Daily Journaling for Thursday 1st of October 2009

Box Breaking Jesus

S - In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water and they obey him." Luke 8:25

O - Jesus was so much more than a moral teacher. His incredible power caused people to gasp in fear and amazement. He is God with skin on. He speaks and winds cease, waves turn to ripples. Jesus is not tame. He will not fit in a box. He's one like no other. He is God.

A - I must not assume that you can't do anything. If you can stop winds and waves, then you can move mountains. I must have faith that if you are willing, nothing is impossible. I'll pray for radical life change this Sunday AM & PM and believe that you can do it!

P - Lord, you can do anything, yet I cannot box you into my agenda. Please change lives completely this Sunday through the preaching of your Word, the love of the people of God, and your Holy Spirit's power. Move people to wholeheartedly follow you. Amen.

Daily Reading - Luke 8

Fearless by Max Lucado

Fear can overwhelm us!

It has paralysed me on many occasions.

The fear of being insignificant, disappointing God or facing death, can overwhelm us. With the presence of violence, uncertainty and a world that constantly warns us of the worst case scenarios, fear will be always waiting for us to let it overtake our lives. That’s why ‘Fearless’ is such a helpful book. Max Lucado addresses these fears while giving clear practical help in overcoming them. The end result is the real possibility of a life free of fear.

Fearless is full of real situations that I could relate to. There were phrases so well put that I wrote them down to remember them. The stories were told in a compelling way that gripped and engaged me.

Each chapter the author introduced a new type of fear and then led the reader through a Biblical passage that showed how we can respond to that fear. As a teacher Max Lucado has depth. As a story teller he paints pictures with vivid colour. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and constantly felt God speaking and challenging me.

I would highly recommend this great book!    

Daily Journaling for Wednesday 30th of September 2009

Saving Faith

S - Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:50

O - The woman had lived a sinful life. She came to Jesus with perfume and tears. She loved Jesus. She was forgiven of her many sins. Others despised her. Thought it was terrible that she touch Jesus. They were forgiven little for they saw themselves as having little to be forgiven for. Jesus says that the difference between to two was faith. Her faith saved her was what Jesus said. It seemed that both had sinned only one realized it and came to Jesus.

A - Faith saves. My own faith that acknowledges my many sins and believes that Jesus can forgive them is what causes me to come to him. The realization that Jesus has forgiven my sin and given me new life causes me to love greatly Jesus my saviour. I will praise Jesus and thank him today for forgiving me. I will seek to express my love to Jesus today because I believe by faith that I am fully forgiven!

P - Thanks Father for sending Jesus. You have forgiven me and I am very thankful. Today I accept by faith your love and forgiveness. Amen.

Daily Readings Luke 7

Daily Journaling for Tuesday 29th of September 2009

S - "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31

O - This verse is so well known. It makes such sense too. Here Jesus teaches us what we all know deep down we should do. I hate to be treated badly. I want to be appreciated, respected, loved, listened to. That's what I want so that's what I should do to others. This is the heart of what it means to be a servant. To think of the other person's needs and what they would want you to do to them and to then do those things, actually honours the other. Do this shows that I value them and see them as a person of worth, made in God's image. This thought reminds me of Philippians 2:4-5 'Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.' This was just what Jesus himself did by leaving heaven, suffering and dying for us so we could be forgiven and really live.

A - How can I serve others more? I'm 40 years old. What will I give the rest of my life to? I will I love God and love others, while seeking to lead a church where God transforms lives. I will preach so that those who hear and respond thrive! These things are what I would love done to me. In my family I will love my wife how I know she would love to be loved, and my kids I will spend time thinking how I can treat them how I would have loved to be treated as a kid. I'll spend time intentionally thinking about specific changes I can make as a result of this verse today.

P - Thanks God, for your Word which constantly challenges me to live differently. Give me the strength, courage and wisdom to do to others as I would have them do to me. Amen.

Daily Readings Luke 5-6

Daily Journal for Monday 28th of September 2009

Preaching the Good News

S - But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Luke 4:43-44

O - Jesus said, "I must preach." The way he communicated the message was through preaching. The content of his preaching? The good news of the kingdom of God. That God had acted by sending his Son and whoever believes in him, becomes part of his kingdom, for eternity. This news was to be preaching in many regions. He kept on preaching and preaching. That's why he was sent!

A - What an example for me. I am called to preach. It's the most important task I have to do as a pastor (apart from loving God and my family). I must preach good news! I must preach so that everyone can know about the kingdom of God and respond. This week as I preach AM & PM services I will devote myself afresh to giving my best to these messages for God's glory so that lives might be transformed.

P - Thank-you God for calling me to proclaim your good news. Help me to remember the absolute importance of this call and to give it due priority this week. Amen.

Today's Readings Luke 3-4

Daily Journal for Friday 25th September 2009

S - "Don't be alarmed", he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here".
Mark 16:6

O - Sometimes all we see in our life is the ordinary. Things that are familiar or expected. We go to work, we eat, we perhaps have certain activities on certain day, but all in all, mostly, our lives are predictable. And when the unpredictable happens, we panic! This is what happened to the women who went to Jesus' tomb to anoint Him. The stone was rolled away and there was a young man standing there, dressed in white and no Jesus. An angel perhaps! And they were alarmed! They had come to anoint their friend, their teacher, their son. He came from their town where they lived. And he died a shocking, brutal death in a public and humiliating way. They wanted to honour him. But he wasn't there. And now this angel says - "He is risen! He is not here". How extraordinary! He is God incarnate.

A - Oh how I am humbled to be reminded that my Jesus is an extraordinary God capable of anything in my life, if I am totally surrendered to Him. He is the risen Lord!

P - Dear Jesus, forgive me for sometimes seeing my life as too small, too ordinary, when you, the risen Christ have the extraordinary for me. Amen.

Daily Reading Mark Chapters 15&16

Daily Journal for Thursday 24th September 2009

JESUS A FRIEND OF OUTCASTS

S - "While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head" Mark 14:3

O - This picture tells a thousand stories. Jesus is in the home of a leper. An untouchable person. But he hasn't just called to heal, he has called to enjoy the hospitality of this outcast. In fact, He was reclining at Simon's table. Very relaxed. Very comfortable and at home. Jesus dared to show the world at that time, that He came for everyone, especially for those who were ostracised. And then the woman came in. Oh women of the world. Perhaps the most ostracised group of people in the world. Certainly the most poorest, most abused, and most disempowered of the genders. But Jesus dares to show that He, God himself, thinks women are special and are important. And so allows her, this outrageous woman, to show extravagant love to Him. And this woman, out of her love and devotion to Jesus pours a years worth in wages of expensive perfume over Jesus head. Many have said that this was to foretell of His death and burial. But to me it also tells of why He came. He came to give His life for those who had no voice. For those who were outcasts.

A - When I see people who do not have the influence, the opportunities and the blessings I have, I need to remember that Jesus came and gave especially to them. And He gave also as an example to show those who do have influence and opportunity, as I do, to take particular notice of those who don't.

P - Dear Jesus, what an amazing example of grace and life you are to me. Help me to be more and more like you and to love others as you do. Amen.

Daily Reading Mark Chapter 14