Pressing On

Available  here as a free .pdf. A quick book summary for those interested in what he, and others, call the “higher life”. I feel this is a poor name as it implies something that is perhaps for a select few - whereas my conviction would be that it is rather the “normal Christian life” for all, and it is the “fulness of life” that Christ came to accomplish for all His children. He writes “The condition of God’s blessing is absolute surrender of all into His hands. Praise God! If our hearts are willing for that, there is no end to what God will do for us, and to the blessing God will bestow. Absolute surrender to God is the one thing. The condition for obtaining God’s full blessing is absolute surrender to Him." God Expects Your Surrender - He is worthy and expects the creation to acknowledge who He is both in words and actions. God Accomplishes Your Surrender - God comes and offers to work this absolute surrender in you, as the Holy Spirit draws us through hungering after...

The following has been adapted from a prayer by the monastic community Jesusbruderschaft, and communicates the daily process of consecration and motivation to rest in, yield to and serve God empowered by the Holy Spirit. For your reflection.... Holy Spirit of the living God I thank you that, by faith, I know That You are alive in me. In the depth of my being, Deeper than all my thoughts, Deeper than ally feelings, deeper than my will, You have made your home. I praise you, I worship you, I love you I thank you That you have made my body your home, That you even call it your temple. I thank you, first and foremost,  That you have revealed Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour to me,  And all the blessings of his atoning sacrifice are now mine. I offer myself to you for this new day, Your purposes and your guidance, And hold nothing back. Lead me, And prepare me for every opportunity to experience your mighty power. Give me a special opportunity  To put to death my selfish natur...

I have been fascinated recently at the increase in attention given to what I have always taken/assumed to be the fundamental purpose of the ministry of the Church ... discipleship. In a recent article I read of five changes that the author believes the Church need to make. From Reaching to Making From Teaching to Modeling (from Leading to being Led) From Attending to Participating From Connecting to Transforming From Attracting to Deploying An article that is worth reflecting on to see what changes could be made to any current practice. At the same time I was somewhat amused by the initial comment ... "God is doing a new thing with Christians around the world and it’s finally coming to the United States. Of course, it’s not really a new thing, its actually an old thing. It’s called “making disciples.” A very godly man said to me recently "God is always doing the same thing differently!" So how is good doing this today?   I have been pondering th...

The New Testament book of 1 Peter provides us with a description of characteristics that should typify the people of God – perhaps the ‘standard’ to which we should aspire. We should be a people of hope, holy, chosen by God, submissive to Him and righteous. In chapter 3 we read: 8  Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10  For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11  They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13  Who is going to harm you if you are eager t...

In 1 John 2:3 we can read "We know that we have come to know Him (God) if we obey His commands." The Christian life is a life full of choices that we have to make at many levels ... but each time we are faced with a choice we want to be in that place where we choose well - we choose obedience. As another author once wrote "obedience is my gift to God!" Genesis 32 and 33 give some food for thought as we reflect on Jacob's journey: We can have the conviction that we serve a God who speaks to His children ... Ps 25 encourages us that He confides in us! What a precious statement, we tend not to confide in people we don't trust ... so, as the Lord confides in us that should encourage us that He is entrusting something to us! When  this revelation, instruction or direction comes, however it might come, it comes with clarity. Which means that we will both understand and have a personal conviction that the Lord has said this! Once the revelation has come...

Those who walked with Jesus found they could not plumb the depths of His nature. They discovered in His friendship a quality enhanced by death, and a fathomless ocean of love. One word is clear in the testimony of those who walked with Him: "This man speaks with authority."

I like chocolate ... this is a statement not a confession. However, the other day I had an experience that got me thinking.    I have more than enough money to go into a shop and buy myself a bar of chocolate. In fact this is something I have been known to do from time to time - that's not the story here. My youngest Daughter came to me with a bar of chocolate that she had just purchased with her pocket money, which I had also given to her. Whereupon, she proceeded to give me some of her chocolate. It was such a delight to receive this gift from her, because I had not asked for it, and indeed did not expect it.   So what's the point?   I like chocolate and I can afford to buy my own chocolate. However, the chocolate that I received back from my daughter, even though I had given her the means to buy it the first place, brought me much joy.   What can I learn?   All I have in life, I have been given as a gift from my Father in heaven, t...