Do you love your city?

When I was a teenager, I thought it was funny to say,
“aim low, you’ll never be disappointed.”
I thought it was kind of clever.
Depressing, discouraging and devoid of hope… but clever.
I was more interested in being clever than being courageous.

Are you in the middle of a hard situation,
wondering if God is still there,
if you heard him right the first time,
if this is where you're really meant to be?

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase. 

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Faith is the bird that knows dawn and sings while it is still dark.

Tagore

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever you would call me

Take me deeper than my feet would ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Saviour

Many of our Australian sporting teams carry a unique identity, a nickname.
The rugby union team, the Wallabies.
Our female cricketers, the Southern Stars
and the soccer team are the Matildas.
The men’s hockey team are the Kookaburras.
There’s a certain theme, an Aussie flavour, a national identity.

I stop and be.

Jesus, what do you have to say?

Again, I'm learning to rest.

Hopefully you didn’t watch the movie Titanic or Apollo 13 wondering what happens!
So why make a movie about it?

I don’t give myself much time to read these days. But in the past week, I’ve done a little bit of reading. I’ve picked up my book again, and it’s been life giving.

She spends so much of her time giving away of herself.
“Why is it so hard to receive? ...
Why can it be easier to pour out than to let yourself be loved?”

Photo by Nonki Azariah on Unsplash

I get like this. I am a giver, I am self-sufficient, I am capable. There’s much to do, many to care for, important things... and I find it hard to receive love. Am I deserving of love, am I good enough? The fact is, is that I am.

Are you ever like that? Do you also find yourself giving yourself away, that you cannot see that you are just as deserving of love, that you cannot receive love?
You may not have felt love in a long time – the love that says I am known, I am valued, I am wonderful, just how I am. And I am sorry.

You are loved. Just as you are.
You are deserving of love. Just as you are.
You are worth being loved. Just as you are.

Maybe there is noone on this earth who can love you in the ways that you need or desire or deserve. But I can tell you that there is a God in heaven, who also lives amongst us, who loves you. He loves you because he loves you because he loves you.

“Letting yourself be loved is an act of terrifying vulnerability and surrender. … Letting yourself be loved gives you over to someone’s mercy and leaves you trusting that they will keep loving you, that they will love you the way you want to be loved, that they won’t break your given heart.”

I promise, that if you allow him, God will love you in ways that you haven’t experienced.
He knows you and loves you.
He sees you and loves you.
He made you and loves you.
And do you know what, he loves you and then asks you to follow him. You do not need to change for God to love you. He loves you and then invites you to follow him. Who you are now is all he wants. He will love you in a way which you mightn’t feel you deserve, but he doesn't see you how you see yourself.

You just have to receive the gift. Accept his offer. Choose to be loved.

And I think that might just change everything.

There’s a kind of false modesty that is really common
but rarely works…
in fact, it never works

False modesty is just another form of pride,
it simply draws more attention to ourselves.

Humility is not weakness or doubt.
Humility is knowing exactly who you are
and being secure enough
to not make a big deal about it.

How do you measure your worth?

Surrender isn't sexy.

People don't like giving up.

That's why lent is such a problematic but profound season.
It goes against the grain of a success-saturated society;
calling into question all that we hold dear,
and calling us to let go of all that holds us back.

But when you are willing to give up your life,
you'll find that there's actually more to gain.

Fasting (giving up) chocolate or social media is a helpful start, but what Jesus really wants
is your heart,
your life,
your all.

This season of lent, follow along with our devotional.
Each week (starting on Sunday), there's a passage and a quote to speak life.
Some questions and space to stop and reflect.
A call to action, a call to give up.

Share your story with us on what it's like to be #givingup

Deep Cries Out, Bethel Church