Hands up if you feel edgy whenever you feel you are ‘following’?

Well, from pastors to members, men to women, young to old, we all wrestle with submission. Husbands and wives, pastors and members - we all accept the sad verdict that submission is not going to  come easy. So we cajole, persuade, bribe, threaten….

But perhaps if we knew what is really the nub of the pain? I Peter 3v6 gave me an important insight. Peter said the nub of our struggle to submit is not pride. It is fear.

We don’t want to submit because we don’t want to be let down, taken for a ride, be seen to be foolish and simple…..

But perhaps we should examine these reasons more carefully. Stephen Seamands’ book Ministry in the Image of the Trinity used the phrase ‘joyful submisson’ for Jesus’ attitude to God. It was Jesus’ joyful submission that enabled him to carry out his life mission.

Yes, I know, our spouses and church leaders are not God. They will make mistakes. We can end up on a detour. But perhaps, those things count less to God than a family and church that experiences joyful mutual submission which mirrors God Himself more? After all, we see repeatedly the sad scenarios of begrudging and cynical follower-ship — not unilke the world. How about a change of view?

For closing inspiration, read and meditate on Psalm 133.

jenni

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Wow. here we are at the doorway to more than 300 days of possibilities. Sounds like propaganda now that we have decided to call Singapore the isle of possibilities! ha. But the official word is not too far off the mark! When we consider that we trust and serve a God who works actively, acts lovingly, seeks longingly, and yes, even serve faithfully…we must live with a sense of expectation - of possibilities.

The possibility that relationships can be restored. The possibility that vision can be re-born. The possibility that complete healing may come. The possibility that God can bring together from the east and the west…forging alliance and partnerships that go beyond human networking.

What possibility do you yearn for?

 The Psalmist had it right when he wrote: “in the morning i lay my requests before you and wait in expectation”

What an attitude. Start the day laying down concerns, hopes and fears - and then watch and see what God does in the course of the day. Living life with an open-ness to what life (God behind it) will offer; and when something is withheld, to know it is because something else is in store!

We are learning this psoture. May we invite you to join us and let us encourage each other to live free from the tryanny of the urgent, oppressive, what-ifs and if-onlys.

May your 2008 be bountiful - for it is written:

“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Amen.

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