What do you see emptiness or possibility? Sometimes we are so overwhelmed by what we don’t see or have, we become blind to the actual possibilities right in front of us. There are times in our lives when we need to strip things back so we can actually build the right things up. There are seasons where we may feel we have less but maybe it’s because God doesn’t want to add to what needs to be removed. Old wine...
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I grew up in the same church all my life. I had to do a lot of changing in-front of a lot of people. Church can feel like a communal changing room at times. It’s awkward and uncomfortable as you feel so exposed, people seeing you at your most vulnerable as you work through challenges and change in areas. Therefore we need to apply some changing room rules so more people can stay and make the changes they need to,...
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In a world where we are told to do and be many things, we need to remind ourselves often what are the main things. Too many times we act, speak, move, decide and leave kind behind. Yet Kindness is king. It changes everything and we can all BE KIND. Raising our kids this is the main thing I want them to remember. Being kind will serve them better than being ambitious, striving for success, being gifted, having popularity. Because the...
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We often spend more time lost than we need to, more time searching than necessary and more time struggling than makes sense. The reason we can prolong our situation is because we have lost the art of asking. We feel to ask is somehow embarrassing. Our pride tells us to persevere on our own, our struggle says no one will want to help. Yet asking is an essential part to growing. At school asking was encouraged in order to learn...
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This capture was from a few weeks ago as we sat and watched our team honour and celebrate one another. I remember sitting in this moment, aware of the much larger journey it represented. Every year we choose as a family to name our year, to take a moment when we think about what we want to call and welcome into our future. This picture represents a year of seeing the fulfilment of what we called out. We set out...
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It is a responsibility and privilege when people look to you in any area for advice and help. They are leaning into what you have learnt. Whether that be in the role of parent, mentor, friend, leader. The ask that comes, honours the wisdom that has been gained. Yet, if we get carried away with dispensing advice, we can forget the most important element of this transaction. That lessons taught are authenticated by lessons learnt. The moment we as a...
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Stretch or Snap? Where are you snappy? We all have snapping points. Those places where our patience runs out, temper flares, faith fails. Snapping points are when you get to the end of you and find you have nothing left in reserve. We can emotionally snap. Becoming moody, short with people and weary. We can mentally snap. We can’t get beyond our problem and fail to comprehend any way of change ever happening. We can have a vision snap. We just...
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What happens to you and what flows through you have two different sources. Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone's unkindness, thoughtlessness. Where you have been treated in a way that's mean, words spoken or even unspoken that carry more poison than purpose. Those moments happen to us all (and we can be all be responsible for those moments too) The source of meanness when it does attack us is external, the person who is unkind, excludes,...
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Recently I felt God speak strongly to my heart from Isaiah 52; to get ready for a season of enlargement. While I was excited about the thought of what that could look like, I was instantly sobered and aware of the commitment and work that would also bring. Enlargement requires our engagement. It calls for a willingness to work and a humility to serve and surrender. Every time we seek enlargement we have to find a place where we get...
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Life often demands us to respond to things around us. Yet intentionality allows you and I to choose our response before things happen to us. We can all become more intentional in our speech, actions, asks. Intentionality makes decisions in the present, that go ahead and help shape the future. When we are more intentional about the people we listen to, invest in, places we go or don't go, We remove the derailing power of reactive living, which can throw...
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Together what does that mean? One, what does that look like? Maybe we need to think more about our actions if we truly want to demonstrate the act of togetherness and being One. The church needs to work on this more than most. We need to get our act together to be an example of together, the more we divide, the more we dilute this message. Together is not supporting everything that says follow me, it's supporting the actions that...
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Sometimes the first thing we need to check are the words we have been speaking, before we get frustrated at what we are seeing. We need to be more mindful of both the outbursts we have and the things we have spoken quietly even whispered silently. The words we are speaking are consistently affecting the way we see. Every confession will either clarify or confuse the lens of your life. Each declaration will add depth or distortion. We tend to...
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Sometimes I have to be honest and realise the reason I am fighting change is because it is asking something from me I am not willing to give up. Change brings outward alterations but it's true cost is the inward changes it demands. Change in a job, family, ministry, circumstance, will cause you to have to adjust, grow, release, surrender. It will ask you to be patient, mindful, willing and humble. If we want to always be in control, then...
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I walked past this sign and wanted to share it with whoever needs to know the truth it holds. Often our insecurity, fear and desire for comfort and control, turns a place where we should pass through, into a place we park up our lives. The enemy loves to create parking bays in times of struggle, testing and disappointment. He wants you to park up and give up, in the place God is saying pass through and progress on. Be...
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Discipline is a word we love to hate. We want the results but the routine, well that can get boring, monotonous. Yet our approach to the hard work that brings the best results, either makes the discipline just bearable or enjoyable. I have had to change my perspective on many occasions when it comes to the daily commitments that discipline demands. So whatever discipline you are struggling to embrace. Be it exercise, diet, prayer, chores, study, music, commitments. Today think...
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Here’s the thing about dreaming…dreaming is the easy part. We can all dream but can we all commit to the work those dreams will demand? All big dreams need to be placed inside our bigger God. I find every time I bring my dreams to His word, He lovingly shows me that the greatest work that has to be done is within me, before I scale the next mountain around me. Dreams are our passion feeders and discipline is our perseverance...
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Just whilst I was on my phone the other day, I caught a picture of a lightbulb very much like this one, and it spoke to me. Our potential is amazing but finding our purpose is better. This light bulb has great potential to illuminate places and yet without being used for the purpose it was designed it not only offers no light, but it is fragile and susceptible to being broken. This light needs to attach itself to the...
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2017 will see many things happen. Changes in circumstances and relationships. Good and bad times will be navigated. Times when you will dig deep and climb high. Though the terrain ahead can be hard at times to predict and difficult to prepare for, there is one thing we can commit and give our time to this year that is guaranteed to bring great reward to you and your world. Your plan to work on you. Take time at the start of...
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Often we pray for stress to be removed when we are the sole Creator of its source. We want less drama but can't help putting on the act. So today be honest and take a moment to address the stress and increase the peace. Maybe you can take some time to remind yourself first, who God is and then be still in his presence. Trusting his words and ways, over your own plans and agendas. Today where can you live from...
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It's officially here, the last month of the year. So here's what I am thinking. What can you do to make this December one to remember? Amongst all the Christmas preparations take a moment and think about this month. It represents the end pages on your 2016 chapter. Sometimes we allow what needed to be said in one year, roll into next years story. We allow loose ends to be left untied, when with a little time some could be taken...
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Think about this for a moment; God is on your side, He is working on your behalf. He is your very present help, right now He is with you. If we really believe and comprehend those truths then maybe we could let go of some of the lies that we so often carry around, causing our hearts to be heavy and mind to worry. We can so easily over exaggerate the stance of others and under play the incredible promises of...
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Just because you can carry it, doesn't mean you should. Sometimes we add things to our life that don't really fit. Though we may find a way to strap those commitments, relationships, and opportunities on, it doesn't mean they are going to be able to stay on. If what we attach was placed there through our insecurity or anxiety, striving or people pleasing, it will only take a little adverse weather for what was holding it in place to lose...
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You may have heard it said many times before, but it's worth remembering. Elevators provide a quick and effortless ride to the next level. They even allow you to skip levels in between. The stairs however require effort and patience. You feel the strain the higher you climb. The staircase makes you work muscles and builds strength and in life we often ask for elevators. We pray for elevator opportunities and look for the elevator possibilities. Yet so often God...
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Trust takes a step where the path of familiar ends. So often we follow the familiar as it’s here and we don't have to test our trust. Trust, however, is something that can only deepen when it's allowed to travel further. It's felt when we start to trust our kids to have more independence and watch how this creates for them, new roads and new adventures. It's seen in the space that trust will clear, so a team can express...
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We all have problems to navigate. But the question is, what do you see in the midst of the trial? When God had his people circle Jericho, it wasn't to tease them but to teach them. Jericho was a problem but they had to circle it until they could see the promise. The promise that: the walls would fall, they would conquer the enemy and it would be not by their power but more through their patience. We all have those...
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I have always struggled with the statement 'fake it til you make it'. Surely we don't need any more fake in our lives. The enemy loves it when we pretend to be something we are not. He will take your fake forgiveness, fake freedom any day. He knows while you live with fake you will never attain real. At Cherish conf this year I preached a message called 'the great pretender!' We have all done it, been it. We all have...
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As you head out into another week, what are you choosing to listen to? What's the playlist in your ears? We all get to choose. The noise that surrounds us, will never have as much power as the noise within us. When stress is playing over the sound system around you, you can choose to play your own soundtrack of peace. When the volume is turned up with negativity, you can adjust your own levels and listen to something with...
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It's not always easy. Often we just want to say what we feel needs saying without taking a moment to think about it. The urgency in a moment to react or the burning desire to share the news. All this, partnered with the frustration that festers asking you to give it airspace. You see conversations are good, sharing can be healthy and voicing concerns or questions is part of the journey. But here's a little tip that keeps what we...
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At times we can all feel misunderstood. We get frustrated by a wrong judgment, annoyed by a decision that is based on wrong information. Yet often, It's these moments that are some of our most defining, not because of what was said but because of our response. When Jesus was wrongly accused he didn't waste words in worthless arguments. When his disciples were rejected he told them to stay silent and move on. Jesus was teaching them how to save...
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Offence, hurt, misunderstanding, they happen to us all but they can actually be used to grow and improve each one of us in our call. At each difficult crossroads we have to decide what we allow to lead us into the future. Our feelings will grab the steering wheel and try to redirect our path. Hurt will ask you to make haste and run, offence will say retaliate and misunderstanding will manipulate. Often, what began as a small problem is...
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Everyday as you awaken, so does possibility. It lingers in the atmosphere. What could you do? What can you change? You see possibility is ready to enlarge your heart and explode with potential and suggestions for how to reach further and live greater. Possibility is aware of your God, who is above it all and makes all things possible to those who believe. Yet at the side of possibility is the anxious and attention seeking “limitation”. Limitation waits for you...
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