Seven Out Of Seven

A friend messaged me about this idea, saying "Does no one genuinely enjoy their work anymore and what is so great about weekends that we have to spend 5 days anticipating them?" And I wholeheartedly agree. But seeing as he had the passion for this, I challenged him to write about it, which he boldly accepted. Good on ya and thank you, Joel!

Without further ado, here is the first ever guest post on FindingTheLord (v. open to many more!).

Music, we all love it. For some of us it's the top 40 pop hits and for others it's the adventure of discovering up and coming subpop bands. Radio plays is a fantastic medium to get a daily fix of the latest hits. But here's the thing...

In modern society we have heaps of influence upon our lives from all spheres. Each seeking to impose their ministry on us and more often than not, detract our gaze from God. Radio has got to be one of the biggest social influencers, especially in the workplace. A concerning message, from a number of these stations, seems to be working its way into our minds.

Radio show hosts appear to have developed a culture of living life 2/7. Complaints of the start of the new week become the subject matter of a Monday. Tuesday through Thursday are just days closer to Friday, which means the weekend is finally here. They all celebrate and vocalize the exciting plans they have. Often the public are invited to share their various liberations from work on social platforms, or on air. The gist of these rants is the relief the weekend will bring from a work week.

This got me thinking, for 5/7 days we live in anticipation for two. Literally counting the hours before we are free from the grind. Surely there's more to life than living for the 2/7. What about the other five work days we so longingly wish away?

It's evident in scripture that God created humans to work. In Genesis it speaks of Adam tending to the fields before the fall. After the fall it was made clear that his labour would be made tough and that he would toil as a result of sin. Got that right! Nonetheless, we have inherited Adam's mandate to work and bring glory to God. (Gen 2:15)

Let's take it one step back and look at God in his being. If we are a race created in His image, surely we should carry his attributes? The answer to work then, lies blatantly in the previous sentence. God created. I can't really make this point more clear. In six days he spoke the world into creation, displaying his omnipotent power. Content at the end of his work, he exclaimed that it was good! God found joy in his labour, pleased with all he had made. (Gen 1)

"On the seventh day he rested", yes there's a place for rest. Let's dissect this a little.

God hasn't ever, didn't need and never will require rest. He doesn't just take the day off and park cheese, regaining his strength whilst the world carries on. Isaiah speaks of our God who does not faint and won't grow weary, heck we even sing of this in the song Everlasting God. (Ish 40:28) So what is this rest then? Quite simply, he ceased to create. In his omniscience he came the point where he knew he had created all lifeforms he saw fit to roam the earth and bring glory to his name.

What about the fourth commandment? This is a special one, "Remember the sabbath and keep it holy". A clear demarcation of a day we are to set aside to worship God. It's as if God knew we were going to lose our mandate to live for him along the way, so he helped us by electing a day. As years have past, society has perverted this and quite frankly it's just another day. As a kid I clearly remember ALL the stores being closed with the exception of kwikspar. One or two stores change trading days and the rest followed suit. For a number of years here after, we as a family would not shop on a Sunday out of principle, but this too faded. It's clear we've failed to honour God in setting aside this rest day where we cease to work and focus on him.

As humans in our fleshly body we grow tired and weary, just as Jesus did. Fully God yet fully man he too sacame to fatigue, even sleeping through a wild storm. The Bible does not negate the necessity of rest, but throughout Proverbs the lazy are harshly rebuked for their foolishness.

I started the self employed journey close on two years ago now. It's been one of the most rewarding yet draining tasks I've undertaken to date, but I love it. Dare I say, "I love my job". Yes there are those crazy tough days and sometimes weeks, where I cannot believe I'm still trying to run a a start up. Then the corner turns and there's a whole different view from the mountain that was just climbed and it is epic! It's unmistakably evident how God had had his hand of favour in my efforts to use the talents he has given me.

It reminds me somewhat of the parable of the servants and their talents. The one who buried his share was rebuked. He did this both our of fear to lose what he had been given and out of laziness in surity of the value of his return. Yet the one who carefully nurtured his, worked them and built a profit, was welcomed and rewarded by his master. It's unquestionable that God desires for us to be fruitful in our work, as long as we are doing it for his glory. Colossians speaks of the attitude we are to have towards our work. (Col 3:23)

I once read a quote, "One day when I meet God at the pearly gates I want to be able to say", "I used everything you gave me". It takes some thought to grasp the magnitude of this statement, our abilities as humans in our mere mortal eyes are pretty remarkable. We've reached the moon, the depths of the oceans, developed AI and advanced hugely in the medicine world. This is all a result of folks stepping up to the plate and pursuing their God given abilities, whether under common grace or as his children.

I challenge you to search out the God given talents you have. Seek to nurture and grow these to their full potential. Find joy in your work and give reason to those around you to question your passion to live out a purpose driven life. When we begin to align ourselves with God and his heart, our lives start to change and his perfect plan will be revealed. God created YOU, he knows your inmost being, he knit you together in your mother's womb. How could you possibly dream of not living out the life, the author life has given?

Go live life 7/7. (Col 3:17)

Isaiah 26

I've been reading through Isaiah, a chapter each day. Normally I write down a few points from each chapter. But in Isaiah 26, there was just so much goodness, that it ended up way too long to whatsapp to my accountability group. So instead, here it is :) 

v1 "We have a strong city;"

- I like this. Such a simple statement, but it's powerful. We have security. We have protection. We have a refuge to hide in. We have a safe home that we should be inviting other people into. Are we living in the strong city or are we doing our own thing in the wilderness?

v2 "Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter,"

- The gates were not made to be closed and to keep people out. As Elsa did in Frozen, let's declare that the gates are open forever for all to be welcomed in. Let's be inviting people into our world that they may find Jesus and his righteousness and grace and salvation. 

v3 "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."

- Perfect peace. Nothing missing, nothing broken. Peace beyond our understanding and control and logic and circumstances. This peace comes only because we trust in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. I know that sometimes having a mind that is steadfast seems impossible in this world we face. But our minds can be steadfast, not because of ourselves, but because of where our trust is placed, because we know the One in whom we trust (2 Tim 1:12)

v4 "Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal."

- As Isaiah often says, it's the Lord himself. The Lord himself is our refuge, our salvation, our Rock eternal. Not a religion, not some ideas, not some tick boxes that we build our lives on. It's the Lord himself. 

v7 "The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth."

- To be honest though, sometimes it feels more like a rollercoaster. But the life we live is a life of faith, and we have to trust that even in the storms and rocky paths, God is still in control and he is making a way. 

v9 "My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you."

- More honesty: I often don't feel this. Often my yearning and longings are for other things—for comfort, for riches, for recognition, for achieving, for being liked. I want to get better at this; aligning myself more and more to Jesus. Like Jack Sparrow's compass that always points to the thing he desires the most, I want my heart to always point to Jesus. 

v12 "Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us."

- So important to remember that ALL is from God—peace, accomplishments, gifts, success, hope, meaning, purpose, everything. Helps to keep us humble. 

v13 "Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone do we honor."

- So many things try to lord over us: culture, our feelings, our insecurities, fear of man, our bosses, our busyness. But there is only One that is worthy and able to rule over us in righteousness and justice.

v16 "Lord, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer."

- I don't think I have ever been in a situation where I have felt this desperate—but I know that way too many people have been. And I love that we can still come to Jesus in our distress. Even when we can barely whisper a prayer, He hears us and is moved with compassion. His heart is for us. And as it says in Isaiah 42: A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

v18 "We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life."

- We can't save people. It's all Jesus and it's him alone. We are called to love people and show them the salvation that is on offer for them; but we can't bring the dead back to life. I find that freeing, it takes the pressure off of me and puts it rightfully on the infinitely large and capable shoulders of Jesus. As one of my favourite Narnia quotes says: "It is Aslan, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus." It's Jesus, not me, that will save my friends and family and colleagues and even enemies. It's all him. As the next verse says:

v19 "But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise"
- In the Lord, the dead will live again. In Christ alone. 

Excellence

During my gap year at church our leader always reminded us to do things with excellence. Now, almost 10 years later, my fellow yoylies and still I like to say, "excellenncceee" to one another when performing any task at church.

I stopped to think about it the other day though and wondered how often I fall short of that standard of excellence in the things I do. Why do I settle for less than my best? Why do I do the easy thing rather than the right thing with a good attitude?

Ever found yourself in this boat? Making excuses for doing less than your best? Or doing what is asked of you, but with a sour attitude and a poor effort? Unfortunately, sometimes I am the captain of this sinking boat.

But like Paul talks about in Romans 7, this is not how I want to be. I don't want to be that guy! This isn’t how it should be. In everything, I know I am called to be an imitator and ambassador of Jesus. The Bible speaks about this a lot:

Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;” 
1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Titus 2:7 "In everything set them an example by doing what is good."

Somehow I don't think that poor efforts and half-hearted living go well with setting a good example and imitating and glorifying our God. He is not about that halfway life. So I don't want to settle for that either.

No, I don't have to be the best at everything. I never will be. But I do want to give of my best in everything I do. From the big moments and life changing decisions I make, to the small, seemingly insignificant times of eating and drinking and washing the dishes, I want to choose to do it with the excellence of my God.

Something I have found to be helpful in trying to pursue excellence is accountability. Talking about the areas of laziness and half-heartedness in my life and asking an accountability buddy to challenge me when they see me slacking, has gone a long way in helping me up my excellence game. Not because I feel the need to strive or achieve to be loved or accepted, but because I want to live well in a way that speaks Jesus to those around me.

It's also vital, in this pursuit of excellence to show myself grace. Despite my hopes (and pride), I am never always going to do everything right the first time (or maybe even the second or seventeenth time over). In my flawed, broken, sinful body and mind, absolute excellence isn't an option. And that is not what I'm called to. Failure will happen. Below average results will happen.

But because my God calls me to persevere, I will try, try again. I will pursue excellence for the glory of God and to set a good example to those in my life. And above all, I will pursue Jesus, the ultimate picture and embodiment of excellence.

The Arms of the Almighty

Psalm 61:2-3

“From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.”

Even the biggest and bravest and strongest reach a point where they just can't. A moment when they have to stop and surrender, recognising their need of a rescuer.  I think every person will sit in that place at at least once in their lives, facing the need for something or someone who is big enough and strong to handle the life that seems to endlessly slip through their fingers. There is no human who can sustain themselves, no creature who can possess one ounce of life apart from the sovereign, sustaining grace of God.  

And boy, do I often feel that. As the Psalmist grasped so well—my heart is faint, and I am small. But Christ, my solid rock, He isn’t. He is great and mighty, powerful and eternal. 

So I don’t have to be big. I don’t have to be strong. I don’t have to have it all together, because Jesus does.

The world I face is scary and big, but God is the world’s architect and maker. He is bigger, he is stronger, and he is able—able to hold this faint heart. From day one, he has been my refuge and sustenance, and I know he will continue to strengthen me until I see him face to face.

The Psalm continues in verse 4: “Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!”

Yes, I am weak and small, but I am not alone.  

I am safe in the presence and the arms of my Saviour. Even in the midst of an enormous world filled with countless people, I know his Spirit is with me personally (John 14), because I belong to the God who is greater, who has overcome the world (1 John 4:4).

At the end of the day, I’m happy to be a little person in the arms of the big and mighty God.