Blind Trust

In the Paralympics we can watch an amazing feat: totally blind skiers hurtling down slopes at highway speeds.    How can they achieve such a feat?

Visually impaired and totally blind skiers are guided by a sighted team mate who calls changes in direction and terrain changes, either by voice signals or by radio communication, but no physical contact is allowed during the race.

Identified

The guide must ski in front of a visually impaired skier but can ski either in front of or behind a totally blind skier.  They participate in both downhill speed events and slalom courses. This requires intensive team work.  It is not a matter of a skier and a guide, even though their jackets may identify them in this way.

It is a definite team work,
requiring total trust on the part of the skier
and total dependability on the part of the guide. 

Guiding is not an easy job. A guide has to be totally committed to the task, as a fraction of a second distraction could cause a serious accident for the blind skier.
The guide has to an expert, being able to ski faster and better, even at high speeds,
while at the same time concentrating 100% on his team mate.

As a Christian, I can relate to the blind skier. 
(Physically, that would be an impossibility,
but on a spiritual level, there are many similarities)

I AM BLIND
when I depend on my own thoughts, understanding, desires.

I HAVE A GUIDE
who is fully qualified, who is totally dependable,
who will never lead me astray, who will direct me without fail

I MUST FOLLOW
my Guide implicitly and follow His instructions
with no deviation

My Guide, of course, is the Holy Spirit. The Word of God promises me that He will guide me always, and in the 53 of my 75 years that I have known, loved and served my loving heavenly Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ, He has never failed – and indeed He cannot fail.

When we cannot see our way,
Let us trust and still obey;
He who bids us forward go
Cannot fail the way to show.

Be it ours, then, while we’re here,
Him to follow without fear;
While He calls us, there to go,
What He bids us, that to do.
(Thomas Kelly)

]]> http://meetingintheclouds.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/blind-trust/feed/ 1 meetingintheclouds Trust Trust 1 Divider http://meetingintheclouds.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/how-to-be-saved-by-your-good-looks/ http://meetingintheclouds.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/how-to-be-saved-by-your-good-looks/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:31:23 +0000 meetingintheclouds http://meetingintheclouds.wordpress.com/?p=882 Continue reading →]]> The good looking young man stood reading the billboard outside the Church. It declared:

“HOW TO BE SAVED BY YOUR GOOD LOOKS”

This sounded just right for him. This might be an easy religion to follow.

He listened as the preacher gave his first text:

“LOOK unto Me and be saved, for I am God and there is no other.” 
[Isaiah 45:22]

The young man listened as He heard of how the Lord Jesus, although He was totally sinless, was crucified, bearing the sin of which he was guilty. He heard how God the Father poured out His wrath on Jesus who willingly bore the penalty for his sin. He heard that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and he looked unto Him.

Then the preacher gave his second text:

“LOOKING unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith”
[Hebrews 12:2]

This time the young man saw a Risen Redeemer, able to save, able to keep, to preserve, to work IN a person to empower him to live a victorious life.

Then the preacher gave his third text:

“LOOKING for that blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.”
[Titus 2:13]

 So this young man was saved by his good looks:

At the Saviour, DYING for him;

At the Saviour, LIVING for him;

At the Saviour, COMING again for him.

For those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and do not have a relationship with God the Father . . .

There is life for a look at the crucified One:
There is life at this moment for you.

More details about God’s plan for your future can be found at

http://meetingintheclouds.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/the-human-fly-an-impossible-way/

Changed and changing

A poor peasant girl admired the statue of a maiden in a small park area in her town. The maiden had a beautiful face and a graceful figure clothed with a robe. The girl stood and admired the maiden, gazing into her face.

She went home and thoroughly washed her face and she brushed her hair until it was soft and falling in gentle waves about her shoulders. She went back to the statue again the next day and gazed again in awe at the beauty before her.  She went home and washed and mended her tattered clothes.  Day by day, as she gazed at the statue, she changed.  She walked back home with her head in the air, instead of slouching, hunched over, as usual.  She became more graceful and was transformed in her appearance and in her actions.

When I think back to the time before I knew Christ I see a completely different person to the one I am now. I see numerous changes over the years – not just changes brought about by age – but changes in my personality, my habits, my attitudes, my desires.

What brought about these changes?

Looking each day into the face of my Saviour; learning more and more about Him and about the way He has planned for me; reading His love-letter to me; learning to trust Him more and more; allowing Him to guide me, challenge me and correct me, and walking the road of life with Him – allowing Him to change me, for He alone is able.

Am I there yet? 

No way! But I have complete confidence that He will continue His work in me, perfecting me, until He is able to present me faultless before the throne.  [Philippians 1:6. Jude 24. Ephesians 5:27]

What can I do?

Of myself, nothing.  I cannot change me, but the more I gaze into His face, the more He will change me into His own likeness; the more He will conform me to His own image.  [Romans 8:29.  Ephesians 4:13]

 And one day He will present me FAULTLESS before the presence of His glory
Jude 24

WHAT AN AMAZING GOD!

#  However Christlike we may become, we are still in the process of ‘being changed’ ~ John Stott

#  The sum total of being a Christian is to become like the One we worship ~ anon

#  No Christian is where he ought to be spiritually until the beauty of Jesus is reproduced in his daily Christian life ~ A W Tozer

SOMEBODY should DO something!

One day he decided to get out of the bus and pick up some of the tin cans and other rubbish lying around. He was amazed at how different it looked after just seven minutes.
In fact, it was so improved that he packed a few work tools in his bus next day and actually looked forward to the turn-around point of his route.  He spent his 7 minutes a day clearing the area, and he became more excited about the improvements.

He cut snippings from his shrubs at home and cultivated them and transplanted them in “his” turn around area. He bought some more mature plants and also planted some flower seeds.

Within a few months many were riding to the end of the line just to see what he had accomplished by DOING something about the eyesore he had complained of before.

He only had 7 minutes at a time, but he made those minutes count.

What lessons can we learn from this bus driver?

Firstly, I think of all the “7 minutes” I have wasted. 
Maybe I can no longer do enormous tasks,
but I have many “7 minutes” which I could use to achieve some purpose
and bring help/joy/encouragement/benefit to others.

Then I think of the gap
which seems to exist in many Churches and individual Christians,
between preaching and practice:
between belief and action. 
Belief MUST take fruit in actions, or it is dead.

What do I complain about that *I* could do something about?

How many times do I say ’someone’ should do something,
when I am capable of doing it myself?

 Mr Anon says:

#  Wasting time is a kind of unarmed robbery

#  All time is lost that can be better used

#  Waste of time is the most extravagant and costly of all expenses

#  Use time for the things that outlast it

I have only just a minute -
Just sixty seconds in it:
Forced upon me – can’t refuse it;
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it.
I must suffer if I lose it,
Give account if I abuse it.
Just a tiny little minute -
But eternity is in it!

Reader Appreciation Award

This lovely award was created by Jennifer Avventura and I quote her reason for the award: “I’m giving an award to those who have made this past year of blogging worthwhile. You have kept me on my toes, left comments, advice and tons of encouragement. For this I am grateful. Thank you.”

I was nominated for this award by Paulette at pbus1.wordpress.com  It is so easy to write an appreciative comment on her blogs , because she truly inspires her readers.    If you know her you will agree with me. If you don’t know her,  a rich time of worship awaits you on her blog.

Here are the rules for this award:

1. Award your top 6 bloggers who have commented the most.
2. Be thankful.
3. You cannot award someone who has already been awarded. You cannot give the award back to me.
4. Don’t forget to tell the bloggers you’ve awarded.
5. If you don’t want to pass on this award, that’s okay too. Just admire it.

I have pleasure in awarding the Reader Appreciation Award to:

1.  Debbie at Deb’s Blog at http://iftodaywehear.wordpress.com/

2.  Rob Barkman at http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/

3.  Anne at Freedomborn – set free in life at http://freedomborn.wordpress.com/

I would love to grant these three the same award, but since they already have it, I will just say how much I appreciate them and express a hearty thank-you to them.

Paulette at http://pbus1.wordpress.com/about/

Reinventing the We’ll at http://jelillie.wordpress.com/

Ann at http://tonirand.wordpress.com/

Thank you for your support and encouragement! I appreciate your comments and enjoy giving praise to our great God together.  I appreciate your words of wisdom, encouragement and challenge. Thank you.

Lost appetite

As Tommy approached home after spending a fun afternoon at his friend’s house, the rich aroma met him. His mother had cooked roast turkey with all the trimmings and apple pie for dessert.  This was everyone’s favourite meal, and most of all, Tommy’s.  The house was abuzz with happiness as they prepared for a hearty meal.

Tommy sat through the meal hardly eating his most favourite foods. Instead of clearing his plate in short time as usual, he picked at a little of everything.

Why?

Tommy and his friend had been ‘snacking’ most of the afternoon – peanut butter sandwiches, potato crisps, chocolate biscuits, candies, soda pop – how could he eat anything more?

In settling for something he liked, he was unable to partake of the best.

How is it with our spiritual appetites?

Do we tend to feast on things we like,
such as watching TV, playing games, hobbies, pleasing self,
thereby losing the joy of our spiritual food?
Do we give so much attention and time to these things
that we have no (or little) time left for the important things?

Do we settle for less than the BEST?
(close communion with our Lord,
through His Word and prayer and obedience to His will)

Many places in Scripture liken the Christian life to being in a race.
In Hebrews 12:1 we are told to “lay aside every weight”
- to cast off and leave all that is not helpful in running the race.
These could even be ‘good’ things, but if they take the place of ‘the best’
- the spiritual food we need – they are to be forsaken.

Mr Anon says:

# Anything that comes between me and my God – ROBS God.
#  Anything that comes between me and my God – BECOMES my god.
#  He who offers God second place – offers Him NO place.

EVERYTHING is either a WING or a WEIGHT
Lord, reveal to me any ‘weights’ in my life which hinder my walk with You.
Help me to discard them so my life can be filled with YOU.

Why did Abbe Foure spend nearly 10 hours a day, every day, for 25 years, carving more than 300 figures out of a huge section of rock on the windy Brittany coast of France?

The statues and carvings were inspired by old tales of the Rotheneuf family, a 16th century tribe of fishermen, smugglers, pirates and outlaws.  Why did he spend the last third of his life chiselling craggy creations ‘rochers sculptés’ in the rocks, many with grotesque and bizarre faces, along with a few monsters?

NO ONE KNOWS

We do know Abbe Foure (1839-1910) suffered a stroke when he 30 and it left him paralysed on one side and almost without speech and hearing. He retreated to life as a hermit, living in the cliffs of Rotheneuf but no one knows why he undertook this task.

Many of the sculptures have been eroded, but photos of them are sold at the entrance to the site which is now a popular tourist site catering to thousands of visitors who flock to see the scores of remaining sculptures and carvings.

AS A CHRISTIAN I AM CHALLENGED.
There are human lives to be formed and fashioned as stones
in God’s living temple, the Church – the body of Christ.

That task is mine . . . and yours if you are a child of God.

That task demands my time and energy.

That task cannot be looked upon as a hobby
or as something to be done ‘when I feel like it’
or ‘when I have some spare time’

That task is paramount for the days are short.

We are commanded to “GO”

2 Timothy 4:2 (Amplified)
Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency,
be at hand and ready,
whether the opportunity seems to be favourable or unfavourable,
whether it is convenient or inconvenient,
you as a preacher of the Word
are to show people in what ways their lives are wrong;
convincing, rebuking and correcting;
warning and urging and encouraging them;
being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

Abbe Foure left more than 300 sculptures, carved in stone.

How many “stones” in God’s living temple will I leave?

The task is mine. It is a commission given to ALL of God’s children.

#  Privilege and responsibility are two sides of the same coin. [anon]

#  The great commission is not an option to be considered but a command to be obeyed. [Hudson Taylor]

The kangaroo is the most famous Australian animal, and is one of the most recognisable icons in the world, said to be second only to the Statue of Liberty.

Kangaroos have large, powerful hind legs, large feet adapted for leaping, and a long, large muscular tail for balance. Roos can be found in all parts of Australia, even in city outskirts.

The emu is the largest bird native to Australia. The flightless birds measure up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. They have long thin legs, allowing them to take strides of up to 275 centimetres (9.02 ft)  Emus can travel at a fast trot and can sprint at 50 km/h (31 mph) for long distances. The emu inhabits most of Australia but avoids heavily populated areas.

The kangaroo and emu have one unique feature in common:
THEY CANNOT MOVE BACKWARDS

The long, large tail of the kangaroo
prevents it from moving backwards
and the three-toed feet of the emu
causes imbalance in a backward movement.

Because of their inability to move backwards, they were an apt choice for the coat of arms of a new, young country, representing forward progression.

I AM CHALLENGED

We who follow the Lord Jesus should be like the emu and kangaroo,
moving only forwards.

Jesus said
“No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back,
is fit for the kingdom of God”
Luke 9:62

If we are “looking unto Jesus” [Hebs 12:2]
we are looking ahead, moving forwards.

If we are moving forwards
we are being used more in God’s service;
we are becoming more like Christ.

Someone said
“If you have EVER been closer to the Lord than you are at this moment,
you are a backslider.”

HOW IS OUR PROGRESS?
Are we more Christlike today than we were last year, last month, last week?
We should be.

Mr Anon says:

 #  If there is no fruit in my life, there is no reason for my existence.

#  The Lordship of Christ is neither optional nor negotiable.

#  Where Christ does not rule, sin does.

It was clear the food and water wouldn’t last long so he used the life jacket to catch rain water. He removed a wire from the torch and made a fish hook and used some hemp rope for the fishing line. He dug a nail out of the wooden raft and made a hook to catch larger fish.

He fashioned a knife from a biscuit tin to cut open the fish he caught. He dried the fish over a hemp line across the raft.  One day a large storm fouled his water and spoiled the fish.  Poon became very dehydrated and weak but managed to catch a bird and drank its blood to survive.

Knowing he needed to exercise, he swam most days tied to the raft. When he saw sharks he didn’t swim. He used scraps of a bird as bait, braided the line to make it stronger and protected his hands by wrapping them in canvas. He caught a small shark. Poon cut open the shark and drank its blood from its liver – the only fluid he had because it hadn’t rained for days. He cut slices from the shark and left them to dry.

Eventually, after 133 days in the raft,  in April 1943, Poon Lim neared land and three Brazilian fishermen rescued him. During his ordeal, Poon Lim had lost 9 kg [20 lbs] but was able to walk unaided when rescued.

Lessons for Christians from a Chinese sailor and his ordeal.

We live in a hostile world.
We wrestle against ‘principalities and powers’.
We live in constant danger.
We face storms in life.
We face ‘sharks’ that try to destroy our Christian witness.
The devil tries to rob us of our ‘food’ and ‘water’ and ‘exercise’.

But we are NOT defeated.

We are ‘more than conquerors’.
We are guaranteed victory over the devil and all his devices
when we allow our Lord His rightful place on the throne.
He will direct our thoughts and actions,
strengthen us and enable us to overcome.

But we have a responsibility.

We need to keep ourselves in spiritual trim.
We MUST take the nourishment of ‘food and water’:
God’s Word and obedience to His will.
We MUST exercise in prayer.
These are our lifeline, without which we are helpless.

Sometimes, as was Poon Lim, we might be isolated. How important at such times to have the Word safely stored in our minds and our hearts! 

Would I survive 133 days of isolation in danger? 
Certainly not without spiritual food, drink and exercise.

Genuine Blogger Award

Thank you Anne at http://freedomborn.wordpress.com/2012/02/02/genuine-blogger-award/ for giving me this award, which I accept, giving all the praise to my loving Father God.
It is only because of His work in me and through me that the word ‘genuine’ can be used in relation to me or my blogs.

Anne at Freedomborn (set free in life) posts regularly and is herself genuine in her desire to uplift her Saviour and to encourage fellow Christians in their daily walk with the Lord. She also likes to add a little fun and humour.

I would like to pass this award to a few ‘genuine’ bloggers:

Rob Barkman at http://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/
Rob is genuine in his desire to help us with detailed explanation of the principles of the Scriptures. Recently Rob also started a wonderful series of short devotions SIH’s Think On These Things 

Jelillie, Reinventing the We’ll at http://jelillie.wordpress.com/
Another genuine blogger who upholds the genuine Christian faith and encourages his fellow believers with the truths of God’s Word.

Paulette at Paulette’s Blog – A Place of Worship: “Tugging at the Heartstrings of God” at http://pbus1.wordpress.com/
Paulette, although in constant pain, encourages us to worship and praise our great God.

Living Life in a Fish Bowl! – Gloria’s take on life at http://ggirod.wordpress.com/
“Genuine” is a word which definitely describes Gloria and her writings

There are no rules attached to this award.
Recipients are encouraged to add the Genuine Blogger Award logo to their page.