The other day I visited someone and noticed 3 small ornamental boxes on the one corner table. On the lids of these boxes were engraved the names of two dogs and a cat with their dates of birth and dates of demise... I realised that these tiny, expensive little boxes held the ashes of three beloved pets...
Now I know that some people also keep the ashes of their departed loved ones in urns, or caskets, in their homes, and whilst I understand that they loved them, miss them, long for them, are sad to have lost them, as we all are who have had to deal with the loss of a beloved, personally I have not been able to understand what good it does to keep the ashes in the home...
The beloved is no longer with us... no longer here... the ashes are portion of the remains of the coffin or burial casket they were in, the material used to fuel the cremation fires, and a small portion may be that of the departed beloved.
When I look at the urns containing the ashes of late acquaintances, it does not conjure up memories of that person... In fact, it makes me feel as if I am visiting a graveyard... Yet, I know that a number of people absolutely treasure the ashes of the departed.
I sat and looked at these tiny little boxes and wondered what emotions they evoked in the humans whose pets these were... Does it bring fond memories, or does it evoke feelings of loss, emotional pain, sadness, grief?
Then I wondered whether they were actually treasuring and coveting the ashes... or perhaps... the feelings?
Why not rather just keep our wonderful memories alive in the library of our minds to recall at times when we feel the loss, or the pain and so bring a smile to our lips and a gentle sparkle to the eyes?
I recalled a Scripture that dealt with ashes in the Bible:
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath annointed
me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint
unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of
joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they
might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he
might be glorified." Is. 61: 1-3.
Whilst I have also mourned the loss of a father, a child, a fiancè, a sister, and a number of friends during my lifetime, the losses have made me realise just how precious life is... how much we have to be thankful for, how short life is, and how much there is to enjoy every day...
Are we subconsciously 'punishing' ourselves because we survived? Because we are still here? Because we can still enjoy life?
Some of us also tend to pamper and covet the "ashes" of other experiences in our lives: disappointment, broken relationships, failure, financial loss, and so allow and give way to 'the spirit of heaviness' that the Scripture talks about.
I had to ask myself these questions:
Are we sometimes captives, prisoners of, and bound by our own emotions of grief to the extent where it is impossible for God to comfort us, to give us new joy? So that it becomes impossible for us to praise Him and instead we are burdened with the heaviness of spirit that we experience whilst mourning?
Is it possible that hanging on to our "ashes" for as long as possible is not to the glory of God? That He wishes us to set aside our ashes and start a new life?
Father God, thank You for every day that You add to our lives. Help us to appreciate the beauty thereof and to appreciate all the wonderful people in our lives, and the beauty that surrounds us. Please help us to open ourselves to You so that You may give us beauty for ashes, and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness... that You may be glorified in and through us.
Monday, 31 October 2011
Friday, 28 October 2011
A MORE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Lately, this has been my desire: a more intimate, radical relationship with God.
So, this is exactly what I have been asking the Lord in prayer: to grant me this more intimate relationship with Him.
I woke up at about 2.30 the other morning, and was wide awake. Gen. 1:1 came to mind:
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
I pondored why I should be reminded of this, the very first verse of the Bible... and then the question arose in my mind:
What was before that verse?
The answer that I eventually got to was: God. Only God. In His fullness. In His wisdom. Eternal, Almighty, All-powerful, All-knowing, Indescribable God.
The next question that arose was: What was God? What was and is the essence of God?
And the answer: If He is eternal, and is love now, then He was love at the beginning. His is always the same. His essence has not changed.
Question No. 3: What was His purpose in creating humans?
Question 4: And in His own image and likeness?
And pondoring these questions, letting my mind run through the Word of God from Genesis to the book of Revelation, I realised that all He ever wanted from us, as humans, His creatures, created in His image, was a loving two-way relationship...from the time when He used to visit Adam and Eve in paradise every day in the cool of the evening, through to leading the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, to David's being set apart as king of Israel, his fight with Goliath, ever, ever, ever... to the birth of Christ and His death and resurrection...to the second coming of Christ and the rapture... all to have us, humans, with Him and in a loving relationship with Him...
And in the stillness of the night I realised that this was God's answer to my prayer for a more intimate relationship with Him: His confirmation that it was and is precisely all He ever wanted from me! This was exciting! Overwhelming! And I felt a surge of such love for Him that He would deign to grant my heart's desire...
Since then I am walking on air as if once again I am young and in love for the first time!
This morning, walking past the printer in our office, my eye caught sight of an A4 page that someone had printed and discarded, noticing that there was mention of a Scripture on it. I picked it up and read the following:
" THOUGHTS FOR LIFE October 28
For the first time in the age of the universe, the invisible Creator
would display His image and likeness in visible form. Genesis 1:26.
The mould of brilliance and perfection would be reserved for eternity
in the Word that was from the beginning, in spite of Adam's fall.
Solomon saw a glimpse of this in Prov. 8:22,"The Lord possessed me
at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of old; ages ago I
was set up, at the first before the beginning of the earth. When there
were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs
abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills were I was brought forth, I was daily His delight,
rejoicing before Him always."
Your original value , the way God knew you before He fashioned
you in your mother's womb, is still intact! Through the preaching
of the gospel of truth, the magic of that eternal moment is revealed
again in the fact of Christ as in a mirror, so that the light of life
might dawn in us and we may behold Him face to face, and that we
may know ourselves even as we have always been known. 2 Cor.
4:2-7, 1 Cor. 13:10-12."
This was from http://www.mirrorword.net/.
I do not know the author or this website but this again, to me, was confirmation of the knowledge I had gleaned during my wakeful spell in the night.
Thank You, Lord, that You desire to have an intimate relationship with us, human beings, created in Your image and likeness. Thank You, that I am included in this, Your heart's desire. Please help me to move ever closer to You in and with all of my being.
So, this is exactly what I have been asking the Lord in prayer: to grant me this more intimate relationship with Him.
I woke up at about 2.30 the other morning, and was wide awake. Gen. 1:1 came to mind:
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
I pondored why I should be reminded of this, the very first verse of the Bible... and then the question arose in my mind:
What was before that verse?
The answer that I eventually got to was: God. Only God. In His fullness. In His wisdom. Eternal, Almighty, All-powerful, All-knowing, Indescribable God.
The next question that arose was: What was God? What was and is the essence of God?
And the answer: If He is eternal, and is love now, then He was love at the beginning. His is always the same. His essence has not changed.
Question No. 3: What was His purpose in creating humans?
Question 4: And in His own image and likeness?
And pondoring these questions, letting my mind run through the Word of God from Genesis to the book of Revelation, I realised that all He ever wanted from us, as humans, His creatures, created in His image, was a loving two-way relationship...from the time when He used to visit Adam and Eve in paradise every day in the cool of the evening, through to leading the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, to David's being set apart as king of Israel, his fight with Goliath, ever, ever, ever... to the birth of Christ and His death and resurrection...to the second coming of Christ and the rapture... all to have us, humans, with Him and in a loving relationship with Him...
And in the stillness of the night I realised that this was God's answer to my prayer for a more intimate relationship with Him: His confirmation that it was and is precisely all He ever wanted from me! This was exciting! Overwhelming! And I felt a surge of such love for Him that He would deign to grant my heart's desire...
Since then I am walking on air as if once again I am young and in love for the first time!
This morning, walking past the printer in our office, my eye caught sight of an A4 page that someone had printed and discarded, noticing that there was mention of a Scripture on it. I picked it up and read the following:
" THOUGHTS FOR LIFE October 28
For the first time in the age of the universe, the invisible Creator
would display His image and likeness in visible form. Genesis 1:26.
The mould of brilliance and perfection would be reserved for eternity
in the Word that was from the beginning, in spite of Adam's fall.
Solomon saw a glimpse of this in Prov. 8:22,"The Lord possessed me
at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of old; ages ago I
was set up, at the first before the beginning of the earth. When there
were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs
abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills were I was brought forth, I was daily His delight,
rejoicing before Him always."
Your original value , the way God knew you before He fashioned
you in your mother's womb, is still intact! Through the preaching
of the gospel of truth, the magic of that eternal moment is revealed
again in the fact of Christ as in a mirror, so that the light of life
might dawn in us and we may behold Him face to face, and that we
may know ourselves even as we have always been known. 2 Cor.
4:2-7, 1 Cor. 13:10-12."
This was from http://www.mirrorword.net/.
I do not know the author or this website but this again, to me, was confirmation of the knowledge I had gleaned during my wakeful spell in the night.
Thank You, Lord, that You desire to have an intimate relationship with us, human beings, created in Your image and likeness. Thank You, that I am included in this, Your heart's desire. Please help me to move ever closer to You in and with all of my being.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
FROM WHOSE CORNER DO YOU RESPOND?
Last year, I had the misfortune to have my handbag and my car, or course including everything in it, stolen.
That was not a good experience.
This year, someone kept back monies that should have been paid over to me.
This also was not a good experience.
Last year, after the theft, I received a free holiday overseas, a new Bible and handbag, and on my return, a car, all free and gratis.
This year, after my monies were kept back, even though I was indignant about the audacity of the person who committed this crime, I went to the Lord about it, instead of the police.
Very firmly I was given a Scripture :
"Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy
goods ask them not again." Luke 6:30
This was of course from the sermon on the mount.
I asked clarification in this regard and was led to read Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6: 10 onwards:
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places..."
Note that Paul says we wrestle...
Have you been to a wrestling match? Or watched one on TV? Man, they are at each other all the time. There is physical contact all the time. It almost seems as if there are no rules... everything goes...kicking, hitting, boxing, biting, pulling, shoving...
The only definite rule is that your opponent is not allowed to pin your shoulders down on the floor for a count of two. That is a fall and once he has managed to do this twice, he is the conqueror! Between bouts each of the wrestler's go to their own corner, where they have helpers, who offer them water and advice on how to manage the next round and who reveal their opponents weaknesses to them so that they will know exactly how to attack in the next round.
Our spiritual life's like that too... that is what Paul is talking about... What is of the utmost importance therefore is WHO is the helper in YOUR corner? From whose corner are you attacking? From God's corner, or His adversary's? In which corner do you stand between bouts?
Do we react in retaliation from the corner of the opponent and in the manner that Satan would want us to react? Or do we stand in God's corner and let Him be our advisor and our teacher?
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Eph. 6:13
I found out that standing on God's Word, doing what He commands, and then standing, waiting on Him to do ... gave total victory.
In the month following this incident, I received more than the amount withheld from me, from 4 different people in total. I am still receiving...every day... blessing upon blessing...
I also believe that this is what Paul meant when he wrote to the Romans in chapter 8: 37:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us."
More than a conqueror - not the conqueror - not the one who won the fight: the one who saw God winning the fight on your behalf. More than a conqueror. Trust Him.
Thank You, Lord, that you loved us so much that You even gave Your very only begotten Son for our benefit. How will You not come to our aid in times of trouble or need? Help us to remember that.
That was not a good experience.
This year, someone kept back monies that should have been paid over to me.
This also was not a good experience.
Last year, after the theft, I received a free holiday overseas, a new Bible and handbag, and on my return, a car, all free and gratis.
This year, after my monies were kept back, even though I was indignant about the audacity of the person who committed this crime, I went to the Lord about it, instead of the police.
Very firmly I was given a Scripture :
"Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy
goods ask them not again." Luke 6:30
This was of course from the sermon on the mount.
I asked clarification in this regard and was led to read Paul's letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6: 10 onwards:
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places..."
Note that Paul says we wrestle...
Have you been to a wrestling match? Or watched one on TV? Man, they are at each other all the time. There is physical contact all the time. It almost seems as if there are no rules... everything goes...kicking, hitting, boxing, biting, pulling, shoving...
The only definite rule is that your opponent is not allowed to pin your shoulders down on the floor for a count of two. That is a fall and once he has managed to do this twice, he is the conqueror! Between bouts each of the wrestler's go to their own corner, where they have helpers, who offer them water and advice on how to manage the next round and who reveal their opponents weaknesses to them so that they will know exactly how to attack in the next round.
Our spiritual life's like that too... that is what Paul is talking about... What is of the utmost importance therefore is WHO is the helper in YOUR corner? From whose corner are you attacking? From God's corner, or His adversary's? In which corner do you stand between bouts?
Do we react in retaliation from the corner of the opponent and in the manner that Satan would want us to react? Or do we stand in God's corner and let Him be our advisor and our teacher?
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." Eph. 6:13
I found out that standing on God's Word, doing what He commands, and then standing, waiting on Him to do ... gave total victory.
In the month following this incident, I received more than the amount withheld from me, from 4 different people in total. I am still receiving...every day... blessing upon blessing...
I also believe that this is what Paul meant when he wrote to the Romans in chapter 8: 37:
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that
loved us."
More than a conqueror - not the conqueror - not the one who won the fight: the one who saw God winning the fight on your behalf. More than a conqueror. Trust Him.
Thank You, Lord, that you loved us so much that You even gave Your very only begotten Son for our benefit. How will You not come to our aid in times of trouble or need? Help us to remember that.
Monday, 24 October 2011
DON'T GRIEVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD
I am at present reading the biography of of one South Africa's famous poets. But this man was more than a poet. He was a journalist, the owner of a newspaper, a writer, an advocate, a medical practitioner, an animal lover who did a great amount of research into the lives of certain animals and insects. He was, from all accounts, a very charismatic man, well liked wherever he went. He was highly intelligent and gifted in many ways. He lived during the last quarter of the 1800's and to the age (I have not finished reading yet) I think of about 60 - 65.
He also knew a lot of sorrow and pain in his life. His wife died approximately one week after the birth of their first child and as far as I am aware, at this stage, he never remarried, although he had a number of affairs or relationships and friendships with other women.
He was also addicted to morphine for the greatest part of his life and never able to rid himself of this addiction for very long. This, or course, caused him a lot of pain and heartache.
He was friends with influencial people, politicians, wealthy people, but also with the poorest of the poor and he apparently loved children very much and invested a great deal of time into the lives of the children of his friends and many of his relatives.
Yet, this wonderful person, seemed not only not to have had a relationship with God, but was either an agnostic, or an athiest. It seems sad to me that even though he was hiper intelligent and gifted, he should have missed out on the most valuable and fulfilling relationship he could possibly have experienced.
Then I read about a town where he lived that was apparently ruled or dominated by a specific minister of religion and an occasion was described where a friend of this poet, also a very famous South African author, visited him and is said to have asked him: "Are you not scared that you will receive an overdose of the Holy Spirit whilst you are in this place?"
WOW! How sad! Arrogance or ignorance? I asked myself: Would I exchange my love for and relationship with God for their intelligence, or giftings? For their success or fame? And of course, although I am aware that this could very well be seen as "sour grapes", the answer is an emphatic "Definitely not".
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day
of redemption..." Eph. 4:30
Thank You, Lord, that You wish to have a personal relationship with each and every human being. Thank You that You do not despise those of us who perhaps don't quite make the top 10 or even 100 or 1000 most intelligent or gifted people in the world. Thank You that we are acceptable just as we are. Please help us to never grieve Your Spirit.
He also knew a lot of sorrow and pain in his life. His wife died approximately one week after the birth of their first child and as far as I am aware, at this stage, he never remarried, although he had a number of affairs or relationships and friendships with other women.
He was also addicted to morphine for the greatest part of his life and never able to rid himself of this addiction for very long. This, or course, caused him a lot of pain and heartache.
He was friends with influencial people, politicians, wealthy people, but also with the poorest of the poor and he apparently loved children very much and invested a great deal of time into the lives of the children of his friends and many of his relatives.
Yet, this wonderful person, seemed not only not to have had a relationship with God, but was either an agnostic, or an athiest. It seems sad to me that even though he was hiper intelligent and gifted, he should have missed out on the most valuable and fulfilling relationship he could possibly have experienced.
Then I read about a town where he lived that was apparently ruled or dominated by a specific minister of religion and an occasion was described where a friend of this poet, also a very famous South African author, visited him and is said to have asked him: "Are you not scared that you will receive an overdose of the Holy Spirit whilst you are in this place?"
WOW! How sad! Arrogance or ignorance? I asked myself: Would I exchange my love for and relationship with God for their intelligence, or giftings? For their success or fame? And of course, although I am aware that this could very well be seen as "sour grapes", the answer is an emphatic "Definitely not".
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day
of redemption..." Eph. 4:30
Thank You, Lord, that You wish to have a personal relationship with each and every human being. Thank You that You do not despise those of us who perhaps don't quite make the top 10 or even 100 or 1000 most intelligent or gifted people in the world. Thank You that we are acceptable just as we are. Please help us to never grieve Your Spirit.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
THORN IN MY FLESH
I work with a lady who seems incapable of having a conversation without it taking a sexual turn, and swearing and using God's name in vain is commonplace in her conversations.
Because she knows how much I hate hearing God's name being used in vain, she consciously, or subconsciously, does it regularly in my presence.
She conveniently forgets that not so long ago, she was lying in hospital in a coma for about three weeks, and we all prayed earnestly and constantly for her health to be returned to her, to at least give her an opportunity to accept the Lord as her Saviour before she is called to appear in His presence.
Of course her language irritates me and of course, she knows and understands that, which is why she admits finding pleasure in taunting me in this manner.
She has become the probervial "thorn in my flesh"!
When my youngest daughter was small and even up to when she was a teenager, we, knowing that she is very ticklish would grab hold of her and tickle her all over. The one place that really caused her to go almost hysterical was under her chin, so of course, that's where we aimed for.
When she could no longer handle it, she would get to a stage where she would go totally limp - "play dead" - is what we used to call it. After that you could do what you liked, she would not even flinch or bat an eyelid.
I am finding that this is the best attitude to have here at the moment and in these circumstances - having asked her time and again to please refrain from using God's name in vain - I will now act as if I don't notice anything out of the ordinary - not react to her taunts.
" ... there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to
torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from
me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12: 7-9
Thank You, Lord, for your grace which is sufficient in all circumstances. Please show me the correct way to reach out to and LOVE this person, who is so obviously also in need of your saving grace.
Because she knows how much I hate hearing God's name being used in vain, she consciously, or subconsciously, does it regularly in my presence.
She conveniently forgets that not so long ago, she was lying in hospital in a coma for about three weeks, and we all prayed earnestly and constantly for her health to be returned to her, to at least give her an opportunity to accept the Lord as her Saviour before she is called to appear in His presence.
Of course her language irritates me and of course, she knows and understands that, which is why she admits finding pleasure in taunting me in this manner.
She has become the probervial "thorn in my flesh"!
When my youngest daughter was small and even up to when she was a teenager, we, knowing that she is very ticklish would grab hold of her and tickle her all over. The one place that really caused her to go almost hysterical was under her chin, so of course, that's where we aimed for.
When she could no longer handle it, she would get to a stage where she would go totally limp - "play dead" - is what we used to call it. After that you could do what you liked, she would not even flinch or bat an eyelid.
I am finding that this is the best attitude to have here at the moment and in these circumstances - having asked her time and again to please refrain from using God's name in vain - I will now act as if I don't notice anything out of the ordinary - not react to her taunts.
" ... there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to
torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from
me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12: 7-9
Thank You, Lord, for your grace which is sufficient in all circumstances. Please show me the correct way to reach out to and LOVE this person, who is so obviously also in need of your saving grace.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
GOD STILL DELIVERS FROM AFFLICTIONS
At our cell group meeting last Wednesday evening, we prayed for and with two beautiful, brave, women who although at totally different stages were undergoing similar experiences. Both of them had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The one we met only after she had had a mastectomy and had gone through chemotherapy. She has an appointment with the oncology specialist for her 6 month check-up and tests on the 27th of this month. She finds the waiting stressful and needed the peace that only God can give.
The other lady had just recently been diagnosed and was due for her mastectomy the day before yesterday, Friday, 14 October.
For the purpose of relating this to you, I am going to call the first one Mary and the second Elizabeth. Our cell group members are truly like a spiritual family. We stand together, pray together and support one another in any crisis. I am sure that Elizabeth received a number of phone calls, e-mails and SMS's on Thursday and Friday morning. Her operation was due at 2 in the afternoon and her closest friend, also a member of our cell group, kept us informed of progress. She was undergoing reconstruction of the breast at the same time, so the operation took a few hours. By 5.30pm I received an SMS to say operation over, all well. By 7.00 a further SMS to say she was fine and was not suffering any pain, just slight discomfort. By 9.00 the next morning, another SMS to state that not only was she fine but hoping to be discharged today, Sunday, 17th October. I could hardly believe the words as I read them.
I visited her Saturday evening at 7.00 and she was smiling serenely, without pain and praising God for His goodness and mercy. And just looking at the view from her hospital bed – Table Mountain with the majestic colours of the sunset behind it and the lights of the city in front of it and a midnight blue sky above it – was reason enough for a sacrifice of praise and worship! What a glorious Creator God we serve! What a faithful God! He is to be praised from the rising of the sun to the going down of it. At about 9 tonight I received another SMS saying that she's home, and God is good!
“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He
who formed you, O Israel; “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass
through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you
shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the
Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;...”” Is. 43:1-3
Thank You, Lord, that Your word is ever true and that You are ever the same. We praise Your holy name! Help us to appreciate and look after our bodies and the good health that we are enjoying.
Friday, 14 October 2011
A NIGHTMARE INTERRUPTED
On the 9th of this month, in the early evening, I passed on the following SMS which I, in turn, had received from a friend, to about 30 people:
" Life may, at times, splash us with big waves, but you and I know a MAN
who walks on the water. May you walk so close to HIM that you will
always move above the storm."
Four people responded to say that receiving it touched them, but the response I want to tell you about came from a widow whose husband passed away about a year ago. He was a colleague of mine.
She phoned me this morning, having tried and failed to get hold of me earlier, to tell me that during the evening of the 9th she was, and still is, sick with flu, headaches, and were experiencing a number of other symptoms, and whilst asleep she had a nightmare. She dreamt that she was climbing steps surrounding a square building. These steps went up and up and seemed never ending. In the centre of this building was what seemed like a whirlpool and the water just kept rising and rising. The higher she climbed, the higher the water rose and it threatened to engulf her. She became very frightened as there were already several bodies of children, who seemingly had drowned, floating in this whirlpool.
She was woken up by the sound of her cell phoned announcing the arrival of an SMS. She was relieved to realise that it was only a dream.
And YES, you are correct - it was the SMS that I had forwarded! WOW! She says the minute she read it, the peace of the Lord descended upon her, and she went back to sleep immediately.
Imagine the SMS message being delayed to reach her at exactly the right moment ...
"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my
thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art
acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo,
O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before,
and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it
is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or
whither shall I flee from thy presence?" Ps. 139:2-7
Thank You, O Lord, that You know all about each one of us and that You even care about us whilst we sleep...Help us to walk so close to You that we will always walk above the storm...
" Life may, at times, splash us with big waves, but you and I know a MAN
who walks on the water. May you walk so close to HIM that you will
always move above the storm."
Four people responded to say that receiving it touched them, but the response I want to tell you about came from a widow whose husband passed away about a year ago. He was a colleague of mine.
She phoned me this morning, having tried and failed to get hold of me earlier, to tell me that during the evening of the 9th she was, and still is, sick with flu, headaches, and were experiencing a number of other symptoms, and whilst asleep she had a nightmare. She dreamt that she was climbing steps surrounding a square building. These steps went up and up and seemed never ending. In the centre of this building was what seemed like a whirlpool and the water just kept rising and rising. The higher she climbed, the higher the water rose and it threatened to engulf her. She became very frightened as there were already several bodies of children, who seemingly had drowned, floating in this whirlpool.
She was woken up by the sound of her cell phoned announcing the arrival of an SMS. She was relieved to realise that it was only a dream.
And YES, you are correct - it was the SMS that I had forwarded! WOW! She says the minute she read it, the peace of the Lord descended upon her, and she went back to sleep immediately.
Imagine the SMS message being delayed to reach her at exactly the right moment ...
"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my
thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art
acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo,
O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before,
and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it
is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or
whither shall I flee from thy presence?" Ps. 139:2-7
Thank You, O Lord, that You know all about each one of us and that You even care about us whilst we sleep...Help us to walk so close to You that we will always walk above the storm...
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
FOLLOW ME...
The call to follow Him comes to all of us at one time or another...
We all get a moment in which we have to choose whether to say yes or...
and even if you don't say 'no', not having said 'yes' in fact constitutes a 'no'.
"But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name..." John 1: 12 (My insert
between brackets)
But God also calls us - each one individually, for different purposes, or ministries. Sometimes the same ones for different purposes at different times and we can never tell beforehand for how long He is calling us for a specific purpose:
Matthew 4: 18 - 19 the Lord called two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, saying to them:
"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
He already had a purpose in mind for them. To make disciples of others.
In verse 21 he came across James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, and he called them, to follow Him.
In Matthew 21: 1 - 4 Jesus sent some of the above disciples to fetch a donkey belonging to an unknown man for Him to use to ride into Jerusalem. So He actually called that unknown person to use his possessions, or assets, for His purposes.
In Mark 10: 47 - 52 Jesus called the blind man to Him after hearing him cry out for mercy and healed him, and so the once blind man followed Him, testifying of His mercy and healing power as he went.
In Luke 5: 27-32 he called a tax collector, called Levi, to show that the corrupted can be changed into the incorruptible.
In Luke 6: 12-16 He chose 12 of his disciples as apostles and missionaries.
In Luke 13: 10-13 He called a woman that was bound by a spirit of infirmity so he could loose her of that which bound her.
In Luke 18: 16 - 17 he sternly warned the disciples and called the children to Him so that he could bless them.
In Luke 1: 26-38 Mary is called as the vessel to bring the Christ into this world and to be the mother of the Christ. This was a ministry that lasted throughout the life of Jesus.
He has called many of us as parents to raise our children according to His will, which means that:
We must love them,
instruct them in the Word,
teach them to love others,
to be honest,
to be faithful,
to read and study the Word,
to have a relationship with the Lord.
It means praying in their hearing,
praying with them,
teaching them to pray, to take their needs to the Lord,
to be dependent on Him in all circumstances,
to seek His will for our lives at all times.
All of the above is much more important than seeing that they wear the right labels, visit the right restaurants and theatres, obtain a university degree...etc. etc....
Saying these things to them will not have a tenth of the impact as showing them how to do it. There is a saying : Preach all day long, and if you have to, use words.
I remember as a young child, accompanying my father on a ministry trip. Our car overheated several times as we were travelling over a mountain pass and we had to stop often to let the car cool down, so that at our time of arrival at our destination, where he was to preach that evening, there would not be sufficient time for him to prepare and wait on the Lord for a message for the people. What should have been a 2 hour journey became a 6 hour nightmare. I remember him, whilst driving, instructing me to open the cubby hole and take his Bible; to open it where I would choose, to read him a passage from that page; asking me to preach to him from the passage so read and praying God's blessing on His Word. I remember us arriving in time for the service and him preaching "my sermon" to the congregation. I remember God working amongst the people through His Word. The impact this made on my mind as a child was invaluable.
The first time I was called upon to minister the Word and I feared my own inadequacy, God reminded me of that incident and I was reassured that He can and will use any willing instrument to His glory through the powerful manifestation of His Holy Spirit.
How careful are we what we teach our children through our actions and words? How focused are we not to hinder our children "to come to Me..."
Thank You, Father God, for the wonderful children that You have given us. Please forgive us where we have failed them and You. Help us that we will be able to say to them "follow me..." as we lead them to You.
We all get a moment in which we have to choose whether to say yes or...
and even if you don't say 'no', not having said 'yes' in fact constitutes a 'no'.
"But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name..." John 1: 12 (My insert
between brackets)
But God also calls us - each one individually, for different purposes, or ministries. Sometimes the same ones for different purposes at different times and we can never tell beforehand for how long He is calling us for a specific purpose:
Matthew 4: 18 - 19 the Lord called two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, saying to them:
"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
He already had a purpose in mind for them. To make disciples of others.
In verse 21 he came across James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, and he called them, to follow Him.
In Matthew 21: 1 - 4 Jesus sent some of the above disciples to fetch a donkey belonging to an unknown man for Him to use to ride into Jerusalem. So He actually called that unknown person to use his possessions, or assets, for His purposes.
In Mark 10: 47 - 52 Jesus called the blind man to Him after hearing him cry out for mercy and healed him, and so the once blind man followed Him, testifying of His mercy and healing power as he went.
In Luke 5: 27-32 he called a tax collector, called Levi, to show that the corrupted can be changed into the incorruptible.
In Luke 6: 12-16 He chose 12 of his disciples as apostles and missionaries.
In Luke 13: 10-13 He called a woman that was bound by a spirit of infirmity so he could loose her of that which bound her.
In Luke 18: 16 - 17 he sternly warned the disciples and called the children to Him so that he could bless them.
In Luke 1: 26-38 Mary is called as the vessel to bring the Christ into this world and to be the mother of the Christ. This was a ministry that lasted throughout the life of Jesus.
He has called many of us as parents to raise our children according to His will, which means that:
We must love them,
instruct them in the Word,
teach them to love others,
to be honest,
to be faithful,
to read and study the Word,
to have a relationship with the Lord.
It means praying in their hearing,
praying with them,
teaching them to pray, to take their needs to the Lord,
to be dependent on Him in all circumstances,
to seek His will for our lives at all times.
All of the above is much more important than seeing that they wear the right labels, visit the right restaurants and theatres, obtain a university degree...etc. etc....
Saying these things to them will not have a tenth of the impact as showing them how to do it. There is a saying : Preach all day long, and if you have to, use words.
I remember as a young child, accompanying my father on a ministry trip. Our car overheated several times as we were travelling over a mountain pass and we had to stop often to let the car cool down, so that at our time of arrival at our destination, where he was to preach that evening, there would not be sufficient time for him to prepare and wait on the Lord for a message for the people. What should have been a 2 hour journey became a 6 hour nightmare. I remember him, whilst driving, instructing me to open the cubby hole and take his Bible; to open it where I would choose, to read him a passage from that page; asking me to preach to him from the passage so read and praying God's blessing on His Word. I remember us arriving in time for the service and him preaching "my sermon" to the congregation. I remember God working amongst the people through His Word. The impact this made on my mind as a child was invaluable.
The first time I was called upon to minister the Word and I feared my own inadequacy, God reminded me of that incident and I was reassured that He can and will use any willing instrument to His glory through the powerful manifestation of His Holy Spirit.
How careful are we what we teach our children through our actions and words? How focused are we not to hinder our children "to come to Me..."
Thank You, Father God, for the wonderful children that You have given us. Please forgive us where we have failed them and You. Help us that we will be able to say to them "follow me..." as we lead them to You.
Monday, 10 October 2011
TIME TO CONSIDER
My neighbour, aged 72, walked into her garage on Saturday morning, to go to the shopping mall, as spruce as usual, but did not start the car or come out of the garage for about 15 minutes, after which she re-appeared, bewildered, confused, seemingly dazed, not knowing where she was going or why...
A stroke.....
No time to think... or consider whether she was ready for such a big upheavel in her life... no time for last minute decisions, or arrangments in case of a mishap...
living alone as her husband passed away just over a year ago... and although seemingly okay, she now has the disconcerting habit of not wanting to let go of the keys to her car, or house...some of them are bent, as if she keeps trying to lock and unlock inappropriate locks and doors ...
Is she trying, subconsciously, to unlock a part of her brain that seems locked away to her?
Am I ready for something like this?
Are you?
Can we ever be ready physically to accept such sudden changes?
What about spiritually? Are we ready?
Is there something we need to discuss with God before such a happening?
"While it is said, Today if ye hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation" Hebrews 3:15
Thank You, Lord, that we have this very minute to reconcile with You, to discuss and confess, and ask for forgiveness where required. Help us to not postpone the most important issues and decisions of our lives.
A stroke.....
No time to think... or consider whether she was ready for such a big upheavel in her life... no time for last minute decisions, or arrangments in case of a mishap...
living alone as her husband passed away just over a year ago... and although seemingly okay, she now has the disconcerting habit of not wanting to let go of the keys to her car, or house...some of them are bent, as if she keeps trying to lock and unlock inappropriate locks and doors ...
Is she trying, subconsciously, to unlock a part of her brain that seems locked away to her?
Am I ready for something like this?
Are you?
Can we ever be ready physically to accept such sudden changes?
What about spiritually? Are we ready?
Is there something we need to discuss with God before such a happening?
"While it is said, Today if ye hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation" Hebrews 3:15
Thank You, Lord, that we have this very minute to reconcile with You, to discuss and confess, and ask for forgiveness where required. Help us to not postpone the most important issues and decisions of our lives.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
GOD IS IN THIS PLACE
Reading about the two disciples meeting Jesus on their way to Emmaus the other night, I suddenly wondered exactly who these two disciples were...the one is named Cleopas, but we are not told the name of the other.
So I grabbed my Strong's concordance and looked up this name - Cleopas - and found that his name was also translated 'Alpheus' and that he was, in fact, the husband of the sister of the mother of Jesus, and the father of one of the twelve disciples, James, who followed Jesus throughout His ministry.
And then I read the passage about their meeting with Jesus more carefully remembering what happened before, and all the disciples experienced during such a short period of time, starting with the last supper, where Jesus foretold his imminent death and all that would follow, through to the garden of Gethzemane, the betrayal, the arrest, and the crucifixion, and I found that James, the son of Alpheus, was probably one of the three disciples whom Jesus took further into the garden than the others when He was praying in the garden before his betrayal. One of the three that could not stay awake...Why could they not stay awake and pray with their friend in His time of desperate need? Personally, I think that they were too overcome by sorrow and grief. Surely they had shed many, many tears during the last supper and when Jesus washed their feet. They must have been emotionally exhausted and heavy eyed, apart from the fact that it was then late at night.
And the only two disciples who ran to the grave after the women told them that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, was Peter and John. We are told that James's mother, Mary, was also amongst those women.
So I think we may assume that on that day, the day of the resurrection, when these two disciples were walking to Emmaus, they had not yet seen the risen Lord for themselves. As we know that the one was Cleopas and his wife, Mary, who was at the grave when the angel appeared to the women, perhaps we may assume that she had by that time told them the good news, but they obviously did not believe it, otherwise the news the women brought would not have upset them!
So if we know that the one was the father of James, perhaps the other one was James?
Anyway, during their walk towards their home at Emmaus they are still suffering from the shock of seeing their Lord and Master, whom they had followed for three years and whom they believed was the Messias and whom they trusted to lead them to freedom, having been crucified and killed. The heartache and disappointment must have been very great indeed. We all know what it's like to lose a beloved to death... One is very emotional and weepy and upset and sad and depressed and, and, and... Now a "stranger in Jerusalem" appears to them seeming to know nothing about what had been happening at all...and he asks them:
"...What manner of communications are these that ye
have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?" Luke 24: 17
The are still very sad, upset, bewildered, confused, and they tell him the whole story and confirm their emotional state by saying:
"Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which
were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came,
saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was
alive." Luke 24: 22,23
And this stranger is invited into their home and sits to eat with them and only when He takes the bread and breaks it and gives it to them - just as they had seen Him doing just three days ago at the last supper - they recognise Him and He disappears from their sight.
Sometimes we are in circumstances where we are sorrowful, full of emotional pain, grieving a loss, and we don't recognise our Saviour even though He is there walking and talking with us. And just like the disciples walking to Emmaus, we think that our Saviour is a "stranger in Jerusalem" and knows nothing about our experiences and our circumstances, our problems, and our emotional state.
Sometimes as with the disciples whom Jesus "made get into the boat and go before Him to the other side", as related in Matt. 14:22-33, we find ourselves in a position that we are sure God has ordered us into only then to find ourselves in the midst of a storm, as the disciples did, and we are so scared, maybe even fearing for our livelyhood or our lives, that we cannot recognize Him when He comes walking towards us amidst the tossing waves and the howling wind.
At times, as with Peter, when he was released from jail as is recorded in Acts 12: 1 - 17 we are so caught up in a personal "prison" of circumstances, that we do not even realise that the circumstances have passed, that the prison door has been opened, and we may be suffering unnecessary emotional strain and nervous tension not realising, not being able to see that God has already sent the provision or the release that was needed and we cannot even believe that ourt continual, fervent prayers have been answered.
Or maybe as with Jacob, when he was fleeing from his brother Esau, after having robbed him of his birth right as the firstborn, and having robbed him of the blessing that was rightfully his as the firstborn, as we read in Genesis 28, we are so haunted by our guilt and the knowledge of the wrongs we have done, and mistakes that we have made, of harm that we have inflicted, or shame that we have caused, that we fail to notice that God has given us "a ladder" to heaven - His only Son who died - so that we may have our sins forgiven. When Jacob awoke he had to say: "Truly God is in this place and I did not know it."
Whatever it is that is perhaps causing you to not be able to experience the fullness of the presence of Almighty God in your life today - whether is be bereavement, sorrow, pain, fear, oppression, guilt, persecution, circumstances beyond your control, whatever - please don't wait until it is necessary for the Lord to say to you as He said to the two disciples walking to Emmaus:
"...O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken..."
Luke 24: 25
"O fools, and slow of heart" that we cannot see and recognise that He is in this place - in our circumstances; that we cannot hand our circumstances over to Him to take care of...
God is in this place - in case you don't know it... Bring it to Him now...reach out your hand. Say : "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You ON the waters."
Thank You, Lord, that You are always present in whatever circumstances. That You are ready and willing to reach out Your hand and to help us to walk on the waters of our circumstances... Help us to have faith to reach out to You in Jesus' name.
So I grabbed my Strong's concordance and looked up this name - Cleopas - and found that his name was also translated 'Alpheus' and that he was, in fact, the husband of the sister of the mother of Jesus, and the father of one of the twelve disciples, James, who followed Jesus throughout His ministry.
And then I read the passage about their meeting with Jesus more carefully remembering what happened before, and all the disciples experienced during such a short period of time, starting with the last supper, where Jesus foretold his imminent death and all that would follow, through to the garden of Gethzemane, the betrayal, the arrest, and the crucifixion, and I found that James, the son of Alpheus, was probably one of the three disciples whom Jesus took further into the garden than the others when He was praying in the garden before his betrayal. One of the three that could not stay awake...Why could they not stay awake and pray with their friend in His time of desperate need? Personally, I think that they were too overcome by sorrow and grief. Surely they had shed many, many tears during the last supper and when Jesus washed their feet. They must have been emotionally exhausted and heavy eyed, apart from the fact that it was then late at night.
And the only two disciples who ran to the grave after the women told them that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, was Peter and John. We are told that James's mother, Mary, was also amongst those women.
So I think we may assume that on that day, the day of the resurrection, when these two disciples were walking to Emmaus, they had not yet seen the risen Lord for themselves. As we know that the one was Cleopas and his wife, Mary, who was at the grave when the angel appeared to the women, perhaps we may assume that she had by that time told them the good news, but they obviously did not believe it, otherwise the news the women brought would not have upset them!
So if we know that the one was the father of James, perhaps the other one was James?
Anyway, during their walk towards their home at Emmaus they are still suffering from the shock of seeing their Lord and Master, whom they had followed for three years and whom they believed was the Messias and whom they trusted to lead them to freedom, having been crucified and killed. The heartache and disappointment must have been very great indeed. We all know what it's like to lose a beloved to death... One is very emotional and weepy and upset and sad and depressed and, and, and... Now a "stranger in Jerusalem" appears to them seeming to know nothing about what had been happening at all...and he asks them:
"...What manner of communications are these that ye
have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?" Luke 24: 17
The are still very sad, upset, bewildered, confused, and they tell him the whole story and confirm their emotional state by saying:
"Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which
were early at the sepulchre; and when they found not his body, they came,
saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was
alive." Luke 24: 22,23
And this stranger is invited into their home and sits to eat with them and only when He takes the bread and breaks it and gives it to them - just as they had seen Him doing just three days ago at the last supper - they recognise Him and He disappears from their sight.
Sometimes we are in circumstances where we are sorrowful, full of emotional pain, grieving a loss, and we don't recognise our Saviour even though He is there walking and talking with us. And just like the disciples walking to Emmaus, we think that our Saviour is a "stranger in Jerusalem" and knows nothing about our experiences and our circumstances, our problems, and our emotional state.
Sometimes as with the disciples whom Jesus "made get into the boat and go before Him to the other side", as related in Matt. 14:22-33, we find ourselves in a position that we are sure God has ordered us into only then to find ourselves in the midst of a storm, as the disciples did, and we are so scared, maybe even fearing for our livelyhood or our lives, that we cannot recognize Him when He comes walking towards us amidst the tossing waves and the howling wind.
At times, as with Peter, when he was released from jail as is recorded in Acts 12: 1 - 17 we are so caught up in a personal "prison" of circumstances, that we do not even realise that the circumstances have passed, that the prison door has been opened, and we may be suffering unnecessary emotional strain and nervous tension not realising, not being able to see that God has already sent the provision or the release that was needed and we cannot even believe that ourt continual, fervent prayers have been answered.
Or maybe as with Jacob, when he was fleeing from his brother Esau, after having robbed him of his birth right as the firstborn, and having robbed him of the blessing that was rightfully his as the firstborn, as we read in Genesis 28, we are so haunted by our guilt and the knowledge of the wrongs we have done, and mistakes that we have made, of harm that we have inflicted, or shame that we have caused, that we fail to notice that God has given us "a ladder" to heaven - His only Son who died - so that we may have our sins forgiven. When Jacob awoke he had to say: "Truly God is in this place and I did not know it."
Whatever it is that is perhaps causing you to not be able to experience the fullness of the presence of Almighty God in your life today - whether is be bereavement, sorrow, pain, fear, oppression, guilt, persecution, circumstances beyond your control, whatever - please don't wait until it is necessary for the Lord to say to you as He said to the two disciples walking to Emmaus:
"...O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken..."
Luke 24: 25
"O fools, and slow of heart" that we cannot see and recognise that He is in this place - in our circumstances; that we cannot hand our circumstances over to Him to take care of...
God is in this place - in case you don't know it... Bring it to Him now...reach out your hand. Say : "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You ON the waters."
Thank You, Lord, that You are always present in whatever circumstances. That You are ready and willing to reach out Your hand and to help us to walk on the waters of our circumstances... Help us to have faith to reach out to You in Jesus' name.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
THE KING ON A CROSS
THE KING ON A CROSS
Full pardon,
forgiveness
of sin; love,
mercy, grace
for the whole
human race - bought by the bloody,
cruel, humiliating, sacrificial death
of One who
freely spilt
His blood,
gave His all,
His precious
life – Jesus,
God's only
Son. Will
you accept,
and embrace
eternal life
or scorn the
price paid in
your behalf.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Oh, Job...
Oh Job...
How I wished at times to have your patience;
How I prayed at times to have your strength;
How I longed at times to have your faith;
How I hankered at times to have you as a friend;
How I desired at times to have your oratory;
How I dreamt at times to have your wealth;
How I begged at times to have your restored health;
But never, at any time, did I ask or wish to have your wife!
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