April's end.

April has come to an end and several things have been happening in and around me.

I'm not participating in the walk to work protests not because I do not realise the inflation but because I recognise, walk to work is a sheep in wolf's clothing. Except the people who have been imprisoned, the young who have lost their lives needlessly, the property which has been destroyed- nothing good has come out of it. It is a platform where little known politicians are trying to get recognition, where those who have outlived their service and appeal are trying to regain favour, where the high use the low to their own ends.

However, that is not the only reason. I realise that I am not bound by the economies of the world being in this world but not of it. God says He shall supply my needs according to His riches in glory. And in this time, I realise that giving is better than receiving- that we should learn to share, learn to not hold back our hands but freely give, and our God is faithful- He loves a cheerful giver. I have learnt a lot about giving in this month and I know God is leading me into a place where I take giving opportunities just as seriously I would receiving opportunities.

You know how a street kid comes up to you and you have a programmed response to say you don't have? That should change- seeing as God gave us not because we deserved. Many of us like to qualify those we give, but that is not how God reached to us in His Son Jesus Christ. He gave regardless how we looked, how bad we were, how good we were- He gave. In this time of seeming inflation, perhaps learn to give, I am sure you will not regret it especially if it is with a cheerful heart.

I was able to complete the ten weeks new life class at Church and I am glad I finally did. After 3 or 4 years in this Church, I did get through that class and hope to go to the next level. It is not really about a certificate or accomplishing something but to me it is about being grounded and getting more involved in Church.

However even as I enjoyed the treasures of God, I had struggles too. I have gone through periods of Romans 7 where the good I want to do I do not, and the bad I would not do , I do. It is a classical sin that so easily besets. In my reading however, I discover that I need to reach the end of myself- I need to die. And yes I have been through this over and over but gracefully God keeps showing me I need to die. I need to reach the end of myself. I need to accept my blindness so Christ can give me sight. It is a struggle I wish I did not have but God is not wasteful. In everything He sees the opportunity to grow me and the things I have learnt from this struggle are invaluable.

As for the crushes I have now and again, this time I think I have learnt to value them less. I have learnt the art of the background study, the counting of the cost. Not making mountain of mole hills and it has helped.

Work. New challenges, my prayer is to rise up to them with inventiveness.

I am waiting for July, for a special reason. Will holla when the time comes.

I also saw my first play in a long time with a dear recently- The Twelfth Night- it was such a dreamy experience- as if I was in heaven. Loved every moment.

Friend of mine got married. Now I also want to get married. Why? Because I know it is possible. lol. Anyway, God knows how mine will happen.

Things I need to work on this month are giving and obeying. So help me God.

April Grace even, and admonition.

April,

spring? Foot of mine! Ever since you came, I have been struggling to grasp myself. You're sending me the same ol earthquake and I keep crumbling with it.

I cannot seem to stop. Whenever I do, c'est juste pour un moment ! (Si c'est le français correct). Anyway, I hate to come here and just whine, so I am going to stop.

The thing about grace is this- the same way the sting of death is in sin, the effect of righteousness is grace. The fruit of sin is death (the child of sin is death), while the fruit of grace is righteousness (the one imputed unto us). Grace is receiving what we do not deserve, and this includes, justification, forgiveness, etc. Sin preempts God's righteous judgement upon the sinner but with Christ in the picture, the judgement falls (fell) upon Jesus.

However, it is not right for us to sin because we receive no judgement anymore from God. "Shall we then who have died to sin walk any longer in it?" (Rom 6:1-4) Rather, we are to consider ourselves dead to sin and walk in the good works prepared for us to do (Eph 2:10)

So why do we still sin?

We sin because we have two problems ever at hand- the mind and the flesh; in other words it could be referred to as one problem- the soul. Whereas our spirit is right with God, if it is not in agreement with the soul, it cannot effect itself on the flesh. We walk in the flesh, not in the Spirit.

According to Galatians-Gal 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The soul comprises our mind, will and emotions. Our flesh is the slave who is either to be led by the soul or the spirit. The problem we have is that our soul and flesh have been thoroughly educated in the ways of sin and self pleasure and therefore, only a thorough buffeting of the two can give us an upper hand.

My life as Christ follower is a process of no longer walking the way I used to. It starts with a willingness to obey and a desire to please God. Sans these two, we are bound to end up in circles of despair and disappointment. To this, we must purpose to devote ourselves to the renewal of our mind through the Word as well as not be empty by just knowing but not doing- knowledge should help us make better choices, better decisions. It ultimately trickles down from your mind to your actions. Mindless actions are like empty sacks. Mindful inaction is a sign of hypocrisy, pride and the whole lot.

How can God help us with ourselves? He has already.

He has given us all we need for life and godliness according to His divine power (2 Pet 1:3). It is upto us to do the right thing. So help us God do it.

Baseline:
That He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Eph 3:16-19