Fighting for Joy: Philippians 1:20-25

“Please pray that I make more friends”

This was a prayer request from a student on campus.  When I first heard this I laughed, after all wouldn’t we all like a couple more friends? It was the reason behind this prayer that greatly encouraged me.

“Please pray that I make more friends”… “because all of my current friends have already heard me share the Gospel, please pray that I make more friends so I can continue to share the Gospel with people who have never heard it.” 

This is the prayer of a man seeking after God’s heart for the lost and opening up his life to be used by God every day, never passing up on a opportunity to share the Gospel with the people God has placed in his life.  Are you taking advantage of the platform you have and the people God has drawn to you? I know I had the check my own heart after this.

“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation.”

This verse from Micah has given me great peace lately as I finish up my time here in Brisbane. 

The questions that has been asked of me a lot lately is if I am nervous about returning home and not knowing what comes next.  My answer is always no, I have seen God work mightily in my life thus far and I trust that He will continue to do the same, I am not nervous but rather excited to see what He will do next.

It is not so much the event, of the future, that makes you nervous as it is your thoughts about the event.  Your mind engages in an effort to take control of a situation, to bring the results you desire.  Do not forget that God is in control, the only remedy for this anxiety is to switch your focus from the problem (the event) and to God, than watch and see what He will do! - Jessica Young

I will focus on what God gives me today and let Him have my worry about tomorrow.

God Bless you all, 

Ashley

The Kingdom of God

I have been spending a lot of my daily times with God in Matthew chapters 6-9 trying to grasp the Kingdom of God in which Jesus came to preach.  When Jesus teaches his disciples to pray in chapter 6 one of the prayers is “Your kingdom come, your will be done on EARTH as it is in Heaven.” I use to view the Kingdom of God as heaven but that is not what this prayer would seem and that is not what Jesus preached, Jesus did not come merely to preach heaven and how to get there but rather he came to “preach good news to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, freedom for the captives and a release from darkness for the prisoners” 

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus preached “Blessed are those who” (saying these are the people with who God is well pleased) —> the poor in spirit (humble) meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, pure in heart, the peacemakers, those persecuted for righteousness sake.  He teaches us to be slow to anger, not to lust or take oaths (but rather let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no”) to be salt and light to the earth, not to retaliate and love our enemies, he tells us to give to the needy and not to covet what the world has to offer, he calls us not to be anxious or worry, tells us not to judge but to first look at ourselves, he preaches THE GOLDEN RULE (even if you have never read the bible we all know that says) to treat others how you would want to be treated- he tells us to build our houses on Rock (a solid foundation that cannot be shaken)— to build our lives on HIM.  Than Jesus gets up and goes out in chapter 7 and 8 to cleanse lepers (he goes to the outcasts) he heals the sick (goes to the dying) heals two men with demons (he goes to the dangerous) heals the paralytic, he gives sight to the blind and heals those unable to speak -AND THEN- He turns to his disciples at the end of chapter 9 and tells them GO AND DO LIKEWISE- “proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom” He calls them out to do what he had just done, knowing he would not be around much longer. He warns of persecution to come but tells them to have no fear and find peace, that their reward would be great in heaven.  Greatest of all he tells them “I will be with you ALWAYS, even to the end of the age“ 

I believe Jesus is still calling his disciples - All Christians - to go and do likewise. Wherever He has placed you! Love everyone, care for the sick and dying, give hope to the hopeless, tell of His great news of the gospel, selflessly give to those in need, to humble ourselves before others and the world, to pour ourselves out to others no matter how they treat you, to deny ourself and follow after Christ’s example for His glory and He will be with us ALWAYS through the Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 5:14-16 it says:

“you are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven.”

As a Christian God has made us a light to the world, to those He has put around us and He tells us not to hide that light— He has given us a platform to shine that others might see and give Him glory and in Revelation he warns of the consequences of not shining forth

Revelation 2:4-5

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.  IF NOT, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

We are given a platform and called to use it for God’s glory and if we don’t He will take it away and all of this is for His glory and our good.