Today if you hear his voice...

Today my thoughts turn to living in obedience. As a follower of Jesus true discipleship requires obedience to his Word, the teaching we find in the Bible about how we are to live.

Obedience, true obedience starts with a heart of worship and celebration.  It continues in knowing that we belong to him and are cared for by him. This requires us to trust him. Notice that the call to obedience begins with the conviction of God's care for us.

Psalm 95:6-9 CSB
Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
[7] For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care. Today, if you hear his voice:
[8] Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness
[9] where your fathers tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did.

The word 'hear' as in the phrase 'Today if you hear his voice' is to hear with intention. To hear with an expectation that you will act in obedience to what you hear. The Israelites heard, but hardened their hearts, the psalmist asks us to choose a different path and to hear God with intention and with obedience.

James also picks up on this in his writing on hearing and doing.

James 1:22-25 CSB
But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23] Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. [24] For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. [25] But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works-this person will be blessed in what he does.

It is the same understanding that we will hear and we will act intentionally on what we hear. We are not to be stubborn like the Israelites, but instead, choose to walk in obedience. Freedom and blessing is ours and comes through trust in the God who saves us and in obedience to his  guidance and direction for our lives.

Creating space for creativity

How creative are you and your team?

Allowing space for innovation and creativity are important to allow teams to grow and flourish. But how do we create space for innovation?

We've been taught to think that raising ideas in a group setting, brainstorming or pooling our thoughts, leads to more creative and innovative ideas. But does it?

Here's a great article debunking the myth that brainstorming builds greater innovation and creativity.

Why Brainstorming Groups Kill Breakthrough Ideas (and What To Do Instead) http://flip.it/dGjCHU

Thought of the day

Isaiah 30:20-22
God speaks - let us listen. God wants to teach us, guide us, direct us, and bless us. Listen for his voice - he will show you the way.

A thought about idols. What are the idols in our lives

Materialism - the stuff of this world

Comparrison - how do I measure up to others

Fitting in - to be accepted

Here's the thing: I think we spend so much time and focus on "fitting in" and "being accepted" that they have become the idols of our world.

Therefore - we worship at the "temple" of the materialist god - the shopping centre - and spend our lives on what does not nourish the soul.

We chase after relationships with people that will never fulfil our desire for acceptance because God is where we find acceptance.

Pay Attention

To all the amazing women I do life with, I'd like to share some thoughts. 

I read the following verse in my quiet time today and saw it in a slightly different light to how i I'd previously reflected on it. 

Galatians 6:4 NLT

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.

We often focus on the "you won't need to compare yourself" part and this is valid. Comparison is negative and destructive and we do need to focus on what God has called us to do and not compare ourselves to others. 

But today when I read this I thought about "pay careful attention to your own work". As leaders we can fall into the trap of picking up the pieces for what others are meant to do. I'm sure we've  all done it. I know I have. 

The trouble is, when we pick up the pieces for others and take responsibility for what they are supposed to do we don't have satisfaction in our own work. Instead we become tired and frustrated because our time gets pressured by trying to do all the extra stuff. And this impacts everything we do and we miss focusing on and paying careful attention to what we are called to do. 

Sometimes we are tempted to pick up the pieces  because we want to save face or protect our people or organisation from criticism. We want to see things happen and get things done and we don't want to let people down. 

But in doing so we don't do anyone any favours. We end up losing out and so do our team because they don't learn to take responsibility for their own work, and ultimately they also lose the satisfaction of a job well done. Sometimes this means some things will not happen and that is disappointing, but people learn and grow from failure if we allow them to. 

Let's build a culture in our own lives that  builds relationships and loves and cares for people but that also focuses on doing what we're called to do. Let's model what it means to pay careful attention to our work and find satisfaction in that. And let's bring other's with us on the journey.

Reflection

What has God called me to do and how am I paying careful attention to it? 

Where might I be picking up the pieces for others?

What would happen if I stopped picking up the pieces?

What conversations might I need to have?

Jill

Intentional faith

They devoted themselves

Acts 2:42-47

After the conning of the Spirit at Pentecost there are some key verses that speak of how the first Christians lived their life in relationship to God and each other. 

These simple words - they devoted themselves

This speaks of personal responsibility in their faith. They did not need others to "follow them up" as we westerners so often seem to think others should do. 

No, they took responsibility themselves and were intentional in devoting themselves to their relationship with God and with others in faith communities and temple worship. 

Later the writer to Hebrews tells his readers to not stop gathering together as some have done. (Hebrews 10:23-25) Why? Because when we choose not to gather we become subject to the schemes of the devil and our own ways of thinking that lead us astray and away from God's best for our lives.

There is an enemy of our soul and he prowls around trying to pick us off any which way he can, causing us to fill our lives or 'devote ourselves' to less than God's best and sometimes into things that are completely destructive. 

We get into patterns of behaviours and relationships that are unhealthy. We fill our lives with things that seem good to us but in fact are unhealthy for us as our families. 

I encourage you, whatever commitments you have, (and many of these are good and right) be they work, study or family, to always take time to "devote yourselves" to relationship with God and with one another and you encourage others to join with you on the journey. 

Read Acts 2:42-47 and Hebrews 10:23-25

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper ), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Acts of the Apostles 2:42‭-‬47 NLT

http://bible.com/116/act.2.42-47.NLT

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Hebrews 10:23‭-‬25 NLT

http://bible.com/116/heb.10.23-25.NLT

A couple of questions.
Be brutally honest with yourself as you challenge yourself. 

What are you really devoting your time and energy to? 

What changes can you  make right now to begin to devote yourself to God and to relationship in community with others?

A thought to ponder

John 4:34-38 NLT
Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. [35] You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. [36] The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! [37] You know the saying, 'One plants and another harvests.' And it's true. [38] I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest."

This comes immediately after Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well.

The Samaritan woman was the outcast, she was the one living in a less than best situation, yet Jesus deliberately spoke with her. It did not matter that she had lived with many. Jesus cared about her eternity not about how she was living. That was just the door to her finding eternal life.

There are many women waiting at the well. Will we care enough and love them enough to engage with them regardless of their situation.

You are what you think.

Doing A Brain Sweep

Doing a “Brain sweep” is used to deal with the toxic processes we’ve developed takes time but is worth it.

We acknowledge it, quit it, and deal with it.

Ps 119:30
I have chosen to be faithful I have determined to live by your laws.

The process involves acknowledging the thoughts, understanding where they come from, repenting – changing - stopping the thought patterns.

Repentance is doing a U-turn. It’s choosing to stop thinking that way and to think differently.

Then forgiveness – asking and receiving forgiveness, and most importantly, where others are involved – forgiving others.
It takes 21 days to work this process to completion in your brain.

Dr Leaf says in her book “Who Switched off my Brain” that we must spend at least seven minutes a day (or at least seven repetitions of deliberate deep thought), speaking God’s truth, in prayer, and worship.
 
The first 4 days are the hardest as you are changing the old and laying down the new. If you persist, and work the process through you will find that you are thinking differently.

This is not about a positive thinking mantra – it is about effecting lasting and positive change in our thought patterns, our emotions, our choices and our behaviours.

There is a challenge- we have to be willing to do what it takes and not give up.
So what is the process?

Gather
This is the first part – acknowledging and becoming aware of our thoughts.
Gather the information, what thoughts are coming up? How long have they been there etc., what are your senses telling you, what emotions are you feeling?
 As you gather, you become aware of your thoughts and bring them into your consciousness.

For example:
Those things you were told about yourself – what was said? Who said it? How do you feel? What are your senses telling you?
When we are aware, we can begin to work on the thoughts and start to change them.

Reflect
Think deeply about the thoughts and prayerfully. Analyse the thought. This is where begin to develop wisdom and insight.

Prov 23:23
Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline and discernment.

Psalm 139:23
 Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Ask questions: What type of thoughts are they? Do they line up with God’s word? What does God’s word say? What do I need to stop doing, or thinking? Who do I need to forgive?

Deep thinking is where the changes in the brain begin to happen. The thought is mouldable at this stage. This is where we bring the thought into captivity.

We can choose to accept or reject the thought. We make a conscious decision to accept the thought if it is good and to reject it if it is not.

We tear down strongholds and then change the thought through repentance and forgiveness.

What changes need to happen?
E.g if we are holding unforgiveness we choose to let go of it and to forgive.
If words spoken over us have been a problem, we choose to let go of them and seek God’s truth about who we are.

E.g Ps 139 Fearfully and wonderfully made
Eph 2:10
We are God’s masterpiece etc.

Journal
Write it down – journal be creative – mind map etc. example of matacog
Writing it down helps us to consolidate what we are doing.

This is really an extension of the reflect stage but it helps us to see clearly where the issues and patterns are.

It helps us see clearly the words spoken over us, the things we believe either right or wrong etc.

What patterns do you see? What images etc. come up? Are their words that are repeated, thoughts that group together?

Revisit
Revisiting is more deep reflection.
What are we learning in this process of reflecting and journalling?
What do we need to change or to add?

As we revisit, our brain is in an active dynamic state. We can do something positive with the thoughts that are dominating our conscious mind.

Again we choose to keep or reject a thought. We rethink our reactions to information, evaluate the thought. We then build a new thought based on the truth and on God’s word. 

By doing this we re-transcribe our thoughts in to a healthy strong part of our brain and memory. We do this with God’s grace. He is at work in us to complete what he has started.

Phil 2:13
For God is at work in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

We do not do this alone. We have the Holy Spirit to help us.
The Bible has the answer for us.
e.g Worry
We can actively choose to reject worry and to accept what God’s word says.
God cares for me and he is in control.

Matthew 6:25-33
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Christ

4:19
God will provide all I need

As we choose to accept the truth, our brain steps in and builds new circuitry. This is where the repetition comes in.  As we repeat, as we think regularly and deliberately about what God’s word says and the positive reframing we have made, we continue the process of laying down new circuits and consolidating pathways in our brain.

We actually renew our minds.
Be deliberate. Every day, work on the thought. Concentrate on the truth of God’s word and the new thought and memory. Choose to reject the toxic and accept the good.

Quote Scripture, pray, (Pray for those you have chosen to forgive), worship God.
This builds new memory, effecting new and lasting changes and producing strong healthy structures in our brains (and breaks down the old which disappears).

Repetition is important. The more repetition, the stronger the new pathway will be. ( At least seven times a day for 21 days.)

Reach
This is the faith aspect.

James 2:14-17
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?  Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

Faith without works is dead.  James says that not doing what you know is like looking in a mirror and forgetting

James 1:22-25
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

Jesus said that the wise man built his house on the rock – this is the person who hears God’s and puts it into practice.

Matt 7:24
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

It comes after all the others because it requires us to have transcribed thoughts built on a solid foundation of truth, so that our actions line up with belief.

 This is where we actually start doing what we have made a decision to do.
We regularly bring the “good” transcribed thought into consciousness and repeat it. We forgive those who have hurt us. 
Our Actions and beliefs match up.

Ps 119:5
O that my actions would consistently reflect your principles

Conclusion and Challenge
God is calling us to be transformed, to take our thoughts captive, and to focus on what is good and right and lovely. We do this by being aware of our thoughts. Choosing to accept or reject them. (Taking them captive). We then build a new thought based on the truth and on God’s word.

We spend time each day, regularly revisiting the thought and continuing to spend deliberate and intensive time thinking on and reflecting on the truth, repeating God’s word, singing, praying.

The question is: Will you join me in this journey?

Are you prepared to deal with the toxic memories, words thoughts emotions, and be free from them forever?