Cross thoughts: Christian ideas seen in Sudanese every day life.
“We, who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit”, 2 Corinthians 3:18.
What begins as a rough piece of plain cloth can end up as a colourful and beautiful dress or shirt. It only needs to be put into the hands of someone who knows how to “tie dye” and tailor.
The top picture shows where the “tie” comes from in the name, “tie dye”.
Not in either picture is the actual moment of dying. It is immersion, where the plain cloth is soaked to the selected point in the chosen colour dye. The liquid is sometimes hot and sometimes cold depending on the planned future use of the cloth.
The Khartoum centre for the Nuer Presbyterian women is where these photos were taken. Brenda and I enjoyed being shown around and meeting many lovely people, now almost ten years ago.
As Christians it is good that we can and do give our lives into God’s hands. Because He is our Father in heaven, He knows what to do with our lives to make us the best people we can ever possibly be.
God wants to make us like Himself, that is like Jesus!
Among many attributes Jesus was gracious, gentle, kind, truthful and loving.
Jesus lived to a 100% morally high standard. His living behaviour never once let down what His words said. Jesus was firm in His understanding and expression of what was right and what was wrong. He lived a godly life – even when He was persecuted for it.
Every time you see some “tie dye” material ask yourself this question:
“Am I allowing God to change me into the type of person He wants me to be?”
No experience is wasted when we accept it from His hand.
“The gospel of the glory of Christ”, 2 Corinthians 4 verse 4, is understood best when heard from people whose lives reflect something of Jesus in everyday matters.
July 2009
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