Purpose!

Do we need to live with purpose?
What can happen if you live without purpose?

These aren’t trivial questions are they? Yet we took them head on in group this week and I was once again, in awe of the answers the young girls came out with. Watch this clip and see what people on the street think;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39i5oV9TZPw&list=FLONHzjZGFM4rJMCb_aTj-nw

It was heartbreaking to hear some of those responses.

Do we need to do things on purpose, and what things do we purposefully do every day?

This was fun, what a list we complied; washing, eating, sleeping, teeth, toilet, feeding the birds!?? Every day we purpose to do things, or, they just don’t happen.

What is God’s purpose?
Here we read from the Amplified translation;

2 Timothy 1:9
[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness
[to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have
done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

2 Timothy 1:10
[It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real [to us]
through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought
life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel.

God does everything on purpose and all life has a focus, a direction, a place it is going – in God’s purpose.

Did Jesus have a purpose? If so, was it His own?
– Here we read again from the Amplified translation;

John 5:30
I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord—but only as I am taught by God
and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me,
so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own
will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will
and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me.

John 6:40
For this is My Father’s will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves
to and trusts in and relies on Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.

1 John 3:8
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

By now we can see that nothing is random, all things have been set in motion ON PURPOSE.

Is purpose the same as ambition, a goal, a desire, a calling, a gifting, a dream?

OUR PURPOSE WILL NEVER CHANGE, OUR GOALS, DREAMS AND AMBITIONS MIGHT,
BUT OUR PURPOSE IN ALL THESE REMAINS THE SAME.

OUR PURPOSE ANCHOR’S US WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE FALLS APART.

SO WHAT IS OUR NEVER CHANGING PURPOSE?

We watched this really cool clip that sums it up perfectly;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmRPSoDrrFU&list=FLONHzjZGFM4rJMCb_aTj-nw

– Then we read from the Amplified translation;

Eccl 12:13
All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His
commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the foundation of all happiness,
and the whole [duty] for every man.

Philippians 3:10
[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately
acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and
more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it
exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness
even] to His death, [in the hope]…

We wound our time up with arriving at the point that our purpose in life is to know and love  God, to know and love Jesus, to become more like Him, and that other things in our life might change but this purpose will always remain in our life.

The conversation continues….

UNDRGRND Launch!

In partnership with Joel Botham (children’s worker Stanmore Baptist Church) I am helping launch and run
a brand new discipleship group called UNDRGRND for Yr 3 – Yr 6 old girls and boys, that’s ages 7 through
to 11 years approx. It promises to be a great time of getting equipped in the things of God, making new
friends, and even comes with snacks!

UNDRGRND starts this Thursday 27th Sept (details below) and the theme is ‘Battelborn’. We’re going to be
showing young people how to stand strong in God in this age, and help equip and empower them to be fully ablaze
for Jesus in their world.

Do Your Worst

Here in the Kiss Chaste camp we recently enjoyed on our ‘Best & Worst Barbie’ day, (BBQ that is). We were challenged by the words of Jesus and enjoyed the blessing of girl time with a bit of Twister thrown in, who said girls aren’t competitive lol!

It’s easy to get along with those we like isn’t it? Usually we share some common bond or interest, or maybe they have a similar personality.  It’s also a bit of a narcissistic give away when all of our friends are just like us! 😀

Jesus pointed out to us, “if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” (Matt 5:46-47)

Simply liking those who like us is easy, as the Message paraphrase puts it ‘any run-of-the-mill sinner does that!’  But Jesus challenges us to act like the new man we are in Christ, He shows us a powerful way to live, to “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”.

In effect, let the worst kind of people bring out the best kind of response in you. When strangers, siblings, school peers, parents, friends, push your buttons, give them something they’re not expecting.  Don’t return evil for evil, but overcome evil with good, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (vs 45) Shock the socks off them and show them the power of heaven! 🙂

What’s the worst thing that has brought the best out in you?

Read Matthew 5:38-48

Here For A Season

Ecclesiastes 3:1
To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven

We need to treasure every friendship yet learn the art of holding such organic things lightly. We never know when they will be taken on a different path from our own, or if we will be called away. I remember first experiencing this when I left England for the land down under, and again 17 years later when coming back to the UK. It was so gut wrenching and, so exciting all in one!

And so we came to the end of another season in friendships last Friday as we said farewell to Savannah and her family. They head off back home to America this week, It’s been a real pleasure getting to know her. It was a happy farewell party, but we’re left wishing we could have had more time. But such is life. Some things only last for a season, the trick is in being aware of that and making the most of every opportunity while you have it.

Maybe the most beautiful thing we can hope for is that our tears fall down and meet the crease of a smile 🙂

God bless you Lawrence family, maybe we’ll see you again some day?

Now What?

Walking through the woods near home, it was so lush and green, so peaceful and shouting of the glories of creation in full bloom.  Then I saw the huge burnt pile.  I don’t get mad when I see burnt out areas in the woods, that would have been me in my teens; coming in at night with my mates, stumbling over branches and hidden villans, ghost stories, throwing together an ill thought out bonfire, getting covered in ash and smelling of smoke! But this burnt out pile was full of paper.  I could just make out some of the writing, it was a heap of school books. Ah, that age-old ritual of burning the books once school is over forever. That took me back.

For me, school was a prison. Classes I couldn’t grasp presented new ways to become a distraction to others (hopefully leading to ejection), the only real joy was in subjects I loved; art, drama, cookery. The only purpose it served was to keep me and my mates hanging out together so we could hatch our escape plans. So when that time came to be freed eternally from my educational incarceration, it was as if the whole world were lifted off my shoulders. This ritual of book burning was my way of saying to whoever was interested, “See, I’m not a slave anymore, I’m free! Free to do and be whatever I want and not what you tell me. I don’t have to listen to you, obey you (not that I did too much of that anyway), and now, I’m gonna do whatever I darn well please, even if that means doing nothing, coz I can, so ner!”

Hysterical. Like anyone cared.

You see, the system views things in an entirely different light; my subjection was their service, my prison had been their gift, my rebellion had been my loss (so it seemed). We were both right.

I rebelled because I had no discipline at home. I had no father figure, no boundaries, no routine. I had an habitual condition of being unable to focus or stay in one place, years of moving around from town to town can do this to you. Instability was my constant friend. How can a teacher who’s there to teach, cope with such things, or, be expected to. This is a rhetorical question.

So, in the classes I struggled with, I was permitted to fail.

The subjects I embraced gave me room to express myself; drama was the ultimate creative outlet, art came a close second, and cookery, well, I love food! I was able to pour parts of my soul into these areas and feel good about myself. Does a teacher need to pay any attention to those who are doing well. This is a rhetorical question.

So, in the classes I loved, I was able to succeed.

There are many videos on YouTube of students burning their books, often hell raising tracks accompanying this right of passage. For some, private cremation doesn’t take the statement of emancipation far enough, they want the whole world to see and know; they are FREE! But free to do what? This new-found unlimited power of choice can be so daunting long after the smoke has blown over. Their heads and certificates may/may not be full, yet their hearts can be void of meaning or direction. The ties that bound actually gave some focus. The antagonist now removed, who do I aim myself at now?

I hope, pray, and believe by God’s grace, that this new home education journey of ours will result in a different ceremony of flames.  I see this as an eternal adventure that not only inspires a learning mind and mines the gold from my children’s unique gifts, but more so that their spirits are fanned in the beauty of the liberating Gospel that would cause them to burn for Him and declare to all the world, “I’m free, I’m free, thank God in Jesus, I am no longer a slave to sin, I am Free!” I know not everyone can embark on such an expedition, I am so very grateful for the freedom to do so. And of course, being older now, study to me is such a joy, and the knowledge gained from it a true excitement to me. My heart is in it and life’s tutelage has equipped me to behave myself, almost ;P

How do you see your home schooling journey, has it brought the liberty and self-determination you dreamt of, or, has it come with similar limitations that wear a different face?

 

One Direction

2am, I climbed out of my bedroom window, jumped on my push bike, in the snow, riding through the woods, 16 years old, on a mission! What situation was so desperate as to provoke this kind of behaviour? A fire? Someone being attacked? Puppies in a river?!

No. A boy!
So obsessed was I with this ex-boyfriend, I was willing to go to pretty extreme lengths in order to check up on his night time movements. My heart was taken, it was consumed, the only direction it took me in, was to his door, or rather hedge, coz that’s where I sat for 2 hours freezing half to death!

Our heart is like a container, it holds the thoughts, dreams, desires, cravings, goals, beliefs, attitudes that shape and propel us. What are some of the things we might hold in our hearts?

Our hearts will take us in the direction they are set on.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 

As I say, my heart was taken with this ex, right along side that was Bros (For those of you who are post-80’s, these guys were the equivalent of One Direction!). A close third was my pony Gemma, and I would have been lost without my two besties.

Lets go back to the music, bands, and focus on the lyrics/message they put out. These are a very powerful force in our lives.  What we listen to; the words we sing and feed on and sow into our hearts, can take us in their direction.

Here are some lyrics from a few of today’s well known songs, they would have us believe such ideas as;

“I’m nothing without you, you alone can rescue me,
I’m broken but you make me whole, 
you’re with her but I know you want me,
I wasn’t good enough, you broke my heart and
stole my love, I love the way you abuse me,
I’d rather have you hurt me than be without
you, you are the reason I live”

Get the picture?

Most songs, not all, but most, are about that four letter word L.O.V.E. Why? Because we all crave it, we seek it, we need it. But the love that the world has to offer is a counterfeit of the real thing, God’s love.

Let me challenge you today, to let God point every aspect of your heart in His direction; your desires, dreams, goals, hopes and achievements, they will then all flow in Him, from Him and to Him. Love Him with all you have and you will never regret it, or, lose your true direction!

Psalm 37:4 (NKJ)
Delight yourself in the Lord,
And He will give you the desires of your heart. 

To All My Girls…

Just came across this artist, totally LOVE this song and am dedicating it to you all today 🙂

Show Me – Beckah Shae

Her album Destiny looks fantastic too.

Turn it UP!!!!

Planetshakers & Henry – The Early Stuff

Hey girls,
If you’ve never heard of Planetshakers (which most UK-ers seem not to!) check out this track from a few years back, so rockin’ for Jesus, love it!

PLANETSHAKERS – AUSTRALIA

Henry Seeley is leading this track and used to write and front the music team, he is a fantastic songwriter, singer and musician.  Henry has since moved to the USA in recent months with his wife and 2 beautiful kids, but has just released an EP  titled Find A Way, which you can listen to on Grooveshark for FREE, before you BUY 🙂 For Henry fans you’ll find much missed soaring melodies, heartfelt lyrics and music that ministers full of light and shade, beautiful.

I personally think the stuff written by Shakers was at it’s best leading up to another singer/writer Mike Gug leaving in 2008. Mike has a sad story and still needs all our prayers, love and compassion.  Regardless of what he was personally struggling with, he certainly did impact the lives of countless thousands of young people through his music and preaching.

Check out some other Planetshakers albums;

MY KING (2003) My personal favourite, packed with so many brilliant songs!!!!
FAVE TRACKS: Open Up The Gates, Everything To Me, YOU ARE HOLY!!!! LOVE IT!!!, I Believe, Worship The King, Rescue Me, All I Want Is You, My King (pretty much the lot!)

ALL THAT I WANT (2004)
FAVE TRACKS: Running After You, Everything’s Changed, Here I Am, Could I Ever, Perfect Day, Big, Rain Down

ALWAYS & FOREVER (2005)
FAVE TRACKS: Not Ashamed, One For Me, Weight Of The World

PICK IT UP (2006)
FAVE TRACKS: Pick It Up, Majesty, Never Let Me Go, Beautiful Saviour

ARISE(2006)
FAVE TRACKS: Majesty, Arise, Your Glory, You Are My God, Everything, For All You’ve Done

Turn it up!!! 🙂

Homeschooled Jamie Grace

Hey girls,

Check out Jamie Grace’s great track in collaboration with Toby Mac (hey that rhymes :D)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISgr8SgCYbY

Here’s an interview with Jamie sharing some cool things about how Toby found her and how this song helped a young fan stop self-harming, and more!

http://video.christianpost.com/cp-interview-todays-top-christian-singer-jamie-grace-gets-personal-3664/

I’m always on the look out for new artists, any recommendations?

What Planet Are You On?

I held a £10 note out in my hand, you could see the girls were excited! “This £10 note may have been used to buy drugs” this thought caught their attention, the excitement waned, “I mean, who knows where it’s been or what it’s been used for in the past, and yet here it now is, in my hand.” We all stared at it with fresh wonder. “Maybe it was used to buy some pornography, maybe it was used to make a hit on someone, maybe it was gang money, maybe it was used to pay a prostitute, maybe it was someone’s debt, maybe it was stolen”.  We all sat still and gazed on with dark imaginings. “Who would want this £10 note knowing all of that”?  I held it out, “Who would want this £10 note after all the horrible things it might have been through”?  I held it forward as the group now backed away as if the note would somehow infect them, some had noses turned up, others laughed as they recoiled. I continued, “To me, this is just a £10 note, it hasn’t changed in value or reduced its usefulness because of it’s past uses, it is what it is, it’s a £10 note, like I say who would want it?” I held it forward again, the penny began to drop, “Who would still want it”?

Hands quickly shot up, “Me, me, me, meeeeeeee!”

You see, no matter what we’ve been through, no matter what our past, God made us all in His image and our value in His eyes never changes or diminishes.

This is the amazing grace we have heard sung, this is the free gift that finds us, it’ is the ongoing ability of God that keeps us.  Though we may stumble, though we may stray, fall or doubt, His grace is ever there to meet us when we cry out to Him.

When we first come to Jesus, like that £10 note, He sees our value and takes us as we are.  The Bible says ‘old things have passed away, all things have become new’.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

YOU ARE AN ALIEN!

That’s right, we are now aliens from another planet!  Don’t believe me?

1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul.

Acts 7:6
And this is [in effect] what God told him: That his descendants would be aliens (strangers) in a land belonging to other people,

Does this mean we go to bed pink and wake up green, our ear grow points and antennae sprout from our forehead?! Now that would be interesting!

Basically put, we live here as if we’re visiting; just passing through, temporary residents, and we represent the country we do come from through our character, beliefs and conduct.

Sadly, the British don’t have a very good reputation in some countries where they visit and pass through, they represent England very poorly.  Because of this, many people view the rest of the English through their poor behaviour, it makes them glad they’re not British!

This is also what happens with Jesus’ disciples; people see the poor representation from some so-called Christians and think that sums the whole lot.

So what should we look for in a believer; an alien from this other world called the Kingdom of God, what would be some distinguishing marks?

WHAT ARE SOME EVIDENCES OF FOLLOWING JESUS?

• Going to church?
• Having a bible?
• Wearing a cross?
• Bumper sticker on your car?
• Clothes you wear, the way you talk, what you do with your time?
• Praying?

None of these things in and of themselves is proof we are follower of Jesus, although some of them may be a result of our devotion to Him.

Let’s look at just one of these items, the most important of all and the foundation – the Bible.

Does owning this Bible make me a Christian?

No!

No more than owning 9 fitness DVD’s makes me Miss Universe! 😀

WHY?

Because I have to DO something! I need to know….

What to do?
When to do it?
How to do it?

WHAT?
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We have to look in the MIRROR.
What is that MIRROR? – The Bible!

James 1:22-24

²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

WHEN?
How often do you look in the mirror at home? Once a week? Once a month? Once a year? Yeah right! If you’re of the female persuasion (not all but most) you’re not only looking in the mirror at least a few times a day, but even catching glimpses of yourself in shop windows!

Imagine if you had a huge piece of spinach stuck in your teeth and you never looked in the mirror, it could be there for days lol! You’d hope at least a ‘real friend’ would tell you if you had something disgusting hanging out of your nose!

James is saying here, if we don’t look in the mirror of God’s word we won’t see our reflection in the face of Jesus, we won’t spot those little things that spoil us.  A minister friend of mine says we have to let the word stand over us and pick us apart, not us pick the word apart.

You’d also hope to have at least one true friend in your life who would lovingly tell you if you were getting causing hurt to yourself or others. They’d point you to the mirror 🙂

James 1:25
But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

So the answer to WHEN is DAILY

Change doesn’t just land on us, it takes faithfulness, perseverance and looking carefully.

We may not always feel like it, we may have doubts and feel torn in other directions, but unless we become ‘disciplined ones’ (disciples) we won’t experience the blessing that comes from hanging out with God. The great news is that we have been given the ‘power to become’ the children of God. Wow! (John 1:12)

There’s an incorruptible seed on the inside of us us that is absolutely jealous to be with God and His word! (Jas 4:5)

Deuteronomy 6:7 (Message paraphrase)
Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

You can encourage your parents to do this with you, this command is directed at them to teach you God’s ways through his word, maybe you will teach them something new too 😛

HOW?

• Memorizing
• Reading, thinking, pondering
• Saying it to yourself
• Songs
• Writing
• Drawing, art
• Giving, outreach, missions related work
• Media, movies

We’ll break that down some more this Friday and unpack the HOW so we can use it effectively and in creative ways.

If we’re to look like we’re from another planet we need to learn all we can about the new home we’re born from and endeavour to represent that truly to in this world. We need to look at ourselves in this mirror which reflects the image of Jesus to us and, transforms us into His very image as we look! What an incredible mystery!

In the meantime, maybe it’s not such a bad thing to asked what planet we’re on?

What do you think?