Sunday, 31 January 2010

The List goes on and on...

During the worship in small group this week we decided to thank God for all He had done for us in 2009 and to write it down...
God does so much for us, now that may seem an obvious statement (or perhaps not), but I looked over this piece of paper and was bowled over once again by what He did for me just last year. I didn't even remember everything, not to mention the amount He's done for me over my whole life! The list had the really big things to even the smallest things, but whether it was big, small or seemingly insignificant, there was so much to be thankful for.
I don't thank Him enough.
Already we've said goodbye to one month of 2010 and the list of thank you's is ever growing! There's not a single day that doesn't require thanks, just to be breathing and living another day is cause for thanks enough!
I don't understand Him. I don't understand why He helped me so much last year and will do this year and all the years of my life. Even the low points of last year I look back on with great thanks, because I learnt so much from them! Our God is a mystery, why does He bless us so much? Why is He so good to us? As if sending His son to die a brutal death on a cross wasn't enough, He blesses us every single day, whether you realise it or not. Whether you thank Him or not.
I can never thank Him enough for Jesus' death, I can never thank Him enough for the daily blessings He pours on me, including His daily grace and mercy-just to add to the pile.
Can you believe how generous our Father is? He just keeps on lavishing us with gifts, the gift of tough times, good times, new days, big things, little things and everything in between.
If that doesn't bowl you back, take your breath away and make you think, then you better take a proper good look at the cross and read about what God did for you and does for you, daily.

Sunday, 17 January 2010

Thirsty?!

Tom Shaw preached today on "Christus Exempler", it was a challenging and passionate preach, but it wasn't until the end that I really got choked up. Tom made a call for all those that were thirsty and wanted a fresh filling of the holy spirit to come forward. He said he thought it would effect a large number, but I'm not sure whether he thought the whole congregation would come forward!
As I took a look around there were only 5 or 6 people left in the rows and the rest of the church had come forward and spilled out into the aisles. I've seen this at Newday, Mobilise and other conferences but it was incredible to see the bride so passionate and thirsty. My family so thirsty, to know I'm in a passionate church.
As I looked around I was overwhelmed by the longing of the hearts around me and the desperation for more of God. It brought back to me a word I gave about a year ago:
"Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? I want your whole heart, I don't want to be a Sunday thing, I want to be in the 24 hours in everyday and in every decision you make."
It highlighted to me that the more thirsty we are and the more we seek God the more we grow as He gives us the Holy Spirit daily.
We need to be longing for God with our whole hearts and constantly running the race with passion and zeal. I'm not passionate enough everyday, I don't long for God desperately every day. As that word above says God needs to be in every decision in every minute and hour, in every day.
Strive to be passionate about God everyday, strive to long after Him, to be desperate for Him, strive for greater intimacy with God.
Run the race.