Reflecting on the sermon

I mentioned a while back that I had begun listening to some sermons while I drove the 6 hrs between where I live and where my parents live.  It not only makes the drive remarkably quick but I am getting so much out of the sermons that I am listening to them twice each!

This trip I listened to 2 sermons by Timothy Keller, a pastor from New York.  I downloaded some of his sermons from his iTunes podcasts.

The first sermon was centered around the reliability of the Bible.  This is a topic that I have always struggled with.  Sometimes I have found myself believing that the Bible is out of date, that certain stories had been embellished or that teachings were out of date or culturally specific.  This sermon addresses this issue and it is very common issue for Christians and non Christians alike.  Pastor Keller argues that the Bible is reliable and can be trusted Historically, Culturally and Personally.

I found the sermon to be such an encouragement towards reading the tricky and challenging sections of the Bible and it has really propelled me to understand what the Bible is actually teaching. 

I particularly liked Keller’s arguments around culture and our bias towards our own culture and the perspective that our own culture is superior.  I think that there are many occasions where western society in particular, displays cultural superiority and bias over many areas of life and the Bible contradicts much of it.  However Keller points out that it contradicts Eastern culture as well, in fact that the Bible contradicts all cultures in varied and different ways only goes to support the argument that it is the word of God and displays the perfect culture, His culture.

Check it out, Timothy Keller: “Literalism: Isn’t the Bible historically unreliable and regressive?”

The second sermon, titled “How sin makes us addicts”, explores the idea of sin and idols in our society.  It was very interesting to delve into the idea that God desires after us, that he longs for us to be in His arms the way newlyweds long for each other.  Exploring the concept of sexual intimacy and our relationship with God in this way was revolutionary.

Keller’s argument that when we sin we are not only turning away from God but we are actually breaking his heart in the same way that a cheating lover breaks hearts is compelling.  Keller discusses ‘lover gods’, these things that we feel that we have to have and without them we are dead or worthless.  Keller discusses the way that we are ‘in bed’ with other idols, desiring after idols in this world thinking that they are going to fulfill us, make us feel beautiful, but in reality these things cannot save us and in the times of great need we cannot call out to these ‘lover gods’ to save us because they cannot, they will fall short.

It was interesting to stop and think about the things that I have built my life on.  What are my ‘lover gods’, what am I addicted to?

It is important to remember that these things are not necessarily bad things in themselves however we have made them to be bigger and more able, more powerful than they actually are.  These may be career, family, romance, sport, health, being a good person, any number of things.  Once we rely upon them instead of God we have turned them from good things into ‘lover gods’, idols.

I encourage you to get out and listen to some online sermons today.  Think about how you view the Bible, can you argue for its accuracy and what are your ‘lover gods’?

Thankful Thursday

Finally another Thankful Thursday post!
I have SOOO much to be thankful for and I have been so busy I have neglected to tell you all about any of it!

New Job
Next term I have been given the opportunity to work full time in a reception class.  The best part is that the kids in my class will come out of the current preschool that I am working in!  I am so excited to be able to support their transition into school as it is so often such a foreign world for these young children.

Prayer Quad
I have recently joined a prayer group with 4 other ladies.  During this time we share about our lives and challenge, encourage and support each other do be more like Jesus.  It has been such a wonderful blessing for me, even more so as I have been so crazy busy.  They keep me focused on the important things and it’s wonderful to be able to do the same for them.

Finishing the uni Semester
This semester I decided to take on 2 subjects at uni.  This was a mistake! Never again will I take on so much.  With part time work, uni, church and all my other commitments there is no time for me to stop.  I am so thankful that God has carried me through this semester because there is no way I could have done it on my own.  Now I can look forward to some time to stop and maybe do some leisure reading instead of academic.

Grace Conference
The 25^th of May was Grace Conference.  Grace Conference is a women’s conference that encourages women in God’s ways. Grace Conference is for:

…any woman wanting to learn more about what the Bible shows us about Jesus Christ and what it means to belong to him. At previous Grace Conferences, we have enjoyed fellowship with women from 13 to 70+. We are eager to see women from a range of ages and denominations engaging in Grace Conference, as we seek to grow in Christ through the sharing of our lives and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I look forward to Grace every year.  It’s great to gather with other women, to sing and worship together and to take the time to study God’s word directly related to our lives as women today.  This year the main talks were about being ‘Shaken not Stirred’ in our faith, looking at 2 Corinthians.  The three talks by Anthea McCall are up on the Grace website and I encourage you to have a look at them.  They are wonderful!

So much has happened and I have much to be thankful for.  Now that things are starting to quieten down (at least relating to how they were) I may have more time to blog.  I certainly miss it.

with much love

The Colour Run!!!

Yesterday I ran the colour run and I can confirm that it is most definitely the HAPPIEST 5km on the PLANET!!!

So much fun and my friend Samara over at The Secret Life of Samara has put up a few photos of us during the day.

If you ever get the chance to enter it I couldn't encourage you enough.  You don't have to run it (we certainly didn't run all of it) and there were people of all ages and plenty of children who were running it.  A great day out!

Head over to Samara's blog if you want to see some colourful pics!

with much love

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

Sorry I was absent from last week’s Thankful Thursday.  Being home and then back again and on holidays really messed up my days, however I am back and full of thanks and praise to our generous Father.

This week I am thankful for:

Church Camp

Last weekend I went on our church camp and had a wonderful time.  Often I find camps hard; I don’t sleep well with other people in the room, or when I change beds, I get easily overwhelmed by being around lots of people and I often shy away from the regular camp activities ie boating, concerts, challenges.  This year however, I found that it was easier to be involved with everyone and I rarely avoided anything. 

Also the talks this year were on Prayer, my focus for 2013 and the speaker was fantastic.  I learnt so much and by the end of the weekend I found myself losing track of time as I prayed.  This week I have been able to keep it up and I am very thankful that God has guided me through these normally challenging areas and I am seeing how much I have grown.

Good Food

I have a very tricky diet to cater for, I am a vegetarian and I am gluten free.  This has been problematic and times and I hate being the person that makes life difficult.  I have been so blessed recently as the wonderful church members who catered for our camp were amazing as they catered for my crazy eating.  They acted as though it was no big deal to negotiate what I can and can’t eat.

I have also found a number of new brands that have products that are vegetarian, gluten free and low in sugar.  I am so thankful that these days there are so many people who are aware of these dietary restrictions and cater accordingly.

My job

I have 1 term left of my current job.  It is no secret that I love what I do.  I really love who I work with and this position is the longest I have been in the one place (18mths)  I will really miss it.  There is a chance that next year the position will be available again and I can return but at the moment there is nothing for the second half of this year.

I feel so blessed that I have a career that I love and look forward to doing each day. Not only that, but the pay in my dream job covers all my expenses (which in reality aren’t that many) and then some which means that I can do the job I want and not have to stress about finances.

Link up again here and think about what you have been blessed with.

With much love

'Home' again

After 10 days at home with my parents I am back in my Adelaide ‘home’.  It really feels less like home every time I come back from the country.

Like so often, after I return from visiting my folks, I am in a funk.  Those who know me well will know that I have over the past 10 years battled on and off with depression and while I am, right now, close to the healthiest, mentally, that I have been in 10 years, I still find that the hardest times are when I have to leave my family. {I live 6 hrs away from my parents and now that I am working every day I find I can only get across to visit during the school holidays.}

It reminds me that I am just not ready or strong enough.

For what...?

For living out of home, for being on my own, for being an adult, for losing either of my parents, for being off medication, for being married {LORD help the poor man who has to deal with me in this state}, for being on my own.

Then I remember I don’t have to be strong. On my BEST day I will NEVER be strong enough.  But that is ok because I have a loving God who is with me when I am feeling good and when I fall apart.

When I have good days I remember that Jesus is walking with me.  He promised he would never leave me and I believe that promise. If he is walking with me on my good days I know that on my bad days he will most certainly never leave me.

He is my rock; he is my tower, my fortress, my refuge.  He is the strength that I do not have.  He carries me through the darkness and into the light.

Psalm 46

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.^[c]

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

⁸ Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields^[d] with fire.
¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹ The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Father, may I always remember this and praise you. Amen

with much love,

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

Today my good friend over at The Secret Life of Samara is beginning her Thankful Thursday link up.  I am thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to share God’s blessings with her and with you.  I have been following Samara for most of her blogging life and I love reading her Thankful blogs, I myself am new to blogging and still working out how to be more regular.  I am hoping that this link-up will be one of those. (Please feel free to hold me accountable to this and keep a lookout for my upcoming post where I ask you to join in keeping me accountable on a regular basis).

So here goes this week I am thankful for:

My mother

This week I am back visiting my mum (and my dad and my brother).  I am so thankful for the wonderful relationship I have with my family.  I hear so often of people who are estranged from their parents or who don’t talk often and even those who still live with their folks, but who resent them.  I am thankful that not only is my relationship with my mum and dad close, but they actually still look forward to seeing me.  Before I came home my mum rang me to ask if I had been to a restaurant in town because she and my father had been talking about taking me there.  I was such a little gesture but knowing that my mum and dad were looking forward to having me home as much as I was looking forward to going home was wonderful. 

The Holy Spirit

I am not very good at prayer.  I was not raised in the church and didn’t have the scaffolding of prayer that many Christians my age have had.  It is one thing that I struggle with and am actively working through.  The Spirit has been integral in the way my prayer life has progressed.  A few weeks ago I stood in front of my congregation and prayed a prayer I never thought I would be able to pray.  It was easily the most eloquent prayer I have ever spoken (unfortunately is not a huge award) and it came so easily.  I knew the second I moved away from the mike that not one of those words had come from me.  In fact I barely remember what I said, it was as though I was listening to someone else speak.  The Holy Spirit is amazing and does amazing things and I am so thankful that He is helping me to grow in relationship with Him.

Blogs

I have been so inspired, encouraged and challenged by all of the blogs that I follow.   I follow a variety of blogs related to children, my occupation, crafting and DIY, sewing, and Christianity.  Each week there is something that makes me stop and reflect on my own life and practice.  God works in such wonderful ways to grow us and I am blessed that I ‘know’ so many wonderful women who share their faith and skills and help me to further develop maturity in Christ.

Why not link up with us this week and think about what you have been blessed with.  Or just place a comment at the end of my or Samara’s blog posts.

With much love