Life is like a deck of cards, you don't know what's next, but as you pick them up and include them in your hand you play them as best you can.
Sometimes the card picked up seems of little value for the game you are playing. Sometimes it's a nuisance, other times it's a game changer for good or bad.
Our life experiences can be like cards, we pick them up as we play the game of life, sometimes unsure of how we will play them or what use they will be. These cards could be difficult experiences that will take time for us to realize how we can use them to perhaps pay it forward (use them for good).
Thankfully as Christians we have the Holy Spirit to help us play our cards.
Am I playing mine for my saviours honour and glory or for my own? How are you playing your deck?
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Christ like character vs Christ like behaviour
Do I model Christ like character or Christ like behaviour? Is there a difference? Is one genuine and the other not.
Many of us have observed people who model behaviour that is not always consistent. In fact we all likely fit there. However if a persons character is genuine, the behavioural inconsistencies should be minimal. Behaviour follows character.
If I am truly allowing God to change me and work through me, perhaps I will be the smiley church goer who is as genuine and nice at church as I am at home. Perhaps if I am only practising Christ like behaviour and have not allowed true character change in my heart, I will be all show at church and a poor spouse and parent at home, a person unable to truly show Gods love.
True character always surfaces, always!!]
When I read this recently, it really made me ask myself, do I have Christ like character or behaviour?
How are you doing with this? We should have both, but behaviour comes from character.
Many of us have observed people who model behaviour that is not always consistent. In fact we all likely fit there. However if a persons character is genuine, the behavioural inconsistencies should be minimal. Behaviour follows character.
If I am truly allowing God to change me and work through me, perhaps I will be the smiley church goer who is as genuine and nice at church as I am at home. Perhaps if I am only practising Christ like behaviour and have not allowed true character change in my heart, I will be all show at church and a poor spouse and parent at home, a person unable to truly show Gods love.
True character always surfaces, always!!]
When I read this recently, it really made me ask myself, do I have Christ like character or behaviour?
How are you doing with this? We should have both, but behaviour comes from character.
I am not as smart as I thought I was
Many of us journey life and are humbled by it, usually its by the many things that happen during a life time that we just simply have no control over. We may have a say in the outcome, but not in the initial circumstance. For example we don't choose cancer, but we have choices in how we can respond to it.
As I am know in mid life I realise more and more how little I do know. Generally speaking we can all be pretty cocky early in life, but as we age we realise how little we actually know and how dependant on God we are. I have given advice in the past only to realise later in life, I really didn't know what I was talking about. At times I have passed judgement without having experienced the other parties pain.
A good example of this is parenting. Many of us thought we knew better than our parents growing up only to realise that when actually doing it, its a very hard job and that we are doing many of the same things we thought our parents could have done differently.
The bible says
1 Corinthians 8:2
As I am know in mid life I realise more and more how little I do know. Generally speaking we can all be pretty cocky early in life, but as we age we realise how little we actually know and how dependant on God we are. I have given advice in the past only to realise later in life, I really didn't know what I was talking about. At times I have passed judgement without having experienced the other parties pain.
A good example of this is parenting. Many of us thought we knew better than our parents growing up only to realise that when actually doing it, its a very hard job and that we are doing many of the same things we thought our parents could have done differently.
The bible says
1 Corinthians 8:2
New International Version (NIV)
2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know.
Fortunately we have a God we can turn to in all circumstances.
Saturday, 13 July 2013
why do bad things happen
Our small country town and area has been touched again by death. Over the last week, 3 people, the oldest 28 and the youngest just 2, died suddenly in separate and horrific ways.
Why, why our minds question is this happening? How can a loving God allow this?
I have come to understand that hardship is what our world should expect and that because of mans choice and fall into sin way back in the garden of Eden, we are and always will be subject to hard, hard things on this earth.
While it may seem unfair and cruel, mankind made the choice way back in Eden to choose sin over God, to choose their/my way over God's way and sin entered the world. We have been on a slippery slope ever since, one that God wants to help us navigate.
He didn't want us to live with sins ugly consequences, we chose that back in Genesis.
Only if we have accepted Gods free gift of salvation will we experience life sinless like Eden again.
Will we make the same mistake twice??
What choice have you made? Will you choose as Adam and Eve did or by faith will you accept God's gift.
Why, why our minds question is this happening? How can a loving God allow this?
I have come to understand that hardship is what our world should expect and that because of mans choice and fall into sin way back in the garden of Eden, we are and always will be subject to hard, hard things on this earth.
While it may seem unfair and cruel, mankind made the choice way back in Eden to choose sin over God, to choose their/my way over God's way and sin entered the world. We have been on a slippery slope ever since, one that God wants to help us navigate.
He didn't want us to live with sins ugly consequences, we chose that back in Genesis.
Only if we have accepted Gods free gift of salvation will we experience life sinless like Eden again.
Will we make the same mistake twice??
What choice have you made? Will you choose as Adam and Eve did or by faith will you accept God's gift.
Do we face difficulty because we did something wrong?
Recently I came across the following quote from Nicky Gumbel who developed the alpha course.
"Sometimes you may face difficulties in life, not because you are doing something wrong but because you are doing something right."
I have often wondered why some others seem to endure so much and others have wondered aloud to my wife and I why we have experienced what we have.
I easily remember someone telling my wife after she was sick in 2005 that she was paying for her ancestors sins. I don't believe that, but if it were so, boy would I like to take a round out of that ancestor:):).
The bible says:
Proverbs 3:12
"Sometimes you may face difficulties in life, not because you are doing something wrong but because you are doing something right."
I have often wondered why some others seem to endure so much and others have wondered aloud to my wife and I why we have experienced what we have.
I easily remember someone telling my wife after she was sick in 2005 that she was paying for her ancestors sins. I don't believe that, but if it were so, boy would I like to take a round out of that ancestor:):).
The bible says:
Proverbs 3:12
New International Version (NIV)
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Hebrews 12:6
New International Version (NIV)
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Its not always fun to experience trials, sometimes they hurt like the dickens Its hard at times to find joy in them as it says in James and to know that they will produce good things, but its all part of the process of becoming more Christ like.
The Potter's Hand -- Darlene Zschech lyrics
The Potter's Hand -- Darlene Zschech lyrics
Friday, 12 July 2013
Changes, its not easy
Recently I came across the following quote from Nicky Gumbel who developed the alpha course.
"If you want to change the world, there is only one place to start - with yourself."
So often I find it so much easier to look at others and to expect them to change or to be what I expect, a loving christian and so on..........
This quote is a good reminder to me to look with in, to allow God to work in me to be the best I can be, never mind what my expectations are of everyone else.
"If you want to change the world, there is only one place to start - with yourself."
So often I find it so much easier to look at others and to expect them to change or to be what I expect, a loving christian and so on..........
This quote is a good reminder to me to look with in, to allow God to work in me to be the best I can be, never mind what my expectations are of everyone else.
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