false freedom

3 REASONS WHY I’M DELIGHTED BEING UNSETTLED

(September 8, 2022) Mama Lava encourages us to be at peace, especially ‘unsettled peace’…

It’s September! For most people on this side of the globe, September means summer holidays have been taken, kids are back in school, routines have been implemented, and plans have been settled for the next several months. This can be a major transition… but often settles into cosy anticipation once it’s all arranged.

Is that how you’re feeling? To be honest, I feel something much deeper this year. I feel overwhelmed by unsettled peace. And I’ve come to view major transitions differently than expected… I’m actually delighted to be unsettled!

Delighted to be unsettled?
Yes, ‘unsettled peace’ sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Yet the two are coexisting easily in my heart! Here’s why…

I know that I know that I know that God is on the throne! He’s bigger than anything that would trouble me and in charge. Nothing gets by Him without His permission.

  • I know He is with me.
  • I know He is for me.
  • I know that nothing can stand against me.
  • I know this is unquestionably my peace!
(more…)

REBELS WITHOUT A CAUSE

(March 19, 2018) Stuart Reynolds reflects …

It was Swiss theologian Karl Barth who said, ‘Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.’

In this connection, do note how the Bible is a commentary on our times today:

  • The Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:1: ‘But mark this: There will be terrible (literally ‘violent’ in the Greek) times in the last days.’

But note also a testimony to God’s triumph in Psalm 2, which begins with these words:

  • ‘Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his Anointed One, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”’

Almost every news story could be introduced, explained and concluded with those words. Bad news is so often linked with rebellion against God or ignorance or breakage of his laws.

Let’s consider three important issues:

1) Humanity’s Petulance
A father was driving to school one day. His youngest child was standing on the back seat. Realising the danger, the father said, ‘Sit down, son, I may have to stop suddenly and I don’t want you to get hurt.’

‘No!’ squeaked the rebellious refusal from the rear, ‘I don’t want to!’ Again the father said, ‘Please sit down, I don’t want you to get hurt.’ ‘No!’ came the stubborn reply. (more…)