hate evil

So after a little time of no quiet times or reading the scripture, I felt compelled and hungry to eat some fulfilling food, and hear from the Lord, my awesome Father in heaven. So opened up to Psalms where I had last stopped reading, and read a few chapters.

The scripture that the Lord spoke to me through was Psalm 97:10 - "Let those who love the Lord hate evil". I have heard it said that often we as people can be "measured" how much we love something, by how much we hate something else. I felt God ministering to me through that about area's in my life which I have left unguarded and exposed, and specifically where I have not fought back thoughts and deeds which were completely not of the Lord.

Now to be clear, I do not believe the Lord is saying that we should hate all men who do evil, as that is ultimately all of us. However I believe it is about hating that evil thing which drives us, so for instance if a man is beating his wife, I should not hate the man, but rather that thing which is driving him to do it. I cannot control anyone else, so what is my responsibility is to hate that which I have control over, primarily my own thoughts and actions.

In recent days I feel God has been impressing on me the perspective of eternity. This in regards to what decisions (both seemingly big or small) am I making today, and what is their effect and significance in light of eternity... and I feel this thing of hating this evil which can invade all of our lives, and that which I allow to invade mine, needs to be told to stop. I need to constantly watch what I am letting into the door (in terms of my thoughts), and if it is not of the Lord, command it to leave as it has no place in my mind or my heart.

So that is my prayer, that I will grow pro-active in my thought life, and rejection that which is not of the Lord.

Emeli Sande - Read all about it (part III)

I love this beautiful song...

====================

You've got the words to change a nation
but you're biting your tongue
You've spent a life time stuck in silence
afraid you'll say something wrong
If no one ever hears it how we gonna learn your song?
So come, on come on
Come on, come on
You've got a heart as loud as lions
So why let your voice be tamed?
Baby we're a little different
there's no need to be ashamed
You've got the light to fight the shadows
so stop hiding it away
Come on, Come on

I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream till the words dry out
so put it in all of the papers,
i'm not afraid
they can read all about it
read all about it oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh

At night we're waking up the neighbours
while we sing away the blues
making sure that we remember yeah
cause we all matter too
if the truth has been forbidden
then we're breaking all the rules
so come on, come on
come on, come on,
lets get the tv and the radio
to play our tune again
its 'bout time we got some airplay of our version of events
there's no need to be afraid
i will sing with you my friend
Come on, come on

I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream till the words dry out
so put it in all of the papers,
i'm not afraid
they can read all about it
read all about it oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh

Yeah we're all wonderful, wonderful people
so when did we all get so fearful?
Now we're finally finding our voices
so take a chance, come help me sing this
Yeah we're all wonderful, wonderful people
so when did we all get so fearful?
and now we're finally finding our voices
so take a chance, come help me sing this

I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream till the words dry out
so put it in all of the papers,
i'm not afraid
they can read all about it
read all about it oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh
oh-oh-oh

I wanna sing, I wanna shout
I wanna scream till the words dry out
so put it in all of the papers,
i'm not afraid
they can read all about it
read all about it oh

2 years in... no matter what.

So on a road trip "journey of a lifetime" across the USA, I was able to celebrate my 2 year anniversary with my awesome wife. I am so thankful that I have an incredible partner like her, who strengthens me in my weaknesses / areas of need (and who I do the same for). For me, marriage has always been a simple thing of something you just do - thanks to my amazing parents who were an absolute rock solid foundation for us as a family growing up. In our household there was never a question in my mind about divorce or other complications, my parents where always just married and they did it, no matter how big the argument or how great the divide. 2 years in I am so thankful for my amazing wife. Her incredible strength in great challenges, her hope for the future, her hard-working and "go-getting" nature, and her humour... I am so blessed to have her alongside me, challenging me, encouraging me, working with me, discovering with me, and just doing life with me. Thanks so much babes!

An Unkindness of Ravens

My wife and I were recently at the Grand Canyon, and we had the opportunity to watch a presentation by a park ranger on Ravens. She talked about the family of birds, the vast area in the world where their species live, their heightened intelligence, and also the human culture of fear or hatred against them.

What I found remarkable is how we as humans can very quickly label something as positive or negative. How through media (films and books specifically, in the case of animals/insects) can create such a dark and evil view of something (e.g. Jaws, Arachnophobia, The Birds etc.). But also how simply the colour of something can give us a view of something bad (e.g. black cat, black bird). She remarked that if we simply painted the Raven (or crow) our favourite colour, we probably would not regard it with as much disdain as if it were it's normal black colour.

Having grown up in South Africa, I know how quickly judgement can be passed onto someone based purely on the colour... So where/when do I judge something too quickly?

The essence for me of the judgement wash caught up nicely in the collective nouns given to Crows and Ravens: A murder of Crows, An unkindness of Ravens

Throwing Stones (breaking) or Lifting Stones (building)

My wife and I recently listened to Laura Bush's book, Spoken from the Heart, which provides an interesting personal look at her life and her time as first lady of the USA. It was a great book, something I would recomend to folks, especially those who are incredibly synical and judgemental (like myself) of people in seats of authority.

Whilst listening to her speak about her time, and her husband's, whilst they led the country, I was completely humbled about the responsibility and weight these people shoulder as they lead a nation. I looked back as she shared about decisions she or her husband had made, and how I had judged them at that time, and ultimately felt stupid, ignorant and foolish at having been so willing, possibly even eager, to throw over my own bombs of accusation, judgement and supposed wisdom at what decisions and actions should have been made but were not.

Next time I will try and not be so eager to throw stones, as breaking down a house is easy. I hope to rather see which stones I can carry and work with the leaders to build a stronger house together.