Word of Encouragement

Today’s Word of Encouragement comes from a colleague and good friend of mine in the ministry, and pastor of Abundant Life Church here in Wellington, Hamish Thomson.

He writes;

Chances are you’ve probably not heard of Robert Greene. From a young age, all he wanted to be was a writer. After several years of writing and submitting novels to his publisher, one day his editor sat him down and told him he should seriously consider a different career.

Over the next decade, Greene worked more than 60 different jobs as he drifted through life trying to find his place. One day he met a guy who asked him if he had any ideas for a book. Greene told him of his love of historical figures like Julius Caesar and Louis XIV, the similarities he observed in movie executives, and the power games people play but try and fail to disguise.

Long story short, the guy loved the idea and made Greene a proposal: If Greene wrote the first half of the book, then he would cover Greene’s cost of living, find a publisher, and design and produce the book himself.

In 1998, almost 40 years old and after numerous setbacks and disappointments, Greene published his first book: The 48 Laws of Power. That book sold more than 1.2 million copies in the USA and became a New York Times bestseller.

I tell you this because you have a story to tell. A purpose in life that when lived, will weave your talents, gifts, and desires together in ways that will bring fulfillment to you and great joy to your Creator!

So let me encourage you with this thought. What if everything you have been through to date, the ups and downs, and everything in between, has been shaping you and positioning you for your life’s purpose?

Don’t let the day-to-day hustle and the opinions of others pull you off course. Listen to that inner voice. Don’t ignore that dream you have carried over the years. Never forget you were created for a purpose!

Let the wisdom of Solomon inspire you:

“Remember the Lord, [and his plans for your life] before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades…

Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets… before you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper”

Ecclesiastes 12:4-5 (New Living Translation).

It’s never too late to step out into your dreams!

Blessings ’til next time 🙂

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A Time for Everything

According to Ecclesiastes 3:1-8;

There is a time for everything:

“For everything there is a season
and a time for every activity under heaven:

a time to give birth and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted;

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build up;

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance;

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek and a time to lose,
a time to keep and a time to discard;

a time to tear apart and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak;

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”

(Tree of Life Version)

The thing is, as I read my devotions in the YouVersion App the other day, which sees me continuing to work my way through the Book of Psalms, I was reminded of the paradox and brevity of time.

You see, time is such a curious thing. When you are a kid, a year seems like a lifetime while you wait for your next birthday.

As a teenager nearing adulthood, with mounting responsibilities and deadlines, time begins to pick up pace until suddenly, you find yourself graduating from school and starting life out on your own. Then, you have to figure out what things in life will slow you down and which things won’t, as you strive to get ahead.

All the while time keeps on ticking and the pace of life actually continues to gain momentum. Days, weeks and months start rolling on by at an ever increasing pace and you find yourself reaching key moments in your journey of life wondering where have the days gone.

Maybe that’s why David asked God to show him the constraints of his life’s timeline.

David understood that he needed God to shift his perspective on time, that he needed his focus realigned on what really matters – God! 

You see, he came to realise that the brief time that we have been given compared to God’s is nothing at all, he could identify with the writer of Ecclesiastes.

His lifetime was “nothing more than a puff of air – I’m gone so swiftly. So too are the grandest of men; they are nothing but a fleeting shadow!“

Refer to Psalm 39:5 (The Passion Translation)

In verse 6 he goes on to say that; “All our activities and energies are spent for things that pass away. We gather, we hoard, we cling to our things, only to leave them behind for who knows who.“

By understanding the fragility and briefness of our lives, we could be freed from living vainly in pursuit of wealth or possessions or personal gain. Instead, we could be like David: living with hope, restored joy, and praise that overflows in all areas of our lives.

As Pink Floyd sang about in their classic song ‘Time’ from The Dark Side of the Moon album “every year is getting shorter and we never seem to find the time, plans that either come to naught, or can be seen as half a page of scribbled lines” can sit never fully realised. 

We can end up “ticking away the moments that make up a dull day, frittering and wasting the hours in an offhand way.“

As a fan of Pink Floyd it is hard to imagine that that song was written about 50 years ago, according to wikipedia it was recorded between 3 June 1972 – 1 February 1973, that’s like half a century ago 🙂

Yet, those lyrics are just as relevant to us today than they were when they were originally written. The same can be said of the Scriptures referenced above from both Ecclesiastes and Psalms, although written thousands of year ago they are just as relevant to us in this day and age as when they were originally written. 

May we come to a similar conclusion to that of David found in Psalm 39:7 (The Voice);

“In light of all this, Lord, what am I really waiting for? You are my hope.”

So, today I want to leave you with a couple of questions as we each contemplate the paradox and brevity of time in comparison to our Creator God and the eternity that He has promised for those that believe in Him.

Recognising that there’s a time for everything!

How would an understanding of the fragility of your life help you – or hinder you – in living whatever time you have left in such a way to inspire and encourage those close to you, especially those of the younger generation with hopes, dreams and aspirations to so much more?

You see, how you and I use whatever time we have been allotted is of utmost importance – as we will only get one opportunity to use it for the benefit of others. So use it wisely 😃

Secondly, Knowing that our days are short in comparison to eternity, what do you need to let go of today (sacrifice / set aside) to draw closer to God and his plan for your life?

Blessings ’til next time 🙂 

 

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Health Update…

As many of you are aware over the past 4-6 weeks I have attended a number of appointments with rheumatologist specialists, respiratory specialists and having a number of medical tests to find out what is going on with my health. It has been discovered that I have some permanent lung disease (NSIP), which can be attributed to my scleroderma (Ssc).

The drugs that I have been on for the past 18 months to assist with keeping my scleroderma in check, have not necessarily had the desired effect. And a couple of months ago after picking up a sinus infection / cold I’ve had some further difficulties breathing, especially when under exertion (even walking up a flight of stairs can wear me out).

I’ve been put on a higher dose of steroids long-term at this stage to try and clear any lingering inflammation and help to improve my breathing and energy levels (as this can be drained very quickly).

These steroids at such a high dose come with their own set of challenges and side effects.

In the next couple of weeks I’ll be having a form of medication to treat the Ssc-ILD and hopefully improve my overall health and well-being. We do not know much about this yet other than that they will require regular visits to the hospital for the drugs to be administered, and these could come with their own set of complications and side effects.

It is envisaged that in the next couple of weeks we’ll be able to see if this new combination of medications will have the desired effect of keeping my autoimmune system and Ssc-ILD in check, and that my general health and well-being will improve. In the meantime I’ll be working from home as much as I’m able.

As I’m sure you can appreciate there are good days and not so good days, and some really rough days in between where I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus. But God is still at work in and through each and every one of them. I’m reminded of this verse from Ecclesiastes;

“On a good day, enjoy yourself; 
On a bad day, examine your conscience.
God arranges for both kinds of days
So that we won’t take anything for granted.“

Ecclesiastes 7:14 (The Message)

While the country sits at Level 2 COVID alert I will need to stay away from crowds, as I am now considered High Risk because of my compromised immune system and with the additional damage to my lungs.

I will return to Sunday morning meetings when the alert level allows, but will more than likely be mulling around in the background, in the meantime I am keeping up to date with a number of things that are happening within the Corps and the community.

I want to thank you for your ongoing prayers and support as Annette & I work through this difficult period in our life and ministry, and we are truly thankful for the support of local leadership, and especially DHQ in these days, as they are fully aware of the situation and are supporting us each as we need it.

Even though I may be out of action to some degree, from the viewpoint of being in the office on a daily basis, and not face-to-face with people – It is hugely encouraging that the work of God does not cease in any way, and that there are numerous ways in which I can still contribute to His work in this place, as we all endeavour to continue bringing “Life and Hope” to those within the Inner City and beyond.

May God continue to bless you each as we each step out in faith trusting in His provision 🙂

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