NEW YEAR

It’s hard to believe we’re in 2015! According to the movie "Back to The Future" we should all be driving flying cars, riding hover boards, answering our phone via our glasses, be wearing self drying clothes and self lacing shoes! Some of the technology was not far off; some was way off! But nevertheless here we are.

We have just returned from a wonderful family summer holiday at Mount Maunganui beach, NZ. It was stunning weather every day and rained over night once in two weeks!

One morning I was up early and went to the beach for a walk and chat with God. It was quite early so I was not expecting to see too many people there. I was surprised to see how many people were already up and about, walking their dogs, running and enjoying the cool of the morning. By far the largest group there were the surfers - apparently the weather forecast had told them that the waves were going to be good that morning. I sat overlooking the sea and watched them and my eye fell on one in particular. He was obviously with a friend who had arrived earlier and was now out passed the breaking waves and I could now see that they were paddle-boarders. His friend was standing up on his board and was waiting for him.

I continued to watch as the man began walking out through the waves to meet his friend, pushing his paddleboard in front of him with one hand, and holding the paddle in the other. He got past the first wave, then the second, but for several minutes he kept getting knocked back. It was hard to watch, and I was feeling very sorry for him. Each time he looked like he was going to make it, a big wave would come and knock him right back to the start. He looked like he was struggling to manage the paddle and the board. I was getting frustrated for him! Was he every going to make it? He tried putting his paddle on the board, but still he kept getting knocked back and having to start over. Eventually he lay on the board with his paddle tucked under one arm and hand paddled himself passed the waves and out to his waiting friend. I felt like cheering! He and his friend then both stood up on their boards and paddled off into the distance.

Isn't life a bit like that?! We head out and seem to be going along fine but then a big wave comes and knocks us back. We have times in our journey when it feels like we are taking 2 steps forward and then getting knocked back 1 step or more! Sometimes it seems like we have been stripped of everything and are right back at the beginning. It's at these times that we have a choice to make. Do we give up and get out of the water, or do we turn around, face the waves straight on and try again?

The man was carrying his paddle in his hand. It was going to be useful to him once he got out passed the waves, but at the moment it was a burden.

What is in your hand?

Moses was embarking on a great and exciting journey, but he doubted himself. He was facing obstacles, “What if they don't believe me?", "I'm not good enough", "I don't have the skills." God asked Moses this same question - Exodus 4:18 "What is in your hand?" In Moses hand was his staff, it was his tool for his trade as a shepherd. He was familiar with it, and skilled at using it. God told him to throw it down and then added His power and performed a great sign that would later be used to release his people from slavery! The paddle-boarder did much better when he laid his paddle on the board and let the board carry it. We do so much better when we lay down what is in our hands and let Jesus have it. He can then take it and inject His power into it. This produces miracles! What do you need to lay down at the start of this year? Your plans and dream, your finances, your talents and skills, your thoughts and ideas? God will use all these, they are in your hand for a reason. You will need them, but they will be so much better with God's power added. So let them go, lay them down and see what God will do with them.

But the paddle-boarder made the most progress not when he laid his paddle on the board, but when he laid his whole body on the board! When he was lying on the board, paddle tucked under his arm, he seemed to easily cruise over the waves to his friend. We will see God do so much this year, if we surrender ourselves totally. Not only our roles, tasks and ministries, but our whole selves!

So as I embark on the journey into 2015 and all that it will hold, I choose firstly to stay in the water. Then I will turn and face the waves, lay my "paddle" and my whole self on Jesus in surrender, and totally trust and depend on his miracle working power.