I had to go down to Perth this week to do some training for my role as Chaplain. As it was a few days training they booked me in to a hotel near Kings Park.
The great thing about it is that I worked opposite Kings Park for 11 years and every lunch time I would go on a prayer walk. It became a real place of spending time with God for me.
Last week I managed to do three prayer walks after my days of training. It was so nice to connect with God in a place where I have met with Him so many times in the past. It was really refreshing.
The picture above was taken at the top end of the park, it is the place where you over look the city and the river that runs through it. It is a great place to sit and just chill out for me.
How about you? Have you got a special spot where you can go and spend time with God? A place where you can go and relax with Him? Kings Park is definitely a special place for me.
Today’s Our Daily Bread was really good. Please enjoy…
Bible reading
Proverbs 20:4-5, 24-25
When Bill Pinkney sailed solo around the world in 1992—taking the hard route around the perilous Great Southern Capes—he did it for a higher purpose. His voyage was to inspire and educate children. That included students at his former inner-city Chicago elementary school. His goal? To show how far they could go by studying hard and making a commitment—the word he chose in naming his boat. When Bill takes schoolkids on the water in Commitment, he says, “They’ve got that tiller in their hand and they learn about control, self-control, they learn about teamwork . . . all the basics that one needs in life to be successful.”
Pinkney’s words paint a portrait of Solomon’s wisdom. “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out” (Proverbs 20:5). He invited others to examine their life goals. Otherwise, “it is a trap,” said Solomon, “to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows” (v. 25).
In contrast, William Pinkney had a clear purpose that eventually inspired thirty thousand students across the United States to learn from his journey. He became the first African American inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame. “Kids were watching,” he said. With similar purpose, let’s set our course by the deep counsel of God’s instructions to us.
Reflect
In your life, what is the why for your work or ministry? What legacy do you hope to leave by what you accomplish?
Prayer
Inspire me, faithful God, to commit to working with a purpose that glorifies You. Amen.
At my last church I Pastored the Elders understood that some weeks as a Pastor you are really busy with people, extra training, planning or prayer.
In those weeks it was okay for me to just read a passage of Scripture and share a couple of brief thoughts. At first I found this hard, but slowly I realised that while preaching is a key part of a Pastors work, sometimes the best thing I can do is just read out Scripture and let it be absorbed by the people.
This is an example of a passage I might read on those weeks…
Psalm 103:8-18 NLT [8] The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. [9] He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. [10] He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. [11] For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. [12] He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. [13] The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. [14] For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. [15] Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. [16] The wind blows, and we are gone- as though we had never been here. [17] But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children [18] of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!
Romans 12:2 NLT says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
I was just looking at some commentaries for Romans 12:2. I really like what the Vine’s Expository Dictionary says the Greek word for renewing in the original text of this verse…
“The Greek word translated “renewing” (Romans 12:2), anakainōsis, is used sparsely in the New Testament. It means “a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better.” Rather than surrendering to the normal patterns of this world—“the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16)—believers in Jesus are to constantly undergo “adjustment of moral and spiritual vision and thinking to the mind of God.” How so? By the Holy Spirit’s renewal (see Titus 3:5), which “is not a fresh bestowment of the Spirit but a revival of His power, developing the Christian life”.”
I like that the thought behind a renewing of our minds is more like a complete change or full renovation. It is not like a quick paint job one does to a car or house to tidy it up. It is a complete restoration rather than a makeover.
As I think of this I think of some of the car shows I watch. They take an old rusty car, cut out the rust and weld in new metal to make it like the rust was never there. They might also replace the engine, chassis and suspension. In the end a 50 year old car is actually often better than it was when it came from the factory.
I think this is type of renewing we need as Christians. Our minds are impacted so much by this world and culture we live in. Right and wrong becomes blurred and people have their own truths. What we need is God to renew our minds by His Word and His Spirit. We need to be lifted out of this worldly thinking and transplanted into His Kingdom way of thinking.
Renewing our minds is just so vital for us as Christians. We need it to fully understand what God wants us to do. It is a key foundation in being the people who God wants us to be.
Prayer
Dear God, help me to renew my mind. I pray that when I read the Bible the Holy Spirit will quicken the Words to my heart and mind. I want to be changed from the inside out. I want to walk in Your ways, love others the way You do and know Your good, pleasing and perfect will in my life. I ask in Jesus name, Amen.
This morning when I was doing my devotions the words, “Imagine if Jesus came to our town” popped into my mind.
Imagine if Jesus came to our small town. Wow that would be awesome! But then I started to think about the things He would do?
As my mind wandered I imagined Jesus starting His day on the Peak. It is a solitary place overlooking town where He could pray to His Father.
When He came down where would He go? I suspect to where the people were. My first thought was the main street where all of the shops are. I could see Him interacting with people. Preaching, teaching and healing like He did in the Bible.
Then I could see Him crossing over the railway line and going to Hospital and the Nursing Home. Praying for and encouraging people who were sick. Some would be miraculously healed and many would be set free.
After that I could see Him going to the western end of main Street where the bakery is found. I could see Him encouraging the people in the street and then sitting across from the bakery waiting for the lunchtime crowd.
As people came and went I could imagine Him talking about the Bread of Life and having spiritual food that never runs out. People would forget their physical hunger and crave the spiritual food He would give.
From there I could see Jesus going to the primary school and shooting hoops and kicking the footy with the kids. When He was tired I could see Him sitting with all of the pre-school kids on His lap and even more gathered around. He would be sharing the Parables.
As day turned to night I could see Him looking for a place to sleep. I could imagine that rather than staying in the best hotel in town, I could see Him curled up in a doorway with one of the homeless people who sleep rough every night.
The next day He would wake and do it all again in… or move on to some other town that His Father in heaven showed Him.
If Jesus came to town… I suspect it would be about people. It would be about blessing, encouraging, healing, loving and saving people – all people. It would be about showing God’s love and God’s Kingdom to everyone.
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