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Nehemiah 4 vs. 16-23 – A Proactive Approach to Overcoming Enemies

Oct 4th, 2009 by

Nehemiah again demonstrates the importance of being prepared, of being proactive when faced with threats from his enemies. We may not have a physical threat like Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem had, but as I read the New Testament and chapters Like Romans 8 Talking about Powers and Principalities and  1 Peter 5 warning us about the Roaring Lion seeking to devour us, we do need to put on our Spiritual Armour (Eph. 6 vs 10-18) We do face spiritual challenges. We should remember that Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the World, and that Christ has won the victory, but at the same time we need to be proactive in praying, reading the word, heeding the voice of the Spirit and being prepared to make choices for good and not of evil

 

 

Nehemiah 4 vs. 16-23 – A Proactive Approach to Overcoming Enemies
From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows           

And armour. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall.                        

In order to overcome their enemies Nehemiah recognised the need to build and to protect when the need arose            

Each part of the wall that was restored strengthened the protection of the city, but that was not all                                

Those that were building couldn’t keep an eye out for enemy attacks so soldiers needed to be in place and close       

To the builders they were protecting, so they posted themselves behind them and provided a defensive wall                  

In order for things to move ahead people need to be deployed where they are of the most value and most use     

Nehemiah understood this so he chose who would build and those who would defend Jerusalem and its wall 

       
Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each                               

Of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.      

For things to move along there needed to be people carrying materials and people rebuilding the breach                           

By forming a process where the work could proceed steadily Nehemiah gave people confidence in what could be           

Nehemiah also recognised he need to be able to rally the people quickly if they needed to stop a breach                           

Of the wall so he ensured the Trumpeter was by his side so that he could call people to action and beside him be
Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are

Widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there.            

Nehemiah recognised that the people were spread thinly and needed to be called quickly when they needed to be     

There were no walkie-talkies, mobile phones, or text messages that could be sent, people were spread everywhere            

Nehemiah needed a way of communicating quickly and effectively when urgent action was needed he could see             

So Nehemiah had a trumpeter by his side, the sound of the trumpet was urgent, loud and could be heard everywhere
Our God will fight for us!” So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till

The stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem              

An eight hour day would not suffice to get the work done so from daybreak to dark they worked, their day was full       

It was tiring but people had a clear vision but also knew the cost would be their lives if they didn’t rebuild Jerusalem      

They knew God was behind them and would fight for them, but they also knew they had a part to play to the full            

We can’t sit back and expect everything on a plate, faith is active and this was displayed to the full in Jerusalem
At night, so they can serve us as guards by night and workmen by day.” Neither I nor my brothers nor my men                

Nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.                        

Security consciousness was strong, Nehemiah knew the enemy would attack but no one knew where or when                    

So he ensured all the guards were always alert, always ready to defend each and every quarter                                      

Weapons were always by their side, they were prepared to stand their ground their enemies were around them         

Seeking to disrupt the work, to halt progress, to harass and challenge each and every quarter                                           

How prepared are we for spiritual battle? Satan seeks to devour us, we need to be strong Godly women and men            

As Paul advises us we like the church in Ephesus need to be prepared each day to put on spiritual armour
Mark Maffey, September  2009
(NIV)

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Philippians 4 vs. 8-13 – Fix Your Thoughts on What is True

Sep 27th, 2009 by

Philippians is one of my favourite books in the Bible. Paul in addressing the Church at Philippi provides them with many insightful and helpful ways they can keep and strengthen their faith. As he ends his letter to them he reinforces the need to fix their thoughts on what is true, honorable and right.

We live in a world where we are bombarded with imagery and ideas that are far from true, honorable and right, and it is difficult to be unsullied by them. Paul says to us today to “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”  We can do this on a Sunday in Church but do we do it during the rest of the week. If we are prepared to read the Bible, pray every day, and instead of watching tv put on some Christian Worship CD’s or DVD’s these may help us re-focus on God. May God guide your thoughts this week

 

Philippians 4 vs. 8-13 – Fix Your Thoughts on What is True
And now, dear brothers and sisters let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts
On what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.
We live in a world which offer us many alternative views, views that can be absorbed and caught
It’s easy to lose focus on that which is good, when the alternative seems plausible and reasonable
When we view the liberalisation and watering down of what we hold true, it is easy to be tense and taut
We are called to be salt and light to a lost world, in order to do this we need to be by God seasonable

Open to our God, focused upon his will, his ways, he calls upon us to seek him in his courts
To enter his courts with praise, to seek him will he may be found, that is unquestionable

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise .Keep putting into practice all you learned

 
From me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.
As we look to God’s word we can learn from the example of Paul, God’s intentions can be discerned
Paul whilst saved by grace, demonstrated his faith, we do well to keep this in view
Like Paul can we say that we no longer live, but Christ lives in us, in him are we confirmed?
Choose this day whom you will serve, know this in all things God will bring you thru.

How grateful I am, and how I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again.

 
I know you have always been concerned for me, but for a while you didn’t have the chance to help me.
Paul knew the cost of following Christ, from Damascus where for him it all began
He knew that whatever his circumstances that he was called to do all for the Glory of God you see
Yet he also knew that no man is an Island and he needed all the support he could gain
Our God who has began a good work in us will take it to completion in the day of Jesus, trust and see

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little.
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living
Can we like Paul apprehend that God is aware of all our needs, and knows them every jot and tittle?
Paul knew that by himself he could do nothing, but with the Spirit he and church were thriving

At the end of the day for Paul nothing else mattered than to live for Christ in every way not a little
As we seek and look to the author and perfector of our faith we like Paul, can be in Christ living

In every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. 
Paul didn’t rely on his own understanding; in God he put his trust, wholly not a little
He went through storms, faced all sorts of danger, yet his faith in God did not recede
For us the challenge is will our anchor hold in the storms of life, it’s no riddle
If we like Paul can say I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, we will be free indeed
Mark Maffey, July 2007

(NLT)

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament | No Comments »

Ezekiel 36 vs. 24-27 – I Will Put A New Heart in You

Sep 20th, 2009 by

Hi All,

We live in a world that can easily entrap us with things that we can idolise, give more attention and focus to than we should. Where our focus is, there our heart will be also. God desires that we all may ascend his hill, and sit in his presence, without pretence or blemish, to do this we must have clean hands and a pure heart.  God desires that we be cleansed, be pure, have a new heart and a new Spirit. The work of Christ in giving us freedom from sin through his death, and the act of Baptism do give us the means by which we can be cleansed, but we need to be continually coming before God be more attentive to his words and be even more prepared to let God work in our lives so that he may continue the good work in our lives, I for one desire to be more attune to him, to the work of his Spirit in my life, and want to live the words of Purify My Heart  (Refiners Fire)

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within and make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin, deep within

 

 “Ezekiel 36  vs. 24-27 –  I Will Put A New Heart in You

For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring
 You back into your own land I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean;
You alone LORD are able to bring freedom to the captives, to turn their mourning
Into joy, you see all their needs, even the things that are hidden to others unseen
You enable them to move from spiritual heaviness to a place where they can sing
You place on them the garment of praise; you alone can take away what is unclean
You alone are able to take people souls out of prison, all their doubts far away fling
You alone can bring wholeness, holiness, you sprinkle clean water and they are clean

I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols, I will give you
A new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone
Your desire O LORD is to see your people, whole, holy, wholly yours, worshiping you
To not be conformed to this world, but transformed, their minds renewed, to see your throne
To before you bow, their tongues confess that you are Lord, to have you in full view
And as they come, they worship you, Lamb upon the throne, only you can purify, them atone
For you O Lord have paid the price, your blood shed that they may be free to you see
You desire that they have new hearts; you desire to remove from them their hearts of stone
And give you a heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit in you and
Move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
LORD we need your Spirit in us, to guide us, give us a hand
We desire to know your word, may it be in us a treasure store
That strengthens, that is a light that guides us to work in this land
Help us to be your people, lead us, and use us despite our flaws
Mark Maffey, October 2007

(NIV)

Posted in POEMS, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Judges 6 vs. 11-17 – Gideon the weakest of the weak used by God

Sep 13th, 2009 by

Often we put up excuses when we face challenges, I’m not good enough, choose Fred. The Old Testament is full of stories about people God chose who were not the ones we might have chosen, Moses, David, Gideon etc.. Jesus chose an interesting band of disciples .. God’s ways aren’t our ways, nor his thoughts or thoughts, but they are much greater. The story of Gideon is one we need to re-examine, are we really too weak for God’s purposes

 

Judges 6 vs. 11-17 Gideon the weakest of the weak used by God

Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain
From the Midianites, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty Hero, the Lord is with you!”
Gideon was taking a risk, hiding from the Midianites, threshing wheat, going against the grain
Yet doing it in a way that ensured he was well hidden, even then God could see him and keep in view
As we are prepared to take a stand against God’s enemies, God will us inhabit, in us remain
We can’t do things in our strength, but can do all things in him who strengthens us, if we hear him and do
That which he calls us to do, sometimes that seems strange, Gideon a Hero, it seemed insane
Gideon must have wondered what was happening when the angel said “Mighty Hero, the Lord is with you”

“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all

 
The miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, “The Lord brought us up out of Egypt?
I can sense the incredulity in Gideon’s voice, Yeah Right! God with us, our backs are against the wall
My ancestors saw God at work, but he has forgotten us, we are oppressed, nothing God does is legit
What can he do to get us out of the mess we are in, we’re in bondage, where are you when we call?
Why should I believe that God is with me, what miracles can he do, do he understand how things sit?

But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him
And said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
Often our perception of what God is or isn’t doing is miles away from the reality, like fat is to thin
We prevaricate over will we or won’t we do something, yet God says at this time I want to use you
I have ordained, I have searched for the right person to intervene, and to draw people away from sin

We may feel weak, unworthy, incapable, God says “Go with the strength you have, I am sending you!”

“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe

 
Of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The Lord said to him, “I will be with you.”
We place limitations on God and upon ourselves, we see difficulties real and imagined, strife
That doesn’t seem solvable, in doing so we block the Spirit, and fail to see what God has in view
It isn’t about us and our perceived frailties, rather about surrendering to God’s will in our life
Who will go for us, who will prepare the way we ask, not me! Yet God says” I will be with you”

And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Gideon replied,
“If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me.
Like Gideon we often desire a sign, proof that what we hear is what God has for us designed
Lay a fleece, get an answer and yet still struggle to conceive of what God in us does love and see
Will you stand on his promises; will you walk in his way, believe in his empowering, or be blind?
“My ways aren’t your ways, nor are my thoughts your thoughts” says the Lord, listen, and wait on me
And as you do I will show you my purposes, trust me with all your heart, soul, strength and mind
My steadfast love for you never ceases, my faithfulness is without end, believe, trust and follow me
Mark Maffey, January 2008

Posted in POEMS, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Psalm 145 – Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise

Sep 6th, 2009 by

Hi all

Do we have a sense of awe, do we ascribe (give to God) the honour due to his name? At times we struggle to do this, the Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 145 of the importance of doing this, and time and time again I am reminded that as we do this, in our worship God can interact with us, the more we open ourselves to him the more he is enabled to be at work in our lives. Take time to worship him this week you may be surprised what happens!

Psalm 145 – Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise
I will extol you, my God and king; I will bless your name forever. Every day I will bless you; I will praise
Your name forever. Great is the LORD and worthy of high praise; God’s grandeur is beyond understanding.
Worthy is the LORD of our praise, yet we lose sight of him and his grace in the midst of busy hectic days
He calls upon us to seek him, to come into his courts with thanksgiving, of him be not uncomprehending
For it is as we turn to him and look upon his face, that the things that surround can fade and us not faze
Come before the LORD with singing, come into his presence and as you do, you’ll see his love is unending
Come bless the LORD all you servants of the LORD, he is worthy of your praise, not just on Sundays
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise, for his love, power and his grandeur is beyond understanding
 
One generation praises your deeds to the next and proclaims your mighty works. They speak of the splendour
Of your majestic glory, tell of your wonderful deeds. They speak of your fearsome power and attest to your great deeds.
The testimony of your people is to give honour to you, to exhort others to seek you, and to you praise render
For it is as we speak of your acts and focus upon what you have done in our lives, in others of you we plant seeds
For you take as we are, in unpolished, flawed states, you shape us, you are our father, your love for us tender
Great are you LORD, yet you sent your son that we might have life in its abundance, we attest to your great deeds

They publish the renown of your abounding goodness and joyfully sing of your justice. The LORD is gracious
And merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love. The LORD is good to all, compassionate to every creature.
You see the brokenness of your people; you see their needs, your grace so wide it is overwhelming, capacious
Do we stop to recognise just how wide, how deep, how great your love is for us; in our lives does it feature?
Nothing can separate us from his love, yet we take it for granted, we fall, we err, yet still to us he is gracious
His steadfast love never ceases, his mercy without end, sing of him, he is compassionate to every creature

All your works give you thanks; O LORD and your faithful bless you. They speak of the glory of your reign
And tell of your great works, Making known to all your power, the glorious splendour of your rule.
Do we live before our LORD with thankful hearts, or like the Israelites grumble and groan and God disown?
Do we act as if we are blessed, saved, redeemed for a purpose, or are we towards God cool?
We have times when we feel as though in a desert, lost, blinded, unaware of his leading and concern
Yet he carries us, leads us toward his oasis, all creation reflects the glorious splendour of your rule

Your reign is a reign for all ages, your dominion for all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in every word,
And faithful in every work. The LORD supports all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
Our steps are ordered by him, he delights in his way, he upholds those who fall, have you not seen or heard
There is no searching of his understanding, he never tires or wearies, unlike us who are battered, windblown
If we are prepared to acknowledge our frailties, come before him, repentant, open, admitting we have erred
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, supportive of us, and able to raise up all who are bowed down

The eyes of all look hopefully to you; you give them their food in due season. You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire
Of every living thing. You, LORD, are just in all your ways, faithful in all your works. You, LORD, are near to all who call upon you
Who seek your face, who are prepared to come to you in openness and seek the working of your Spirit, of you seek and enquire
As we draw near to you, you will draw near to us and will justly and faithfully bring change in our lives as we keep you in view
You call upon your people to hunger and thirst for that which you have to give, to seek wisdom as for gold, to your will desire
Come to me my people, you call for I freely give to you that which is life giving, You, LORD, are near to all who call upon you

To all who call upon you in truth. You satisfy the desire of those who fear you; you hear their cry and save them. You, LORD, Watch over all who love you, but all the wicked you destroy. My mouth will speak your praises, LORD; all flesh will bless your holy name forever. 
You are jealous for your people and desire that they walk in your ways, you the good shepherd protect & guide with your word
You will not allow your people to slip, to lose their footing; you uphold them with your righteous right hand and leave them never 
You are the one, the only one who can meet all their needs, if they humble themselves before you, they by you will be heard
You alone are worthy of their praise, Great are you most worthy of their praise, all flesh will bless your holy name forever
Worthy, O worthy are you Lord, I will bless your name forever. Every day I will bless you for you are holy, gracious, my LORD

Mark Maffey, August 2007
New American Bible

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Nehemiah 4 vs. 10-15 – Hanging in Despite Tiredness and Threats From Enemies

Aug 30th, 2009 by

Nehemiah is a book filled with practical and spiritual lessons. The people were becoming tired from the physical work of rebuilding the wall, this coupled with threats from their enemies to kill them and stop their work. Nehemiah manages to reassure the people of God’s might and power to overcome their enemies through a rousing address but also take practical steps by stationing armed warriors at the weakest points of the wall. Practical Christianity needs both a spiritual awareness and a practical ability to make wise choices. First we need to listen and hear what God is saying into our situation and then take the practical steps to become overcomers.

 Nehemiah 4 vs. 10-15 – Hanging in Despite Tiredness and Threats From Enemies

 
Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the labourers is giving out,                                                                                       

And there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”                                                                                     

Sometimes the task at hand can seem overwhelming and we can get spaced out                                                                     

There is so much rubbish around us that we can hit the wall                                                                                                           

We can lose perspective and be overcome by what seems insurmountable doubt                                                                    

Yet in the midst of this we need to re-focus and on God call                                                                                                       

For what seems impossible to man is not to God, he can overcome fear and doubt                                                            

 He can defeat our enemies, he can rebuild every broken wall

                                              
Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them                

And put an end to the work.” Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall    

Nehemiah’s enemies were determined to stop the wall being built, Nehemiah set out to overcome them                          

He recognised where they would try to break through and stationed people near the low points of the wall                

He knew that he had to deploy his people where they could be the most use, and he made good use of them                     

Nehemiah took a practical approach to a difficult issue, he ensured people were at the lowest points of the wall
At the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows, after I looked things over,                 

I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people “Don’t be afraid of them.                             

Nehemiah made sure people were practically equipped to fight their enemies and his judgement was sober                  

He made sure they had their swords, spears, and bows, he assessed where to best place them                                               

He looked things over, he made adjustments and then sought to reassure the people and to their fears cover           

Nehemiah addressed all the people regardless of rank and said clearly “Don’t be afraid of them

       
Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight                                                                                                       

for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”                                                                                      

Nehemiah pointed to the Lord’s power to overcome their plight                                                                                                

That their enemies could not succeed, and they could protect their families and homes                                                        

They needed to trust God and remind themselves of his might                                                                                                 

Of his greatness and believe in him, to stand up and fight for their families and homes
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God                                                                                    

had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.                                                                                           

The people got back into rebuilding the wall, for theirs was a mighty God                                                                              

Able to frustrate their enemies, foil their plans and stop their evil work                                                                                  

The people had confidence that despite challenges the wall would not fold                                                                                

for God desired it would be rebuilt and nothing would stop the work

Mark Maffey, August  2009
(NIV)

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Psalm 119 vs 103-105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet

Aug 23rd, 2009 by

Driving into work this morning at 6.30am I was reminded that when it is dark we need light to see where we are going. Even more so in a spiritual context we need to have a light unto our path, we need direction. The source of that light is undeniably God’s word, and in order for us to comprehend that we need to do two things, first to open the word and actually read it, and secondly to ask God that through his Spirit he may guide us in understanding what he is wanting to say to us. The Psalmist understood not only the importance of knowing God’s word but also the importance of living in light of that word. May God’s word by a lamp unto your feet, and a light unto your path this week

 

Psalm 119 vs 103-105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth
Through your precepts I gain understanding; therefore I hate every false way
In this world people search for spirituality, they look north, they look south
They look to the east, they find mysticism, but it fails them day by day
They look to the west and find materialism; it fails all even our youth
They choose not to find you, they fall away, and there’ll be hell to pay
They are lost, all around them offer things, and much of it is uncouth
You call your church to be a light, tell the people that I’m the only way

Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path
People in the world are lost, you on them have compassion
You are the good shepherd, you rescue with your rod and staff
You see their helplessness, yet to them you’re out of fashion
This world holds you in contempt at you they have a laugh
Yet I Lord desire your path, to learn how to show your compassion

Mark Maffey, October 2005
(Verses from NRSV)

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Strings Of Love

Aug 16th, 2009 by

Often we want to run ahead of God, we want things to happen now, patience is something that I often find I lack, but as I get older I am learning that God plans and thoughts are much different to mine. Life is a little like a jigsaw puzzle, at times where we are at doesn’t seem to be the right place (or piece) it doesn’t seem to fit. But as I look back I believe that God takes us through certain times to strengthen the puzzle, and the pieces do have a symmetry and interlock.

As a toddler and child it was fair to say I was hyperactive, and was often running headlong, and as I battled with childhood epilepsy and struggled with finding acceptance and self-acceptance, I often found myself striving to do things so that I could feel “normal” or to get acceptance from others. Over the years I’ve come to understand that I don’t need to strive, that God’s agape love for me, his total acceptance due to the sacrifice of his Son on the cross means that I can gradually learn to walk in tandem with God. As Matthew 11 v 28-30 puts it:

Come to me, all of you Who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you.Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest For your souls, for my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

We need to let go of stuff, and Let God, we need to be teachable and humble before our God, and as we he can shape and build the jigsaw puzzle revealing the beautiful picture he wants to make our lives

 

Strings Of Love

Lord you hold me with your strings of love
Lord you remind me of times as a toddler
Of being in a harness, wanting to move quickly
Life’s exciting, life’s for living, things to do and see
Pushing ahead, straining hard, desiring to run
Yet with an even greater urgency Mum gently tugs
Her love it keeps me safe, with strings of love

Lord you hold me with strings of love
At times, more often than not, I’m a spiritual toddler
There are times when I want to dive headlong
Into surging seas, both foreboding and exciting
Often in the rush, the clamour of life, I fail to hear,
Your voice, your gentle tugs of strings of love
I’m wanting to serve you Lord with all my heart
To do all I can, to move as stung like a bee

Lord, Lord it is you I need to hear and see
The strings of love are not just behind me
But in front of me leading, that I don’t often see
That in all my straining, you’re gently calling me
To listen to you, to seek your face, to just sit and be
You my heavenly father want to embrace me in your love
Lord you need to tug and pull me into your strings of love
I desire to rest, to soak in your presence in arms of love
 

Mark Maffey, November 1996

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Psalm 121 – I Lift My Eyes Up To The Hills

Aug 9th, 2009 by

Hi

This week I am away to Totara Springs, Matamata where I will be giving a short talk on Insurance. I am looking forward to meeting a group of committed and passionate leaders who are ministrying to many across New Zealand.

  One thing we often need at a personal level is Assurance that God is there to help us when we look to him. Our God neither sleeps or slumbers, he is aware, vigilant for us. Yet how often do we take time to look for him?

 

Psalm 121 – I Lift My Eyes Up To The Hills

I Lift my eyes up to the hills, from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
I seek His face; He alone knows who I am, and what I’ll become
He is my creator, he has know me in the womb, before birth 
He is aware of all my cares and needs, all of them, not just some
He listens to my concerns and doesn’t treat them with mirth
He calls me to listen to him fully, and not let my mind roam
For his word does not return void, he will guide me on this earth

He will not let your foot be moved, He who keeps you will not slumber
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep
You can know Your God knows you by name, you are not a number
You may face challenges, sometimes they will be deep
The burden you carry may be heavy and you encumber
Your God is always with you and will to your rescue leap

The LORD is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night
He will protect you in all places; in the air, on the sea, and on land
He is your protection against Satan, for you He will fight
In times of difficulty, he is the one who carries you across the sand
Though you may fall, he upholds you, in you he takes delight

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore
He is your protector; he will overcome all your strife
He is always with you, you need not be afraid or dismayed, and He is the victor in the war
He has won the victory, His promise to you eternal life
He will lift you up, on eagles wings you will soar.
Mark Maffey, November 2005
(NRSV)

Posted in Poems - Psalms, Poems Old Testament | No Comments »

Romans 5 vs. 1-5 – Faith Brings Joy

Aug 2nd, 2009 by

 

Over the past week I have pause to reflect on the meaning of life, perhaps Brian in the Monty Python movie had a point “always look on the bright side” but the reality is there are times when that seems a little hard to do. The Bible is littered with laments and reality checks, life isn’t always simple, straightforward, or easy. My Mother had a brain tumour operation last week,  I give thanks that through to a combination of surgeons skills, a strong will to live on the part of my Mother, and prayer which availed, Mum made it through and is making a good recovery. It was also my 44th Birthday on Saturday, and it is fair to say I am starting to feel my age! 

Paul knew about the ups and downs of life and he knew that faith also is developed by being taken through the good and bad and hanging on to the promises of God- Romans 5 is a good example and a timely reminder

 

Romans 5 vs. 1-5  – Faith Brings Joy
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace
With God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us
Not that we first loved him, but that he first loved us, and died that sin in us could cease
To have control, that in his blood we can be washed clean and thus
We could turn away from the old self, and be prepared to decrease that he might increase
We have to have faith in what has been done, Christ died for us
Not that we go on sinning but by faith repent of that which is sinful and from it cease
We can have peace in with God because of what the Lord has done for us
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand,
And we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
God desires for us that we have life in all its abundance, he loves us and all our needs does understand
We can have confidence in his love for us; he does not treat us poorly
We can stand in his presence, enter his courts with praise, yet do we comprehend or fully understand
Or value this gift that we can joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.                                        

Faith is not just about being happy clappy, or being on a permanent cloud nine, rather it requires endurance                                                                                   

We are often so unaware of how blessed we are, we eat, we live life, there is no sense of hunger, starvation                                                 

Yet we need to know how to ride through the storms when they come, to let go of our stubborn independence                              

To learn to listen to God calling us in the midst of the storm, to get out of the boat and do it with conviction                               

We need to not see life as a sprint, get caught up in our own needs, but stop, listen and give him precedence                

How can we develop strength of character without facing things, we need to have confident hope of salvation
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us,                                         

because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.                                                                            

At the end of the day it is not about us, rather letting God in, and allowing him to shape us                                        

For he gives us the Holy Spirit to lead us into truth, and to do it with love                                                                                              

And when we have the Holy Spirit in us we can know God’s peace and pray and discuss                               

With God his plans, what he desires and can hold firm in the knowledge of his love

Mark Maffey, September 2008
(NLT)

Posted in POEMS, Poems New Testament, Uncategorized | No Comments »

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