Andrew's blog ...

 

A few weeks ago I got back from an amazing time back at home with my friends and family in South Africa. It took 11 flights, 55 flying hours, 22 hours in airports and twenty time zone changes just to get there and back. But I got to see my two new nephews and soaked up three weeks of summer sunshine which made it all worth it.

 

I had some interesting adventures out there. My dog Tess saved me from being bitten by a Mozambican spitting cobra on my Grandad's farm by taking on the snake herself. I also got to learn how to drive on the left side of the road again and stood for 5 hours in the rain waiting to watch a cricket game (even that was more interesting than watching CFL football)

 

But the best part about going home (my first home Christmas in 5 years) was being able to catch up with some old friends again. It felt just like pressing a reset button on some of my friendships. Over what felt like gallons of coffee in a dozen or more coffee shops I was able to make up for loads of unanswered emails and leave each friendship in a better place. RESET. Simple as that.

 

I was thinking on the way back (I had plenty of time to think) that our relationships with God often go the way of some of my friendships. After a while it seems like we just lose touch with God and we forget how good it is when we feel his presence. The good news is that we can have the chance to press the Reset button with God too. Check out what David said to God after he SERIOUSLY needed to press the reset button.

 

Make a clean heart in me, O God. Give me a new spirit that will not be moved.

Do not throw me away from where You are. And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Let the joy of Your saving power return to me. And give me a willing spirit to obey you.

Psalm 51:10-12

 

God's offer to us through Jesus is that we can enjoy a friendship with him no matter what we've done, nor how much we've ignored God in the past. Pressing Reset with God is something all of us can do if we have faith in Jesus and are committed to being obedient to what he says. I'd encourage you to go for it, it's an incredibly refreshing thing to do - even better than three weeks in the South African sun.

 

Blessings

 

Andrew

 

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