Vessel made by His hand

Sometimes I slip into wishful thinking. I wish for better options of myself, better circumstances, less suffering, shorter trials, greener pastures and everything nice.

But all these wishes are futile because most of the situations in my life are permanent, others are just habits and traits (guess these can be altered a bit!). I cannot change my background, my circumstances, my seasons and so many other things. It is now that the statement 'things choose you, you do not choose them' seems to makes sense to me.

All Work In Progress

We need not feel frustrated and discouraged when we fall again and again. When we find it hard to break patterns of sin and break out of bad habits. It is all a journey, full of ups, downs, winding roads, steep slopes and climbs, bumps and once in a while smooth lanes. 

All these are great reminders of our constant need for Christ, we are totally at a loss without Him. 

Though we be in Christ, we are all work in progress. The only ones who are finished are those who have died in Christ. And our walk in Christ is not always so smooth, it will be progressive in one season, stunted in another, and we'll be straying in another.

Relinquishing Control

Giving up the driving seats of our lives is not something easy. It is scary because we feel we understand best where we should be going. The problem is, we fail time and time again to deliver what we feel we should. And when we do, we leave behind trails of  fallen debris.

Pastor Julius Twongyeirwe gave a beautiful illustration yesterday that i feel is quite helpful in explaining the subject of my write-up today; He asked, "If you had a Toyota car and it developed mechanical problems, and engineers right from Toyota (who made and designed the car), offered to help you fix the problem, would you say 'yes please' or 'no, I can handle it'?" 

Living Above the Storms

There is something trust in God does for us. Something nothing else can do. It is able to keep us sane and peaceful even in the wildest of storms. People who know the tough times you are going through may see you and wonder how come you are not falling apart!

Friends, trust in God allows you to surrender all your cares to Him, it enables you to freely enjoy His presence amidst that trial, and it gives you peace, the kind of peace that surpasses human understanding.

When to Consider People's Opinions

These days, it is so common to hear people saying they do not care what others think of them, and I understand why. Considering people's negative opinions can weigh us down.

Such resistance, which comes naturally, is built in a bid to protect ourselves from pain, anger or loss of resolve. Questions like "Do you even know me?", "What do you know about it?", "Is this opinion building me?" and so many others just keep popping up in our minds, and thus we find it safer to disregard these opinions.

And other times, opinions from people who love you and have your best wishes at heart could save you from so much pain and loss. Even when they are saying 'no' to what you think is right.

Therefore, before considering someone's opinion, remember this; 

Each of us is at the center of our own worlds, we are sinful and we are not always logical. Only you can fully live in the shoes in which you were born. We may share joys and sorrows but you alone can truly understand what you are going through, the only Other who understands us perfectly is the LORD, because He knows us so much better than we know ourselves. He is our creator and sustainer. And therefore His opinion should influence our actions the most.

So, when someone gives you their opinion, remember, it is with regards to their belief,  knowledge, experience and generally, their world. It therefore pays to seek opinions from people who share your values and who have experience and knowledge about the matter. When we allow to receive from the overflow of their cups we grow in wisdom and avoid unnecessary pains and mistakes. 

When you hear someone's opinion, ask yourself; is it honoring to God? Is it loving? wise? building? (even if it means breaking down the evil in us). Is it peacemaking? If yes, listen to this person. But if it points you towards chaos, prideful attitudes and strife, do not go down that road. Listen and choose humbly and wisely what to take in and what to leave out.

Many other opinions are neither right nor wrong. They are to do with personal tastes and preferences, here just listen respectfully and choose what you like.  

Always remember that opinions are neither instructions to follow nor are they rules, they are simply people's thoughts.

Proverbs 1:5 "A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel"

Dear readers,

I have published a book. Please get yourself a copy from Amazon.com, Living Life: Nuggets for Daily Christian Living
I pray it blesses you.

CK

Why We Ought To Treat Each Other With Respect

Treating others with respect is easy when all is well, when we look up to them, when they are exemplary and when we know they like us.

But what happens when these ideals fall apart? When the person you looked up to tarnishes their image before you, when the person you liked no longer likes you back, or when someone is 'not as important as you are' or 'not important to you'?

Each of these circumstances, and many others not mentioned here, may cause us to lose our respect for these people. It almost comes naturally, but natural is not always right!

We ought to treat everyone with respect because they are all precious in God's eyes. Even those who do terrible wrong (and we are all sinners) are dearly loved by God.

When you feel someone is 'beneath' you, realize that that is a very prideful attitude. No one is 'beneath' you. You may employ someone or be in authority over someone but always remember that the least among us is the greatest before God.

Treat everyone around you with respect because the second greatest commandment is 'love your neighbor as yourself ' do to others as you would have them do to you. Now it is easy to do so when the other party is respecting you. But what happens when they disrespect you? Remember this 'do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good'. Do not retaliate. It is to the glory of man to overlook an offence.

Now this does not mean we embrace evil, no. We are to hate evil, evil is bad. It is painful and it is just wrong. But we are not to cultivate hatred and bitterness for the people, we are to get rid of these and instead love our enemies. Bless them and pray for them.

Luke 9:48 "Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest."

Our Wealth

Please enjoy these beautiful thoughts from Charles H. Spurgeon

The more abundance of truly valuable things a man has — the more he has of true riches. 

A child counts himself rich when he has a great many marbles, and toys, and rocks — for these suit his childish age and imagination. 

Just so, a worldly man counts himself rich when he has a great store of gold and silver, or lands and houses. 

But a child of God counts himself rich when he has . . .

God for his Portion,

Christ his his Redeemer, and

the Spirit for his Guide, Sanctifier, and Comforter.

This is as much above a carnal man's estate in the world, as a carnal man's estate is above a child's toys and trifles — yes, infinitely more!

It is above all things desirable, that we adopt a correct scale to estimate things. When we make our personal audit, we shall fall into grievous error if the principles of our reckoning are not thoroughly accurate. If we reckon buttons as silver, and brass as gold — we shall dream that we are rich, when we are in poverty! 

In taking stock of our own condition, let us be sure only to reckon that for riches, which is really riches to us. Wealth to the worldling is not wealth to the Christian. His currency is different, his valuables are of another sort.

Am I today poorer in money than I was ten years ago. And at the same time, am I more humble, more patient, more earnest, more loving? Then set me down as a rich man! 

Have my worldly goods largely increased during the last few years? And at the same time, am I also more proud, more carnal-minded, more lukewarm, more petulant? Then I must write myself down as a poorer man, whatever others may think of my estate. 

A Christian's riches are within him! External belongings are by no means a sure gain to a man. 

A horse is none the better off for all its gilded trappings. Just so, a man is in truth, none the richer for his sumptuous surroundings. 

Paul was richer than King Croesus, when he was able to say, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 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!" Philippians 4:11-12 

Such contentment surpasses riches! Solomon, after summing up all his possessions and delights, was compelled to add, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!"

If a man should labor to be rich after the fashion of the poor African natives, and should accumulate a large store of shells and beads — yet when he came home to England he would be a beggar, even though he had a shipload of such rubbish! 

Just so, he who gives his heart and soul to the accumulation of gold coins — is a beggar when he comes into the spiritual realm, where such coins are reckoned as mere forms of earth, non-current in Heaven, and of less value than the least of spiritual blessings!

O, my Lord, let me not merely talk thus, and pretend to despise earthly treasure — when all the while I am hunting after it! Grant me grace to live above these perishable things, never setting my heart upon them; nor caring whether I have them, or have them not. But give me grace to exercise all my energy in pleasing You, and in gaining those things which You hold in esteem. Give me, I beseech You, the riches of Your grace — that I may at last attain to the riches of Your glory!

Don't Bite The Stick

Please enjoy this beautiful portion by Charles H Spurgeon;

"As children will thank the tailor, and think they owe their new clothes to him rather than to their parent's bounty — so we often look to the instrument of blessing, and thank that instead of God."

Second causes must never be made to stand before the First Cause. Friends and helpers are all very well as servants of our Father — but our Father must have all our praise.

There is a similar evil in the matter of trials and afflictions. We are apt to be angry with the instrument of our affliction — instead of seeing the hand of God over all, and meekly bowing before it.

It was a great help to David in bearing with the railing Shimei — when he saw that God had appointed this provocation as a chastisement. He would not allow his hasty captains to take the scoffer's head, but meekly said, "Let him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him." 

When a dog is struck — he will bite the stick! If he were wise, he would observe that the stick only moves as the hand directs it. Just so, when we discern God in our tribulations, we are helped to be quiet and endure with patience.

Let us not act like silly children, but trace matters to their fountain-head, and act accordingly. May the Spirit of wisdom make us understand.

"He is the LORD; let Him do what is good in His eyes." 1 Samuel 3:18 

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away — may the name of the LORD be praised." Job 1:21 

"Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10 

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other." Ecclesiastes 7:14

God's Amazing Grace

                                
The grace of God in our lives is like a beautiful covering He puts over our ugliness, our weakness, our shortcoming and our sin, so that we look much better than we actually should. We do not pay fully for the sins we commit because Jesus paid the full price for them when He died on the cross for us all.

It is that peace that comforts us during turmoil, during sickness, during trials and all the other kinds of hard times we go through. When people wonder how on earth you are still able to smile amidst that painful circumstance you are going through, you may be at a loss in even figuring that out but the answer is, “the grace of God”.

It is that strength your spirit receives when you have a great duty to perform, a calling to live out or simply a task to nail, the strength to overcome your own shortcomings just to get your assignment done. When people start asking how on earth you are able to take all that in stride, and how you juggle it all up very well. The answer to that will still be, “the grace of God”.

The grace of God is the assurance He gives us that no matter how low we fall, He is still right there with us, ready to help us get back on our feet, and oh aren’t we always falling? He ordained our days on earth to be journeys in which we are constantly being pruned, cleansed, and sanctified. These tedious experiences will cease when we finally breathe our last, but for now, our gardener patiently does His work in us day by day. He just does not tire of forgiving us, of cleansing us, and renewing us. His patience towards us is inexhaustible.

May God help us to be grateful for the grace He has given us and may He help us to give each other grace as well, freely forgiving those who hurt us, covering with love the sin of those around us, and most of all, being patient with each other. Amen.