Kid Connections

Wisdom

I'm thinking a lot at the moment about wisdom and what the Word of God says about it (not to mention remembering OT Theology classes at ICC).  So here's a few little proverbs that talk about wisdom in relation to the 'fear of the Lord'.

Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
   fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
   and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Prov 15:33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom,
   and humility comes before honor.

Wisdom is more than head knowledge, it's about lifestyle - a lifestyle that seeks to put God first and submitting to the authority of God's Word, applying it as truth for our lives as revealed in Scripture to the glory of God.  This leads to life in all its fullness.  Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."  John 10:10

The 'thief' is a liar and a deceiver, and seeks to pervert the kingdom economy of God - aiming for us to see God's ways as foolish.  We must be wise and see with spiritual eyes that we might taste all that God has in store for us.

  

Remembering

A bit of a sad blog today.  This is the 4th anniversary of when we lost our tiny son Dylan at just 20 weeks into my 4th pregnancy.  I think it's right to remember and to feel sad ... for what we went through and for who we lost.  However, in knowing our child is experiencing something not restricted to the temporal life on earth, it makes our sadness seem rather selfish.  I do look at our baby boy, who is nearly 9 months now, and know the reality of what I lost so much more.  I feel sad that I missed seeing my other son grow and develop - his smile, his laugh, his character quirks, his cuddles ... but I am so aware that if he had survived we wouldn't have our 4th daughter and she is such a blessing to us.  If I hadn't miscarried at 12 weeks with my 6th pregnancy we wouldn't have our beautiful son who brings so much joy to us all.  We named both the children that we lost and I think it's right to remember them, for who they are - even though they are not here with us - but it's right to remember too that whilst there has been much grief in our loss there has been much joy in what we have been given.  All these events and experiences make us who we are - as a wife and a husband, as a mum and a dad, as unique people who God ministers to and transforms as we share the experiences together. 

Life happens.  Sometimes it's happy and sometimes it's sad but at all times God is with us and offers peace and hope regardless of our circumstances.  Nothing is impossible for God and nothing is impossible with God.  Blessed be His name!

Rain!

I'm sitting watching the rain pelting down outside and listening to an old Kensington Temple CD called Latter Rain - ironically!  It always reminds me of two things: the first is studying the book of Joel as part of our Old Testament studies in 3rd year at ICC with Eryl Rowlands, where, on analysing the text and exploring the accuracy and interpretation, it was obvious that 'teacher for righteousness' was the more accurate translation than the use of 'early rain' in Joel 2:23; and secondly, it reminds me of a different time in my life when I was so aggressively thirsty for the presence and outpouring of God in all sorts of places ... at home, work, church, outreach events, house group, etc. 

I can't think if there was a time when I began to stop 'thirsting' but as a friend shared the fantastic story of what happened at their church last week I was very aware that my life has changed so much from that time.  My friend told us that as someone shared with the congregation near the beginning of the service, the power of God fell so strongly that it was about an hour and twenty minutes later that he realised that they wouldn't be getting to the sermon that morning!  So it's got me thinking ... what's changed for me?  I most definitely believe that God works powerfully and manifests His presence in awesome ways.  I most definitely believe that this can be anywhere - not just in a church building or 'special' meeting.  And I most definately think that I have gotten to the point where being at peace, enjoying my own space, enjoying time with my family, and knowing the God of experience has become enough for me.  But is it enough ...?  I don't have the God chasing bug nor do I think there is anything wrong in expecting the experiencial in our gatherings (at any time), but I do wonder if I am at fault for not making more of an effort to 'seek more of God' and turn up at as many events as I can, or if I have simply matured enough to be content 'in knowing God' in all of my life?

Is there a danger in being 'content' and satisfied with what we have?   

God - I love Your love!

"Praise the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me.  Hallelujah!  Jesus is alive!!"

What do you think about as we near Easter Sunday?  I love the build up to Easter and love the idea of having a vigil into Sunday morning and in one voice all over the world shouting "He is risen, He is risen indeed."

The best preach of the cross I've ever heard was at an Alpha weekend many years ago when my friend Billy spoke just prior to us having communion together. We nearly needed a mop to dry up all the tears as people were so visibly moved. I dread the possibility that the reality of the cross and God's self-giving sacrifice of love is preached so badly across the nation that those hearing miss the very essence of the gospel.  God is the focus of the cross as God engages very specifically with His creation!  At the cross, God in Christ is reconciling the world to himself, yet so often I hear poor misrepresentations of the awesomeness that is 'the perfect atoning sacrifice'.  I don't want to hear 'the cross is about us and how God deals with us as wretched sinners by venting his anger at Christ instead of us so he could look at us'.  That just obliterates the Trinity and the beautiful thing that is happening.  God's love is poured out in the very blood of Christ the Son as he suffers and dies with cries of 'it is finished' - and the Father turns his face away sharing in the suffering and death of the Son - the skies go dark and the temple curtain is powerfully ripped from top to bottom, a picture of God's very heart being ripped open as God deals with that which separates us from God - sin!

As Volf says, Christ wasn't reconciling an angry God to a sinful world OR reconciling a sinful world to a loving God.  The problem of sin was only one that God could resolve, so through the cross a way is made open for us to know God and know the fullness of his love, forgiveness, grace and mercy as God reconciles the world to himself.  In that dramatic and powerful act God triumphs and sin, death and hell no longer have power over us.  How can we not fall to our knees and cry out to God as the Spirit convicts our hearts?   How great and awesome is our God!!  God loves you unconditionally and has given you the free gift of faith - will you accept it? 

Pray for those preaching this week and praise God with all your might.  Here's a song you might want to sing as you join the rejoicing believers all over the world:

I love Your love, I love Your love, I love Your love, I love Your love

Sometimes when I feel Your love
as I walk along the busy street,
I whisper Your name under my breath.
And sometimes when I feel Your touch
in the quiet place of my room,
I sing Your name in adoration.

And there are times when I feel like I'm burning,
With Your love so strong and so true.
And in my heart I feel such a yearning:
I will call the world,
to know You love them too.

I love Your love, gonna shout it out aloud.
I love Your love, wanna tell the world about it.
I love Your love, 'cause I found it to be true,
and I live to love You too.

by Paul Oakley