We have had our house on the market since mid 08 and have finally sold it! Ironically enough, there were 3 families who wanted to buy it in June and one of them has finally made the purchase. On the practical side, that is how long it has taken them to sell their house, thanks to the global economic crisis!
On the spiritual side, we have gone from the wilderness into an oasis! BTW thanks to our family and friends for your prayers! It has been a very testing and trying time.
Psalm 107:35 says "He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings." Praise God for the oasis! I pray the same for you in those things that are dry and empty in your life!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wisdom
In the ongoing tragedy of the fires in Victoria, we have seen both the best and worst of human behaviour. Some people have been absolute heroes and make us so proud. Firefighters are just one example!
Unfortunately, one of the pastors in our nation has gone too far, and says that the fires are the wrath of God. Thankfully leading pastors have been very quick to disqualify his statements, and a great response by Pastor Rob Buckingham can be seen here:-
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=67125396069&id=746348696&ref=nf
God give us wisdom in knowing how to speak on your behalf!
Unfortunately, one of the pastors in our nation has gone too far, and says that the fires are the wrath of God. Thankfully leading pastors have been very quick to disqualify his statements, and a great response by Pastor Rob Buckingham can be seen here:-
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=67125396069&id=746348696&ref=nf
God give us wisdom in knowing how to speak on your behalf!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Where is God in Disaster?
As I write this, Australia has the worst bush fires in the nation's history. In fact, the worst natural disaster in our short history. The southeastern state of Victoria has had 31 separate bush fires moving through which have destroyed entire towns. So far 126 people have been confirmed dead with that total expected to rise to 230 as remains are identified.
The tragedy is on so many levels. The standard advice in bush fires is for people to either flee early or remain. If they choose to remain in their homes, then they need to stay and fight rather than trying to flee in cars at the last minute. Too many people die in their cars in bush fires, and this weekend has been no exception. TV footage shows many cars strewn on the highways, burnt out with families inside. But things took a turn for the worse this time. The fires were so bad that people who stayed to fight with their homes, have perished in them. It is just horrific. One man put his children in the car to leave, went back into the house to collect something, only to find that the kids burnt to death in that short moment. Just tragic.
The normal question for us to ask in times like this "where is God"?
The answer is that He is right here.
I was speaking with Mark Hayles (Asst National Leader for IPHC) this morning about both the bush fires in Victoria and the flooding in Queensland. He reminded me of the verses in Isaiah 43:1b-2 “...fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you...when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God....”
On a macro level, God wants to move upon our nation. The outcome of natural disasters can be one of two options. Either we will turn to the Lord in our sorrow or turn from Him. Israel went both ways over the course of their history.
In this regard, God is ready to move, but He is waiting for our response. Prayer and intercession, fasting and giving are all examples of our response to our God. May we turn to the Lord, our God. May we find Him in our need.
May the Lord lead you this week in your response to Him, in this tragic hour.
The tragedy is on so many levels. The standard advice in bush fires is for people to either flee early or remain. If they choose to remain in their homes, then they need to stay and fight rather than trying to flee in cars at the last minute. Too many people die in their cars in bush fires, and this weekend has been no exception. TV footage shows many cars strewn on the highways, burnt out with families inside. But things took a turn for the worse this time. The fires were so bad that people who stayed to fight with their homes, have perished in them. It is just horrific. One man put his children in the car to leave, went back into the house to collect something, only to find that the kids burnt to death in that short moment. Just tragic.
The normal question for us to ask in times like this "where is God"?
The answer is that He is right here.
I was speaking with Mark Hayles (Asst National Leader for IPHC) this morning about both the bush fires in Victoria and the flooding in Queensland. He reminded me of the verses in Isaiah 43:1b-2 “...fear not for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you...when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God....”
On a macro level, God wants to move upon our nation. The outcome of natural disasters can be one of two options. Either we will turn to the Lord in our sorrow or turn from Him. Israel went both ways over the course of their history.
In this regard, God is ready to move, but He is waiting for our response. Prayer and intercession, fasting and giving are all examples of our response to our God. May we turn to the Lord, our God. May we find Him in our need.
May the Lord lead you this week in your response to Him, in this tragic hour.
Tree or Sawdust?
Psalm 1:3 “He shall like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
Here we find a tree that doesn’t wither but prospers. This is the kind of person that God wants you to be. Someone who stands tall and strong. A person who can withstand the storms of life. Someone who is fruitful enough to bless people here and now, and there and then! Like the Survivor Tree in Oklahoma City, we can turn tragedy around into triumph, bringing hope to people’s lives as we share the Gospel.
The contrast in this chapter is with the wicked person who has become mere sawdust. They are blown away by the wind. What a comparison – tree or sawdust!
This kind of life can only be built on the Word of God. Verse 2 says that we meditate on it i.e. chew it over. Make the decision today, to build a life that is like that tree, and not sawdust!
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