/head>

Monday, May 09, 2005

Sharing Freely Our Knowledge...

Often we think that we do not know enough to be able to teach others. We might even become hesitant to tell others what we know, out of fear that we won't have anything left to say when we are asked for more.This mind-set makes us anxious, secretive, possessive, and self-conscious. But when we have the courage to share generously with others all that we know, whenever they ask for it, we soon discover that we know a lot more than we thought. It is only by giving generously from the well of our knowledge that we discover how deep that well is.
- Henri Nouwen

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Good Ideas or God-ideas...

One way to enlarge our vision is to define the way God defines. When we learn to see through the eyes of God in whatever we do, we begin to see things in a whole new perspective. Here is the simple truth, "Not all good ideas are God-ideas". When we learn to define the way God defines, we learn to seek God in every area of our lives, be it our ambition, our relationships or even the problems that we are facing now. In Matt 6:33 it says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." When you seek first the kingdom of God, then ALL these things will be added to you. It's a sequence, when you do this (seek His Kingdom) then all will be added. What is the things that are added to you? ALL! Everything! Your financial woes, your relationships, your job, your exams, your projects, your destiny! Everything will be added unto you.

I like what it's written in the Message, "Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." The word "steep" is translated as "unreasonably or excessively high" and my favourite, "to permeate somebody or something with a substance or quality, usually over a long period", When you replace the word "seek" with this... "When you soak yourself excessively in the things of God, His Kingdom, His righteousness, all these things will be added unto you. Wow! It's so powerful! Have you seen a sponge getting wet when it touches water? What happens? When you toss the sponge into a bucket full of water, the sponge sucks in as much water as it possibly can. What else? The sponge expands! Yes, when you are soaked in His presence, soaked in the Word of God, soaked in seeking Him... you too will expand and grow!

There will come many opportunities for you to be rich and famous, someone might come to you with a proposal to make millions, or maybe you might get tempted to join some get-rich-quick schemes, multi-level marketing, could be a huge job promotion where you demand a high salary, could be a beautiful woman with the looks, the wit, the everything-I-asked-for qualities and even the heart for God. But we must stop and ask ourselves, is this a good idea or a God-idea? When you seek God, you would begin to separate the good from the godly. Remember, "Don't let the good rob you from the best!". And God demands our best! Our excellence in the things that He has invested in us! So the next time, some good idea comes to you, stop and ask yourself, is it a good idea or a God-idea?

"Not all good ideas are God-ideas but all God-ideas are good ideas!"