Forgetfulness

Forgetfulness  

Failure to Remember.

 

Philippians 3 v 13b-14

“but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

 

It’s so easy for us to get caught up in the past. Sometimes it’s past achievements we rest on, where we’ve become proud of ourselves and allowed ourselves to get complacent.  Sometimes it’s past hurts we refuse to let go of which can make us bitter and stagnant.  Both will stunt our growth and keep us, motionless, where we are.   

 

God’s Word tells us to forget the things in our past that would hinder us.  Those things are different for each of us I am sure.  To forget something means “to fail to remember” it.  I wonder what things might be keeping us from reaching forward – stretching with outstretched hands – to the things God has prepared for our future.  What is holding us back from pressing towards that final, glorious goal and winning the prize?  What are we holding onto that makes us too emotionally drained to exert the continuous physical force we need to “press” toward that goal?  What open sores do we keep poking at, never allowing to heal? 

 

If it’s a broken heart from a failed relationship, then take comfort in the fact that the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart (Psalm 34v18). Take Him at His Word.  If it’s bereavement, He will comfort you in your mourning (Matthew 5v4). If it’s guilt that is crippling you and causing you to keep looking over your shoulder at your sin and the aftermath of it, then you need to remember Psalm 103v12 where He promises to remove our sins from us, as far as the east is from the west.  Where we have made poor choices in our family lives, and lacked integrity and fairness in the past, all we need to do is ask for wisdom for the future and He will grant it (James 1v5).

 

We need not be crippled by the things we are ashamed of in our pasts.  If we are truly repentant, we are forgiven.  There is now no condemnation for us.  Let’s live like we believe that.  

But let us also repent of our good deeds, which are filthy rags in His sight.  Let us consider everything rubbish compared to knowing Jesus as Lord.  Our righteousness does not come from any good works that we do, which we give ourselves a pat on the back for.  It comes from God, on the basis of faith.  He loves us not because of who we are and what we’ve done, but purely because of who HE is and what HE has accomplished on our behalf. 

With this in mind, let’s drop all the baggage and vanity we are holding onto, and strain forward towards far better things.  Let us learn to forget. 

Patience is a virtue

"Whoever is patient has great understanding,
but one who is quick-tempered displays folly."  Proverbs 14v29. 

There is such a lot packed into that one, short verse.  How often do we become easily irritated, short-tempered, impatient, ungracious in our dealings with people?  You don't have to answer that!  I can't even make the journey to work without becoming the person described in Proverbs 14v29.  By the time I arrive at my desk I've already huffed and puffed about various insignificancies and trivia, making unkind assumptions about people I don't even know.

This tells me I lack good sense, display poor judgment and am basically foolish.  All because I am a little impatient?!  In God's eyes, any impatience is sin, regardless of how negligible we think it is.  As Christians, our goal is to become more like Jesus, to draw others to Him by our lives and by our light.  

When we lose our cool with our children, our parents, our husbands or wives and anyone else who may cross our daily paths, we are not living according to His will.  It's inexcusable. But thankfully it's forgivable if we take it to the Lord and confess it and ask for his help to start afresh, and seek the forgiveness of those we have wronged.

This is a daily battle.  It's not a one-time decision we make that says "Today I'll be patient" and then we don't live it out.  Would we like others to deal with us the way we speak to them?  The answer will be a resounding NO if you are honest.

When we are not patient we miss out on so much.  When your child wants to tell you about his day.  When your teenager wants to ask you about a troubling friendship.  When your spouse wants to offload about a difficult colleague.  All these things make demands on our time and often come when we are trying to do 101 other things and we therefore become short and snappy.  Surely the people in our lives that we (say we) love, are more important than whether the mirrors get cleaned or the kitchen floor gets washed?  And when we don't allow the other person to finish speaking, and we interrupt with our tuppence-worth and opinion on the matter, doesn't that make us look stupid when we have jumped to the wrong conclusion?  If only we'd let them finish, we'd have understood what they were saying, been able to respond intelligently, and thus avoided looking like an idiot. 

There is no room for hot-headedness and pride in the Christian walk.  If we exercise patience in every aspect of our day, rather than retaliation and knee-jerk reaction, we will find that we handle things sensibly, with good judgement and are deemed wise by those around us.  

Today I have had to submit my will to His so many times already and the morning is barely over.  If I did things my way, it would be ugly and undignified.  Reacting as I know He'd want me to, makes a big difference.  Don't get me wrong, it's a struggle in my flesh because I am naturally impatient, but God is showing me that only by committing my every action and interaction to Him, can I learn to be who He has redeemed me to be.

Exceedingly Abundantly

 

 

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  (Ephesians 3v20-21)

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

Lately it seems like I've been hanging on by a thread.  That thread was connected to reality on one side and a gaping abyss on the other. I was dangling somewhere between the two and trying not to look down. 

 

God has been good to us.  His timing is never wrong and that is a lesson he has taught us very recently.  Sometimes in order to show His glory, He takes you to a place that only He can lift you out of.  When you're down there in the tangled mess of your own thoughts and fears, it can seem that there is no way out.  And sometimes there isn't.  Sometimes there is nothing else you can do in your own strength, and that's a frightening place to be, when it seems that things are spiralling out of your control.

 

The good news is that we serve a God who is able to do more than we could ever conjure up in our own imaginations.  He knows our needs.  He promises to take care of them.  Not the "need" for a new pair of Jimmy Choos, nor the "need" for a trip to a 5-star spa, but the real needs in our daily lives.  In the same way He provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness, He has met all our needs over the past few difficult months due to unemployment.  And then, just at the right time, when we literally did not know how we'd manage another month of things remaining as they were, He has intervened and blessed us above and beyond what we deserve.  His provision and His timing were perfect. 

 

This period has taught us to lean more fully on Him and to trust Him, not leaning on our own understanding or efforts. 

 

Psalm 50v15 says "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”     That's exactly what He has done.  And He deserves all the glory and praise. 

 

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." - James 1v17

 

And as I type these last lines, my play-list has started playing "Great is Thy Faithfulness".  It never ceases to amaze me how God takes care of us.  Who am I that he is mindful of me?  I am eternally grateful for all He has done for us.

 

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!!  2nd Corinthians 9V15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Sister Act

Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

At a time when Christian women are being bombarded with false and insipid teaching, it's incredibly important for us to find like-minded female Christian friends to uphold, support and encourage us.  

If we're not careful of the company we keep, Proverbs tells us we'll suffer harm. 

This is relevant to me today because I have the privilege of meeting a good Christian friend for coffee after work.  It's a win-win situation: coffee AND great company!  Since I am a caffeine addict and have been known to like a good "blether", I'm looking forward to it.

This lady epitomises the Proverbs 31 woman and I am in awe of her.  Having lost my own mum in my 30s, and having my only sister living across the Atlantic, this friendship means a great deal to me since I can count on one hand the amount of people I consider Godly women in my life.

It's a joy to have a friend I can share Christian literature with.  To share hospitality with.  To study the bible with. To pray with, and know she upholds me and my family in prayer as well.  To open my heart to, knowing I won't be judged, but perhaps gently corrected if need be.  These are the friendships we need, ladies.  These are the friendships that we need to get excited over.  I have discovered some Sisters in Christ recently who I know without a shadow of a doubt, I'll meet one day when we get to heaven.  That makes me smile, because I won't meet them on this earth given our geographic locations and distance from one another.  But I am so thankful for their influence and encouragement even from afar. 

But I also have to stop and ask myself, "What kind of friend am I?"  It's great to have Godly women pouring in to my life, but am I learning from that and being the friend God would want me to be?  It's not all about what I can get, but should be about what I can give, too. 

To have Sisters in Christ is a wonderful blessing.  I'd like to encourage you to be a blessing in return.  There are so many ways we can minister, if we are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives, as confirmed by His Word.  There is so much we can model to other women who may be younger in their faith and need some guidance.  What example are we showing in our marriages?  Are we scripturally submissive, or do we scoff at that notion?  What messages are we sending out about being a Godly mother?  If we are wavering on these points, we need to seek out mature women to teach us, as described in Titus 2:3-5.  This depicts the picture of grounded Christian women teaching those who are less mature in their faith. 

Whether you fall into the category of the more mature Christian Sister, or the younger, not-long-started-on-the-narrow-path Christian Sister, it is vital that we learn from one another, uphold one another, stick together and thank God for that common ground that is only made possible by the power of His resurrection and his acceptance of us into His family once we have been made right with Him. 

"I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God
I've been washed at the fountain, cleansed by his blood
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God".

Defiance and Defeat

I've been reading in Joshua the story of how the Israelites were defeated at Ai, immediately after their resounding victory at Jericho.  They couldn't believe that after such success, came crushing defeat. 

The Lord had led them to defeat Jericho but told them not to take any of the spoils for themselves, because certain items were to be devoted to the Lord.  They were explicitly told, in Joshua 6:18-19 "by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.  But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord."
The Lord's command was very clear and unambiguous. 

Achan decided to disobey, and take from Jericho, some of the items which were to be consecrated to the Lord, and his defiance not only consequently brought defeat at Ai, but cost him and his family their lives, just as God had clearly told them would happen if they disobeyed. 

God finds Joshua flat on his face wailing and moping after their defeat at Ai, and basically tells him he can't expect to be victorious against his enemy, whilst disobedience and defiance run rampant in the camp.   God's presence was no longer with them.  However he gives them a chance to put it right and come into communion with him again once the sin was purged from among them.

It made me wonder about the sins we harbour in our own lives, or try to hide, as Achan did, hoping no one will notice.  The things that God can't bless us in.  The things that cause Him to turn His face from us because He is a Holy God.  Are we being defeated in areas of our lives and pretending we don't know why?  Are we on our faces crying out to the Lord, "Why me?" when we know we are breaking his commands and breaking His heart?  Do we think there are no consequences to our sin?  Of course there are.  Unless we get before God and confess, seeking his forgiveness, the consequence will be the same as Achan faced.  Spiritual and physical death. 

Each of us may have our own "accursed thing" that is keeping us from a closer walk with God.  Have we gone our own way even though He's blessed us and given us victory in certain areas of our lives? Have we become cocky in our own strength?   Do we think we know better and can flout his commands and expect Him to turn a blind eye?  When God gives us his Word, and we deliberately disobey it, we have no excuse.  We cannot say "but I didn't know ..." because he makes his expectations very clear.  Whether we like them or not is a different matter.  We are to be consecrated and set apart, a holy people, not conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds.  What things have a hold on us that we need to release?  What are the things we are holding onto out of selfish ambition?  What things do we need to fall on our face before God about, sincerely seeking his forgiveness and help? 

I am not a believer in the prosperity gospel.  God does not bless us with financial gain, perfect health, a bigger house, a fancy car, the salvation of our children on demand, etc, just because we're saved or because we speak it into existence with positive words or because we've paid lip service to conquering a few more sins.  He promises us that in the final analysis, all things will work together for good (Romans 8:28) but we're not promised plain sailing in this world.  Quite the opposite in fact.  We're told we WILL have trouble in this world, but the good news is that Christ has overcome the world.  Addressing the hidden sin in our lives is not the green card to your happy ever after on this earth, but it is the key to a closer walk with your Saviour.  Let's throw off the things that have even a whiff of evil about them, so that we are unencumbered and able to follow the path laid out before us in order to claim the rewards we are promised in heaven. 

It's important for all of us to turn over to God, those things that we know the Holy Spirit is convicting us of.  Flirting with your co-workers is not innocent. Gossiping is not harmless.  Arrogance is not becoming.  Immodesty is provocative and Jezebel-like.  Impatience is not "just the way you are".  Sleeping with your partner just because you're getting married anyway, is not ok.  Seek His Word.  Pursue holiness. 

Obedience brings victory, but defiance brings defeat. 

Lord open our eyes to the accursed things in our own lives that we may gain favour in your eyes and be close to you once again.

Pie of the Humble kind

Proverbs 1:7b 

"Fools despise wisdom and instruction"

I've been a Christian since I was 7 years old.  I was brought up in a bible believing church, attended Sunday school, youth meetings, prayer meetings, weekend socials, church camp, and even taught Sunday school to pre-schoolers.

You'd think I'd have a great grasp of the Word of God, wouldn't you?  Well, I certainly thought so.  I did well in the Quizzes, the Sunday School exams, I read "the manual" of my church as a teenager, I kept a diary of my daily devotions and prayer times, I highlighted passages in my bible, stuffed it full of "holy" bookmarks and was thrilled when it started to  fall apart because that meant it had seen a great deal of use and I must be a pretty good Christian as a result.

I coasted along nicely until I met someone who started to say things that challenged my core beliefs.  The things that the bible definitely told me.  I read it.  It was in there.  I don't know where, but it was in there.  How dare they say such things when I knew better.  How dare they be so sure THEY were right when it was obvious I was right and they were wrong?  And anyway, they'd only been saved 5 minutes. 

"Did you know it wasn't actually an apple in the garden of Eden that Eve took?  The bible doesn't say it was an apple".

"Do you know the sinner's prayer is not biblical at all?  You won't find anyone mentioning it in the bible".

"Do you know that repentance means to "change your mind"?

What?  Of course it was an apple!  It's right there in Genesis!  We were taught all about the forbidden fruit and it was an apple!  And what do you mean the sinner's prayer isn't in the bible? How else are we supposed to ask Jesus into our heart? What do you mean that's another phrase that's man made?  And I'm good with words. I KNOW Repentance means to say you're sorry.  So there.  Go back and rethink your position. 

Such simple things I'd picked up and believed without questioning; things I'd taken for granted for most of my adult life.  What an eye opener to actually realise I had been wrong all this time.  Pass me a shovel for this humble pie I have to eat. 

No one likes to be proved wrong, especially in an area they see themselves as an expert.  And especially NOT by someone who is a newbie to the whole Christianity thing and has barely started his walk with God. 

It sparked more of a hunger for the Word of God.  The true, unadulterated, actual, unambiguous Word, to understand more.  Where else had I been wrong?  I needed to put it right and not carry on down the path of blind assumption.

God has been gracious in opening my eyes to things I hadn't noticed before.  Small things perhaps, but things that are exciting to learn about.  Bigger things too.  Things that matter. 

So after I got over being humiliated by that man, and having to rethink some pretty basic things, I did the only thing I could do.  I married him!

Sometimes we are quick to shut someone down because of our own arrogance and pride.  Especially if that person has a colourful past.  Maybe we look at their lives and see the sin they have been delivered from, and lord it over them.  Maybe we don't want to take advice from someone like that.  We operate on a "what do they know?" mentality. 

What right do we have?  Can't God use broken and dirty vessels once he's taken them, fixed them, and given them a purpose?  Of course He can.  He makes all things beautiful in His time.  Some of us take longer than others.  I'm just grateful for a Godly husband to make this journey with me.  We may be imperfect but we are His and He's at work in us. 

BUT I DON'T WANT TO!

I’m going through a phase in life just now where everything is fluid and nothing is stable any more.  Sure, there are some constants, like my eyes are still brown and my husband still loves me, but other things are topsy-turvy and these instabilities could trigger panic attacks if I dwell on them for too long.

 

People would say “Just relax, trust in God.  He knows what He’s doing. He’s got this.  All things work together for good.  For He knows the plans he has for you.  He’s not going to leave you destitute.  Accept His will for your life.”  Here’s the thing.  Some days I don’t want to.  Some days my mind races so fast trying to churn out solutions that I can’t keep up with it. And the scary thing is, there are no solutions.  At least, not any that I can manufacture. That’s part of the problem.  I like to be in control.  To fix things.  To find the solution.  I’ve always been this way.  I was an independent child, wanting to do things myself, and I became an independent, self-sufficient adult not used to relying on anyone except myself.    I’d say that circumstances meant I had to be that way, and while that’s true, it’s also me trying to justify less than admirable qualities in myself.

 

The thing is, scripture is not a bag of pick n mix, where I can choose the bits I want to live by, and ignore the rest of it.  It’s suitably equipped to advise me in every aspect of my life.  For every choice, every behaviour, every situation and every relationship.  It’s easy for me to pretend “do not be anxious about anything” is a nice saying, rather than a God-given command.  It’s easy to think that peace is something we don’t really attain in this life.  That worrying is actually ok.  But let’s be straight with ourselves, that is not what God’s word tells us.  It’s as plain as the nose on my face (and that’s pretty plain, believe me) whether I try to ignore it or not.  Me sticking my head in the sand doesn’t change the facts. 

 

Philippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” 

 

Matthew 6:34 says “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

 

Philippians 4:19 encourages us by telling us  “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

 

And finally, Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

 

I have to ask for His help in not being anxious, or worrying, and in truly trusting His way.  It’s worth noting that the Lord will make your paths straight when you submit all your ways to Him.  That’s conditional.  It’s a promise with an action required on our part.  If we’re lacking God’s blessing in that area of our life, perhaps we need to re-examine if we’re honouring him as we should. 

We are also told that He will meet all our needs.  Not our wants.  Not our wish lists. Not like some magic genie.  Our needs are quite simple.  Perhaps that’s the bit I’m rebelling against.  Could I really cope with a very simple and frugal life if that’s the path He leads me down?

 

And what about that peace mentioned in Isaiah?  Is it evading me because my mind isn’t steadfastly fixed on Him?  Yep, that’s very likely. It’s fixed on a hundred other things vying for attention in my busy mind.  Where is my focus?  It’s still on the external things I am still trying to fix.  It’s on the “What Ifs” in my life.  Those things I really don’t have any control over.

 

So I have 2 choices.  I can give myself a nervous breakdown by continuing to contradict scripture and do it all myself, or I can let it go, hand it over to the Creator of the universe and everything in it, and breathe easy, because He is capable and I am not.

 

May we find the humility to say “Thy Will Be Done” and to mean it sincerely, because whatever comes, he will give us the strength to face it, and will bring new mercies every morning in spite of us being so undeserving of his mercy and grace.

 

So, I will take a deep breath, and be confident that He holds the future in the palm of His hand, even though  our bank balance continues to dangerously dwindle until suitable employment is found again for my other half.  The “what ifs” of that situation are terrifying, and would seriously rattle me if I give into them. 

               

But I don’t want to.

 

Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.