"[God is] a God of grace. Remember that, my friend, and trust in His Word, not in your faith. When you trust in His Word, He will honour your faith."
I have read this amazing quote in Kay Athur's book Lord, I need Grace to Make It. It has shed so much light on the nature of faith and also of prayer. I find that often when I pray for something, I wonder whether I have enough faith for God to answer my prayer. Do I even have the mustard seed-faith of which Jesus speaks? An example is when I have planned an outdoor meeting and it might look like it is going to rain. I ask God to keep it from raining, but doubt whether my faith is strong enough to see the prayer through.
This quote, however, has shed light on what I must have faith in when I pray. I mustn't have faith in the amount of faith I have before a prayer is answered. No, I must have faith in God's Word. God's Word says the following on prayer:
Joh 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
And:
Joh 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
This is what Jesus says and we can believe it, because it is God's Word. Knowing that I do not have to rely on my amount of faith has given me much peace. My faith is changing from day to day; it is fickle. But God's Word is a rock; it is unchangeable, sure and absolute. The end result is also that we have nothing to boast in. When God answers my prayer, I sometimes think it is because I have such faith. Then I steal the glory from God. But now I see that by having faith (which He gives by His grace in anyway) in His Word, I boast in His Word and His character.
Love in Christ,
Rosa
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
You will always hear
You could lose your life,
and I will give you more life than you could lose;
You could lose your eyes,
and you will see me as I am;
You could lose your hands,
and I will always hold your hand;
You could lose your feet,
and I will show you how to walk and never fall;
You could lose your ears,
and you will always hear My Voice.
These are the lyrics to a song by Robert Evans. Isn't it beautiful? The music is available for free at http://www.scripturesongs.net/.
Love in the One who will give us all things,
Rosa
and I will give you more life than you could lose;
You could lose your eyes,
and you will see me as I am;
You could lose your hands,
and I will always hold your hand;
You could lose your feet,
and I will show you how to walk and never fall;
You could lose your ears,
and you will always hear My Voice.
These are the lyrics to a song by Robert Evans. Isn't it beautiful? The music is available for free at http://www.scripturesongs.net/.
Love in the One who will give us all things,
Rosa
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Rom 7:24-25 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Yesterday I wrote about the importance of obedience in the seemingly unimportant moments in order to train ourselves for those moments when it really counts. Well, the very same day I experienced it as a reality.
I had an appointment with my midwife at two. I was five minutes late, but she was 45minutes late. It was quite a trial not to demand my rights, but to rest in God's sovereignity and control over my time and not to discredit my witness. The Lord gave me victory. When we finally started chatting and she asked me whether I have been taking my tissue salts, which she has told me to do so that I could absorb more iron, I did the most stupid thing ever: I told a lie and said I did. Let me explain. It is not that I make a habit of making a habit of lying in private and was therefore untrained for this crucial moment. It was that I had been negligent in doing what she asked of me. The Lord has been convicting me about it and I have been ignoring Him. At the same time it was a result of fear of man which clearly proves to be a snare (Pro 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe). I had been cherishing sin in my heart and had done the very thing I did not want to do: I discredited my testimony and the Name of my Father. How could I now speak to her about Him? It has been my heart's desire to be able to testify to her and in one moment I had compromised my witness and her chance of eternal life. At the same time, I did it before my son. Luckily he is too young to understand, but imagine the damage if he could understand. I felt truly ashamed at my action.
Wretched [woman] that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! How sweet is the knowledge of His forgiveness and grace. In one moment I have failed my Father, Lord and Saviour. But in one moment, if [I] confess my sins, he is faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1John1:9). How thankful am I for God's grace!
I am writing this to you in order to show you two things:
1. That while we have a standard for our children that we must hold to, we must remember that they, just as us, will fail often. There would then be negative consequences, but we must be patient and gracious when they fail over and over again. God is so patient with us. He discipline us, but He also forgives us when we confess. He forgives us in such a way that He remembers our sin no more:
Jer 31:34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
2. That you might learn from me and not sin in the same way as I have, and by doing so, discredit the Father's name, your witness and your example to your child(ren)
The Lord has shown me a way that the situation can be redeemed. I phoned my midwife today and apologised for having lied (she realised immediately and told me so, because I was lying like a little girl to her mother) and for not doing what she tells me to do. She just laughed and said I mustn't worry, but I know in my heart that it was a very important thing to do. One thing is for sure: I'll think twice before lying next time, because it is much harder to apologise than to tell the truth.
Love in our Rock and Redeemer!
Rosa
I had an appointment with my midwife at two. I was five minutes late, but she was 45minutes late. It was quite a trial not to demand my rights, but to rest in God's sovereignity and control over my time and not to discredit my witness. The Lord gave me victory. When we finally started chatting and she asked me whether I have been taking my tissue salts, which she has told me to do so that I could absorb more iron, I did the most stupid thing ever: I told a lie and said I did. Let me explain. It is not that I make a habit of making a habit of lying in private and was therefore untrained for this crucial moment. It was that I had been negligent in doing what she asked of me. The Lord has been convicting me about it and I have been ignoring Him. At the same time it was a result of fear of man which clearly proves to be a snare (Pro 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe). I had been cherishing sin in my heart and had done the very thing I did not want to do: I discredited my testimony and the Name of my Father. How could I now speak to her about Him? It has been my heart's desire to be able to testify to her and in one moment I had compromised my witness and her chance of eternal life. At the same time, I did it before my son. Luckily he is too young to understand, but imagine the damage if he could understand. I felt truly ashamed at my action.
Wretched [woman] that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! How sweet is the knowledge of His forgiveness and grace. In one moment I have failed my Father, Lord and Saviour. But in one moment, if [I] confess my sins, he is faithful and just to forgive me my sins and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1John1:9). How thankful am I for God's grace!
I am writing this to you in order to show you two things:
1. That while we have a standard for our children that we must hold to, we must remember that they, just as us, will fail often. There would then be negative consequences, but we must be patient and gracious when they fail over and over again. God is so patient with us. He discipline us, but He also forgives us when we confess. He forgives us in such a way that He remembers our sin no more:
Jer 31:34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
2. That you might learn from me and not sin in the same way as I have, and by doing so, discredit the Father's name, your witness and your example to your child(ren)
The Lord has shown me a way that the situation can be redeemed. I phoned my midwife today and apologised for having lied (she realised immediately and told me so, because I was lying like a little girl to her mother) and for not doing what she tells me to do. She just laughed and said I mustn't worry, but I know in my heart that it was a very important thing to do. One thing is for sure: I'll think twice before lying next time, because it is much harder to apologise than to tell the truth.
Love in our Rock and Redeemer!
Rosa
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
1 Cor 9: 27 – But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Today, the Holy Spirit seized on a moment to teach me a wonderful and very important thing. I have come to a stage where I want to define more clearly my standards for Simeon’s (my son) obedience to me, because just as God did not move His standard of holiness in the garden of Eden, and still doesn’t, I do not want to move my standard for Simeon, seeing that I am a representative of God’s authority.
I was thinking about what I want the standard to be and whether for example I want my son to listen to me the first time I speak or command something. It seems almost too much to expect of a 16month old, and it is hard work and needs a focused mother. Then I realized that everyday situations which may seem innocent when he doesn’t listen the first time, are actually just the training ground for when it will really matter. If Simeon trains (or is trained) to listen the first time when I say “stop”, I would not have to wonder whether he would do the same when he is about to run into the street. Or when I teach Simeon each day that he must not touch something when I say so, then I wouldn’t have to worry when he is close to a fire or a braai, that he would touch it if I say he shouldn’t.
When considering the matters of being a parent, I often think of how God relates to us as His children. In every situation we must train ourselves to be obedient, even when it seems like no one is watching, because these seemingly innocuous situations are the training ground for situations where it is of extreme importance to be obedient (Note: it is always extremely important to be obedient to God, because of who HE IS). For example, when we are in front of other believers, we can easily discredit our witness and much worse, bring dishonour to our Father’s name, if we are not trained in obedience. Another example is when I have to submit to my husband in front of others, I will find it difficult if I do not train myself in every moment at home. I could then dishonour him, the opposite of what a wise, loving and respecting wife would do.
Now I understand what Paul means when he says:
1Co 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
1Co 9:25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Co 9:26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
1Co 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
He also writes in 1 Tim4 verse 7:
Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Now I understand why it is so important to train myself in godliness and obedience in the strength of the Lord. I will sometimes fail, and then I praise God for his all-sufficient grace to cover all my sin and failures. Because of my love for my father I will strive to do this so that in every situation I might bring the honour due to His name.
Aren’t we blessed as mothers to have children; a relationship in which we can learn so much from for our own walk with our Father. May we all be encourage and motivated to train our children so that one day they will understand the importance of obeying their heavenly Father in each and every situation.
Love,
Rosa
I was thinking about what I want the standard to be and whether for example I want my son to listen to me the first time I speak or command something. It seems almost too much to expect of a 16month old, and it is hard work and needs a focused mother. Then I realized that everyday situations which may seem innocent when he doesn’t listen the first time, are actually just the training ground for when it will really matter. If Simeon trains (or is trained) to listen the first time when I say “stop”, I would not have to wonder whether he would do the same when he is about to run into the street. Or when I teach Simeon each day that he must not touch something when I say so, then I wouldn’t have to worry when he is close to a fire or a braai, that he would touch it if I say he shouldn’t.
When considering the matters of being a parent, I often think of how God relates to us as His children. In every situation we must train ourselves to be obedient, even when it seems like no one is watching, because these seemingly innocuous situations are the training ground for situations where it is of extreme importance to be obedient (Note: it is always extremely important to be obedient to God, because of who HE IS). For example, when we are in front of other believers, we can easily discredit our witness and much worse, bring dishonour to our Father’s name, if we are not trained in obedience. Another example is when I have to submit to my husband in front of others, I will find it difficult if I do not train myself in every moment at home. I could then dishonour him, the opposite of what a wise, loving and respecting wife would do.
Now I understand what Paul means when he says:
1Co 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
1Co 9:25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Co 9:26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.
1Co 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
He also writes in 1 Tim4 verse 7:
Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Now I understand why it is so important to train myself in godliness and obedience in the strength of the Lord. I will sometimes fail, and then I praise God for his all-sufficient grace to cover all my sin and failures. Because of my love for my father I will strive to do this so that in every situation I might bring the honour due to His name.
Aren’t we blessed as mothers to have children; a relationship in which we can learn so much from for our own walk with our Father. May we all be encourage and motivated to train our children so that one day they will understand the importance of obeying their heavenly Father in each and every situation.
Love,
Rosa
Friday, March 6, 2009
What a consolation!
2Co 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
