Unfailing Love

Wow, it is good to be back in my blog... It has been a struggle, and I felt the Lord just nudge me today, to get it going again... So here we go!

Pastor Norm shared this morning, in a very vulnerable and genuine sermon, spoken from his heart - however I don't feel like I need to go into that, as it wouldn't help or bless anyone reading that, however I do just want to recognise it, and honour his humility and vulnerability. I know I to often can hide & cover my wrongs, and it is great to be in a place where we can be honest with ourselves, and with those around us - that is what the Lord desires! But that is seperate discussion for a different day...

He spoke on the unfailing love we have been given by God, and ultimately the response-ability we have to be those who love in that way.

The point which really hit home for was, "Why so often do we measure success by what we have accomplished, versus how have we loved?". It brought me back to my hearts cry when I created this blog, which can be seen in the name of the blog, which was to be somebody who was to compelled by love. I can only love if I have been loved - as I can only give from what I have received. So the Lord has been, and continues to take me on a journey of his love, and through that I know that as he continues to extrangantly shower his love over me, I will be to freely love those around me. Loving not out of duty, but of joy and excitement, being so captivated and overwhelmed by what he has given, and desiring for all to share in that.

So dear reader, know that he loves you, passionately, without hinderance... YOU ARE GREATLY LOVED!





Lamentations 3 [The Message]

 19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
   the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
   and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
   and therefore I have hope:

 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail. 
23 They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness. 
24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; 
   therefore I will wait for him.”

 25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
   to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
   for the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
   while he is young.

 28 Let him sit alone in silence,
   for the LORD has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
   there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
   and let him be filled with disgrace.

 31 For no one is cast off
   by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
   so great is his unfailing love. 
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction 
   or grief to anyone.

My Father's Eyes

On father's day, our pastor spoke about the prodigal Father. The word prodigal means lavish, extravagant, abundant and excessive. In Luke 15 we see a Father who is lavishes his love on his son. The power to become all God intends comes from looking into Fathers eyes - all can know the lavish love that comes from knowing the eyes of our heavenly Father. When we see Fathers eyes, we are enabled and empowered to  love unconditionally, trust undoubtedly, serve untiringly and proceed unhesitatingly.

I felt such a strong connection with what he spoke of, as I remember so often when I looked into my father's eyes I saw that genuine love and compassion. I saw his joy and delight in me - and in that I found security and stability that cannot be matched by earthly things. From a young age, I felt enabled to do things - to love those around me, to give and to serve, to trust... all because he first had chosen to love me.


During the sermon he played Eric Clapton - My Father's Eyes.

Sailing down behind the sun, 
Waiting for my prince to come. 
Praying for the healing rain 
To restore my soul again. 

Just a toe rag on the run. 
How did I get here? 
What have I done? 
When will all my hopes arise? 
How will I know him? 
When I look in my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 
When I look in my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 

Then the light begins to shine 
And I hear those ancient lullabies. 
And as I watch this seedling grow, 
Feel my heart start to overflow. 

Where do I find the words to say? 
How do I teach him? 
What do we play? 
Bit by bit, I've realized 
That's when I need them, 
That's when I need my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 
That's when I need my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 

Then the jagged edge appears 
Through the distant clouds of tears. 
I'm like a bridge that was washed away; 
My foundations were made of clay. 

As my soul slides down to die. 
How could I lose him? 
What did I try? 
Bit by bit, I've realized 
That he was here with me; 
I looked into my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 
I looked into my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 

My father's eyes. 
My father's eyes. 
I looked into my father's eyes. 
My father's eyes.

Fix our thoughts on Jesus

Hebrews 3:1-2
 ¹ Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. ² He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.

Fix your eyes/thoughts on Jesus. Those who fix their thoughts on Jesus see through Jesus eyes, those which fix their eyes on Jesus get the mind of Christ - we become what we behold. Fixing our thoughts, brings healing, and restoration of our sight. To fix our thoughts on Jesus is to order our lives by the obedient submission to Gods word.

The enemy attacks us subtly - sin easily begins with a sympathetic thought toward evil. The challenge is that we have an 'express yourself' culture, in a 'deny yourself' kingdom. We need to be active in our thoughts, to turn toward Jesus. We need to be humble with our feelings, until they are filtered and validate through the word of God.

Norm Willis, 14 April 2013

Trial of Identity, and Guarantee in Resurrection

These two sermons spoke powerfully to me, both the context of Jesus's trial, judgement (and how that is even applicable in today's culture), but also the power and hope released by the cross and resurrection


Truth and Deception in the Trial of Identity

• Everybody had a faulty notion of power (i.e. Hierarchial rule), versus Jesus view (Sacrifical, 'The last shall be first' etc)
• Jesus's claim to be a King challenged the power of the day : (1) political power of Rome, (2) religious power of Pharisees and (3) self centred power of the people. Jesus's admittance of who he was, was the evidence required to call him guilty, as only Rome had the legal ability to establish a King. There was a system of deception to maintain the status quo of power.
• Crucifixion was for terrorist, to distort their identity and to dishonour them.
• Ignorance was a conscious decision of the people. Ignorance avert's the heart from accessing the truth. 'Envy is the opposite of a coin called Vanity' - it comes from pride, in ourselves and our traditions. What of the world system do we allow to enter our heart? That which eliminates Jesus's authority and jurisdiction in our lives? Ignorance is turning away consciously - so the antithesus is turn fully towards Jesus.
• We all stand guilty participants in sending him to death - the cross was done by us. However our joining in his death, means that we can join with him in new life. It was not only our sin that sent him, but it was a Father's love.

The Authority of the Cross and the Guarantee of Resurrection

Acts 2:22-28 [NIV]   

 ²² “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ²³ This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴ But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. ²⁵ David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. ²⁶ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, ²⁷ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. ²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.

• The cross without the resurrection is authority without accomplishment. The resurrection without the cross is accomplishment without guarantee.
• The immediate relevancy of the resurrection turns obstacles into opportunities, devastation into restoration and certain death into resurrection life. When we are the prison of impossibility, there is hope in light of the resurrection. The resurrection did not erase the word 'hopeless', it just erased it's application.
• Though hope abides, if it is not applied it is of no affect. Hope gets us access into the account, and prayer enables to draw out of that account.

1 Peter 1:3 [NIV]    Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

• Resurrection is our hope - death is no longer something we fear.
• Resurrection is hope that God will balance the scales of justice

Preach: Significant Measure, Norm Willis, 3-Mar

Following a great and inspiring conversation with a friend this morning, I was just reflecting on a preach I heard from Norm Willis about success vs. significance, essentially boiling down to the heart of giving or receiving. Below are the key sermon points, but what stood out to me was the point on that "giving is man's limited measure overcome by God's unlimited promise" which I took to mean that when we give something which is finite and limited, God can partner with that intention, that action, and increase it beyond which we could. This is both because God is unlimited and very generous, but also because he desires to have a relationship with us, to partner with us. Do I always approach my giving (not even just financial, but any sacrifice), as a partnership with the Lord, and recognise the power of giving... not sure.

- Luke 6:38
- Let God focus on the goal, and we are to invest in the needs
- The pathway to significance is found in the capacity to care for others.
- Mark 4:24. By your standard of measure, it will be measured. By the measure you sow, same measure it will be reaped.
- Love is a measured attribute, determined by investment in God and others
- What is our orientation, towards success vs. significance ... Are we focused on our own goals vs. somebody else's? If we sacrifice and help others reach their goals, God will provide and help you reach yours.
- Giving is man's limited measure overcome by God's unlimited promise.
- Martin Luther King "life's most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others."
- The quickest way to become rich is to give your life to enrich others.
- Are we living to give?