Step In Or Step Out

What do you do if you are faced with a situation in your life and you don’t know whether to step into it or step out?

There was a pastor from Europe who led a sermon at CRC one Sunday.  He told a joke about experiencing something quite comfortable that ended up not being the right thing.  He was wearing comfortable clothing that he thought was his own but it was actually women’s clothing that belonged to his mother in law J.  He said just because something is comfortable doesn’t make it right and also that just because you feel uncomfortable about something doesn’t make it wrong. 

We don’t always feel comfortable about the things we have to do in life, but that doesn’t mean we should necessarily walk away from it.  So, what are we supposed to do?

You know the saying “What would Jesus Do/WWJD” which appears on a lot of wrist bands and other accessories they sell at Christian bookshops.  Maybe it would be a good thing to apply it when you are faced with a situation like this.  Pray for guidance.  Relying on your own feelings or outlook might not always be the best thing to do, even if it feels right.  Speak to someone who could be objective about the matter and might therefor be able to lead you in the right direction or at the least give you some advice.   See if it is something you can work through and sort out rather than walking away from something very important that God has planned for you to do in His Kingdom.  His calling for you. 

Choices we have to make in life are not always easy, but with the right guidance and some (or lots J) of patience God will always let it work out for the good.

Today I pray for each one of you for guidance in any situation that you might find yourself in.  Loads of blessings.

Shifting Your Focus

Remember the times when you get up in the morning feeling like you got out on the wrong side of the bed, the wrong side of the room or even the wrong side of the world?  You can’t put your finger on it but something just doesn’t feel quite right. 

You have the basic things you need in life. You have a roof over your head, food to eat, family and friends who love you. So why the feeling that just can’t be explained or doesn’t make any sense?

Maybe in times like these we need to just shift our focus a bit?  Look away from the way we feel and direct our attention to the things around us.  Try and look for positive things, things that might lift your spirit.  In the beginning it is quite tricky.  Tried this one morning.  I started out with colours.  It wasn’t spring so finding flowers wasn’t all that easy.  Did notice that blue is a colour that stands out on advertisements,  just in case you wanted to know J.  Over time I learned to focus on various things and it actually got easier.  Sure some days you might not feel like doing it but it is definitely worth trying.  Saying something nice to someone else also makes the world of difference.  Seeing how their face lights up. 

Last week my boss told me about a few places near Brooklyn where I could look for jacaranda trees with different colour blossoms.  Thought they only came in purple! (Goes to show that we are never too old to learn) 

This morning before work I drove to the one place but forgot the directions in my boot and couldn’t remember the street name L.  I did however come across a

street where the trees overlapped and took a picture with my cellphone.  There aren’t any leaves/blossoms yet but it is still beautiful.  Nature really brings a smile to your face.  There are so many beautiful things surrounding us but we don’t always see them, don’t always look for them. 

                               

   

May you experience inner peace and beauty in your heart today and notice pretty little things around you that bring a smile to your face!!!

How Can We Reach Out To A Broken World

There is so much sadness and brokenness around us.  So many people in need of God’s love, compassion and empathy.  We are the vessels which He works through.

Each one of us has a spiritual gift or a talent that He blessed us with. God gave us that gift to be a blessing to others.  With that comes the responsibility to use and develop it to the glory of God’s kingdom.  To make a difference in the world we live in and in someone’s life.  Whether it is a motivational gift, ministry gift or a gift from the Holy Spirit God has bestowed on you to use at specific time in your life.  No one gift is greater than the next one.  God uses each one of us in a unique and different way and without your help the functioning of the body of Christ will not be complete. 

In order to do all this we need to ask God, on a continuous bases, to fill us renew our mind and spirit.  There is something that I might have shared with you before and would like to do it again.  I am not sure who wrote it.

Maak my heel én vol.

Maak my vriendelik en geduldig,

eerlik en regverdig,

liefdevol en sensitief.

O, Bron van lewende water,

vul my met Uself…                                                                                            

Gee my moed en deursettingsvermoë.

Gee my geloof en hoop.

Maak my hardwerkend

en help my om my plig goed te doen.

Maak my werklik U beelddraer,

‘n héél mens wat ander sal inspireer,

nié met my woorde nie,

maar met wie ek is in Jesus Christus.

Then reach out to the people around you as God lays it upon your heart.  Enrich their lives while God works on enriching yours.

You are all very unique and special in your own way.  May you never ever forget

Sincere Friendship

God is the best friend that we can ever ask for or dream of having.  He loves us so much and would move heaven and earth for us without asking any questions or thinking about it twice.  Isn’t that a comforting thought?

I believe that other people are placed here on earth to help us experience a little glimpse of the friendship that forms part of something we will experience in heaven,  while we are here for a short while.  

What does friendship mean to you?  There are a few things that I see in friendship:

A friend is someone:

-          you can phone at 3 in the morning without having to explain why

-          you can be yourself with even if it means being silly when you feel like it

-          you can talk to for hours without remembering afterwards what you spoke about for so long!!

-          you are at home with

-          who helps you grow as a person

-          who brings out the best in you

-          who has your best interests at heart

-          who sets an example to lead you on the right path

-          who believes in you

-          who always supports and stand by you, even when you make a mess of things

-          who gives you some tough love when needed

-          who never ever gives up on you, no matter what

This list can go on forever and ever.  I am sure you can add many things to it. Sure, friends are not perfect and yes we do have disagreements from time to time, but that doesn’t mean you just throw in the towel. 

Pro 18:24  A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (ESV).

How then, you may ask, can I have a friend like this?  The first step is to be one. 

May you all experience the friendship Jesus has to offer, love your friends dearly and hold them close to your heart J

 

No Offense

Pastor At used this term quite a number of times on Sunday night and it really stayed with me.

When we see or hear something negative that we think might relate to us, we get offended so easily.  It happens before we even realise it.  Then what do we do?  We think or say something negative about the person who offended us.  We sometimes literally feel like we are going to explode!!!

It can cause such unnecessary destructive emotions and situations.  Sometimes it is intentional other times maybe not, we might never know.  But is it really worth harbouring those negative feelings, hanging on to it?  Let it fester up to the point where you just want to let it all come out at once? 

Why not just give it all to God?  Ask Him to remedy the situation, take the load of your shoulders and clear your mind.  Let Him take away  these emotions you have inside your heart and restore His unconditional love. 

I am not going to lie to you and pretend that it is even remotely easy, and at times might seem impossible to do.  But you don’t have to rely on your own strength.  God is there to help you. Lead you to find peace in your heart.  Michael W Smith has a beautiful song, “I’ll lead you home”.  With a phrase saying: leave it to Me, I’ll lead you home.  His love is stronger than any other emotion we will ever experience. This might be a good time where you can really do with applying the words of the famous saying: “Let go and let God”.

Don’t let other things steal your inner joy, peace or happiness.  It is really not worth it.  Life is too short and precious for this.  Isn’t it so much better to experience harmony than have a heart filled with resentment? 

May God bless you and restore to your heart His love that goes beyond our understanding

Exposure

Ever felt TOTALLY exposed being on the back of a motorbike? 

On Sunday I had the privilege of going on a “breakfast run” with a group of bikers from CMA (Christian Motorbike Association).  It was loads of fun.  Scary at times, but mostly fun J. 

Riding as a pillion (passenger on the back, picked up some lingo during the day) tends to be a bit nerve wrecking if you haven’t done it for a while, this would now be since I was 18. 

If you think about it for a bit.  Should you be involved in an accident there won’t be much protection.  The fact that they tell you: “I am a responsible driver” isn’t much comfort either because it is normally the other drivers on the road that worries me!!!

Wearing the right gear changes things a bit.  A helmet, the right jacket, gloves, shoes and so forth.  Just don’t try to walk after putting it on, it is extremely heavy J.  I can now understand how the gladiators felt when they fought way back when. 

Knowing the skills of how to ride a bike helps of course.  Don’t think just because you are the passenger you don’t need any skills.  There are many things you have to keep in mind to make it easier for both you and the driver.  You don’t have to hold on for dear life either as you won’t fall off so easily, or so they say.   And who would have thought that you have to be “bike fit”.  Your back kills you when riding long distance (or in my case not so long). 

Something that I learned from this experience is that we are exposed to so many things in this world today.  What will happen if we are not equipped, don’t learn the skills to protect ourselves?  We are either going to have difficulty fighting the battle or lose it altogether. 

The skills we can learn from fellow christians, pastors at church and things we go through in life, to name but a few.

The gear? 

The armour of God:

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

Eph 6:12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Eph 6:13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

Eph 6:15  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Eph 6:16  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Eph 6:17  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

This doesn’t mean we are not going to be exposed to all sort of challenges or that we won’t need to fight the battle.  It just means we will be more equipped and prepared.

Taking Responsibility

There are certain things in life that we take on.  It could be that it is something that is very important to us, that we are passionate about and is very close to our hearts. 

It is very good to be dedicated to something you believe in.  But what happens if it interferes with other things that are more important?  Doing work for God’s kingdom is awesome and I can’t imagine not doing it.   Moving closer to God and growing in your relationship with Him takes precedence over anything else.  How can you lead other people to God if you are not at peace yourself?   If the work you do for God draws your focus away from Him and the example you should set as His child, then it might not be the right place or time.  Maybe it would be better to remove yourself from it until your peace and focus is in place again.

A wise man told me that the enemy will do everything in his power to attack you where you are most vulnerable.  When you are moving closer to God.  Bad feelings and emotions are never from God (as I am sure we all know). 

(1 Corinthians 14:33) Lord I praise You that You have given me a sound mind. I lay claim to that this day. Thank You that You are not the author of confusion but of peace.

(2 Corinthians 10:5) I choose peace this day and worship You, the God of peace. Thank You that You enable me to cast down every argument and high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of You and bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

Our first responsibility lies with our relationship with God and all it entails and only then can we take on the responsibility relating to other people given to us as fellow children of God.  You can’t help other people if your own house is not in order.

Wishing you peace, happiness and the awesome passion that a close relationship with God gives you,  in abundance!!!!!