A City On A Hill

Geographically speaking, Christchurch is far from being situated on a hill. We lay in more of a valley with surrounding hills and mountains that tower over us, but yet I felt God speak this phrase to me very clearly yesterday evening. I quickly hopped on the web and searched the passage of scripture that this came from.
In Matthew 5:14 it says

‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.’ (NIV)

February the 22nd marks the four year anniversary of the earthquake that destroyed this city, but it also marks a time where we became the most malleable form in which God can use us- I will touch in this more in a moment.  We were suddenly in the public eye, news channels jumped on this disaster and it spread like wildfire. I feel this is what really placed us as a city on a hill. This scripture will continue to ring true as we rebuild, slowly building up fresh infrastructure, birthed from minds that suddenly had a whole canvas of a city to work on. Community projects have blossomed like pop up dance-o-mats, poetry walls, and outside movie screenings have adorned this city with hope during this ongoing restoration project. This rebuild will not be a quiet task, it will draw attention no only nationally but internationally and it is pushing me to continue prayerfully that God’s hand is upon this whole process. If we are a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, I want to be a city that shines the light of Christ from every rubble ruined street corner, and every sleek new office building. I desire to be a part of something that has Christ as the centre, and know that if God can speak the stars into existence, he can take the brokenness of this city and make it whole again.

This leads me onto something I touched on before, being malleable in God’s hands. After the quake we became our weakest, as we mourned over loves ones and watched bricks that built up our homes and buildings, tumble around us. The city became a mess of road cones and tears, and we watched as we became very different versions of ourselves than we once knew. But not only did God speak to me about being a city on a hill, the thing that hit me the most this evening was two verses a few above that read,

³You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
⁴ You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. (THE MSG)

How incredible is it that God loves our brokenness? A person who is willing to become completely undone for the sake of being put back together to become more like him is someone who is treasured in God’s eyes. This evening I began to see God’s heart in the way I view this city. I see how I am intrigued by the fading shop signs and smashed bookcases behind windows. I look upon broken dollhouse-like buildings, and I am reminded of my own brokenness and how lovingly God looks upon my every fault, knowing he has work to do in me. I see how when this city and it’s people are at the end of their rope, there is far more God can do because we are willing for him to take the reins. I see how when we have lost what is most important to us, the embrace of our father is that much more comforting and needed. But most of all, I see myself in these broken city streets and hear my Dad call me his child and let me know the passion I have for this broken city is the passion he has for me. He wants me to run into his arms when I reach the end of my tether, or when I feel I am crumbling in the way this city did, because in times like these he will grow me the most.
I encourage you to be attentive to what God is speaking to you about, and don’t ever feel discounted because of your faults of weaknesses. For when we are at our weakest, it is at this place we are most able to be used by our Father- and he can use you in incredible ways.

Be Strong and Courageous

I find the holidays afford me the time to do a lot of thinking. Whether it's sitting in the bath, laying in bed at night or walking up tracks to waterfalls, I have had plenty of opportunities to think. One of the things I've been thinking about is culture. By that I mean the values/principles that drive a community. I've been thinking about the communities that I'm part of and what 'culture' I would like to see developed in them.

One aspect of culture that I would love to see developed amongst Reveal is courage. As a young(ish) leader, who is looking to develop other young leaders, it seems to me that courage is something that we need. Courage is the thing that drives us through our worries, our fears and our inadequacies to change the world. 

God calls us to be courageous.

There was a man called Joshua in the bible. He was a pretty cool dude and did some amazing things for God's nation of Israel. He led the people of Israel across the River Jordan into the land that God had promised their ancestors and there triumped over innumerable hardships, problems and enemies to see God's Kingdom on earth established. But Joshua wasn't a man without fear. He was so scared that when God called him to lead he had to be reminded 3 times by God to be "strong and courageous." Joshua felt fear, but trusted God's promises and overcame it. He showed courage in overwhelming circumstances and we are called to do the same.

In the Wizard of Oz, the absence of a heart meant that the lion had no courage. We link the two together; hearts and courage. So, when Jesus is about to face the cross and knows that soon after that he will be resurrected and ascend to heaven, he talks to another group of young leaders. He tells them that it will be tough, but reminds them to "Take heart! I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33). He tells them to be courageous. Yes, it will be scary. Yes, you will be persecuted. Yes, I will be going. But take heart. Know that I have overcome the world and therefore you have nothing to fear. Know that I will be with you to the very end of the age. He says the same to us. Being a christian is not an easy task in a secular world, but we're called to be courageous in sharing our faith and courageous in living out our faith. Just like the disciples.

Timothy was another young leader who felt fear. He was already a young pastor, already a leader in many people's eyes, but he too had to be reminded to be courageous. To trust God in his life. Paul had to remind him that "the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord." (2 Tim 1:7) Timothy had to be reminded that in him dwelt the Holy Spirit, who equipped him for every situation he faced. He had to be reminded to be courageous and to not be ashamed of the gospel. That is a reminder to us too. When he remembered this, Timothy did great things and faced down mighty challenges. We can too!

Nelson Mandela once said "courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it." The great thing about being a Christian is we are not alone. We don't face fear by ourselves. We have a God who has already overcome the world covering our backs. We can take courage in him.

Wouldn't it be cool if like Joshua, the disciples and Timothy we were known for our courage? If we were courageous in sharing our faith; courageous in standing up for what's right; courageous in sharing about our struggles; courageous in our friendships; courageous in offering prayer; courageous in sharing a picture or word at the front of church.

When was the last time you trusted God and did something courageous? How about trying something today?