trACker number374 Religion is a Burden of Dos and Donts but Reconciled Relationship Brings Rest

trACker number374

The e-Devotional helping to keep you on-track

GodTracker is online at www.godtracker.co.uk 

09 September 2011 

  

Dear God Tracker

Religion is a Burden of “Dos” and “Don’ts” but Reconciled Relationship Brings Rest

What is Christian practice? Is it being kind to your neighbour? Is it dutifully reading the Bible, praying every day and paying your tithes? Is Christian practice religiously attending church Sunday after Sunday? And when a Christian fails at one or more of these practices, does that leave him feeling that he has let God down and that he is any less of a Christian than the guy on the pew next to him? The author, Rick Marschall once said, “It is my observation that when Christians feel they have let God down, it is usually not because of some grievous sin, but more often a feeling that… we have not put into practice what we know to be the truth.”

I know I might offend some people when I say that the saddest word that I know to describe the Christian walk is the word religion. I remember during the 1970s when I became a Christian people around me were talking about people like me as, “having found religion,” or “becoming religious.” But, to me, becoming a Christian means entering into right relationship with God. Whereas being religious implies asserting human effort in attempting to follow and implement rules and regulations of a belief system. This means that one man can be more religious than another, if he practices more closely the tenets of his religion than the guy on the pew next to him. Jesus faced people like this in the teachers of the law of his time. In Matthew 23:27-28 he says, “"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” Religion is practiced on the outside but reconciled relationship is practiced on the inside.

If you feel as though you have let God down it may be because you have not put into practice what you know to be true. This could be because, like me, are trying to practice religion on the outside without first coming into right relationship with the Lord God on the inside. Jesus Christ was many things but religious, he was not. Come to him today and learn from him in that he was humble and gentle. Yoke up with Christ and you will find his burden is light. Religion is a burden of “dos” and “don’ts” but reconciled relationship brings rest.

God-tracking is not religious.

Blessings

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

Hebrews 4:9-10

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.

Quote of the Week

A Sample of Dudley’s Fave Quotes.

“A religious spirit will always feed our pride; whereas true spiritual maturity will always lead to increasing humility.” ---- Rick Joyner

 

Don’t Give-up, Look-up!

Look-up and Fix Your Eyes On Jesus!

The Religion That You Accept

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Pray

“Father, I am sorry for being so religious. I have slipped into religious procedures and routines instead of relationship with you. I ask you to renew my friendship with you O Lord, as I yoke up with Jesus the author of my faith. Together we can touch the world. Together we can heal the sick and care for the needy. Good works earn me no points in heaven but I know that, to please

you, I need to flesh out my faith through love and relationship with a heart of repentance. Help me live what I believe and walk with you in the cool of the day. I trust that this is the religion that you accept. Amen.

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Why not recommend trACker to someone?

Point them to www.godtracker.co.uk or click on http://www.godtracker.co.uk/tronline.shtml#recomend

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

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

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

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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Why not recommend trACker to someone?

Point them to www.godtracker.co.uk or click on http://www.godtracker.co.uk/tronline.shtml#recomend

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?

Point them to www.godtracker.co.uk or click on http://www.godtracker.co.uk/tronline.shtml#recomend

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?

Point them to www.godtracker.co.uk or click on http://www.godtracker.co.uk/tronline.shtml#recomend