Level Two

As promised here is the next level.

Level 2: SHEPHERD/SHEEP RELATIONSHIP

It may not be flattering to be compared to a sheep, but this metaphor illustrates how well God takes care of His people, just as a shepherd carefully tends his flock. God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel:

For this is what the Lord has said: Truly, I, even I, will go searching and looking for my sheep. As the keeper goes looking for his flock when he is among his wandering sheep, so I will go looking for my sheep, and will get them safely out of all the places where they have been sent wandering in the day of clouds and black night…. I will give them good grass-land for their food, and their safe place will be the mountains of the high place of Israel: there they will take their rest in a good place, and on fat grass-land they will take their food on the mountains of Israel. I myself will give food to my flock, and I will give them rest, says the Lord. (34:11-12,14-15; see also the parable of the good shepherd in John 10:1-18)

Although sheep know the shepherd’s voice and will follow him, they have no what the heart of the shepherd feels for them. Sheep can’t share the shepherd’s dreams and hopes. They are merely concerned with their daily need for food and water. While it is important for us to follow and trust God as our Caretaker and Provider as a sheep follows a shepherd, God longs for us to have a more personal relationship with Him.

Six Levels to the Wedding

A few months ago I read a book Every Young Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge & Stephen Arterburn and I got some very insightful steps towards the great wedding as told in the Bible, Matt 25:10.

Well over the next few days I'll write down the various progressive stages and it will be for you to analyse yourself and see which stage you are in and what you need to do to advance to the next stage.

Level 1. POTTER/CLAY RELATIONSHIP

When we first come to Christ, our spiritual life has little shape or form. We submit ourselves to Christ as our Saviour and ask God to begin shaping us into what He wants us to be. “We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8; see also Jeremiah 18: 4-6). As a piece of clay, we can allow the Potter to mold us, but we cannot express our love back to Him. When we comply and feel God using us, we feel good about ourselves. When we mess up or don’t have a clear sense of purpose, we feel distant from God. We often withdraw because we believe He is angry with us due to our poor performance. Ephesians 2: 10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This affirms that it is important for us to submit to God and allow Him to shape our lives into something that brings Him honour. However, He doesn’t want our relationship to stop there. He wants it to become deeper and more intimate.

Hush Hush

My title is pretty appropriate since I've been hush hush in the blogosphere. Well am back with a bang and hopefully it will show in my frequent posts.


Well back to the real reason for the title...

Are you a hush hush Christian?

I was just thinking the other day, do I act differently when I'm around guys who are not Christians, and by acting differently I mean: Do I act neutral in that my words or deeds do not truly reflect who I am?

Am I afraid that I might be labelled a holy joe or better yet a Jesus Freak?

I have found that at times I tend to be silent on some issues with the fear that I may sound old fashioned and too spiritual. In most of these cases I find that I end up conforming to the worldly standards.

Well, I just want to encourage all of us out there who might be struggling with this issue in that we don't have to be hush hush, we don't have to condone things we do not necessarily agree with... there's nothing wrong with standing out for all the right reasons.

So today choose to stand and let it be known that you and not ashamed to be called a Christian.

To echo Barlow Girl's song.. "How can we be silent when a fire burns inside us?"

Let them remember that we were here!!

Ciao.