Tuesday 31 May 2011

Security...

Living in Lagos, many of us know what it is like to live with security around us. There are security guards posted at the gates to our compounds, homes, places of work etc. Some people have to have guards in their cars whilst driving around or an armed escort following them.

Royalty and heads of state have security posted around them. As a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords, I have security guards posted around me.

"For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways." - Psalm 91:11


               

Sunday 29 May 2011

Reflect On...

Reflecting on, thinking about, filling one's mind with positive, good, honest and beautiful things is not easy. Well, not for me, that is. In today's world where there is so much ugliness, bitterness, anger and sorrow, the beauty seems to be disappearing.

However, in Philippians 4:8 Paul tells us to meditate on, to think about good things. This takes time; it is not a quick flash in the mind. Therefore, as we take time to look for the positive in the murky waters of life, we will begin to see the gems. We will see that tiny, perfectly formed flower amongst the weeds; we will see the pearl in the oyster; we will see the smile on the face of a passer-by and we will begin to see God's touch in our lives and in our hearts.

Meditate on, reflect on the treasures...


Wednesday 25 May 2011

A Voice Behind...

Ok, this is not going to happen everyday. Writing a post, I mean. However, I happen to have a couple of thoughts squirreled away, so I am taking advantage and using them.

Isaiah 30:20-21 tells us that we will hear a voice behind telling us which way to turn. For quite a while I puzzled over this. After all, we are meant to follow the Lord, not walk ahead of Him.

Then the light bulb came on...He is ALL around us. As we are following Him, so He is also able to guide from behind.

Don't you just love God? He is so much more than we can ever imagine!




Tuesday 24 May 2011

Write...

"I feel that God says you must write", she is told. "Huh?? Write?", she says with an intense look of intelligence on her face. So, being the very model of obedience (don't ask her mother or God about that one!), she begins to write...

Thoughts and words come easily. "Aha!" she thinks, "Just put pen to paper or finger to keyboard and the genius emerges." That happens for about two or three lines and then...reality sets in. The words stop flowing, the thoughts become confused and, reading over these gems, she sees the reality. She is a FRAUD! Who on earth does she think she is? She has no training; she cannot even speak in a clear and precise manner, let alone write in one!

But (never start a sentence with 'but')...what if it is God speaking to her, what if she is being disobedient in not wanting to continue, what if...

Going back a few lines to the word 'reality', is it reality or is it doubt? Is it Satan trying to stop her from doing God's will? Is is a lack of confidence that is trying to stop her.

One way for her to find out is to continue putting those little thoughts that come to mind on paper and whilst doing so, to keep seeking the Lord's face and will.

We are constantly told in Scripture to seek the Lord (Ps 105:4; Ps 119:2). Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us that we should not trust our own judgment, but to acknowledge God in everything we do and He will direct our paths.


Monday 23 May 2011

Perfection...




This blog has come to be after a long time of debating as to whether to start it or not. In the end, I decided to do so in order to keep my other blog for my various photo and art challenges and this one is to be the one where I record my experiences and thoughts as I make my personal journey with God.

The other debate I had with myself was what to call this blog. One day I read one of my favourite scriptures Psalm 91:1 and the name "Under His Shadow" came to mind. I must say that this is not an original name! After I set up the blog I came across another one with a similar name, but I decided to keep the name anyway.

I have to say that I am a work in progress - my life verse is Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." In other words, I am not perfect, I make mistakes, I am often wrong - oh my, what a shock!

I think I must have had a perfectionist streak in me all my life. I want things to be perfect. I hate mistakes on my pages. I will unpick my stitches in my embroidery because they are not perfect and so on. (On a side note: I don't unpick my stitches so much now).  I often castigate myself for sinning and falling short of God's standards.

Well, we live in an imperfect world and that is the reason God sent Jesus to our world. He is the only perfect one who ever walked on this earth. He does not expect perfection of me now. He only wants me to accept Him and His saving grace in my life. I cannot do it in my own strength and without God's help.

He has started the work in me and will bring it to perfection on the day I see Him face-to-face.