Why we are not at peace:

Found this testimony googling from a former atheist, Marilyn Adamson:

I didn't realize that the reason the topic of God weighed so heavily on my mind, was because God was pressing the issue. I have come to find out that God wants to be known. He created us with the intention that we would know him. He has surrounded us with evidence of himself and he keeps the question of his existence squarely before us. It was as if I couldn't escape thinking about the possibility of God. In fact, the day I chose to acknowledge God's existence, my prayer began with, "Ok, you win..." It might be that the underlying reason atheists are bothered by people believing in God is because God is actively pursuing them. (ref: http://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html)

And yet there is a point where God will honour your choice to rebel against him and His weighing abates. However God is always there and you are always completely surrounded by His presence through all things created and God is always there until the end always waiting for you to acknowledge Him.

For those that have acknowledged and accepted His way of salvation (not yours) then:

John 14:V27 - I am leaving you with a gift—Peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Seek the real peace.

Peaceful Zealots

Christians love to be reminded especially at Christmas of the words "Prince of Peace" and "Zeal" used in the verses below:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6-7‬ NIV)

Of Christians purpose our aim should be to become a Peaceful Zealot for Christ!!

Enjoy the Christmas Festivities and we hope to see you at All-Souls to share it with us too.

　

Cussing “Jesus Christ!!”

Never could understand the bad wrap Jesus Christ gets when people use his name in cussing...

Whatever we think or believe of Him we cannot ignore his Great Commandment “Love one Another” hardly worth cussing over!! Maybe it's because we often confuse acts carried out by others in His name that are not in accordance with His commandment to be those of His, well of course they are not His, they are acts of humans!

So when people use the name Jesus Christ for cussing (or an exclamation!) Christians will often cringe as they love the name Jesus Christ and will always be saddened when it’s used in any other context other than in love/reverence. For Christians Acts 4:12: "for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" This is Jesus Christ and He means everything to them.

 

Happy!

The world seems obsessed with being happy :)

Mindfulness, at Peace, Connected, Content, Zenned and whatever the latest buzz craze is!!

It also seems the more affluent the country is, the greater this obsession...

The Apostle Paul did it tough at times (he was executed in the end!) after a life of plenty, he knew the extremes and shared this little gem:

Philippians 4:12  “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want”

Christians try to keep in mind that this world is imperfect and the perfection in heaven aside God is yet to come. We have a lot to look forward to as Christians and in the meantime we try to be content with our lot in life, ultimately these times will soon pass, we have an eternal 'Happy' focus...

We of Free Will...

Lord, you never force us to believe in you.

                         You don’t make us praise you.

                         You won’t command us to love you.

                         But instead, you invite us to come.

 

In our heart of hearts at some point we all know there is a Creator God - the world is no fluke.

 

God is God, the almightiest being that can do with his creations as he well pleases - its not about us, even if we think it is - as we his creations are always within God's power even though he created his creations with their own free-will.

 

God invites, in fact God longs for us to acknowledge him in all this - then we of free will become truly free.

 

The letter is "I" ...

Two Sundays back Leonie gave a terric message at our families service... just one of her key points is really worth repeating here:


The letter " I " - is in the center of 'sin'

So if we think about it....


Sin is:

Loving things and Using people

Where Love is:

Loving people and Using things


Pretty simple stuff isnt it? But it is this type of catchy reminder that really sticks... guess which group of folk are in the happier camp?

Thanks Leonie :)



　

Our Own Serenity

The following came through on a daily feed from somewhere:


"Serenity does not expect or demand love from others but thinks of new ways to offer love even
 to those who seem unloving.

It opens as we let go of trying to become something and begin to savour being someone.

Serenity is the courage to let go, to open up, to be"


Often we are caught up trying to be something for someone or being something else for ourselves.

This can dictate who and how we associate with different people yet these biases will ultimately hold back our own serenity in who we are.

One of my favourite sayings to correct the untruth that creeps in is to say:

"All Souls are Equal" (a nice little plug for our church as well) it brings the ego back and with it the serenity of being exactly who we are and just as God made us.