A Word of Difference from the Heart

If you're looking at this blog and thinking that it's dead, you're excused.

My first overambitious and slightly pretentious attempt at blogging, I thought I would start afresh - if you're interested you can check out my new blog here. 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 (...?)

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 weakness
and 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 enough
when done for the wrong reasons.
Lacking in trust
for HIM to finish the work HE began.
Of all my faults
you’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 leaving
nor forsaking,
the answer has always been
what you can’t be, yet I expected
the impossible from the Creation
and not the Creator.

Such a Face

Haven’t we met?
I’ve seen you before
Don’t I know you?
I just have that kind of face.

Stop looking so worried
What have you done wrong?
Don’t look so guilty
Maybe I just have that kind of face?

Why are you always so happy?
Here comes the Colgate smile
Doesn’t anything get you down?
I guess I just have that kind of face.

I always said he’d be trouble
Didn’t you see it in his eyes?
He just had that look
Who could love that kind of face?

"The LORD make his face shine upon you and be
gracious to you."

Numbers 6:25

The Personal Revolution

"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

God in Africa (Part Two)

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.

God in Africa

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.

Forbidden Fruit

I’ve got the time for you
You’ve got the time for me
But will we have to pay
Or is this time for free?

Is the timing right
Or is the timing wrong
Do we have all night
Or will that be too long?

We’ve waited for this chance
Kept feelings under wraps
Can we risk it now
To let our judgement lapse?

Can we keep this quiet
Can we hide our sin
Or will the moment catch us
So best not to begin?