GOD often uses tough times to prune us - cutting away dead wood, getting rid of heavy weight that holds us back and slows us down.But how often in these time do we take up the shears ourselves and decide to cut out what we "don't need", because, of course, we know best?When we can't handle everything in our lives, we often choose what should stay and what should go, without letting GOD do His work.It is frightening to see people let go of GOD, but hold on to a man or a woman in such situations. People are sometimes the most tempting substitute; having been made in the image of GOD, they offer the illusion of His tangible presence and comfort. Yet it is GOD alone that is the same yesterday, today and forever, and He is infinitely superior to any man or woman.No matter what the world may promise, only GOD can get you through, only He can stay with you in everything.Psalm 100
Credit to New Altum, whose song inspired the title of this post.
Trying so hard to follow your heart
But it all comes out pretending
Seeing how others get it so right first time
But I can’t let go of training
Wanting to follow the rules instinctively
But can’t escape the structure
Looking at how it STILL COMES OUT THE SAME!!!!! At how IT JUST HAPPENS!!!!!
But it means so little
Pouring out my heart
But it doesn’t sound as real
As when it’s wrong
Wanting to give you my all
But is it enough this way
Or do you want it new?
Pretentious is a word I despise
Because it hits so close to home
Jesus, you are all I’m aiming for, but so many delays, so many detours, so many disruptions
And then my heartwords get lost along the way and it all comes sounding the same
Every time
Help me to let go of everything but you
Please forgive my worldly love
It is death in disguise
As you warned again and again
This is just an attempt
That’s all I can offer
In the hope that you will remain patient
For what I might never achieve
Gracious to what I might never leave
And take them OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!
Cannot feel this compassioned pity anymore –
It is death in disguise
For me at least
Can you harden my heart to everything but you?
And still make me compassionate?
It’s my only defence
You are
But is it compatible?
If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away
But it’s my eyes and ears and voice and heart
My hands and feet and thoughts and scars
I’ve lost myself while thinking that I’m found
Gouge it all I would if still I could serve
But instead I will make this attempt
To surrender and lay it all down before one whose burden is light
Whose yoke is easy enough to carry this
Cut me out and paste in Someone
Who can do what I can’t
Someone who can love
Someone who can satisfy their needs
You are the only way and that is all I that want to say
Help me to speak the Truth all of my days
Help me to write the Truth in any way
And all else will submit to YOU
Help me to be real
Help me to be honest
Help me to be open
Help me to be complete
Help me to be sincere
Help me to be committed
Help me to be whole-hearted
To you above all
As I walked in the dark through the field (ons klein veldjie!) to the bus stop this morning, I wondered what would happen if I happened to stumble upon a snake (talk about paranoid).
The cold reminded me that winter was close and snakes are cold-blooded, lethargic in the cold and hibernating in the winter. This led me to wonder why God had created them as such – what purpose was there in putting specific animals to sleep for half the year?
And then the thought struck me – my God loves me so much that if He knew I would be bitten by a snake early one winter morning, He would have taken that into account when He created snakes however many years ago.
God would actually plan the details of all His Creation to ensure my safety millions of years later!!
That may seem unlikely and I guess it’s not the reason that snakes hibernate in the winter, but knowing the depth and intensity of my God’s love for me, it is totally possible!"For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
You are all I need
but does it really have to be
that you are all I’ve got?
That the only friend
to lend an ear
speaks in whispers heart to heart?
That the only brother
for adversity
reveals his loyalty after the fact?
That the only constant
to be the same yesterday, today and forever
is hidden treasure to be sought all my days?
That the only arms
to hold me in comfort
are yours, warm and open and
intangible?
But when I am saved by grace,
by your mercy that begins afresh each morning,
by the greatest love of a friend who laid down his life to ransom my own
When all my provision
comes from you,
abundantly for my enjoyment that I may never hunger or thirst
When your protection
cloaks me against fear and foe,
hiding me in the shadow of your wings, my fortress inspiring courage
When strength
never leaving nor forsaking,
holds me up and holds me close with the promise of your peace
When day after day
your faithful love is lavished on me,
undeserved, underappreciated and overflowing to the consternation of observing and observed
When I turn away
chasing in the opposite direction
while starving you of attention and barely pausing to mutter a thanks
indifferent to the myriad gifts
that are testament to the unconditional generosity
of a spiteless Father
whose grace sees past the cold facade of a hardened heart
offering hope to the desperate aching search for what is in your outstretched hands
whose two-edged Word pierces the racing pulse with whispered tenderness
always:
“Here I am”
When I believe
that you are all I need
Then am I blessed
to know that
you are all I’ve got.Psalm 71
This is my second attempt at blogging, after my first overambitious and slightly pretentious blog. I realised that Different for a Reason sets high expectations that were quite intimidating to meet when I really started thinking about it.
I do totally believe that we are all created totally unique to serve a very specific purpose, but after all, being created in the image of the same amazing God, we are at heart all the same.
We go through the same experiences, share the same feelings, have the same fears and insecurities, and rejoice over the same little delights. Thank goodness ... that’s what makes us able to relate and encourage and strengthen each other!
So a new blog, a new beginning, in which I hope to focus not on the isolating differences, but simply share the words straight from my heart...
Man of God (...?)You say it, but you don’t show it;I hear it, but I don’t believe it.HIS grace is sufficient for me;for HIS power is made perfect in weakness...you are my weaknessand HIS power is great in you.How do I resist?How do I forgive?When I am in the wrong (...?)I do my best, but it’s not enoughwhen done for the wrong reasons.Lacking in trustfor HIM to finish the work HE began.Of all my faultsyou’re the only one that keeps me awake.How do I surrender?How do I forget?Something I never had (...?)Jealousy makes me nasty,but only to its object.Never leavingnor forsaking,the answer has always beenwhat you can’t be, yet I expectedthe impossible from the Creationand not the Creator.
Haven’t we met?I’ve seen you beforeDon’t I know you?I just have that kind of face.Stop looking so worriedWhat have you done wrong?Don’t look so guiltyMaybe I just have that kind of face?Why are you always so happy?Here comes the Colgate smileDoesn’t anything get you down?I guess I just have that kind of face.I always said he’d be troubleDidn’t you see it in his eyes?He just had that lookWho could love that kind of face?"The LORD make his face shine upon you and be
gracious to you."
Numbers 6:25
"Personal transformation can and does have global effects. As we go, so
goes the world, for the world is us ...
The revolution that will save the world is a personal one."
- Marianne Williamson
The Xhosa girl (see previous post) explained to me that before Africa became colonised and received the Gospel, all that the people had to believe in was that the elders who had looked after them on here earth would do the same from heaven. They always believed that there was a “Greater Power”, as that was the only explanation for all of Creation, but they did not know what this Power was called, as they had never heard about God before.A friend of mine asked her why the African belief in ancestors is so exclusive, as they don’t believe that Westerners have ancestors looking after them, whereas Christianity is inclusive for everyone everywhere – Jesus died and rose again to save people of all races. Surely if something is true, it is absolutely true - true for all people? Yet, her people have adopted Christianity in addition to their ancestral beliefs, thus asserting that the Gospel is true for them as well as everyone else, but do not belief that any other people have ancestors who watch over them.
A fascinating conversation with some fellow college students left me wondering about the Gospel’s introduction into Africa.
A Xhosa girl told me how her Christian family prays to both God and their ancestors for protection and provision, believing that their ancestors watch over them, like angels. These ancestors bestow spiritual gifts and abilities upon certain members of the family that enable them to heal and to have supernatural knowledge of things happening in others’ lives (basically they are ‘psychic’).
However, these people still believe that God is the Creator of heaven and earth and everything in it, and that the Holy Bible is His Word, but that He works in conjunction with their ancestors to give them abundant life.
It boggled my mind how people who read God’s Word, which commands us to have no other gods alongside Him (Exodus 20:23), and which says that He is our Sole Provider (1 Timothy 6:17, Romans 5:17, Psalm 111:5), our Shield and our Reward (Genesis 15:1), our Portion, could believe that their departed ancestors have the power to do the same.
I told her that according to my personal beliefs, people who died had finished their race and had no part in our lives. God is the absolute authority and nothing else can provide for me. I also tried to explain how Satan doesn’t necessarily have to physically hurt or possess people to bring them harm – simply by deceiving them into believing and trusting in something other than God, accrediting their blessings and safety to someone else, they would be drawn away from God and relationship with Him.
This girl argued that their ancestors don’t draw them away from God as they work alongside Him to take care of them, as His angels do. However, God’s Word makes it clear that God rules over His angels and does not function alongside them: “For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;”
- Psalm 91:11
The fact remains that if God is not the only One you look to for guidance, protection, comfort, salvation and provision, if you do not have an exclusive relationship with Him, you are missing out on the greatest blessing of all – an eternal life with Him.
I’ve got the time for youYou’ve got the time for meBut will we have to payOr is this time for free?Is the timing rightOr is the timing wrongDo we have all nightOr will that be too long?We’ve waited for this chanceKept feelings under wrapsCan we risk it nowTo let our judgement lapse?Can we keep this quietCan we hide our sinOr will the moment catch usSo best not to begin?
