Daily Journal for Monday 8th of March 2010

Believe!

S - "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." John 3:36

O - What we do with Christ is crucial. It's the difference between life and death. If we believe in him, putting our trust and faith in him we have eternal life. If we reject the Son, not believing in him, turning away from him, we will not only not see life, eternal life, but God's wrath, his anger, his judgement remains, and continues to remain on us.


A - Faith and trust in Jesus Christ, his life, death, resurrection, his reigning as Lord, his being God, are to be where my trust and faith are firmly placed. I want to grow stronger and deeper in my relationship with Jesus, each and every day.


P - Thank you Father, for sending your Son, Jesus. Thank you for life to the full, found only in Him. Amen.

Daily Reading - John 3

Daily Journal for Wednesday 3rd of March 2010

Jesus is praying for me!

S - "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32

O - Satan had asked to sift the disciples. Satan wants to destroy. He can think of nothing more delightful that destroying disciples of Jesus. But Jesus prays for his disciples. He prayed for Simon-Peter. He pray specifically that his faith would not fail. Under temptation, under opposition, under difficult, challenging circumstances, we are most in danger of failing in our faith. Satan is wanting us to fail. Jesus is praying that we will not. If we do fail, (and we pray that we don't) if we do in moments of doubt and pressure fail in our faith, Jesus points to us that we can return, we can repent, we can turn back. And when we do we will have a ministry of strengthening others in their faith. Peter did this. He failed under the enormous fear and experience of the trail and crucifixion of   Jesus. But Jesus restored him and he definitely did strengthen the brothers, becoming the leading figure in the early church.

A - God wants me to have a faith that is strong. Satan wants me to fail. Jesus is praying for me that I may not fail. Today I will pray in agreement with Christ, that I would be strengthened in my faith.

P - Father I pray that whatever challenges, temptations, conflicts, I face in the future, that I would remain strong in my faith, hope and love for you, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily Reading - Luke 22

Daily Journal Tuesday 2nd March 2010

I Am Indestructible!

S - "Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life." Luke 21:17-19

O - Jesus was warning that tough times were up ahead. His followers would be persecuted, even family members would betray them and some will even be killed. To sum up all that lay ahead, Jesus says, "Everyone will hate you because of me." But the encouragement for them (and for us) is "not a hair of your head will perish."   This can't be true literally speaking because many died in the fall of Jerusalem and many Christians have died down the ages, not just hair perishing but their whole body being stoned, burn or drowned. What did Jesus mean?

What he meant was of great encouragement to those who love Jesus and are even facing death. Jesus said that "not one hair on your head will perish" and "Stand firm, you will win life." Spiritual life and eternal life cannot be taken away from by persecution and death. Though people kill us, we will have heavenly bodies, not a hair out of place, that will never corrupt, that will never die. One condition - stand firm!

A - I am indestructible! ...if I stand firm in Christ. Today, I will remember that nothing can stop me from having eternal life. Jesus has given it to me and nothing can take it away. I will also have boldness in my sharing, knowing fear of my own life is a misplaced fear!

P - As I prepare for my weekend message - "Trust God Whatever the Circumstances," help me to remember that trusting you leads to life eternal - whatever the circumstances. Thank-you Father.

Daily Reading - Luke 21

Daily Journal for Friday 26th of February 2010

Just Doing My Job

S - "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" Luke 17:10

O - Jesus instructs his followers to do their duty, to be faithful in service, obedient to the instructions given, and trustworthy in getting everything done - and then don't ask for a medal! Why? Because you've really only done what everyone should do. Don't think you should be fussed over for doing what you're asked.

A - The fact that today, many people don't do what they say, don't finish a job, don't turn up on time, don't stay till knock off time, should not make me think that just because I actually do those things I deserve recognition because of it.

So many people have a misplaced justice streak. "I have done all of this and that is the thanks I get?" Many who have felt unloved or not valued in their family of origin can grow up getting hurt or upset when people don't appreciate them enough. Often the reason they try to do a good job is so that people will love and value them.

The key is that I am to do a great job whether I am thanked or not. If I recognize that ultimately I'm working for God and his glory I can know he sees and notices even if no-one else does. Just doing what you've been asked with excellence should be my desire no matter who I am working for!

P - Father, as I do many tasks today, help me to do them joyfully and with excellence. Holy Spirit, prompt me to do what my employer requires to the best of my ability regardless of the thanks or absence of thanks. And in all this may you be glorified. Amen.

Daily Reading - Luke 17

Daily Journal for Thursday 25th of February 2010

How to Use Wealth Best

S - "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." Luke 16:9

O - Jesus had just told a story about a manager who had acted shrewdly because his time was running out for him in his role. So he acted in a way that leverage his relationships and win him friends so that after he had gone people would think well of his and maybe even help him if he was down. He used was he could shrewdly for his advantage.

Jesus says that people of the world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than people of the light. Just like the shrewd manager - we are facing a final day when our lives end. Time is running out. Instead of hanging on to our resources as though there is no end, we can use it to help others in need, those in debt, those really struggling. They will be helped greatly and when we do die we will enter into eternal dwellings and many people we meet will be very thankful to us. The greatest way we can help others is to leverage our resources so that people are helped and ultimately come to know Jesus. This way they will enter eternal dwellings in heaven too and be forever grateful.

A - How am I using my wealth? Building it up or investing it for eternity in people's lives? Am I using it to help others or saving it for my comfort? I love how our church is helping people in need. I heard two stories yesterday, one family gave their car away to a person who needed one and a small group took it upon themselves to help buy groceries and provide money for petrol for a mother and son in need. I want to do that kind of thing more often too!

P - Father, help me to be wise - even shrewd with the way I use my resources so that others are helped and become my friend and friends with Jesus! Amen.

Daily Reading - Luke 16

Daily Journal for Wednesday 24th of February 2010

Everything I Have Is Yours

S - " 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.' " Luke 15:31

O - The older brother had been 'slaving away' for years, never disobeying his father's orders. In his mind the father had never given him anything. Yet the father's response is, 'everything I have is yours.' How could the son have gotten it so wrong? Instead of not giving him anything he had given him everything. He was slaving to get the father's stuff when the father had longed for him to know that he was his much loved son and because of that there's nothing that he had to slave for - it was already his.

A - 'See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called Children of God!' (1 John 3:1). Jesus told the story in Luke 15 as a warning to the Pharisees who judged others and tried to control God by doing good and demanding blessings from him. I must never get mixed up in my motives. My acts of kindness are not to be done to earn God's favour, but rather, because God has shown me favour, not to gain God's stuff but because God has given me everything in him. I have received the Father's love, grace and mercy through Jesus death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit empowers, strengthens, and lives in me. I have everything! Today I will delight in serving my generous Father!

P - Thank-you Father. You have loved me and given me a glorious inheritance. Receive my service that flows from my knowing and experiencing your lavish love! Amen.

Daily Reading - Luke 15

Daily Journal Tuesday 23rd of February 2010

Counting the Cost

S - 'Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, "This person began to build but wasn't able to finish." ' Luke 14:28-30

O - There's a cost to being Jesus' disciple. Like building a tower I have to estimate the cost. "Jesus doesn't want people to make a blind naive commitment to him" (Notes in TNIV Study Bible). This would be like saying "I want to build but I can't afford to pay." So many people begin to follow Jesus mistakenly thinking that it's not going to cost them in any way. What could go wrong? How can it be anything but sunshine be ahead? The problem is that when tough times actually come (and they do come) the way we respond has a great deal to do with whether or not we have counted the cost. If we have, these times, often, are the very events and struggles that build strength in our lives and help us stand firm for the long term.

A - When I face difficulties, when I experience temptations, when I grow weary, I want to remember the great foundations that have been laid and all that God has done in my life in the past. But more than that. I want to remember that being Jesus' disciple is costly and that tough times are expected (in fact essential) in building a strong tower. I will see them as just part of the cost of following Jesus.

P - Father, you gave your Son so that I could be your disciple. It cost you greatly. May I live with great thanks and with eyes fixed on you as I build my life on you.

Daily Reading - Luke 14