And We Begin Again

I cannot believe that we are in a new year already. Time is flying and my head is spinning. I am very excited though because I have this very strong feeling that great things are going to happen this year. I just know it.

The festive season was hectic - I visited my parents, was a bridesmaid in a wedding and even managed to squeeze in one more holiday in Namibia. I know I know - it means more post building up, I already owe two posts on my trips to Thira (Santorini) and England. I promise I will get round to it 😄😄😄.

Picture from here

Anyway, something really awesome happened to me today and it made my day. I went to the tax office to finish off filing my taxes for last year. I got there at around 14.15 and they close at 16.00 hrs. The guy who was assigning which query was which told me blankly that I should leave because with the way things were looking I was highly unlikely to be served. I looked around and saw what he meant,the place was packed. Nonetheless, I persisted and told him that I would take my chances. He shook his head and issued me with a ticket. I took a seat in the packed waiting room  and prepared myself  for what most likely was going to be waiting in vain. I took out a copy of Joseph Prince's Unmerited Favor , the book which I am currently reading, made myself comfy and started reading.

I am really enjoying this book because it is opening up my eyes to so many things. For sure Joseph Prince is challenging me to be more daring and purposeful with my faith. One of the things he talks about in the chapter I was reading  at the time of my waiting, was practicing the presence of God all the time in all circumstances. He gives an example of David who was known for singing praises and hymns to God in all circumstance. As I was reading I briefly thought to myself, 'I am reading a book on favor, what if somehow I don't wait in vain and I actually get served today.' However, I quickly dismissed the thought because I could see how packed the room was and the ticket numbers for my query were hardly moving. 

The miracle happened just after 3. I watched in awe as ticket number after ticket number under my particular query ended up as abandoned tickets - the ticket number owners were no where to be found. In a space of 15 minutes my ticket number appeared on the screen, I couldn't believe it- I was going to be served  after all - with about 40 minutes to spare before closing time. 

I just couldn't get my mind around  what had happened so as the officer who assisted me was just finishing off, I mentioned that I was so glad that there had been so many abandoned tickets  otherwise I would  not have been served. He agreed and said that actually, he wasn't supposed to be doing my kind of queries but he had decided to volunteer to help otherwise, he pointed out I would have had to come back another day. Then I remembered something I had been reading in Unmerited Favor - that if God cares enough to keep track of the hairs on our heads, there is nothing too small which He cannot do for us. God it seems, didn't want me to wait in vain and come back another day to start a whole new queue. He stirred things up just for me.

Its been hours since the incident but I am still feeling grateful and humbled. God is so good. If this is what favor can do I definitely want more of it in my life. 

Okay ..,. I am going back to my book Unmerited Favor. I highly recommend it, its a good read because it brings about revelations about things we know about as Christians but never really ponder on, understand or put into action. I love it when things like what happened to me today happen - thank you Lord, I know you have my back.

Good News Makes a Good Day

Yesterday, Wednesday the 26th of November was a very good day for me. I got some good news!!! I have been waiting for the outcome of something for ages. I have prayed about it, fasted about it and dreamed of it but it seemed like nothing was happening. Finally... my prayers were answered, just like that. I love it when God surprises me.

Picture form here

Athough it is a day later, this is how I still feel. I am still jumping for joy. Waiting is hard. Waiting is tiring. Waiting is frustrating. But when it happens, oh when it happens - the feeling is unexplainable. I am just so happy.

Done and Ticked Off!

I started a new job last week and I am grateful to God for the new job because I was not happy with my previous job. I am loving my new job so far, my workmates are friendly people and I already feel as if I have been with the company for a long time and yet it has only been 10 days. I particularly like one of the ladies that I share an office with because she has this positive outlook on life and she is very encouraging. She will be leaving in less than two weeks for her maternity leave and I am going to miss her. The other day we were talking about our lifetime to do lists and it turned out she is as crazy as I am because she also has a long list of things that she would like to do in her lifetime. Whilst I might have a long list of things that I would love to do in my life time, I have also managed to do quite a lot such that some of the things once on my list have been ticked off. God has been very good to me. Here are some of the things that I have managed to tick off my lifetime to do list:

1.       Seen the Northen Lights

2.       Experienced the midnight sun days and the polar nights.

3.       Visited a friend I met online in her home country.

4.       Completed my Masters.

5.       Lived in more than 3 different countries at different times.

6.       Been to Santa Claus Village in Finland.

7.       Been to an amusement park – rode a roller coaster (was terrified I don’t think I will do it again).

8.       Started writing a blog.

9.       Done a counselling course.

10.   Visited the Red Square in Moscow.

11.   Been to the Red Light District in Amsterdam – have always wondered about the place so when I visited my friend we went there.

12.   Went to the beach and ‘swam’ in the sea.

13.   Went Bowling.

14.   Went shooting at a shooting range.

15.   Been hiking but took a cable cart down the mountain.

16.   Took a cookery crash course (was just for one day).

17.   Went camping.

18.   Been to a casino.

19.   Have won a story competition.

20.   Been baptised by the total immersion in water (2011).

21.   Been maid of honour at a wedding.

22.   Been to a concert.

23.   Watched a movie in 3D.

24.   Have taken a boat ride in a canal.

25.   Been employee of the month at work.

26.   Bought a car.

27.   Been to the Momentum conference.

28.   Been treated to a birthday picnic by some friends.

29.   Stayed in a historic house which on the list of houses which should not be renovated because of their historic value.

30.   Been to a Hillsong Conference.

31.   Have made a presentation/s in front of many people.

God willing, I hope to tick off many other things off my list. I want to get to the end of my life, look back and be satisfied that I lived a full and fulfilling life and that I did not live a life of just going through life.

Wide Open Spaces

 

This is part of the scenery which is a stone throw away from the backyard of where I live. I took this picture this morning when I went for a walk, I could not resist because it was breath taking and refreshing. I love taking walks in scenic environments like this because I get to enjoy the beauty of nature and its always a conducive environment for me to have a heart to heart talk with God. I also get to clear my head and it has a calming effect on me.

In a week or so my life will be entering a different phase, a good one but one which I am a bit nervous about. I have found my self complaining constantly about some of the challenges and hassles I have been going through in relation to this change, being negative and not being too optimistic or having confidence in myself. Yesterday I was just like 'girl you have to stop being ungrateful, this change in your life is a good thing and a blessing but you are acting as if its not'. So this morning I went for a long walk, chatted with God and I found myself counting my blessings. Now I feel great. I am glad I took time out to clear my head. I have so much to be grateful for and here are some of the things that I am grateful for :

•  I have an awesome family. Although we have gone through many rough patches over the years it seems God was refining us and now we have a lot to shout about.
• I have made a lot of special friends over the years. I could write pages and pages about my friends. Some I met at school, some at varsity, some at work, some started out as pen-pals and so on. I have been amazed time and time again how these special people have been there for me on various occasions - distance being no hindrance. With some of my friends no matter how long we have not been in touch when we do get in touch we pick up right from were we left off and its as if we have always been in touch. 
• I am blessed to know God  and what His Word says about me. Because of that I can hold my head up high knowing that I am more than a conqueror, that the Lord is my provider hence I shall not want (Psalm 23) and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
• I am healthy
• I have a job that many people would love to have which God just gave to me when I least expected it.
• I do not lack of anything. I have food to eat everyday and a roof over my head.

Yes, I have a lot to be thankful for. The Lord has been more than good to me.