What's the purpose of pulp?

My gardening task for this week was digging out one of the geraniums that I had struggled to get out a while ago as well as chopping down the one strelitzia that was leaning against the wall.  The plants grow into a thick mangrove anyhow so one gone wasn't going to look bad.  I had started chopping it down last week but my little finger was still sore so I didn't make much progress.

I managed to get it chopped down this time but only because the plant itself is soft and supple making it relatively easy work.  Well okay, having a good swing at something was great for anger management therapy too, tee hee!.  What fascinated me about the plant was how fibrous it was and the inner core which is a perfect white, smelled sweet, almost like cucumber.  It made me wonder why strelitzia pulp wasn't being produced to make paper or even some sort of building material.  The answer is probably simple and that is that nobody has looked at the plant for that purpose before. 

But what about our purpose in the body of Christ, do we really give it any thought?  For the most part I'd have to say no and the reason for that is because in almost every ministry you will hear people say, that there just aren't enough hands. 

Have you been content to simply attend church and sit on the sidelines?  How about finding out ways that you can be involved?  Sometimes it really doesn't take much effort, but the time you give will mean a lot for the ministry you choose to serve.

The con is still on

Fraudsters, thieves and con artists lurk at every corner.  Their sole aim is to take what belongs to you and make it their own.  They are selfish, needy and downright despicable.  Ridding them from our society seems impossible. 

The trick is to know their tell tale call sign.  What is that?  It is something that is just too good to really be true.  They offer you something you really want in an awesome looking package.  They try every which way to solicit your personal information and then when you are not looking, poof you're in trouble. 

Make no mistake the whiles and ways of these people are purely from the pit of hell.  Satan uses them and he destroys lives at every opportunity.  Knowing this, that they are pure evil, should give you full confidence to call them out at their game and expose their dirty rotten lies.  Know this, Satan is a master of deception, but he only has one tool in his armament and that is to subtly twist the truth.  He used this tactic with Eve in the garden of Eden has has stuck to that recipe for time immemorial. 

So after that tirade you are probably wondering, where is the good news?  Here it is.  Unlike the devil we have many tools at our disposal.  Godly wisdom; intuition; the voice of the Holy Spirit; prophecy and God's word are all tools at our disposal for us to use. 

So use them!  Have a beautiful weekend!

Last braai before winter

Last night (Tuesday), the members of our home fellowship group decided to have one last quick braai before the winter cold sets in.  I know that South African’s are softies compared to other countries, but our homes etc. are just not built to be as weather resistant as they should be.  Most people I know will admit that once winter sets in it is really hard to get them to leave their cozy homes to go out anywhere, especially at night.  It's all about being in our comfort zone. 

The truth is the same could be said about our faith.  What most people want is just to be on their own mission, about their own lives and have little time for others or the worries or cares they have.

Jesus however challenged this paradigm and demonstrated to us on the cross that it is only through sacrifice and giving of ourselves that we are able to make kind of impact on mankind.  

I know that it is hard and uncomfortable but I am going to challenge you to look at your own life and ask yourself, "what can I do?"  God's kingdom needs hands and feet, real people at work, in order to bring the gospel of salvation to all mankind.  

 

 

Little foxes

Have you had those ah-ha moments when something so simple becomes so clear?  I had one of those today thanks to a colleague and her reminder made me realize that the devil comes to steal tender truths from our lives and destroy them while they are still growing. 

That made me think about this verse in Song of Solomon 2:15, "Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes."  I may be taking it a little out of context but I think what King Solomon was trying to tell us to do is to catch those little negative thoughts that creep in and stop them, because if we don't they will steal our precious fruit of love, joy and peace.  

Often in life we just need a little reminder to make a course corrections and when we do we can go back to our business and forget about the niggly things that are holding us back.  So if you've had thoughts that have run wild, make haste to catch that little fox and lock it away. 

Awesome!

I have noticed lately how often I use the word 'awesome' and my favourite punctuation mark seems to be '!'   So what's the big deal about that?  Well maybe it has something to say about an underlying frame of mind.  I often get caught in the trap of thinking that my life thoughts are predominantly negative, but if there is an 'awesome' in there something doesn't fit. 

Maybe my deepest frame of mind is an undeniable belief that life simply can be awesome and that there truly are things to be positive and passionate about, hence the '!'  Sure there are moments when life is tough and darkness can grip the soul, but by enlarge we have so much to be grateful for.

More important than that though is the fact that we truly do serve a magnificent, powerful and almighty God who is able to do amazing work in our hearts, minds and body's at any given moment.  Therefore, yes, let us be passionate!!!!  And let us exclaim.....

Our God is Mighty!!!!!!!!!!!

Throw back Thursday

Something that we have all seen trend for some time now is 'throw back thursday'.  Its an opportunity to reminisce and remember something from the past that we really loved.  I do ask myself though if there isn't more to it than just a reminder of the 'good old days'?  I definitely think so.

Life now days has become so hard that everybody is looking for an opportunity to just take our thoughts back to a time when life seemed easier.  Truth be told though, was it really better back then?  I think not!

Let's kick this back to Moses time.  After hundreds of years in slavery they are free in the desert and what happens?  The Israelites start complaining about the conditions and they want to go back.  Fast forward maybe to our grand parents and their parents age and world war 1 and 2 come to mind.  And then what about our own country's history and the disaster that was apartheid.....I can go on, but I think you get the picture.....there really isn't a time in history that has been perfect.

Ouch!  But maybe that's what we need, a reality check!   How about we learn to find the good in each day and each week and maybe life won't seem so gloomy!  Set your mind on Christ and let the world just melt away. 

Poor little pinkie

I was busy trying to work through queries with  a colleague when I rolled the chair I was sitting on too close to the desk and somehow caught my little finger between my knee and the corner of the desk.  The result was an agonizing cut. 

They barely had the dressing on when it was covered in blood and I decided I needed to head to the doctors office.  Luckily no stitches were needed but it is still really darn sore.  It really is amazing how painful an injury to your little finger can be.

Isn't that what we learn when we are told that when one part of the body of Christ is in pain, then the whole body feels it?  Therefore if you know someone who is hurting, don't leave them unattended.  Be there to love and encourage them as much as you can!

Pumped up

There are times when I know that I haven't taken my vitamins for the day, especially the vitamin B.  My shoulders just cramp up and nothing other than vitamin B solves the problem.  Generally speaking though I am a big supporter of using supplements to maintain good health. 

So I wonder how my spiritual vitamins stack up against their cousins....tee hee?  Well let's do a check:


Vitamin B - For stress the peace of God must guard our heart and mind in Christ Jesus
Vitamin C - For healing and immunity, you are healed by His stripes
Iron - The sword of the Spirit should give us wisdom and discernment
Calcium - For strength the belt of truth should be our covering
Ginseng - For energy the word of God should be our source of power
L-tyrosine - For a healthy spiritual thyroid a living walk with Jesus will keep our us strong and steady
Multivitamin - For all the above and dose of a bit of everything the word of God is our provider

Yip I think we could all do with staying spiritually pumped up, don't you? 

He will go anywhere for you!

As the words Jesus spoke into my heart last night have had time to germinate in my soul, I have suddenly found much greater joy and meaning in the words inscribed in Hebrews 4:14-16, which reads as follows:

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Grace, that's what I really needed to hear.  Depression is such an 'ugly' word and for those who seldom feel its grip it is simply not understood..... But here I see Jesus once again saying, "Do not fear, I know what you are going through."  More comforting words I have never heard.  

In all points....yes in all things, Jesus was pushed to the limit of what He could endure and because of this, He knows our joys and more deeply, He knows our sorrows.  Because of this great truth I need not be ashamed, I can do as the writer of Hebrews says, I can hold my head up high as I boldly enter the presence of God and I can feel His love for me radiating from the throne of Grace.   

How deep is the darkness?

Today wasn't my best.  I had planned to take a rest/sleep day next weekend but my body decided that today was the day.  I'll admit that I've learned that at times like these, when my body takes over, it means that I am battling with a bout of depression and today that was true.

In the past I have often tried to 'rectify' my depressed state by focusing on steps to force my mind to go in a more positive direction, but that just wasn't working today.  It was only a few moments ago that my spirit reminded me of one important fact.

Yes there are times when our soul will fall to the bottom of the darkest abyss but we do not need to fear the darkness, for wasn't it Jesus Himself that descended to death, hell and the grave and set the captives free?  Oh yes He did and because of that I need only raise my eyes to the light and see the cross and know that my saviour is near.  Jesus is not afraid of the darkness I find myself in but instead He only says, "Come, from this place I will take you to paradise!"

Change of power

By now thoughts of Easter have all but disappeared.  Children are back at school and parents are no doubt hard at work and that short holiday is now a memory.  In some ways I think the disciples must have felt something similar.  After the shock of the cricifixtion and then Christ's miraculous ressurection, their lives must have started to return to what they must have felt would be normal.  The living Christ with them now day by day, teaching them and guiding them. 

But Jesus knew there was one last part of the plan that needed to be completed and to see that picture more clearly we need to take a peak once again at Luke 4:5-6, which reads; "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it."

Satan had boasted that he had all the power over the earth, but Jesus took that from him when He died and overcame death and the grave.  There was one thing left to do....can you venture a guess?  Well I'll give you a clue.... there were 11 men involved and they needed it.....getting warmer yet?  Let me show you.

Jesus parting words recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 to his beloved diciples makes it clear; "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." 

Yes folks.....we now hold the power, so therefore as we celebrate ascension day, let us live and walk in the power of our resurrected Christ!

Good old Duck tape

Back in the 80's when McGyver found a problem that needed to be stuck together, the old duck tape roll would come out of nowhere and ....tadah, the problem was fixed!  That was kinda cool.  Not so cool however, was driving behind a mini-bus taxi today with the back door sealed closed with what......?  Yip, you guessed it, duck tape!!!!  It was smashed up pretty badly too mind you. 

I asked myself what in the world would make people actually get inside a vehicle like that?  Are they so desperate that they would honestly risk life or limb just to get somewhere?  The sad answer to that question is yes!  There simply aren't enough safe and efficient transport vehicles on our roads to reduce traffic and congestion and people just feel they have no option. 

The question is, are there times in our spiritual lives when we take unnecessary risks?  From hard life experience I can say yes to that question too.  I know where my worst risks and life mistakes have been and they have usually been at times when I have taken my eyes off of my faith in God.

I'd like to encourage you today that if you are facing difficulties in life, have patience, pray and ask God for wisdom before acting.  Usually in time, God will provide the right solution. 

Trust in God!

Mutter mutter

Over the years I have learned that more often than not, God is silent in our lives.  He expects that once our relationship with Him is strong that we will just get on with life and be the living witness for Him that he requires us to be.  You will not hear me say, well God told me this or God told me that.  That is mostly because I don't ever want to bring God dishonour by saying that He told me something only for it to be found untrue.

That does not mean that God doesn't speak to me.  He does, but funny enough it is often if my thoughts are going in the wrong direction that He does speak.  That was the case last night.  I was muttering away to God much better and the conversation went like this......

Ronwyn:  Mutter mutter mutter, and you know how long it has taken, mutter mutter mutter.
God:  Do you think I don't know that?
End of conversation!  Lol!

So God spoke and from that I gathered it was time to just keep walking down the path I'm on and trust in Him....and doesn't that go back to the begging of tonight's story...... ;-)

All for a reputation

This past week was one of the toughest I've had in a long time.  It was month end madness and on top of that I had auditors to deal with and they wanted to know everything about the toughest part of my job.  There were no easy explanations and no quick solutions, they needed the information.  The hard part was that I have a non-negotiable deadline to meet by Monday morning. 

By Thursday, I had not even had a chance to start on it yet.  Fear was starting to creep in but I told myself that I'd never missed the deadline before and I wasn't going to start missing it now.  That meant a sacrifice of a couple of hours on Saturday was necessary.  I did get a head start on Friday and I managed to wrap everything by Saturday, so I'm finally out of the woods.

It took dedication, hard work, perseverance and a commitment to the task at hand but at the end of the day it is my reputation that was on the line and I wasn't going to let that slip, not for anything.  In our world today it is so easy for people to get a bad attitude about their jobs and to not perform to the best of their ability.  As Christians let us not make that mistake, for in the end it is not only our reputation at stake but Christ's and we should do everything we can to lift Him up before man. 

Sore eyes

Financial month end is always a difficult time of the month.  There are deadlines and pressures coming at you from all sides and trying to get through recons can be taxing on my eyes, especially when I am staring at moving figures on a computer screen for hours on end.  It is all part of the job though and staying focused and on top of things is critical. 

That makes me wonder if there are times when we can get spiritually sore eyes?  I'm guessing the answer is yes, but when would that apply?  Well for me it would probably come from times in life when I have been most critical of myself.  Times when I have spent hours pondering why certain issues in my life keep cropping up and what was 'wrong' with me. 

The truth is that there usually is nothing wrong with me or you.  There are simply life experiences that have shaped our character and some of those set in behaviours need to be unlearned.  So how are we going to achieve that? 

Romans 12 tells us that we need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that means replacing bad or negative thoughts with positive and good thoughts about ourselves and our knowledge of God.

If you've got sore eyes from too much introspection, close your physical and emotional eyes and raise your head and see Jesus with your spiritual eyes and see your saviours love for you and how much He desires for you to live a full and prosperous life. 

Art of illusion

They have you convinced.  You're looking where they want you to look and then suddenly out of the blue the picture changes and the impossible appears.  It is all in the art of illusion.  The skilled illusionist makes you believe that it has to be true.


But what about our thought life.  We have been deluded in that area as well.  We believe the lies brought to us by another very skilled illusionist.  Tell me if any of these sound familiar?

- You're not good with people
- You're hopeless at managing money
- You're too short or too tall
- You're useless at leading a group
- You're too shy to speak in front of a crowd
- You're not the right race, sex or age
- You're too aggressive
- You don't have what it takes
- You simply would not manage
- You have no idea what you're doing
- You'll never succeed at that

At least one or more of those lies may have made you wince, because you've heard them all too often.  From people who think they are being 'honest to be kind', people who don't really know the truth about you at all.  Well before you blame the people who have said these things to you, take a deep breath and remember that we need to forgive those who have trespassed against us.

The truth is that it is the devil who wants to keep you deceived and not living out your true potential.  He is the one behind the lies, the hurt and the pain and he is the one we should be angry with.  Yes, maybe it is time to get a little angry, but let's keep that all in perspective.  Be angry enough to break free!

There is only ONE truth we need to remember to combat all of these lies:

I CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!!!!!!!

Calendars and schedules

After a week of doing pretty much nothing, the thought of getting back to work as well as dealing with calendar's and schedules is feeling a little overwhelming.  I'm sure that in a day or two though the short holiday will have worn off and things will be back to normal. 

As much as this is an absolute drag for me to contemplate I know that my kitties are only too happy to have me back and for the familiar rhythm to play itself out once again.  For them its about my presence and the comfort of knowing they are loved and cared for. 

The one thing we should never loose of in life is that no matter what we are doing we are in contact with people (unless you're a hermit hiding away).  For those people our presence means something.  Whether it is to achieve a particular task at work, provide the comfort of friendship or the safety of family, our daily rhythm has purpose.  Remember that and you'll never feel again that a day is a waste.