Bitter at Christmas?

We talk about peace at Christmas at the same time, however, we harbour bitterness in our hearts judging others, avoiding previous friends, looking down on neighbours who have more and treating co-workers and leaders at work and church with deeply-rooted contempt and self-righteousness. Peace cannot come to hearts like this…let go!

Bitterness

Bitterness pervades the room as she walks across the floor.
You do not know where she comes from or where she is going anymore.
You recognise the taste so strong and even though you know it’s wrong – you are quite happy to let her show.
Bitterness of things gone by, that you never did let go.
Bitterness of things to see that others have but – you just don’t.
Opportunities to forgive – but you decide you surely won’t.
Bitterness and jealousy a couple made in hell.
Will you hold on forever or will you, might you tell…
Your Lord about your struggle with bitterness and strife?
For when we let her go – then He can truly bring us life.
A life worth living to the full, with suffering yes, but rich in mercies,
A life of forgiveness and everlasting sweetness.

Don’t let bitterness steal your joy,
The only winner – the one who came – to lie, steal and destroy.

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

God in the lives of ordinary people

http://

Conviction or consensus?

Maggie Thatcher’s death has sparked numerous controversies and much reflection about politics, the role of women, war, success, legacy, history and – Conviction.

During a tribute to the late Lady Thatcher in the Lords and Commons on 10 April this year, Sir Malclom Rifkind with considerable wit, quoted her as saying: ‘yes I do believe in consensus, there should be a consensus behind my convictions’. He went onto say, he thought at the time she was displaying a little known sense of humour, but as the years went on, he realised she was being deadly serious. Now, whether this was a tongue-in-cheek remark or not, it is clear that she was, indeed, a conviction politician.

What should we, as Christians, however, make of the debate between consensus leadership versus conviction leadership? Which reflects better leadership as biblically understood?

Reaching out or lashing out? Being a witness to the body of Christ.

We travel outside of our Jerusalem. We are even ready to travel to the ends of the earth to be a good witness for Christ. We are ready, equipped, with our scriptures memorized, able to count down all 66 books of the Bible, serving the community in every which way and handle unbelievers with the utmost care. We really want to be a good witness.

Why is it, however, that we can make all that effort and even pray daily to reach out to those who do not know our Savior, but we hardly spend a second thinking about being a good witness to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? Instead of reaching out, we lash out. And often,

Got a husband? (already, yet?)

Woman who are you?
If you were asked this today, what would you answer?
Would you give your name in response? Would you talk about your job? Would you talk about your kids? Would you refer to your husband’s job as a ‘by proxy’ role definition?

Now some of you will say: ‘what husband? I do not have a husband…’
Are you sure?

Bear with me.

The question of who we are is part of our human struggle of identity and belonging. As women, we face this same struggle – however, always with the backdrop of Genesis 3:16,

“Your desire shall be against your husband, and he shall rule over you”.

We have been beautifully made ( even if you do not think so!). God has given us our spirit, our heart, mind, body, talents and gifts in abundance and life to use all these for His glory!

Our struggle against authority over us, however, hampers us.

Preaching the Word in the Heart of Vienna

If you find yourself in Vienna and would like to hear the Word of God preached in English, worship with others who love Christ, come and join us. And if you do not know Christ, here you will find some answers!!

You Cannot Improve on God’s Design for the Family

You Cannot Improve on God’s Design for the Family.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/07/24/you-cannot-improve-on-gods-design-for-the-family/

Putting ourselves in plain view of the King

Esther, there she was in her royal robes, in plain view of her earthly king, ready to step out in faith for her real King.

Ruth, there she was, all dressed up, putting herself right in the way of her lord, as she followed her mother- in – law and her Lord.

Standing in the inner court, Esther, with a plan in mind, waits to see if the king would beckon her. Her knees most likely trembling, he heart a mix of bravery and fear. She stands between her kings. The earthly one who at any moment could declare her death sentence and her Heavenly Lord and King whom she wishes to serve by rescuing the Jews of that time.

Ruth, following her Naomi’s advice puts her self at the mercy of Boaz. An unlikely union. Nevertheless, being there at the right time and getting his attention – yes even her looks were part of this as with Esther – and God used it. Ruth, a Moabite, in the genealogy of Christ!

Both, in the right place at the right time.

Jealousy is like a devouring lion

Proverbs 27:4

⁴ Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
but who can stand before jealousy?

Jealousy is like a devouring lion. But it does not devour the object or person of desire but rather the person who holds jealousy in their heart. When you watch those who are struggling with this feeling, you can, at times, sense their torment. Their feeling of desire for what you or others have, their feeling of inadequacy, their rising anger that they were not considered worthy to have whatever it is they see in others. It is almost tangible.

When we feel jealousy rising we need to remind ourselves that everything we have is from the Lord. Everything they have, also is from the Lord. Do we dare question our Lord and King? Pray against this type of sin as its root is the enemy`s pride and desire to be God.

When we feel others burning with jealousy against us, there is in deed only one thing we can do. Pray. Pray for their heart and especially for their mind, which has been taken captive by desire and pride.

Can we counsel them? No.
Can we draw close to them and help them see the futility of their thoughts? No. Can we point out their beauty, their richness in Christ, any other things they might have been given. No.
Why? This will only stir their envy further as they would hate for you to show wisdom, insight or any form of superiority (even if you do not mean it as such) on top of everything else. If you, or your position, life or possession are the object of their desire, there is nothing you can do in the flesh. But you can pray as the Lord has already won the battle against sin, specifically pride, the root of all evil. And pray that jealousy would not enter your own heart.

And then remove yourself, for your own sake and theirs, from being close to them.

James 3:16 ESV

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

How suffering sets you free

This sounds like it might be worth a read!!!

http://liberatenet.org/2012/07/glorious-ruin-how-suffering-sets-you-free/?utm_source=LIBERATE+updates&utm_campaign=5b155624a8-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_POSTS&utm_medium=email