Today I was reminded again that we, the followers of Jesus, are neither optimists or pessimists but rather Jesus Christ is risen. Our condition our identity our well-being is not defined by how we feel about ourselves or by self-awareness but rather by our relationship with Jesus, who by grace through faith saved us. Nothing we could possibly do could earn that grace it comes as a gift – and so we get to live a gifted life as we acknowledge and live out our faith in His faithfulness. So often we let our opinions of ourselves define us – we let others opinions of us define us. However our nature as sons and daughters of the Lord of Hosts needs to be held in high regard. Jesus paid an incredible price to lock in our identity. When the Father sees us he doesn’t see us as we are but rather he sees his Son, his righteousness, his holiness and his faithfulness. (more…)
Category: Mindset
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Having Done All I Know to Do, I Stand
Steve Backlund in his book Victorious Mindsets hits on something that speaks into the global circumstances of the day and also speaks into our personal circumstances. When I read it again I could not help think that his words based on personal revelation and born out of experience of believing in a good God provides for us both a posture and belief that will help us not only withstand our circumstances but also thrive. It is so easy to be so overcome and drained by unresolved situations that we whither, withdraw from the fight, and even break. Steve Backlund, says the way he faces unresolved situations is ….
Having Done All I Know to Do, I Stand
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). (more…)
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Creeping Fear
Earlier this week I found myself feeling more and more anxious. Those of us tuned into anxiety or have a history with being motivated or manipulated by fear can and should notice anxiety or fear creeping in. The trigger for me was the complex and deadly situation unfolding in Victoria and bleeding out into surrounding states, with the all to real possibility of that transmission creeping northward. One consolation was that at least I would know what to do if we had a second phase. Nevertheless, even with that small consolation I noticed, thank you Jesus, that fear was creeping in. Where there is fear love goes. So I found myself looking at every number plate and passing judgement if they were the wrong flavour. Instead of ‘we are all in this together’ it was becoming ‘us and them’. The ‘them’ were for me our modern day lepers! We all know the best thing to do with lepers – identify them as ‘unclean’ , quarantine, isolation, and rejection. (more…)
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What now?
That question ‘What now?’ comes up quite regularly, especially when things are going from bad to worse and it seems like you can’t cut a break. I know I’ve given voice to that question out of frustration on numerous occasions. Likewise, when it comes to the twist and turns that we have to negotiate during the COVID 19 season, I have found myself saying ‘What now?’, especially when another set of restrictions or risk mitigation by-laws are instituted. I am can’t help but sigh loudly when the volumes of cleaning regulations come down the line.
The CCUC Leadership Team face the same question ‘What now?’ when we consider our future. ‘What now God?’ How do we move into the future you have for us given this disruption and redirection of what it means to be the church. Now scattered but gathered online and on the phone but soon to be face-to-face again. The question is an important one – so that we do not waste this moment and just return to a normal. (more…)