If not you... then who?

A video I found on Youtube to help encourage prayer at my local church prayer meeting:

When I don't desire God...

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phil 2:12-13

Ever felt like the obedience that God requires from you is the last thing you want to give him? Ever felt like he is like a harsh dad who has given you a long list of impossible chores that you have neither the knowledge or the energy to accomplish?

I have and I do regularly.

Which was why hearing this verse again as I listened to my audio bible on the commute was so refreshing. The Bible says that it's God's work not only to show the Christian what to do and how to think etc., but also to give that same Christian the desire to do those things.

That doesn't mean we can sit back and go all passive, we must continually do the work of humbling ourselves before him, but it does mean that we need not loose heart when our desires are not immediately as they should be.

Moreover, knowing that the Heavenly Father is perfect and that Jesus has reconciled to his Father all those who submit their hearts to to him, and that together this Father and Son have freely given the Holy Spirit to those who love them, we can be confident that this God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit who wakes the dead, can also awaken new desires in our hearts (that we never thought possible) to love and serve him.

I know my place...

This is Cameron.

Cameron is joining the Royal Marines in about 7 weeks time. He has been training lots to ensure that his fitness is at the required level before he begins, (it'll only get worse after he starts!)

Today I went to the gym with Cameron. It was a humbling experience. Not only did he rep twice as much weight as me on every exercise, he also did about three times as many reps as I did! Moreover, I will suffer for it tomorrow much more than he will!

He's a great young man and a pleasure to know. He will make a great Marine.

Mercifully, whatever my perceived level of physical prowess, Jesus doesn't judge me on the size of my (lack of) biceps, but on my humility, love and trust towards him.

The greatest and highest labour of my life is not to strengthen the outer man, but to walk in the discipline of grace and strengthen the inner man, - trusting in Jesus as enabled by the Holy Spirit - and honouring God the Father for all his wisdom in this.

This is what I pray for me and those given to my charge.

Pray Before You Spray...

A while ago, I posted this video by John Piper. 

If he's right, which I think he is, the question arises in my mind: what's the prayer you pray when you go to the toilet? If nothing is supposed to be automatic, then what do you pray there without descending into flippancy, vulgarity or plain idiocy? 

For what it's worth, here is my attempt at an answer.

Sin is sometimes represented in the Old Testament by excrement.  Moreover, one of the names of Satan in the Gospels is Beelzebub, which some argue (I think it's a good one) means Lord of Dung.

So the prayer goes something like this based around 1 Thess 1:9-10

Father God, thank you for Jesus, through whom you have removed my guilt, cleansed me of my offensive rebellion against you, saved me from an eternity in Hell and released me from fellowship with the Devil to love and serve you in the power of the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen. 

Moreover, don't be too quick to spray the air freshener.  In the Bible stenches are symbolic of offense. So the next time a stench fills your nostrils, let it remind you of what rebellion against God is like from his point of view and before you spray, ask him to show you what a sweet smelling life really looks like.  

Maybe we could usefully pray something similar before applying deodorant. :-)

Provocative to say the least...

Celebrate Good Times

In this photo, you can see my sister with her family, enjoying a somewhat hectic but happy family lunch at the TV Tower in Berlin.

We are off there this weekend to celebrate with them and their church family, the birth of Max, (the little one in the pic).  

As a family we are also combining it with my Father's 70th Birthday and my Mother's 60th Birthday.  So it is going to be one long partying weekend! 

I thank God for the family he has given me. Even with all our foibles and idiosyncrasies, we still have a lot of fun! 

Good thing I have half term to recover afterwards!

Click On The Map And Pray for the Dark Places