The Godhead - 3 in 1..... How is that possible? How is it, that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit can be 3 unique beings, but still be 1?
Well, have you sliced an apple recently? What did you see? The core with seeds, the flesh and the skin... Right! Well that's just it. All three parts have a unique function, but they are all still part of one apple.
The core with seeds can be likened to God the father. It carries in it the power to create life. The flesh can be likened to Jesus. He gave us his body for our salvation. The skin can be likened to the Holy Spirit. He is the power of God manifest in the earth today and the one who's actions we can most see as he heals the sick and transforms live's.
And God made man in his own image, a tri-part being: Spirit, soul and body. I'll talk about that more in my next blog.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Slipper comfort
Nothing feels better than coming home and sliding your feet into a soft pair of slippers. It's a feeling of being at home and being in a place where you belong.
The bible tells us that the Holy Spirit has been sent to us as our comforter. That's the kind of relationship God desires to have with us, the abiding kind. The type where he is at home in our hearts and our presence.
He (The Holy Spirit) desires to live with us in a close relationship where he can comfort us when we are sad, pick us up when we have fallen, guide us through the trials of life, and rejoice with us in life's victories.
To have a personal relationship with him, you need to invite him into your heart. Have you done that yet?
The bible tells us that the Holy Spirit has been sent to us as our comforter. That's the kind of relationship God desires to have with us, the abiding kind. The type where he is at home in our hearts and our presence.
He (The Holy Spirit) desires to live with us in a close relationship where he can comfort us when we are sad, pick us up when we have fallen, guide us through the trials of life, and rejoice with us in life's victories.
To have a personal relationship with him, you need to invite him into your heart. Have you done that yet?
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Dessert before dinner
So I'd like to know who decided that we have to have dessert after dinner. This concept just doesn't make any sense to me. If it's been a good dinner then you are usually full by the time dinner is done and there's no space left for dessert.
Personally, I occasionally love to come home after a hard day and just tuck into a sweet treat and my favourite it a bowl of lovely sweet fruit. It is such a lovely comfort if you are feeling down.
Sometimes we need a little comfort food from God's word too, but at times you can be lost where to start. Some practical ideas:
Get a small A6 index book. As you read the word of God, you will find scriptures that will be of use in future times. Find the theme of the scripture, i.e. "Provision". Then write that scripture under the "P" section. You may not need that verse now, but times will come when you do and it will help to have your own personal index.
Another idea, is to have a concordance handy. You will be able to look up a specific word like "Hope" and find references of scriptures that have the word "hope" in them. Most bibles have a limited, but still useful concordance. Of course, if you are using a Bible program these will have search facilities in them.
Personally, I occasionally love to come home after a hard day and just tuck into a sweet treat and my favourite it a bowl of lovely sweet fruit. It is such a lovely comfort if you are feeling down.
Sometimes we need a little comfort food from God's word too, but at times you can be lost where to start. Some practical ideas:
Get a small A6 index book. As you read the word of God, you will find scriptures that will be of use in future times. Find the theme of the scripture, i.e. "Provision". Then write that scripture under the "P" section. You may not need that verse now, but times will come when you do and it will help to have your own personal index.
Another idea, is to have a concordance handy. You will be able to look up a specific word like "Hope" and find references of scriptures that have the word "hope" in them. Most bibles have a limited, but still useful concordance. Of course, if you are using a Bible program these will have search facilities in them.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Grace test
Ooouch! My words were barely cold yesterday with talking about Grace and what happens? I'm confronted by someone with no people skills and unable to have a civilised conversation.
My normal instinct is to fight back, but I could clearly see this would only make things worse if I did. Thankfully thoughts of grace came to mind and I walked away from the confrontation and decided to find a more reasonable solution. Not easy to do when someone is hurtling abuse at you!
James 1 talks about the fact that we should count it a joy when we are faced with trials and temptations. The reason the writer James says, is that these are sent to test our faith and build patience. This isn't just our faith for believing for things that we are waiting for but the actual essence of our Christianity.
So how did that apply to my situation? In times past I would have entered into a screaming match with the other person. Over time hopefully I've learned to control my anger and respond with less agression.
Don't get me wrong, being angry is not the sin, but God's word tells us, "Be angry but don't sin". We do this by expressing our anger in a constructive way, i.e. Telling the person that we have an issue with calmly, "I have to discuss an issue with you because it has made me very angry."
So, as we learn to pass these tests, it will mean on less trip "around the mountain".
My normal instinct is to fight back, but I could clearly see this would only make things worse if I did. Thankfully thoughts of grace came to mind and I walked away from the confrontation and decided to find a more reasonable solution. Not easy to do when someone is hurtling abuse at you!
James 1 talks about the fact that we should count it a joy when we are faced with trials and temptations. The reason the writer James says, is that these are sent to test our faith and build patience. This isn't just our faith for believing for things that we are waiting for but the actual essence of our Christianity.
So how did that apply to my situation? In times past I would have entered into a screaming match with the other person. Over time hopefully I've learned to control my anger and respond with less agression.
Don't get me wrong, being angry is not the sin, but God's word tells us, "Be angry but don't sin". We do this by expressing our anger in a constructive way, i.e. Telling the person that we have an issue with calmly, "I have to discuss an issue with you because it has made me very angry."
So, as we learn to pass these tests, it will mean on less trip "around the mountain".
Monday, January 3, 2011
Radical Grace
Often when we think of grace our minds may slip towards something more along the lines of kindness, goodness and gentleness. This however is not the kind of grace that Christ showed us. His grace was radical!
I can think of no words to express the the enormity of his grace when looking at the price he paid for our salvation. It cost him everything.
I have often pondered what Christ meant when he said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, "My Grace is sufficient for you", but I think I'm getting a glimpse of it now.
True grace is compassionate beyond our wildest dreams. To be able to sacrifice something of yourself takes a lot. We often get aggravated when someone does something to irritate us without remembering the extreme anguish that Christ must have felt to carry the burdon of our sin.
I think we need to show more grace to others as we receive God's grace in our lives.
I can think of no words to express the the enormity of his grace when looking at the price he paid for our salvation. It cost him everything.
I have often pondered what Christ meant when he said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12, "My Grace is sufficient for you", but I think I'm getting a glimpse of it now.
True grace is compassionate beyond our wildest dreams. To be able to sacrifice something of yourself takes a lot. We often get aggravated when someone does something to irritate us without remembering the extreme anguish that Christ must have felt to carry the burdon of our sin.
I think we need to show more grace to others as we receive God's grace in our lives.
Rest in him!
In our hectic lifestyles today, how often do we take the time to rest? I know this is one area in my life I struggle with. Work and study commitments leave little time for leave.
Hebrews 4 speaks about rest and what I see here is that it is a complete rest. In body, soul and Spirit we need to get ourselves to a place of rest.
Our body needs rest in order to regain physical strength from our bustling activities as well as the all important need to destress. Our soul (mind, will and emotions) need time for reflection and emotional healing.
Most of all we need Spiritual rest and this won't just happen with a nap. Spiritual rest speaks more of resting from striving. So many times we fight battles that we should best leave to God because we are afraid it won't get done on time.
God knows your needs. Caste your burden on him. Put it on the back burner in your mind and allow God the time and space to do what he needs to do. Trust in him, he will never leave you!
Hebrews 4 speaks about rest and what I see here is that it is a complete rest. In body, soul and Spirit we need to get ourselves to a place of rest.
Our body needs rest in order to regain physical strength from our bustling activities as well as the all important need to destress. Our soul (mind, will and emotions) need time for reflection and emotional healing.
Most of all we need Spiritual rest and this won't just happen with a nap. Spiritual rest speaks more of resting from striving. So many times we fight battles that we should best leave to God because we are afraid it won't get done on time.
God knows your needs. Caste your burden on him. Put it on the back burner in your mind and allow God the time and space to do what he needs to do. Trust in him, he will never leave you!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Braai bread
As an accountant I've learned a lot about fixing mistakes. Through investigation you can trace back through the audit trail to find the orinating transaction, then apply the correcting entry.
Thankfully in life there are oppotunities for us to fix mistakes we have made. I recently tried a new bread recepe. When removing the loaf from the oven, it at first glance appeared as if it was a total dissaster. The bread was still moist and for some reason it stuck to the wax wrap. I had to slice away the wrap, then later took the remaining loaf with to the braai.
The recepe said to slice the bread and toast on the braai. The end result... A perfect braai bread. Once toasted the bread still had a slight softness on the inside with a crispy outside and it was yummmmm! Had I baked it in the oven any longer it would have gone rock hard on the fire.
I learned that you have to follow ALL the instructions for something to work AND that mistakes can be salvaged.
This speaks to me of God's grace. When we have made mistakes, he is gracious enough to help us fix them so that we have a successful result. There are times when we will have to live with the consequences of our actions, but God is big enough to help us make the best of any situation!
Thankfully in life there are oppotunities for us to fix mistakes we have made. I recently tried a new bread recepe. When removing the loaf from the oven, it at first glance appeared as if it was a total dissaster. The bread was still moist and for some reason it stuck to the wax wrap. I had to slice away the wrap, then later took the remaining loaf with to the braai.
The recepe said to slice the bread and toast on the braai. The end result... A perfect braai bread. Once toasted the bread still had a slight softness on the inside with a crispy outside and it was yummmmm! Had I baked it in the oven any longer it would have gone rock hard on the fire.
I learned that you have to follow ALL the instructions for something to work AND that mistakes can be salvaged.
This speaks to me of God's grace. When we have made mistakes, he is gracious enough to help us fix them so that we have a successful result. There are times when we will have to live with the consequences of our actions, but God is big enough to help us make the best of any situation!
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