The Mirror - How does God see you?

How does God see you?  This always amazes me and I’ll never get my head around it, but if you are a Christian then God sees you in the same way in which He sees JESUS!!

Incredible.  I can’t believe that the Father of ALL creation would see me in the same way He sees Jesus.  When He looks at us, He sees His Son and what He did for us.

We have been adopted into His family –

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba!  Father!’”

Romans 8:14-15

If you’re a Christian, this is how God sees you today…

Redeemed    Chosen    Favoured    Loved    
Child of God    Heir of God Conqueror    Beautiful    Justified    Fearfully and wonderfully made    Holy    Blameless    Adopted    His workmanship    A new creation    Righteous Inseparable    Free    Alive in Him

If you think of any more ways then please add them on! 

The Purse - Time

Are you busy?

I usually am!  My job is pretty hectic – every day, 27 children enter my classroom for 6 ½ hours and then they disappear, usually leaving a trail of pencils and paper behind them!

Outside of work I try to keep up my social life which can take up lots of good and fun time.

Time is a weird thing.  It carries on regardless of what we do.  As I’ve got older I’ve found that time goes quicker and I end up wondering where it’s gone!  It makes me want to do more with my time and make the most of my life. 

Sometimes I find it quite hard to relax, particularly after work, which is why I try to leave as much of my job in my classroom and not take it home.  But I love that amongst the busy-ness of life and all the things we need to do, God has always given us time to rest, even from the very beginning!

“And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all his work that He had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that He had done in creation.”
Genesis 2:2-3

Brilliant!

I used to find it really hard to relax when I was a student.  I know that might sound weird!  I wasn’t working full time so I had lots more time really, but because all my work had to be done at home or at uni it was really hard to switch off.  But what I did do was make sure I spent time with people who helped me to relax and have fun.  It was and still is also important to spend time with people who build you up and know you well!  But I love how God has given us time to relax and rest – we don’t function properly if we don’t!

Managing time can be hard too.  There are various things that take it up – friends, family, church, work, activities etc.  In John chapter 10, Jesus talked about being the good shepherd and how He has given us life…

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10

God calls us to enjoy life!  It’s something He has given us and doesn’t want us to sit around feeling miserable but to make the most of it. 

Sometimes I can find it hard to find time to spend with God, as my weeks can get very busy sometimes.  But I know when I need to – there is nothing like spending time with Him!  I find that just sitting listening to a worship track, trying to empty my mind of everything that has happened that day, asking God to speak to me and reading a bit makes such a difference.  And this would be the most important use of my time – I know that without this I am rubbish!  The lives that God has called us to are not lives where we do everything in our own strength –

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13

This is a pretty powerful verse!  He does strengthen us.  There are things God calls us to do and we need His strength to be able to do it. 

So it’s a bit of a shorter one today but I thought I would leave you with a song that I’ve been listening to a lot recently, called Desert Song by Brooke Fraser.  It’s the chorus that I love!  Have a listen!

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The Purse - Gifts

So I talked about how you spend your money, but how do you spend your efforts?  And by efforts, I mean – what you’re good at and your giftings. 

I once heard Stef Liston say that you don’t always have to work on your weaknesses and to work on your strengths.  God also helps us to know our strengths and callings through prophetic words.  This was a reason why I actually started this blog so I’m a fan of this quote!  Where has God graced you?

Do you know what your gifts are?  Do you know what you’re good at? 

There are things that I know I’m ok at, like listening to people, but there are lots of things that I know I need to work on more and get better at or know more about. 

Spiritual gifts can sometimes be different to things we are practically good at, like listening in my case.  There are many different spiritual gifts that are outlined in 1 Corinthians 12…

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

We are encouraged to want the gift of prophecy as it is a selfless gift!  If we have it, we are able to bless others by bringing what God wants to say to them.  However I can’t think of anyone that I don’t know who can’t prophecy, but some have a clear anointing over them to bring prophetic words to others.  It is something we should all want!

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.”

The gift of tongues is also something we can ask God for – it’s a fantastic gift as I often find myself running out of words to say when I pray, so this is where the gift of tongues steps in!  It’s fantastic.

These aren’t the only gifts God gives us though; sometimes there are more practical gifts…

“And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.”

1 Corinthians 12:28

Do you know what your spiritual gifts are?  If you don’t, here are a few pointers that I think will help you to find out...

1.  Ask God

Our God loves to give us gifts!  In Matthew 7:7-11, it says this very clearly…

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Ask confidently!  He will never turn you away.

2.  Ask someone who you know that knows and loves you

Sometimes our friends can be our best critics.  I have certain friends who I trust to tell me where they think I am going wrong sometimes.  But they are amazing encouragers and also reassure me in the right places!  Our friends see us in a way we don’t see ourselves, so ask someone else what they think your strengths are.

3.  Think about what gets you excited

That’s it!  What do you enjoy doing?  What makes you excited!

If we are not using our gifts, it is like not opening presents that we have been given.  For example, imagine being given the most beautifully wrapped box, where you know there is an amazing gift inside.  (Some shops have really lovely wrapping…Tiffany boxes are lovely!)  

Without unwrapping it, we can’t be fully efficient in what God has called us to do.  Our churches are also missing out!  The Bible uses the illustration of a body not functioning properly if each one is not playing its part.  God has created us as Christians to be ambassadors of His kingdom! 

Once you know what your gifts are, then ask God to give you opportunities to use them.  He isn’t going to ignore you; He has given you your gifts for you to use and wants you to use them!

What are you waiting for?!  Open your box – there is something truly amazing inside!!