Fixed

To fix our mind on Christ. That is the only thing.
Keeping our gaze, determined on Him.
No distraction, to shift us off course.
The most admirable,
The purest light,
The richest treasure.
Why set our eyes on anything else?
To fix our mind on Christ. That is the only thing.
Eyes upon us too,
Dare we let His meet ours?
And risk, His Holiness infiltrate,
The depths of our souls.
Revealing every displeasing thing,
Exposing it to the light.
To fix our mind on Christ, that is the only thing.
Can we not look?
Have we failed?
Shame run us aground?
Hope by his dear grace,
We be caught in his arms,
Before the tide, takes us away.
To fix our mind on Christ, that is the only thing.

Ambagsman Van Liefde

Lief Here - liewe Here – lieflike Here
Ambagsman van liefde
Bereiker van volmaaktheid
kompoinis van saligheid
Direkteur van volwassenheid
Lief Here - liewe Here – lieflike Here
Arties van ons ewigheid
Breker van ons goddeloosheid
Connoisseur van ons persoonlikheid
Dromer van ons vryheid
Lief Here - liewe Here – lieflike Here

“Holy” Suicide

Kill desire
To live the lie
Castrate passion
In hopes of freedom
Drown ambition
To fit the bill
Suppress emotion
To keep appearance
Gag action
To avoid mistake

This is not sacrifice
It’s suicide
And it’s a lie

Forget appearance
and dance
Confront life
and grow
Renew passion
and excel
Revive ambition
and thrive
Take action
and live

Who?

There is a great General. Master of battle. Lord of armies. Commander in Chief. He sets his gaze upon the earth, looking, yearning and asking: Who will serve me?

Who will serve for me? Who will fight for me? Who will speak for me? Who will live for me?

There is a Great Composer. Lover of song. He sets his gaze upon the earth, looking, yearning and asking: Who will listen to me?

Who will listen for me? Who will sing for me? Who will dance for me? Who will be joyous for me?

There is a Great husbandman. Gardner of grace. Sower of love. Reaper of plenty. He sets his gaze upon the earth, looking, yearning and asking: Who will work my fields?

Who will feed the sheep for me? Who will tend the garden for me? Who will plant the seeds for me? Who will bring in the crop for me?

There is a Great Friend. Brother in arms. Champion of peace. Restorer of relationship. He sets his gaze upon the earth, looking, yearning and asking: Who will declare allegiance to me?

Who will share food and drink for me? Who will take whip and scorn for me? Who will give a hug and a kiss for me?

There is a Great Father. Faithful to bride. Provider of plenty. Daddy to the abandon.  He sets his gaze upon the earth, looking, yearning and asking: Who will love me?

Who will love for me? Who will obey me?  Who will be all that I have for them to be?

There is a Great One. He sets His gaze upon the earth, looking, yearning and asking: Who will be my hands, my feet, my heart, my love?

His words a-thunder, His eyes afire. He sees all, knows all; what was, what is, what is to come. Who will pray? Who will love? Who will give - forgive? Who will live? Who will go?

22 Lessons from Unpacking in India

For those who need some context, I’ve just moved into a new house with all my old stuff, half of which needed to be re-assembled upon arrival. So here is what I’ve learned, and if you are wise, take heed my friend:

1. Plan way in advance
2. But be ready to improvise, life is not subject to your plans
3. Don’t believe the truck driver when he says he knows how to get to your place
4. Be sure to have an interpreter on hand
5. It helps to know people who know people
6. When offered help, don’t act polite, accept immediately
7. Except when its random people on the street, they just want lots of money
8. Work in teams: Un-loaders, carriers, un-packers and arrangers
9. Make sure there’s a lady around to make everyone tea (it helps if you’ve stocked up on clean water)
10. Take one step (or box) at a time
11. Practice hand signals before the time (for when you cant find the interpreter)
12. Practice building lots of puzzles before hand
• Make sure puzzle pieces are mixed with other puzzle  pieces
• Figure it out without looking at the picture on the box
• This will train your brain to handle the assembly of complicated furniture
13. Always keep a pocketknife in hand, it will become your best friend.
14. Your second best friend is toilet paper
15. Also don’t forget your friends: Mr Screwdriver, Mr Hammer, Mrs Broom and Mrs Snacks
16. When in doubt, turn item upside down and try again
17. If the glove fits, it doesn't necessarily mean it belongs there
18. Sometimes, you have to make the glove fit
19. If at first you fail, hammer harder
20. If failure persists, wait an hour and try again: by some mysterious magic, you will have an 80% more likely chance of success
21. It is possible to survive on a diet of cookies and tea (but not recommended for children and pregnant women)
22. Reward all your voluntary helpers with chocolates and thank you cards.

Now you too are ready for the extravagant adventure of setting up home in India. Follow this advice and success will only be a week or two, a couple of cuts and bruises, and a handful of headaches away!

Reserved for One

Idols abound in this life. Worthless Idols that do us no good*.

Carved out images of powerless beings. Detestable forms of unholy things. Mute, dumb, blind, senseless. Cold stone, lifeless eyes.

Oh yes. “I renounce these things!” says Mr. Christian. “Who do you think I am?  Would I behave like the heathen of the east?”

Then he goes and sets up idols in his heart.*

Yes, on that pedestal of the heart, reserved for one he clutters now; to display those things he thinks will gain, eternal life:

His Graciousness “My-experience”

Lord “Precious-poverty”

and

King “Good-works”

see

on that pedestal of the heart

Idols abound in this life

but

It’s reserved for one

only

The Holy Son

*Jr 16:19; Eze 14:7

The Great “I AM”

He does what He does
He wills what He wills
He goes where He goes
He says what He says
He moves what He moves

Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord

He heals who He heals
He breaks what He breaks
He cares when He cares
He sees who He sees
He finds who He finds

Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord

He means what He means
He gives what He gives
He loves when He loves
He frees who He frees

The Great “I AM”
He is who He is
He is the Lord!
Praise the Lord!