Happy New Year

So it's the day after New Year, and already we're making resolutions, signing up for the gym, planning to eat healthier and looking to save money in the sales. 

All the hype, magic and fun of Christmas has come and gone. Carol services are over, and we return to the humdrum of employment. This time last year I started to write this blog (Moving Forward). It started off strongly; just as my desire to be more like Christ did. But in a similar way, both became inconstant and cold. Sometimes done out of a sense of duty, or routine. Both of which are necessary, but shouldn't be the driving force behind our Christian lives. So will 2014 be different? Will there be a greater consistency? Will people see Christ in me more, and will I hear his guiding voice in my life, or continue to block Him out with the noise of this world? 

Only time will tell. Resolutions and desires are good, but day by day Christianity is better. I think the best thing to do is to forget the failures of 2013, be encouraged by the positives, and look to learn, grow and trust more. Perhaps this time next year will be a more encouraging one for me. Thankfulness should be my attitude for what I was given, forgiveness sought for where I failed and hope used for all that's unknown in the year to come. I hope 2014 is one of great laughs, unending hope, undiscriminating love and the return of our Lord. 

Thank you all for your comments, shares, likes and encouragement in 2013. There's nothing better than a message, text or comment saying how it's been of help to someone. Sometimes it's been the difference between continuing with it & giving up, so for many of you, a huge thanks.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12 v 1-2

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Please continue to share this blog, chat, and encourage others. Life is a journey that's better shared with others. 

In His name

Dan x

Commendation

This blog post has been the most difficult to write. Firstly because it is based on the commendation of my good friends Jamie and Marilyn Mcilree into service for God as missionaries, and I want to make sure that I do their story justice. Secondly, there are so many events and parts to their story and call, that I have to be selective to avoid the post becoming a biography. On Saturday 13th April, I was privileged to hear the call that the Lord gave to them both separately, and to witness the concern and love that they have for the work they are about to embark on. This post is given entirely over to their call, and the work that they have been commended to do. (If you would like to read them for yourself, Jamie read the following verses before he told us his call: Philippians 3: 7-14, Romans 12:1, John 2:5) 

“Is what you’re living for worth Christ dying for?” – Leonard Ravenhill (Just one of the quotes that convicted Jamie)


Jamie and Marilyn are both Scottish and were raised in Christian homes. While Marilyn became a Christian at a young age, Jamie only came to know Jesus Christ as his Saviour in April 2007. I think it’s fair to say that they, like so many young people, had periods in their lives when they weren’t living in a way that pleased their parents. Whether as a Christian straying from the footsteps of the Lord, or as a sinner living out their life in unbelief and rebellion, it wasn’t quite as their parents expected.


Jamie for several years had an important role in banking, but felt very burdened to give up his career and to seek employment elsewhere. What followed was 18 months of unemployment. But during that time, one week of meetings would change the course of his life; He was shown his own lack of any self worth and felt the voice of God calling him through the verse “I charge you...... preach the word”. (2 Tim 4: 1-2 KJV). Jamie recalled that "The 27th nov 2008 was the night God called me. He gave me a deeper appreciated of The cross, eternity and the gospel. He just broke me and took me deeper." After several months, and various times of conviction and believing that he was hearing the call of God, Jamie sought advice from his elder at Bridge of Weir, Stephen Grant. Stephen advised him to keep it to himself, and to keep looking to the Lord for further guidance. Eventually, the Lord opened the door for him to find employment in a local prison. He wasn’t qualified for such a position, and humanly speaking wasn’t even the best candidate, but God wanted him there. He was given the role of rehabilitating prisoners back into society, a position which was more than a day job; it was a real opportunity to show and live out the love of Christ before the inmates. 


“Whatsoever He says to you, Do it” – Mary, the mother of Jesus, speaking to the servants about Him


Marilyn had always had an interest in mission work. From her childhood she had a particular place in her heart for those who serve the Lord abroad. After finishing uni, she took several trips abroad to Spain and Zambia on short mission trips, and decided to return to Zambia long term to help in the Amano (Which is Bemba for 'wisdom') Christian School for a year with her sister Rachel. They would be spending their time with the children as dorm parents.


All good stories, especially true life ones, need a romantic element to them, and their story is no different. Jamie asked Marilyn to become his girlfriend and was greeted with the response “I'm happy to, but I’m off to Zambia for a year, and I’m not changing that”. Quite early on in that year Jamie first visited Zambia, and instantly fell in love with the country. While there, he was offered the chance to visit the local prison; an invitation which he flatly refused. When returning for his second visit however, he accepted the invitation to go and was introduced to the guard on the main gate as “The man who will take over this work from me”; Words which were spoken by the current missionary to the prison, Ian Campbell. Upon his return, Jamie felt the burning conviction of the Lord for him to be involved in the prison work in Chingola. Hearing a man give ministry, Jamie was asked “What has God got you doing now?” King David was presented as a great example, as he was a humble shepherd during his early years of life, but God was training him up with the qualities and attributes he’d need for leading the people of God. Just like David, God had been using Jamie’s employment to fit him for a future work.


On 17th July 2011, Jamie called Marilyn at Amano, and she told him “I believe that God is calling me to serve him”. She had 3 different examples that had spoken to her.

1) Isaiah 6 – Living the life of service.
2) The Disciples – Unqualified, and yet living their lives for the Lord
3) Giving all and not half of her life to God. She believed that if God called her to serve Him, He would always provide the help that they’d need. Jamie continued to receive many confirmations (far too many to list) that he himself was being called, and with added confidence and guidance, proposed to Marilyn. 


After their engagement, they started to look for suitable areas in which to live. The same day that Jamie prayed for a clear sign as to where the Lord wanted them, Marilyn received a text from Ian in Chingola saying “We’d like you to come to Zambia and we have a house here for you”. Could you have gotten a clearer sign than that? 

They were married in September 2012, and having spent the past few months learning the Bemba language, being advised on some of the important things missionaries encounter and sharing their story with several churches and groups, they are now set to go. They have seen God bless them and make many miraculous provisions for them as they have waited for the door to finally open for their departure. On 1st may 2013, they leave their families and friends, the comforts of home and their paid employment to serve the Lord in the prison at Chingola, Zambia. 


“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Phil 3: 13-14


They would value prayer for their health, adapting quickly to the culture and swift learning of the Bemba language. The families they leave behind and the assemblies in which they served in Glasgow need prayer and support as they continue without them. Jamie and Marilyn haven't asked for any financial support, but perhaps I could take the liberty upon myself to say that if you would like to send them a gift to aid them in their service, please contact me at restorationdan@gmail.com and I’ll happily help to arrange that. Their contact details are seen below, and I’m sure they would love to hear from anyone who wished to encourage them in the work. Also, any comments left below will be forwarded to them. A video of Jamie speaking at Auckinleck can be viewed here - Jamie at Auckinleck


Let me say in closing what an encouragement they have both been to me personally, and I find it challenging that such a young couple would choose to give up all the things that this world places value on, to seek to be obedient to the call of the Lord, and be involved in His work. May they know the hand of the Lord upon them, and be conscience of the prayer of the Saints of God for them as they go.

Yours in Him

Dan

Journey

I'm sat on a train between Newcastle and Aberdeen and I'm thinking about travel. I love traveling. Whether its flying, driving or going by train, I love a journey.

I'm sure you're all familiar with the phase "life is not just about the destination, it's about the journey to get there" (hmm..... Think I've paraphrased most of that, but you get the idea). Our Christian life is a journey. We know one day we'll get to heaven, but if the Lord doesn't return in our lifetime, we can expect to have 70+ years to live out on earth. Below are just a few thoughts about our life's journey......

You have to be on the right road;
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matt 6: 13-14 ESV
We are born on the wrong road in life. We are heading for disaster from the off. Our great, great, great, great (add a lot more greats) grandfather Adam disobeyed God. When he did, his sin brought a curse upon humanity. We are born with a disadvantage; sin. It's effects on our lives are seen in the wrong things we do, think & say; and ultimately creates a life lived in selfish disobedience toward a Holy God. Because Jesus (Gods own son) died on a cross to bear the root problem of sin, God can justly forgive those people who turn to Him, confessing their own sin & asking for forgiveness. The moment we do, we "enter in by faith to the narrow way". Few people find it, but it leads to eternal life. Are you on the narrow road? Are you still traveling on the road that leads to destruction?

Once you've gotten yourself on the road heading in the right direction (toward heaven and eternal life), its important to follow the course of the path. The more we deviate off the path, the more bumpy our journey will be. There will be highs and lows. Peaks and troughs. Driving on the edge of a mountain pass wouldn't be sensible; and neither is living a life constantly on the edge of sin, in the way of temptations. The further away from the edge we are, the less the chances are of us being hurt along the way. The Holy Spirit Himself has been given to us to guide us in the right way....
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Gal 5:16) whether or not we listen to Him though is up to us.

Do people see my walk as being different to theirs? Surely if I'm on a different road to those who live in sin, my route through life should look different? "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love" (Eph 4:1-2) I could have used several verses here, many I'm sure you could think of; but I chose this one as it not only tells us the purpose for our walk, but also how it should be done. In all honesty, my walk is quite a long way off this, but as I always say in these posts, these are not what I'm necessarily doing, but what I strive to do. If we're walking together, we should try to do it with love. It'll make it far easier for us to travel together!

That's the thing about this journey; it's one of constant learning and improving. We are slowly being changed to look like the man who will be waiting for us at our destination; the lord Jesus Christ.

"Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Col 1:10) While on life's journey, we aren't just to take in the view. We have a work to be done, and a person to get to know. Your work will be different to mine and vice versa; but we are to be doing the work God has called us each to do. As we work, we learn about God, and He is pleased to equip and empower us for His service.

Finally; let's enjoy the journey "for we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Cor 5:7) Can you not see the problems awaiting you? Not sure when the blessings will arrive? Neither can I.... But God can! He both knows us, cares for us and will guide us.

Lets make the most of our journey, as it will improve the destination all the more!

Yours in Him
Dan