"S" Knowlege and "C" Knowlege

Chello people!

This post is just some thoughts that came to me during some quiet time at a Worship Team workshop a few weeks ago.

There's a song that came on during that quiet time that has really been speaking to me recently, One Thing Remains. The chorus goes:

Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me.


And the bridge:

In death, in life, I'm confident and covered by the power of Your great love.
My debt is paid, there's nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love.

It's an absolutely amazing feeling knowing that regardless of what you say, what you do, who you are, God loves you unconditionally. I'm not really a person that cries, but I can't even get through the chorus the first time without becoming overwhelmed to the point of tears.

I think part of the reason this song moves me so much now, is because while I know God loves me, I didn't KNOW God loves me. I'm only now properly coming into that realisation. Let me explain.

In French, Spanish, and Italian, there are two verbs for 'to know.'

In French:
Savoir and connaitre,

In Spanish:
Saber and conocer,

In Italian:
Sapere and conoscere

In each of the three languages, the verb starting with 'S' has to do with having a technical knowledge of something, while the verb beginning with 'C' has to do with being familiar with something/someone, or as one definition I've seen said, 'to know in one's heart.'

I think I'd been living life with the technical knowledge that God loves me, but didn't always know or feel that in my heart.

Now this may be wrong, but I'm willing to guess that there are many people that, feel (or have felt) like this. We know with an 'S' God loves us, but we don't KNOW with a 'C' God loves us. We say it, but don't live it, or we sometimes forget.

God loves, us, and that's a definite, but in thinking otherwise, we have a self-shaped block keeping us from experiencing and living in the fullness of God's love. We get in God's way.

Talk is cheap. We say that God loves, us, but how do we know?

Well, if you'll just take a little look over at John 3:16 with me you'll see. "For God so LOVED the world..."
Not saying you should do this, but to make that scripture more real and personal, in my bible, I've actually crossed out 'the world,' and wrote my own name. So now my bible says:

"For God so loved Marla-Joy, that He gave His only Son..."

You are SO loved, that Jesus died on the cross, taking on all your sin, so that you could have a new life, and a perfect love.

So yeah, God loves you. True story. (:

Until next time...

Be overflowing

Hey people,

Well aware that there haven't been any posts in a while, humblest apologies.

This one is going to be a quick one, it's just something that came to me while doing the dishes yesterday.

Most of the washing up had already been done, and I had just begun to tackle a large baking dish. I placed it in the water that was already in the sink, but the water didn't reach the rim of the dish, so to get some water in the dish I turned on the faucet. The water I turned on was hot water, while the water in the sink was cold. And boom, revelation time.

Do you see it yet?

Look at it this way:

Faucet - God
Hot water - the Holy Spirit, God's blessings, giftings, etc.
Baking dish - You (God's vessel)
Cold water - your current situation, people around you, etc.

The hot water wouldn't change the cold water, it wouldn't make it warmer, until the dish overflowed.

You can't/won't change the current situation you're in or the people around you, until you overflow all that God has poured into you.

Having done science in Secondary school, I know that if the dish full of hot water had been left sitting in the cold water, eventually (due to energy transfer if I'm not mistaken), the water in the sink and the water in the dish would eventually become the same temperature.

The problem with that is, what's inside the vessel has become indistinguishable from what's outside of it.

I think this is a kind of 'Be in the world, not of the world,' kind of situation. As Christians, there should be something different about us. Philippians 1:27 talks about letting your manner be worthy of the Gospel of Christ - people should know by how we live our lives that we're Christians - and Romans 12:2, talks about not conforming to the pattern of the world - again, regardless of how long we are in the world, we should not become like the world.

As I'm typing this up another point comes to mind, and that is that the water only stays hot as long as there's a constant source of hot water. If the tap were to be turned off, after a while, the water would become warm > lukewarm > cold.

Outpouring of the Holy Spirit, spiritual renewal, God blessing you, these are not one-off things. You should be constantly spending time with God being refreshed and restored.

And that's it for now. May add a bit more to this as I have a chance to turn it over in my head, but this is the basic thought that came to me at the time. Be overflowing - a simple revelation, but hopefully it gets you thinking.

Jon Butler - Talents

You can probably guess from the title of this post what this is a picture of. 

Talents!

So in the introductory entry for this blog (Third Servant), I talked about the parable of the talents.

A few weeks ago at one of my churches here in Pompey*, the preach was on Talents. Obviously, that preach was particularly poignant to me, so I just wanted to share it with you all.

Link to the preach here.

Hope it's as much of a blessing to you all as it was to me!

Until next time,

Love, peace, and non-alcoholic eggnog!

* I attend both Solent Community Church and King's Church. They are both amazing spirit-filled churches and I'm blessed to be a part of both. Please know that you are very welcome, and it would be absolutely great to see you at either one in 2012 (and beyond). :)

Praying for socks

Merry 23rd of December everyone!

Before we begin today, allow me to apologise for not having actually written a post in so long. I'll try and have one up in the next few days.

Today's post is one of my devotions (Girlfriends in God) from Tuesday.

No photo credits today, these are actually my socks! (:

A Box of Socks
Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22, NIV).

Friend to Friend
My sister loves socks! One day, we were shopping and happened to walk into a department store where neither one of us could afford to buy a single thing. We were just passing through, on our way to find the bargains we could afford. With a sigh and a wistful look on her face, Betty said, “I wish I could afford to shop in this store.” When I asked her what she would buy, she immediately replied with a smile, “Socks! I want a big box of socks. I would wear a different pair every day.” I could think of several things I would have liked to buy in that store and socks was not one of them. I guess it is a matter of perspective. What was important to her was not important to me.

I sometimes think my prayer requests are insignificant and unimpressive to God. After all, He is God. Does He really have the time or the desire to hear and answer my prayers? Yes! The truth is that if it is important to me, it is important to God.

Each Christmas, Operation Shoebox collects and sends over eight million shoeboxes stuffed with small gifts such as candy, school supplies, small toys, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo to children across the world. In Mexico, hundreds of boys and girls gathered at the church in a small village, excitedly anticipating the arrival of their precious shoeboxes. 

Delightful chaos erupted as bulging shoeboxes, wrapped in brightly colored paper and ribbon were passed into the small, eager hands of each child. Wrapping paper was hurriedly ripped into pieces and tossed aside, a smile spreading across the face of each child as their long awaited Christmas treasures were revealed. However, one little boy dissolved into tears as he lifted the lid of his box and peered inside to see what he had received for Christmas this year. 

One of the Operation Shoebox volunteers spotted the little boy and hurriedly made his way across the church to see what the problem could possibly be. With the help of an interpreter, the volunteer asked the now sobbing little boy, “What is wrong? What is in your box?” With tears streaming down his face, the little boy said, “Socks!” The worker instantly understood and assured the little boy that he could trade his box of socks for another box that might have crayons, a toy or a piece of candy in it.

Alarm spread across the face of the child as he vigorously shook his head and quickly jerked the box away from the now somewhat confused worker. Clutching the shoebox to his chest, the boy began sobbing out an explanation to the interpreter who listened for a few moments and then, with tears spilling out of his own eyes, turned to the volunteer and said, “You won’t believe this!” 

Taking a deep, steadying breath, the interpreter explained, “This little boy has a rare skin condition with which he was born. It seems to affect his feet more than any other spot on his body. The doctors have tried various medications and treatments but finally told the little boy that nothing will work and his feet will never heal unless he begins wearing cotton socks. His parents cannot even afford food for this boy; much less provide socks for their son. So, all year long, he has been praying for socks.” 

Socks were at the top of the little boy’s prayer list. As a matter of fact, they were his list. The mere sight of ordinary cotton socks brought tears to his eyes as he stared in awe at the priceless gift in his hands – socks. You see, they were more than just socks. They were the profound answer from our extraordinary God to a child’s simple prayer. One unknown and seemingly insignificant boy in Mexico prayed. God heard him and said “Let me take care of you.”

No matter how small or trivial your prayers may seem, remember God’s perspective. If it is important to you, it is important to Him. And He will take care of you.

Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for the privilege of coming before You in prayer. I want prayer to be as natural to me as breathing out and breathing in. I refuse to believe the lie that my prayers are too small or unimportant for You to hear. You are my Father. You are my God and You long to hear my voice. I will bring every prayer of my heart to You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn
Do you have your own “box of socks” for which you are praying? What is it?

Do you really believe that God will hear and answer your prayer?

Read Hebrews 11:6. How does your faith measure up to the faith described in this verse?

Today, pray in faith and see what God does!

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more about 
how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Hope this makes you think.

Until next time,

Love, peace, and Christmas sweaters!

Hand Raising Worship – The 10 Styles | Stuff Christians Like – Jon Acuff

Just a little lol for you all to start your days. :)

Today's post is from a blog (Stuff Christians Like) I recently discovered (link to original post here), and will probably have you secretly checking people out during Praise and Worship on Sunday. In th blog, the author addresses real-life issues in a relate to-able and at times humorous kind of way. Rather enjoyable reading. Hope you check it out!

There are some topics that require more than just a remix. Like prayer for instance, I could write a dozen posts on that because it’s so interesting. Or metrosexual worship leaders, I feel like that idea just keeps giving and giving to us. 

So when my wife leaned over to me at church and said, “People sure do have different styles when it comes to singing with their hands raised,” I knew I had to cover the topic at least one more time. I had to, like Jane Goodall in the jungle, step inside the world of hand raising and report what I found. I did and here, after deep scientific study in the field of sarcasmology, are the 10 styles of hand raising I encountered, starting with the least extreme to the most extreme:

1. The Ninja - You are tricky sir, truly, you are tricky. This guy is testing the waters. He sees ladies near him that throw their arms in the air at the first hint of a Chris Tomlin song but he’s not so sure. I mean, what if his friends see him? He used to make fun of people that did that. So instead of going all out, he does a fancy little move. He puts his hands by his pants pockets and just flips them over with his palms facing the heavens. From behind, you can’t see that he is doing anything out of the ordinary and from the front it just looks like he is cupping his hands slightly as if to show you what was in his pockets.

2. The Half & Half - This person often wants to sing with both hands raised, but they go to a conservative church and don’t want to be known as “that guy.” So instead of singing with both hands up, they hold one in the air and put one in their pocket or on the chair in front of them. It’s like half their body is saying, “YAY JESUS!!!!” and the other half is saying, “Nothing to see here folks, move it along please, move it along.”

3. The Single Hand Salute - This is the cousin of the half & half but is different in it’s level of intensity. Instead of just kind of floating in the air, the hand you have up goes out straight at an angle, as if you are saluting some visiting military dignitary. It’s possible this move was first instilled in people when they were young with the song, “God’s Army.”

4. The Elevator - This one technically marks our transition into multi-hand motions. In this move, you act like there is a rule against having both hands raised at the same exact time. So you start rotating your arms. As soon as one arm comes down, the other arm goes up. It’s kind of an awkward dance move, but works pretty well when set to “Blessed be the Name.”

5. The Pound Cake - This is what we in the industry, of hand raising in case you were wondering, refer to as an “underhand move.” Instead of sticking your arms out, you hold them with your palms facing the sky as if you are ready to receive something from someone in front of you. In the pound cake, your elbows should be at stomach level, with your hands tilted at a 47 degree angle as if someone visiting your house warming party is about to hand you a delicious pound cake. It’s not a heavy cake, so you don’t have to brace yourself, but can instead just relax and think, “hey cool, pound cake. Let me take that for you.”

6. The Tickler - It’s getting serious now. The tickler is the person that sticks their arms out horizontally as if they were trying to make a big T with their body. This is a fine move except that because we’re all sitting so close, they inevitably bump into you with their hands. So while you try to sing along with the chorus, you can’t help but giggle as they, lost in a moment of blissful worship, accidentally tickle you.

7. The Double High Five - I am very stingy with my high fives. I think the last time I gave one was in the delivery room of my second daughter. The next time I give one will be if I get a book deal. Other than those two situations, I find the high five to be the physical version of using a lot of exclamation marks!!! That’s why I rarely do this move. The double high five looks exactly like it sounds. You act like you’ve just scored a goal in soccer/football and are about to double high five the person in front of you. (Some people call this move the “Secret passageway” because it kind of looks like you are feeling along a wall for a hidden button that will open a secret door. But I’m a purist and don’t use that term.)

8. The Huge Watermelon - This is like the pound cake on steroids. In this move, your arms are held higher and with a considerable about of dedication and determination. It’s still an underhand move, but now, instead of a light and fluffy cake, someone on a truck is handing down a huge watermelon to you. Better get ready, that thing looks heavy.

9. The Helicopter Rail - At this point, both arms are raised high in the air. This is professional hand raiser territory we’re in. Please don’t try to do this at home. With this one, you reach your arms out, way over your head but out in front of your body. Imagine if you were stuck on a piece of driftwood and a shark with a laser on its head was about to get you and you had to desperately reach out for the rail of a helicopter that was attempting to rescue you. Stretch, stretch, you gotta want it.

10. The YMCA - This is my favorite and probably most common hand raising technique. It’s not complicated. Much like the famous song, you simply raise your hands above your body and form a big Y. That’s all, but it leaves little doubt to the folks around you what is going on. You’re worshipping. It’s big, it’s beautiful, it’s messy and it’s great.

Although I tend to be a pound cake kind of guy, I like when people raise their hands. This is the second time I have written about it. My friend said that when her mom did it, it always looked like she was clearing a runway for God to land. I think that’s pretty cool and hope to one day work my way up to at least mastering the huge watermelon.

Watermelon? Helicopter? Honestly, this reminds me of this:
Redwood Tree

So, which one are you? Even if you haven't figured it out (or are embarrassed to say), hope that tickled you!


So until next time, 

• 
  

• Subucula tua apparet! (You may want to get that looked at. :s )

2012 Resolutions already? Wha?

'Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.' - Philippians 1:27

It may seem to be a bit early to begin thinking about 2012 Resolutions, but I'm starting to plan them now because I need your help. Let me explain:

The plan for my 2012 resolutions is actually an idea borrowed from a good friend of mine. He made a list of 12 resolutions for the year, but instead of beginning them all on 1st January, he only started one. Each month, he would add another resolution while continuing those already started. Basically, cumulative resolutions.

With his blessing, I've decided to appropriate his cumulative resolution idea, but with my own spin on it. I've come up with four different categories:

1. Spiritual - Resolutions to do with my growth and development as a Christian. 
2. General - Pretty much anything here really. 
3. 2012 Bucket List - 12 things I want to do before the end of 2012.
4. Challenges - I love a good challenge. This category is for people to challenge me. The challenges can last anywhere from a month to the whole year. 

This is where you all come in. I'm asking for suggestions for any or all of the four categories. The first three, Spiritual, General, and the Bucket List are all limited to 12 each, and we'll just see what happens with the challenges. Also, if you suggest a challenge, could you perhaps suggest a consequence for failing the challenge as well? Maybe 20 hours of volunteer work or something like that. 

I'll give you all until 23:59 on 17th December to brainstorm and put up any ideas you have, then I'll sort through them, and maybe (for the sake of accountability) let you all know what the final lists look like.

And please everyone, be creative, don't think outside the box, think 'What box?' Haha :p

Thanks in advance for what I hope will be some crazy good 2012 resolution concepts!

Ready? Steady? GO! (: 

Source

Broken Chariots

Hey everyone,

This entry is really just to re-direct you to another blog: Broken Chariots, by Ryan and Annie ( good friends of a good friend). Annie has been diagnosed with cancer (for the second time), but in this instance it's terminal. The blog is one their ways of sharing Annie's story. It's updated pretty regularly, so do keep checking back. I challenge you to read it and not be touched.

Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

And that's it.

Until next time,

M-J