steve penny » God

Rubbish Removal

Steve Penny — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:08:10 +0000

On my walk to Mooloolaba this morning I came around the corner past a block of units and was greeted with a very strong pungent smell.
I discovered the smell was coming from a huge line of rubbish bins along the curb in front of the apartments.
I had left for my walk very early before the sun was up and so the rubbish removal truck had not yet been past to empty the bins.
The smell got me thinking about life in the real world.
1. We are created to produce and eliminate rubbish and waste.
2. It is not healthy to hold onto waste as it will pollute and clog the system.
3. There is a proper way and a proper place to dump your waste.
4. Rubbish stored will back up and overflow at the wrong time and place.
5. God has provided us with a rubbish dump called Calvary.
6. There is nothing like the feeling of freedom experienced after a visit to the cross.
7. Practice coming to the cross daily and unloading your burdens at the foot of the cross – and leave free and clean for another day of healthy abundant life.

Lifting the lid

Steve Penny — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:33:33 +0000

I watch with great interest the journey of leaders in my field of calling.
It is always interesting to watch younger leaders face the same challenges that I have faced in my journey of faith.
I have resolved that I am called of God to be an influencer of people for good and for God.
To do that I have to lead in both Godliness and good works.
My challenge has always been to keep lifting the lid and going to the next level.
Going to the next level is the greatest challenge of leadership.
Here are my thoughts on lifting the lid.
1. Commit to always go forward.
Make up your mind to keep pursuing your dream.
Don’t make come-backs – make go-forwards.
2. Learn the seven year cycle of life and leadership.
To ignore this rule is disaster.
3. Re-invent yourself every seven years
Deliberately change who you are and what you do. Take time out for reflection and reinvention.
4. Deliberately change the way you think about life.
5. Start acting out of your new way of thinking. Until it becomes habit to you.
6. Find someone ahead of you and shadow them. In other words get close enough to dwell in the shadow of the Almighty. The only shadow God casts is through people.
7. Stay happy through the gain pain.
The stress of change causes many people to fail at change.
Leadership is a journey of faith. It never stops. If you live it well – others will follow you, so stay the journey and stay fresh We need you at the front.

The Asking Season

Steve Penny — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:49:43 +0000

I am convinced the Church is entering a new season of grace and favour.
The indicators are all present.
1. The prophets are emerging from their caves once again. God does nothing except first he reveals it to His prophets.
2. The storms are gathering across the globe.
3. The end of a season is well under way.
4. A new generation of leadership is emerging.
It is important to know what to do when seasons are a-changing.
A. SOW your best into the purposes of God right now.
B. ASK God for more. Look for the God miracle on all you sow into His purposes. We do not reap from our natural efforts – we look for the miracle of “abundantly more” on all we sow.
C. EXPECT a great harvest- Lift up your eyes and look for the harvest. Don’t become preoccupied with all the other signs happening in your world. Keep looking for the God harvest.
D. REAP your harvest. Sharpen your reaping skills and tools. Stop sitting in your barn praying the harvest in. Go reap. Get out there amongst it. Know the fields you have sown into and start gathering the fruit of your faith.
I am absolutely in awe of the move of God coming into the church at this time. Don’t be fooled by the signs an wonders people trying to stir up another little surge of manifestations.
The next great move of God is not a POWER move – it will be a STRENGTH
Move where the saints arise – strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Watch this move emerge and be amazed.

Strength from above

Steve Penny — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:32:43 +0000

Recently one of my friends who is a key leader in the church asked me what he could do to help me in any way. I replied, just stay strong for God – if you stay strong we all do.
Since then I have pondered on my response and so here are some thoughts.
1. We don’t just draw strength from the Lord above – but from every leader who is above or ahead of us in life.
2. The inspiration of a simple leadership action can ripple through families, churches, cities and nations
3. The smallest action of a leader can be a huge action in the eyes of those following.
4. Your every action whether seen or unseen is felt by someone.
5. The inspiration of a leaders connection with a follower is priceless.
6. Don’t become so visionary you forget who the vision is for.
7. Always watch your leaders for courage – not criticism.
8. To all you great leaders out there – stay strong – others are running their race in your slipstream.

Wind waves

Steve Penny — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:30:24 +0000

Sitting at Mooloolaba at 5.30 in the morning and watching the sun announce the new day to all and sundry. It dawned on me that God causes the new day to arise for all, without regard for rich or poor, male or female, saint or sinner.
The rising sun announces to all that His mercies are new and fresh each morning.
The new day announces the power of new beginnings by God’s grace.
The new day announces that yesterday’s sorrow and defeat is where it belongs – in the past.
The new day announces that all of heavens fulness is available to them who believe.
And most of all the new day announces that our Lord and Christ is the risen Son of righteousness with healing for all.
Wow! And that is just the first moments of a new day – I wonder what other acts of kindness and grace will unfold throughout this new small slice of eternity.

Pheasant with a limp

Steve Penny — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:16:04 +0000

Yesterday my driver nearly killed a couple of pheasant birds who believed the roadway was their domain. He did not even swerve to miss the birds explaining they are taught not to as it may cause an accident.
Today on our way to the conference we arrived at the same site only to see a pheasant limping along the side of the road.
I castigated the driver – accusing him of harming one of these beautiful birds.
Truth is – it couldn’t have been us as the drivers over here drive so slow we couldn’t have hit a dead bird – let alone a live one.
A yellow light over here means begin to stop whereas in Australia a yellow light means put the foot flat to the floor.
Our conference is now over and the rain is still falling.
We had an amazing time and God really showed up.
Well done to Clive and Jane Urquhart and the whole Kingdom Faith team.
I loved being with you all.
Now on to Hillsong London on Sunday – can’t wait. It is one of my favourite churches on the planet.

The Face of an Angel

Steve Penny — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 09:42:03 +0000

In my reading today in Acts Stephen was brought before his accusers and it says they looked upon him and his face was like an Angels.
My first question is – what does an Angel’s face look like?
My next question is – what does my face look like when I am under attack.
My next question – why is one of the four faces of – eagle – lion – ox – man changed in Revelation.
The face of the ox – the hardworking part of our life – is changed to the face of an Angel.
I get the feeling that heaven is going to engage with us in a greater way than ever before.
In these amazing last days the heavens will open and God will release His angelic armies to work with His church.
Some of the mundane and earthy things we have to do will fall away as heavens armies engage with us to bring His kingdom into focus.
Make sure you have heavens reflection in your soul.
One glimpse of heaven in your face can change a persons life forever.

Speak clearly

Steve Penny — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:05:46 +0000

I am sitting in the Alexandra Hills shopping centre waiting for my dentist to fit me in to repair a tooth.
Over the weekend the filling fell out and has left a jagged edge on the tooth that is ripping my tongue to shreds. So now my tongue is all swollen and I can’t speak properly. Some of the words that come out sound nothing like the word I crafted in my mind. Quite embarrassing really. I am learning very quickly if you fail to speak properly all kinds of bad things happen.
1. You are no longer able to spend hours talking to your wife so you have to watch sport on TV instead.
2. You can’t eat solid foods so you have to be satisfied with MacDonalds instead.
3. You are no longer able to take phone calls from people around the world who want their own special word from God.
4. You can’t speak to the dogs so it is useless taking them for walks.
5. The laceration to the tongue stops me from saying the word – yes – but doesn’t seem to hurt saying no.
Come to think of it – I am going to cancel the Dental appointment immediately – what was I thinking.

Keeping the faith

Steve Penny — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:38:08 +0000

There are many divergent views on how the Christian faith should be expressed. Some say we are primarily called to be worshippers of God. Others say we are to be a body unified in love as a witness to the world. Still others say that we are to be salt in a broken world bringing hope and help to the needy. Obviously all such views are correct and can be seen in differing ways in the various expressions of the Christian church. However there still exists a great need to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus to His emerging church. His clear command – to go into all the world and preach the good news to every person – is still the over-riding cause of the Christian church.
No-one is exempt from this command. We must all assess our lives in the light of this over-riding command. To do so requires us to look at our lives in three areas.
VISION – Does our vision for life have as it’s central core, a commitment to “go into our world”.
Are we living to bring things into our world – or are we living to send things from our world into “all the world.” How have we gone into our world to fulfill the command, and expand the cause of Christ.
VEHICLE – What is the vehicle you use to carry the gospel into all the world.
We all have different vehicles, and we must respect the various vehicles used by others.
Finding our vehicle of faith is probably the most liberating thing you can do in life.
VOICE – We must also learn and practice giving a reason for the hope that is within us.
Too many people say they are unable to share their faith, but wax eloquent on every other subject under the sun. I am developing a testimony bank of videos for IPad so people can share these with their friends. IPad evangelism will be the greatest tool for the church since the print media was invented. You have a voice so get with it and share your faith with others in your world.
The most exiting revolution in church history is now happening and it is preparing the church to fulfill the great command of Jesus – to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

YOU SHALL BE.. AUDIO

Steve Penny — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:10:11 +0000

One of the greatest promises in the Bible is found in the encounter between Jesus and Peter when they first met.

Jesus said to Peter – You are Simon the son of a man – but you shall be Peter – a rock of strength upon which the church can be built.

In fact Peter had four encounters with Jesus and each time it was a “you shall be” moment.

Thank God He has a future and a hope for us all. We are what we are right now – but the gospel is all about what we shall be.

I preached on this truth at Hillsong Brisbane recently and so I have uploaded the audio and video of this message for you to enjoy.

I trust you are blessed and encouraged by the message.

Here’s the Audio