"There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (NIV)
Tonight, after a long day and night's work, myself and several other people had the pleasure of rude and crude interruption of our silence by a few girls completely drunk. While one lie flat on the ground looking at up at her friend, another loudly proclaimed her state of want for company (to put it politely) as she talked on the phone. Needless to say, no one at the bus stop was really appreciative of any insight gained.
As much as I was annoyed because this was not what I wanted to be listening to, I was at once struck with sadness because these girls thought they were free!
Rebellion is a state that I think leads us, the more we are bound by the chains of our lifestyle, our passions, desires and ultimately sins, to believe that we are bound by nothing. Have you ever heard someone say that they don't want to hear the opinions of anyone else because they are free to make their own decisions - well, you are witnessing the hardening of sin and crusting on someone's heart as they further attempt to convince themselves that what binds them is their freedom!
This is not just the case with those who get drunk, commit adultery - but with every one and every sin. We are all sinners! But the power of God covers all sin through Christ Jesus.
Sin is a chain and as with any work we do for our boss, it has a wage - death! Not something that brings freedom or independence! It does not make us cool or 'in', no matter what people around us scream out in the way they act, talk, dress...
The great news is that we dont have to stay bound - we can choose life :) So choose it and live it :) My only hope in this life is that I might do some justice to the gospel by accepting it wholeheartedly. All the sin and rebellion that I have had is on the cross, even that which I will have before I die and go to heaven. "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12 (NIV)
At the end of thinking all these things my heart just pained for those girls - they thought they were free and they didn't realize how bound they truly are!!!
God bless
Teneke Newport
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Submission and Security in Christ
Isn't it amazing how God does work within us so gently and compassionately! He knows us very well and in his own and our own time he brings us to a point of submission to Him.
Personally, I have been coming up to situations which I have, in the past, been a great stumbling block. But where these struggles were once so blandished before me in my relationship with God and others, in a now similar situation, they are almost minimal, if not non-existent. The only way I can explain that this has happened is through God's spirit. In a time when I was so broken that submission to God and his word was the only thing I could and would do, He was working within me and bringing my focus onto what is so great and brilliant and wonderful - Him. In the meantime he has freed me of so many chains almost without my realizing it! Isn't he wonderful!!! Praise God is all I can think to say.
Just an encouragement for people, something that I have and am learning is that although sometimes we get bogged down thinking we are so terrible, and it is true since we are the cause of Christ going to the cross, we should submit all our fears, failings and everything to God and he will turn our heart to a position where we can see what is good and it is all in Him. :) Our life, everything we consider good about ourselves needs to be in Christ, because all other pride sets itself against Christ.
I pray that we can learn how to give over more and more of ourselves both to God and those we love, without reservation or fear. This is something that I am coming up against at the moment, but as long as my hope is in Christ I am sure there is absolutely nothing to fear :)
Love you all :)
Teneke
Personally, I have been coming up to situations which I have, in the past, been a great stumbling block. But where these struggles were once so blandished before me in my relationship with God and others, in a now similar situation, they are almost minimal, if not non-existent. The only way I can explain that this has happened is through God's spirit. In a time when I was so broken that submission to God and his word was the only thing I could and would do, He was working within me and bringing my focus onto what is so great and brilliant and wonderful - Him. In the meantime he has freed me of so many chains almost without my realizing it! Isn't he wonderful!!! Praise God is all I can think to say.
Just an encouragement for people, something that I have and am learning is that although sometimes we get bogged down thinking we are so terrible, and it is true since we are the cause of Christ going to the cross, we should submit all our fears, failings and everything to God and he will turn our heart to a position where we can see what is good and it is all in Him. :) Our life, everything we consider good about ourselves needs to be in Christ, because all other pride sets itself against Christ.
I pray that we can learn how to give over more and more of ourselves both to God and those we love, without reservation or fear. This is something that I am coming up against at the moment, but as long as my hope is in Christ I am sure there is absolutely nothing to fear :)
Love you all :)
Teneke
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
God's faithfulness
Dear all,
This is my first post on this blog and I would really love to give you all a brief introduction to myself. Firstly, I cannot explain who I am omitting God, I hope it becomes evident throughout my writing that my life and His work cannot be separated! He is so amazing, that is the most eloquent way of saying how incredibly blessed I feel overall in my life.
In terms of background, I am a highly sociable person, I love people, talking, writing, music etc... the list goes on. Basically I love to love everything, anything, anyone and get a kick out of seeing joy everywhere. That may sound odd but I dont think there is much point in being so downbeat about life. I am probably one prone to downtimes as well, but these are an area of life that somehow God strengthens us and gives us new and deeper understandings of His mercy and grace.
I just want to pose a question to all reading this... If God is amazing and powerful and awesome and we constantly tell ourselves this and other people, why do we not do anything? Why do we not share with our workmates? Our school friends? Even our best friends?!!!
This is something I am currently thinking through.... I have just finished watching Evan Almighty and oh my gosh! What a MOVIE!!! It really got me thinking about how amazing God is, and even has been in my own life. We have our own ideas and plans about what we are going to do... God just laughs and I imagine he says something along the lines of "I don't think so buddy" or "we'll see about that".
My prayer is that we will all become so engrossed in God that we will care little or none about what people think of us and pronounce the gospel loudly and boldly, without fear of reproach! This is serious business, life and death! And yes! people WILL mock us! They will jeer and laugh at us and call us crazy, brainwashed, deadbeats, in need of a crutch, etc... but what are these things in light of eternity! They are cheap distractions and jokes!
Let's wake up together :)
God bless all and I hope that my written thoughts will be fruitful and spoken as the Lord would wish them and please correct me at any stage if you feel I have said something inappropriate or incorrect.
your sister in Christ,
Teneke Newport
This is my first post on this blog and I would really love to give you all a brief introduction to myself. Firstly, I cannot explain who I am omitting God, I hope it becomes evident throughout my writing that my life and His work cannot be separated! He is so amazing, that is the most eloquent way of saying how incredibly blessed I feel overall in my life.
In terms of background, I am a highly sociable person, I love people, talking, writing, music etc... the list goes on. Basically I love to love everything, anything, anyone and get a kick out of seeing joy everywhere. That may sound odd but I dont think there is much point in being so downbeat about life. I am probably one prone to downtimes as well, but these are an area of life that somehow God strengthens us and gives us new and deeper understandings of His mercy and grace.
I just want to pose a question to all reading this... If God is amazing and powerful and awesome and we constantly tell ourselves this and other people, why do we not do anything? Why do we not share with our workmates? Our school friends? Even our best friends?!!!
This is something I am currently thinking through.... I have just finished watching Evan Almighty and oh my gosh! What a MOVIE!!! It really got me thinking about how amazing God is, and even has been in my own life. We have our own ideas and plans about what we are going to do... God just laughs and I imagine he says something along the lines of "I don't think so buddy" or "we'll see about that".
My prayer is that we will all become so engrossed in God that we will care little or none about what people think of us and pronounce the gospel loudly and boldly, without fear of reproach! This is serious business, life and death! And yes! people WILL mock us! They will jeer and laugh at us and call us crazy, brainwashed, deadbeats, in need of a crutch, etc... but what are these things in light of eternity! They are cheap distractions and jokes!
Let's wake up together :)
God bless all and I hope that my written thoughts will be fruitful and spoken as the Lord would wish them and please correct me at any stage if you feel I have said something inappropriate or incorrect.
your sister in Christ,
Teneke Newport
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