Here in I seek to bring understanding and clarity to Ramadan as a Christian. People from many different countries will be conducting prayer in response to what is going on in the Muslim World today. We need to be free of our own ideas of what is important during this time, and seek God's heart as regards these precious people (they are after all descended from Abraham, our Father) I sought to provide an opportunity for my own family to think about Ramadan, not just because I am stirred to pray, but also to make it possible for those closest to me to follow in Jesus footsteps. I believe it would be something of a stirring on His heart, given that much of the world is opposed to Him as Son of God (and none more than devout followers of Muhammed)
We in the west live in a world that indulges in hero worship, commits sexual immorality because it's in their power to do so, and I'm convinced, are also idolaters at heart. What else can we do? I mean, it's not like we have the dedication that Muslims have, or the Jesus followers in China, or the persecution that most Christians experience in Northern Africa and the Middle East. We are left with our complacent attitudes and broken cisterns. I was much the same way for much of my life, being passionate about God, but never really getting to know Him. It wasn't until the blinders were taken off my eyes and I heard about His love for me, that giving my life to Him seemed to be the best thing to do.
So, what's there to say. I would say that praying during Ramadan, just like Muslims, will take endurance. It will be so because we've never done it before. Once those things become muscle memory we will not have to think twice about it. But sometimes storms come our way and there's a comfortable thing to do which is to leave the battle for others. It's to forsake discipline and determination in pursuit of making things easier on us. This happened for me when I came to Hospital. though I started well enough, for the longest time I could not even pick up a bible, or pray. Upon reflecting about this, I later found out that I had treasured things against God, that were related to how this could happen to me, and what was my response? simply my response was to say Yes to Him. it was from this place that I begin to see scripture in a new light, seeing Jesus as the way and the Father as the source. In a sentence, I began to pray again, because it was enjoyable. Matt 26 says that Jesus spoke to His disciples saying "You could not keep watch and pray with me for an hour? The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak"
That's good advice for us who can't even pray with Him one hour.
What am I meaning because of all of this? I'm learning more and more that redundant and boring prayer is not going to stir God's heart either. I'm sure He answers those prayers too, but if the disciples had anything to learn from Jesus, it was that they were partnering in with Him. that always has to be my motivation in prayer. What have I learnt from my experience of prayer? I've learnt not to entertain grudges between people. I've learnt to believe and hope in the fulfilment of those promises that He's given. I've learnt to corporately pray and seek God and allowing Him to do what must be done. I've learnt that you can be in the place of prayer for 2 years, and see nothing happen, (and for those sceptics; it is a step up now than it was; i'm only beginning to experience what He was sharing with me back then) and then when things are going poorly, those very things become your experience and you are thrust back into the original spirit of that prayer that you prayed back then. Like having encounters where "God knew what I was thinking!" and it all being worth it, from first to last. There's no regrets when you are walking with Yahweh through your life. It can appear that He's taken His hand off your life for a season (heaven forbid it would be longer!) but in that time, He was right to have allowed you to come to grief, to come into greater experience and understanding of His ways.
The point in all of this is to stir you to pray. Pray because you agree with God's heart of what he's doing with muslims. Pray for the breaking of strongholds and see the identity and culture of the Kingdom of Heaven being divested to the tribes of the earth (most unreached people groups are muslim. they make up most of the unreached world these days) i'm glad I made that last point. It's a lie and a delusion to believe that God will not raise up hearts that are burning on fire for Ishmael's Sons (and indeed Esau) he will cause them to goto the nations where they are. Why? because there's no gospel witness. why? because if you will not go then you will be accountable to God who said "the gospel of the kingdom will be preached to all nations [ethnic groups] and then the end shall come" (Matt 24:14) Why? because God wants them to be a culture that give their hearts to Him because He fashioned them and gave them life.
Consider Turkey. of a population of 80 million, there are just over 10000 believers. that's not even 0.01% of the population. Or Saudi Arabia, or Yemen, UAE, Iran, Iraq or Nigeria. all these countries are on the heart of God at this time. Why stop there? He desires them just as He desires you.
I could go on, but I'm bursting to get this out! My friends, I would not see prayer as a service, or even as a duty, but as enjoyment. I get to find out God's heart. It will always be that those motivated by service or indeed greed will not pray as the one that loves will. Why is that? it is because at the moment that they come to God, it will be reliant on Him doing something - or where is my faith? but when talking about the ones who loves, we find no law at work. Such a man is free to do whatever He wants, and because He counts prayer as being much more precious, the world will not turn to tomorrow until this one prays. It will be in that moment that God sees the heart of Him who prays and says "that one is righteous" that one is my joy to become, and if I do not pray, I will know that God will remind me. that is the best sort of prayer, which truly comes out of love. What shall I do? shall I do as I want and pray for Ishmael? that is indeed perplexing because it comes to the heart of me.
"Arise and shine, for your light has come" (Isaiah 60:1) The light has been realized and specifically has come to guide you into all truth. He commands you to give all your worship and love to Him
Sunday 29 June 2014
Making prayer enjoyable
Many of you will already be able to know from this title that this is your experience and for that I am thankful. But I was reading a prayer call from the International House of Prayer ( www.ihop.org ) about a summons for us to respond to God with all our heart and see His purposes released on the earth today, in light of the evils of society that threaten to engulf the world. (by evil I simply mean things that are not good) I will give the link here. Anna's Link
Is our experience that we simply pray because we have seen God move in the past? is it something that we grit our teeth about and find we only do it when need arises? What I mean to say is, do you only do prayer because it is required of you? This kind of prayer does not avail to touch the heart of God. The only reason that prayer works before God is because you want to touch Him, and He wants to hear from you. That is what I learned. The reason prayer is so enjoyable for me is because I get to spend time with my Daddy. It is the closest and most intimate expression of my life and something that I could not do without. Even in times of isolation and famine, the reason I pray is always because it moves my heart to move God's heart. Or more accurately, it is Him moving my heart to move His heart. This is because He desires to be known. He is the easiest one to ever know. He has no hickups about being offended, or indeed, of times of weakness, or venting out of frustration and anger. He has never had negative self-image and will never be prone to the effects of old age. He is and always will be the only thing that can satisfy, (I keep on telling this to myself) because he speaks to my heart. He wishes to know me more than I want to know Him. He hopes that I will choose to be with Him because He is that good. He yearns and thinks about me when we do not talk. When I'm struggling His zeal (lovingkindness) and compassion are aroused. When I am struggling, he inwardly burns. When I am tempted and coerced to sin, He violently opposes and makes me righteous.
More than that, when I am in love with Him, He likes me. When I love Him with everything, He loves me in return. When I grasp to take hold of His garment, even at that moment I am healed. He not only knows that such a life is the life that He calls us to live, it is the only life that will really satisfy in the end. I mean, who else you know has raised to life from dead? Who else lives inside of You by His Spirit? who else gave His own life so that we would know His love? Even more than that, He desires, yes, wishes, that we would enter into the fullness of His love for us. But for that, we must choose Him, we hardly do anything in light of what He's done. It's only, as one as said before, the thing that God can and will do to the heart that gives itself to Him. Isn't that remarkable? he promises to you that you shall be changed. If you do not, then throw in the towel. He will satisfy, he will come through, and He will see you changed. You will not stay the same way forever, you will be moved, love, and cherish this His most precious union that He has given so that you could be with Him forever.
The things that I want more than anything are to well up in love for Him. I want to articulate the emotions that He feels towards me. I want to make my inheritance His love, and make His inheritance my love. "I am Yours, and You are mine" I mean who else can be? Who else can really in this live, promise to give that kind of companionship and pure holy union with another? This is why He marries us, is because we would come into the fullness of that union that exists between us. He chose you to be able to articulate the fullness of His glory that is available to you in His love.
I often go back to the things that gave me comfort. The things that produce in me some joy of indulging in it. Must I say "indulgence and comfort are not such bad things"? that's what I've been told. I've been told that the way in which to beat sin is by no longer placing any value in it - to no longer do so would rob you of joy. Do you think that joy is so bad anyway? But if you apply that to God, of course you aren't going to come to God to pray. it will seem to be the worst thing that you could possibly do. And as a result you will be robbing yourself of the joy that exists solely in God. You will end up being frustrated, and no longer confident about the thing that you did. You will return to your own vomit. If that is the way that you see God, then you will never come to Him. But in God are fullness of pleasures, in God is richest of joy, in God are pleasures everlasting. In God are purity without blemish, and beauty untarnished. With Him are all the desires that you have in this life fully met and even more. If we could exhaust God we would have a reason to turn from Him, but that is so far from a picture of God that such a person should be pitied.
The real reason that we don't spend hours in prayer to God is because that would be to vulnerably give yourself to Him, and such a thing terrifies us. It terrifies us because we know that walking away from God, His glory, will always change us - for with Him we cannot fault. He is worth it. He is always valuable and prized above every treasure. He is the source of our yearning and the fullness of life streaming forth from everlasting goodness. He is the fountain of pleasure and the light that enables us to see. (Psalm 36:7-9) I want to talk more about this exchange. Do you think that such a thing can be found anywhere else? and why do you buy for what is not bread, and give your money to what does not satisfy? The reason that such an exchange is profitable to you, is in light of the preciousness of it. For you to waste your life on everything other thing is only an indication on what you value most. If you are willing to live for family and for your children, then that will be your reward. But if you live for God then that will be your reward, and indeed will profit not just in this life but also into eternity.
It's to say to God "You abundantly satisfy, and I am going to prove it by making you great in the earth" I am going to give my every waking moment, and every one of my worlds, to you. In light of such things as rugby, or grid iron, actors, movie stars and popularity contests we pay that price because we would like to believe that we could be in their position. In God's place are fullness of understanding (Psalm 73:17) and the promise of life that never ends. in light of this, to make God glorious is not a cost that we will not give. It will be the one thing that results in us actually authentically living. He is the God who dwells in the tent of Shem. He is the God that dwells in buildings. He is the God that dwells in our hearts. Each of these are made authentic because of the words that He spoke. He said to Aaron "I give you an everlasting priesthood" He said to David "will you build me a house of cedar. Behold I will build you a house" He says to countless through the generations the utter urgency and satisfaction of having built Him a house of which He would be worshipped and adored forever and ever. If there were prayers that prayed back in the day for the things that are happening in the earth today, I believe they would get behind the House of Prayer - giving God 24/7 worship and prayer out of enjoyment and fulfilling love. The reason I say that is because the most authentic and trust-worthy believers have all been of the house-hold that "longed for His appearing" and "believed that He would come"
For those who are lost, I had to go there. For those who understand, may God also richly make you able to count the cost joyfully of worshipful love and adoration to our God and Father and to the Lamb. For those who want to know more, that has always been my heart of prayer.
Is our experience that we simply pray because we have seen God move in the past? is it something that we grit our teeth about and find we only do it when need arises? What I mean to say is, do you only do prayer because it is required of you? This kind of prayer does not avail to touch the heart of God. The only reason that prayer works before God is because you want to touch Him, and He wants to hear from you. That is what I learned. The reason prayer is so enjoyable for me is because I get to spend time with my Daddy. It is the closest and most intimate expression of my life and something that I could not do without. Even in times of isolation and famine, the reason I pray is always because it moves my heart to move God's heart. Or more accurately, it is Him moving my heart to move His heart. This is because He desires to be known. He is the easiest one to ever know. He has no hickups about being offended, or indeed, of times of weakness, or venting out of frustration and anger. He has never had negative self-image and will never be prone to the effects of old age. He is and always will be the only thing that can satisfy, (I keep on telling this to myself) because he speaks to my heart. He wishes to know me more than I want to know Him. He hopes that I will choose to be with Him because He is that good. He yearns and thinks about me when we do not talk. When I'm struggling His zeal (lovingkindness) and compassion are aroused. When I am struggling, he inwardly burns. When I am tempted and coerced to sin, He violently opposes and makes me righteous.
More than that, when I am in love with Him, He likes me. When I love Him with everything, He loves me in return. When I grasp to take hold of His garment, even at that moment I am healed. He not only knows that such a life is the life that He calls us to live, it is the only life that will really satisfy in the end. I mean, who else you know has raised to life from dead? Who else lives inside of You by His Spirit? who else gave His own life so that we would know His love? Even more than that, He desires, yes, wishes, that we would enter into the fullness of His love for us. But for that, we must choose Him, we hardly do anything in light of what He's done. It's only, as one as said before, the thing that God can and will do to the heart that gives itself to Him. Isn't that remarkable? he promises to you that you shall be changed. If you do not, then throw in the towel. He will satisfy, he will come through, and He will see you changed. You will not stay the same way forever, you will be moved, love, and cherish this His most precious union that He has given so that you could be with Him forever.
The things that I want more than anything are to well up in love for Him. I want to articulate the emotions that He feels towards me. I want to make my inheritance His love, and make His inheritance my love. "I am Yours, and You are mine" I mean who else can be? Who else can really in this live, promise to give that kind of companionship and pure holy union with another? This is why He marries us, is because we would come into the fullness of that union that exists between us. He chose you to be able to articulate the fullness of His glory that is available to you in His love.
I often go back to the things that gave me comfort. The things that produce in me some joy of indulging in it. Must I say "indulgence and comfort are not such bad things"? that's what I've been told. I've been told that the way in which to beat sin is by no longer placing any value in it - to no longer do so would rob you of joy. Do you think that joy is so bad anyway? But if you apply that to God, of course you aren't going to come to God to pray. it will seem to be the worst thing that you could possibly do. And as a result you will be robbing yourself of the joy that exists solely in God. You will end up being frustrated, and no longer confident about the thing that you did. You will return to your own vomit. If that is the way that you see God, then you will never come to Him. But in God are fullness of pleasures, in God is richest of joy, in God are pleasures everlasting. In God are purity without blemish, and beauty untarnished. With Him are all the desires that you have in this life fully met and even more. If we could exhaust God we would have a reason to turn from Him, but that is so far from a picture of God that such a person should be pitied.
The real reason that we don't spend hours in prayer to God is because that would be to vulnerably give yourself to Him, and such a thing terrifies us. It terrifies us because we know that walking away from God, His glory, will always change us - for with Him we cannot fault. He is worth it. He is always valuable and prized above every treasure. He is the source of our yearning and the fullness of life streaming forth from everlasting goodness. He is the fountain of pleasure and the light that enables us to see. (Psalm 36:7-9) I want to talk more about this exchange. Do you think that such a thing can be found anywhere else? and why do you buy for what is not bread, and give your money to what does not satisfy? The reason that such an exchange is profitable to you, is in light of the preciousness of it. For you to waste your life on everything other thing is only an indication on what you value most. If you are willing to live for family and for your children, then that will be your reward. But if you live for God then that will be your reward, and indeed will profit not just in this life but also into eternity.
It's to say to God "You abundantly satisfy, and I am going to prove it by making you great in the earth" I am going to give my every waking moment, and every one of my worlds, to you. In light of such things as rugby, or grid iron, actors, movie stars and popularity contests we pay that price because we would like to believe that we could be in their position. In God's place are fullness of understanding (Psalm 73:17) and the promise of life that never ends. in light of this, to make God glorious is not a cost that we will not give. It will be the one thing that results in us actually authentically living. He is the God who dwells in the tent of Shem. He is the God that dwells in buildings. He is the God that dwells in our hearts. Each of these are made authentic because of the words that He spoke. He said to Aaron "I give you an everlasting priesthood" He said to David "will you build me a house of cedar. Behold I will build you a house" He says to countless through the generations the utter urgency and satisfaction of having built Him a house of which He would be worshipped and adored forever and ever. If there were prayers that prayed back in the day for the things that are happening in the earth today, I believe they would get behind the House of Prayer - giving God 24/7 worship and prayer out of enjoyment and fulfilling love. The reason I say that is because the most authentic and trust-worthy believers have all been of the house-hold that "longed for His appearing" and "believed that He would come"
For those who are lost, I had to go there. For those who understand, may God also richly make you able to count the cost joyfully of worshipful love and adoration to our God and Father and to the Lamb. For those who want to know more, that has always been my heart of prayer.
Saturday 21 June 2014
Stirring
I'm being stirred today, and I want you to know what that means. Just a thought that I had today regarding what I want to be remembered for when I die. Isn't it funny what pops into your mind some days.
Firstly, that the coming war is not going to be fought over territorial lines, or economies, or slavery, but over families. Also, that if we need anything in this age it's grace. Amazing grace, JOY that graciously gives up the goods that we possess for more real ones. Justice that flows like a river, that feels good about partnering deeply with what is on God's heart. defined by a new kind of culture and pressing need. that can laugh at the shams and the counterfeits. That can say with the rest "we are needing reality and that means believing in miracles"
I'm reminded of the day, May 2nd, 2011, when I gave myself to Jesus to beautify and give me the set of values that are queenly
Also the day that I made a commitment to protect and love my Jewish Friends
What does this mean? how does this all fit together? it just shows how inadequate I am to bridge the gap between my current circumstance and what He has plainly put before me. If I have learned anything, it's that out of desperation come the greatest affirmations of faith, and no one is quite so ready to proclaim the gospel as they do not value the pearl.
It's just to show that God has not forgotten me, and indeed, His mercy is splendidly enough for me - such that I'm not a hypocrite when I try to attain to what He's placed before me, because He alone sees my heart.
the truth is, the more I grow closer to my death, the more am I ready to live with just one thing as my purpose in life. Better to have the riches of God's mercy, in giving colour to life, than to go on living without any frame of mind that such a possibility exists. As far as I am dependent on God that is proof that he hasn't finished with me yet.
And how shall I answer in the day that He speaks for me? May it be a worthy response to God in my life. Some friends are paving the way for such great things to happen in the earth today that I can only, at this stage, give my approval in. It's possible that we will all be swallowed up by what God is doing, but not at the expense of ourselves. It will be to those that love much and know God that do great exploits.
Does that mean, then, that the day is coming when "the virgins will wait outside, waiting for the Bridegroom"? it strikes me that there is only one point to this parable. It's that loving God is worth it. Such a person that looks for the pizazz and the exuberance, without knowing the way to enter into the deep and real, will be left outside, but those that have spent time loving Him and found the worth of it, will be let in. They will go into the chambers that reveal greater things.
It's funny how that was what God had been sharing with me, saying "I want you to be anointed so that I could baptize you with my love" - not knowing how this was going to happen, but putting my hand up.
Firstly, that the coming war is not going to be fought over territorial lines, or economies, or slavery, but over families. Also, that if we need anything in this age it's grace. Amazing grace, JOY that graciously gives up the goods that we possess for more real ones. Justice that flows like a river, that feels good about partnering deeply with what is on God's heart. defined by a new kind of culture and pressing need. that can laugh at the shams and the counterfeits. That can say with the rest "we are needing reality and that means believing in miracles"
I'm reminded of the day, May 2nd, 2011, when I gave myself to Jesus to beautify and give me the set of values that are queenly
Also the day that I made a commitment to protect and love my Jewish Friends
What does this mean? how does this all fit together? it just shows how inadequate I am to bridge the gap between my current circumstance and what He has plainly put before me. If I have learned anything, it's that out of desperation come the greatest affirmations of faith, and no one is quite so ready to proclaim the gospel as they do not value the pearl.
It's just to show that God has not forgotten me, and indeed, His mercy is splendidly enough for me - such that I'm not a hypocrite when I try to attain to what He's placed before me, because He alone sees my heart.
the truth is, the more I grow closer to my death, the more am I ready to live with just one thing as my purpose in life. Better to have the riches of God's mercy, in giving colour to life, than to go on living without any frame of mind that such a possibility exists. As far as I am dependent on God that is proof that he hasn't finished with me yet.
And how shall I answer in the day that He speaks for me? May it be a worthy response to God in my life. Some friends are paving the way for such great things to happen in the earth today that I can only, at this stage, give my approval in. It's possible that we will all be swallowed up by what God is doing, but not at the expense of ourselves. It will be to those that love much and know God that do great exploits.
Does that mean, then, that the day is coming when "the virgins will wait outside, waiting for the Bridegroom"? it strikes me that there is only one point to this parable. It's that loving God is worth it. Such a person that looks for the pizazz and the exuberance, without knowing the way to enter into the deep and real, will be left outside, but those that have spent time loving Him and found the worth of it, will be let in. They will go into the chambers that reveal greater things.
It's funny how that was what God had been sharing with me, saying "I want you to be anointed so that I could baptize you with my love" - not knowing how this was going to happen, but putting my hand up.
Sunday 15 June 2014
I'm endeavouring on a new project
I just sat down with my Mum, my Aunt, and my self. I was sharing about how I wanted to let them know that I would probably be moving into a flat on Manchester St. It's just one street over from the place that I'm living. This will make it easier to stay in the same neck of the woods that I have been for just under 2 years. It will also mean that I do not need to alter my life too much. Fingers crossed.
It got onto talking about my flat mate potentially moving out, how would I cope with that? how would I cope with having to get to know some new people all over again? Though these are all important things, I felt like my mind was wandering onto a new subject. It's the issue of community. we've become very good at hiding ourselves from other people. I mean that it's not possible to live in your own world with the alarm bell ringing at 6, breakfast at 7, work at 8, dinner at 6, and sleep at 10 (or 11 if you are a night owl) it's not possible because it neither satisfies, nor is the reason that we were created. We were created for community, for vulnerable honesty, to get to know people, to have joy and laughter, to congragate and tell stories, stories of your upbringing, stories of your experience of God, stories that shape and mould us. In light of this what are we doing? are we content? do we really believe what we say? it's easy to say that you are content in your life, but do dance clubs satisfy? do hours on a controller leave you feeling better afterwards? do food and water, hunger and thirst satisfy you? to this God says a resounding "no" and it was never His intention.
We stand at a crossroads in our lives and the way everything has been told to us, we stand at a junction in history where that is threatened to be swallowed up entirely, and many of us are not even aware of it. In this way what the scriptures say about what will happen is vitally important. but it really comes to us to be able to find out what God is saying. If I mentioned a few issues of our day, would you know what I'm talking about? Abortion, gay marriage, the injustice of persecution towards Christians and Muslims in the middle east, the sex trade industry (on our doorsteps) to all of this if we remain silent, we agree with what is happening. How so? because where we stand on issues is where we stand on the culture that we've been brought up in. And culture is important, is the fabric by which families, society, and indeed nations are built upon. A culture that honors the father and mother is one that will stand. One that demands justice at the cost of others lives, demands them without any legal basis, demands to ruin a society. and it's not so subtle either. Look on the news, look on your favourite TV shows, they are filled with the lies of which we have been comfortably treatised by for our whole lives. It's because culture tells you how to act, and what is important. It's as vital as the questions "Where do I come from? and What is my meaning in life?"
So do you agree that we are at a crossroads? we are on the verge of the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the history of mankind. An outpouring that promises to transform nations, revitalize our identity, give our hearts the things that we have been so desperately searching for but do not find, and return us to a love for the truth. We are also on the eve of technology that enables us to do this. the importance of reading and writing (made a mockery of in our school systems by replacing it with digital image and peoples opinions) will once again find an expression in our hearts and our cultures, our communities, our nations. how is this going to happen? it's going to come, from the least of all places, the computer. We have grown up in a generation that has been detached from reality but no more. we have also grown up in a generation that don't know common sense when they see it. For an example i say. "we've made computer systems with abilities to organize data, by topic, but not by usefulness" and as a result there's a schism between computer users (in general) and those that are "not nerds, and geeks" who have never used a computer in their life, and do not know how to use it.
I'm endeavouring to start a new project. I'm wanting to make my computer use rooted in reality. I'm wanting to brainstorm ideas for creatively staying in contact with people that are on the other side of the world. I'm actually promoting the thing that we want the most, which is to talk, laugh and do stuff together. but for that to happen, we need a reformation, and it must start soon! all the computer waves of the last 30 years have been focused on what the world wants, what the world needs, and we've followed after it. but there will be a time coming when the greatest creations will come out of people that use technology to impact their very lives. Do I say this as outside of scripture? do I not know that anything that is going to happen must be preceded by an actual scripture? an actual example from scripture. Consider Sinai. The day that the earth shook, the day that God's words were heard from the Mountain, indeed were reverberating inside of them. Does not this sound like God? something happening from within that finds expression in the way that we do life. It also gives precedent to Jesus, the word of God, that dwells inside of us. i'm not the only one, there are not enough books in the world to write all that is going to happen. indeed the Holy Spirit bears me witness saying "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions" do you not know what scripture says. "The Lord has spoken, who can but prophesy?" it was a defence of His ministry. He did not care for applause so He said it as it is. Do I tremble when He speaks? do I shake with my body at the applause of Heaven as He testifies to me and says "You're coming with ME?" without the reward of God none of us will do anything. Our vision is too low. What he has in store will be that of earth-shaking magnitude. He will set all wrongs right, he will judge the rebellious. He will punish the insubordinate.
As is the habit of most, I have not really even started. But my mind is feeble and my body knows it. I tried to make it make sense to you, but the remarkable thing is, he actually speaks to me. It just makes me tremble the fullness of what He has instore for us. What I mean by that, is my days and hours and weeks and years will all be consumed in the reality, the knowledge, the glory of Him. How could it be any other way? Don't settle for second best. don't settle for riches or fame or money. or indeed, for any number of pleasures related to "conforming to the crowd" they don't know where they're going and they have no clue about the desperate need that they have. That just means what it says. People, how can cheap thrills satisfy? can they tell you who you are? can they love you? this is all in the hope that you will love Him, for only in relationship with Him can you rightly discover what He has for you. It's not about a position that you attain to, it's not the recognition of what you've done. He has such brilliant plans for you, because you are His own. He loves you because that's the least to be done. He likes you for loving Him. and it will be right to say in that day "You are worth it all"
Many of you cherish friends far more than I do. I go months without thinking of people. that said, I also remember you each day. But I am so excited to make this work properly. it's because I've bought into the lies that the world has told me, that you can live your life without affecting others. Each of you are precious to my heart and worth all the time that I've known you. If you don't know that, then ask me if I pray for you. So did Jesus when He was on the cross. He was remembering His final prayer. it was only His prayer that was accepted before God. It was His prayer that connected Him with the heart of us, and would not let go until all are "with Him where you are"
It got onto talking about my flat mate potentially moving out, how would I cope with that? how would I cope with having to get to know some new people all over again? Though these are all important things, I felt like my mind was wandering onto a new subject. It's the issue of community. we've become very good at hiding ourselves from other people. I mean that it's not possible to live in your own world with the alarm bell ringing at 6, breakfast at 7, work at 8, dinner at 6, and sleep at 10 (or 11 if you are a night owl) it's not possible because it neither satisfies, nor is the reason that we were created. We were created for community, for vulnerable honesty, to get to know people, to have joy and laughter, to congragate and tell stories, stories of your upbringing, stories of your experience of God, stories that shape and mould us. In light of this what are we doing? are we content? do we really believe what we say? it's easy to say that you are content in your life, but do dance clubs satisfy? do hours on a controller leave you feeling better afterwards? do food and water, hunger and thirst satisfy you? to this God says a resounding "no" and it was never His intention.
We stand at a crossroads in our lives and the way everything has been told to us, we stand at a junction in history where that is threatened to be swallowed up entirely, and many of us are not even aware of it. In this way what the scriptures say about what will happen is vitally important. but it really comes to us to be able to find out what God is saying. If I mentioned a few issues of our day, would you know what I'm talking about? Abortion, gay marriage, the injustice of persecution towards Christians and Muslims in the middle east, the sex trade industry (on our doorsteps) to all of this if we remain silent, we agree with what is happening. How so? because where we stand on issues is where we stand on the culture that we've been brought up in. And culture is important, is the fabric by which families, society, and indeed nations are built upon. A culture that honors the father and mother is one that will stand. One that demands justice at the cost of others lives, demands them without any legal basis, demands to ruin a society. and it's not so subtle either. Look on the news, look on your favourite TV shows, they are filled with the lies of which we have been comfortably treatised by for our whole lives. It's because culture tells you how to act, and what is important. It's as vital as the questions "Where do I come from? and What is my meaning in life?"
So do you agree that we are at a crossroads? we are on the verge of the greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the history of mankind. An outpouring that promises to transform nations, revitalize our identity, give our hearts the things that we have been so desperately searching for but do not find, and return us to a love for the truth. We are also on the eve of technology that enables us to do this. the importance of reading and writing (made a mockery of in our school systems by replacing it with digital image and peoples opinions) will once again find an expression in our hearts and our cultures, our communities, our nations. how is this going to happen? it's going to come, from the least of all places, the computer. We have grown up in a generation that has been detached from reality but no more. we have also grown up in a generation that don't know common sense when they see it. For an example i say. "we've made computer systems with abilities to organize data, by topic, but not by usefulness" and as a result there's a schism between computer users (in general) and those that are "not nerds, and geeks" who have never used a computer in their life, and do not know how to use it.
I'm endeavouring to start a new project. I'm wanting to make my computer use rooted in reality. I'm wanting to brainstorm ideas for creatively staying in contact with people that are on the other side of the world. I'm actually promoting the thing that we want the most, which is to talk, laugh and do stuff together. but for that to happen, we need a reformation, and it must start soon! all the computer waves of the last 30 years have been focused on what the world wants, what the world needs, and we've followed after it. but there will be a time coming when the greatest creations will come out of people that use technology to impact their very lives. Do I say this as outside of scripture? do I not know that anything that is going to happen must be preceded by an actual scripture? an actual example from scripture. Consider Sinai. The day that the earth shook, the day that God's words were heard from the Mountain, indeed were reverberating inside of them. Does not this sound like God? something happening from within that finds expression in the way that we do life. It also gives precedent to Jesus, the word of God, that dwells inside of us. i'm not the only one, there are not enough books in the world to write all that is going to happen. indeed the Holy Spirit bears me witness saying "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions" do you not know what scripture says. "The Lord has spoken, who can but prophesy?" it was a defence of His ministry. He did not care for applause so He said it as it is. Do I tremble when He speaks? do I shake with my body at the applause of Heaven as He testifies to me and says "You're coming with ME?" without the reward of God none of us will do anything. Our vision is too low. What he has in store will be that of earth-shaking magnitude. He will set all wrongs right, he will judge the rebellious. He will punish the insubordinate.
As is the habit of most, I have not really even started. But my mind is feeble and my body knows it. I tried to make it make sense to you, but the remarkable thing is, he actually speaks to me. It just makes me tremble the fullness of what He has instore for us. What I mean by that, is my days and hours and weeks and years will all be consumed in the reality, the knowledge, the glory of Him. How could it be any other way? Don't settle for second best. don't settle for riches or fame or money. or indeed, for any number of pleasures related to "conforming to the crowd" they don't know where they're going and they have no clue about the desperate need that they have. That just means what it says. People, how can cheap thrills satisfy? can they tell you who you are? can they love you? this is all in the hope that you will love Him, for only in relationship with Him can you rightly discover what He has for you. It's not about a position that you attain to, it's not the recognition of what you've done. He has such brilliant plans for you, because you are His own. He loves you because that's the least to be done. He likes you for loving Him. and it will be right to say in that day "You are worth it all"
Many of you cherish friends far more than I do. I go months without thinking of people. that said, I also remember you each day. But I am so excited to make this work properly. it's because I've bought into the lies that the world has told me, that you can live your life without affecting others. Each of you are precious to my heart and worth all the time that I've known you. If you don't know that, then ask me if I pray for you. So did Jesus when He was on the cross. He was remembering His final prayer. it was only His prayer that was accepted before God. It was His prayer that connected Him with the heart of us, and would not let go until all are "with Him where you are"
Saturday 14 June 2014
Setting up an RSS feed
Hello there, I recently found out about this ability to stay in touch with the content that is developing on a website, called RSS (Real Simple Syndicate) and have set it up for your convenience if you want to keep tabs on any new content that I update without needing email (the option to subscribe emails is still there)
I'm using Firefox. If you are using another web browser, I will try to make this simple for you.
Click on the Menu button in the right hand corner of the screen
Click on "Customize" (it is highlighted on the picture)
(Yes i did change from PC to Mac) When you click on this button, a new screen will open up, giving you the ability to add icons. the one that you want is "Subscribe" drag it to the menu, or place it next to the Home, and bookmarks (this makes it easier to select the page you want)
Now when you visit my site, the "subscribe" button will light up, indicating that you can subscribe to the feed. The good thing about it is that you can browse it at your leisure. when you click the button, it will give you the option to select a feed. Select "Subscribe to Sound the Trumpet in Zion - RSS"
Here's where this might differ from mine. when you click this button, if you have never used RSS, it will bring up a screen with topics from my website, and the option to use "Live Bookmarks" to subscribe to my blog. If you click the option that says "always use Live Bookmarks" then when you goto another site it will just let you add the site to bookmarks.
I hope this helps! actually I'm about as excited as you are! never knew there was this kind of functionality with the web!
As an aside, I hope to be releasing videos which will be on Youtube, for any topics that the Father has been speaking to me and what I want to share with you. I have a channel on Youtube called "PforPianist" if you are wondering.
I'm using Firefox. If you are using another web browser, I will try to make this simple for you.
I hope this helps! actually I'm about as excited as you are! never knew there was this kind of functionality with the web!
As an aside, I hope to be releasing videos which will be on Youtube, for any topics that the Father has been speaking to me and what I want to share with you. I have a channel on Youtube called "PforPianist" if you are wondering.
Sunday 8 June 2014
Why the doctrine of Superior Pleasures is so important
I'm on the backend of having tried to sustain myself with the things that I am comfortable with to give me satisfaction.
It's not too harmful, having entertained myself with playing video game music that I haven't listened to or played (on the piano) for years. I'm talking 8 years ago.
I've been brought upto believe that if I follow rules, and generally live by them, I'll be fine.
the problem that I have is that my desires don't seem to go away.
In fact the ones that have never even thought about it are probably the ones that if they knew what they need, would be ruined.
Take the sports for example. We find and give admiration to the players saying they're playing on a good team. We enjoy watching sports games, if we're honest we like it more than anything else.
but when we put that illustration to God we think it's out of place. What do I mean? when someone gives their life to the glory of God we look and think that there could be more important things that we do. What does this shed light into? it actually comes down to the fact that we place more importance on the things that we can do than on God.
Use the illustration again. If someone were to admire God, to love God, to glorify God, to bring God glory what would we do? the point is that we have a sense that it's better if we give those things to other things - not knowing what that means.
The problem with my desires is they don't go away.
In fact, trying to live like they don't exist is only going to take us further from the truth.
That's why I hope in God. that's why my greatest pleasure is God. It's because He's the only one that can give me the pleasure that I'm looking for. And we'll write the bible with that worldview.
When we look at God and say "I will do things for Him" doesn't it just detract from the reality? the reality is that you hardly ever do things. Even you doers that do things, you can't say that that's all there is, right? what makes up a day is far more than what you do.
Why couldn't it be that when we look at God, He is all that we are looking for? when we look at God, who loves us, we were created to love Him - in ways that I don't even know, nor can comprehend. God, at the end of the day is far more amazing than idols (things that we've made) He alone satisfies - because He feels that way about us.
This is why the doctrine of superior pleasures is so important. When we act as if everything is alright, and years later it comes back to haunt us, that's evidence that we never really had tips on it. If we genuinely in our heart know, that God is superior, we'll goto Him every time.
It's the trading of what is lesser and temporary for what is real and superior.
that's my thought for the day.
It's not too harmful, having entertained myself with playing video game music that I haven't listened to or played (on the piano) for years. I'm talking 8 years ago.
I've been brought upto believe that if I follow rules, and generally live by them, I'll be fine.
the problem that I have is that my desires don't seem to go away.
In fact the ones that have never even thought about it are probably the ones that if they knew what they need, would be ruined.
Take the sports for example. We find and give admiration to the players saying they're playing on a good team. We enjoy watching sports games, if we're honest we like it more than anything else.
but when we put that illustration to God we think it's out of place. What do I mean? when someone gives their life to the glory of God we look and think that there could be more important things that we do. What does this shed light into? it actually comes down to the fact that we place more importance on the things that we can do than on God.
Use the illustration again. If someone were to admire God, to love God, to glorify God, to bring God glory what would we do? the point is that we have a sense that it's better if we give those things to other things - not knowing what that means.
The problem with my desires is they don't go away.
In fact, trying to live like they don't exist is only going to take us further from the truth.
That's why I hope in God. that's why my greatest pleasure is God. It's because He's the only one that can give me the pleasure that I'm looking for. And we'll write the bible with that worldview.
When we look at God and say "I will do things for Him" doesn't it just detract from the reality? the reality is that you hardly ever do things. Even you doers that do things, you can't say that that's all there is, right? what makes up a day is far more than what you do.
Why couldn't it be that when we look at God, He is all that we are looking for? when we look at God, who loves us, we were created to love Him - in ways that I don't even know, nor can comprehend. God, at the end of the day is far more amazing than idols (things that we've made) He alone satisfies - because He feels that way about us.
This is why the doctrine of superior pleasures is so important. When we act as if everything is alright, and years later it comes back to haunt us, that's evidence that we never really had tips on it. If we genuinely in our heart know, that God is superior, we'll goto Him every time.
It's the trading of what is lesser and temporary for what is real and superior.
that's my thought for the day.
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