Hi, my name's Antonique and I am a thinkaholic! I think all the time about everything! Sounds normal enough but there are times when it can be overwhelming and exhausting as you over process things. 'Did I say that okay?' Did I do that okay?' And if it's really bad, these thoughts serve as a distraction and disrupt life!
Last week I was enjoying the half term break, trying to catch up with people and sort things out. I had planned for Tuesday to be a rest day, whilst other days I would catch up with things. Operative words, 'I had planned' :(. I really spent Tuesday stressing about all the things that needed doing. So did I rest? But it's my own fault, as worrying about these things did not make a difference to the to-do list.
It reminds me of a story in the Bible in Luke 10:38-41. You may have heard it before. Jesus visits his good friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus to chill for a while. Whilst there, Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet listening to his every word, but Martha is in the kitchen running around getting things done. Then Martha has enough and asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her in the kitchen. Instead of Jesus telling Mary to go and help Martha he tells Martha that she is distracted and worried.
What I hadn't noticed before was that Luke says Martha opened up her door to Jesus, yet she was in the kitchen when He came. A lot of us invite Jesus into our lives, but don't find ourselves enjoying his company and presence. Because she was distracted and worried, she missed the One who was in her company as she was occupied with other things. Mary is described as having the right idea, as she finds herself sitting at the feet of Jesus. If you sat at someone's feet, you were being trained. So Mary was learning and growing. Martha was caught up following culture and tradition.
We can do the same. Caught up in the lie that we should be worrying about this and be distracted, we can rarely be present as we dwell in the past or the future. As I said earlier, we invite Jesus into our lives generally, but don't invite Him into situations specifically. Something that reassured me this week was the thought that He is the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow. He existed yesterday, he exists today and will exist tomorrow. If he created time and time is in His hands, then yesterday, today and tomorrow are in His hands. There's no need for me to be distracted and worried and I can remain present, because God is there.
So this is now my aim. Proverbs 31:25 'she smiles at the future'. To no longer be distracted and worried but rejoicing about the future :)
Monday, 6 June 2016
Friday, 20 May 2016
Always read the instructions!
You know when you get something new and you're excited! You stay up or get distracted trying to use a new gadget or try out a new thing.
So a few weeks back now (because it's taken me too long to write this blog!) after two LONG years of having an iPhone 5c, I upgraded to an iPhone 6. With the new phone, I received a new sim card, which I thought I didn't need because I already had one. However, the lady in the shop assured me that I needed the new sim card. (For the next part of the story, forgive my naivety). So I get home and put the new sim in and recall what the lady said to me as all I am seeing is no service! 'Yes you do need the new sim. Wait 24 hours and within that time the switch should have happened. So I charge the phone and wait...24 hours later, I'm still waiting!
I get tired of waiting and check the packaging the sim card was in and noticed there were instructions! I needed to text a number to get it all started :O. After reading that, I immediately sent the text and got ready to wait for another 24 hours! Luckily, the switch took less than two hours. How much easier would my life have been if I had read the instructions?
This reminds me of a story in the Bible. In the Old Testament era, God spoke to Moses about leading the children of Israel out of Egypt where they were slaves, into a land that would become theirs. Whilst travelling to this new land, Moses died and a young man named Joshua took up the position of leading the people to this new place. Once they had arrived, they could see it was a great place BUT this place already had inhabitants and so they were constantly at war. God had told the children of Israel to not go into covenant with any of the inhabitants of the land they were to take. In Joshua 9, we read of a people called the Gibeonites who were one of these inhabitants. Seeing how the children of Israel defeated their enemies, the Gibeonites hatched a plan and told Joshua and the children of Israel that they had come from a far away place. Usually the children of Israel would speak to God about the decisions they had to make but verse 14 says something interesting. "So the Israelite men partook of their food and did not consult the Lord".
Not long after the Israelites mistakenly made a covenant with the Gibeonites, they discovered they were inhabitants of the land that was theirs! It was too late! They couldn't go back on their word!
My phone situation is not as severe as this, but sometimes we end up in situations because we don't seek wisdom. Proverbs 4:7 says get wisdom! Proverbs 9:10 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Many times in life we go through situations and end up taking 3 steps back because we don't consult wisdom-we don't seek God. Anytime we need wisdom, it is ready and available to us. All we need to do is read the instructions...
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
No more excuses
There's a programme on Radio 1 I love to listen to called 'Rage against the answer machine'. People phone in and get different things off their chest. Here is my platform...here is my time to release my rage...I'm always late!! I hate it! Set a time for 7:30, I'll get there 7:31, 7:35, 7:40 maybe even 8!! Regardless, it has become so bad that I'm known for being late.I remember at sixth form and living 9 miles away, 2 buses away, an hour and a half bus journey away! Please note the bus I would catch from my house would only come every half hour. So guess what? I would be late!
Then one day, a friend questioned my lateness. How dare she?! I thought. 'I live 2 buses away...an hour and a half bus journey away...9 miles away...my first bus comes every half hour,' were my responses. 'So just leave earlier,' she said. End of conversation. I realised every reason I had given was actually an excuse. Living however many miles away did not explain why I was late. Like my friend said, I could just leave earlier.
My excuses caused me to NOT take responsibility for where I was - the situation I was in. I had to and still have to challenge myself not to make excuses, but to do something about where I am. In new situations, I can be very reserved and not talk openly to people. I 'excuse' myself - telling myself 'it's okay, I'm shy.' We sometimes have crutches in life we use as excuses to stay where we are.In the Bible, we read the very first excuse found in Genesis 3. The serpent deceives Eve, persuading her to eat of the Tree of Good and Evil after she was told not to. Eve then gave the fruit to Adam and after Adam ate the fruit their nakedness was known. When God spoke with Adam and asked him why he had eaten of the tree, knowing he should not have, he responded, 'The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree and I ate.' Adam's excuse? Eve gave him the fruit. So where did the fault lie? Adam didn't accept responsibility for a decision that he made. If you look at Adam's words, he said, 'the woman whom YOU gave me'. Adam has not only blamed Eve, but God for giving Eve to him.
Sadly, we can end up in this rut - not taking responsibility for our choices or actions mean we don't move forward. I will never arrive somewhere on time if I don't take responsibility. :P
How much will we grow when we stop making excuses?
Saturday, 23 April 2016
Chains
"I know you feel hurt, but you should give them another chance," he said to me.
After hearing those words, I realised that my Christianity was not just a label. Living out this faith, involves growing. Growth involves challenges. Challenges mean I may have to do things that make me feel uncomfortable.
I have been hearing and studying a lot on forgiveness recently and then I came across the name of a young man in the book of Philemon called Onesimus.
Paul writes a letter to Philemon asking him to welcome Onesimus. What's so special about Onesimus?!
Well, scholars believe that Onesimus was once a slave to Philemon. It is believed that he either stole from Philemon or wronged him another way. Whatever he did caused him to run away from Philemon and somehow ended up in Rome finding Paul. Upon finding Paul, he finds faith in Christ as Paul calls Onesimus his spiritual child. Paul is now asking for Philemon to welcome Onesimus as a brother.
A letter that portays forgiveness and restoration of relationship stood out to me as I read these words:
This is the header that precedes the verses in the Amplified version. It just made me think, 'Who do I have in chains?'
When we choose not to forgive someone it's like we're holding them hostage to whatever they have done. I know how I approach situations where I feel someone has wronged me. I offer them no freedom and in return keep myself in chains. When we keep people imprisoned we limit relationship.
It's interesting that Paul says that there was a time when he was useless to you (sidenote - Onesimus means useful) but now he is useful to you. There are times when forgive and move on but there are also times where there is forgiveness and relationships must be restored. Like I said, the more hurt I experience, the more guarded I want to become. In my mind I've imprisoned a person, but I'm the one behind the prison bars, and this cuts me off from relationships. Friendships, relationships have the power to encourage us and build up. You've heard we're not supposed to live our lives in isolation-when we cut ourselves off from people, we potentially lose a source of encouragement and support.
Scholars believe that Onesimus went onto be the Bishop of Ephesus. Imagine what would have happened if Philemon kept him in chains.
Who do you have in chains?
After hearing those words, I realised that my Christianity was not just a label. Living out this faith, involves growing. Growth involves challenges. Challenges mean I may have to do things that make me feel uncomfortable.
I have been hearing and studying a lot on forgiveness recently and then I came across the name of a young man in the book of Philemon called Onesimus.
Paul writes a letter to Philemon asking him to welcome Onesimus. What's so special about Onesimus?!
Well, scholars believe that Onesimus was once a slave to Philemon. It is believed that he either stole from Philemon or wronged him another way. Whatever he did caused him to run away from Philemon and somehow ended up in Rome finding Paul. Upon finding Paul, he finds faith in Christ as Paul calls Onesimus his spiritual child. Paul is now asking for Philemon to welcome Onesimus as a brother.
A letter that portays forgiveness and restoration of relationship stood out to me as I read these words:
This is the header that precedes the verses in the Amplified version. It just made me think, 'Who do I have in chains?'
When we choose not to forgive someone it's like we're holding them hostage to whatever they have done. I know how I approach situations where I feel someone has wronged me. I offer them no freedom and in return keep myself in chains. When we keep people imprisoned we limit relationship.
It's interesting that Paul says that there was a time when he was useless to you (sidenote - Onesimus means useful) but now he is useful to you. There are times when forgive and move on but there are also times where there is forgiveness and relationships must be restored. Like I said, the more hurt I experience, the more guarded I want to become. In my mind I've imprisoned a person, but I'm the one behind the prison bars, and this cuts me off from relationships. Friendships, relationships have the power to encourage us and build up. You've heard we're not supposed to live our lives in isolation-when we cut ourselves off from people, we potentially lose a source of encouragement and support.
Scholars believe that Onesimus went onto be the Bishop of Ephesus. Imagine what would have happened if Philemon kept him in chains.
Who do you have in chains?
Saturday, 9 April 2016
Meaningless!
I woke up thinking, 'What's it all for?' It could easily may be as some would say, "my free paper bun". Meaning my 2 week holiday is over and it's back to work Monday!
It could be be because I spent the two weeks in "sunny" England when I would have loved to have been on a beach soaking up the sun!
Whatever it was, the words 'What's it all for?' echoed around my mind. Those four words started to drown my heart and make me feel as though I'm a hypocrite. Living this Christian life and thinking a lot of things I do are in vain is an oxymoron! Then I remembered somebody else had the same thought.
King Solomon in Ecclersiastes 1:2 writes these words. The New International Version says "Meaningless!" He goes on to say we work, the sun goes up, the sun goes down - everyday consists of some mundane routine. Upon reflecting on the whole of Ecclesiastes, it's like King Solomon is saying all these things without God is meaningless. With a certain perspective theres no meaning. However if we take on another perspective, what is meaningless and mundane has a purpose. It made me think of another scripture I had read in the week.
Titus 3:14 talks about devoting ourselves to good works, meeting the needs of others and in that our lives will not be unproductive and unfruitful. I find more meaning when I'm living outside of myself meeting the needs of others. The happiest people I have met are not those who have attained the most riches or who are striving to, but those who love God and love people. In the book of John, Jesus is asked what the two greatest commandments are. His response? Love God, love people. King Solomon's concludes in Ecclesiastes 12 that we are to honour and remember the God of our youth. In doing so we will love God and love people. When we do that we will find that there is meaning to life...there's purpose to our lives.
It could be be because I spent the two weeks in "sunny" England when I would have loved to have been on a beach soaking up the sun!
Whatever it was, the words 'What's it all for?' echoed around my mind. Those four words started to drown my heart and make me feel as though I'm a hypocrite. Living this Christian life and thinking a lot of things I do are in vain is an oxymoron! Then I remembered somebody else had the same thought.
King Solomon in Ecclersiastes 1:2 writes these words. The New International Version says "Meaningless!" He goes on to say we work, the sun goes up, the sun goes down - everyday consists of some mundane routine. Upon reflecting on the whole of Ecclesiastes, it's like King Solomon is saying all these things without God is meaningless. With a certain perspective theres no meaning. However if we take on another perspective, what is meaningless and mundane has a purpose. It made me think of another scripture I had read in the week.
Titus 3:14 talks about devoting ourselves to good works, meeting the needs of others and in that our lives will not be unproductive and unfruitful. I find more meaning when I'm living outside of myself meeting the needs of others. The happiest people I have met are not those who have attained the most riches or who are striving to, but those who love God and love people. In the book of John, Jesus is asked what the two greatest commandments are. His response? Love God, love people. King Solomon's concludes in Ecclesiastes 12 that we are to honour and remember the God of our youth. In doing so we will love God and love people. When we do that we will find that there is meaning to life...there's purpose to our lives.
Tuesday, 5 April 2016
All the Good Things
Philemon 1:6 reads, "I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective and powerful because of your accurate knowledge of every good thing which is ours in Christ."
This verse emphasised to me that there are good things to be experienced in Christ and I know that I have already, but there must be more! Paul in Corinthians says that we only know in part, so as we travel this journey we understand more and more what these good things are.
Another thing this scripture points out is that these things are OURS. These good things in Christ belong to us also!
There's a difference between borrowing something and owning something. There are good things in Christ that we don't see as ours also - we only see them 'in Christ'. Whilst I was studying a few years ago I rented a house with a few friends. Although we lived in the house, the house wasn't ours. If I wanted to make certain changes, put things up or move things around, who I would I have ask? The owner. Now (many years later) me and my husband now thankfully own our own house. We have the freedom to do to our house what we please. It is not borrowed, it's owned!
It's the same with the things in Christ. They are not borrowed, they are owned! They are ours. So we are free to use them as we please. It's not for us to gain the good things that are in Christ, but it is for understand that they are already ours!
This verse emphasised to me that there are good things to be experienced in Christ and I know that I have already, but there must be more! Paul in Corinthians says that we only know in part, so as we travel this journey we understand more and more what these good things are.
Another thing this scripture points out is that these things are OURS. These good things in Christ belong to us also!
There's a difference between borrowing something and owning something. There are good things in Christ that we don't see as ours also - we only see them 'in Christ'. Whilst I was studying a few years ago I rented a house with a few friends. Although we lived in the house, the house wasn't ours. If I wanted to make certain changes, put things up or move things around, who I would I have ask? The owner. Now (many years later) me and my husband now thankfully own our own house. We have the freedom to do to our house what we please. It is not borrowed, it's owned!
It's the same with the things in Christ. They are not borrowed, they are owned! They are ours. So we are free to use them as we please. It's not for us to gain the good things that are in Christ, but it is for understand that they are already ours!
Monday, 28 March 2016
The Living Dead
The celebrations of Easter have come, with its bank holiday rain and masses of chocolate! The bellies are satisfied and the hearts are content! And 2000 years ago scattered celebrations occurred when the disciples found out that Jesus was alive!
As we have celebrated over the weekend the death and life of Christ ( I love the order this goes in) something stuck out to me. Jesus is alive!!
Ermm duhh! You say! But for some reason, something clicked and struck me this weekend that I hadn't realised! Jesus is alive.... IN ME! Colossians 1:27 says that 'Christ in us, the hope of glory'. If Christ is in me, everything that He stands for is in and ALIVE in me!
Love, hope, peace, joy.....we search for these things, fight for these things, crave these things and sometimes the search consumes and destroys us. Like zombies, we can be moving corpses, consuming all we can to satisfy the death that has taken a hold of our bodies. Was that not out lives before Christ? But sometimes we still find ourselves searching for these things. Our Pastor read a scripture yesterday that again struck me....As the women approached the empty tomb to anoint Jesus' body, they say instead a man who asked them 'Why do you look for the living among the dead?' We look for love, hope, peace and joy (things that represent life) amongst dead things!
We search for what Christ has already made alive IN US! So now I see the blood of Christ. It didn't just purchase eternal life for me but abundant life here on earth. And that abundant life entails love, hope, peace and joy, which call be found ALIVE IN ME because Christ is alive in me! We are no longer the living dead but now alive in Christ. And He is alive in us!
As we have celebrated over the weekend the death and life of Christ ( I love the order this goes in) something stuck out to me. Jesus is alive!!
Ermm duhh! You say! But for some reason, something clicked and struck me this weekend that I hadn't realised! Jesus is alive.... IN ME! Colossians 1:27 says that 'Christ in us, the hope of glory'. If Christ is in me, everything that He stands for is in and ALIVE in me!
Love, hope, peace, joy.....we search for these things, fight for these things, crave these things and sometimes the search consumes and destroys us. Like zombies, we can be moving corpses, consuming all we can to satisfy the death that has taken a hold of our bodies. Was that not out lives before Christ? But sometimes we still find ourselves searching for these things. Our Pastor read a scripture yesterday that again struck me....As the women approached the empty tomb to anoint Jesus' body, they say instead a man who asked them 'Why do you look for the living among the dead?' We look for love, hope, peace and joy (things that represent life) amongst dead things!
We search for what Christ has already made alive IN US! So now I see the blood of Christ. It didn't just purchase eternal life for me but abundant life here on earth. And that abundant life entails love, hope, peace and joy, which call be found ALIVE IN ME because Christ is alive in me! We are no longer the living dead but now alive in Christ. And He is alive in us!
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