Decisions, part 1

From the very first minute of a day when we wake up we decide things. When to get up. What to wear. What to do next. What to fix for lunch. Where to go, where to stay. Whom we meet. What we do when all the daily duties are checked off our list (if we have a list...), what book we read or which show we watch. When we go to bed. Who we chose to be our friends. What job we apply for. Who we marry. This list goes on and on and on.

If we want to live as Christians, we certainly decide some things differently. Our only desire should be to do what God wants us to do. But how can we know what God wants from us in so many specific situations during the day or on an even greater basis?
Over and over again I hear people say it doesn't really matter. We can do whatever we want to do as long as we take responsibility for our actions and God, as a good father, is watching us from a distance enjoying whatever we are doing.

One of the most dangerous quotes in my eyes I read yesterday again while surfing the internet for a certain quote is from John Eldredge. He says something like: "because Jesus died on the cross, he saved us and restored mankind so we can live our glory - as we were meant to be". (quote) I must admit, when I read another book from him a couple years ago this idea he promotes very often sounded great to my ears! I am special! I am someone!! And now I can live MY GLORY!!! Thank you Jesus!!!!
Revolutionary thought!

Last Sunday I watched a sermon about the coronation of two men that and who couldn't be any different. The coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte on one hand. Please read here to see how glorious it was.
An on the other hand - have a guess - the coronation of Jesus Christ, which is, can you believe it, His crucifixion.
What happened during these two ceremonies? The first one did all to have HIS GLORY shine and people, no, the whole world throughout history see it. The second one did not only give up all and died, he did it in the most horrible and shameful manner. For the whole world throughout history to see it.
Old man: self-confidence, self-esteem, self-respect, self-WHATEVER (aka flesh) on its highest
versus
old man: self-confidence, self-esteem, self-respect, self-WHATEVER (aka flesh) being killed.
Someone who wanted to live out his own glory
versus
Someone who never did something for His Glory or out of His own decision but "became obedient unto death" (Phil. 2:8) and did not one thing out of Himself (John 5:19).

Can one really assume that Jesus died the most horrible death so that MY GLORY can shine afterwards? I don't think so.

Interesting is, after I had listened to this lesson last Sunday, I read something about Abraham two days later. Abraham wanted to have a son. To have kids or not is a decision to take for many couples. Especially today we can plan and control even birth. But wait! If you look closer, it was not really a decision for Abraham, was it? Sara just didn't get pregnant! For ages! And this, although God had already agreed to Abraham's plan to have a son. Or wait! Maybe it was God's plan for Abraham to have not only a son but ISAAK...? And Abraham decided to have a son, but the result was ISHMAEL. Some would say, it doesn't matter. It's a son anyway.

Did you know that when Abraham had Ishmael God remained silent for 13 years (Genesis 16:16 - 17:1)? Did you know from the time that Ishmael was born there was no peace in Abraham's home and he didn't even care about it? In fact, he prayed "Oh that Ishmael might live before thee" (Genesis 17:18).

So what is the difference between Ishmael and Isaak? And what does that mean for us on a daily basis? I will continue in a following post.

Time

There's this saying.
Everyone has the same amount of time. It just depends on what every single one makes out of it.


I admit. Sometimes I am wasting my time.


But something really bothers me and every time I overhear or spot it, it makes my heart ache. Maybe it is "holier-than-thou", arrogant, fundamentalist?


I can't help it: people who are reading books/watching movies that glorify witchcraft like "Harry Potter" are not only wasting their God given time, they worship God's enemy.


Take some time to think about it...

Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? (...) Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:
"I'll live in them, move into them; I'll be their God and they'll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good," says God.
"Don't link up with those who will pollute you.
I want you all for myself.
I'll be a Father to you;
you'll be sons and daughters to me."

2 Cor. 6:15ff

post scriptum:
Jim encouraged me to add verse 14: Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war.and - as this was The Message translation - I will add a probably more familiar one:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

New Year, new things

I am excited about this new year! More than the years before. And it already started different. Not as splendid as my sister's (new-hubby-job), but I love those little ones as well. So I started January 1st in PJ's, all day long - haven't done that for years. Sunday (new as well) I decided what kind of cake I wanted in a café just by passing the cake bar (usually I can't decide and it takes MINUTES!). Yesterday, Sandy showed me that "perfect day" coffee bar that has probably best coffee in town AND she found me the perfect warm winter jacket at peek & cloppenburg.

Oh and this one is the best! Since over a year I try to have my quiet time right when I wake up but especially during winter time I too often fall kinda asleep again. It's dark and cold and bed is so snugly... well, you probably know what I am talking about. During the last weekend I really racked my brain (and asked the Father for an insight) how I could change it and TADA, suddenly it was there - so bright, clear and easy I am stunned (and annoyed that this didn't appear sooner):

I have to get up early to feed the cats anyway, they always put up such a fuss unless I give them their breakfast... So I get up at 5 a.m (or 5.30 this morning) and when I go into the kitchen to get the cat food, I turn the heating on. Then, while the cats are eating, I take a shower and dress up and prepare everything so that I easily can leave to get the bus to go to work. When preparations are done, I go back into the kitchen, wich is warm and cosy by that time, sit down at my big kitchen table, set up my kitchen timer (about 20 minutes) so that I wouldn't miss the bus and start reading. It works! I don't fall asleep anymore and I get the most benefit out of it! I finally found my "holy place" even if it's only a kitchen table...

Seek More of God for Himself alone

I struggled with many questions during the last weeks and it almost drove me crazy. Yesterday evening when we met with our "Tuesday-Night-Bible-Team" I kinda freaked out when we came to discuss that God only listens to serious prayer and I said, how much more "serious" do I have to be I already feel like it's killing me! - and then I read this today:

Or despiseth thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth the to repentance? Romans 2:4

Why should a man write and distribute a tract instructing us on "How to Pray So God Will Send You the Money You Need"?
Any of us who have experienced a life and ministry of faith can tell how the Lord met our needs. Surely we believe that God can send money to His believing children - but it becomes a pretty cheap thing to get excited about the money and fail to give the glory to Him who is the Giver!
So, many are busy "using" God. Use God to get a job! Use God to give us safety! Use God to give us peace of mind! Use God to obtain success in business! Use God to provide heaven at last!
Brethren, we ought to learn - and learn it very soon - that it is much better to have God first and have God Himself even if we have only a thin dime than to have all the riches and all the influence in the world and not have God with it!
Jon Wesley believed that men ought to seek God alone because He is love. I think in our day we are in need of such an admonition as:"Seek more of God, and seek Him for Himself alone!"
If we become serious-minded about this, we would soon discover that all of the gifts of God come along with the knowledge and the presence of God Himself.

from "Renewed Day By Day" by A. W. Tozer
 ----
Lord, thank you for putting me back on track. Show me how to really find EVERYTHING only in YOU.

the enemy is doing a great job

there are so many thoughts cruising my brain and I don't know if I will be able to put the feelings that I have about it into correct words but I try.

basically it starts with the question: why am I one of the few who are privileged to be able to understand the concept of life? O yes, I know, to say something like that in our post modern world, it is arrogant and probably will be soon declared discriminatory because I say there is no other way to see the whole thing.
Well, of course you can see it differently. In these days everything is allowed, you can define your world the way you want to see it and do whatever you want as long as "it makes you happy" and no one else is harmed or at least not so much harmed.

Fact is, I had so many conversations with people recently, who are proud of being "modern" and able to do things the way "it makes them happy" no matter what and they fight for their right to be happy. Although in todays world you don't have to fight so much for what they are standing for, because today, it is cool for example to be homosexual. (but if someone dares to say homosexuality is not normal it is - again - discriminatory.) So why are they still - sometimes aggressivley - proclaiming their rights? They are already doing "what makes them happy", but you can almost smell it: deep inside they are not. I could list a lot more things like "take whatever you want, as long as it makes you happy" or "sleep with whoever you want if it makes you happy" or "leave me alone, I am having a nervous breakdown" when they realize this "happy feeling" didn't last. That's why I sum those "happy-makers" up by calling it sin.

WHAT??? don't you dare! sin is UNCOOL. And of course it is a religious invention/concept/fiction. Religion was always used to make you feel bad and guilty about things you have a right to do. It cuts down your self.

But why are those who live out their needs so extremely unhappy and distressed when you look underneath their happy surface?
And why do only a few realize, that as soon that they admit they are lost and (yes I dare to say it) sinners, something changes, the healing begins and the real happiness moves in? A happiness that is not dependent on the outer circumstances?

The enemy said to Eve, hey, eat that fruit because it is so beautiful to look at and so sweet; it will make you happy and you will be as wise as God. Eve did and she lost paradise.
And the enemy is still doing a great job.
A whole generation today is eating the fruit because it's so beautiful to look at and so sweet to eat. And they think they are as wise as God. [Excuse me? God?? What God? I am God!]
And they lost paradise.
Why are there only so few who can see the connection?
It breaks my heart - especially when I talk to those who I love. They reject the only thing that would make them happy, from deep inside, everlasting.

Heaven's jubilant

After a long time of praying, waiting and crying my sister is now my real sister, she got baptized last Monday! I am still overwhelmed. Finally all she knows about christianity (and she know a lot, believe me, our mom is a great teacher) she is starting to put things into action. She's like a skyrocket!
As many countries and an ocean are seperating us, I asked her today if she would be interested in sharing our bible readings on a blog and here it is: 2 sisters and 1 bible (it is still under construction, though)
If you like that and maybe want to be one of our sisters as well, let us know and we will authorize you to be a contributor.

old truth - still valid

and never needed more than today!

let's talk about sex

One hour ago I checked Chrischs blog and in between I listened to one of the sermons he's mentioning there. I hope he's not mad with me that I picked up his thread because I really wished everyone reading this would take some time and listen to that sermon. It's so powerful.
Thank you, Chrisch, for sharing!

here I am

How can I please God?

A couple of weeks ago I started to read a book that is really close to be the bone. That is also why it takes me weeks to read - sometimes I have to put it aside and think about it or even pray that God shows me what it really means. But He is so wonderful - when I ask Him to show me what I don't understand he teaches me during life happens (which is not always the easiest way to learn something...). But it is worth it and today I just want to share something I - still - struggle a bit with. And that is the question "How can I please God?"

In the recent past I was so focused to "be a good girl, do the right things, work for the Lord " etc. that I was really struck when the author (click the picture on the left) clearly said, we will never be able to please God.
We are so used to the concept to make people happy by doing the right thing (it starts with our parents who we want to be proud of us) that I transferred that concept to my relationship with God.

Yes, I know: All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Romans 3:12). That is why Jesus had to come and die on the cross. That is why we have to be redeemed, that's why we have to be reborn. That's why we have to be baptized into His death. The "old person" has to die, period. But it is so much easier to agree when it comes to obviously bad things like killing someone or lying or just bad habits we need to get rid of and we as christians easily want to let it go.
But what about "the honorable" things?
The "old person" is able to be friendly, to love, to do good things as well (ok, probably more when everything goes well because it is not so easy to stay friendly when someone hurts me) - but yes, we can be good and caring somehow. Otherwise we had no humanitarian groups or actions on this earth.
But God sees the source of all of it and so it can't please him, even if it is good in our eyes.

So, am I willing to give also "the good things" into His death? My talents, my accomplishments, my efforts?
This is probably the secret that will make me be able to say: For to me to live is Christ... (Philippians 1:21) and that is the only way God will be pleased: When he can see His beloved son living and acting in me.

---
3 days later:
My problem was to realize again, that we, as human beings, will never be able to please our Holy God and so "earn" His love.
He loves us anyway and all the time. The "good works" are only expressions of our faith and not something to impress God. And nothing we are supposed to rely on or to be proud of. And nothing that will ever please Him.

Jesus in me has to become greater while I become less (Joh 3:30) and that's the only way to please God.

European Singles Retreat, April 2007

This afternoon I came back from the Spring ESS and there is a lot to post what I will do here the next few days. For today I only want to tell the theme: "Matching up your Life and Faith" and we heard and talked about how important it is to live authentic.

It works best if we strive for what is right in Gods eyes.
Trying to put this idea into practice it was our task (at one station of "the station game") saturday afternoon to create a poem based on Philippians 4 verse 8:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

So here I present what I made of that:

Brothers and sisters I want you to put,

all things in your mind that are true and good.

Keep to your thoughts what is worthy of praise,

and with things that are honorable fill your days.

If you stay in the ways that are pure and right

the Lord will help you to win the fight.