Meandering - Sweet Pea

/ NMBC/
Meandering - Sweet Pea

I remember swallowing hard, and not being really happy in preparing to give my first tithe. Yet, I also recall a sense of God’s pleasure in my trusting him. When Sunday morning came, I was filled with joy as I gave my tithe and offering in worship. Then, not unlike many others who have since shared with me similar stories, God gave back to me in unexpected, abundant ways that far exceeded what I had given. This left no room for doubting the truth that God was teaching me, as seen in the words of Jesus in Luke 6:38, “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

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Meandering - Beautiful Messes

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Meandering - Beautiful Messes

The messes of life may get us down, but the fact that we are even able to make messes of things, is something beautiful in itself. Your worn out shoes, scuffed furniture, dirty dishes, dented cars, relational tensions, grey hairs, wrinkles, and scars, all testify that you have been a part of life. God knows that not all things are good in our lives, but wonderfully - even through our messes, he can work all things together for good that we might reflect the beauty of Christ (Romans 8:28)

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Meandering - He Doth Steer

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Meandering - He Doth Steer

In Matthew 8, as the surging sea threatened to swallow up the disciples, we read that they too wondered how Jesus could be so oblivious to their crisis. Following the miracle-working Jesus, they expected smooth sailing, exempt from the unsavoury storms of life. They found out, however, that it is quite otherwise. To journey with Jesus is to expect turbulent times along the way. Gale force calamity, while it seems Jesus sleeps, causes us to cry out to him all the more. Christ lovingly uses all things to draw us to himself and teach us that apart from him we can do nothing (John 15:5). 

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Meandering - Coram Deo

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Meandering - Coram Deo

The truth is, nothing has ever - in this digital age, or any age - been hidden from God. He not only hears and sees our every word and action, but the very thoughts of our hearts and minds are continually open to him. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). It’s best to live in this constant awareness that God knows all and sees all.

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Meandering - Thanksgiving

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Meandering - Thanksgiving

"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:14-16

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Meandering - To the Glory of the Master Builder

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Meandering - To the Glory of the Master Builder

It’s been great to see the Pumpkin People out and about again. The displays - based around a LEGO theme this year, are really creative. You may have seen the LEGO Pirate, Batman, and Star Wars themed Pumpkin People. It got me thinking about the church and LEGO. 

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Meandering - Not Staying Not Ok

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Meandering - Not Staying Not Ok

It’s been said that it’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to stay that way. Looking back on Peter’s life, I think he would heartily agree. God transformed this everyday, curmudgeon of a fisherman into a humble servant-leader he used to change the world.  Peter’s brokenness endears him to us, while his dogged pursuit of holiness and obedience to Christ inspires us to believe that God can do the same in us.  

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Meandering - Vanity and Grace

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Meandering - Vanity and Grace

This glorious gospel turns decrepit, old cynics, who have withheld grace from others, and scoffed at new visions, into vibrant, youthful hearts that can believe again in a new vision for a new day. Former cynics, who receive and relish God’s grace, also become eager to give grace to those who have been unfaithful and untrustworthy to them. They no longer lament, “Vanity of vanities! …All is vanity,” but rather sing out, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved (and sustains) a wretch like me!”

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Meandering - Dance Before the Lord

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Meandering - Dance Before the Lord

Yes, I feel a bit silly and self-conscience sharing all this with you. Yet, I don’t mind if you get a chuckle at my expense, or even if you dislike my choice of music, if somehow you too are encouraged to do whatever it takes to get happy and healthy in Jesus everyday, and really pray! We will be in good company, for David, a man after God’s own heart, also delighted to praise and dance “before the Lord with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14-15). 

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Meandering - All Things for All People

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Meandering - All Things for All People

“I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”  1 Corinthians 9:22-23 I trust that we too at NMBC, like the Apostle Paul before us, will prayerfully and continually look for opportunities to “become all things to all people” so that we can see some come to faith in Christ and be saved.

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Meandering - Perfectionism & Procrastination

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Meandering - Perfectionism & Procrastination

Believing this gospel truth quells my fear of condemnation and rejection because my acceptance and self-worth is not based on my performance any longer, but on Christ’s performance and perfect work alone. Rejoice and remember what great things Jesus has accomplished and secured for you. It will conquer your fear of failure and propel you past your procrastination so that you may flourish more joyfully in your faith.

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Meandering - Missional Heart

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Meandering - Missional Heart

We are inclined to sleep and slide away from our primary mission. Let’s then remind ourselves, and encourage one another, to be ambitious for his glory alone and to never lose sight of the truth that God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). As we especially ponder, pray, and plan the events and ministries for the fall, may God stir us, wake us, and give us a loving, missional heart like his in all we do. 

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Meandering - Wolves and the Shepherd

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Meandering - Wolves and the Shepherd

The rescue and remedy is in acknowledging it for what it is. At the close of the day, as the sun goes down, we are mentally fatigued and more susceptible to the fits, fears, and attacks of the ‘evening wolves’. Resist the tendency, though their growls and howls be fierce, to drive yourself to despair; instead, by faith, recall to mind that the Good Shepherd has never forsaken you. He is ever watching over you, in absolute control, working all things together for good. What you need most is rest. Draw close to Jesus and let him give you, his beloved, restorative rest for your weary soul. 

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Meandering - Summer Rest

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Meandering - Summer Rest

I do hope and pray that you are able to take a break from the monotony of the daily grind, strenuous shift work, business deadlines, and the never-ending to-do-lists. At the same time, as you empty yourself of all the stress, be sure to draw even closer to Jesus. Commune with him in the cool of the early morning, while laughing hysterically in praise to God for good fun as you are pulled behind the powerboat, and sitting around enjoying the glow of a campfire with family and friends at the end of the day. 

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Meandering - Life-Empowering Cake

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Meandering - Life-Empowering Cake

God sent an angel to Elijah as well. He provided water and even baked him a cake. Knowing just how exhausted Elijah was, twice the angel prepared him a meal and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”  Being obedient and faithful in our journey is ever too great for us also. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. It says that Elijah ‘went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights.” How much more, in feeding upon Jesus, our sweet cake/bread of heaven, will we be strengthened to really live now, and forever more (John 6:56-58)? 

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Meandering - Masterpiece

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Meandering - Masterpiece

As Pastor Sterling rightly stated last Sunday, “It’s not self-help, but the Spirit’s help that we need most!” So, let’s take advantage of God’s willingness to avail himself to us as our constant Consultant for every area of our lives. He, as our Master Builder, will personally interpret and teach us through the blueprint of the Bible and prayer in how we can more and more become the masterpiece he created us to be.

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Meandering - Holey Pockets

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Meandering - Holey Pockets

The Apostle Paul also endeavoured to counter our morbid tendency to mull over and dwell only on negative, discouraging things. In Philippians 4:8 he says, “whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” He then adds that the benefit of doing this is that, “…the God of peace will be with you” (v.9). I guess, to maintain a holy mind, stuff negative things into holey pockets. 

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Meandering - Overwhelming Creation

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Meandering - Overwhelming Creation

Samuel Rutherford on the tides of emotion that would continually rise and fall within his heart. Writing from Aberdeen to Lady Boyd, he says: “I have not now, of a long time, found such high spring-tides as formerly. The sea is out, and I cannot buy a wind and cause it to flow again; only I wait on the shore till the Lord sends a full sea.... But even to dream of Him is sweet.”

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