Time for a wardrobe renovation!!

So important these days to look the part, act the part and BE the part - looking good at all times is a MUST - we are judged by our employers, our colleagues and even our family on how we look.

Wardrobe design is so so important and is a critical part of your wardrobe solutions!

Some people even have specialists wardrobe designers to make your wardrobe something very special to keep those very special clothes looking just like they should be to keep you (the most important person in the world) looking your very very best at all times!.

You can even get tips to generally take care of your precious garments

From dabbing the centre of each button with clear nail polish to seal the threads to..

Rubbing the zipper teeth with wax to keep it working properly to..

keeping clothes wrinkle free by hanging beautiful clothes in the bathroom to get a free steam and dry!

Even your tootsies can get a make-over - you can...

Spray your shiny shoes with hair spray after each use to maintaining their lustre. or..

You can get scuff marks of your favourites by rubbing on eucalyptus oil or baking soda!

So whether it's your favourite tee shirt or an expensive ball gown, tuxedo or suede shoes and bags - there is answer to your problems.

You can keep them and you looking the part - so important in today's world

And so the list goes on ad nauseam!!

We can become obsessed with looking good and that our wardrobe MUST reflect the latest fashion and accessories.

So the world will tell us - but why stop at your clothes - turn on the television and you can be offered the latest in everything from whitegoods to IPads in 30seconds flat!

Somehow it is vitally important that the world will see us as successful - with all the latest gadget and gizmos around.

God on the other hand has a better solution:-

Colossians 3: 12-14 smacks us pretty hard and so straighfroward:

We as God's chosen people need to clothe ourselves with lasting things - not worry so much with the world and what it can offer.

Paul tells us that God calls for us to "clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Now we don't have to worry about trying to change ourselves! No success there I'm afraid!

This will only happen after we have surrendered to our Saviour - It is His and the Holy Spirit's work to bring about those changes.

It is something that happens to us as we learn to grow in Him. Then His personality, principles and character takes over our lives and we begin to take shape in Him.

Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with trying to look your best and buying the latest fashion - the problem lies when those things take over as No 1 in our lives.

Paul says it is so much better to put those things in their proper place - way way behind what really matters.

People should see in us, as those belonging to God, a better way to that which the world is offering.

The world says "buy and live" God says "take and be free".

What God is offering is far better than anything money can buy.

All the luxuries - money, clothes, property and cars won't buy us true happiness and freedom. The clothes go out of fashion - the cars wear out - the houses aren't quite big enough and money can be gone in an instant!

The freedom that God gives is eternal - we can be free from the excesses of the world, from the necessity of 'keeping-up' with the latest.

Paul goes on with God's awesome message - "Forgive as the Lord Forgives you" - God has forgiven us a multitude of wrongs!

We should be so aware in our lives of being forgiven and as such so so willing to forgive others.

Forgiveness! An amazing word - it makes it necessary for us to forgo the need to 'get even' to be prepared to live our lives accepting the wrongs that others have done to us.

Jesus' sacrifice covers all of our sins but each of us need to personally come to Christ to experience His forgiveness.

Once we have been forgiven - it is pretty much unthinkable for us to refuse to forgive someone else.

But Paul continues "And over all these virtues put on Love".

Sort of like a big woolly coat over all those others things LOVE...

Love is the overriding virtue as Paul says "Love:- which binds them all together in perfect unity."

So we are commanded to live as Jesus lived here on earth - putting on qualities which the world at large doesn't see as very important -  These qualities come from a life committed to God and a life led by the Holy Spirit.

It is so easy to let the world dictate to us what we should be doing - what we wear, where we go, who we should be seen with and even what we eat!

God's way is perfect - He loves us - so if we are committed to Him we must clothe ourselves in His love and principles.

We have to realize that we, as well as others in our lives, have faults and we must show them the grace and forgiveness that Jesus gave to us.

So the whole thing to learn here is what to put off and what to put on. We are to put off the things of the world that drag us into separation from God and put on the fruit of His love shown to us through His Holy Spirit.

Everything we need is to be found in Jesus Christ who is God Himself.

Big mouth, Big trouble, Big Consequences

Ever regretted something that you have said?

I have heaps of times - it is a regrettable thing that the tongue can run away with us at times - maybe two people suddenly find themselves talking about a third - pretty common scenario? BUT...

One where we have been warned that we should be so careful - talking about another person no matter how, where or for whatever reason is gossip and...

Gossipping is a sin and a most insidious sin at that!

Anything that puts people down is a sin and should be rooted out of our lives and quickly before it can take a real firm foothold.

Philippians 2:3 says "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves"

That verse alone smacks gossipping clean on the head - whack! - no room for it - no place for it and God plainly says it is wrong with a capital "W".

Talking about others happens so regularly by Christians it has just about become an art form - pre-empted  by "I'm worried about" or disguised as a "Prayer request" - we need so desperately to control what we say, when we say it and learn desperately to "shut up" and say  nothing.

James 2:2 says that we should speak and act as those who are going to be judged - they are pretty Strong words and we should all pay pretty strict attention to them.

We will be judged how we judge others - if we have a judgemental attitude to anyone God will hold us accountable for every so-called 'slip of the tongue' we make that puts others down.

Even Paul, warned Titus about 'malicious gossips' in the church! It is vitally important that we get a handle on this gossip thing - it destroys, spoils and undermines everything holy in our lives and we are all guilty of it!

In Chapter 3, James says a whole swag of things about 'taming the tongue".

He compares the tongue to a bit in a horses mouth, or a rudder on a ship even a spark that sets a huge forest on fire. He says it is so with the tongue - it is such a small part of our body but makes huge boasts and can cause even huger problems!!

James reckons also that the tongue is a fire, a world of evil that can corrupt a person and can change peoples lives - he even goes so far as to say that the tongue is set on fire by hell itself.

Pretty strong words but sadly how true.

James goes on in chapter three and explains that we can't be both praising God and cursing or gossipping about our neighbours etc - we can't have our feet in both camps - we can't worship God and claim to be His but have no control over our tongue in what we say or how we say it.

Ephesian 4:29 screams out to us also about using unseemly words - not just swearing - but words that may have double meanings, even when we are trying to be funny!

If these words, phrases and innuendos in our conversation are not edifying to God then Paul says we must not use our mouths in this way - Only words that give glory to God should be used by His people. In that way Paul says we show God's grace to other people.

In Chapter 5 James goes on to say we mustn't use our tongues to grumble to each - or complain about things to each other - He goes one step further and says we will be judged by that standard of complaint - he says "The Judge is standing at the door"

Pretty chilling when you actually read about the consequences of a run-away tongue.

We will never control our tongues on our own - we will fail miserably.

The only way is by the big pointer that Paul gives us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 that we should take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

So how are you in controlling your tongue? - I know I have had a huge wake up call!

The tongue should be used to bring Glory to God.  James says we can't be cursing and praising at the same time - a spring of water doesn't flow fresh and salt water.

We are wonderfully and mysteriously made - God has made us all unique and  each one of us needs to come to Him for forgiveness and cleansing.

It is only through Him that we can claim victory over our mouth.

Don't let our BIG mouths cause BIG troubles because there will be BIG consequences!

I have graven you on my hands

Jesus adores you - more than just love - He adores you!

How amazing is that? - Jesus was 'in the beginning' before time began - He was there with the Father at creation and He adores you!

When you think of how vast is the universe - It is immeasurable, huge, colossal, Gigantic, limitless and we are still finding out more and more about this amazing creation - and Jesus adores you!

The universe is only a drop in the bucket when compared to the Father - so our little minds can see the immensity of the universe and it's jaw-dropping size so...

When we compare that to God the Father, Jesus the Son and God the Holy Spirit - well honestly it seems it is far beyond my feeble mind to take his vastness in - and Jesus adores you!

And yet even when we look at this vast array - the diamond studded heavens - The huge whales cavorting and playing in the endless oceans - a new born miracle - the "WOW" factor kicks in - and yet we still disbelieve - and Jesus adores you!

UNBELIEF - what a strange thing it is! Sometimes I don't know what to wonder at - the faithfulness of God or the unbelief of His people!

He keeps His promises time and time again and yet at the very first time of trial we doubt Him. And Jesus still adores you!

In revelation 7:11-12 it says that ten thousand times ten thousand angels stand around His throne and fall on their faces toward Him in worship.

If angels do that can you imagine what we will do??

The sheer fact we will come face to face with the Almighty God - Creator of this amazing universe is a total mind blowing fact - I know everyone will be so awestruck that we will all fall flat on the ground before Him!

He is not like the sun - he doesn't 'set' and go away for the night - He is not a passing meteor shooting past us - here one minute and gone the next or some elusive vapour-like ghost passing through walls and never seen again.

And yet we are often perplexed with anxieties, suspicions, fears, doubts, unbelief, anger and of the course the 'why me' question as if He were some mirage in the desert. - And yet Jesus still adores you!

God says to us - that "we are graven on the palms of His hands" (Isaiah 49:16)  - it doesn't say our name is graven on His hands but that 'WE',  us personally are graven on His hands - NOW that is amazing!!

Yep - you and I are there but it is more than that...

He has graven us, our image, our wants, our needs, our innermost thoughts, our weaknesses, our circumstances even our sins, doubts and unbelief on His palms.

He has written everything about us - everything that concerns us - all our worries and trials - all our joys and happiness.

How can we ever say that He would forsake us and forget us - he loves us - and adores us - we are written on His palms.

Jesus adores us so much that he gave His life for us - how much more love can one person have - Jesus all God yet all man - incredible!

He took our sins that awful/ beautiful day and nailed them to the cross - killed 'em stone dead - forever!

Jesus paid that horrible cost and we get to be forgiven. On that terrible day He did what only He could do and we get to reap that reward.

All we have to do is accept His perfect gift offered by the perfect son of God.

Jesus, the only sinless one that could take that sin-burden away from us and throw them into the deepest abyss never to be head of again.

Psalm 103;12 says - "As far as the east is from the west - so far has He removed our transgressions from us"

We will never see them again - gone and as far as God is concerned never to be remembered again.

That is so mind-blowing - Come to Christ today - don't delay - He adores you!

It is Remembrance Day in Australia

What is Remembrance Day? - It is celebrated (If I can use that word) by Commonwealth Countries to remember our armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

It is a special day first observed on 11th November to recall the end of the World War 1 when hostilities formally ended on that day at the 11th hour.

So it is a special day for all of us - not only for the Aussie Diggers of the two great wars but for all wars and all soldiers in all countries who have paid the highest price.

War is an abhorrent evil - and one where we all stand united in hope and prayer that all wars will cease.

We have other memorial days here as well and another special day observed in Australia and New Zealand is our ANZAC Day - we observe this day like Remembrance day.

What is ANZAC Day – well for those outside of Australia ANZAC stands for “Australia, New Zealand Army Corps” and ANZAC Day is a special Day commemorating the landing in Gallipoli of Australian, New Zealand and Allied forces in World War 1.

Hundreds and hundreds of Allied soldiers died on the rocky shores fighting against the Turkish army of which they really were outnumbered and fighting an impossible to win battle.

They were ordered by British Generals to the Gallipoli shoreline which was so steep as to be almost impossible to climb – but climb it they did – that is those who were left and not killed as they left their boarding crafts and became ‘sitting ducks’ for the Turkish forces on the headland.

There they stayed for weeks on end holding onto just metres of gained territory and there are many many stories from Simpson and his donkey to friendships forged in ‘no-mans land’ with the Turkish army.

Gallipoli has gone down in Australian History as one of the most significant battles in our history and every year of the 25^th April, hundreds of people turn out to dawn services, which was the exact time the troops landed on those fateful shores almost 100 years ago.

Most Australian cities have parades and marches to commemorate all those who did their part in protecting our fair country

Again hundreds of our people make the pilgrimage to those same steep rocky shores in Turkey to honour our brave soldiers.
Most Australians have stories to tell about ANZAC day – not only about World War 1 but about all the following wars and battles since – all these wonderful people have given or been prepared to give their lives for Australia.

Personally I remember two special men who survived the war only to succumb to their wounds upon arriving back home.

They were brothers by the names of Arthur and Ernie Bailey.  I was taught piano by one of their widows – the two elderly ladies had never remarried and both were childless .

As children we referred to them as ‘Mrs Arthur and Mrs Ernie.”  Mrs Ernie taught me music and she used to talk about her husband and his brother and say how that when she passed away there would be no-one to remember them.

Well, that was a long time ago and we as a family still remember Arthur and Ernie especially on ANZAC Day.

It was a great privilege for me to see my 11 year old grandson at the freezing dawn service last April 25th laying a wreath on the cenotaph and with head bowed remembering the sacrifice of brave men and women who paid with their lives for our freedom.

You can't be in two camps or play for two teams!

You just can't!! - That would be totally wrong - you can't give full allegiance to two teams and be totally committed to them both.

But more of that later...

Thought I would let you guys know a little about myself first and see how playing in two teams or staying in two camps cost me...

I am the product of fully Christian home - I am 5th generation Christian - YEP that's right 5 generations of guys and girls worshipping our God and King.

Now that's really something! - not too many of us around! - God's amazing Word passed on from one  generation to another and all going to church and being good!

But again more of that later..

I grew up in a pretty conventional home - Mum who stayed at home and looked after us four kids and Dad who worked full time and made sure we all had plenty to eat and clothes to wear - pretty blessed really.

It was in the fifties and things were pretty tight money wise and we had to make do with whatever we could lay our hands on - But we never went hungry and cold.

We all attended Sunday School and wouldn't have missed Church .....ever!

My Dad had a voice that Pavarotti would have been jealous of and was never home - always out singing and performing for the masses.

Mum kept the home going and to make ends meet took in heaps of boarders into our sprawling five bedroom bungalow in downtown Newcastle Australia.

We had fun as younguns playing cricket in the streets and heaps of fun times exploring parks and playgrounds - things we thought were pretty settled and life was pretty good.

Every Sunday out came to the Sunday clothes and we were off for the usual round of church meetings - Kids  at Sunday School and youth group - grown ups doing whatever grown ups did - singing, praying and being very devout.

This was my life and I accepted it all without question.

When I was around sixteen, our youth group (which was made up of mostly boys) didn't seem to have the attraction it once held - the absence of the young ladies I feel had a huge impact on the way I felt.  So my mate Al and I decided we should do something about it.

We decided in our 'man about town' wisdom that "Missionary Dating" was the way to go - Let's check out the field in other churches and see if there were any girls in other youth groups and so we ventured far and wide.

Things were looking up and we found out that indeed most other youth groups had a good mix of young people and there were indeed girls!!

I couldn't wait till I was 17 and got my licence and my first car.  Our plan was simple - whoever took their car was under no allusions - if the driver happened to get lucky and take a girl home then the passenger wasn't invited - no questions asked and had to get his own way home.

It was on one of these 'missionary dating ' escapes that I as the driver met a very cute little red head named Sue. Little did I know at that time that she was to be my soul mate - I guess I should have known because by the very next day we were 'going steady"

Well that was then and we certainly have had a few bridges to cross.

We never stopped going to church - we were married and ended up with two wonderful children -a boy and a girl- we were happy - we were in love and I had a fairly good job with heaps of opportunities for advancement and I took full advantage of them!

My life seemed to revolve around work and family and going to church was just one part of the routine that made up our life.

During that time I guess I made heaps of 'decisions' concerning God and made numerous attempts to 'live the life' of a Christian BUT...

At work you couldn't possibly have told that I was anything but an ambitious and steadfast employee. I seemed to go from strength to strength in my job and worked my way up the corporate ladder. Gaining position, prestige and influence.

Work came first, then Sue and the family and vaguely somewhere trailing along came church and God.

At work I could match it with the best of them - setting key performance indicators and business goals for the troops - making sure the business opportunities were met and all goals and mileposts were passed always looking for better solutions and outcomes - I could also swear and mix it with the herd - just like one of the boys.

It wasn't until the kids got older and we decided that we should move churches so that they could join a youth group that God started working in my life - change came suddenly and unexpectedly for me.

God smacked me with the fact that He wanted much more than lip service from me - a half hearted Christian wasn't a Christian at all - I was totally gobsmacked!

I WAS the church in Rev 3:16-17   - "So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say 'I am rich, I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked"

I was shocked - I had done this for God and that for God - I had gone to church all my life - I had brought my kids up to know God.

I feel to my knees - I asked God to take full control of my life - I handed over everything to Him - I made Him No.1

Not only that but I asked the Holy Spirit to come into my life and control what I said, did and thought - and with tears of repentance I asked for forgiveness for those years and years I had strayed from Him doing my own thing and getting into the world and what it had to offer

The freedom that came over me was overwhelming - I handed the controls over to God and was spellbound by the transformation in my life - No longer was I held as a salve to sin - I suddenly despised the way of life I once had.

I had thought I was so free - doing what I wanted when I wanted! I could sin knowingly but reasoning to myself that God would forgive me - after all wasn't He a loving God always there and willing to forgive and forget?

What I didn't take into account was that God is also just and so Holy - His holiness is so awesome even the angels fall on their faces in front of Him. Thousands upon thousands of Heavenly beings hiding their faces awestruck by His holiness.

What finally came home to me was the fact that I will have to give an account of every word, thought and deed I have ever committed.

God's ledger (if you like) will have those thoughts, words and deeds on one side and not my so-called 'good' deeds on the other but whether or not I am a changed person in Christ - accepting and trusting Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary.

During this life-changing time for my family and me I had the privilege of seeing Sue make a commitment to the Lord  and also both the kids come to know Him as their Lord and Saviour.

The guys at work could immediately see the difference and even my management style changed so dramatically - no longer was it my aim to gain more influence but suddenly I was interested in my colleagues personally. God gave me compassion and empathy for them and much more understanding.

I was still working hard and doing my very best to be the very best manager I could be - but this time I was doing it for God and for his Glory - man! what a difference it made!

You know you can't live in two worlds - you can't please God and dance with the Devil - You can't really be God's if you still hanker and cling to the world and what it has to offer.

You can't be a carnal Christian and give God what He yearns for - YOU!

Our awesome God cries when you do - He laughs when you do - He yearns for you to find true happiness and freedom in Him

His great heart breaks when we walk away - when we put other people and things in front of Him.

You know, being a 5th generation Christian didn't make me one!

Sometimes I look back on my life and think that it is hard for kids growing up with that influence - you can take it all so much for granted - so much so that when it finally does hit you that God means YOU then it comes as a complete surprise!

When we finally get to Heaven - we are going to be so awestruck that we like the Heavenly beings will fall flat on our faces before His utter holiness.

God will Judge us not on whether we went to church and were good - not on whether we met our financial arrangements with each other and were honest - not on whether our families were good 'church goers' and were kind to their neighbours but whether we were actually changed when we met our Saviour.

Jesus died so that we might live - He didn't do that so that we could give lip service to God and pretend sin doesn't matter.

He didn't die so that we could live lives that had nothing to do with Him or his standards through the week and just go through the motions of being goody goody Christians on Sundays.

Get into God's Word - Get into His commands - get into God's Love and more importantly get into His forgiveness.

Accept His great offer of forgiveness BUT don't be lukewarm like I was - Lukewarm is YUK! -Lukewarm will spell your doom - like it nearly did to me!

Get real with Jesus- Give Him your life - He gave His for you!

Life with God at the helm is Freedom Plus - His Word is true and final - There is no such thing as a wishy-washy Christian - you are or you aren't His.

As it says in Hebrews 3:12-13 Don't let sin's deceitfulness harden our hearts so that we turn away from God.

Satan is crafty - he will even use God's word to lie to you as he did to Eve way back at creation. He will tell you like he told me that God will forgive your sin - so go ahead and do it!!

Sin has no part in the life of the Believer - sure Satan can come knocking BUT God is stronger and has already defeated him - claim that promise and really live for God.

God is our Father - our loyalties have to shift from us and the world to Him - He is our primary family now.
We have to live like we own nothing - all is His - everything - Give Him the Lot!