BIAY 2018 Day 4

Day 4t

Battles and Blessings

When we are in the battle it is hard to believe that it will ever come to an end. When we are in a period of blessing we sometimes expect it will go on forever. But life is not like that. There are battles and blessings.

1. Learn to steer through battles and blessings
Proverbs 1:1-7

The purpose of the book of Proverbs is stated right at the beginning - "These are the wise sayings... written down so we'll know how to live well and right... a manual for living, for learning what's right and just and fair" (v1-3)
They tell us how life usually works. Proverbs are pragmatic and wise advice learnt from a lifetime of experience. They help us to attain "wisdom" (v2) and "discipline" (v7) - two vital aspects of life, which do not happen overnight.
The purpose of the book is to enable you "to steer your course rightly" (v5). Wisdom is the "art of steering" through the battles and blessings of life, and living skillfully in whatever conditions you find yourself.

Wisdom is choosing to do now what you will be happy with later on -- Joyce Meyer

It starts with "the fear of the LORD" which "is the beginning of knowledge" (v7a) -- Fear can be translated here as "reverence". It means to respect and honour the LORD as God. The most important lesson you can learn about life is to "start with God" (v7a MSG)

2. Learn how Jesus dealt with battles and blessing
Matt 4:1-22

Jesus' ministry started with the blessing of the Holy Spirit at his baptism but, as so often happens after great experiences of the Holy Spirit, battles immediately follow.

Jesus faced 3 powerful temptations:

• Instant gratification (economic)

There are some things that provide instant gratification but leave you feeling hollow afterwards. There is a deeper spiritual hunger that can only be satisfied by "every word that comes from the mouth of God" (v4) We need regular spiritual food even more than regular physical food.

• Attention seeking (religious)

This is a temptation to do something dramatic (though not productive) to attract attention

• Wrong means (political)

This is the temptation to be dissatisfied with God himself and to embark on a programme of unscrupulous manipulation to achieve his own ends by the wrong means.

To each temptation Jesus responds with a verse from Deuteronomy chapters 6-8.  As we study the bible it reveals God's character and loving care for you, and deepens your relationship with Him. This protects you against the devil's lies, and helps and equips you to resist temptation when it comes.

Life is not just a matter of defensively seeing off the attacks; there are also positive advances to be made

3. Learn how others have coped with battles and blessings

Genesis 7:1-9:17

Of the four great themes of this passage (and the entire bible) only one of them is negative (the fall that leads to the battles). The other three are all about positive blessing. The blessings outweigh the battles.

• Creation -- Humans are created in the image of God (Gen 9:6b). There is a nobility and dignity about all human life. Every human being is of immense value. Treat every human being with respect and dignity
• Fall -- God's judgement in the flood came because of the seriousness of sin: "Every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood" (Gen 8:21)
• Redemption -- Despite the battle of the flood, Noah enjoyed the blessing of God's love, even though Noah and those with him in the ark were left (Gen 7:23) Just as those who were on the ark were safe, if we are in Christ we are safe.
• Glorification -- The rainbow that God put in the sky as a covenant symbol for Noah is also a reminder of God's commitment to us, which ultimately led to the cross - the blood of the new covenant.

BIAY 2018 Day 3

Day 3

Talk while you walk

Both Enoch and Noah 'walked with God' (Gen 5:24; 6:9). They didn't just sit, kneel or stand with God (the kind of actions we would often associate with spending time with God), but they were also in communion with God when doing something else.
While you are doing other things - working, eating, exercising, relaxing - you can be  in communion with God at the same time.

You can pray as you walk to the bus stop or walk between meetings during the day. While you are driving to appointments or home from places. Wherever you happen to be travelling, you can be talking with God. Talk while you walk.

The bible has a lot to say about walking with God. It's how we were intended to live. God's desire for you is that you walk humbly in a relationship with Him. (Micah 6:8)

• Walk with your head held high

God does not want you to be downcast - constantly looking at the regrets behind you, the problems around you and the sin within you. Rather, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD and see the help above you - walk with your head held high and your eyes fixed on him.

• Walk in step with the Holy Spirit

Jesus identified with us, sinful human beings, right from the start. He did this so that he could bear our sin on the cross for us. As a result, we are able to experience the Holy Spirit in a similar way and walk 'in step with the Spirit' (Gal 5:25)

What does that look like / mean? (Looking at Matt 2:19-3:17)

1. Get refined in the fire.

John baptised with water, Jesus baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The Holy Spirit will come like a refining fire to bring power and purity in your life. Knowing the refining fire of the Spirit in this life means that you can be free from the fear of the fire of judgement when Jesus returns

2. Be filled with peace

When Jesus was baptised the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. The dove is a symbol of peace that the Holy Spirit brings to your life.

3. Be assured of your adoption

A voice from heaven said "this is my Son" (Matt 3:17). Jesus is the Son of God in a unique way. However, the Holy Spirit assures all of us that through what Jesus has done for us, we too are sons and daughters of God. (See Romans 8:15-16)

4. Know that you are loved by God

The voice from heaven said "... whom I love" (Matt 3:17). God's love for us is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5)

5. Feel His pleasure

"... with whom i am well pleased" (Matt 3:17). This was supremely true of Jesus but as we walk in step with the Spirit, we too can experience this sense of God's delight and pleasure.

Walk in relationship with God

Humans are the pinnacle of God's creation. He created us to walk in relationship with himself. Sadly we destroyed that relationship at the very beginning of time.

Evil starts in our thinking and imagination - that is, in our hearts. We need to watch not only our actions but also our thoughts, attitudes, motives and imagination.

In the midst of corruption and evil, it is possible to be different and to make a difference.

BIAY 2018. Day 2

Day 2.

First questions.

The first question in the whole of the bible is about GOD'S GOODNESS.  "Did God REALLY say..." (Gen 3:1)
Despite the abundant provision of everything good that God gave humans in the beginning, we looked for something more. We were fooled into thinking that disobedience had no consequences  - "you will not certainly die" (Gen 3:4). The mistake was to engage with the serpent in conversation. We are created to converse with God, not the devil. The devil is the father of all lies. How often we swallow lies about God which then leads to swallowing forbidden fruit. Temptation often appears "good" "pleasing to the eye" and "desirable for gaining wisdom", but it so often leads to shame, guilt and covering up.

The first question that God asks in the bible is about US. "Where are you?" (Gen 3:9)
Even though Adam and Eve hid from God because they knew they had sinned, God came looking for them. Whenever you fall away from your relationship with him, God comes searching for you, wanting the relationship to be restored.

The first question human beings ask in the bible is about RESPONSIBILITY. "Am i my brother's keeper?" (Gen 4:9b)
This is a crucial question for today - Do we have responsibility for others?
Arguments, quarrelling, and falling out with others all began here. Try to avoid arguements, you will rarely win one.
You will either master sin (through the power of the cross and the resurrection, and with the help of the Holy Spirit) or sin will master you.
We have responsibility for others. We cannot exempt ourselves from responsibility for what is happening around us - in our city, nation and the world..
Not only do we have responsibility towards our fellow human beings, but it is our privilege to bring blessing and joy to our friends, family and those around us, and to make a difference in the lives of as many people as possible.

The first question in the New Testament is about Jesus "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?" (Matt 2:2)
Jesus is the fulfillment of the whole of the Old Testament. He fulfilled all of God's promises that the prophets had spoken.

The safest place to be in life is close to Jesus.

BIAY 2018. Day 1.

Day 1.

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the one... whose delight is in the LAW of the LORD and who MEDITATES on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water which YIELDS its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do PROSPERS.

New years resolutions:

1. DELIGHT in the Bible.

Happiness comes from what happens to you, BLESSING comes from what happens to you through knowing God and meditating on His words.

God promises FRUITFULNESS, VITALITY, and PROSPERITY (though not necessarily materially)

The key to LASTING - and ultimately eternal - FRUITFULNESS and VITALITY lies in your relationship with God.

2. FOCUS on Jesus

Resolve to focus your life on Jesus. The bible is all about Jesus. God uses sinful human beings and therefore can use us. Whatever your past, however broken your life may seem right now God can use you to do something great with your life.

Jesus means "he will save his people from their sins" - our greatest need is not for happiness or contentment, it is for FORGIVENESS. Therefore we need a Saviour.

All of history, prophesy and promise, is COMPLETED in Jesus. Your whole life is completed in Jesus. Every part of your life - work, family, friends, relationships, memories and dreams - are all completed in Jesus.

3. ENJOY God's creation

Every human being is created in God's image and should be treated with dignity, respect and love. Your ability to communicate with God is a reflection of the fact that you are made in His image.

God APPROVES of all that he created. God did not create rubbish. Therefore God APPROVES OF YOU. He loves you. He may not approve of everything you do, but He loves you unconditionally, wholeheartedly and continually.

WORK is a BLESSING. Work is part of God's creation, not part of the fall.
REST is NOT an optional extra. Don't work too hard - God took the time to rest and enjoy what he made - so should we.

well, life is a pond.... sort of. My toilet broke last week which was fun. So now its "sort of" fixed... but my overflow pipe is not connected to anything meaning if my toilet ever overflows it will run straight down through the ceiling, through a light, and make a nice puddle on my floor at my front door, not to mention screw with the electrics.... but its all fun and games...

Still not seeing much of Mr Rossi which is upsetting to say the least, but i'm coping... i think.

More updates later, the library's booting me off this comp.

S x

Centrestage

well, we had the last official centrestage before the summer on saturday just past and i thought it was pretty good. Andy Hopkins spoke on self-control which was pretty good and the music was decent too. I loved singing. Have to say the second lot of music / worship was better than the first. Could actually hear audience participation which was brilliant. Plus i think they knew the songs a little better than the first set. Was sad that "i've found Jesus" and "let there be joy" didnt quite get going in terms of people joining in. Perhaps it was more that they didnt really know them... or perhaps they were done too early in the night and the kids hadnt really got into the whole thing yet. Either way they didnt go as well as i hoped they might, but the rest of it was enjoyable and i think everyone taking part and just being there had a good time.
Went out for a drink afterwards with Ali, Bennett, Sandy and Steven, and Chris joined us at the pub. It was nice to just go and chill out with them all afterwards.
Things are a bit crazy at the moment cos aside from occassional walks / lifts home from different places, i feel like i've hardly seen Chris alone at all since we started going out. It sucks. But at least its not like i havent seen him at all since then... its always just been in more of a group context. And since the other physics teacher at the high school has been signed off with a bad back and definitely wont be in for the next two weeks, it means Chris is pretty much a one-man show in the physics dept. Which puts a lot more pressure on him. He not only has his own 21 periods to prepare for and teach, he also has Alec's 16 or 17 periods to at least prepare for.. he'll teach some of them but he'll have his own classes to teach at some points so he needs to actually have stuff properly prepared that they can work through with a different (probably non-science) teacher. So he's gonna be very busy over the next few weeks at least while Alec is off... and i dunno, but i get the feeling that Alec may not be back til after the summer.... so that's longer that Chris has to prep for. The joys of having a responsible job i guess.... :-S

Coupledom

well i've entered the happy state of coupledom now. Chris and i finally got together on Tuesday after months of comments / whispers / pestering / nudging / flirting and general interference from others! Am very happy just now :)

Quarter of a century....!

Imagine what you see there but in a wooden frame with the lyrics "Over all the earth, You reign on high, every mountain stream, every sunset sky" written between the pictures and you've got what i gave Chris for his birthday.

I soooooo wanted to keep it for myself!! And if he hadnt liked it so much i would have been taking it back! lol!

We went out for a meal on friday night to celebrate Mr Rossi's 25th, and it was a really nice night. Went to Pizzeria Il Fiume which is an italian (as the name might suggest!) and no it wasnt a coincidence that we went to an italian and Chris has italian genetics... cant believe Ali didnt twig it was deliberate! Was really nice that Anna could come down from Glasgow for it, it was just a shame that Ali and i had to work at 7.45am cos it would have been so nice to have been able to spend a little more time with her... And dont get me started on work yesterday... it deserves its own special individual post!!
Anyway, there were 7 of us at the meal - Chris, Hugh, Bennett, Anna, Ali, Claire and me. Lots of nice food and fun shared round the table and then we walked Claire home and headed down to the Bruce for a drink or 3 where Sandy joined us after he'd finished back shift at work. Would have stayed out slightly longer, but it was a good thing we went home when we did with the madness of the next day! Hugh, Sandy and Chris stayed out a bit later than us girls (and Bennett walked us home) so i dont know what time they all got to bed on saturday morning! The wee small hours i would expect! Chris seemed to have a nice evening which was the main thing :-)

pictures...

Thought i would post a few more pictures from the whithorn trip. It was brilliant :) i had such a nice time. Just so relaxing and chilled out.. just what i needed.