So long and thanks for all the fish

Over the last eleven years I have been privileged to serve initially as Treasurer and then for the last six as Chairman of CMA NSW. During this time I have seen members come and go, some areas blossom, and others fade, and I am constantly reminded of Ecclesiastes 3 – there is a season for everything, a time for everything . And whilst there are no constants in man’s world, one thing that has remained unchanged is God – Jesus Christ – The Holy Spirit. We, as an organisation and as individuals have had our ups and downs during these years, yes I’ve rubbed a few people up the wrong way and only just kept my hands off a few throats but His grace has covered all of this and His love and His hope have been at the forefront of our existence.
CMA is moving in a new direction, there is more cooperation between the states, no longer is it just an annual catch up but a cohesive national force working for good. We are also cooperating with CMA organisations across the world and reaping the benefits of this. Part of what I see in the international groups is the need to re-think the way we do things, be more flexible in our approach but more rigid in our fundamental beliefs.
In two weeks time a new committee will be elected, I pray that they will have your support and that you will ride with them and not just tag along on the journey. Be a participant and not a spectator. Some ten years ago I went searching for a verse CMA could use on stationery, on the website etc and found Psalm45:4 – for me it epitomises what each of us should do;
In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds
There is also a verse from the Parable of the Banquet (Luke 14:15-24) which invites you to get out on your bike and achieve something for Christ;
Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.’

Grace, Gracious, Graceful….

One thing that no one can accuse me of is being graceful on the dance floor, my wife maintains I have three left feet!  But whilst I may not be graceful, I am grace filled and I am there by grace.

We all know the saying there but for the grace of God go I;

  • I see someone who is unemployed – there but for the grace of God go I
  • I see someone in an ambulance – there but for the grace of God go I
  • I see someone struggling with issues – there but for the grace of God go I
  • I see someone in a car instead of on a motorbike – there but for the grace of God go I

When we think of the hymn Amazing Grace it highlights how spoilt we are and how hard it is to amaze us, nowadays when we are lost we just consult the GPS, when we are blind we may be able to have eye surgery to reverse the situation – these things do not amaze us as we understand the theory behind them but amazing grace is something that defies human understanding and is an unexpected response to a circumstance created by man’s misadventures.

We cannot begin to comprehend the total burden of sin taken on by Christ to save us, we have trouble extending grace to someone who accidentally bumps into us let alone someone who has wilfully wronged us, and sin is a wilful choice.

We know the mnemonic God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense, but do we pause to concider that this was because Christ was Goaded, Ridiculed, Assaulted, Condemned, Executed – He suffered so you won’t.

And His grace is all we need;

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 1:16-17

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:24

And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:14

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Day 30: Looking Back

Reading: Philippians 3

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the  upward call of God in Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 3:13-14, NASB)


 

Hopefully you use the mirrors on your motorcycle for more than just pretty chrome pieces. Those mirrors are actually quite helpful to see what is behind you at any given time. In fact, looking in your mirrors can make a difference in keeping you safe as you check out what is happening behind you. Using your mirrors is good, but most of you could agree that it would be really foolish to only look at your mirrors and not keep your eyes focused on where you are going. As foolish as that may sound, there are some Christians who do the very same thing in their lives. They spend too much time looking back at their past instead of looking forward, and it stymies their effectiveness as Christians. Sure, our past should give us a great testimony of what God has done in our life; but we must be careful that we don’t look back at our past in a way that prevents us from moving forward in our Christian walk.
Looking back at your past failures could keep you from trying to move forward, fearing that you may only fail again. Looking at your past hurts and disappointments could cause you not to trust others or harbor feelings of resentment and un-forgiveness toward others. Looking back at your past successes may cause you to be overly confident in your own abilities, not relying on God’s providence in your life. We need to understand that our past is just that, our past. Yes, we may have learned some things and gone through a few trials or tests but, it is time to move forward with Christ at the helm. If you have not totally traded your past for a future with Jesus Christ, there is no better time than now. The old hymn says it best, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back. The world behind me, the cross before me….”


 

Prayer:

Father God, help me to look beyond my past failures and successes and move into the future You have for me by placing my total trust in Jesus.
Amen

Application:

  • Can you think of specific things in your past that negatively affect you from moving ahead in your life?
  • What steps will you take to put the past behind you and move forward in the calling Jesus has for you?

Day 29 – Knowing God’s Will (Part 3)

Reading:  Luke 12

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be”
(Luke 12:34, NLT)


 

Knowing and doing the will of God is an action that is settled in the heart, long before it makes its way to our mind and actions. God desires to show us, clue us into what He desires for our lives, but we have to be looking and desiring for it. Waiting for the letter to fall from the sky into our hands with God’s Word penned to us saying “I want you to do this!” is probably missing the point. God is speaking to us every day from His Word, through the people He brings through our lives and through the situations He allows around us. All of this is grist for the mill in thinking through what God’s will is for our life.

When seeking the will of God, we must keep our priorities straight. Keeping your priorities straight is making sure you are making the most important things the most important things. God’s revealed Word shows us the main things: to know, love and serve God in this life. Any seeking of the particulars on God’s will starts with these main things. The specifics of God’s will for you will spring from these things. When you keep your priorities straight, you don’t easily walk away from your present situation, thinking God’s will is somewhere else. You keep in mind, that knowing God, loving and serving God are where it’s at and any place God will lead you will surely involve and enhance those priorities in your life.


Prayer:

Father, In my heart, I desire to please You; to know and do Your will.  Fill me with courage and wisdom as I seek Your will.
Amen

Application:

  • What things does your heart treasure?
  • What steps do you need to take to make sure you keep your priorities straight while seeking God’s will?

Day 28 – Knowing God’s Will (Part 2)

Reading:  Philippians 2

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”
(Philippians 2:5, NLT)


 

As discussed yesterday, knowing God’s will is dependent on looking into the Scripture for guidance and possessing the right attitudes for obedience. Here are a few more attitudes necessary for knowing the will of God.
An attitude of generosity. Finding and knowing the will of God really requires a largeness of heart that does not put conditions on what God is calling us to do. A generous attitude is displayed when I swing the doors open and say, “God, you can ask of me anything you want.” It’s like saying to God, “My life is a blank check, I am signing it and you can fill in the amount.” In prayer, Mother Teresa repeatedly said, “Jesus I will never say no to you.” A generous attitude trusts God and it won’t refuse Him no matter the cost.
An attitude of courage. It takes a lot of bravery to answer the call of God. It requires courage to go through with it. Some of us stand on the brink of our future with God, afraid to take the plunge.
An attitude of prayerful reflection.What is the story God is writing in your life? Are you reading it? Are you seeing what is happening? Listen through prayer and meditation. When you pray, examine your heart, look at what is and has been going on. Rummage through your day, where was God speaking? What was God doing through me? Ask, “What is God up to in my life?” God’s grace is active in your day to day life. Where are these occasions of grace in my life?


 

Prayer:

Father, help me press towards Your calling, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
Amen

Application:

  • What are you hearing Jesus call you to?
  • If you think you have a generalized idea about God’s will for your life, how hard are you pursuing it?