Considering the past year: A look into biblical hope

Introduction 

You'll be pleased to know, that I'm doing well and that this post is in response to God's work in my life in this season. I've been making good progress in my studies, but have been struggling with pressure and indeed with the future. It occured to me today (as I write this intro) that indeed I have no regrets about the future, for I seem to have been led along very peaceably into things that I've always said I was going to be about. I can't express in words just how much tenderness is at work in me to be able to say that, nor indeed, of the thankfulness that rises from my heart, which I hope to be unbidden, and that he does these things because of His leadership over my life. That is the lesson I learned from Davids life. Truly, I would give all to Him right now.

Where I am right now, I feel a bit beside myself. I have come unstuck a little bit. That's the honest truth. I don't know why, but I'm absolutely frozen at things that are supposed to be easy to get. Sharing with others, loving my neighbour, being a productive part of society, warring against sin, and the importance of prayer, fasting and giving. They all seem to be somewhat hard and to be honest, make me feel jaded. That's what happens when things come unstuck. I remember my history, and about how I did many things for God, and that what I'm looking at now seems pale in comparison. I once meditated on the prospect that after a missions trip, people would come unstuck. Am I having an extended debrief withdrawal? am I experiencing culture shock? all the jitters and signs that I should be getting help, and ironically i'm the one giving help.

I don't want to paint a wrong picture. I'm absolutely committed to being a part of my church, endeavouring to share my faith with others, to make God known, to embrace my future and be invested in. All these are good, the hard reality is that I feel like a war is going on inside of me and if I talk to people about it that they won't understand. They don't realise a battle is raging for their souls. They don't have an inkling to describe what it's like to redefine your life, or concern themselves with what others think. Am I just over-analyzing this, or am I likely the only one that is going through this?

I was in the same place last year. Somehow, God was on the case, today He reminded me of a time last year where I was absolutely challenged by financial pressures. I found that I was not relating to it in the way that I thought. I was going over it like I went through sleep while in hospital. Being encouraged that everything was alright, but should I be doing something? What I mean is, people can appear well enough saying things that sound good, but it's not good advice. None of it. In fact, it was summarised in a few words. I need help, I need people to care, and to know what is going on. It's true that in my community, that there are people that care deeply for me. It is true that in the instance that I am in, that I am searching for recognition, accountability, someone to foot the bill, and act as if the things that I'm going through are important. God has dealt with all of them in his kindness and grace. There are people now who deeply care for me. There are those that I had not considered to be friends (you know who you are) that are now a part of my life. Indeed, I've learnt that I am to desire God. And that my delight, as a product of His delight is the reason why He likes me.

These are, in God's way, deeply troubling issues. the pressures that I am facing are unbearable. I feel like my whole life is going to give way, since I'm making bold moves to change who I am. What do you say when it is you on the chopping block, when its your life on the altar? when its you offering the sacrifice, and you are the one that are characterized by worship (a complete giving of yourself to God)? If i left it there, I would be doing a poor job. Lets look at the things that He's done.

He provided enough for me to get through the last few weeks of the year so that I could receive some support over the holiday period.

He re-energized my heart to find a flat where I could be with God.

He put delight in my heart, as in the revelation that I have many good friends, and I myself make friends easily. That is still bearing fruit and growing.

He has surrounded me with friends that care for me. Who pray for me. Who are there for me. Whose designs are from God.

He also gave me new dna. He reminded, and instructed me, in what really matters.

I learnt something profoundly impacting while I was going through transition this season. Lessons I want to share with you, in the hopes that you can also go through the pressure with dignity and value, even if it means suffering and dying for Jesus. God knows that I'm that committed to Him.

He taught me to confess the things that I am in Him, and what He sees in me. In fact it's bigger than that. Truly, all that I know of God is bound up in what He says of me. Truly, to look at life with dignity and value is to be stuck on God. That means that confessing what He says about you is also confessing who He is. It is saying back to Him what He knows of Himself. I will add to that, singing.

You see, the face is the reflection of His own beauty. Our hearts unashamed and radiant (Psalm 34:5) are the expressions of blessedness come from Him. This is why the godliness that God chooses for us, because of our heart before Him, enables us to hope. The reciting of things that he has spoken for us, and in which we find our greatest joy and inheritance (crown) are those that produce so much change in our being, that it would result in us owing to the blessedness of His crown and blessing of all of His works. I want to stand before Him one day confessing and proclaiming, delighting in and satisfied, before the one that has always been. In that I am not alone, and I owe my goodness in life to the one that chose and love me, seeing me in my pity and coming to my rescue. He will at the end give me the desire of my heart, since it rises unbidden from the place that accords me to utmost glory and grace.

If that paragraph was like, "huh?" then proceed further and see what it is that has taken place in my heart to produce such a change in me, a change, though storms should come and waves be tossed, should not cause me to tremble, but the anchor is steadfast and firm, and will in all respects, save, deliver and lead to utmost triumph.  That is the reason that I give all for this man, and why I have continued to sing Him while everything should be failing.

Bible Study 

Lets look at a verse that has given me such consolation that He knows and feels good things about me.

"My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

² You are fairer than the sons of men;
Grace is poured upon Your lips;
Therefore God has blessed You forever." (Psalm 45:1-2)

I will give a line by line commentary on these verses.

The psalmist is expressing what is in His heart, and writing it concerning the one whom He calls King. He is penning a letter concerning Him.

(1a) What things make your heart overflow?

and indeed, what things are good that make your heart overflow.

When I started to meditate and confess these verses, I was struck by the fact that this is one who writes what is on His heart, and that the first thing that describes the instance of his love, is that the theme he writes, is both causing his heart to overflow and that it's good.

I have to confess that also, my heart when reading these verses was in a bad place, and I did not say this as my experience but wanted it to be true. I wanted so badly to be stuck on God. Consider that there are many things that you do with your time, when is the time that you can be alone, and allow yourself to pour out before God? indeed, when is it true that is the case for you? when you are entirely pouring out and in that, I find the notion of self to be unable to contain what is here described. "I love me, I delight in me, I have good thoughts about me, I am the greatest, I am truly wonderful, and I love what I can do, and make everything that I do about me" What is so profoundly conceited about that is not that we should not think of ourselves, but that if we allow ourself to be defined by that, as innocent as we claim it to be, we are indeed shutting the door on the joy of knowing true delight. 

What is stark about God is that here is one that pours out himself before Him, and enjoys it. to overflow is not the product of conceitedness, as I have already described, but rather, that such a one could be utterly pre-occupied on the thought of God. I have to confess that as I was meditating on these things I came unstuck. Shortly after having such a delightful visitation, in which my heart in all respects found freedom, and knowing what I had to do, my own desire became pre-occupied with other things. In other words, it is a continual washing, that is itself only capable of being expressed in the bounds of relationship with God. As much as I tried to deny it, my desire to express joy in Him was met by ugly habits that I thought had been removed. 

(All I can imagine, is that God is not displeased with me, and that looking back on what I said, and the things that I wrote, what could motivate Him but love?) But I found that it was given. Therefore I must choose it. My belovedness in His sight is a reflection of the choice that I made. He gave His life and what exists now is the freedom of that exchange.  not only did nothing of your belovedness in His sight come from your own effort, it is equally true that nothing can keep you from the joy of which He is the sum and substance of all your hopes. 

(1b) Here in we have the desire of him expressed who is peering into the heart of one, the King. Not only is it for Him, the subject is of Him. the one to whom this belongs is only here described, and the contents of it, ratified by the oracle given. It is noted for us, since the veil has been removed, and we have gazed on the face of the one to whom He sings. 

The point is here, that this is one that does not know Him. (do you think He writes such a beautiful psalm about David? do you think it's referring to any earthly King?) The more I found about this individual, the more I realise just how much "my heart overflows at the good theme of Him" it is equally given, that "The Spirit and the Bride say 'come' and He comes" (Rev 22:17-21) to deny this common theme is to doubt the very character of the one that we have believed in. Is it enough for Him that we should turn away on this most needed aspect of His return, and act as if we are beggars before Him? the point made is that such a reflection, coming from the heart of God to us, and ratified in scripture, is that His heart is the bleeding heart, not ours. Any reflection of that which is limited is on our part and not on His. The display of His glory and goodness is that He cares deeply, and that which is enjoyed by His people is the work of His glory. In two words "He receives" 

Not only that, but Christ showed Himself King by dying on a cross and being raised to life. Not that He then took a literal, geographic Kingdom at His ascension, but that it was promised to Him by God on account of His being worthy (Rev 5:2) 

This makes the pertinance of this psalm to be less than trivial in understanding the end of the Age. If we cannot tolerate a bleeding Messiah, then we will not tolerate a dictatorial King. To place yourself in one over the other is to put yourself in the firing line. 

Also, as far as scripture is concerned, it says of Him "You are a Priest forever, in the Order of Melchizedek" Who was a King. He was King of Salem (meaning King of Peace) and His name means King of Righteousness. If we are to forget the most important aspect of His reign, then we will spit in His face before His day. This was the great hinderance of Judas. He knew that Jesus was the Messiah. He knew that the leadership were against Him. He knew that He would likely not see the day that He hoped for, where in Jesus would reign and all the Apostles be as Judges of His Kingdom. This was the despair of His heart, being rooted only in sentimentality and conceitedness. If Peter thought too little of himself, Judas thought too much. It was because He considered His own life to be ended at the betrayal that He could not see through to the end of the day. he would die and leave nothing to His ancestors. 

Like Peter, we are in a day when deception and accusation clouds our witness. We are in the throws of death, just as Peter and Judas. We are convinced that we will betray Him, and that is everything. We are likely to give an account to Him at the end, and this motivates us to think wisely of our time here on earth. To imitate Him in this day is to have hope regardless of our circumstance. It is rightly to consider the work of His cross, the depth of His love, and His succour of reward at His coming. It is to not be ashamed of Him. 

Notice the two conflicting reports of Judas and Peter 

"Why this waste, for this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor"

and 

"Why not now, I would lay my life down for your sake"

Judas flat out denied the legitimacy of anointing Him for burial, where as Peter grappled with the concept that suffering and dying for Him, out of love, could have merit to it. Judas flat out denied Jesus by saying that He would not be accountable to Him on judgment day. Whereas Judas and Peter are two disciples, one has a completely different world view. this world view was inescapably connected with Satan. It may as well have been Judas who had rebuked Jesus, for it was just the same thought that motivated him.

(1c) Now we start getting into the theme of the letter. It is a love song to a King that is not known. it is a homage to beautiful adoration that is worthy of the affections that he has. It is in anticipation of better things, more sure things, that have found their way into the entrance of Heaven, and into its Courts. The theme and subtleties of it are such that it could be written by a group of like-minded, aspiring theologians that are grappling with God's existance. It is the worthy addition of song that makes them tune their hearts to sing to His grace (the word grace is used in the next verse)

Such is their preoccupation that they sing to Him. such is their reminder of their blessedness a virtue that could not be escaped in this entire psalm. it is rightly considered to be an anthem, that Has at it's inception the thought of God's manifold dealings with Humanity. it is an ode to the glories of Heaven and to the one who sits there. The point of it is that it is received, but ever more, that it takes reception in them. Very well could they be tuning themselves to incline to graces (Song 1:2) or to the name of Him. In fact, any great pursuit of God is met by His loveliness and beauty. It also refers to the instruction that Has been placed before Him. He is ready, He will write, and He will record what is given to him. 

Rather than trying to apply this to some situation, or indeed, of the reasonableness of it, I will just instruct you to go away and to find out something of God for yourself. More often than not, these pauses are instructive, and it is not to be taken only as a glib statement, and with no more audience involvement or appreciation. the reason that He writes and sings is because His heart has experienced and known the one that He is writing for, and by, and whom. 

I will say this much, that nothing like it is found in all of scripture. I believe I can be right in saying that. it's true that Moses asked for God's glory, that David was enraptured by God's mercy, that a generation sung the praises of God who is good, that Jesus declared the name of the Father to us, that we are the children of the ones that have inherited the promises of God, that we stand as the blessed of the earth and that by legal right we have been grafted into the family of God. This demands careful attention and we need to know these things, if we are to apprehend God. But whereas they are dealing with things that we can discuss, these are things of the heart. Without so much as a desire for Him, we will go on the same and all our years of pursuing various things will come unstuck. The tragedy is that there are people that don't know any better. There are ones that don't know that life could be so much better. And equally, that some have given up and quitted. These ought not to be so, since God wrestles with our heart every day. Somedays we come unstuck. it is those days when we find that our life is vanity, and that nothing matters. that is actually God's grace (Psalm 90) a precursor for what is to come, when we desperately search for meaning and do not find it. 

God give me more understanding.

But he doesn't leave us there! Just like the tomb empty on the Lords day, just like the reasonableness with which David defends himself before God, we don't have to despair that nothing is coming our way. The point is, that God sets himself who is godly apart for Him. (Psalm 4:3) This godliness is  our own standing in God. Whereas we despair because our heart lacks the freedom and clarity that come from God, In God there is no such a thing. He purifies us by our commitment to Him. I'm not saying that He is dependent on us to make that commitment, but rather, that just as David recalls God's choosing of Him, that is in itself the godliness, the holiness, that God imparts to us. Holiness of God is enjoyment of Him, and the defence that we long for in God is found deep inside, so that we should be unconcerned with what comes our way, but trusting fully in Him.

Instead of doing a line by line from now on, I will simply try to explain the second verse in its entirety

The first verse (for that is what the preceeding verse introduces) is referring to His impeccable beauty and the words that come from His mouth. In other words, "favor". Note that the therefore in this verse is not to be taken as a greek mindset. We would say "this does not apply to me, since who can say they are blessed forever" or indeed, that eternity is going to remember Him. the word for blessing here is the traditional Hebrew word for blessed, which finds its first mention in Genesis 1, where the creation is "blessed" and God rested on the seventh day. this denotes that every other instance of the word (whether it be for the conditional obedience of the Law, or indeed, of God's manifold blessing, the blessing of a Father) falls under the right and true method of blessing with which we find all the fullness of God evident in our good. 

This verse falls under the correct and right appreciation of blessing as instituted by God (it was God who blessed) 

I do not feel I am capable to fully articulate what is here described, other than what it says is true. the one to whom He calls King, is also the one that is unrivaled in all His capacities unto the appraisal that indeed, because of His goodness and moral accountability He will steward the blessing of God forever. This is a human trait would you believe it! It was given to us to have dominion. The word for dominion is "stewarding" this is what He did when He named the beasts. This is what He is continuing to do, in promoting God, and making intercession for us. This is what He will continue to do both now and forever as He is invigorated by the Father, and dispensing His power and heart over all of those who call on Him. 

To be "blessed forever" is indeed in God's counsel, and we would be right to be terrified, if indeed we have the same kind of spirit as He. For we can ask for dominion, and we can implore His counsel, and we can know His heart and His ways, and endeavour to obey Him in all of our deeds, and consider that God indeed will enable us to live righteous (moral accountable) lives that are reflected in our words. The word grace is here used because all the words of His mouth are pure. In this respect, He commands blessing and authority and power in all things.

It should not escape us either, that the one to whom God appoints authority and sovereignty, is also the one that obeyed God perfectly, and that here in is a description of His ascension and His perfect life being manifested in and through us who are overflowing with His goodness.

This means all that it proclaims to be, that indeed God is stewarding Him with the task of our enjoyment and the certainty that we will reign (have dominion) We gave it up when we sinned and left the garden, and in God's foresight He gave it to one man, to rule from shore to shore.

Conclusion 

Does not God know His own word? I have to admit that my own capacity is lacking. I am trying to articulate what I know to be true, because I have the Holy Spirit. I don't necessarily need to know it to understand it, but rather, going off my own experience, I know it to be true. This is the only way to approach the Father and have intimacy with Jesus. Without our heart, we will continue to just be used by Him, but have no understanding of the mysteries of Him. to understand and steward His mysteries is to be judgmental about all things, and you let God be God. This is somehow lacking from our western mindset. This is what I meant when I said "don't adopt greek thinking" 

My hope, is that indeed, you might discover the hope that there is in Christ, and that being filled with Him, you could endeavour to suffer and die for Him. I don't say this as a matter of fact, or indeed, as being unrelated, but as I started, so shall I end, that dignity and value are found here. to be who you are created to be is no short fall, but is the entire pursuit of God in You. Only God knows who you are, and it is true that you have unique and testing experiences. To suffer and die then is not the betrayal that Judas felt, but it is rather the hope that Peter had in that He loved Him. 

Don't be hard or cold hearted, Don't be like Judas, don't betray Him for bread. Don't even consider that you are like that, or that your insincerity is somehow tragic and betrayal the fruit of your own considerations. Atheism and suicide are at the heart of the devil in this generation. To be at this place in God is not the leap you thought it to be, but only the reasonable response to the way He feels about you. And to endeavour to change and become like Him is not the good works trail that you believe it to be, but rather, the aspiration of a heart that grows in intimacy and love with Him. Who would not like to be like the one you love? it would be cherished in you forever, so that you could mark with dignity and value what God has done in you, which is worth the wait, and much more blessed. 

There's themes that I have only touched on here. And there is likely many things that could be said that I have not. I just trust that I have written what was supposed to be said. Be stuck on God. 
I've touched a little on the promoting of God. We look at a sunrise and wonder, we gaze on the mountains and are in awe, we feel the breeze in the wind, and we are thankful for all these things. But when we think of God, who all those things are true of, the idea to praise Him and be filled with wonder is reserved only for those that are in the office or station that requires them to. The sun rises and sets, and we have waxed and waned. All things are not new under the sun, but when we know God, and have appreciation for Him, we're content to leave it to others. Not only do the heaven's declare the glory of God, and all through history we have found people astounded by God's works, the same can be true of those who have seen the glory of God and told of it. They were and are still in the earth today, yet our attempt at making God's name great has only made us bitter and twisted.

Nothing ever happened by self-reliance. You didn't get born self-reliant. You didn't go through trauma self-reliant. You didn't get to where you are today by being self-reliant. No, the reason that I put such confidence in others, and place my hope in them, and love them, is because I need to love again, it won't do to isolate myself. I need to feel again, though I should be jaded. I need to have dignity and value again, and not put myself in a box that I'm afraid it could happen again. What has taken place has taken place in my heart, and that's why I am where I am today, because such a one made the move to love me, and such a one believes and hopes in me, so that I should learn to love Him, and delight because I feel the companionship that He gives to me. That is the reason I can't look back, is not because I became self-reliant, but because I have a voice that I listen to that tells me who I am. 

I WIll Worship

This is that song that got away. Hope it is a blessing to you (with thoughts on what has happened for me in the last 2 years) I actually wrote this before I came to hospital. It seems it was actually prophetic.

I Will Worship

(Copyright Nathan Sinclair 2014, All rights reserved. Feel free to make use of the song just make sure you mention me and let me know you're using it)

A theme of hope

Hope is a remarkable thing. You can’t fake it. My friend is hoping that the sun will shine this week. More than this, hope is what enables us to enter into what God has for us in authentic worship. This is the key to realising the heart of God for us. Some things hope says:

“Why are you not over the moon about Him? what are you lax and unable to enter in?” This is the great measure of what he has placed in us. It comes from encountering God – he restores hope

Some verses concluding that hope is as essential as breathing.

Hebrews 6:11 “And we desire each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end”

The book of Hebrews is all about the joyful suffering that goes with proclaiming His name. So in this verse he is saying that they’ve missed the mark – not having hope.

Here is another verse on hope:

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear”

There it is again. When we proclaim the good news it is our hope that shines through. In other words, it’s our hope. That illustrates that we can know all the right things in the world, but if we’re serving up nothing that’s worth replicating, we will be brushed aside.

Hope is breathing.

This is important, but I’m going to return to the previous verses from Hebrews 6. Here is the context:

“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love, which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end. That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:10-12)

Add in a couple of other verses:

Ephesians 1:15

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love for all the saints”

in other words, it says “faith in the Lord Jesus” faith in Him. it includes these concepts together, faith, hope and love. (1 Cor 13:13)

What they’re saying, is the new body. What is the connection between the new body and our actions on the earth? Just that. Christ gives us a new body, one that is not diluted by weakness, or tarnished by frailty, or forged with the natural. He promises us a body that is not only powerful, but spiritual, glorious and eternal. Why? Because we will be with Him.

Why? Because it is to Him that we engage in this labor of love.

Unless you are bound with Christ, you are without hope.

Why? Because it’s a matter of life.

In fact, hope is breathing.

You’ll ask me “why am I struggling and powerless? Why am I dissatisfied with life?” to which I will reply, you have no hope.

It’s like the little child that is learning to ride a bicycle. It’s sure to happen that he falls down, and when He does, He cries. He gets back up, He gets back on the bike, and continues peddling. He eventually succeeds and never falls down again.

It’s like coming to a realisation that you’re called to succeed, called to be beautiful, lovely and pure. Called to be filled with hope of the way that God feels about you – dance like no one’s watching, sing until it hurts, live like there’s no tomorrow, and I will show a person that has hope.

Without being bound with Christ, you are without hope. You see, he poured out his life, his love, and expected no repayment. He died, he was buried, and descended to hell. There he was in the belly of the earth for 3 days, and on the third, he rose again. That’s why everything of life is found in Him, it’s because He’s been there. The assurance and affirmation that I need is found in Him – this is because I know that God has shown me that every indication is that He gave His best, His life, and that no one is like this man.

But this necessitates the question: “I’m totally barren of hope. How do I engage in authentic worship to God? How do I “ – ultimately – “engage with God in an honest way?” what is there for me? What is the answer?

To this I will share a new scripture with you.

Psalm 5:1,2 “Give ear to my words, O LORD

Consider my meditation” (Literally groaning)

“Give heed to the voice of my cry

my King and my God

for to you I pray”

Here, I’ve found it I’ve found the key to emotional honesty. It seems, honesty is emotional honesty. What is here described is “groaning, and crying” – don’t see these in terms of under some huge burden. See these as desperations of trying to articulate to God what it is you are asking for. Take heart, that “groaning” is heard by God. In fact there are times when God takes the tears of our failings and sojournings away from Him and puts them in a bottle. There are times when we are surrounded by enemies, and

Psalm 142:4

“Look on my right hand and see

For there is no one who acknowledges me

Refuge has failed me

No one cares for my soul”

How can there be hope in that? How can I say that and bristle with hope at the same time?

This is quite a remarkable question. But I can only leave you with this. David is refreshingly honest with God. He is able to say things that we just don’t.

In all of this, I say, give your all to Jesus. Count not the cost. Know that He is emotionally honest, He is gloriously able to lead us with the tenderness of a Shepherd. This is because He died to become your future.

You see, only when you love and are able to entrust to Jesus your future in his hands do you embrace death. Death no longer has a sting to those that are captivated, it no longer has a remorse to the one that loves. No regrets. And no quibbles with that.

I hope you now see why hope is living. It’s so crucial to live. You see it allows us to apprehend God’s promises as our very own. It allows us to be authentic and get up when we’ve fallen down. I’ll leave you to discover what new ways you can express hope to God and others.

Connecting with God

I want to share with you something that has happened recently for me. to do that I need to also inform you that I wanted to share it with you before Christmas time, while it is fresh.

It has taught me alot about connecting with God. I realize that I am far from a perfect individual when it comes to sharing the things that are on my heart. Please sympathize with me through this.

I used to think that it was all gonna be too hard to make sense of God's leading and guiding, but from the last week I have to say that He was pleased with me to dwell within Him and makes all things committed to His way. It is a refreshing and a blissful peace, being convinced that all things have come from His hand. This, says Madame Guyon, is the key to the (fathomless) inner depths of Christ.

I guess I should let everyone know. I am in the process of applying to do a Bachelor in Communication and Information Technologies at CPIT (Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology) Who am I to resist what the Spirit is leading me into?

That is what makes the whole experience enjoyable. It has come from His hand, He is leading me, I trust Him with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding.

Here in lies the confidence to ask Him for yet more things from His hand.

For those that are interested, I will potentially be doing this for the next 3 years. Please know that I am also keeping the promises of God close to my heart, so that I may one day speak from my experience exhorting everyone to love God with all their heart, and know that we the church are the only hope for Israel to return to the bond of covenant with God. It's an issue with God's character and His nature he chose Israel in love and for the sake of it, He will confirm all that He has promised to us.

I never want to get away from that simple truth, that God is ravished by my heart of love. At the end of the day, choosing Him, over the world is an issue with Him at the center. I enter into the lions cage, where the world could seek to quash my faith, and tell me God isn't real. But then I would be unfaithful to how He's faithfully lead me and guided me.

The point is, God is the sustaining power to live a life that lights Him in the center of the Lampstand, you can try to live outside of this, but He is worth it, being the one who reminds us of His great love.

I know this is completely self-centred but I'm seeking to goto Israel next year to visit a friend. If anyone wants to invest into what God is doing in and through me, contact me. I am wanting to spend potentially 2 weeks in Israel and need some money for accomodation. I don't want to be forcing this on you. If you have walked with me through the last few years, I know that you will walk with me through this as well.

Actually, I have perfect confidence in you that I've touched your heart and can rely on you for this. God will provide through His body, like it says in 2 Corinthians 9.

Just a little bit of what I plan to do over there.

I want to share the good news with Jewish people. I want to attend the house of prayer and minister to Jesus. I want to encourage the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. I want to visit a friend as part of ministry opportunities. this is a long time in the running, being something that He has wanted to do since 2011 (that sounds a bit like me)

On a side note, I am looking forward to reading and studying from books in our course notes. I have started reading a commentary on Isaiah by J Alec Motyer, very good! it's taking a while to finish though.

I have always enjoyed reading. Pray that this enjoyment makes things easier for sharing what the Lord gives to me during this time in Polytech.

For those who do not know, Polytech is like University but has more of a practical focus, reaching out to the business communities that the interns will actively be a part of as part of the internship in the 3rd year.

Let me know If you would like to learn any more information

That is all. May you be blessed and flourish in the hand of the Lord. He is worth everything you give to Him.

From the ends of the earth to you

Hello there,

I wanted to let you in on what I have been upto recently, and what I have been thinking about. You could say that things are becoming clearer and I'm experiencing a little more clarity about who I am, and what I have come here to do.

My friend and I Steve left to goto Kaikoura a few weeks back, on Labour weekend. This was the last weekend of October. I did not know it, but we enjoyed rather splendid conditions there, even though they were very windy. You could see the clouds moving fast over the Heavens.

Oh right, and I came down ill so that's why the update is a few weeks later. I am on the search for a job... If anyone has leads in Christchurch, contact me! I had a good interview at Countdown (a supermarket here) a few weeks ago, for a service deli position, which I have not heard back from. Fingers crossed.

Without further ado, my travels. Oh yeah, I also went on the Rapaki track last week, it was a good tramp (about 1:30.00 there and back) I threw in a few of those photos just for you who are missing new zealand (especially the sheep)

 This is the South Bay, Kaikoura. Pristine blue seas, and blue skies. When I saw the outcrop of rocks and the calm seas, I had to get a shot. It took a while just to get to this particular place, but it was worth it!

 These are the Kaikouras in all their illustrious beauty. As I said, the clouds are moving out of the way, we had to put on our windbreakers to weather the wind. These fields are also paddocks for the oxen to graze. This is known as the Peninsula walkway, it takes roughly 1:20 to get to the seal colony, and I swear the walk back goes faster!

 There are paths in the wilderness. and Houses. I love the green fields, so green!

 This is taken from just atop the seal colony, where if it is the right season, you can see seals bathing on the rocks, we were able to see a few while here (but you also have to be careful that you do not aggravate them, they are dangerous!)

 On the rocks in the foreground, is where the seals play. They normally just bathe, they do not get upto much, unless it is eyeing up the tourists who are taking photos

 This is a shot taken on the way back, on the peninsula walkway are a few bays, this is the southern most one.

I also managed to go on a walk up the port hills and see over the city somewhat. Look what I found when we got upto the top! sheep!

 Of course, in New Zealand you do not need to go far to find sheep. This wasn't even out in the canterbury plains, this was the outback of Christchurch. Must be owned by farmers.

 This is the rapaki track, with sumner and new brighton in the background! the clouds are clearing and you can now see them alot better, it also got a bit warmer. What a treat to get to the top of the walk and to find that the sun comes out and the overcast skies clear up. I had to whip out my camera and get that shot!

 I liked this shot, because you get the rolling hills, with the green and the sun coming out. these fields haven't been grazing flocks of sheep, they still have their beauty about them.

 There is something about the rushes, and rocks, that make me glad, and remind me, that I am in New Zealand. Don't get that anywhere else! it's classic Canterbury for you. Marlborough has the vineyards (I know canterbury does too!) the bay of plenty has nice fresh grass, but you only get the flowing grass here in the south island.

I have recently started reading a book that I keep coming back to, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ by Madame Guyon. She wrote the little book in France in the 17th century, and it has been the source of great joy and maturity to many saints to the present, groups such as the moravians, and the wesleys, even Watchman Nee have been greatly impacted by this simple book.

It's stabilized me, reminding me that I am here for just one purpose and that purpose is to Love God. The more that I keep coming back to this, the more I am convicted, challenged and stimulated, and it's the same with this book.

I want to give my life to God, to consecrate my life and all that it is, to Him. It's for this reason that I have been thinking about applying to do an internship with the House of Prayer in Jerusalem. Because I have come to realize that this people group has impacted my heart, it even led me to write a book, challenging me in my first time to goto Jerusalem, and the journey that I have been on since then. If there's anything that I am certain about, it's that love for God leads to loving Jesus brethren, and that we have a call, a mandate to lay down our lives for the sake of Jesus fame in the world.

The more that I try to escape the call to goto the ends of the earth and goto the Jews, It leads me to forsake the notion that God has called me, and that He has appointed me, and that I do all things for His name's sake. Surely I cannot turn my back on something that is so clear.

Just like the weather in canterbury, there are clouds coming, but I see through the clouds to the sun shining.

That seems like a pertinant statement to make after the journey that I've been on, and which I want to endeavour to communicate with all my might. This is all about coming back to what matters most, which is to love God and to keep short accounts with Him. I cannot go on doing what I plan to do, I must refrain from indulging in selfish pleasures, knowing that they are the one thing that keep me from my prayer to God. Because His love is better than life, I shall glorify God with my praise.

I know that there are people out there that are endeavouring to come to God and give them their all. A part of this is coming to God in weakness, because it's only in weakness that God will come in strength, and His grace is perfected. Let me stare fully in the face of Christ and embrace the pleasures that He gives, because that's what I will do with my life. And I hope to do that forever and ever in His presence when He comes back for me, or I die to go and be with Him.

In saying this, I mean to suggest that the purpose for which He took me through Hospital, has been to die, and to purge me from everything that is not of God. He even spoke to me.

I cannot take the credit for this except that to go through the experience of loosing confidence in myself and in giving me the opportunity to be broken I find that my resolve to push into God is strengthened. These are just some of the things that have taken place for me.

I have much appreciated the conversations and correspondence I have shared with you over my time leading up to going to hospital and only ask that you keep me in your heart as I consider things pertaining to my future. I am certain that God will also be with me in this endeavour. And most of all, think of God's people, the Jews, who are doing their own thing, may they come to know more fully that peace that comes from abandoning themselves to God, and understanding the passion that exists in Jesus heart for them, which is life. 

A brief and needed update

I am calling this new season in my life "Plans and Provisions"
I have recently applied for a School overseas where we would learn how to take the gospel to nations that have not heard his name. It actually made me feel rather excited, God's leading, his plans and His provision. But it was not so. I have not been accepted.

This makes me think about what has happened lately.
I am in the process of writing out a formal draft of "my signs of wellness" - what things indicate that things are going well for me, and making my plans, i hope to share them with you.

The first is being able to be myself around my friends and family. Tick! this has been accomplished.
The second is growing in my relationship with God. Tick! I am in the process of finding out how I am a Son of God.
I have found out that I have quite an interest in taking photos, and sharing them with my friends and family. Though I have not done this for a while (I haven't had an experience where I have wanted to take photos yet) I did go down to the lake at Jelly Park last week to admire the birds, the water, and the flowers, while my friend Steve used his new camera to take photos of those things.

But I guess the greatest and most needed one has been in my walk with God. I have a new faith in God. God has a plan for me. This makes me think about the last few months and how God has lead me. As a good friend of mine said, "it is very wise, to return to your relationship with God" - his plan is a good plan for me, and one that cannot be stopped. As I shared with my Psychiatrist, something that is very important for us christians is not necessarily the destination, but the journey. This is why being in a place of not knowing I can rest, and that is what God wants me to do, REST. Return to Him.

I've realized that I've turned aside from the simple devotion of being God's child.

This is something that I realized while watching Joseph Prince's sermon on grace on Shine TV.

"Abba!" Daddy!

In fact if I am doing prayer out of an obligation to spend time with Him (I know that I am confused by this- Surely it comes from loving Him, not from obligation)

Then I may as well stop. Daddy, I am on His knee. He loves me, and I love Him, for I am adopted as a Son. There's not much a child can do, It's that simple devotion that leads me to have faith in Him. Yes, that's right! He wants me to know, not just in my mind, but EXPERIENCE his love.

That way whatever he has planned for me, I am about His love. I rest content in this love.

I am thinking about what it means to live Christ.

One area that I am growing in is financial responsibility. Having wisdom to spend my finances on what actually matters. This I need to share with everyone that I know! In fact, I imagine that my daddy is wanting me to be just like Him in this respect. He has no limits, so neither should I, especially when it comes to the thing He most talked about while He was here on earth. It is a peculiar thing, that is why It brings glory to Him.

I may as well say that I am currently in a position to give. I guess this is how the family works - It's us that need to show where our heart lies by being stewards of what is in the pocket. This reminds me of my time being at YWAM. The irony is that I never had any money there, I wanted to share, but that didn't help me. It only happens when we actually have seed to sow.

If you wanted to know the journey that I've been on, I guess that all I need to share with you is the insight that I have already laid before You.

It includes being at REST with him as I said earlier. I believe God gives dreams and plans to everyone. It's not just the leaders at church - He wants everyone to use their talents.

What it really comes down to is that God does not keep a tight rein on his finances, He gives. He demonstrated this to us by giving his only Son, the most precious one of his heart, to us.

So whatever this season may bring (I am equally as excited as having Faith in Him - not having all the answers but having a burning heart that brings glory to his name) I am prospering and causing my seed to grow. And I have an audience to share this with. I actually have a dream, it is to see a generation caught by the fire of God's love for the world and even to admit, that maybe our hearts are not as desiring as they should be - realizing that the one who said "The Lord is not slack in his promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" Actually has a bigger heart for the lost than we do. Longsuffering. Know that without God, there would be no salvation, he brought it to us at the first, and now looks to us -with His power - to accomplish the word that He speaks to us.

I did not quite finish the dream that I have - that the nations of the earth might cry out "Glory! Worthy!" to the one who redeemed us by His blood.

I leave that with You

Please pray for me, that GOd would continue to lead and guide me, and show me the glory that is surpassing all knowledge.

Also that as a child I would cry out "daddy!" to my Heavenly Father

Storms with God in the Boat

Consider your enemy. He wants to taunt you, surround you, and thwart your own purpose of finding life, happiness, and pleasure.

In His way stands God. In Psalm 3 we find, God is “my shield, my glory, and the lifter of my head”

He buffets the storms that come from the presence of the evil one.

A little examination shows us that God has a real agenda with us, that we would rise up above criticism and give us life. This is “my glory” He is always there to thwart the purposes of our enemy.

I want to ask you a question, what is it that troubles you? Is it true that there are many who say “there is no help for Him in God” – an insult to our faith in Him.

You will only find success and pleasure, and victory in the face of one who buffets all our storms.

Maybe like David you have people that are not going to go away – to this he reminds himself that God is always there to help – always an answer in storms.

Don’t think of sin, don’t be anxious over the weaknesses that you find in yourself – instead put your faith in God your trust in Him you will be blessed to give up all criticisms and surrender to his strength in the midst of storms.

Maybe you are going through suffering and are questioning whether it can be profitable.

The truth is, you are on the winning side – the words that Jesus spoke to the multitude apply to you – seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all these things shall be added unto you.

We have an opposite way of doing things in the Kingdom. The truth is, life comes from death – he demonstrated it – He lives in you by His Spirit.

Through suffering comes glory – this is the way that God will work – though it seems contrary, the truth is found in it all that He wants you to love Him with abandon through every circumstance that comes your way, the most you can give God at any time, at this time, is your love.

That means that though you are suffering, there is a help from Heaven, there to give you a second chance during your pressures and pains.

Salvation belongs to the LORD

His blessing is upon His people.

The Why behind "Heaven's Anthem"

I am struck by the beauty of You LORD,

There is none that takes your place

I am overcome by the love that you have shown to me

I will make your name known to the ends of the earth

My soul lifts up,

And finds it’s union with you

You are the praise of Your people

We will declare your acts

To a generation of people

That will revere your praise

You are entirely your own

You look after the widow and orphan

Your kingdom endures,

And your dominion from generation to generation

For the glory of your name,

All I can do is think upon the wonder of you

You will reign from shore to shore

Your righteousness knows no ends

In your hands your hold the stars

Flames of fire are in your eyes

Excellence streams forth from your majesty

There is none like You

All land and sea,

Angels and man,

Stormy wind that does your command

Will worship: Blessing, honor, glory and power

Are belonging to You

You wrestled the keys of death and hades

Ransomed my life by the blood that you shed

None can compare to the victory you rent

Nor take your place for the crown that is Yours

I Implore you, take your seat

Salvation belongs to the Lamb

Who sits upon the throne

You lead the procession that belts out

Heaven’s anthem

Holy, Holy,

Lord God Almighty

You are eternal, and greatly unsearchable

We barely know you

I have just shared this poem at a night at our church, called "Extravagant Worship" All I will leave you with is this, it takes alot more to stand up and read out a poem, exposing your heart to others and placing your own feelings and impressions before an audience, which is what I did last night. I didn't just put it up to be read, but actually to be the voice for it to others.

I hope you enjoy this poem. If you would like to see more, you can purchase my e-book "You are my glory" on Amazon

Let my heart burn

This is a follow up to a post that I read at my friend Sarah Racine's blog, have a look at it before you read this (it's not crucial, but it does connect the two in some way)
I see the bullseye but where are the arrows

That's intense. Thank you Sarah for your zealous turning to the Lord.
I like your point about being single and not having a husband. It reminds me of Amy Carmichael.

I'm just so struck by your words. What is keeping me from going? You know that I love Jesus and I would go anywhere with Him.

It was almost "for Him" and I think of the moravians when I think of their "worth it call" in the lamb receiving the reward for his suffering. But it's also with Him, he doesn't go anywhere without us.

I pray that you too will go with Him. because I've been reading this book by Madame Guyon where she says God puts us through circumstances, only God can be said to have done it. All the trials and pressures that we face are because God wants to be united with us.

I am getting a hold of the why behind that, just like you are, that we will be entirely, intensely passionately betrothed to Him, because he wants us. Don't forget that He is wanting us. That same desire that were his finishing words before He went to the cross, the same heart that beated in Paul as He encouraged the Philippians. What will be too difficult for us if we have the overcoming lamb with us? You see He does put the world map before us. I remember hearing of someone that did that before, and died as he interceded for the lost in those nations.

It's right and true that we would give our little abandoned heart to Him because He knows that it's only in Him that we will fully know what matters most in this life. It's his delight to give us that thing that matters most in life, In fact we who have partnered with Him have seen Him in His glory, even though we despised Him, even though we did not esteem Him. For us who have made the transition from living for ourselves to living for Him, he opens wide the gates of Heaven's heart so that we will never lack, we will be satisfied and sustained in the flow of His lovely torrent.

It must be that we are sustained by His glory, only then we will go. only then will we pour out our hearts to give and not expect repayment, only then will the Bride rise up and count all things as loss for the sake of knowing Him. Only then will we say "we did it for love, there is no cost"

Though i know that your little heart is getting swept away by the torrents of his limitless love, I know that you will not burn out, because you've found a limitless love in giving himself to the lost and abandoned of this world.

I think of that verse in Chapter 50 of Isaiah where he says "I will set my face like flint, I will not be ashamed. He is near that justifies me, who will contend with me?"

Though these verses refer to Jesus, we also know the sufferings of this world and plead and petition God to hear their cries. Just like he did for the down and out of Israel when they were pressured under the yoke of Pharaoh. I pray that you think of Israel who will go through sufferings to receive their glory. Know that God is near to the broken-hearted and his heart breaks for them. He is compassionate.

I think in that is a way forward, we know that His heart is not callous or indifferent to suffering, because He demonstrated His compassion to the very end. He even loved those who were His to the very end. He knows the limits that we can face and does not tempt us, He himself says that we will not be tempted beyond what we can bare, but he will provide a way out for us. I think that speaks of His godliness. He is the Son of God, present with us when we come to Him in prayer.

It makes me think of the arabs in Palestine, and those that should be shown mercy though they are burdened under an oppressive yoke, I think that He will set all things right in His time.

Where am I? well I am burning in my heart, where is that in the world? I will burn for Him just like His heart burns with a fragrant burning - totally whole-hearted in the giving no matter what it is that He is required - His heart bleeds, just as His brow dropped sweats of blood for the broken and down and out.

Let that be the only thing that satisfies you - i Know that it satisfies me, just like James when He embraced the cross because He preached the cross his whole life. May we give the lamb the reward of His sufferings. I'm convinced that what this is is limitless love. We hear his heart when He broke open the declaration "come to the rivers, you who have no money, come buy and eat" because he came to give his life. That then is the motivation that we should be motivated with - His love. When we give our love to Him, we are only doing it as a result of His limitless love for us, and he who is motivated by love is not afraid - we will give great things just like Mary in her alabaster pouring did it all for Him, without fear.

When we are fully aware of His love, then we will turn to Him every time.

The why behind "You will not forget"

I often forget the things that I have done for you

But you will not forget,

They are not forgotten

It makes me want to shout out

“I love you Jesus”

Here is my love on display for you

There are things that I want to focus on

To make my life really matter

They will be remembered

They are not forgotten

The sufferings that I face that are kept in your heart

I do think you are watching

I do think you are recording these things in a book

For you will recount them to me

When I am in front of you

Standing at the judgment seat

Your love remains

I will remember love

One day, I was contemplating on something I had done for a friend, and I realized that what I had done for Him had come out of me completely out of love. When I began to think upon it, I remembered the Judgment seat of Christ.

This is the motivation for writing you will not forget. I want to put this simple but important truth before everyone, so that they too can make decision based on love.

The why behind Awake

LORD, you know what I need

Your thoughts are above mine

This is why I come to You in prayer.

You give to the sinner forgiveness from sin

You give to the condemned love that begins

You give to me a hope that endures

Come love on me again!

You make me assured, accepted

You adopt me as a Son by Jesus Christ to yourself

I belong to You

Come renew my heart

Come bring these dead bones

To live again

Come make whole this divided heart I see

You will come and marry me.

Come awaken love from the depth of me

Break these divided longings

As I break these waves that crash over me

And hold me close to You

I will be held by the everlasting arms

My God is acquainted with my sufferings

This is what wakes me up in the morning

My heart is surrounded by ravenous wolves

You have made me to eat of the fullness

My soul, O my soul, is surrounded by the anthems of the world

Awake, that I may sing again

Turn my heart away from the dreary melodies

I want to dance, yes sing again

Of the pure anthem of the LORD

Which makes me sing again. 

This was written during one of my anxious times, I wrote it because I wanted to get out of the place I was in, and commit my way to God. It is a good starting, because I’m honest about the feelings that I have, and about getting out of them.

I think if we’re all honest we go through times and seasons when we don’t feel 100% that’s when we really need to dig deep and find a solution to our problems. I have found that in God. It’s because I can be totally honest with Him that I know that I can trust Him with everything.

Let us come to God with everything, because He has entrusted Himself to us, whether we are feeling 100% or down in the dumps. It’s this kind of relateability that makes us united with Christ in life’s ups and downs.

the why behind "A Safe Haven"

Hello everyone,

In commemoration of releasing my ebook “You are my glory” on Amazon, I am starting a series sharing the why behind certain poems that I have written, so you can better understand what I am trying to capture when writing these poems.

If you want a reader for these files, you can use Calibre to view them. The website is found here.

I will start with “A safe Haven” which has John 15 in thought.

 

Trapped in stormy seas,

Darkness traversing, the winds are blowing

On the sails of a boat set adrift

It is the take of a mariner’s discovery

Of ports unsailed and depths untraveled

The stars are declaring the glory of God

Their glistening shedding light on a darkened landscape

And the mariner’s traverse still, it is a

Battle that cannot be won

I have been sailing

But no one told me where to sail

I have been traversing,

But no one saw where the light was turning

I am convinced that it is supposed to be this way

Because no one ever lost their compass

Steering the vessel ever forward to the

One light that keeps me steady

Keeps me safe

I came to a port

Where the waves no longer blow

Where traveler had made a passing

Going to the higher horizons

Where the stormy winds no longer blow

Where the doves make their roosts

In the crags of the rocks

The doctors shared the mend

Needed in my sails

The nurses showed me where

The darkness had left a burning seer

The sails were mended

The galleys filled

The tight ropes for the eye man restored

 A sea crew were commanded

A voyage plotted

This was done without my hand

Without you a commanding

Without you a restoring

I now know that it as life that way

Being woven into me again

I now know that I had lost the Reins

I had need of some direction again

More than this I

Need the hand of one who has

Been through what I’ve been and has compassion

My thoughts are returned to order

My hands are now on the steering wheel

I want to drive, I want to sail!

When I began to read the chapter of John 15, I clung to this idea that God is my life, and not my own.

He is the life in me, when I am in this place, I am able to fully comprehend what He has done for me, even what spiritual life is going through me when I am interacting with others.

The second reason behind this poem of mine, is that I must give myself entirely to Him to find what is His. This is something that I practiced doing while talking with my doctors, I resolved never to put stumbling blocks in the way of my recovery, because I knew that I was in a safe place, and no one knew this more than God.

This gave me great confidence that I was in God’s hands, and that He was in charge of my recovery – whether in reading or in contemplating on His voice I was able to hear His voice as I recovered.

If you want more, read my book!

What has God done in me?

This update will not have any photos, I am sorry, I have not been very contientious about finding things that capture my fancy. The good news is, lots of stuff as been happening

I am glad to report, that I have finished a draft of the book that has been on my heart for a while now, “Sound the Trumpet in Zion” about my travels to Israel, and the journey that God has me on since then. Also I have finished the first draft to a book of Poems I have been writing, entitled “Hospital Poems” that have their theme based on what things I have been in circumstantially, but also processing what things God has been speaking to me.

In some ways, I have improved emmensely, in others, I am still falling behind. Let me explain. For instance, after a dinner with a few friends I was filled with the Holy Spirit while doing dishes after this, I went to spend time with Jesus, and pray for my friends. This sure sounds like a incursion with the Lord right? Well I have learnt that I am also involved, because I allow Him to be who He is to me.

But in other ways I am still falling behind. I am still finding it difficult to trust Him. You see, I have been through a huge crash in terms of, “Why O God?” I am happy to actually be asking that question of God. It has at it’s essence something I learned just this weekend. He is my security. You see when I was away at camp this weekend with Young Adults Group, I felt a little out of control in the bad way. I was concerned that I would not be able to spend time with Jesus as I could and should. But it was also a very good time away, where I learnt that I am an adopted Son, and that He has saved me from slavery to sin, this is something to talk about!

Most importantly, I found out that my identity and value is found in His redemption, He has poured out his precious blood, showing me how much value I have that he would pour out His divine blood – more than a lamb, and more than white as snow, that He is the precious and sinless atonement.

It has made me think twice about the things that have been showering over me, in terms of making a ways to improvement and being a healthy vital part of society. I say this with a little snicker because I know that God isn’t interested in things such as these. Not that I’m saying that all of it is bad, but I have learnt that so far as it is about our outward behaviors, it doesn’t actually do anything to changing the motivations. What I’m talking about is how useful my doctors, people and friends are.

In saying all this, I do not mean that I have ignored what God has said about me, in fact that is what keeps me going! But as I learn about what God says about me, I am confronted with the things that are not of God, not just lies, but unredeemed thoughts and they are the things that I am focusing on now.

I have learnt that you cannot change motivations from the outside, it has to be from the inside. This is shown in the way that God has been on my case and is part of a poem that I have written:

I am floating on my feet now I see

They were not like that when I began

I have noticed the times people have used the phrase, “I feel” because I am probing the truth for all that it is worth.

This is one of the names for the Holy Spirit, “parakletos” or “Truth Keeper” it is mentioned in the verse John 16:13

However when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come

The way you can tell someone is not accepting the truth is they will snap at you when you tell them the truth. This is like when someone denies that they do not know everything. As opposed to this, the truth is able to know right from wrong.

The word says that we will love the truth. The truth is accepting of God, because without God, there is no Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth. As you might have heard before: “Truth is a man”

We are in a error prone society, one that believes what they want, and is devoid of conscience. When we believe the lie, sin skyrockets. It is not so hard to understand then that as we are advocates for righteousness, so also we need to be advocates for the truth, because I am not going to believe the lie that I can believe anything that I want, the one who says such things is shamefully unaware of authority, which is a respector of God.

I don’t know exactly why I need to share this, but I do want you to know that there is a connection between our being followers of Christ, and lovers of the Truth.

In finishing, I have just a few requests of you.

That you could pray that I would allow God to do what he is doing in me, in terms of security, identity and purpose

That I would have the strength to share my weaknesses with those people that I need to

Times of God would yield answers to the “Why, O GOD” that I am currently dealing with that stresses me out.

I would REST in Him