Author: words and signs

Limitless mind formula… The age of drugs

The human mind is already “limitless.” it can project itself anywhere, any time and even beyond death into eternity. Christians know God. We know the infinite, all-powerful, all glorious God, and can grow in understanding Him and His ways, with minds spiritually alive to Him.

God has made every mind as He intended and has given us the abilities we need to strengthen and develop our minds, by using them in different ways. Our main problem as human beings is, we are lazy. We always want something for nothing, without expending ourselves. We want to know without being it. We want to understand without the effort of study or research. We want strength without the discipline of eating and sleeping and excercise. We want cleanliness, or the semblance of it, with out washing. We want minds that work, but without the disciple and effort of training them.

This seems to be why we turn to short cuts, namely, drugs of various kinds. We never learn. When we meddle with how things are, and start wanting and looking for short cuts, we get this kind of answer – drugs to enhance and quicken our natural abilities. People gullibly take it up. There are dreadful and unknown side- effects. Neural pathways that are not within our range of experience, are set up and cognitive health problems ensue because we do not know everything about even the most seemingly innocuous drugs we have come up with. So our health is compromised and we loose sensitivity to our own needs.

A quote from a user: “Shortly thereafter, I began to feel a warm, crisp fuzziness. Normally a scatterbrain, I felt myself concentrating with an uncustomary attention, focused intently on my work, working faster, harder than before. I was pleased with this effect, but not quite convinced this was the same “Limitless” pill that I was expecting. Sure, it gave me a boost, but was it really worth the price tag?”

This persons concern is the price of the drug… it is amazing that we are so willing to play about with our minds, our psyche and our ability to think for ourselves. We seem to ignore the “feelings” and just accept them as harmless. The next day, the experience this person had was stronger and deeper.

Stimulating the mind unnaturally, brings illness of some sort. Using drugs often leads to mind illness and various types of psychosis. Messing about with chemicals that change the working of the mind and trying to “enhance” it, is folly. We don’t know anywhere near enough about our minds to even think about this situation. This is another comment about a different memory drug on line…

“Limitless Brain Pills Benefits Include: Fight Age Related Cognitive Decline; Boost Brain Power And Energy; Supports Long/Short Term Memory Decrease Brain Fog & Boost Energy; Powerful Nootropic Ingredients; All Natural Clinically Proven Formula. They offers a unique blend of ingredients that are made to help you achieve your full potential. Sometimes you might notice yourself suffering from a lack of concentration or other such adverse effects this is specifically what these memory pills were designed for.”

These recipes are sold as scientific products that are tried and tested. The phrases, “Brain power, brain energy, brain fog” are not exactly medical terms that you can examine or look up in proper research data. “Achieving your full potential..” What is that? Who knows what their full potential is?

The language is to draw us in and get us to think it is Ok. We want results!

People down through time have tried taking drugs to enhance aesthetic and creative powers in the mind, with disastrous results. People who suffer from mind illness often have strong powers of creativity, aesthetic ability and intelligence. It takes a long time and a great deal of pain, for a sufferer to harness these abilities for good. The abilities are given by God, to help subdue the illness’s difficult effects. It is extremely difficult and painful to work out which part of the equation belongs to the symptom or behaviour or genuine ability. I think only a Christian can work this out in their own mind, with the truth of God firmly in place. We were made by Him, and only he really knows us and how our mind works.

Using drugs, for recreation, shows supreme disregard for what we have been given. As a general rule, we should question taking drugs of any sort. If a headache happens, maybe if we think about what we have been doing, we can work out a remedy without a tablet. Maybe I need a drink of water, maybe a need to lie down and rest for a bit, maybe I need some fresh air… and so on. Medics still don’t know all the effects and side effects of Paracetamol..!

Why is drug taking illegal and dangerous? Why do we want a “higher level” of functioning? Why can people with money get this while others don’t? Why are we so cavalier about our most precious possession? Why are we encouraged to tamper with it?

There are very many issues tied up with this issue, and the idea that you can make yourself unnaturally “smart” should be ringing alarm bells.!

In my view, people who are taking these medications are actually making themselves “ill.” We do not really understand all of what “illness” is anyway… in all drugs there are side effects and the long term outcome of this could be catastrophic. If you haven’t experienced mind illness, how will you spot the symptoms in your mind?

Exams, grades awarded- true or fake? We move towards “meaningless”

Doctors carrying out operations- under the influence of this? We move towards irresponsibility and lawsuits.

Yet another layer of social class? The rich will be smart, but ill. The poor will be healthy and have a chance to stop the folly, or not…

Our society is moving towards hyper-mania at a terrific speed. Soon “Ill” will be healthy and certainly desirable, and our environment will become a rather large Psychiatric hospital. Some would argue it is that already…

Strength

Who do you model yourself on? Who do you admire above all others?

A strong woman is so secure that she sees no need or inclination to retaliate, save face or protect her goods or reputation. She walks so firmly and with such a giving attitude that nothing is too much or too unfair for her to give out, and she quickly bears the burdens of others. The second- mile mind-set is central to her thinking and practice, and nothing is too much bother, which shows itself in generosity of effort, time and belongings. These attitudes reap for her an eternal store of righteousness in the place where no one can take it away.

She fears no loss of status or any of life’s necessities, as she knows God is in total control and always oversees all events and happenings, so her faith does not waver in the face of any kind of adversity. The knowledge that God is the sovereign king over all, and his power complete, is the foundation stone of every day, making every encounter with other people, an opportunity to demonstrate the purpose and mercy of God.

The gifts she has been given are committed to Christ, using them to full extent for his sake and for the benefit of those outside His fellowship. All areas of skill and the wide variety of abilities God gives, grow and develop, so that she becomes a person of trust, obedience and love. Her family become blessed because of her, and there is plenty of room for those who are in need, so that all who seek spiritual nourishment and friendship, can shelter near her refuge in Christ. She has learned to relate to anyone who should come into her circle of friends and those who least seem to fit, become accepted and encouraged.

This woman’s lifestyle is after Christ, and only Him, and her eyes daily watch him, listen to him. Every prayer is a seeking after His likeness, so that all within her being, is conformed to His self. She herself is daily denied the cravings of selfish wanting, and those she interacts with in daily life recognize the likeness of Christ’s character in all her thinking, speaking and doing. All beliefs, attitudes and prejudices become subject to His perfect law and lifestyle.

No other person is worth following in comparison to the Master, and even those who are regarded as worthy or worth listening to, seem vacuous, inconsistent and flawed. To be like Him is her true and constant delight, but costs her everything in terms of this world. Yet the realization of the value and sheer delight of knowing the presence of Christ, renders everything devoid of joy without Him.

As she lifts her eyes to Him, looks into His gracious face of love, all human and earthly activity pales and fades away, leaving only love for Christ and love for others, with the certain hope that one day, she will see Him with her own eyes, and be truly like Him, showing His glory, in the clarity of peace, love and humility…

The woman of noble character…Proverbs 31

“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

“O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer
This is my constant longing and prayer
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of life’s pleasures
Jesus Thy perfect likeness to bear…
O to be like Thee!
O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art.
Come in my weakness, come in Thy fullness
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart…”
Thomas Chisholm (1860)

Letters

Sometimes I feel like a letter with no script written upon it and no words on the surface of the paper. The paper is blank, because no one has written on it for some time. There is an absence of expression, lessons to be learned and fullness.

If I am not taught as an individual I am not taught at all. Without the writing of the Master, there is no message and nothing to be learned. There are times when the page is resistant to the writing and has become isolated and used to writing on itself. The sense of submissive reliance on the perfect words, spoken clearly is in dire need of review. Perhaps the paper must be wiped clean, so the words can again be rewritten on it.

I cannot live without the words. The blankness is a desert where there is no sustenance and endless open paper with no point or purpose. The self-written text, has no substance and the words are unclear, muddled and devoid of objective meaning.

Lord, take your holy pen and write your word on my mind and heart and enliven me to write for myself and others and speak your perfect word into my life, so that I will walk it and live it and share it.

Make me able to address the empty pages of other human lives, as mine has suffered emptiness. That they become living books that replicate your glory and record the works of grace in all our lives.

Hear Him

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“She who has ears, let her hear…” Matthew 11:15

There are so many voices to listen to. It is hard to discriminate. Who is speaking truth and who is just following form. Which books stick to the mind of God and what writing is just bigging up self.

There are many who “recognise” truth because of the name on the book. There are authors who are “trusted” because of their historical position and their acceptance is handed down through generations. We accept thoughts and ideas, because they are from a source that is approved of by a set of people who take a position of “sticking by the truth.” Few actually read the words, and rely on a leader of some sort to interpret and choose.

Error creeps in easily, as the guard of the Christian is down and we become complacent and lazy. We come to depend on the judgement of leaders and end up following them and not our Sovereign Lord. Our life of faith wavers and we become weak. We accumulate problems and start trying to resolve them in the light of the wisdom of others. Doubt creeps in and our personal faith wanes, as we put more and more world-orientated remedies to cure our spiritual ills.

Open your ears. Look into the perfect Word and learn from Him. Take His burden upon you and you will find rest for your soul. This is the dichotomy. The burden of Christ is perfect freedom. The burdens of this life, other people and so-called “councillors” only generate more grief. Look to the Saviour who forgave you and set you free. Don’t be a slave to anyone or anything..

If you have ears, not only physical ears, but ears for the teaching of the Holy Spirit of God, listen to Him. Disregard all other murmurings and obey what your God tells you. Immerse yourself in the holy Word. Allow yourself to be taught by the Spirit, through the Word. Your loving God will guide you because He is personal in His dealings with humans. To know Him, is the only way to hear and live.

Hard knocks

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17 NIV

“It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” John 6:45 NIV

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit–just as it has taught you, remain in him.” 1 John 2:27 NIV

We are made for specific destinies and for purposes we need to constantly learn and adapt to. Nothing is static or set. Nothing is kept the same though our whole lives, and every one of God’s people have a whole plethora of abilities and talents, given to enrich their lives and the lives of others. These unfold through life.

Each one has been uniquely fitted to deal with people, crisis and situations, to the glory of God and to teach us all to grow, struggle with hardships, and trust God in every way. The school for these skills, is severe, testing and involves spending long periods of time teetering on the brink of disaster. It is proving God in supreme failure, succumbing to temptations and learning to get up afterwards and walk on.

Every day of life is spent closely to Christ, obeying and learning every day and in every occasion the joy of knowing His heart and personally walking with Him. This is the way to prove that the scriptures are true and the God revealed in them is completely and utterly trustworthy. To stick to his decrees obediently, is the path of peace within, though not necessarily in the outward life. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

This realization of truth and faith are the only qualifications for usefulness and to be able to draw close to people in need. The people in our lives, family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, have the knowledge of God within them, but they seek to fill up the empty spaces with other experiences that ultimately keep God out, and also are deeply unsatisfying. Learning to be attuned to this truth, makes us more sensitive to others, and our own life experiences help us to identify with sufferers and fellow failures..!

We cannot be useful without feeling the blows ourselves and the deep hurt visited on us by people, and the fallen system of this world’s fake glory. The desire to fit in is strong, but to be resisted, so that we can stand in the day of conflict and overcome the dangers and wounds, with the sword of the Spirit. We are only as strong as we are adept at using the armour that God has provided, and as we use it in anger against our foes, so our strength grows and our accuracy develops so that we are precise and affective in the battle each day.

There is no shame in living on the “wrong tracks” which is in itself, a foolish and assumptive judgment by a hierarchical and meritocratic society to keep some up and the vast majority down. Living in a place where the every day necessities are not guaranteed, is the practice ground for trusting in God for all things. Having no access to luxury goods is, again, no bad thing, but teaches us what is really important and truly valuable and worth having.

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17 NIV

In our society, the purchase and possession of expensive goods, is the sign of success. The indicator of strength of character is to play the system and get to the top, over and above everyone else. How you do it is up to you, and the more ruthless you become, is the mark of success. This strategy masks the inner life of greed and covetousness, which bring no satisfaction and moral and spiritual failure. Without God, this lifestyle seems so attractive, but in reality it is the path to destruction.

Jesus said, that to be great, we have to become less, humble ourselves, serve others and obey him. “The greatest among you will be your servant.” Matthew 23:11 NIV

This is a bitter pill in our times, and not desired at all. It goes against the grain and denies our very self. This is precisely the point of what Christ is about and the many lessons in right living, that He taught, recorded for us in the biographical accounts of his life. It is difficult to live and remain true to God’s word and follow him in every way. The way things are just seem to suck us in and water down our vigour to follow the right path.

It is crucial that we do follow him and break down our selfish walls that build up around our hearts, especially towards Jesus, and also towards other people. His way is the only way and to be like him is the true Christian’s deep desire. To walk that path and take the knocks along the way, is in reality, the way to strength and peace. As we bear burdens, we become more useful to bear and share the difficulties faced by those around us. We have deeper understanding of what our Saviour suffered, for our sake.

Falling down

Who can count all laid up for God’s people
It is nothing to do with any church or it’s steeple
Nor is it found in the robes or the smell
Or the empty clanging of the big church bell
God calls you to Himself, He calls you to His own
He wants to lift you, forgive you and raise you to His throne
There you can have access day and night
And never lost from His sight.

The road is narrow and it is long
Fraught with suffering and trials forlorn
We walk not alone but have a helper true
Who will guard and guide and rescue you
The Spirit will lead you in the way of truth
His love and power are the proof
That He is real and you are blessed
And give you strength and daily rest
The church will rot and crumble and fall
Religion with fail and disappoint all
All these things will surely pass away
When the kingdom comes and the glorious day.

Keeping yourselves

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1 John 5:20-21 NIV
“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.”

The dear Apostle John sums up his letter with this short and pithy statement. It should be emplanted on our minds to keep reminding us of who we are and who we serve.

Everyone who belongs to God, knows the Lord Christ, personally. Not just knowing about Him and believing that He existed, but knowing Him every day in speaking and obeying. Jesus came to show us God. Being God, He showed us in what He did and said, what God is like and what God requires of us. He revealed God, so that through faith, we could understand and believe.

It is possible for human beings to know God and have a personal and daily relationship with Him. What Jesus did, made it possible for all our sins and our predisposition to do wrong, to be atoned for. If we believe in Him, put our whole trust in Him, we become part of Christ. We come under the saving wing of our Saviour and Lord. God takes us into His family and we become the people of God.

Jesus can do this because He is the Eternal Son of God, and eternal life belongs to Him. He bought it for His people and He will bring them safely into His eternal kingdom. Those who understand this spiritual knowledge, and exercise faith in the Eternal Son, have eternal life and a future in God’s everlasting dominion.

These are weighty truths. John is earnest in telling this hidden truth, now revealed.

His final comment….

Christians, keep away from godless ideas and things…!
This is the outward characteristic of every believer.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 2:27 NIV

Every year past and future

The sins of the past have passed away
Washed in the blood spilt that day
Buried with Christ in the tomb and now dead
Forgiven forever just as He said.
But they spring up in my feeble mind
Causing doubt and fear of every kind
My spirit dragged in the gloomy trail
And darkness seems once more to prevail.

The blame of others fuels the flame
Feeding the feeling that it’s all the same
I never came, I never believed
This pointless life is forever grieved.
It’s not up to me the joyful message comes
From the Son who shines inner freedoms
Jesus the Saviour will forgive and win
Every soul who trusts in Him.

Yet they return- all seems lost
Always grief and counting the cost
The pathway is often dark and rough
Progress little and every step is tough.
But this is His Way, as He said it would be
A constant fight to the end of me
Self, daily denied and slain
Over and over again.

He knows it is too much for me
So He sent me you to accompany me
To fight together and stay the course
The Words our every day discourse.
Will we walk or will we faint?
A ” Christian” life daubs of paint?
Or will the Spirit’s power within
Overcome the grip of sin.

We do have strength to choose the right
Resurrection power will fight
So death in us is truly dead
And Christ alone our living head.

The weak and the strong

There are Christians who are so capable and come across as confident and full of knowing the right thing to do… others are more susceptible to the hurts of life and appear “weaker.” I think in reality we are all struggling, just some cover it over better.

We all desperately need the Lord.

When troubles strike, we see it clearly. This is good! At this time we see ourselves as we really are- dependant on the mercy and strength of our Father in heaven and in constant and life-supporting help of the Holy Spirit. We also become more aware of our sins and failings. If this leads us to repent, that is good. If it only produces anxiety, that is unfruitful.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Maybe it is better to be afflicted with difficulties and to have the sensitivity to feel them, rather than just learn how to try to cope by ourselves. Maybe these afflictions will make us run to the Lord more quickly instead of building ourselves up in self-confidence. To have any hope or good thinking about our personality, abilities, strengths or character, is ultimately foolish. We perish without the Lord, and our Christian life will falter and descend into sinful mindsets that dishonour God. Without the Lord, all our supposed “goodness” will eventually fade.

Each moment we live for Him, is in His fellowship and He keeps His people close and strengthens them in His love. What if we could be open to each other about our desires and beliefs? What if everyone was open about what they want out of life or how they want to serve God? What if we were able to honestly support each other and stir each other up to good works?

We would be much closer for sure. But the culture in so many Christian groups today, is not conducive to trust. We hide and cover over good and bad, in order to try to maintain an independent outlook for ourselves and our lives.

Perhaps we are not so capable or confident after all. Maybe we need to come down from the exalted thinking about ourselves and seek the Lord humbly. A dependant culture on true Christian sisters and brothers, who will mutually help each other, is a precious environment. It cannot be manufactured, but is the work of the Holy Spirit in each life. A group of Christians is built together by the Spirit of God, and not organized by our own strategies.

The dependency culture in our spiritual lives with God is good. It is the way we should walk with God. We can hope in God and He will forgive and strengthen us in our inner person. If we do not depend on Him, then we will not ultimately have the hope, of a living and vibrant faith in Christ. So the weak who lie at the feet of their Saviour and look only to Him, turn out to be the powerful ones. The knowing that they are nothing in themselves, has resulted in a faith that can move mountains and a trust in God that conquers all.

A place to avoid at all costs

Hell- a place for real that is almost never talked about and seldom ever thought about. We don’t believe in it, therefore it doesn’t exist.

When we begin to ponder that this place might be real, we also begin to wonder what it is like. There are some clues in holy Scripture. Jesus talked about hell and gave very graphic and clear illustrations about it.

It is a place where humans and demons experience the second death. The second death is a living death. The person is separated from God and all goodness, forever. It is a place of sorrow, regret and the never ending agony of a condemning conscience. There is no way out. All chances have passed and the possibility of forgiveness has passed away at the point of physical death.

This is why we cannot think of this state of being, it is the ultimate horror where the gnawing of guilt has no remedy. In that place, we rehearse our sins and how we affected others with our bad attitudes. Our refusal to come to God, that kept others in the dark also, will haunt us. Those we loved are destined to suffer too, alone and forever afraid, because we didn’t pray or witness to them.

We will know the full extent of our sinfulness and our mind will remind us of it all. Like Dante’s inferno, layers and layers of blame and regret. There are no distractions to relieve the pain – darkness reigns and no friendly word of encouragement breaks the constant flow of negativity. We will think of what might have been, and the glory that could have been ours, but we refused it.

God describes us as “lost” and so we are. Lost to joy and peace and to hope. In that dreadful place we are forgotten. No one looks for us or misses us. We hang in the web of futility and the sting of death pierces our souls. The warnings we were told, torments our minds and the anger burns against ourselves that we were so careless.

“Run from the wrath that us coming!” God tells us that His wrath waits to pour out punishment on those who refuse Him. We must run to Him. We must earnestly seek His forgiveness, and get this relationship sorted out now. Why play Russian roulette with your soul? The stakes couldn’t be higher. We play with folly and are seemingly senseless to our need and eternal state. Jesus holds out His hands. He implores you to come. Everything is done for you and the banquet is ready. Why turn away?

“Seek the Lord, while He can be found..” Putting it off is folly. You don’t know your end. Trying to do a deal with God, which shows our conceit and total lack of understanding of the deep rottenness of our sin… The transaction is already made- He has paid for your soul in full. Only Jesus can make you fit for His kingdom. Arguing your own way – that leads straight to destruction.

You have nothing. All you can do is come to Jesus for mercy and He will freely forgive. He takes your rottenness and gives you untold blessings forever. His love is boundless and strong. He will never leave you and fill your life with His Holy Spirit, and such power and love for Him and other people.

The two lifestyles and two destinies could not be further apart. They are eternally apart and a great chasm is placed between them that no one can cross. We have a picture, which Jesus shows us of a man fining himself in hell, and the utter futility of his thinking. He had everything in this life, but ignored his soul. Now he has lost it all.

Jesus gives us another picture of a man, given over to wickedness, and yet he turns his eyes to Jesus and repents when he faces death. He is completely forgiven and meets Christ in the heavenly kingdom, in everlasting joy.

What is the difference? Faith. Falling at the feet of the loving Saviour and finding joy and peace. It is the same for all of us. The way stands open as yet.

Either hold on to nothing and loose everything, or let go of our own sinful self and gain an eternity of everything- love, joy, peace with God.

A place to avoid at all costs…

Daughters of the Kingdom

Women who glorify God