Wow! What a really great atmosphere at MSCCentre this weekend for our Vision Sunday 2011! We had a lot of fun Sunday morning with hot air balloons (sort of), jigsaws (really!), a cascade of balloons all getting popped, and prizes too! A memorable day to kick start the New Year.

So what is the vision for 2011? That as a church and as individuals that we will live from Heaven by seeing from Heaven and taking faith-actions that reach into the lives of those around us. We will have more up on the site soon (the powerpoint overview, the podcast and even some video footage). But until then here are the key thoughts:

Seeing from Heaven

 

• - Fresh perspective… Rev 4:1/Eph 2:6
• - As it is in heaven… Matt 6:10
• - Seeing with the eyes of faith… John 5:19-20
• - Taking faith-actions… Eph 2:10
• - Seeing souls saved & people’s lives transformed… Prov 11:30/2 Cor 3:18

 

And with an emphasis on“focus, consolidate & build momentum” based on our core values of:

 

• - God encounter
• - Worship experience
• - Mission emphasis
• - Everyone engaged

 

So 2011 here we come! Believing for an exciting year in God as we see from Heaven and begin living in all the fulness of His Kingdom here on earth.

Here we are: the very beginning of 2011! A new year, a new opportunity to be all you can be in Jesus!

Someone has calculated that there are 31,536,000 seconds this year (same as most years'!) so what are you going to do with them all? Thing is, all time is spent or invested – and once it has gone it’s gone. So make the most of this wonderful new start God has given you.

 

-oOo-

 

Also, Ruth and I wanted to say a huge, great big “thank you” to the whole church family for your fabulous Christmas gift to us! It was completely unexpected and totally amazing and overwhelming – it truly means a tremendous amount to us – thanks!

 

-oOo-

 

And don’t forget that this Sunday (9th Jan) is our 2011 Vision Day: starting the New Year with fresh perspective! Come along for an insight into God’s plans for MSCCentre, for some special worship and for a bit of fun, as well!

How true it is that all of us like improvements… but few of us like change!

We find this in every area of our lives from the favourite jumper or shirt that is worn out and we should really replace to the broken mug that we can’t part with; from the gym subscription we hardly use but just might to the relationship we cannot live with or without. In so many ways we want improvements, but are not committed to the changes needed to make those improvements.

Key 1 was be dissatisfied with where you are. But that is not enough – it is a very important first step, but we need to be careful we don’t become bogged down here. We need to move onto…

Key No.2: Be determined to see transformation in you

We need to be prepared to move on and to believe that we can see change in ourselves; that you can see transformation in your life; that today you will move a little closer to the best you can be; to the person God wants you to be; to be overflowing with life and life in all its fullness.

Romans 12:1-2 is an important pair of verses for us here. Make a decision to be transformed. Be determine to be transformed. Have a design for your transformation.

The apostle Paul’s appeal to us is simple:

Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world…

 

• - Don’t be squeezed into the mould made by non-believers
• - Realise that if you are not actively moving on you are being conformed
• - This is not a legalism that says “don’t touch; don’t eat; don’t do”
• - …but a new life that says “I know I can be better than this”

 

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

 

• - Transformed: metamorphosis
• - Caterpillar to a butterfly: same DNA
• - Transformation takes determination: chrysalis break-out

 

And the truth of the matter is that if we have entered into God’s presence, if we have committed ourselves to follow Jesus then we can never be the same again. Everyone that ever met Jesus when He was on the earth physically was touched by His presence and changed in some way.

God’s presence has transforming power that cannot and will not leave a human life unchanged.

Why?

 

• - Because God knows how much more there is on offer for us.
• - Because God wants the very best for you and for me.
• - Because humanity is God’s A-plan not his last ditch effort.
• - Because He cares too much to leave us as we are.

 

And the design: to be more like Jesus… and the plan is to reach that goal one step at a time.

Key No.1 - You must be dissatisfied with where you are

As believers we are to learn to be like the apostle Paul, contented in all circumstances (Phil 4:11). To be at peace with what we have and where we are in life. We are not to be anxious about anything, but to give all our cares over to Him who cares for us. (Phil 4:6-7).

Yet, we are also to be in a place where physically, mentally, spiritually we are dissatisfied with where we are (Phil 3:1-15a)…

 

• - Dissatisfied not with what we have, but with where we are in our walk with God.
• - Dissatisfied not because we want more things, but because we want more of God.
• - Dissatisfied not because we are not being recognised but because we recognise there is so much more we can be.

 

We need to have a holy dissatisfaction that will spur us on to more – because in Jesus there is always more!

If you are not dissatisfied with where you are in your spiritual journey you will not move on. If you stay where you are you will stagnate. Only moving water stays fresh and pure.

Are you satisfied with where you are?

We can easily become comfortable where we are. After the beginning of the New Year and our first flurry of good intentions, our desire to lose weight, to become physically fitter, to pray more and to even read through all of the Bible, we begin to falter. Routine hits us. Or life just gets busy. And we move away from our good intentions and start living in our comfort zone.

Abraham’s father Terah and his family moved out in the direction God called to go to Canaan, but when they arrived at Haran they settled there. They stopped short of Canaan and stayed in Haran which was an ancient city that up until the 11th century AD was a centre for worship of the moon god: Sin. Now, I know that was an ancient Near East name for that false god, but isn’t it interesting that they decided to stay around where sin was?

Do you know that sometimes we are like that: we want to receive the forgiveness for our sin, but not be separated from our sin. We can come to Jesus to be saved from the penalty of our sin, but not want to be saved from our sin itself.

We are like a drowning boy in the sea who wants a life jacket so that he is saved from drowning but is still able to have the adrenalin rush of being in the waves.

We can become very comfortable in a life that has moved towards Jesus, but is not going all the way to where He is. Is that you?

Abraham wasn’t willing to settle for less than the land of Canaan. He wasn’t willing to settle for less than the promise of God.

I wonder:

 

• - What has God promised you that you still don’t have?
• - Are you settling into a comfort zone or are you willing to step out in faith?
• - Are you satisfied with where you are or are you dissatisfied with life the way it is because you know there is still so much more in God?

 

Are you willing to settle for less than the best Jesus has for you?

Are you comfortable where you are spiritually, with your life, with your relationships?

Today, begin the process of personal revival by becoming dissatisfied with where you are and starting on the journey towards the place God has promised.

Here we are, standing at the start of another new year, another new opportunity to put the past behind us and to move on into all that God has for us. Oh, and we have snow! And that, actually, is a perfect illustration for us. Take a look out of the window when the snow is still fresh on the ground and notice how everyone’s gardens, cars, paths – everything – looks the same. Everything is covered over by a lovely white coating. Well, Jesus has made it possible for you and me to have a “lovely white coating”, so to speak, of pure, white robes of righteousness (right standing with God) so that all God sees when He looks at us is Jesus. That means each of us have the same opportunities to be all we can be in Jesus.

This year you can be the best that you can be in God – His favour is towards those He loves and His love means He wants the very best for you. No matter what situation you face this year, no matter what circumstances throw at you and no matter what difficulties may arise God wants the best for you and will see you through it. Whatever He starts He will see through to completion (Philippians 1:6) so start the year with what God has in mind for you and you will see it fulfilled.

And we also find that the snow humbles each of us so that we have to declare that as humans we are not always capable of everything on our own. Proverbs 22:4 says that if we are humble before God – recognising Him as God and that we need Him in our lives – then He will grant us true prosperity and honour and life. Seek Him at the start of 2010 and the year will be filled with His best for you and yours. Happy New Year!