Simplification - simplicity - is the key to life

It seems that Scripture teaches us that simplification is the key to life. Too often with competing schedules, there is the temptation to put God in the back-burner while we deal with other pressing issues that we deem as urgent and that need to be handled "yesterday".  And yet Jesus teaches us that He is the calm in the eye of the storm, that we can place all of our burdens at His feet, that all of the complicated things of life need be taken to the throne of God and He will take care of them. The Bible says "Seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness, AND ALL these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). 

So often I find myself struggling, thinking in the opposite way, in fact, that I should seek ALL OF THOSE THINGS first and THEN seek His Kingdom. I have resolved to seek His Kingdom first, to rely on Him for all things, and follow this Biblical principle - I do believe this is true, I have the weight of the saints in the Bible and throughout the ages that testify to it! 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" Heb 12:1

Be blessed today!

The above is a picture I took of the Johannesburg skyscape.

PS: If you want to read more of the Bible, go to: http://biblehub.com/ - I love this website, because it provides you with the same verse from several different Bible versions. The beauty of this is that you can get a holistic interpretation of the particular verse, in old English and contemporary English.

Broken until you reach the end of yourself

Have you ever been broken until you feel you reach the end of yourself? This is the time to reach out to God, who provides many rich promises of love, hope and strength in His word. Throughout the ages, millions have trusted in Him and not been disappointed. Perhaps this sounds like too simple a solution in this modern age of complication and sophistication, but I assure you, simplicity is the key to life. Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest". Matthew 11:28. Won't you trust Him today?

Comfort Songs - "Jesus, we enthrone You and we proclaim you as King"

Do you, like me, have 'comfort songs' that you sing sometimes when you feel that you just need to be close to the Lord? One of my favouritist is this one:

"Jesus, we enthrone You and we proclaim You as King

Standing here in the very midst of us

We raise You up with our praise

And as we worship build Your throne,

And as we worship build Your throne

And as we worship build Your throne,

Come Lord Jesus, and take Your place!"

Oh, it may be an old song, but the glory and power in it and the grace that I feel washing over my life when I sing it! And the feeling of being supported, loved, held up by the King of Kings and Lord and Lords!

I once read that when you are feeling depressed, sing or read the olden day songs, songs like "Amazing Grace" and "How great Thou art", written way back when but with such an anointing over them. They are so deeply biblical that they have brought comfort to many, myself included!

The background picture that I used to create this worship picture is courtesy of: thedanceoflifewithjenna.blogspot.com

“Everyone needs compassion, the kindness of a Saviour, Our God is mighty to save”

“Everyone needs compassion, the kindness of a Saviour, Our God is mighty to save” (Hillsongs)
Needing
We think that we do not need to depend on anyone, as is the modern trend (of which I am no exception!), but it is surprising that we actually do need others! God made us to be in relationship with each other, and it is from the outpouring of our love to Him that we are able to love others. It is impossible, absolutely impossible that we can go through our lives consistently depending on ourselves and still prosper. Is that how you got to where you are today? I doubt it! You had to depend on someone – this is what John Donne says:
“No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”We need each other and there is no denying it!
CompassionMore than that, we need our Saviour, we need His compassion in our lives! He said: “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give thee rest” (Matthew 11:28). We do not have to strive for His compassion, as we would have to strive to gain the compassion of people whose hearts are merciless and cold. His heart is warm and encompasses us – His mercy surrounds us – He gives us the love that we do not deserve to receive because we are so sinful. He gives us the love that we all beg for and need from the very foundations of our being.
Kindness
Acts of kindness are rare these days because we are filled with mistrust as a result of bad deeds done to us in our lives. And yet what does a little kindness take away from you? In fact, I can bet that kindness actually adds to you, I can bet that a million acts of random kindness could change the world! Kindness in itself from another human being is tainted because we have the attitude that they are doing it somehow for their own self-benefit, but the Saviour has such kindness that it is called ‘lovingkindness’ in the Bible. When I think of that word ‘lovingkindness’, a picture of beauty comes to my mind, a picture of true love, with no secret motives behind it, like a soft pink rosebud with drops of dew glinting on it in the first hours of daylight. This rosebud, the love of our Saviour, does not change or become affected by the environment around it. It rests calm and peaceful in the midst of turmoil and radiates a sweet aroma of love and gentleness.
We need the kindness and compassion of our Saviour, the flow of tender love from God which radiates our hearts and from there shines its light on the lives of others.
Yes, it’s true, our God is mighty in compassion, kindness and love, He is indeed mighty to save!

Discouragement

"In hours of discouragement, God is our encouragement" - Helen Steiner Rice

“Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Some days should not ever have taken place. That's how you feel. Bleak, discouraged, hopeless.
And yet our Lord says that we should bring all our worries and burdens to Him. He who calmed a storm, walked on water, slept while others were fretful and afraid, how can He not be able to take on and bear our troubles?
There is a saying that noone is hopeless whose hope is in God. Is it possible to live without hope? No, it is impossible. Without hope we are as capable of surviving as a fly that has fallen in the great blue sea. Without hope we are as lost as a dog in a desert. Without hope there is no life.
If you are feeling that the light at the end of the tunnel is growing dimmer, why don’t you put your trust in the Lord today? He is our firm foundation. There is no shadow of turning with Him. His word is eternal, trust in Him, hope in Him, believe in Him.
Dear friend, if we can not bring our troubles to the Lord, where can we stand? Indeed, how can we stand? This great God, to whom so many songs of praise have been penned, is still there for us. He promised us that He would be with us until the end of the age.
So if you are feeling sad and downtrodden today, why not kneel down and share your hurts with Him? This great Comforter, who has comforted so many souls through the ages, will surely comfort and touch your soul as you reach out to Him.


Deut. 33:27 The eternal God is thy refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms...

The Everlasting Arms

Are you sunk in depths of sorrow
Where no arm can reach so low;
There is One whose arms almighty
Reach beyond thy deepest woe.
God the Eternal is thy refuge,
Let Him still thy wild alarms;
Underneath thy deepest sorrow
Are the everlasting arms.

Other arms grow faint and weary,
These can never faint nor fail;
Others reach our mounts of blessing,
These our lowest, loneliest vale.
Oh, that all might know His friendship!
Oh, that all might see His charms!
Oh, that all might have beneath them
Jesus' everlasting arms.

Underneath us - oh, how easy!
We have not to mount on high,
But to sink into His fullness
And in trustful weakness lie;
And we find our humbling failures
Save us from the strength that harms;
We may fail, but underneath us
Are the everlasting arms.

Arms of Jesus, fold me closer
To Thy strong and loving breast,
Till my spirit on Thy bosom
Finds it's everlasting rest;
And when time's last sands are sinking,
Shield my heart from all alarms,
Softly whispering, "Underneath thee
Are the everlasting arms."

By A. B. Simpson

What has happened to simplicity?

Times have changed since I was young. Well, I'm not really that old and since I'm a woman I have to point that out.
Why I am using this old platitude that things have changed is because I think that multimedia, computers and all things technological have certainly changed the way that our children are being educated, not just their outlook on life (forgive me, another platitude, but not a worthless one, I think. One that should be said time and time again, in fact!).
I went to witness my daughter's play, a really well-organised affair, involving all types of computer graphics and what impressed me the most about it was that it was so polished, compared to what we used to put on for our parents in our days (not so long ago, it seems!. It makes me feel sad in a way because I think of our rustic performances using home-made costumes not very dissimilar to teatowels and sheets in 'Good king Wenceslas', and feathers from real chickens used to make our headgear in the case of 'Pocahontas!
I'm wondering now if this reliance on computer graphics for stage performances has not taken away something unique and precious about acting, the real, old-fashioned talent! Are we so into gimmicks that we can not appreciate something simple and homely?
Probably if my children went to see my own school performances or if they had been captured on video, they would have shuddered and teased me relentlessly about it! But in truth, I think that the lack of perfect props added to the value of those experiences and improvisation probably played a greater part in our lives then than it did now. Even I myself have changed because I probably would not be able to sit through a performance like that. Living in Africa as I do, I did recently have this privilege, on World Water Day, of having to sit through about 2 hours of a very rustic, homely, sweet, unchoreographed, imperfect homily to the importance of water. This is in retrospect. The truth is, I felt bored, irritated, annoyed, and kept on looking at my watch wishing for lunchtime to come because I could see the table of eats from where I was sitting and that was so appetising, more appetising than the fare that was in front of me.
So what is the point of my message? I think we should appreciate simple things again. It was quite an inspiration for me to read about the 'No Impact Man' who chose to live one year in New York without the basic amenities, doing his bit for the environment. Unbelievable in fact that someone could go back to the simple and yet be surrounded by a very complex structure where such amenities are vital to life (apart from the TV, of course! We could all do without a bit of TV!).
My encouragement today is to ask you to consider simplicity once again, try to incorporate it into your daily life, try to improvise again, you don’t need to use the computer for everything!! Jesus was so simple, His message was simple. The Bible says: "In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…” Isaiah 30:15


SOME THOUGHTS ON SIMPLICITY:
 "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Confucius
 “Go placidly amid the noise and haste, And remember what peace there may be in silence.” Max Ehrmann
 “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo DaVinci