I went to a wedding today, it was such a wonderful service. It was the first wedding I have been to since ours last April and it brought back many memories of the day. The minister shared an interesting statistic - 50% of marriages end in divorce! Obviously very encouraging to the newly married couple - however, what he went on to share was that of couples that attend church regularly only 1 in 50 end in divorce and of those couples that pray regularly together only 1 in 1000 end in divorce. Isn't it amazing how much difference allowing God to be in your marriage makes!
Sometimes it has been hard for Jill and I to form this habit - we have both in the past been such independent people and in many ways this has caused us to be proud and self sufficient, yet we both know that our relationship is more important to us than anything else in the world and we will safeguard it at all costs. I truly believe that as we let God into our marriage it will be even more loving and my hope is that it then can overflow to those around us that need to be loved the most.
My prayer today, Lord Jesus is that Jill and I can submit more and more to your loving ways by coming to you in prayer every day - and in this way we can be truly loving of our neighbour, whoever that may be, so that you will be glorified in every way through our marriage.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Testimony
I was brought up in a good family environment - my parents, brother and grandparents and I all lived together in Portincaple (35 m NW of Glasgow). We used to attend church and I remember going to Sunday school classes and even some of the Sunday services as a child. From the age of 10 though all I was really interested in was my friends, football and rugby. I remember my Mum once saying that once you get to a certain age, you have to make your own mind up about things to do with God - and since none of my friends were into Church, I decided that I wasn't interested in God, in fact from some point in my life (I am not sure when) I completely forgot about God - He did not even cross my mind - the things of life were so much more important - sport, school, friends, films, music, making sure I was really just part of the crowd was the most important thing for me, to make sure I was acceptable to others. I always felt a little of an outcast as we lived in the small hamlet 2 miles away from the village where my friends were - and there was always an element that I was never quite accpeted - particularly because they thought I was a bit posh, because my Mum spoke with quite a proper English accent!
Through teenage years and into University life I gradually formed a lifestyle that is considered normal for young people today - it was all about socialising with friends, getting drunk, taking some drugs and sleeping with the opposite sex. Important topics of conversations were things on TV, movies, bands, what friends are up to, sleeping with the opposite sex, Uni, what happened at the last night out, and remembering stupid things that so and so had done that time they got really plastered! I had also become a reasonably good rugby player and while at Uni was playing in the Scottish National League with Glasgow Accies.
My life changed in some respects when I found an amazing job in America over the summer selling study guides door to door. I did really well, was one of the top students and had now added a new dimension to my life - the secrets of successful people. Most of the aforementioned things were still prominent in my life, but this now made things new - I was on the right tracks to make my life a real success, by being successful in business!
However, throughout this time two events had a dramatic impact on my life - at 19 my grandfather who had been an incredible mentor for me in my childhood died from cancer, followed by my Mum two years later. As I look back now my life was irrevocably altered. I was not going to be beaten by this - I kept striving for success in Uni and work, I was achieving most of my goals too. Yet over the next 4-5 years, despite all the success and promotions and recognition and money, I was deeply unhappy. In fact looking back now I was quite depressed, yet I was doing an amazing job of not showing it - I just kept pressing on.
I took a trip to Peru in November 1998, which was an amazing experience, and helped me to deal with some burn out. It gave me space to myself to think and contemplate, to have an adventure and broaden my horizons. One morning I was sitting at breakfast, writing my journal
and the thought of God came to mind. I did not think about Him a lot, just enough to be interested enough in investigating what it was all about when I got home. I came home feeling a new man, more confident and wordly wise and proceeded to have a few conversations with various people. I didn't get any groundbreaking information, just a few ideas. But then it was put to the back of my mind again for about two years.
I had a Canadian girlfriend that lived in London, Ontario - talk about a long distance relationship! But I got to the point where I had decided that she was the one I would spend the rest of my life with - to the point that I almost moved to Canada. But something stopped me - my career: I would need to give it up, and I was not prepared to do that, and she was not prepared to live in Scotland, and so I knew my judgement had been wrong. We eventually broke up half way through a summer selling season in 2000. Just before we broke up however, she had an experience with God, that was super spiritual and it frightened and confused me considerably.
Through the next 6 months I returned to an old way of life that I had managed to stay away from for the two years we had been together - drinking a lot and trying to get together with girls. I struggled hugely with lust in this period of time, which culminated in me sleeping with my best friends ex-girlfriend. But something else was happening in this time, a strange undercurrent of change was happening in my life. I had firstly started to feel strangely over - protective of one of the girls I worked with and was spending a lot of time with, and secondly I was beginning to ask more people about their faith in God. In short I was realising that my continuing search for peace and joy was not being fulfilled by business success or nights out or relationships with the opposite sex - there must be something more.
At that time I was renting a room from a Christian friend in his flat. I was witnessing his life close up - the quiet times he was spending with his Bible - and the peace he seemed to have inside. I did not have this peace, but I wanted it. This same girl I had become overprotective of had just become a Christian, so I asked her one night about her faith. The next week she invited me to Church because they were doing a sermon series on Questions about the Christian faith - the main reason I went to Church was to spend time with her. In all honesty I remember nothing about those services, apart from the time walking Jill to and from Church.
The next thing that happened was really strange - it had nothing to do with God - at least not on the surface, but I was developing stronger and stronger feelings for this girl, to the point that I could not live with myself if I did not tell her how I felt. I had a feeling she might reciprocate, but it was complicated - I was her sales manager, and she was still a student. Eventually I told her, and thankfully she eventually accepted that she had the same feelings for me - Happy Days!
Church continued, I started to go through an alpha course; at some point in the process I committed my life to following Jesus - but I do not remember when and there was no dramatic story to tell, just a slow, but sure accpetance and realisation that it was right and true to live my life in accordance with what I was reading in the Bible and hearing in sermons on a Sunday morning. I eventually was baptised - I remember expecting something dramatic to happen - you know like all of a sudden all my burdens would disapper and I would find eternal peace and joy, but it didn't.
I began finding business harder and harder to cope with - I was travelling a lot and found that I had few roots and began feeling more and more unstable as a person - sudden mood swings, an inability to control my emotions, and bouts of depression in which I felt as though I would never feel joy ever again and I only seemed to be repelling people rather than attracting them - this was not what a life of faith was supposed to be like - it was supposed to be full of joy and happiness that Jesus had saved me from death and I would live for eternity with God and the rest of the happy guys. I have now taken steps of faith in the hope it will lead me to find my life with Jesus - Jill and I are now married; I took the plunge and have followed what I believe to be God's call on my life to go to Bible College and am studying Theology.
So many of my decisions at the moment seem to be contrary to the expectations of the prevailing culture. To become a student again when newly married, to study for a career in full time Christian ministry instead of continuing to use my sales and leadership skills to be a success in the business world and earn a lot of money. But I am finding, slowly but surely that God is setting my feet upon a rock - my wounds from losing Mum and broken relationships in the past are being gradually healed as I discover my new life in Christ. I am part of a community that accepts me, and loves me not for what I have or am achieving but for who I am as Nick, and I have the space to rediscover the Nick that God initially intended. It is not quite a 'happy ever after story' as I see it right now because I feel that I am still in the woods trying to find the clearing, but I am safe and secure in the knowledge that with Gods love and guidance I find more peace and joy every day in different ways. I have such a wonderful wife that loves me unconditionally; I have amazing friends at Church and college who care deeply for how I am getting on and I just know that this is the way that life is supposed to be.
Through teenage years and into University life I gradually formed a lifestyle that is considered normal for young people today - it was all about socialising with friends, getting drunk, taking some drugs and sleeping with the opposite sex. Important topics of conversations were things on TV, movies, bands, what friends are up to, sleeping with the opposite sex, Uni, what happened at the last night out, and remembering stupid things that so and so had done that time they got really plastered! I had also become a reasonably good rugby player and while at Uni was playing in the Scottish National League with Glasgow Accies.
My life changed in some respects when I found an amazing job in America over the summer selling study guides door to door. I did really well, was one of the top students and had now added a new dimension to my life - the secrets of successful people. Most of the aforementioned things were still prominent in my life, but this now made things new - I was on the right tracks to make my life a real success, by being successful in business!
However, throughout this time two events had a dramatic impact on my life - at 19 my grandfather who had been an incredible mentor for me in my childhood died from cancer, followed by my Mum two years later. As I look back now my life was irrevocably altered. I was not going to be beaten by this - I kept striving for success in Uni and work, I was achieving most of my goals too. Yet over the next 4-5 years, despite all the success and promotions and recognition and money, I was deeply unhappy. In fact looking back now I was quite depressed, yet I was doing an amazing job of not showing it - I just kept pressing on.
I took a trip to Peru in November 1998, which was an amazing experience, and helped me to deal with some burn out. It gave me space to myself to think and contemplate, to have an adventure and broaden my horizons. One morning I was sitting at breakfast, writing my journal
and the thought of God came to mind. I did not think about Him a lot, just enough to be interested enough in investigating what it was all about when I got home. I came home feeling a new man, more confident and wordly wise and proceeded to have a few conversations with various people. I didn't get any groundbreaking information, just a few ideas. But then it was put to the back of my mind again for about two years.
I had a Canadian girlfriend that lived in London, Ontario - talk about a long distance relationship! But I got to the point where I had decided that she was the one I would spend the rest of my life with - to the point that I almost moved to Canada. But something stopped me - my career: I would need to give it up, and I was not prepared to do that, and she was not prepared to live in Scotland, and so I knew my judgement had been wrong. We eventually broke up half way through a summer selling season in 2000. Just before we broke up however, she had an experience with God, that was super spiritual and it frightened and confused me considerably.
Through the next 6 months I returned to an old way of life that I had managed to stay away from for the two years we had been together - drinking a lot and trying to get together with girls. I struggled hugely with lust in this period of time, which culminated in me sleeping with my best friends ex-girlfriend. But something else was happening in this time, a strange undercurrent of change was happening in my life. I had firstly started to feel strangely over - protective of one of the girls I worked with and was spending a lot of time with, and secondly I was beginning to ask more people about their faith in God. In short I was realising that my continuing search for peace and joy was not being fulfilled by business success or nights out or relationships with the opposite sex - there must be something more.
At that time I was renting a room from a Christian friend in his flat. I was witnessing his life close up - the quiet times he was spending with his Bible - and the peace he seemed to have inside. I did not have this peace, but I wanted it. This same girl I had become overprotective of had just become a Christian, so I asked her one night about her faith. The next week she invited me to Church because they were doing a sermon series on Questions about the Christian faith - the main reason I went to Church was to spend time with her. In all honesty I remember nothing about those services, apart from the time walking Jill to and from Church.
The next thing that happened was really strange - it had nothing to do with God - at least not on the surface, but I was developing stronger and stronger feelings for this girl, to the point that I could not live with myself if I did not tell her how I felt. I had a feeling she might reciprocate, but it was complicated - I was her sales manager, and she was still a student. Eventually I told her, and thankfully she eventually accepted that she had the same feelings for me - Happy Days!
Church continued, I started to go through an alpha course; at some point in the process I committed my life to following Jesus - but I do not remember when and there was no dramatic story to tell, just a slow, but sure accpetance and realisation that it was right and true to live my life in accordance with what I was reading in the Bible and hearing in sermons on a Sunday morning. I eventually was baptised - I remember expecting something dramatic to happen - you know like all of a sudden all my burdens would disapper and I would find eternal peace and joy, but it didn't.
I began finding business harder and harder to cope with - I was travelling a lot and found that I had few roots and began feeling more and more unstable as a person - sudden mood swings, an inability to control my emotions, and bouts of depression in which I felt as though I would never feel joy ever again and I only seemed to be repelling people rather than attracting them - this was not what a life of faith was supposed to be like - it was supposed to be full of joy and happiness that Jesus had saved me from death and I would live for eternity with God and the rest of the happy guys. I have now taken steps of faith in the hope it will lead me to find my life with Jesus - Jill and I are now married; I took the plunge and have followed what I believe to be God's call on my life to go to Bible College and am studying Theology.
So many of my decisions at the moment seem to be contrary to the expectations of the prevailing culture. To become a student again when newly married, to study for a career in full time Christian ministry instead of continuing to use my sales and leadership skills to be a success in the business world and earn a lot of money. But I am finding, slowly but surely that God is setting my feet upon a rock - my wounds from losing Mum and broken relationships in the past are being gradually healed as I discover my new life in Christ. I am part of a community that accepts me, and loves me not for what I have or am achieving but for who I am as Nick, and I have the space to rediscover the Nick that God initially intended. It is not quite a 'happy ever after story' as I see it right now because I feel that I am still in the woods trying to find the clearing, but I am safe and secure in the knowledge that with Gods love and guidance I find more peace and joy every day in different ways. I have such a wonderful wife that loves me unconditionally; I have amazing friends at Church and college who care deeply for how I am getting on and I just know that this is the way that life is supposed to be.
Unravelling
Every time I log on to my computer I see the view from my Dad's house, looking out onto the beauty that is Loch Long, West Scotland. It reminds me of when I used to go fishing as a young boy. Often we used to walk along the rocks at low tide looking for spinners and other hooks that had been snagged on the rocks - sometimes we would find a lot and sometimes nothing, but when we did find some it was interesting that the fishing wire or 'gut' was always tangled. This morning, it made me think of Christmas lights - they always seem to be tangled when you get them out the box too. Its amazing how things like fishing gut, christmas tree lights and any kind of rope, string or wiring can become tangled without any real effort at all, often we are left baffled with how it came to be that way, then it takes ages to unravel it. Sometimes it is so tightly wound that it seems it will be impossible to get it free.
This morning I awoke to find my heart like this. I am not sure how it has become so bound, I just know that it does not feel particularly free to feel and express its love. If it remains wound up, I will not enjoy any part of the day - it will be numb to experiences that normally may give me joy, I could just stumble my way through the day feeling as though I am not really involved in what is going on around me - my life in fact will be passing me by.
Last night my wife, Jill and I were out having coffee and I was explaining that so often I feel this way and find myself either dwelling on past events that have not gone as I would have liked or expected, or the opposite, worrying about what the future will hold for us or me. I realised that I find it so difficult to just be content in the moment and enjoy the blessing of now.
I believe as a follower of Jesus, he holds the key to this senario. As I was lying in bed last night I realised what was missing from my heart right now - the love of Jesus. People might say: "Well, if you have accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour, then you have received the Love of Jesus", yet I do not always feel His love - He feels so distant much of the time.
Jesus said: "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them." (Jn 14:21).
The small quiet voice inside my heart said last night: "Love, involves action. In order to feel God's love, you cannot just lie on your bed waiting to feel loved, it involves you playing your part too." I am so aware of the fact that I go through so much of my days walking on my own and not feeling God's presence, and yet as I examine my prayer life - or lack thereof - I realise where the solution to this problem lies. How can I love someone and feel love reciprocated when I am not communicating to and with them. If I never or rarely communicated my feelings toward my wife, I would be sure of never feeling love for and from her, why should I expect it to be any different with Jesus?
There have been times in the past, when by finding Elijah's cave (1 Kings 19:9ff), and reflecting on my most recent life events that I am able to unravel because the soft voice of the Holy Spirit reveals the issues and then helps me to let go of things that have causing me being tangled. Yet I do not do this nearly enough, and I have come to the realisation again that so often God is encouraging me to take time out and reflect, yet I do not listen and respond. I confess Lord that I am disobedient to your voice. I am like a child that will not listen to their parent's instruction, only to find themself getting into the bother that their parent warned them about.
When Moses renewed the covenant with the people of Israel before crossing the Jordan he said: "Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him." (Deut 30:19-20).
The author of Ecclesiastes wrote: "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong." (Ecc 5:1).
When Jesus took Peter, James and John onto the mountain to pray God spoke directly to them- "Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!'" (Mk 9:7)
Jesus tells us: "the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (Jn 14:26)
And James reminds us: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." (Jas 1:23-25)
So how does my heart become tangled?
When I am not proactively seeking God to listen to His voice through the Spirit, my heart is like the garden, that unattended will be at the mercy of weeds.
Yet I can be confident that the Holy Spirit is always available to teach me and remind me of the truth. I must be listening and then be disciplined to act in accordance with the truth.
And so my prayer today is: Lord, please grant me the willingness, discipline and discernment needed for the daily journey of faith - to seek your voice in the quietness, to listen to your words of truth and life and to respond in obedience.
This morning I awoke to find my heart like this. I am not sure how it has become so bound, I just know that it does not feel particularly free to feel and express its love. If it remains wound up, I will not enjoy any part of the day - it will be numb to experiences that normally may give me joy, I could just stumble my way through the day feeling as though I am not really involved in what is going on around me - my life in fact will be passing me by.
Last night my wife, Jill and I were out having coffee and I was explaining that so often I feel this way and find myself either dwelling on past events that have not gone as I would have liked or expected, or the opposite, worrying about what the future will hold for us or me. I realised that I find it so difficult to just be content in the moment and enjoy the blessing of now.
I believe as a follower of Jesus, he holds the key to this senario. As I was lying in bed last night I realised what was missing from my heart right now - the love of Jesus. People might say: "Well, if you have accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour, then you have received the Love of Jesus", yet I do not always feel His love - He feels so distant much of the time.
Jesus said: "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them." (Jn 14:21).
The small quiet voice inside my heart said last night: "Love, involves action. In order to feel God's love, you cannot just lie on your bed waiting to feel loved, it involves you playing your part too." I am so aware of the fact that I go through so much of my days walking on my own and not feeling God's presence, and yet as I examine my prayer life - or lack thereof - I realise where the solution to this problem lies. How can I love someone and feel love reciprocated when I am not communicating to and with them. If I never or rarely communicated my feelings toward my wife, I would be sure of never feeling love for and from her, why should I expect it to be any different with Jesus?
There have been times in the past, when by finding Elijah's cave (1 Kings 19:9ff), and reflecting on my most recent life events that I am able to unravel because the soft voice of the Holy Spirit reveals the issues and then helps me to let go of things that have causing me being tangled. Yet I do not do this nearly enough, and I have come to the realisation again that so often God is encouraging me to take time out and reflect, yet I do not listen and respond. I confess Lord that I am disobedient to your voice. I am like a child that will not listen to their parent's instruction, only to find themself getting into the bother that their parent warned them about.
When Moses renewed the covenant with the people of Israel before crossing the Jordan he said: "Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him." (Deut 30:19-20).
The author of Ecclesiastes wrote: "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong." (Ecc 5:1).
When Jesus took Peter, James and John onto the mountain to pray God spoke directly to them- "Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!'" (Mk 9:7)
Jesus tells us: "the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (Jn 14:26)
And James reminds us: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does." (Jas 1:23-25)
So how does my heart become tangled?
When I am not proactively seeking God to listen to His voice through the Spirit, my heart is like the garden, that unattended will be at the mercy of weeds.
Yet I can be confident that the Holy Spirit is always available to teach me and remind me of the truth. I must be listening and then be disciplined to act in accordance with the truth.
And so my prayer today is: Lord, please grant me the willingness, discipline and discernment needed for the daily journey of faith - to seek your voice in the quietness, to listen to your words of truth and life and to respond in obedience.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Blog Therapy
The process of blogging can be amazingly therapeutic. I have a friend at Christian college, who after suffering from a relationship breakup has gone through an incredibly tough time, yet has found joy and therapy in blogging his thoughts almost every day. What has been amazing about this is that God has revealed some amazing things to him through this time of suffering, and it is so clear that he has grown so much closer to Him through this time. I must admit I am somewhat envious that he has had this experience, yet I cannot help but be more joyful and amazed at God's healing presence in his life through this time.
I can remember some times in my life over the past year or so that I hit rock bottom - it was like all support structures had been removed and there was just me in this dark pit, wondering how I happened to be here. Interestingly it was always after a prolonged period of time in which I was working really hard without maintaining a balance to my life - I was getting burnt out and only by shutting down, could my mind, emotions and spirit recuperate. I am not sure how I have gotten to this position in my life, but I understand that I have a really hard time saying 'no' to things - my pride keeps telling me that I must be involved in particular things in order to make a significant contribution - as if God needs my help!! Unfortunately, even though I know intellectually that He will accomplish things regardless of me, I still form my identity by what I can do and achieve rather than who I am in Christ. The funny thing is though that when I have hit rock bottom -- to my wife and others looking on, it seems worrying, yet I am normally at complete peace down there because it is where God is most evident - at the point that I need Him the most.
I caught myself saying to someone the other day - "I am an activist" with regards my leadership style. But is this really true or is this a construct of my own to give me an identity? In many ways I am somewhat confused about who I really am at this point of my life. Even when doing the Myers Briggs Indicator there was a great deal of uncertainty whether I was an S or N and a T or F - the scores were so close together that it just left me unsure - a number of the type descriptions I could relate to depending what mood I happened to be in that day.
I have just been given a leadership role at College - Student President. Internally, I fight with the title because as people congratulate me it just feeds my pride and ego. I know that I need to be down on my knees before God even more now because as John Maxwell states - you have to give up to go up, its the Law of Sacrifice: as your responsibility increases you rights decrease. Yet my battle with pride is a constant weary endeavour that wears me out quite often . The frustrating thing can be is that I know the alternative - to be humble and content with the here and now. Yet it is so difficult to achieve that contentment in the midst of a busy life. How can I achieve this?
Jesus says: Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I wil give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Mt 11:28-30
It is so often easy to say but so hard to realise and experience this truth. How do you find the true authentic Jesus in the middle of it all? When He was stretched, He went to the mountain or out onto the lake and prayed...........
I can remember some times in my life over the past year or so that I hit rock bottom - it was like all support structures had been removed and there was just me in this dark pit, wondering how I happened to be here. Interestingly it was always after a prolonged period of time in which I was working really hard without maintaining a balance to my life - I was getting burnt out and only by shutting down, could my mind, emotions and spirit recuperate. I am not sure how I have gotten to this position in my life, but I understand that I have a really hard time saying 'no' to things - my pride keeps telling me that I must be involved in particular things in order to make a significant contribution - as if God needs my help!! Unfortunately, even though I know intellectually that He will accomplish things regardless of me, I still form my identity by what I can do and achieve rather than who I am in Christ. The funny thing is though that when I have hit rock bottom -- to my wife and others looking on, it seems worrying, yet I am normally at complete peace down there because it is where God is most evident - at the point that I need Him the most.
I caught myself saying to someone the other day - "I am an activist" with regards my leadership style. But is this really true or is this a construct of my own to give me an identity? In many ways I am somewhat confused about who I really am at this point of my life. Even when doing the Myers Briggs Indicator there was a great deal of uncertainty whether I was an S or N and a T or F - the scores were so close together that it just left me unsure - a number of the type descriptions I could relate to depending what mood I happened to be in that day.
I have just been given a leadership role at College - Student President. Internally, I fight with the title because as people congratulate me it just feeds my pride and ego. I know that I need to be down on my knees before God even more now because as John Maxwell states - you have to give up to go up, its the Law of Sacrifice: as your responsibility increases you rights decrease. Yet my battle with pride is a constant weary endeavour that wears me out quite often . The frustrating thing can be is that I know the alternative - to be humble and content with the here and now. Yet it is so difficult to achieve that contentment in the midst of a busy life. How can I achieve this?
Jesus says: Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I wil give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Mt 11:28-30
It is so often easy to say but so hard to realise and experience this truth. How do you find the true authentic Jesus in the middle of it all? When He was stretched, He went to the mountain or out onto the lake and prayed...........
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