The General Election 2015

I have tried not to post too much in the way of politics as it is such a minefield. Some people are so passionate about their political views and others find it the most boring topic imaginable. I am in no way qualified in giving advice or even understanding politics, but I believe that it is such an important decision and I so desperately want to make my vote count!

With the General Elections fast approaching I felt that if I were ever going to post anything, it ought to be soon. Last time the General Elections came around I spent the whole day researching, as well as a week or so before, and was the very last person in the polling station before it closed for the day. I had been reading and re-reading manifestos and wanted to be sure I was making the right choice, for me. I was so conflicted last time and after reading and comparing their policies, I couldn't decide between the Tories and the Lib Dems (I guess the result was perfect for me at that time!)

So many people my age either stick their vote to the most relevent major party or simply choose not to vote at all. Most people in and around my area stick to the Party they have always voted for, or who their parents always voted for. Our area is very Labour-dominated. So much so that when I voted Conservative last year, I was berated by my family with tales of the mines being closed and Thatcherism. The thing is though, it's my vote and I will cast it in whichever way I see fit. I will never blindly vote, and any decision I come to is the result of a lot of research, reading and prayer!

This time around I don't associate so much with the Conservative's policies. I guess we all grow and change, and different things are important to us at different stages of our lives. At this point, my main focuses are on: Sanctity of Life; Sanctity of Marriage; Education (primarily religious studies and sex education).

From UCLU (click for link)

After my research it seems that of the major parties we have Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, and more recently, UKIP. I've been reading the manifestos of the major players, and I don't particularly feel aligned to any of them (This article made me re-evaluate a few things). I moved on to a couple of the lesser-known minor parties, particularly those with strong Christian values. My husband tells me that if you don't vote for a major party, you might as well void your voting slip. He says that if you're going to vote, the only logical way is to put your vote to one of the top guns, otherwise it's practically wasted.

While I can see his point, I have to disagree with him. Yes, I understand that if I vote for a smaller party, it's much less likely that they'll get enough votes to make it into Parliament, and so it may appear to be a waste. However... as true as this may be, it's important to remember that our generation is not the be-all and end-all.

I think we all pray in desperation that Jesus will come back and claim His bride in our lifetime, but we can't hedge all our bets on this actually happening. I'm sure the Disciples thought it would be in their lifetimes... for all we know it could be another 2000 years! With this in mind, we have to think long-term.

As I tried explaining to my husband last night, it may be futile to think that my single vote will make any difference whatsoever. It may be borderline impossible for a minor party to be elected into power. The minor parties will most likely not get enough votes to even make a difference in a small way. They might, however, get enough votes to get a seat in the House of Commons. Fast forward another five years and they might get a few more. This is where it gets exciting!

When our grandchildren are old enough to vote, who knows what the House will look like? That minor party that I almost didn't vote for might just have enough seats to take over the whole place, or at least make their presence known! That minor party might finally become a frontrunner in the race to lead our country!

I'm definitely not letting their current position stop me from casting my vote on a party that I believe in!

It's time we had more Christians in Parliament. And not just any Christians; not just Nominal Christians and Christians by birthright. We want Spirit-filled and passionate Christ-followers!

There's still some time to do some research and make your vote count! I think I know where I'm leaning... do you?

I leave you with the same plea I gave in my last post, and ask you all to heed the advice given to us in 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and to stand with me in praying for our leaders; specifically our Parliamentary and Party leaders. As we face the last days and we look around to see our world crumbling, let's pray that those in charge have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind (1 Peter 3:8).

Let's change the world, through humility, compassion and pride in Jesus!

Humble Pie

Today I want to talk about humility.

What is humility? What does it mean to be truly humble? Is it the same as being modest? Can I be proud of my achievements and still be humble? Why is humility important? Is there really such thing as a Humble Pie?!



This isn't an actual Humble Pie
it's just a cherry pie I made
a few years ago!

It seems, from my research, that Humble Pie (or Umble Pie) is actually some kind of medieval meat pie... made from the offal (or, umbles) of animals, usually deer.

The idiom of "eating a slice of humble pie" generally means that one will apologise or publically accept that they were wrong. A kind of bringing oneself back down to earth and remembering that we are not always right.

So what does the Bible teach about humility?

There are over ONE HUNDRED mentions of  humility in the Bible. It seems that the Bible likens humility to meekness. Apparently the Colossians 3:12 use of the word is translated in Greek to, "lowliness of mind". I'm not sure I like this translation. I don't like to be thought of as meek or lowly.

But why does this bother me? We only have to look at some Christmas Carols to see that being meek and lowly was seen as being Christ-like. He was described as being "meek and mild" and lying in a "lowly manger".

I guess that I have an issue with the whole "meek and mild Jesus" thing anyway. Because when I think of Jesus, I don't think of a tiny baby, relying on his mother's milk to sustain him; I think of a benevolent, devastatingly scourged man, dying on the cross. In my mind He looks right in my eyes and tells me, "I love you, my child. This is for you". I then think of Him as a warrior, see my poems, I See You and Gentle Jesus. Definitely nothing meek about Him there!

 

With that being said, I think that humility is a great quality to have. It is a shame that in these days, there doesn't appear to be much of it left.

Let's look at the Gospels, to see what Jesus might have said about humility...

Matthew 23:12 tells us that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. This is echoed in Luke 14:11 which says for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. John 3:30 portrays a similar message, He must increase, but I must decrease but it is Mark 9:33-37 which holds more of a punch for me:

 

And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them,

“What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way

they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them,

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

And he took a child and put him in the midst of them,

and taking him in his arms, he said to them,

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me."

 

So, it seems to me that Jesus is telling us that in order for us to achieve anything for His Glory, in order for us to be given the grace promised to us, we must first acknowledge that we are not the best. That there is someone and something higher than us. A reminder that we must do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Luke 6:31) and to put others first, at a higher priority than ourselves.  

 

It is by honouring others, that we will in turn, be honoured. Taking a step back and understanding, as it says in Romans 11:18 that it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. It is only then, when we are truly humbled and we accept our weaknesses, that we can embrace an Almighty God.

 

I suppose that until we have humility, we don't see the "need" for a God. We are so concerned with our own greatness that we don't ever think about our mortality. We don't ever think that we might need to rely on anyone else. It is only then, when we are reminded of our desperate worthlessness, that we can accept and appreciate the gift of Salvation which has been given to us. 

 

When we finally understand that we are so lost that we have no hope of ever saving ourselves; we have sinned so much that we can never even begin to ask for the forgiveness required; and as I have alluded to in my poem Help Me, we are nothing but tiny, insignificant paupers, begging on the streets of God's vast creation... Then we will acknowledge just how much we need a Saviour. And He is waiting in the wings, waiting to give us that grace that we so desperately seek.

 

We must replace our personal pride with the pride of Jesus. As it tells us in Galatians 6:14, But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

 

Will you join me in my prayer for humility? As I pray, not only for myself, not just the people closely surrounding us in our family and work lives, but also for those further afield who so desperately need a touch of God's humble pie! Who need to be reminded that although they may be in a position of power now, there comes a day when all will fade away and we will be left with only ourselves and God (Isaiah 40:8 and Matthew 24:35).

 

I ask you all now to heed the advice given to us in 1 Timothy 2:1-3 and to stand with me in praying for our leaders: our church leaders; our work leaders; our individual country leaders. As we face the last days and we look around to see our world crumbling, let's pray that those in charge have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind (1 Peter 3:8).

 

Let's change the world, through humility, compassion and pride in Jesus!

Standing Up For God!

As some of you know, I haven't had an easy time in my job lately. It's no secret that I have felt persecuted because of my faith, on numerous occasions. The most recent occasion is still a fairly fresh wound and I wasn't sure whether I should post this or not.

Basically my usual day off is Friday but the company called me in on Good Friday to work. I explained to a few different managers that I would not be working as I am Christian and I consider Good Friday to be amongst the most important days of the year; the day we pray and reflect on what Jesus did for us on the cross.

To cut a VERY long story short, my manager told me I have to make a decision on what's more important to me; my job or my faith. Needless to say, I told him in no uncertain terms, that my faith comes first, before anything and everything in my life. It always has and it always will.

My last shift will be this Wednesday.

I don't actually have another job to go to, so I'd appreciate your prayers on that one, but I really felt that it was time for me to stand up and be counted. I have compromised so much and figuratively bent over backwards to try and accommodate them, at times seeming to compromise on my beliefs.

Occasionally I wonder if I've made the right decision, perhaps it's a stubbornness and I am simply unwilling to bend out of principle - which wouldn't be unlike me. I truly believe, though, that this decision goes above and beyond my own feelings. I believe it is a test of my faith and obedience - will I sit back and take it again, as I have done many times before, or will I stand up for God?!

So what now?

I have an interview at a nursery next week - this is working within my degree area, and something I really miss even though I'm terrified and have little confidence left. There's not much of a chance I'll get this job, but I've applied for over sixty jobs in the past week or so. I believe in a God who provides, His name is Jehovah-Jireh, and I am His child! I have faith that He will sustain and provide for me and my family during this time. I trust that He will honour my faith and obedience to Him and that He will open the right door for me!

I pray that this is all part of God's plan and will for my life. I know that His timing is perfect and that His ways are not ours. If He has brought me to this place in my life, you can be sure that there's a reason for it! I'm not sure what that reason is just yet. Whether it's something I've already prayed for and anticipated, or whether it's something completely new and scary exciting!

Please keep me in your prayers as I step out in faith into this new season!