Peace and Goodwill

 Micah 5:5 ‘And this man shall be the peace...’

It’s Christmas day! Hurrah hurray!

Wishing a blessed day to you and all yours.

I thank God for a day like this. When you are a Christian, everyday is a day of celebration that God came into the world. However, it is wonderful that this is a time where the world at large thinks about the saviour. Never-the-mind that December 25^th was originally an ancient Pagan feast day called Saturnalia (that’s why we avoid a few of the lingering Pagan traditions such as erecting a tree- Jeremiah 10:-4). I am so glad this day has been allocated one to focus on God and family.

I feel that the overriding message during this season is one of peace. When the birth of Christ was declared, the heavens were bursting with jubilation as the angels sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Peace..peace....peeeeeeeeace (whisper it slowly and quietly. Feel it. It’s almost onomatopoeic. lolz)

In many of the prophetic scriptures about Christ coming into earth, the wonderful element of a new kind of peace is talked of. Christ is undoubtedly the ‘The Prince of Peace’ (Isaiah 9:6).

The peace he brought was to soothe the fractured relationship between us and him that sin caused. He had made a way to be closer to us than ever. The ‘peace’ he brought is also that which he desires to instil within us. When men face anxiety, depression, anguish, bitterness, anger, hurt, inner turmoil...He comes to utter ‘peace’ and calm our soul’s storms with the power of a mere word from His mouth. Just as when the disciples were suffering the violence of raging wind and sea (Mark 4:9).

Wherever we are today, with whomever and however we are celebrating, God has a special gift for us all to receive. It is better than any others you can be given (I don’t give a care that you had your heart set on an iphone!) it will keep you throughout your life (and beyond) and he died for you to receive it...it’s his perfect peace.

In sickness and in health...

 

     Random thought sharing...

I remember watching a documentary about people in the UK living with HIV/ aids. There was a couple who were together, despite the woman knowing that the man was HIV positive (contracted before he met her) (actually it may be the other way round; I can’t remember exactly if it was the woman or the man who was infected.) The couple was committed to one another and the non-infected one took the decision to have a sexual relationship with their spouse, without contraception. They wanted to have children together, knowing there is a drug that, if taken by the mother, would allow them to birth a perfectly healthy child in their future. The uninfected spouse did indeed become infected, but had no regrets.

Though some may question the wisdom of the one who started in health risking it for their other half – surely you can admire the love and commitment they feel toward the partner to put themselves in such a position. Especially in a day and age where true love and lifelong male-female commitment is becoming a dying myth.

Some say a similar picture is painted in Adam’s love for Eve. He was well aware he would die if he ate of the fruit, but loved her so much he ate it anyway, to remain with her. I don’t know about that exactly, but it’s an interesting thought.

And in this world full of so much to discourage, thank God that there are always people –even in dire situations- who exalt an exemplary love.

Launch out!

Yesterday a Mr Felix Baumgartner performed an astonishing world-first feat. He carried out the highest freefall jump ever, 24 miles up in the air; he jumped literally from the edge of space after rising to the height with a purpose built helium balloon.

Man is always looking to accomplish more and more astonishing feats in the natural earth and skies around us. Some Christians may say man is taking things too far when they attempt to tamper with nature or have aims to colonise places we are not meant to be, such as the Moon or Mars. However, you have to admire the constant drive for exploration and new discovery.

-Such a striving should be taken as an example for some of our assemblies of the faith. We serve the Great God of the universe who is able to do things amongst us that will blow our minds! (Ephesians 3:20) Furthermore, he said we are branches attached to Him –the vine- and this means we should be growing, flourishing and constantly bringing forth fruit each season. ‘Fruit’ is everything we produce that is pleasing to God (i.e. good works, souls being converted, qualities of character, etc)

Yet some of us are going round and round in circles just as the children of Israel did in the wilderness because they were not following God as they should have been. We are like the disciples who were toiling all night, just doing the same old, same old thing –and not getting anywhere. Then Jesus told them to cast their net on the right side- and hurrah! A boat load of fish miraculously came their way. The key instruction given by Jesus was ‘LAUNCH OUT into the deep’ (Luke 5:4).

....and this is exactly what we need to do. Remove ourselves from old comfort zones. Allow God to do the new and exciting things He desires to.

No matter how dry, barren or unchanging a situation seems, remember we serve a God who can do wonders even when it feels like we are in a dry desert spiritually (Isaiah 43:19)...A God who can bring beauty out of situations that appear hopeless (Isaiah 61:3)...A God who can do that which men think is impossible (Luke 18:27).

Just as Baumgartner courageously leapt from his capsule, we need to take a great leap of faith and let God allow us to soar with Him.

(Pentecostal) Handbag Essentials!

Okay, there are the obvious necessities people carry to church, such as their Bible (ofcourse), hymnal and such. And there’s stuff we carry no matter where we go, such as our mobile phones or church tracts. But here is my very specific collection of handbag ‘essentials’ as a lady going to church...

Tissues , for wiping away tears when you or others are crying from; being in the spirit; hearing sad/happy news about family and brethren. Also for wiping kiddies’ noses.

Wet wipes. Like the tissue, but slightly more convenient for more messy occurrences, such as when you hold a cute baby and they decide to leave a cute little patch of vomit on your shoulder. lol

Sewing needle and thread/ safety pin. For fixing any wardrobe malfunctions –i.e. splitting your split high or tearing the armpit area of a fitted top/blazer because you are waving your hands aloft so fervently.

Hair grips- ‘Nuff said.

(Healthy) Sweeties- For good kiddies and cheering people up.

Fan-  It gets hot in a Holy Ghost church. Hott! I’m also told fans are always necessary for ‘women of a certain age’! Wow, I guess that awaits me in a few years time.

Mints- Ensuring your breath is fresh for after service ‘holy hugs and kisses’. Also, if you are at the altar helping someone to tarry or praying and whatnot, you need to ensure your mouth is sweet before it gets all up in someone’s face.

Perfume- Jesus is the rose of Sharon. Roses smell beautiful. So I must too. #weird logic

Nail file. Not vanity. Just to sort out hang nails and any tares which could catch and rip your tights.

Hand sanitizer- This isn’t a snobby-ish thing. For those of us who travel on the bus, we want to ensure we avoid carrying and sharing all those germs we pick up from the hand rails. People – remember swine flu?!

Lip balm-   So when the congregation meets and greets after service and you are administering your 'holy kisses' (2 Corinth 13:12) you don't scrape anyone with crusty lips.

Pen and paper- For writing down words of inspiration before they exit your brain. For keeping notes of church event announcements. Getting numbers of brethren and visitors you need to call (for those of us who aren't high-tech enough to use a mobile phone for this)

Anything I’ve missed?

Pentecostal Worship!

When someone steps into a Pentecostal assembly for the first time, they may be left wide eyed in wonder (1 Corinthians 14:23!). ..The jubilant shouting and singing, the euphoric jumping and praising, the weeping and gazing lovingly above....people seeming to be thrown to and fro by a wind within them...the speaking –to no one in particular- in a bizarre foreign language, middle and older aged people dancing and waving hands aloft as if they were teens at a concert or dancehall! Wonder indeed.

I’ve heard it said by nominal Christians who don’t believe in this type of worship that God would not allow His servants to worship him in a way that is ‘undignified.’ Such people are missing out on the reality of serving a living God, and the ‘fullness of joy’ (Psalm 16:11) He promises....And on the point of ‘dignity’...nowhere in scripture does it say worship is about our dignity, or us looking prim and proper. ..Because worship is the exact opposite of that! –it is about letting God completely take you out of yourself and your self-made ‘propriety’; it is about brokenness before the Almighty...it is about abasement...

King David is the perfect example. The more I read about this dude, the more I love him! He was a great regal king, yet when it came time to worship, he had no pomp or propriety. He danced so hard with the joy of the Lord, that his skirt flew about everywhere! His scornful wife, Michal told him he looked like an idiot! He told her plainly that when it came to worshipping God, he didn’t mind how he looked to others.

This is the attitude we must take. (2 Samuel 6:14-23)

God gave man the in-built desire to lose 'self’ in the spiritual –with Him-. (Though we are not out of control-1 Corinth 14:32) This is what people are fulfilling when they go out in clubs to try to get merry with music and alcoholic 'spirits'.

Thank God if you are Pentecostal

-You have the real thing!

 

Some scriptures that show real worship should be expressive...

Psalms 132:9: Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

Psalms 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp

Psalms 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD

Psalms 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

Weeding out

Just as the enemy sewed tares (weeds) among the wheat, he will relentlessly try to sew negative thoughts within us. Whenever you have a thought that is making you feel bad –especially if it’s negatively framed toward yourself or another person, or feeding anxiety and doubt- ask yourself if the thought is actually scripturally true and justified. Much of the time, you’ll realise it’s a piece of unnecessary garbage, left by the enemy. Just throw it out with the rest of the trash J

Love JM x

When. Poem for Women

When

When you can stare fear in its dreadful face
And face it with expected triumph
When you treat your seen enemies with grace
And even extend to showing them love,
When you can leave critics in the foreground
While you press on ahead
Knowing their words are merely stepping stones
For your ground
Not worthy to trouble your head,
When you can recognize fading physical charms
As merely a veil for the greater beauty
When you can use life’s silent alarms
To equip you with strength and with duty,
When after moments of mourning we all traverse,
You can seek out cause again to smile,
When with an aged head you act
In matters of tact,
Yet in guile remain as a child,
When you have the lion-like loins to hold fast by yourself
In matters where conviction demands
Yet as well as your own, seek the good of all else
Knowing solitude, self- interest
Are for fearful hearts and idle hands.
When you live life with eyes wide open, yet a heart the same,
Not left bitter by past foes who’ve hurt you…
Then truly you’ve become a woman, my friend,
And one of great wisdom and virtue.

Ripped off from   Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s ‘If’

Books I need to read

(I don’t read novels -only factual books; books on teaching, essays and biographies . I love beautifully written prose, but only really when it's teaching something about reality. That being said, some of my fave books are the fictional -Christian themed children's series  Anne of Greengables by L.M. Montgomery. ) There are always exceptions within one’s scope of discernment

Malcolm Gladwell, What the Dog saw: And other Adventures

-Because I love this author and I’ve read all of his other  books thus far. They are interesting and reveal so much of the quirks of human nature and explain the weirdness of our world and social workings.

Jung Chan, Wild Swans

-Because I love reading people's life stories- especially when it shows the history of different family generations. And I love learning about Chinese culture.

Ken Robinson, The Element: How finding Your Passion Changes Everything

-Because he is a renowned educationalist and I’ve been impressed by some of his other commentaries. And because I want to know how to find and use my own ‘passion’

Brendan Burchard, Activating the 10 Human Drives that Make You Feel Alive

-Yeah, I’m into my motivation-based books. And this one’s Apostolic. Bonus

Devora  Zack, Networking for People Who Hate Networking

Apparently a really good book for introverts such as myself to embrace and make good use of this character trait. Also good for extroverts to read and understand more about their introvert loved ones.

Robyn O’brien, The Unhealthy Truth

Another recommended read about understanding the widespread occurrence of allergies and illnesses such as ADHD these days, and how to improve lifestyle and health.

Hey young girl...

Hello young girl,

How are you today? I hope you are well... Even despite this world’s ability to leave you feeling very unhappy. So you don’t think you’re important? Go look outside, you’ll see a great shining Sun, if it’s daytime, or a great beaming moon if its night.

...You were on God’s mind when he formed these. They were specifically made for you –just to take care of you, show you beauty, warmth and seasons. And this is only a tiny example of all the things He’s done because He so loves and adores you.

There is a part of you that is responding when you see awe-inspiring elements of his artwork for you –sunsets, blue skies, stars. That part of you is your soul. In actuality -this is you, but you're stored inside skin. And because someone doesn’t want you to realise you are an infinitely precious soul, he has found many clever ways to distract you from the fact. He creates an obsession in you with this skin that covers you. He does this to keep you short-sighted, unhappy and always comparing yours with the ‘skin’ of others.

This person is called the devil and he is very clever. Though he can’t read your mind, he can disguise his voice and put things into your mind. He offers you thoughts such as “I’m ugly’” “I’m worthless” “I’m not good enough.” And because he is so clever he can make you feel these lying thoughts are valid and true. In fact, he’s become so good at it, he’s managed to pull this trick on most people at one point or another. He even got someone who was perfect and God-like to feel as if they were not enough/didn’t have enough (Genesis 3:5).

...So, what should you do? How can you tell which thoughts this devil person is implanting into your mind? Well, all you need to do is make sure you know what the truth sounds like...

...then when you hear the devil's lies, it is easy to spot them and reject them.

Amen. The end. xxx

I used to save newspaper clippings when something intriguing would happen in the news. Isn't this one nice? It was after the awful great earthqauke in Haiti a couple years ago. Isn't it interesting that the survivor claimed someone in a 'white coat' was bringing him water?! I don't know what that really must've been. All I can say is thank God for miracles. And thank God for his goodness toward men.

Ms. Mansfield. Poem

Did your powerful hold

Of many simple men’s eyes

Make you feel like you were maybe worth a mite more?

Did your unbridled burning and raging pride,

Make you forget

A mortal man cannot escape the mortal law?

Did your desire for more lovers to adore

your countenance of perfection

And enter your temple

To worship the terrible god

who demanded its erection

Make you forget

that desire is not always kin to true affection?

Ms. Mansfield, knowing the way you’d fall prey to the cold grip of death

Would you have wanted it for one of those

 you once had to share your bed?

(*Jayne Mansfield was a stunning Hollywood actress who thrived on male attention and sexual sadism. She was also a keen Satan worshipper and high priestess in the Church of Satan. Other members were such well known performers as Sammy Davis Jr, Marilyn Monroe and in the present day ‘rock star’ Marilyn Manson among others. These people actively worshipped/worship the devil.      

   After tiring of her lover and lawyer, Sam Brody, Jayne ordered for a ritual curse to be put on him to cause his death. Eerily enough, this appeared to come to pass as Mr. Brody died in a freak car accident a while after. However, Jayne was in the car with him and she also died. Aquino, the leader of the Church of Satan who put this ‘curse’ on Brody, openly credits himself with Brody’s death and says Mansfield was just in the wrong place at the wrong time!)

Dear oh dear

Who is he? Poem

Who is he who looks

To this world and its trinkets, to try

To distract or satisfy

His weary soul, And appease his ravenous eye?

The same one who rejects truths for comfortable lies…

He is not one who is wise

Who is he who allows the compass of his soul

To be swayed by the judgments of his peers

Though no wiser than he,

No more accomplished in years?

Misguided through youth by ephemeral ties…

He is not one who is wise

Who is he who disregards the soul

Never looking beyond what is seen with eyes?

Living for his body’s hungers

Which are as ceaseless as skies

Running to and fro in search of a natural things that satisfies?

...He is not one who is wise.

Baptism. Necessary?

There are some who hold that baptism isn’t a must when becoming a Christian, and that as long as you ‘believe in your heart’, you will automatically become a part of the kingdom of God. However, Jesus made clear that belief is the first step in a process –for if you believe Him, you’ll then faithfully do all the things he instructs. He gave the clear instruction of believing (and also ‘repenting’, i.e turning one’s back on life without Him), and then being baptised. In Mark 16:16, Jesus says “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.”

Jesus Himself was baptized (although He had no sin to remit) to set the example to us. He impressed the importance of it upon His apostles, (‘apostles’ = followers of Jesus, handpicked by Him to spread the message of Christ) saying in Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

The apostles continued teaching the importance of baptism and carrying it out as Jesus instructed. Baptism is a divine process where one is ‘reborn’ into a new life (Colossians 2:12) where sin no longer dominates. When explaining to a very large, multicultural (- n.b. would spread to ‘all nations’) crowd of people about the power of Christ’s Church, Peter, a most notable disciple of Jesus says “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:28).Fleeing sin is the principal theme of Christianity. Thus the inward repentance which allows the sin to be remitted and the outward baptism in response to this, must be essential.

In the New Testament recorded early Church, those who Jesus had personally taught and directly sent to carry his message were successful in relating how essential the ‘repentance plus baptism’ process is; to the effect that those who were touched by the message of Jesus, and desired to become Christian were baptized straight away. The account is told of an Ethiopian intellectual who once having the account of Jesus’ life explained to him, insisted on being baptized as soon as he and the apostle teaching him came upon some water; saying “See here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Similarly, it is told of a jailor of a prison wherein two apostles had been held. He asked them what to do to be saved; he was told to believe in Jesus “and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”(Acts 16:33)

Many nominal churches sweep aside the importance of baptism, stating that becoming a Christian is solely from an internal moving of faith. However, love is a verb, an active process. The Bible says “faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17), showing that inward belief must go hand in hand with external action.

Some say baptism isn’t necessary as it is merely symbolic. It is indeed symbolic –of being ‘born again’ and being ‘buried’ and ‘rising’ with Jesus, who set the example for us. However it is not ‘merely’ a symbol, as the Bible shows it is the critical point of the new beginning of the converted person taking effect. If baptism were not essential, the forefathers of the early Church, who had been taught directly by Jesus would not have gone out of their way to carry it out with everyone who wished to be saved; and they wouldn’t have taken the time to record it all.

Some ask, “well what if a person decided they want to become a Christian but they are hit by a bus before they get a chance to ‘seal the deal’ with baptism?”. This question is dubious because God is “a just God and a saviour” (Isaiah 45:21) and if he ever did allow such a bizarre thing to happen, He knows why. Our job is not to question who will be saved (that’s between God and every individual), but to do all he instructs to ensure we, and those around us are

Discouragement V. Encouragement

Reasons why we get discouraged:

1.) Our flesh is trying to drag us back to our past (Numbers 11:5)

2.) People forsake/ betray us (2 Tim 4:16)

3.) We mistakenly feel God doesn’t care (Job 10:2-3)

4.) We feel inadequate (Judges 6:15,  Exodus 4:10)

5.) We feel like we can’t make it (Jonah 4:8)

6.) The things we fear come to torment us (Job 3:25)

7.) We feel alone/ as if no one cares (Ps102:7,  142:4)

8.) Someone has used words to hurt us (Proverbs 40:13)

9.) We have been corrected in a harsh way (Ps 6:1)

10.) It feels we’re running low on strength (Ps 109:24)

Solutions

1.) Fix your focus forward and upward! (Phil 3:13)

2.) Realise God stands with you (2 Tim 4:17)

3.) Remember God’s love is immeasurable (Rom 8:39)

4.) Declare God equips us for greatness (1 Sam 16:13)

5.) Acknowledge God is able to keep us (Jude 24)

6.) Allow God to shield you (Ps 27:1-3,  2 Tim 1:7)

7.) Embrace God as your comforter (Psalm 27:10)

8.) Let evil people speak their evil words. Know that God defends you (2 Sam 16:6-12)

9.) Learn to take (even undue) correction with humility (Prov 9:8)

10.) Refuel yourself in God! (Isaiah 40:31, Phil 4:13 )

You’re Loved Regardless. Poem

When you’ve felt rejected

By this world which can seem so cruel and heartless

Remember, in my heart you’re always accepted

I will love you regardless.

When you slip, and fall, and turn around

And fear the faces of those who saw your disgrace

You’ll see my arms coming to hold you as you’re on the ground

And lift you back to your rightful place.

‘Sticks and stones will break your bones…’

Though don’t tell me words are always harmless.

And when they try

To hurt you with words like knives, and lies,

Keep your head high

-You’re loved regardless.

When you’re overwhelmed by this world’s pressures

And it’s ever changing exactions of ‘perfection’

Even though you are exquisitely precious

You might forget your value.

You need someone to remind you how wholly you’re loved…

I’ll be the one to tell you.

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The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

Bible Study

Bible Study

Last in night in Bible school, we were looking at Matthew Chapter 10, verse 27, where Jesus tells the disciples;

“What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.”

The ‘darkness’ being spoken of isn’t literal darkness. It refers to things being spoken of in a hidden way... Such as in Jesus’ use of parables. We know this ‘darkness’ means the hidden manner of speaking in parables and proverbs also by the following scriptures;

Psalms 78:2  I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old

Proverbs 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings

So essentially Jesus is saying to his disciples they must openly –and clearly- share with everyone all the mysteries he tells them.

This truth is typified in the accounts of the feeding of the five thousand and seven thousand: Jesus blessed and broke the bread, then gave it to his disciples and it was their job to distribute it.

Do you notice throughout scripture, Jesus never gave anyone else the actual formula for salvation (the closest was where he told Nicodemus to be born again of the water and spirit) he only told the apostles. Then it was their job to go and tell the world.  

Also, see how Jesus didn’t just tell Paul how to be saved? He sent him to Ananias to find out.

This is how God continues to do things. It sometimes happens where God will personally speak to an unsaved person and send them to a church or to someone who is saved. But he doesn’t actually reveal to them how to be saved, because it is the job of his disciples (us).

So conclusively, Matthew 10:27 is a serious commission, that we must share the truths that Jesus reveals to us -once we are saved- with all and sundry.

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Peace love and blessings upon you all in the family x