Windows On The Soul

A major recurrent theme in my work is reconciliation , balancing what was thought should be with what was actually received. Computer systems should always be designed to allow for the imperfect environment in which they will have to work. Whether it be checking that all records sent from one place to another arrived intact, or checking the sales records with the cash banked. In the later cases, often thousands of dollars can be spent tracking down discrepancies of a few dollars. Then in the end, if a shortage or surplus remains, it might be “written off” or “recovered” from an employee's pay. Christians individually and corporately should be accountable to each other as well as to God. We have been reconciled with God, in that our lives have come up short of the mark, and having repented, God has “written off” (forgiven) our sin. But the other component of repentance, is promising, with God’s help, to ‘ sin no more ’. An important part of this sanctification process is r...

Whilst the choice of sinning or not is the basic question of human free will, the divine answer is "I will forgive you when you do sin, if you repent". This is the very core of Christianity; an absolutely holy righteous God, who is also absolutely lovingly merciful. In prayer, I sometimes find it better to ask God " What's the question? ". Then I am in a better position to hear the answer that I need, rather than restricting God to answering my very human, sometimes selfish, sometimes silly (in hind-sight) questions. If we ask, we get what we need; if we don't ask, then we simply get what we deserve. ----xxxXxxx---- Mt.6:8 "Your father already knows what you need before you ask Him.  This then is how you should pray..." Jas.4:2 "You have not because you ask not" Lk.11:9 "Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find" Ac.8:22 "Repent of this evil plan...pray to God to forgive you" 1 Jn.1:9 ...

In reading last week, I was reminded of the difference between " accepting " Christ, and making a " decision " for Christ. " Acceptance " does not have the sense of completeness as does " decision ", which implies a cut-off point, a turn around, of burning one's bridges.  A favourite hymn states " I have decided to follow Jesus, No turning back ". A man recently came to the Lord later in life. He felt convicted about a criminal act in his past and sought to confess and make amends. Though he has forgiveness from the Lord, the law of the land did not, and he is now serving a prison sentence. For him, taking up his cross to follow Jesus has had an enormous price. Please pray for him, his family and church, and remember the prison ministries and other prisoners who have come to the Lord through them and are still serving their time. ----xxxXxxx---- Lk.9:23 "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up ...

Last Sunday night, I was taken in a dream on a "tour of inspection". We visited many structures built on stilts over the sea. The inspection was specifically examining the condition of the piles. The weather and time had taken their toll. Some were still serviceable, whilst others had eroded to almost match-sticks. Then my own foundations were examined, and found in need of attention. I was then shown the type of foundations required - concrete as hard as the sea bed on which they stood. I noticed a door-way or hatch in the side and asked the reason - the answer - it was an inspection hatch, and regular inspections were essential. The interpretation is clear. The Christian life stands in the middle of the pounding seas of life; a beacon, a solid anchorage in the storm. But the strength of that life depends on the sureness of its foundations, and over time, laziness, compromises, indiscretions and lack of maintenance allow them to be eroded. Part of our preventative maintenanc...

Confession I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: ... “ We have sinned and done wrong...been wicked and rebelled...turned away from your commands and laws. ”   Daniel 9:4-5 Intercession “ Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the Church to pray over him...prayer offered in faith will make the sick well. ”   James 5:14-15 Worship I prayed to the Lord my God..." O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands. ”   Daniel 9:4 Vision One night, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: " Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent. I am with you. "   Acts 18:9

This is hard teaching Lord. You call sinners to repent and to receive forgiveness according to the riches of your grace, but are you now saying that your forgiveness is conditional? I know that you call me to live a life like you, forgiving others as you have forgiven me, but I do fall far short of your graciousness. Lord, help me by your spirit, to identify, repent of, and be healed of those parts of my being, those attitudes that hold me back from being totally forgiving to others. Lord shine the light of your spirit into my darkest recesses, bringing forth attitudes to be confessed to you, to receive your cleansing forgiveness. - --===X===--- 1 Jn.1:9 "If we confess...faithful and just to forgive" Lk.6:37 "Judge not...be not judged, forgive and be forgiven" Jn.3:18 "He that believes on Him is not condemned" Mic.7:18 "Who is like God, that pardons iniquity, that overlooks transgressions" Lk.3:3 "...preaching the ...

One of my weekly chores at work, in proving our new system, is to assist the accountants in identifying and explaining any discrepancies in the weekly cash-to-sales reconciliation. Whether the discrepancy is $500 or 50c, it has to be tracked down what-ever the cost. At times it seems ludicrous to spend thousands of dollars to track down a few cents. But its a matter of integrity. Like the clock that strikes thirteen, not only is it obviously wrong, but it casts doubt on every other chime the clock has made. In man’s relationship with God, there are two extremes. Some people, full of guilt, can feel that God could not possibly forgive the horrible things they have done. But the much more common and insidious problem is when people think that they are basically good, and that they have no need for their occasional, insignificant, indiscretions (or whatever euphemism for Sin you care to use) to be forgiven ( 1 Jn.5:17 ). Both extremes are lies of the devil.  ALL h...