Sarah Teibo is an author and public speaker. Her recent book 'Sex Interrupted' is Biblical, Compelling and Relevant. It has been referred to as the Alpha Course on Sex.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
A Day in the Life of Jesus
About two thousand years ago one lovely autumn morning, a boy named Jesus rolled out of bed. He stretched out wide and opened his bedroom window. A cool refreshing breeze swept into his room as the sun streamed through and made him squint slightly. It was his thirteenth birthday and his father had promised him the day off work. He was sure his father would find a way of getting him into the workshop at some point. He smiled at the thought.
He thought it would be great to just have a restful morning and then go out with his friends later on in the day. His best pal Mark had promised they would go to the town center and see some sights. He looked forward to that!
Just as he was thinking about what fun things to do for his birthday, he noticed a woman walk past his house. She was walking rather strangely and was bent over. It was obvious that walking was a really difficult task for her as she literally dragged herself along, unable to look up as she walked.
He watched as she made her way slowly along the path in front of his house. He watched as the oncoming pedestrians avoided her, seeing as she could not see them. He watched and he was hurt by the fact that she could not even look up to see the lovely sunrise and appreciate the lovely autumn scenery all around. All she could see was the dust of the ground. All she could feel was the pain in her back as she shuffled along
His heart winced in pain as he reached out to her - only in his mind - he reached out and touched her and she stood up straight - only in his mind. Just now, he could do nothing. He had all the power, all the potential, all the reason to do something to help this woman, but he couldn’t.
He understood that there was such a thing as the right time for his gift and ability to find expression. 'Seventeen more years,' he thought. 'What a long wait!'
I think of this that Jesus would have very likely experienced before he started his ministry and I see a case for delaying gratification. Jesus definitely would not have wanted to heal the woman for his gratification; it would have been for her restoration. But we can learn from Him just how possible it is to delay expressing our abilities and potential until the right time.
I say this in the context of delaying gratification where sex is concerned. It sounds impossible, but it can be done, it's just probably a bit difficult. We are human - Christian or not - and are subject to having emotional feelings and indeed sexual urges. What's more, we are spirits and are able to put these feelings and urges under control; especially with help from God's Holy Spirit.
So when you feel like you just can’t handle the pressure, remind yourself - if Jesus could hold back his potential, gifting and power for thirty years of his life till the right time came for manifestation, then you too can delay your sexual gratification till the right time and the right person - in Marriage
Remember, if God says you can, you can!
Remember, if God says you can, you can!
Shalom
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Newton's Law Of Motion
I remember it like it was just yesterday. There I was, sat in one of my first physics lessons, wondering if I would ever be able to make any sense of the complicated jargon the grumpy old physics teacher was about to blurt out.
'In this lesson and the next few lessons, we shall be studying Newton's laws of motion. We shall be looking at the first law today.' He said in his deep and authoritative voice that made him one of the most dreaded teachers in my secondary school.
"Newton's first law of motion states that 'Every body remains in a state of rest or uniform motion (constant velocity) unless it is acted upon by an external unbalanced force.'" Said the physics teacher.
'Interesting', I thought.
'Everyone, eyes on this piece of chalk. Watch as I illustrate the first law of motion.'
He placed a piece of chalk on the desk in front of him, then did nothing. We all watched for what seemed like an eternity (it was only about ten seconds) after which, he tapped it lightly and it rolled off the desk and onto the floor. We all looked at him quizzically as if to say 'was that supposed to be a magic trick?' Yeah, it's pretty hard to impress teenagers isn't it?
Now as I think back on that lesson, I realise Newton's law of motion does not just apply to objects but also to us humans. A person will carry on doing what they are doing, or carry on doing nothing unless they are influenced by a force.
The interesting thing is God already knew that man would need a push in order to fulfil purpose, hence when he first made man, he gave him a push by saying 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.' Genesis 1: 28
Failing that instruction, man would have just sat there wondering 'what do I do now?' God made it quite clear that his intentions for us were that we be productive.
He is so keen on productivity that after Jesus resurrected and before his ascension, he gave his disciples a push. 'And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.' Mark 16:15. Failing this, the disciples could have just sat there saying 'what next?'
God's expectation of us is that we be multipliers. He does not expect us to be inert as a piece of chalk on a desk. So, to help us have a constant push and a driving force, (seeing as we will sometimes get tired), he has given us his Spirit. 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth' Acts 1:8 NLT
Isn't it exciting to know that God has not just given us a push by telling us what to do, but he's also given us his Spirit to help us do it? Halleluyah!
My prayer for this generation is that God will help us understand that his expectation of us is productivity, that we will realise that the Holy Spirit is always there to help and that we will go out there and tell someone about the love of Jesus.
May God's force be with you.
'In this lesson and the next few lessons, we shall be studying Newton's laws of motion. We shall be looking at the first law today.' He said in his deep and authoritative voice that made him one of the most dreaded teachers in my secondary school.
"Newton's first law of motion states that 'Every body remains in a state of rest or uniform motion (constant velocity) unless it is acted upon by an external unbalanced force.'" Said the physics teacher.
'Interesting', I thought.
'Everyone, eyes on this piece of chalk. Watch as I illustrate the first law of motion.'
He placed a piece of chalk on the desk in front of him, then did nothing. We all watched for what seemed like an eternity (it was only about ten seconds) after which, he tapped it lightly and it rolled off the desk and onto the floor. We all looked at him quizzically as if to say 'was that supposed to be a magic trick?' Yeah, it's pretty hard to impress teenagers isn't it?
Now as I think back on that lesson, I realise Newton's law of motion does not just apply to objects but also to us humans. A person will carry on doing what they are doing, or carry on doing nothing unless they are influenced by a force.
The interesting thing is God already knew that man would need a push in order to fulfil purpose, hence when he first made man, he gave him a push by saying 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.' Genesis 1: 28
Failing that instruction, man would have just sat there wondering 'what do I do now?' God made it quite clear that his intentions for us were that we be productive.
He is so keen on productivity that after Jesus resurrected and before his ascension, he gave his disciples a push. 'And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.' Mark 16:15. Failing this, the disciples could have just sat there saying 'what next?'
God's expectation of us is that we be multipliers. He does not expect us to be inert as a piece of chalk on a desk. So, to help us have a constant push and a driving force, (seeing as we will sometimes get tired), he has given us his Spirit. 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth' Acts 1:8 NLT
Isn't it exciting to know that God has not just given us a push by telling us what to do, but he's also given us his Spirit to help us do it? Halleluyah!
My prayer for this generation is that God will help us understand that his expectation of us is productivity, that we will realise that the Holy Spirit is always there to help and that we will go out there and tell someone about the love of Jesus.
May God's force be with you.
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