Giving thanks at all times!

There is a Colin Buchannan song that I just love! It's called "Give Thanks" is about God's people looking at the amazing things that God has done for his people, the chorus going:

"give thanks to the generous God, who blesses his children again, and again! Give thanks to the generous God, we should never complain, for He blesses his children again and again" Simple, yet so true!

I had a cool conversation with someone tonight about our constant desire here to give thanks thanks for what God has done, in the day, a situation, event, whatever it is. Over the years, it has become second nature to see things to give thanks, that we are expected to always have something to give thanks for, or a word to share, and it's such an awesome way to be! I am so grateful for having had to develop that habit. It multiplies, grows, encourages, blesses others when we get together and share the amazing things that God has done!

I was then doing some cooking and listening to a sermon and was doubly blessed, as the topic was all about giving thanks, and was overflowing with joy at all that God had done in and through the community, and the whole talk was just a beautiful picture of a Christ-filled community!

I guess it's like having a different perspective, of coming from a place of seeing from a place of wanting to find things to give thanks for, of wearing spiritual glasses the pro-actively look for things to give thanks for.

I love that in 1 Thess 5:16-18 says: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

It's not always an easy thing, when tough things are happening, or there are times when we just don't understand, but it's awesome to be able to give thanks all the time, knowing that God has already gone ahead of all that has and is happening and we are called to walk in obedience.

Dead ends and busy highways

I started what seemed like a really good conversation with someone recently. It was on a gritty topic that challenges me, and I don’t know all the answers, but enjoy talking through all the possibilities. Unfortunately the topic was ended suddenly at the point of discussing the problem. I realised just how unsatisfying it is to just complain about something. Anyone in the world can, and does do that. There’s always something to complain about, someone is always doing something wrong at the wrong time, they should be doing it our way(even if we don’t know what to do, or don’t want to do it if we do), someone to pull down, and discourage, deflating them like a balloon..

What I have found I do enjoy and appreciate, is being able to talk through the options and possibilities. What can we do about something in our situation, for whatever we are discussing (rather than leaving it to ‘other people’), and what are we as Christians called to do? How are we, as God’s hands and feet meant to act, to go out, in the big, and the little, to serve God, and those around us. Who are we, as God’s children, called to be in that situation, whatever that is. We can disagree with a situation without condemning the whole situation or person. We can still love the people, and be respectful of them, even if we don’t think the same way. We can still hold onto our integrity, faith, love, truth, encouragement in it all

I like seeing a challenging situation and finding the good in it, of seeing it from a position of what is being done right, and well, bringing life and growth! Something like a dead end, vs a thriving highway. One stops, and doesn’t go anywhere, whereas the other has places to go, is life giving, thriving and growing! If we can get past the complaining, that’s where we can really grow, learn, be challenged and who knows where God will take us! I'm looking forward to finishing the conversation!

Are you sure?

I love that God speaks to his people in so many different ways. That as we get to know him better, spend more time with him, we learn to recognize him in our lives, that we learn to follow his leading, wherever that goes.

In so many ways, we have it so easy! We have the Bible, choc full of examples, stories and eye witness accounts of different events in which God speaks to his people. In some, God is working through examples like Job, where everything went wrong, Job lost absolutely everything, to people being persecuted, and going to jail- then being raised up to be the leaders of their country! Or where God speaks to his people, or a person in certain ways, through 'normal' ways, or though radical ways such as a burning bush, or a donkey. The people in the Bible had faith alone to go on, no Bible, or examples to look back on, often they were the ones who were paving the way for those going on after them, as they sought to seek, listen and obey God with their whole being.

And God uses them all. He calls each of us into a closer relationship with him, and each way is as unique and individual as we are each different from each other, yet he calls us each to be One Body, United in him.

And still there are moments, when I have heard his voice, and I want to ask, is that really you, God? Are you sure you want me to do that then, soon, or at a certain time?

I keep coming back to James, and reminded again and again of what we are each called to do. James 1: 22 says: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. An easy thing to do when it's all easy, but when it's something that doesn't make sense, or is hard, or you look silly, then what do you do? Well, it's pretty simple really, yet I think I get lulled into thinking it should all be easy, smooth sailing, and all the answers come all at the right time!

And so it's great that we do have the Word of God here, open, and full of God's promises, and his word, and he's faithful in, and through it all!

Working things out:)

Well, this week, I just worked something out! It has only taken me about 8 years to sort this one out, and now that I have, I don’t quite know what to do with this information, and what it really means in the long term.. quite possibly nothing at all though! I think it’s quite funny though that it’s taken me this long, so look forward to seeing what it all means in the grand scheme of things!

Looking back, it makes sense to me, but it kind of amazes me that I didn’t see it before when it was right there in front of me. So, I come back to that wonderful saying, yet again, that time will tell all things!

And as James says it so well…..

Be patient, then brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the Autumn and Spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near (James 5:7-8)

Five years in HK

I have been living and working in this part of the world for five years today. I remember vividly, the person who came to collect me from the airport, the people I ate my first dinner with, where I had come from, the tour I first took. Of all the years I have been here, this was the one that I most wanted someone to remember and note... and it hasn't been. The funny thing though, is that I have never really wanted to celebrate this anniversary, and I could never work out why. It has been remembered and marked, but I have always wanted to downplay it, and not make a big deal of it, so why does this one matter so much...

Perhaps it's because there won't be another one, perhaps because, for the second time since I have been here, I have said no to something... What if we were all only remembered for what we haven't done, for what's lacking, for not living up to expectations. Perhaps, because I have said no, it feels like I have failed, that I have been selfish, or unreasonable, and I wonder if I will be remembered for that alone, that in the end, the last 5 years doesn't count for more than that...

None of us will ever do enough, be enough, give enough, love enough, live up to who we should be, or be doing, and I see again and again how true that is in me, yet, am so, so grateful for the truths we can all build our lives around. And, I am so encouraged when I do feel like I am being selfish and unreasonable for saying no occasionally, that I can bring it to God, and he will sort it out, that he hasn't asked us for perfection, or to be everything to everyone.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says....

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

And I will give thanks for these five years, for the amazing people, work, friends, awesome times, awesome growth, and, I trust much more of all of it to come, wherever I am! I have loved these years and all they have held and will continue to call them awesome:)

Who am I to....

Have you ever wondered who you were to a person? What part do we play in their lives, is it a big part, or a little part, a best friend... or a good friend... an acquaintance...a colleague, a peer, or something else entirely. And what happens when one person thinks one thing, and the other person thinks something else entirely... for example, Person A thinks that Person B is a good friend to them, whereas Person B thinks that Person A is just a random person they met in the street. An extreme example, but you get the point.

Over the course of my life, I have been in situations when I have mistaken my relationship with someone, or someone has mistaken it with me, or we just can't figure it out in the social context that it exists, so we just have to wait and see how it all turns out... sometimes we are very pleasantly surprised, and at others, we have to live with what's offered.

I was thinking about it, and the thoughts turned to our relationship with Jesus and how we understand that relationship... he loves us more than we can possibly imagine, and we respond to that in very different ways. At best, we know him and love him, and live our lives seeking to serve, honor and know him better. At worst, we ignore him, or use him, or worse....

And yet, he stands there waiting for us to stop and turn back to him. And if we are in doubt, all we need to do is read through the bible, as it's jam packed full of God specifically telling each one of us how much he loves each of us! Amazing! I was reminded of The Father's love Letter, which is a small selection of verses from the Bible that share a taste of who we are to God!

What an awesome God!

A massive re-shuffle!

What would happen if everyone in the world could do the job they wanted to do? What would happen if every Christian could do what they believed God called them to, in the place he calls them to(whether or not it is a job as such)?

It makes sense to me that if each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, created specifically, uniquely, one of a kind, made with purpose and love, specifically knitted together, then... if we were all doing what God called us to do, then it would be kinda like pieces in a puzzle (taking into consideration that we live in an imperfect world of course) where everything fit together.

We, God's people would be like a well oiled machine all working together as one body in Christ, working in unity together... how great would that be!

Some people know too, from the beginning what they would like to do in their lives. They have a vocation, or purpose, or vision, yet for others it takes a while to get there, but it's still valid and unique, and who's to say the things they did along the way didn't have purpose or meaning.

I have had a few conversations today with people who have been talking about visions, and things, or projects that just seem to make their hearts sing, and it's such a beautiful thing to see and walk beside, and it makes my heart sing to listen to them and support them as they talk through their hopes, and work through the process of making it all happen.

I was reminded yesterday of a book I read a year ago now, 'Cure for the common life' by Max Lucado, that looks at each of our gifts, and the concept of living in our sweet spot- that ideal place that put the things we most love to do, to best use. Thinking about this too, I was reminded of Psalm 139, and Romans 28-31. How awesome is our God:)