In the silence

In the silence of the first night and the second day, Jesus body lay cold and still in the stone cold walls of a borrowed tomb. All evidence pointed to the fact that this was the end of hope for the disciples and mankind.

Yet in the stillness of what the disciples couldn't see, the spirit world, Jesus began His greatest mission. He descended into Hades and preached salvation to those in paradise awaiting His coming. He stole the keys of death and the grave and freed the captives and delivered them to the Father.

There are times in life when our dreams seem dead. They lie lifeless, seemingly broken and destroyed. It is at these times that we should rejoice in the fact that it is in this silence that God doing His greatest work and freeing the captive elements of our dreams that Satan holds in his hands and breaking our chains of bondage.

Rejoice in the stillness and laugh at the devil, because like Christ's triumphant resurrection our dreams too will be resurrected and when they are, they will encompass the resurrection power of Christ and fulfill their intended work.

Macros

Yesterday I wrote my first Excel Macro. I was so chuffed with myself for getting it right. The amazing thing with Macros is that a set of instructions, no matter how long, can be recorded and at the push of single command carried out in microseconds.

Isn't that what all computer language is really, a simple set of instructions given to a machine carried out ultra-fast. Wouldn't it be great if we could program our minds to carry out God's commands ultra-fast?

Well, I'm not sure if we can do it with the same speed, but we can program our minds to do the right thing. How do we do this? Romans 12:2 tells us that we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Renewing our minds requires getting to know the word of God well enough for it to imprint on our memory.

At this time of Easter, let us allow the words and life of Christ in the final hours before His death to make an imprint on our minds.

Will you declare it?

Those final days and hours must have felt like an eternity. I honestly still cannot wrap my brain around how He managed to do it, but Jesus did it anyway. He faced the jeering crowd, He didn't fight back when accused, He took the beating, whipping, thorns, nails and death and at no stage did He stop the process and declare His innocence or try to get out of a journey that would lead to His death.

But that third day He defied the natural, He declared his power! Early in the morning, still practically still as night, He rose triumphant over death and the grave! In His actions He did not deny His humanity, but embrace it. In His victory he remained humble, not boasting and shouting forth His will.

The declaration of His will, He has left for us to do. The instruction was clear, go forth, preach this gospel and bring a dying world to salvation. That call is no dimmer today than the day He first gave it. At no time has it been more clear that revival on this planet is not only necessary but more crucial than ever.

Will you declare God's greatness this Easter?

Boerie roll delima

On Saturday I went to do some more window shopping for coffee machines. I knew that outside the one store there was a Boerewors roll stand so thought I'd catch lunch there. I strolled up to the bar and asked the price and heard R20 and said go ahead. To my frustration when the gentlemen delivered the roll he said R29 please (daylight robbery for a boerie roll). I only had R20 plus some change in my wallet and had to rely on the kindness of strangers to sort out my issue. I was so embarrassed I just wanted to run and hide. I eventually shook it off and carried on with my day and forgot about it.

Today as I came out of a store, I was stopped by a man with a totally anguished look on his face. Normally I will do my best to run away from anyone I perceive may be wanting to beg from me, but the look on his face was the same look I had on Saturday. I knew God was testing me to see if I would be willing to return the favour, which I did.

I'm not sharing this story to boast, just talking about it brings back that horrid feeling of shame, but more to illustrate that this is how the law of giving and receiving works. We will virtually never receive blessing from the same place where we gave it. What is important is to listen to the Holy Spirit when He speaks to you and be a blessing wherever you can be.

Making popcorn

I always used to buy plastic pop corn makers, believing that somehow these were easier to use and saved time. Truth is though that they always used to end up looking very grubby, so after throwing out my last one I decided not to replace it.

A short while ago I decided to try and make some popcorn the 'old fashioned' way. You know, on the stove in a pot..... boring right? What I discovered was that it couldn't have been easier and believe it or not, the steel pot was far easier to clean than those horrid plastic ones.

You see we make the same mistake when it comes to Christianity too. We somehow think that faith and going to church and everything else that comes with it, are just too much of a hassle. Truth is nothing could be easier than believing in the love of a Father, the gift of His Son and the companionship of His precious Spirit.

This week why don't you try doing things the easier way.....believing in God!

Mad rush

Wednesday afternoon ended up being a mad rush. After posting a comment on Facebook on Monday that I was looking for coffee machine suppliers, a colleague suggested I go to the Hostex expo. I checked on their website on Tuesday I learned that the show was only open until Wednesday and the difficult part for me was that we had an office meeting from 12:00 to 14:00 and the expo closed at 16:00.

I managed to get there and raced around and managed to gather quite a few brochures but it will require me going to the show rooms as well to see the machines in action. One thing I am learning in life is that when we place our dreams and desires in God's hands, He will guide us and lead us to the right solution and the right time.

To achieve this I've learned a few simple steps that really work:

• Talk about your dreams to close friends and family that you trust.
• Be clear about what you want and how you want to achieve it.
• Pray about it and ask God to guide you.
• Have patience and believe that God will supply your needs.
• When the opportunity arises, act quickly and decisively.
• Believe that God will bring the right and best option across your path.

Thank God for his goodness and guidance in our lives!

What do you see?

I'm sure like me you slice your apple from top to bottom.  From that view the apple core seems oval in shape.  The other day, I sliced it side too side.  To my surprise the apple core was now star shaped.

To the world present the two men crucified alongside Jesus were nothing more than common criminals, however Jesus saw something different.

Yes, the one man was a hardened criminal but the other had insight not only to his own sin state but to the offer of eternal salvation that hung beside him.

What will you see this Easter as you contemplate the season, just a time for family, fun and Easter eggs?  Will you open your heart to fully see the price Christ paid on the cross for your eternal salvation and will you allow that truth to change your heart?