Chrissy Siggee

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

1 Chronicles 29:11
Thine, O LORD is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.Have you ever wondered how great our Lord really is? I can’t measure His greatness but when I walk beside a raging river,, , take in the glories of secluded valleys, when I wake to see the sunrise through whispers of candy pink clouds or watch the setting sun slowly melt into amber horizon, I know I have only witnessed a diminutive glimpse of His infinite greatness.

I can’t imagine this universe without being able to see God’s beauty all around me. There’s nothing more beautiful than God’s creation. It’s as much a part of me as my Saviour himself. Everything he created was to His will and glory, and nothing was made by accident.Because of His majestic sovereignty, I worship and praise His Holy name.

Lord, your greatness is all around me and yet I only see a speck of the enormity of how great you really are. I cannot comprehend your power and glory but you are the Lord of all and greatly to be praised. Amen

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS

Psalms 18:2

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

I can’t count the times I’ve spoken or prayed this Bible verse. It’s one of those verses that I learned as a child and never forgot it. The words often inspire my writing and even my drawings. I find they’re a comfort when circumstances weigh me down.

There was one time when my son was almost two years old and had been quite ill. He would scream for hours at a time until he was exhausted. He would then sleep restlessly until pain would overwhelm him again. His pediatrician told me he was spoilt and just seeking attention. The local doctor said he was probably teething, but a mother knows when her child is in pain.

Approaching a third night with no possibility of sleep again, I took him to the emergency department at the hospital where his pediatrician was on duty. After four hours of stares and glares from staff and patients, we were finally taken into a curtained-off cubicle. I was exhausted and my son just went on screaming. All I could think of was the words of Psalm 18:2, which echoed in my head.

My son was admitted to the children’s ward but still I had no answers nor help from the nursing staff. They did regular observations and shut the door behind them when they left. By 4am I could stand no more. My arms ached from holding my child but if I sat down I was afraid I would fall asleep and drop him. I sang to him and repeated every Bible verse I had memorized but this one verse came to mine repeatedly.

After a change in staff, a matron stomped into the room and took my son from my arms. I couldn’t resist her sudden actions. But she held him gently and rocked him for a few moments before directing me to the nurse’s meal room and a place to sleep. A few hours later, at the matron’s request, the pediatrician did some tests and x-rays to discover my son had a blockage in the bowel.

In a quiet moment before the matron left for the day, I shared this verse with her. She replied by telling me she was a Christian and that a colleague had called in sick, something that rarely happened with this other matron. Some of her favourite words in Scripture were “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust…

“Lord, you have always been my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. You are there for me in every circumstance of life. Thank you for being my strength when I’m weak. Help me to stay focus on the promises in Your Word. Lord, you are everything to me. Amen.”

 © Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

ARE YOU CONTENTED?

Hebrews 13:5 

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.My grandmother used to have some funny sayings that left me wondering. One of these sayings was: I’m as contented as an old cow put out to pasture. It was like she was trying to teach us something but I was too young to understand.

We all understand contentment in our own way just as we are all different in our own likes and dislikes. Contentment is a satisfaction or an accomplishment in something we have achieved, or in life itself. I would be surprised if my grandmother hadn’t found satisfaction in her senior years.

I’ve met people who are never contented. They always want the ‘greener pastures’ just beyond the fence. And, although striving for a better job, a better lifestyle or a better future can be a good thing, we need to be careful about how we achieve our goals.

Do we allow the temptations of cutting corners, taking advantage of others or neglecting our priorities in our attempt for a better life? Do we compromise our Christian beliefs or family’s needs? We need to take a good look at our actions and the motives behind our actions to get to where we want to be. Sometimes we need to take a step back and be contented. If we allow God to use what we have He will take us forward into the desires of our hearts, if it’s in His plan.

1 Timothy 6:6But godliness with contentment is great gain.

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

HUMILITY SPEAKS

Matthew 18:4 

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Humility speaks to me of meekness and being humble. I often think I’m not as humble as I ought, yet humility is a requirement of our faith.

I have seen the way the Lord works in the lives of those who show humility in what they do and say and, quite often, how they demonstrate their kindness to those around them. I see the rewards of their actions and the gentleness they demonstrate in their everyday lives. In whatever they do, their actions speak the humility they possess.

I’ve also witnessed the fall of the arrogant and proud. Too many successful leaders fall because of pride. They allow success to be their ambition rather than Christ their goal. They begin to believe in their own ability rather than Christ’s through them.

So how do we keep a balance?

Without Christ we are nothing and because we have Christ in our lives, we have worth and purpose. There is nothing wrong with feeling good about what Christ has done for us but we need to realize he doesn’t make us great.

Be willing to live the success that God has given us through humble acknowledgement of the source.

Father, show us how humility can speak through us by our actions. Help us to live humbly and to your purpose and keep from being proud and haughty, but demonstrate the true source of our abilities. Amen.

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

I AM WITH THEE

Psalm 73:23-24Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.