What inspires you?

What inspires you?

Life, nature, relationships, a kind word, loved ones, a successful career, the world?

I’ve been thinking long and hard about this one and realised that it can consist of a whole array of elements.

We are after all unique human beings, consisting out of millions of different DNA cells, woven together by the Master’s hand for our unique purpose here on earth.

But stop and pause for a while....

Look deep into your heart and soul....if I should ask you to name the inspiration closest to your heart, what would it be?

Tough question hey?

I know, because I asked myself the same thing. After a bit of soul searching I realised that in my case it’s acceptance and being valued.
To be accepted just the way I am without any false pretence, to be loved unconditionally no matter what other people may say, and the thought that somebody, somewhere is thinking about me.

OK, you might say that this is all emotional stuff, but aren’t we emotional beings who are controlled by our emotions? Show me one person who isn’t afraid of being rejected and who doesn’t need love or comfort?

You see, this is the way we were created.
Why did God create the human?
Didn’t He create us to have a relationship with us?
I think He placed all the emotional needs in us so that we would reach out to Him. If we had everything why would we have needed Him in the first place?

But, in my opinion, isn’t it a case of God needing us more?
He who has everything and can create anything....
So why did He had the need to create me and you?
Why did He fill us with a heart that is able to love, adore, and worship....
Because that is exactly what He needs from us!
The Bible is full of examples, for instance we all know this one:

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with your entire being and with all your might.” Deut. 6:5

No question why it is called the most important commandment....
God needs our acceptance and unconditional love.

BUT, He also filled us with a mind consisting of a will, which can decide YES or NO.
He didn’t create us like the Angels who are “programmed” to worship Him night and day.
NO.
He is such a big Gentleman that He gave us a choice.
He wants us to want Him!

Think about it. Would you like people to love and value you because they were “programmed” to?
Or do you want real love that overflows from a person’s heart, friendship that is true and a touch that is honest?

To come back to my earlier statement of what inspires me, I think it is also exactly the same case. But it works the opposite way. We need to first seek it from God and then from people. I must confess that’s a trap I often fall into. Looking for acceptance from people without realising that God has accepted me first and that is all I need.

What inspires you?

"Home sweet home" Really?

Home. My home. Your home. OUR home. At least for the moment this is....
This picture reminds me of the old song, “From a distance...”
Peace. Tranquillity. Freedom. Unity.
And yet this is not the case....
For instance, I live in a country where the murder rate is an average of 50 murders a day and on average 180 women get raped on a daily basis. If you are a woman living in South Africa you've got a 1 in 4 chance of being raped....
Peace? Tranquillity? Freedom? Unity?
I fear not.

Where have it all gone wrong?
Abortion. Poverty. Racism. Terrorism.
What happened to the human heart?
Brother against brother, father against daughter, friend against friend.
An eye for an eye.
WAR.
Dictators killing innocent women and children to control the hearts of their enemy.

And just look around you, we live in a time and age where everything is about speed.
High speed Internet. Fast foods. FedEx. E-mail. Deadlines.
People have less time for each other.
Statistics have shown that on a daily basis, the average American father spends 60 seconds of “quality time” with his child. My question is, if this the example we set for our youth (who are the future), what will they one day tend to follow?
Where will this world end up?
The average person is more concerned about building their own kingdom.
MY career. MY goals. MY dreams. MY fears. MY achievements. MY wealth. MY choice.

Why do we then call Planet Earth OUR home and not MY home?
O yes, I remember....because there are billions of other people also sharing this beautiful planet with us. So I guess it’s not just about ME!!!
People of whom the majority is less fortunate than the average person of us.
Just spend one day on a mission trip in the rural areas of Africa and you will understand what I'm saying.
Do you know how it feels to see the hunger pains of innocent little children all over their little faces and all you can offer them is the piece of gum in your pocket?
It humbled me down to a point I cannot describe.....
I questioned my life and wondered what made me more worthy than anyone of them?

Then it hit me.
This world needs help.
This world needs Jesus.
THIS WORLD NEEDS US.
We are the hands and feet of Jesus in this world.
When we realise that we are God's stewards and that He has entrusted the world in our stewardship, it changes the picture hey?
Did Jesus not command His disciples to finish the good work which He have started?

I love the song from Casting Crowns where they sing about the Body of Christ:
“If we are the Body, why aren’t His arms reaching? Why aren’t His hands healing? Why aren’t His words teaching? And if we are the Body, why aren’t His feet going? Why is His love not showing them there is a way?”

Why?

So...
What is my reason?
What is your reason?
Ultimately, what is OUR reason?


“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Matthew 10:39

"My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful kindness and love."
Acts 20:24 (NLT)