don't be a felix

In Acts 24 we meet felix, we're told he was 'familiar with the way' familiar with but not following, he knew what Paul was teaching - but was not prepared to compromise comfort, career and reputation. He keeps Paul imprisoned, and regularly speaks to him, yet nothing changes!

Felix was more concerned about what others thought rather than what God thought - he sat on the fence for so long and when the challenge came he opted for the easy option leaving Paul in prison and moving on to a new job. Felix may have accomplished plenty during his time in power but the record that we have in the Bible shows a shallow, fearful man.

I've been challenged by this recently, it's easy to be a Felix, just keeping to the status quo. Going to church, spending time with believers, reading the Bible is easy but Christians should be identifiable by the fruit in their lives so we need to let the word of God impact the way we live. This means we should speak, think and live differently to the world! It can be a challenge, there may be opposition but there are people in our lives that need an encounter with Jesus. So don't be a Felix - today put on the armour of God, grab a bit of spiritual boldness and go be a light for Jesus in the world.

Be inspired

This week I read a fabulous book, one of those ones you can't quite put down, a "just one more chapter" type. Following the loss of her husband to prostate cancer, Rosie Swale-Pope ran around the world, 20000miles over 5years, on her own, through Siberian and Alaskan winters, at times with broken ribs, and all this at the age of 57! What comes across so clearly in her account is not just her determination and love of adventure, but her attitude towards life and people. Every challenge is overcome, and negative moments are not dwelt on but turned into positives. Even when confronted by armed robbers she refuses to surcumb to fear, holding on to memories of the kindness of those she has encountered on her journey.

So if you're looking for some inspiration, restored faith in humanity or just a good read check out 'just a little run around the world'.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Just-Little-Run-Around-World/dp/0007306202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358094395&sr=8-1

Happy New Year!

How did you see in the new year? With friends or family? In a large party gathering or shared exclusively with someone special? Or perhaps, you missed it all together for an early night in bed! I saw the new year in from the inside of a tiny convent tucked away somewhere in Newcastle. It wasn't where I expected to be, but through a string of events I ended up there, with five nuns and about 20 others, enjoying the peace of the presence of Christ - Immanuel God with us! Sometimes God whispers to us through the cracks in our busy lives - drawing us away from the humdrum of life to sit at his feet and listen to his voice. Jesus knew the importance of time alone with his father, that he had to withdraw from time to time from the needs and demands of his followers, and early in the morning or late into the night find solitary places...the desert, the mountains. It's a good principle to learn to apply in our lives, it refreshes us, it equips us, it builds spiritual character and it places Jesus in the rightful place of honour in our lives. So for 2013 my challenge is to find the time to slip through the gaps in the rush of life and spend quality time alone with Christ. 

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Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.