————–

Last topic of the series “Looking at Jesus” we find ourselves standing with sand between our toes in the scorching heat:

Matthew 4 – Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

In looking through the gospels and witnessing the life of Jesus we see all the incredible miracles, healings and things He taught and how He just gave His love away, setting people free.

Yet all that began in a ‘SILENCE’, in a desert.
Before He began His public ministry and being bombarded each day with the demands of people, He went away to be disciplined and focused and strengthen in a desert.

Can you imagine a FAST for 40 days in the scorching desert?
Really TOUGH!

Why was it necessary for Jesus? And why would such a thing be necessary for us?
For Jesus: He became “Like us” – fully human (yet also fully God).
He had to learn discipline and utter reliance on God.

How did that reliance of God, come about?
Through LISTENING and KNOWING the WORD of God.
See how Jesus “took on the temptation” of the devil with KNOWING scripture.
He found strength in the WORD of life.
WE too can have that strength.

We learn from this passage:
i) That the devil is real (how foolish are people to do disbelieve the reality of the devil.)
ii) That God is about our “character development too”
iii) NOTE: God was with Jesus all the time, yet only at the end of that time with the devil did the angels come and tend to Jesus.
Was God absent? NO!!
He was present YET He is about character development. Jesus in the desert, in that time of FASTING became strong in His Spirit.

For the next 3 years of His life He would go up against severe OPPOSITION

And so too; with us facing LENT (tomorrow till Easter) we go into a METAPHORICAL desert.

What will become of that time?
(How could a FAST be useful to you?)

i) Character Development – God wants to strengthen you as His disciple
ii) Knowing the Word – God wants to reveal and teach you new things from Scripture.
iii) Reliance on God – God wants you to rely on Him
iv) Listening – in that place away from distractions God wants you to LISTEN.

(The idea of LENT is for one to FOCUS on God. So whenever you “crave” what you have “given up” you use that craving sense as a reminder to focus and pray to God.)

Knowing that leaves me with this heart-warming thought (well, my heart warms at least).

Yes, the desert was scorching.
YET in those 40 days, how QUIET must it have been.
(The devil wasn’t around all the time)

Oh how we all NEED some QUIET.
To get rid of DISTRACTIONS
And just HEAR Him.

I pray this LENT, that both you and I, would HEAR Him more and draw a whole lot closer.
Jesus, I am stepping into the desert, meet me there please.

TWITTURGY

Among the sand and shine
Things are stripped away
In this silence let me hear You
Keep me from the mirages
And fill my soul to overflowing
With your Water of Life
I’m thirsty

—————————–
Mark My words (Ash Wednesday)
22 February 2007

“They” like placing marks on me
Marks that tend to remain…
If I do badly, they mark me with low marks
They mark me sinner
They say I’m unworthy

And I’m seeing that “they” have marks
of their own…
Marks that they know don’t what to do with
So they point out other’s marks

God, I’ve got many marks
Marks that make me feel unworthy…
Unwanted… unnoticed…

And this very night
The man in front places a different kind of mark on me
A mark to remember
The marks You carry
Those marks on Your wrists and ankles…

Marks that mark me forgiven
Marks that say that I am worthy
Oh God, I’m sorry I placed those marks on You…
And I hear You say back to me:
“Mark My words, child you are mine.”

Sacred Spaces 325 – Just some of the actions of Jesus
14 February 2012

Happy Valentine’s Day! If you are in a relationship, celebrate your love for each other. If you are waiting on someone, be bold and make a move. If you are single and waiting on God; don’t fret He sees you. He has mad love for you. And He has that person in mind. Be patient.
In the meantime, enjoy His love and beauty and grace and wonder… it’s all around you.

————–

I remember a talk I heard last year November in Oxford (UK).
Truth is, I don’t remember most of the content and the words that were thrown out were huge ones I hadn’t heard before. The speaker was an intellectual, I am a simpleton.
YET his conclusion spoke volumes to me.
He said, “I don’t care if you have not heard anything I have said tonight, but do remember this, what I say next; if you don’t know Jesus, I ask you to read the gospel of John with this simple prayer in mind: ‘Jesus, reveal yourself to me as I read this gospel.’ And I promise you, Jesus will make Himself known to you through those pages.”

I loved it! Such boldness and ever so true!
If people honestly put all their bias and cynicism away and just read the gospel of John, asking Jesus to reveal Himself, people would know without a doubt and believe and fall in love with Jesus.

So I start with this scripture:

John 1: 5
“The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome (understood) it.”
Yes, Jesus still stands, and He will always stand!!!

Seriously, look throughout the gospels at the actions of Jesus.
See his humanity. See his divinity. See his love. See his lessons. See his miracles. See his healings. See Him.
And you will KNOW him as Saviour of this chaotic world.

Because the stuff that went down back in the years of when Jesus walked this earth, those issues are here today too, in 2012; we look at the mess we have made; oh how we need a Saviour.

Part 4 of our theme of “Looking to Jesus”
Jump on board and we see Him sleeping…

Matthew 8: 23 – 34

Jesus Calms the Storm
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.

In 11 verses, a lot happens in the life of our Saviour.
As Jesus, spoke life into creation at the beginning of the world so here He speaks to creation again.
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1: 16)

Don’t make Jesus small. He is powerful.
We look at life around us and see storms “physical and metaphorical” and we begin to fear too easily.
We’ve forgotten how BIG God is.

Remember who is “on the boat” with you.
Life can be scary, life can be daunting. Yet look below, there is Jesus.
He is not worried.
Jesus calmed the storm at the right time. So will He do so in these times, in 2012.

Out of the water and into a herd of pigs… sort of.
Two possessed men recognize Jesus.
Truthfully, evil has got it right.

Will you open your eyes? Look around.

Rape, murder, greed, theft, racism, prejudice, hate, war, unrest, fear, self-harm, bullying, broken homes, confusion… EVIL is real!

And: Jesus is real! As evil recognized Jesus, so should we.

Jesus is about healing and restoring. That is the process of His church, His people and even your life.
How are the actions in your life about restoring people to their original identity: children of God?

I look to the actions of Jesus, and am constantly amazed. How about you?

TWITTURGY

Some can look
But don’t see
Jesus, put up mirrors
All around me
So I see Thee
Reflected in art,
Beauty, nature,
People & even in me
I’d like to see

Sacred Spaces 324 – Rest for the weary
7 February 2012

[I write this Sacred Spaces sitting here at a coffee shop called JAVA, here in Durban North. It’s interesting watching the cars drive by and here the general buzz of people out and about. Indeed, a different feeling to sitting in the Eagle & Child pub (Oxford) or some other random coffee shop in the UK, but life is on the move. “Because in Him we live and move and have our being” – Acts 17: 28 (How, I pray that verse becomes more and more real for you and I.]

Part 3 our theme of “Looking to Jesus”
We catch up with Him carrying a yoke. Could that be “your” yoke He is helping carry? Or does He offer another sort of yoke?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
(Matthew 11: 28 – 30)

Are you like me? Always when I read words from scripture that talk of rest or being restored or giving peace, my heart skips a beat. I want in on that offer. An offer of rest for this busy heart and mind of mine, yes please.

ENTER: Jesus.

He is that rest.
I know a bit about other religions and I have not heard of any of them “offering rest”
Religions throw a “keep working hard to be okay with your god” idea at you. That’s not freedom to me.
Then in Matthew 11, I see and hear of a freedom in Jesus.

Let’s break down the scripture a bit. Jesus invites us to “come” meaning we have to act on our part. Jesus always invites, but so often we can be so stubborn and not “go” to Him. Jesus is not gonna drag us… going to Him, needs to be our choice.

Weary and burdened. I think no one is immune to those. We so often carry burdens. Life here in the world can be hard. Deadlines, bonds, education, health, family, provision, decisions, worry, need for safety… all of it creates stress.

The invitation is for REST. My favourite picture of rest is from the well-known Psalm 23:

“The Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not be in want,
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me besides quiet waters,
He restores my soul.”

Can you feel this imagery? How we all want our souls to be restored.

“Take my yoke upon you” What does Jesus mean here?
This is brilliant when we know what a yoke is (because no one wants egg thrown on them):

From the picture we see that a yoke is used for oxen to carry a load.
What is interesting is that it’s for 2 oxen. (NOT one!) This is important for us to remember. Jesus walks with us and helps us with life’s burdens.

That’s brilliant!
Yet I noticed something else; Jesus said to “take my yoke” upon you. Not our own yoke?

So what does that mean?

Is it possible that we “carry” the wrong “load” in life so often? We fret about the wrong things. Where did stress come from? Is it God made? No way!

Stress is man-made. We run around chasing our tails too often! We run after the wrong things. We sponge our worries. Why oh why?

Jesus challenges us at the end of His sermon on WORRY in Matthew 6: 33 to “seek first his kingdom and all his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

I believe this! Do you?
And how I do struggle to put Him first…
So I know the solution to doing life well lies in Him, yet I am foolish so often, I forget to seek Him first.

So in taking Jesus’ yoke, we are not “ignoring” our life’s hassles, yet in seeing life through Jesus’ eyes, we gain new perspective, we learn to put our energies in the right things.

This is the gospel, the good news. Believe it, embrace it!

“For I am gentle and humble in heart”

You can’t pretend that doesn’t sound inviting…

Humble? Huh? Well look at all these books that are about “self-help” and “seven ways to living effectively” or whatever other nonsense is out there… how arrogant!

Jesus is humble, that’s what I want in on.
And finally we are told His yolk is easy and His burden is light. Truth is there is still a yoke to carry and a burden to lift. We can’t and should not want to live a life in a “bubble.” (Heck, that wouldn’t be living.)

So life has things to carry, HOWEVER with Jesus we learn to carry the right things, and we are given strength to deal with those “loads” because “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” (Phil 4: 13)

And at the end of the day, knowing what a yoke looks like, we see as we CARRY things in life that Jesus is by our side. How beautiful!

Hearing His promise “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13: 5

TWITTURGY

Rock of Ages,
Show me how to lean on You
My strength, I give to You
Let me be weak
And yet so strong in You
May I stand firm
Solid foundation

Sitting outside on my stoep against the wall, feeling the breeze; things just feel right in the world…right now. I think I’m letting God in more of my life… and it feels incredibly awesome!

(I know that reads weird, a Youth Pastor writing that…but it happens)

Continuing our theme of “Looking to Jesus”
We meet Him at a table of bread and wine.

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (From Matthew 26)

Firstly, I like how earlier in the story… Jesus sends some disciples to a “certain man” instructing to use his house for dinner. The Son of God can do that I guess. Just made me smile… Awesome!

I wonder after Jesus had died on that cross and rose from the dead, how that man who “housed the Last Supper” must have felt? Maybe he thought: “Wow, I had God in my house, and look what He achieved. Imagine if I had Him in my heart too…”

I like how after a small piece of wafer/bread and a tad wine/grape juice, I feel satisfied within.
I always have this thought after a small taste of the symbolic meal:
A little bit of Jesus goes a long way.
(Cheesy, possibly, yet true: definitely!)

Jesus was big into meals. He went to people’s houses.
He saw behind “what they did for a living” or “who they were in public.”
Over a meal (and gotta add some wine), you get to see the people in their real form.
Not saying that people are faking it out of the house.

However I guess as we step out the door, the demands of the day hound us constantly and maybe we are not always entirely “relaxed.”

I guess we can just learn a good ministry example from Jesus.
When we meet and minister to people, we make progress when they are “relaxed.”

Ministry over a meal may go a lot further than we realise.
(But please don’t ever label it: “going to your house to minister to you” Gosh, your guest may just poison your meal.)

Just a reminder of what the elements mean. The bread broken represents Jesus’ body broken for us. He died for you. Our sins/wrongdoings come with consequences. Think about it. Every sin or bad deed we do, it hurts someone else… each time.

Jesus died to take away our punishment.
I wish so often I would be tearful or even more sincere in taking communion. I mean, my God died for me… incredible.

Then the wine reminds us of His blood.

Blood gives and brings life to the veins.
Same with Jesus; His blood gives us NEW life.

What do you think that new life looks like?

New meaning
New purpose
New perspective
New attitude
New sight

Look to Jesus at that life you will learn!

TWITTURGY

Spirit,
We can’t see you
But your touch we feel
As the leaves move
Move in my life
As you spreads nature’s seeds
Spread your love & meaning
Through me

Sacred Spaces 322– The Great Commission
25 January 2012

At Youth we are doing this series: “Looking at Jesus”
I have had these lyrics and this song by Hillsong United in my head:

“As I look into the sky above
Wonder how my life has changed
Wonder how Your love, it came to me
As I look into the sky above
All my fears, so far away
All I hear is heaven calling me
So I look to You
So I look to You
No one else will do”

So leading up to Lent, we will be looking at different parts of the life of Jesus. The things He did and the things He taught.

I pray the words from the above song resonate true on your life. No one else will do but Jesus.
In November last year, I heard this intellect answer some difficult questions. I didn’t really understand everything he said, but this I do remember, his concluding words:

“If you don’t know Jesus, I urge you to go the gospel of John. And before reading, start with this simple prayer: ‘Jesus, reveal yourself to me’ and pray that with sincerity. I promise Jesus will reveal Himself to you.”

That profoundly stuck with me. That is the power of the gospel, the power of the good news; when we look to Jesus, we will meet with Him. He will change our lives for the better, oh yes!

Matthew 28 – The Great Commission
“16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

A friend/pastor pointed those 3 words out to me in verse 17. After seeing all that Jesus had done, seeing Him rise from the dead, seeing His miracles, “but some doubted”
How crazy is that? Yet that is true of our times too.

A lot of us still live with the tension of that “come and going doubt”
I’d suggest we need to keep running and looking to Jesus, no matter what.

Then this passage challenges and commands us:
Go and make disciples
Baptizing
And teaching them to obey

That commission is for each and every-one of us!!! Where ever God has placed you, whatever office, factory, classroom, work place… that is your mission field.

Look at the world. See how desperately it needs a Saviour.
Look to Jesus. See how He is the Saviour.
See to it, you live out that commission!

Spend time with people, listen to where they at. Ask intentional questions. Tell them of what Jesus has done. Your life and its blessings and hard times (how you got through them) have never been done on your own strength. There is underlying grace and truth that Jesus lives and breathes through your very veins.

And He ends off with a promise to never ever leave us.
That is super comforting in itself.
Soak in that promise.

TWITTURGY

Jesus, focus our gaze
Look to You,
Show us how you see things
Clarity
May our sight
Lead to action
Teach us
A view of heaven on earth

Sacred Spaces 321– Reconciliation: Are you involved with that?
16 January 2012

This may be a chunky bit of scripture.
Yet I need to share it with you.
I sat on my stoep (little patio outside) last week and came across this passage.
I felt convicted and mightily challenged:

2 Corinthians 5: 11- 21 “The Ministry of Reconciliation”

“11 Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Did you notice what I noticed? Was your heart maybe tugged in the same way?
I am realising I too often have been selfish in my life.
Do I live with this above conviction?
God is about reconciling the world to Him-self.

In each of our work places are we about that too?
Does Christ’s love compel you… that He died for all people?
The people you love, YET also the people you can’t stand.

Are we intentional in telling others about Jesus?
And maybe sometimes “telling” without using words…
Are our actions about reconciling?

Simply listening to someone who needs to talk / Helping someone practically / trying to set a different moral example / loving others well / seeing each person as someone God loves so much / people made in His image, and they don’t even realise it yet.

God gave us (not just clergy people – church pastors / ministers / rectors).
From engineers to teachers to accountants to businessmen to scholars, God gave us all
The ministry of reconciliation

So make the coffee shop, your classroom, the workshop, the deal…
Make them… soaked in God.
On that stoep, God simply told me this: “I want you to live for these things – ministry of reconciliation”

Stop being selfish and change your focus!
What is He saying to you?

TWITTURGY

Jesus, you are coming back
Oh, how we forget
The world is a mess
How do we help?
Bringing your saving grace
Make us intentional
In Reconciliation

TO EMAIL READERS:

I really do want to move ahead with the times. I also want to save time with the “extra admin” of Sacred Spaces. I have a SUBSCRIBE option now on my Sacred Spaces blog: SACRED SPACES BLOG
I really would appreciate it if you subscribed to Sacred Spaces.
(That would save me copying and pasting your email addresses each week.)
Over the next few days; I may just submit your email address on my blog… then a “CONFIRM YOUR SUBSCRIPTION” email will come to your inbox.
If you are still keen on getting the Sacred Spaces, please do confirm your subscription.
(It would save me time, if you would do that procedure yourself.) Thanks!
————
Disclaimer: I know it may seem (rude or cheeky) for me to subscribe your email to my SS blog, however most of my email followers, I know and I know you still do support my writings. Also if you are not keen on following blog anymore… then you don’t need to confirm your subscription when you receive the email.

——————————————————————————-

I finally watched Soul Surfer this past weekend on my first youth camp of my new church, St Martins.
(It was super cool to meet my new youth and have a rad camp with them. Looking forward to serving God here)

The movie was inspiring in many ways. Based on a true story, these are some thoughts that I had:

i) Philippians 4: 13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. The girl in the movie quoted this scripture. The basic storyline is that her one arm is eaten by a shark. So she decides after the attack to keep on surfing, one handed. Now trying to duck dive a wave with one arm, is really difficult. But she didn’t stay too long playing victim of her circumstance. Instead she moved to victor. And learned to live life with one arm. I was moved and challenged. You know what, life can be difficult but we can go to God and He will give us the strength to endure.
ii) What I also liked about the movie being a Christian one was the portrayal they gave of Bethany Hamilton. In the movie she got annoyed and frustrated. And you know what, she still remains a Christian. You see, we as Christians, we’re not superhuman or anything. We have normal emotions and we’re not above life or anything. But being a Christian we know we are saved by God’s grace and that leaves us free from condemnation and adds purpose to our lives here on earth. We have a beautiful identity and destiny.
iii) Us, Christians we’re not above people. Yet God in His mercy walks with us in our daily lives; as we discover more and more of Him and life in Him.

On Sunday Night, I went to my first evening service in my new church as a member of staff. It was awesome just to worship. A song that really moved me was: I see Your face

For the last 3 churches I have worked in I have always had a large role to play in the evening service from organising worship, refreshments, preachers, notices and whatever else needed to be done.

Now Sunday, I just got to be, got to worship. Got to meet with God in an undisturbed way…

Well, not quite… in me I battled with “planning in my head.” Just thought of ideas of what I could suggest to add to the service. My brain is always on “ideas mode” and well, I just felt convicted and challenged to stop that.

I felt in that moment that in this setting and in this chapter of my life; maybe God wants me to just worship Him… To get back to a heart of worship; undisturbed worship

And in that place of worship, God will mend some stuff in my life. Challenge me. Teach me and mature some aspects of my relationship with Him.
Because that is what I really need right now!

Yes, in other areas (youth ministry) of this chapter, God will use me to reach His people.
Yet, in this place of worship on Sunday Nights… worship will lead me to meeting with Him.
And in I, showing my allegiance and also letting Him refresh this heart.

Because as a reminder to all of us; when we truly worship a few things could/does happen:

i) Walls fall down (Jericho – Joshua 6)
ii) Our belief in Him grows.
iii) The words we sing tell us of our God
iv) Worship by song leads us to worship by action.
v) Worship concretes truths about Jesus.
vi) Worship convicts.
vii) Worship restores our souls.

When last have you had undisturbed worship?

TWITTURGY

How I love fresh starts
God, help me to walk in that freshness
I don’t want to have to “re-start”
Stepping in rhythm with You
How fresh my soul would be

Sacred Spaces 319– Sentimental
4 January 2012

I write this first SS of 2012 in my new home here in Durban North, South Africa.
3 years ago, God and I went on an adventure abroad to England and some other amazing countries.
3 years ago, I packed up some of my stuff in boxes and my brother and mom kindly kept them for me.
Now after 3 years, I open the boxes.
I realised what rubbish, I have hoarded and held onto, “Why?” I ask myself.
I threw away 3 large (ish) boxes of stuff that I honestly won’t ever look at again, or use.

I look around my home. I don’t have much. As an aspiration and goal I want to try and live with “not much”.
Because if I am honest, I think that probably 80% of my country’s population live with less than what I have?

I again think about how we are actually supposed to be “camping” here on earth… YET we often fall into that thought pattern that we are permanently lodged here…

Colossians 3: 2 reminds us: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

Or from Philippians 3: 19 – 21: “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

And God also sings to me through these voices:

Alanis Morissette (Citizen of the Planet)
“Then I fly back to my nest, I fly back with my nuclear but everything is different. So I wait, my yearn for home is broadened, patriotism expanded by callings from beyond So I pack my things nothing precious all things sacred”

&

Switchfoot (Where I belong)
“But I’m not sentimental. This skin and bones is a rental and no one makes it out alive
Yeah, until I die I’ll sing these songs
On the shores of Babylon
Still looking for a home
In a world where I belong”

So as you start this year, 2012…know that each day we live brings us one day closer to seeing Jesus face to face.
I can’t wait for that day. To give Him a hug

So with all this moving in, I did still keep a sentimental box. From a medium size box to shoe box. The main sentimental stuff I kept and put up on my cupboard doors.

See picture here:

I was moved by the people I have been blessed with to minister to them and share God’s love and truths with them.
I am humbled by God’s grace. I have said and done many a silly or stupid thing, yet as I see these farewell cards, good luck cards, hand created posters and memorable photos…God has given me these people.

I have hopefully helped them in some way.
And they have most certainly helped me.

I felt a little teary reading the little messages people wrote.
This is the 4th church now that I will be working for.
And I see it’s about the people. God adds to my “world-wide family”

And so it is with your lives too.

Life is not about the things we gather. It’s about the people we have around us.

(That’s why the bible is filled with many “one another” passages. Love one another, forgive one another, encourage one another. Those commands can’t be done with things, but with people.)

God placed us here to “shine for Him,” to tell that world that Jesus lives and cares for them.

NEW ADDITION TWITTURGY

Recently I introduced you to Gerald May’s Twitturgies

I have been inspired to write my own twitturgy each time I journal and also each week when I send a SS out, I will add a twitturgy too:

This world is not my home
My heart yearns for that day
When You will hold me
Until then,
With gratitude, I will care for
My world-wide family

Sacred Spaces 318 – Love came down
27 December 2011

I almost missed it. I did not give Him enough thought and worship.
I tend to do it each year; I get caught up in all the other “things of Christmas”.
Now hear me; Jesus is in a lot of those things, like time with family, the joy in giving.
The sharing of stories and laughter… He is in all of that.

YET, I just feel convicted within myself that I can’t just give Him the “church service” attendance.

Because, I think if this Christianity is about us trying to have our beginning, life and endings in Him, then Christmas should be so much more.

Is not Christmas the pinnacle of our faith? That and Easter?

John 1: 14, reminds us that Love Came Down.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Entering in barn (stable), LOVE came down:

For the wandering heart
For the wondering heart
For the wounded heart
For the worrying heart; Love came down and love comes down.

For the lonely heart
For the loving heart
For the learning heart
For the lamenting heart; Love came down and love comes down.

For the sinning heart
For the serious heart
For the selfish heart
For the sharing heart; Love came down and love comes down.

For the doubting heart
For the daring heart
For the dark heart
For the delightful heart; Love came down and love comes down.

Christmas and Christianity is about letting Love, letting Jesus reign in our hearts.

Less of us, more of Him; and to that lesson, we will continually strive for and learn from and eventually achieve in Him.

Let’s end 2011 and start 2012 with Him.

——-

Check out the song Love Came Down, by Ben Cantelon here: