A faith struggle- straight from the heart.

Life throws many things at us - good, bad, perplexing and simple. The Christian life is no different. As life rolls on, we encounter so many different situations not only in our lives but also that of the family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.

This is an honest, straight from the heart blog - no pretense, no mask, no charades. Today is a day that started with many question assaulting my mind. I feel like the psalmist David who was perplexed at times. Maybe you too feel like this sometimes.Then reflect with me..



We are called to live by faith and not by sight. WE are sons of Abraham, the father of faith. Jesus said if we have faith even as mall as a mustard seed we can say to a mountain "move" and it shall be done!!!

However, today I sit reflecting on those mountains that need moving and NOW. They seem to have been around for a looong time : mountains in my own life, in the lives of my friends, family, church. Mountains of crippling health situations, failing finances, relational strive, challenging addictions, a battle for spiritual fruit. The list can go on and on.

I think of all those people of the "faith movement" who keep shouting "believe it, name it, claim it..", like a magic mantra! You don't possess it because you don't have faith. How re assuring!!!!

But, when I anchor in the WORD I see two things happening- there are the suddenly s of God - where God breaks upon a situation causing the dead to come alive, the blind to see, the cripple to walk, finances restored, the stranglehold of addictions broken, storm stilled.
I also see the great heroes of faith ( that is what they are called) who despite believing died not having received what they were in faith for and they are still commended for their  - Faith ( not for having received what ever it was they were in faith for )

As Job said shall we accept only goodness from God and not accept the trials?James encourages us to persevere  under trials, testings of many kinds.

I know that my God is sovereign and in control. His ways are higher than mine and incomprehensible a lot of the times. When I sit perplexed on such a day as this, I know that in times like these, the wise thing to do is to sit still in His presence, still my soul and find rest in God alone.
He is my anchor, the horn of my plenty, my refuge and strength in times  of trouble.

My heart goes out to all those who I am praying for today - those struggling with illness, the pain of bareness, for children who long to see their father delivered from the clutches of alcohol, those who are longing to meet their life partner, the poor who feel trapped in their helpless state. Oh , this list can fill pages.. I know I long for rapid answered to prayer. 

But I also know I believe in a prayer answering God. Scratched out prayer lists over the years bear testimony to God's faithfulness. So I am learning to straddle the truth that faith can move mountains and will; while on the other hand there is the waiting and the possibility that the answer to a prayer is actually a "no".  I am reminded of a quote:WHAT IF ?

What if the Israelites had stopped circling Jericho on day six? What if Elijah had quit praying for rain after his sixth request? Or what if Naaman had only dipped in the river six times? (Batterson, Mark Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge 
This I know, God is for me and for all those who love Him and are called by His name. While we are promised abundant life ( the definition to that is open ended and does not consist of material blessings only ), Jesus also reminded us that in this world we shall have many troubles and I have to straddle the two truths with His grace.

"Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior. 

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights." ( Habbakuk 3:17-19)

So I end this morning's reflections lifting my eyes to the maker of heaven and earth, to Jesus, the great high priest who was tempted in every way therefore able to sympathies with my weakness. He is the author and finisher of my faith. He will keep me strong till the end. I'll end with copying the lyrics of a song I recently wrote and if you struggling to find faith in your heart - focus on Christ the hope of glory.

Christ in me the hope of glory

Christ in me bringing new life

          Christ before me, the world behind me

Gives me the power to live this life

Christ in me to will and do

Christ in me will see me through

Christ will be my guiding light

In valleys low and darkest nights

Chorus:

My hope is in Christ alone

He is my Rock, my cornerstone

And I will trust in His great name

Christ forever the same.

Christ in me, my help in weakness

Christ in me giving me the strength

Christ makes me an over comer

And keeps me strong until the end

Christ in me my help in life

Christ in me be glorified

Christ in me this hidden treasure

Life’s author and, perfecter.

Navaz D Cruz

© 2012 ( you can listen to it herehttp://www.reverbnation.com/navazdcruz/songs)

Stay strong, keep the faith!

Navaz

August 2013

Breathe on me - A story of God's faithfulness

 Have you ever had a dream , a dream close to your heart, a dream close to what you know is God's call on your life, a dream that feel is too big and just "like a dream"? I have been there. I lived in the shadow of a dream for over a decade. I had  prophetic confirmations I needed many times over to take that leap of faith . And yet, I lacked the confidence to take those steps of faith in spite of knowing I had a BIG God backing me and giving me His approval. I made feeble attempts at accomplishing that dream and felt I could not do it on my own. There were some friends who encouraged me to step into making the dream a reality.  So I sought the help of other people I thought could help and had a similar vision. But it did not materialize and I was left hanging, waiting for this dream to take shape.I landed up getting frustrated, disappointed and buried that dream in despair thinking I had got it all wrong.  The Bible says "Hope differed makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is like a tree of life " Prov 13:12. I was in this place with regards to this dream for many years and I did not know how to get out of it and then came a stage when I couldn't care.

But , the ever faithful God who does not give up on us or our dreams in his great love pursued me patiently. HE who is the author of that dream was not willing for it to die without bearing some fruit. 

Last year in February we attended a 3 day conference for Church Leaders. It was there that I had the most significant coffee conversation  yet. The lady whom I was chatting with, out of the blue asked me if I wrote songs. I thought the sky would fall on my head. I was shocked as the question was prying the nails I had banged hard and strong in that coffin. I could not run from what I knew was the Lord wanting to take off the grave clothes and bring back to life that which was deeply buried. I sheepishly answered in the affirmative and said I had tried everything , tried getting help in vain and that I had reached the end of myself and any inspiration. She felt I should not give up and try new doors. The Coffee break ended and we assembled for another session. 

The session was on taking responsibility for what happens in our lives and not giving into a hostage mentality or a victim mentality. The speaker gave us a moment to share with each other. This friend shot out of her chair and came straight to me and said "GOD IS SPEAKING , IS N"T HE?". Heaven was using a megaphone. I knew I was cornered by the Living God himself. I felt the Holy Spirit  work deeply in me. I felt deep conviction for giving in to satan's lie and giving into a victim mentality. I went through deep repentance. I was overwhelmed at how much God was interested in this dream, this gift seeing the light of day.

I resolved to make another attempt and push every door for help that I could possibly think of . 

I prayed  a desperate  prayer asking the Lord Jesus to breath a fresh on me, to anoint me for what He want me to do,not to give up till the end of my days, to be faithful with every gift He has given me so that when He comes again He will see that I have multiplied what He has given me.

That prayer  became my first song - the first of this dream , this gift coming out into the open. I titled it "Breathe on me". Since then , there has been an overwhelming flow of new songs, that has  even take me by surprise. My book is full of lyrics leaping out of the pages waiting to be sung.

I look back at the last year and am amazed at God's  faithfulness. As I took those steps of faith, the lyrics fell into place, fresh tunes flooded my mind, new doors of help opened up that only encouraged and guided me so well. 

I have walked with the Lord for nearly 4 decades and there are so many lessons to learn and so many life patterns to unlearn. I am grateful that He is the author of my life and He will finish what He has started in me. He will not give up. And all I can say is " To love and serve You is the greatest thing, To love and serve You, Jesus my King"

Here is the link to the song. Be blessed as you listen to it. Share it freely.

Navaz

A prayer for a son.

              IF

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

 This is my prayer for my son today as he finishes his last day of school and carries the school flag at an Award giving function, and gives the final vote of thanks.

As a parent my utmost desire for him is that he will grow to be a man of good character and heart. That he will always be able to  walk with his head held high because he has kept his heart pure. 

I pray that  he will realize that a man's worth is not in the abundance of his possessions but who he is.

I pray that he will learn that the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" .

I pray that he will learn to  Trust in the Lord  with all his heart and not lean on his own understanding alone. He will learn to acknowledge God in all his ways and see God make his path straight.

I pray he will learn to keep the main thing  the main thing i.e seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness...

When he has done this, I know that all his efforts at adding skill and knowledge to his life will bear much fruit. He will be successful in all that he puts his hands to.

 

God  bless you much our son Andrew John.

Navaz D Cruz.

In everything - Navaz DCruz