And so, dear brothers and sisters, ^a I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

3 As God’s messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.

Praying that as we start a new year w will only move when God’s wind moves us and in whatever direction He chooses.

Also recognising when He is moving us.

The analogy is of a sailing boat.  The Holy Spirit (the third person of the trinity) is sometimes described like a wind .

The key is to recognise that wind(or recognise the moving of God through the Holy Spirit) and move in the right direction.

John 5 V 19 

Jesus said to them, “I assure you that the son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.What the Son does is always modelled on what the Father does.

The Good News-the word we translate “gospel”-is that this world as we know it is not the whole story. There is another realm.

The good News is especially that this world -the kingdom of God- is closer than you think. It is available to ordinary men & women. It is available to people who have never thought of themselves as religious or spiritual. It is available to you. You can live in it now.

Extract From “The Life You’ve always wanted”  John Ortberg

Revelation Chapter 3 V 14  The Church of Laodicea

Told to be Hot or cold, not tepid

The water supply to the Laodicea was lukewarm. This is in contrast to the hot springs  at nearby Hierapolis and the pure and cold water of Colossae . The viaduct for Laodicea carried water from hot mineral springs would have become tepid before entering the city.  The imagery gained from the Laodicean aqueduct suggests both hot and cold water are useful, whereas lukewarm water is tasteless and useless. This is the very imagery that Revelations uses for the Church of Laodicea.

The Laodicean church said,

‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’

But God said,

” you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

¹⁹ Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

²⁰ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me

It seems to me that four things are requested.

A diligence & honesty about coming to God

An honesty in a willingness to repent

A listening ear – what is God saying

A welcoming heart – Come Holy Spirit , enter into my life .

Thanks  TC 8th Feb 2015