Monday, 5 September 2011

trAcker number373 Time to Unpack Your Luggage and Travel Light


trACker number373
The e-Devotional helping to keep you on-track
GodTracker is online at www.godtracker.co.uk 

05 September 2011 
  
Dear God Tracker

Time to Unpack Your Luggage and Travel Light

It was raining when we packed up on the last day of a family camping trip to the Welsh mountains. I was cold and not a little irritable as I helped bundle three dripping wet tents into their bags. But what bothered me more than this was the myriad smaller items that needed to be packed: 5 blow-up mattresses, bedding and sleeping bags, camping tables and chairs, gas burners, plates, cups, cutlery, left-over bottles of cool drink, bags of food, fruit, shoes, clothes suitcases… Somehow, we managed to pack it all in the two cars on the way to the mountains but now, in the rain, it seemed I was packing the mountains into the two cars.

“I wish we’d not packed the kitchen sink,” I moaned. “Next time - if there is a next time – we’ll travel light!”

Isn’t it funny how we lug too many things with us when we travel? Perhaps you’re better at packing than I am but I seem to always pack more for a trip than I actually need. Life’s a bit like that. We all tend to collect so much baggage over the years, which simply weighs us down in our quest to track God’s purposes. For instance, every confrontation we encounter results in an offence, aggression or hurt that we simply stuff deeper down into our life’s holdall. Eventually the bag becomes so heavy and overloaded that we need to haul another down from the loft to accommodate our disappointments, anxieties and insecurities.

I think Jesus had this principle in mind when he sent the twelve out on a missionary trip in Matthew 10. In verses 9 and 10 we read he says, “Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff.” Obviously Jesus was speaking from a practical point of view but I think the principle he was making is that God would provide all that his disciples needed for the journey. The same principle applies for the journey of your life. There is no need for you or me to pack all those sad emotions into the suitcases of our lives and lug hurtful memories around with us anymore. We simply do not need them for the journey! Dear God Tracker, it’s time to unpack your luggage and travel light!

If you find your life’s suitcase is overloaded and bogging you down. Take Christ’s advice when he said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” (Matt 11:28 & 30). Why not take a moment right now to pop open your suitcase and unload everything that you have horded over the years, onto his caring shoulders.

God-tracking is travelling light.

Every blessing

Dudley

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GodTracker is now also available as a blog. Check out: http://godtracker.blogspot.com/

Our hope is that, by sharing experiences in tracking the will of God, we will draw closer to him and discover the awesome value of walking with God. Let us know what you think by e-mailing dudley@godtracker.co.uk God knows the plans he has for you. So go ahead and track them!

GodTracker now on Facebook 
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46298024089

What is trACker?
GodTracker and trACker owe their origins to an international Christian radio programme produced by Dudley Anderson called, OnTrack. Although OnTrack went off-air in 2005, trACker has continued to help people to track God's plans and purposes for their lives since July 2003.

You can now hear Dudley Anderson on UCB UK
Saturdays from 00:00 to 05:00 GMT and Sundays from 06:00 to 12:00 GMT
Listen to UCB UK on DAB, Sky channel 0125 or online at http://ucbmedia.co.uk

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VoW

Verse of the Week

Phil 3:8
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.


Quote of the Week

A Sample of Dudley’s Fave Quotes.

“Nothing can separate you from God's love, absolutely nothing. God is enough for time, God is enough for eternity. God is enough!” --- Hannah Smith  

 

Don’t Give-up, Look-up!

Look-up and Fix Your Eyes On Jesus!

Because You Care For Me

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Pray
“Heavenly God and Father, I admit that I have been travelling this road of life with too much baggage. Lord, I have stuffed worries, disappointments, fears, offences and deep-seated cares into the holdall of my life. Please forgive me for harbouring these things and anything else that has grieved your spirit and tripped me up along the way. I want to take a moment now to do some care casting and cast all my cares and anxieties upon you. Jesus, I come to you because I am heavy laden and I take your yoke, which is easy to bear. Thank you that you care enough to give me relief and peace. As I empty my life of these anxieties I wish to replace them with faith, hope and love, because you care for me. Amen.”

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Monday, 22 August 2011

trACker number372 Beware Pre-Empting God’s Plans before They Come Due


trACker number372
The e-Devotional helping to keep you on-track
GodTracker is online at www.godtracker.co.uk 

22 August 2011 
  
Dear God Tracker

Beware Pre-Empting God’s Plans before They Come Due

A fascinating map can be found in the British Museum. It's an old mariner's chart, drawn in 1525, outlining the North American coastline and adjacent waters. The cartographer made some intriguing comments on areas of the map that represented regions not yet explored. He wrote: "Here be giants," and "Here be fiery scorpions," and "Here be dragons." Eventually, the map came into the possession of Sir John Franklin, a British explorer in the early 1800s. Scratching out the fearful notation, he wrote these words across the map, “Here be God!”

Our daily life can often be like that. It’s impossible to see into tomorrow from where we stand today. We can only guess what will happen in the next few moments of time. We may hope that there be found joy, peace and prosperity but more often than not we pessimistically agree with the 1525 cartographer and say, “There be giants and scorpions and dragons.” But as trackers of the plans of God, however, by faith in his plans and purposes, we ought to be saying, “There be God!”  It is impossible to know what tomorrow holds but, as the old saying goes, “We do know who holds tomorrow.”

God-tracking involves looking for the plans and purposes that God has for our tomorrow. God-tracking is based upon the scripture in Jeremiah 9:11, which tell us that God knows the plans he has for us. The truth is, it is indeed God who knows his plans for our lives but we don’t – not until he reveals them, that is. Elsewhere we are told to acknowledge God in all our ways then trust that he will direct our paths. Sadly, however (and I speak from my own experience) many of us pre-empt God’s plans for tomorrow and second-guess his purposes for us by infringing upon his perfect timing in our lives. Our God is sovereign and he knows our beginning from our end. God knows what is best for us and we know that all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

So if you are at the edge of your tomorrow and you’re wondering what to do next then take a moment to pray the prayer below and acknowledge God’s knowledge of your future. Take one day at a time and live by faith, not by fate. Watch out for the what-will-be-will-be syndrome. If you keep your eyes on Jesus then what will be will be his will for your life and not some fatalistic nonsense. Hold onto the peace he has given you in your current situation and trust that he will meet all your needs for today as well as tomorrow according to the wealth of his blessings for you in Christ Jesus. But beware of pre-empting God’s plans before they come due.


God-tracking is waiting for God’s initiative.

Blessings

Dudley

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

GodTracker is now also available as a blog. Check out: http://godtracker.blogspot.com/

Our hope is that, by sharing experiences in tracking the will of God, we will draw closer to him and discover the awesome value of walking with God. Let us know what you think by e-mailing dudley@godtracker.co.uk God knows the plans he has for you. So go ahead and track them!

GodTracker now on Facebook 
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46298024089

What is trACker?
GodTracker and trACker owe their origins to an international Christian radio programme produced by Dudley Anderson called, OnTrack. Although OnTrack went off-air in 2005, trACker has continued to help people to track God's plans and purposes for their lives since July 2003.

You can now hear Dudley Anderson on UCB UK
Saturdays from 00:00 to 05:00 GMT and Sundays from 06:00 to 12:00 GMT
Listen to UCB UK on DAB, Sky channel 0125 or online at http://ucbmedia.co.uk

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

 

VoW

Verse of the Week

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


Quote of the Week

A Sample of Dudley’s Fave Quotes.

“I believe that God delights to use his children in the fulfilment of his plans for the world.  I am sure he loves to use small people to do great things.” --- Corrie Ten Boom

 

Don’t Give-up, Look-up!

Look-up and Fix Your Eyes On Jesus!

At All Times I Have Everything I Need

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Pray
“Dear God I am very nervous of my tomorrow. I feel I’m at the edge of something new but I’m not sure what it is. Help me to not jump to my own conclusions and pre-empt the changes you have in store for me before your preordained time. I confess that you know my future – you are there already – and I put my faith in your plans for my life. Help me to continue to acknowledge you in all I do and to trust in your tracks for my life without leaning on my own understanding. And give me peace, Lord to get through today. I know, by your word, that at all times I have everything I need. Amen.”

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Why not recommend trACker to someone?

Monday, 15 August 2011

trACker number371 Faith Is Contagious but We Need To Open Our Mouths Before It Will Spread


trACker number371
The e-Devotional helping to keep you on-track
GodTracker is online at www.godtracker.co.uk 

15 August 2011 
  
Dear God Tracker

Faith Is Contagious but We Need To Open Our Mouths Before It Will Spread

As I sat sipping a large Americano in my favourite coffee shop a patron at a table nearby gave a hearty sneeze. She sensibly sneezed into a tissue but as I watched her recompose herself I thought about a recent advertising campaign that warned of the dangers of spreading colds and flu in public places by sneezing. Colds and flu are very contagious diseases and, unless one constrains himself or herself, it is very easy to spread a cold to those nearby.

Got me thinking about the gospel. Faith is a very contagious commodity that, once contracted, will change a person’s life forever. The scripture tells us that faith comes by hearing the message of Christ. The message of Christ is the Good News that Jesus took the consequences of sin upon himself when he died in our place on the cross. The grace of God is shown by Jesus’ death and his power to raise Christ from the dead. Faith in this message produces new life. And this message is spread through the lips of those who have already contracted faith.

Jesus commissioned us to be his witnesses throughout the world. If you know Christ as Lord then you have already moved from condemnation to mercy, from legal bondage to grace and from a death sentence to abundant life. If you know Christ as Lord then you are contaminated with faith, a faith that comes by the Good News. If you know Christ as Lord then you have a responsibility to spread this Good News to those around you so that they too may have the chance to be infected with faith. Faith is contagious but we need to open our mouths before it will spread.

 God-tracking is spreading the Good News.

Happy tracking

Dudley

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

GodTracker is now also available as a blog. Check out: http://godtracker.blogspot.com/

Our hope is that, by sharing experiences in tracking the will of God, we will draw closer to him and discover the awesome value of walking with God. Let us know what you think by e-mailing dudley@godtracker.co.uk God knows the plans he has for you. So go ahead and track them!

GodTracker now on Facebook 
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46298024089

What is trACker?
GodTracker and trACker owe their origins to an international Christian radio programme produced by Dudley Anderson called, OnTrack. Although OnTrack went off-air in 2005, trACker has continued to help people to track God's plans and purposes for their lives since July 2003.

You can now hear Dudley Anderson on UCB UK
Saturdays from 00:00 to 05:00 GMT and Sundays from 06:00 to 12:00 GMT
Listen to UCB UK on DAB, Sky channel 0125 or online at http://ucbmedia.co.uk

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

 

VoW

Verse of the Week

Acts 5:42
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.


Quote of the Week

A Sample of Dudley’s Fave Quotes.

“Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, preach faith.” --- Peter Bohler to John Wesley

 

Don’t Give-up, Look-up!

Look-up and Fix Your Eyes On Jesus!

I Am Witness That You Are God

Isaiah 43:12
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed--I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God.

Pray
“O my Lord, thank you that the Good News of the message of Christ has developed faith in me. That Good News is the news Jesus died for my sin and rose again to set me free from sin, Satan and death. Your word has commissioned me to spread this Good News at every chance I have. Help me to share my faith as much as I can. Help me to not cover my lips with my hand as though I were sneezing, when I share your word. Help me to be ready at all times to spread the Gospel so that those around me will contract faith by my words. Lord, I am witness that you are God. Amen.”


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Why not recommend trACker to someone?

Monday, 8 August 2011

trACker number370 Forgiveness Cannot Be Earned but It Can Be Freely Given


trACker number370
The e-Devotional helping to keep you on-track
GodTracker is online at www.godtracker.co.uk 

08 August 2011 
  
Dear God Tracker

Forgiveness Cannot Be Earned but It Can Be Freely Given

The service had just begun with a beautiful hymn when the double doors at the rear of the sanctuary burst open. Three hundred worshipers were routed in their glorious expression of praise as six men rushed into the room armed with AK47 assault rifles and hand grenades. Yelling and cursing they unleashed devastation upon that perplexed congregation, killing six and wounding scores of innocent worshipers. Immediately after the attack Frank, the minister of this Anglican Church in Cape Town, was recorded on national television as saying, “We are appalled and devastated by this act but we are compelled by the God we love and serve to forgive our attackers.”

Forgiveness is a concept that seems to be AWOL in our society. Everywhere we look we are told, “Get your own back,” or “It’s your right to seek compensation,” or “Someone’s got to pay; justice must be done.”  Today we play the “blame game” but who did Jesus blame for his crucifixion? We don’t see malice in his heart or hear words of vengeance on his lips when our saviour hung on the cross. Neither do we hear deep remorse from those who drove spikes through his hands and feet. And yet as he hung suspended between heaven and earth, Jesus said, “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” Somehow in our frailty we do not easily forgive unless we receive remorseful apology from those who offend us.

Many years later, after the ending of the Apartheid regime in South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was set up. People from both sides of the political divide who had committed atrocities in the name of their perceived causes could apply for amnesty. Perpetrators and victims would be brought together. The attacker would apologise to the attacked and if forgiveness was evident then the perpetrators were pardoned. Frank, the minister of the Cape Town church, was confronted by the men who had attacked his congregation. With him were two members of his church who had been maimed by the attack. With tears of sorrow the attackers begged Frank for forgiveness. “But we can’t forgive you now,” said the minister with compassion, “because we already forgave you. We forgave you the night you attacked us.” Then Frank added, “This forgiveness has always been yours but today you have accepted it.”

Dear God Tracker, justice has already been executed for all wrong doing 2000 years ago when Jesus took the blame for your sins. God’s forgiveness is already available to you and it’s by your heartfelt repentance you make it your own. But have you forgiven those who have hurt you? Holding onto unforgiveness will only harm you. Why not decide today to forgive those who have offended you even despite their remorse. If your emotional bucket is filled with pain and hurt why not pull the plug of forgiveness and allow all your hurt and anger to run out to the floor? Forgiveness cannot be earned but it can be freely given.

God-tracking is walking in forgiveness

Blessings

Dudley

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

GodTracker is now also available as a blog. Check out: http://godtracker.blogspot.com/

Our hope is that, by sharing experiences in tracking the will of God, we will draw closer to him and discover the awesome value of walking with God. Let us know what you think by e-mailing dudley@godtracker.co.uk God knows the plans he has for you. So go ahead and track them!

GodTracker now on Facebook 
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46298024089

What is trACker?
GodTracker and trACker owe their origins to an international Christian radio programme produced by Dudley Anderson called, OnTrack. Although OnTrack went off-air in 2005, trACker has continued to help people to track God's plans and purposes for their lives since July 2003.

There is no charge for trACker. Thank you to those who have generously given to this work. Please consider helping toward expenses in delivering this service to you by making a  
D O N A T I O N   H E R E  or copy and paste the following link to your browser:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_donations&business=4H3GDJBA52WN6&lc=GB&item_name=godtracker%2eco%2euk&currency_code=GBP&bn=PP%2dDonationsBF%3abtn_donateCC_LG%2egif%3aNonHosted

You can now hear Dudley Anderson on UCB UK
Saturdays from 00:00 to 05:00 GMT and Sundays from 06:00 to 12:00 GMT
Listen to UCB UK on DAB, Sky channel 0125 or online at http://ucbmedia.co.uk

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

 

VoW

Verse of the Week

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.


Quote of the Week

A Sample of Dudley’s Fave Quotes.

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” --- Paul Boese 

 

Don’t Give-up, Look-up!

Look-up and Fix Your Eyes On Jesus!

I Forgive My Offenders As You Have Forgiven Me

Matthew 6:16
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Pray
“Father in heaven, thank you for your amazing grace and mercy. Thank you for your kind forgiveness. Lord I truly do repent of all my sin. Help me now to forgive those who have hurt me over the years. I confess that I have been harbouring unforgiveness and repent of it, in Jesus’ name. I choose now to forgive them in all sincerity. I choose to pull the plug of forgiveness at the bottom of my emotional bucket so that all the hurt and anger my run out. O Lord, help me to not harbour offence any more. I forgive my offenders as you have forgiven me. Amen.”


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Why not recommend trACker to someone?