Points to the back door

Thank you Lord for another day gone by :)

Sometimes I feel like giving up on this project. Like it's too tough. Like I'm going to get something more out of it by being distracted from the righteous path that is the goal.
It's like Satan is pointing me to the back door, saying 'hey, you can always sneak out there, no one's guarding the BACK door. There's a whole world to explore out there. You're fooling yourself thinking God's big house can offer the best life'.

I'm well aware there are hungry snakes outside that back door. So right now, I'm keen to breathe in waffles for breakfast, and lie on a feather pillow over night - that God offers as a service to me in His mansion.

The back door of my car has been broken for a while anyway. It had a faulty mechanism, meaning nothing could get in or out by it - even with a key. However, today my Dad and I set about fixing it and finished the job, so it's all back to normal - better than normal.

Knowing God, I'd say He'd do the same in His mansion. Everything has got to be working just the way it was built. The back door is a choice we can make. It hurts God to hear that some people escape through that door and quickly get entrapped by a multiple of other things. Yet God is just and allows that freedom of choice.

I for now, am choosing to stay inside as I already mentioned. That means that I will rest on God for comfort, for refuge, for guidance, for confidence, for inspiration, for everything.

You remember my car... the one I fixed. Well I learnt on Sunday that I need to put it in drive. So that when I rest on God I'm not pulling the handbrake up (becoming comfortable with my position, doing nothing to increase God's kingdom), I'm not putting it into reverse (looking at my past, neglecting to forgive myself and giving up on all hope for the future) or putting it in neutral (anxious about the future, need to control as much I can to ensure my security) but I'm putting in drive.

When I'm in drive - I'm ready to grow. When I'm in drive - I'm looking for success. When I'm in drive - I never look for 'good enough', I'm searching for excellence. When I'm in drive - I'm advancing on my goals, on God's goals of righteousness - on God's goals through the work of Jesus Christ's life in me. When I'm in drive - I'm yearning for the best life in Christ's righteousness.

So I fixed the boot. With oil I made it efficient. But I'm not going back there to play around with the door, I know what it does now. I'll sit in the drivers seat instead, and I'll put it into auto-pilot drive and endure, perserve with determination to live strong and finish strong the race that's ahead of me in Christ Jesus who saves.

[Check Phillipians Ch3 + 4]

Pizza

I was fighting myself today. But thought of consequence, and the gifting of just a little self-control given freely was enough to come out victorious with my relationships all in tact.

Man, I've been told a few times that the very moment we give ourselves over God and live in his ways we witness heaven on Earth. The more we rely on God to live in righteousness and faith, the more God reveals Himself and the beauty of His Holy place...
We're so fortunate to have simple admission to His throne room through prayer.

So I'm willing to accept this theory for two reasons.
The first one is most obvious, and it is based on the contrast to the opposite.
Take Hell's pizza for example. The creative idea and extended metaphor of the franchise is the labelling of pizza with the '7 deadly sins' and more. Hmm, I'd say they're right, the 'gnashing of teeth' in eternal Hell is most likely full of this evil and more. But yet these things happen right here on Earth - the lies, the lust, the hatred, the stealing, the murder, the jealousy - they're like a part of daily living on this physical world. These things take no effort, they are mindless, self-centred but controlled by Satan no less.
But, there is another Way. God, by sending us His Spirit has empowered our spirit to live a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control - Galations 5v22.
My argument is that if the deadly sins bring Hell on Earth, so too can the gifts of the Spirit bring Heaven to Earth. Living in this way frees others from inhibitions, frees us from guilt, rids us of fear, gives us new worth, hope and peace, and frees us from pain. Doesn't sound like a week on Earth, but eternity in Heaven. Bring it on!!

The second reason is what God's Way has done in my life. My passions have completely flipped, and I have definite day-to-day purpose. By choosing to love and forgive even when others don't return the favour, I have a sense of belonging and peace that God is with me.

It's like having a slice of heavenly pizza...
and so that's how I know.

Lord, thank you for letting me take a bite today. Thank You that Your Ways overcome all tensions and You offer them freely to those who are willing.
Amen

Day half

OK here we go.

It's for you that I pray with hope for a brighter day
And so I say your deliverance is coming! ...
And I can see we've strayed so far
A king born under that morning star
As a crown of thorns was placed to erase each tear that's touched your face
And his palms and sides were pierced with spears He hung in love just to draw you near...

- Mat Kearney

We need sweet deliverance. A peace of mind that what God offers us is amazing freedom.
Please Lord grow us into frontmen, that not only serve when it suits us, but fight the hard battles when they come against us.

Be our refuge and be our King.

Multiply righteousness and let it flow from us delivering the Good News of a God who saves and who loves infinately.

We know Lord that we need moulding. So we're not throwing ourselves away... we already did that in the baptism pool. But we're here to grow, and to learn and to be the best we possibly can for you.

Today is day half, in a year it COULD be 365.5 days but only you know that. Hold us firm, watch over us, and let us trample snakes under our feet knowing that Life is found in the perfect and Holy One.

Amen.