Vulnerability...

So i've been doing a bit of pondering the last week about what it means to be vulnerable. It it ok to be vulnerable? Why is being vulnerable seen as being such a bad thing.. etc.. I'll be the first to admit that I don't really like being vulnerable. Actually, I hate being in a position where I am completely vulnerable to another human being. Because, when you become vulnerable to someone, you take the risk of being hurt by them, and who really wants that? It involves trusting in something or someone, not necessarily knowing what the outcome will be.

So if you, like me hate being vulnerable, there is good news! There is one person in this world who we can be completely vulnerable with, and know that we are safe, it's not going to be thrown back in our faces. We have an opportunity to be in relationship with a loving, caring God who knows us all so intimately. Some of us know him already, others don't. For those who don't know him out there, maybe now's a good time to consider what this God thing is all about?


However, It's not always going to be 'safe' in the way that we think of safe. It's not going to be a smooth and cruisy ride. It's not going to be without it's fair share of bumps and smacks in the face. But through it all, God promises that he is right there beside us. He laughs with us, he weeps with us, and he picks us back up when we think we can't do it anymore.

So maybe this vulnerability thing might not be so bad?.. Maybe if we take a risk or two in life (and this may include deciding to follow God), maybe it'll be worth it?

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it careful round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless- it will change. Yes, it will not be broken; but it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love and vulnerability, is Hell." CS Lewis.

Hmmm....

For Him Alone
Ness :-)

We Must Go!

If not you, than who?
That phrase has been haunting me for a long time now! In the Eastern Territory they’ve used this in the past when promoting and challenging people about the call to Officership, but this question is applicable to not only those who are called to Officership (full time ministry), but every Christian.

God needs you to do his work here on earth. He needs YOU! Regardless of your concerns, your feelings of inadequacy, your doubts and fears, he needs you! If change is gong to happen here on earth for Gods glory, he needs you. He calls every one of us Christians to stand up and fight for him. He hasn’t called some of us to lay down our lives, our own desires, ambitions, goals, plans, hopes and dreams to follow him. He’s called each and every one of us. Can you imagine what the world would be like if EVERY Christian laid down their lives and did all that God had called them to do? Do you think the world would be like it is now?

There’s a song that is written by Tim Hughes, a worship leader overseas, that really spoke to me when I was considering coming to Melbourne. It says

We must go, live to feed the hungry, Stand beside the broken, we must go
Stepping forward, keep us from just singing, Move us into action, we must go.
You have shown us, what you require. Freely we received, freely we will give.

We sing about wanting to make change, but we do actually do anything about it?
What would have happened if Jesus didn’t obey his fathers command?

Thankfully he did, now the choice is ours to follow his commands and obey him. Not because we have to, but because we love him so dearly that anything less wouldn’t satisfy us.

Will you go?

For Him Alone
Ness