Fighting for our FAMILIES!

I've been a Christian now for 2 years, 5 months & 5 days. That's awesome! I feel so great!! So alive!! Life is so different. My immediate family (parents, brother & his wife, grandmother) are all Christians too...infact, my dad and my bro were there when I met Jesus and they led me to Him. That was such a blessing! But, my sister and the rest of my extended family are yet to really meet Jesus and give Him their heart. I've felt God challenge me a few times about the fact that my family are not saved. I've felt Him challenge me on the fact that I'm here in Gosford serving Him...and it's where I should be...cause it's where He wants me...but do I do enough to save my own family, or am I completely just tied into saving the youth of Gosford...or who knows, NSW...WOO!! DREAM BIG!! ...But have I spent enough time sowing into my own God-given family and making sure they know the love of Jesus too? Or have I become a snobby Christian who thinks that she's better than her extended family cause she doesn't live the 'old way' anymore? Well, I love my family and I'd hate to think that's how I've become, but I can't help but wonder if when my name comes up in their conversations they think of me fondly or they think 'Oh...that's the cousin or niece who became a Christian and forgot all about us!...pfft...who needs Christianity?!'

Recently I was told about a couple who had been 'expelled' from their church. They belonged to the Jehovas Witness Church and because they didn't want to give 10 hours a week doorknocking, or go to church 4 times a week, they were kicked out of the church with a 'DON'T THINK ABOUT RETURNING' policy! Their parents on both sides are elders in the church and have also disconnected themselves from this couple and their 2 children. Not only have they lost their chuch family, but also their earthly, maternal family. Now, I don't want to say too much at this point about the way that the Jehovas Witnesses do things because I haven't honestly researched it enough at this point to say anything. However, I will say that whatever they are preaching it can't be the love of Christ because since when would Jesus turn His back on one of His children? And if we are to be Christlike, since when should any church have anywhere in any of their doctrines that at any point a person should be turned away from the chance to enter heaven and have a God-given family that loves them!?

I've been thinking lately about my own family and what I do or don't do to reach out to them. Just the other day I was chatting to my cousin on msn and I challenged him about getting to know Jesus. I was so excited that I talked to him about it because I've never risen to the challenge to speak out to my family like that. 'But you're a YOUTH PASTOR!' I'm sure you're thinking. Well, yes. But I still find it hard at times to share my faith. Not so much with youth at church or in schools or anywhere else. But mostly with my family. You see, my family knew who I was before. Especcially my cousins and uncles and aunties. I hung out with them drinking and smoking. They knew I was messing around with guys. They knew 'JODI - the party girl!' So now I'm completely different. I still love having fun...dancing...hanging out with mates...partying...just minus the booze, smokes, and guys! But they think I've been brainwashed. The change in my life has been a dramatic one. For them to see that came as a bit of a shock, I'm sure. I can understand that. But why do I shy away from reaching out to them? I can honestly say with all my heart that I would do ANYTHING...even give up my life...to see them in a relationship with Jesus. And yet when the challenge comes I rarely rise to it. It's such a challenge. It's one I need to respond to. If my family dies, they'll be going to hell. I don't want to see that happen. I want to see my family partying in heaven with me and Jesus! With the King of all Kings. The Lord of all Lords. I want to see my family set free from the clutches of the enemy!!

So, what am I going to do about it? I'm going to SCHEDULE time to talk to them. I'm not going to be too busy for my family. I'm not going to forget about them. I'm not going to give up on them. If my family...my parents...my little brother...had not shared with me the love of Jesus and the precious gold they'd found in Him then I would still be destined for an eternal life in flames!! My life would still be a mess. In the last two years I've not only found complete joy, peace, and happiness in the love of Christ, but I've had opportunities I never thought possible. 2 years in a row I went overseas. 3 months in USA and 3 1/2 weeks in Africa to serve the Lord. I never thought that would be possible. I still can't believe I've been. It amazes me everytime I think about it. I've had support from people when others have let me down and hurt me. I've had money turn up when I needed to pay a bill. I've had a phone call right at my lowest point. I've felt peace right when things were about to fall apart. I've recieved healing right before it was needed. God has NEVER let me down! Why then should I keep that to myself? I want that for the world! But more specifically, and more personally...I want that for my family. I want that for my cousins and their families. I want that for my uncles and aunties. I SO BADLY want that for my sister and her husband and their 2 beautiful little girls! I want that for my grandfather! I want to see my family fall for Jesus! Can you imagine what JESUS wants?

If you haven't reached your family...be BOLD! As the awesome Pauly would say, keep pressin in! Spend time with them. Call them. If you say you love them, show it...show them Jesus! Tell them about your encounters with God. Don't be afraid to do that! Tell them about Jesus. You know, the woman at the well...a sinner...met Jesus and He spoke into her life. The first thing she did was tell her friends. When they followed her back to Jesus He spoke into their lives too and they gave their lives to Him. But they said they did it, not because the woman had told them of Jesus...but because they met and experienced Jesus themselves!! All you have to do is tell them and bring them! Jesus provides the encounter...the experience! He changes their life! So...the question is...how badly do you want to see your family fall for Jesus?? What are you gonna do about it?

Fighting for our YOUTH!!

Last Sunday night we had church at my Officer/Pastors place and we had a discussion on Narnia. We had all been to the movies to see it that previous Monday. Over 100 people turned up. It was great. While we were discussing Narnia I shared about Planet Shakers and about a young school leaver who had become a Christian only a month before hand at schoolies on the Gold Coast. My good friend, Lish, had been a part of the start of his journey and had invited him to come to Planet Shakers for the week. He agreed. It was such a blessing to see God speak into his life over the 4 days and by the end of it to see him go forward and say 'YES, LORD...I WANT TO SERVE YOU!' He's been a Christian 1 month and he's already looking into going to a Youth Ministry School somewhere! HOW EXCITING!

After I shared this story an elderly lady from my church got up and shared that whilst it's great to see the young people have so much enthusiasm they still have a lot to learn and they have to wait till they learn a bit more before they go out and do anything. I didn't say anything because I didn't feel it was right to make a scene (and I preached on it at our youth worship night on Friday night...not about this lady in particular...but read on and it will make more sense), but something was boiling over inside me! I was so disappointed for my youth who had just come back that same day with me from Planet Shakers and, even though we were all wrecked, we came to the fellowship dinner and discussion on Narnia to be in fellowship with others, and they had to hear someone say 'You don't know enough to serve the Lord and you're too young!' WOW!! I couldn't believe it! They were so on fire for God and it was as if someone just came and shut them down completely!!

I have to say, before I continue, that I so appreciate the amount of support I've had this week from people in the church (old and young) saying 'I didn't agree with that comment on Sunday night and I'm so sorry you and the youth had to hear that! I think it's great what the youth are learning and wanting to do!!' It's great to see that I'm not just being an annoying Youth Pastor...but other people had picked it up too...and they are seeing God's work unfold in the lives of the youth!

This week I've been reflecting on what this lady said, and trying not to take it to heart, but finding it very difficult to come to terms with that attitude that says 'You're not quite there yet and you can't serve the Lord!' First of all...when are we EVER there!? At what point do we ever know enough and can we ever say 'I know everything I need to know now and I can now serve the Lord!' ?? I hope and pray that I NEVER get to a stage when I think I know enough to serve the Lord! We will NEVER know enough. Our whole life we will continue to learn and grow and be stretched. There will never be a point in anyone's life that they know enough. And if anyone should ever say that they do know enough, then they are in the wrong place!! I quite often feel like saying to God 'What am I doing here? I'm not the person for this job! I love it...I love my youth...but I'm so underqualified for the job and I can't do it!' But, do you know what? That's the place we should ALWAYS be in! In a place where we realise that we are nothing on our own and it's only through the strength, grace and equipping that God provides that we can do anything. It's not us that does the work! It's all God's work!

Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!" I don't see anything in that verse to do with age! But I do see something in Jeremiah chapter 1...God declares to Jeremiah that He has HUGE plans for Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah, of course, freaks out! He's just a teenager! He's just a boy, as he puts it. He says to God 'NO GOD! Not me...you've got the wrong person! I'm too young! What can I do??!!' And God quickly responds and says 'Jeremiah, don't EVER think you're too young! I will equip you and empower you for this job! If you just say yes, I will provide everything for you!' Then, just to prove it to him, God reached out and touched Jeremiah's mouth and said 'There you go...my words...in your mouth...now go speak!!'

God was quick to tell Jeremiah that he wasn't too young. He was quick to say to him that he wasn't useless. He wanted Jeremiah to do something amazing, and He KNEW that Jeremiah was only a boy. He knew that he was underqualified. But since when does that matter to God? All things are possible with God! Age doesn't mean a thing!!

I've been reading about Levi the tax collector who Jesus called to follow Him. Why on earth would Jesus pick a tax collector to follow Him? It wasn't as if Jesus didn't know Levi was a tax collector...He found Levi at his tax collectors booth! He knew what Levi was involved in. Tax collectors were corrupt and oppressed people. Why would God stop and invite Levi to follow Him? The Jews hated tax collectors and saw them as terrible sinners! Why the call on Levi's life? Well, that's what the grace of God is all about. I don't know...why did He call me to come follow Him when I was a heavy smoker and drinker? Why did He call my friend Jess from Africa to come follow Him when she was sick and living a destructive life? She finally said yes to God while we were in Africa. Why did He call Saul to become the Apostle Paul when he spent his life persecuting Christians and trying to ruin the church? WHY? Because Jesus saw beyond where they were at at that point and He saw the potential they had! Jesus believed in them and in us enough to not give up! He believed in Jeremiah enough to give Him a huge calling to be a prophet to the nations. He believed in me enough to call me to be a Youth Pastor. When Paul wrote to Timothy he shows that he believed in Timothy because he said in his first letter to Timothy, 'Don't let anyone look down on you because you're young...but go out and do the right things...set an example for people! Show other Christians that you're really fighting the good fight for Jesus! Show them in your life, in love, in your faith...keep it strong...show them by remaining pure...show them by continuing DAILY to read the Word of God!'

We need to show the same encouragement to our young people that Paul did to Timothy. Paul started by saying to Timothy 'People will say you're too young...by don't let them! Don't let it stop you!' Then he gave him some God-given advice...'Instead of getting down about people's negativity, just show the world that you're real in your faith! Show in your actions and your behaviour that you are living for Christ!!' If you want to give advice to our young people go ahead! I agree, we've all got a lot to learn! VERY TRUE! Never stop learning! BUT...don't tell young people NOT to serve the Lord just because they haven't got as much experience as another person! Don't tell young people NOT to serve the Lord because they're 12 not 82...Don't tell young people NOT to serve the Lord because they smoked and drank and gave themself away and are not 'pure' anymore...instead, tell them to commit their life to God so that He can make them WHITE AS SNOW again and then they can serve the Lord! Because in the great commission Jesus said 'Go out and make disciples of ALL men...!!' He wasn't specific in what age group or qualification group He was talking to...He was talking to EVERYONE!! All ages!

My past is not one that I'm proud of, but if I'd listened to people's negativity...people telling me that I didn't know enough or that I hadn't been a Christian long enough, then I would never have got to walk through the door that God was holding open for me. Let me tell you this...people's negativity can do more damage than you imagine!! Negativity will put the fear into young people that will stop them serving the Lord...like I did...and they will crouch in a little corner at school and not be bold about their faith...like I wasn't...they won't tell anyone what they did on the weekend at Youth Group or Church...like I didn't...then eventually their friends, who live by the worlds standards, will not only remain lost, but worse than that...our young Christians will fall into their way of life because they were too afraid to stand up...like I was! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! DON'T DISCOURAGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE!! If you would just take the time to listen to what God is doing in their lives...and if you just took the time to hear their passion and excitement for Jesus...and if you just took the time to encourage them and push them to stand for Jesus NOT to sit down till they're old enough, then MAYBE...JUST MAYBE...we really would have a generation of young people empowered to save our nation! Because, lets face it, no one ever gets any younger...why wait till you're too old and too set in your ways to act...why not encourage our young people to act now and impact their generation and in turn...OUR NATION!!

Fighting for our generation!

Check this out...this article was in the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday 13th Jan...on PAGE 3!! WOOHOO!!! How awesome!! Let's continue to encourage and empower the youth of this generation so that we can see a nation impacted for Christ!!

Heart Cry of a Generation as Young People Jump for Jesus
January 13th, 2006
ON STAGE and in the mosh pit, it is all high-octane energy and infectious enthusiasm: more than 4000 clean-cut Christian kids, pogoing in unison, jumping for Jesus.

Australia’s national youth music festival, Big Day Out, plays up the road on Australia Day. But yesterday, in the Olympic Park Sports Centre, it was God’s Big Day Out.

It’s the opening session of the four-day Planetshakers conference and Sydney is third stop on a five-state tour billed as Australia’s largest annual gathering of Christian youth.

Think Planetshakers, think of a Hillsong conference with amps.

There’s a similar line-up of speakers, teachings and worship sessions but many in this stadium have barely won the right to vote.

The American preacher Reggie Dabbs takes to the stage for a sermon that sounds like no other. Interspersed with self-deprecating humour and music, coined Jesus Rap, his message is of inclusiveness, self sacrifice, living for others and self-motivation.

As the Australian film director Peter Weir once did in Dead Poet’s Society, Dabbs commandeers the Latin aphorism “carpe diem” and has his congregation chanting back, “Seize the day”.

Planetshakers is an offshoot of Adelaide’s Paradise Church, from which the Family First political party grew.

Like Hillsong, it is an Assemblies of God church, part of the growing Pentecostal movement. It is headed by the charismatic husband and wife team of Russell and Sam Evans and is rapidly building a congregation in Melbourne Town Hall based on high-energy praise and worship.

This is the second year the church, which says it has no local ambitions, has brought its road train to Sydney.

By the end of the month, more than 20,000 young Christians around the country will have moshed for Jesus.

As the mainstream churches struggle to engage youth, Pastor Evans believes communication is the key. He says he doesn’t push politics and didn’t invite any politicians.

“I think the church is beginning to speak the language of young people and; the churches that speak the language of the day, they are the churches that are growing.

“Young people relate to the music; they want a purpose in life, they want to be involved in a service; they don’t just want to be a spectator. There’s nothing wrong with tradition. It’s all about making that tradition speak to the younger generation.”

Helping this is the Planetshakers band, the former group of Guy Sebastian, which features Sam Evans as a vocalist, and reportedly sold 70,000 albums last year in the burgeoning Christian music market.

One of the band’s lead singers, Michael Guglielmucci, does not think there would be much crossover between his audience and that of a hard-rock festival.

“The secret is the message. We don’t just write songs. This is the heart cry of a generation.”

The rock anthems of love gone wrong and alcoholic binges don’t carry to an audience that is jumping “in the House of God”. Jump, Jump, Jump.

Fighting for Compassion!!

HI ALL...I'm BACK!! Cara, there's a NEW blog! WOOHOO!!

Well, Africa was FANTASTIC!! So many lessons taught by God and so many eye openers...many tears...much laughter!! In a single word...AWESOME!! My time in Brisbane was GREAT!! Caught up with family and old friends...had a wonderful Chrissy and New Year...a real time of peace and joy...and caught up with friends I haven't caught up with in 8 months...definately one of the biggest highlights in Brissy...I love you Pete and Lissy!! Went to a wedding (and even got asked to sing at the wedding hehe). It was great! But Gosford is where my heart is now and it feels GRAND to be home!! I caught up with a few friends last night and my WONDERFUL Corps Officers/Pastors who I've missed SO dearly had me over for lunch yesterday. Today's been an office bound day and I feel GREAT!! Been back on Notes chatting to the BEAUTIFUL Katie all day (and trying to chat to you Lish but you're no longer on line...booo...talk to you tomorrow :D) So...I'm BACK IN BUSINESS and looking forward in anticipation to the promise and assurrance I have in Christ that just because I'm His child and He loves me SO much (as undeserved as it is) this is going to be a FANTASTIC, AWESOME, INSPIRING, STRETCHING, FABULOUS year!! WOOHOO!! BRING IT ON!! Can't wait!! :D

So...on with the blog...as you can see by the title I'm talking about COMPASSION!! I hope that not too many people read this actually cause I plan to preach on it sometime, somewhere, when the opportunity arises..hehe...anyway...I spent 4 days last week in the BEAUTIFUL Mullumbimby on my grandparents property consisting of miles of lush, beautiful, awe-inspiring rainforest, amazing wildlife and just absolute beauty. In other words, I spent 4 days basking in God's creation!! What an awesome God He is!! I took some time out while I was there to just watch and enjoy His creation. Then I went for a walk with God around the property...and I ended up sitting on a big rock at their rock pool completely surrounded by rainforest. It really is amazing!! I spent a little time chatting with God and asking Him to reveal Himself to me. By the next morning He had revealed Himself to me in one of His many awesome ways...as a God of GREAT COMPASSION!!

As you know, I just spent a month in Botswana (Africa) where I worked at camps for AIDS orpans & children running their own homes etc. This really was an incredible experience and at the end of it God really opened my eyes to the compassion He has on these people. And not just that, but the compassionate God He really is! Let me explain...because one, there is a difference...and two, you probably think by now that I'm repeating myself and have run out of things to say...tehe...NEVER!

Let me first ask you to go and read Psalm 103:6-13 (or click on the reference because, let's face it, it's easier than getting up to grab your Bible! :D)

So, after reading that, I'm sure it's clear to you that we serve a very compassionate God. What is our idea of compassion? How do we, like God, become compassionate people? Do we think that compassion only falls on those who know Jesus and on those who receive healing or improved circumstances?

The Colins New Australian Dictionary says:

Compassion means...a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another

Compassionate means...showing or having compassion

So, if we take our definition from the Colins Dictionary, compassion means to have a heart for or to feel pity for the less fortunate - or the lost! That's the heart of God. He sees the world He created so perfectly now in a mess and His children suffering and He has compassion on them. He feels distressed that His children have chosen a life that brings death and suffering.

You know, I think about the only time that we, in our busy lives, have compassion on people is when we see a World Vision Ad on TV or we see someone injured or killed on the news. But God is constantly watching us and His heart is contantly full of compassion for our world and for the lost and needy as much as for the injured. Sure, He rejoices over us too - but His heart of compassion for the lost NEVER changes. He understands that those who are spiritually suffering and lost are the ones that need compassion the most. If we continue reading in Psalm 103:14-18 God makes it clear that our days on earth are numbered and we need to consider and act on our eternal life. And for those who are still lost we MUST have a heart of compassion for them ALWAYS so that we will NEVER forget to reach out to them.

Compassionate...the Colins Dictionary described it as SHOWING compassion. It's one thing to FEEL compassion, but to put that feeling into action is another thing altogether! You know, not only did God have compassion on His people, but He gave them so many chances to make it right. We read in His Word about how He wiped the earth except Noah and His family and 2 of every animal so that we could start again and have a fresh start. But the people still grew to break God's heart. He sent plagues across Egypt to free His people and show Pharoah that He was serious, and in their escape from Egypt along their way to freedom the people still broke God's heart! So the only thing He could do, in His biggest act of compassion and in His attempt to give us a second chance, was to send His only Son to die our death and give use new life. Not only does our God FEEL compassion, but He shows it! He gives His all holding NOTHING back from us. He does that not to just feel sorry for us, but to open the door for us to walk through to a better life!

Showing compassion doesn't always mean going overseas to help AIDS orphans or to rebuild ruined homes if God hasn't called you to go there. Acts 1:8 says:

"You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth!"

Our commission is to our town...our state...our nation...our world!! We have towns full of people where we live who are still dying not knowing Jesus! Towns full of people who are lost. Do we have enough compassion for our town that we are willing to become compassionate people? To act as Christ has led us to act? The start of Acts 1:8 says:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you..."

If we serve a compassionate God and we are filled with His Holy Spirit then His compassion will overflow in us making us compassionate people for His service! But first we need to open ourselves up for that. We need to fall on our knees with open arms and ask our compassionate God to not only give us a heart of compassion for His lost children, but also for the will to become compassionate people and reach out to those who need it!!

I challenge you to look at your life...do you feel compassion?? If you do, are you a compassionate person? One who ACTS as well as FEELS?? Allow God to lead you to have a heart of compassion and a will to act!