Another Curious Bystander in the Pursuit of God

Hi all,

Just wanted to share an experience I had just a few days after BPNYC09...

Tuesday 15th of December 2009, approx. 4:15pm (Perth time).

I was waiting alone at the Perth airport; those who'd brought me to the airport had just left, & I was soon to board my plane back to Adelaide. I took a seat in front of the gate, and pulled out the book we'd received at camp, 'The Pursuit Of God' from my hand luggage. I flicked through the book, and as I was doing so, I noticed a lady (probably in her late 20's) staring in my direction from her seat. I ignored her, thinking she was probably daydreaming and hadn't realized she was staring at me. I decided then that I'd try to read as much of the book as possible during the 3-hour plane flight back to Adelaide.

I boarded the plane and took my seat, right next to the same lady who'd been staring at me just minutes before. I was soon to find out that this was no coincidence. The plane took off, and again I pulled out my book, and began reading. I was eager to read for the entire 3 hours on the plane, but apparently God had other ideas.

Less than 1 hour into the plane flight, I had reached no further than the end of the first chapter, when the lady next to me turned to me and said "Excuse me, may I please ask what book you're reading?" I explained it was a Christian book, which I'd received from a Christian camp I'd just attended in Perth. Her next question was quite funny: "What language is the word 'Tozer' in?" She had thought that Tozer was a word in a different language, that meant "The Pursuit Of God"! After explaining that Tozer was simply the author, she went on to ask what 'Pursuing God' actually meant. To put it simply, one thing led to another, and the next couple of hours were spent in thoughtful discussion and, for my part, a good opportunity to think carefully about a few of the things I'd learnt at camp.

I remember her saying that she had no strict religious background, meaning that her parents never really cared much for religion and therefore never influenced her to think in favour of, or against, any particular "spiritual teachings" (as she called it). This may be a good thing, because at least she isn't completely opposed to Christianity altogether; however, it also meant that she had been pretty much apathetic when people did try to convert her to different religions, because she didn't think it was that important. She'd only begun thinking about Christianity in the past few months when her Christian friend died of liver cancer, and had been very peaceful when he was suffering the most, even right up until his death. She wanted to understand more about why he had so much peace, when others in his situation would have been more depressed. Hence her curiousity when she had noticed the book that I'd been reading.

Our discussion ended just as we were waiting for our luggage at the carousel in Adelaide. I handed her a tract, "God's Bridge to Eternal Life", with Hope B-P Church's address & contact details on the back, and invited her to our church service on Sundays, and to the Christmas Day service. Sad to say that I have not yet seen her at the past 2 Sunday services, nor at the Christmas Day service, but I am hoping that I will see her again one day. Her name is Suranya. I really thank God for this opportunity to speak to her, even though I felt like my stomach was eating itself in fear that I might answer incorrectly or that I might not know how to answer her questions. Please pray for me, that everything I said was true and pleasing to God. Please pray for Suranya, that God might place in her heart the desire to continue to find out more about Christianity, and to someday accept the Lord God as her Saviour.

Your Sis In Christ,

Corinne

Evening Messages Uploaded - Forsaken Love, Love Dare, Love Letters, Love Songs

The evening messages from the BP National Youth camp are now available for download here: 

Tuesday Night
Forsaken Love and part 2
Wednesday Night
Love Dare
Thursday Night
Love Letters
Friday Night
Love Songs


Right click and select SAVE AS or see them all here


Have you spent a day with God? Maybe you enjoyed a few hours with Him. Not yet? He's waiting :)

Truth & Mercy

It's been a while since I had spent a day with my Lord.  I had been looking forward to this day, a day I had set aside for Him, just for Him.  It begun with soft praises and the latter hours were filled with reading, listening, praying, praising and stillness.  My Lord addressed a few heart issues to me, much of which I was aware of but too proud to bring before Him.  When the day grew cooler, I decided to go for a walk with my God, and as I strolled down towards the river, the lyrics of the hymn 'Give Me Jesus', began to escape my lips.

 

When I am all alone, when I am all alone,

Give me Jesus, Give me Jesus,

You can have all this world,

But give me Jesus.

 

Along the river, I was excited to find a new addition to my small collection of secret places around Perth, "hidden" areas which I call "My Meeting Place", where I usually find solace in God.  I walked out to this short old jetty, with the sun setting behind me, and the anchored boats gently rocking in the distance, I sat down on the wooden bench and gazed up at the different patterns in the clouds my Father drew for me and started reminiscing back into the year.

 

I recalled desiring to be able to say at the end of this year, "I have passed", and so, I examined different areas of my life, after each, I tried to say these words.  And as I listed the areas, I realized that not once was I able to say it, my tears begun to fall with the realization of my failures throughout the year.  "This is the truth, I know you very well my daughter", I heard Him say.  I started to question my love for Him.  I cried.  "I have failed you, my Lord", I told Him.

 

After a while, I noticed little rings forming in the water, I thought it had started to rain.  I lowered myself to have a closer look; much to my surprise I saw little fish.  Little blessings, lots of them.  I tried to number them but couldn't, there were too many.  And swam into view, big fish, I started to count them too but they were also too many, it wasn't possible, so I sat there watching them swim, feeding, then my thoughts drifted back to my God.

 

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. - Psalms 139:17-18

 

They were not sand, but already they were too many to count.  I was humbled before God at this point to know He is an omniscient God who moves with mercy.  Though I had failed Him time and time again, He is still with me; His mercy has and will forever endure.  I remembered the words of Spurgeon –

 

It is our weakness that has made room for God to give us such a promise as this. Our sins make room for a Saviour; our frailties make room for the Holy Spirit to correct them; all our wanderings make room for the good Shepherd; that he may seek us and bring us back. We do not love nights, but we do love stars; we do not love weakness, but we do bless God for the promise that is to sustain us in our weakness, we do not admire winter, but we do admire the glittering snow; we must shudder at our own trembling weakness, but we still do bless God that we are weak because it makes room for the display of his own invincible strength in fulfilling such a promise as this. - "As Thy Days, So Shall Thy Strength Be" – C H Spurgeon

 

Then my Lord led me to remember the Psalms I read earlier in the day -

 

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.  For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.  And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.  For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?  Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. – Psalms 89:1-2, 5-6, 9

 

And there I smiled, knowing truth and mercy, my God.  I looked down to my left and beside me sat waiting, my Bible and the book 'Pursuit of God'.

 

Two Sunsets with my Beloved

On Monday, I was doing my praying to the Lord at home when I thought of an idea to go to the beach and continue with my quiet time there. First time the idea came to mind, I quickly dismissed it but the thought came back again. Why not, I thought. We like to go for a meal with our friends, go for long drives with our families and see the sunset with our loved ones.. why not with God?

It was around 6:30pm so I brought along a small can of tuna and some crackers, my "Pursuit of God" book (possibly partly inspired by a previous post), Bible and a disregard for the little cost that would cost me to drive out to the beach.

I found a part of the beach which was not crowded and sat down to read chapter 8 of Pursuit of God. The sun was setting but I decided to continue reading the book. It was the chapter about our "Restoring the Creator / Creature relation".

One part particularly spoke to me was when he spoke about our strong desire for other people's acceptance of us (fear of man). The book said:

"Another saying of Jesus, and a most disturbing one, was put in the form of a question, "How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God alone?" If I understand this correctly Christ taught here the alarming doctrine that the desire for honor among men made belief impossible. Is this sin at the root of religious unbelief? Could it be that those "intellectual difficulties" which men blame for their inability to believe are but smoke screens to conceal the real cause that lies behind them? Was it this greedy desire for honor from man that made men into Pharisees and Pharisees into Deicides? Is this the secret back of religious self-righteousness and empty worship? I believe it may be. The whole course of the life is upset by failure to put God where He belongs. We exalt ourselves instead of God and the curse follows."

So often I found myself unable to stand for God for fear of man. How little I didn't realise that it was my refusal to let God be God that motivated this fear. If I knew more this God who pulled in and pushed out the waves before me, why would I fear man? As the sun set, I read the conclusion of the chapter prayerfully. Something inside dared me to bow before God there and pray the prayer at the end of chapter 8. Eventually I did pray, having successfully wrestled with the fear of what people thought (people walking around, who probably wouldn't even know me!)

O God, be Thou exalted over my possessions. Nothing of earth's treasures shall seem dear unto me if only Thou art glorified in my life. Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined that Thou shalt be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the midst of the earth. Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it mean the loss of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses I shall keep my vow made this day before Thee Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase, let me sink that Thou mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as Thou didst ride into Jerusalem mounted upon the humble little beast, a colt, the foal of an ass, and let me hear the children cry to Thee, "Hosanna in the highest."


The next day, I found myself alone with God at the sunset, with an urge to draw near to God again. I thought it was quite interesting that I could be able to spend this alone time with God (again near the sea/ocean at sunset), and be reminded of who my God is and how much He wants to spend time with me. Just me.

The Lord is my strength and my song

Just like to share a little bit about my day. I was getting ready to go out to buy a cake for my family, and in my mind I wanted to give someone a gospel tract as well. The thought of handing out a tract always made me fearful to some degree, but I wanted to do it so I prayed and asked God to give me the strength to carry out the task.

 

I went to the local cake shop and there was an Indian lady at the counter. She appeared emotionless as I made my selection and paid for my purchase. After she gave me the change, I handed her a "This Was Your Life" tract and told her that it was a booklet about Christianity. Needless to say, her response was anything but what I had hoped. She simply took the tract, said thanks in an equally emotionless tone and walked off to the back of the shop. It was at this point that I fumbled and dropped my change of coins she had given me. Embarrassed, I stooped down and picked up each coin and made for the exit as quickly as I could.

 

Although the whole experience left me thinking I could have held those coins tight enough in my grip that I wouldn't have drop them, I drove off with a smile on my face and later slightly watery eyes because the Lord had enabled me to accomplish something for Him. No matter how good or bad the response from people when I give out tracts, I always leave satisfied and joyful because this is the Lord's work; I have done my part and I leave the results to Him. I think this is a joy that only a true Christian's heart can feel because it is the same joy that our Lord Jesus Christ felt when He walked on earth and preached the gospel to the people around Him.

 

As many fervent Christians in the past have testified, when we share God's love with others we ourselves will grow closer and deeper in our love for our Lord Jesus. If you're a Christian, I would encourage you to share the gospel with others. The sense of victory, joy and, most of all, closeness with the Lord Jesus Himself, is priceless.

 

Lastly, there was one song I was listening to in my car that touched my heart as I was driving home. It's called "In My Weakness" from the album A Quiet Heart by SoundForth Singers And Orchestra. You can listen to a sample of it at http://www.oldchristianmusic.com/mproductpages/soundforth-singers--a-quiet-heart.html .

 

God bless.

 

 

Barry

God's Providence

So i guess just a recount of some happenings this past Saturday (19 Dec 09) for everyone's encouragement,

I was sitting on the train on Saturday night on my way into the city for a friends 21st birthday party and I was sitting there starting to read The Pursuit of God for the first time. Having already read the first chapter in a previous train ride I was getting through the 2nd chapter when a couple of stations along the journey some guys came on beer bottles in hand, they joked around with the transit officers who were just in the door of the train and then came down at which point one of them sat next to me on my two-seater because the train was starting to get a bit full.

The train ride continued for a bit and I continued to read and I prayed a very quick prayer that God would work within the heart of the guy sitting next to me, beer bottle still in hand. At this point I wasn't quite sure if i was ready to breach the topic of Christianity etc and start talking so i just kept on reading with next to no intention of starting that conversation.

Then out of the blue through God's providence, the guy next to me turned to me and asked me if he could ask a silly question. He wanted to know what one of the lines on the pages meant. He had looked over at the book and had thought "hey, why not i'll just ask what that means". Wow. so i said a quick prayer for God to help me know what to say etc and I jumped in!

So i explained to him the idea of the all-knowing, ever-present, all powerful nature of God that was encompassed in the phrase that he asked about, then i took the opportunity to ask if he had any Christian background at all. He told me that he went to church each week somewhere in Petersham and that his grandmother brought him along each week, but that he had never really in his life ever paid any attention, he would usually go along just to make the appearance, and then leave after because he had other stuff that he needed to take care of.

He mentioned that he liked the idea of Jesus better than the idea of God, his reasoning was that because Jesus was a man he could understand what was going on from our perspective. This was a bit encouraging because i was able to share the Trinity with him and showed him that God (Father) + Jesus (Son) + Holy Ghost are ALL God, and used that to show him that the fact that Jesus came down as a man was the very reason that God could show that He can relate and understand us as humans.

So as we sat there on the train (turns out we were both getting off at the same train station) I was able to walk him through the gospel (Genesis to Sin to Salvation etc and Repentance) and see him start to see it all in a completely new light! He had never really read or paid attention to the Bible before so i suggested he probably should (and pointed him towards KJV too!). As we were about to arrive at our stop with my Tozer book still in hand i thought to myself "what the heck" and decided to give(lend) him the book with my address/number/email inside with the suggestion that he either return it once he's finished or pass it on to someone else! and/or to email if there were any questions etc.

Praise God for the opportunity! And pray for Tyson that he'll diligently start searching out God's word and Salvation and especially also for his Grandmother who has been 'dragging' him along to Church all these years that she'll be able to be a good witness to him also!

This becomes even more special when I think back and look at the events earlier in the day.. I was originally intending to meet with a friend for lunch/coffee and then hang out with a bunch of friends because they were going out to Carols in the Domain. This didn't quite happen because when i got to my train station, the next train to head towards the city was going to arrive in 20 minutes late, exactly the time that I was planning to meet for lunch in the city. So i decided to cancel that lunch, and took it as a bit of a hint that i should walk down and check out the local Christian Bookstore. I stumbled accross the whole Tozer series while i was in there and actually thought to myself at the time that these would make excellent gifts to Christian (or at least nominally Christian) friends. After thinking about that i went and got myself a compact KJV in preparation for next year and then i went back home to help tidy up and generally recover some sleep and upload more camp photos thinking to myself "wow, good thing that the trains were bad and that I was able to head into the bookstore sooner rather than later!

The beauty of Gods providence comes even more clearly into view when I realise that without the crappy trains, I wouldn't have been able catch that much later train and talk to Tyson. I also know that if i wasn't aware of a place to easily get a replacement copy of the Pursuit of God (which i went and picked up from the same bookstore just 20 mins ago), then I know that i would have probably been less willing to give mine out. (and also if i had gotten autographs all through mine while at camp i know i would have been MUCH less willing)

So i guess a good rule of thumb is to always pray! even if the person doesn't look to be the most inviting person, God may just have put you and them at exactly the right place and time for something to happen, something which doesn't always require that YOU start it up yourself! xD

Praise God =D


(i think Corinne had a similar experience with "The Pursuit of God" book so it'd be great if she were to share that outcome!)

The Jewish Wedding messages now online

The Jewish Wedding messages are now online!

 

Follow the links below to get to the messages:

 

Jewish Wedding Part 1 – The Groom’s love for his Bride

 

Jewish Wedding Part 2 – The Bride’s love for her Groom

 

Jewish Wedding Part 3 (1) and (2)

 

The other messages will be uploaded soon:

 

Forsaken Love

Love Dare

Love Letters

Love Songs

Love Without Reserve

 

How's life with God?

Wow camp has finished very quickly and before we know it, we are facing our daily life once again but with one difference... we know what is possible! We have tasted God's presence hopefully enough to not want to ever live without it again.

We know what can hinder our walk with God and what keeps us from Him.

We know what to do about it (confess sins).

We understand that God called us FIRST into a relationship with Him, and in so doing we can be who we ought to be. Then we can do what we ought to do.

We had the opportunity to sit with Jesus for one afternoon, to block out distractions and fellowship (spiritually hang out) with God.

We realised that  the world's attractions are not so exciting when we really turn our eyes upon Jesus.

But we can easily forget what we had. We can aim low and receive less than God intended. We can forget the love of God, his mercies, his faithfulness and take life into our own hands.. and get burnt again.

Or we can encourage one another and remind each other what is possible and what we can have in the Lord. Lets press on the upward way, gain new heights every day and continue thou in the things thou hast learnt at camp.

Spend a day with God Puritan Style

THIS IS A TEST POST (but also very beneficial) 
adapted and updated from
RICHARD BAXTER (1615-1691)

by Matthew Vogan

A holy life is inclined to be made easier when we know the usual sequence and method of our duties - with everything falling into its proper place. Therefore, I shall give some brief directions for spending the day in a holy manner.

Sleep

Measure the time of your sleep appropriately so that you do not waste your precious morning hours sluggishly in your bed. Let the time of your sleep be matched to your health and labour, and not to slothful pleasure.

First Thoughts

Let God have your first awaking thoughts; lift up your hearts to Him reverently and thankfully for the rest enjoyed the night before and cast yourself upon Him for the day which follows.

Familiarise yourself so consistently to this that your conscience may check you when common thoughts shall first intrude. Think of the mercy of a night's rest and of how many that have spent that night in Hell; how many in prison; how many in cold, hard lodgings; how many suffering from agonising pains and sickness, weary of their beds and of their lives.

Think of how many souls were that night called from their bodies terrifyingly to appear before God and think how quickly days and nights are rolling on! How speedily your last night and day will come! Observe that which is lacking in the preparedness of your soul for such a time and seek it without delay.

Prayer

Let prayer by yourself alone (or with your partner) take place before the collective prayer of the family. If possible let it be first, before any work of the day.

Family Worship

Let family worship be performed consistently and at a time when it is most likely for the family to be free of interruptions.

Ultimate Purpose

Remember your ultimate purpose, and when you set yourself to your day's work or approach any activity in the world, let HOLINESS TO THE LORD be written upon your hearts in all that you do.

Do no activity which you cannot entitle God to, and truly say that he set you about it, and do nothing in the world for any other ultimate purpose than to please, glorify and enjoy Him. "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Diligence in Your Calling

Follow the tasks of your calling carefully and diligently. Thus:

(a) You will show that you are not sluggish and servants to your flesh (as those that cannot deny it ease), and you will further the putting to death of all the fleshly lusts and desires that are fed by ease and idleness.
(b) You will keep out idle thoughts from your mind, that swarm in the minds of idle persons.
(c) You will not lose precious time, something that idle persons are daily guilty of.
(d) You will be in a way of obedience to God when the slothful are in constant sins of omission.
(e) You may have more time to spend in holy duties if you follow your occupation diligently. Idle persons have no time for praying and reading because they lose time by loitering at their work.
(f) You may expect God's blessing and comfortable provision for both yourself and your families.
(g) it may also encourage the health of your body which will increase its competence for the service of your soul.

Temptations and Things That Corrupt

Be thoroughly acquainted with your temptations and the things that may corrupt you - and watch against them all day long. You should watch especially the most dangerous of the things that corrupt, and those temptations that either your company or business will unavoidably lay before you.

Watch against the master sins of unbelief: hypocrisy, selfishness, pride, flesh pleasing and the excessive love of earthly things. Take care against being drawn into earthly mindedness and excessive cares, or covetous designs for rising in the world, under the pretence of diligence in your calling.

If you are to trade or deal with others, be vigilant against selfishness and all that smacks of injustice or uncharitableness. In all your dealings with others, watch against the temptation of empty and idle talking. Watch also against those persons who would tempt you to anger. Maintain that modesty and cleanness of speech that the laws of purity require. If you converse with flatterers, be on your guard against swelling pride.

If you converse with those that despise and injure you, strengthen yourself against impatient, revengeful pride.

At first these things will be very difficult, while sin has any strength in you, but once you have grasped a continual awareness of the poisonous danger of any one of these sins, your heart will readily and easily avoid them.

Meditation

When alone in your occupations, improve the time in practical and beneficial meditations. Meditate upon the infinite goodness and perfections of God; Christ and redemption; Heaven and how unworthy you are of going there and how you deserve eternal misery in Hell.

The Only Motive

Whatever you are doing, in company or alone, do it all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Otherwise, it is unacceptable to God.

Redeeming The Time

Place a high value upon your time, be more careful of not losing it than you would of losing your money. Do not let worthless recreations, television, idle talk, unprofitable company, or sleep rob you of your precious time.

Be more careful to escape that person, action or course of life that would rob you of your time than you would be to escape thieves and robbers.

Make sure that you are not merely never idle, but rather that you are using your time in the most profitable way that you can and do not prefer a less profitable way before one of greater profit.

Eating and Drinking

Eat and drink with moderation and thankfulness for health, not for unprofitable pleasure. Never please your appetite in food or drink when it is prone to be detrimental to your health.

Remember the sin of Sodom: "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food and abundance of idleness" - Ezekiel 16:49.

The Apostle Paul wept when he mentioned those "whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame -- who set their minds on earthly things, being enemies to the cross of Christ" - Philippians 3:18-19. O then do not live according to the flesh lest you die (Romans 8:13).

Prevailing Sins

If any temptation prevails against you and you fall into any sins in addition to habitual failures, immediately lament it and confess it to God; repent quickly whatever the cost. It will certainly cost you more if you continue in sin and remain unrepentant.

Do not make light of your habitual failures, but confess them and daily strive against them, taking care not to aggravate them by unrepentance and contempt.

Relationships

Remember every day the special duties of various relationships: whether as husbands, wives, children, masters, servants, pastors, people, magistrates, subjects.

Remember every relationship has its special duty and its advantage for the doing of some good. God requires your faithfulness in this matter as well as in any other duty.

Closing the Day

Before returning to sleep, it is wise and necessary to review the actions and mercies of the day past, so that you may be thankful for all the special mercies and humbled for all your sins.

This is necessary in order that you might renew your repentance as well as your resolve for obedience, and in order that you may examine yourself to see whether your soul grew better or worse, whether sin goes down and grace goes up and whether you are better prepared for suffering, death and eternity.

May these directions be engraven upon your mind and be made the daily practice of your life.

If sincerely adhered to, these will be conducive to the holiness, fruitfulness and quietness of your life and add to you a comfortable and peaceful death.