Mirror Mirror

Well, mirror mirror on the wall...... what have I been reflecting lately?

Oh well, I am not speaking of the story of Snow White and the seven dwarfs but rather my life...

As much as I'd like to give excuses for my lack of consistency in blogging, I have come to the realization that just like any other part of my life, this blog reflects who I am and my silence is just a sign of how my life has been.

I can relate my silence to my otherwise stagnant walk in salvation.

The many things we do mirror our personal lives, our dressing reflects the kind of person we are. Our words, our playlists....

As I came to this conclusion, I realized that I don't want to be stagnant, cause we all know stagnant water reeks and harbours all manner of stuff.

As Christians, we at times reach a sort of plateau stage, where we get comfortable and fail to make any effort in growing and it is not the best of places to be.

So let's stop, see what we are reflecting, are we happy with what we see?



Ciao

What a friend we have in Jesus

As we probably know most hymns in our hymnals were poems.'What a friend we have in Jesus' is no exception.
It was written in 1855 by Joseph M. Scriven to his mother living in Ireland while he was staying in Canada.
Anyway I'm not writing to inform you of the history behind this hymn but rather the message that it passes.
Every time I hear this hymn I find myself thinking of all the needless pain I bear yet I could take all the pain to the Lord in prayer. Just as it is written that we should cast our burdens unto the Lord,Matthew 11:28 and He'll give us rest.
Let's meditate on these words and let them ring true in our lives.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

We truly have a friend in Jesus,

Ciao

Masquerade Ball

A masquerade ball (or bal masqué) is an event which the participants attend in costume wearing a mask -Wikipedia.


I have come to realise that living in this world is somehow like being in a masquerade ball. We walk around wearing masks and thus we never really reveal our true self.


Albeit this trait is common with most of us, it's more conspicuous with believers. We go around parading ourselves as people trying to live on the straight and narrow while in actual sense we are living double lives.


Keeping up appearances can be such a hustle and we all know that the 'truth will out'. Hence it's high time as believers we take our stand and decide whether we are hot or cold. Let us rid ourselves of whatever masks we have been hiding behind and be ourselves.


This life is too short to live a lie.


I choose to live for Christ.


What about you?

The Final Level

Level 6: GROOM/BRIDE RELATIONSHIP

 

Once a woman becomes a bride, the focus of her life and priorities change, and all other people and priorities pale in comparison to her primary love relationship. Again, this metaphor illustrates a much deeper truth- God desires for us to love Him passionately, to find it delightful to simply be in His presence, and to know Him personally both publicly and privately. He longs for our focus and priorities to become aligned with His.

Perhaps you can imagine relating to God as Father, Saviour, or Lord but are struggling with the idea of relating to God like you would a husband. While some may even say that it’s irreverent to relate to God in such an intimate way, God has always longed for this kind of relationship with His chosen people. He said through the prophet Hosea, “I will betroth you to me forever, I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord” (2:19-20).

God extends to us an eternal commitment of love so deep, so wide and so great that we cannot possibly fully understand it. This gift should inspire us to reciprocate with as equal a gift of love as is humanly possible. What started out as an engagement relationship between God and His own in the Garden of Eden will come to fullness at the wedding supper of the Lamb when Jesus Christ returns to claim His bride, the church.

So how can you cultivate a bridal love for Jesus and enjoy this intimate relationship that He longs to have with you? By falling in love with Him and attempting to pursue Him as passionately as He has been pursuing us all along.

Courtesy of Jack Hill

Extracted from ‘Every Young Woman’s Battle’

By Shannon Ethridge & Stephen Arterburn

Level Five

FATHER/CHILD RELATIONSHIP

As we realize and accept the truth that we are not just God’s lump of clay, sheep, servant or even friend, but also God’s very own child, we can experience tremendous healing from childhood wounds and disappointments. We can allow God to be the Father or the Mother (He possesses the good qualities of both genders) that we so needed or wanted. We can be free from the burden of trying to perform or produce for Him when we understand that He loves us not for what we do but because we are His children. As wonderful and healing as a father/child relationship is, the groom/bride relationship promises the most intimate connection of all.

Level Four

FRIEND/FRIEND RELATIONSHIP 

 

A servant’s relationship with his/her master rests on business and performance, while love and mutual concern from the basis of a friend’s relationship with a friend. Jesus spoke about this deeper level of intimacy that He shared with His disciples when He said, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s (personal) business. Instead I call you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). Jesus is saying, “I value you not just because of how you serve me, but because you share my heart.” A friend’s value lies not so much in what he/she does, but in who he/she is as a personal confidant.

God wants to be our friend, and He wants us to be His friends. We can experience this friendship level of intimacy. As James 2:23 tells us, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.” Also, Proverbs 22:11 says, “He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.”

Yet even as close as two friends can be, blood runs thicker than water.

Level Three

MASTER/SERVANT RELATIONSHIP

While sheep stay outside, servants at least live in the same household as the master and talk with Him as long as it is business. The servant enjoys a more intimate relationship. The parable of the talents (see Matthew 25:14-30) and the parable of the ten minas (see Luke 19:11-27) refer to this level of this relationship. However, servants know little of what is happening with the master, other than what they are directly involved with. A servant’s value is derived from how well he/she can complete the master’s will. While it is important for us to serve God wholeheartedly and do His will, God stills longs to have an even greater level of intimacy that this.

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.

Are you a signpost?

Went for a play over the weekend and I was really challenged by something I heard.

Anyway back to the title?

Are you one? A signpost I mean.

Always showing people the way but never really getting to follow the way?

Well it got me thinking as a believer am I busy showing people the right way to live but not following my own directions?

Am I just standing there stagnant while people pass me by?

Today, I choose to be different I shall not be a sign post but rather a compass not only will I show the way but I’ll be following the path.

Exercise Daily

Do you exercise daily?

Today I saw this sticker on a car saying, Exercise Daily; Walk with God.

Just like our physical bodies need exercise we also need to exercise our spiritual bodies.

How do we do this? Here are a few pointers.

1. Good Diet: In order to keep fit physically we need to eat the right kind of food and ensure we eat a balanced diet. It is also the same with our relationship with God only that here it’s not about the food we eat but about the things we allow to get into our minds.

What kind of things do I watch?

What kind of music do I listen to?

All these play a major role in the kind of relationship I have with God. Some of the things we allow to fill our thoughts only act as distractions and we end up missing the big picture.

Just as we are told to avoid junk food there are some things as believers we should steer clear off since they only but give temporal pleasure and later on bring harm.

2. Water Water Water: How many times have I heard that we should drink 8 glasses of water daily? Countless! Just like many I am also a culprit of not drinking water daily.

In our walk with God we should partake of the Living Word of God which just like water is a source of life. This should be a daily affair to ensure that we are in good shape spiritually.

Just as drinking water dispels illness, the Word of God equips us fully such that when one is faced with any temptation we are fully armed.

3. Walking/Running/ Jogging: Most of the health guides that I have read encourage walking briskly for 30 minutes daily in order to keep fit. This is not only good for one’s cardiovascular muscles but also for one’s mind.

As we walk with God we are in conversation with Him and this done through prayer. Prayer enriches one’s life and has innumerable benefits to one’s spiritual health.

4. Going to the gym: For our physical health we are encouraged to go to the gym at least three times a week. One gets the assistance of a trained personnel on which exercise regime to take. Just the same as believers we cannot afford to neglect the meeting up of brethren. Fellowship is a vital part in our walk with God, since here we not only get counsel from our counterparts who are mature in this walk we also sharpen each other.

I would like to challenge us, just as we take special care when it comes to our physical let us take even more care of our spiritual bodies.

Ciao

ATM

No, I am not talking of the Automated Teller Machine but Abstinence Till Marriage.

Just in case you may be wondering whether in this day and age people still save themselves for marriage, I am here to confirm to you that it still happens and it is very much possible.

I know I know, it's not easy to remain pure, but for sure it's possible.

One of the great consolations is in knowing that you aren't denying yourself something, rather you are saving for yourself a very special gift.

I seem to be talking in parables you may say, but just ask around from people who saved themselves for marriage and for sure they will tell you that it was the best decision ever.

One important thing to note here, is that it's not by our will power that we choose to remain since the flesh is desperately wicked and you all have to agree with me that the flesh craves for physical intimacy.

So you may ask, what then makes people to be chaste till marriage,well it's Jesus Christ.

He is the one who gives the strength to stay pure.

I believe at times one may have fallen, not necessarily having gone the whole nine yards but succumbed to these fleshly desires none the less, I just want to offer this encouragement not all is lost. 

God is a God of Second chances, even Third, Fifth and so on, so just call unto Him and  He'll be your guide.

ciao

Premier

Well! 

Here goes!

I'm diving in!