A few of you may know that I have started school at Hillsong International Leadership College in January this year and below is an off pour of things that God is teaching me as I journey through the ins and outs of study ministry and serving within the church.
WORDS
In our life the world likes to communicate to us that we need to look a certain way, dress this way and speak like that and for so long I have listened to the world, I have stood in front of people and let them talk negative things over my life and into my life. I let others influence me. I would say it wouldn't bother me, but how many of us say "Oh that's ok" when really it's not? It was just slowly being repeated in my mind.
Whoever came up with "Sticks and Stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt me" SERIOUSLY that is the worst, as words do hurt. It makes me think back when my mum would say to me "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say it at all." If we just think about that statement and place that into our daily walks with each other, how much of an impact do you think we would make?
Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Proverbs 16:24 - Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
ACCEPTING ENCOURAGMENT I have found it not easy to accept encouragement and I don't understand why? But it's a process and something I am learning to accept. When people speak love, peace and light into your life they are taking time to speak to you (and that persons time is something that can not be given back.) They are also telling you how they see Jesus within you and that deserves to be acknowledged and listened to.
So when someone encourages you, listen - let them speak wisdom, love and light into you, then in your own personal time Thank Jesus for the words that have been spoken and for His love that has been shown through that person.
It is something I am still learning to do and to embrace.
Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Luke 11:28 - But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it"
Acts 20:32 - And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
IMAGE
So many times we focus on what's on the outside and I think this will also combine the words section. So many times we let our image be defined by what we see or hear of the world and it is hard to get a handle on, but we must know and realise that we are made in His image. God knew what he was doing when he made us all - the little quirks, our laughter, our quiet times, the way we worship, the way we feel, the way we celebrate. He has already thought of it all and has blessed us. We are all so unique and created in Him. We must remember that.
Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female.Colossians 1:16 - For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.
Psalm 139:14 - I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
It may sound a bit silly, but for the first time in forever I finally understand that I AM LOVED. Of course I'm loved by my parents, my family and friends but to finally understand that I AM LOVED by God, it is such a greater love.
1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part
disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
