Divisional board interview

So pretty much today i had my Divisional board interview and i'm pretty disapointed in my effort.

I have been so caught up lately in this whole 'going to college' thing, Let me just get back to the heart of God aye! You see in Gods time and Gods year i will get in to college, its not by anything i can do. Its all out of my hands! I know that in all areas of my life i have to continually submit to the King of Kings but it isn't always easy.

Sometimes my mind wants to sort everything out itself. Questions like: When will i get a girlfriend (haha don't mind being single though) or when will i get into college so many questions filling my mind, all of which stressing over will achieve nothing.

It's hard though i do admit. To let Jesus just handle everything. I know he won't make a mistake that his timing will pull through but why then do i constantly think about it.

I believe in my heart 2009 is the year i will go in, but if i am wrong then it will just be another humbling process, God is in control and i am just saying to Him 'Here i am Lord, send me'

So Jesus i say to you know "when you want me in, i am ready! You say go i go, you say speak i speak. Im am your bond slave Lord!! Take me use me, Take away my stresses and keep my eyes constantly focused on you. I love you Lord"

Are you comprimising?

I haven't blogged for a while and always find it hard to get back into the swing of things. So i thought that i would comment on a issue that i've been finding in my own personal life and walk with God.

The last few weeks at work there has been this particular person in that i have found so hard to be real with. I have found that i have been comprimising my faith to impress this person, and i cannot understand why.

The person is not a Christian and my faith really seems to be nothing but a joke, but instead of sharing my passion and heart for Jesus i have just laughed along with the jokes that are made about my faith. It is disgusting, not what she is doing rather my response to that, instead of shoving my faith to the side i should stand strong in what i believe! there isn't room for Comprimise in the kingdom of God!

At school i would often shove my beliefs under the rug, but God has a way of bringing them out, and comprimise doesn't get us anywhere! So for you who reads this, remember that its not about what other people think about you! Its about what Christ thinks of you! So step up superstar and be who you are! don't comprimise yourself for others.

Im not saying im perfect at it, clearly you can see that it's hard for me aswell! But i choose to no longer comprimse but stand firm in my belief!

Christ is my KING!!! Christ is my ALL!!!

God a problem with that? Then comment on this blog and tell me!!! Bring it on! i don't care what you think of me!!!

Fasting day 4

It says Fasting day 4 casue i didnt blog on day 3

Wow i have finally gone 4 day's without the use of the internet (with the exception of email and blogger) God's been working in my life heaps over these past few days and i can start seeing the changes play part in my life.

Today however was a challenging one! Not becasue i wanted to use the internet, and not becasue people made it challenging but it was challenging because the devil was tempting me so much, and i didn't feel that i could handle it. I prayed and texted my accountability friend and told him the situation i was in then i went into my room and started doing my devotions!
I overcame the temptation and i didn't give in! I am seeing the breakthrough that Christ was promising me! i just had to walk in it.

You know i don't miss facebook and myspace and msn and all that stuff, because i have found that it was just replacing my time with God, and i cherish my time with God so much more then i did with facebook etc. So i won't end this internet fast until i know that God is my first priority.

This fast has allowed me to get a regular devotions routine with Christ, allowed me to fight off temptation, has seen me spend more time with my family. Given me more time to pray about things like college and work and friends.

I'm almost crying becasue i've seen how great things can be with Christ, im seeing him become my first priority and I realise how much i missed, but not any more. JESUS I LOVE YOU!!!

So i don't know when i will be on facebook again, but i don't really care.

So what's my challenge? I'm not going to ask you to give up things you enjoy (within reason) but i will ask is Jesus your first priority? or do other things get in the way? i know in my life that other things got in the way.

God bless! From me, a sinner saved by grace!

Fasting Day 2

As i noted before i was fasting food until saturday but i stoped early, i do however do not see this as a failure for i completed my first ever food fast!, i will continue to however fast the internet becasue i have had so much extra free time to spend with God, and wow has that been amazing! I have finally got a devotions routine going and God has been speaking to me heaps! So here is what God has told me today.

The call of God

Jonah 1:3-5

"3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to joppa, where he found a ship bound for port, After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship"

From these three verses i got a few points to share:

1. It costs us to run: In saying it costs us to run, im not talking about the good cost, of perhaps having to sacrifice things in order to please God, im talking about the bad costs, where things in our life take its toll in a negative way.

Jonah 3 says 'after paying a fare' I use this representation even though it may seem small and insignificant, but in this verse fleeing God actually cost jonah something, though that something may have only been a physical thing, it still did cost jonah! Fleeing the Lord also costs us, it may cost us friendships, time and even money! Fleeing the call of God on our life is something that will always have negative responses.

2. Fleeing doesn't get us anywhere: Jonah was runing off to Tarshish, but he never arrived at his destination, because God had called him to prophesy to nineva! God will go to all lengths to see us respond to the call he has on our life! What is the Tarshish in your life? Are you fleeing God for something else? Perhaps you are called to full time ministry and you are choosing to ignore the call and work somewhere else, Perhaps you are called to work in a secluar job and you take up a role in full time ministry. Both of those are examples of fleeing the call of God on our life. Stop running to Tarshish and head to Nineva!

3. Fleeing the call is dangerous: Fleeing the call of God on our life is a dangerous thing, as we read above, God sent violent storms to disturb the ship and the ship almost split apart! It's a dangerous thing to ignore the call of God on our life! it is very dangerous to walk outside the will of God on our life! so if you are one that is called, don't deny it, pray about it, becasue you don't know the damage that walking outside the call can do!

Life challenge: Jonah ignored God's call on his life because he didn't think the ninevites were deserving of hearing about God! They were seen to be a very revolting nation but they were still loved by God and God still wanted them to hear about his saving grace. When Jonah ran he was only thinking about himself! Is God calling you to minister to someone that you may see as disgusting or undeserving of hearing about him? Don't think about yourself, Don't deny the call Go and head to Nineva so that you may see the redeeming power of Christ!

God bless

Fasting Day 1

Well as my title says i am fasting and i have decided to blog about it, to tell what i think God is saying to me and the triumphs and tribulations that i am facing in this fast. So here goes.

I spend some time in the word yesterday and i felt God calling me to fast! and i'm like "whoa God want do you want me to fast?" and i felt he wanted me to fast all internet (except for blogger and email) and food (food only till saturday).

Well fasting food today has been a major struggle and ive been so tempted to eat! It seems now that im fasting all this good food has been placed in front of my face, and its hard because im flippen hungry! It would be so easy for me to give in, but i know that God wants me to fast, and in this time im hoping to see breakthrough in areas of my life that im struggling with.

A area i lack in is self-control and i have realised that in fasting this is something that i have really had to exercise greatly.

Since this is the first day i haven't seen or heard what God is saying yet, but look out for blogs to come becasue they will show area of revalation and breakthrough!! im excited about what God is doing and going to do!

So there may be some inspiring blogs to come, there may not be aswell, but i pray that the spirit reveals things to me, either prophetic words or things that he wants to challenge in my own private life, and prayer life.

God bless you and bless continue to pray for me!

My Heros

Sorry blogging world i was out of the loop for a bit because i was on holidays in tweed! Woot what a great time, i was thinking 'what can i write to kick up my blogs again' so i thought what better what to kick it back up again then writing about my heros. Here goes


Hazel woodbury AKA Great nanna: What to say about my great nanna, id say she is the oldest officer around 103 years old and still serving the Lord, what a amazing woman of God, she is currently in a old persons home but she still ministers the gospel there. She is humble and keeps all her kids, grandkids, great grandkids and great great grandkids in her prayers. We have seen many generations of Christians come from this wonderfull woman, and the prayers she has prayed for us have seen lives transformed including mine. Every time i visit her she prays for me and always gets emotional, i cant help but think "God has truely blessed our family" keep fighting the good fight Nanna. I LOVE YOU

Majors Neil and Sharon Clanfied AKA Dad and Mum: There is so much i could say about these two amazing people, They are holy spirit lead people, not only are they great ministers of the gospel, but they are amazing parents, they have to be to put up with my nonsense. When i was on holidays i realise how much these two people meant to me, If i could be half the officer that my parents are i would be a amazing officer. They love the Lord with all their heart and strive to be the best Christians they can be. Thanks for everything my beautiful parents. Love from me, your son.

Andrew Stringer: If there is one friend that has meant alot to me in my life, it is this man of God, he is helping me through my own struggles, he is my saving grace at work, we have alot in common and his heart for the poor and marginilised blows my mind, He is in all senses of the word 'ghetto' and is definatly gonna bring a 'ghetto gospel' Andrew when you read this, know that you have impacted my life heaps, you have inspired me and made me laugh, I truely love you bro, and im really really gonna miss you when you go to melbourne! There is always a space in my heart for you Andrew!!!

James Condon: Your make me laugh bro, your just so loving and welcoming, this territory will go so far with God becuase i know that you are obedient to his calling and word! Keep pushing into his spirit because he will take you far! Your are definatly a prophetic voice for this army and this generation! your words speak life and challenge over us! I thank God for putting you in this position of leader, i Thank God 4 your life, 4 your joy! God bless you!!!

Nesan Kistan: I cannot forget Nesan, wow what an inspiration Nesan is to me, He truely is a unique man of God or 'hebrew' as he likes to say, He's been mentoring me for over a year now and God has used him to change and infulence my life. He constantly see's the potential i have and refuses to let me comprimise myself! It's sometimes challenging and hard but he is helping me be the person Christ has called me to be. Mate i love you!

I want another Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

My prayer is that we recieve another Pentecost, That the holy spirit falls down from heaven in a supernatural way! "God where are my tongues of Fire, fall upon me Lord"

William booth wrote a song once called send the fire, a line in that song was 'we need another pentecost' I believe that we do, we need a fresh infilling with the Holy Spirit so that we again stand out amongst the crowd, So that we can become passionate ppl, that we can discern the right from the wrong, that we may have the courage to live this world blameless and sinless!

What is the result of the pentecost?

First up is passion: Whateva happened to every believer being passionate, Tongues of fire fell upon the believers in this house and they became passionate! They knew that nothing else mattered besides their Lord Jesus, and their heart began to burn with a new passion, The spirit came upon them and they became passionate and hungry for more of God, They became hungry for souls, for seeing people experience this same fire from heaven.

They became uncomprimising: The Holy Spirit fell upon them and they didn't comprimise themself, they didnt become like the unbelievers of their time, instead they stood out amongst the crowd, they looked different, they acted different, the Holy Spirit made them Stand out, Christ could be seen through these uncomprimising believers.

They acted in the supernatural: They were first up able to speak in other languages, As we see it they began to speak in supernatural tongues and also the languages of the nations surrounding them, Now speaking in tongues isn't the evidence of the Holy Spirit but still is a beautiful thing, I speak in tongues, not to show that i have mad skills, but rather in the privacy of my own home, why? whats the point? i believe speaking in tounges edifies the soul and its my prayer language to my Lord! I don't believe all believers have to, but if you do speak in tongues, pracitce it, keep using it, don't show off, but rather pray to God.

Other supernatural things that happened were, healings. Futher on in the new testament we see that people were healed, and i pray that in our day and age that we see healings happen by the thousands, It is in God's will that we be healthy and not sick, im not saying that those who are unhealthy are outside the will of God, rather im saying that because of sin in the world ppl become unhealthy and God is ready and willing to heal us of our disease and sickness.

We should be seeing in our Churchs more evidence of the Holy Spirit, we should be seeing people be healed, souls be saved, supernatural things happen, chains be broken, lives be transformed, Are our churchs acting in the will of the Holy Spirit? Does your/my church need another pentecost?

Is your church seeing people healed every week, seeing souls saved every day, seeing supernatural things happen.

If not then pray that God sends another pentecost, because looking over the body of Christ, i think that we are in desperate need for another pentecost!

SEND THE FIRE LORD

Whats my age again?

I read over my blogs and they are all serious and basically the same kinda subject so today i decided to write a different type of blog, this blog is purely the entertainment of the reader.

I love having fun, i think its flippen awesome! being serious all the time sucks hard aye! There is just the kinda time for mucking around.

So the other day i was at candidates weekend and me and a few mates went to cronulla beach on the saturday nite, we sat and looked at the stars, and i had a God moment (not to get serious now though) We were just about to leave and i thought, 'hey ive never been skinny dipping before, now is such a good time' So i went down to the water, and got my birthday suit on and had a dip, water was freaking freezing, espcially at like 11:30pm
It gets better, my friends stole my clothes and ran back to the car, so i had to journey all the way up to the car (lucky i had a towel) woot!!
That was fun! much fun! cept i lost a shirt out of it, they grabbed all my clothes cept the shirt.

So i had 2 go back to the college shirtless, although it wasnt the only time i have been around the college with limited clothes!

I was bored at the college and i thought, "Hey why not to a undie run" (around a salvation army training college, not smart! espcially since i wanna be a officer) But hey you only live once aye! so i used my shirt as a balaclava and got james cox to be my camera man, and we took some happy snaps around the training college! woot!!

Hey guys im only 19, there is a time for being serious, but there is also a time for being silly, im immature and i love it!! i do have 2 grow up, espicially if i wanna get into college, but lets enjoy our youth!

haha So God be with you!!! and hope you enjoyed!!!

*Nathan Hodges you owe me a shirt!

I hear some rocks crying out!

Luke 19:40

40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

I walk outside and i am confronted with some passionate evangelists! They are passionate about telling the world the good news about Jesus, "he is coming, on a donkey, he will save the world, turn to the king of kings" There voice rings in my ears, but its a strange voice! its not the voice of anything human, no it is the voice of the very stones beneath my feet, they are crying out! why are they crying out? because Christians have gone silent.

Are we being outdone? What happened to the times when you couldnt shut up the Christians, what happened to challenging the sins in the world? Are we comprimising ourselves? Have we gone silent?

I believe that in many parts we have! we are just going through life and letting the world around us walk that slow straight path to hell. Those rocks are crying out.

Are you less passionate then a stone? You know a stone is stepped on, sometimes thrown away, often kicked yet if a stone could tell the good news about Jesus then couldn't you.

Stop passing the opportunity of Evangelism, of just sharing about your best friend to the stones on the road, its time to live up to the call of God on your life, if you have been impacted by Jesus then you would desire to share the good news about him. Don't let the pharises in your life damper your spirit!

My heart is breaking!!! im crying out for a group of Christians to see that the world is destroying itself, its one thing to watch someone stick a needle in there arm, a child live on the street, a person gamble there life away, The abortion age go up, I'm not letting the stones around me fight my battles! Jesus is coming let Christians prepare the way.

Shut those stones up by your voice, the very voice the creator of the universe gave you!!!

SEE YOUR WORLD SAVED!!!

The 'E' word

When we stand before Christ on judgement day will he ask how good we played our music, will he ask how well we wore our uniforms, will he ask about whether or not the sacraments are relavent. You know what, i don't think God will be that concerned about those particular things, i think rather he will be more concerned about whether or not we led others to Him.

Evangelism is almost a dirty word in the Christian community today, and we often shudder at the thought of even having to share the gospel, it is out of this fear of sharing the gospel that we create excuses and justify why 'we' don't have to.

"Oh but its not my gifting" What a common and dangerous mistake we are making by limiting Christ to only working out of our giftings, how selfish are we being by deciding to not share the good news about Jesus, just because it isn't our gifting, Are we costing someone the freedom that Christ has to offer by not sharing the gospel? I'm sick of hearing this debate that only those with the gift of Evangelism should go share, Grow up!!! its not about you! its about the person that desperate to hear the gospel, that very same gospel that people are being to afraid to share.

"Tell people about Jesus without using any words" Andrew Stringer also has blogged on these particular excuses and i have heard the same excuses so i want to reinforce what he is saying by blogging on this topic aswell. This statement is both true and extremely false, it is true that we must back up our words with actions and not just be all talk, but 'Evangelism' means to tell others the good news, the key word in that statement is tell others, We have to talk about Jesus to people, there is no way to justify not sharing the gospel, it is not our secret to hide, We can't say we'll people will know im a Christian becasue of the good things i do. sure they may see Christ in you, but there are alot of good people in this world, Don't justify not sharing the gospel.

Then there is just a fear of what people may think if you share the gospel, people generally don't mind, why? because people always have an opinion. Evangelism ofcourse has to be done at a appropriate time and also without force (no bible bashing please) but the world needs to hear about Jesus! its not about us!! its not about what we look like, its not about being afraid of saying the wrong things, Its about stepping out of the boat, God will do the saving lets just lead them to the cross and let God do the rest!

I leave you with 2 timothy 1:8

8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

SEE YOUR WORLD SAVED!!!

*Thanks to Andrew Stringer for his ideas, God bless you and your ministry!