Heaven is His Throne… but where is His home?

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What are you making space for?- Day 2 of 8 Lent reflections

When we first moved into our home, Joe and I regularly rearranged our furniture. We started out, as many newly-married couples do, with second-hand pieces and whatever else we could afford. As time went on, we upgraded piece by piece. Each time we moved a new item of furniture in, we’d move everything around and get rid of the old pieces that no longer fit or served their purpose. In the process, we’d find lost items and uncover spaces in desperate need of cleaning.

In the same way, we all want to create a sense of ‘home’ in our house, we can create a sense of home for Christ to dwell within our hearts. We get to invite the King of Kings to come and take up residence in the lounge room of our lives. Thinking this way, what would you rearrange in your life right now that doesn’t feel conducive to entertaining the King of Kings?

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Let your light shine — Lent Reflection One (of Eight)

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Let your light shine

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,
In accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Romans 12:3

Whenever I have the opportunity to do anything I feel called to, whether it be writing, leading, or pastoring, I have a mix of feelings. Part of me feels a sense of confidence that “I was born for this,” and the other part of me feels deeply inadequate, like “I am completely out of my depth”. While overconfidence is unattractive and causes us to do things in our own strength, feeling inadequate can lead to paralysis and an unwillingness to step up and give it a go. So, what is the correct way to view ourselves? Continue reading →

Unless He has all of me He has none of me… close and closer still.

~ carlyriordan ~ 1 Comment

It’s been a year since God first stirred my heart about being a New Creation, the old passing away… 2022 was a year to let go, to shed, to cry more tears than I thought were possible.

January has a romantic way of wooing us into what could be. Without a rigid work schedule, time commitments and washing socks, the days become more simple, filled with friends and reflection. It’s in this first date phase of a new year that we become sure that indeed, this will be ‘the one.’ Continue reading →

Boldly entering in

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Because of Jesus our compassionate High Priest we can boldly enter the throne of grace, obtaining mercy and finding grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14

This changes everything.

The Old Testament states rules, regulations, orders, methods and practices for entering the presence of God. Only the High Priest could enter in and only providing he was pure or he’d be struck dead. Humanity needed to provide a yearly sacrifice for their sin to receive forgiveness and have their hearts washed clean.

Can you imagine carrying the weight of your sins for a whole year? On the day of atonement, you are forgiven, feel the sense of freedom only to begin the process of accumulating guilt all over again until you wait another year.

Guilt and condemnation keep people from the presence of God, not sin. God has already dealt with our sin once and for all. We just need to have faith to believe that it is so.

Once Jesus entered the equation He fulfilled the Old Testament practise once and for all. He was the spotless lamb, sacrificed for us. He was the High priest who entered, and He did it for us that we would have full access to God’s presence forever after.

Even typing this I feel the need for a little praise break. It’s just so incredible.

And to think, this truth doesn’t just affect us, but those around us because we take His presence with us, AND when we lift up His name and extend our faith others are caught up in the miracle of His presence.

If we put more energy in ensuring that this truth was alive and in full focus in our lives then the evidence of this would overflow in the faith atmosphere in our churches. We’d do less ‘convincing’ people of Christ and see God revealed to others more readily.

 

The power of a song Faith to praise

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Faith to praise, praise to faith

Common sense tells us that if Jesus could do only a few miracles in His hometown because of their lack of faith (Matt 13:58, Mark 6:5), then with an abundance of faith we position Him in His rightful place at the right hand of the Father with the ability to move, rule and reign. The heart of God is moved by our faith. This is where praise and the power of a song comes in.

In our humanity we don’t always feel like singing praise, we forget that God is able. But the power of declaring songs of truth can catapult us into His presence.

We have access to His presence by our praise.

I love how Eugene Peterson puts it: Continue reading →

On Earth as it is in Heaven.

A Pilgrimage to Worship
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His Presence: the Summit

John 14:12-14 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

How would we respond in worship if knew Jesus was physically standing in our midst? What would we say to Him? How would we sing? Would we be easily distracted (me, if I’m honest pausing mid-song in the congregation to add green beans to my shopping list for that salad I want to make on Wednesday—no judgement here).

More importantly, what would Jesus be doing? How would he respond to our worship? Continue reading →

Open soul moments- should we cancel worship?

should we cancel worship
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Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. 24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. (Amos 5:23-24 NKJV)

There are moments in time — I call them open soul moments — where something so significant happens; it feels as though heaven itself is peering into your soul, depositing something of eternity. Time stands still as you absorb the backdrop of details surrounding the moment. These details are etched into the fabric of lives often to be retrieved by a single thread of memory at a later time: the recollection of a feeling, sighting an item of clothing worn on that day, seeing the same landmark or the familiar scent in the air. Even the change in season can bring back a rush of memories that draws you back to a specific moment in time.

One of these open soul moments happened for me in January 2008. Newly married, my husband and I ventured off to South Ballina on the East Coast of Australia to camp with some friends. Continue reading →