The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes. Ps.19:8
Persons often seem to forget that God is fully aware of all human situations, challenges and needs. Frequently we feel as though we have to give God some guidance as to how to resolve our issues. We call on God, ‘knowing’ what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. We forget that God knows what is best for us and wants only the best for us. Sometimes we even think that we can manipulate God into doing things our way, and we want him to take us along the easiest path. We forget the valuable lessons we learn and the growth we attain by going through our life experiences. A look at this prayer conversation with God demonstrates just this.
Continue reading "Finding GodÂ’s Way"
I know very few people who take delight in waiting. We easily get disgruntled when a flight is delayed and we have to sit and WAIT. We grumble to ourselves when we have to sit and WAIT for what seems like eternity for a bride and groom to come to the reception hall, asking ourselves why they canÂ’t take the pictures afterwards. Waiting is hard. But an even greater challenge is to WAIT QUIETLY. ThatÂ’s our FF for today.
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Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35
Have you ever been in a situation where several people wanted to be first in line or in consideration? Whilst some may not necessarily want to be first in line for the bus or at the cashier, persons would normally want to be first under consideration for the job for which they have applied or for the special privilege they are seeking. But Jesus says that with him privilege comes with service and greatness comes with humility. Thus he identifies the child as the example of privilege and greatness. (Mark 9:36-37; Matt.18:1-4)
Continue reading "Greatest or Blessed?"
One of the challenges of learning any language is that a wordÂ’s meaning is often coloured by its context. Context too can determine if a word is presented in either a positive or negative light. For todayÂ’s FF I invite to focus our thoughts on an example of one such word: ALMOST.
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Jesus asks, “But who do you say that I am?” Mark 8:29
At most funerals you will hear a Eulogy or see a Memoir giving the story of the life of the deceased. These stories say what the persons did and what they were like during their lifetime. Whatever the contents, they suggest who the person was, particularly in the eyes of others. About that individual and through their writers these biographies answer the question, “Who do you say that I am?” Another biographer may have said different things about the individual, having experienced him or her from a different perspective and having observed some different things and some things differently. Jesus must have had this in mind as he asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”
Continue reading "What Do You Think of Him?"
Growing up in a Caribbean village, quarrels and disputes were a part of village life. The end results of how things were resolved depended a lot on one thing: ‘satisfaction’. The person who felt he/she had been wronged would go to the other person looking for ‘satisfaction’. In Caribbean culture that simply meant looking for justice. If you heard the statement “I ain’t get no satisfaction” it simply meant that you were not pleased with how things turned out. You didn’t get what you came for and that was not the end of it. With that in mind we draw our thoughts to today’s FF: I’M SATISFIED.
To be SATISFIED is to be pleased, to be content, to be fulfilled. Yet being SATISFIED is in some way tied to and connected with oneÂ’s expectation. If one expects nothing then it takes nothing to be SATISFIED. However if oneÂ’s expectations are high then more than likely it takes much more for that person to be SATISFIED. How true it is that in order not to deal with the bitterness of disappointment some people lower their expectations so that being SATISFIED is more readily achieved. So then the question is what does it take for you to be able to say IÂ’M SATISFIED?
Can we all today say –
IÂ’M SATISFIED with my spiritual growth and my walk with Christ?
IÂ’M SATISFIED with all that IÂ’ve accomplished in life so far?
IÂ’M SATISFIED with how the relationships in my family are right now?
I’M SATISFIED with the spouse/fiancée/boyfriend/girlfriend whom I love so much?
IÂ’M SATISFIED with the witness of my local Church and how we love each other?
IÂ’M SATISFIED with my successes because of the many times I failed?
IÂ’M SATISFIED with the condition of my body as I care for it as GodÂ’s temple?
IÂ’M SATISFIED with life and what each day offers whether good or bad, bitter or sweet?
I’ve discovered that real satisfaction is found when what you receive goes above and beyond and far exceeds what you expected. To that end the one thing I pray for you today is that you discover God satisfies. Psalm 107:9 assures us ‘For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.’ We all know how a great tasting meal can satisfy our physical hunger. So too God through Christ satisfies the heart that is seeking. The things of this earth satisfy for a period but satisfaction that God in Christ offers lasts for eternity.
So till next Friday, GodÂ’s willing, my prayer is that you will be, and stay connected to God so that when someone asks of you howÂ’s life, youÂ’ll be able to confidently say, IÂ’M SATISFIED. This is because youÂ’ve had a life impacting encounter with God that has left you with more than you expected. Thanks to be GodÂ…IÂ’M SATISFIED.
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
I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Ps.146:2
Marian had passionately delivered her monologue. She was nervous as she looked into the crowd. It seemed as though everyone she knew was there. She looked anxiously at the judges. What were their thoughts? How would they assess her presentation? As she bowed there was a thunderous applause from the audience, with a standing ovation. She soon learnt from the judges, who told her that she deserved all the praise that she was getting, that she had also received a very high score. The thought suddenly came to her: “Isn’t God like that – deserving of all the praise I give him?”
Continue reading "Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise "
IÂ’m quite sure that all of us would have heard sometime as a child growing up that HONESTY is the best policy. Maybe sometime later in our lives weÂ’ve proven it to be true and have also tasted the bitterness that comes with not being fully HONEST. Although this may sound like IÂ’m swearing, I invite us to reflect on our FF for today: HONEST TO GOD.
Normally when someone has said or done something where oneÂ’s credibility is questioned one of the more immediate responses would be HONEST TO GOD. ItÂ’s another way of declaring that youÂ’re telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Depending on how strict we were raised you may even now be uncomfortable reading these words to yourself. But today I challenge you as I challenge myself to be HONEST TO GOD.
Let’s be HONEST – being HONEST doesn’t always come easy and it always has a price. But we also pay heavily for dishonesty. A friendship may be ruined if one person is brutally HONEST about a particular issue yet a true friend should welcome an HONEST response. Even though we may find it difficult to be HONEST with another human being, let’s be HONEST TO GOD. After all, God is God – what’s there that not be HONEST about since He knows all and we can hide nothing.
To be HONEST TO GOD is to expose to God directly in prayer whatÂ’s the truth about what weÂ’re facing daily in our lifeÂ’s situations. It is to be candid, straightforward, sincere and frank to God. ItÂ’s laying the cards on the table. So
Be HONEST TO GOD about where we are now and the direction our life is taking.
Be HONEST TO GOD about our hidden, unconfessed sins that leave us troubled.
Be HONEST TO GOD about our deepest struggles and worst fears that cripple us.
Be HONEST TO GOD about those who rub us the wrong way and we find unlovable.
Be HONEST TO GOD about whatÂ’s happening in our marriage.
Be HONEST TO GOD about the spiritual and social conditions of our communities.
Be HONEST TO GOD about the state of His Church.
Sometimes God will put someone in our lives to push us to be HONEST TO GOD. God sent the prophet Nathan to King David to help him be HONEST TO GOD about the sins he had committed. So in Psalm 51:6 David declares to God ‘you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.’ It’s amazing what being HONEST TO GOD will lead to eventually. For when we’re HONEST TO GOD first then we can then be HONEST to ourselves and finally to others.
Till nest Friday, GodÂ’s willing, be HONEST TO GOD and watch and see how that opens up a whole new dimension of living.
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