WAGTAILS, EAGLES AND CHOOKS

Hi everyone,

We're currently away from home, looking after four of our grandchildren. What I imagined would be pretty tiring has filled my soul with deep satisfaction. I love the sounds of a houseful of young people and the satisfaction of cooking the big meals I used to.

They live out in the country, and our favourite spot is the verandah, from which we love to watch the birdlife.

I was out there the other morning, watching the wagtails jumping around the lawn, seemingly dressed for dinner and having a blast!

I have also been reading a great book, "What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine through the Apostles Creed," by Michael F Bird. It is blowing my mind with the incredible majesty of God, the wonder of His grace and the awesomeness of creation.

This will bring context to what I am about to say.

Can you imagine the sense of humour and creative brilliance of God to create willie wagtails? Have you ever watched them?

Then I thought about eagles. They are majestic, awe-inspiring and are known to soar over raging storms.

Then I thought about chooks. I've heard it said, "Don't be like a chook, be like an eagle, because chooks just scratch around in the dirt and can't really fly.

Well, willie wagtails are entertaining, and eagles are awe-inspiring, but the chooks, which are earthbound, provide food. Imagine trying to find the eggs if they could fly like eagles?  

God, in His wisdom and fantastic imagination, has created all three.

Some of us are like wagtails, pretty happy with ourselves, and make others happy. Some of us are like eagles; we can go places many others don't.  

But I suspect many of us are like chooks and self-sabotage by comparing ourselves with shame to those who can make others laugh, and those who seem to be able to soar, forgetting, that if the chooks weren't pretty much stuck at home, the gift of their eggs would not be there for others.  

So, 

• If you're a wagtail, go ahead and strut your stuff; we all love to be cheered up.
• If you're an eagle, fly as high as possible; we need your perspective.
• And if you feel stuck at home, know that your contribution to those around you is priceless.

God has created all in His wisdom, love, humour and vast imagination.  

With love,

Lynda xx

PS... Michael Bird's book is highly recommended. :)

SAVED AND SURRENDERED

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing really well. We have now settled back into life at home and are pleased about that too!

Have you ever wondered why some people who identify as Christians seem to thrive and grow and have peace and settled faith, even when life dishes up some nasties?

And others seem to struggle?

Have you ever gone through a period of high stress and wondered why your faith isn't working?

Or have you noticed that some believers seem clear on God's will for them, and others are stumbling about in confusion?

Let me introduce you (and me!) to an 'S' word.  

Surrender.

If we look at what the Scriptures say, particularly the early preaching in the book of Acts, we find that Jesus isn't only presented as Saviour, but as Lord.  

In the very first sermon, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified". Acts 2:36 (ESV)

That's a pretty punchy declaration within weeks of the crucifixion, in the city where it happened.

We also find that surrender is a key to victory. It sounds counterintuitive, but we are safe when it comes to surrendering to the Lord Jesus Christ. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 (ESV)

I wonder if we sometimes turn that on its head by resisting God and submitting to the devil by fighting for our own way.

I have experienced this wrestle many times in my life. I can confidently tell you that I recognised the moment of surrender by the experience of unexplainable peace that filled my soul in those moments.

Surrendering to God also brings all of the issues and affairs of our life under His will, wisdom and care, and anything surrendered into His good hands can be safely left there.  

2 Timothy 1:12 tells us that God can keep what we entrust to Him, so surrender is the essential ingredient to a salvation that genuinely works for us, not just in the sweet by and by, but in the gritty earthly life we are living now.

It may be time to stop hanging on to our will and surrender to His.

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that for those who love God ALL THINGS work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (ESV)

So, can we encourage one another?  Let's surrender our lives to The One who proved His love for us by surrendering His life for us.   

Until next time,

Love, Lynda xx