Sit...

Sit, Walk, Stand, is an inspiring look at the Apostle Paul's letter to the Christians in Ephesus written by the saintly Chinese pastor, Watchman Nee.

This is the first of three posts that briefly examine each of the words in the title to Watchman Nee's book.

Matt's Seat

Near the south-east corner of the Swan Pool on Lake Wendouree you will find a park bench with an inscription, "Matt's Seat" In loving memory of Matt Jamieson, 22.12.66 - 02.03.05, Always in our hearts...Erin, Jai, Flynn.




Today is the seventh anniversary of Matt's death following his long battle with cancer. Matt was 38 years old. A husband and father to two boys Matt had a passion for the lake and its surrounds. He was instrumental in establishing the Lake Foundation and after some investigation discovered that a master plan for the development of the lake had already been prepared by the Ballarat City Council but was laying dormant. Funds generated by Lake Blitz, an initiative of the Foundation, enabled Council working with the Committee for Ballarat, sponsors, the Ballarat Tourism Association and the Foundation to implement the master plan.





Matt's wife, Erin, continues to work tirelessly for the Foundation helping to realise Matt's dream. Since the start of the Foundation in 1994 there has been numerous improvements to the Lake and its surrounds and while there


is still more work to be done to realise more aspects of the master plan I'm sure Matt would be pleased with the progress to date.


More information about Matt and the Foundation can be found at http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/matt-battling-to-see-his-dream/366802.aspx and http://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/lakes-parks-recreation/lakes/lake-wendouree/lake-foundation-.aspx

Can I encourage you to take a few moments out of your day and sit on Matt's Seat and like him dream.

Saint Luke in chapter 10 of his gospel records a wonderful little cameo of Jesus and his disciples visiting the home Lazarus and his two sisters, Martha and Mary. While Martha was distracted by all the preparations that needed to be made it was Mary who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus listening to what he said. What a privilege to sit at the feet of Jesus and be taught by him.

Today's follower of Jesus has a greater privilege.

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:6, And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.

Imagine, seated with Christ in the heavenly realms! God has done that for us to, "show us the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:7).


As I said take a few moments out of your day, sit at the lake and imagine the possibilities, the amazing benefits, the incomparable riches of God's grace that are yours in Christ Jesus.

What difference will this knowledge make to your day?

Matt dreamed of the possibilities for the Lake and now several years down the track remarkable changes have taken place.

Picture: Justin Poole

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Taking the Plunge...

Image
Have you taken the plunge with simply the bungee rope saving you from certain death as you dropped from the launch platform? Bungee jumping is a popular adventure activity and while I haven't taken the plunge I can imagine the experience is exhilarating. The whole experience of being baptised is also exhilarating and while initially there may be anxiety, even fear if you are afraid of water, baptism is an important step in the faith journey. In the sacrament of baptism we identify ourselves with the death and resurrection of our Saviour and God performs a miracle. The Apostle Paul in Romans 6;3-5 describes it this way, " ...don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in death like his, we will certainly also be u
Read more

Enthusiasm...

Image
Harry Houdini (born Erik Weisz in Budapest, later Ehrich Weiss or Harry Weiss; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts. He first attracted notice as "Harry Handcuff Houdini" on a tour of Europe, where he challenged different police forces to try to keep him locked up. This revealed a talent for gimmickry and for audience involvement that characterised all his work. Soon he extended his repertoire to include chains, ropes slung from skyscrapers, straitjackets under water, and to holding his breath inside a sealed milk can. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini) There were two things that set Houdini apart, firstly KNOWLEDGE of what he knew to be true and secondly, ENTHUSIASM, the capacity to persevere in the face of great odds and to overcome the temptation to quit. Enthusiasm is a passionate eagerness in any pursuit. Enthusiasm is a sign of responsible living, the sign that you are able t
Read more

Supremacy

Image
I stood there for a few moments, it was cold and the ground damp, however, I noticed the last of the autumn leaves clinging to the branches of two of the four ornamental pear trees in our backyard. I had just finished putting the green waste in the compost bin as I do each day. There was still a colourful display of green, gold, bronze and burgundy leaves. The other two pears had already shed their leaves. The Manchurian Pear in the back corner, the first to lose its leaves, always has an amazing display of colourful leaves each autumn. The pause as I mentioned was brief however, I was acutely conscious of this cycle of life in the face of winter's cold blast, but more than that I had a deep sense of the presence of God. He was gently whispering to me about His creation. It was a privilege to be assured by God, the Creator, of His presence in all and through all. I looked around and the bulbs in the bulb garden had begun sprouting healthy  green shoots, daffodils, jonquils and hyac
Read more