Marketplace Penang is observing a “moratorium” of activities from May 9 to June 9. The term sounds morbid and a little like “mortuary.” That’s quite accurate because it presumes a dying of sorts. It is a fast It is a stepping away and perhaps a stopping from the normal mill of activities and programme. This is in response to a message from AW Tozer which is reproduced below:
Prayer: Just Wait on GodBut the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him. --Habakkuk 2:20I think we are the busiest bunch of eager beavers ever seen in the religious world. The idea seems to be that if we are not running in a circle, breathing down the back of our own neck, we are not pleasing God! When Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15 KJV), Peter probably leaped to his feet and, no doubt, scooped up his hat on the way out. He was going to go right then!But the Lord said, "Peter, come back, and 'stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high' (Luke 24:49)."I heard a Christian leader warn recently that we are suffering from a rash of amateurism in Christian circles. Christianity has leveled down and down and down. We are as light as butterflies-- though we flit, flit, flit around in the sunshine and imagine that we are eagles flapping our broad wings.Sometimes I think the Church would be better off if we would call a moratorium on activity for about six weeks and just wait on God to see what He is waiting to do for us. That's what they did before Pentecost. The Counselor, 95."Lord, this morning I'll stop for a while at least to 'just wait on God.' I know You're wanting to work, and I for one am willing to wait this morning to hear Your voice and discover what You want to do for me today. Amen."
Today's "Insight for Leaders" is taken by permission from the book, Tozer on Christian Leadership, published by WingSpread Publishers
Friday, May 16, 2008
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Moratorium Journal – Ending 16 May 2008
Just completed the first week of the “moratorium.” Finished reading two books, one on leadership succession by a Singaporean, Dr. Andrew Goh (“How To Pass the Torch without Getting Burned”) and “Generous Giving,” a compilation of stories of believers who mastered money by Andrew Loh from Malacca. But into my third book just now, I am inspired to pass on the following excerpt written by Andrew Murray (1829-1917):
“Take time. Give God time to reveal Himself to you. Give yourself time to be silent and quiet before Him, waiting to receive, through the Spirit, the assurance of His presence with you, His power working in you. Take time to read His word as in His presence, that from it you may know what He asks of you and what he promises you. Let the Word create around you, create within you a holy atmosphere, a holy heavenly light, in which your soul will be refreshed and strengthened for the work of daily life.”
“Found Faithful” by Elizabeth R. Skoglund (p.39)
This brings to my mind the title of a hymn we used to sing, “Take Time To Be Holy.” To be holy is to be like Jesus. Holiness is a 2-part act. It involves a separation from and a consecration to. To take time to be like Jesus begins with taking time to be with Jesus. We stop or step away from our normal routine to step into a “run” with God. We consecrate many ordinary hours of our day to do some extraordinary “fun-things” with the Lord.
Have a Gracious Weekend!
Just completed the first week of the “moratorium.” Finished reading two books, one on leadership succession by a Singaporean, Dr. Andrew Goh (“How To Pass the Torch without Getting Burned”) and “Generous Giving,” a compilation of stories of believers who mastered money by Andrew Loh from Malacca. But into my third book just now, I am inspired to pass on the following excerpt written by Andrew Murray (1829-1917):
“Take time. Give God time to reveal Himself to you. Give yourself time to be silent and quiet before Him, waiting to receive, through the Spirit, the assurance of His presence with you, His power working in you. Take time to read His word as in His presence, that from it you may know what He asks of you and what he promises you. Let the Word create around you, create within you a holy atmosphere, a holy heavenly light, in which your soul will be refreshed and strengthened for the work of daily life.”
“Found Faithful” by Elizabeth R. Skoglund (p.39)
This brings to my mind the title of a hymn we used to sing, “Take Time To Be Holy.” To be holy is to be like Jesus. Holiness is a 2-part act. It involves a separation from and a consecration to. To take time to be like Jesus begins with taking time to be with Jesus. We stop or step away from our normal routine to step into a “run” with God. We consecrate many ordinary hours of our day to do some extraordinary “fun-things” with the Lord.
Have a Gracious Weekend!
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