Love is a sum of actions and emotion that in the end exude the very thing that we find at the cross. Salvation
love, peace and happiness
Tau
Friday, December 30, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Song time....
So I'm walking past OLS9 and hear a couple of GodFirst girls practising Salvation Song and just started thinking of some of the other songs God has laid on my heart for the past couple of years. So I am on my way to the library and start singing to myself a song I wrote a couple of weeks ago called Lover of my soul. I guess for me it began as a chord progression and then started thinking about grace and how much we need it. But we can never fully realise the full extent of our sin. Just remember a mate of mine Dan Plagerson just telling me that sometimes we take people before the cross without them first realising what exactly they are being saved from. So this song came about which just highlights stuff in my life that God saved me from, and some stuff some biblical characaters went through. But I need you help, yes YOU reading this right now. Would be great if anyone who reads this can share with me one aspect of their life that they felt was something God saved them from. Thanks a lot, here's what I've got so far:
I am a prisoner in my own world
Won't you come and set me free
I am an orphan without a home
Won't you come and love me
Lover of my soul
Lover of my soul
I am a wanderer with no place to go
Won't you come and rescue me
love, peace and happiness
Tau
Friday, October 21, 2011
Thankfulness....
The dictionary definition of thankfulness is an expression of gratitude and relief. What things are you grateful for this year. I know for one I have been taking stock of my 3years at University. From starting out in first year with only R6000 for my fees and not knowing where the rest would come. Remember how it was such a test of faith with my dad championing the race saying God will provide. I remember in those times feeling a sense of peace knowing everything will be alright. Then coming into my second year getting my first University merit award and being able to take a small burden from my parent's pockets but also having to continuously rely on God for monthly provision and there has never been a time when He failed to provide. Then comes my final year of undergraduate studies which I have titled 'Year of abundance'. I was fortunate enough to be selected to become part of an academic society and have the opportunity to conduct research in America. On top of that I got a stipend from this organisation meaning I had extra money in my pocket which has never before happened and to top it off I got a job as well which meant more money in my pocket. For the first time I was able to make savings, to spoil my family, to not live to the last cent every month. In a couple of months I really had what some would call 'security'. That's when the pride started to kick in, when people would congratulate me and tell me I worked hard, my mind would say "Yeah I have worked hard, through burning the midnight oil, I got to where I am". Don't get me wrong I am not saying working hard is bad, not at all, but the conditions of our hearts after we get the rewards of hard work. Have you ever noticed that its easier to be THANKFUL to God when we are in want or when he does something miraculous to provide. But when its a gradual ascent, when you've worked a number of years in an accounting firm and finally make partner, when you have been faithful with your studies and the grades are there to show it, when you have raised your children in a God honouring way and they turn out to be great individuals. What is your natural inkling, is it to be thankful to the One who makes all accomplishments happen, or is it you find security in you hard work.
I guess my intention is not to rubbish working hard, Proverbs 14:23 says, "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty". But this is just an encourage us to examine our hearts, especially in times when we feel entitled to a reward. Just reminded of Ephesian 5:3-4 which reads: "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." How to keep our hearts in check is to be forever thankful, obsess in our thankfulness to God because He has been gracious of more things than we can imagine.
Let's keep our hearts in check because as we thank God more and more for even what we deserve it shifts our focus from ourselves to the one who deserves it, Him.
love, peace and happiness
Tau
I guess my intention is not to rubbish working hard, Proverbs 14:23 says, "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty". But this is just an encourage us to examine our hearts, especially in times when we feel entitled to a reward. Just reminded of Ephesian 5:3-4 which reads: "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving." How to keep our hearts in check is to be forever thankful, obsess in our thankfulness to God because He has been gracious of more things than we can imagine.
Let's keep our hearts in check because as we thank God more and more for even what we deserve it shifts our focus from ourselves to the one who deserves it, Him.
love, peace and happiness
Tau
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Just a mirror
Its been a longtime since I sat down and did some blogging. In a sense I feel sad for being away for so long but also feeling relieved that God speaks whether its through my blog or through other means. The past couple of months have been a time of reflection and learning and relearning, of stumbling and being picked up, of losing, of gaining, of achieving and of failing. Just a daily journey of realising how loosely I need to hold the things of that I have been given, but also be a good steward of them. A process for me of storing up my treasures where rust and moth cannot destroy (Matthew 6:20).
So back to the reason for this blog today, if you were to look at your life from a distance on the day you die, what would you want to have achieved. My thoughts run straight on to have raised amazing children and be the cool musician dad with tracks that have been heard by churches across the world and are changing lives. "Leave my mark in this world". Is that not the great desire of our hearts to leave a mark, to have a legacy, to be remembered. And not for being deceitful people, but we want to be remembered as helpers, healers, philanthropists. These are all noble desires but got a real knock two weeks ago at a camp when a guy called Drew Land put it quite simply that: "The only mark or legacy we are meant to leave in this world is that of Jesus." Have we ever looked at ourselves that way, that we are mirrors. Some interesting facts about mirrors is that because light travels in straight lines, mirrors can only give a full image of something its directly facing. Another thing is that a mirror has no intrinsic image of its own, it only reflects what it faces. As much as we are mirrors, Jesus has a personal relationship with us, were he is renewing us inwardly day by day.
But when it comes to our accomplishments we are definitely mirrors, because we were created to reflect the Glory not to be the glory.
love, peace and happiness
Tau
So back to the reason for this blog today, if you were to look at your life from a distance on the day you die, what would you want to have achieved. My thoughts run straight on to have raised amazing children and be the cool musician dad with tracks that have been heard by churches across the world and are changing lives. "Leave my mark in this world". Is that not the great desire of our hearts to leave a mark, to have a legacy, to be remembered. And not for being deceitful people, but we want to be remembered as helpers, healers, philanthropists. These are all noble desires but got a real knock two weeks ago at a camp when a guy called Drew Land put it quite simply that: "The only mark or legacy we are meant to leave in this world is that of Jesus." Have we ever looked at ourselves that way, that we are mirrors. Some interesting facts about mirrors is that because light travels in straight lines, mirrors can only give a full image of something its directly facing. Another thing is that a mirror has no intrinsic image of its own, it only reflects what it faces. As much as we are mirrors, Jesus has a personal relationship with us, were he is renewing us inwardly day by day.
But when it comes to our accomplishments we are definitely mirrors, because we were created to reflect the Glory not to be the glory.
love, peace and happiness
Tau
Monday, July 11, 2011
Seeing things through...
So my first question to you all today is, what do you do when things get tough?
Have had the amazing opportunity to be in America (still am), and its been one of the most enlightening and also the hardest seasons of my life. Hard to be so far from everything I have ever known, far from family, friends, a loving and supportive community. Its different being in a foreign culture with foreign people and not knowing what are the boundaries. How do I navigate my way around people who don't find my jokes that funny, or my arguments that compelling or my views that appealing. What do you do when you are meant to be salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13 - 16), but your saltiness or light isn't translating to flavour or clarity? What then happens, how do you keep on? I don't think I have any answers seeing I am in that situation now. But what I believe I go today and really in the past bit of insight.
Was reading the @DailyKeller twitter feed and something struck me from a couple of days ago and it read: "Tolerance isn't about not having beliefs. It's about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you." And it hit me, me being salt and light to the area I was wasn't about getting round with a bunch of people and them nodding their heads. It was an alternative, what would be my reaction be when noone nodded their heads and I was received with contempt? If all I speak is true then it shouldn't matter whether people agree with me or not. What should matter is if I treat them with the same love I say Jesus has, now that's the real test. Being at church today and reading through Acts 21 and 22 of how Paul went through all the rituals to purify himself for the Jews and still they wanted to kill him even though they knew him and he was one of them.
Makes you think back hey, about the whole Great Commission in Acts 28. How hard it is to make disciples and to get people saved. But in the end who really does the saving? Who is the saving really about? When we realise that its all about Jesus and as he said, "On this rock, I will build my church...." (Matthew 16:18). So ask yourself, what would happen if I went out day in and out and nobody got saved, nobody agreed with the good news you were preaching. Would your heart still be drawn to love them regardless or would contempt creep in?
Just thought to leave you all with one of my favourite scriptures, keeps my heart in check. As Tim Keller would say " Are you studying the scriptures or are you allowing the scriptures study you:
Have had the amazing opportunity to be in America (still am), and its been one of the most enlightening and also the hardest seasons of my life. Hard to be so far from everything I have ever known, far from family, friends, a loving and supportive community. Its different being in a foreign culture with foreign people and not knowing what are the boundaries. How do I navigate my way around people who don't find my jokes that funny, or my arguments that compelling or my views that appealing. What do you do when you are meant to be salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13 - 16), but your saltiness or light isn't translating to flavour or clarity? What then happens, how do you keep on? I don't think I have any answers seeing I am in that situation now. But what I believe I go today and really in the past bit of insight.
Was reading the @DailyKeller twitter feed and something struck me from a couple of days ago and it read: "Tolerance isn't about not having beliefs. It's about how your beliefs lead you to treat people who disagree with you." And it hit me, me being salt and light to the area I was wasn't about getting round with a bunch of people and them nodding their heads. It was an alternative, what would be my reaction be when noone nodded their heads and I was received with contempt? If all I speak is true then it shouldn't matter whether people agree with me or not. What should matter is if I treat them with the same love I say Jesus has, now that's the real test. Being at church today and reading through Acts 21 and 22 of how Paul went through all the rituals to purify himself for the Jews and still they wanted to kill him even though they knew him and he was one of them.
Makes you think back hey, about the whole Great Commission in Acts 28. How hard it is to make disciples and to get people saved. But in the end who really does the saving? Who is the saving really about? When we realise that its all about Jesus and as he said, "On this rock, I will build my church...." (Matthew 16:18). So ask yourself, what would happen if I went out day in and out and nobody got saved, nobody agreed with the good news you were preaching. Would your heart still be drawn to love them regardless or would contempt creep in?
Just thought to leave you all with one of my favourite scriptures, keeps my heart in check. As Tim Keller would say " Are you studying the scriptures or are you allowing the scriptures study you:
Search me,
and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.
love, peace and happiness
Tau
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Stripped down to the ROOTS....
Hello my fellow bloggers and readers, I know it has been long but I guess my time to blog has been limited and for me I wouldn't want to blog for the sake of blogging but really want to blog when I have some that I feel has been heavy on my heart to share. Its been an amazing couple of weeks, preparing for my upcoming trip to the USA!!! I am super excited and looking forward to the experience. Been an exam marathon with four exams in 9 days but I tell if there was ever I time I would say I am fortunate it has been the past few days.
But enough about me will post an update blog soon just to tell all of you about my travels and experiences. Maybe will have a quick highlights journal for my time away. So yesterday was a pretty interesting day for me, stressful to say the least. I had a humongous report to hand in and had a major exam that afternoon. I have to admit its the first time since high school that I was actually nervous about my exam. Got in there knots in my stomach but as always God pulled through for me (I wonder why I keep doubting and = Him being more faithful = GRACE). So that evening I went frantically searching for a power supply for my laptop, mine packed up a few days ago. So I find myself in a friends room her name is Moi and we chat about anything and everything but our discussion moved from studies to relationships to the title of my blog today ROOTS.
The basis of the discussion was that to solve or work through a problem be it a character flaw or relational problem you need to identify the root. But behind every root there is another root. I would say roots are like onions when you start peeling it you find out that there are more layers behind it than you first realised. I shared with her my life about how a lot of my driving force even today has been being occupied. As I began to talk I slowly realised that from the time I was young I always did a lot of things. I learnt how to cook early on, I did arts and craft, I got to primary school and played every sport the school offered, I got into music and poetry, got into leadership roles. All that was who I was. I remember if I would meet people the topic of discussion quickly moved from my name to who I was and what I did. Reflecting on it now and even the past year I have begun to realise my identity lay in what I did and never who I was. This trend continued through high school and even my 1st two years of university. I wanted to be Taurai the go to guy, If you needed something done I was the man with the plan. If I didn't know how to do it I would make sure I found out.
Slowly as I had layers of my character I found out my need to be needed. Another layer peeled off became my need to be accepted, another layer off became my need to be loved. That's when it began to sink in, on the surface it seemed all my problems lay in my need to be popular. But it became clear my need was far greater than popularity and fame, it was the basic human need to be LOVED. A need that no human, no fame, no position can ever satisfy. All these other things were like trying to fill the Atlantic ocean one teaspoon at a time. The momentary resolve is there but the lifetime void lingers in the background.
I guess I want to leave you guys with a question, whether you are a student, a wife or husband, a teenager or working class executive. Who would you be if nothing was going for you, if you didn't have your job, if you weren't a small group leader or part of the band. If your studies weren't going so well, or the hot girlfriend you had broke up with you. After all the layers of who you think you are, what is left? If all that's left is one giant gaping hole then I suggest you fill it with something that never fades. Truth of it is nothing and i mean NOTHING will ever satisfy. People will pass on, houses will burn to the ground and companies will go under, but the one who loved us first, He ain't going nowhere.
Learnt a new acronym today and its for the word GOSPEL. God.took.Our.Sin.Paying.Everyone.Life
love, peace and happiness
Tau
But enough about me will post an update blog soon just to tell all of you about my travels and experiences. Maybe will have a quick highlights journal for my time away. So yesterday was a pretty interesting day for me, stressful to say the least. I had a humongous report to hand in and had a major exam that afternoon. I have to admit its the first time since high school that I was actually nervous about my exam. Got in there knots in my stomach but as always God pulled through for me (I wonder why I keep doubting and = Him being more faithful = GRACE). So that evening I went frantically searching for a power supply for my laptop, mine packed up a few days ago. So I find myself in a friends room her name is Moi and we chat about anything and everything but our discussion moved from studies to relationships to the title of my blog today ROOTS.
The basis of the discussion was that to solve or work through a problem be it a character flaw or relational problem you need to identify the root. But behind every root there is another root. I would say roots are like onions when you start peeling it you find out that there are more layers behind it than you first realised. I shared with her my life about how a lot of my driving force even today has been being occupied. As I began to talk I slowly realised that from the time I was young I always did a lot of things. I learnt how to cook early on, I did arts and craft, I got to primary school and played every sport the school offered, I got into music and poetry, got into leadership roles. All that was who I was. I remember if I would meet people the topic of discussion quickly moved from my name to who I was and what I did. Reflecting on it now and even the past year I have begun to realise my identity lay in what I did and never who I was. This trend continued through high school and even my 1st two years of university. I wanted to be Taurai the go to guy, If you needed something done I was the man with the plan. If I didn't know how to do it I would make sure I found out.
Slowly as I had layers of my character I found out my need to be needed. Another layer peeled off became my need to be accepted, another layer off became my need to be loved. That's when it began to sink in, on the surface it seemed all my problems lay in my need to be popular. But it became clear my need was far greater than popularity and fame, it was the basic human need to be LOVED. A need that no human, no fame, no position can ever satisfy. All these other things were like trying to fill the Atlantic ocean one teaspoon at a time. The momentary resolve is there but the lifetime void lingers in the background.
I guess I want to leave you guys with a question, whether you are a student, a wife or husband, a teenager or working class executive. Who would you be if nothing was going for you, if you didn't have your job, if you weren't a small group leader or part of the band. If your studies weren't going so well, or the hot girlfriend you had broke up with you. After all the layers of who you think you are, what is left? If all that's left is one giant gaping hole then I suggest you fill it with something that never fades. Truth of it is nothing and i mean NOTHING will ever satisfy. People will pass on, houses will burn to the ground and companies will go under, but the one who loved us first, He ain't going nowhere.
Learnt a new acronym today and its for the word GOSPEL. God.took.Our.Sin.Paying.Everyone.Life
love, peace and happiness
Tau
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Some Picture Fun In Black and White....
Got the opportunity to have my brother's camera in my possession so taking pictures and tweaking them a bit has become my new hobby....
Friday, April 8, 2011
Vessel......
So today was like any other Friday but little did I know this day would end up with me here on my laptop connecting the dots and sharing with you guys here on my blog. So woke up today and it was another ordinary Friday for me, took a shower like always, changed and headed out with an acoustic guitar on my back (had performed the night before at an awards dinner... #funtimes). So I walk out of my building heading to a mates flat to return his acoustic and this guy runs up to me from behind (living in Joburg makes you vigilant so my adrenaline was already pumping as his thudding steps drew closer), he stops me and says hi. So this guy is a Christian (boy was I relieved) and he had been praying to God asking him what route He need to take to serve God better. And he felt he was going to serve God through music and was looking for an acoustic guitarist. So when he saw me he felt I was the dude. So ya a random occurrence but a good one, just that God led this guy to speak to me, this guy didn't know my name or whether I was a Christ follower (takes guts hey). For all he knew I could have been a weed smoking, atheist who could play guitar..i digress... Anyway it just showed me how specific and personal God is.
So I get through my day and my lectures were as ordinary as can be. I get to my MMUF (Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship) program workshop and have a couple of discussions with the cohorts and fellows from last year. Before we leave though we get this nearly 400page book on the life of Benjamin E. Mays called Born to Rebel. I found that title caught me as I entered my room this evening, what a catchy title. So tonight I went to a concert by Martin Smith (lead singer of Delirious-christian band from England) and it was such an awesome night. The lighting, sound, instrumentalists, all my technos out there you know what it feels like when everything just works well together. So he sings a couple of famous tracks like 'My Glorious', 'Majesty', 'History Maker', so it was really good to hear tracks I have been listening to for as long as I remember being sung live. So he starts talking about when as a band they decided to split to raise their families and spend more time with them. How he desired an amazing more intimate relationship with his wife, and how he felt God say to him the thing he desired with his wife God desired with him. It was just good to hear some of the stories behind the songs that he sang. and how God was using him in amazing ways.
After such a day of God speaking to me and me only connecting the dots right at the end I feel what he is saying tonight is "Are you the vessel or are you the potter?" Just with the guy I met in the morning he asked me to be his acoustic player, thinking back now how many times have I made worship about me. Have i made leading worship about what I can and cannot do, but God was just coming to me in the middle of my street and saying I need you to be an acoustic player. Funny thing is that God chose me not because I am gifted but because when He asked me I was willing to be used. so now why has it become about gifting, Why does it always seem that when we start off serving God we are vessels but slowly as we get better at what we do we turn into potters. Found it such a challenge today and really felt God really wants me to be a vessel qha(as the Xhosa's would say). So tonight I am humbled, I am in awe and most of all I am at peace. Because the God of the universe chose me, desires me and is with me every step of the way. I pray that when you feel you can't see what's ahead anymore you can sing these words:
So I get through my day and my lectures were as ordinary as can be. I get to my MMUF (Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship) program workshop and have a couple of discussions with the cohorts and fellows from last year. Before we leave though we get this nearly 400page book on the life of Benjamin E. Mays called Born to Rebel. I found that title caught me as I entered my room this evening, what a catchy title. So tonight I went to a concert by Martin Smith (lead singer of Delirious-christian band from England) and it was such an awesome night. The lighting, sound, instrumentalists, all my technos out there you know what it feels like when everything just works well together. So he sings a couple of famous tracks like 'My Glorious', 'Majesty', 'History Maker', so it was really good to hear tracks I have been listening to for as long as I remember being sung live. So he starts talking about when as a band they decided to split to raise their families and spend more time with them. How he desired an amazing more intimate relationship with his wife, and how he felt God say to him the thing he desired with his wife God desired with him. It was just good to hear some of the stories behind the songs that he sang. and how God was using him in amazing ways.
After such a day of God speaking to me and me only connecting the dots right at the end I feel what he is saying tonight is "Are you the vessel or are you the potter?" Just with the guy I met in the morning he asked me to be his acoustic player, thinking back now how many times have I made worship about me. Have i made leading worship about what I can and cannot do, but God was just coming to me in the middle of my street and saying I need you to be an acoustic player. Funny thing is that God chose me not because I am gifted but because when He asked me I was willing to be used. so now why has it become about gifting, Why does it always seem that when we start off serving God we are vessels but slowly as we get better at what we do we turn into potters. Found it such a challenge today and really felt God really wants me to be a vessel qha(as the Xhosa's would say). So tonight I am humbled, I am in awe and most of all I am at peace. Because the God of the universe chose me, desires me and is with me every step of the way. I pray that when you feel you can't see what's ahead anymore you can sing these words:
God is bigger than the air I breathe
The world we'll leave
And God will save the day
And all will sing my glorious
My glorious
love, peace and happiness
Tau
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
What you looking at?
Its a little after 4.30pm now and just got back to the flat. There is a slight drizzle outside which aint enough to get you wet but just enough to give you a cold. So for me am staying indoors, got my fleece on no colds for me this time around. Just been mulling over the some of the things I heard yesterday and felt I should share with you all.
I've always loved swimming all my life, was once quite a good swimmer when I was in junior school. I was best at the breast stroke (or the frog as we used to call it ), and my dad used to come to most of my swimming meets and spur me on and encourage me. There was this other mate of mine who always used to wonder why it was that I beat him. If it came to him swimming on his own he always used to have the best time, but when it came to competitions he always used to come in second best (to me..... :o) ). So being the good mate I am I asked my dad to look out for my friend and see what he was doing wrong in competition that he got right in practice. So my dad called this guy after our competition (he came second again....), and he says to him 'Everytime he takes a breath out of the water he looks at the other competitors and hence loses ground'.
Isn't that so true with our race as people who love God? Was thinking of it today as a worship leader how that's even more true. When you leading a one of the bands at your church and you guys don't have the musical prowess, or just gel as much as the other band, the need to perform sets in. Or maybe you are an amazing sound person and you've done the job well each time you've been there and some young hot shot props up who can do better than you. Doesn't the need to perform and outdo the other guy just set in? It's so easy to take our eyes from the end point, where our race as Christ followers becomes more about us than the person we are meant to be following.... Jesus. So I ask you today, 'What you looking at?'
I've always loved swimming all my life, was once quite a good swimmer when I was in junior school. I was best at the breast stroke (or the frog as we used to call it ), and my dad used to come to most of my swimming meets and spur me on and encourage me. There was this other mate of mine who always used to wonder why it was that I beat him. If it came to him swimming on his own he always used to have the best time, but when it came to competitions he always used to come in second best (to me..... :o) ). So being the good mate I am I asked my dad to look out for my friend and see what he was doing wrong in competition that he got right in practice. So my dad called this guy after our competition (he came second again....), and he says to him 'Everytime he takes a breath out of the water he looks at the other competitors and hence loses ground'.
Isn't that so true with our race as people who love God? Was thinking of it today as a worship leader how that's even more true. When you leading a one of the bands at your church and you guys don't have the musical prowess, or just gel as much as the other band, the need to perform sets in. Or maybe you are an amazing sound person and you've done the job well each time you've been there and some young hot shot props up who can do better than you. Doesn't the need to perform and outdo the other guy just set in? It's so easy to take our eyes from the end point, where our race as Christ followers becomes more about us than the person we are meant to be following.... Jesus. So I ask you today, 'What you looking at?'
Was just so helpful yesterday listening to Dave Holden (one of the leaders from church in London who is part of New Frontiers). He was just encouraging us from Hebrews 12:1-2
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Its so interesting that a verse you have heard so many times can have fresh meaning in life, just goes to show how God's word is eternal. I digress, so anyway back to races, verse " really caught my attention and the first part of it simply says lets "Fix our eyes on Jesus". Fixing our eyes on Jesus is so important because he is our prize, he is our motivation, he is only thing we can fix our eyes on that will not corrupt us. Sad thing is today a lot of us lose sight of Jesus and inadvertently fix our eyes on something else. It may be things that are bad for us, like drugs, or a pop idol but most of the time its the things we never think of the good things, like relationships, academics (for all my fellow students), career, family, children, even 'serving God'. It's funny how our lives become so entwined by these thats we make God small. By failing to magnify Him we magnify everything else (never thought of it that way...). Let's not become too busy for God, I have become so aware of it in recent weeks, I am able to lead worship, go to church, do my work, but never spend time worshiping God for who He is.Isn't that what most of our lives have boiled down to, doing God's work and forgetting to see God. It's like a spouse who provides everything for his/her significant other, be it providing financially or making sure clothing is ironed and food is ready everyday but that person is never there. Never has time to watch telly with you, or sit at the table and talk, wow what a sad marriage that would be. Don't you think we doing the same thing with God, having time to sing songs on a Sunday, or help out as an usher but never having time for worshiping Him for who He is.
This was such a timely message for me as I move into the next two weeks where I need high grades and 30hours in a day. But feeling God's saying to me and to you, I'm the only audience you are playing for, swim in that water like there's noone around.
love, peace and happiness
Tau
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Letting Go.....
You ever walk in on one of your friends listening to music through their earphones and belting out the words in some unknown key and you thought that was the funniest thing you have ever heard. Well I was privy to such an occasion last week and boy was it funny but through that the song she was singing got me thinking and now have decided to blog about it. She was singing a song called Letting Go by one of my favourite artists Jeremy Camp. This song talks about letting go of everything be it fears, be it failures and just seeking God. Just something we hear a lot of times in preaches, in Christian books and we seem to just never take in the full gravity of what's being said.
Over the Christmas holidays I became the proud owner of a Blackberry (don't you just love Christmas!! 
), so was so keen on getting everyone I knew and stuff on blackberry messenger (best thing ever). Sadly few of my high school peeps had blackberries and stuff so could only chat to a few. Then a good friend won a blackberry and added me to her contact list, and these were exciting times as we hadn't been in contact in a long time. So she stays in Capetown (Joburg rocks!!!) and she decided to go hiking with a couple of her mates up Table Mountain (talk about suicide). So she's telling me this story of having this heavy bag and being further up the trail than her other counterparts and she's just chatting God and he tells her she's carrying stuff she doesn't need. So she perches on a nearby rock and checks and sees a whole bunch of unnecessary stuff, junk food she didn't get a chance to eat, hairdryers (just joking), but just a whole lot of unnecessary stuff. So feeling quite foolish she picks up her knapsack and keeps heading on her way up the mountain. Then out of nowhere this guy offers to carry her knapsack (take into account this is a total stranger), so for some reason she gave this guy her back. And they walk up the mountain trail and at times when she went round a bend she couldn't see him and she got paranoid (i.e. could be some theif off with her bag), but he always would appear round the bend.
), so was so keen on getting everyone I knew and stuff on blackberry messenger (best thing ever). Sadly few of my high school peeps had blackberries and stuff so could only chat to a few. Then a good friend won a blackberry and added me to her contact list, and these were exciting times as we hadn't been in contact in a long time. So she stays in Capetown (Joburg rocks!!!) and she decided to go hiking with a couple of her mates up Table Mountain (talk about suicide). So she's telling me this story of having this heavy bag and being further up the trail than her other counterparts and she's just chatting God and he tells her she's carrying stuff she doesn't need. So she perches on a nearby rock and checks and sees a whole bunch of unnecessary stuff, junk food she didn't get a chance to eat, hairdryers (just joking), but just a whole lot of unnecessary stuff. So feeling quite foolish she picks up her knapsack and keeps heading on her way up the mountain. Then out of nowhere this guy offers to carry her knapsack (take into account this is a total stranger), so for some reason she gave this guy her back. And they walk up the mountain trail and at times when she went round a bend she couldn't see him and she got paranoid (i.e. could be some theif off with her bag), but he always would appear round the bend. Just her story is such an amazing metaphor for what happens in our lives when we have baggage. We open the bags on that mountain trail of life and find we carrying around useless stuff. Instead of throwing them away we just think we can't do anything about them. Then Jesus comes along and says, let me carry this for you, not just the useless stuff, but everything we have, even the good things in our life. And when we decide to give Him all we have the good and bad, He is there walking with us. Sometimes we hit a blind bend and don't understand what's happening in our lives, but Jesus is there reliable and still carrying our lives on His back.
Maybe you still by that rock and wondering what you gonna do with all this stuff in your knapsack, or maybe you've given your knapsack to someone who started as a stranger but as He continues to appear after each bend your trust in Him grows. Let's let go friends, it's such an amazing feeling to know you have the ever faithful friend carrying your life in His hand. Just want to leave you guys with a couple of lines from Storm by LifeHouse
how long have I
been in this storm
so overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form
water's getting harder to tread
with these waves crashing over my head
been in this storm
so overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form
water's getting harder to tread
with these waves crashing over my head
and I will walk on water
and you will catch me if I fall
and I will get lost into your eyes
and everything will be alright
and you will catch me if I fall
and I will get lost into your eyes
and everything will be alright
I know you didn't
bring me out here to drown......
love, peace and happiness
Tau
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Less is More...
Compliments on the new season all my fellow readers, its good to be back blogging again. Its been a very good two months away from writing and doing stuff and more of reading and contemplating which has helped me hear more and prepare me for my writing this year.
So this year I have a phrase that I feel will emphasise my main focus this year and that phrase is "Less is more". I had been chatting a lot to God late last year just seeking direction for 2011 and felt impressed upon my heart the phrase less is more and in unpacking that I felt 3 main things that I would focus on this year.
School
This is my final year as an undergraduate student and for me its really crunch time. Feel that God has been using my excellent academic record to gain respect and influence with my peers. Feeling to really hit it big this year, sort of like God has provided me with an amazing opportunity. Was talking to my brother before I left home and he was just telling me that sometimes we ask for success from God, thinking if we play the lotto we will win, or someone will feel called to give us enough money to start our own business. Well and fine those things do happen, but he says most of the time God provides us with opportunities either to study abroad, or to do school at a good institute and thats a big way he blesses us. So I feel very priviledged at the moment more than I ever have to be at the place I am right now. Praise God!!
Worship
Wow, after about 10 weeks of not being upfront and leading and just being a part of corporate worship has beeen a godsent. It was good to be back home and see the band just worshipping God and how even with all the stuff that happened in the background they led US into worship. Made me think of all the times when we had problems in my band and always felt like we needed to be perfect before we went on stage. Not to say that bands should be bickering and not moving in one accord, but God uses us because we are willing not because we are perfect. So if you are a worship leader out there or part of a band which just seems not to be going the way you want it and you feel on Sundays you all just a bunch of hypocrites, I hope you find this verse encouraging: 2 Corinthians 12:9: But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So I have come back refreshed and pumped and knowing its all about the kingdom, not how good or bad I did in worship, but how God was glorified through me. So have cut other service areas at church for a season, i.e. sound, sometimes media and have set myself wholly into glorifying God through this one act and not try to be the got to guy at church.
Health
This may sound a bit foolish to put this high up on my three things to concentrate but I feel it is very important. I think the shape in which my body is in will affect the top two above. So want to try my best to take care of myself. Signed up for swimming this year (haven't started though), and am eating one hot meal a day as my mother prescribed with lots of meat. Also drinking lots of water and I guess the only thing i haven't gotten under wraps yet is sleeping regular hours but will try make that happen.
So I'm back blogging again, am so sorry to my lovely readers have gotten the emails and will try blog more regularly. Got many drft blogs that are just waiting to be posted so will unleash those soon. Started this very blog two weeks ago, just goes to show how I haven't had enough time online other than today. In the word of Steven Furtick, " Dont't put Jesus first this year, rather put Him as the centre that way He'll always come first.
love, peace and happiness
Tau
So this year I have a phrase that I feel will emphasise my main focus this year and that phrase is "Less is more". I had been chatting a lot to God late last year just seeking direction for 2011 and felt impressed upon my heart the phrase less is more and in unpacking that I felt 3 main things that I would focus on this year.
School
This is my final year as an undergraduate student and for me its really crunch time. Feel that God has been using my excellent academic record to gain respect and influence with my peers. Feeling to really hit it big this year, sort of like God has provided me with an amazing opportunity. Was talking to my brother before I left home and he was just telling me that sometimes we ask for success from God, thinking if we play the lotto we will win, or someone will feel called to give us enough money to start our own business. Well and fine those things do happen, but he says most of the time God provides us with opportunities either to study abroad, or to do school at a good institute and thats a big way he blesses us. So I feel very priviledged at the moment more than I ever have to be at the place I am right now. Praise God!!
Worship
Wow, after about 10 weeks of not being upfront and leading and just being a part of corporate worship has beeen a godsent. It was good to be back home and see the band just worshipping God and how even with all the stuff that happened in the background they led US into worship. Made me think of all the times when we had problems in my band and always felt like we needed to be perfect before we went on stage. Not to say that bands should be bickering and not moving in one accord, but God uses us because we are willing not because we are perfect. So if you are a worship leader out there or part of a band which just seems not to be going the way you want it and you feel on Sundays you all just a bunch of hypocrites, I hope you find this verse encouraging: 2 Corinthians 12:9: But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So I have come back refreshed and pumped and knowing its all about the kingdom, not how good or bad I did in worship, but how God was glorified through me. So have cut other service areas at church for a season, i.e. sound, sometimes media and have set myself wholly into glorifying God through this one act and not try to be the got to guy at church.
Health
This may sound a bit foolish to put this high up on my three things to concentrate but I feel it is very important. I think the shape in which my body is in will affect the top two above. So want to try my best to take care of myself. Signed up for swimming this year (haven't started though), and am eating one hot meal a day as my mother prescribed with lots of meat. Also drinking lots of water and I guess the only thing i haven't gotten under wraps yet is sleeping regular hours but will try make that happen.
So I'm back blogging again, am so sorry to my lovely readers have gotten the emails and will try blog more regularly. Got many drft blogs that are just waiting to be posted so will unleash those soon. Started this very blog two weeks ago, just goes to show how I haven't had enough time online other than today. In the word of Steven Furtick, " Dont't put Jesus first this year, rather put Him as the centre that way He'll always come first.
love, peace and happiness
Tau
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