He knows your name

As the days roll on, the names roll by....

It is now 9 days since the people of Christchurch had their lives turned upside down as the earthquake struck.  Day after day people have been searching for their loved ones.  As I followed @safeinchch on twitter, the names of missing and located people rolled by...one tweet at a time.  As I read each name, these people became more than just another person, they each have a name, they each have someone who cares for them.  I could now pray for a name, they were now somebody that was known, not just a missing person, or a family or friend that was searching or grieving.  They have a name.

As I read the names & prayed I became very aware that God already knows the name of every single person that is impacted by this tragedy.  I do not know them all personally, but he does.  I have just heard some of their names for the very first time, but he has always known their names.  He cares about each and everyone of them, he wants to walk this journey with them.  He knows their names.

It blows me away to think that God knows the name of every single person on planet earth and he loves everyone of you.  He knows you intimately and loves you soooo much.....HE KNOWS YOUR NAME.

Things Unseen - To See as He Sees

Lord open my eyes to the things unseen
That I may gaze with a new clarity
To see as though I am wearing your eyes

New sight I will behold

What was once hidden will now be revealed
Seeing as you see

The Gospel is Inclusive, not Exclusive

As the year begun, I settled into my first book.  I began reading a biography about William & Catherine Booth, founders of the Salvation Army.  I found myself inspired and challenged by their journey.  My God is SO BIG, wow....who wouldn't want to know him more intimately.

As I read, my thoughts turned to 'The Gospel is inclusive, not exclusive'.  They were reaching out to many in society that somes churches and doctrine of those days did not embrace.  Many churches had a special area in the back or off to the side that was designated for the poor.  Sure they were allowed to come to church if they sat there, but they were not embraced.  A specific doctrine taught that there was a select group who were already chosen and that the sacrifice of Jesus only applied to them.

I pondered on these things, wondering how I do life today in 2011.  Am I living a life that presents an inclusive gospel or an exclusive one?  I have a heart for a particular group of people, but am I excluding others?  Things for me to ponder.  God may call me to minister in specific areas, or to specific people groups.  But does he want me to ignore the other people in my life that don't fit within that group.  NO he does not.  His heart, His sacrifice was and still is for ALL. 

As I cotinued to read, I discovered that even though the majority of the Booths work was amongst the poor, Catherine also ministered regularly amongst the wealthy of society.  Inclusive gospel, not exclusive.

I am challenged to see EVERYONE through the eyes of Jesus, I am challenged to live a life that presents an inclusive gospel.

His arms are always open, waiting for us to come home, are our arms open to embrace them as they come?

A New Year, A New Decade

Expectancy
A sense of being positioned in exactly the right spot.
Obstacles have moved out of the way, other things have found their place, and in turn this has made a way, a path that is wide and clear to navigate.
The train has found the right track to continue its' journey. It is lining up with the rail, locking into place and ready to head in that direction.
The chess pieces are being moved to their correct positions, the strategy is clear.