He actually lives and responds!

So I've been off facebook for 5 days now. I really want to know what's going on in the world, how many new comments or photos have been posted, events coming up, wall posts, I want to tell the world about what I'm doing - even if no one cares. I want someone to LIKE something I'm doing.


Apparently though, I'm not addicted (at least, according to this massively credible .. internet survey)

1. You lose sleep over Facebook

"If you're staying up late at night because you're on Facebook, and you're tired the next day, Facebook may be a compulsion for you," Lipari said. "You shouldn't be neglecting yourself because of Facebook."

2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook

Pile says it's hard to pinpoint exactly how much is too much time to be spending on social networking.

"I can't imagine that anyone would need more than an hour a day on Facebook, and probably no one needs more than 30 minutes," she said.

3. You become obsessed with old loves

Reconnecting with old friends is one of the great attractions of Facebook, and there's nothing necessarily wrong with "friending" an old boyfriend or girlfriend. But Pile warns that it can get out of hand very quickly.

"One of my clients met up with an old boyfriend on Facebook. They started spending hours and hours into the night talking to each other on Facebook. She made some really inappropriate comments about how unhappy she was in her marriage," Pile said. "Her cousin saw the comments and told her parents, and the parents told the husband, and now they're in the process of getting divorced."

4. You ignore work in favor of Facebook

"If you're not doing your job in order to sneak time on Facebook, you could have a real problem," Lipari said.

5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in a cold sweat

Sarah Browne, who writes the Guru of New blog, gave up Facebook for Lent last month when she realized that she had a "mild" addiction to the site.


Of all these things, I have.. zero. Unless you include being constantly on Facebook "more than an hour of Facebook". But I'm not primarily on Facebook, I'm always 'studying' or chatting or youtub-ing or eating or.. multitasking.


Ideally I would be studying, but thats a different story. 
Very glad that I am not addicted though :)

Short of that, God has been nothing but amazing lately (though what am I saying, He always has been).


Started a new devotion book "Hearing from God Each Morning" By Joyce Meyer (and despite it's girly look it is a unisex book thank you very much.)

Getting into this whole Bible study routine and giving God my time and focus has been super rewarding!
Despite being raised in a Christian family, quiet time has never been a priority or a routine. It just lacked.


So really spending time with the Creator has been incredibly refreshing, and I love it!
Not only that, but coincidentally (more like, choreographed by God), each of my devo's have been directly related to the events of my day. Not like, "oh yeah, I guess that COULD mean that its related to my friendship problems", and twisting the message to suit me. Instead, if a primary school kid had a diary of my life and a calendar, they could draw the direct link between the chunks of wisdom and comfort that God has been giving me through Meyer's devo book.


Example:


June 11th - Talked about hearing from God and tangibly getting a message of wisdom or knowledge from God. I had an exam that day.



June 12th - Talked about Abraham and how "no disbelief or distrust made him waver, but instead he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God". I had actually begun to start doubting and losing a little bit of steam since Jubilee the night before. Also exams sort of pull you away from God a little.


June 16th - So, I'd been literally learning. Not cramming. Learning. For the first time, Business Finance. In 1 and a half days, I tried to learn the entire course. Today was the day of the exam. And I was utterly exhausted, physically and mentally, and exceedingly stressed.
What did today's devo talk about? "The Source of Your Strength". All I did was smile and pray and everything left me. I honestly believe it was God's peace and comfort coming over me, but it was also a combination of the "there's not much more I can learn, I've hit a wall" resignation.


At the same time, I've been having this nagging question of how to love others. And through BSF and studying John, through reading "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris, listening to sermons about Evangelism, and through prayer, God keeps repeating the message that it comes back to the cross - the life and death and resurrection of Christ. To love like He did, through his actions and sacrifice that He made for us. That's how to love.


And God has really engraved that into my mind and heart lately, "THIS is how to love, Ashley".


So definitely something I have to try and work at, persistently, everyday - to love humbly, and serve everyone around me.


What a great God though, worth my time, my effort, my life, because He gave His for mine.




Continually thankful,


Ash

it changes everything.

So I finished my 50 day Bible study, "Jubilee" and I've got to say that the past 50 days really HAVE brought about spiritual renewal!


God took the study and my life circumstances, and caused them to align PERFECTLY. Whether the focus for the week was Redemption, Forgiveness, Healing, Sabbath, Justice or Proclamation, I can't explain how each of those topics and verses and studies came at the exact time when I needed to be refreshed, challenged or comforted.

Wow.

I was looking for a new book and stumbled on this one called "Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by a pastor by the name of Francis Chan. Must be good if its by a Chan right? :)

But theres a few lines in the blurb that caught my eye, and I really want to read and reflect on what this pastor has to say;

"God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn’t working harder at a list of do’s and don’ts—it’s falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything."


Even though God has really shown that He is a living and responsive God these past weeks, I constantly find that my actions aren't pleasing to Him.


And I've been asking myself, "WHY am I doing this.. WHY did I say that... WHY am I thinking that?"
And I've come to the conclusion that I've somewhat lost the spirit of thanksgiving and humility that we should have, knowing who the Creator is, and the incredible sacrifice and love that He's shown to you and me.


At the very root of it, is that I'm not wildly in love with God. Many areas of my life are still dominated by self-interest! 


I can understand why 'when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything' - from a human perspective, when a husband and wife, or even girlfriend and boyfriend love one another - their lives completely change! 


Their entire schedules get altered to spend as much time as possible with one another. They constantly talk, and give to one another and have each other in their thoughts.


And for a God that has loved us infinitely more, He is someone I need to strive to be with, and someone that I need to be willing to flip head over heels in love with. I want to experience and respond to this love that changes everything.


I'll have to hit up Koorong or Word this week anyway, because Josh, Jeff and Jesse are getting baptised.
Words can't even express the joy that comes from knowing this - I'm so excited for these three young men of God :)

2 Samuel 24:24

"I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."

Incredible

Sermon 4-27-08 Nick Vujicic from Highlands Church on Vimeo.

He never fails

When we sin, we should be quick to address it and confess! Don't beat yourself up senseless with guilt and depression - that is how satan gains a hold on our lives, through those feelings.

Although we should feel guilty for sinning, and that we have failed our God, realise that YOU have been saved and redeemed by His death.

At the same time, we shouldn't brush it off so quickly that the effect and consequences of our sin are dulled - taking our victory in Christ for granted.

We have to strike a balance!

Be truly convicted, then confess earnestly, then be motivated, and eager to please God, and  - and give Him control of that area or that particular sin. Rely on His strength, not your own.

Satan only attacks us and tempts us when we are moving closer to our Lord - so rejoice that the devil finds your pursuit and desire to submit to God a threat!

Don't give in, but rely even more upon His strength - because He never fails.

Ever.

Three Things.

God has spoken so clearly these past few days, despite slipping up and being sometimes caught up in sin, He's used the mistakes as ways to express His voice even clearer:

First, was to know that as a basis for all things, that 'He chose to save us, before we chose to believe in Him.'

Nothing that happens through our faith, is due to us. It's because of God's willingness to save, to move, to heal, to empower, to inspire, to respond, that things happen; that lives are changed.

Second, follows from that, again a humbling message that 'I can only rely on His strength, and not my own - for by myself, I am nothing.' 

Too often we try to bridge gaps, or conquer sin, or be someone through our own strength and acts. We believe that in doing quiet time and reading the Bible or going to church, that the church will then grow, or we will be rewarded. We're then destined to fail, one way or another, if we rely on our own acts.

God doesn't owe us anything.

When we actually realise that we are weak without Him, that we falter on our own, and that He is a God that never fails, that is when God moves and the things we do come to fruition. Only through His power, and relying on His strength.

Third, was that 'when we step out (in faith), He steps in'. 

So though nothing happens out of our own accord and own strength and will, when we acknowledge who's ultimately behind it all and have that sense of humility, we don't sit and passively watch and expect God to move.

We ourselves have to take the step.

So reading the Bible to someone with the mindset that "I'm gonna convert this guy", won't get you anywhere.

But reading the Bible to someone with the heart attitude that "God would you move, and use me, because nothing I do matters unless you're behind it" will move mountains. 

Regardless, they both involve an action our behalf - so we need to step out in terms of our actions, our voice, our music, art, quiet time, prayer, commitment - we need to step OUT of our comfort zone, so God can step in and meet our expectation of His power and strength.

I've been so blessed, and motivated by these things, so thanks goes to Him for this new perspective.

forgive

Forgiveness is to choose love over hate towards others.
Forgiveness is to choose love over our own pride.
Forgiveness is to choose love over resentment against another.
Forgiveness is to choose love over deep pain.
Forgiveness is to choose love over our circumstance.
Forgiveness is to choose love over being hurt - even if the other person is completely oblivious to the amount of pain another has dealt to you.
Forgiveness is to completely choose love.

After a talk with a good friend, who's been really hurting over the past few years, something in me moved. I was filled up with this passion, to really flesh out their problem.
I felt like they were either trying to be a hero, or being a coward and giving a half-hearted 'forgiveness'.
As harsh as that may sound, the concept is simple:

When there is anger or hurt between brothers in Christ, God doesn't want us to partially forgive one another. He doesn't want us to let go of some of the bitterness, but hold on to the rest; He doesn't want us to sort of accept and move on, but maybe kind of cling to the pain that was caused.
He commands us, to completely and wholly love one another:

"A new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, love one another." - John 13:34

 Another verse I find incredibly powerful:

"...have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." - 1 Peter 1:22 

They were on the verge of starting that process of forgiveness, but I felt this urgency to make sure that it wasn't the path to a half-hearted forgiveness, but forgiveness that was motivated by "sincere love for your brothers".

There comes a point, after an unknowable amount of time, where blows to your pride, emotional pain, heartbreak and hurt need to be let go of. Regardless of how much you want the offender to suffer punishment, or feel your pain, there comes a point where the demand of punishment needs to cease (or else it becomes unhealthy).

The drive behind this, for me, is that God chose to love us, despite the fact that we sinned and deserve death. That we disobeyed the one who, out of His own love and will, created us with free-will - in His image.
On top of that, some of these situations that arise, though painful, are relatively nothing compared to what occurs on elsewhere in this world.

Of course, the love that God asks for isn't some ignorant, naive, I'm-a-doormat, trample-on-me, happy-go-lucky love. Love does not always mean that you get along with people that you have disputes with.

You've got to be perceptive and see the situation as it is (which is hard when emotions and pain cloud your judgement eh)

It means that you view them as a fellow human being who makes mistakes, and that you let go of what they did to you, move on and pursuing the best possible outcome that can be reached between you and the other party. (Easier said than done, I know - more than you know)

It could mean approaching them, and making sure they know how much you were hurt - without lecturing, but still firmly letting them know (and having them acknowledge) that what they did actually had an impact upon you. It could mean slowly letting go of a sour friendship and letting time and maturity take effect.


I believe God shows us different ways to deal with each situation - there's no stock standard solution.

So, where to from here?
Choose love.