His Majesty...

It is all around us.
It reminds us that the things of the world - the strife, disagreements, problems, etc - will all fade away when Jesus returns.
I look forward to that day.

Death Would Have Been Easier...

When my marriage broke down in July, 1997, I remember thinking that the pain would be easier to deal with if my now ex-husband had died instead of just having left me. I feel exactly the same now about my recent relationship break up.

You see, he lives on the other side of the world. I haven't seen him for over 4 years. Our break up was messy. There was no amicable end like there was with my marriage.

If my last partner had died, I know that I would not be hurting like I am now.

To know and love someone and feel joy and happiness when thinking about him, compared to now feeling hurt, deceived and wronged ... it's painful. Knowing that he's out there enjoying his life without me - with his idiosyncrasies and all - hurts.

He said he loved me, I was his soul mate, he wanted to marry me and be with me always.

But his actions - more to the point, his actions that he didn't know I found out about - proved otherwise.

If he had died and was now sitting in heaven with Jesus; that would be easier to deal with. I know that I wouldn't be missing out (even though I keep telling myself that I'm not really). I know that I would be able to move on faster. I know that I would be able to forgive him.

Death brings such a finality that is easier to accept than just a broken relationship. For me it does anyway. Others, maybe not.

Death means that the person is no longer walking the earth, going about their daily business. Death would mean that he would not have told me that I was confused and to not contact him to communicate my thoughts on him. Death would mean that he would no longer harbour negative thoughts and opinions about me.

Death would mean that it would have been the end of the story.

Yes, our relationship is over and we no longer communicate but there is the nagging feeling within that the story was not ended right. One thing God is teaching me is that this is how the story was meant to end. It was not meant to be a nice ending. I was meant to learn something.

And I have.

I've learnt that there are some things in life that can't be explained, and that I have to wait until Heaven to get to the end of the story.

But death would have made the end seem nearer. For now, though, I will wait.

Flesh versus Spirit...

I bought and watched a Louie Giglio DVD on earlier in the week called "Alive". It's a two part DVD about how our life is a miracle. Talk 1 is titled "Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" and Talk 2 is titled "New Life. New Genes". Here is the blurb on the DVD -

"Your life is a miracle. From the smallest molecule to the most complex sytems in the human body, every facet of who you are has been created with miraculous detail. And running throughout each of the trillion cells in your body is a code that speaks of an incredible truth - that you are fearfully and wonderfully made, formed and ordained by the very hand of God.

But no matter how miraculous the detail of our physical bodies may be, they are ultimately (if not quickly) breaking down - a stunning reality considering that within our flesh resides an eternal soul. What matters most in life is not how good or how bad we may think we are in our quest to reach heaven, but whether or not our souls have come to unending life through Jesus Christ. In Alive! We’ll look through the microscope to explore the complexities God has intricately created within, and look to the Cross to discover the life that He offers for our souls...a spiritual birth that far surpasses everything else in this world."

I find Louie Giglio's DVDs to be amazing, and so full of encouragement that I almost burst from excitement and amazement from the greatness of God after watching them. I think I love the DVDs because they give an insight into the fact, as Louie likes to remind us in them, that we are so incredibly small in the scheme of things.

Louie talks about how while our bodies are breaking down our spiritual life is being renewed daily. I find comfort in that, and in keeping with this week's Yes to God Tuesday post on being fearful, I am focussing on that fact to stop me from succumbing to worldly opinions and thoughts. What I mean by that is that I making sure that I do not fall into the trap of worrying about the world and its temptations so that I can focus on my spiritual self and ultimately my eternal destination.

Flesh versus Spirit. It surrounds us every day. The human body being used as a means to coerce, tempt, betray, confuse, ridicule and trap us into a wrong way of thinking. Even though I'm told I do OK in the body image stakes, I still suffer from a lack of self-esteem from it. That is a silly way of thinking being that I am made in the image of God, but this is an important lesson for me to learn regardless. It doesn't matter if I have a cellulite free body, it doesn't matter if I (like I recently spotted in cyberspace) drape myself over a motorbike scantily dressed, it all doesn't matter ultimately as this human body I live in is only temporary. Once I get to heaven, zap, it's gone!

It's very difficult as women in this society to feel confident about ourselves, and our make up (no, not the shop bought stuff), when other women parade themselves around scantily dressed, spending fortunes on the so called ‘perfect’ body, and using their bodies to attract attention to be ‘better’ than the rest of us. The first online Bible study I did on "Behind Those Eyes" by Lisa Whittle discussed this issue and talked about a female college student, male college students and sprinklers. Yes, you can guess the rest from just those three components! God didn't intend for us to use our bodies for our own purposes, or to seek gratification from others. Our bodies are merely a shell in which our spirit, and our soul, resides while we are here on this earth. Our bodies are to be used to house our eternal self until we reach heaven. Our bodies are ultimately to be used for the purpose in which God intended, not how we see fit.

When I really stop and think that I am created in the image of God, it's quite a startling thought. Everything about my being is placed exactly where it needs to be for it to function correctly. And like Louie talks about in his DVD, if one thing is out of place then it affects the rest of the body. I find it very off putting when I see images of women who are so fake and artificial that it's scary. I also find it very off putting when I see images of women who use their 'perfect' body to belittle other women who are not the same. The old saying of "beauty is only skin deep" is certainly true, as it doesn't matter what we look like on the outside, it's what's in our heart and soul that matter.

I pray that I will not feel insecure or envious of these women who parade themselves around like articles for sale. I also pray that I will remember the foundation of my faith and that I am God's Girl, created in His image, loved unconditionally by Him, and that those things are all that matter ultimately. If women choose to flaunt themselves, or direct their attention towards my special someone via these means, then that is their choice and I am not to feel lessened by that. God knows the content of our hearts and I am to trust in Him.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 1:27 (KJV)

Dear Lord, thank you for creating me in your image. That is something to aspire to. That is something to be thankful for. I pray you bless me with the peace I yearn for in this area of my life. I thank you for sustaining me with your love, and loving me unconditionally. In Jesus Name, Amen.