Thought of the day

Saw this quote today:

Let us not glide through this world and slip quietly into heaven...Let's blow the trumpet loud!

In my early days

While looking through some old diaries, I saw an entry from 1999, I was living and studying at Lake Munmorah in NSW at the Salvation Army School for Youth Leadership under the direction of Major Ray and Jean Herron (who are now retired).

I was 19 at the time and a new christian. While there I learnt for the first time a lot about myself, how God saw me and where he wanted me to go. While the other students went to USA to work for 3 months in the Summer camps, I went the PNG to work alongside some amazing people, in development ministries with women and children. I saw great things amongst those who lived in the dumps, surrounded by tragedy and absolute poverty.

While there this is what I wrote ....
Never allow tribulation or the cares of this world separate you from remembering that God loves you. Something extraordinary happens when someone who holds onto the love of God when the odds are totally against them. Logic is silenced in the face of each of trial when the only things that holds is our love of God. Because of His love, out of the wreck I rise every time.

If I want to be of any use to God, I need to constantly maintain a proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him and he will make use of me, for every moment I'm alive.

I'm encouraged by what I wrote then and I proudly say that it holds true for me now as it did 10 years ago.

In His Hands

Awake, Arise Aspire

The call of the commander is clear in the silence.
It rings as does the bugler sound the morning post.

Awake.
Arise.
Aspire.

Awake from the deep slumber of urgent, unrestless fatigue
Arise to the challenge of the mission unfolding in stark light
Aspire to the mission of this day- to the salvation for God in all theatres and fields of struggle.

One moment stolen from the mirror reveals the lie of heroism and the darkness if glory.
The face of the warrior is not ruddy, handsome or burnished as if bronzed.
The gaze of the soldier is not initiated by bleached white eyes of clear sparkle and radiant colour.
The stance of the fighter is no longer erect, solid and straight.

In a moment, a glimpse shatters the illusion of war as glory and battle as heroic.

Truth says there is a cost in war
Truth say a warriors face is stubbled, scared, bloodied and dirty.
Truth is seen in the sunken, blood veined eyes that speak of weariness and death
Truth is found in the language of the fighter's body- sluggish yet not slow, deliberate in chaos
Truth says do not conform to the pattern of this world where war replaces offering in the guise of relief
Truth says love the enemy

Truth commands obedience
I am the Way
I am the Commander
I am the Life.


Taken from College Armoury Annual- author unknown.

Fasting.

I love food. I have found that when I'm depressed, stressed and busy, the first thing I'll do is head for the pantry or fridge and find something sweet to much my cares away.
Sound familiar?

There is no food that God deems as off-limits. However, gluttony is a sin.

This past fortnight in college, our dearest Training Principle (We love you Captain Steven Court) challenged us to take on some 'get out of your comfort zone' activities. (See Sarah Eldridge's Blog for more detail of what we had to do)

I fasted for a week. No food, just liquids (decaf coffee, broth, water). Through out this time I prayed for one of our Staff Members' (Glenda Savage) health and for a break though in my 'compassion' and love towards others.

Praise the Lord, Glenda is on the road to full recovery and by Thursday, God softened my heart towards to lost, hurt and dying.

Did you know that John Wesley wouldn't ordain a minister unless they fasted every Wednesday and Friday until 4pm?

So from all this I'm sold.

If you want break through, to grow closer to God, need healing... FAST!

If you're relying on food to make you feel happy... FAST!

By the way if you aren't called to be doing what you are now doing, then train up and offer for officership. Contact your CO or divisional candidates secretary today.
If I can do it so can YOU!!!

In his Hands

Salvationism

Today was our first 'meaty' lecture here at college, titled 'The end of Salvationsim.'

For me, I see Salvationsim as a relentless completing desire to see all the peoples of the the earth saved. Fighting for souls, reaching the lost and those marked for death.

Everything we (Salvationists) do should lead directly or ultimately lead to the salvation of the world. Not for our sake, nor for the sake of the Army but it's for Jesus and the extension of His Kingdom. Should this not be the case, Salvationism as I have come to understand it, would come to an end.

Let me give two examples.

Social justice is a worthy, important and valid arm of The Salvation Army. However if it becomes more important to drink a fair trade latte then see the cafe owner saved; Salvationism comes to an end.

Music is a powerful and beautiful tool for communicating to God, believers and unbelievers. However if it becomes more important to maintain excellence over evangelism; performance over passion; inclusively over intimacy- Salvationism comes to an end.

If any of our 'Salvation-Army-ism's' (timbrels, home league, band, songsters, uniform, red shield), that aren't essential to our doctrines and covenants ever become more important than releasing the captives- then it will be the end of salvationism... as I know it.

When what we do, loses it's power to bring other's closer to the throne of God's grace, let it die!

Seek

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 NLT 

I'm learning the more I look to God's sure and faithful provision, I don't worry as much. Since being accepted as a Cadet, the Lord has seen to increase his blessing for me and my husband. We may not have much money or material possessions, but we’re not hungry, thirsty or naked. Praise God!

God's provision in my life has nothing to do status, looks, ability or intellect. It’s when I seek.

It has been said, ‘The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.’ The main thing is God and His Kingdom. To seek it is to pursue it, to crave it, to go after it with all your might. When we seek, we think about it, talk about it and willing to pay the price to have it.

We must not seek in order to get. We must seek God's face and not His hand. In must seek his “presence” not his “presents.” Seek him for who he is, not what he can do. There is nothing wrong with have nice things, but He wants first place in our lives.

When I put Him first, keep Him in top priority and set about doing things his way, I'm showing that I delight in Him. Then He will give us the desire of our heart. Ps37:4

If the Lord is calling you to Officership, do not let the pursuit of money or material possessions keep you from pursuing the treasures of God’s Kingdom, which have far greater worth and eternal value that anything on earth.

 People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Matthew 6:33 MSG