The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion -
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair,
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planing of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations
Isaiah 61 v 1 - 4
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Let justice roll
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings
I will have not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Amos 5 v 22 - 24
I will have not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Amos 5 v 22 - 24
How has God shaped you?
At our first official gathering of Moms4Justice we started off by thinking back on how God brought each of us to a point where we cared about issues of social justice. What helped us to understand that being a Christian isn't just about our personal salvation and making sure we get to heaven one day, that includes far more? That it is about partnering God in His glorious plan to restore the whole world to the way that He originally designed it to be, to establish amongst us people His kingdom and all that this represents, for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Love, Justice, Peace.
It was fascinating to hear each other's stories of God's grace in bringing this revelation to our lives. Some hearts were transformed through watching their parents live out an authentic faith which included caring for those who were broken. One lady shared about her mother, a teacher, who would bring home some of the poorer pupils and give them a bath, food and lots of love. She remembers watching her mom sharing out her clothes with these children, realising that being a christian is about giving, sacrificing your time and love. What an example.
Another shared her how her parents faith-in-action was a springboard for her personal journey which lead her to joining a ministry team after school. She remembers a specific moment when God spoke to her directly about bringing hope to the youth of South Africa - planting a vision within her that would break her heart over social justice issues.
Some of us were shaped by our friends who were passionate about social justice. Being around people who live out their desire to see Jesus' love and restoration flow into people's lives is very infectious.
Being exposed to clear teaching on God's heart for the poor and His desire to see justice restored in communities and nations has helped a few of us conceptualise the longings and yearnings that God had been putting on our hearts.
God spoke to some of us through the Scriptures. One mother shared from Amos 5. Through this passage God had showed her that He cares more about our actions of justice, than the words we offer in song. Very challenging. Another read from Isaiah 61 - a powerful passage showing God's unquestionable concern for injustice.
One woman shared how God birthed in her such a holy discontent with her life and work; and gave her a deep longing for doing something that would impact this world positively, that she resigned from her job. Not sure what the future would hold but desparate for her faith to be lived out in a way that would make a difference. Bit by bit God put her into situations where she could partner those who were working for social justice.
We were all touched when a mother shared her story of experiencing injustice personally. She has a visual impairment and grew up facing injustice from teachers and children alike. At an early age she and her parents had to find ways to deal with the unfair treatment she experienced and the pain associated with it. She reminded us that injustice isn't only about being materially poor; there is brokenness in all of us. She also can bear witness that God can indeed heal the broken heart.
God uses many different ways to bring us to a place where our hearts break for the broken hearted, where we find ourselves angry at people being treated unfairly, and where we know in our heart of hearts that God can't stand it either. And where we have hope that He can bring restoration. We can trust that He will guide each of us as mothers to share this passion with our children in a way that makes sense to them.
Love, Justice, Peace.
It was fascinating to hear each other's stories of God's grace in bringing this revelation to our lives. Some hearts were transformed through watching their parents live out an authentic faith which included caring for those who were broken. One lady shared about her mother, a teacher, who would bring home some of the poorer pupils and give them a bath, food and lots of love. She remembers watching her mom sharing out her clothes with these children, realising that being a christian is about giving, sacrificing your time and love. What an example.
Another shared her how her parents faith-in-action was a springboard for her personal journey which lead her to joining a ministry team after school. She remembers a specific moment when God spoke to her directly about bringing hope to the youth of South Africa - planting a vision within her that would break her heart over social justice issues.
Some of us were shaped by our friends who were passionate about social justice. Being around people who live out their desire to see Jesus' love and restoration flow into people's lives is very infectious.
Being exposed to clear teaching on God's heart for the poor and His desire to see justice restored in communities and nations has helped a few of us conceptualise the longings and yearnings that God had been putting on our hearts.
God spoke to some of us through the Scriptures. One mother shared from Amos 5. Through this passage God had showed her that He cares more about our actions of justice, than the words we offer in song. Very challenging. Another read from Isaiah 61 - a powerful passage showing God's unquestionable concern for injustice.
One woman shared how God birthed in her such a holy discontent with her life and work; and gave her a deep longing for doing something that would impact this world positively, that she resigned from her job. Not sure what the future would hold but desparate for her faith to be lived out in a way that would make a difference. Bit by bit God put her into situations where she could partner those who were working for social justice.
We were all touched when a mother shared her story of experiencing injustice personally. She has a visual impairment and grew up facing injustice from teachers and children alike. At an early age she and her parents had to find ways to deal with the unfair treatment she experienced and the pain associated with it. She reminded us that injustice isn't only about being materially poor; there is brokenness in all of us. She also can bear witness that God can indeed heal the broken heart.
God uses many different ways to bring us to a place where our hearts break for the broken hearted, where we find ourselves angry at people being treated unfairly, and where we know in our heart of hearts that God can't stand it either. And where we have hope that He can bring restoration. We can trust that He will guide each of us as mothers to share this passion with our children in a way that makes sense to them.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
God's shape for this group
Some of us met to pray about this fledgling group. We don't just want to create our own thing, but long to walk in obedience to God allowing Him to shape this group and breathe His life-giving spirit into our times together.
Some of sensed pictures from the Holy Spirit giving us some clues about how God would like this group to grow and develop. This is what we felt God was sharing with us.
No one size fits all.
The picture was of a group of ladies seeing an inspiring design. Each goes home and sews a garment - one sews a dress, the other a pair of trousers and so on. If a person were to look at all of these garments they would not look the same, though they had been inspired by the same vision. As we grapple with raising our kids to be passionate about justice it will look different in our differnt homes. No pressure to do what another mom is doing.
The effort will be worthwhile.
The picture was of a mother pushing a wheel barrow up a hill, straining, taking much of her effort. She is wondering if it is all worthwhile. As she finally gets to the top she sees on the otherside a garden that is fruitful, producing and fully functional, and she knows that it was all worth it. An encouragement to push through those tough times when it just seems like an uphill battle. And a hope that our group will become like that garden where we can join together to produce a fruitful harvest.
An open and outward looking space
The picture was of a clay bowl on a wheel, being shaped. God shaping us as mothers. Us, as mothers, shaping our children. The bowl was not enclosed and small, but flatish and open; being shaped by upward facing hands. A sign of openess, of sharing, of generosity, of outward-looking, and of receiving.
Strategy and Warring on behalf of our children
A picture of women, informally gathered, sitting around a board and moving the pieces to strategic positions. Connecting the dots. Networking. Strategising. And warring on behalf of our children.
Some of sensed pictures from the Holy Spirit giving us some clues about how God would like this group to grow and develop. This is what we felt God was sharing with us.
No one size fits all.
The picture was of a group of ladies seeing an inspiring design. Each goes home and sews a garment - one sews a dress, the other a pair of trousers and so on. If a person were to look at all of these garments they would not look the same, though they had been inspired by the same vision. As we grapple with raising our kids to be passionate about justice it will look different in our differnt homes. No pressure to do what another mom is doing.
The effort will be worthwhile.
The picture was of a mother pushing a wheel barrow up a hill, straining, taking much of her effort. She is wondering if it is all worthwhile. As she finally gets to the top she sees on the otherside a garden that is fruitful, producing and fully functional, and she knows that it was all worth it. An encouragement to push through those tough times when it just seems like an uphill battle. And a hope that our group will become like that garden where we can join together to produce a fruitful harvest.
An open and outward looking space
The picture was of a clay bowl on a wheel, being shaped. God shaping us as mothers. Us, as mothers, shaping our children. The bowl was not enclosed and small, but flatish and open; being shaped by upward facing hands. A sign of openess, of sharing, of generosity, of outward-looking, and of receiving.
Strategy and Warring on behalf of our children
A picture of women, informally gathered, sitting around a board and moving the pieces to strategic positions. Connecting the dots. Networking. Strategising. And warring on behalf of our children.
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