Wednesday, May 28, 2014

May we never.

Think we are worth only as much as the world's opinion of us

Feel we are not tall, not thin, not shapely enough

Forget that we are made in God's image

Psalm 139:13-15

New King James Version (NKJV)
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[a]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.


http://www.wired.com/2014/03/artist-studio-miniatures/
-you think this is meticulous? now multiply that by infinity!

Monday, May 26, 2014

What not to do.

1 Samuel 30

This tells the story of how David and his men came home from a Philistine campaign, where they were miraculously saved from having to fight against their former countrymen, only to find their women and children and livestock raided and taken by the Amalekites.

What a change of events, from one extreme of relief, jubilation and praising God and His favour, to come to despair, anger and looking for someone to blame.

"So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep." v4

"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was biter in spirit because of his sons and daughters." v6

There have been many times in my life where I've come into a situation with almost no preface, no foreword or warning, no preamble or introduction; just something so out of context with what has gone before - and I've been pressed for a response.

Sometimes its at work, sometimes its from a relationship, sometimes its just out of the blue; something happens, and the world seems to teeter on the brink just momentarily while I'm searching for an appropriate thing to say or do.

The response says it all. Culture dictates our response, to a certain extent - some being more expressive than others, some showing more restraint. Upbringing and peer effect/pressure does as well; we watch and learn and copy what our elders and friends would do in certain situations. A modicum comes from our previous experiences as well - if we've been in that situation before we might respond in a very different way.

"But David found strength in the Lord his God." v6b

At a time when others might have vigorously defended themselves, when they might have tried to play the blame game, when others might have cursed and lamented their woes, wallowed in self-pity or stormed off to cool down in a haughty manner, David went to God, the one who gave him the strength to fight lions, who gave him the sensitivity to pluck the strings that calmed an angry king, who warned him to flee angry murderers and in whose Name he struck down a giant.

He worshipped. "Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, 'Bring me the ephod.'" v7

And because of that, David's men pursued, overtook and recovered all and more.


May I stop to listen to God instead of reacting to the world around me.
May I worship when the world begs for my attention.