GIVING AND TRUE HAPPINESS

There is so much truth to the well known saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive".

Before moving on to University in 1996, I had spent the previous 20 years as a volunteer - Scripture teaching, reading with children, teacher aiding and of course my children's ministry activities.

I could say, in those days it was easier to survive on one income. But no, we had our struggles. But it didn't seem to matter as much. My husband too, was always helping someone neighbours or someone at church. Then of course we had our foster children. Nothing brought more happiness to our home than children.

I hate that I now have to work for money. Oh, don't get me wrong - when my boss gave me $200 in cash the other day, I sighed with relief. "Ah, great, now we can get those few things we need."

God tells us that money is just a tool, a tool we can use to give of ourselves to others. I'd like to say my first thought was to give the money to our church. Sorry, it was gone before I thought of that. That's a discipline I still need to work on.

I know that being prosperous is not evil. In fact the few wealthy people I know have worked really hard for what they have. They are also good savers. Most of all, though, they give generously to the Lord's work. They are happy people, not because of their money, but because they have a `rich' relationship with the Lord.

"God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

Recently I have discovered that it is not wrong to have limits on giving. Some of us give beyond our emotional resources until we burn out. Saying `no' does not always mean you are selfish. Selfishness is not giving at all. We need to enjoy our giving. Sometimes, though, God may ask us to give beyond our comfort zone, or to someone who may not seem deserving.

In these times, I think you will find the most happiness. Maybe not at the time, but later. For it is in times that we are giving as God gives - unconditionally. Often my gifts or `acts of kindness' have melted the hearts of an ungrateful person.

"Love your enemies and be good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be great. You will truly be acting as children of God, for He is kind to the unthankful and wicked." Matthew 5:44

Here is a little song I wrote years ago as a Sunday School teacher. I always like to think they would say `thank you'.

TEN MEN.

Ten men went to see Jesus

Ten men got down on their knees.

Ten men were healed by Jesus

Then they went away to tell their friends.

One man went back to Jesus

One man got down on His knees.

One man said `Thank you Jesus

For healing me from my leprosy'.

Jesus wants us to the be thankful

Jesus wants us to know He cares.

Jesus wants us to know that He loves us

And He'll be with us to the very end.

Ruth Cheater

Have a happy `giving day', and don't forget to say `THANKYOU', for those gifts given to you.

Prayer - Lifestyle or Discipline.

"Let us have confidence then and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16.

When telling everyone my news about my Cancer this past few weeks, I realized that there was only one person in my family (except my son and his wife) that said they'd pray. I realized it is time I started doing some `heavy' praying for my family. I keep thinking about my Mum and her `gift of praying' and now I have discovered my young niece who really has a gift in this area.

I say my prayer life is more a `lifestyle faith' , but maybe this is just an excuse for not being committed to prayer. Those who know me well know how hard it is for me to `keep still and focused'. My Dad and sisters too were a great prayers, but I seem to have let the side down. Time I did something about it.

Where do I start - the Bible of course. My young niece reminded me to look at how Jesus prayed.

1. JESUS MADE IT A HABIT TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH HIS FATHER - Jesus would always find time to go off and pray.

"Then accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went AS USUAL to the Mount of Olives." (Luke 22:39)

My friend Bob Gass reminds us that prayer is a conversation with God. It is a RELATIONSHIP. "Spending time alone with Him is the secret of knowing Him. I can be anywhere, but it needs to be somewhere, and it needs to be a set time."1 It is one of those necessary disciplines. It may mean changing your schedule or rearranging your priorities, but you need to MAKE IT A HABIT to PRAY.

2. JESUS PRAYED ACCORDING TO HIS FATHER'S WILL.

"He walked away and knelt down and prayed: "Father if you are willing, please take this cup away from me. Yet not my will be done, but yours". Luke 22:41&42

God wants us to understand that if you don't need it yet, he may not supply it. The hardest thing I have found in my spiritual walk is to have patience and simply trust God - waiting for His will to be done.

Paul writes: "Don't worry about anything. Instead PRAY about everything. If you do this you will experience God's peace." Philippians 4:6&7

As humans we find this difficult to do, because we seem to have to sort things out ourselves. We need to know all the answers. We want things our way. When I am in pain, I remember this verse, as I know Jesus didn't particularly like it either, but he was willing to let God's will be done. And with that will came our salvation.

2. JESUS WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT PRAYER.

"He prayed more fervently and He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood." Luke 22:44

There are times, like Jesus, we need to just look up and cry out to God.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Lots of things happen when you seek God with all your heart. Often there are miracles, but even if you miss them, you will grow spiritually as your relationship with God blossoms.

4. JESUS PRAYED THE WORD.

"No the Scriptures say, `People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

This is only one time in the Gospels where Jesus used the Scriptures - in this case to defeat Satan. The prophecies of His Father were the basis of his ministry, prayers and of course the salvation of the world.

I usually begin my prayer time with the reading from the Psalms. Not only do I love them, but the words are often written in a prayer like form, that make it easier to focus your thoughts on God. I was brought up memorising scripture, but I didn't find this as easy task. So I have a book I put together with thematic verses - if I can't remember, I look up my book. Usually, I know where the verse came from in the Bible, even if not remembering the exact words, so I try to always have my Bible close by.

5. JESUS PRAYED CONFIDENTLY.

"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who believe in me through their message. I pray that they will be one just as you and I are one - as you are in me Father, and I am in you. May they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." John 17:20721

What confidence we can have as we pray, when we know that Jesus prayed confidently for us. God has wonderful things in store for us, but only if we believe in Him.

"You have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be full."

(John 16:24)

6. JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY.

The greatest reminder of how Jesus prayed and how we should pray are in the Lord's Prayer - the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray.

In it we find words of adoration and praise, words of confident petition as we seek His will, the promise of forgiveness, and help as we try to forgive others. Finally we are given the courage to fight the devils attacks.

Take this prayer with you every day and make it a discipline as well as a lifestyle, as you seek to PRAY AS JESUS PRAYED.

"Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name

Your Kingdom come, your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.

AMEN.

1. "Praying and Getting Results" (2001) Bob Gass Ministries.

Challenge and Comfort

The hardest book in the Bible for me to read is the book of Job. But there are three verses that bring challenge me and bring me comfort.

"But He knows where I am going and when He tests me I will come out as pure as gold." (23:10)

"For I have stayed on God's paths. I have followed His ways and not turned aside." (23:11)

"I have not departed from His commands, but have treasured His words more than daily food." (23:12 (NLT)

I'm not through the "tests" yet, but I am getting there. I will continue with God's help to stay on His path and to follow His ways. I am not sure I will be a fill time teacher again. I don't know where my writing will take me, if anywhere, but I will continue to do as my old mate Hezekiah did:

"He sought His God wholeheartedly." 2 Kings 18:5-

One of my favourite stories is that of Mary Jones, which is why it is on the first page of my book: "In the Palm of His Hands."

The Bible has always been an important part of my life, both as a mother, a wife and especially as a teacher. Whenever I teach about the Bible, I am always reminded of the story of Mary Jones. Mary was a young girl from Wales, who worked as a child to raise money for her first Bible. She walked to a Church, many miles from her hometown, because there were no Bibles in her language. On meeting with the Pastor of this Church, Mary discovered there were no Bibles left. So, the Pastor gave him his Bible and she walked home to share its wonders with her parents.

Yesterday in Children's Church we talked about courage, and how through prayer and reading the Bible we can gain courage to help us when we are afraid. Specifically facing up to the bully at school, telling the truth when everyone else is lying, making the right choices when faced with peer pressure. I'm not saying has always been easy to do. It has been a challenge. But I can honestly say it has been easier, because I made the choice to `stay on God's path and not turn aside. It was easier because I made the decision to `never depart from His commands and have treasured His word in my heart'.

I challenge you to do the same, and no, it won't always be easy - there will be CHALLENGES, but I can also say with confidence, that God's Word will bring you COMFORT.

THE BIBLE

As a child I sat and wondered, feeling alone and scared,
I needed someone to be my friend, someone who really cared.
So I asked my Mum about it, I asked her where I could look,
She said, `Try reading the Bible",
I thought, "Now that's a strange book

But I started from the beginning
And read right through to the end.
I learnt that I had a BROTHER,
And He was my SAVIOUR AND FRIEND.

I never let Him leave me, I always knew He was there,
At home, at school, at work and play
My FRIEND was everywhere.


As I grew older I needed more, someone to guide me along.
There were paths and paths, which one do I take,
I didn't want to go wrong.
This time I asked my minister, he always had lots to say,
He said, "Try reading the Bible".
He said that would show me the way.

So I started from the beginning
And read right through to the end.
I learnt that I had a SHEPHERD
And He was my SAVIOUR AND FRIEND.

I never let Him leave me, I always knew he was there,
At Church, at home, when studying at school,
My SHEPHERD was everywhere.


Now I've come to a mountain, how do I get across,
I need someone to take my hand, to keep me from getting lost.
This time I'll ask my father, `cause I know he really cares,
He'll probably say `read the Bible',
`Cause I know He knows what's there.

So I'll start from the beginning
And I'll read right through to the end.
I'm sure that I'll find my FATHER,
For He is my SAVIOUR AND FRIEND.

I'll never let Him leave me,
I'll always know He's there.
At work, at home, and when I'm alone,
My FATHER is everywhere.

RUTH CHEATER

LIFESTYLE FAITH

Sometimes I feel a little guilty about my relationship with God. I don't get up at 5o'clock to pray like I used to see my step-mother doing. I read my Bible and pray in the morning, petitioning for my day; but sometimes I forget to thank him at night.

But you see, my faith is a `lifestyle faith'. I talk to God when I get in the car. I thank Him for being at work with me. I put my music on and sing his praises as I do my housework.

There were some people in the Bible that you would call perfect believers either: like Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Rahab and David - liars, drunkards, laughers, deceivers, big headed and adulterers. These people simply believed that God existed and they trusted Him most of the time, rather than themselves.

No don't get my wrong, I am not advocating any lieing, drunkardness, pride and adultery, nor am I saying that trusting God is easy, especially in times of trial. I've said it before, `trusting God doesn't necessarily make life rosy, beautiful, neat, lovely, financially secure and comfortable'. But perfect trust changes us and it pleases God. It doesn't always take away the worry, but it does help you to relax a little and to say, `Lord, this is your battle'.

One of the best testimonies I have ever given was at the end of a really bad week. It wasn't exactly what my pastor had expected, and he kept giving me that look and tapping his watch. Yet, afterward, a young mother came up to me. She had an autistic boy and a young daughter. Her husband was away at the mines. She simply said, `Thankyou, I didn't know I was allowed to feel that way, but now I know I don't have to be angry at God as well.'

How had I been feeling? Depressed and angry at the world, but why wasn't I angry with the Lord. Because after 39 years as his daughter, I had learnt that a relationship with God was built on a lifestyle faith, based on His sovereignty.

This is my LIFESTYLE FAITH:

* HIS PRESENCE IS ALWAYS BE WITH ME.

"I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me."

Psalm 16:8

* HE GIVES ME THE ABILITIES TO DO WHAT HE WANTS ME TO DO.

"God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another." 1 Peter 5:10

* HE GIVES ME GUIDANCE AND SHEPHERDS ME THROUGH LIFE.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I have all I need. He lets me rest in green meadows. He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths."

Psalm 23:1-3

* HE HELPS ME GROW AND GET PAST MY `ISSUES'.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow."

James 1:2&3

*HE GIVES ME COUNSEL WHEN I NEED WISDOM.

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and He will give it to you." James 1:5

* HE LEADS ME THROUGHOUT MY LIFE - ONE DAY AT A TIME.

"Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk for I give myself to you." Psalm 143:8

* HE HELPS ME BE MORE LOVING, HOPEFUL, CONFIDENT AND COURAGEOUS.

"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you. Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised." Hebrews 10:35&36

* HE PROVIDES FOR MY NEEDS AND HELPS ME NOT TO BE SO ANXIOUS AND WORRIED.

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

* HE COMFORTS ME IN PAIN AND LOSS.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

Psalm 34:18

I will probably never be asked to speak at the `Hillsong Women's Convention', and I have to tell you my Pastor never asked me to speak again. Still, I know that my sovereign God is worthy of my perfect trust, and he is worthy of yours too!!

Trusting - Remembering Positive Trust Experiences.

* Before I begin, just remember you need to go back and read previous BLOGS so you are getting my `drift'. Have digressed a little, but I'm back on track again. I think!!

"Trust in the Lord and do good, then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him and He will help you." Psalm 37:3-5

Dr Henry was telling this story:

"A man once told me that he didn't trust anyone. I told him that was impossible and he was in denial, bit if it made him feel better that he was insulated and independent, more power to him. Then I asked him: `Did you drive here today? If you did you trusted hundreds of people on the road headed right at you'. Did you eat today? If so, you trusted that all those who prepared your food did not pass E.coli onto you. Have you ever flown? When you fly, you trust the pilot not to be on cocaine that day. So don't tell me you don't trust anyone."

This man's real problem was that he didn't trust God and he was unable to take those little growth steps in trusting others.

"Trust moves us beyond where we are and connects us with what he wants to do for us and what he wants us to do for him" Dr Henry

Thirty nine years ago I took that step to trust God in my life, and since then amazing things have happened. My faith and trust in God have led to blessings galore. I have accomplished things I never thought possible. Here are some of them:

*Marriage - I used to be terrified of telling my husband when I'd made mistakes or failed. Now it is a lot easier, because I know he is not going to yell at me or be-little me. There will always be a hug and a listening ear.

* Children - I often tell the story of when Aaron was a baby and we had him in the back of our van (silly, but in those days, we didn't know any different). He was asleep when for some reason the back doors of the van blew open and all our luggage fell out. When we stopped to look, there was Aaron fast asleep in the back. That is an extreme case of course, but over the years I have trusted the Lord, as well as doctors and his teachers with the health and well-being of my son. God has kept his promise that he would take care of him, and that one day he would marry a lovely Christian woman and be serving in a Church. I continue to trust the Lord and his lovely wife to take care of him.

*Career - my story of how I got into Uni. and got through is not only a BLOG in itself, but a whole BOOK. But to summarize - simply, I applied and was denied in one state. Mark received a transfer to Brisbane, and I was then accepted into Griffith University - the only University at that stage that did a specialized Bachelor of Education in Special Needs - just what I needed to do the work God wanted me to do - worked for the last 10 years I have done with a passion.

* Community of faith and friends - relationships with work colleagues never worked well for Mark and I. We both have intrinsic personalities, enjoying being together rather than going to parties or down to the pub. But the few, faithful friends whom we know we can TRUST, usually from Church, have always been there for us.

Of course, if you read any of my books or previous BLOGS, you'll discover that life hasn't always been a `bed of roses' - but God never promised me that would be the case. But he did promise me He would `never leave me nor forsake me'.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"We can count on GOD'S MERCY for our past mistakes. We can count on GOD'S LOVE for our present needs. We can count on GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY for our future." Augustine.

Forgiveness - Breaking the Chain.

"Forgiveness breaks the chain. It cuts the cord between you and the last hurtful event." (Dr Henry)

"When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in Heaven will forgive your sins too." Mark 11:25

We live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. Bad things happen and we will be hurt, even by those we love and trust. But if we are to experience the good God desires of us, we must let go of the `the bad' and the sting that it carries.

This doesn't mean we deny our hurts and the evil someone may have done against you. You need to feel the feelings, talk about the hurt and grieve. But then we need to seek reconciliation, and this isn't always easy.

I read a lot of Amish stories, and am always overwhelmed at their ability to forgive and not take people to court, even when someone has hurt them badly. eg. murdering their children, kidnapping their child. But, it doesn't mean they are still not hurting. `Shunning' is something that I find even more difficult to understand, for the `punishment' doesn't seem to suit the crimes. But the same hurt is there. When a person is shunned it is because they have broken the trust of their people and seem to be turning away from God and those who love them.

A number of years ago I wrote to my step-sister, seeking forgiveness for the anger I felt against her for the ways she had hurt me. My step-mother, with whom I'd had a great relationship in the past, wrote to me and said: "You have no right to feel the way you do". For many years, she basically `shunned' me and our relationship became very strained.

I realized many years later, that as her only Christian daughter, she expected more of me. We had a special relationship based on trust, and I had let her down. Whether I agree with her or not is not the issue. She wanted a `perfect' daughter, and until I admitted that the feelings I had were wrong, I could never be that daughter she wanted.

Unfortunately, that relationship was never truly reconciled, because it takes two, not just one to forgive. She never forgave me and I felt that she could never trust me. I was also quite stubborn and I couldn't (or wouldn't) admit that my feelings were wrong. My mother died, not knowing true reconciliation, because neither of us were willing to take that step of forgiveness.

How can I stop this from happening again? Is it ever possible to free oneself from the past and trust again?

I entrust my heart each day to different people - my husband, my friends, my minister, my colleagues - but I have discovered over the years that to trust them, I have to accept that they are not perfect. Trust is earned and it takes time. Sometimes the pain is too powerful. It `takes the wind out of your sails' and gives you less jest for life. But if I am to trust again, my relationships need to be based not on `one way forgiveness', but on true reconciliation.

Yes, it is possible to free oneself from the past and trust again. Why? Because we have been forgiven by God. He holds nothing against us. Humbled by His love and knowing that if we do `fall', he is always their to lift us up again, is the promise we have that makes forgiveness and true reconciliation that little bit easier.

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord upholds them by the hand." Psalm 37:23&24.

TRUSTING IN GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY.

One of the first courses I did as a teacher was the `William Glasser Behaviour Management' course. I discovered that the most intrinsic need for every human being is the need to be needed. For some of us though, that need is so strong it becomes an obsession, because along with that is the need for recognition.

On Sunday Pastor Dave spoke on the book of Ruth and the sovereignty of God. No matter what her circumstances Ruth just trusted God and was even willing to take some risks. She was able to put her life in His hands, giving up control and just resting.

I guess I am a little bit like Naomi, because on some days I sit around feeling a little sorry for myself. This morning I woke up wondering - why did God decide to leave me here, and take my sisters.

Mary was my `perfect' older sister. When it came to intellect and logical thinking, she would never have made the stupid mistakes in her life that I have. She was a Church elder, loved and respected by everyone in Mornington. Miriam, well she might have been a rebel teenager, but she grew up to be a natural mother and housewife. She always had a freezer full of baked goods for her husband to take to work and all she every wanted to do was have children to raise. Mary and Miriam, as leaders and servants accomplished so much in their short lives; and if you ask Mark and Aaron they'll tell you there were times they often envied their brother in laws and cousins.

Well, unlike Naomi, I don't sit around dwelling for long, because I have, like Ruth, learnt to rest in God's sovereignty. But I have discovered another intrinsic need: `the need to have a little control over my life and to have the power to choose.' I think Ruth might have had this need too and it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. You see she didn't want to spend her life sitting around depressed or suffering from `learned helplessness'. She got up, knowing God was sovereign, but she still had to do something to help Naomi. She didn't know what God had in store for her but she just knew that things would be okay.

She showed her faith when she said to Naomi: "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. Where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people and your God, my God." (Ruth 1:16) Then again when she said: "Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it." (Ruth 2:2)

After nearly 30 years of marriage, Mark has resigned himself to the fact that there will never be `baked goods in our freezer.' Aaron has accepted that his Mum may be just a `little bit crazy'. She thinks NCIS is better than CSI (little sermon joke). As for being a Church elder - oh well!

You see, for some reason, beyond my understanding, God has decided to leave me here, even with all my intrinsic needs and obsessive behaviours. He is SOVEREIGN and I can TRUST IN HIS SOVEREIGNTY. I can't wait to hear Pastor Dave's sermon next week to find out just how much God blessed Ruth and Naomi, through their `redeemer' Boaz. I know how much I have been blessed through knowing and trusting my redeemer Jesus Christ.

There are still some days I may feel sad - I loved my sisters and I miss them a lot, so I am allowed. There are still days I feel that depression taking hold again, but I refuse to give way to helplessness. I love my husband, son and daughter-in-law, and I want to have some grandchildren. But most of all, I want to serve the Lord, knowing that what he has in store for me is `very, very good.'

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

* If you would like to be blessed by Pastor Dave's or Pastor Matt's sermons feel free to check out the Gold Coast Christian Family website.