child,
I give my life to you,
Wholly available,
Faithful and true.

And in my life,
Let your light be seen,
So that the world may know,
I am your child.

Take me, Lord,
I am your child,
Send me, Lord,
Set my heart on fire.

Tasty ?

Psalm 34:8.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. If you have, rejoice in the hope of the resurrection that your faith in Him brings.

This was sent to me the other day.  I believe the story to be fictional, but I thought the reading from Psalm 34 was a good one for today.

Each year at the University of Chicago Divinity School they have what is called 'Baptist Day.' On this day each one is to bring a lunch to be eaten outdoors in a grassy picnic area. Every 'Baptist Day' the school would invite one of the greatest minds to lecture in the theological education center.

One year they invited Dr. Paul Tillich. Dr.Tillich spoke for two and one-half hours, proving that the resurrection of Jesus was false. He quoted scholar after scholar and book after book. He concluded that since there was no such thing as the historical resurrection, the religious tradition of the church was groundless, emotional mumbo-jumbo, because it was based on a relationship with a risen Jesus, who, in fact, never rose from the dead in any literal sense. He then asked if there were any questions.

After about 30 seconds, an old, dark-skinned preacher with a head of short-cropped, woolly, white hair stood up in the back of the auditorium. 'Docta Tillich, I got one question,' he said as all eyes turned toward him.

He reached into his sack lunch and pulled out an apple and began eating it. 'Docta Tillich. (CRUNCH, MUNCH) My question is a simple question.

(CRUNCH, MUNCH...) Now, I ain't never read them books you read (CRUNCH, MUNCH), and I can't recite the Scriptures in the original Greek. (CRUNCH, MUNCH...) I don't know nothin' about Niebuhr and Heidegger. (CRUNCH, MUNCH...)

He finished the apple. 'All I wanna know is: This apple I just ate... Was it bitter or sweet?'

Dr Tillich paused for a moment and answered in exemplary scholarly fashion: 'I cannot possibly answer that question, for I haven't tasted your apple.'

The white-haired preacher dropped the core of his apple into his crumpled paper bag, looked up at Dr. Tillich and said calmly, 'Neither have you tasted my Jesus.'

The 1,000 plus in attendance could not contain themselves. The auditorium erupted with applause and cheers.

Dr. Tillich thanked his audience and promptly left the platform.

Have you tasted Jesus?

A Heart To God And A Hand To Man

In darkest England 1865,

a dismal slum of poverty.
A band of believers rescued from the night,
played songs of hope and offered light.

If a man is hungry,
give him food to eat.
If a stranger's thirsty,
give him drink.
If a woman's battered, if a child's abandoned,
bring them in,
give them what they need.


A heart to God and a hand to man,
here begins the healing of our land.
A heart to God and a hand to man,
I can still hear the Hallelujah band.
A heart to God and a hand to man.

Like an army marching as to war,
come to set the captives free.
The bread of life for the poorest of poor,
hear their cries, bringing relief.

If a man is hungry,
give him food to eat.
If a stranger's thirsty,
give him drink.
If a woman's battered, if a child's abandoned,
bring them in,
give them what they need.


A heart to God and a hand to man,
here begins the healing of our land.
A heart to God and a hand to man,
I can still hear the Hallelujah band.
A heart to God and a hand to man.

While women weep as they do now,
while children are hungry,
while hope can be found.
While one soul remains without light,
I will fight on, fight on,
I'll fight to the very end.


A heart to God and a hand to man,
here begins the healing of our land.
A heart to God and a hand to man,
I can still hear the Hallelujah band.
A heart to God and a hand to man.


Singing a heart to God and a hand to man,
here begins the healing of our land.
A heart to God and a hand to man,
I can still hear the Hallelujah band.

Singing a heart to God and a hand to man,
here begins the healing of our land.
A heart to God and a hand to man,
I can still hear the Salvation Army band.

Geoff Moore

Conference Call

Luke 19:45-48 (The Message).
Going into the Temple he began to throw out everyone who had set up shop, selling everything and anything. He said, “It’s written in Scripture, My house is a house of prayer; You have turned it into a religious bazaar.” From then on he taught each day in the Temple. The high priests, religion scholars, and the leaders of the people were trying their best to find a way to get rid of him. But with the people hanging on every word he spoke, they couldn’t come up with anything.


Over the past two weeks I have been involved in three conferences. Two for work and one for music.

In all three conferences the message was clear:

If you don't have the passion for what you do (or what you are required to do) on a day to day basis, and are not passionate about the organisation's mission and values, why are you doing it ?

It was stated;

If you don't believe it, or your hearts not in it - Why are you doing it ?

The conferences highlighted, again, that I believe I'm in the right place at the moment, and I believe that God has his hand on my (and my families) life.

Why wouldn't a Christian (Salvationist) want to work for an organisation that he/she believes in.

Yes there are "politics", but on the whole, this organisations beliefs and values are one that I support 100%.

And guess what ? So do many people in "public land", and whilst PR is an awesome role, it comes with great responsibility.

I was reminded again by Stuart in our band devotions at Preston on Tuesday night about what we hold as a priority in our life and what is important - Certainly God, Family, Employment, "Others", Sport are - but in what order...

I think I've used this song before, but it's my prayer (again) for today.

Give me a passion for You, Lord,
I want to know You more.
Give me a heart that is true, Lord,
To seek You like never before.
Renew my mind,
Renew my spirit,
To walk in Your holiness.


Open my eyes, I want to see,
Visions of You living through me.
Open my heart, cause me to love,
For I want to follow You,
Follow You with all my heart.

Give me a passion to serve You,
I want to follow on.
Give me the power to choose You,
When all of the feelings are gone.
Renew my will,
For I am determined
To walk with You every day.

Seekers Of Your Heart

Acts 17:26-28a (The Message).
26  Starting from scratch, he made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living 27  so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near. 28  We live and move in him, can’t get away from him!


I was listening to my music again the other day when a song that is new to me played - out of the blue.  I had to get Nat to listen to it as I thought I needed to share it with someone - fast!!

I don't have much else to say today (I know that's hard to believe) but the lyrics are great and the melody was "haunting" enough to stop me in my tracks.

It was a "gentle" reminder to me that I must continue to give God - FIRST place.

I need constant renewing and refilling - I struggle as to know why? 
Am I the only one that feels this way?

I question, again and again, if I'm doing something wrong - but in this prayer I acknowledge that I DO need God to be ever present in this journey and I can gain nothing without his presence in my life.

Until we give You first place,
Until we let You begin
To fill us with your spirit,
Renew us from within.
Nothing matters,
Nothing's gained.
Without your Holy presence,
Our lives are lived in vain.

Chorus
Lord we want to know You,
Live our lives to show You,
All the love we owe You,
We're seekers of your heart.

Because your heart was broken,
Because You saw the need,
Because You gave so freely,
Because of Calvary,
We can now be,
Called your own,
Complete creations,
Filled with You alone,

Lord we want to know You,

Live our lives to show You,
All the love we owe You,
We're seekers of your heart.

My prayer:
Lord I want to know you.
I want to live my life to show you more and more.
My you be the centre of everything I do.

Amen.

Just As You Are.

Psalm 139 (The Message).
15  You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
16  Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.


Before the world began,
You were on His mind,
And every tear you cry,
Is precious in His eyes.
Because of His great love,
He gave His only Son.
Everything was done
So you would come.

Nothing you can do
Could make Him love you more.
And nothing that you've done
Could make Him close the door.
Because of His great love,
He gave His only Son.
Everything was done
So you would come.

Come to the Father,
Though your gift is small.
Broken hearts, broken lives,
He will take them all.
The power of the Word,
The power of His blood.
Everything was done
So you would come.


John 3:16 (The Message).
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.


Come just as you are,
Hear the spirit call.
Come just as you are,
Come and see,
Come receive,
Come and live, forever.

Life everlasting.
Strength for today.
Taste the living water,
And never thirst again.

Come and see,
Come receive,
Come and live forever.

Come just as you are,
Don't you hear the spirit call.
Come just as you are,
Come and see,
Christ my King,
Come and live, forevermore.


After reading these verses and the lyrics to these songs, I feel we still need to physically do something about this word "Come".

To sing "Come just as you are" or "Come to the Father",  I had the overwhelming sense that this is Jesus pleading, through the words of the songs, for us to get up and get moving - towards Him and His way.  To move ourselves out of negativity, sadness, struggles and complications (or even complacency?) and into His freedom, love and grace.

Maybe that means spending time (physically) on our knees, or making our way to a place of grace (not disgrace).

To borrow a phrase.... Sometimes we just need to "Let Go and Let God!"

By letting go says to me that we are holding on too tight.  If we let go - does that mean we will fall ?  What better place to fall but into the arms of a Saviour that loves us.


My prayer;
Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message).
 
Amen.

Fading Beauty

1 Peter. 3:3 (NLT).
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.   You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.


SACB 77
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All his wonderful passion and purity,
O thou Spirit divine,
All my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

During the last few weeks I have had 2 occasions where children have asked me if I was a Policeman.  There was a time I wanted to be one, but I think it's probably a little too late.

On both occasions the parents have said to the children - "No, he belongs to The Salvation Army, he helps people".

I suppose The Army is seen to be a helping hand to those in crisis, especially with the flooding and cyclone in the not so distant past.  So when you wear the uniform, you are automatically one of "those ones" who help people, whether you are on the "front line" or even in PR.

Does what we wear maketh the person?
Am I a "better" Christian because I wear The Salvation Army uniform?
Can the beauty of Jesus seen in me?
Does my outward appearance and actions mirror that of Christ?

What about when we don't wear our uniform?  Does the beauty of Jesus radiate through us ?  At work?  At the shops?  In the home?

It's not easy - I know.  Prior to my commencement with The Salvation Army, the workplace was not the easiest place to show Jesus in any way, shape or form, and even when I stood by my beleifs, it didn't seem to make much difference to anybody else.  People were just too interested in themselves.

Moving into another year and continuing on in this journey of life, my prayer for today is:

Come, beautiful Christ,
Radiate thy beauty in me.
'Tis thee I adore,
What can I ask more
Than to live for thee, beautiful Christ.
SACB 61


Footnote:  The above words were written specifically for women, but It was the first verse that appeared when I searched for the phrase "beauty of Jesus" - I thinks there's something in it for all of us, don't you?

Speak To Me!

Exodus 3:1-3 (The Message).
Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb.  The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it didn’t burn up.  Moses said, “What’s going on here? I can’t believe this! Amazing! Why doesn’t the bush burn up?”


I have struggled over the past few weeks to try and find some "inspiration" that came thick and fast last year.  It seems to have stopped as suddenly as it came.

I blogged 71 times in 52 weeks - Not a bad effort and so many words that helped me through the year.

I don't know if it is because I am in a better place than I was this time last year, but I still feel I am no where near where I should (or need to) be.

So where are you God ?

I know I have to be still and stop talking so that I can listen, but maybe I need the burning bush to get my attention !!

We sang "Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord" on Sunday and read Isaiah 41 (see below) but still I'm struggling to "hear" anything.

Another Blog I am following has changed it's content this year, but as I read it late last night the following song was introduced (all 7 verses).  I'm pretty sure I have used some of these verses last year but (finally) some words of comfort - and my sincere prayer - for my continuing journey !!

Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou has sought, so let me seek
Thine erring children lost and lone.

O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Thy hungering ones with manna sweet.

O strengthen me, that while I stand
Firm on the rock, and strong in Thee,
I may stretch out a loving hand
To wrestlers with the troubled sea.

O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.

O give Thine own sweet rest to me,
That I may speak with soothing power
A word in season, as from Thee,
To weary ones in needful hour.

O fill me with Thy fullness, Lord,
Until my very heart overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show.

O use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessèd face I see,
Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share.


Isaiah41:1 (The Message).
“Quiet down, far-flung ocean islands. Listen!
Sit down and rest, everyone. Recover your strength.
Gather around me. Say what’s on your heart.
Together let’s decide what’s right

Forgive My Foolish Ways

Mark 1:16-20 (The Message).
Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work.  Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.”  They didn’t ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.  A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee’s sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets.  Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed.

1 Peter 2:9 (The Message).
But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you.


I'm finding it somewhat amusing (if that's the right term) when I get things stuck in my head, and verses, songs and quotes become a recurring theme.

I have struggled with my perception of leadership last year and I am finding myself slipping back into this bad habit again this year (and it's only January).

These frustrations, apart from causing me heart burn, are negatively impacting my walk with God.  This journey has been hard enough without letting my perception and judgmental thoughts get in the way.

I don't believe I've got it all together when it comes to leadership - I certainly had my fair share of issues over the years, but the "theme" - In tune with Thy divinity (again a music reference) has played over and over again, both in good times and in bad.

I am conscious that these frustrations are doing me more harm than good, and probably not helping others too, as I rant and blow off steam.

Song 567 (SASB) is my prayer as I ask for forgiveness....

1.
Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our (my) foolish ways;
Reclothe us (me) in our (my) rightful mind;
In purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.

2.
In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow thee.

3.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with thee
The silence of eternity,
Interpreted by love!

4.
Drop thy still dews of quietness
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace.

5.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm!
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-92)


Lord, help me be an instrument of peace.  Help me act in a way that others may see you in me.  Continue to work your way into my life that I may stay "in tune" with you, and that your glory will be seen through me.
Amen.

Servant Leadership

Philipians 2:4-8 (The Message).
Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.  Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.  He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.  Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!  Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that: a crucifixion.

Matthew 26:39 (The Message)
Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”

Ephesians 6:7 (The Message)
And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God.

I saw a quote the other day (posted on Face book) from an author I'd never heard of.

It read....
"Continue to give Him all that is yours; He will continue to give you all that is His.
Continue to wait upon Him; He will continue to be faithful to you.
Continue to seek His highest; He will continue to give you His best".
- Roy Lessin.

I particularly like the last line as I was reminded of our (Launceston Citadel Band) Motto - "My best for the Highest".

I started to search for the author on Google and found many quotes and readings and I was led to a section under "Servant Leadership".

It was a timely reminder that I'm not much of a leader if I only seek my glory, and it's my way, and no one else matters.

How ineffective can I (we) be if we get this wrong ??
How effective can I (we) be if we get this right ??

I completed another book (yes that makes 2 since 1985) called "Darkest England and the way back in" (Gary Bishop) that speaks of packing up and going to the heart of where the need is and being part of a that community.  Through powerful stories, Biblical thought and personal reflection ‘Darkest England’ takes us on a journey which calls us to hear again the implicit call of scripture for the church to spend itself on behalf of the poor.

I thought immediately of the verse 4 of the song "The Servant king" and thought it would be good to share it.



1. From heaven you came helpless babe
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served, but to serve
And give your life, that we might live

Chorus:
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow him
To bring our lives as daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King


2. There in the garden of tears
My heavy load, he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
Yet not my will but yours he said

3. Come see his hands and his feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered

4. So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone him
Each others needs to prefer
For it is Christ we're serving

Chorus:
This is our God, the Servant King
He calls us now to follow him
To bring our lives as daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King.


Lord, may others see you in me. 
May my life be spent in serving you and in serving others. 
Help me to be willing to serve and to be humble in my dealings with your people - putting your glory before mine.
Amen!