Blessings in the darkness

The curtains are often closed in God’s waiting room. It’s exciting to gaze ahead, look into the future, but faith grows best in the dark. Life in the sunshine is so exciting that we seldom notice our faith beginning to droop. It’s when things are dim, when life gets tough, that spiritual life gets the opportunity to mushroom.

God’s people accomplish great things while staggering around in dazed bewilderment. ‘By faith,’ says Scripture, ‘Abraham, ... went out, not knowing whither he went.’ (Hebrews 11:8 – emphasis mine) ‘I go bound in the Spirit to Jerusalem,’ said Paul, ‘not knowing the things that shall befall me there.’ (Acts 20:22 – emphasis mine) The disciples were frequently stunned or mystified by Christ’s words and behaviour. The psalmists were forever asking, ‘Why?’ (Eg. Psalm 10:1; 22:1; 42:9; 43:2; 44:23; 74:1; 88:14) And in the midst of his suffering, Job didn’t have a clue what was going on.

Dark mysteries bring great blessings. At the close of the year that saw the death of his newborn son and then the death of his wife and then assaults on his own health, Hudson Taylor wrote, ‘This was the most sorrowful and most blessed year of my life.’ When it’s sunny we want to run off and play. It’s when it’s darkest that we hold Father’s hand the tightest.

In the gloom, qualities like faith, grit, and dedication, are stretched to limits we have never before reached. Yet life seems so oppressive we are oblivious to our triumphs.

In pristine conditions eyes of faith can see forever. When storms close in, it is a massive task for those same eyes to even slightly pierce the swirling mush. It is the conditions, not you, that have deteriorated. Contrary to every feeling, you are not regressing.

Though offered with the best intentions, much sentimental waffle is sometimes uttered about returning to one’s ‘first love’, as if the starry-eyed euphoria of new Christians is greater than the mature depths of your average older Christian. Hogwash! Most spiritual honeymooners are radiant primarily because they think they have entered a blissful world of near-perfect Christians, instant answers to selfish prayers and a life forever free from pain, heartache and trials. Theirs is most likely mere puppy love, relative to the ardor moving you to tough it out.

Never confuse devotion with emotion. As an illustration; consider the dangers inherent in the most intimate human relationship. In a romance, love and physical desire can be intertwined, heartache and tragedy looms for anyone who fails to recognize them as separate entities. What if a person’s marriage plans are swayed by an inability to distinguish between love and sexual appetite? What if in marriage a loss of sexual function is viewed as a decline in love? Such a misconception could threaten the whole relationship. Similarly, in the spiritual realm a failure to distinguish between feelings and love for God has serious implications.

Though I’m all for emotional excitement, the Bible measures love, not in tingles per second, but in putting one’s life on the line. (1 John 3:16-18) It’s pain endured in the valley, not gooey feelings in the afterglow of mountaintop ecstasy, which validates love. By all means, passionately seek the face of God, but don’t assume that emotional deadness – a normal phase of anyone’s spiritual life – implies spiritual deadness. We march by faith, not by warm fuzzies. We may speak ”christianese” until we turn blue in the face.

An athlete, in the midst of a record-breaking run, has never in his life been so fit and strong. Yet his pain-racked body may have never felt so weak. Likewise, in the midst of a spiritual trial, it is not uncommon to be stronger and yet feel weaker than ever before. And to fellow Christians you might seem hopeless. An ultra-marathon champion staggering up the final hill looks pathetic. A child could do better. Anyone not understanding what this man has gone through would shrink from him in disgust. Only someone with all the facts would be awed by his stamina as he stumbles on.

Think about Scott and his team, who struggled to the South Pole only to discover their honor of being the first to reach the Pole was lost forever. Amundsen had beaten them by about a month. To add to the futility, they endured further blizzards, illness, frostbite and starvation only to perish; the last three dying just a few miles from safety. Yet today their miserable defeat ending with death in frozen isolation, not witnessed by a living soul, is hailed as one on the greatest ever accomplishments of human exploration and endurance.

Every fiber of my being is becoming convinced that their glory is just a shadow of what you can achieve. Though you suffer in isolation and apparent futility, the depths of your trial known to no one on earth, your name could be blazed in heaven’s lights, honored forever by heaven’s throngs for your epic struggle with despair, illness, bereavement, or whatever.

The day is coming when what is endured in secret will be shouted from the housetops. Look at Job: bewildered, maligned, misunderstood; battling not some heroic foe but essentially common things – a financial reversal, bereavement, illness; – not cheered on by screaming fans, just booed by some one-time friends. If even on this crazy planet Job is honored today, I can’t imagine the acclaim awaiting you when all is revealed. Your battle with life’s miseries can be as daring as David’s encounter with Goliath. Don’t worry that others don’t understand this at present. One day they will. And that day will never end.

Life seems hopeless. Every day it feels you’ve slumped another notch. To maintain even a glimmer of faith in such darkness is a spectacular victory. It may take everything you’ve got just to hold on. But do it. You are pumping spiritual iron.

“If your blossom is dying, it’s so that the fruit can grow. Remember the cripple at the temple gate: he hoped for alms and got legs. (Acts 3:1-3) Creator God loves surprises. And he loves you.
Earth sees us flattened on the wrestling ring canvas in faith’s fight. Heaven sees us forming on the canvas of the Great Artist. “

Half-completed works of art look ugly. All that matters, however, is the finished masterpiece. Forget appearances. Submit to the Artist. The result will be breath taking.

I Want You

If you really know God as your loving heavenly Father, you consider companionship with Him your greatest treasure. I've heard of a father who had to be away from home about seven months. On his return he took his family to a shopping center. Handing some money to his little girl, he said, "Lydia, take this money and buy anything you want." The child's eyes filled with tears as she clung more tightly to his hand. "What's the matter, Honey?" he asked. "I don't want money, Daddy," she said. "I want you!"

Jam 4:8 (a) Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

God has such a desire to have a close relationship with us. This fact was brought home to me when I read the following little story (author unknown):

“Why Dad Slept in the Attic
A minister's son was caught skipping school for three days. His father reprimanded him and prayed for him and though the boy wept and was truly contrite, he was still punished.
"Son, one of the facts of life is that where there is sin, there is suffering," the father said.
"You have been living a lie for three days, so for 72 hours I am banning you to the attic, with a bed and three meals a day, but you must stay up there and make amends," he charged.
The boy did as he was told. When supper was served, the minister prayed with his wife, but he was restless and could not eat. When it was time to go to bed he knew he would have no rest.
"Honey, I am going upstairs to sleep with our boy," he told his wife.
He found his son wide awake and he hugged him and lay down beside him. Each night, the father took the place of punishment with his child.
How like our own God, who despite our transgressions loves us enough to send His Son to be with us, and to die for us.”

It’s said that one day the great artist, Michelangelo, stood outside a window. Inside he saw a canvas with a few brushes and paints next to it. All that was missing was the hand of the artist.

"Oh," cried Michelangelo, "if I could only be inside, what a picture I could paint!"

That's exactly what Christ wishes when He stands outside your life. "Oh, what I could accomplish, if only I could get in!"

Allow Him to get in. Open the door of your heart. Believe on Him. Then He will bring peace to your troubled soul.

In CHRIST we have-
A LOVE that can never be fathomed;
A LIFE that can never die;
A RIGHTEOUSNESS that can never be tarnished;
A PEACE that can never be understood;
A REST that can never be disturbed;
A JOY that can never be diminished;
A HOPE that can never be disappointed;
A GLORY that can never be clouded;
A HAPPINESS that can never be interrupted;
A LIGHT that can never be darkened;
A STRENGTH that can never be enfeebled;
A BEAUTY that can never be marred;
A PURITY that can never be defiled;
A WISDOM that can never be baffled;
RESOURCES that can never be exhausted.

Abba Father

Often times, instead of taking the road less travelled, we embark on the road, well travelled. We follow the ideologies of man and the demands of a popular society and when we do this, so often we end up in the “oh woe is me’ category of life.

Sometimes, just because we do not know any better, we make the wrong decision, take the wrong option and end up in misery and despair.

Welcome to the world of so many. Many before and many after will make the wrong choice. But. There is hope!

Hos 13:9 O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in Me is your help.

As a people, the whole nation of Israel took the wrong direction. They opted for the popular choice and brought calamity upon themselves. But read and listen to the words of God. He does not condemn, He reminds them, that in Him, lies their salvation and their rescue.

Hos 14:4 I will heal their backslidings; I will love them freely; for My anger has turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall grow as the lily and cast out his roots like Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They who dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive like the grain, and grow like the vine. Their scent shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

Ø “I will love them freely”. It is by His grace and His mercy, that we are saved, not by works. “I will heal their backslidings”. Try as we might, we can not heal ourselves, only the Great Physician, Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer, can heal our iniquities.

Ø “for My anger has turned away from him”. In His grace and in His mercy, He no longer remembers our sin. Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah; though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

Ø “I will be as the dew to Israel”, he will be the provider, He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our provider. He will never leave nor forsake those who cry out to Him.

Ø “They who dwell under his shadow shall return”. Psa 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall rest under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Jehovah, my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him I will trust. 3 Surely He will deliver you from the fowler's trap and from the destroying plague. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall trust. His truth shall be your shield, and buckler.

Through our own actions and wrong choices, we may become lost and desperate, but we have a God who is more than able, a Father whose heart yearns after His children, a safe haven and a covenant, covered by a mercy seat.

All we have to do is cry out “Abba Father”

Fear factor

It is not fun to be afraid in the "real" sense. Fear is that emotion that is so well known. It is produced by a sense of danger, impending calamity or some dire emergency, or even by walking into a dentist's office. It is a powerful emotion that can damage both the physical body and the personality. Fear can even block the thought processes.

2Ti 1:6 Therefore I remind you to inflame anew the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

One writer said it this way: "The greatness of our fears shows us the littleness of our faith." We need to pray about our fears and our faith, and turn to the Lord for help to face our fears.

Fear is not from God. That’s it!

Because it is not from God, we cannot expect to walk in the realm of the miraculous if we continue to walk under the bondage of fear.

If I am afraid of the future, If I am afraid of sickness, If I am afraid of poverty and lack, If I am afraid of another human being, I am in bondage.

Some people would even boast about their fears. “Ooh I’m so afraid of the dark or I’m afraid of taking the risk with the new business”.

How can I boast about a `spirit` that is not from God yet I claim to be a believer?

Fear is a `spirit`: “God has not given us the spirit of fear”. This short sentence proves that fear is a `spirit`

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

The devil`s greatest desire is to keep us in bondage, to keep us from reaching our full potential in and through Christ Jesus. His biggest weapon and consort is the spirit of fear. To create in us a fear of rejection, that God would reject us, that our sins would separate us from God, that God will cause bad things to happen to us.

It`s the fear factor in our lives, that prevents us from reaching success, that causes us to take the easy way out, to stay away from our destiny.

Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Jam 1:13 Let no one being tempted say, I am tempted from God. For God is not tempted by evils, and He tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted by his lusts, being drawn away and seduced by them. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin. And sin, when it is fully formed, brings forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning.

“17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning”.

God has no intention to harm or hurt or maim or damage or destroy. His thoughts towards us are of good and not of evil.

So then, guess who is the author and the administrator of fear in our lives.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father!

I believe that the devil`s biggest fear is that we will stop walking in fear, for then we will be free. Free to reach our full potential, free to accomplish great exploits for the glory of God.

Come on: Joh 8:31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on Him, If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Break free, break free from the bondage of fear and become who you have been destined and ordained to be, even from before the foundations of the earth.

God’s opinion

In this modern day and age, we consider the opinions of others so much, it could actually get to a place, where it controls us.

How often do we want to say or do something, but the first question that comes to mind is: “what will people say” or “what will they think of me” or you share an idea with a friend and the first thing the friend say is: “are you nuts?” or “that will never work” or even worse stuff comes out of their mouths.

Do you recognise this? Then, as soon as I pay attention to their words or opinions, I give up on my dream, I relinquish the idea.

Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being. 17 How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!18 If I made up their number, it would be more than the grains of sand; when I am awake, I am still with you.

17 How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!

Public opinion on certain issues are important, but. When it comes to my life and your life, the only opinion that matters, is God’s opinion.

What does He say or think about me? Who does He proclaim, I am?

There is a saying that goes something like this: “nothing you do, can make Him love you more and nothing you do, can make Him love you less, but, He loves you too much, to leave you as you are”

Psa 37:3 Have faith in the Lord, and do good; be at rest in the land, and go after righteousness. 4 So will your delight be in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. 5 Put your life in the hands of the Lord; have faith in him and he will do it. 6 And he will make your righteousness be seen like the light, and your cause like the shining of the sun. 7 Take your rest in the Lord, waiting quietly for him; do not be angry because of the man who does well in his evil ways, and gives effect to his bad designs.

“4 So will your delight be in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. 5 Put your life in the hands of the Lord; have faith in him and he will do it.”

Sometimes we are overwhelmed with failures because we are so aware of our own, but we fail to notice those of others. The athlete is not celebrated for the games he has lost; the photographer throws away his poor pictures; the potter reshapes his jars; and the painter displays only his best portraits.

Perhaps then, God has different measurements for failure and success than we do.

Paul the Apostle was not acclaimed during his lifetime. He was rejected by Jews and held in suspicion by Gentiles. He was stoned, beaten, imprisoned, mocked by some, and ignored by others. He spent his life starting little churches that were soon overtaken with problems so big that the members needed revisiting and letters written to them to straighten out their difficulties.

Paul taught the truth only to discover that some who received it on one day were turning the next day to some false doctrine. No glory crowned his life, nor was any success evident when, during his last days, his friends deserted him as he was held prisoner. In the end, he was shamefully executed.

Yet, looking back on the ministry of Paul, we see that he was indeed a successful failure. One-half of the books of the New Testament are from his pen, and he is now hailed as the greatest Christian missionary of all time!

Focus on God’s opinion and His desire for your life. Expect God’s outcome for your life.

The Cost of Indecision

How often do we procrastinate or put off the making or taking of a decision?

I remember reading the following story about former US President, Mr Ronald Reagan:

Former President Ronald Reagan says he learned the need for decision-making early in life. An aunt had taken him to a cobbler to have a pair of shoes made for him. The shoemaker asked young Ronald Reagan, "Do you want a square toe or a round toe?"
Reagan hemmed and hawed. So the cobbler said, "Come back in a day or two and let me know what you want."
A few days later the shoemaker saw Reagan on the street and asked what he had decided about the shoes. "I still haven't made up my mind," the boy answered. "Very well," said the cobbler.
When Reagan received the shoes, he was shocked to see that one shoe had a square toe and the other a round toe.
"Looking at those shoes every day taught me a lesson," said Reagan years later. "If you don't make your own decisions, somebody else will make them for you!"

The sovereign God has made us people, not puppets. We have His Word to guide us, His love to redeem us, and His assurance that we are capable of making choices.

Psa 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you, My eye shall be on you. 9 Be not like the horse, or like the mule, who have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, so that they do not come near you.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. —1 JOHN 5:14-15

First, He tells us that we can have confidence in our asking when we are asking according to His will. Why would this kind of asking give us confidence?

Because when we ask according to His will, He hears us; if He hears us, then we will receive what we asked for. So, what is the key to receiving? Getting God to hear us.
How do we get Him to hear us? Ask according to His will. What is His will? His Word! When we base our asking on what His Word says, then we will have what we are asking for because God is listening to us when we ask according to His will.

In this modern day and age, we consider the opinions of others so much; it could actually get to a place, where it controls us.

How often do we want to say or do something, but the first question that comes to mind is: “what will people say” or “what will they think of me” or you share an idea with a friend and the first thing the friend say is: “are you nuts?” or “that will never work” or even worse stuff comes out of their mouths.

Do you recognise this? Then, as soon as I pay attention to their words or opinions, I give up on my dream, I relinquish the idea.

Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book all my days were recorded, even those which were purposed before they had come into being. 17 How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!18 If I made up their number, it would be more than the grains of sand; when I am awake, I am still with you.

How dear are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the number of them!

Public opinion on certain issues are important, but. When it comes to my life and your life, the only opinion that matters, is God’s opinion.

What does He say or think about me? Who does He proclaim, I am?

The kingdom of God, the rule of God in our hearts; the right of Jesus Christ to be Lord within us can never be shaken. And that is what is being tested today so that all phoniness is being exposed. I have never seen a time when more people who are apparently strong, virile Christians have fallen away, and have renounced the faith in our present day. But the things that cannot be shaken will remain, and that which is based on the phony and the untrue will crumble and fall.

Patience vs Doubt

Jam 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion, greeting: 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations, 3 knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.

We live in a world filled with all sorts of tests, trials and tribulations. From the major events and catastrophes worldwide, floods, drought and war, to the small things in the individual household; debts that must be met, illness, robberies, people struggling with addiction, the list, is endless.

And then, along comes our dear brother James. “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations, 3 knowing that the trying of your faith works patience.”

Be patient, while the doctors have to run another test. Be patient while the debt collector breaks the door down. Be patient while the boss tells you how sorry he is about having to lay you off…..

This is the time when the enemy steps in making statements like; “ha, and God said what??”, “Trust? Trust in what?”, “Will God? Really?”

That’s when we get down to the real battle. The battle of the mind, the battle of the emotions, when `feelings` want to take over.

This is when the real Spiritual Warfare starts. But. It does not start or go hand in hand with lot’s and lot’s of action.

This battle actually requires of us to do very little.

All we have to do is, get dressed and then, stand. Yes, stand. That’s it.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness 15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. 16 Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

“Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

To stand, in the face of the enemy, while enduring attack upon attack, takes guts and determination and will develop patience and therein lies the key. The development of patience.

We do not have to run around and shout and scream and throw ash on our foreheads. All we have to do is; get dressed in the armor and then stand. Not run or hide but stand. Patiently – stand.

It is the patience that we develop, that causes us to lack nothing.
When we develop the patience, to allow God to do what He needs to do and do it in His time, then and only then, will we no longer lack.

“But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.”

With every bit of patience we develop, we move closer to becoming fully developed, mature and wise.

That is why, in the test and in the storm, we may count it joy, knowing that the longer we stand, the more we are developed and eventually, we will lack no more.

In this fight, the good fight of faith; we need to endure in order to develop patience. Ensuring a Godly outcome in this battle.

Most endurance athletes will run long distances to build up their stamina, train in the gym etc. But for our spiritual battle, we just need to practice ‘standing’. And while you stand around, you may just as well read a good book. Perhaps something like, say, oh perhaps, the ‘Bible’. Still a best seller and a good read on any bad day.

Living Intentionally (Part 2)

Living your life intentionally, living your life with purpose is not for the faint-hearted. It is difficult and full of challenges.

To live your life in such a way means that you will declare your standards and values and you will refuse to compromise.

Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

The dictionary explains `sacrifice` : “the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim, the thing so surrendered or devoted, a loss incurred in selling something below its value”

To live my life in a sacrificial manner towards the principles of God means that I value the Word more than I do my life.

“Reasonable” is defined as: “agreeable to reason or sound judgment, capable of rational behavior, decision” I consider the options and I make a deliberate choice. I intentionally sacrifice my way of thinking and doing and bring it into submission of God’s Word.

I do that because, I decide to surrender, because my own rational thinking has convinced me that doing it God’s way, serves a higher cause and is a more important issue. God’s agenda serves a higher purpose than my own agenda.

How do I manage to maintain this attitude? How do I remain focused?

1. “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God”

Any habit, good or bad, begins as part of a thought process. I think about something long and often enough and eventually the thoughts will turn into action. The more I do something, eventually it becomes a habit. Unfortunately my habits will eventually form my character.

2. By saturating myself with the Word, by aligning my thought patterns with the Word, I will eventually become a `doer` of the Word. In turn my character will take on the character of the Word.

But, it is a choice, and it is a choice that goes hand in hand with perseverance and determination.

However: take heart: Gal 6:8 For he sowing to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But he sowing to the Spirit will reap life everlasting from the Spirit. 9 But we should not lose heart in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not faint.

I suppose it`s okay to live your life, based on chance. The `whatever-will-be-will-be` attitude. You know, get up in the morning and let`s see where this day will take us.

3. But. That reminds me of “Jam 1:6 Let him make his request in faith, doubting nothing; for he who has doubt in his heart is like the waves of the sea, which are troubled by the driving of the wind.” Especially the waves of the sea. Forwards and backwards, forwards and backwards.

Ø People who live intentionally can not live like that. They should perhaps live after the example of Joshua.

Joshua stood before all the people of Israel and declared:

Jos 24:14 So now, go in fear of the Lord, and be his servants with true hearts: put away the gods worshipped by your fathers across the River and in Egypt, and be servants of the Lord. 15 And if it seems evil to you to be the servants of the Lord, make the decision this day whose servants you will be: of the gods whose servants your fathers were across the River, or of the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living: but I and my house will be the servants of the Lord.

Ø Observe someone who has direction, who has a plan and a purpose. They move forward, and those around them will know it. People who live intentionally, will be noticed. Not because of their pride or arrogance or because they are loud and obnoxious. No, they will be noticed because of the qualities and the values they purposefully instill into their own lives.

Ø What do they look like: people who live intentionally?

1) They will not be ashamed to let the world know that they are headed somewhere.

2) People who live intentionally will always be inspirational to others. They have a desire to see others live with the same drive and intent. They will sometimes be role models without even knowing they are. The lives they strive to live, will be example enough.

Joshua purposed to be a man who lives intentionally. He boldly stated his ambition: “but I and my house will be the servants of the Lord.”

Ø Why would he make such a bold statement?

He knew the covenant he had:

Jos 1:3 Every place on which you put your foot I have given to you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the waste land and this mountain Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, and all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea, in the west, will be your country. 5 While you are living, all will give way before you: as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not take away my help from you or give you up. 6 Take heart and be strong; for you will give to this people for their heritage the land which I gave by an oath to their fathers. 7 Only take heart and be very strong; take care to do all the law which Moses my servant gave you, not turning from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may do well in all your undertakings.

Ø Get to know your covenant and live intentionally.

I think it was Admiral Hyman Rickover that said “Learn from the mistakes of others, you will never live long enough to learn from your own”

Technology changes and advances so quickly, If you do not continually update yourself, you will be left behind very quickly.

Learn from the success of others. Why reinvent the wheel? It’s already been done. People who live intentionally should strive to do new things.
Tackle new ventures. Try something new.

Ø 1Pe 4:10 Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: Don’t keep everything to yourself. If you learnt a new skill, if you discovered a new revelation, if you came to a new understanding, share it. Don’t be afraid to ask. How will we learn if we never ask.

Ø Don’t always attempt to impress people, wanting to prove you are on the same level as they are. If you feel intimidated by the company, just tune in and listen intensively. Determine to learn from them. As you learn from others, you grow. Perhaps next time you won’t feel intimidated, because you have spent time learning.

Ø If you feel that God is beginning to prepare you for a new direction in life, begin to prepare and to equip yourself as well. Don’t always try to `wing it`. Find a mentor or a trusted friend, who can help you and guide you in your preparation for your new level. Read, study, and gather information. Pro 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to advice is wise. Pro 15:22 Without wisdom, purposes are defeated, but by many wise men they are established.

2Ti 2:15 Study earnestly to present yourself approved to God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

By applying yourself, by taking and gleaning from others, their wealth of experience and knowledge, you will never be left ashamed.

Somebody once said “Fake it till you make it” I, don’t trust in that attitude anymore. Before you `make it` you might just end up being exposed. Save yourself many moments of embarrassment, by owning up to the fact that you don’t know everything about everything. Sometimes it’s just better to admit that you don’t have the answer. It`s okay not to know everything.

However, that is not an excuse to remain ignorant.

People who live intentionally are people who do what it takes to develop and grow. They are the risk takers, they are the ones who will try and try again.

They walk by Faith, for they know they have a Father in whom they can trust.

People who live intentionally, who made it their purpose to live according to the Word of god, will live in the miraculous. They will see and experience what others would only dream of or wish for.

Living intentionally brings change and brings achievement with it.

Luk 5:3 And he got into one of the boats, the property of Simon, and made a request to him to go a little way out from the land. And being seated he gave the people teaching from the boat. 4 And when his talk was ended, he said to Simon, Go out into deep water, and let down your nets for fish. 5 And Simon, answering, said, Master, we were working all night and we took nothing: but at your word I will let down the nets. 6 And when they had done this, they got such a great number of fish that it seemed as if their nets would be broken;

These guys were experienced fisherman, they knew the waters and they knew the conditions. This was their business.

Yet they decided to follow the instruction of Jesus. They did so intentionally. Simon could have ignored the advice, he could have told Jesus to please stop interfering. No. He chose to listen and to do.

The thing is, Simon did not have to buy another boat. He did not have to find a new crew to help him. No. Al he had to do was to allow Christ, to direct him.

When we decide to allow Christ into our lives and we truly submit and make Him the master of all, things change.

Psa 119:104 Through Your Commandments I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 105 NUN: Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

1. “Master, we were working all night and we took nothing”. Simon made an admission. He admitted to Jesus that they have been hard at work, doing it in the way they knew, but they had no success. Sometimes we need to jus admit, that our way of doing things, do not produce the expected outcome. Perhaps we are not so bright after all.

2. “but at your word I will let down the nets”. Lord, just speak the word. Tell us how it should be done and we will do it. How often do we say this, but when His Word does not make sense, we stubbornly carry on in our old ways. Perhaps if we decide to accept His Word and His ways, then we will experience His results.

3. He will never stop encouraging us. That is why He gave us His Word to light up the way and to guide us in His path.

Not only does the Bible contribute to our belief in the best is yet to be, but the things of our daily lives reveal that this is true, too. It is this belief that keeps the scientist, inventor, and researcher busy.
· The best car hasn't been developed.
· The final cure hasn't been discovered.
· The safest plane hasn't been produced.
· The best song hasn't been written.
· The best product is not on the market.
· The best church hasn't been grown.
· The best sales presentation has not been perfected.
· The best class hasn't been taught.
· The best way hasn't been found.
· The best...is yet to be.

The phrase "The best is yet to be" is a positive affirmation that gives life direction. It provides hope: there is more to come in life. It's the spirit of expectancy: good things are going to happen. It is seen through the eyes that look for opportunities that will be greater than ever. It is received through proper planning and work. Desire is the fuel that makes it a reality. THE BEST IS YET TO BE!

Living intentionally (Part 1 )

1. How to Be Miserable in 20 Easy Steps!
Sometimes one comes across a note or a quote or a remark that leaves an impression on you. Here then a list I came upon. It made me to sit up and think a little.

1. Use "I" as often as possible.
2. Always be sensitive to slights.
3. Be jealous and envious.
4. Think only about yourself.
5. Talk only about yourself.
6. Trust no one.
7. Never forget a criticism.
8. Always expect to be appreciated.
9. Be suspicious.
10. Listen greedily to what others say about you.
11. Look for faults in others.
12. Shirk your duties if you can.
13. Do as little as possible for others.
14. Never forget a service you may have rendered.
15. Sulk if people are not grateful for your favors.
16. Insist on consideration and respect.
17. Demand agreement with your own views on everything.
18. Always look for a good time.
19. Love yourself first.
20. Be selfish at all times!

I think Paul came upon such a list when he wrote to the church at Corinth:

1Co 3:1 And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual ones, but as to fleshly, as to babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk and not with solid food, for you were not yet able to bear it; nor are you able even now. 3 For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envyings and strife and divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men?

Perhaps if we would just do some self evaluation, we might see why it always comes down to “they don`t understand me” or “they always pick on me” or “they never see it my way”. Maybe it`s not “them”.

Always wanting to `make your point` or having to `win the argument` or `they need to know how I feel` or `having to have the last word` is in fact not about `them`. It`s about `you`. And when it`s always about me, then perhaps the problem lies with `me`.

I read this short story a couple of days ago:

When Marie Antoinette came to Paris as a bride, not a single ragged or starving person appeared on the streets along which the splendid procession passed. France was seething with discontent at the time, born of dire poverty-a discontent that was later to break out in the horrors of the Revolution-but Marie Antoinette was not to know anything about that. So the poor starving populace were swept into the side streets where they could not be seen and kept penned up there so that Marie Antoinette might think all was happy and prosperous in Paris. But optimism based on ignorance is not optimism at all. Optimism gained by a refusal to face the facts is deliberate self-deception. Fear to face reality stems from fear of the sacrifice and labor of love that may be involved. Selfishness turns away its face from the sorrows, shames, and failures of others. But love dares to look at the head bowed with grief and the face paled with suffering.

Pro 15:31 The ear that hears the reproof of life shall remain among the wise. 32 He who refuses instruction despises his own soul, but he who hears reproof gets understanding.

2. Indecision is a fatal decision
Which of these excuses tempt you to stay in the "grey twilight" of indecision?

o If I try, I might fail.
o People might think I'm stupid.
o I'll stick with what I do best.
o If I really commit to something, then I'll have to change the way I live.
o The dog ate it.
o If I say yes to something, I'll have to say no to lots of other things.
o I want to keep my options open.
o I can't do that!
o There's nothing I can do.
o I tried it before, and it didn't work.
o I'll just pray about it.

Deu 30:19 Let heaven and earth be my witnesses against you this day that I have put before you life and death, a blessing and a curse: so take life for yourselves and for your seed: 20 In loving the Lord your God, hearing his voice and being true to him: for he is your life and by him will your days be long: so that you may go on living in the land which the Lord gave by an oath to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Christians must be `people of intent`.

Everything in life is based on choice. We can not live life, without having to make or take certain decisions. We choose where we live, how we dress, how we react to situations. Everything is about choice.

I even choose my attitude. The old cliché says “your attitude will determine your altitude”. It might be a cliché`, but it still remains truth.

What goes on around me, can not be allowed to determine my attitude. That is why we need to be people of intent.

To love someone with the love of Christ is a choice. To forgive a hurt, or a wrong done against me, is a choice.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, a quiet mind, kind acts, well-doing, faith, 23 Gentle behaviour, control over desires: against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ's have put to death on the cross the flesh with its passions and its evil desires. 25 If we are living by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us be guided. 26 Let us not be full of self-glory, making one another angry, having envy of one another.

And those who are Christ's have put to death on the cross the flesh with its passions and its evil desires.

To crucify the flesh and it`s passions, is a choice.

I intentionally chose to live a life that bears the fruit of the Spirit. It does not just happen. It takes effort and it takes self-control. I have to put down all pride and purposefully and constantly check myself.

I have to make the adjustments in my own life in order to line up with the Word of God. The Word will and can not be adjusted to suit me. I have to conform to it`s values.

3. The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own.

Ø No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins.

No person should allow another person to control his/her life. Circumstance can not take charge of your life. ‘Things’ happen. ‘Life’ happens. Bad things happen to good people.

It’s not about what happens to you – it’s about the way you respond to the things that happen to you.

Pro 25:28 A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.

Have you ever seen an abandoned house – after vandals and hooligans got hold of it?

The Bible compares a person without self control to just that.

In order to avoid my house being vandalized and damaged, I have to protect it, I have to place guards around it if need be, in order to avoid permanent damage.

Pro 4:23 Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.

I can not leave my heart unprotected. I need to be so careful who I allow into my heart. Some will come in and take good care, but others will come in and create a mess, and when they leave they do not care about the damage they leave behind. Guess who needs to clean up and pick up the pieces.

Self-control helps me to protect that which is important to me.

Msg bible: Rom 12:1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life--and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2 don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Self control comes with a sense of accountability.

 I am responsible for my actions.

 I determine the actions I am willing to take.

 I control the thoughts I entertain.

 I decide the path of life I want to travel on.

 God has the best plan for my life, but I decide to follow that plan or not to follow it.

Approval

Our Lord keeps emphatically stating in his Word that gaining God’s approval flows not from good living but solely from trusting what Jesus achieved by dying for our sins.

To make this point, the apostle Paul lists all his spiritual achievements.

Not only was he born to the right family, he was renowned as a highly qualified and respected theologian and Bible scholar. He followed God’s Word to the letter from childhood; his whole life devoted to serving God.

And yet if challenged as to why he should go to heaven, he regarded all his clean living and sacrificial devotion and prayer and tithing and training and reputation and position among the cream of the religious elite of God’s chosen people, as being so much trash. When he stood before the x-ray eyes of the fearsome Judge of all humanity, he would sooner display his own bodily filth as hold up any of these as reason why Almighty God should accept him. He was resolute in this determination to put all his eggs in one basket and, on that fateful day when his eternal destiny hangs in the balance, ditch all his qualifications and declare,

“Lord God, my one and only hope of your acceptance is that the holy Son of God died for me, the chief of sinners.”

“ . . . I consider them rubbish,” wrote Paul about his every moral achievement, “that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own . . . but that which is through faith in Christ . . .” (Philippians 3: 8-9).

Paul did not want any righteousness that could be called his own.

With more reason than almost anyone on the planet, Paul used to pride himself on his moral achievements.

Then he encountered the terrifying holiness of Jesus and the unattainable beauty of his goodness. Suddenly, in the brilliance of Jesus’ purity, his own attempts at righteousness looked repulsive. Then he discovered that he could be credited with everything that Jesus has done, simply by asking for it in faith.

No wonder Paul wanted credited to his account not the slightest good that he had ever done. To try to be credited with both Jesus’ righteousness and one’s own would be like being given sparklingly pure water and mixing it with one’s own filth.

What separates people spiritually is not how much they have sinned but how much they abandon faith in themselves and cling to Jesus as their Savior. We dare not dissipate our faith by trying to hedge our bets. All our faith must be in Jesus alone. We must avoid putting even a microscopic speck of faith in our own devotion or in the presumption that there are others even more sinful.

Our certain but sole hope of gaining God’s approval is that on the cross Jesus swapped places with us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says I am the righteousness of God in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says I am a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

The end of Romans 8 says that nothing – not even suffering or calamity or persecution – can separate me from the love of God.
Romans 8:18 ‘I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.’

In 2 Corinthians 4:17, Paul, who was frequently tortured, says my sufferings are light and momentary and are achieving for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Romans 8:35-37 ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.’

Rejected by God (5 Conclusion)

It is inevitable that Christians be plagued with guilt feelings and for people God is proud of to feel hopeless moral failures. Condemnation and shame are powerful, potentially lethal illusions afflicting us all and yet we will discover that these very feelings have propelled famous Christians to spiritual greatness. To understand why every child of God suffers these devastating feelings, we need to understand the nature of spiritual reality and the under-hand tactics of our spiritual enemies.

I am acutely aware that almost always there are natural psychological factors behind a nagging conscience. Understanding the non-spiritual component of our affliction is so vital that I dare not fail to address it. It could literally be a matter of life or death for some readers. Before getting there, however, I’d like us to peep over the fence and glimpse the other side.

Whether we admit it or not, we live in a war zone, with all the danger and horror that implies. In the deadly clash between the two spiritual superpowers, Planet Earth is perhaps the most strategic place in the universe.

We fight not flesh and blood – not beings that show themselves and follow the Geneva Convention – but supernatural intelligences so determined to ruin us that there is no level of evil to which they will not stoop. Relative to us, these malicious, nonphysical life-forms have terrifying powers. Relative to the Almighty, however, they are pathetic. They are powerless to stop God from loving us, forgiving us and keeping all his glorious promises to believers. These enemies of truth cannot change reality. They can only look on in frustrated fury at all the blessings God has for us.

There is only one thing these jealous ghouls can do. They can fight dirty by trying their utmost to trick us out of everything that is rightfully ours.

For insight into the supernatural power games each of us is thrust into, imagine yourself in the following natural situations. Suppose:

* You have a check for a million bucks in your hand, but you believe it is worthless.
* You are languishing in a dungeon, wrongly believing that the unlocked door is wired to blast you to pieces the moment you touch it.
* You could become the greatest pop star, but after years of being ridiculed by your family, you believe your voice is so pathetic that you feel too ashamed to use it.
* You are madly in love with someone who is equally over the moon about you, but you are too shy to make this discovery because you believe that person despises you.
* A sickly weakling seeks to humiliate you, threatening you with a harmless imitation of what you believe to be a deadly weapon.

Once our beliefs are affected, we can be robbed, stripped, cheated out of almost anything. You can be conned out of the spiritual equivalent of a billion inheritance unless you believe the right thing.

Ultimately, our beliefs drive our actions. So even more important that what anyone does, is what a person believes.

Your belief system is both the engine room and the control center of your entire existence. Your destiny teeters on what you believe, and the spiritual lowlife who lust after your destruction, know it.

So your beliefs about God and about what he has done for you is the key area of spiritual attack. The enemies of your soul know that you will inevitably act, not according to the astoundingly wonderful things God has done for you, but solely according to what you believe God has done for you. As important as reality is, reality will do you no good if you are tricked into not believing reality.

God’s spiritual enemies want to cheat us out of all the love, dignity, power, freedom, fulfillment, peace, and every other extravagant gift that Jesus shed his last drop of blood to lavish upon us. Demonic, hate-crazed con artists long to hoodwink us out of priceless things that are rightfully ours, and they succeed more often than we dare think.

Astounding things happen to everyone serving a God who promised to work all things together for good. With a God able to outsmart the devil at his every turn, the devil’s attack could even become God’s secret weapon.

People have become outstanding men and women of God precisely because they were hounded by severe guilt feelings. Had assurance of salvation been an easy thing for them, I cannot imagine them becoming the great achievers for the kingdom that they are now famous for.

Likewise, I believe your torment could be a sign that you are headed for spiritual greatness. That’s certainly what history suggests.

Rejected by God (part 4)

This is part of a series for those times when we fear that God has rejected us or is uncaring.

Perhaps you fear you have abused God’s grace too often or secretly suppose you are not a high priority with God. In this page we will continue to plunge deep into the heart of God, as revealed in his Word. Our goal is to see if our fears and suspicions about God have a genuine basis or whether, despite surface indications, God is more loving that we dare hope and longs to lavish us with blessings.

When the resurrected Lord walked with the two to Emmaus, “Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them” (Luke 24:28-29). Taken in isolation, Jesus acting as if he had no desire to stay with them might seem peculiar, but we have already seen in previous messages (parts 1 – 3) that the Lord, through prophets, often seems to give no hope when in reality there is much hope. Jesus’ behavior in Emmaus fits the pattern that is beginning to appear.

We see something similar in Mark 6:48. Jesus was on the land praying. The disciples were in the boat on the lake. Jesus saw them straining at the oars because the wind was against them, so he went out to them, walking on the water. What baffles Bible commentators is that the text seems to say Jesus acted as if he were going to walk on past the boat. This never eventuated because the disciples reacted and Jesus responded and the sea calmed.

We, too, know what it is like to feel that Jesus is going to by-pass us.

Urgent word was sent to Jesus that Lazarus was dying. Jesus stayed put. Eventually he turned up days late. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” sobbed Mary (John 11:32). It felt like Jesus was uncaring. The feeling was wrong. “God is love” means God always cares. No exceptions.

The God who longs to pour out his blessings upon us keeps making it seem as if he has no intention of blessing us. He is forever trying to coax faith out of us, and faith can only grow where there seems good reason for doubt. Just as muscles will not only not grow but will waste away unless they repeatedly come against resistance, so faith can grow only when it meets resistance.

Making it Hard for Us ?

John 6:52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (53) Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. . . . (60) On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (61) Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? . . . (63) . . . The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. (64) Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” . . . (65) He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” (66) From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (67) “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. (68) Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (69) We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Note how Jesus did not make it easy for them. He could have simplified his teaching, making it far more intelligible, but he refused. Those worthy of salvation – those desperate for God – will cling to Jesus even when he doesn’t make sense and belief seems almost impossible. Never do we prove ourselves unworthy of salvation by our past, but only if for the remainder of our lives we refuse to believe in Jesus as our Savior. To say, “I don’t understand, so I’ll reject Jesus as my Savior,” or “I don’t feel anything but rejection, so I won’t believe Jesus is my Savior,” is to miss out. To say, “I can’t understand it or feel it, but I will still do my utmost to believe that Jesus is my Savior,” is to win eternal life.

For top athletes to develop, they must be pushed to their limit.

God knows our exact capacity for faith. He will not ask us to go beyond our capacity, but faith – more precious than Olympic gold – grows best by being stretched to its limit.

So that is precisely what our loving Lord seeks to do.

Rejected by God (Part 3)

If God’s words can sometimes lead us to wrongly suppose we’ve been rejected, an even easier to make but way off-the-mark presumption is to suppose that God’s discipline or punishment implies his rejection or lack of love. Over and over Scripture stresses the very opposite. It insists that God’s punishment is proof of his love for us, and confirmation that we are genuine children of God.

Hebrews 12:5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, (6) because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” (7) . . . God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? (8) If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. (9) Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! (10) Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. (11) No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

And there are many similar Scriptures.

Correctly administered, parental discipline is short-term discomfort that protects loved ones from long-term pain. It should be an act of parental care provided for their loved one’s safety and well-being. As implied in the above Scripture, parents often get it wrong, but God never gets it wrong.
We all die. To “save” someone’s life is merely to delay their death for what, relative to eternity, is an infinitesimal speck of time. So if, when it is a matter of life or death, severe action is sometimes required, how much more must this be so when one’s eternal destiny is at stake!
God’s punishment is temporary unpleasantness tailored to maximize our eternal pleasure. It is a loving act designed to nurture and protect and train.

To mistake this act of love for rejection would cause enormous confusion and needless distress.

The loving necessity of punishment when one’s eternity is in danger is something we need to understand, not just when we ourselves are being punished, but also when reading in Scripture of God punishing people. For God to strike someone dead means that person did wrong and a strong warning needs to be sent to his or her contemporaries and perhaps even subsequent generations but it usually says little about that person’s eternity.

Of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 10:9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did – and were killed by snakes. (10) And do not grumble, as some of them did – and were killed by the destroying angel. (11) These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

In Scripture we see people losing a ministry, or even dying prematurely, through God’s judgment, but this does not necessarily mean those people were sent to hell.

What might send thunderous shockwaves on earth – God striking a Christian dead – might hardly rate as a ripple in that person’s eternity. In stark contrast, the peaceful passing of an elderly person destined for hell is a cataclysmic event for that person and can lull observers into a dangerous spiritual complacency.

To be punished by God might be most unpleasant now but when viewed from eternity it is one of life’s greatest blessings.

It is our God-given opportunity to come to our senses, learn from our mistakes and find God’s forgiveness while we still have time. If a person’s eternity is at stake, after death is too late. God’s punishment in this life is a manifestation of his love and grace. In contrast, the greatest conceivable horror would be the Lord letting people go in blissful ignorance of their fate as they drift towards everlasting disaster.

Rejected by God (2)

It is typical of the God of the Bible that the driving force behind divine declarations of doom is God’s longing to inspire the apparently damned people to receive great blessing.
We’ll continue to explore this astounding discovery; examining Scriptural instances of people seemingly rejected or even damned by God. In the process, we will gain fascinating, little-known insights into the nature of Old Testament prophesy. The aim, however, is not mere head knowledge, but the heart-warming discovery of how loving and forgiving God really is, and the immense comfort this brings us when we feel condemned or rejected by God.

Hidden Love

Jonah was not an evangelist. As clearly stated in Scripture, this man was a prophet (2 Kings 14:25). His prophecy from God to the Ninevites was that in just forty more days, they would be destroyed (Jonah 3:4). That was his entire message. The prophecy held not a shadow of hope. God’s chosen instrument to pronounce this death sentence was a man who hated these people with a passion. He wanted them annihilated. You can be sure there was nothing about the body language or tone of voice of this messenger from God to hint to these pagans that the God of this foreigner might be loving or merciful. Everything hitting their senses told them they were doomed. They were wicked. They deserved destruction. Their time was up. And yet, desperately longing to find hope where there was no hope, the Ninevites repented and earnestly sought God, just like Jonah had dreaded and the Lord had secretly yearned for.

The prophet had tried to flee from his mission because he knew the tender heart that beat beneath the stony exterior God typically presents to the world. He knew God would delight in turning the Almighty’s prophecy into a false prophecy. He knew the Lord’s apparent harshness and rejection was only to inspire God’s enemies to change into people he could pour out his love and mercy upon.

I doubt very much that you have had a personal word from God pronouncing your doom. If you were convinced you had received such a word it would almost certainly be a trick from the Enemy of our souls, whom Scripture calls the Deceiver, the Accuser and the one who masquerades as an angel of light. He lusts after your relationship with God; yearning to rob you by sabotaging your faith in God’s eagerness to bless you. He would get his fill of sadistic pleasure out of you believing him when he slanders the Faithful One. How dare he suggest that God – who commands everyone to forgive seventy times seven – would himself have a limit on how many times he will forgive you, who long for forgiveness! That is accusing the Holy One of hypocrisy! The Deceiver’s hope is that, weighed down by gloom and doubts about God’s faithfulness, you might give up on the One who would never give up on you.

Nevertheless, let’s just suppose you were genuinely told by God that you are doomed. Even then, that pronouncement would not be the final word. If the reversal of Jonah’s prophecy does not convince you, let’s examine yet another biblical example of God’s eagerness to trash his own prophecy of doom.

Isaiah 38:1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” (2) Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, (3) . . . And Hezekiah wept bitterly. (4) Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: (5) “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. (6) And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. . . .

What makes our relationship with God so perplexing is that He has intelligence that is infinitely beyond our own. Only a genius could have guessed the effect of the Lord’s negative prophecy through Isaiah. Because of the Almighty’s pronouncement, “Hezekiah wept bitterly.”

Suddenly in Hezekiah’s eyes it was no longer a matter of sickness or health, but life or death. The message of doom intensified his prayers, powering him to a life-changing miracle. Hezekiah’s breakthrough hinged on two things: God implying his fate was sealed, and Hezekiah refusing to accept it as final.

Many Christians are like me in having wrongly supposed that if God prophesies something, it is final. The startling truth is that Scripture emphatically and repeatedly declares that whether God’s prophecies come true depends on the response of the people the prophecy is aimed at. We’ve looked at famous minor prophet Jonah and major prophet Isaiah. Let’s now seal it with the pronouncement of yet another renowned prophet: Jeremiah. This time, the Lord, through the prophet, clearly states the very principle we have discovered:
Jeremiah 18:7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, (8) and if that nation . . . repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.

We are plunging into some of the blackest parts of Scripture and yet even here we keep finding enormous hope for any condemned person or nation that repents. The Bible was written not as an historical curiosity; it was written by God for you (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 9:10; 10:6,11). So if ever you feel damned and utterly rejected by God, take seriously Scripture’s words of hope to people who likewise seemed doomed.

Later in the same book the Lord again reveals the intent of his prophecies of disaster:

Jeremiah 26:3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from his evil way. Then I will relent and not bring on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.

Jeremiah 26:13 Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the LORD your God. Then the LORD will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you.

Jeremiah 36:3 Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, each of them will turn from his wicked way; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.

These verses in Jeremiah are like islands of hope in a terrifying sea of fire.

Prophecies of judgment are often worded as if God hates the people and that their fate is sealed.

Our Lord goes to such lengths in firing words of doom at people not because there is no hope of them escaping the prophesied disasters, but precisely because there is hope. Prophecies are worded to seem final, not because everything is set in concrete, but to arm the prophecies with sufficient power to blast people back to reality.

Our loving Lord goes to the extreme of what seem angry, hate-filled words as a last-ditch effort to snap his loved ones out of the complacency that is threatening their eternity.

In his grace, he is giving them a foretaste of what it would be like unless they get serious with God, the only one who can save them.

So most prophecies are not declaring the inevitable future but are detailing what the target audience can expect if they do not change their hearts.

Rejected by God? (part 1 )

God has rejected me! There is hardly a Christian on the planet who has not at some time been haunted by that fear. Feeling rejected by anyone is painful, but for a devout Christian to feel rejected by God can be devastating, even terrifying.

Matthew 15:22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” (23) Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” (24) He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (25) The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. (26) He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” (27) “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” (28) Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

We find the woman pleading with Jesus, detailing her desperate plight to him. Without so much as uttering a word, he turns his back on her and walks away.

Despite reeling in the pain of rejection and being emotionally flattened by the hopelessness of it all, she still follows Jesus, crying out to him.

As if Jesus’ reaction were not enough, his chosen followers soon pile on their own rejection. Her persistence so annoys them that Jesus’ disciples plead with him to tell her to get lost. So Jesus tells her that his divine mission – the command of God on his life – is to minister exclusively to Jews, not Gentiles like her. Instead of resigning herself to the sovereign will of God, she begs even harder. Jesus is unyielding. He states even more emphatically that it was not right for him to do what she is asking.

This woman was a Gentile before Jesus’ sacrifice opened the way for Gentiles to be included in God’s Covenant. But not only was she a Gentile, she was a Canaanite – the worst of the Gentiles. She should not even have been born. Had God’s people been obedient to God’s command, her family line would have been wiped out generations ago.

By now her devastating feelings of rejection could have turned to anger and a determination to reject Jesus like he has rejected her. Yet despite all the pressure to give in to feelings of hopelessness and bitterness, she still refuses to take ‘No’ for an answer.

Why was Jesus so hard on her? Because he knew she had what it takes to rise to the challenge and that her doing so would bring her rich reward. Jesus’ seeming rejection brought out the best in her. Yes, she got her miracle like so many other people, but because Jesus let her seemingly suffer rejection, she soared far beyond getting her miracle to gaining Jesus’ high praise resounding through the tunnels of time for two thousand years around the world and continuing for all eternity.

Her refusal to accept Jesus’ apparent rejection not only thrilled the heart of God, it has inspired countless multitudes of Christians throughout every successive generation.

And the same is true for you. God has faith in you. You can rise to the challenge and refuse to be defeated by all the surface indications of rejection. You can ignore all the worrying superficialities and by faith see past them to the loving heart of Jesus. You can keep following Jesus even when he seems to have turned his back on you and walked away. And as you persist, you will thrill the heart of God, gain for yourself eternal glory, and inspire other Christians.

The Canaanite woman’s experience was not an isolated case.

Ruth was not just a Gentile; she was a Moabite, and as such she was singled out for special rejection from God.

Deuteronomy 23:3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation. . . . (6) Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.

How’s that for rejection! In contrast, this Scripture immediately goes on to mention other Gentiles:

Deuteronomy 23:7 Do not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as an alien in his country. (8) The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.

Ruth wanted to join the Israelites, but every indication was that God did not want her. Her only contact with God’s people had been with a family who seemed cursed. They had arrived in her country as economic refugees – hardly a sign of God’s blessing. Moreover, their impoverishment – due to God withholding rain – had forced them out of the land of God’s people. Then, one by one, every male member of the family died, including Ruth’s own husband. Then the surviving family member said:

Ruth 1:11 . . . “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? . . . (13) . . . the LORD’s hand has gone out against me!”

Over and over, Naomi kept insisting that it was unwise for her daughters-in-law to go with her to the land of God’s people. They would be better off where they were. Eventually, Ruth’s sister-in-law gave in to Naomi’s pleas. Ruth, however, kept pushing through all the objections and rejections. The result? God chose her over all the women in Israel as ancestress of King David and of the Messiah.

It is said if you take pity on a moth struggling to break free from its cocoon and make its passage out easier, the moth will be forever deformed. What seems an act of kindness ends up being cruel. The hard struggle to emerge is essential for the initial pumping of blood into its crumpled wings. I don’t know enough about moths to know if this is an urban myth, but I know my Lord well enough to be certain that if he makes something hard for us, it is for our own good. It is because making it easier would ultimately be less loving and cripple our spiritual development.
Like a good coach giving an athlete tough training sessions, God makes it hard for you because he longs for you to succeed.

I know this because I know God is love. Scour the planet, seeking the purest, selfless compassion. When at last you’ve found this rare and priceless treasure, blend in full-blooded passion. Add empathy – the ability to feel other people’s pain and their every emotion. Stir into the mixture flawless wisdom. Then multiply the result to infinity. What you now have is a shadow of God’s love.

God is warm, passionate, highly personal and yet consistent and utterly dependable. His intelligence soars far too high above us for his ways to be predictable by mere humans, but his loving heart never changes.

Everything God does – even his anger and judgments – is driven by love. Behind his every action beats a tender heart that longs to forgive and bless.

Get What You Can!

Some people do not read the Bible because, they say, there are so many things in the they cannot understand. It is said that these things, which cannot be understood, bothers them.

Of course these are excuses.


What does one do when he sits down to a Southern-fried chicken dinner, and finds there are bones in the chicken, which he is unable to chew? Does he excuse himself, and say, "I can't chew the bony parts of the chicken, therefore I won't try to eat any of it?" Hardly. He merely puts the bones to one side and enjoys the edible part of the chicken.

Why not put at least this much effort into Bible reading?

Someone said, "The fact that I am alive and on my way somewhere really caused me anxious moments, until I found the answer in the Bible. When I found it, it prompted me to let the shed blood of Christ cleanse me from my sins. God saved me and gave me the assurance of it, and I began to study the Bible, digesting the parts God's Holy Spirit led me to understand, and setting the rest aside, until He opened my eyes to the Truth therein. As God showed me the answers, my worship of Him increased naturally. Oh, indispensable is the Book of books!"

The Word of God corrects us. That is a particularly interesting word. When flying to Kenya, it seemed to me like a pretty straight shot from Johannesburg to Nairobi. But in the cockpit of the airplane is a fine-tuned radar mechanism. All during the trip, the plane is flown on automatic pilot, which continually yet imperceptibly corrects the course of the plane to keep it on track. That's what God's Word does for us. It nudges us to keep us on course.

It keeps affecting the way we think, the way we draw conclusions, and the way we make our daily life decisions.


Woodrow Wilson is reported to have said, "We have deprived ourselves of the best there is in the world if we deprive ourselves of a knowledge of the Bible." There is no comparison: the Bible is the best guide, and the believer's life is the best guided. Don't be deprived of the Bible's rich blessings. Read it daily. Study it often.

It is said that the Eastern shepherd, as he brings his sheep back to the fold each night, stands at the door and counts each one. As he does so, he puts his hand on the head of each animal. He makes a habit of touching each one of them. If he were to grow careless and neglect to habitually touch his sheep, it would soon turn its head away when it heard his voice! This, of course, could be very serious, for with such a broken habit would follow the animal's actually ignoring the warning shout from the shepherd and subsequently could be disastrous for the sheep.
If we are experiencing the Shepherd's touch daily in our lives, then we will recognize His voice when He warns of impending danger. This will mean "practicing His presence" daily. It we do not practice His presence then we have probably been practicing the presence of our enemy. Our Lord awaits the moment to "touch" our day with His presence.

Psa 119:104 Through Your Commandments I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. 105 NUN: Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

A man was seated on a park bench when a little boy of about five sat down beside him and started winding what appeared to be a most prized possession - a watch.

"My, what a pretty watch," remarked the man. "Does it tell you the time?"
"No sir," replied the boy; "you gotta look at it."

God's Truth is everywhere, but you must look for it and at it to see it.

Personal accountability

Psa 139:23 O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested: 24 See if there is any way of sorrow in me, and be my guide in the eternal way.

Personal accountability is a matter of choice.

It is one thing to submit and to be accountable to a mentor or a boss or a manager but it is a totally different kettle of fish, to be accountable to oneself. And to be open and honest at it.

David made a personal choice, he sat down and invited God in, to examine his heart and to show him, where change is needed.

To see, admit and then earnestly desire change and development within oneself, takes guts, hard work and a brutal kind of humbleness.

But, it is possible. And once I can become accountable to myself, being accountable to others becomes a peach.

When we pray this prayer, as David did, we invite God to reveal where and how we have sinned, erred or stepped outside of His will. Once we have done this, we can acknowledge, confess, repent, be forgiven and move on.

This kind of prayer time should be done at least once per day, perhaps at the end of a long day, using Personal accountability

Psa 139:23 O God, let the secrets of my heart be uncovered, and let my wandering thoughts be tested: 24 See if there is any way of sorrow in me, and be my guide in the eternal way.

Personal accountability is a matter of choice.

It is one thing to submit and to be accountable to a mentor or a boss or a manager but it is a totally different kettle of fish, to be accountable to oneself. And to be open and honest at it.

David made a personal choice, he sat down and invited God in, to examine his heart and to show him, where change is needed.

To see, admit and then earnestly desire change and development within oneself, takes guts, hard work and a brutal kind of humbleness.

But, it is possible. And once I can become accountable to myself, being accountable to others becomes a peach.

When we pray this prayer, as David did, we invite God to reveal where and how we have sinned, erred or stepped outside of His will. Once we have done this, we can acknowledge, confess, repent, be forgiven and move on.

This kind of prayer time should be done at least once per day, perhaps at the end of a long day, using it as a time to reflect, to gather strength and to cast down, the day’s pressures and anxieties.

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God! I will be praised among the nations, I will be praised in the earth.

Select a quiet spot, and review and reflect:

· When did I fail today and why?
· Where did I succeed and why?
· When did I give love today?
· Where did I receive love today?
· What habits and patterns do I notice in my day?
· In what ways did I notice God in my day?
· When did I feel most alive? Most drained?
· When did I have the greatest sense of belonging? The least sense of belonging?
· When was I most free? Least free?
· When was I most creative? Least creative?
· When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself?
· When did I feel most whole? Least whole?

Reconcile and resolve. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you. Talk to Jesus about the day.

Maybe you will feel led to forgive, to seek forgiveness, ask for direction, share a concern, express gratitude, etc.

Those who practice this kind of introspection and internal accountability will find a number of changes in their spiritual walk with God.

Some things you might experience or expect:

· It brings an increased awareness of God’s omnipresence in our lives and how we respond to His presence.
· It leads to an uncovering and acknowledgement of areas and issues that needs attention.
· It brings to remembrance, God’s goodness, in our lives and those we deal with. Present and past.
· It creates an increase in self-knowledge.
· It allows for an inward turning, of ‘self to God’.
· It might even create a desire to start and maintain a journal. A Record of personal-accountability.

People who practice personal accountability:

· Are more likely to work for achievement, to tolerate delays in rewards, and to plan for long-term goals.
· Are better able to resist manipulation.
· Are more likely to learn from their experiences and their surroundings.
· Are less prone to serious depression.
· Are better at tolerating ambiguous situations.
· Are more willing to work on self-improvement.
· Derive greater benefits from those people near to them.

Personal accountability is one way to lessen the areas of vulnerability in our lives.

it as a time to reflect, to gather strength and to cast down, the day’s pressures and anxieties.

Psa 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God! I will be praised among the nations, I will be praised in the earth.

Select a quiet spot, and review and reflect:

· When did I fail today and why?
· Where did I succeed and why?
· When did I give love today?
· Where did I receive love today?
· What habits and patterns do I notice in my day?
· In what ways did I notice God in my day?
· When did I feel most alive? Most drained?
· When did I have the greatest sense of belonging? The least sense of belonging?
· When was I most free? Least free?
· When was I most creative? Least creative?
· When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself?
· When did I feel most whole? Least whole?

Reconcile and resolve. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you. Talk to Jesus about the day.

Maybe you will feel led to forgive, to seek forgiveness, ask for direction, share a concern, express gratitude, etc.

Those who practice this kind of introspection and internal accountability will find a number of changes in their spiritual walk with God.

Some things you might experience or expect:

· It brings an increased awareness of God’s omnipresence in our lives and how we respond to His presence.
· It leads to an uncovering and acknowledgement of areas and issues that needs attention.
· It brings to remembrance, God’s goodness, in our lives and those we deal with. Present and past.
· It creates an increase in self-knowledge.
· It allows for an inward turning, of ‘self to God’.
· It might even create a desire to start and maintain a journal. A Record of personal-accountability.

People who practice personal accountability:

· Are more likely to work for achievement, to tolerate delays in rewards, and to plan for long-term goals.
· Are better able to resist manipulation.
· Are more likely to learn from their experiences and their surroundings.
· Are less prone to serious depression.
· Are better at tolerating ambiguous situations.
· Are more willing to work on self-improvement.
· Derive greater benefits from those people near to them.

Personal accountability is one way to lessen the areas of vulnerability in our lives.