Talk Tuesday - "Knowing You, Jesus; My Suffering (Pt.I)"

Last week I was accused of asking God for the 'illness' that I was afflicted with, then asking Him for the 'cure'. It seemed somewhat implied to me that it was all my fault and that I had used my body as a tool of manipulation to 'prove' God's faithfulness. While I was stunned and very hurt by such an accusation, I could only imagine how this might look to one who does not know JESUS. Let me explain...

Many years ago, as a young, enthusiastic and naive Christian, I prayed this prayer: "Lord, I want to know You in your suffering." This was after hearing the song, Knowing You Jesus, by Graham Kendrick. I would like to share the words of the lyrics that so impressed my young heart:

All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres and wars to own;
All I once thought gain I have counted loss,
Spent and worthless now compared to this.


Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You Lord.


Now my heart's desire is to know You more,
To be found in You and known as Yours,
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness


Oh to know the power of Your risen life,
And to know You in Your sufferings;
To become like You in Your death, my Lord,
So with You to live and never die.


This 'suffering' that I desired to share with Christ in, came immediately afterwards and in multiple forms. First I learned what it was like to be unjustly accused because of my faith. I learned what it was like to TRULY TRUST GOD, to walk by faith, when 'reality' spoke devastation and heartache. I learned what it felt like to be ostracized for faith in Christ, yet I never knew what it was like to suffer in my body. I confess, in my burst of youthful enthusiasm, I had prayed this prayer but forgot about it until my younger brother reminded me of it. This was right after I was diagnosed with spinal tumors.

Not cancer, so no big deal, right? Then I began to lose my ability to walk, my left leg began to slowly deteriorate and I could no longer lift it. The risk of permanent nerve damage lurked and the pain was excruciating...or so I thought yet the lesson was only just beginning. It was not until I was hospitalized the second time for an emergency second surgery, that I experienced deep suffering in my flesh. I want to share with you what I have learned about KNOWING JESUS in suffering, but it will take a few weeks, so please bear with me. Let me leave this tidbit with you as a prelude to next week's Talk Tuesday;

"But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them in their affliction." Job 36:15


I only ask that before we begin this journey, you click on the Movie Monday link and listen to the song, Knowing You Jesus.

Thanks for listening,
Natasha

Movie Monday-Knowing You Jesus (All I Once Held Dear)

Prayer Wall - September

Talk Tuesday-The Heart of the Matter

I remember starting a new job many, many years ago. There was an individual with whom I worked who seemed very bitter. I did not understand why. I was often the direct recipient of that person's frustrations. I would try to extend kindness only to be attacked for what seemed like no reason. I began to feel angry and fed up too!

I attended a praise and worship event at church one evening. As I was praising, I sat back down in the pew and felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to pray for them. I remember thinking, 'Seriously?!' Anyway, I decided to obey. This began a habit of interceding on their behalf. Slowly, I began to see changes in that person's attitude and disposition. Not only did they change towards me, but towards others as well. They also seemed much happier. Then it occurred to me, GOD knows the heart. He knows our thoughts, sees our hearts, knows our pain and our weaknesses. He sees what is hidden.

The Prophet Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse to anoint another to be king over Israel. Samuel saw seven of Jesse's sons and when he saw Eliab he thought surely this was God's chosen.

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

It was at this moment that David, Jesse's youngest son came in from tending the sheep. The LORD spoke to the Prophet Samuel, instructing Him to anoint David as King, for he was the one. Despite King David's failings, he was a man after GOD's heart. GOD knew that.

I learned a lesson here. It is not my place to judge others for I only see what I can see. Why is it that we are encouraged not to judge others nor harbour unforgiveness in our hearts? Why and how do you think we are instructed to love? Click on the 'comments' link below to share your insights with us here at BGO. We look forward to hearing from you!

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Talk Tuesday- Lord Use Me!

For the last few weeks I have been hearing the message that time is short and we should really think about doing something that has some value for God. We are so caught up in the rat race of life that all we seem to do is work and pay our bills. We have been speaking to people our age and they have been saying that they have reached a crossroad in their lives. We have the house, the car and the big jobs but what is life really about? There must be more to life than this. If we knew that God was coming soon how would we live our lives? I know we have to work and pay our bills but what will we have to show when it is all over?

I heard a preacher ask, “If you had all the resources in the world and you did not have to worry about anything, what would you do?” What would I do? Is God stirring your heart? Do you want to do something that has Kingdom value? Share with us what God is speaking to you about.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:10

Talk Tuesday- I Will Live to Bring You Praise

The video posted this week for Movie Monday is a worship song by the Australian group Hillsongs. The song, Til' I See You, speaks of the immense love of God and our response to His great love. This song struck a deep chord in my own heart. The words of the chorus are:

I will live to love You

I will live to bring You praise

I will live a child in awe of You

You alone are God of all

You alone are worthy Lord

And with all I am my soul will bless Your name

Such bold, passionate declarations of worship and adoration to the Almighty GOD! The heart who knows Him, should desire to live entirely for Him. Brothers and Sisters, a great challenge is on the horizon for us all. The Prophet Isaiah warns:

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20

We have become a more liberal society, endorsing sin and calling it 'acceptance'.

The Apostle Peter reminds us:

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

We are chosen by God to be salt and light to a lost and dying world. We are called to walk in LOVE, sacrificially helping and loving others in need. We are also called to HOLINESS as GOD is Holy, rejecting sin.

The Apostle John warns us:

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17

We must guard our hearts, minds and thoughts so as to honour God.

Jesus instructs us:

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23-24

Of the Holy Spirit:

"When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." John 16:8-11

The Apostle John's vision of GOD's judgment:

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books." Revelations 20:12

Please, let us join our hearts together in the name of Jesus Christ to live righteous, holy, lives, set apart from the world yet rooted in love. Let us remember to honour God in our thoughts, words, deeds and actions. We have the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT to enable us, the WORD of GOD to protect and instruct us, and the BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let us spur each other on to the finish line, and remove from our lives those 'IDOLS' which cause us to stumble.

Blessings in love!

Movie Monday-Till I See You - With Subtitles/Lyrics (Hillsong)