The Real you...

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Since Facebook was started, nearly 450 million people have become members – making it possible that you are one too. There are positives and negatives to Facebook. I find Facebook great for keeping up with friends and generally just knowing how everyone is going. I have to be careful, however, to ‘count my words’ when writing. Generally, it is better not to “post” what I am feeling when grumpy or upset, as words are impossible to take back once made public. There is a danger, however, that I will always appear ‘bright and happy’ to my “friends” on Facebook – when in reality that can be far from the truth. People may build up an entirely untrue image of who I really am and I may even build on that false image and start to believe it myself.  Who is the real me?

The real me is going to be exposed one day when we all stand before Jesus Christ to give an account of not just how we lived while on this earth but also of who we are – ‘in’ Him or ‘outside’ of Him. Then there will be no electronic face we can put on ourselves or Facebook behind which we can hide. We will be utterly exposed – our words, thoughts, deeds and emotions. 

You will be there with me – What will the ‘real you’ of your life show?

As a Christian, I ask myself – Does my everyday walk match my Christian ‘talk’ – on Facebook; before God Himself?

Getting out of 'the pits'...

Every one of us gets into those situations where the whole world seems to have caved in on you –and you find yourself in ‘the pits’. It may be the pit of loneliness, financial insecurity, on-going sickness, destructive habits or personal defeat. There seems to be no way out – and it can be a very lonely place!

I am encouraged every time I read of a ‘super-saint’ like King David, in the Bible – when I see that even he hit ‘the pits’ every now and then.

In Psalm 40, David describes how he gets out of it. He firstly acknowledges that he cannot help himself – In humility he cries out to God. He doesn’t demand from God or moan at God. He cries out in humble dependency. He then waits on God’s help. In our instant age – we find it hard to wait. We want answers NOW! However, God answers us in His time – not ours.

Almighty God  answers Davis’s cry by taking him out of that place of lonely helplessness and ‘setting his feet on a rock’ – from desperation to security! Sometimes God changes our circumstances and at other times we still have to work through difficult times – but throughout - God gives us stability and hope. He is the rock in our storms!

What about you? Do you know God personally, through a relationship with Jesus Christ? If so – His help is always at hand! If not, you’re on your own! The best help you can get is human help – which is so temporary and imperfect.

" O Death, where is your sting? "

As we prepare to bury my dearly loved father-in-law, a man who lived faithfully for God and 'fought the good fight' - there is sadness at his passing on but also great hope! His body may be "deceased" but he is alive in Christ. His suffering is over for all eternity - He will NEVER suffer again! His hope has now also become reality! Death has truly lost its sting! It is not darkness he has entered but glorious light! 

God is so merciful - even in this time. The day after we lay him 'to rest', we celebrate new life as seven people are baptised and give testimony of Jesus Christ's life-giving miracle in their lives! From death to life... the perfect picture of what is illustrated through baptism. 

God is glorified - in death and in life! What a Saviour! What a God!

A Firm Foundation...

In this uncertain time of earthquakes in New Zealand, especially in Christchurch, my thoughts immediately turned to one surety in life - Jesus Christ - a sure foundation. As I saw pictures of people walking around damaged or destroyed homes, my heart cried out for them. And yet, I wonder how many eyes were turned to God - the One who uses nature to proclaim His greatness but to also warn people to turn to Him and not presume on His mercy! He is the one constant when all around us in life is in turmoil. And yet, how easily don't we as people want to look past God to our own resources and efforts...
The other thought that came to mind was the suddenness with which it all happened. Just past 4am, when no one was suspecting anything, the first violent quake hit. There was no warning. No instruments could warn of something that hadn't happened yet. There wasn't even an indication that it could happen where it did. There was peace and then it struck. Reality.
The sad thing is that the Bible has long been warning that Christ is going to come to earth again - suddenly - unexpectedly - while we are still about our everyday business. And yet, knowingly, people turn off the alarm sounded by Scripture and walk straight towards their judgement...
"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts..." (Ps 95:7b)

Life and Living... at full tilt or full drag

Quote from Michael Wells' book 'Heavenly Discipleship' - "Is life living you or are you living life?"

So true - we often allow life to get the better of us instead of getting the better of life and living life to the full. This applies especially on Monday mornings and when the sky is grey and it's raining constantly...
How can we live life to the full? God's answer - "The Truth will set you free...". Once you have God's gift of a new nature instilled in you, you can start to really LIVE!! As a friend of mine always says, when asked how he is doing, "I am riding life with loose reins and at full tilt - and loving it!!" I know what he means because he is a Christian who is living his life IN Christ. Christ has lived his old life already and paid the debt oweing on that life 2000 plus years ago and now he can live this life to the full because Christ is living IN him and THROUGH him. Christ now has become his life - his old life has been crucified! There has been a supernatural takeover! Now, instead of going through life like an unwilling dog being taken for a drag by an enthusiastic owner, you and I can be the enthusiastic one - seeing life through new eyes of boundless and exciting opportunities - and life will be the slipstream created and the wake left behind us...

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly..." (Jesus Christ - John 10 verse 10)

STAND4TG 2010 - Standing Firm! – Conference in Auckland, April 2010 with Conrad Mbewe

STAND4TG 2010 - Standing Firm! – Conference in Auckland, April 2010 with Conrad Mbewe

Prayer - in 'the fear of God'

There is a major difference between 'fearing' something and living 'in the fear' of something. 'Fearing' shows a lack of security or a sense of being unprotected. Living 'in the fear of' something shows a deliberate and conscious respect towards someone or something.

A healthy 'fear of God' is a forgotten truth today. Jesus gets called the 'Big J' and God 'The Big Guy in the Sky'! Us puny little mites on earth forget that we are living before and coming in prayer before the Almighty Creator of the universe! He gives us the very breath in our lungs and then we want to "tell" God what we want and order requests from Him and His celestial e-store?? It is only when we try to understand God's utter holiness and our utter helplessness and sinfulness without His intervening mercy, that we can come in true humility before Him in prayer and leave our requests before His mercy seat and His promise of an eternal love towards us. Prayer can never be flitting and thoughtless!