To be like Christ

In the quietness of my times with God, I feel a fear and a hesitancy to ask for certain things, that I know God would have me do. I know what he wants for me, how he works and what he does, which makes me fearful. His desire is that I be like Christ, but it is so hard to pray for it.

What if he does things is my life that change me and I don’t like it? What of he should require me to do things I dont want to do that are painful? In my heart, I instinctively know what he will require – everything, but how will that affect me and what will it mean? I will be asked to put it all on the altar and follow the Master at all times. The cross must be lifted and the narrow way walked, that I might become the woman I am meant to be.

Self is nailed to the cross and crucified every day, silenced and bound, by the power of the Spirit. The bending of our knees is so hard for us to do, as we resist giving up our perceived self-determination, but really we are denying ourselves the greatest blessing of all.

Women and men in the past have proved his love and power, over and over again, in the most challenging of circumstances. They have rejected self and embraced Christ and have discovered a whole life full of delight, mercy and love, even in very dire life events and trails. To know Christ and the power of his resurrection. This is the desire of every child of God, but the way is difficult and cannot be walked without the Master.

How wonderful to actually be like the Lord and to know that daily communion with him, and felt presence of his Spirit. To know rest and peace each day, no matter what the day is like, and to totally trust in his love to keep us at all times. All threats will vanish, wars and strivings cease, and the things of this world system will count as nothing to us.

As we walk, we will be better able to speak for him and live true lives of service, living in the reality of his life, and doing what he tells us as we keep his commandments. The worries and problems generated by a sinful world will diminish, and we will exercise our faith to obey and not fret.

Once you set off on the Christian pathway, you can never go back. It is a journey through life with the one who knows all about it and has felt every pain that we feel. He totally empathizes with you and his power is the same power that made everything and upholds the universes. We can have total confidence in him, after all, he knows the way and will keep you on the road and walking with him, until your reach the end. For the Christian, there is really only glory, as your sins have been dealt with, you have God’s book, and you can talk with him anytime.

We are going home. Even if we fall, fail, make wretched choices and become lazy, Christ himself will strengthen you and stir you up to keep his way and follow.

How wonderful to be a soul winner and be able to speak his message effectively and persuade others that they need him too. His is the path of life, the meaning of life, and its highest destiny. To be like Christ is our dearest state and or highest ground, and our soul’s sincere desire.

New start

January is the month of the “new start” after the December “blow out.” A new diet; a clean up of the home; a new promise to live a better life and perhaps even begin going to church…

Unfortunately, the new resolutions almost never last, and by the end of the month, nothing has really changed.

We instinctively realize that our lives are not quite what they should be, and if we read the Bible, we find out that we are right. God tells us we are not good enough to even be in his presence, and we are cut off from knowing him truly.

Our inclination to sinfulness keeps us away from God and out of the blessings that he wants for us. Our wrongdoing must also be paid for, and we are unable to put things right by ourselves.

This is why JESUS came. His death on the cross was the consequence of our sin, and as he hung there on that cruel cross, he paid for all sinful people (you and me) who repent and trust in Him.

We can have a new life this year, a life of forgiveness and peace with God. To get it, we must humble ourselves, give up our sins and repent, and put our trust in what he did for us. It is the greatest gift of all, and lasts long into eternity, as we love God and walk with him forever.

Come to JESUS and ask him to forgive you and give you a new start.

Wonga

Choose Wonga

Be Wronga

Mary

The figure of Mary the mother of Jesus, is right at the centre of the Christmas story, and she is hailed as a holy and separate person, above and different from ordinary types, such as you or I. However, if we consider her situation and what she had to face as a young teenage girl, we begin to see things we hadn’t previously noticed.

She must have suffered considerably at the hands of gossips and back-biters, as she coped with the noticeable bump of the developing baby, and no husband. Left out and rejected, she had to prepare for the arrival of her child, knowing that Joseph, her fiancé, would probably set her aside.

God assured her, through the angel, that he was in complete control, and that the baby was no ordinary child, but his own beloved Son, Creator of the universes.

Mary believed. She did not complain, worry, fret or seek the refuge of popular people. She patiently and faithfully, carried out her time, knowing that the person she was carrying, was the Saviour of the world, and her Saviour also.

Joseph also believed the angel who spoke to him from God. He took Mary and kept her safe and comforted her, taking her through the long journey to Bethlehem.

Mary rejoiced to be so highly thought of by God and we can read her song of praise in Luke chapter one. She put all her trust and hope in God and knew that he would deal with her sinfulness and make her what she was not – a good woman.

Mary knew that her son would some day be cruelly killed, for the sins of the world and her own sins. This baby was her Lord and God who would one day rule all things. Mary’s God is also our God, and we need to trust him and follow him, as Mary did.

Sonnet

Love is not in grand designs
Lovers trysts as marriage binds
Love is not across the sea
Found in time or eternity
Love tarries not for special times
Celebration or excitement finds
Love owes nothing in the earth
Or heaven’s wide and vaulting berth
Love never fails nor shortness prove
Dwelling in hearts as God above
Love conquers strife and war
Keeping faith and hope evermore.

Earthquake!

The shock of earthquake has hit Turkey, and once again we are seeing on our TV screens, the impact of mighty tremours on the surface of our planet. Our buildings and roads are instantly turned into piles of rubble and concrete, and lives are torn in two and many lost forever to this world.

We watch the rescue teams who test, search and dig, day and night, to try to rescue the few that may have survived the trauma, and perhaps bring them to the surface and safety.

Crowds of people wait, shout, pray, as they stand at the mouth of a hole in the mountain of debris, waiting incessantly for any sound or sign, that someone, anyone is alive.

Suddenly the cry goes up. She’s alive! A stretcher is passed over the heads of the orange-clad rescuers, carefully, gently, thankfully, and on to the waiting ambulance. There is cheering, clapping, high-fives, as the survivor is taken away to be cared for by those who can help.

There was once another rescue mission. A bid to save men, women, boys and girls, from death and destruction. You and I are among those, buried in the filth and trap of sin, unable to release ourselves from the certain death, which is waiting only a step away.

Jesus, our only hope of rescue, waits, searches, calls to us to come to him, and to be found by him. When he finds us, there is such rejoicing in heaven and earth, that someone has been taken from the wreckage of a sinful life, and is now safe forever. He takes them for the clutches of satan, and sets them free to live lives walking with him, and ultimately, to heavens reality.

The only problem for us, is that we don’t realise it and don’t feel our need. We have been trapped for so long, and are so numb toward God, that we die quietly and unsensingly. When he calls you, call out to him, and follow him. Why die when he is so near and loves you so much?

Prayer 2

Dear Lord, I cleave to Thee
Please Saviour, cleave to me
Or I shall fall
And lose my all.

My Lord, I follow Thee
With care obediently
My faith to prove
In bonds of love.

My Master, to work for Thee
Is my one desire eternally
Thy glory reflect
My sinfulness deflect.

Dear master, hold my hand
By myself I cannot stand
Keep me ever
Forsake me never.

Prayer 1

Can I one gleaming hour take
To speak freely with my God
Fellowship with him in simple prayer
As I walk along the road.
To him I bring my sins
Forgiveness to receive
That peace may be restored
And worldliness to leave.
I ask for strength and courage
To face the fateful foe
That I might victory find
As onward in life I go.
Lord, may you from me receive
Daily glory due
As I commune each living step
Reflecting goodness back to you.

Autumn Sunday

The lightness of this day
Enlivens me to find
A positive bent within my mind.

The clear blue sky above
Reminds me that good
Will be understood.

The lack of clouds floating by
Secures hope of forgiveness
And certain happiness.

The quietness of Sunday afternoon
Mirrors my peace
And sure release.

Questions and answers

“Not every question is a scientific question,

nor every answer a mathematical one,

but every question and answer are spirit.”