"To live for self is to perish. Covetousness, the desire of benefit for self's sake, cuts the soul off from life. It is the spirit of Satan to get, to draw to self. It is the spirit of Christ to give, to sacrifice self for the good of others. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." 1 John 5:11, 12. {COL 259.1} Wherefore He says, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." {COL 259.2}
"The only remedy for the sins and sorrows of men is Christ. The gospel of His grace alone can cure the evils that curse society. The injustice of the rich toward the poor, the hatred of the poor toward the rich, alike have their root in selfishness, and this can be eradicated only through submission to Christ. He alone, for the selfish heart of sin, gives the new heart of love. Let the servants of Christ preach the gospel with the Spirit sent down from heaven, and work as He did for the benefit of men. Then such results will be manifest in the blessing and uplifting of mankind as are wholly impossible of accomplishment by human power." {COL 254.2}
Allow me to digress from the topic a bit.I do apologize for taking long to write this post.It's just that I always have something to write about and I then putting other series blogposts on hold.I've decided that I'll try to talk about me or my views as little as possible-due to the time I live in-end of times and the title of my blog.Sometimes I look back at some posts and ask,how is this helping to rebuild any woman?
My opinions which I'd like to think are in line with God's Word or should be,will be kept in my journal or in another blog I've created :-).From now on,I'm hoping this could be "less of my observations" and more on "what He says".Although I'll share lessons God is teaching me,what I'm thankful for,and testimonies.
In Matthew 24,the disciples ask Jesus about the signs that will show that His return is soon.As Jesus mentions these,he tells the disciples that the will be false prophets and many deceptions (verse 5,11).And indeed this happening.As he goes on speaking,He mentions that there will be many who will declare themselves as Christs and He goes on to mention the manner of His coming .I believe all that He mentions links up to His coming.
For example,many deceptions have come up claiming that Christ's coming will be secret
Some have come claiming to be Jesus and many will arise
So,since there are many lies about Christ's return we need to go back to the Word.In the same chapter,Jesus reveals that His coming will be like lightning (verse 27).So,His coming will be visible.It will not be hidden.The word of God continues to tell us that Christ will be surrounded by thousands of angels when He comes.How can that be hidden then?If Jesus is coming with power and great glory how can he hide?
In other Scriptures,we are told,all will see Christ when He returns 'including those who perced him' (Revelation 1:7).How can then Christ's coming be secret?In fact,we are told of those who will cry to the mountains to fall on them when Jesus comes and other group which rejoices when he comes (Revelations 6:16;Isaiah 25:9).So,not only the righteous living see Christ but the unrighteous too and it is due to seeing his him,in his glory,that they will die-for God is a ''consuming fire" and he cannot co-exist with sin.
Also,Jesus says,when we hear about Jesus being in a certain place-implying 'seen by only a few'/secret rapture we should not go,for His coming will be visible to EVERYONE at that time to see (verse 26,27)
Also,His angels are mentioned to have a trumpet-so not only will Christ's return visible but it will also be audible (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
The problem with the rapture theory is :It rules out the ressurection of the dead in Christ.And if there be no resurrection,what is the hope of the Christian?For why will Jesus even come?
Also,it rules at the death of the wicked,the millenium and so many other Biblical Doctrines.
When people speak badly about the killers in Rwanda’s genocide, I remind them that God is very patient.
By Isaac Ndwaniye, president, East Central Rwandan Conference, as told to Gina Wahlen, editor of the Mission Quarterly from the Office of Adventist Mission The
killers came on a Sabbath — brought onto the Seventh-day Adventist
Church’s compound by the mission president himself and his son, a
physician who served as medical director of the church-owned Mugonero
Hospital.
Many people had fled to the compound of the church’s
South Rwanda Field after the Rwandan genocide started on April 7, 1994.
Pastors and their families joined other church members in crowding into
the compound, and particularly the church building, thinking they would
be safe.
I worked as director of the publishing department for
the South Rwanda Field. The office, church, school, workers’ homes, and
Mugonero Hospital were all located on the same compound in an area of
Rwanda known as Kibuye.
The day before Rwandans began to kill one
another, I was attending publishing meetings at the Rwanda Union Mission
office in the country’s capital, Kigali. That night the president of
Rwanda was shot down in his plane, and the genocide began. The next day,
an employee at the Mugonero hospital called to say that my 14-year-old
son, Paul, had been killed and that my wife and children had fled to the
compound’s church for protection.
Then on Sabbath, April 16, the
killers entered the compound with the assistance of the mission
president and his son. How could this be? My father, a pastor, had
worked with this president while I was growing up. I had worked with him
and had no idea what was in his heart.
What saddened me even
more was that the pastors holed up inside the church with my wife and
eight other children had written a letter to the mission president,
telling him: “We know they’re coming to kill us. Please help us get a
boat to the lake and go to the Congo so we can be rescued.”
The
letter was taken by a soldier who was protecting them in the church to
the president’s nearby house on the compound. The president responded
that not even God could help them now.
People from all over the
country descended on the compound to kill the Adventists. Some of the
killers were Adventist. They came with grenades, machetes, knives —
anything that could kill a human being.
A pastor was preaching
when the killers entered the church. They first shot and killed him.
Then they started killing the others. My wife and children ran to the
president’s house for help, but he turned them away. Others ran toward
the hospital, trying to escape, but were caught by people waiting with
machetes. The killing inside the compound continued for several days.
Day and night the killers looked for those who might have escaped. They
even brought dogs to assist in the search in the bush.
By the time
the genocide ended in July, I had lost my entire family: my wife and
nine children, and my father and mother, three sisters, a brother, and a
brother-in-law.
Church for Displaced People
The outbreak
of the genocide made it impossible for me to return home. From Kigali, I
was taken by a group of soldiers to a camp for internally displaced
people in a northern province of the country.
I was the only
pastor in the camp, and I didn’t have time for sad thoughts. I found
that when you’re busy doing good, it makes you forget the bad things
that have happened to you. That’s how God strengthened me.
One
Friday evening I was walking around the city near the camp and saw an
abandoned Roman Catholic church. I asked for permission to pray and hold
services in the church. Receiving it, I went back to the camp and
invited people to come to the church on Sabbath.
We began to meet
as a congregation every Sabbath. Even though we were homeless, those
who had some money faithfully gave tithe and offerings as if they were
still at home. Sometimes people from Uganda came to visit and gave us
money, which we also tithed and used for offerings. We set aside the
tithe safely until the church in Rwanda could began working again, and
we used the offerings to help treat people injured in the war.
Many
people of other faiths joined the Adventists in worshipping every
Sabbath. By the time we were able to leave the camp four months later,
300 people were ready for baptism.
When the genocide was over in
July, I traveled to Kigali and found that no Adventist church was
operating in the country. So I went throughout the city, pleading with
people to return to church. Slowly, people returned to the churches, and
I was asked to serve as the church’s president for Rwanda for two
years. Later I was elected to the publishing department of the Rwandan
Union.
Five years later I was given the most challenging
invitation that I have ever received: Would I be willing to serve as
president of the very area that included the Mugonero compound where my
family had been killed?
I prayed about it and decided to go. This
would be the first time to go back and work with the people who had
killed my family. I didn’t know what to say when I returned alone, so I
prayed, “God help me and give me strength and words to say to these
people.”
I remember spending a whole night in prayer asking God
for clear direction shortly after my return. In the morning I knew that I
had to call everyone together for a meeting. I knew that if I didn’t
speak with the community from the very beginning, they would always feel
threatened by my presence. I needed to open up my heart.
So I called for a large district meeting on my first Sabbath back.
The
Rwanda Union “has sent me here to preach the good news, and to lead
this conference,” I said. “I don’t want anyone to tell me who killed my
family. I don’t even want you to tell me that you’re my friend. My
friend is the one who loves God and who loves God’s work. Let’s work
together in that spirit.”
I stayed there for three years and was
then called back to Kigali to serve as president of what is today the
East Central Rwandan Conference. We praise the Lord that our conference
has grown from 65,000 church members in 2004 to more than 110,000 today.
Among Rwanda’s total population of 12 million, the church has about
640,000 members, and we are now holding Bible studies as we prepare to
baptized 100,000 people after evangelistic meetings in late May. Read: Unprecedented 100,000 Baptisms Expected in Rwanda in May
Love and Forgiveness
My favorite Bible verse is John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”
(NKJV). If God had not loved everyone in the world, I would have gone
and killed the killers. But God loves them, and He gives them time to
repent.
The mission president and his son were tried and
sentenced to prison for crimes against humanity and genocide. The father
has died, while the son remains incarcerated.
When I was in the
camp during the genocide, a journalist came to interview me. He had
heard about how I had lost my entire family and asked me, “What do you
think about revenge?”
I took my Bible and opened to Hebrews 10:30-31:
“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the
Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing
to fall into the hands of the living God.”
“It’s a scary thing when the Lord will come and catch you!” I said.
The journalist was amazed. He thought I was going to encourage revenge. But I had an answer from the Bible.
When
people speak badly about the killers, I like to remind them that we
have a God who is very patient with us. He’s very patient with everyone.
He doesn’t want anyone to perish. That’s the only thing that can help
someone like me who has gone through such circumstances. Anytime anyone
comes to God and asks for forgiveness, God forgives. There’s no sin God
can’t forgive. Death is not something that scares God. It’s not a big
problem for God.
Another thing that gives me strength today is
knowing that my family and the other pastors and families in the
compound church spent their last few days studying the Bible. They
prayed to God for forgiveness of their sins and asked forgiveness from
one another. That gives me strength to continue living because I know
one day I will see them again. I know they are sleeping and will wake up
one day. Because of that, I live for Him.
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I think we've created an environment where we make people feel ashamed of things they should not be ashamed of.I mean,why should someone feel ashamed that they live in a shack,his father/mother is uneducated,they are still not fluent in English?There's nothing to be ashamed of in these thing.
I mean,why should I be ashamed of something I cannot change and I had not choice in?Why should someone be ashamed his mother/father abandoned them?I think we're creating a culture where it's hard to be real and to talk about painful experiences because we'll be looked down on or whatever.
On the other hand,we've also created a culture whereby we congratulate people for sinning.Isn't it sad,that as a Christian,I can condone someone's indulging in sin-when I know for a fact God disapproves and they will only get harmed in the end?Nowadays,people smile and clap hands when their teenage sisters post pics of themselves doing wrong and they want to get shocked when the fruits manifest.
So,I personally refuse to be in either.I refuse to keep quiet about sin;because NOT only does God call me to say something,I also refuse to partake in it.So,I'm afraid I won't smile while my sister takes the path that leads to gnashing of teeth.I'll pray,counsel,fast if need be!
And it's my duty to make others be comfortable enough to be free without feeling scared that, if i get to know their background,I'll desert them.I want to be home to someone.I don't want people to feel any less when they meet me.I know what it feels like to be undermined-looked at and have people conclude.And I refuse to do the same.
I refuse because of Jesus.He loves EVERYONE.He loves the man who's sleeping on the street in Claremont.
He loves the girl who's pregnant.
He loves the guy who has one eye,because he got stabbed.
He loves those who've lost one limb or more because of violence or themselves as cause
He loves the woman who cannot read
He loves the man who cannot read English because he never had a chance to go to school
He loves the foreigner who keeps moving from place to place
And who am I to make life difficult?In fact,I choose to love,regardless of the person's background.
I choose to see God's children and candidates for Heaven.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind; which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." {COL 122.1} The casting of the net is the preaching of the gospel. This gathers both good and evil into the church. When the mission of the gospel is completed, the judgment will accomplish the work of separation. Christ saw how the existence of false brethren in the church would cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of. The world would revile the gospel because of the inconsistent lives of false professors. Even Christians would be caused to stumble as they saw that many who bore Christ's name were not controlled by His Spirit. Because these sinners were in the church, men would be in danger of thinking that God 123 excused their sins. Therefore Christ lifts the veil from the future and bids all to behold that it is character, not position, which decides man's destiny. {COL 122.2} Both the parable of the tares and that of the net plainly teach that there is no time when all the wicked will turn to God. The wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest. The good and the bad fish are together drawn ashore for a final separation. {COL 123.1} Again, these parables teach that there is to be no probation after the judgment. When the work of the gospel is completed, there immediately follows the separation between the good and the evil, and the destiny of each class is forever fixed. {COL 123.2} God does not desire the destruction of any. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Eze. 33:11. Throughout the period of probationary time His Spirit is entreating men to accept the gift of life. It is only those who reject His pleading that will be left to perish. God has declared that sin must be destroyed as an evil ruinous to the universe. Those who cling to sin will perish in its destruction. {COL 123.3}
For my evening Devotion,I interchange between SOP books;but one book has really been revealing all my defects and I'm learning from it.It's called Help in Daily Living.I'll be sharing a few statements that have blessed and chastened me.I won't be commenting or trying to expound on them,since they are too potent to have me even add anything.May you be blessed and revived as I am.
"We need not keep our own record of trials and difficulties, griefs, and sorrows. All these things are written in the books, and heaven will take care of them. While we are counting up the disagreeable things, many things that are pleasant to reflect upon are passing from memory, such as the merciful kindness of God surrounding us every moment and the love over which angels marvel, that God gave His Son to die for us. If as workers for Christ you feel that you have had greater cares and trials than have fallen to the lot of others, remember that for you there is a peace unknown to those who shun these burdens. There is comfort and joy in the service of Christ. Let the world see that life with Him is no failure."-p29
"We should not allow our feelings to be easily wounded. We are to live, not to guard our feelings or our reputation, but to save souls. As we become interested in the salvation of souls we cease to mind the little differences that so often arise in our association with one another. Whatever others may think of us or do to us, it need not disturb our oneness with Christ, the fellowship of the Spirit. “What glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” 1 Peter 2:20."p26
"It is through our failure to endure the tests that come to us in little things, that the habits are molded, the character misshaped; and when the greater tests come, they find us unready. Only by acting upon principle in the tests of daily life can we acquire power to stand firm and faithful in the most dangerous and most difficult positions."p33
"We cannot afford to let our spirits chafe over any real or supposed wrong done to ourselves. Self is the enemy we most need to fear. No form of vice has a more baleful effect upon the character than has human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit. No other victory we can gain will be so precious as the victory gained over self."p25,26
Children who are constantly told not do something,but nonetheless go on.
I'm watching children who are told to do the same thing everyday;but alas they must forced to do it or even beaten/shouted at before they do it.The worst part is,you can see that they don't take it seriously.
But it's not that different to how we (I) are in our Christianity.Daily we are falling at the same point=thoughts,appetite,works of flesh,short temper etc.But God wants to give us victory.
Perhaps,like little children who take the lessons they are taught as unimportant,so we are in our Christian walk.Constantly,we receive instruction from the Word of God or the pulpit;but no change is seen.
And as these children disrespect me,not caring when I say 'no';I then realize how much I break God's heart.
There's nothing pitiful like looking at children who have no respect what-so-ever;even after being straightened,they seem worse.How much more pitiful,when this is the exact state of our Christianity?
Perhaps,I should not have children-it's safer that way.If I,not being the parent of these souls,feel hopeless about them (even though they are not beyond God's grace),how much more with their parents?
And as I digress,I'm for the behaviorists' proposal-Indeed children are born in a tabula rasa and iti s the environment that determines their behaviour.Of course,the innate could be responsible,personality-wise;but the nature/environment has much influence in how the child turns out to be.
Time to get off milk and eat solid food in our Christianity
I have realized that I am sometimes quick to bash/to rebuke-while forgetting the well-being of the ones I rebuke.But God is teaching to treat others as He treats me.God,never gets weary and speaks impatiently with me when I err.Instead,He gently show me my errors in love,without discouraging me and when I see these defects,He bids me to lean on Him for strength.And I am praying for this mindset.For patience for others like Christ is with me.To never forget how far God has led me-for it is easy,to forget,and to be impatient with those who struggle with the sins I once struggled with.The devotion below,talks about how we can carry out such a spirit of patience towards the erring.
Patience With the Erring "Not all who profess to be workers for Christ are true disciples. Among those who bear His name, and who are even numbered with His workers, are some who do not represent Him in character. They are not governed by His principles. These persons are often a cause of perplexity and discouragement to their fellow workers who are young in Christian experience; but none need be misled. Christ has given us a perfect example. He bids us follow Him. Till the end of time there will be tares among the wheat. When the servants of the householder, in their zeal for his honor, asked permission to root out the tares, the master said: “Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow 36 together until the harvest.” Matthew 13:29, 30. In His mercy and long-suffering, God bears patiently with the perverse and even the falsehearted. Among Christ’s chosen apostles was Judas the traitor. Should it then be a cause of surprise or discouragement that there are falsehearted ones among His workers today? If He who reads the heart could bear with him who He knew was to be His betrayer, with what patience should we bear with those at fault. And not all, even of those who appear most faulty, are like Judas. Peter, impetuous, hasty, and self-confident, often appeared to far greater disadvantage than Judas did. He was oftener reproved by the Saviour. But what a life of service and sacrifice was his! What a testimony does it bear to the power of God’s grace! So far as we are capable, we are to be to others what Jesus was to His disciples when He walked and talked with them on the earth. Regard yourselves as missionaries, first of all, among your fellow workers. Often it requires a vast amount of time and labor to win one soul to Christ. And when a soul turns from sin to righteousness, there is joy in the presence of the angels. Think you that the ministering spirits who watch over these souls are pleased to see how indifferently they are treated by some who claim to be Christians? Should Jesus deal with us as we too often 37 deal with one another, who of us could be saved? Remember that you cannot read hearts. You do not know the motives which prompted the actions that to you look wrong. There are many who have not received a right education; their characters are warped, they are hard and gnarled, and seem to be crooked in every way. But the grace of Christ can transform them. Never cast them aside, never drive them to discouragement or despair by saying, “You have disappointed me, and I will not try to help you.” A few words spoken hastily under provocation—just what we think they deserve—may cut the cords of influence that should have bound their hearts to ours."-Help in Daily Living,pp36,37
For some time,I had concluded that sisters were not as spiritual;since whenever we engaged it would be rare to engage on spiritual matters.Or maybe I was the problem now that I think of it.Fast forward to 2015,I meet a sister who only speaks about God and I always learnt something from her.Sadly,she left Cape Town.Then God blessed me with a friend and we also started studying the Bible at church and I was always blessed and still am whenever I engage with her.
And ever since,I've met a lot of sisters who love God and who have a true experience with God.But yesterday was an exception!An exception because I learned a lot of spiritual lessons and I was encouraged to take my cross again and follow Jesus.
So,we gathered to go do a health expo at Nyanga and while we waited,we spoke about certain issues that where bothering us in our spiritul walk.
One thing that came out was the compromise of principles within the church.But we also learnt that we have a responsibility to do something whenever we see a problem.There's no use complaining about how the pastors are worldly or this or that.The question is,what are we actually doing about the whole issue?Are we praying about it,are going with a Christ-like mind to show those that are off path?
I also learnt that it's important that we always have the mind of Christ-to mingle justice and mercy.Often,we always want to bash out those we see doing wrong.But do we take the time to see the motive behind whatever they are doing?Some people may have motives,but they may have no idea how to go about something.Also ignorance plays a big role.
I also learnt that it's important to consider other people's temperaments when engaging with them.Glad a sister pointed this out.As a melancholic I tend to want things to be done a certain way,which is how I view it and whenever this is not so,I struggle.But I'm learning that-if it is God's way and in line with His Word,then it is okay since God is infallible and it is all about Him at the end.
I also learnt that you cannot evangelise someone who's broken,without first trying to get at the root of the problem.Often these souls just want kindness,care and us showing them that we are there for them-since they often build a barrier to protect themselves. AND LASTLY,my facourite theme:individuality!!!!!We can all be principled Christians without mimicing each other and that's perfectly fine.The Holy Spirit is working to perfect us in own personalities!
On the downside,as SDA sisters we are still unfriendly.Many visitors are being neglected while we stand in our cliques...We are not to forget to "entertain visitors".It is a Christian duty!
But I'm blessed.I am encouraged.I am thankful for sisters who choose Christ.
I'm currently doing a Bible course where we are required to read the book of The Desire of Ages,which also happens to my favorite Spirit of Prophecy book amongst others.I love how it is based on the life of Jesus; from Him deciding to take man's place-plan of redemption,Him living on earth-as a child,as a young man,and an adult.To Hm fulfilling His mission,conquering and going back to the Most Holy Place to finish His part in the redemption of mankind.
Chapter 1 is titled "God with Us".There was a period where God was with our parents since creation.But when the devil rebelled in heaven,he made sure he will bring God to destruction,by presenting Him as unjust and unloving God,with a law that cannot be kept.God allowed this to happen because it is contrary to who He is to force anyone to obey Him and so when mankind was created,He gave them free will.Through this free will,mankind fell into sin and that brought about a seperation between God and mankind,because sin and Gd cannot coexist.
But God,out of love,had foreseen all this and came up with a plan out of His love and Jesus-God,the second person of the Godhead chose freely to sacrifice everything-the honor,the worship of angels and more so that He can show to the angels and mankind the true character of God.It had not been enough for God to dwell in the sanctuary and the sacrificial ceremonies were only a slight reflection of what Jesus was going to do on behalf of mankind and to vindicate the character of God-to prove that He is love and it is possible to keep His law.
Not only was Jesus going to come,but He was going to be made in the very sinful flesh of mankind-and as He was going to depend entirely on God-the Father,he was to be the appropriation of our sin and restore the broken relationship between God and mankind.Though He faced trials,He proved that the grace of God is able to give us victory over sin,and the broken relationship is mended--only as we shall accept Jesus as our personal Saviour and depend on Him.
What has touched me while reading this chapter is the fact that NOT only is the Godhead involved in the salvation of mankind but angels as well.Even more,our relationship with God can be more intimate and closer than before the fall of man.That part humbles me.The statements below are the ones that have stood out and I hope to cherish them as I journey with my Lord.
"By His life and His death, Christ has achieved even more than recovery from the ruin wrought through sin. It was Satan's purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man; but in Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son."-DA,p25
"The angels of glory find their joy in giving,--giving love and tireless watchcare to souls that are fallen
and unholy. Heavenly beings woo the hearts of men; they bring to this dark world light from the courts
above; by gentle and patient ministry they move upon the human spirit, to bring the lost into a fellowship with Christ which is even closer than they themselves can know."-DA,p22
"Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our trials, and sympathizes
with our griefs. Every son and daughter of Adam may understand that our Creator is the friend of
sinners. For in every doctrine of grace, every promise of joy, every deed of love, every divine attraction
presented in the Saviour's life on earth, we see "God with us."-DA,p24
"By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God. As
the Son of man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey."-DA,p24
"God with us" is the surety of our deliverance from sin,the assurance of our power to obey the law of heaven.Jesus' life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law of God."-DA,p24,25
I'm currently in another province,which means I''m far from my mom.The problem is,a week cannot pass without me calling my mom-more than once a week at times and this is starting to worry me.Last year,I was also in Cape Town but two weeks could pass without me calling her.
There's just something about hearing my mom's voice.It's home.I can tell her about my struggles,my worries,what God is teaching me etc.And the interesting thing is,we were not this close when I was 18.Years passed and it became easy to open up to her-but initially I'd speak indirectly about something I was going through.But through God's grace,now I can tell her everything :).And the cool thing about her is,she allows me to make my own decisions-her only counsel is me not sinning against God.Even better,if she advises me on something,she understands that I might not follow her advice since I have my own goals (but her advice is always on point,pity it took me time to realize this ).
I believe we all can have close relationships with our mothers.The thing is,any relationship is two sided- our mothers do actually want us to come to them when we need counsel,when we are hurting etc,but they sometimes do not know how to make us comfortable enough.So,as children we also have the responsibility to be open to our parents-even if it's awkward at first,but the more you do it,the better.
We've gotten to a point where we sometimes chat until 2 A.M and these memories count more than taking a selfie together.
I am just grateful,grateful to have someone who will always be there for me and who's ever supportive.I'm grateful that my mom lets me talk without interrupting me LOL.Okay,let me explain:there are certain things I'm passionate about sharing,like my devotion,and so I can go on for 10 minutes until my brain reminds me that I've got to let my mom talk.I'm also grateful that she has a teachable spirit and she's not afraid to admit when she's wrong.But most of all,thankful that God is able to bind the heart of mother to her child's.
I am blessed!And her existence is something I do not take lightly.It's a comforting thought to know there will always be someone who has my back and that is my beloved mother.
There is nothing so heart-warming like seeing you aspiring to be like Christ.This always motivates and encourages me.There's nothing beautiful as a young man who has zeal for the gospel.It is through such brothers that I've been encouraged to stand for God and to take an active role in spreading the gospel.
Whenever I gather with some of the brothers in our mission group,I always see self-denial and humility and the spirit of service.And beautiful it will be,when this can be said about every young Christian man.
Sadly,that is not the case.It's disheartening that some of you my brothers,who stand calling people to righteousness,are the same individuals who are stumbling blocks to some-especially to your sisters in Christ.I am sad when I hear accounts of seemingly God-fearing brothers who go around breaking their sisters' hearts.How?Through stealing of affections.My brothers,it is not wise to open up to sisters as this causes emotional attachment and at the end,when you've given sisters the idea that you are interested,you then go to pursue a relationship with someone else.This is not becoming.
"To trifle with hearts is
a crime of no small magnitude in the sight of a holy God. And yet some
will show preference for young ladies and call out their affections, and
then go their way and forget all about the words they have spoken and
their effect. A new face attracts them, and they repeat the same words,
devote to another the same attentions.
This
disposition will reveal itself in the married life. The marriage
relation does not always make the fickle mind firm, the wavering
steadfast and true to principle. They tire of constancy, and unholy
thoughts will manifest themselves in unholy actions. How essential it
is, then, that the youth so gird up the loins of their mind and guard
their conduct that Satan cannot beguile them from the path of
uprightness."-AH,p57
The Bible admonishes young men:
" Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers,2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. "-1 Timothy 5:1-2
My brothers,you would do well to NOT play part in making your sisters' salvation burdensome.Often,you regard your sisters in Christ in selfishness-relating to them as objects-without any emotions whatsoever;but as disposable-fulfilling a certain need and when no longer needed,as good as nothing. Then there are those brothers who are in relationships-but they are still familiar with every other sister.Now this is also unbecoming.Imagine being in a relationship with a sister and having her open up her heart to every other guy or having her get calls from various guys.It wouldnt be right,would it? Also,when you are in a relationship with a sister-remember her body-every part of it,belongs to God NOT YOURS. Yes,Im not any better but this whole business of comitting fornication is not right-even if the fruits are visible or not.Please my brothers :).
Lastly,God has not called you to be weak-willed males who are tossed and controlled by females.Learn from your brother Joseph-He did not worry about what the wife of Potiphar was going to think of Him but God. I do keep you in my prayers and Ialways pray that God will strengthen you and accomplish His will in your lives.
The world is in need of men-men in the truest sense.Only Jesus can make you reach the ideal of a man.Turn to Him-He was once a young man;yet no account of evil was mentioned-especially from sisters,crying about Him playing with their feelings etc.Ask Him to make you true men of God.
"Stand in your God-given personality.Be no other person's shadow."-Help in Daily Living,p43
I think there's a bit of confusion when it comes to personality and character.
Personality:the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character.
Character:the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual
That's what I found when I googled.In my own understanding personality is what makes you distinct to everyone-your individuality.Looking at Moses-Moses was gentle,timid etc and Peter was forward,quick to speak etc.
Anyway why am I even talking about this? Because there are individuals who seem to not understand this concept in Christianity and they tend to want to supress other people's individualities.
Often,if you are a talkative person,this is often interpreted as you not being "humble,reserved" etc.But this is not so.A person can be an introvert and still be full of pride and this is crucial to understand because we end wanting to dictate people on how they should behave,rather who they should be-but God has already made people who they are and they need to be content in themselves (personality) and not look to anyone.
I remember an instant when someone had told me "you are not reserved,you should be like so and so" and these individuals were quiet people-mind you I was engaging with another individual who was helping to settle in a new environment and I obviously had to ask questions.So,for sometime I'd avoid engaging because I thought this meant I wasn't "reserved" enough.Then it went to me being told, "as a woman you should know when to speak" or you shouldn't speak much.So,I just ended up avoiding engaging with others because I wanted to be seem "humble,reserved" etc.That ended up with me being unhappy.
As I look back I realize,being humble is a heart issue.Also God has made each one of us distinct.God has made other people talkative,reserved,observant,hands-on etc and none of us is the same.There might be similarities but there are also distinctions.And this is to be so and this is what makes it all beautiful.
But no one's personality is the standard.We are not to use certain individuals as standards for womanhood/manhood.This demolishes our individuality.Oftern,courting brothers/brothers in general will look at an examplirary married woman and admire her traits and now they'd try to change the lady they want to court into a "copy" of this married woman and this is error.
Here we need to be careful!
Of course,as women,we need reserve when relating to the males.I can't come and start touching a brother as I would if I'd be talking to my sisters.But reserve does not mean keeping quiet and not engaging with each other.And sometimes males don't engage-so in this case,I see nothing wrong with engaging here and speaking our minds because we can learn from each other.
So,YAY TO INDIVIDUALITY!
I hope to read and share more on this.Hoping I'll get to a point where I express it eloquently.
Just a bit of intro: Growing up,I did feel insecure about who I was because of comments made by outsiders.I always felt like I was not "beautiful' enough etc.And so,because I felt I wasn't beautiful,I relied on my brain and my confidence was in it.
Then there were talks about self-esteem and I did have a low self-esteem.Mostly,these talks always direct you to look "within".But as I think of it,why must I look within?What's there to begin with?
The reality is,even as Christians we suffer from insecurities but as I reflect,I believe all these insecurities are a reflection that Christ is not in His rightful place in our lives.When we start making Christ our all,when we remove our eyes from ourselves-our abilities,our achievements etc and cast them on Christ,then we have security.
It is when we give ALL to Christ that we're able to feel complete and be complete.We can talk about self-worth etc but we need to start at the foundation-that on our own,we have no good and it is only Christ who adds value in our lives.
If we want to be secure,complete,THEN we need to remove our eyes from ourselves and look to our Creator.
I'm learning that,when we live a life that is all about us-a life where we want others to praise us,others to think highly of us,where it's all about us and what others think of us,then we cannot be fulfilled.
And so I conclude,we do NOT need talks on self-worth,self-esteem,confidence,inner beauty and the latter;we need to behold Christ and we need to know Him intimately,then He will make clear what our worth is,because He's our Creator and only He can point us in the right direction.
Sometime last week I listened to Leslie Ludy's sermon titled an "undivided heart" and I was rebuked.The Holy Spirit convicted me of the fact that I am still not entirely consecrated to God and I sometimes live as if I have no purpose by choosing to live a life free from duty.
And when I did my friday evening devotion,I decided to read Hebrews 11.Just a side note:I love God-The Holy Spirit.I just love how He will even lead us to the type of Scripture that will reveal our true condition.Indeed,Heaven has poured everything to secure our souls.I'll have no one to blame but myself if I do not make it to heaven.
Back to the topic:I read Hebrews 11 and verses 24-25 really stood out for me.In fact,my small-heart trembles at this Scripture:
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
My heart broke when I thought of the times I chose pleasure over an investment to my future-eternal life.Now I realize how crucial it is to be always "vigilant and sober;to redeem time" because the devil is ever setting traps to distract us from the focal point-which is to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling".
And I must point out that some of these momentary pleasures are not necessarily sin in and out of themselves,but they cause us to focus on the earthly things rather than heavenly,thus weakening us.These may include:
Spending endless hours on Facebook,while neglecting prayer,study of God's Word, witnessing and our daily responsibilities Being in a relationship out of God's will and perfect timing
Living a life of self-indulgence:over-eating,spending money on clothes,wasting times feeding self;instead of going about our Father's business.Believe me,there's a lot of work we can do for God
Choosing to give in to fleshy desires instead of restraining them by the power God gives us
Choosing to day-dream instead of focusing on earthly themes and reading material that we'll inform us and make us profitable to the society at large and so on. And the question is,the pleasure we choose to indulge in:are these pleasures making our relationship with God stronger and are they encouraging us to make victory over every defect;or they are weakening our conscience and stilling the voice of the Holy Spirit?
Friday the 4th was an interesting day but I'm filled with gratitude as I look back.But before sharing what I'm grateful about,I need to share this "weird" experience I had.So out of nowhere,a beautiful girl appears and asks for my picture.Reluctant,I ask her why.She then tells me it's for a school project, then I agree.She asks me about my happy moments and sad moments.And I had so many happy moments that I did not know which one to choose.And I had a few sad moments-I recalled things I had seen in the hospital-an elderly patient with a 4th stage bedsore and the little child with respiratory problems.A neighbor brought him and she had to leave him there since she was from out of Cape Town.
Honestly,this just made me realize how grateful I ought to be.Why it's weird?Because I've watched a lot of crime investigations so I start thinking weird things.But I've stopped,so it's alright now.
As I look at my life,there has been a few disappointments here and there,but they don't count for sad moments-they just fall under "lessons learnt".Honestly,I don't have anything to complain about because God has really been with me through it all-He is my beloved and He is faithful!
Then,I went to buy some fruit for Sabbath lunch around 5,the sun was still up.I get to the shop to buy something.Then someone distracted me and I ended up breaking a bottle.My cerebrum literally stopped for a few seconds-I think there was no action potential.But then I went to tell one lady who works there.Inside,I just told God that I was not really willing to pay for what I broke as that was the coming week's busfare :(.Then the lady said it's okay.Man,I'm sure the valves,atria,and ventricles on my heart were jumping up and down and flipping open and close!Which brings another thought as I'm writing this:This is exactly what happened to us:we sinned,we couldn't pay the penalty and Jesus said:"it's alright I'll pay the price".But does that mean I should go around breaking things in the store just because I didn't pay for the bottle I broke?Alas! I'm filled with such gratitude that I am not willing to do any wrong.The gratitude brings such carefulness.So it is with sin and grace.
One other thing that melted my heart,an elderly lady gave me her place on the queue since I only had a few things to pay for.Oops,thoughts keep dropping by as I write:It brings to mind what Christ did,taking my place so I can be free from bondage of sin,while He suffers in my place.The old lady decided to give me her time.
So that was my beautiful friday.I must say,I think a lot!All these lessons the Holy Spirit impressed upon me right now.I sometimes start a post thinking I'm going to cover a certain topic and I end up writing something totally different or not writing at all.
All in All,I'm grateful to God who moves upon people's hearts so that I may write and share these moments :)
Grateful to have God who sees me through each and everyday.He is my strength!
They have an uncaring attitude towards life.At least the ones I see in the trains.
Some jump through the door to the other side of the railway,what if a train were to just appear?
There are also instances whereby people would go through one door to the train next to theirs,because they don't want to miss it;even if one was going to come in a few minutes' time.They are always in a hurry.
But one thing I can never understand is when people going to Bellville stand directly at the door and you have to get out.There was a certain instance where I had to push through them and my bag was left inside and I had to go back inside again.Funny part is,the train waits for 10-15 minutes before leaving.
But through all of this,I have learnt that I need this attitude in my Christianity.To give myself fearlessly and unreserved to the cause of God. To not love my life unto death.Sometimes we're so focused on preservation of life such that we're not willing to live for God!Now I'm not saying we must act on presumption;but we need to let God be the One who preserves our lives,after all,He's the source of it.
I believe if you and I were so fired up on doing the will of God,not willing to miss on eternal life,then it would make a huge difference in our lives-lives consecrated to God,daily,hourly,eternally.
God calls us to be pure and so many times we struggle with
it because we limit it to the physical.We often conclude,as long I'm not fornicating then I'm okay.But what about the thought life? God calls us to gaurd the
avenues of the soul and it is only when the heart is pure that the
actions be.This presentation below puts it so beautifully,by Leslie
Ludy.
