One of a kind!

This week, my wife and I each received our "Carte de Séjour"! "What", most of the readers of this blog will be asking, "is that?" Well, it means that, having lived in France for more than five years, we now have official evidence that we are considered to be residents of the country. It does not mean that we have been naturalised - we still hold UK passports, and expect to return to Scotland if we are spared to reach a "certain age"!!

The Carte de Séjour contains a passport-type photograph (so not the most flattering!), and other specific information about  - just as our passports do. However, in a first for either of us, it also contains our fingerprints! I shall have to be doubly careful to wear gloves on my next burglary mission!!!!! (joke!).

I also read, recently, of a particular type of pottery, named "Raku" pottery. This is, in origin, a Japanese method of firing clay pottery in which each piece is hand-formed (i.e. not formed on a potter's wheel)  - a process, it is claimed, that allows the spirit of the potter to speak through the finished work, with particular directness and intimacy. 

Once the clay has been shaped by the potter, it is fired in a kiln then, glowing hot, it is thrust into a pile of combustible material that quickly takes the heat from the vessel. The result is a "one of a kind" - something that is truly unique.

So what might be the link between a Carte de Séjour, and Raku pottery?! Well, I think that it is in the personal connection. Something that it uniquely "me" (my fingerprints) in somehow embedded in my Carte de Séjour; the potter's personality is, apparently, "imprinted" in the Raku pottery.

So it is with each of us. We bear the imprint of the Creator. He has spoken through His work with particular directness and intimacy. Each of us is formed in a unique way, for a unique work. "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Eph.2:10).

However, although we are created for good works we are, ourselves "works in progress". We must experience the kiln of affliction. Aching hearts, weary spirits, ageing bodies, are all processes that Almighty God uses to finish the work He has begun.

This means that we need have no fear of circumstances - however unpleasant, or inconvenient, or apparently pointless!  Be "patient in tribulation" (Rom.12:12), and await the finished product. "Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:4).

You, whoever you are, are "one of a kind". There has never, in the whole history of the world, been anyone exactly like you. No matter for how long the world exists, there will never be anyone exactly like you. And you are beloved of God! He created you; He knows what is best for you. Our responsibility is to stay as close to Him as we can, and to remain within His will for us. It's the best that we may do for ourselves - and for others!

May you draw close to Him, and live in His light, that you may fulfil His purposes for you - His unique creation.

Do you know God?!

While my wife and I were in Scotland, for our annual 'mid-year' visit, we had the opportunity to hear, meet, and speak with, Christian songwriter and worship leader, Paul Baloche. "Paul who?", some may be asking. However, many will be familiar with songs that he has been inspired to write. Songs such as "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord"; "Hosanna"; and "Above all". Within Christian music circles, he is a well-known figure - and I have met him!!!

Of course, over my lifetime, I have met a number of famous people and, indeed, spent some time with some of them. The first was Cliff Richard. I was not a particular fan at the time - but I spent about an hour in the vestry of the church building in which he was going to be singing, with only Cliff and his then manager, Bill Latham, for company. There were more than a thousand of his fans crowded into the main sanctuary who would have given a great deal to have had that opportunity!

Some years later, I had a similar time spent with Helen Shapiro. I have met Jack Hayford ("Majesty"); Graham Kendrick (you do know who he is!); Sir Peter Vardy (Car sales); and many others. Of course, although I have met many well-known people, I am unable to say that I 'know' any of them!

The American writer from a previous era, Mark Twain (1835-1910), travelled extensively, and often took his wife and children along with him. On a trip to Europe, he was invited to dinner with a particular head of state. When one of his daughters heard of the invitation, she reportedly said: "Daddy, you know every big person there is to know, except God!" Sadly, that young girl's observation was true, as Mark Twain (real name Samuel Clemens) was an unbelieving sceptic. Indeed, I have no evidence that he "knew" that particular head of state any better than I know any of the individuals named above!

However, the question that may be asked is: "Do I know Almighty God?"! Someone reading this post may enjoy real friendship with, and intimate knowledge of, some people whom the world acknowledges as being very important. But do you know God? And is you knowledge of Him, such as it is, any more than second-hand information, or speculation; the sort of things that we might read in a book. (Each of my own books - see the header - will certainly provide that level of knowledge; may even lead you into a genuine personal relationship with Him; and your purchase will help to support the persecuted church!).

The Lord Jesus, Who is God, wanted His disciples to have an intimate knowledge of the Father. On one occasion He prayed: "... this is the way to have eternal life - to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One You sent to earth." (John 17:3; NLT.) This kind of knowledge is intensely personal, and is gained only through a deep, prolonged, friendship. Indeed, the knowledge referred to in those words of Jesus, and elsewhere in the Bible, is compared with the intimacy of husband and wife as they become "one flesh" (Gen.4:1 inter al).

You and I may have this knowledge as we come before Almighty God, confessing our sins, and sinfulness; accepting that we can do nothing about them; believing that, in the Persona of the Lord Jesus, Almighty God has done all that needed to be done; and receiving the new life that is offered to everyone through that same Jesus. We then get to know Him better by spending time (quality time!) in His presence; talking with Him (prayer); listening to Him (reading the Word); and sharing His love with others.

Do you know Him like that? Would you like to know Him like that? The offer of full salvation is for you! It's not enough to know about God. We need to know Him in our hearts, and walk with Him day by day.

"Can a leopard change its spots?"

The heading to this post comes from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah (13:23).  In context, the answer is "No!".  However, the prophet did not know of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus, the Christ!

The following is a report from Christian Press (also in Charisma News) that came to me in one of my regular mailings, and Prayer Guides (The International Daily Prayer Bulletin, published by Revival, Eastbourne.  Tel. 01323 725231; www.revivalmedia.org  Copies on request).

"Amy had been in a nine-year lesbian relationship that had broken up, leaving her wondering why her deepest longings could never be satisfied.  She and Rachel had just started hanging out when they decided to attend Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, on a Sunday morning.  'I came on a mission to shock people', Amy admits.  'Rachel and I would hold hands in front of people but, instead of the disgusted looks of contempt we expected, people ... treated us like real people.'

'Not long after that, Rachel and I stopped seeing each other, but I kept coming to church because I was searching for something', Amy recalls.  'The more I learned about the teachings of Jesus, the more I actually started to believe that God really did love me.  I heard more and more about being His masterpiece and, in time, I actually started to believe it. ... As I moved closer to Christ, He gently took me on a very surprising journey. ... First, I found out that my father had nine affairs while I was growing up - a secret that rocked my world.  Jesus began to show me the roots of my issues - I was, just like (dad), using people to find comfort, life, and love, outside of God.'

As she grew in her trust of God's love, further recollections were brought back.  She recalled the day she was pinned down and raped by three boys when she was only nine years old!  The Lord had been drawing her near to strengthen her to see the source of so much sexual struggle, hidden for years beneath layers of protective mud.  'After that', she shares, 'I realised God knows more about me than I know about myself.  As I continued to seek intimacy with Him, the lesbian struggles fell away. ... The more I focus on God's intimate love for me, and try to see His masterpiece emerge, the less I want anything to get in the way of His work in me.'

Seven years later, Amy leads Gateway Church's ministry to help people find healing and wholeness from all kinds of sexual, and relational, struggles.  She is helping others become God's restored masterpieces."

Now, of course, not every lesbian has had the same experiences that Amy had; homosexuals will have had completely different ones; others with sexually relational difficulties will have yet other ones.  However, there is one thing that is common to all of us - lesbian, homosexual, heterosexual, whatever.  That one thing is sin.  I am a sinner; you are a sinner; and there is nothing that any of us can, by ourselves, do about it.  That's the wonder of the Good News - that "... anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (II Cor.5:17); and that "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure." (I Cor.10:13).

You may 'meet' Amy in the video at http://www.gatewaychurch.com/sexuality/   The whole of the message is well worth watching - by anyone!   Please feel free to contact me via the e-mail address at the top of the page, if you think that I may be able to help - or, at least, point you in the direction of someone who can.