Broken to bring Healing - Consider him

I had to 'consider him' as Deb & I read "My Utmost" by Oswald Chambers a little while ago.
     "There is no such thing as a private life, or a place to hide in this world, for a man or woman who is intimately aware of and shares in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God divides the private life of His saints and makes it a highway for the world on one hand and for Himself on the other....We are called to intimacy with the gospel and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us.... Why shouldn't we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening up ways of fellowship with his Son....If God can accomplish his purposes in this world through a broken heart, then why not thank him for breaking yours."
      He who knew no sin became sin for us.
           he was falsely accused, slandered, maligned, yet did not retaliate.
                All for our benefit
                     All for OUR sins, so that we might be reconciled to God
O Lord, make my life a highway, a pathway to redemption for those who are lost. Help me "strengthen feeble arms and weak knees so that the lame
  [those looking at my life and you at work through me, OR, those who not yet know you, OR those who are  young or weak in their walk with you]
     may not be disabled, but rather healed."
Help me embrace brokenness with the nail-pierced hands of Jesus, that I may draw closer to him,
    and in so doing,
       that those close to me will see and be touched and changed by the Saviour.
 In Christ's name I pray. Amen

Power for Boldness

We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice.  But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. Rom. 5:7-8, The Message

Consider him who showed us, 

     who demonstrated to us

         Such an extravagant love - "Lavished" upon us, it is recorded in another part of God's word. And with this great love comes great responsibility - 

  That we should walk even as he walked,

     in the power which was unleashed by the death and resurrection of the very Son of God.  

For the International day of Prayer, the body of Christ prayed the below prayer together, all around the world.  May it remind us to Consider him, and remember the power released by the resurrection of the Christ: this is the power at work within all who call on His name.

Lord Jesus Christ,

Because You were dead, but are now risen,

   and the Father has given You a Name above all names,

   You will defeat all powers of evil.

Tear down strongholds and ideologies that resist the knowledge of God.

Remove the veil of darkness that covers the peoples.

Restrain the evil that promotes violence and death.

Bring deliverance from demonic oppression.

Break the hold of slavery, tyranny and disease.

Fill us with courage to preach Your word fearlessly,

   and to intercede for the lost faithfully.  

          In Christ's name we pray. Amen

Consider...

Consider Him....
"...who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right had of the throne of God. Consider him who suffered opposition from such sinful men so that you do not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV)

in all we are and do, we 'consider him', who -
 left heaven for earth
   walked with the least of these
      loved us even while we were yet away from Him
         who wrapped a towel around his waist and washed feet
             endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down
             at the right hand of the throne of God.
and who said, "Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12 NIV) Challenging, to say the least, yet, this is who has called us and set before us an example to follow - Jesus.

in all you are about today, will you 'consider Him'?

The heart of South East Asia

We are excited to return to Cambodia, the heart of South East Asia! 

From cities to small rural villages; elephants and tigers to pythons and the Mekong catfish; mangos and sticky rice to crunchy fried spiders; from chanting and mantras to smiles and laughter; the beautiful and diverse country of Cambodia awaits us.

Cambodia is full of excitement and promise!  We look forward to once again climbing Mt Chisor, visiting and praying with the children, encouraging the believers, shining the light of Jesus, sharing the Good News through who we are and all we say and do.