Eric Delve at re:gen

Tonight Eric Delve came and spoke at re:generation church. It was really encouraging, as he really focused on the fact that Christianity should not be viewed as a ‘religion’; and we shouldn’t describe ourselves as ‘religious’.

I know that might sound strange, but he was talking about the fact that Christianity should not be seen as a tick list of dos and don’ts, but that the focus should be on relationship. Saying you are a Christian should be a reference to the relationship that you have with God, rather than being some sort of balance sheet of doing ‘good’ things vs doing ‘bad’ things.

Eric spoke about the many men and women of God who have died for their faith and died while fulfilling the calling that God placed on their lives. He also discussed the fact that we are members of the same church as the apostle Paul, or John Wesly, or missionaries such as Amy Carmichael. It was a serious challenge to me about how I am living out God’s call on my life. Am I doing it justice? Am I making a difference?

Even if you don’t know what God’s specific call or purpose is for your life, He has given us clear guidelines of what living a sold-out Christian life should look like in Isaiah 61v1-3:

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
 and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
 They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

And also in Isaiah 58v 6-7, 10-11:

6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
 To loose the bonds of wickedness,
 To undo the heavy burdens,
 To let the oppressed go free, 
And that you break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, 
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
 And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

10 If you extend your soul to the hungry 
And satisfy the afflicted soul, 
Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, 
And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

11 The Lord will guide you continually,
 And satisfy your soul in drought, 
And strengthen your bones; 
You shall be like a watered garden, 
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

So if you would describe yourself as a Christian, I hope that these passages are as challenging to you as they have been to me. There are all kinds of ministries and calls that are encompassed by these verses (e.g. prison ministry, fighting against human trafficking, or visiting the elderly), so find the charity or calling that weighs heavily on your heart and support that in whatever way that you are able to!

Blessings!

Ronell x

Some Perspective for 2013

I received the following in an email from a friend today. It really made me re evaluate my perspective on life, so I thought I would share it!

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When you die, there are some things God won't ask you:

God won't ask what kind of car you drove. He'll ask how many people you drove who didn't have transportation.

God won't ask the square footage of your house, He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

God won't ask what your highest salary was. He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it, and did you use it wisely.

God won't ask what your job title was. He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability. He'll ask what you did for Him.

God won't ask how many friends you had. He'll ask how many people to whom you were a real friend.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, He'll ask how you treated your neighbors.

God won't ask about the color of your skin, He'll ask about the content of your character.

God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation. He'll lovingly take you to your mansion in heaven, if You've asked Him into your heart, and not to the gates of Hell.
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Some of these really hit home/challenged me! Have a think about what you would do in your life to serve God and others more effectively.

Blessings!

Ronell x

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace" { 1 Peter 4:10 }

Dece Hats

Dece is a micro enterprise run by the Christian charity NetWorks, which has been working alongside the poor in western Romania for over 10 years. Dece clothing is life changing. Their products are handmade by Romanian women, who are living in truly difficult circumstances. With Dece they can now work from home, which enables them to make a living while taking care of their children.

The women employed by Dece are all living in difficult circumstances. Dece helps the mother of a big family to learn a trade which enables her to work from home. This means that she doesn't need any former education or experience. The mother can stay at home, washing and cooking and looking after her kids, whilst also earning money through Dece. Their wage can be the difference between having food, medicine and firewood for their families, or not.

Dece works in communities where many families are severely disadvantaged, trapped in a cycle of poverty generations old, with no foreseeable escape. By teaching women the skills needed to produce clothing they are giving them the opportunity to take charge of their future.

Not fair trade but fairly made
Dece is founded on ethical principles, but it is not a fair trade certified company for many reasons. Dece is based in Romania, which is not a third-world country, therefore the project cannot be classed as officially fair trade. We think in terms of individuals and opportunities rather than facts and figures. Dece has a hand in laying the foundations on which people can begin to build their lives.

NetWorks stands with the people
Dece is run by the Christian charity NetWorks which works with the poor on two levels, first tackling a family's most pressing problems, such as hunger and sickness, and then when the family is ready, supporting them in helping themselves. Aid never works long-term. Self-help projects are an investment in a family's future, supporting their independence, and thereby helping them to escape poverty.

Teaching families to help themselves is a vital key in helping people escape from poverty. Dece is not here to make a profit - their heart is to create more employment. The more products they sell in their online store, the more people they can directly employ. This is where they need your help. 

You can also become a distributor of DECE products wherever you live. Distributors will gain access to our bulk order rates and also be given the publicity and support needed to start to sell DECE products.

Blessings!

Ronell x

“While we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary.” {Chinua Achebe}

21 Ways to get involved with the A21 Campaign (9/21): pray!

Human trafficking is nothing short of evil, but don’t underestimate the power of prayer.  Whether you opt to pray on the 21^st of every month, or the 21^st hour of every day, prayer is important!

As a Christian, I believe that prayer is not only important, but essential. Prayer is not only a way of petitioning God, but also is key to developing a relationship with Him. I am glad that the A21 Campaign suggested prayer as one of the 21 ways to help the campaign. To me it seems like an obvious response, but often it is the most obvious things that we fail to say/note. I realised that in most of my posts, I have not suggested or even mentioned prayer! I just want to emphasise that I believe wholeheartedly in the power of prayer and that my recommendation is daily prayer. When you read this blog, pray for the causes mentioned, and if you are able to give of yourself financially, please do so.

Below is a small selection of scriptures that give us a biblical perspective on the power of prayer:

Psalm 107:28-30 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it

Matthew 21:21-22 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

If you would like to obtain a prayer guide, please click here to download or contact the A21 Campaign to request a hard copy. For other resources from the A21 campaign, please click here.

Blessings!

Ronell x