Who we have faith in...

Im bound to repeat some of my earlier points in this post, but I was just drawn to writing another post about faith, but this time I will focus more on who we put our faith in.

Recently I went through a situation where I put my faith in someone and they ultimately failed me. At the time I felt quite disappointed, I had faith that they would help me, they had agreed to help me, but in the end they felt my request was not that important and ignored it (I guess im still feeling a bit unhappy about it).

Afterward I began thinking about who we trust and why. Everyday without even consciously thinking about it we put our faith in others. We may trust that the electricity company will supply power to our house, we may trust that the transport company will deliver us to work, we may trust our loved one to cook for us. And most of the time we trust in these things without giving it a second thought.

But the trouble with trusting in "man" is the simple fact that man can prove untrustworthy. It may not be for malicious intentions, but there are times when "man" will let us down.  And at those points we can feel extremely hurt, because we have put our faith in someone and they have proved unfaithful.

But should we abandon having faith in anyone, from fear of being hurt? That would be impossible, as we all know its impossible to live without faith. But we need to look at who we trust. The wonderful thing is there is one who we can always trust upon and know that we will never be let down...

God. He is absolutely trustworthy. One of my most favourite lines in the Bible is Hebrews 13:5

"I will never leave you, I will never forsake you"

This sums up the awesome promise we have in Christ. I only need to look through the book of Matthew to find countless references to the power of faith in God. Jesus highlights the power of having faith and prayer in Matthew 21:22 when He says

And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive.

Man can say that to you, but you know that there is the chance he will let you down. But if you look throughout the entire Bible and throughout the entire history for that fact, you will see there is not one example of a time when Jesus has lied or failed us!! Do you know one person who lay claim to that fact?

But another point to why its so important to have faith in Christ is the fact that its only when we put our faith in Him 100% that we will see amazing things begin to happen. Look at the man in Mark chapter 2 where his friends lowered him through the roof of the house so that he could get to Jesus. Then as it says in Mark 2:5

When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Because of the mans faith, he was healed. When we have such great faith in Jesus, He is able to work miracles in our lives! There are many other examples of stories like this throughout the new testament. They all serve to highlight the power of having faith in Jesus and bringing our troubles before Him.

Next time you are in the middle of a troubling situation and you have no idea how you are going to make it through, just take some time to pray to the Lord. Bring your problem before Him and have faith that He will see you through. When you look at the great men of the Bible, one thing the have in common is they all had a great faith in the Lord. Again I want to highlight that if we ask in faith we shall receive (refer to 1 John 4:14, 15; Mark 11:24; Matt. 21:22)

"The just shall live by his faith" Habakkuk 2:4

2009...reflections

Well 2009 is finishing in very much the same fashion it has played out for the whole year...very busy. Although I went to church this morning, Im determined to do nothing more than watch TV and play PS3 this afternoon...and blog of course.

Anyway...looking back over the bad points of this year...I guess the worst point was being told I would need surgery on my right shoulder. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love hitting the gym and working out. Being told I would need a shoulder reconstruction meant I would be able to do no more than lay on the couch and watch TV for at least month, followed by little movement in my right arm.

Of course there were other negatives, that related to work. But they all taught my more patience and how to deal with "troublesome" clients.

When I think about it there hasnt been too many struggles, which I can praise God for. I guess whenever I felt that I was about to fall into trouble, I just took time away from things to pray to
God and ask for his help in my situation. I guess the knowledge that no matter what difficulty I face, I always have God by my side makes it much easier to face the hard times with courage and strength. Ultimately when I came through the bad times, I was full of praise for God i that I can always depend on him to see me through the hard moments, as long as I have faith in his eternal promises.

Other bad moments of 2009...Fevola hitting the post against Hawthorn, Carlton's last quarter against Brisbane in the first final and trade week 2009...

Anyway, the good moments for 2010...this may sound funny...but one of the bad moments of the year ultimately turned into a great moment...having surgery resulted in my relationship with God being renewed and becoming stronger than ever. I was able to spend a lot of time in prayer and in God word without the distractions of everyday life. In the end I felt so refreshed after my break and my relationship with God was stronger than ever.

Other good things...Carlton making the finals for the first time in many many years...getting a free PS3 =) and joining a new Connect group which has allowed me to make some great new friends.

Other things from 2009....

Best Movie: Inglourious Basterds
Special Mention: District 9

Worst Movie: 2012
Special Mention: Knowing

Best Album: The Resistance - Muse
Special Mention: Surface Paradise - Root!

Best new restaurant i tried: Little Beijing House
Special Mention: Gingerboy

Worst new restaurant i tried: Butchers Grill

Hmm...well thats enough for now...im looking forward to a big 2010...and getting back to the gym and doing what I do best...working out!

End of year update...

Well this month has gone a bit crazy. There I was blogging away happily on a regular basis, when "BAM!" I got smacked with 5 different projects at work...simultaneously! Well thats my excuse for blogging at bare minimum over the past couple of weeks. But finally things are starting to slow down again...back to the way I like things.

I guess its time to start reflecting over the past years, what I have learned, the good and bad parts and what are my plans for 2010...

So starting tomorrow till the end of this year I will discuss the year that was 2009 for me...

First Report from Canberra

Well this is my second day in Canberra....for those that dont know...the capital of Australia. So far things have been quite eventful from a work perspective and quite uneventful from a social perspective. Canberra is so dead at night! On my first night here...I headed down to the local restaurant district for some dinner and places were closed!! The following was my first view of Canberra outside the airport...

Anyway, Im staying at the Rydges Capital Hill...not a bad place. Reason work selected this place was due to its closeness to DBCDE (the department we are working for). They are basically across the road which is good for me. Plus the Dialog office is only about 5 minutes away which is nice too.

These are photos in my room...my comfy King size bed

My spa...I intend to use at some point...

My bathroom after I unpacked...

Tonight I went for a walk down to Manaka for dinner...

Then I did the unthinkable....dinner alone!!

I had some tasty chicken...but that still didnt make up for the embarrassment of eating alone...

Anyway...tomorrow I aim to take some more photos of the sites around Canberra and also comment on some of the more interesting things that have happened so far....

The Test Of Our Faith

Something that has been on my heart is the topic of faith and the trials of our faith. One of the early things we learn as a Christian is that our lives wont be trouble free. The moment we give our lives to Christ doesnt mean we will have a straight run to heaven. There we be obstacles along the way, there will be tests. But the way we percieve these obstacles is the important thing.

James 1:3-5 says the following on Trials and Temptations:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him

I really like this piece of scripture because no matter how many times you read it,  you are bound to find more wisdom each time! This passage speaks to us about how we see trials, the importance of trials, the significance of going through trials and how to deal with trials. People could writes whole books on that, but James has been able to summarise it all in a few lines.

Starting with the first line, we should be joyful when we face trials. Not complain of our situations but see it as an opportunity to grow. Can you imagine studying a subject, but there was not assignments or tests? How would you be able to measure your progress? Likewise God will test our faith to expose wheter it is genuine. 1 Peter 1:7 also mentions this:

These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

 There is also another extremely important thing that we obtain through trials and that is patience or perseverance. Could anyone argue the importance of patience in developing our character? When we reflect on the kind of people we are drawn to, we will usually find we gravitate to those who are patient.

It is normal for us to act impatiently in times of trials, but that is not what God desires. He is looking for those who are patient in times of trouble and can endure. Just as Jesus said in Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

One of the greatest examples of a person who endured trials with patience is our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2-3 says

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

This an awesome piece of scripture which we can draw strength from in troubling times. When we feel we are in hard times, we need only fix our eyes on our almighty saviour and what he acheived on the cross!

But what about the result of being obedient throughout our trials? Through submitting to God and displaying patience throughout our trials and tests, we are ultimately growing in Christ and demonstrating our Christ like characteristics. This is what our Lord God delights in most of all.

Another wonderful thing that comes out of trials is that we draw close to Christ. Many times I have heard and experienced myself that through a difficult trial I have come out of the darkness much closer to Christ. We are given the opportunity to grow closer to Christ, much closer than we could have under normal circumstances! Therefore why should we be upset and troubled when we are facing trials, we should rejoice that its an opportunity to grow closer to His awesome presence. And again through this close relationship we can learn to be more like Chirst.

In the end trials will always end. And after the storm there is the sunshine. We need only grow in our maturity, draw strength and wisdom from Christ our saviour and always remember that he will never leave us, just as Hebrews 13:5 states:

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Average Jus Update

Well in order to stop this blog getting to impersonal, I have decided today I will post about what is currently going on in my life.

Well its been a month since I had my shoulder reconstruction...and it really has been an amazing month! I spent 2 and a half weeks at home as I was in no shape to work. Initially I felt it was going to get pretty boring at home for that long, but in the end it was a really great opportunity to draw closer to God. I spent more time reading Gods word and more time digesting what I read. When I returned to work, I felt refreshed spiritually.

So I have been back at work now for 2 weeks, although the first week was cut short by a lot of shoulder pain, but I managed to make it all the way through this week despite the considerable pain it caused me. I was so close to not going in on both Thursday and Friday...how not staying at home made a big difference in the outcome of my week...

That is because I am now going to Canberra next week to help kick off a pilot with the office up there. I will be leaving on Monday morning and returning Friday night. I have no idea what to expect since I have been basically provided no information. Lets all pray that it doesnt end in disaster.

Another really big decision I have been recently praying about it...participating in a mission trip. I am planning on attending a mission trip to China in April next year. It will most likely be to Hengyang in the Hunan province. There I will be volunteering in an orphanage. I really feel God calling me to do this and I pray that he will use me in a way I can make a difference to the poor childrens lives. The trip will go for 16 days, but I will most likely do a bit of traveling after that, but Im still to decide where exactly I would go to.

Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my own problems, my own situations, I forget how lucky I am. I get so concerned about such little things, but in the scheme of things they are so insignificant. Sometimes I need to take a step back and put things in perspective. But that is usually harder said than done.

In other news, I have been stocking up on PS3 games, despite the fact my ability to really play is quite minimal at the moment. Currently the catalog goes as follows:

• Killzone 2
• Metal Gear Solid 4
• Guitar Hero 5
• Rock Band
• Band Hero

I also have 2 guitar controller, drum controller and microphone....and I can confidently say that my singing ability is up there with the best of them =P

The Day Is Near

Okay, I am going to try and keep this blog post a bit shorter since my last few posts have been getting a bit long...dont want to put you all to sleep...although Im sure one of my shorter posts would be just as boring.

Anyway, the topic I wanted to focus on today was the "blend-in" spirit. You would have no doubt heard the saying "dont rock the boat", when someone refers to not wanting to disrupt the normal way things are operating. It may be in your workplace, you are surrounded by people who constantly speak bad words, gossip about others and talk badly about your coworkers. But instead of standing up for what you believe, you just go along with the flow, you blend in, you go along with what is acceptable in the world. But do not be mistaken....none of this is acceptable to our God!

Romans 13:11 states:

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

The day is coming when Jesus will return. It's important that we don't neglect this fact! This is why its vital that we don't submit to the "blend-in" spirit. When we are going about our daily life, it will tell us its okay to blend in with others, go along with what they are doing, be part of the team. But we must not allow the spirit to attack us, we must draw on Gods mighty word. Romans 12:2 speaks of this:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

One of the big dangers is, if we allow the spirit to stumble us, we may get to a point where people no longer see us as Christians. If we allow ourselves to enter into the ways of the wicked, then what did Jesus die for? When the spirit comes upon us, we must know how to say NO!

God doesnt deserve to be second best in our lives, he doesnt deserve to be put after anything. We must ensure that at every opportunity we put God first, above all else! Romans 13:14 says:

Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature

We must allow the desires of our flesh to direct our path. We are called to live our lives differently. We must live our lives like Jesus and for Jesus! No longer shall we live our lives for ourselves, for God has created us for a purpose. Remember that the things of this world are brief and we can take none of it with us. Do you really think that the promotions you get in this world mean anything to God? This is summed up in Mark 8:36

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

So you need to think - is God number one in your life? We must constantly be in prayer with God, not just offering him the crumbs of our life. The life we lead here now will impact how we spend eternity. Therefore we must not live for things that will fade away

In the end we must present ourselves pure to God. He will ask us how we spent our time, how we lived our life for Him and carried out his purpose for us. How will you be able to answer that? In our life, we are not called to be successful, but rather we are to be significant. We are to live lives where we stand out for Christ, just as it says in Matthew 5:14-16

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

It’s not the duration of our lives that counts, but the donation of our lives. Always remember what we get in this life is unimportant, what we do with our life is what is important to God!

Don’t fall for the blend in spirit!