Daily Journal for Tuesday 6th October 2009

GOD'S AMAZING GRACE

S - "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him " Luke 15:20

O - This parable is highlighting God's joy at the return of a sinner. The son spent all of his father's inheritance on wild living (prostitutes and partying). You probably couldn't get more rebellious or decadent than that! I have been told that to even ask for your share of the inheritance while your father is alive is extremely dishonouring in this culture. Its as if you are saying to your father, "I think of you as already dead!". And now the son returns - ashamedly and humbly. But! The father sees him in the distance and is filled with compassion and runs to him. I am also aware that for a man of this wealth and stature, running, was unbecoming and below his station. Only servants scurried and ran. The more wealthier you are the slower your gait. Its as if God is telling us through this parable that He will do anything, including the extension of costly grace towards us, in order to win us back towards Him. To have God thrust his arms around us and kiss us when we have sinned so deeply is radical and life changing. But the condition is, we have to want to come back!.

A - I continually forget how gracious and forgiving God really is. How often I hold on to my shame and unworthiness and think I can hide it from God when all He want is for me to turn back to Him. I want to continually be aware of my sin and repent and trun to God to recieve His forgiveness.

P - Father, help me to remember your grace and your mercy and your forgiveness in my life. How awesome and amazing is your grace to me. Thank you for being the God that you are in my life. Helps others, through me, to also know the mercy and grace that you have for them I pray. Amen.

Daily Reading Luke Chapters 15&16

Daily Journal for Tuesday 29th September 2009

S - I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundations on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it because it was well built" Luke 6: 47-48

O - This is the secret to life. Our life in this world is meant to be built from the inside out. We are to "dig deep down"and lay the foundation on rock. Who is the rock? Jesus Christ has been referred to as "the rock"(1 Cor 10:4, and 1 Pet 2:7-8). We are to build our lives on him. The emphasis here is on us". We are to dig down deep". Jesus is the source of life and the strength of life. Our "house", our bodies, our lives can only become strong and withstand the torrents and the floods of life (which will happen) if our foundations are on Christ and on his words. But there is also one more directive. It is not enough to just "hear"Jesus' words, we must put them into action.

A - To become a woman of strength I cannot take my walk with Jesus lightly. Oh He will let me, but when hardship comes I have no guarantee of victory. No my only hope, is in Jesus alone, my rock. It is my responsibility to continue daily to dig deeply into his word and to act on it, (really to reflect deeply on it, through meditative contemplation, and follow it's directives in my life), then I will not be swayed by life's torrents. My "house" will be well built.

P - Dear Jesus, Thankyou for being my rock. Thankyou that you have given us a clear way to build our lives deeper and stronger in you. Please help me to continue to do this everyday I pray. May your strength be in me. Amen.

Daily Reading Luke Chapters 5&6

Daily Journal for Monday 28th September 2009

THE ULTIMATE ACT

S - "I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give to to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours" Luke 4:6-7

O - Satan was spruiking his power to Jesus. His experience was probably true - that the world does secede power and honour to him, We don't have to look far to see how people prefer the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. But he forgets one thing - his power and authority is only on loan. The ultimate authority is God Himself. Satan's greatest downfall is pride. The belief that he is God himself and therefore can do anything. The ultimate act of pride is to believe that God Himself (in Christ), would bow down and worship him. All the kingdoms of the earth belong to God, even though for now, they have been given temporary freedom to choose their master, - God or satan.

A - It seems that we should never forget that 1) what we have is on loan from God, 2)Satan's authority over this world is temporary and given by the ultimate authority - God. 3) In Christ, who overcame satan and temptation, we have the same power and authority to overcome. 4) Satan only has this authority because human beings have been given free will and have chosen the kingdom of darkness and 5) We have the free will to choose the kingdom of light and Christ.

P- Dear Jesus, thankyou for overcoming the evil one and giving us the freedom to choose you always and therefore to have victory in your name Amen.

Daily Reading Luke Chapters 3&4

Daily Journal for Sunday 27th September 2009

NEVER TO FALL AWAY

S - "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too" Luke 2:34b-35

O - This prophesy over Jesus from Simeon was so true. Jesus Christ is the one name which either brings joy and celebration or offense and rejection. His name alone is able to divide, and there the scriptures say, it will even divide our hearts, our souls. Jesus Christ is able to pierce our very souls and reveal what is really inside. No wonder people find Jesus to be so threatening. If our hearts and our souls are filled with the things of this world and not of the things of God, then we are convicted. And most people do not like being convicted. It thrusts us out of our comfort zones. Here too, the scriptures are revealing prophesy for Mary as well. It is so terribly true that her own mother's heart will be pierced with grief when she has to endure watching the death of her own son.

A - God does not spare us from pain or suffering. It seems that this is not the reason that He came. He came so that we might chose righteousness and Godliness, rather than our own comfort and protection from pain. Mary was not spared this and so we should not think we will either. But God does expect us to remain firm in Him, and not fall away, but continue to rise with Him, despite our circumstances. It is truly only in Him, that we have life.

P - Thank you Jesus for showing me a better way. At times it seems like it is a harder way, when the world seems to live so casually and carefree. Help me to remember that this was not Mary's experience, or even yours. Help me to remain on track with you, and in you, always.

Amen.

Daily Reading for Luke Chapter 2

Daily Journal for Saturday 26th September 2009

S- "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38

S - It was thought that Mary was around the age of 14 when she was betrothed to Joseph. What an incredibly pure and righteous young woman Mary was. An angel tells her that she will bear the "Son of God". She has no real idea how this is to happen or the huge significance of this, but responds in total obedience. She rightly says, "I am the Lord's servant". How much fretting, anxiety and conflict could be removed from our lives if we simply were able to say, "I am the Lord's servant".

A - How simple life would be if we were truly surrendered as Mary was (whether God had significant plans or not) to His will in our lives. Imagine if we walked with Him every day in the belief that the highest purpose for our lives was to be "His servant". Imagine if we recognised that where we are right now and doing what we are doing is honouring and serving Him. Would we be more content, more intentional, more passionate. Mary was surrendered, content and passionate with what God had for her. May it be also for us. May it be also for me.

P - Dear Jesus, thank you that you bless us with your Spirit. Help us to be content with being your servants where you have placed us, in all we do, I pray. Amen.

Daily Reading Luke Chapter 1

Daily Journal for Friday 25th September 2009

S - "Don't be alarmed", he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here".

Mark 16:6

O - Sometimes all we see in our life is the ordinary. Things that are familiar or expected. We go to work, we eat, we perhaps have certain activities on certain day, but all in all, mostly, our lives are predictable. And when the unpredictable happens, we panic! This is what happened to the women who went to Jesus' tomb to anoint Him. The stone was rolled away and there was a young man standing there, dressed in white and no Jesus. An angel perhaps! And they were alarmed! They had come to anoint their friend, their teacher, their son. He came from their town where they lived. And he died a shocking, brutal death in a public and humiliating way. They wanted to honour him. But he wasn't there. And now this angel says - "He is risen! He is not here". How extraordinary! He is God incarnate.

A - Oh how I am humbled to be reminded that my Jesus is an extraordinary God capable of anything in my life, if I am totally surrendered to Him. He is the risen Lord!

P - Dear Jesus, forgive me for sometimes seeing my life as too small, too ordinary, when you, the risen Christ have the extraordinary for me. Amen.

Daily Reading Mark Chapters 15&16

Daily Journal for Thursday 24th September 2009

JESUS A FRIEND OF OUTCASTS


S - "While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head" Mark 14:3

O - This picture tells a thousand stories. Jesus is in the home of a leper. An untouchable person. But he hasn't just called to heal, he has called to enjoy the hospitality of this outcast. In fact, He was reclining at Simon's table. Very relaxed. Very comfortable and at home. Jesus dared to show the world at that time, that He came for everyone, especially for those who were ostracised. And then the woman came in. Oh women of the world. How, as a gender, we are so ostracised, so often badly treated. In all the world women are the poorest, most abused, and disempowered of the genders. But Jesus dares to show that He, God himself, shows that women are important. And this woman, out of her love and devotion to Jesus pours a years worth in wages of expensive perfume over Jesus head. Many have said that this was to fortell of His death and burial. But to me it also tells of why He came. He came to give His life for those who had no voice. For those who were outcasts.

A - When I see people who do not have the influence, the opportunities and the blessings I have, I need to remember that Jesus came and gave especially to them. And he gave also as an example to show those who do have influence and opportunity as I do, to share and give, and enjoy as much as possible.

P - Dear Jesus, what an amazing example of grace and life you are to me. Help me to be more and more like you and to love others as you do. Amen.

Daily Reading Mark Chapter 14