Musings

Honeyland did not win any Oscars, but then they don't give Oscars for integrity, humility and benevolence of human spirit, all of which are found in the delightful, unpretentious Hatidze Murtova. This beguiling Macedonian documentary film made history with its nomination both for best documentary and best international feature. It is not difficult to understand why. Having lived in Macedonia for fourteen years, I watched with emotional and nostalgic interest as scenes of majestic beauty and tranquility appeared. As details of Hatidze's meager existence were revealed, I was moved by the beauty and simplicity of a life lived against the backdrop of harshness and injustice. Yet the gentle Hatidze displays an outward calm and humility which is rarely seen these days. Her motto with the honey "take half, leave half" is one we need to adopt in many aspects of life. In her own words, she sums it up: "I want the audience to learn only one message from the fil...

Picture from United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Yesterday I watched BBC's 'Songs of Praise' and was intrigued by the story surrounding The National Holocaust Centre in Nottinghamshire. Established by the Smith brothers in 1995 in their family home after a visit to Israel, it is both a museum and educational centre for the upcoming generations who need to be taught about the atrocities of the Holocaust more than ever. I was shocked by the admission of Dr James Smith: "We couldn't understand how we'd gone through the British education system and not learned about this..." As the world remembers the liberation of Auschwitz seventy-five years ago on this day in 1945, it is essential to continue to highlight the depravity of the Holocaust due to the alarming surge in anti-Semitic behaviour in the world today. France reported a 27% increase in anti-Semitic acts last year and we have witnessed vicious attacks against Jewish communities in America and ...

The beautiful scenery in this video reminds me of my visits to Israel, which have nurtured a further appreciation of the life and walk of our Lord. The video focuses on the Sea of Galilee where the Messiah performed many of His miracles. With the singer Joshua Aaron, we can raise our voices and sing: Hallelujah to the One who made His home among us and took our sin away, Oh Hallelujah, He has torn the veil that separated, to bring us face to face, Oh Immanuel, Oh Immanuel, Oh Immanuel, God with us! Jesus' birth was prophesied by Isaiah centuries before: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew states that the birth of Christ is a fulfillment of this prophecy in his Gospel: So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord, through the prophet, saying: "Behold the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son, and they shall call H...

Why You ever chose me Has always been a mystery All my life, I've been told I belong At the end of a line With all the other Not-Quites With all the Never-Get-It-Rights But it turns out they are the ones You were looking for All this time 'Cause I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody All about Somebody who saved my soul Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing I'm living for the world to see nobody but Jesus I'm living for the world to see nobody but Jesus... One of the most wonderful aspects of the life of faith for me is the expression of joy through worship and song. It's a great time to be alive with unprecedented access to whatever type of music our hearts desire. Starting the day with joyful song is a must! Martin Luther expressed a truth which has embedded itself in my mind since I first read it: The devil, the originator of sorrowful anxieties and restless troubles flees before the sound of music almost as much as before...

"From the ashes, from the dust, I will rise up, rise up, out of darkness, into the light, I will rise up, rise up. You make all things new..." Recently, I was contemplating Psalm 113, particularly verses 7 and 8: He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes- with the princes of His people. This morning I realized these were Hannah's words recorded in the prayer she offered in 1 Samuel 2: 1-10 after she had dedicated her son Samuel to service in the temple. At that time, women felt ashamed if they could not produce children to continue the family line; Hannah felt despised and humiliated until God answered her heart’s cry. By giving her a son, her position within her family and Jewish society was established. God had lifted her up, removing the shame and seating her in a place of dignity. In the Christian sense, God still does this. He lifts us out of the barrenness of the ash heap of si...

On Tuesday evening at our Bible study, we considered that most precious verse among others in Isaiah 43:2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, You shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. As I was returning on the mountain road back to the village, I drove into torrential rain. Even though I come from the Emerald Isle where it rains so much, I have rarely witnessed such a downfall of water in so short a time. When it rains in Cyprus, it rains! How fitting was this verse I thought to myself as I carefully and prayerfully returned home. Some fellow believers are currently going through deep testing and this verse is a real source of comfort. Most of us will ‘pass through the waters’ at some point in our lives (notice the verse says ‘when’ and not ‘if’) yet our God promises to be with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6). We may f...

Family hiding from the storm Found no place at the keeper's door It was for this a Child was born To save a world so cold and hollow The sleeping town did not know That lying in a manger low A Saviour King who had no home Has come to heal our sorrows Is there room in your heart (3x) For God to write His story? Shepherds counting sheep at night Do not fear the glory light You are precious in His sight God has come to raise the lowly Is there room in your heart (3x) For God to write His story? You can come as you are But it may set you apart When you make room in your heart And trade your dreams for His glory Make room in your heart (2x) Mother holds the Promise tight Every wrong will be made right The road is straight and the burden's light For in His hands He holds tomorrow .... This is a beautiful song. As I listened to it, I could not help but be impressed by the question: Is there room in your heart for God to write His story? The moment...