Assuming motives can be dangerous.

Reading 2 Sam 10 this morning and what struck me was how something so simple that was supposed to bless and encourage someone, can be totally taken the wrong way and in that, cause major damage.

In this story King David is wanting to express kindness to Hanun whose father had died. But Hanna’s nobles, those close around him, spoke to him and suggested that in fact he wasn’t wanting to express sympathy at the death of his father, but rather exploring and spying out the city in order to overthrow it. Because of this, they attack those who are sent on behalf of King David and shame them and in return, David retaliates.

King David’s heart was to bless and to honour another King, but after that King Hanun listened to those around him, who planted thoughts other than those of David’s, and in the process caused a war.

How often do we not take things as face value but try to work something out according to the way we see it, rather than perhaps the way it was given?

How often do we listen to those around us and build up a case, rather than going to the source of the question and clarifying the intent?

How often do we completely misunderstand people because we are assuming motives of another person that are not actually there, but in actual fact, is what lies in our own heart?

The response of something so simple taken the wrong way caused a war in this situation in 2 Sam 10. In our own lives when we assume anothers' motives or actions, we too can cause rifts, misunderstandings, offences etc which in essence brings division instead of the unity that we are called to in the body of Christ.

Assuming anothers’ motives can be deadly in so many ways.

So I encourage you today not to assume other peoples motives of their actions or words. If you are concerned about something, ask the person involved. Be careful not to listen to the wrong voices either of the enemy, or those around you that don’t build up and encourage another, don’t speak faith and hope into situations, are not looking for the good in a person but continually looking at the negative. Try to keep the unity in the bond of peace and love one another, considering the other better than yourself.

Does your boat have life jackets?

Do you go out fishing on a boat without a life jacket? Do you go out on the water unprepared for what may happen? And yet for many Christians this is the state of their Christian walk, they are not prepared for what may come and so when things go wrong they have not spent the time in the word of God, which teaches them truth so that when the enemy comes in like a flood and overwhelms them, they have no where to go except down, because the belt of Truth is like our safety be lt that holds us up when the flood threatens to overwhelm us. Truth is the word of God, truth sets us free, truth brings us life and helps us discern what is of God and what is not of God. A word the Lord was bringing last night is to be prepared and so I encourage you to take the time, set time apart, go in and shut the door to distractions, shut the door to the words the enemy would try and bring, shut the door to discouragement or whatever may be coming that is trying to take your eye, the phone, Facebook, tv...

The rats where running....

Last night I saw this picture where we went into this room to collect stuff with lots of other people and all these rats ran away as we came in and the stuff in the room was just all bits of rubbish now and the word that came to me was Matt 6:19 "Don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." It is so easy to think you are storing up treasure in heaven but the reality is that if you are wanting praise from man in any way then you are actually receiving your inheritance now. When you work for the Lord the things done in secret I believe, is what is stored up in heavenly places awaiting a time of release and when that release comes is unto the Lord, it may be on the earth while you are alive but it may also be later....

Eddie Cairns from Mission Outreach

Due to unforeseen circumstances our planned guest speaker for the 28th of August is no longer able to join us. But in his place we are blessed and honoured to have Eddie Cairns, founder of Mission Outreach with a heart and call for the suffering church, joining us. This will be a special time so please bring along your friends and honour a man of God that has served God now for many many years. We also have Nicky Moran leading us in worship. This Wednesday night 28th of August. 7pm at Puketaha Hall.

Is the church a cafe? Did you go to be served or to serve?

I had a dream this morning where I saw that I was working in a cafe. It was busy, there were people coming and going and we didn’t have everything we needed, we still needed a barista, some customers were helping cook the steak for the hamburgers that Jim was cooking as Jim was rushed off his feet. We needed people to serve the people coming in as I was dealing with all the different ones coming and going. I saw that people were sitting down in a seat but actually weren’t there to get food, they were just using the seats even though they were not using the cafe. I saw a council officer come in to inspect things and she saw we still needed a barista and she knew people and was going to help us to find one. There was an older man there who was smoking a cigar and I was keen to have a drag off his cigar. People were wandering through our private home at the back of the cafe. The cafe remained open because people kept coming. But I was shown that if I did...

2013 A new road, a new journey....???? and its all good!!!!

I had a dream a few weeks ago and I share the interpretation of it with you. I know this is definitely for Jim and I, but I believe the Lord is showing me that it is something that he wants me to share with others as well and so I share its interpretation for you to do with what you believe God is saying to you. I believe many of us have been living daily life, going about normal things but that we are coming into a time where a suddenly is going to happen that is going to shift us from where we were to where we are going. We will have no idea what happened or how we got there, we will just find ourselves on a different road unable to go back to where we were even though you might desire and want to go back to what you knew, you are unable to. We have been concerned about time but the time will no longer matter. Coverings and authorities in our lives will change. People will help direct you on the new road, and you will...

Today's complacency will lead to tomorrows captivity

While Jim & I were in bible college training to go on to the mission field, one thing we learnt was that we needed to be continual learners. And over time I have found if I am not learning, if I am not growing in the Lord in some area of my life, then more than likely I have stepped into a place of pride without even realising it or have become 'comfortable' and content with where things are at. To be a continual learner is to position yourself that you are continually growing, being challenged in your thinking, perhaps being called to step out in something you have never done before that you know God is speaking to you about. It's a place of questioning yourselves "why am I not seeing what I believe for yet?" in the Lord, those promises perhaps that He has already spoken about, and then stepping into them in faith trusting that God will lead the way. Samuel Rodriguez say's "Today's complacency will lead to tomorrows captivity." I ...

Glory Release Ministries

Search This Blog