Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Monday, October 04, 2010
The Power Within...
Cool infographic! A little too American but that's okay, I can live with it. For me it was just an incredible revelation, when I read, 100 Million Volts, 30000 amperes, and, who creates every one of those 16 Million lightning storms a year?
"When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses."
(Jeremiah 10:13)
When he utters His voice... no shouting, no screaming, no repetition, when He simply utters His voice...
And then, consider this... "For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man."
(Matthew 24:27)
May we be like bolts of lightning, baby bolts, but bright nonetheless, with the power that he has given to us to proclaim His salvation through His Son who can only be likened to a lightning bolt!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Prayer - A Journey in Conversation
In my 22 years as a follower of Christ's I have still not grasped a definitive and conclusive understanding of prayer. For some "inexplicable" or should I say... in the mind of a true reform, explicable reason, since I returned from my year of "rest and reinvention" in the Cape to my home, Pretoria, I have literally been bombarded by this topic, prayer!! From cell groups to questioning teens to sermons... it has become apparent that prayer is... important!! "Newsflash!!" you may say. Well, yes in substance, I have always known prayer is a vital ingredient to our spiritual journey with Christ and have practiced it to some lesser and occasionally greater degree, but there is something fresh about it that I am presently discovering.
It is slowly becoming less of a discipline and more of a lifestyle... I mean, let's face it, we don't "discipline" ourselves to have a conversation with a good friend do we? To the contrary, if you're like me, you crave intelligent, humorous, and in depth conversation with a friend, in some instances, we can't wait and will sacrifice other engagements and commitments to quench our thirst for such conversation. Isn't this how we should feel about communicating with our Father in Heaven?
It isn't about a monotonous, extended monologue defined by a time of day, it isn't about a guilt driven obligatory utterance before dinner, it isn't about bowing your head, getting onto your knees, lifting your hands or closing your eyes. It isn't even about inviting Him into your life... although usually, this will precede a healthy prayer life. So what then is it about??
With only myself to amuse (or impress) in an aircraft, flying 10000 ft above the earth, as the sky transitioned between the light of day and darkness of night, I was granted the most tangible understanding of what it is about... quite simply, like most good things in life, it is about His Presence!! His Presence and our presence within His Presence. It is about sharing a moment with him, sharing an experience, sharing an emotion and yes, ultimately allowing Him the glory for each of those moments! At this realization, any request or list of wants that I may have felt the need to present Him with became futile, inconsequential in comparison with that moment with Him! Of course, this may have changed had one of my engines decided to quit right then but then I think the moment may have passed!!
Some of us are verbose, inclined to talk much and listen too little, some are quiet, introspective and possibly a little shy, should we have to change who we are to commune with our creator, should we be forced to conform to models of prayer that people have dictated through the ages?? Christ himself, instructed us to pray in secret (Matt 6:6), not to say that our prayer life should be a secret to others but our presence in His Presence is intimate, personal and tangible. In this communion with Him our motives are made right and our prayers are directed because the Spirit becomes our reason for everything we do, see, taste, smell and touch. We ask little of Him because we understand how much He has given to us, and are thankful for every small thing. We consider others more highly than ourselves because this is the very image of who Christ Himself is. And we are exhilarated by this because no one understands our experience quite as much as He does!
Praise God for revelation!! This is my revelation and may not be yours but my prayer is that yours would be equally magnificent!!
It is slowly becoming less of a discipline and more of a lifestyle... I mean, let's face it, we don't "discipline" ourselves to have a conversation with a good friend do we? To the contrary, if you're like me, you crave intelligent, humorous, and in depth conversation with a friend, in some instances, we can't wait and will sacrifice other engagements and commitments to quench our thirst for such conversation. Isn't this how we should feel about communicating with our Father in Heaven?
It isn't about a monotonous, extended monologue defined by a time of day, it isn't about a guilt driven obligatory utterance before dinner, it isn't about bowing your head, getting onto your knees, lifting your hands or closing your eyes. It isn't even about inviting Him into your life... although usually, this will precede a healthy prayer life. So what then is it about??
With only myself to amuse (or impress) in an aircraft, flying 10000 ft above the earth, as the sky transitioned between the light of day and darkness of night, I was granted the most tangible understanding of what it is about... quite simply, like most good things in life, it is about His Presence!! His Presence and our presence within His Presence. It is about sharing a moment with him, sharing an experience, sharing an emotion and yes, ultimately allowing Him the glory for each of those moments! At this realization, any request or list of wants that I may have felt the need to present Him with became futile, inconsequential in comparison with that moment with Him! Of course, this may have changed had one of my engines decided to quit right then but then I think the moment may have passed!!
Some of us are verbose, inclined to talk much and listen too little, some are quiet, introspective and possibly a little shy, should we have to change who we are to commune with our creator, should we be forced to conform to models of prayer that people have dictated through the ages?? Christ himself, instructed us to pray in secret (Matt 6:6), not to say that our prayer life should be a secret to others but our presence in His Presence is intimate, personal and tangible. In this communion with Him our motives are made right and our prayers are directed because the Spirit becomes our reason for everything we do, see, taste, smell and touch. We ask little of Him because we understand how much He has given to us, and are thankful for every small thing. We consider others more highly than ourselves because this is the very image of who Christ Himself is. And we are exhilarated by this because no one understands our experience quite as much as He does!
Praise God for revelation!! This is my revelation and may not be yours but my prayer is that yours would be equally magnificent!!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Gospels in Today's World
Have you ever wondered what it must've been like for Jesus and His disciples to travel from town to town ministering as they went along? We all read accounts of Jesus' ministry in the four gospels and most who have an imagination have a mental picture in their mind of what it must have looked like and felt like.
I had the incredible opportunity of being there, in the flesh... well, as close to as I think one could ever come on this earth today. I found myself on dusty streets, in a small village on the Eastern Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley looking towards Lake Malawi in the distance, dotted with fishing boats. Wherever we walked, (because that's how one gets around), we were followed by inquisitive children, their faces animated with grins and sometimes fear as I pointed the camera in their direction.
We sat on mud plastered "patios" of small thatch houses and read accounts of Jesus' life and His character. People literally appeared in the hundreds almost as if from nowhere to join us.
Ladies sat on their sarongs or simply in the dirt and listened to what the "Baba" (a distinguished man) with us had to say about this Son of God. Men chatted at the back amongst themselves inquiring as to these people's intentions, children forced their way to the front to prove to each other, they could get closer and mothers nursed content babies while they listened.
It wasn't as much what he spoke about, as much as it was the acts of service and love that had attracted these people's attention in the first place that captivated me in a different place, in a different era. It was the eagerness of people to hear what had to be said by Christ like characters who had earned respect over many years by providing practically for people's needs, just like Jesus himself did. It was the hospitality that people showed us, just as they must have shown to Jesus and His disciples. It was the smiles on people's faces despite their conditions because of the hope that was represented! It was the kids who didn't have a care in the world but to get closer to these strangers in their simple yet familiar world just to listen to stories.
As the sun set over the lake, I prayed and thanked Jesus for taking me back to a time where He walked and talked among people, where he sweated in the heat and became hungry after a long day and sought rest for his tired body and I thanked Him for the hope that he brought to so many in this small village, 2000 years later.
I had the incredible opportunity of being there, in the flesh... well, as close to as I think one could ever come on this earth today. I found myself on dusty streets, in a small village on the Eastern Escarpment of the Great Rift Valley looking towards Lake Malawi in the distance, dotted with fishing boats. Wherever we walked, (because that's how one gets around), we were followed by inquisitive children, their faces animated with grins and sometimes fear as I pointed the camera in their direction.
We sat on mud plastered "patios" of small thatch houses and read accounts of Jesus' life and His character. People literally appeared in the hundreds almost as if from nowhere to join us.
Ladies sat on their sarongs or simply in the dirt and listened to what the "Baba" (a distinguished man) with us had to say about this Son of God. Men chatted at the back amongst themselves inquiring as to these people's intentions, children forced their way to the front to prove to each other, they could get closer and mothers nursed content babies while they listened.
It wasn't as much what he spoke about, as much as it was the acts of service and love that had attracted these people's attention in the first place that captivated me in a different place, in a different era. It was the eagerness of people to hear what had to be said by Christ like characters who had earned respect over many years by providing practically for people's needs, just like Jesus himself did. It was the hospitality that people showed us, just as they must have shown to Jesus and His disciples. It was the smiles on people's faces despite their conditions because of the hope that was represented! It was the kids who didn't have a care in the world but to get closer to these strangers in their simple yet familiar world just to listen to stories.
As the sun set over the lake, I prayed and thanked Jesus for taking me back to a time where He walked and talked among people, where he sweated in the heat and became hungry after a long day and sought rest for his tired body and I thanked Him for the hope that he brought to so many in this small village, 2000 years later.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Keegan
What does the sudden death of a 14 year old boy do to those around him? It's unnatural, it's not supposed to happen, it's not what we expected, it's an unwelcome shock. But who are we mere mortals to question God's timing? It's easy (or easier) when we understand and believe in God's sovereignty, it's even easier when our friend, our brother, or our son is saved by his own confession of his dependence on Christ, by the blood of our saviour Jesus Christ. Is this grief for them, or is it simply our own? Why would we grieve for the death and rebirth of a saint, when we believe he is with our Father in his mansion with en-suite bedroom and a balcony over looking the biggest, most majestic mountain to be climbed and a new wilderness to be discovered? No, this is worthy of celebration, this is worthy of praise! The grief is ours, for our loss, for our emptiness and void and justified it is. The grief reminds us of the importance of that person in their own life time, the grief is proportionate to that individuals impact in other's lives.
The grief I see in those left behind reveals character.
When those who grieve shed a tear, I am aware of love, affection, compassion and an unselfish disposition.
When those who grieve laugh, I am aware of joy, a sense of humour and love for life.
When those who grieve tell stories, I am aware of a life lived with zest, full of experiences, adventure and a passion for living life to it's full potential. I am reminded to live each day to it's full and to enjoy every breath I breathe.
When those who grieve glow with pride, I am aware of accomplishments, perseverance and hard work.
When those who grieve embrace each other, I am aware of family, of support, of loyalty and unconditional love.
When those who grieve are strong, I am aware of "a peace that transcends all understanding", of trust and faith and gratitude.
When those who grieve carry on, I am aware of a life lived for Christ and a life shed with gain, to God's glory.
When those who grieve tremble, I am aware that life is fragile, life is brief and time with loved ones is valuable.
When those who grieve smile, I am aware of tenderness, sensitivity and discernment.
When those who grieve pause, I am aware of intimacy, personal attention, and kindness.
Keegan, I know you better now than ever before because of the mark you left behind in all those who grieve their certain untimely loss.
The grief I see in those left behind reveals character.
When those who grieve shed a tear, I am aware of love, affection, compassion and an unselfish disposition.
When those who grieve laugh, I am aware of joy, a sense of humour and love for life.
When those who grieve tell stories, I am aware of a life lived with zest, full of experiences, adventure and a passion for living life to it's full potential. I am reminded to live each day to it's full and to enjoy every breath I breathe.
When those who grieve glow with pride, I am aware of accomplishments, perseverance and hard work.
When those who grieve embrace each other, I am aware of family, of support, of loyalty and unconditional love.
When those who grieve are strong, I am aware of "a peace that transcends all understanding", of trust and faith and gratitude.
When those who grieve carry on, I am aware of a life lived for Christ and a life shed with gain, to God's glory.
When those who grieve tremble, I am aware that life is fragile, life is brief and time with loved ones is valuable.
When those who grieve smile, I am aware of tenderness, sensitivity and discernment.
When those who grieve pause, I am aware of intimacy, personal attention, and kindness.
Keegan, I know you better now than ever before because of the mark you left behind in all those who grieve their certain untimely loss.
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