The Good Changes

Perhaps I am a person of contradictions but here is the thing – I like doing new things but I am not a huge fan of change. I like planning for things in advance and having certainty, and yet, on the other hand, I also like learning and doing new things. When I go to new restaurants, I am that person who will want to try a new dish; I must admit it does not always turn out well – at least I know what not to order the next timeJ. I love travelling, you can ask me to go to a country I have never been to, and I will pack up, go and settle in quite nicely, I have done it several times, and I have always seen it as having an adventure.

At the beginning of the year, my swimming school (yes I am learning to swim to those who don't know) told me that I was going to change my swimming instructor because my current one then would no longer be available. I was sad because I liked my swimming instructor – she was very patient with me, and I could not imagine anyone else being that patient. There was no avoiding it, the new instructor came, and the lessons had to go on. The first two or so lessons I struggled because I did not trust her yet and I was getting to know her. At some point, something happened, and we connected. I tell you my current instructor is even better than my first, not only is she very patient but she is also fun. We laugh a lot, and we have so much fun – I am always surprised at how fast the lessons go. The other day she sent me a sweet message telling me how well I was doing, that she was proud of me and enjoyed teaching me. I was floored by her message, and I could not agree more that I also enjoy having my lessons with her.

Not all change is negative; change can be good. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says that to everything there is a season and time… When life’s season changes occur it can be scary or sad but if there is one thing which I am learning, even a seemingly bad season always turns out for good in the end. The Bible is on point when it says that all things work for good for those who love the Lord (Romans 8.28). Look at Joseph - being sold into slavery and being thrown into prison after a false accusations were terrible things to happen to him, BUT God turned those situations for good, he became the second most influential man in Egypt second only to Pharaoh. May God grant us the grace to trust Him with every change and situation which comes our way. He knows what He is doing; he has everything under control. He’s got this!

The Things I Did Not Know I Needed

Most of us, me included think that we know what is good for us and want we want, that is until that second when God shows us otherwise. There are those defining moments where you experience something and have that aha moment, realising that you didn’t even know you needed that thing. I had the opportunity to go on a business trip in a small town in Free State, right by the Lesotho border. It was early May, but when we arrived there, it was so cold. The lady in the lodge we stayed in (bless her heart,) switched on the electric blankets for us when we arrived. Till that point, I had never owned nor used an electric blanket before. I had always been sceptical about them because I didn’t think they were safe. That night in that small town I had one of the best sleep I have ever had on a cold day. The next morning I raved to my colleagues about how I was going to buy an electric blanket for the winter.

Life is also like that. We think that we know it all but do we? I cannot count the number of times when I felt I was happy and had all I needed. Then God would bring something my way, and I would realise I actually needed that thing but just didn’t know it. It is a privilege that we have a God who knows all our needs even before we do. If you make Him the driver of your life, you can be rest assured that you are taken care of and that at the right moment He will provide what you need. Imagine the advantages of having someone who sees ahead on your team (Revelation 1.8). It takes the worry out of you, and you don’t have to stress. I look forward to those aha moments; Lord keep them coming, your surprises are the best.

Keeping Your Head Above the Water

One of the things about me is that it is usually the very small things which get me. Someone might say something seemingly insignificant, but it can have a big impact on me. A quote or a few sentences in a book or a song can spark something huge in me. Some of my friends say that I have a weird taste in music and some always ask me where I get some of my ideas from because it is as if I live in another world. How can I put this? Usually, I am just being myself. To me it is normal, but I have come to realise that sometimes what I think is normal is not so to those around me.

Some time ago I was talking to my mentor, and I happened to mention that I am fascinated by Belgium because of Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective character from Agatha Christie’s books. She remarked that it was so funny because most people usually talk about the Belgian chocolates or beer. It was only much later when I was replaying the conversation in my head when I realised something - I am a unique individual, and God made it that way for a reason. That revelation made me more appreciative of who I am as a person – the quirkiness, the things about me which many people do not get and so forth. It is all me, and yet the pressure is always there to conform. Sadly, there are instances where I have pretended to be something I am not, just so that I wouldn’t come across as weird.

I love what Psalm 139. 14 -16 says.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God saw me before I was born and every day of my life has already been recorded in His book. Think of it this way, if God the Most High made each of us different and unique, then surely it should be ok to be ourselves instead of trying to be other people. I know that it is easier said than done and there will possibly be times when the urge to conform will be strong but I know one thing for sure – I can always be myself with God. Come on nothing can be hidden from Him so really there is no point in pretendingJJ. I tell Him things I would never dare tell anyone and I know that it’s ok. Even when I mess up big time I know that He still loves me. Plus I know that he gets me, as in really get me even when no one else does.  Knowing this enables me to embrace my uniqueness more and more every day.

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.

He Did It!

I have been reading the books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel and I have been awed again and again by David. When it came to God, he did not play. He loved God – no doubt about that. Through the good times and the not so good times His love for God always shone through. For instance, in 2 Samuel 5:20 after winning a battle he had been fighting against the Philistines he exclaimed, ‘The LORD did it.’ That seemingly short and ordinary phrase got me. Here was a simple acknowledgement that God had brought him victory. It made me think of myself and how I usually act when something good happens to me. Am I quick to declare that my success was because of God or do I give myself the props and tell whoever will listen how hard I worked, the connections I used and the risk I took etc. Even after praying about something, begging and crying before God it is so easy to claim the victory as our own. We are quick to forget and put God in the background.

There is nothing wrong in boasting in the Lord – in fact it is a form of offering, praise and thanksgiving – which opens the door to even greater things (Paul and Silas can testify to the power of praise and worship: Acts 16. 23-30). Yep, let God be the first person you give the 1^st credit for your success – every time. I intend to, David’s good example really inspired me. 

Minding Your Own Business

David and Saul in the Bible couldn’t have been more different kings. Saul was the 1^st king of Israel and he was rejected by God because of his disobedience. Samuel asked him to wait for him so that they could sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord together but because Saul became impatient he ended up not waiting for Samuel and he made the offering himself. This move cost him, because he lost the right of the continuation of the kingship in his family (1 Samuel 13:7 -14). David on the other hand was referred to as a ‘man after God’s heart’ (1 Sam 13:13) and a reading of the book of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel reveals why. David strived to walked in obedience to God. For instance, even when he had the opportunities, he refused to kill Saul (who had made it his mission to kill David because he was jealous of him) and proclaimed he would not touch God’s anointed (1 Samuel 24 & 27). So faithful to his words was he that he was angry and killed the man who killed Saul calling him condemned because he had dared touch God’s anointed (2 Samuel 1:16).

But one thing which hit me right in the face was how both David and Saul were called to kingship. Both of them were busy living their lives, minding their own business that is. Saul was busy looking for and worrying about his father’s lost donkeys. When Samuel invited him to join him to the place of worship and spoke some positive words about his father’s house, he was surprised, confused (and probably annoyed too) and asked Samuel why he spoke to him in the way that he did when he was from the least tribe and the least clan in that tribe (1 Samuel 9: 18-21). As for David, when Samuel came to anoint the next king of Israel in Jesse’s house he was not even present. He was out keeping his father’s sheep and he only came as an afterthought when Samuel asked if Jesse had any other sons after God revealed to him that none of the present sons was the chosen one (1 Samuel 16:11 -12). Imagine this, probably David actually had no idea what was happening at home – could there be any more minding your own business than that?

These two stories, of these two very different men remind me that sometimes the best of things happen to us when you are not looking, searching or trying. As God says in Jeremiah 29:11 He has plans for us, plans for wholeness, to give us a future and hope. We don’t always know these plans but when the time is right things will fall into place. I just love those instances when I am minding my own business and then something absolutely amazing happens to me. 

When People Don’t Get It

Sometimes, people just don’t get it. They don’t understand why you want something so bad or why that dream matters to you. They tell you that at least you have other things to be grateful for and that it’s not so bad. This was Hannah’s situation (1 Samuel 1). Here was Elkanah her husband who was always asking her why she was so downcast about not having children, pointing out that she had him – something he alluded to being better than having 10 sons. He simply didn’t get it.

Despite a seemingly unchanging situation Hannah did not give up. She could have but she made the decision not to. Just because no none seems to understand doesn’t mean that God doesn’t and she understood that. That is why she kept knocking and she refused to give up on what she wanted. Honestly, sometimes giving up seems the better option especially when all attempts to make headway seem not to be working. Haven’t we all been there? Hannah is a real inspiration. Instead of giving up she took it notches higher. So fervent in prayer was she that Eli the priest though she was drunk (1 Samuel 1: 13 -14). So determined was she that she made a vow with God ... if you give me a son I will give him back to you. Wow! This woman was determined and there was no stopping her. In my mind's eye I can see God nodding and saying, 'Yes, Hannah my daughter yes. How can I deny you your request?'

Some dreams are easily achieved but some … take stamina and grit and they are not for the quitters. Just because people don’t get it doesn’t mean a dream is not worth pursuing. Anything is possible with God.  Stories like this story of Hannah never fail to inspire me and keep me going when the chips are down. With God the possibilities are endless and like I always like to say He is always listening and sometimes when we least expect it, things begin to happen.

Idée Fixe of the Moment

A God who neither sleeps nor slumber... I can sleep peacefully knowing he is awake and has my back.

 

A God who has committed Himself to watching over me day and night... I can rest and not panic because in my going out and coming in He is with me through and through.

 

Psalm 121 - Good News Translation (GNT)

1 I look to the mountains;
where will my help come from?
² My help will come from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let you fall;
your protector is always awake.

⁴ The protector of Israel
never dozes or sleeps.
⁵ The Lord will guard you;
he is by your side to protect you.
⁶ The sun will not hurt you during the day,
nor the moon during the night.

⁷ The Lord will protect you from all danger;
he will keep you safe.
⁸ He will protect you as you come and go
now and forever. 

 

I simply cannot get enough of this scripture at the moment. It gives me so much hope, reassurance and comfort.

The Little Big Man

I am very excited, I was a guest blogger on From Now Till I do, you can read my post here. Thanks Chichi it was an honor for me to write a guest post for you.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is that of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4: 9 -10).  A very short account of the man called Jabez but one which is very significant. Bruce Wilkinson in his book Prayer of Jabez refers to him as the Bible's little big man. His story is found in one of the least read sections of the Bible which is made up of the genealogy of the Hebrew tribes starting from Adam but is a most powerful story. I agree with Bruce Wilkinson that there was indeed something special about Jabez that warranted mention of his story in the middle of a long list of names. This man Jabez inspires me very much.

From the story it seems like Jabez was just an ordinary in the beginning and his greatest burden was his name which prophesied over his life negatively. Jabez means pain and I am sure this was not a name that he was proud to have but this or any other circumstance did not stop him from stepping out boldly to make his requests known to God and we are told that God did grant him what he requested.

Wow, this says a lot to me. There is hope for anybody out there, no matter the situation or the circumstance. The secret is in not letting negativity or circumstances get to us. Irrespective of what we think, what others think we should be bold enough to step out and pray to our Lord pouring out our hearts. Look what He did for the man Jabez, a man who could have just accepted that he was destined to a life of pain and suffering - he could have just given up on life, but he did not. He knew there was more and he was going to go after it and he got it.

'And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you.' Isaiah 30:18. Isn't it wonderful that the Lord is longing and looking forward to being gracious to us. In my mind's eye I can see Jabez lifting up his hands towards heaven jumping and saying 'God your search is over, I am here be gracious to me'. As for me I decided that I am going to take advantage of God's graciousness, He is looking for someone to bless? Then I am that woman.

Blessed is the one whose heart is stayed on the Lord in all circumstances and who understands and knows that it is only God who determines who we are and what we become.

Life through the eyes of children

I love children. Here are some of the reasons why are love them:

1. They are blessing from God.

2. They are innocent, open-minded and so receiving.

3. I love their curiosity and guts to ask or seek to understand things.

  In Mark 10: 13-16 Jesus told His disciples to let the children come to Him and even said anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. See that's how significant the character and being of children is, even God sees and speaks of them highly.

This past month I had two experiences with children that cracked me up and made me appreciate children all over again. Well, maybe its just me but hope you will also see the humor.

On Sunday, 3 days ago exactly one week after Father's day my phone rings in the morning as I am preparing to go to church. I see my friend's number flashing and wonder if all is ok because I know that usually around that time she will be on the way to church or already there. As it turned out  she was on the way to church but my niece and nephew had been talking about me between themselves and had actually voted that I should come to see them like tomorrow as per their discussion (so sweet of them that they miss me that much) and so my friend thought it would be lovely if I could talk to each of them for a few minutes. After talking to my 6 year old nephew I was greeted by a 'Happy Father's Day aunt S', from my 4 year old niece. I thought I had heard wrong, but when she repeated it again I knew I had heard right. I could not help laughing. In the background I could hear my nephew shouting ' Aunt S is not a father, or a man she is a woman and besides Father's day was last week'. It made me laugh even more. Despite the continuous comments from my nephew my little niece would not be moved and was insistent on wishing me happy father's day and so I collected myself and accepted my fathers day wishes with love and appreciation. She was one happy little girl and she made my day.

Second story. About three weeks ago I was invited for dinner at my pastor's house. He has got four children, whom although I know have never had the chance to interact much with. M their 3 year old daughter, a gorgeous little girl who in my opinion is the most amusing of all their children, started off by watching me from a distance. With time she moved closer, kind of circling around me as if unsure or deciding something. Finally, curiosity got the best of her and she moved very close to me and began to rub my arm, briefly stopping to look at her fingers and then rub again a little harder each time. The expression on her face as she did this was priceless. 'Gotta rub it off, gotta rub it off ' she seemed to be saying. The way children think about and see things - so precious. She had been wondering why I looked darker that everyone else around and in her mind's eye I think she thought maybe I had painted myself and so she wanted to find out if that color I had painted myself  would rub off. It was only when her mum called out her name amidst bouts of uncontrollable laughter from me and other people in the room that she ran off laughing. I love children - they are a constant source of laughter and happiness usually brightening up an otherwise ordinary day.
 

Does anyone have funny stories about experiences you have had with children? Please feel free to share.

Seeing beyond today

I vividly remember when I was growing up, one of my uncles who when ever we met would usually take me by the hand and say out aloud "This one is very intelligent. You'll see, she is going to go far in life. You just wait and see". As a child I would just laugh and run off. I never understood what he saw in me that made him have so much faith in me - now that I am grown up if I could have the chance to see him I would ask him but the fact is he saw something in me. I was just thinking about my life the other day, where I have come from and where I am going , I realized that my uncle actually prophesied over my life. Now that I am older and spiritually mature I understand it was God right there speaking through my uncle, telling me that I am not ordinary and He had great plans for me, plans to prosper me and to make His glory revealed through what He would do in my life. 

Life is a journey and I know I still have so much to achieve but that which I have achieved so far is something I can shout about and I look forward to a bright future because I know God is in control.

Whilst it is awesome to have someone or people believing in you like my uncle did, I also realize that as an individual it is crucial to believe in yourself and declare a bright future for yourself. You do not need to wait for anyone to tell you that you have so much potential and you are capable of achieving your dreams. It is very important to be able to see beyond today and prophesy positively into your future using the Word of God irrespective of your present situation because the Word of God is powerful and "...is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword..." Hebrews 13:12. What the Word of God says you are, you are, what it says you can do then definitely you can do it. Believe me you will be amazed at the results, you will be wowed over and over again by the power of the Word of God - I know I have and I am still being wowed.

The more we speak the Word of God into our lives the more our lives change and begin to take shape. I have made up my mind to make it my responsibility to prophesy over my life and the lives of my loved ones - making it a priority to say what the Word of God says and not what I feel or what think or what the world thinks and says. I hope you will join me and also begin to prophesy positively over your own lives knowing that God will never fail you  and that what He says in His Word is absolute truth. You have a bright future ahead of you.  

I have got to have this thing working in me

I have been a Christian all my life but I have never really understood what grace was or appreciated its importance until I listened to a tape called Increased Grace by my pastor, Pastor Chris. I was used to saying and hearing statements like ‘May the grace of God be with you’ but had anyone asked me to talk about grace I would not have had much to say. As far as I was concerned grace was the favor of God which God gives to us even though we do not deserve it – but there is more.

What is grace then? I love the way Pastor explains it. He explains that there is nothing wrong with the most common definition of grace ‘unmerited favor’ but that definition is very limiting and does not give justice to what grace is. Grace is the divine influence under heart reflected in life outwardly or simply put; it is the outworking of an inward divine influence. God places something on the inside of us through His Word or the Holy Spirit and this reflects on the outside. Some of the things grace gives are advantage, acceptability, favor and joy. With acceptability something about a person draws people to him/her, for no apparent reason people tend to like that person and would go out of their way to assist or do something for them. Favor – a person with grace does not struggle because good is turned towards them. Where others struggle to accomplish something and they have to plead and sweat it out, for the one with grace they do not have to go through that, actually whatever it is may actually find them without them having to put much effort.

This is just a tip of an iceberg of what pastor said in his message but by the time I was half way through the message my whole being was shouting ‘God, I have got to have this thing working in me’. Since then I make it a point to make myself aware of the presence of grace in my life for instance by making declarations that I have grace working in me, because one of the things that Pastor Chris emphasized in his message was that it is important to be conscious of grace in order for it to work. Failure to recognize grace causes it to fade but the more you recognize it and allow it to operate the more it will increase because grace reproduces more grace. I can tell you the results in my life since I became conscious of grace working in me have been astounding and I am not looking back, I want this grace to continue working in me and for me.

Sometime ago I became friends with someone. I noticed that wherever we went people seemed to generally like my friend. People would come up to her and a start conversation and many times people she barely knew would open up to her, tell her personal stuff and ask for her advice. When I always asked her how she did that she would always tell me it was grace working in her. At one time she was late in handing in an assignment but her lecturer had been understanding and had not given her a penalty. Later on she told me that other people who had handed in their assignments late had been penalized by having marks deducted. I did not have to ask I just knew that it was grace right there. Who would not want to have this wonderful thing working in them?