One generation will proclaim your works to another, and shall declare your mighty and remarkable acts.” (Amplified Bible)
TO PONDER
It is a call to action, instructing one generation to pass on the story of God's mighty acts to the next generation. Back in the day, it was traditional for the elders to ‘remember’ the stories so they could be passed on orally. This was so the next generation would learn about their heritage and in this case, see God's faithfulness and the power in their lives. It was done so His mighty acts were not forgotten and are continually praised and declared throughout history … even today.
He is greatly to be praised, and His greatness is really and totally unfathomable. It is hard to see or ‘fathom’ how deep His works are – ‘fathom’ is a nautical measure of depth, it does not matter how far you dig down, you never reach the depth … this is the greatness of God.
A special miracle in my life and my parents, something I had prayed and believed for over many years …. my mum and dad, did not know the goodness and graciousness of God, but both on their death beds, came to know and accept Him. I can remember going up to visit my mum, after a couple of my Pastors had a visit with her in the hospital the day before she passed, and she was absolutely glowing and the smile never left her face. And not even two years later, a few days before my dad passed, his whole view had changed and he also had that amazing glow about him. A peace, that passed all understanding for them, had covered them and they were both ready to ‘go home’ when their time came.
Remember, God is at work the whole time …. Even when we think he is not doing anything! Just one small miracle out of 10,000 reasons to honour the past.
PRAYER: Precious Father, I want to thank you for all your works, particularly the ways you have been at work in my life even when I don't recognise it. I pray that you would help me to trust and believe that you still do work miracles, even at the 11th hour. I pray that you might use my life and the faith you have placed within me to be the miracle that helps others find faith and trust in you. AMEN
Today's devotion written by Noeline Brock (Danny's mum).
“Read up on what happened before you were born, dig into the past, understand your roots. Ask your parents what it was like before you were born: ask the old ones, they will tell you a thing or two.” (Message)
TO PONDER
Moses wrote these words in song as a reminder that they needed to be passed on down through the ages. The good, the bad and the ugly.
In earlier chapters, He praises God for being reliable, a faithful “rock” whose works are perfect, and remembering how He has nurtured Israel like an eagle who cares for its young. He also pointed out how the Israelites began to doubt and started to go off the tracks …. just one of their failures was rebelling and showing their ungratefulness by turning away from God during their journey and worshipping false Gods.
Even though the Israelites failed on many occasions, and doubted that God was walking with them, we see that Moses urged them to remember the days of old (v7), to call to mind the things of the past to better live in the present, to have an enduring hope. We need to have a deliberate look at the past to understand God’s actions, both the positive and negative.
Today, I want to urge those who are reading this, to remember, life is about learning and understanding the experiences and wisdom of previous generations, as their stories hold valuable lessons for today. Also, as we hear about the past, we get to know the heart of God through the stories of those who lived before us. Not just one reason to be grateful and thankful …. But 10,000 reasons … not only for today, but forever more.
PRAYER: Precious Father, thank you for the journey that we go through daily … the good, the bad and the ugly … Help me too willing to share your stories with those around me. Help us all to see that it is important to understand the past so that we can live in the here and now in a better way. AMEN
Today's devotion written by Noeline Brock (Danny's mum).
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuade now lives in you.”
TO PONDER
Remembering what God has done …. Some of us may not have had parents that believed or attended church but, I am sure, somewhere along life’s journey there was someone who stepped up and had given us guidance. That someone in my life was a beautiful older lady, my Godmother, called “Wilkie” who lived next door to where I grew up. From my earliest days, I can remember she would take me along to Sunday School where she encouraged me to get to know the stories in the Bible. “Wilkie” always had a wise word to pass on to me. There is one that really stuck in my mind and has been a constant go to over many years “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” just one from among many others from Luke chapter 6.
As the years passed, there were different periods where I touched base with those sharing the gospel. Still only fairly young, there was one particular period where we would go with our parents while they played bowls, and my sister and I were allowed to play in the park, climb the huge cannons (those in Newcastle will know exactly where this is) and later in the afternoon go to the rotunda where a group would organise games and share stories of the Bible and hand out biblical stickers.
Moving on, many years later, I was attending a church where I got to know and accept Jesus. One year all my children attended a youth camp and my second son came back so full on …. inviting me to visit another local church with him and get to know his new friends and their parents. At that time, I had been looking for a new job, and I was seeking God to help me find the right one. Well, during the announcements, the person said that they were seeking a Church Secretary, and were re-opening the books again, which had been closed off a couple of weeks earlier. I looked across at my son and just gave a slight nod and claimed it then and there. A week later I turned up for my first day of this wonderful, exciting, challenging journey. I spent twelve happy, challenging, rewarding years, with lots of tears and lots of laughter, witnessing many miracles, receiving lots of encouragement, seeing many salvations, lots of fun times with the Pastors and congregation.
I left there, knowing without a doubt, God had walked every step with me and now He was opening other doors. A few weeks after this, I travelled to Vietnam, where I spent 5 years teaching English to children and adults (which had always been a dream of mine). When I returned from there at the end of 2004, I was asked if I would go to Sri Lanka two weeks after the Tsunami to spend a year working alongside another group. Miracle after miracle. God was always working.
PRAYER: Thank you God for all the doors you have opened during my journey through life up to the present day, and how you have shut those doors that needed shutting. You are a faithful and true friend, shadowing my every move. I ask that today you would help me to recognise and honour the ways that your have drawn me to yourself through the faithful example of others and that you would also use me to help draw others to yourself. Amen
Today's devotion written by Noeline Brock (Danny's mum).
“Then I thought, to this will I appeal; the years when the Most High stretched out His right hand. I will remember your virtues of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” (NIV)
“Once again I’ll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished and give a long, loving look into your acts” (Message)
TO PONDER
You will notice that I have quoted two different versions of today's verse. I could not decide which one I liked the best to get the message through, hence two versions.
If we read the previous verses, we see that the Psalmist is doubting God’s presence and feels troubled. We can pick up that he feels down, he is depressed and possibly feels the imaginary rejection and abandonment of God.
What did he do? Did he just give up?
Sometimes throughout our journey in life, I am sure we’ve all pleaded with God for a quick fix, but doubted His presence. How have you handled it? What did you do – call on a friend? Do you just keep wasting your time worrying and fretting, and then just give up and let depression set in?
Well, the Psalmist probably went through all the above, but then he remembered God’s deeds from the past, he remembered the miracles and he decided to meditate on His works.
We need to focus on God’s faithfulness, his miracles and healing from days gone by, let these thoughts strengthen our faith when God seems silent, or distant, and remember, God is always working. We need to think of our own miracles and thank God for them. In our daily life, you will find that there IS a miracle hidden somewhere during the day. Here's a little exercise for you to work on at the end of each day, try to remember at least one positive thing and be thankful that miracles, whether small or large, happen in our lives every day. Develop and cultivate a reflex of thankfulness and gratitude. Think on this, there is something good in every day. Remember what God has done! Remember today is just one small miracle out of 10,000 reasons to honour the past.
We can all learn a lesson from these verses. We can get through our doubts and frustrations with just two words REMEMBER HIM.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, worker of salvation and miracles, I just want to thank you and praise you for the good works you have done in my own life. I thank you for the miracles, both small and large. I know without you; I would not be where I am today. I pray that today's reading touches our hearts and minds, and that those taking the time today, realise that in their daily lives, miracles are happening, and they too can thank you and share the goodness and faithfulness you have shown to us. Amen
Today's devotion written by Noeline Brock (Danny's mum)
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith ina] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
TO PONDER
How do you get to know someone personally in your day-to-day life? Firstly, I suppose you need to make the decision that you in fact do want to get to know someone personally.
It may be easier for those of us that are married (if you can remember back that far – it’s been 28 years married for me) other than the physical attraction of God’s wonderful creation, what did you do to get to know your spouse better that resulted in you both falling in love?
Probably spending as much time as you could with them: talking, dating, walking, picnicking and probably even worshipping and praying with them. As the relationship blossomed and you got to know them, they started to be your first thought and consideration in close to everything you considered and did!
Well, the recipe to know God personally and to love Him with your whole heart is no different.
The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians from his Roman prison cell where he had essentially lost everything including his own privacy and dignity. Paul anchors a personal relationship with Jesus Christ at the very centre of the Christian’s life. Paul, arguably the greatest Christian missionary, joyfully accepted the loss of all other things for the greatness of this personal relationship with God. Like Paul, our confidence should not rest in our own performance, or self-made righteousness, but in the righteousness that comes only through faith and who we are as believers, (His disciples).
Paul’s desire to know God is deep. Paul wants to know Him and the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings. To know Christ fully is to embrace both His victory and His pain - to experience resurrection life and walk faithfully through trials and challenges we encounter trusting that God uses these hardships to shape us into His likeness.
This week we have heard of our Lord’s continuous and earnest desire to have a personal relationship with each one of us. He invites us to get to know Him personally.
The world offers many forms of satisfaction and success, but Paul reminds us that true worth is found in accepting Christ’s invitation for a personal communion with Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father in Heaven. Thanks for your everlasting invitation to be Your child and personal friend. Continue to watch over me and walk with me in our relationship together. Help me to emulate St. Paul so You are anchored at the very centre of my life. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
TO PONDER
I have never been on an itinerary based, organised Christian mission trip. My wife has, to Thailand with LifeWay and my daughter has via her Catholic independent high school to Ltyentye Apurte (about 1.5hrs drive south of Alice Springs in the N.T.).
To listen to, and learn of these experiences from participants always has me thinking that this is such a wonderful opportunity to be 'Christ like' and share God's love for all, to the world. The experience also has Christian participant's returning with very different views on our own human self-centredness and the serving of those in need.
As I ponder on these mission opportunities, I can only imagine that this is as close to what a Christian may get to experiencing what our Lord and Saviour did for us on the cross and through His resurrection. The ultimate of all mission itineraries!
As descendants of Adam, we were born into sin, were enemies and alienated from God. (Note the ancient Greek word translated alienated (apellotriomenous) is literally “transferred to another owner.”) We are reconciled with God through Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for us. His actions transfer our ownership from Satan to God. Through this reconciliation God didn’t meet us halfway, God meets us all the way and invites us to accept it. This reconciliation with God makes us holy and blameless in His sight. We are being presented to God as living sacrifices, just as the priests in biblical times inspected potential sacrifices for their worthiness.
Due to our Saviour's successful ultimate mission itinerary, we belong to God, and in His sight, we are without blemish and are free from accusation.
What a reassuring and comforting fact. How can we not accept this invitation!
PRAYER:Lord of reconciliation. You undertook the ultimate of mission itineraries through your sacrificial death for me on the cross. Then through your resurrection, reconciled me with God transferring my ownership. Thank you for your abounding love, grace and mercy. Help me to be 'Christ-like' in my daily mission for You. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
TO PONDER
Yesterday we were encouraged to knock on our Lord's door in prayer, and it will be opened for us. Today, 'the shoe is on the other foot' as we say, and we are being challenged to open the door and welcome Christ into our home and hearts.
As I contemplated Revelation 3, verse 20 to prepare my thinking for you to ponder, I thought of our general reluctance to answer a knock on the door in the world we live in today (well, in the city anyway). Digital technology and mobile phones mean friends and family can notify you of their pending arrival, even if it is not planned and is an unexpected visit. We therefore (well I do anyway) approach an unannounced (surprise) knock on the door with real trepidation.
Our God stands at our door and knocks to express His desire to enter. There is no 'guessing game' required by us to try and determine who is knocking. We don't even need to respond to the knocking by asking 'who's there?' God is talking to us telling us it is Him. We need to stop, listen and respond to Him by opening the door of our lives and hearts so He can enter and fellowship with us. He with us and we with Him. A life now, as well as an 'after-life' of fellowship with Him. How comforting and assuring!
God wants to be part of our lives. He wants a personal relationship with each one of us.
How are you responding to the knock on your door? With fear and trepidation of the unknown or are you stopping, taking the time to listen, and hear God's voice so that the door can be opened with confidence fully accepting Him into your heart, life and home.
PRAYER:Our Father in Heaven. Guide me so that I do not continually get caught up in life’s busyness. Help me to stop with intention, and listen so I can hear you calling me and talking to me through Your word, so I can open the door without any trepidation and welcome You into my heart to dwell with me. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
TO PONDER
In yesterday’s devotion we learned that the prayer in John chapter 17 was a unique opportunity for us to witness the nature and heart of Jesus and to know Him more personally. We reflected on the fact that genuine prayer often reveals a person’s innermost being.
God values persistence and passion in prayer because these characteristics show that we share His heart. It shows that we care about the things that He cares about.
Today’s message provides a three-fold description of prayer and the rewards that we will receive as we grow in our relationship with God through prayer.
Firstly, we just need to ask. Make our requests passionately known to God. Everyone who asks will receive. Receiving is the reward of asking.
Secondly, we should earnestly seek and search after God, His word and His will. Everyone who earnestly seeks will find. Finding is the reward of seeking.
Thirdly, we should have no fear in knocking on the door of our Master in prayer. The act of knocking does provide the connotation of perseverance and persistence. We knock to generally let someone know we are there and that we want to speak to them. Having the door opened by God to greet us and listen to us is the reward for knocking.
Matthew 7, verse 7 is a personal invitation to us to come to God in prayer. To ask, to seek and to knock. Three ingredients for us to follow to build a personal relationship with our Father in Heaven.
The other striking thing about these ingredients is that they are indeed wonderfully simple. They are not a theoretical algorithm, or a complex formula that one needs to learn, or be educated sufficiently to understand. No sir! Our God does not discriminate. He loves everyone and sent His only son to die for the world to save everyone from their sins.
Everyone and anyone can ask, seek, knock and receive the respective rewards.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus. Continue to remind me through worship, and the study of your Word to continually talk to You in prayer. To ask, and make my requests passionately. To earnestly seek You so that my personal relationship with You grows daily and to knock, so that You will open the door for me both now here on earth, and then finally to welcome me to my eternal Heavenly home that you have prepared for me. Amen.
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Epping
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
TO PONDER
Today’s verse is from a prayer often described by theologians as the greatest recorded in the Bible. It is interesting to read this prayer fully and note that Jesus did not pray just as He taught His disciples (us) to pray [the Lord’s prayer]. Whilst the prayer raises many of the same concerns commonly included in the Prayer that He taught us, there is a total absence of an inferior to a superior intercession in this prayer. Instead, a constant co-equality of the Pray-er (Jesus) with the Father (God) is seen throughout John chapter 17.
This prayer is a unique opportunity for us to witness the nature and heart of Jesus and to know Him more personally. Genuine prayer often reveals a person’s innermost being and this is certainly the case in today’s reading.
It portrays one of the most difficult areas for both seasoned and newer Christian’s to fully grasp being the topic of the Triune God. In this prayer we witness the Godhead of both Jesus and God as being one.
Jesus prays that His disciples (us) come to know the only one true God (our Heavenly Father), and Jesus Christ whom God sent to us (and is the same being - together with the Holy Spirit).
What an opportunity indeed to witness the nature and heart of Jesus, interceding for us with our God and Father who is also one with the Holy Spirit. Our triune God.
Thanks be to God!
PRAYER:Triune God. Teach me to spend time in your Word so that I do grow in my relationship with you and have the opportunity to personally know you and witness the very nature of your loving heart. Keep my own heart and mind open to Your Word so that I am filled with Your Holy Spirit daily. I ask you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Today's devotion written by Shane Burdack, LifeWay Newcastle