On 'Christianity'

A good man may not be a Christian but a Christian must always strive to be a good man. Of what point is our 'religion' if it does not lead us to be more charitable...to be more like Christ. Dear Lord in this day I ask not for courage to change the world but courage required to change me. Let prudence, charity, justice and love be my watchwords today dear Lord/ Give me the strength not to take the 'bios' pathway but the Zoe. It is not just the abundant life but a higher form of living. Dear Lord be my strength and guide. Help me to see the place of prayer as a divine appointment between I and my Heavenly Father. It's ok to be nervous when you've been a bad child because a good Father chastises the one He loves. But I'll step into that place remembering that I'm meeting the One who sent His one and only son to die for me while I was still a sinner. I'm just imagining how much more You would receive me into your arms now as a child. A naughty child...but a child nonetheless... : )


N.B. Not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is one either. However Christians do lie, steal and do bad things. Because salvation is instantaneous but maturity is a lifelong process. Jesus Christ lived his life as a model for us and being a Christian is daily depending on His grace to live like that. We should be getting better. I love the way C.S Lewis puts it. "It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird; it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while inside an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."

Je ne comprends pas...

Hi everyone

I miss writing, I miss blogging. I've been working on my dissertation and writing simply became a chore and I just needed a break. I'm still kind of on a semi-break but I hope I am gradually coming out of my comatose state because I have really missed it. I was talking to a friend at the weekend and he gave a description of me that made me laugh. Its funny how people can see strength where we only see weakness and imperfection.

A week ago, a friend shared about how her friend had passed away in childbirth. She asked a question 'Does God not answer prayers?' Hmm, it was an honest question and it got me thinking about so many other questions I had that I like to gloss over with my 'religious varnish', there is a way that I think that to ask a question is to doubt....that to say "Je ne comprends pas....I do not understand" means I am one of little faith.

I do not understand why we prayed and she died. I do not understand why Elisha died of an illness and yet his bones raised a dead man. I do not understand the ways of God. I do not understand what part I play in the scheme of things, I always see my life as a piece of a big puzzle where only God sees the big picture. I don't think I need to understand, just trust. Sometimes my faith is so weak, I wish I was perfect but I am not. I wish I always had answers but I don't.

One thing I have learnt in the past few months...God doesn't give up on us, usually we give up on Him. My prayer is that even when I do not understand...I reach out my hand to Him even in the dark and cry..'Lord help me.' I just needed to write that today, seems so random. Oh well! Have a blessed day people.

Sometimes......Everytime

Sometimes I'm like Adam

I shouldn't eat the fruit but I do anyway

Sometimes I'm like Abraham

I say I believe but I'm holding out on Option B

Sometimes I'm like Sarah

Allowing jealousy to get the better of me

Sometimes I'm like Isaac

I lie to get myself out of a sticky situation

Sometimes I'm like Moses

I react in anger rather than responding in love

Sometimes I'm like David

Carried away in the moment, not thinking about consequences

Sometimes I'm like Elijah

I've seen the fire fall but fear still has a grip on my heart

Sometimes I'm like Peter

I deny, funny how one can deny without saying a word

Sometimes I'm like John Mark

Turning back when the road seems too tough

BUT

EVERYTIME

When I stop and stay still in His presence

He says "I LOVE YOU, COME BACK HOME"

Everytime He loves me

Not because I'm perfect but because He loves me perfectly

Everytime He corrects me

Smacks do hurt, consequences bring pain

Everytime He turns me

In the right direction because He knows it so well

Everytime He reminds me

I am His beloved and He is mine

Everytime

Every single time.....

The Bible says that 'the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is His faithfulness' also ' He has loved us with an everlasting love, He has drawn us to Him by His loving kindness.' We will make mistakes sometimes, we'll fall flat on our faces and wonder how we who know what is right end up getting it so wrong but don't despair, avail yourself of His grace today. Grace is not about making excuses for sin but it is God's arms that lift you out of the ditch, it is giving yourself permission to admit 'I made a mistake, God I'm sorry, help me!'.

Father, I thank you because you are a God of compassion. Thank you for lifting me up. Amen.

Remember the story of your life can never be over until The Storyteller says 'The End.' Remain blessed and highly favoured and have a great week.