Ever found yourself about to throw away something you thought was not working? Then you decided to take another look at it only to realize that what you believed to have been broken and could not be repaired was in fact FIXABLE. Maybe you had to purchase a new part or just cleaned off the dust that had gathered due to lack of use. But in the end, that which was about to be dumped was given a new lease on life. For our FF for today I invite us to reflect on this thought IT IS FIXABLE.
To FIX is to repair; to mend; to put back in working order; to renovate; to patch up. We live in a society that generally has adopted a way of life where it is no longer popular to FIX things. Instead whatÂ’s broken is quickly replaced. Yet, these tough economic times are causing many persons to once again consider that before you throw out what is broken to consider the possibility that IT IS FIXABLE.
We all need to look again at the brokenness around and within us and say to each situation IT IS FIXABLE. So to the
Marriage that is breaking down because of erosion of trust..IT IS FIXABLE.
Family bond that is strained because of hurt inflictedÂ…IT IS FIXABLE.
Severed walk with Christ caused by hidden sin and disobedienceÂ…IT IS FIXABLE.
Divided Church where a difference of views has created barriersÂ…IT IS FIXABLE.
Person whose life is like seems to be stuck in the same placeÂ…IT IS FIXABLE.
Yet even as we acknowledge that IT IS FIXABLE the question begs to be asked, do we want it FIXED? Let’s admit that there are some people who are unwilling to do the hard work it takes to FIX that which is broken and in need of repairs. Some have gotten so accustomed to the ‘unfixed’ state that they have made it their reality. But today I encourage us not to buy into that lie. Today hear again the Good News, ‘if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). IT IS FIXABLE.
I testify that Jesus specializes in FIXABLES. He FIXED the blind by giving them sight; the lame by causing them to walk; the dead by bringing them back to life. Finally, Jesus FIXED the problem of sin and the fall of humanity and our being disconnected from God through his atoning death on Calvary’s cross. He knew that it was FIXED when he declared, ‘it is finished.’
I don’t know what’s in your life today that needs FIXING. But there’s always something in each of our lives – our family or friends, on the job or in our homes. We all have something (or someone) that needs to be mended and put back in right working order. Whatever (or whomever) needs FIXING, even if it’s you, by faith declare today IT IS FIXABLE. Till next Friday, be admitted to God’s divine workshop so that God can begin the work because whatever it is, IT IS FIXABLE. It’s not too far gone!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=35
The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. Ps.145:13
We have long been taught that ‘a promise is a debt’. We strive to live by this maxim but sometimes we fail. As a result we let-down others, disappoint them and hurt both ourselves and them. But God never fails in his promises. He never lets us down nor disappoints us. He is faithful to his word and just in all his ways.
Continue reading "Just, but Gracious"
A few days ago, I was waiting outside Price Smart when one of its employees (a lady) did something that she was so proud of she called one of her colleagues to witnessed it. There were about 70 – 80 shopping carts that were stacked in a row. With all of the STRENGTH that she could muster she pushed them forward about 3 feet. When she was done she raised her hands as if to signal that she had just won a boxing match. As heavy as that stack of shopping carts was, she had shown that even the heaviest of objects can be moved when STRENGTH is applied. For today’s FF, I encourage us all to do whatever we do IN GOD’S STRENGTH.
How do you know how strong you are? It depends. Physically? By lifting something heavy. Emotionally? By how we hold ourselves together under pressure in anxious testing moments. Spiritually? ThatÂ’s the one that I canÂ’t find a measure to use. Why? Spiritual STRENGTH for the disciple of Christ is not measured by how strong we are but really by how weak we are. ThatÂ’s a paradox, a contradiction. Spiritual STRENGTH is not based on anything that we do, or because of any action on our part but solely on GodÂ’s grace at work in our lives (2 Cor. 12:10). So then we live our lives IN GODÂ’S STRENGTH.
Does that mean that we do nothing? In a sense yes and no. We do nothing in our own STRENTH. That is not always easy to accept especially in a world where we have been schooled to think that to do nothing is weakness, laziness or downright foolishness. How often have we heard the counsel ‘do something’ or ‘are you just going to sit down and do nothing’. But when we go and act in our own STRENGTH we only make them worse.
The solution? Go – IN GOD’S STRENTH. Do – IN GOD’S STRENGTH. Speak – IN GOD’S STRENGTH. That’s the something that we do. But it calls for a posture of submission and the surrendering of self to the will and leading of God. Countless saints of God have shown what happens when a believer moves IN GOD’S STRENGTH. David killed Goliath IN GOD’S STRENGTH; Moses delivered Israel from Egypt IN GOD’S STRENGTH. Paul faced imprisonment and beating IN GOD’S STRENGTH.
I know that there is some STRENGTH in each of us today but donÂ’t rely just on your STRENGTH to face all that life will throw at you. Instead face the unknown future IN GODÂ’S STRENGTH. Today especially I invite your prayers for our Moravian Church in all its Provinces that as we meet for Unity Synod, we will be obedient to GodÂ’s call and advance the Kingdom of God IN GODÂ’S STRENGTH.
Till next Friday, GodÂ’s willing, remember itÂ’s not really how strong we are but how we weak we need to become so that others can see whether in living or in dying we do it all IN GODÂ’S STRENGTH. We profess no weapon formed against us or any plans of the enemy will prosper because we moving as an anointed people IN GODÂ’S STRENGTH.
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=35
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Eph.2:19
Jennifer had moved to a new neighbourhood. She immediately set about introducing herself to her neighbours. Several of them welcomed her as a new member of the community. One man said, “O, you’re a stranger here! How long will you stay?” This made Jennifer feel like an outcaste with no hope of becoming part of her new community. From time to time we see signs at ports of entry, or hear terms used, which emphasise status in relation to that country – terms such as ‘nationals’, ‘non-nationals’, ‘residents’, ‘aliens’, ‘belongers’, ‘visitors’. Our reaction to such may vary from humour to disgust.
Continue reading "Does My Neighbour Have a Place?"
Do you know what itÂ’s like to be at a place where you think someone should have seen you only to realize that youÂ’ve gone unnoticed? Or can you remember the last time you felt as though you were being ignored whether intentionally or not? If we are truly honest with ourselves, we all like to be noticed and consequently we feel slighted or embarrassed when we are unnoticed. So for our FF for today we affirm that GOD NOTICES.
To NOTICE is to see, it is to become aware of, to observe, to note, to perceive, to detect. So when we affirm that GOD NOTICES it can be both comforting and upsetting. It all depends on what GOD NOTICES. The truth is that because God is God, whatever we do or say and wherever we go GOD NOTICES. There is no area of our lives that God does not see or is unaware of. So today we are being challenged to live our lives always mindful of this awesome thought – GOD NOTICES even when others fail to notice us.
GOD NOTICES when weÂ’re rejoicing because of a breakthrough in prayer.
GOD NOTICES when weÂ’re at our wits end and donÂ’t know what else to do.
GOD NOTICES when we hide to sin foolishly thinking that no one sees.
GOD NOTICES our pain and struggles which overwhelm us.
GOD NOTICES our hurts and our bruises and our sincere desire to be healed.
GOD NOTICES our disobedience and our rebellion.
GOD NOTICES when we are weak and feeble.
GOD NOTICES when we are being tempted.
GOD NOTICES when the tears roll down our cheeks and we cry ourselves to sleep.
GOD NOTICES our attempts to reconcile and be reconciled.
GOD NOTICES everything.
GOD NOTICES everyone.
The reality that GOD NOTICES should lead us to amend our ways and words if they are not in keeping with GodÂ’s standard. The truth that GOD NOTICES ought to lead us to live our lives with integrity, sincerity and honesty before humanity and before God. The certainty that GOD NOTICES reminds us that our lives are like an opened book.
Till next Friday, GodÂ’s willing, just pause for a moment, consider where youÂ’re at on lifeÂ’s journey and your walk with God and seriously consider this verity GOD NOTICES.
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=35
Surely GodÂ’s salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Ps.85:9
Salvation belongs to God. The power to save rests with him. Deliverance will come through him. The proviso is ‘fearing him’ – believing in him and trusting him. Hence Moses advised the children of Israel to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord”. (Exod.14:13)
Continue reading "Behold Your Deliverance!"
Michael Jackson ? Dead.
John Lennon ? Dead
Billy Mays? Dead.
Martin Luther King Jr.? Dead.
Princess Diana? Dead.
Mother Theresa? Dead.
Ronald Reagan? Dead.
Elvis Presley? Dead.
Mahatma Ghandi? Dead.
Maurice Bishop? Dead.
Eric Williams? Dead.
Pope John Paul II? Dead.
Luther Vandross? Dead.
Bob Marley? Dead.
Lord Kitchener? Dead.
They are all dead!
Some died young.
Some died old.
Some died having lived to their full potential.
Some died leaving behind ‘unfinished’ business.
Some died rich.
Some died poor and penniless.
Some died leaving a Godly legacy.
Some died having lived for self and never lead not even one person to God.
Some died having lived for Christ.
Some died without Christ.
One of these days, we don’t know when, your name and mine will be mentioned and the response will be ‘he is dead’ or ‘she is dead’. I wonder which of the above statements will described not just how you and I lived but how you and I died?
Thank God that today you and I are alive. But between now and that day of death, focus our thoughts on todayÂ’s FF. It calls you and me to LIVE FULLY BECAUSE WHEN YOUÂ’RE DEAD YOUÂ’RE FULLY DEAD! FULLY living is living for Christ! Then when death comes, the one who is FULLY dead in Christ, will on that great day of resurrection will again be FULLY alive (1 Corinthians 15:52).
Till next Friday, GodÂ’s willing, make a conscious intentional decision to LIVE FULLY BECAUSE WHEN YOUÂ’RE DEAD YOUÂ’RE FULLY DEAD! Begin FULLY living with the abundant life God offers in and through Christ Jesus (John 10:10).
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=35
Jesus says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor.12:9
This response came to Paul as he requested the removal of his ‘thorn in the flesh’. In his discomfort he asked Christ to set him free from the debilitating sickness but his request was denied. Instead, Christ told him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” There are three (3) senses in which Christ’s assurance to Paul is significant.
Continue reading "Wonderful Grace"
On Sunday night I sat with my eldest daughter to watch the BET Awards. She was particularly interested to see Mary Mary’s performance and to experience how BET was going to pay tribute to the late Michael Jackson. We almost didn’t make it to watch Mary Mary’s performance. Why? I was shocked at the number of ‘bleeps’ that had to be used to edit the many expletives in the lyrics of some of the performers and even from the host – Jamie Foxx. I asked this is the best BET had to offer?
In the midst of all of this there was only one Christ-centered presentation and that was when Mary Mary performed their song ‘The God in Me.’ Without doubt they were the light in the heart of the darkness and they were communicating the Gospel in a context where people didn’t exactly come to hear the Good News. The night was about celebrating the accomplishments of the iconic MJ. As I reflected on that event, it highlighted a challenge which a Christian faces who faithfully seeks to offer the Gospel whenever and to whomever. So our FF for today is CONNECTION WITHOUT CONTAMINATION. How do we live in the world and yet not be ‘of the world’?
Evangelizing is not an optional extra for the born again believer who is following Christ. There are two words that capture the life of a disciple of Jesus: COME and GO. When we accept the invitation to COME to Christ, then He commissions to GO. The purpose of the going is to share with others the same invitation of Christ which we responded to. We GO so others can COME, taste and see for themselves. But when we GO in order for others to COME, there must be a CONNECTION especially with those lives are trapped in sin. This CONNECTION means building a relationship, establishing a bond and having a link or association. No CONNECTION means that thereÂ’s no occasion to share the Gospel. CONNECTION then is a must and therein lies the challenge.
A believer must ensure that there is CONNECTION WITHOUT CONTAMINATION. In other words, CONNECT with the sinner but donÂ’t allow the sin which is corrupting the sinner to find root in your life. CONNECT but watch out to make sure that the one you are trying to rescue doesnÂ’t end up ruining you. CONNECT but strive to ensure that the sinner youÂ’re seeking to draw to Christ doesnÂ’t pollute your walk with Christ. Ultimately a disciple must be vigilant, watchful and alert so that by GodÂ’s grace there is CONNECTION WITHOUT CONTAMINATION.
So till next Friday, God’s willing, intentionally CONNECT with those who most need to know the power of the cross of Christ: people who are enslaved to sin. Don’t be afraid to take the risk. The world needs us to make the CONNECTION. Where would we be today if God in Christ had not made a CONNECTION in the incarnation? When God became flesh he demonstrated that there can be a CONNECTION WITHOUT CONTAMINATION for in Christ we have a High Priest who ‘understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptation we do, yet he did not sin.’(Heb. 4:15)
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=35