Saturday, October 3, 2009
Could all the arrogant Christians please exit stage left????
Sorry I was going to blog, then realised I was a tad arrogant sometimes, and therefore had to exit, stage left.......
Sunday, September 13, 2009
What now??
Well after the last post it got the grey matter going into overdrive. What does God want for me??? Quite honestly it scares me to death, but with morbid fascination I still long to know. I think that it doesn't matter so much What I do, but how I do what I do. Trust in the lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight Proverbs 3:5-6. So quite honestly I believe I should do whatever it is that I am doing for His Glory. Good, but I was disappointed honestly and then I was shocked. I have blogged that God is not the fairy floss, genie, magic maker and I really really believe it - and yet my pride grows again and says "God answer me with a big bill board giving me the definitive outline and plan for my life!" Ugh! God might want me to wipe dirty bottoms, clean gooey noses and to pray with my boys every night.
I am full of pride. I want to do something for God, anything - but let it be public so everyone can see. I have blogged that I am a hypocrite, it isn't anything new people, and here it is right in your face (and mine). So now God I will serve you with myself. Then self pity steps in, larger than life - He wont send me (and maybe I am to lazy to move too) I am hopeless I have nothing to give. What am I? A self obsessed woman with pride and hypocrisy issues, who is insecure and sometimes cannot get over herself. God could never use me - can you hear the violin??
Woe is me blah blah blah.
I have just read today about a woman who went to China in the 1930's because she believed God was sending her, and she was a lady who went into service working as a maid in someones house. God funded the trip through savings and hard work, and when she got there she started an inn and cleaned mules. God used her obedience and even her failings to reach people. She was motivated by a love of God and a desire to serve Him implicitly.
Now I have 2 children and a husband and can't go off to China on a whim, my circumstances decree otherwise. But she was knocked back so many times and really was very uneducated when she began, and yet God used her, and not immediately either. God will use me and is using me just not in the way I thought He should (yeah I know giving God advice again!) So now I hear the word "Obedience. Be obedient". I hear and know it and still want to chuck the mother and father of all tantrums! What about what I want??? I want to do something for YOU God!!! and the answer I receive and keep getting is "glorify me in your life, and glorify me in your marriage" in other words make your life about me instead of yourself. So now I am learning obedience, patience and thankfulness.
God is in control, and not Dini, (thanks God!), and my soul really aches to do something for God, but I am learning that I am doing something for God, just not the big show people, the hard boring, dirty everyday stuff. Not glamorous at all. So right now I will love my children and teach them about the God, Yaweh, who I know and love, I will love my husband and let God teach me tonnes of stuff through him, and I will learn to love myself and while doing that I will learn self control, and I will seek to Glorify God in everything I do, I will trust in Him and He will direct my path. When the next opportunity presents itself I will be more prepared and I believe He will have me ready for that part of the journey just as he has done before. A simple answer and we want to make it difficult, by wanting our own way and not seeking God.
Thanks God that you love us and me, and that you see all my failings and the horrible self seeking person I am and that you still love me. I feel so crushed sometimes and out of control, but You know all, and You alone made the universe, and You are in control. Thanks so much! Help me to do the little stuff for you so later I can be ready to do anything for you, even more little stuff - and to do it with joy and to do it to Glorify You alone. Love D.
I am full of pride. I want to do something for God, anything - but let it be public so everyone can see. I have blogged that I am a hypocrite, it isn't anything new people, and here it is right in your face (and mine). So now God I will serve you with myself. Then self pity steps in, larger than life - He wont send me (and maybe I am to lazy to move too) I am hopeless I have nothing to give. What am I? A self obsessed woman with pride and hypocrisy issues, who is insecure and sometimes cannot get over herself. God could never use me - can you hear the violin??
Woe is me blah blah blah.
I have just read today about a woman who went to China in the 1930's because she believed God was sending her, and she was a lady who went into service working as a maid in someones house. God funded the trip through savings and hard work, and when she got there she started an inn and cleaned mules. God used her obedience and even her failings to reach people. She was motivated by a love of God and a desire to serve Him implicitly.
Now I have 2 children and a husband and can't go off to China on a whim, my circumstances decree otherwise. But she was knocked back so many times and really was very uneducated when she began, and yet God used her, and not immediately either. God will use me and is using me just not in the way I thought He should (yeah I know giving God advice again!) So now I hear the word "Obedience. Be obedient". I hear and know it and still want to chuck the mother and father of all tantrums! What about what I want??? I want to do something for YOU God!!! and the answer I receive and keep getting is "glorify me in your life, and glorify me in your marriage" in other words make your life about me instead of yourself. So now I am learning obedience, patience and thankfulness.
God is in control, and not Dini, (thanks God!), and my soul really aches to do something for God, but I am learning that I am doing something for God, just not the big show people, the hard boring, dirty everyday stuff. Not glamorous at all. So right now I will love my children and teach them about the God, Yaweh, who I know and love, I will love my husband and let God teach me tonnes of stuff through him, and I will learn to love myself and while doing that I will learn self control, and I will seek to Glorify God in everything I do, I will trust in Him and He will direct my path. When the next opportunity presents itself I will be more prepared and I believe He will have me ready for that part of the journey just as he has done before. A simple answer and we want to make it difficult, by wanting our own way and not seeking God.
Thanks God that you love us and me, and that you see all my failings and the horrible self seeking person I am and that you still love me. I feel so crushed sometimes and out of control, but You know all, and You alone made the universe, and You are in control. Thanks so much! Help me to do the little stuff for you so later I can be ready to do anything for you, even more little stuff - and to do it with joy and to do it to Glorify You alone. Love D.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
What is God's will for Dini's Life?
So I have been blogging about searching for Gods will in your life, seeking it with everything you have and I have now been posed with this question. What is Gods will for Dini right now? So as the t shirt says lets make it all about me. Lets be real and search out what God wants for me right now. No hypothetical mumbo jumbo that I write and post into cyber space. Lets make it real, I need to now I have started writing this I am compelled to be honest and true to the nth degree.
Just a fraction of background so you know where I am coming from, I am a stay at home mother of two. And the nagging thought as my 4 yr old trundles to Kindy every day is WHAT NOW?? Next year he goes to School and endless days stretch before me. A friend suggested that going to work might be good for me, in that work will provide a source of satisfaction for me that you do not necissarily get from working in the home. It has provided me with a source of confusion and a desperate need to seek the Fathers will for my life. What is the next step? Is ensuring the family unit works well and smoothly the path for me, could it be hugely beneficial for all of them if I went back to work (as well as me?). Is it right to keep on keeping on without trying to find out where I am meant to be going?
How do I work out what Gods will is? I sat and thought about this, I have blogged that I think that I might be meant to rest now, which might be right, but I have no hard evidence, and feelings are fickle things, so I wont rely on them. So in the words of Mr Ed "Go right to the source and ask the horse!" Bring out your bibles people, I thought I could get a christian self help book, so many of them out there, not all bad either, but I thought I would go right to where its all originally written, then I can write my own findings here, and you can see me succede or fail spectacularly!
So this afternoon I wrote a list under a title called "What is God's will for my life??"
I have some points that just start the cogs working, I will put them down, they aren't difinitive because it is just the ramblings of me so take it as you find it, email me with suggestions, I will probably add to them, expand them and stretch them every way see if we can find an answer that makes sense, and hopefully be the answer given by God.
1. Glorify God in my life and Marriage.
2 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. And love your neighbour as yourself. (this poses a second question for me, how much do I really Love myself? )
3. Romans 12:2 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ( Romans is a cracker full of this kind of info. Going to read Romans again)
4. My Body is a temple of the Living God 1 Cor 6:19
5. When we serve others, we serve God Matthew 25:35-40
6. Mary and Martha with Jesus. One cooking and complaining the other listening and learning.
7. Ruth and Naomi; no definite indication from God as to what they should do, they stepped out in faith and obedience and God blessed them both.
8. Rahab was obedient, she still suffered, but after all the turmoil she was blessed
9. A friend said to me that it might be ok to do what makes your heart sing. Meaning God might actually want me to do something that makes me happy.
10. Obedience is better than sacrifice 1 Samuel 15:22
So I don't think this is a complete list, its the list I am starting with and I am going to read the Gospels and Romans again. I can't just blog crazily and not have it really really mean something, even if only a handful of people read it.
Ready to come on my adventure? Geepers who knows where we'll end up! Yeehaw!
Just a fraction of background so you know where I am coming from, I am a stay at home mother of two. And the nagging thought as my 4 yr old trundles to Kindy every day is WHAT NOW?? Next year he goes to School and endless days stretch before me. A friend suggested that going to work might be good for me, in that work will provide a source of satisfaction for me that you do not necissarily get from working in the home. It has provided me with a source of confusion and a desperate need to seek the Fathers will for my life. What is the next step? Is ensuring the family unit works well and smoothly the path for me, could it be hugely beneficial for all of them if I went back to work (as well as me?). Is it right to keep on keeping on without trying to find out where I am meant to be going?
How do I work out what Gods will is? I sat and thought about this, I have blogged that I think that I might be meant to rest now, which might be right, but I have no hard evidence, and feelings are fickle things, so I wont rely on them. So in the words of Mr Ed "Go right to the source and ask the horse!" Bring out your bibles people, I thought I could get a christian self help book, so many of them out there, not all bad either, but I thought I would go right to where its all originally written, then I can write my own findings here, and you can see me succede or fail spectacularly!
So this afternoon I wrote a list under a title called "What is God's will for my life??"
I have some points that just start the cogs working, I will put them down, they aren't difinitive because it is just the ramblings of me so take it as you find it, email me with suggestions, I will probably add to them, expand them and stretch them every way see if we can find an answer that makes sense, and hopefully be the answer given by God.
1. Glorify God in my life and Marriage.
2 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. And love your neighbour as yourself. (this poses a second question for me, how much do I really Love myself? )
3. Romans 12:2 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ( Romans is a cracker full of this kind of info. Going to read Romans again)
4. My Body is a temple of the Living God 1 Cor 6:19
5. When we serve others, we serve God Matthew 25:35-40
6. Mary and Martha with Jesus. One cooking and complaining the other listening and learning.
7. Ruth and Naomi; no definite indication from God as to what they should do, they stepped out in faith and obedience and God blessed them both.
8. Rahab was obedient, she still suffered, but after all the turmoil she was blessed
9. A friend said to me that it might be ok to do what makes your heart sing. Meaning God might actually want me to do something that makes me happy.
10. Obedience is better than sacrifice 1 Samuel 15:22
So I don't think this is a complete list, its the list I am starting with and I am going to read the Gospels and Romans again. I can't just blog crazily and not have it really really mean something, even if only a handful of people read it.
Ready to come on my adventure? Geepers who knows where we'll end up! Yeehaw!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Post script to last entry
I just want to clarify something about my last post. I do not want to encourage being a christian and doing NOTHING EVER. There is a story in the bible about the people with the talents, and the last person was scared to lose his talents and buried them, and did nothing with them. The master was not pleased with him when he returned, Matthew 25:14. God doesn't want us to sit on our buts and let the world serve us. He wants us to use the gifts we have to serve Him.
My last post was about accepting other Christians because of what you think they are doing for the church. We have to stop judging others and focus ourselves on God and do what HE wants us to do. So you still have to do stuff, it doesn't save you, only Christ on the cross does that, but God still wants us to use our gifts to Glorify Him.
The points I want to make are this
a) Focus on God and what He wants you to do
b) Stop looking at your neighbor and doing a tally sheet as to who is more Holy
c) Don't assume that a person is doing nothing, prayer is an important part of the health of the christian church
d) Don't shy away from the people who are having a hard time, maybe befriending them is the way God wants you to use your gifts
e) Most importantly Do Everything to bring Glory to God.
1 Samuel 12:20
20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
Luke 4:8
8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'b]">[b]"
Romans 15:5
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
My last post was about accepting other Christians because of what you think they are doing for the church. We have to stop judging others and focus ourselves on God and do what HE wants us to do. So you still have to do stuff, it doesn't save you, only Christ on the cross does that, but God still wants us to use our gifts to Glorify Him.
The points I want to make are this
a) Focus on God and what He wants you to do
b) Stop looking at your neighbor and doing a tally sheet as to who is more Holy
c) Don't assume that a person is doing nothing, prayer is an important part of the health of the christian church
d) Don't shy away from the people who are having a hard time, maybe befriending them is the way God wants you to use your gifts
e) Most importantly Do Everything to bring Glory to God.
1 Samuel 12:20
20 "Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
Luke 4:8
8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'b]">[b]"
Romans 15:5
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Being a worthwhile member of the Christian Church
What does it mean to be a worthwhile member of the christian church? What do you need to do to be accepted and incorporated? The bible teaches that we should be in fellowship with other christians, but the most important thing is to acknowledge that I am a sinner (ie I am not perfect like God and need His help with stuff day to day), Jesus died on a cross for me and payed my penalty so that God would see the perfect sacrifice that makes atonement for me and therefore I can be accepted by God as His child. Membership of the Christian Church applied for, accepted, move on in!
Churches are full of people and that is half the problem with them. We get our own ideas and have all our own problems and suddenly the beautiful creation that is meant to flourish under the watchful eye of God is running amok and creating its own rules and regulations twisted from the Biblical texts to say what they want it to say.
Have I fallen prey to this, in all honesty, probably. I am human, and in reality I do like to get my own way, no bones about it. And lets just say my current attendance record is looking pretty dim. If they existed, the truant church officer would have my name on the top of their list and they might be hunting me down.
But this leads to my next point. I have had depression for a long long time, to the point where recently I cannot and have not been able to participate in anything at church, let alone get there. So 8 months of not really attending anywhere. This has left me wondering "God what should I be doing at the moment?, what do you want me to Do? I want to be valuable and I want to serve you alone." I have no hard proof at the moment but I think that I am meant to be resting at the moment, caring for my family and not DOing anything in particular. (In reality there isn't much rest when you care for two small boys and a husband who works hard).
Suddenly you feel like you don't feature on a useful list anywhere, no use to anyone except your family, you aren't really attending or providing tithe so are you then not worthy? Do you not belong? If you commit a "Big" sin whatever you decide that is (God just has sin by the way, not big or small, just you aren't perfect, all bad is bad) are you no longer a christian? Do the normal lay people have the right to question the church and the way they go about their business? Suddenly you hit the Too Hard list, and you fall through the cracks. You don't need someone preaching forty thousand lectures to you, you need friends who love and care for you, and who aren't concerned necessarily with what you can DO for them. Maybe today you can't change instantly, maybe the lessons you are learning are hard and need ALOT of time to take root and to grow. Does it mean that you are less of a christian? NO! Are you less usefull, Not to God, not ever. To the church, maybe. Ouch that hurts doesn't it! Be realistic though, we all have the need for someone to DO something for us to be valued sometimes, and churches, as I stated before are full of people, just like us, exactly like us with problems and foibles just like mine.
One day I want to start a church that takes you no matter what. Can't clean on the roster this week, no problems. Severley depressed and can't get there this month, thats fine. Is your house untidy and you are just making the ends meet on life, cool come along! Where is the church that just says "be my friend, and I will be yours, and maybe we can help each other, but if we can't help each other physically, we can serve God and give Him Glory and we can do it together as friends"? There is great value in the person who prays for people from their house, so much value, we under-rate it. So many people are so Busy Doing stuff that they forget to consult the Father and His will for their lives.
Now tell me I am a sinner, I know it already anyway, but I am pretty sure God wants me to STOP doing stuff just for the sake of Doing it. Blasphemy!! Ok maybe blasphemy is a bit harsh, but it will irk the staid and solid workers in some churches. I think God wants me to care for my family at the moment, no singing, no creche, no cleaning roster, no craft. Rest. It even makes me question the reality of it. My psyche says DO Something, do everything and then people will love you and accept you. Are you doing stuff for that reason? Are you seeking the approval of the almighty church and its members instead of seeking the approval of the creator?
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Notice that romans does not suggest we seek the perfect will of the pastor, or church committee... This verse is also talking about stepping away from our worldly desires and seeking the desires of the Father. I think that worldly desires creep into the church fabric (as it will, none of us are perfect), and we start desiring that people DO instead of Be and we set a benchmark that will gradually get higher and higher, and we look at how much people DO, and DO for us. This is wrong. God may have my job as intercessory prayer for people. That is all. What are you going to see of that? If humility is a big part of your fabric, then you are probably not going to know about it, and God doesn't want us to throw a big party and say "OH LOOK I prayed all night for you, aren't i great??"
Matthew 6:6 (New International Version)
6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 7:21
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Now I have to be careful not to get on my own high horse. Churches will make mistakess and so do I. I don't want to judge or point out the faults to ensure you never enter a church again, or at all. I want to show you how you can make a difference in a church by taking time to seek the Father and His will for you and to accept it gracefully even if it means you aren't part of every committee and activity. Look at people and who they are, not what they can do for you. Show love and friendship to the people who seem hard to come along side of, who make you uncomfortable and are alot of work. So many people suffer so much that you can't see or know about, and will not willingly whinge about it to all and sundry looking for attention. They may have an iron wall up to keep you out to protect themselves because it is the only way they know how to survive. Hard is not Bad! Hard is just hard and alot of work, and it might make you uncomfortable. Uncomfortable isn't bad either, just doesn't conform to our "if it makes you feel good, do it!" philosophy.
Useful people in the church fabric are the ones who seek the Father and His will for their lives. They hunt it down, and pray constantly for it, they hunger and thirst for it. It isn't always the people who do the most who make the most difference.
It isn't to say that the people who do do stuff aren't in the will of God either. You can't Judge others, you have to look upwards and say Father lead ME today. Don't look over your shoulder at what everyone else is doing, Look to God, don't compare yourself to others, use Your life to Glorify God.
Jesus said this in Matthew 7:1
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
So in reading this I would suggest that we (including me) stop valuing people and churches by what they can do for us, what they are doing for the church, and what we think they are or are not doing. Concentrate on how you relate to God, seek Him and His righteousness, His plan for you. Thirst and Hunger for His Holy will in your life and nothing else. Don't look around at everyone else, we all have a mighty forest in our own eyes we need to deal with, and lots of us know it already! Concentrate on Him and seek His will for your life, not the churches, not the pastors, not the elders, No one but God. See where you end up, you might end up in exactly the right place, no where near where you thought you should be! As long as we seek Him He will direct our paths and that is the best and perfect map to be following.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. [a]
Churches are full of people and that is half the problem with them. We get our own ideas and have all our own problems and suddenly the beautiful creation that is meant to flourish under the watchful eye of God is running amok and creating its own rules and regulations twisted from the Biblical texts to say what they want it to say.
Have I fallen prey to this, in all honesty, probably. I am human, and in reality I do like to get my own way, no bones about it. And lets just say my current attendance record is looking pretty dim. If they existed, the truant church officer would have my name on the top of their list and they might be hunting me down.
But this leads to my next point. I have had depression for a long long time, to the point where recently I cannot and have not been able to participate in anything at church, let alone get there. So 8 months of not really attending anywhere. This has left me wondering "God what should I be doing at the moment?, what do you want me to Do? I want to be valuable and I want to serve you alone." I have no hard proof at the moment but I think that I am meant to be resting at the moment, caring for my family and not DOing anything in particular. (In reality there isn't much rest when you care for two small boys and a husband who works hard).
Suddenly you feel like you don't feature on a useful list anywhere, no use to anyone except your family, you aren't really attending or providing tithe so are you then not worthy? Do you not belong? If you commit a "Big" sin whatever you decide that is (God just has sin by the way, not big or small, just you aren't perfect, all bad is bad) are you no longer a christian? Do the normal lay people have the right to question the church and the way they go about their business? Suddenly you hit the Too Hard list, and you fall through the cracks. You don't need someone preaching forty thousand lectures to you, you need friends who love and care for you, and who aren't concerned necessarily with what you can DO for them. Maybe today you can't change instantly, maybe the lessons you are learning are hard and need ALOT of time to take root and to grow. Does it mean that you are less of a christian? NO! Are you less usefull, Not to God, not ever. To the church, maybe. Ouch that hurts doesn't it! Be realistic though, we all have the need for someone to DO something for us to be valued sometimes, and churches, as I stated before are full of people, just like us, exactly like us with problems and foibles just like mine.
One day I want to start a church that takes you no matter what. Can't clean on the roster this week, no problems. Severley depressed and can't get there this month, thats fine. Is your house untidy and you are just making the ends meet on life, cool come along! Where is the church that just says "be my friend, and I will be yours, and maybe we can help each other, but if we can't help each other physically, we can serve God and give Him Glory and we can do it together as friends"? There is great value in the person who prays for people from their house, so much value, we under-rate it. So many people are so Busy Doing stuff that they forget to consult the Father and His will for their lives.
Now tell me I am a sinner, I know it already anyway, but I am pretty sure God wants me to STOP doing stuff just for the sake of Doing it. Blasphemy!! Ok maybe blasphemy is a bit harsh, but it will irk the staid and solid workers in some churches. I think God wants me to care for my family at the moment, no singing, no creche, no cleaning roster, no craft. Rest. It even makes me question the reality of it. My psyche says DO Something, do everything and then people will love you and accept you. Are you doing stuff for that reason? Are you seeking the approval of the almighty church and its members instead of seeking the approval of the creator?
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Notice that romans does not suggest we seek the perfect will of the pastor, or church committee... This verse is also talking about stepping away from our worldly desires and seeking the desires of the Father. I think that worldly desires creep into the church fabric (as it will, none of us are perfect), and we start desiring that people DO instead of Be and we set a benchmark that will gradually get higher and higher, and we look at how much people DO, and DO for us. This is wrong. God may have my job as intercessory prayer for people. That is all. What are you going to see of that? If humility is a big part of your fabric, then you are probably not going to know about it, and God doesn't want us to throw a big party and say "OH LOOK I prayed all night for you, aren't i great??"
Matthew 6:6 (New International Version)
6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 7:21
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Now I have to be careful not to get on my own high horse. Churches will make mistakess and so do I. I don't want to judge or point out the faults to ensure you never enter a church again, or at all. I want to show you how you can make a difference in a church by taking time to seek the Father and His will for you and to accept it gracefully even if it means you aren't part of every committee and activity. Look at people and who they are, not what they can do for you. Show love and friendship to the people who seem hard to come along side of, who make you uncomfortable and are alot of work. So many people suffer so much that you can't see or know about, and will not willingly whinge about it to all and sundry looking for attention. They may have an iron wall up to keep you out to protect themselves because it is the only way they know how to survive. Hard is not Bad! Hard is just hard and alot of work, and it might make you uncomfortable. Uncomfortable isn't bad either, just doesn't conform to our "if it makes you feel good, do it!" philosophy.
Useful people in the church fabric are the ones who seek the Father and His will for their lives. They hunt it down, and pray constantly for it, they hunger and thirst for it. It isn't always the people who do the most who make the most difference.
It isn't to say that the people who do do stuff aren't in the will of God either. You can't Judge others, you have to look upwards and say Father lead ME today. Don't look over your shoulder at what everyone else is doing, Look to God, don't compare yourself to others, use Your life to Glorify God.
Jesus said this in Matthew 7:1
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
So in reading this I would suggest that we (including me) stop valuing people and churches by what they can do for us, what they are doing for the church, and what we think they are or are not doing. Concentrate on how you relate to God, seek Him and His righteousness, His plan for you. Thirst and Hunger for His Holy will in your life and nothing else. Don't look around at everyone else, we all have a mighty forest in our own eyes we need to deal with, and lots of us know it already! Concentrate on Him and seek His will for your life, not the churches, not the pastors, not the elders, No one but God. See where you end up, you might end up in exactly the right place, no where near where you thought you should be! As long as we seek Him He will direct our paths and that is the best and perfect map to be following.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight. [a]
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
If God is real, why is there suffering?
I was asked this week by someone, if God is real why did you get swine flu? My response was why not? Why is it that people attribute suffering to being punished by God? Or that God allows it to happen? Why also do people assume that God should protect everyone from any kind of suffering?
I don't find anywhere in the Bible that it says that because I believe in God that He will put up an impenetrable barrier to protect me from any kind of suffering. The bible says that suffering creates character, It does not say that God is a magic maker, or fairy floss kind of a deity. He is not a magic 8 ball that we can ask questions and have the right answer instantly. He is God.
People forget that if we really and truly believe that there is a supreme being who is perfect that maybe we will not understand why things happen. If you did understand why things happen, would you be able to stand it? Really all the responsibility, all the death, all the suffering and the answers to why people die, why some people don't suffer much at all and how it equates with eternity, how it balances right now? If you think you could handle it, good for you. I think my brain would explode, literally.
Ok so why do people die? Some people die young some very old some before they are born. How can this be right? innocent babies that haven't taken a breath yet? What is the purpose in it, is there any purpose in it? How can God allow it?
Have you considered what it would be like if no one died? Now for the people you love it would be wonderful, but what about people like Hitler, Genghis Khan, Mass murderers etc. Can we say that only bad people should die? How do you define bad then? Hitler thought he was doing the right thing and so did everyone who followed him. Many people who do "bad" things don't feel that they are doing wrong. Where do you draw the line? You can't necessarily go on feelings because they change so much and so quickly sometimes. I felt horrid yesterday and today I feel better, in 12 hours my mood has changed completely.
Eventually every one dies. This is life. You are born, you live, you get old and then you die, if you are lucky. I nearly died about 3 weeks ago. I had swine flu (I didn't know it at the time) and we went away to a remote area I got sick and went into respiratory failure. An epi pen saved me. Now I could say "Why me? this is crap it ruined my holiday, and now I am tired most of the time and have had trouble recouperating, why did you let this happen to me God?" But as I stated before God doesn't promise us that we won't suffer. Now if we can look at the bad stuff, the crappy horrible make your toes curl garbage that invariably happens to us some time or another and think, what can I learn from this? Or can I help someone else by using this experience? Sometimes people need empathy (comfort from someone who has been through a similar experience) not sympathy. If we didn't suffer would we be as effective getting along side those people who are suffering?
The other thing I want to put to you is this who are you that you can tell God how your life should be? I am a small human in the grand scheme of things (just see how big our sun is to see how small and insignificant we are - and thats not the biggest planet out there people) suddenly we think we know everything and should be able to tell God (remember the definition above - a supreme being who is perfect plus he made all that awesome massive twinkly stuff out there) how our lives should be going. EEk! Its like a child telling a parent they should be able to have chocolate all the time, too bad about the tooth decay, weight gain, lack of vitamins and minerals and fibre to help the body run. Exercise hurts but we have to do it to avoid heart attack and to have a healthy life.
I believe that God Loves me enough to know when to say no and stop. I also believe that he knows the plan for the world and for my life because I believe that if God is God, then he has to be a perfect supreme being. In being perfect that means I believe that He doesn't make mistakes - ever. Now your reeling. Suddenly we are back at the initial question if God loves us so much why does He allow suffering? Why does bad stuff happen? I don't always understand, actually I understand very little (just ask my husband when he is trying to explain a car engine to me) and in truth I don't want to. It is too much responsibility for me to handle.
Why did I get sick and nearly die? I don't know. Why did I live when others have died? I don't know. All I know is this I believe that God is in control, of everything. I also know that I don't want to be in control of everything, its too much to handle for me, and so it means I don't understand - and I don't think thats bad. I can say I am very grateful that it wasn't my kids or my neices or nephews, or my husband or sister or brother in law. I would much rather have it happen to me than them. I can't bear to think of how I would have coped if we had to do CPR on any of them, but in saying that if it had happened to them I believe that God is still in control and I would have learnt, coped and got on with the situation.
Its a pickle and it can mess your head up. If you don't believe in God then this is all irrelevant. If you are questioning God, I think thats good - I think that God thinks thats good aswell. Any communication is better than none! It isn't wrong to ask why and it isn't bad to question God. I know that God really and truly loves us so much that we don't understand it at all, it goes beyond our small brains (and even the larger brains among us) through His perfectness and absolute Deity. If you think God is bad, well that defeats the purpose of God doesn't it?
I myself would rather suffer some and learn. I want to have the capacity to help others, to have empathy for people in similar situations. I want to grow and become more like the God I believe in and have situations that make me hold tightly on to Him, to seek him out and ask him Why? It isn't fun, don't think I enjoy the suffering, its horrid and very often I think that i could live in a cave away from everything and everyone and my suffering would be limited extremely. However I do not, and I am thankful for a cup of tea, and a warm bed. I am also thankful I don't understand, I can wait for that. Suffering will happen, always has and always will. Use it as a situation to seek out God and His purpose for your life, to find the love that really and truly exists. Ask the ugly Hard questions, He can handle it, He is God. And despite what you may be thinking He really and truly loves you so much that He died for you on a cross. No other religion teaches that about any of their Deities. He knew we couldn't do it alone, and he loved us and made the sacrifice. Do you know that even if no one accepted His teaching He still would have done it? We all have the opportunity to come freely and be accepted and loved for exactly who we are right now. God made you and He doesn't make mistakes - ever!
Romans 5
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wea]">[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And web]">[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but wec]">[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I don't find anywhere in the Bible that it says that because I believe in God that He will put up an impenetrable barrier to protect me from any kind of suffering. The bible says that suffering creates character, It does not say that God is a magic maker, or fairy floss kind of a deity. He is not a magic 8 ball that we can ask questions and have the right answer instantly. He is God.
People forget that if we really and truly believe that there is a supreme being who is perfect that maybe we will not understand why things happen. If you did understand why things happen, would you be able to stand it? Really all the responsibility, all the death, all the suffering and the answers to why people die, why some people don't suffer much at all and how it equates with eternity, how it balances right now? If you think you could handle it, good for you. I think my brain would explode, literally.
Ok so why do people die? Some people die young some very old some before they are born. How can this be right? innocent babies that haven't taken a breath yet? What is the purpose in it, is there any purpose in it? How can God allow it?
Have you considered what it would be like if no one died? Now for the people you love it would be wonderful, but what about people like Hitler, Genghis Khan, Mass murderers etc. Can we say that only bad people should die? How do you define bad then? Hitler thought he was doing the right thing and so did everyone who followed him. Many people who do "bad" things don't feel that they are doing wrong. Where do you draw the line? You can't necessarily go on feelings because they change so much and so quickly sometimes. I felt horrid yesterday and today I feel better, in 12 hours my mood has changed completely.
Eventually every one dies. This is life. You are born, you live, you get old and then you die, if you are lucky. I nearly died about 3 weeks ago. I had swine flu (I didn't know it at the time) and we went away to a remote area I got sick and went into respiratory failure. An epi pen saved me. Now I could say "Why me? this is crap it ruined my holiday, and now I am tired most of the time and have had trouble recouperating, why did you let this happen to me God?" But as I stated before God doesn't promise us that we won't suffer. Now if we can look at the bad stuff, the crappy horrible make your toes curl garbage that invariably happens to us some time or another and think, what can I learn from this? Or can I help someone else by using this experience? Sometimes people need empathy (comfort from someone who has been through a similar experience) not sympathy. If we didn't suffer would we be as effective getting along side those people who are suffering?
The other thing I want to put to you is this who are you that you can tell God how your life should be? I am a small human in the grand scheme of things (just see how big our sun is to see how small and insignificant we are - and thats not the biggest planet out there people) suddenly we think we know everything and should be able to tell God (remember the definition above - a supreme being who is perfect plus he made all that awesome massive twinkly stuff out there) how our lives should be going. EEk! Its like a child telling a parent they should be able to have chocolate all the time, too bad about the tooth decay, weight gain, lack of vitamins and minerals and fibre to help the body run. Exercise hurts but we have to do it to avoid heart attack and to have a healthy life.
I believe that God Loves me enough to know when to say no and stop. I also believe that he knows the plan for the world and for my life because I believe that if God is God, then he has to be a perfect supreme being. In being perfect that means I believe that He doesn't make mistakes - ever. Now your reeling. Suddenly we are back at the initial question if God loves us so much why does He allow suffering? Why does bad stuff happen? I don't always understand, actually I understand very little (just ask my husband when he is trying to explain a car engine to me) and in truth I don't want to. It is too much responsibility for me to handle.
Why did I get sick and nearly die? I don't know. Why did I live when others have died? I don't know. All I know is this I believe that God is in control, of everything. I also know that I don't want to be in control of everything, its too much to handle for me, and so it means I don't understand - and I don't think thats bad. I can say I am very grateful that it wasn't my kids or my neices or nephews, or my husband or sister or brother in law. I would much rather have it happen to me than them. I can't bear to think of how I would have coped if we had to do CPR on any of them, but in saying that if it had happened to them I believe that God is still in control and I would have learnt, coped and got on with the situation.
Its a pickle and it can mess your head up. If you don't believe in God then this is all irrelevant. If you are questioning God, I think thats good - I think that God thinks thats good aswell. Any communication is better than none! It isn't wrong to ask why and it isn't bad to question God. I know that God really and truly loves us so much that we don't understand it at all, it goes beyond our small brains (and even the larger brains among us) through His perfectness and absolute Deity. If you think God is bad, well that defeats the purpose of God doesn't it?
I myself would rather suffer some and learn. I want to have the capacity to help others, to have empathy for people in similar situations. I want to grow and become more like the God I believe in and have situations that make me hold tightly on to Him, to seek him out and ask him Why? It isn't fun, don't think I enjoy the suffering, its horrid and very often I think that i could live in a cave away from everything and everyone and my suffering would be limited extremely. However I do not, and I am thankful for a cup of tea, and a warm bed. I am also thankful I don't understand, I can wait for that. Suffering will happen, always has and always will. Use it as a situation to seek out God and His purpose for your life, to find the love that really and truly exists. Ask the ugly Hard questions, He can handle it, He is God. And despite what you may be thinking He really and truly loves you so much that He died for you on a cross. No other religion teaches that about any of their Deities. He knew we couldn't do it alone, and he loved us and made the sacrifice. Do you know that even if no one accepted His teaching He still would have done it? We all have the opportunity to come freely and be accepted and loved for exactly who we are right now. God made you and He doesn't make mistakes - ever!
Romans 5
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wea]">[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And web]">[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but wec]">[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Communication
Communication is not one of my strengths. I don't think it has ever been. I need to think for a week before I speak (just so it makes sense) and if you talk to me about something, it may very well sink in a fortnight later. I will have been paying attention, I might have even been making mental or written notes at the time, I have to mentally digest stuff before it makes sense for me sometimes.
Given that, it makes life interesting for my husband, who is quick off the mark, and can often see future problems that might occur in a nanosecond and can plan to avoid them with as much efficiency.
Keeps us on our toes with our marriage too. Very often I will sit with a blank look on my face, nearly dribbling, because I am thinking about what he has said to me, and he thinks that I am ignoring him. Sometimes I haven't heard him, sometimes I am so tired that my brain has gone into power save mode, sometimes I am just rude.
The more I look at marriage and partnerships and relationships the more I realise that so often in life we think that it is all about ME. How do I feel, what do I want out of this, where is the Bang in it for me? Have you ever considered that in serving the other person (good grief here we go!) that you might actually do yourself a favour? Now I don't mean make your partner a roast while they bash you ok, if that is you, best to get out for your safety and for any kids around too (I know a Christian who thinks sometimes you should separate - Ye Gads!). BUT when you serve the other person in your relationship instead of seeking all the benefit for yourself, you will return a balance to the relationship. Giving is part of Loving. Sometimes it hurts, alot. Sometimes it doesn't feel justified or repayed in part, let alone in full. If you love someone then you will sacrifice for them (oohhh its nasty isn't it?) You may not be able to afford that beautiful embroidery machine you desperately want (need - ahem!), Ah or tonight you may have to do those dishes because tea was cooked so well....
When you give without adding strings, like "tonight don't worry about the dishes, the world wont stop" (and it doesn't, never has) when you give room to move to the other person, cut them some slack it fosters a want to serve you too. Now don't do this just so you can get something back, thats manipulation (and I reckon most times we can see when its being done to us, so just assume your partner is as clever as you or me and they can see that too). Do it because you have a regard for that person. Remember when you loved them at the beginning and you would do almost ANYTHING for them? When you relax, don't worry about what you will get out of it, and just do it for the other person, you leave room for the other person to reciprocate. Dont expect to get adulation from the crowd people, sometimes it comes in the form of holding your tongue and letting something go rather than turning the fact that he dumped his socks on the floor (Again!) into a homicidal rampage that consumes your whole evening. Yep its hard, never ever wanted you to think it was going to be easy. You never know though, after a while your partner might stop nagging you about something that drives them insane too.
Today you might have to refrain from trying to manipulate your partner so you can have what you want. Manipulation is insidious, and destroying to a relationship. It kills the reason for love, because the love is used against the person giving it, and will crush a heart. Domination is destroying, it allows no room for movement, it constricts and represses the individual. Very often these two creep into marriage very subtly.
Not telling your partner something is the same as lying. If you have a problem with your significant other, they would be the best one to talk to first, not last!
The main thing to remember is that the other person maybe driving you insane, it happens, but consider that you will drive that person nuts at other times. You can't avoid it, you aren't perfect - neither am I. I drive my husband nuts, I have mood swings and don't sleep enough, I have my own ideas that I am convinced are the ONLY way to do things. If I get a bee in my bonnet I will not listen to ANYTHING he has to say. I won't list all my faults but I want you to know I know this through personal experience. He in turn drives me nuts. For his sake I won't list the deeds here, but be assured sometimes I want to grab him and shake him and say "What on earth is going on in there??????" When I have one of those moments (they usually happen three or four at a time - for him too!) I remember all the crap he has put up with from me. Those times he was right (even makes me wince now saying it - there is some pride for you) and I have insisted on my own way, and it has all been wrong and we have wasted time, or money or both, or energy that could have been used for much much more useful things, and I hurt him, and what a waste that is. Or he has been right, I have known it and still tried to convince him and myself that he was really wrong. Here comes manipulation, and I can shout pretty good and like to give that a good belting around the house too, and there is Domination.
So where am I going with this? Good communication will strengthen a relationship as long as you are communicating with your partner and not bitching about them to everyone else. KNOW your own weaknesses and acknowledge them, and work a way around them. I just told Ash, I am not ignoring you (right now), it just takes a while for me to digest, I need to think for a while. Realise that they are not perfect, and acknowledge the fact that you aren't either. Know that relationships are not easy, it is not a B grade love story at the movies, it takes blood, sweat and tears, you may want to run them over a couple of times, or leave or scream or all of the above.
Know that sticking with it will enrich your relationship and working together and without an agenda for you will help no end. A partnership or relationship is about giving, and love is about giving, and not so much about recieving. Being involved with another person is about the "US" and not so much about the "ME".
Look at your significant other this week, ask yourself, could I be more gentle, more giving? Has this partnership become a way for me to take and not to give? If you decide to start giving (YAY you!) don't expect that you will have the angels descend and that the world will sing your praises, expect that it will be hard and that you may not see the results immediately. In my humble opinion (and I am a young snapper that has only been married 11 years) it will be worth it. You decided to stay with that person for a reason, and you are relatively intelligent right!, give it a go, and find what attracted you in the first place. Do something different this week, give a bit and don't attach the strings. You might be pleasantly surprised!
1 Corinthians 13
Given that, it makes life interesting for my husband, who is quick off the mark, and can often see future problems that might occur in a nanosecond and can plan to avoid them with as much efficiency.
Keeps us on our toes with our marriage too. Very often I will sit with a blank look on my face, nearly dribbling, because I am thinking about what he has said to me, and he thinks that I am ignoring him. Sometimes I haven't heard him, sometimes I am so tired that my brain has gone into power save mode, sometimes I am just rude.
The more I look at marriage and partnerships and relationships the more I realise that so often in life we think that it is all about ME. How do I feel, what do I want out of this, where is the Bang in it for me? Have you ever considered that in serving the other person (good grief here we go!) that you might actually do yourself a favour? Now I don't mean make your partner a roast while they bash you ok, if that is you, best to get out for your safety and for any kids around too (I know a Christian who thinks sometimes you should separate - Ye Gads!). BUT when you serve the other person in your relationship instead of seeking all the benefit for yourself, you will return a balance to the relationship. Giving is part of Loving. Sometimes it hurts, alot. Sometimes it doesn't feel justified or repayed in part, let alone in full. If you love someone then you will sacrifice for them (oohhh its nasty isn't it?) You may not be able to afford that beautiful embroidery machine you desperately want (need - ahem!), Ah or tonight you may have to do those dishes because tea was cooked so well....
When you give without adding strings, like "tonight don't worry about the dishes, the world wont stop" (and it doesn't, never has) when you give room to move to the other person, cut them some slack it fosters a want to serve you too. Now don't do this just so you can get something back, thats manipulation (and I reckon most times we can see when its being done to us, so just assume your partner is as clever as you or me and they can see that too). Do it because you have a regard for that person. Remember when you loved them at the beginning and you would do almost ANYTHING for them? When you relax, don't worry about what you will get out of it, and just do it for the other person, you leave room for the other person to reciprocate. Dont expect to get adulation from the crowd people, sometimes it comes in the form of holding your tongue and letting something go rather than turning the fact that he dumped his socks on the floor (Again!) into a homicidal rampage that consumes your whole evening. Yep its hard, never ever wanted you to think it was going to be easy. You never know though, after a while your partner might stop nagging you about something that drives them insane too.
Today you might have to refrain from trying to manipulate your partner so you can have what you want. Manipulation is insidious, and destroying to a relationship. It kills the reason for love, because the love is used against the person giving it, and will crush a heart. Domination is destroying, it allows no room for movement, it constricts and represses the individual. Very often these two creep into marriage very subtly.
Not telling your partner something is the same as lying. If you have a problem with your significant other, they would be the best one to talk to first, not last!
The main thing to remember is that the other person maybe driving you insane, it happens, but consider that you will drive that person nuts at other times. You can't avoid it, you aren't perfect - neither am I. I drive my husband nuts, I have mood swings and don't sleep enough, I have my own ideas that I am convinced are the ONLY way to do things. If I get a bee in my bonnet I will not listen to ANYTHING he has to say. I won't list all my faults but I want you to know I know this through personal experience. He in turn drives me nuts. For his sake I won't list the deeds here, but be assured sometimes I want to grab him and shake him and say "What on earth is going on in there??????" When I have one of those moments (they usually happen three or four at a time - for him too!) I remember all the crap he has put up with from me. Those times he was right (even makes me wince now saying it - there is some pride for you) and I have insisted on my own way, and it has all been wrong and we have wasted time, or money or both, or energy that could have been used for much much more useful things, and I hurt him, and what a waste that is. Or he has been right, I have known it and still tried to convince him and myself that he was really wrong. Here comes manipulation, and I can shout pretty good and like to give that a good belting around the house too, and there is Domination.
So where am I going with this? Good communication will strengthen a relationship as long as you are communicating with your partner and not bitching about them to everyone else. KNOW your own weaknesses and acknowledge them, and work a way around them. I just told Ash, I am not ignoring you (right now), it just takes a while for me to digest, I need to think for a while. Realise that they are not perfect, and acknowledge the fact that you aren't either. Know that relationships are not easy, it is not a B grade love story at the movies, it takes blood, sweat and tears, you may want to run them over a couple of times, or leave or scream or all of the above.
Know that sticking with it will enrich your relationship and working together and without an agenda for you will help no end. A partnership or relationship is about giving, and love is about giving, and not so much about recieving. Being involved with another person is about the "US" and not so much about the "ME".
Look at your significant other this week, ask yourself, could I be more gentle, more giving? Has this partnership become a way for me to take and not to give? If you decide to start giving (YAY you!) don't expect that you will have the angels descend and that the world will sing your praises, expect that it will be hard and that you may not see the results immediately. In my humble opinion (and I am a young snapper that has only been married 11 years) it will be worth it. You decided to stay with that person for a reason, and you are relatively intelligent right!, give it a go, and find what attracted you in the first place. Do something different this week, give a bit and don't attach the strings. You might be pleasantly surprised!
1 Corinthians 13
Love
1If I speak in the tonguesa]">[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,b]">[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
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