Monday 10 September 2018

A Tool Box


Now there are somethings I am not good at
Swimming – I can’t swim, in fact it’s more like drowning
Golf – I can’t hit the ball off a tee- I have tried to amusement of others
To name a few
But my wife will agree that ‘Do- It-Yourself’ is probably high on my list
I get myself in all sorts of muddles
When it gets more complicated than changing batteries in the central heating clock
In fact my tool box
Is a sad excuse for a tool box
A few spanners, pliers, a saw, an old hammer and nails, nuts, washers and bolts
It is very sad

That is why when God shows me a picture of a tool box I know it’s important
Or he is having a laugh with me

So, I get this picture of a pristine tool box, full of new tools, all ready to be used
And God says,
“I have given you the tools you need.
I have placed my new tools, ready, opened there for you to use,
They have been given to you for you to use
Pick up the tools and use them.
Let me guide you,
Let me show you how to use them
Let me direct you
Take the tools, the gifts I have given you and let me work through you.
Do not doubt yourself, but let me work through you.”

Here is the truth of all Christ has given us
For Christ has placed his tools into our lives
His tools to work in and through us by his Holy Spirit
Supernatural tools
Tools of His life in us
Forgiveness
Healing
Communication
Value
Acceptance
Kindness
Long-suffering
Patience
Perseverance
Acknowledgment
Insight
Wisdom
joy
love
Peace
For all these tools are tools of reconciliation
Tools to craft and demonstrate the unconditional love of God
And instead of asking for God to give us these things
It is better to take the tools Christ has placed inside us
And use them in every situation of Christ

Let God reveal to you the tools he has given you
And let him work in and through you with those tools
He is an open tool box
He has given you the best tools
He is delighted with you
He is your tools in very situation of life.
Christ is the full supply of God given to you.

Sunday 9 September 2018

Vanished

Vanished
That was the word on the sweatshirt
On the bus
Just one word
Just written for all to see
And the girl wearing it was probably unaware of the powerful message it conveyed.

For God speaks in the most mundane places and uses the most ordinary things.
Nothing is outside the embrace of God
And if you look and listen
You can find God in everything.

For that simple word is the truth of the gospel
For in one act
One sacrifice
Jesus vanished our sins forever
Our old man
Our old life
Our old person
Vanished at the cross
Our failures were vanished at the cross
Our defeats were vanished at the cross
Our condemnation was vanished at the cross
Our guilt was vanished at the cross
Our self-righteousness was vanished at the cross
Our bondage was vanished at the cross
Our yoke of self loathing was vanished at the cross
Our captivity was vanished at the cross
Our separation in our minds was vanished at the cross.
Jesus in one act reconciled us back to God at the cross
And the wall of separation was taken away forever.

Our blindness was healed
Our deaf ears were healed
At the cross we were healed
And we can now see the fullness of Christ
We can now hear the voice of the father
We are now made one with Christ.

God has vanished our old man.
It has gone forever
We are now New Creations in Jesus Christ.