gong-goos-mos'

Hebrew, what a beautiful language...

Phillipians 2:14

Do all things without grumbling or disputing

The Hebrew word for grumbling is GONG-goos-mos' which just brings up images of those giant gongs, loud crashing cymbals which give people headaches and eventually start to annoy people!

How fitting!

Next time we do something with reluctancy or start complaining, just remember that people don't like loud intrusive gongs

Simple

Be

What (and or who) was I supposed to Be?

Do? Look at? Work at? Think? Love?

So many questions constantly stir my being and it worries me that if I sit and live the way many do, I will just be another Human-being rather than a Human-doing?

But then I realise how wrong I am...

What does it mean to Be?

I think since we are His image, and he is the I AM, I cannot help but wonder whether everything that He is, is what I should be?

But then an image can be made to reflect in various ways, right?? different emphasis on certain areas perhaps...

I don't fully know the answer to my question, and I'm not afraid to admit that while I'm on this earth I never fully will [Revelations 21:1-7] , but I long to be what I was made to be, in His image.

It is interesting that in Genesis 2:16, the first recorded conversation between God and Adam...
He talks about loneliness (before the fall, before sin) it's amazing that in v.18 "it is not good for man to be (there's my word again) alone".

Yet, although this problem was solved with Eve, we live today with the most people around us ever and despite all this...

The paradox is....
There are more people around us than ever before in history...but people live in utter loneliness in the midst of a crowd,

• We see more and more and people each day, but know fewer and fewer personally
• We often move faster but not closer
• We often have more contact but less touch
• We often have more and more relationships but less and less depth

Stop, isn't the loneliest person who ever walked this Earth, my Lord Jesus Christ - John 16!

"even the closest of His friends on Earth abandoned him! v.32"

Remember what I said about simplicity...?

Take this:

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD (keep chipping away to the bare bones...)

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM (and again)

BE STILL AND KNOW

BE STILL

simply.....

Be

For me, each step gets a little harder and at the same time so deep and so fulfilling.

I may or may not have found my Eve, I may not even know yet what I'm supposed to be but I'm plodding on this journey holding my head high with the knowledge that one day I will find her, it, everything I am supposed to Be.

Simplicity

Hello Friend(s)!

It's a beautiful day in September and I thought to write to you!

The weather is getting cooler outside and has inspired me to pull out my scarves, jumpers (sweaters for my Western followers) and strangely open some windows more! Yes I want to feel the chilling Autumn breeze before it turns to ice (P.S You Americans call this time of year Fall? which to me, is a particularly depressing noun so I will stick to my English routes... here ;) )

I love this time of year, it's my favourite! … the only downfall is that it makes it harder to be inside. I'd rather just be out enjoying God's creation. Well, maybe I still do that a little… but not as much as I'd like to!

Which is what I decided on today, I simply had a inner craving to be outside amoungst the crisp Autumn leaves that had begun to fall and collect outside. There is something magical about waking up to a misty morning and not quite seeing the horizon with clarity.

So... I ran, I'm not one for keeping still and a run always does me good. I had been going 10 minutes before I realised that I was not being simple enough! I had prepared myself into 'running clothes', put some nice devotional music on to listen to, drank a little water to keep me hydrated and it was all this that made me stop in my tracks. Just noticing the beautiful creation around me made me want to strip bare, stop my music and pause. Lo and behold, this run had turned into a stillness as I watched my breath in the cold air begin to slow.

I think sometimes we can over-equip, we can prepare so much that we forget the very essence of who we are. It was today that I discovered that sometimes the best music is silence. Then and only then did I appreciate the chords of creation and what beautiful a melody it was! I'm always needing music, always needing this and that, but today I learnt that it is about simplicity.

Often, like the Autumn mist, we may not be able to see very far, but do we really need to? If we are outside and making the effort to move into it, that is enough...and it may even surprise you what you find behind the sheet of the unknown. 2 Cor 5:7

Simplicity,

The name of my new mobile phone contract that I have opted for this year, they were offering me all sorts of bundles, a million texts, a millions minutes, blah-de-blah and then right at the bottom, in small letters was this option. 'Simplicity'.. all I really wanted but more importantly all I really needed.

Just be careful friends, don't overcomplicate things, open the windows even if it starts getting cold, and don't forget the beauty of silence, because I am so often overlooking the simple wonder of what life offers.

A question:

The longest period of silence and simplicity in our lives is where/when?

(I'll give what I think my answer is next time...)

So... Here we are, the two of us for now...

This is the start of something betwixt my nagging conscience and the procrastanistic Benjamite that I am. OK, so let's just say I have long been trying (since yesteryear) to get into the habit of starting what I can only envisage as a new world, a new and pristine bin to unload some stale thoughts, a hiding place yet veritably inconspicuous (as it is open to everyone), or I could cut to the chase and declare this as a log of my life.
My aim, however, is just to lay down a new beginning, a step into a realm of thought (be-it deep or shallow). I guess what I am trying to eloquently say is that I have a mission, the details of which I do not, myself, fully comprehend but it is my belief that this blog will help unravel what my true mission is.

Who am I?
Well, I am a Sinner and I am a Saint, that is my lifelong story and yet amidst it all I am child of God. Ben Thompson, a 20 year old male living a blesséd life in the United Kingdom.

The words I write here are what attempt to be an honest reflection of who I am, and will try and depict some of the highs, lows and in-betweens on this great walk. This will not be an easy adventure, so before you decide to join me on this hike to the unknown. You may want to get that image of an easy stroll along the beach out of your head.

I can however assure you that this journey will end in victory for it is the Lord who is my Shepherd (don't worry I'm not leading the way..) and I am attached to the light and easy yoke of Jesus my Saviour!

So come with me, expect nothing but brutal and rocky roads but enjoy this walk (would much rather have run this race but I think a walk gives more time to stop, ponder.. feed your soul, then move on, right?)

Lace up those walking boots and don't bring too much unnecessary 'stuff' because it is a long haul and the path is going to be long and windy, plus I know that the gate at the end is very narrow (Matt 7:14) and we won't be needing much in the way of food! All I ask for is an open mind and maybe a little love (patience, forgiveness, understanding etc). Sweet!

Ok I'm done with waiting... Let's Go!!!!

P.S
That Horizon looks a long way off don't you think....?

Oh but then I walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7) ... The Enemy has started already ha!