REFLECTIONS

Do you like your own reflection or are you afraid of it?

Let me start with a question. Has anyone been afraid of their own reflection when you suddenly came upon a mirror or glass or window?

It happened to me today, but I wasn’t scared, but for a moment I thought, “Eh? Who is that?”

Nevertheless, it got me thinking today.

1) Do I like what I see spiritually?   

2) When people see me, do they think, “Here is the daughter of God Most High."

3)   Or do they cringe and say “Oh it’s you… gotta go now, nice meeting ya.”

What do people see?

4)    Am I satisfied of myself of how I conduct myself in :-

-       Private

-       Public

-       Among friends

-       Among family

-       Among business clients

What reflection am I showing?

5)    What have I become today compared to 15 years ago? Was I still eager like a child to learn the things of God?
Was I still eager to get prophecies, words and visions from God about myself?

Do I still have the confidence that, like David, I follow after God’s heart and will never “cringe” to get a word from God?

When I first went out for mission work I was so excited and wanted God to use me so very much. Do I still have that same zeal today? These questions flooded my mind instantly that day.

Following the same thread of thoughts, let us look at a child. Most children love to get involved with all kinds of work, example, mowing the lawn, dusting, sweeping or giving the dog a bath; it is fun for them to learn new things and do new things as a child.

The innocence in the child wants to try everything adults are doing or the simple fact, they want to be just like their parents. They are willing to be obedient and to help at that early age. But as they grow up, the “enthusiasm” dies.

Looking at this, can we still safely assume after so many years, we are still eager and obedient children of God? Can we still have the same “attitude” as when :-

-       We were first assigned as an usher in church?

-       Or our first worship?

-       First appointment as a church worker?

-       First mission trip?

For instance, IF God asks us to leave everything and go to another country today, can we honestly jump up and say, “Praise God, I will do it!“

Can we leave behind what we’ve built over the past years and be obedient even unto death?

Can we all be like Abraham and be ready to sacrifice our Isaac’s?

Or have we come to such a stagnant place to believe that God will NEVER ask us to do such things? Maybe we think it’s a myth, a legend, a past life or worse, something we will consider for later and keep on a shelf for a few years?   

What reflection do you see of yourself today?

God has brought you up, level by level, stage after stage, battle after battles.

-       Who are you today in Christ?

-       Has your zeal been replaced by NEW priorities?

Therefore, as we, Christ-like, people of God approach the end of 2011, let’s take a moment and look at ourselves and search our hearts.

Are we a product of God’s infinite divine will this year for our life or a product of our own desire? 

If you’ve had a fruitful year, praise the Lord, if not, then, it’s time to start something we call, “A New Day” with ourselves.

Check your reflection from time to time, it might help remind you – who you are in Christ Jesus. Through Him all things are possible.

Praise the Lord

Life beneath the  ashes

“Sometimes I feel so smothered with life, with myself , my situation.”

I’ve had a discouraging week.  There are times I wonder if I’ll ever see the fruit of my labour. Sometimes it’s hard to keep on pressing, keep on pursing the things God has told me to do, without seeing results.

Yet, what else can I do but be obedient to the faith God has called me to be?

Does this sound familiar? Certain stages in our lives we feel a down under rope dragging us.

Has there been a void in your life. Has your best and closest friend left you to fend for yourself  when you needed them the most?

This is what I call the life under the rumbles, under the ashes.

We live and breathe because of Christ in us.

We live and move and have our being because of Him and Him alone.

Sometimes we feel that we cannot get up to face the mornings, much less the day. But if we do not find life beneath the ashes, we will certainly be consumed by flames of discouragement and uncertainty.

Faith tells us to keep on walking when we can’t see the results

Hope tells us to keep on facing “it” until it gets better

And Love? Love tells us to keep pressing on with that SAME commitment we had when we first received our salvation.

-         With the SAME FIRST LOVE.

When life has its downs, we have a mighty God who shows us the way to live even beneath the ashes.

Romans 5: 8 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.