Relationships

Time in Australia with a theme of Relationships.

In my time in Australia God has taught me a lot about relationships.

This seems to be a theme in which God has taught me a lot about myself, the calling placed on my life, and looking for that special someone.

In the last few months, I felt God show me these things:

God has made me with certain "no compromise" areas, whilst other areas are areas which are changeable.

I'll start with the first…the no compromise area.

What I felt God show me about myself in this last few months in Australia is that there is a calling or "edge" that God has put within me that I need to acknowledge, accept, and rest in.

This edge or calling, has to do with recognising the leadership of Holy Spirit as the one who will lead and do the work of revealing Jesus "through" his people and word.

It is the Spirit of God who is to go before, behind and around us.  He fills us.

I have found that this part that makes me who I am, or provides the edge to make me sharp for His purposes, is pivotal to the calling of Salvation in Japan.

I have learnt that there is a sense of freedom that is found with some people, and not with others.

This is not to judge people, but rather to recognise that within the context of my future marriage, that in "this" area, there needs to be a sense of freedom.

Now, with regards to Godly wisdom in relationships, I have received a lot of this through trusted and Godly council.

I have learnt that there are areas of my life and who I am or what I do, that do in fact need to be adjusted and modified to suit God's work of love in any relationship.

I realise that there are styles of living and relating to God that are good and holy in their own right, and that I need to honour and respect people in their ways of living these out.  

I realise that there are areas that I need to work on that aren't my strength or style at this particular time.

Some of these things include considering how others feel respected and honoured in any given culture or context.

I have learnt that it is also important to consider some traditions that people hold, and to respect those to an extent.

To summarise:

I have learnt that there are areas that make or define who I am, and that these are no compromise areas, given to me for God's purposes.  Regarding relationship with my future wife to be, God desires a sense of release and freedom in these areas.

On the other hand, God has shown me that there are areas of my life that I do actually need to grow in and take action upon when the opportunities arise.  These areas include learning about other people's love languages and acting accordingly to accommodate and communicate.

Feeling good about myself

Does my walk with God have room for God to actually receive glory, or has my walk with God been more about making myself feel better?

God is bigger and greater, deeper and better, than I currently know or even imagine right now.

Does my life include aspects of God where I actually go: “WoW!!” (about Him), rather than just pats on the back about the latest “revelation” that can help me “live the life I want”.

#Life in Jesus is about (glorifying) GOD rather than just getting the life I want.
#not easy but true (Jesus said that his yoke was easy...not the walk).
#ME centered Christianity simply misses Christ.

Holy Spirit, help us to really get who Jesus is today through knowing your presence in our midst...in fact so close to us that we have no excuses even when the world falls down around us. (Revelations isn’t a pretty book my friends)

Please help us to dispel the myth that Jesus just wants to make our lives better!
Jesus IS the LIFE...there’s no ifs and buts there.

Life found in Jesus is so much more than what we can recognize in worldly terms.

Most of the early apostles of Jesus who were MARTYRED where not recognized by this world as “living the life”...so let’s stop saying that we’ve arrived, when life is actually only found in the Kingdom of God which is like a treasure “hidden” in a field, where you need to sell or give up everything to begin the journey of discovery of what this treasure, this life, the Kingdom of God actually is.

May there be less so called life lessons, and more of Jesus please...yes, may we actually point people to Jesus...not ourselves, or our own latest “wise words of wisdom”.

Less dependance on what man has to say, and more dependance on what God has to say.

For man speaks to the mind...
but the Spirit speaks to the heart and indeed the whole person.

It is Holy Spirit in us who makes us Holy.
Holy Spirit is a person, not just an idea or concept...so let's start treating him that way.

Imagine living with someone your whole life, and that person only ever (at most) acknowledging you with a courteous "sorry, I forgot you where there", and "do you like what I've done with the place?"

Thank you Holy Spirit for your work in our lives and for being with us in Jesus name. May you be the one that speaks to us and through us, and may we learn to hear your voice, acknowledge you and give you the glory that you deserve.

In Jesus name,

amen.

"Believe in me"...metaphorical in any way?

I think Jesus is going to laugh when people say to him: "I thought you were speaking metaphorically there...you know, like one of those inspirational, motivational, positivital speakers." When Jesus says "believe in me", he isn't telling us to style our faith around ourselves and our own beliefs...he literally means "believe me....who is the core of your faith". May our faith not be based on ourselves, but simply based on who Jesus is PERIOD.

Holy Spirit please reveal Jesus for who he truly is, and not just based on our feelings, understanding, circumstances, or anything else apart from the man, God, saviour, and King himself.

The Canaanite woman in the story below shows us a glimpse of the "Master", and how amazing even the crumbs are. She wasn't fooled or discouraged by hype, circumstance, or even a test from Jesus.
Let's expect and believe for Holy Spirit to reveal to us the real Jesus. :0)

Checkout Matthew 15:21-28 below:

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon. 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, Send her away, for she is crying out after us. 24 He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 And he answered, It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. 27 She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters 'table. 28 Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire. And her daughter was healed instantly.