View from above

My day of departure from Johannesburg was a rainy day across the country. When we'd reached our cruising altitude, we were high above the clouds, the view looking down was amazing. Beautiful brilliant white fluffy clouds everywhere looked so peaceful, a view far removed from the damaging storms that raged below.

I often wonder what God sees when he looks down on this world he created. So much mayhem and violence. So much depression and despair. Is there any hope in a world that seems to be slipping into darkness?

The Christmas story is indeed one such story. It is a message of hope, peace and love. Our God on high looked down from above and saw passed the fluffy clouds and saw a world in desperate need of a saviour.

Will you be the candle bearer to show that light to the world? Will you carry the hope and strength that there is in the message of the new birth? God waits on us to be the real spirit of Christmas to those around us.

Last minute rush

That last minute rush to get stuff done before you go away can be quite exhausting. Going through your mental check list to try and make sure everything is wrapped up at work with staff to cover your most important duties. Then there's the home needs with someone to water your plants and feed the cats and check on your house.

The last minute rush for any new expecting mother can be even more frightening. Now a days there is making sure the suitcase for hospital is packed with mom's and baby's needs provided for. At her tender age I have no doubt that Mary must have had many fears.

We don't read about them though. The birth of Christ is written of as one of and truly is one of the most blessed moments in human history. So many of us have lost a loved one around this time of year, so facing Christmas without them can be hard in the first few years after that. Finding the joy in the simplicity of Christ's birth, brings our hearts back to God.

Before I go

Preparing to go on leave is always so much work. I'm quite pedantic about making sure that the house is clean and tidy and that all the washing is done so that I can have a full wardrobe to chose from when I pack.

I wonder what Mary must have packed for her trip to Bethlehem. She must have known her time to give birth was near. Nowhere do we read that this young woman who had being carrying this miracle child for 9 months ever complained about having no place to stay the night that Christ was born.

Her grace under pressure is immense and she made the very best of a really bad situations. How easily do we complain when we don't get the window seat on the plane we'd hoped for or the meal at our lunch stop isn't quite the way we wanted it?

Maybe we need to learn a little more grace when travelling and be patient with those who serve hundreds of customers every day. I know I sure will try.

New toys

Well I collected my new cell phone over the weekend. I had expected it to take me a while to figure out, but I am pleased to say it really is user friendly and I found it quite easy to get going. I'm sure I will soon find new features I haven't discovered yet.

I find the bible like that too sometimes. There will be parts of the bible you may think are difficult to read like the prophetic books, but when you read them with an open heart, you'll be amazed what amazing wisdom they provide.

When last did you investigate the word of God curiously to see what amazing surprises it can bring you?

Game of pounce

The new pots have added a unique new feature, not only for me but the kitties as well. They are great objects to hide behind when they are in the midst of a game of pounce. It is only a matter of time before one kitty makes a break for it and the chase is on.

God is our divine hiding place. In times when life is tough and the trials are real all we really want is to find a place of comfort and warmth in which to find a soft place to lie while we regain our strength and then move back into the game of life.

Where are you at right now? Do you need a time out? Draw near to God and find strength in his love and comfort. With this new strength you may well find that you are able to lift your arms as wings and catch the thermals to fly high above the troubles and the storms.

16 Days

The 16 days of activism against women and children abuse are a vital reminder that women and children throughout the world are still suffering abuse from either parents or the opposite sex. As Christians what principles should we uphold?

Abuse in any format should not be condoned. We need to take a stand against these behaviours and work toward transforming society from the wreck that it is now to the community that God desires for us to be a part of.

Taking such a stand does not mean head banging all offenders and hanging them out to dry but rather training, educating and guiding them whilst providing a safe haven for those who have suffered to be ministered too and restored. We can however insist that the law takes its course and that people are held accountable for their actions.

Our broken world can only be mended when we as Christians do what God requires of us and if we do one more thing....Pray!

December Topaz

As cool and inviting as a blue lake on a blistering summer day, such is December's birthstone, the blue Topaz. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "tapas," meaning fire. This is because Blue Topaz was considered by ancient civilizations to have cooling properties.

It was believed to be able calm hot tempers. This gemstone was credited with many other healing properties, among them the ability to cure insanity, asthma, weak vision and insomnia.

Blue Topaz is the hardest of the silicate minerals. The blue hue is created when Topaz is heated, whether the heat source is natural or engineered by man.

It reminds me of a little board my parents put up on the wall outside my bedroom, which read, “keep your temper, no one else wants it.” Does the book of James not warn us about the problems that can arise due to an unbridled tongue? Raw anger will easily lead to anxiety and an inability to make rational decisions.

We ought to take heed of that warning and rather than feeding wild fires of anger, let us be the cooling, soothing, presence of the Holy Spirit.