A few weeks ago Alice and I went to a pottery/craft shop. I was more taken by the potter’s wheel than anything else, sad I know! I tried to imagine how a lump of clay could be formed into the beautiful items that surrounded us.

My mind has gone back to this image whilst reading Jeremiah 18

Like the potter who has something in mind when he sits down at the wheel, Father God looks on us, waits for us and longs to work with us to accomplish something specific in our lives. Yet, this fact is often lost on us. Jeremiah had to tell the people,  God is not a disinterested spectator, and  we are not the only ones making plans for shaping our lives. Yet, so often we don’t perceive the hands of God working upon us, or in us, and we do not look for His guidance and direction.

Go back to the pottery/craft shop. I noticed that the pieces crafted by the potter had his hallmark, his unique style was evident.

Just imagine that as Father God is allowed to work in and through us, somehow as people see us, they will see something of the Potter. He will be reflected in His design. It’s one of the very first things that the Bible  teaches in Genesis 1 – imago dei, the image of God. The shape of things to come – His shape, His character, His heart, His love etc.

I’m reminded that Arthur Wallis  said ‘every genuine revival is clearly stamped with the hallmark of divine sovereignty’ such things are not shaped or determined by us, but by God. Let me ask you ( as I ask myself), how much of your life has this hallmark?

Listen to  http://youtu.be/bgXL3y9RIbI

The song said ‘I give my life to the Potter’s hands’.  Just think, my life,  the life at DBC is a creative project in the hands of God. We must submit/surrender to Him like clay in the hands of the potter. I wonder what shape we would become if we allowed him free reign in and through our lives?  Today, will you allow God to shape or reshape your life? We will then be able to say with the Psalmist  “your hands made me and formed me.” Ps 119, v 73

Maybe, there have been times when we’ve resisted him, or we’ve spoilt the work by insisting or our own ways and agendas. Perhaps we’ve been caught up with murmuring or complaining even feeling resentful and bitter. Please note only His love can refresh and restore lives that are dried up and given up. He is the only comfort for hearts filled with regrets.  Today  you can come again and  simply say Jesus, I am yours, shape me into what you want! That means Jesus is free to shape me into the character, shape and size he wants and He will have the copyright.

Such an important point as we, with Jeremiah, look in on the Potter’s house is this; we will never be discarded no matter how many times we mess up God’s purpose for our lives. He longs to make something of you and me of his church more than we can imagine or deserve. God never mends what man mars. He will always create something new. Jer 18:4 he formed it into another pot as seems best to him.

Shape of things to come – In God’s hands, we can be renewed and in his time become more  spirit led and spirit filled with His character being seen.

 Just let Him !

May you know something of the Easter story dawning afresh upon you as you journey through,  from Good Friday to Easter Day.

It’s a little different for us this year. For the first time in years not having to plan and prepare orders of service, sermons and reflections – very strange! Actually,  it has given more time for reflection.

I’ve been looking at this whole area of surrender again (see my previous blog) and particularly this Easter through the life of Peter. I’m becoming more and more aware, probably because of the sabbatical studies that, as Christians we ought to be more open to surrendering to God all that we have and are!

One of the songs that really makes an impact on Alice & I when we are seeking to understand God’s call and what He is asking of us is ‘With all I am’.

 Into Your hand I commit again with all I am For You Lord

You hold my world in the palm of Your hand and I’m Yours forever

Jesus I believe in You, Jesus I belong to You. You’re the reason that I live the reason that I sing with all I am

I’ll walk with You wherever you go through tears and joy I’ll trust in You

And I will live in all of your ways and your promises forever

(Listen to the song  http://youtu.be/HGtGDgPcSNk )

Peter never forgot what happened in his life that first Easter. He knew he didn’t make it through the prayer meeting in the garden, didn’t respond to the priests or the people as Jesus would want him to; he wasn’t there for Jesus when he needed him most  in fact,  he denied him three times! Peter had blown it and how hopeless he must have felt. But,  because Easter happened and Jesus sought him out (John 21) there was still life and hope. I reckon Peter could have sung the above  song after the events of John 21.

Peter later writes in 1 Peter 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade— kept in heaven for you.

There was no hope for Peter, or so he thought! But Jesus met him, forgave him, reconciled him and re-commissioned him. Peter knew, despite his failings, that more than anything else his life could only be understood against the background of Easter and resurrection life and simply states,  Easter changes everything! But nothing changes EASTER

McKnight says  “It is not so much that believers are now living “full of hope”, but that they have a fixed “hope,” a clear vision of what God will do for them in the future.”

How much needs to change in my life? Easter certainly answers the question, but it will require full and complete surrender.

When we look at Easter, what we see is the very essence of God.   Jesus, dying on a cross sacrificing his life,  in order to give us life. Why did He do all of that? Very simply – because He loves us. 

Romans 5.8 puts it this way: “God demonstrated his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s it!!

 Easter is the season of God’s great love.  Of a powerful love; unstoppable love; fear demolishing love; seeking out love; forgiving love; life-giving love. But it demands a love response of full surrender from us as it did for Peter in John 21.

God is always in the business of Easter, of turning darkness towards the dawn, of death to the dawn of new life.  Anything broken in your life or  anything that needs surrendering? Maybe you have broken hopes and dreams , then come to God this Easter and surrender to Him.

That first Easter and millions of times since,  He took clothing of death and made it a symbol of life. He changed the grave clothes and changed them to grace clothes, he did it for Peter,  could He not do the same for you? Could he take what today is your tragedy and turn it into  triumph? Easter says He can! He did it for Peter and he can do it for you and I.

 “May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Rom.15:13)

 I can’t help but think after my first trip to College and sitting in two one hour lectures, why did I do it? Was it so I could say I have done it? Maybe to justify the sabbatical!

The lectures were extremely good, challenging and thought provoking. I gained so much information. But I’m reminded this is not just what the sabbatical is about, it’s about transformation,  the discovering or rediscovering essential truths for the exceptional life.

Allowing God to have more of HarryPlace

I can and indeed need to receive information from a third party but greater than this is the need/desire to go deeper in my relationship with Him, to truly know him as Father. I just don’t want to have someone to study but to have a closer walk with Him and  for Him to steal my heart again and allow this to give a deeper and truer experience to this time.

In my reflections (aside from study books) I have been looking at the life of  Jacob.  How his life and heart had been on hold for nearly twenty years because he believed a lie rather hold to a promise given to him by God in Gen 28:15  I am with you I will watch over you wherever you go…… I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised.

 Jacob had tried to get God to walk in his steps and he had struggled because of it. Gen 32 is a pivotal chapter. God reminds him again He will be with him (v3) if Jacob walks His steps. Then He wrestles with him, changes his name, his heart, his vision and blesses him.

I’m thankful that God still makes unconditional promises to unreliable men and women!

Like Jacob we have to come in complete surrender because unless we do, like Jacob, we will continue to face the reality of tomorrow with yesterday and realise it won’t fit! We need to encounter God again!

Essential truth for the exceptional life – God loves us so much that His promises still stand and will remain until His plans have been fulfilled in and through you and me.

 It’s time to draw closer to Him for His  transforming grace to work afresh in our lives, to hear the promises again and allow Him to take us into the tomorrows.

Listen  to this song and allow Him to steal  your heart again.

 http://youtu.be/mBcqria2wmg

He states that God has to sustain and empower the whole process of mission  and it starts and ends with prayer (John 14:13). Dr Piper comes out with phrases like ‘ God has given us prayer because Jesus has given us mission’; God’s ultimate goal comes through prayer’; John 16:24 ‘Ask and receive that your joy may be full’

It’s all about our relationship with Him and with each other. In my reflections whilst reading the book, my mind went to Acts 1:14  “They all joined together constantly in prayer.” Here is a history-making prayer meeting!

Greek words used in this verse are  musical terms  that mean to strike the same note together. When the church prayed, there were no “wrong notes”–no bad attitudes, no pointing fingers, no hidden agendas, no secret  stories  told in small groups. They were singing from the same song sheet – hitting the right notes. What a prayer meeting that would have been!!!

They were there because Jesus had told them to wait in Jerusalem until the Spirit is poured out. They were just being obedient to Jesus, but ‘something happened’!

In this time, when it is sometimes hard to wait,  I’m calling you to pray. Just to wait and spend time with God individually and corporately.  I look forward to hearing the – ‘something happened’ stories!

Charles Spurgeon said  “Prayer is that slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence.”

Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones in his book ‘Joy Unspeakable’ describes the difference between ordinary Christian living and what happens when the Holy Spirit “clothes” a person with power.

He says it is like a child walking along holding his father’s hand. All is well, the child is happy and feels secure. He believes that his father loves him but there is no unusual urge to talk about this or sing about it.

Then suddenly the father reaches down and sweeping him up into his arms and hugging him tightly and kissing him on the neck and whispering, “I love you so much!” And then holding the child back so that he can look into his face and saying with all his heart, “I am so glad you are mine.” Then hugging him once more with unspeakable warmth and affection. Then he puts the child down and they continue their walk.

Lloyd-Jones says this is what happens when a person is baptised with the Holy Spirit. A good life with God is swept up into an unspeakable new level of joy and love and assurance and reality that leaves the Christian so certain of the immediate reality of Jesus that he is overflowing in praise and more free and bold in witness than he/she ever imagined they could be.

I’m praying it will happen for you and for Alice & I!

As the hymn states – O breath of God come sweeping through us revive thy church with life/power.

God has a special outpouring of the Spirit planned for us!  Will you be there,  will you allow him free reign in your life? Will you allow the experience that Dr Lloyd Jones refers to and be swept up into the arms of your heavenly Father?

May you make the choice that leads you to the place where God can richly bless you?

God’s richest blessings upon you.

Hope it’s not too late to wish you Happy New Year!

The above text is our motto text for this year. It could prove to be an exciting year, especially if we seek to live out Col 2:6

Paul has had reports about the believers in Colossae and he’s troubled. I’m sure what he’s heard only confirms that the church is getting totally distracted and as a consequence are not focusing their lives on Jesus.

The church was being taken over by Greek  speculations and ideas, Jewish legalism, and the mysticism from the East.   What they were hearing  at Colossae – Jesus isn’t enough!

Now Live Him!

Now walk Him!   How do you walk with Christ? Thousands of books have been written on the subject. Countless conferences and messages have been produced. All of them come with various ideas, experiences, and steps which the Christian attempts to follow. Yet so often we are left confused, bewildered and sometimes frustrated in our walk with Christ.

I hope you agree with me that the Christian life is meant to be lived! We are not reconciled by Christ, justified through  the cross, and forgiven of our sins so that we might remain in neutral.

We are to continue to live in Him. The past event of receiving Christ should be a present reality in our lives. If now we “LIVE HIM,” we shall certainly

1)      Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Eph 5:2.

2)      Walk in light  ” now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,” Eph 5:8

3)      Walk worthy “ life worthy of the calling you have received,” Eph 4:1

4)      Walk in truth -  “walking in truth,” 3 John 4

5)      Walk in the Spirit –  ”walk in the Spirit,” Galatians 5:16.

Our conduct as we go into 2012 must be consistent with His Lordship.

Now Live Him!

In Christ Alone.    http://youtu.be/8welVgKX8Qo

All this waiting and talk of a new baby does take us back to Bethlehem two thousand years ago.

You may not be aware but the bible doesn’t give us any instruction on remembering Jesus’ birthday, this started in the early church several centuries later.  But, the amazing message of the Christian faith is found in  John 1 –  the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, that Jesus was God Incarnate, fully man yet also fully God. He lived died & rose again, this is the centre of our faith;

How many times have you heard the Christmas story? Maybe you’ve heard it so much it’s lost its meaning and power, you no longer sit and wonder that this baby was born for you!.

C.S. Lewis said, “we don’t need to be told new ideas so much as we need to be reminded of old truths.”  May be you see the whole picture clearly, but I wonder! 

Little girl was asked to paint the Christmas story. She was so thrilled  with it at the end, she took it home to show mum.  “My teacher says I drew the most unusual Christmas picture she has ever seen!”  Mum looked she studied it for a moment and agreed it was the strangest picture of Christmas she had seen.
“This is wonderfully drawn, but why do you have all of the people riding in the back of an airplane?” The mother gently asked.  “It’s the flight toEgypt,” the little girl said, very disappointed because the picture’s meaning was not immediately obvious.

“Oh” the mother said curiously “Well, who, is the mean-looking man at the front?” “That’s Pontius the Pilot,” the girl said now getting really upset. “I see” said mum.
“And here you have Mary and Joseph and the baby” the mother volunteered. Yes that’s right said the little girl. And studying the picture one more time, she plucked up the courage to ask, “But who is the fat man sitting behind Mary?”  with a deep sigh. “Can’t you tell? That’s Round John Virgin!”

Sometimes we are like that little girl… We think we see things so clearly, we think we know all that there is to know about the Christmas story, gleaned all there is to glean, but perhaps we don’t see it as clearly as we think. We often go about as if he hadn’t come. In fact Jesus said, (John 15:22). “If I had not come.”

McPherson said  If Christ had not come, the promises of God would be unfulfilled. The world would still be in darkness. There would be no bridge across the gulf of sin, we would not know that God is love. If Christ had not come, there would be no gospel to believe, there would be no Christmas and no Easter, there would be no hope, we would still be lost for there would be no Saviour for sin, there would be no Good News to preach to the nations.

But he did come. And all of history has been changed forever. 

May you know something of the wonder of Christmas as you celebrate this Advent, and as you realise He came for you, may you find your life change because of Jesus

Listen to this and be blessed  http://youtu.be/Td4VTbNqRt0

Happy Christmas

 The word “renew” means to “change or substitute” and suggests not only does God exchange our weakness for His strength but also a person also makes a new start.  Living the Christian life is a series of new beginnings!

 This promise of strength is illustrated in three ways.

We can “soar on wings like eagles” (Isa. 40:31). The imagery of an eagle soaring into the sky gives a graphic picture of how we can soar above life’s trials and difficulties instead of being overcome by them. God wants us to soar in life! Are you living above or below your struggles? God actually says to you today “ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9) Do we really believe this promise?

Running through our troubles      “they will run, and not grow weary.” God’s strengthening grace enables us to run, when the challenges are many, so we can stay in the Christian race. Yes, we are in a race!

 Heb 12:1 says since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” 

 Walking through our troubles

 The Bible goes on to say in Isaiah 40:31 that God’s children “will walk, and not be faint.” God enables us to walk through our troubles. Of course, this does not mean that our troubles disapper.

 Walking is plodding along in life. The journey of a hundred miles begins with one step. God is saying that He will strengthen us with each step that we take. What a promise to claim!

Note the progression-or what actually appears to be a regression-in  v 31.

In the Lord, we will soar like eagles, run and not get weary, and walk and not faint. We go from flying, to running to walking. It seems as if it should be the other way around: We start out walking and eventually fly. But walking in the strength given by the Lord is seen as the most advanced spiritual exercise.

There will be moments in the spiritual life when we feel as if we’re soaring, as if we’ve risen above it all. There will also be moments, probably more frequent, when we feel as if we’re running, as if we’ve hit some kind of stride. But most of life consists of walking. It may not feel like much of an accomplishment and it doesn’t get much attention. But as we wait and hope in the Lord, he gives us the strength to put one foot in front of the other.

 This is God’s promise to those who WAIT!

Whether it’s when you are driving the car and stopped at the traffic lights, waiting in the checkout queue in Tesco’s (which always seems to be the slowest in the store) or even for the kettle to boil! We all have difficulty in waiting.

 Isaiah 40:31: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

 This is a great verse, but the context is often forgotten. Israel was in captivity and they were complaining that God does not seem to care he had not turned up and they were fed up of waiting.

 Isaiah 40:27ff Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

 Israel thought that God had abandoned them that He had given up on them and no longer cared about them. How often have we been in this position?

 Henry Nouwen gives a lovely picture of what it is to wait. He tells of trapeze artists and the special relationship between flyer & catcher. The Flyer has to let go, they cannot accelerate the catch so they just have to keep going and wait in absolute trust that the catcher will show up. 

 Maybe you feel like this. No one seems to care, you are in free fall and you haven’t seen the catcher in ages will He show up? It is so hard to wait!

 Isaiah 40:31 “they that wait upon the LORD”

 What does it mean ‘to wait’ upon the Lord? Well, I see it as maintaining your relationship with Him no matter what! Having complete trust like the flyer / catcher relationship, that He will come. It contains that sense of waiting in expectation. Just waiting in prayer for His help, to trust in Him even in the silence and to put your hope in Him, knowing He will turn up!

 George Mueller’s Bible, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Ps. 37:23). Opposite it, in the margin, Mueller had made this note: “AND THE STOPS, TOO.”

 Keep Waiting!

Listen to  http://youtu.be/Cxw7nNuCLSk

Without a doubt we live in a world that is often called hopeless. But, as Christians we can say with the writer of Hebrews ‘we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.’ (Heb 6:19). What reassuring words “We have this hope.”  In the previous verse he asks (commands) us to “take hold of the hope” or “seize the hope”!

In 1 Peter 1:3 we have, “We have been born to a new and living hope through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We have just started a new series at DBC, looking at the Book of Ruth. You may want to read it; it’s only four chapters long! You will read about family life around 1100 BC. It’s a family with troubles and heartaches yet, one that can see God constantly at work.

 God’s in every part of the story. He is right there in their sorrows and in their joys, in the valley and on the mountaintops. We reckon you’ll find His fingerprints and footprints all over the story.

The same is true with your life and mine. May we learn to see the signs of hope that He’s constantly working, even when it seems he’s not! Someone said: ‘God is most powerfully present even when he seems most conspicuously absent.’

As Christian, we have a hope that is alive, real and of great value. We have something to set our hearts on especially when life becomes overwhelming with pain and difficulty. In fact in Zechariah 9:12 we read “Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope.” It’s an amazing thought,  you and I being imprisoned by the hope of God but, only if we Return to the Stronghold. Your stronghold must be in the loving God. 

 I like what Soren Kirkegaard, the Danish philosopher, said about hope. Kirkegaard’s definition of hope was “hope is the passion for the possible.”

 I thought how wonderful that God never leaves or goes away when he’s inundated with requests like Paul’s in  Eph 3 :16-17 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Paul prays that the church will experience this grace in all it’s fullness.  The Christian life begins with grace and it ends with grace. We have been saved by grace, we are been sustained by grace, and we are been satisfied by grace.

This gift from God does change lives! v16; you may be strengthened – And this power and strength is unlimited.   It means that in everything we have to do, some of which cannot be accomplished by your own strength, God will supply your need.  Promise is always backed by the provider. All the resources of heaven  Phil 4 :19 most quoted verse ‘my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus’.

We give & act according to our ability.  So to God gives & acts to his infinite riches. And  there will always be sufficient. Why?  V17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts.

He’s the one that produces Christ likeness, Christ Character, he makes Christ at home in our hearts.

 His riches become ours. ‘ That’s grace’!

 Listen to Godfrey Birtill’s Outrageous Grace  on http://youtu.be/hC2vp_Tg_E8