University. As a fresh year- I came with all of these expectations of a magical time and a whole new world. And in many ways it has truly been so. Lets just say it now- and be totally honest- the academic world is weird. It's a world that is so caught up in its own interests that I doubt whether it has any connection to the everyday world. However, this is not to say that I am not enjoying it. Of course I am enjoying it!
I have met several wonderful and fun people and several- not so. But all have the same goal, and are put here for a reason and purpose.
It bewilders me how much knowledge there is out there. If you just start to look, how much you will find and then strangely enough- the more you know the more questions arise and you realise how much more there is to know. It's quite wonderful really, and perhaps the reason why academics are so strange. They have caught the knowledge bug.
Over the last several months, as I have adjusted to University life, and to a whole new city, I marvel at how God has worked. Where He has brought me. Who He has caused me to meet. Upon reflection I can honestly conclude that some of my life's best friends will come from my experiences now. And perhaps my deepest passions will be birthed here. Perhaps my fantasies of university have not waned as much as I thought, perhaps they were fulfilled in some way.
I hope that dreams will find a place in our society again. Where, we wont be afraid to dream or to hope. Where we wont be afraid to voice our desires. Where we will have a society again, who expect their dreams to turn to reality, who strive to achieve their vision.
Perhaps it will have to start with me. Where else right? So- may I start here and publicly declare that I (by the grace of God) will live in the vision He has granted me. May we be people who live in the victory! For we are more than conquerors! And let us truly believe it!
Friday, July 23
Saturday, February 13
Wills
Really it is with not much purpose that I sit here and write today. Yes it is twenty10, and halfway through February, yet, if asked what I have done with my time, I will be left at a loss of words and a less than adequate answer. The truth is, that I cannot really say what I have done with this time that I have been blessed with. Produced some handiwork- perhaps a painting or a craft? No. Travelled somewhere, discovered some unknown land? No. Been entertained to your hearts delight, so that you laugh until your stomach hurts? No. Visited people? Yes!
How humbling it always is when people invite you over to their homes. Like whoa- me? Are you sure? For to invite someone to your home is to allow them to see into your world. It is for them to catch a glimpse of you outside of the norm of hustle and bustle. So what a privilege and a blessing that has been. And whilst I may not have done all too much with the year twenty10 thus far- I am content in knowing that I have been blessed far beyond what I thought I would be (through the hospitality of others) and remain holding onto the thin fragment of hope that perhaps I too may have been a blessing.
I certainly hope and pray that I am a blessing to those that I meet. Either that or be a stench in some one's nostrils (yuck)- either hot or cold. Never lukewarm. No may I never be a lukewarm or apathetic person. Rather may I be interested versus interesting. And may I love as Christ has loved me! After all- am I not a child of the living God? If His DNA is in me, and He was able to love to the point of death, then surely I too can make some sacrifices.
That is such a big word and so contradictory to our western way of thinking. Sacrifices. Sacrifices. In the worldly way of thinking I suppose that word has an ominous connotation and invokes images of bloodshed and little cute lambs being cut up. But that is not what I'm talking about now. I'm talkin about doing not what my flesh would like to do- ignoring my own needs and desires, because really, who are we to place oursleves on pedstools as if we were King or Queen?- and doing instead what others would like to do, like helping dad shovel dirt instead of watching my favourite program on TV, or doing instead what the Holy Spirit (God) would like to do. that one admittedly is probably the hardest one of the lot. Because well, first you need to know what it is He would like to do and that means listening to His voice, which of course means knowing His voice, and how can you know His voice with out spending time with Him? And so you see to do God's will is the task of our lives as it will probably take all of our life to get that sorted- but I believe that it is perhaps the most rewarding thing that we could do! To do His will- to sacrifice ourselves not because we have to, or need to, but because we want to. Notice the difference? And I think that we would want to offer our lives to God once we start to love Him and thus spend time with Him. So it all works out so perfectly you see?
How humbling it always is when people invite you over to their homes. Like whoa- me? Are you sure? For to invite someone to your home is to allow them to see into your world. It is for them to catch a glimpse of you outside of the norm of hustle and bustle. So what a privilege and a blessing that has been. And whilst I may not have done all too much with the year twenty10 thus far- I am content in knowing that I have been blessed far beyond what I thought I would be (through the hospitality of others) and remain holding onto the thin fragment of hope that perhaps I too may have been a blessing.
I certainly hope and pray that I am a blessing to those that I meet. Either that or be a stench in some one's nostrils (yuck)- either hot or cold. Never lukewarm. No may I never be a lukewarm or apathetic person. Rather may I be interested versus interesting. And may I love as Christ has loved me! After all- am I not a child of the living God? If His DNA is in me, and He was able to love to the point of death, then surely I too can make some sacrifices.
That is such a big word and so contradictory to our western way of thinking. Sacrifices. Sacrifices. In the worldly way of thinking I suppose that word has an ominous connotation and invokes images of bloodshed and little cute lambs being cut up. But that is not what I'm talking about now. I'm talkin about doing not what my flesh would like to do- ignoring my own needs and desires, because really, who are we to place oursleves on pedstools as if we were King or Queen?- and doing instead what others would like to do, like helping dad shovel dirt instead of watching my favourite program on TV, or doing instead what the Holy Spirit (God) would like to do. that one admittedly is probably the hardest one of the lot. Because well, first you need to know what it is He would like to do and that means listening to His voice, which of course means knowing His voice, and how can you know His voice with out spending time with Him? And so you see to do God's will is the task of our lives as it will probably take all of our life to get that sorted- but I believe that it is perhaps the most rewarding thing that we could do! To do His will- to sacrifice ourselves not because we have to, or need to, but because we want to. Notice the difference? And I think that we would want to offer our lives to God once we start to love Him and thus spend time with Him. So it all works out so perfectly you see?
Loving God means we spend time with Him
As we spend time with Him we get to know His voice.
Knowing His voice we are able to deiscern His will
And we will do His will because we love God!
Thank you Jesus that you love us despite our own shortcomings and selfish desires. May you have your will in my life. I praise you and bless your name. Be exhalted o God, o mighty King. Teach me to know your voice. Teach me how to do what you want me to do. Increase the love I have for you, so that it will overflow and touch others in a way that only you could orchestrate. Thank you that you hear my prayers. Blessed be your name.
Amen
As we spend time with Him we get to know His voice.
Knowing His voice we are able to deiscern His will
And we will do His will because we love God!
Thank you Jesus that you love us despite our own shortcomings and selfish desires. May you have your will in my life. I praise you and bless your name. Be exhalted o God, o mighty King. Teach me to know your voice. Teach me how to do what you want me to do. Increase the love I have for you, so that it will overflow and touch others in a way that only you could orchestrate. Thank you that you hear my prayers. Blessed be your name.
Amen
Friday, December 18
The 'I' in Sin
In the middle of 'sin' is 'I'. This desire to please the self. Selfishness.
Amos 1-2 describes the sins of Israel and its neighbours which God was going to punish:
3 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Damascus,
even for four, I will not turn back my wrath .
Because she threshed Gilead
with sledges having iron teeth,
"For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}.
They sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.
Amos 1-2 describes the sins of Israel and its neighbours which God was going to punish:
3 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Damascus,
even for four, I will not turn back my wrath .
Because she threshed Gilead
with sledges having iron teeth,
4 I will send fire upon the house of Hazael
that will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.
5 I will break down the gate of Damascus;
I will destroy the king who is in c]">[c] the Valley of Aven d]">[d]
and the one who holds the scepter in Beth Eden.
The people of Aram will go into exile to Kir,"
says the LORD.
6 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Gaza,
even for four, I will not turn back my wrath .
Because she took captive whole communities
and sold them to Edom,
7 I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza
that will consume her fortresses.
8 I will destroy the king e]">[e] of Ashdod
and the one who holds the scepter in Ashkelon.
I will turn my hand against Ekron,
till the last of the Philistines is dead,"
says the Sovereign LORD.
9 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Tyre,
even for four, I will not turn back my wrath .
Because she sold whole communities of captives to Edom,
disregarding a treaty of brotherhood,
10 I will send fire upon the walls of Tyre
that will consume her fortresses."
11 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Edom,
even for four, I will not turn back my wrath .
Because he pursued his brother with a sword,
stifling all compassion, f]">[f]
because his anger raged continually
and his fury flamed unchecked,
12 I will send fire upon Teman
that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah."
13 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Ammon,
even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}.
Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead
in order to extend his borders,
14 I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah
that will consume her fortresses
amid war cries on the day of battle,
amid violent winds on a stormy day.
15 Her king g]">[g] will go into exile,
he and his officials together,"
says the LORD.
Amos 2
1 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Moab,
even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}.
Because he burned, as if to lime,
the bones of Edom's king,
2 I will send fire upon Moab
that will consume the fortresses of Kerioth. h]">[h]
Moab will go down in great tumult
amid war cries and the blast of the trumpet.
3 I will destroy her ruler
and kill all her officials with him,"
says the LORD.
4 This is what the LORD says:
"For three sins of Judah,
even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}.
Because they have rejected the law of the LORD
and have not kept his decrees,
because they have been led astray by false gods, i]">[i]
the gods j]">[j] their ancestors followed,
5 I will send fire upon Judah
that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem."
Judgment on Israel
6 This is what the LORD says:"For three sins of Israel,
even for four, I will not turn back {my wrath}.
They sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.
7 They trample on the heads of the poor
as upon the dust of the ground
and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl
and so profane my holy name.
8 They lie down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge.
In the house of their god
they drink wine taken as fines.
9 "I destroyed the Amorite before them,
though he was tall as the cedars
and strong as the oaks.
I destroyed his fruit above
and his roots below.
10 "I brought you up out of Egypt,
and I led you forty years in the desert
to give you the land of the Amorites.
11 I also raised up prophets from among your sons
and Nazirites from among your young men.
Is this not true, people of Israel?"
declares the LORD.
12 "But you made the Nazirites drink wine
and commanded the prophets not to prophesy.
13 "Now then, I will crush you
as a cart crushes when loaded with grain.
14 The swift will not escape,
the strong will not muster their strength,
and the warrior will not save his life.
15 The archer will not stand his ground,
the fleet-footed soldier will not get away,
and the horseman will not save his life.
16 Even the bravest warriors
will flee naked on that day,"
declares the LORD.
These sins were: cruelty, oppression, condonment of slavery, stifling compassion, going back on your word, anger, treachery, grudges, intimidation, irreverence, faithlessness, disobedience to God and rebellion. Sound familiar?
Truth is, we still have the same God, who still hates this sin with the same conviction as in Amos's day. We forget that God is holy, and HATES sin just the same today as yesterday. It's time we stop regarding Jesus as Santa, and realise that He is HOLY, RIGHTEOUS and JUST. What he punished back then he will still punish now.
If we look around our world, the same sins are occurring as what God condemned through the prophet Amos. Have you noticed the increase of flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters? I would suggest that it would be of no coincidence that these are happening in the age where slavery, prostitution, lusts and greed abound.
Point is: Sin makes God angry. It hurts and upsets Him, if not saddens Him.
Why? Because it destroys our relationship with Him. It causes death. It creates a world the Creator never intended.
The only solution is for us to REPENT. Turn to Jesus and accept His salvation and grace.
Again I'll say: REPENT.
Joel 2:12-13 says:
12 "Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity."
and similarly in 2 Chronicles 7:14 it says:
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
You see God does not wish destruction on us- hence why Jesus came into the world to forgive us and not to condemn us (John 3:17).
So as we turn to the Lord, let us be a generation that realises God's holiness. Let us be a generation that gives God the praise that he deserves! May we be a generation that realises we are nothing with out Him. May we be the followers He has called us to be.
Wednesday, December 9
Baptism
I discovered something today. Something that I'd forgotten that I had. You know the sweetness and the delight when you find a hidden treasure. What was it I found? This blog! Coincidentally, today is the day that I will be baptised!! No- it's of no coincidence what so ever, the Lord planned it and so it shall be. I'm super looking forward to the baptism, but I stress ( I think I say it so much that I will believe it) not for my glory, but all glory be unto the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The following is what I will share with those who will be listening:
"The Lord has always, gently, been guiding me. I remember as a young girl listening to my Ouma talk about Jesus and in those times I knew he was real. Then I remember one night when I was about eight, after I had been particularly horrible to my brother the Spirit convicted me, and that night I repented: I slept on the floor and I asked Jesus for his forgiveness and saving grace.
Jesus is the only way to salvation, He's not just a free ticket into heaven, but He's a person who is intimately in love with me and who journeys with me as we grow in our relationship. Fully man, yet fully God, I will never know the true cost of the shedding of His blood, which paid the wages of my sin- your sin, all so that we may share an eternal life with him.
It's always been in my heart to get baptised, but I never wanted to do it just because everyone else was. I wanted to make sure that it was because I truly loved and desired to follow the living God, the LORD Jesus. But in my procrastination, the Lord kept speaking to me. Last week as I was going for a walk, I witnessed a baptism in this very place, and it served as a reminder... Then on the Tuesday night I had a dream of my self getting baptised and I knew it was what the Lord wanted. So I told the Lord that I will call my youth pastor the next day (as it was really late in the evening.) However, as the next day came along, the cares of the world over took, and I forgot about my promise to God, until my good friend gave me a phone call and shared with me the Bible study he had just been doing- which happened to be on.. surprise? BAPTISM! Click!
I know now that the Lord desires for ALL of his followers to be baptised, in fact in the Bible they got baptised straight after their conversion!
So let this be my public confession that I believe in and I love God, the Father, Son and Spirit, who sent the Son into this world to forgive me of my sin and grant me life.
So to quote Third Day:
"I believe in God the Father
And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of the virgin Mary.
Suffered under Pontius Pilot
He was crucified and dead and buried.
He descended into hell and on the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven where He sits at God's mighty right hand,
I believe that He is returning.
I believe in the Holy Spirit- who is a person,
One Holy Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins
I believe in the resurrection and I believe in
a life that never ends."
As I enter the waters of baptism, I am buried with Jesus into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, I too may live a new life.
Praise and blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ.
"The Lord has always, gently, been guiding me. I remember as a young girl listening to my Ouma talk about Jesus and in those times I knew he was real. Then I remember one night when I was about eight, after I had been particularly horrible to my brother the Spirit convicted me, and that night I repented: I slept on the floor and I asked Jesus for his forgiveness and saving grace.
Jesus is the only way to salvation, He's not just a free ticket into heaven, but He's a person who is intimately in love with me and who journeys with me as we grow in our relationship. Fully man, yet fully God, I will never know the true cost of the shedding of His blood, which paid the wages of my sin- your sin, all so that we may share an eternal life with him.
It's always been in my heart to get baptised, but I never wanted to do it just because everyone else was. I wanted to make sure that it was because I truly loved and desired to follow the living God, the LORD Jesus. But in my procrastination, the Lord kept speaking to me. Last week as I was going for a walk, I witnessed a baptism in this very place, and it served as a reminder... Then on the Tuesday night I had a dream of my self getting baptised and I knew it was what the Lord wanted. So I told the Lord that I will call my youth pastor the next day (as it was really late in the evening.) However, as the next day came along, the cares of the world over took, and I forgot about my promise to God, until my good friend gave me a phone call and shared with me the Bible study he had just been doing- which happened to be on.. surprise? BAPTISM! Click!
I know now that the Lord desires for ALL of his followers to be baptised, in fact in the Bible they got baptised straight after their conversion!
So let this be my public confession that I believe in and I love God, the Father, Son and Spirit, who sent the Son into this world to forgive me of my sin and grant me life.
So to quote Third Day:
"I believe in God the Father
And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
Born of the virgin Mary.
Suffered under Pontius Pilot
He was crucified and dead and buried.
He descended into hell and on the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven where He sits at God's mighty right hand,
I believe that He is returning.
I believe in the Holy Spirit- who is a person,
One Holy Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins
I believe in the resurrection and I believe in
a life that never ends."
As I enter the waters of baptism, I am buried with Jesus into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, I too may live a new life.
Praise and blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ.
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