Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Let's be zealous!

So, I only got around 4 hours of sleep last night and please don't ask why. Whatever the reason, as I don't have one myself, I still managed to get up at the stroke of 6am and make my way to class. The temptation to put my head on the table and sleep until class actually started was surprisingly low and I was thankful that I remembered to put my "new" book in my bag. Yes, this is my latest book push: "True Discipleship" written by William MacDonald. It used to be required reading for people joining OM and I wonder how many people in OM now have actually read it and if OM today would be different if it remained a required reading along with many others.

So far I have reached page 36 and though this number is relatively small, the content feels like I've just been given a huge meal to chew on. I was so encouraged by the short but powerful chapter on stewardship that took Jesus at his word as this seemed to expand and dig deeper than a similar chapter in my last book ("The Man in the Mirror", as you might recall). What really got my attention this morning, however, and probably kept me awake for the rest of the day, as the chapter entitled "Zeal".

Such a small word and yet the definition given in this chapter seems potent enough to  humble any self-claimed disciple to their knees. Here's the first 5 lines of the chapter:
"A disciple can be forgiven if he does not have great mental ability. He can be forgiven if he does not display outstanding physical prowess. But no disciple can be excused if he does not have zeal. If his heart is not aflame with a red-hot passion for the Saviour, he stands condemned." What a challenge to be a radical for Jesus!

I'm definitely looking forward to the next couple of chapters 'Faith' and 'Prayer'- after reading so far and being challenged so deeply, I am just ecstatic at the prospect of being moulded ever more into His image. If you're worried about picking this book up, I will tell you that it only has 95 pages but I also have to warn you that your life, surely, cannot remain in the same state it has been when you finish! *grin*

"If the Christian faith is worth believing in at all, it is worth believing in heroically" 
(Findlay- quote from the book)

Posted by Anonymous at 6:43 pm | | Comments

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Whatever is Lovely...

Well if there was ever a day where I felt like a total klutz, it would be today! It all started with me accidentally spilling my coffee on myself. I guess my early morning body thought it would be faster to absorb the caffeine through my skin instead of going through the whole digestive process. In actual fact, my body was wrong because it only absorbed as far as my coat and didn't even reach my skin let alone my blood-stream. Haha! Thankfully the sun was shining and my worship music was already playing in my ear. It made it a lot easier to laugh it off and give thanks to the Lord of the sunshine! I'm pretty sure I also tripped over myself a couple of times and there may have been a few blank moments... *sigh*. These humbling days definitely the most educational. Thankfully I did make it through all my classes and even managed to answer the question when my logic lecturer randomly asked me so, woohoo! That's right! We don't just survive we triumph-over by the power of the Holy Spirit! 

I started thinking back a couple of Sundays ago where the sermon was about 1 Corinthians 12. The title given was about spiritual gifts but I noticed the main point that the preacher brought across was about unity in the Spirit. Today especially as my body wasn't really cooperating with itself, I noticed that one part of the body had to be patient with the other and work together in all things to function productively. My brain may have needed that caffeine pronto but it was no good for the rest of the body to think it could get it faster by means other than through the mouth, esophagus, stomach, etc. Not to mention, how much more pleasurable it would have been to experience taste and warmth rather than the embarrassment of the mess it became. I then considered my current and previous week and the different encounters I've had with different people. The truth of this chapter became so real and I feel so challenged again by verses 13 onwards. 

In any case, I thought this was a most interesting and humbling lesson and it felt so much more appropriate realising it's the chapter just before the famous 1 Corinthians 13. In case you haven't noticed, Valentine's Day is literally around the corner. How suitable then to think of each of us as members of the body of Christ learning to love each other with His perfect love. Especially this last week where I heard quite a lot of discouraging news from various people, perhaps it is good to be reminded of such things for we are told that "whatever things are TRUE, whatever things are NOBLE, whatever things are JUST, whatever things are PURE, whatever things are LOVELY, whatever things are of GOOD REPORT, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8) and what is more praiseworthy than the Lord Himself. "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my lord... and count [all things] as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him..." (Philippians 3:8-9). So perhaps I end here with an urge to consider the loveliness of our wonderful saviour and a little extra reminder in Philippians to "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!...Be anxious for nothing, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7)

"ONE thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I SEEK: that I may DWELL in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to [firstly] BEHOLD THE BEAUTY of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple." - (Psalm 27:4)

I pray then that we will all truly DESIRE the Lord and persistently SEEK and ENJOY His beautiful face that we may DWELL consistently and continually in His awesome presence. May you experience such beauty and love that only God can reveal. Happy Valentines Day (for Saturday and always)!







Posted by Anonymous at 7:57 pm | | Comments

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

'The Man in the Mirror'

So my dad recommended me this book some time ago: "The Man in the Mirror" (by Patrick Morley) and as I finally started reading through the acknowledgements and introduction I noticed that it said it was written specifically for men. Hmmm, thankfully I found a small sentence further along saying it was okay for women to read it too. Whew!

Anyway, if you have never read this book before or even heard of it, I would, so far, recommend it. It seems to go to the heart of the problems we face as Christians living in the secular world. Simple, straightforward and with truths that can only challenge your walk with the lord. As a person who adores quotes, I was happily met with some basic truths that came even from the likes of Simon & Garfunkel! One quote that stuck out particularly for me today was one describing the difference between cultural and biblical Christianity:

'Cultural Christianity means to pursue the God we want instead of the God who is. It is the tendency to be shallow in our understanding of God, wanting Him to be more of a gentle grandfather type who spoils us and lets us have our own way. It is sensing a need for God, but on our own terms. It is wanting the God we have underlines in our Bibles without wanting the rest of Him, too. It is God relative instead of God absolute.' (from a paragraph in the book)

Isn't this such a wonderful truth that our God is absolute? He is more than we can imagine Him to be. He is perfect. He is Holy. As such, it becomes a wonderful challenge to worship Him for what He IS and not what we suppose Him to be which can only be either a teeny, tiny part of the entirety that He is or a totally false image which we create to deceive ourselves. It actually goes on to say, "Cultural Christianity is Christianity made impotent. " So we really miss out on some powerful stuff when we don't get to know the God of the Word even if we know the Word of God.

What can I say, I'd just recommend you read the whole book. It's got some pretty fascinating research in it though it is a little dated. If you're anything like me, you'll like the funny anecdotes and illustrations that make these lessons for living according to God's will and word so much more practical and applicable. I was also encouraged when I was listening to Casting Crowns on my way home and realised the song that was playing in my ear could just as well have been taken directly from the chapter I had just read! And to think, I've only reached page 77 out of 370+ pages! I'll let you know what else I find in there.

"Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
-James 1:23-24

Posted by Anonymous at 3:24 pm | | Comments

Monday, February 02, 2009

Preparing?

Well, following on with the theme of waiting, one wonders what that actually means. Today I was stranded at home due to what the BBC is calling the worst weather London has seen in about 18 year! Yes, there is deceptively gorgeous looking snow outside. Funny enough, it's not as cold as you think, especially when you consider the numerous other winter countries. As of now, I think we've reached 20cm of snow. Yes, that is all but the weatherman has promised more tonight.  Apparently this is the first time in over 15 years that they are using the snow plows! 

I noticed on the news they talked about what they COULD HAVE DONE in order to prepare. The lack of preparation has meant that many if not most of the train services have been suspended (the reason I'm now at home and not in class). I started thinking about the promises that God had given me just this last week and considering what I should be doing to prepare myself. We may not know what tomorrow holds though we have that assured hope in Christ but surely that doesn't mean we just sit there either. We have been warned have we not? We are told to be diligent too. Diligent in what? In prayer, in focus, in seeking after His kingdom and His righteousness.

Anyway, just wanted to write this quick update... 


Posted by Anonymous at 1:54 pm | | Comments


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