Getting Changed

Ephesians 4 : 17 - 24 tells us to put off our old selves, the way we think and act, and take on our new selves.

When the Holy Spirit enters our lives he enables us to change how we are. Not who we are, but how we react, how we think, how we interact with others.

The problem is, this isn't some instantaneous result of becoming a Christian. This is a conscious act we need to make. It's a daily, if not moment by moment, decision we need to make if we are to be effective for God.

The other day someone said something to me at work and I had to struggle with how my mind dealt with the comment. Eventually, after asking God to help, I viewed the comment from a totally different perspective and saw it as an opportunity not a threat.

This "new attitude of mind" that Paul talks about requires practice, daily decisions to do things God's way. We don't do this in weakness but, because Jesus lives in us, His Holy Spirit gives us the power and authority to live as God desires.

I've got a challenging day today - I'm going over to visit one of our customers with the MD. I've never done anything like this before and naturally I'm scared, unprepared and worried I'll let the side down. I thought I was just going to be sitting there looking efficient (hopefully) but yesterday the boss told me I'd be taking the lead at some point! Mega scarey! I've prayed, I've prepared and now I feel ready. I could still let the side down, but I know I won't let God down if I allow Him to guide me through the process.

If God has placed me in this job, he's placed me in this position today and it won't be to fail but to succeed! I know I can do this, I just have to put off my old self of condemnation and put on my new self as a child of the Living God. Whatever the company implications of today's visit, my role is to glorify God in everything I do and say. What a great opportunity!

Mimics

Eph 5:1

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.

How many of us have watched children grow and develop. It appears they develop their own personality, their own way of doing things. In many ways, each of us is unique. Yet each of us are imitators of those closest to us - for many - our parents.

10 years ago I visited my sister in Australia. She'd lived there for 10 years and had had little close contact with us for several years before. Mum surprised us with a visit part way through and one night we went out for a meal. Liz and Mum sat side by side and it was startling how similar they were. I'm not just meaning their appearance (although mum's hair was grey :-) ), it was their mannerisms.

We pick up little nuances, such as posture, fidgets, facial expressions etc without realising we're doing it. We pick up phrases and ideals without realising we're doing it. How many times as a child/teenager did I hear my mum say things which annoyed me and yet those very words and tones I use with my own children these days.

God wants us, as His children, to mimic Him. It's a bit hard just through reading a lot of Laws to know the Father - although King David's love for his Father enabled Him to know Him. God helped us by sending His Son, Jesus, as an example of how his Law is to be lived. What it means to live the way God intended us to live.

How often have young people been told "What would Jesus say if he saw you doing that???" When really they should be encouraged to think "What would Jesus DO in this situation?"

We need to be imitators of the perfect example. We need to be reading God's word, along with spending time with Him each day. That way, it's so much easier to become an imitator. We cannot imitate someone we don't know. We need to get to know God intimately if we are to have any hope of imitating Him like a child imitates his parents.

Ephesians

For the past week I've been going through Ephesians as part of my daily readings. I've been meaning to write about what I've been learning/what God is saying to me etc, but I haven't had the time in the mornings and I've forgotten what I wanted to write by the evening. (ooh that implies I've forgotten what God had said to me!) Anyway, here's today's thoughts from Ephesians 2: 1- 9

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions

—it is by grace you have been saved.

God chose to love me. His love for me is not conditional on my loving Him. His love for me is not conditional on my obeying Him. His love for me is not conditional on the work I do for Him. His love for me is not conditional on the work I do for Him.

God's love for me is a gift, freely given, that I may enjoy life, that I may propser and that I may life a life so full that I can only praise Him for his love and for all that I have.

Yes, there are conditions for following Him, but there are no conditions to receiving His love or for remaining loved.

His love is a gift He will never take away from me.

Romans 12

Romans 12:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy,

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

I find this quite an intriguing verse. What does God mean by my offering my body as a living sacrifice?

At present I am "morbidly obese". Now to look at me, I have to admit I am overweight. But sadly our culture has so many oveweight people that we no longer recognise those who's lives may be in some health danger.

Two weeks ago, Ian and I joined Weightwatchers. My target at the moment is to weigh less than he does! But it's a tough struggle when he loses twice as much as me each week!

I looked at this verse and wondered about how to present my body as a living sacrifice. Now I may be wrong here, but my thoughts came up with 3 areas.

First My body must be healthy. To be healthy I need to be eating correctly and exercising. I really can't believe I added the second part! I need to make sure I am not being tempted to eat junk food, chocolate, fatty foods etc but instead I should eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, fibre etc. (The exercise bit I'll think about later!)

Secondly Greed! it's all very well eating healthy food, but even too much of it will cause obesity! The idea is to stop when you begin to feel full and not continue until the plate is cleared or you are stuffed! This is a tough one if you've been brought up to always clear your plate "think of the starving children in India". The solution is to cook less and put less on your plate. I've started putting bigger helpings on Ian's plate and half as much on mine! Sadly he still lost more than me this week!

Third Appropriate appearance! Away from the food aspect is appearance. People make their assumptions about us from how we initially appear. it's important to always look our best whilst taking into consideration the place we are and the purpose for our being there. A ball gown is not appropriate for a camping holiday and shorts and t-shirts are not appropriate for office work. I've always tried to think that the best way to dress is fashionable but not trendy. Our clothes need to be clean, well cared for and sensible. Inappropriate dress can hinder how others view us and therefore affect the the way others view Jesus.

Before presenting herself to the King, Queen Esther spent 3 days fasting and praying before she entered the throne room. She spent time preparing herself with perfumes and ensuring she looked her very best.

Each day, we seek an audience with the King of kings. Shouldn't we take just as much care of how we look?

I'm still stuck on how this "taking care of my body" is an act of spiritual worship, but I know that today, whenever I was tempted by the vending machine at work, the act of giving my body as a living sacrifice kept me away.

The weight loss will be a long slow process, but hopefully with God's help this time I will succeed!

Time

I've now twice begun reading a book. Both times I haven't got beyond the first chapter. Last time, the time wasn't right. This time, it's because there's a lot to think about.

The book is geared at the busy woman. Life Management for Busy Women by Elizabeth George.

It begins by stressing that if we give time to God, spending time in his word, we will gain more time to accomplish the tasks he sets before us each day.

Three simple steps

1. Give time to God

2. Make it the first thing each morning.

3. Do it early each day.

Our ritual in the morning is for the alarm to go off, and whilst I wake slowly Ian goes off for his shower. After a real struggle to stir this morning I reached for my bible. I have to admit this is the first time for a long time I've reached for it early in the day!

I hadn't a clue where to start, so I asked God and he directed me to Romans 12.

The words I read there have kept me strong today.

I've always found that when I give God the first time of each day, my life seems to fall into place better. Things may go wrong, but by giving God some time to talk to me, I find I am better equipped for the day.

So, for now, it's early time first thing for me.

Captivating

I've been captivated by the love of Jesus since reading Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge. I was amazed at how long it took me to read through this book. It's only 200 pages and with a week avoiding the burning spanish sun, I had plenty of time to read. But this is a book that requires thoughtful reading if it is to be effective in your life.

I'd better add, this is a book for women. When read by a man, it will provide insight into his loved one but it's main aim is at the heart of a woman's soul.

I've found that in the past couple of days I've found it so much easier to see myself as being truly loved by Jesus. I've always accepted that his love for me led him to the cross. But I've seen it as a love which will bring me into God's presence.

Now I see it as so much more. Jesus pursued me. I didn't find him, he chose me. He chose me because he desired me to be his loved one and to enter into an intimate relationship with him that extends to so much more than just being a person who can stand in the throne room of the Almighty God.

I guess I've always seen myself as one of the courtiers in the crowd of a royal throne room, but Jesus sees me as so much more.

Whilst away

I had a worrying email from my daughter yesterday. It informed me that something terrible had happened but not to worry!

Why do we say that? The natural reaction is always to imagine the worst. In this case, I hadn't imagined the worst. But almost the worst the happened!

On Thursday night our home was burgled. Not much was taken, but it's an awful thought that someone has been in your house whilst you sleep. Sadly, it was the boys who were home when the burglary happened and they were fearful of telling us.

Rob, in his anger and frustration punched a wall and has badly broken his hand. Thankfully, their immediate reaction on discovery of the theft was to inform the police - and then Rob went to the hospital!

The children are all blaming themselves. I've assured them that there are so many "If only"s that no one person can take the blame. The only people who are guilty are the people who grabbed an opportunity to take another person's property.

Tonight we return home. I told them that the only reason I will be angry is if they have failed to supply Ian and I with milk for breakfast tomorrow! We both leave for work around 7 and will have no chance to purchase any. The burglary is done, they police have been informed, the children now need assurance of safety in their own home, not recriminations.

Special Day

Today has been a special day. 47 years ago, my mum gave birth to me.

Ian and I have been enjoying the spanish sun and food for the past 5 days and today, after a magnificant 2 hour lunch we returned to mum's.

After a rest (it's amazing how exhausting a big meal can be) we all went down to Mum's pool. Ian and I stood either side of Mum and after 60 years since she became a Christian, mum was finally baptised. It was a special day!

Mum emailed me several months ago to ask if I would baptise her this week and I've been so excited ever since. When I arrived, she hadn't mentioned it since the email but I was determined to do it. I mentioned it to Mum and she suggested today. It appears that her desire hadn't faded. In fact she was excited at the thought that on the day she celebrated giving life to me, I could celebrate bringing her into a new life.

What a fantastic place to be baptised! In your own pool, in the middle of breathtaking spanish beauty!

Great Expectations

I started a new job last week and spent 1 1/2 days being trained. This week I've been basically on my own. For the first time in my life I've spent a whole week feeling totally lost and hopeless! Usually, after a couple of days I'm beginning to find my way around and understand at least a small portion of what's expected of me. This has not been the case here!

For the past couple of days I've just wanted to get out! A couple of times to even just walking out and not going back!

This morning I asked God to get involved. As I walked out to the car I asked God to help me through the day. I reminded myself of the jobs I hadn't got believing that they were not where God wanted me. Therefore if I got this job, it must be because this is where God does want me!

As I turned on the engine a new song began on the cd player.

Beautiful Lord, wonderful Saviour

I know for sure all of my days are held in Your hand.

Crafted into Your perfect plan.

You gently call me into Your presence

Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit,

Teach me dear Lord.

To live all of my life

through your eyes.

I'm captured by Your holy calling

Set me apart,

I know You're drawing

me to Yourself

Lead me Lord, I pray.

Take me, mold me, use me, fill me,

I give my life to the Potter's hand.

Call me, guide me, lead me, walk beside me

I give my life, to the Potter's hand.

I left work at the end of the day amazed at the difference I had felt today at work. I began to accept that I was able to do things. I no longer felt like a failing cog in a large engine!

I went over to The King's Lodge and met with a few friends. When I mentioned how my day had been different and told them of my prayer, one man of God said "You know why God answered your prayer? Because you expected him to!"

How often do we pray and not expect God to answer? Yet Jesus said

Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,

believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

I had to admint, that I KNEW God would answer my prayer today.

A simple lesson, yet one I'm sure I will need to keep learning until expecting God to answer my prayers becomes the norm rather than the unusual!

Let's raise our expectations!

A Pure Heart and Joy!

I've been struck recently by comments about being pure in heart.

Psalm 51:10 - 13 says

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will turn back to you.

There are 2 things that strike me.

First we need to be seeking God for a pure heart. We cannot be pure on our own. It is only by living God's way and continually acknowledging and accepting our need for forgiveness that we can have a pure heart.

The second has been niggling me for a while and came home more strongly last night. We heard about 2 women who had become Christians at the Alpha course this week. We prayed that their joy would be contagious.

Where's the joy of my salvation?? Why do I no longer live a life that overflows with joy for the salvation I received?

These verses are my prayer for the moment.

Restore to me the joy of my salvation, then I will be enthusiastic about spreading the good news of Jesus and the wonderful things he has done and is doing in my life!

Another new mission field?

Yesterday we viewed what could be our next new home. It's slightly smaller than our present home but in an area where we believe God is asking us to go.

If our offer is accepted, we then need a buyer for our present property!

God has a lot of changes He is revealing to us at present and it's almost too much to keep up.

I'm just glad He's got everything planned for our good and not to cause us discomfort and pain! Not getting the other jobs left me feeling slightly rejected, but almost immediately came a sense of calm knowing that those were not jobs He had prepared for me.

When we seek God in our decision-making we know all things will work together for good. At times it can still be frustrating and worrying whilst the wait goes on but our Father God tells us not to worry and by leaving things in His hands He will work them out in His time.

I'm so glad I have a hope and a future that is in His hands!

A new Mission Field

Today is a scary day! Today I begin work in a new place. A different environment. A different type of job.

I know I'll be able to do it, but there is this little niggle of doubt which I need to overcome. The recruitment agency sold me BIG time! I have a feeling I probably added to that at the interview! Now it's time to live up to a good reputation.

What if I fail? What if I'm NOT capable of doing all the things I said I could do? What if I'm not the person I said I was?

Everyone at the King's Lodge exclaimed: Oh fantastic! A new job, a new mission field!

One more thing to worry about?

Confidence blown!

Over the past couple of weeks several things have hit my confidence. This has caused me to doubt the value of my words and stopped me from putting my thoughts to screen and blogging.

Slowly God has been reminding me of the promises of his word.

Jacqueline and I had spent some time looking at God's promises to us and realising the worth of knowing God's word in order to fight the lies of Satan. God's word is most certainly our strongest weapon against the deceiver. As we read and absorb God's promises to us we realise what a faithful and loving Father we have.

Deut 32:4 states

He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,

upright and just is he.

All of God's promises to us are true and eternal. We love and worship an unchanging God who is incapable of lying. This gives us a security for living in confidence of who we are.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,

a holy nation, a people belonging to God,

that you may declare the praises of him

who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

(1 Peter 2:9)

We need to be speaking out these words both to ourselves and to others as a statement as confirmation of who we are in order that we build up ourselves and those around us.

Confidence blown!

Over the past couple of weeks several things have hit my confidence. This has caused me to doubt the value of my words and stopped me from putting my thoughts to screen and blogging.

Slowly God has been reminding me of the promises of his word.

Jacqueline and I had spent some time looking at God's promises to us and realising the worth of knowing God's word in order to fight the lies of Satan. God's word is most certainly our strongest weapon against the deceiver. As we read and absorb God's promises to us we realise what a faithful and loving Father we have.

Deut 32:4 states

He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,

upright and just is he.

All of God's promises to us are true and eternal. We love and worship an unchanging God who is incapable of lying. This gives us a security for living in confidence of who we are.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,

a holy nation, a people belonging to God,

that you may declare the praises of him

who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

(1 Peter 2:9)

We need to be speaking out these words both to ourselves and to others as a statement as confirmation of who we are in order that we build up ourselves and those around us.

On the Move

Today, Ian and I have spent most of the morning and afternoon driving around villages looking for somewhere to live. We're now both settled on a particular village and interstingly found that all the properties available there we liked, yet the dozen we found from elsewhere we didn't like!

Sadly we got home too late to take a call from our own estate agents asking if someone could view. Hopefully they are interested enough to try again tomorrow.

It's a difficult time... do you sit at home all day, not daring to go out in case you miss a call? or do you carry on with normal life and hope potential vendors accept you are busy people?

We're hopeful that God has a good home planned and prepared for us and in return there are good people being prepared to take over our present home.

It's an exciting and interesting time! Added to the trial of job hunting...

I can't wait to see what else God has in store for our lives!

More good food!

All I ever seem to do is eat!

Last night the ladies from our cell group met up with the ladies from the Coventry church and enjoyed a buffet meal. Sitting around a circular table made it easy to chat with several people and we made sure that we sat by people we didn't know well. Several people took to changing seats when they arrived back with food, which meant that we got a chance to chat with even more people!

It was a good way to get to know the other women and a great ice-breaker for when we next meet!

Good Food, Excellent weekend

Ian and I had a lovely weekend in the Cotswolds. It's an area of the country I had never visited before and it was really beautiful.

Sadly we had lots of rain and instead of being able to really enjoy the sites we just dashed from shop to shop. As it was our paper wedding anniversary (1st) we'd decided to buy a picture. We saw lots of oil paintings, but I pointed out they were done on canvas and couldn't count. Thankfully we weren't excited about owning any of them anyway.

I was disappointed that most of the local images were of the villages themselves, but Ian and I are landscape lovers. It's a pity when it's such a beautiful area of the country that God's creation isn't more copied onto paper.

I have to admit that we also ate some amazing food! On Saturday night we ate in the hotel where we were staying and on Sunday morning were unable to eat anything other than a slice of toast with our tea or coffee! The Burford Lodge has recently been extensively refurbished and everything about it was excellent!

On our way home we visited an art gallery which had some delightful paintings in that we had viewed on our way down on Saturday. Together we chose a lovely sea scene! A bit odd when we were in the middle of the country, but Ian and I both love sea and sky scapes.

So we came home with our paper anniversary present afterall.

Special Days

Ian and are are off for the weekend to a delightful small hotel in the Cotswolds. Tomorrow will be one year since we became man and wife and we're looking forward to some quality time together.

The past 12 months have seen a lot of changes in both our lives and ourselves. God is doing amazing things and we are both aware of the changes he is doing in our lives.

Sadly, or maybe not, I received a letter today saying I hadn't been short-listed for a job I'd applied for. I'm not really upset, as I believe that I would have received an interview if the job was in God's plan. It just leaves that further time of unknowingness lying around.

But I know that my God is a God of love. Oddly enough, today's verse from Is 66:13 on our calender is:

As a mother comforts her child,

so I will comfort you.

God is my rock and my comforter, not only when I worry, but also when I don't know where I'm going.

Today though, I know where I'm going.... away!!!! yeah!!!!

See you all after my return!

The Stirring of the Spirit within me

It's been an odd day at work, the phone has been quiet, few people have called in and few have lurked in the reception area.

In place of the distractions has been a compelling desire to read my bible, friend's blogs and listen to a Hillsong's cd.

This afternoon I turned to Psalm 107 and read it through. At present my life is full of changes of direction and the words of this psalm were very reassuring.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—

those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands,

from east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands,

finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty,

and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way

to a city where they could settle.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,
for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

It's great to know that God's love is steadfast. He never changes how he deals with us. We are his redeemed children and we area blessed by his love for us.

I particularly liked verse 7 "He led them straight to a city where they could settle." as Ian and I are in the process of selling our house and moving to a new town/village. We have in our hearts the village he is calling us to, it's interesting how often though the natural way exerts it's power over our search for a new home. We fret and worry about our present house sale going well, that we achieve a good price and then that we find a new home that fits the bill and the bills!

Yet if we trust the love of our steadfast Father, I believe he will lead us straight to the place where we are to settle.

It's an exciting time!

God's People

On Sunday our cell group joined with the small congregation in Coventry. We'll be spending the rest of 2006 worshipping each week with this group of people and it was great to have been asked to join them in their pioneering work.

Chris H-H spoke on Sunday about being joined in unity. We've come together to do God's work and it's important that we are able to join as one and not see each group as a seperate group.

Chris mentioned Psalm 133

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,

on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life for evermore.

For me there was no difference between worshipping in the large congregation at Broughton Astley and worshipping with the much smaller group in Coventry. We were united in praise and we received God's blessing!

So I echo David, How good it is when brothers dwell in unity!