This morning I was reading for my quiet time about reacting like Jesus. I tell you the story....
One soldier had an habbit of reading Bible and praying every evening. When everybody else was going to sleep, he got on his knees and started to pray.
One evening somebody saw this and started to make fun of him. But one evening the violence went further from words. When the soldier had just got on his knees to pray, the other one put on his boots and hit him in the face.
All the other soldiers were making fun as well and were waiting for a fight....but it did`nt come... the praying soldier did not fight back...
The next morning when the soldier who hit, woke up, could not believe his eyes....he saw his boots and they were shining...Do you imagine, that you would polish the boots that have been hitting you in the face? That takes a lot of mercy!
Why did Jesus pray on the cross "Father forgive them, because they don`t know what they do?" Because he knew that people, who have been raised a certain way, are lead by certain influences, who are dealing with life problems and fears and who have no motivation to act differently, need God. He saw an opportuniy in this to show the face of God and be an example.
It takes so much more than to be just the Sunday Christian. It takes Christlike reaction full of love that will not be unnoticed to others. It matters who you represent!
Who do I represent? My wounded EGO or CHRIST?
28.1.09
26.1.09
Jumalal on hea plaan ka siin
Kallis sõber Jürgen!
Ma olen Jumalale nii tänulik, et ma sinuga sel aastavahetusel Saaremaa laagris tuttavaks sain. Sinu põlemine Kristuses oli suureks inspiratsioniks ja tunnistuseks sellest, et Jumal teeb imesid!
Ma ei unusta kunagi seda, kuidas sa jagasid seda lootust, mis on sinus ka teistega! See, mida Jumal sinu elus ja sinu elu läbi tegi oli võimas!
Kohtume taevas!
http://www.postimees.ee/?id=74268
Dear Jürgen,
I am so glad to have met you this New Years in camp is Saaremaa! The way you were burning for Christ was a true inspiration! I am so thankful to God the way you were sharing Christ in our evangelism group! You helped to change lives!
See you soon in heaven!
24.1.09
Some thoughts...
1. Soul healing is putting your pride aside and acting intentionally to overcome the soul wounds that make you wound your partner;
2. Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die /Malachy McCourt/.
2. Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die /Malachy McCourt/.
21.1.09
Honesty and Forgiveness
How heavy is a glass of water? It depends how long you have to hold it in your hands. One minut is not a problem, but after holding it for many hours, your hand might start to ache. After 24 hours the way you feel will be propable very bad. Actually at every hour the glass of water weights the same, but the longer you are holding it, the heavyer it seems. It is the same way with heatred. Carrying it might turn out to be so heavy that it paralyses all your life.
This week I have been seriously talking with my mother. Some of the things we have been sharing go back in childhood and I have discovered that there are some things that have been broken and need to be fixed. I can honestly say, that those things are influencing who I am today.
I was watching Oprah show one day and she said - feelings are time travellers and they dont go away just because you get older! I never really thought that this woman was the light of truth, but it made sence to me...she was talking about grown ups from divorced families...
I think it is time to let go of some things. It is time to let go of the heavy glass of the past. But the first thing is to really understand what is my heavy glass and let God heal what is there.
It seems to me, that it is a period of time in my life where I am experiencing God more peronally. Not that He is someone who wants me to do something for Him. Yes, that too, but today it seems that He is helping me to look inside of me and says - I know what is there. I know why it is there. I see your feelings and pain, and I understand. But it is time for you to trust me as your personal Saviour and let me take away from your heart the things that do not belong there anymore! I have created a new creation in you and I have given you new life, a new chance! Use it!
God is teaching me to look inside of me and be honest about it! Not blame others, but to forgive them! Not question God, but thank Him for carrying me through this! But to do that, I have to be brutally honest about myself and my feelings. I have to stop hiding those feelings from myself and just not being afraid of feeling the way I do....
Honesty and forgivenes.... it looks like I have a valuable lesson to learn there...
This week I have been seriously talking with my mother. Some of the things we have been sharing go back in childhood and I have discovered that there are some things that have been broken and need to be fixed. I can honestly say, that those things are influencing who I am today.
I was watching Oprah show one day and she said - feelings are time travellers and they dont go away just because you get older! I never really thought that this woman was the light of truth, but it made sence to me...she was talking about grown ups from divorced families...
I think it is time to let go of some things. It is time to let go of the heavy glass of the past. But the first thing is to really understand what is my heavy glass and let God heal what is there.
It seems to me, that it is a period of time in my life where I am experiencing God more peronally. Not that He is someone who wants me to do something for Him. Yes, that too, but today it seems that He is helping me to look inside of me and says - I know what is there. I know why it is there. I see your feelings and pain, and I understand. But it is time for you to trust me as your personal Saviour and let me take away from your heart the things that do not belong there anymore! I have created a new creation in you and I have given you new life, a new chance! Use it!
God is teaching me to look inside of me and be honest about it! Not blame others, but to forgive them! Not question God, but thank Him for carrying me through this! But to do that, I have to be brutally honest about myself and my feelings. I have to stop hiding those feelings from myself and just not being afraid of feeling the way I do....
Honesty and forgivenes.... it looks like I have a valuable lesson to learn there...
15.1.09
Good Shepherd (Psalm 23)
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousnessfor his name's sake.
Even though I walkthrough the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me.
You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow meall the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
When shepherd takes care of the sheep, he uses rod and the staff. God also uses the rod (Word of God) and the staff (Spirit of God) to guide us.
Many times God leads us through the valley of death. We cannot go around it, we cannot go over it or besides it. We have to go through, but He has promises to be always with us even at the bottom of the valley. God promises to take care of our needs even down in that valley. He knows that when I go through this, I am scared. He is big enough to handle my deepest fears and personal enough to care about my needs. He does not leave me, but He shows how big He really is.
God also promises to restore my soul. He does care that the life that has been taken into pieces would be put together. But God is interesting in that sence. He does not put together the old, he creates something totally new. I should not even want God to restore things the way they were. God is more gracious than that. He gives new beginnings and directs our stept the way He sees is better for us to go. He gives us new life every step of the way!
God also promises to hold my future secure. He cares for what will happen to me and when my future plans vanish away or do not come true, he gives me new opportunities and brings me closer to him through that. I think this is one of the most appealing things for me about being a Christian - you can always learn so much and every step of the way is exciting and you discover the world and God in totally new, deeper way. God cares for our dreams and hopes, but He does not want us to hope for and dream of things that are not good for us and do not bring glory to His name.
But what if I am scared while travelling in the valley of darkness, what should I do? I have to anticode my worst fear by:
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousnessfor his name's sake.
Even though I walkthrough the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me.
You prepare a table before mein the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow meall the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
- He promises to provide for my needs;
- He promises to restore my soul;
- He promises to guide me;
- He promises to be present in my darkest valley;
- He promises me comfort when I face evil;
- He promises to hold my future secure.
When shepherd takes care of the sheep, he uses rod and the staff. God also uses the rod (Word of God) and the staff (Spirit of God) to guide us.
Many times God leads us through the valley of death. We cannot go around it, we cannot go over it or besides it. We have to go through, but He has promises to be always with us even at the bottom of the valley. God promises to take care of our needs even down in that valley. He knows that when I go through this, I am scared. He is big enough to handle my deepest fears and personal enough to care about my needs. He does not leave me, but He shows how big He really is.
God also promises to restore my soul. He does care that the life that has been taken into pieces would be put together. But God is interesting in that sence. He does not put together the old, he creates something totally new. I should not even want God to restore things the way they were. God is more gracious than that. He gives new beginnings and directs our stept the way He sees is better for us to go. He gives us new life every step of the way!
God also promises to hold my future secure. He cares for what will happen to me and when my future plans vanish away or do not come true, he gives me new opportunities and brings me closer to him through that. I think this is one of the most appealing things for me about being a Christian - you can always learn so much and every step of the way is exciting and you discover the world and God in totally new, deeper way. God cares for our dreams and hopes, but He does not want us to hope for and dream of things that are not good for us and do not bring glory to His name.
But what if I am scared while travelling in the valley of darkness, what should I do? I have to anticode my worst fear by:
- Going to my worst fear and dealing with it, not running away or hiding from it;
- Reminding myself of the Shepherd`s character;
- Turning my panic to praise. T
WHAT IS MY PERSONAL BIGGEST FEAR?
Maybe being left alone, being lonely? Don`t know...I am still trying to find out and and detect my worst fear....
Hope to discover it soon..
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