I love holidays. Not only because I don’t get to see the (lovely) high school kids I teach as much, but because I get to spend a little more time with ones closer to home - IGVO.

Rare opportunity to have some high schoolers at our church’s tuesday corporate prayer meeting. Usually in the school term our students are unable to come out during the week - thats why holidays are the best!

Definitely the highlight of the night was the call and challenge for those to rise up to be a mentor and shepherd of God’s flock. It was really exciting to see different ones respond in faith to want to grow to be a shepherd by the end of the year.

As we were praying, I believe that God was depositing something deep within our hearts - a desire to see lost found and a greater love for people. After we finished praying, I saw a couple of red eyes and wipes to the face. It wasn’t like the type of prayers you pray for your studies, your job, your future. But it was a heartfelt faith-filled prayer that surrendered heart and soul to the cause of the kingdom. A prayer that definitely reached heaven. I’m inspired by such faith and sincerity - may I live like this.

It’s the only word I can think of when describing today. We had an amazing (or should I say phenomenal) turn out to V10’s I-life (Voltage Year 10 Outreach Event).

A beautiful spring day to be out in the park. Some nice and friendly competition between the guys and the girls with our classic nest egg steal, shave the shaving cream off the balloon (the girls are quite experienced at this!) and stick your hands in and get your team out games. Ok, I’m not good with game names.

And might I say that the guys dominated with a successful win at the end of the day! Go guys! And I also copped it bad time with shaving cream, no thanks to Wes, Marcus, Dom and Aaron!! Yes, I don’t look very impressed. I will get you back boys!

But seriously, I have never seen such a huge turn out for a life group’s outreach event. We had over 40 people turn up - that’s over 25 new visitors. For a life group the size of 15, that is massive! Not only that, but I saw every 15 step up to the mark to help host the event through bringing food, chipping in money, bringing friends and building relationships with new visitors. There was no person left out.

It wasn’t just a social gathering of high schoolers that hang out on the holidays, but I saw 15  purpose driven young people sold out to see their friends reached. I saw young people willing to give so that others would be blessed. I believe that reason why we had such a huge turn out was not becuase people invited their friends, but becuase we beleive that the lost must be found and that we are the salt and light God can use to touch this generation.

V10 - Your genuine faith and simplicity amazes me. I am so encouraged by your heart for people and your heart for God. I know how difficult it can be in high school to reach your friends and be of godly influence unto them. But look at what God has done in transforming your life and even the lives of those around you. Surly, He can do this work in your friend’s lives too! I believe there is so much more to come.

Encouraged and amazed.

⁴⁵David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ⁴⁷All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47

In the heat of the beginning of this battle, with all odds on the monstrous giant, things do not seem so great. The Philistine uses some verbal tactics to instill fear in the heart of David. Spectators and onlookers have no doubt where they would place their bets. I could almost imagine myself in David shoes - wetting and soiling my pants in the fear that death would soon knock on my door. But then we come into the part of the story when the warrior delivers his courageous speech that stirs something deep and strikes a chord in our hearts. David doesn’t run in fear, nor does he try for bigger weapons but David takes a moment to right size the situation. Even though right before him was a towering gladiator about to pound the life out of him, David knew exactly what he was to do, and with what power and authority he was to do it with. He knew that the fight was not his, and that not everything was totally depended upon him, but he knew that the battle belongs to the Lord. David knew who was really fighting on his behalf. Not him, but his God. And if the battle belongs to God, then the victory would come through God. He had great faith. He knew who he was, yet knew who God was.

I really sense that God is bringing our high school ministry to new level, where we will experience greater victory. God spoke to us some months back at a members muster, showing that we were on the shore of a beach and in the distance there were the beginning of waves about the draw closer. As we looked out, God was urging us to prepare to ride the wave that He was about to create. But it required that we step up and step out firstly in courage and secondly prepare for the mighty move of God. Something great is happening. I am so inspired to even see this step of courage in many of your lives. For those of you who have obeyed to call of God to reach out to the lost at your school, I want to say keep on going, continue to allow God to strengthen you and enable you to do all He has placed in you. Truly as God calls, He will enable. For those who have been faithfully serving and investing in people’s lives, I want to say to you also to keep it up. Allow the heart of God to saturate you, so that through caring for others you understand the amazing love that God has for us.

You know, there will always be challenges in our lives and difficulties that would try beat us. But take the example of David, and look into the face of hardship, look into the face of weakness, look into the face of inadequacy and speak with faith - you come against me with discouragement and guilt and condemnation, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty. Victory will come from God, but we must trust Him.

Remember, that with God… (you can fill in the rest)

Despite the end of school terms being busiest for both students and teachers, I think that the message preached last Friday at church is no coincidence to the season we are in.

It’s been a while since I’ve been so convicted about the cost involved when Jesus calls us to follow Him. I must admit though that there are times that I slip into comfortable-ity being surrounded by a good family, nice job and great friends. There are also times were I forget to follow God in details of my daily life because I’m ‘too busy’ or seem to think I don’t have enough time.

We learnt in last weeks sermon that being a follower of Jesus involves cross bearing. One thing I hope for is that our youth ministry would know what it means to carry the cross of sacrifice and obedience.

“And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple” Lk 14:27.

Carrying a cross is not easy. However, God never asks us to suffer for the sake of suffering. He never asks us to give up something good unless He plans to replace it with something better. God invites us to give up the temporary to seize the eternal reward of developing Christ-like character. Jesus’ audience was well aware of what it meant to carry one’s own cross. He made this statement to get the crowds to think through their enthusiasm for him. He encouraged those who were superficial to either go deeper or to turn back.

My prayer is that we would be followers that don’t mearly confess to follow Him, but actually follow Him throughout every moment in our lives. When it comes to reaching out, shining our light, instead of hiding our lamp. When our integrity is challenged, choose to path of the righteous. When we are faced with challenges, confess our praise all the more. When our priorities are challenged, have unwavering commitment to the things of the Lord. Christ followers that follow Christ.

There is always cost attached, but the no matter the cost it is worth it. What about you?

“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.” Romans 14:12

Daunting to think that at some stage we have to give account for everything in our lives. The big things and even the seemly insignificant – we steward life. The even more confronting thought is that we are responsible. It is I that has to report on my life, not my parents, teachers, mentors or friends – me. I am responsible for the habits I have cultivated, for the thoughts that dwell in my mind, for the choices I have made. Of course we are a by-product of our past, but we are shaped most by decisions we make now into our future.

The Bible instructs us to keep a close watch on how we live and to stay true to what is right, not only for our own sake but for the sake of others. This has got me to rethink, and ask myself the question – how can I keep a close watch over my life?

Having self control and discipline is important and crucial, but what I believe can help us keep watch over our own lives all the more is, including others. We live in an individualistic culture that tells us to ‘go it alone’ and do what you want to do when. But when we include others, we open up our lives to someone else so that they can ask the difficult questions regarding our personal integrity, question whether our motives are right and act as a mirror so that we can see the need for change.

I believe that authentic accountability with godly people should stir passion for God and His kingdom. In these kinds of relationships centered on love and unity, we experience freedom and healing from personal and even past struggles that can seem to run so deep.

So…

Do you have people that you can account yourself to?

Pray for godly peers that you can relate with and spur you onto greater godliness.

How open and accountable are you to those God has placed to care for you?

Let us commit to practice some fine words I heard the other day – look up to those who are over you, look out for those who are beside you, look after those who are under you.

Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans. Ps 119:91 (NLT)

Got me thinking whether my everything serves God’s plans. Are my thoughts in line with God’s plan? Is my intent to serve God’s will above my own? Does everything in my life resound clearly that I am about the bussiness of my Father? How convicting yet how crucial, becuase it helps clarify where I am at in the bigger picture of God’s plan.

But it warrents a few questions before we can make the needed changes in our lives:

1). What are God’s plans?

2). How can I serve the plans of God? 

Just some thoughts for the day.

Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver. Ps 119:72 (NLT)

Was asking God this morning how to develop such a value for His word. And He led me to the previous scripture. “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees” (Ps 119:71). We value becuase we see need. We value becuase it gives meaning to life. We value because we can’t live without it.

I think the connection between suffering and lack, and God’s Word is simple. Without lack we have no need for anything. And without need we cannot develop value. How can we value God’s Word when we have no need for it.

So I guess that changes my prayer from “give me more” to “God, help me realise my lack, that I may find more in you”.

“The tree will be tall because the roots go deep and strong. God wants to build the tree deep and strong with the Word of God”. This is the prophetic word from Pastor Shirley at camp just some weeks back.

I have been really refreshed lately reading though the longest psalm and longest chapter of the bible, Psalm 119. This psalm is all about the beauty of God’s Word and how it helps us to stay pure and grow in faith. I love what the psalmist says in verse 33 and 34. Check it out.

“33 Teach me, O LORD,
to follow every one of your principles.
34 Give me understanding and I will obey your law;
I will put it into practice with all my heart.” Psalm 119:33-34

That really should be our prayer everyday. Lord, teach me to follow all of your ways and give me understanding so that I may obey Your Word and I will act upon it will everything! Can we make this our prayer IGVO?

I believe God truly wants us to be a life bearing and life giving tree. And what makes us alive is that we are living out God’s Word in everything, with everything. We will be a tall tree. This is God’s promise. We are called to have life - so that we can give life. But only because our roots go deep and strong - this is only found in people of the Word.

I want to encourage and challenge you to have a bible study plan. A good place to start is to check your daily intake of spiritual food. So you have a regular daily time in God’s Word? When is this time and what do you do during this time? How do you go about spending time in God’s Word daily? The latest connect journals are out already, so please to purchase one from your life group facilitators. I would like to encourage us as well to have a time in the week where we devote a solid block of time to study God’s Word in depth. If you would like more information for effective study methods, please come and speak with me or any on of our leaders and shepherds. A fantastic resource for bible study is Rick Warrens Bible Study Methods (this only costed me $15!). The higher you go, the deep you must dig!