Dear God

You are love.

You are big, really big.

You know me; you know everything!

You are the creator of all things.

Thank you for nature.

The sky, trees, clouds, fire.

Thank you for relationships.

My family, friends, getting to know strangers.

You are forgiving.

You take it upon yourself to pay my debt.

You won't let me wallow in guilt.

You help me love you more.

Sorry for my thoughts, words, and actions.

When I know I'm doing wrong.

And when I don't even notice.

Sorry for not following you fully.

Thank you for freedom.

No more worries because of you.

Thank you for changing me.

I'd be stuck otherwise.

Please give me wisdom.

And strength and courage.

To be a better disciple.

Please keep me praying.

Help others too.

Friends and followers.

In their struggles or joys.

To hold fast to you.

Amen

I am not a scientist

In the hemisphere I live in, it is winter right now. 5 layers of clothing, slippers everywhere, the clouds of steam with every breath. What I especially love is curling up right near the fireplace. Not only is it warm, but to me watching fire is an amazing thing.

Orange tentacles push against the glass, ripples spread over the burning embers, and for me, it looks like the fire is breathing.

Now you can get all sciencey on me and say that fire is just heat, some fuel, and oxygen all combusting and creating a chemical reaction, which emits light and heat energy. I have been to school long enough to know that fire isn't a monster and that it isn't alive. But once in a while I let my imagination run wild.

The point of this story is to show why I don't want to be a scientist. I look at fire and I see an animal; I look at a tree and marvel at its beauty; I look at the sky and just let its size engulf me. I don't mind its origins, its inner working, and its purpose left unexplained.

I respect scientists, and I know that without some people looking deeper into nature many good things in this world wouldn't have been invented. And I am happy to admit I am not someone like that.

I am so glad God has created everyone unique, with different skills, different ideas, and different futures so we can share and learn from each other. What skills has God given you?

Never Alone

A weight has lifted off my shoulders I never knew was there. The sunshine is brighter, the laughter is louder, and the joy is overwhelming.

I'm already a Christian so it isn't a conversion I am talking about. But the fact that another part of God's plan in making me more like him has fallen into place. I have a new understanding of God's grace.

I knew God had saved us, so striving to be more like Jesus was our goal. To glorify God our purpose. I knew that and strived to live my life in order that in everything I do, I would be a walking, talking, advertisement for the amazingness of God. When I stuffed up, I praised God that he forgives, and go back to trying to glorify him again.

Maybe I had already understood everything I needed to know, but this week I saw it from a different perspective. I understood that in the above paragraph, the only thing that matters as a Christian is the first 6 words. "I knew God had saved us".

It doesn't matter if all my ministry fails. It doesn't matter if I always struggle with prayer. It doesn't matter that I will never be the "perfect Christian". Because God has already saved me.

Maybe that is obvious to you, but it wasn't to me. Maybe the fact that I am still at school means I feel like I have to work hard to get the marks I deserve. So I need to strive to be more godly to get God to love me more.

But it isn't like that! And the greatest news of all is, now I know that, I'll be serving God out of gratitude, not out of servitude. It won't be a burden it will be an honour and blessing.

So thanks for reading this confession. That I came to understand that even if I fail, I will be Never Alone.

God's Economics

Economics seems to be the buzz. Newspapers write feature articles on it, students study it, people share their opinions on it, and politicians manipulate it. With the global economic climate not doing so well, and the fact that the problem deals with lots of money, (in the trillions), it is a legitimate concern to be worried about.

It has been interesting for me studying economics to see the extent to which economics governs our lives. Everyone needs money, and everyone wants more money. The fact that a whole industry has been created to cater for the above demand shows the degree in which the human race is steeped in this desire. Even more interesting is the fact that human well-being is mostly measured by economic factors. How much money someone has.

I understand there are legitimate struggles for those with little access to money. Since I have a computer, I am already in the top 1% of the richest people in the world. So what I am not saying is that money isn't important. It is!

But I think God's economics will look different. Money will be used, but won't be coveted. Wealth will be a blessing to be shared, not a treasure to be guarded. God's economics will benefit humans, not enslave them.

So when I hear news of a market crash, I will be praying. Praying for the millions of people who have lost money, that they will not be devastated. But also, that they will understand that no matter what, they can never lose God.

How to write a song #2

I went busking last Wednesday. My guitar and I, in the cool wind of Winter, sitting on the damp pavement, enjoying the glances of strangers acknowledging the presence of my music. I went through my repertoire once, maybe twice, and decided I wanted more variety.

Skimming through the range of music I have played in the years gone by, I hit upon a bulk of songs that were usually reserved for singing in buildings, with other people singing along, but I knew how to play them, and I liked them, so I decided to go for it. I started playing church songs.

Not until a couple came up to me and said "We love Sovereign Grace music! Which church do you go to?" did I understand how much of an encouragement I was to the occasional Christian walking about. Not only was it encouraging to them, it was for me too, as I sang the words "So that everyone might know your name / Let Your Kingdom Come" in the middle of a crowded mall. I really felt like I was doing God's work then!

Unlike what the post title says, this is not a post about me writing a song. It is a post about me continuing God's song, the call for everyone to come to know him, and for the return of Jesus with his glory.

Without Eyes

Many of my ideas for this blog come while I walk to and from my house. I always try and forget how long I have to go or how tired I am, and let my thoughts take over. Recently, I have walked this path so many times I have challenged myself in taking as many steps as possible with my eyes closed. I have slowly progressed and now I can take 20 steps with only my ears and feet to guide me. Without eyes, my other senses take over.

Since it was an unusual experience (I get enjoyment out of many random things), I decided to go without eyes again, this time at a park. I did not move, but I tried to recall my surroundings by the sounds I heard. Do you know how many different sounds you can hear in a park?

I heard some kids laughter, a bus rumbling by, the creak of the swings, the rustle of the leaves, the whisper of insects feet. The longer I sat there, the more attuned I became to the input in my ears, and it felt I was experiencing a brand new world.

I often hear people talk about the beauty of creation and how creative our God is, which is true. But God's creation is not just taken in with our eyes. It is breathed in, it is heard, it is experienced, it is felt. The beauty of the world is for all our senses, and I am hoping I can come to appreciate every single one.

God Still Speaks

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, the guy who had to announce destruction on nearly everyone around him, the man who was rejected by his own countrymen, living with God as his only companion for 40 odd years. He did God's will and suffered for it.

Paul, the apostle to the gentiles, the guy who wrote half the New Testament, the man who sacrificed everything for the people he preached the gospel to, so they would be saved. He did God's will and suffered for it.

Two people from the bible I have learnt more about this week, and I can't help thinking that God seemed to be so much more powerful and obvious in his actions than in this modern age. Jeremiah gets his lips touched by God's hands, Paul meets Jesus face to face, I get nothing.

I was wrong.

God still speaks as clearly as ever. He calls me just like he did Jeremiah. He gives me strength just like he did to Paul. And I have a great privilege they never had. God's word, written down, easily accessible, readily understood (maybe with some help, but still...)

So why am I still unsatisfied? Looking back at Jeremiah and Paul, I see another difference between them and me. They, knowing they would suffer for it, lived their lives in line with God's will.

So I need to pray, and maybe you need to pray too, that we can continually switch our will for Gods will, and remember that God still works as much as ever today as he did the first day. Continually renewing, strengthening and saving his creation.