Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The crazy ones....
I came across this today:
So to all my crazy, beautiful friends - the world might see us as crazy and they might disagree or argue with us but we are the ones crazy enough to think we can change the world
Monday, February 13, 2012
The foolish farmer...
Yesterday (Sunday) afternoon we had a sermon on the role of the Holy Spirit in working faith in our hearts. The sermon began with the example of a foolish farmer who didn't do anything to prepare his fields for the crops. He didn't plough or sow at all, he just left it all as it was. When asked by his friends and neighbours why, he replied that the Lord will provide. When harvest time came, he prayed for a blessing on the harvest . But because he hadn't done anything previously, is fields didn't contain any crops, they were just weeds and grass. The example was concluded with the pastor saying that although God provides the growth and sustenance of the crops, we are required to use the resources He has given us.
The rest of the sermon was about the manner in which the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts. As Reformed people we confess that the reason we have faith is because of God. If it were up to us, we wouldn't be able to do anything meriting salvation - that is the role of the Holy Spirit. Still we also have to use the resources given us. We can't just sit back and expect God to work faith in our hearts that way, we have to actively use the resources God has given us - especially the resource of His word. We should be passionately involved in our Bible study. Whether it be our personal devotions, our Bible reading with our family, in our Bible Study groups or in the Church Services, we have to be engaged in our study of God's word. In our involvement we should also pray that the Holy Spirit will open our hearts and minds so the we continue to learn more about God in our study of the Bible. We can never stop learning or growing.
The rest of the sermon was about the manner in which the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts. As Reformed people we confess that the reason we have faith is because of God. If it were up to us, we wouldn't be able to do anything meriting salvation - that is the role of the Holy Spirit. Still we also have to use the resources given us. We can't just sit back and expect God to work faith in our hearts that way, we have to actively use the resources God has given us - especially the resource of His word. We should be passionately involved in our Bible study. Whether it be our personal devotions, our Bible reading with our family, in our Bible Study groups or in the Church Services, we have to be engaged in our study of God's word. In our involvement we should also pray that the Holy Spirit will open our hearts and minds so the we continue to learn more about God in our study of the Bible. We can never stop learning or growing.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
In all you do, do it to the glory of God!
Throughout the Bible we are commanded to praise God and bring honour and glory to Him in whatever we do:
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known amount the nations what He has done 1 Chron 16:8,
Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim amoung the nations what He has done, Ps 9:11,
You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, honour Him! Revere Him, all you descendants of Israel! Ps 22:23,
Whether you eat or drink, do it all to the honour and glory of God" I Cor 10:31,
Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, Col 3:23,
At times christianity is seen as a set of rules. A set of things that you can and cannot do. For people looking in, people who don't realise the reason behind everything that we do, this can be the case. They may see us as people who live by a very strict set of rules, people who just do as they're told
Sometimes it is easy for us to live this way also. Instead of thinking about how we should glorify God in what we are doing we are thinking about what we can and cannot do. Yes, it is true that we have been given the 10 commandments, guidelines as to how to live a life to the praise and honour of God. But why do we keep the commandments? Why do we work so hard at following them? Not because we feel that we have to keep them to be save BUT because we are so thankful to God for what he has given us in the death of his Son on the cross. We live a life of joy because of the most wonderful gift we have been given, the gift of life.
So the next time you are about to do something, instead of asking yourself or those who are with you "What is wrong with this?" ask: "How will doing this glorify God? How is this bringing honour to the name of God? How am I praising the name go God?"
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known amount the nations what He has done 1 Chron 16:8,
Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim amoung the nations what He has done, Ps 9:11,
You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, honour Him! Revere Him, all you descendants of Israel! Ps 22:23,
Whether you eat or drink, do it all to the honour and glory of God" I Cor 10:31,
Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, Col 3:23,
At times christianity is seen as a set of rules. A set of things that you can and cannot do. For people looking in, people who don't realise the reason behind everything that we do, this can be the case. They may see us as people who live by a very strict set of rules, people who just do as they're told
Sometimes it is easy for us to live this way also. Instead of thinking about how we should glorify God in what we are doing we are thinking about what we can and cannot do. Yes, it is true that we have been given the 10 commandments, guidelines as to how to live a life to the praise and honour of God. But why do we keep the commandments? Why do we work so hard at following them? Not because we feel that we have to keep them to be save BUT because we are so thankful to God for what he has given us in the death of his Son on the cross. We live a life of joy because of the most wonderful gift we have been given, the gift of life.
So the next time you are about to do something, instead of asking yourself or those who are with you "What is wrong with this?" ask: "How will doing this glorify God? How is this bringing honour to the name of God? How am I praising the name go God?"
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Living with PURPOSE
Why are we here? What is the reason you, me and everyone else is on this earth? What is our purpose in life?
For me, I was created to bring honour and glory to the name of God. The reason I am here on this earth is to glorify God in everything that I do. I'm not saying that this is something I do all the time or even that it is easy. BUT it is the reason that I am here and the reason that we all were created for. It is something that we have to work at. We have to work at reflecting the glory of God in everything that we do. EVERYTHING!!!
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God!!! 1 Cor 10:31
For me, I was created to bring honour and glory to the name of God. The reason I am here on this earth is to glorify God in everything that I do. I'm not saying that this is something I do all the time or even that it is easy. BUT it is the reason that I am here and the reason that we all were created for. It is something that we have to work at. We have to work at reflecting the glory of God in everything that we do. EVERYTHING!!!
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God!!! 1 Cor 10:31
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