Love Him Because. Poem.

Love Him because

He put the Sun and moon there

To tell you he is the one who

Shows up faithfully

Every day and every night.

Even though some points in your life

Have felt like

Hell on this realm

You knew something was carrying you

Like a sure raft

Over the merciless waters.

Love him because

Your soul needs an embrace

Tight enough to

Fuse your broken bits back together

And though you thought you did not love him

For taking grandma

When you needed her most

He is the reason there was

Contentment and no fear in her eyes

When she knew

She was about to take sleep.

Love him because

Life is not always going to make sense

But he is the only constant

And surety.

That’s why his nickname is ‘the Rock.’

The Essentiality of Faith.

‘Faith’ is one of those words that we use so often, the familiarity can cause some of its potency to be lost. But the word is rightly uttered an enormous number of times (especially in the Christian vocabulary) as it is an air-like essential , fundamental, foundational principle of life, more to the point- life with God.

Without faith, you have no connection with God at all. Faith is the activation of the sixth and most potent of the senses –the spiritual sense. We cannot see hear, or touch God physically. But Faith is the sense that enables us to see, hear and touch God in a way that is even more real than the natural things we perceive with our bodily senses -‘ it is the evidence of things unseen’. (God leaves His evidence in the natural world as markers pointing the way and-) Faith is the gateway into the physically intangible realm where God desires us to visit with Him.

 Faith is like currency in the spiritual realm. The more you have, the more you’ll receive from the unending supply of heavenly riches.

Faith is the connector between us and Him.

Faith is the reason so much importance is given to prayer. God tells us to pray and ‘ask’ for things because He needs us to put our Faith in action. Prayer is simply the fuel that is used to ignite Faith.

Faith is the axis upon which all others virtues pivot: when Faith increases, love increases. When Faith increases, patience increases. When it increases, hope increases. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)

The greatest virtue is Love. But without the foundation of Faith to connect you to the One you love, your passion will be aimless.

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.

Our Differences

Diversity is inevitable and even necessary in life (God allows even us as individuals to be so, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11) and knowledge of numerous Apostolic assemblies (I’m careful not to use the word ‘churches’ here, as Christ has only one Church, although I’m sure you’d know what I mean) awakens you to the fact that there are some lifestyle stipulations that differ from congregation to congregation.

For example, there are some assemblies that allow pre-marital dating, while others do not. Some allow –but don’t encourage- the owning of a TV, some do not. Some follow a rule of hats as head coverings for women, while some believe their hair is the only necessary covering and that females should never cut their hair.

-The validity of convictions on either side of these points has been much debated. The spiritually mature know that sometimes the best we can do is just be respectful of others. An example: a pastor from an assembly in Cincinnati Ohio leads a congregation where women need wear no separate covering over their heads. But when he visits a ‘sister church’ overseas, in London, England he knows that they show respect to 1 Corinthians 11 by the women wearing hats in service. Thusly, his wife and two daughters accompanying wear small hats as they attend, respecting their host brethren’s convictions.

There are some  tricky matters that are simply points of personal conviction. This is what Romans 14 is telling us. If saints on differing sides of afore mentioned points are genuine in trying to follow the word of God, they are not rebelling against what their God-given conscience is telling them is right.  

Conclusively, if someone has the name and blood of Jesus on them and the spirit of Jesus leading them –and you do too- they are your family member. If you choose to think they are counterfeit or less than you because they differ to you on a ‘personal conviction’ point, then you have allowed a parochial mind to divert you from the absolutes of scripture. Ask yourself;

Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

(Read all of Romans chapter 14 for the full picture)

Love & peace x