AN IRISH BLESSING:

DON'T TELL GOD HOW BIG YOUR PROBLEMS ARE, TELL YOUR PROBLEMS HOW BIG GOD IS!

The power of passion:

THE WORD:
"But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not." Jeremiah 20:9

THE MESSAGE:
If you've ever built a fire, you know that its tendency is to go out. You must feed and protect it. Not everyone will help you do that. There are two kinds of people you'll meet in life: fire lighters and fire extinguishers. The first group will inspire you, encourage you and go out of their way to help you. The second group will throw cold water on you. How can you tell the difference? Fire extinguishers use phrases like: 'It's not in the budget ... that's not practical ... we've tried that before and it didn't work ... if it ain't broke, don't fix it ... who will do all the extra work? .. who do you think you are?' If you've heard one or more of these excuses coming from the people around you, pray for them, love them, but don't let them influence you. Fire extinguishers focus on what's wrong rather than on what's right. They find the cloud that comes with every silver lining. They doubt. They resist change. They keep you from reaching higher by trying to put out the fire of your passion. Sometimes they do this deliberately, other times unknowingly. Handle them with care! Instead, spend more time with fire lighters who understand what a calling of God is; who fuel your faith and ignite your passion. It's estimated that there are about 200 million Christians in the Chinese church today. One of the fire lighters who helped start it was Hudson Taylor. He's the man who said, 'The sun has not once risen in China in 40 years, without finding me on my knees in prayer.' That's passion!

Take the Limits Off:

Scripture:
“He raised us up together with Him…that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable, limitless, surpassing riches of His free grace, His unmerited favor…” (Ephesians 2:6-7).

Today's Word:
We serve a God of unlimited grace, favor and blessing. He longs to show you His goodness and pour out His abundance in your life. When God sees you, He sees unlimited possibility. He sees unlimited potential. He sees unlimited resources. God’s grace and favor in your life enables you to become what He sees, but you have to first open your heart and take the limits off. We limit God in our thinking. Thoughts of doubt, unbelief and unforgiveness in your heart will close the door to His favor. In Mark chapter 6, it says that Jesus could do no mighty works in a particular town because of the unbelief of the people. It works the same way today. But when you choose thoughts of faith and expectancy, you are opening the door for God to work in your life. You are taking the limits off. You are giving Him the opportunity to multiply what you have in your hand. Choose to take the limits off by choosing His thoughts of victory. Choose thoughts of increase and blessing. As you do, you’ll rise higher and higher and live the abundant life He has prepared for you.

A Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I choose Your unlimited grace and favor today. I choose to believe that You have good things in store for me. I give You everything that I am and ask that You use me for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Don't tell God how big your problems are... Tell your problems how BIG God is!

Faith and Righteousness

Today's Scripture
“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Galatians 3:6).

Today's Word
So many people today are looking for ways to be righteous or to be in “right standing” with God. The Bible simply says that when we believe God, that’s righteousness. The proof, or evidence, of our faith in Him is found in our actions. The Bible says that faith without works is dead. That means, when we really believe something, our actions will support what we believe. Because Abraham believed God, he obeyed His word and left his father’s land even when he didn’t even know where he was going. In the same way, when we believe God, we have to leave some things behind in order to embrace the new life He has in store. As you let go of the old and, by faith, embrace God’s promises, know that He is leading you down paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake! Keep believing, keep stepping out, knowing that your best days are ahead of you. As you follow His leading, you’ll walk in righteousness and live the abundant life He has in store for you.

A Prayer
Father in heaven, today I choose to accept and believe Your Word by faith. Thank You for making me righteous and help me to follow You all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

LIVE LIKE A CHAMPION!

Seeing Adversity The Right Way
Anytime God is about to take you to a new level you’re going to face opposition. There will be new battles to fight and new obstacles to overcome. It’s easy to get discouraged and think, “Why is this happening?” But we have to change our thinking and focus on the fact that on the other side of those challenges is a new level of victory—a new level of success. David would only be known as a shepherd boy if it weren’t for Goliath. David’s enemy became the tool that God used to promote him. And God will do the same in your life today. He’ll use those challenges and difficulties in your life to catapult you towards success! If you are going through a hard time today, if things look impossible, don’t give up now. Change your perspective and believe that God is working behind the scenes. Put a smile on your face and stand in confidence knowing that you are a child of the Most High God. When all is said and done, you’re not just going to come out of that difficulty, but you’re coming out stronger, wiser, and better than you were before! That problem is going to be the catalyst for God to open supernatural doors of opportunity for you! Stand strong in the Lord today and trust that what the enemy meant for your harm, God will turn around and use to your advantage. He’ll take you places you never dreamed and cause you to rise higher and higher in every area of your life!

Unity...why would we unify

Friends, as we remember the wonderful achievements we may make from day to day in world, might we also remember that we have a significant responsibility to those who might not have our opportunities. Let us remember those who have died young, or poor of spirit, or those whose lives have been inundated and plagued by war or famine. Might we take time, just a minute, to pray for unity in our world, and strive for it ourselves. Might we consider what it means to be unified. Might our great fortunes, our freedom and way of life, our wonderful weather, our supportive friends and family be more of a reason for us to desire unity with God and one another than less – lest we take advantage of these things, and they hold us back from remembering our wider world’s needs. Who knows where this simple prayer might lead us...

God, may our souls quiver with delight in knowing you.
May our lives be renewed in meeting you.
May our love be complete and unified, in you and one another; and may all whom we meet, meet us and know that you are love and unity. Amen.

Column 28 April 08

This week we celebrate Ascension Day, as the day that Jesus ascended to heaven, 40 days after His resurrection.

Now some might say that this was Jesus’ final hurrah, before He ran away from His silly disciples, claiming ‘they just don’t understand me!’...of all the clichés, why, oh why 40 days afterwards? 40 days of rain for Noah, 40 days in the wilderness, could it be that 40 days with His disciples was all Jesus could take?

I don’t think so.

I think it is a reminder to us that we all have a time, and a place and a mission in God’s world. To add another cliché, now the mantle rests on us.

If we want the world to change for the better, it is up to us.

I we want to see people loving and respecting one another, not because of fear but because of love itself, it is (with God’s help) up to us.

Be the change that you want to see in the world. Live it, love it and start now. This coming generation of young women deserves the dignity of us being able to look them in the eye and saying ‘yes, I did all I could, and now it us up to you.’

http://drulogion.blogspot.com/2007/05/ascension-day-this-same-jesus-will.html

http://www.baggas.com/posts/category/australia/

Amongst the many moving moments of the ANZAC service celebrated here, including a drama by members of 9K, some touching and beautiful music by the choir and orchestra, were several poignant prayers, led by our own Prefects. As a community; as we should on such an occasion, we prayed for peace, for those who suffer for war, and for those dreams and possibilities lost because of war. Please continue to pray for peace; and as we remember those whose lives are affected by war, and those who perished, join with our community,
by taking time to pray the following prayer; Lest We Forget.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we remember with thanksgiving those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in time or war. We pray that the offering of their lives may not have been in vain. May your grace enable us this day to dedicate ourselves to the cause of justice, freedom and peace; and give us the wisdom and strength to build a better world, for the honour and glory of your Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

THE LORD IS OUR LAMP IN THE DARKNESS:

Ephesians 5:8-10 says "once you were in darkness; but now you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light. For the fruit of the light or the spirit consists in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart and trueness of life. And try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord".

Jesus died on the cross to save our sins:

Last Thursday the school celebrated the Easter story by reflecting upon the Stations of the Cross or Way of the Cross; the journey that Christ took between praying in the garden after dining with His disciples, all the way through to the resurrection from the tomb. The grade 9’s have been, for some time, the group who present this to the school, and with the grade 4’s to 12’s in attendance, this was always going to be a challenging ask; but the students beautifully, subtly and yet very inspirationally took us all on this journey. Thanks to those grade 9’s who took so much time and effort preparing for this service and for all the family members who supported this journey. A big thanks also to the choir for their contribution in creating the desired environment.

Amongst the multitude of messages that should be recalled at Easter is a very simple one, one that I reminded the girls of: At the very centre of the mission that Jesus undertook is the notion that He began to change to world, for the better. He preached of love and peace as being the primary needs of all people. I pray that as you continue to reflect on your own spiritual journey, whatever stage you are at, that you seriously consider what you value most, and what you show to others. As always, if I can assist you in finding new ways to be an example of love and peace, then I will do so gladly.

With thanks and prayer in this time of love, peace and resurrection, Ian Dredge.
prayers@sthildas.qld.edu.au
idredge@sthildas.qld.edu.au