Making it real

Each church has its forte and for Mosaiek (Mosaic) theirs is definitely Easter and celebrating the crucifixion of our Lord in a real and meaningful way.  The time of Lent is emphasized and Holy week is celebrated with many wonderful meetings and experiences throughout the week.  The highlight for me though is always the Stations of the Cross art exhibition and I know I have mentioned that last year as well. 

What makes it special though is that each year the display is done differently but with the same core elements so although you know what to expect, it is still fresh every time.  The cross is always central to the exhibit and throughout your walk through the maze you can hear nails being hammered into the cross.  It really hits you hard and the reality of Christs sacrifice is brought to life. 

This year the tomb was open and as you walked inside the figure of our Lord laying there dead and lifeless was awe inspiring.  As I left though I was missing one key element though and that was a depiction of our risen saviour.........

But then I realized that I am that image.  Though in life I have my faults and frailties and at times some may wonder if Christ is in me, I know that God forgives my sin.......isn't that what HE died for anyway? 

The year of the angry bee

Up until last year I could confidently boast that in 40 years I had only been stung by a bee once as a child.  Luckily there were no side effects that time.  Strangely though in the last four months I've been stung twice.  The December sting left no immediate after affect but a week later my foot swelled up but it did heal.  The next sting happened on Sunday and it is still a little red and swollen but I'm on antihistamine's and hoping all will be okay. 

Why does this all bother me?  Well because my dad was highly allergic and I remember seeing his whole face swell up in a deadly sting.  I therefore know that at any time my current good fortune of being able to weather the stings okay could at any time change and become deadly as I've been told that bee sting immunity cannot be guaranteed for life.  I know that danger can come from anywhere but knowing it could be a sting away is really scary.  

None of Jesus disciples knew the path that lay ahead of them.  For 11 our of 12 disciples, the thought that Judas would betray the Christ would never have crossed their minds.  Peter never dreamed that the day would come when he would deny that he knew Jesus..... and none, I mean none, would have believed that their charismatic leader, Jesus the healer and miracle worker, would ever be captured, tried and crucified. 

But all of the above did happen and Jesus did go to the cross!  And thus Satan would have us believe that danger lurks everywhere and that he, Satan is all powerful.....

We know different! 

Earth hour 2015

Taking time out this past Saturday to celebrate Earth hour at home was a quiet affair.  Just me, my fire and the bugs, the kitties weren't too interested in this one.  I sat there enjoying the glow of the fire light thinking about what this meant to me.  In one moment when I needed to go inside the thought crossed my mind, how nice it was to have power (electricity) but to choose not to use it. 

That hit home really deeply.  In my own personal life I know that I have had many struggles about my fears and need for control and thinking that I need to give this up can be really scary.  But Jesus faced the same issue and showed us exactly how to deal with it. 

As Jesus sat outside Jerusalem and wept for this Holy city, contemplating the path He must now take, I know that He would have had similar thoughts.  You see Jesus was born of the line of David and was an heir to the throne of Israel through both Joseph and Mary's blood line.  He could have chosen at that moment to ride into Jerusalem and declare His Kingship and legally taken His place as the King of Israel. 

What Jesus chose to do however was the complete opposite.  He did not ride into Jerusalem that Palm Sunday on horse and chariot but on a lowly donkey.  He surrendered His claim to the throne of Israel so that He could earn a much greater title, King of Kings and Lord of Lords over all the earth.....but more importantly, King of our hearts and lives! 

Will you let Jesus be King in your heart today? 

Just a perfect evening

This mornings rain and load shedding meant chaos on the roads and getting to work was a nightmare, leaving me stressed from the start of the day.  The rest of the day was so so but then our office area got hit with load shedding at 3pm and our network was down and unlikely to get back up any time soon.  When the boss said we could leave, I didn't need a second invitation.  I guess I'll have to pay for my being late sins later, tee hee!

Getting home early though meant that I had enough time to get all the house work done before darting off to art group, which was then thoroughly enjoyed.  Hopefully I'll get to bed early and will be able to get an early start to Friday. 

I told our art group leader that this is heaven for the melancholy in me....structured art time!  Lol!  Being able to just be present in soul and spirit in something creative is just the best thing ever, it keeps me fully connected to what is happening right in front of me.

Have you found your thoughts wondering of in a hundred directions?  Ask yourself, what is in my chore?  Then make the time to do that.  God will honour every endeavour you set out to do in order to be feel gratitude for the here and now.  

Subtle shades of paint

When I renovated my bedroom and bathroom I was determined to get rid of the white walls and boy am I glad I did that.  The toffee main wall brings an awesome warmth into the room like.  I seldom complain if I have to light the candles at night now as the warm candle light against the wall is incredible. The rest of the walls have been painted a light egg shell white which relaxes the eye.  Most importantly the ceiling is now clearly separated and white, which is actually good and gives dimension to the space.

I was in an office this evening after work that also made me ponder the colour of walls.  It was a new block and they had used a pale grey.  I've never liked grey but done like that looked real unique.  You see its all about contrast and the balance that brings to a room.

In our relationships with others we will be attracted to individuals who bring some of the same but most likely a little different views of life to what we have, be that professional or romantic.  These contrasts bring balance to the relationship and helps forge new ways of thinking.

God likes to do that.  He likes to challenge the way we think and bring about paradigm shifts into our lives that become the catalysts of change.  In my teenage years I remember many a youth camp that left me fascinated and pondering the our awesome God.

When last did you allow God to challenge your train of thought or the way you do things?  Maybe it is time to let God set the chess board and let the games begin. 

Oooeeeee! So close!

Ooooohhh!  It was so close but yet so far!  2 balls from SA remaining with 5 runs needed by New Zealand and they smacked it for a 6!  Heart break for SA but joy for New Zealand in front of  their home crowd. 

On the team sports field there is always one looser and one winner.  In the spiritual realm that's no different.  Satan looses, God wins, it has been scripted from the dawn of time.  That is why we can boldly proclaim, "Christ in me, the hope of Glory!"  We know the end and in the end, we win! 

But take that down to a very personal level into our everyday lives.  The devil will do anything, I mean anything, to break our spirit and destroy our morale.  That's when you need to look yourself in the mirror and boldly proclaim:

• Devil, you're a liar, I am already victorious in Christ!
• I am capable of achieving anything I set my heart to!
• I am God's unique creation, beautiful in every way! 

That's right, time to talk like a winner!

No words

Over the last four or so years that I have been writing I have become so accustomed to writing through life's joys and life's pains. Sometimes though it is just inappropriate to do so and that has left me with a loss for words over the last few days. I had taken some time to attend to some personal issues but even though I had the time to write, the words just wouldn't come.

Tonight is no different really but I know I made a commitment to make this blog a part of my life and thus I have to honour that decision. So are there times in our spiritual lives when we need to keep things hidden or secret? Most definitely.

In Matthew 6 Jesus addresses the issues of charitable deeds, giving and prayer and says that all of these should be done in secret or without boasting as when we display these openly we receive our reward from man, but we will miss the rewards of God's approval and blessing. Therefore we should check our hearts and our attitudes when give and when we spend time with God in prayer and keep these things hidden in our secret place.