Friday, July 08, 2005
Welfare to Work makes you poorer
To:: “The financial disincentives to work and study must be removed so struggling Australians can improve their prospects and find a way out of poverty.”
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
PWD Publications
PWD publications: "People with disability - two classes - punished and ignored
Media statement in response to the 2005 - 06 Federal Budget."
Media statement in response to the 2005 - 06 Federal Budget."
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Those Who Wait -- Daily "Lessons on Living" Christian Devotional
"Isaiah 40:31
Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Those Who Wait
People in the United States hate to wait. Some define a split second as the time between the traffic light turning green and the person behind you blowing his horn. Fast-food chains have sprung up everywhere because many people don't want to go to restaurants where they have to wait for their food. Grocery stores have express lanes so that those with only a few items will not have to wait long. Patience is certainly a dying virtue in our culture.
God knew that Israel would have to wait a long time for fulfillment of the many promises He gave through the prophet Isaiah. Nearly 150 years would pass before 'Cyrus . . . My shepherd' would restore the people from captivity (44:28). It would be more than 700 years before the 'people who walked in darkness' would see the light of the Gospel (9:2). And many promises have yet to be fulfilled (11:6-9; 35:1-10).
We may not like to wait, but God attaches a promise to waiting. In patiently trusting Him, He assures us, we will find a new strength. When the right time comes, we will have wings like eagles and supernatural endurance.
Many Christians wear themselves out because they are running ahead of God rather than waiting for His perfect time. If you're prone to do this, let God not only have His will in your life, but also let Him accomplish that will in His time. Use the waiting time as an opportunity to renew your strength and prepare for what lies ahead. Waiting doesn't have to be a drag; it can be a surge."
If you're worn out from waiting - here's a song to help you. It's called "Waiting for that day"
Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Those Who Wait
People in the United States hate to wait. Some define a split second as the time between the traffic light turning green and the person behind you blowing his horn. Fast-food chains have sprung up everywhere because many people don't want to go to restaurants where they have to wait for their food. Grocery stores have express lanes so that those with only a few items will not have to wait long. Patience is certainly a dying virtue in our culture.
God knew that Israel would have to wait a long time for fulfillment of the many promises He gave through the prophet Isaiah. Nearly 150 years would pass before 'Cyrus . . . My shepherd' would restore the people from captivity (44:28). It would be more than 700 years before the 'people who walked in darkness' would see the light of the Gospel (9:2). And many promises have yet to be fulfilled (11:6-9; 35:1-10).
We may not like to wait, but God attaches a promise to waiting. In patiently trusting Him, He assures us, we will find a new strength. When the right time comes, we will have wings like eagles and supernatural endurance.
Many Christians wear themselves out because they are running ahead of God rather than waiting for His perfect time. If you're prone to do this, let God not only have His will in your life, but also let Him accomplish that will in His time. Use the waiting time as an opportunity to renew your strength and prepare for what lies ahead. Waiting doesn't have to be a drag; it can be a surge."
If you're worn out from waiting - here's a song to help you. It's called "Waiting for that day"
Friday, May 27, 2005
An Awesome God -- Daily "Lessons on Living" Christian Devotional
Read this today in my devotions and reflected on some songs to help in this. Just follow the links :-)
"If you are feeling overawed by earthly things, take time out to worship God. Don't come to Him with your typical inventory of things you want or need. Leave behind your list of prayer requests for others. Instead, come before Him to seek His face alone. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you as He really is—and be prepared to be awed.
God is not just filled with some awe; He is awesome."
"If you are feeling overawed by earthly things, take time out to worship God. Don't come to Him with your typical inventory of things you want or need. Leave behind your list of prayer requests for others. Instead, come before Him to seek His face alone. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you as He really is—and be prepared to be awed.
God is not just filled with some awe; He is awesome."
Friday, May 20, 2005
Fear God now and you won't have to fear God later.
The Fear of God -- Daily "Lessons on Living" Christian Devotional: "Fear God now and you won't have to fear God later."
I read this today in my Quiet Time and wanted to reflect on the Fear of God in church. Many contemporary church services are criticized as being flippant and irreverent, compared to the solemnity of "old fashioned" services. Is this a fair criticism? Even my own at Dapto Anglican is upbeat, and frankly, it's fun!
Fun services like mine emphasize that God is approachable. Jesus is our friend. He understands us and knows us and we can boldly and confidently enter his presence. This is His promise to us. Yet Paul in his letter to the Corinthians warns us not to partake of the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner.
So how do we both fear God and come confidently into His presence, knowing He loves and cares for us, even in our weakness? I guess the best analogy is human friendship. A true friend acceptes our weaknesses and failings, and expresses support and understanding. But even a "best friend" if they are truly our friend, will not tolerate us taking them for granted and abusing them. They will warn us, encourage us, challenge us, and help us to change.
That's why even fun services need a place for us to confess our sins, repent, and to express our desire and willingness to follow him. We need to hear clear teaching from His word that challenges, inspires and encourages us. Does your service have all these elements, or have you forgotten that our best friend wants the best for us?
I have two resources that may help you.
Face to Face is one of my favourite songs of confession, gratitude and intimacy.
The Spiritual Life Assessment is a free tool to help you examine your life before God and start making Godly change in the power of the Spirit.
I read this today in my Quiet Time and wanted to reflect on the Fear of God in church. Many contemporary church services are criticized as being flippant and irreverent, compared to the solemnity of "old fashioned" services. Is this a fair criticism? Even my own at Dapto Anglican is upbeat, and frankly, it's fun!
Fun services like mine emphasize that God is approachable. Jesus is our friend. He understands us and knows us and we can boldly and confidently enter his presence. This is His promise to us. Yet Paul in his letter to the Corinthians warns us not to partake of the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner.
So how do we both fear God and come confidently into His presence, knowing He loves and cares for us, even in our weakness? I guess the best analogy is human friendship. A true friend acceptes our weaknesses and failings, and expresses support and understanding. But even a "best friend" if they are truly our friend, will not tolerate us taking them for granted and abusing them. They will warn us, encourage us, challenge us, and help us to change.
That's why even fun services need a place for us to confess our sins, repent, and to express our desire and willingness to follow him. We need to hear clear teaching from His word that challenges, inspires and encourages us. Does your service have all these elements, or have you forgotten that our best friend wants the best for us?
I have two resources that may help you.
Face to Face is one of my favourite songs of confession, gratitude and intimacy.
The Spiritual Life Assessment is a free tool to help you examine your life before God and start making Godly change in the power of the Spirit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)