VELOCITY VISION VIDEO 2012
January 28, 2012
Shepherd?
January 26, 2012
Romans 8v28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
The dictionary describes a shepherd as an individual who will guide, direct or watch over.
God’s purpose is that we are all shepherds. We are all on earth to support the lost, guide the lost, help the lost, look out for the lost and go after the lost.
Through you ‘a’ shepherd they can see ‘The’ shepherd.
The very first shepherd was Abel. Abraham and Moses were shepherds. King David was the best-known shepherd of Bible history.
Shepherds were the first people to see the newborn Jesus Christ.
Shepherds are servants, shepherds are committed, shepherds are loyal, shepherds are focused and shepherds would lay down their life for just one of their flock.
There is a commonly held belief that shepherds in Bible times would break the legs of lambs that constantly wandered away.
The shepherd will then bind up the broken leg; carry the sheep upon his shoulders and hand feed the sheep. In this way the sheep learns dependence and trust in the shepherd and learns to respond to his voice.
Now I am clearly not saying God inflicts pain! A loving Father would never do that to His own son or daughter. What I am saying is that God can use all things to work together for good. He can take a bad financial situation, dysfunctional relationship or family breakdown and turn it around. Through that process He allows the individual to recognize His voice again while being carried on His shoulders. In our weakness He is our strength.
Sometimes people wander so far from God they get into situations where they ask themselves “how did I get myself into this mess” Where is God now when I need him?
This is where you step in. The loyal shepherd who has been a friend no matter what the individual chose to do.
The shepherd who did not judge but loved.
The shepherd who cared more about the person than the problem.
The shepherd who went after the one.
Attractive?
January 18, 2012
Acts 4v32 All the believers were of one heart and mind, and they felt that what they owned was not their own; they shared everything they had.
This is the book in the bible where the church started. The church took form, the church grew, the church was like nothing that had ever been before.
The church was attractive and people were joining. The church was growing naturally, organically because of the raw transformation in the people.
The people had one heart and one mind. That was the heart and mind of Jesus, the heart and mind that focused on others. The heart and mind that resulted in sharing their homes and belongings with others.
One thing I notice in this passage is that they don’t actually go out looking for people.
People came to them.
People saw the authentic community and they want to join.
I am all for outreach. I am all for reaching the lost and the poor. I am all for going after the ‘one’. However the truth is that when we mimic, copy, reflect the heart and mind of Jesus people are attracted.
As we come to an end of this months focus ‘the one’ I encourage you to focus on your own personal walk with Christ. Your own personal journey of transformation.
As you become more like Christ your community can see more of Christ.
Your actions demonstrate Faith, Hope and Love.
You are Jesus with skin on and sometimes the only glimpse of Jesus people will see.
True attractiveness is not how good looking you are,
It is how good Jesus is looking in your life
The ONE
January 5, 2012
Focus: The one.
Matthew 18:12-14 (MSG)
“Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and ONE of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the ONE? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn’t want to lose even one of these simple believers.
When I was growing up I collected football stickers. Every weekend I would spend my £1.50 pocket money on 6 packets of boyish fun. Some days I would get a ‘shiney’, which was a rare football sticker of one of the best players. Finding one was like finding the Golden ticket in a Willy Wonker chocolate bar.
If God was the sticker collector and we were the stickers can you imagine how we would feel if God had favorites? Imagine if God saw some people as rare ‘shinny’s’ and others as common? Imagine if God only went after SOME instead of the ONE.
The good news is that Jesus died for everyONE,
God wants a relationship with everyONE.
Freedom is for everyONE
Grace is for everyONE
His love is for everyONE
Because our God is a God who goes after the ONE we should be sons and daughters who go after the ONE.
People who do everything we can to help people back to Gods presence.
No matter what inconvenience comes your way make 2012 a year focused on the ONE.
Bible in a year
January 2, 2012
If you are up for reading the Bible in a year with me then here are the January verses.
Only takes 15 minutes a day and it will help you rest work and play.
01Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1:1-6
02Genesis 3:1-4:26
Matthew 2:13-3:6
Psalm 2:1-12
Proverbs 1:7-9
03Genesis 5:1-7:24
Matthew 3:7-4:11
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 1:10-19
04Genesis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:20-23
05Genesis 11:1-13:4
Matthew 5:1-26
Psalm 5:1-12
Proverbs 1:24-28
06Genesis 13:5-15:21
Matthew 5:27-48
Psalm 6:1-10
Proverbs 1:29-33
07Genesis 16:1-18:15
Matthew 6:1-24
Psalm 7:1-17
Proverbs 2:1-5
08Genesis 18:16-19:38
Matthew 6:25-7:14
Psalm 8:1-9
Proverbs 2:6-15
09Genesis 20:1-22:24
Matthew 7:15-29
Psalm 9:1-12
Proverbs 2:16-22
10Genesis 23:1-24:51
Matthew 8:1-17
Psalm 9:13-20
Proverbs 3:1-6
11Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8
12Genesis 26:17-27:46
Matthew 9:1-17
Psalm 10:16-18
Proverbs 3:9-10
13Genesis 28:1-29:35
Matthew 9:18-38
Psalm 11:1-7
Proverbs 3:11-12
14Genesis 30:1-31:16
Matthew 10:1-23
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 3:13-15
15Genesis 31:17-32:12
Matthew 10:24-11:6
Psalm 13:1-6
Proverbs 3:16-18
16Genesis 32:13-34:31
Matthew 11:7-30
Psalm 14:1-7
Proverbs 3:19-20
17Genesis 35:1-36:43
Matthew 12:1-21
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 3:21-26
18Genesis 37:1-38:30
Matthew 12:22-45
Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 3:27-32
19Genesis 39:1-41:16
Matthew 12:46-13:23
Psalm 17:1-15
Proverbs 3:33-35
20Genesis 41:17-42:17
Matthew 13:24-46
Psalm 18:1-15
Proverbs 4:1-6
21Genesis 42:18-43:34
Matthew 13:47-14:12
Psalm 18:16-36
Proverbs 4:7-10
22Genesis 44:1-45:28
Matthew 14:13-36
Psalm 18:37-50
Proverbs 4:11-13
23Genesis 46:1-47:31
Matthew 15:1-28
Psalm 19:1-14
Proverbs 4:14-19
24Genesis 48:1-49:33
Matthew 15:29-16:12
Psalm 20:1-9
Proverbs 4:20-27
25Genesis 50:1 – Exodus 2:10
Matthew 16:13-17:9
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6
26Exodus 2:11-3:22
Matthew 17:10-27
Psalm 22:1-18
Proverbs 5:7-14
27Exodus 4:1-5:21
Matthew 18:1-20
Psalm 22:19-31
Proverbs 5:15-21
28Exodus 5:22-7:25
Matthew 18:21-19:12
Psalm 23:1-6
Proverbs 5:22-23
29Exodus 8:1-9:35
Matthew 19:13-30
Psalm 24:1-10
Proverbs 6:1-5
30Exodus 10:1-12:13
Matthew 20:1-28
Psalm 25:1-15
Proverbs 6:6-11
31Exodus 12:14-13:16
Matthew 20:29-21:22
Psalm 25:16-22
Proverbs 6:12-15
If you click the numbers it will take you to the bible in a year website
New years resolution?
December 29, 2011
John 21v25 There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.
The last verse in the book of John draws attention to the fact that more happened than is mentioned in the bible. More people were saved, healed, restored, forgiven and transformed. More people were touched by Jesus but did not feature in the bible.
This indicates that what is in the Bible, is the most significant, the priority. The message that we read is what God wanted us to know and remember, what He wanted us to apply to our lives.
So what do we make a daily priority so that we live out the message?
Over Christmas people worry about what they eat in-between Christmas and New Years Eve but really what matters is what they eat in between New Years Eve and Christmas, as it is this that makes all the difference. Not what you do for one week of the year but what you do every day of the year.
It’s not what you do every now and then but what you do day in and day out that makes a difference. Your daily habits mold your future and change the lives of others.
It is easy to focus on the big ‘change’. “This year I will start… Soon I will give up… However it starts with the small and often, it starts with your daily priority.
If you’ve got more energy for changing the world than changing yourself, you’ve got it out of order. The world is changed when individuals change into the likeness of Christ.
They say that when you introduce a new discipline every day for one month it will become a habit. Something you do without thinking, like going to brush your teeth or getting dressed.
So maybe the challenge is not setting new-year resolutions but setting a daily priority that will become a habit for 2012
What could bring you closer to Jesus or help someone with his or her walk with Jesus? Allocating some time in the morning to sit-down with your bible and journal while reading the church devotionals? Dedicating five minutes a day to give someone an encouraging phone call?
As we head into 2012 with so many goals, dreams and ambitions why not focus on Jesus and think about what priority you could you apply daily to your life to make it a habit and start this year strong.
The stories that made it into the bible are there because they are a priority for us to know. When we prioritize the message of Jesus as a daily discipline the message becomes accessible to others.
A leap into the future starts with one small step in the present.
When Jesus is at the centre everything else falls into it’s right place
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE
Try something new?
December 21, 2011
John 18v8-9 (MSG) “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”10Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant’s name.
Here Jesus is about to be taken away by the roman soldiers. His ‘hard as nails’ mate Simon Peter then cuts off the right ear of Malchus, one of the men there to take Jesus away to be crucified.
In Luke 22v50 you can see that Jesus then heals the ear of Malchus.
The man who was there to take Jesus to His death was then blessed by Jesus.
A key part to forgiveness is blessing your enemy. It sounds so foreign because it is the opposite reaction we see in movies, TV and in our culture today.
An example of this can be seen in this story.
There was a pastor who grew a church, which helped the homeless and the drug addicted.
He did a great job but for some reason a newspaper reporter decided to write lies about him each week saying that he was a fraud and a liar. The Pastor started to develop a hate for this man and that hate took over his life making him negative, bitter and angry. He cried out to God asking him for a solution and he read:
Proverbs 25:21 If you see your enemy hungry go buy him lunch; if he’s thirsty bring him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness, and God will look after you.
So he decided to bless his enemy. He put $100 each month into the reporters account. The newspaper reporter had no idea where the money was coming from.
The Pastor said that after blessing his enemy he felt compassion and love for him instead of anger and hate. The reporter still wrote negative stuff, however every time the pastor read the articles he smiled and felt an even more urgent need to pray for him.
When we can bless the person we find it so hard to love and forgive we see change. God can change our heart and bring freedom!
When people are rude and unfriendly bless them with the warmest welcome.
When people are negative and destructive be the most positive and constructive blessing you can be.
When people mistreat you, belittle you or bully you stand your ground, be strong and then shower them with a grace that only can take place because you are connected to the love of the Father.
Question: Am I struggling to forgive? Have I considered blessing my enemy?
Tis the season to forgive
December 15, 2011
John 20v23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
So we are only a few days from Christmas. The festive mulled wine, the excessive pairs of socks, a huge stuffed turkey and the fun family games. No matter what age I am I will always have fun using the wrapping paper tube as a light Sabre.
Over the seasonal period the past can sometimes be brought up, bitterness can creep in and we can start to realize that forgiveness is a lot harder than we originally thought.
Forgiveness or un-forgiveness is relevant to everyone because it affects us all. We all have people we stru
ggle to forgive or just won’t forgive and there are also people who we would like to forgive us.
Un-forgiveness can lead to several things: bitterness, anger, insecurity, loneliness and pain.
It actually damages you more than other people. It molds who you are and shapes your future.
Forgiveness does not mean forget. The old tale says ‘forgive and forget’ but this is not how it works. It’s an added bonus when you can forget but from experience I have found for most people this is not the case. For example if a girl is abused by her boyfriend she can forgive him and even find peace but the chances of her forgetting it are very slim.
The most important element is the forgiveness.
We are called to embrace salvation and transform into the likeness of Christ. This includes forgiving people. This is what separates us from the world.
No revenge, no backstabbing just Grace.
It actually takes a choice. A choice to forgive. A choice to grow into the likeness of Christ
People want more of Christ but they don’t want to be more like Christ.
It is hard to forgive but it is not something we are asked to do it is something we are called to do.
Jesus forgave us for all our sins. His GRACE covers us.
How well behaved we are is irrelevant. How religious we are means nothing.
By his GRACE, by the CROSS we can follow in the footsteps of Jesus and forgive others like he did.
V is for Visionary (Part 2)
December 9, 2011
Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls.
These six steps show how his visionary plan unfolded.
1) SEE THE NEED-Nehemiah 1v4
Nehemiah weeps and prays to God when he hears the news of the demolished city walls. He recognizes the need.
The British TV show Dragons Den supply’s us with hours of entertainment. The content of the show involves many visionary individuals with a new idea or concept.
The definition of a visionary is: Thinking about or planning the future with imagination or wisdom.
The imaginative and creative people on Dragons Den have not sat down and tried to squeeze out a visionary idea. They have just gone about their daily business and then have seen a need. From a car seat improvement to an Ipod app. They have seen a need and then used their imagination and wisdom to fix, improve or change it.
What need do you see in your community? What need would break the heart of Jesus? Does it break your heart?
If we act on the needs that Jesus would, we will be doing the will of God.
2) STEP OUT -Nehemiah 2
Nehemiah was compelled into action because his heart broke for the people.
He goes to see the king to do something about the wall being down.
Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision and action can change the world.
Are you Visionary or Stationary?
A leap into the future starts with one small step in the present.
3) FOLLOW THROUGH-Nehemiah 2v8
Nehemiah asked for wood to build a house. He was committed to the vision and He was not moving until it came to pass.
HE WAS AWARE OF THE DREAM BUT FOCUSED ON THE DAY.
He was part of Gods visionary plan so his action was commitment.
Are you planted or do you move from church to church? From team to team? From vision to vision?
4) DREAM BIG-Nehemiah 2v11
Nehemiah now has the plans to rebuild the wall but they are big plans. The vision is rather large.
The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done.
Nehemiah knew who he was connected to God so he could dream big.
If you can see the invisible, through you He can do the impossible.
Moses stood in front of the red sea
David stood in front of Goliath
Sampson stood in front of thousands of Philistines
Jesus stood in front of death
They all knew whom they were connected to
The situation in front of you is never as big as the power behind you
5) SEE WHAT OTHERS DON’T SEE -Nehemiah 2v17
Nehemiah then gathered all the leaders and shared with them the vision to rebuild the wall.
It seemed strange that the people of Jerusalem had not considered rebuilding the wall.
They had become accustomed to the wall being down
Nehemiah saw what others did not see. He saw the need because he had not become accustomed to it.
What have we become accustomed to? The sort of need we walk past but do not register it because we see it all the time?
A visionary like the Wright Brothers who flew the first aircraft saw what others did not see.
They will dream what others do not dream.
They will build what others do not build.
