Hide and seek

I love it when kids play hide and seek, thinking, they are actually hiding, even when we know where they are. The funny part is that they hide in the most obvious places. Hide and seek is really a child's play.

My girls get so excited when dad comes home, they often run and hide behind the curtains, doors, under the stairs. Same old places we know they will be, but places they believe or think they can't be found... I like the fun of hide and seek, the thrill when we find them and the let’s do it again.

We also play hide and seek as adults, often when we've done something we aren't proud of, we go away and refuse to communicate with whoever it is we have wronged. Or when we are wronged, we may hide from those who have wronged us.  

 Hide and seek is no fun when a wrongful act is involved, there's no thrill when the one you've wronged is looking for you. Maybe it's a friend you've wronged or a friend who has wronged you, either way someone hides and does not want to be found. 

Hide and seek started in the garden of Eden, when man did wrong and the Lord of the garden came calling. They heard His voice and ran away, they knew they had done wrong and did not want to be found. 

They hid because they were ashamed, they couldn’t stand and defend themselves since they no reason for their action, they wanted to be left alone. To sulk and deal with the consequences later. They did not want to be found; I think they knew he would find them but went hiding anyway. 

He knew what they had done, he also knew where they were hiding. Unlike the hide and seek kids play, this was no fun, there was no thrill or delightful squeals at being found. They wanted to be left alone to hide in shame. 

 It was no thrill to the Lord of the garden either, how would you feel if you found out that your kids had done something you told them not to do, and are now in hiding from you as a result. As a human being, I would be annoyed, not only did they disobeyed me, but couldn't even face up to me. 

I think God was grieved at their disobedience as well. 

He knew sin had driven them into hiding and he came looking and wanted to restore them to himself, despite their sin. 

  

Since that day at the garden, the Lord has tried every way possible to restore man to fellowship and sweet communion with himself. 

He tried the bloods of bulls and cows, priests acted as mediators, sacrifices were offered and burnt offerings were brought, nothing was enough, until he came and gave himself. He came to where man was

hiding and brought him out. 

He took us by the hand and led us to safety 

He made him better, he was not angry at man but wanted to restore fellowship 

His birth was his entry 

His death was the death of man's sin

His resurrection was man's rebirth. 

Love was the reason, relationship and restoration the result. Assurance of forgiveness guarantee. 

Are you still hiding from him? Look to his birth and beyond to his death, then to his resurrection 

You are free. 

He's already found you

He calls out to you, not angry, but with love, for him, there's no thrill in the sin which drove man to hide, the thrill was the restoration his resurrection brought, man was His again. 

This is Love, true unexplainable love... 

Happy Valentine's Day

Religious habits

We are creatures of habits and routine, habits are formed from years of being and doing. This makes change difficult, because once we become use to our ways of being... A different way becomes a threat to our existence.

This is also true of being a Christian, we are use to a particular style of worship, praise, people, songs, and prayer. When we are faced with change, we resist, or even become very critical of whatever is different from what we know.

After moving houses a few years ago, I realised that my then fab church was indeed too far for me and I would prefer something closer home, no more than 10 mins drive from my house. In my search for a new church, I visited several churches near our new home. I was surprised at the different style each one had. 

I continued to attend my old church on occasions, but continued to visit some local churches  as I was now expecting my first child.

I found my current church while out walking one day. Although a big difference from my then current church, I felt at home straightaway. 

This was a world apart from what I was used to? But I felt comfortable and decided to give it a go. I stayed because I love the different style, it was easy without being ridged, it was simple, without being pushy, each Sunday was different. I found myself looking forward to the services.

The worship, praise, preaching, method of delivery was different but it was the word of God. 

It was a struggle at first, but I quickly adjusted to this new style of worship and opened myself up to being blessed. My decision was confirmed when my kids came along. As they too were accepted and we now have our very own grandpa Ray. 

So it was with understanding I encouraged a friend who recently relocated, to consider other worship centres, rather than travel miles and miles just to worship with the church she was familiar with. It would have been alright if she was happy with this arrangement, but she wasn't. Her contention was she feels she can't fit in and get use to something else.

We are not called to be familiar but to enjoy fellowship with other believers. Not to be comfortable but to comfort others with the comfort we have received.

To not like the method but to love the brethren, because we are one body with different members.

To not be like them, but to be part of a vision that further the message of the cross. 

Are you struggling to find a place to settle. Start were you are and truly look beyond method or style of worship. Do you feel love and welcome where you are? Then fellowship there in spirit and in truth. 

Seek to be what you look for in a place, a place that loves, that cares, that gives, that encourages, that welcomes and inspire, teaches and build. A place that does not give preferential treatments, or belittles any one. A place where friendship forms the bond of unity. 

After all, who is the church? You and me. 

As David said "O how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity". 

Do not worship at a place because that's what you have always done? Worship there, because God dwells amongst you and inhabits the praises of His people. 

That's all that matters. 

Are your habits stopping you from truly fellowshipping with other believers? 

Prayerfully ask God to break down every barrier which holds you from being part of the wilder body of Christ...And to give you the liberty to worship freely. 

For God seeks those who will worship him in spirit and in Truth, not out of religious

New Reslove

Do not begin the year with the same old habit, dreams and wishes.

I believe the reason we are given News, whether that be weeks, months and years is for us to start over, 

To replace old habits with new ones, 

To improve on past performances, 

To Dare to succeed in new ventures, 

To desire to be better human beings,

To aspire to new heights 

To gain new territories 

To master new skills

And to attempt new feats

To make new friends 

And to rebuild and mend broken relationships worth fixing

To resolve to dream big,

To venture to take risk and to renew your faith where it faltered 

To leap without fear of failing 

To venture knowing that no venture, no gain

To put the past behind and embrace newness with hope

To look behind without regrets and look ahead with boldness of mind

A new year to see yourself achieving and succeeding at becoming all you are born to be, and attaining heights previously dreamt of. 

Let This be the year you dive deeper with God. Commit to reading God's word more than ever before. 

Let Him be your daily guide, your compass for 2016, the instruction manual for each endeavour. 

What's it going to be this year? 

A new you with determination and zeal 

Or same old same old

The choice is yours 

Happy New Year