Last Tuesday night at Life Group we watched part of the DVD ‘Indescribable’.  Louie Giglio uses images from the Hubble telescope to emphasise the majesty and transcendence of Jesus.

This week visit the following passage from Hebrews 1 as many times as you can and dwell in it and on it as long as you can.  Carry its life changing truth with you where ever you go.

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:1-3

Being ‘laid back’ is a very Australian trait.  We often say, ‘she’ll be right’ and ‘no worries’.  We’re even suspicious of people who are too ‘full on’.  But can we be laid back Christians?  Can we take it easy as followers of Jesus? 

In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus says that following Him will be at the very least uncomfortable (v58) and that your relationship with Jesus will need to be your primary relationship (v60,61).  Verse 62 talks about having a single minded determination as we obey and imitate Jesus.  Following Jesus is a life orientation, a calling. 

Does this confront your understanding of being a Christian?  Spend some time thinking and planning how you can more fully represent Jesus in your life situation.

 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  (Matt 6:21)

In Matt. 6:19-21 Jesus talks about wise investing.  You can invest in earthly things, but they don’t last.  Or, you can invest in Godly things that are eternal.  Where is your treasure?  Treasures are things that we collect and protect and that provide us comfort and security.  Are your treasures earthly or heavenly?  We can discover our treasure by locating our heart - our desires, decisions and emotions.

 What dominates your thinking? What are you drawn to? What do you try to accumulate and protect? Where do you invest your time, money and energy?  Are these things earthly and temporary or Godly and eternal?

In the sermon on the mount (Matt.5-7), Jesus says some confronting things like, ‘don’t resist an evil person’ and ‘love your enemies’.  These attitudes and actions sound ridiculous and impossible.  We need to understand that God is not expecting us to live this impossible life in our own strengt.  We have been transformed by Jesus death and Resurrection and now there is the possibility for us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and live as new creations.  We are new creations who are being recreated into the likeness of Jesus.  What areas of our lives can we ask the Holy Spirit to recreate?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new is come! 2 Cor. 5:17

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

Visit this passage regularly during the week focusing on specific words, how they relate to each other and ask, what God is saying to me?

Last Sunday morning Melanie Downes (missionary serving in Malawi Africa) used a vivid illustration of the powerful role our prayers can play.  She said missionaries are like a tree hanging precariously over a cliff and the prayers of the church are like the roots that hold them secure and enable them to serve in dangerous and challenging environments.  Be encouraged and  keep praying!  Our prayers are effective.

The phrase “Oh my God!” has been stolen and trivialised by our culture.  It’s about time we stole it back!  Note how Nehemiah used it to ask God to listen, to see, to remember, to arise, and to save.

Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love. Neh. 13:22b (Also Neh. 5:19, 6:14, 13:14, 29, 31)

Consider this short phrase and find within it a meaningful expression of worship, dependence, relationship and hope.  Sometimes we have trouble articulating our prayers, maybe this powerful little phrase will help.

Often as Christians we focus on God’s promises to us - and so we should!  God’s promises are the basis for our trust in Him.  But what about our promises to Him?  In Nehemiah Chapter 10, the people make promises to God.  They promised to: protect their witness (v30), to make Sabbath/Sunday special (v31), be compassionate people of faith (v31), financially support God’s work (v31-39).  These were serious, binding promises made to God by His people in response to His mercy.  Spend some time and effort appreciating God’s mercy (God’s favour given to those who need it most) to you and respond by making serious and specific promises. 

‘To contemporary sensibilities it seems ludicrous, but in the past people attended Church through a sense of duty and responsibility. A decision to attend Church was not made with individual wants, desires and needs in mind. Rather Church attendance was part of the fabric of spiritual discipline. Worship was God focused, not individual focused. Maybe we need to get back to an understanding of Church which bluntly is not about us.’

Read the whole article at http://marksayers.wordpress.com

Spiritual practices are activities we do that put us into the flow of God’s grace.  What Spiritual Practise do you find meaningful?

Last Sunday morning we saw how Nehemiah was disturbed by the news that the walls around Jerusalem remained unbuilt.  He was disturbed by the fact that the job remained unfinished.  For us Holy dissatisfaction is the unwillingness to stand by and feel OK while people around us live without Jesus. What did Holy Dissatisfaction mean for Paul?  ‘To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Cor. 9:22-23)  For Paul it meant whoever, where ever, whenever.  What response will you make to your Holy Dissatisfaction?