Jesus the real celebrity !

There’s a book by a guys called John Powell called ‘Why am I afraid to tell who I am?’ the response on a person he asked was ‘because if I tell you who I am you may not like it, and that is all that have’. This dialogue captures our deep need to be accepted and understood. Most of the time that’s good but there are times we need to be clear what we stand for. I think relationship with Jesus Christ transcends denomination but it has a simple and clear message. God stepped into time in the form of a human because He loved us and wanted to give us a way by which we could freely choose to reject or accept His love. His death paid the price of sin and His resurrection gave Him and those who invite Him into their heart, victory in the spiritual war which has raged since time began. Many choose to reject anything with even a whiff of God about it – that is their free choice. Many others choose to embark on a personal voyage of discovery of who Jesus is as they journey through life.

This week in America they had the Grammy awards. It’s my understanding after reading various media reports that it was offensive to the point where one Christian singer Natalie Grant who was nominated for an award got up and left. If sex sells and it does, shocking sex sells more. On hearing she'd left the event, the organism that is social media exploded in multicoloured hype trying to draw her into argument about her views on Katy Perry’s satanic ritual, Beyonce`s twerking, or the mass gay marriage ceremony which took place as part of the events ‘entertainment’… 

But this woman gave such a wise response and I quote – 

“We left the Grammy’s early. I have many thoughts about the show tonight, most of which are probably best left inside my head. But I’ll say this: I have never been more honoured to sing about Jesus and For Jesus. And I’ve never been more sure of the path that I’ve chosen”.

What I love about this is she didn't criticise or judge or get caught up in foolish controversies which entangle. Nope she pointed us all to the only real celebrity, Jesus Christ and in doing so highlighted the simple truth that He alone is worthy of all glory honour and praise.

Hugs Ruth

I Belong to Jesus - if found please return...

(Ephesians 1:11-13) - Our Identity should steam from whose we are not what we do…

For a long time I’ve been a Mum, (my youngest has gone to uni) a privileged job to be sure, but Mum is who I’ve been and who I am is feels kinda packaged in what I do. Like the role of wife, teacher, leader, counsellor, speaker, – these roles have required me to do something which for me has shaped who I am. My dreams put on hold till ‘someday’ because I was needed, but now it’s just me needing me and I’m not sure what I need!

For the last some months now I’ve been praying for direction and purpose, I can but hope I’m going in the right direction. However if we’re really honest, the not knowing aspect of life can birth fear so that on occasions we freeze and ‘wait on the Lord’.  I know I can be such a spiritual Woose! … We all have a basic need to belong, to be accepted and loved I really don’t want to be rejected by God. In my head I know ‘He will never leave me or forsake me’ but because at times I forget what I mean to God, the reality of His word escapes me completely. I forget the price He paid for me. I forget the times God’s shown His faithfulness and bailed me out of another fine mess! You see guys, we can acclimatise to our setting, just going through the motions, being defined by what we do. This breeds a false reality because we are more than what we do.

I guess this year I’m embarking on becoming ‘the me’ God created me to be. It takes a conscious effort to set aside what we assume others expect of us, keeping it simple. Just pondering - who I am to God? What does He have to say and what is it He wants of me? So here’s what I’m gonna try and do. I’m going to accept this new situation - perhaps rather than feel bereft at my loss of identity I can carve out (with God’s help) something new, something useful and pleasing. There are new adventures to be had, new experiences yet untapped.  Perhaps this time of change is the best thing that’s ever happened to me yet! Perhaps it's time to dust off those daft dreams and ponder the possibilities knowing I can relax and trust I’m ok, me and God are good and we can do this new thing together… whoever I become and however that might look.

Hugs Ruth x