HOPE ALWAYS FLOATS

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5: 5-8

Depression is the end of hope. A place where despair convinces you that past failures and the consequence of decisions made has robbed you of a future. It is a dark cloud that lingers over the landscape and oppresses any creative thoughts and dreams. Everywhere I travel I meet people suffering from depression, the gloomy curse of self pity… I can relate to it because I have been there at different times in my life. It is a silent war many people battle with alone…. an existence of self condemnation.

I passed by this old fishing trawler the other day. It was small and insignificant in contrast to the massive modern fishing boats moored in the harbour. But this two tone green and white antique seafarer captivated me… It must have seen some storms and perilous days. It must have had some stories and been through some violent seas.. But with courage and fortitude the men onboard would have fought for their lives knowing that their only hope was in their faithful vessel. I like that. Hope floats. Depression can be defeated when we get our eyes off our circumstances and back to the horizon. When we see ourselves in God’s bigger picture it all makes sense, even the storms… Don’t ever allow the enemy to rob you of the hope you have been given for life.

The best way to fight depression is to get out there and start serving someone with a vision. There is great healing in the spirit of giving… In taking action that breaks the bondage of self pity.

Jesus is our hope. The word of God is our lighthouse that leads us through every storm. Keep looking to Jesus..

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

Thanks so much for standing with us in prayer as we take on 2012.

Godspeed,

Pictured: An aged fishing trawler that has seen many a stormy sea off the Illawarra coastline. North Wollongong Boat Harbour, NSW.

GRACE AND LOVE – NO MATTER WHAT.

From the early pages of the book of Genesis I am amazed at the incomprehensible capacity of our creator God to love us despite our sin. He created us in His image and for the eternal purposes of His kingdom… yet the gift of free will, the gift of allowing us to do our own thing took God to the extreme edge of tolerance.

The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. Genesis 6: 5-6

Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. Genesis 6: 11-12

This amazes me… I am overwhelmed by God’s immense love for us. Even way back then, when God saw the potential we as people have to destroy and cause great pain, to commit sin and rebel in our hearts against Him… He still had a plan. He still poured out His grace on humanity. He found a man called Noah and his family and chose to start it all again with someone He could trust. But even so, knew that again sin and corruption would eventually become like a cancer across the planet. In His grace He permitted sin to remain so that eternal salvation would be known.

I look at our world today and the atrocities and wars taking place in so many nations, the evil that exists and wonder why God does not wipe us all out again. But because of Jesus, because of the promises He has made He has given humanity time. He has shown His grace and love… no matter what.

Let’s be about the things Jesus has called us to do. Let’s make 2012 a year of mighty exploits for the cause of Christ!

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28: 18-20

Thanks for traveling with us.

Thanks for your prayers and financial support.

Hope to see you soon!!

Godspeed,

Pictured: Performing at the Glasshouse in Port Macquarie on the 15th January, 12.

THE REVELATION OF NOT BELONGING.

She was a slave girl. Brought at a price from Egypt to serve her master and his wife. Abram and Sarai. In particular she was the maidservant to Sarah. After years of frustration and waiting for a promise God had given that a son would be born to them, Abram and Sarai agreed that if Abram slept with Hagar, the beautiful Egyptian maidservant they could have a child by her… So she submitted and before long became pregnant to Abram. It was then the jealousy and hatred began between Sarai and her servant. So much so that the young woman fled on a number of occasions.

He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.” “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” Genesis 16: 4-9

Sometimes you find you just don’t belong. Like a Scottish Thistle in a field at harvest time. You become a curse to everything around you. I remember as a young teenager walking a 50 acre field gathering every Scotch thistle plant that had been cut along with the grass. I had been offered $4 by the land owner to clear the field of every thistle. They no longer belonged with the harvest. So before the hay bailing tractor turned up it was my job to clear the field. It was hot and dry. The field seemed huge… but along with my brother and sister we got the work completed.

God had not forgotten or abandoned the young Egyptian slave girl. He had promises for her and her future. Just as He does for you and me.

Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” The angel of the LORD also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:9 – 13

Even when you feel like you no longer belong… or fit in…. just hang in there and keep serving. God is faithful to you despite the agenda’s of others. God was faithful to Hagar, who ultimately kept serving despite the pain. Abram was 86 years old when his son Ishmael was born. And he loved him. It is an amazing story of God’s grace… despite our failures and feeble attempts in life at times.. God is full of grace towards us.

No matter what… You will always belong. Because of Jesus you belong. As Hagar spoke out.. “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Godspeed,

Pictured: The beautiful flower of a Scotch Thistle in a field ready for harvest.