In your dreams

We've all had a good giggle at it some time or another. The sight of doggie paws scratching the carpet as they dream about chasing cars, or a cats whiskers twitching as they chase after that birdie. It all seem so pointless, chasing after something but not getting anywhere.

That's how many people feel about living in the big city. We get up early and go to bed late, spend hours in traffic and live with stress most of the day. All for a buck, to make ends meet. Yet it wasn't always like that. There was a time when we could day dream about what life would be like when we reached that pot of gold.

What happens to us? Why do we loose our way and not reach our goals? Maybe it is because we did not set our goals right in the first place. We set unrealistic goals and then don't stop to check if we are on track. Then when the hazards of life hit, we have a melt down and go into survival mode and just live day by day until it becomes a habit.

If you are stuck now in a habit rut, don't loose heart. Ask God to work in your life to refine your dream so that it can be realistic and attainable. Then ask the Holy Spirit to guide you every step of the way until you can see the path ahead clearly and know the road to follow.

I know that if we submit our plans to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He certainly will help us to reach our dreams in life!

The trouble with popcorn

I've had a couple of bad experiences with popcorn getting stuck between my teeth.  None more so this week when a piece wedged itself between my rear molar teeth.  In my haste while trying to floss it out, my floss slipped and hurt my gum....its still sore!  Ouch!  Henceforth I have decided to ban popcorn from my home and diet.

It's not the only item of food that I have fights with.  I love peanuts but they don't love me back as I always get headaches from them.  Time for a new discovery, enter chick peas.  If I cook them for around 20 minutes they soften up but still stay nice and crunchy but the skin softens so no harmful side effects.  Think I've found my perfect solution.

In life and faith we face similar challenges.  There are things we just know we shouldn't do because they will harm us but we do them anyway, because there is usually a pleasure pay off.... that's until the pain sets in.

Unfortunately the only way to solve this problem is to eliminate the source.  I know that this may be difficult but I can assure you, it is worth it!

Your heart can handle it

The one pet hate for anyone working in finance is financial year end. With this in mind I decided it is time to pick up the pace with going to gym. Stress is always overwhelming but getting good exercise definitely helps me to maintain pace. In times past I've always held back a little from pushing myself to capacity with exercise (not sure why) but I told myself this evening, “your heart can handle it.....GO!”

It felt great! Pushing yourself and getting your heart rate up feels wonderful! It make me think though. In life as with exercise many times we don't push ourselves to the limit. Maybe we are scared to take on more responsibility at work and give it our all because we don't feel we'll be rewarded. Maybe in relationships we don't give our partner our full attention because we are scared of getting hurt.

Our spirit walk is no different. We are afraid of getting totally wrapped up in God because we are afraid we'll be labled a geek. Well I say, “Geek on baby!” There reward of giving God our max is amazing. When we gain success the joy if truly complete because God has been with us all the way.

In what areas of life are you holding back? Common get stuck in and give it your all.

Your heart CAN handle it!

Rabbit on the loose

I went to the gym this afternoon and as I returned home I decided to check my post box.  To my surprise hopping around the security hut was a smallish white and black spotted bunny rabbit.  I tried to catch the little guy, thinking I could ask around the complex who's rabbit it was, but before I could even get close bunny hopped away.

There are many good things in life that get away from us, most times unintentionally.  We let our health slip because we forget to focus on a healthy diet or perhaps we stop making time for exercise.  As a result of these slips we gain weight and don't feel well.

Maybe we let our finances slip because we loose track of our budget or expenditure.  We could let our key relationships slip because we don't make time to spend with the people that matter to us most.

In our spiritual lives we could let fellowship with God or people slip.  God desires that we keep our lives in balance and maintain an even keel throughout.  If you have let good areas of your life hop away from you, ask God to give you the strength to catch up to your 'bunny' and get it safely home.

Bubble bath Thursday

Bubble bath Thursday is a tradition I've had for some time now although the practice does slip my mind from time to time. Usually by Thursday night I'm quite beat and having a special relaxing evening with candlelight and bubble bath, relaxes and refreshes me so that I can face Friday with energy and enthusiasm and gives a great boost to starting the weekend off right.

Jesus also withdrew from the hustle and bustle of crowds and took his disciples away to places where they could relax and be refreshed so I know that this was an integral part of His spiritual walk, so this is a good example that we should follow.

What is your energy boosting secret? Do you have some tricks up your sleeve to get the soul revived? If so, I'd love you to share them with me and with your permission maybe pass them on to my other readers. If you are willing to share your secrets, please email them to me at: Ronwynh@gmail.com

Seeing clearer

I was asked by a colleague today why I had not pushed through to finish my Chartered Secretaryship qualification. I had no regrets and answered that I had done enough studying for one lifetime and that now at age 40 I wanted to enjoy life and do the things that I love, one of them being writing.

It all seemed so clear, no confusion and what a blessed place to be at emotionally. I know the things that are important to me now I don't have any desire to complicate that with unnecessary pursuits. If God so ordains and I have the privilege of living a long life, I know for sure which direction I am heading.

Don't get me wrong, I have plenty goals and ambitions but I am now able to focus my attention on only the things that really matter to me. Reaching a place of contentment is a spiritual goal that we should all set for ourselves.

The bible says that the love of money is the route of all evil, not money itself. When we are truly contented inwardly, our choices about how we spend our money will become wiser. Are there unnecessary goals that you are striving for financially? If so, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to a place of contentment so that you can rest in your labours and find blessing from God.

Woke up to trouble

Oh boy, today was a tough one. I woke up to a crying, uncomfortable and very sore kitty. Honey had another bladder problem with crystals in his urine which just translates into being in pain. After a few hours of trying to console him, there was no choice but to pop down to the vet and get him checked. I had to keep an eye on him all day to ensure that his condition improved as if it didn't it would have meant taking him back for some hospital treatment as these conditions can get fatal pretty quickly.

It all boils down to his food, it is just too salty. My compromise of mixing good food with cheap stuff just wasn't working as I'm guessing he was picking out the cheap stuff, which is the problem.

Does that not happen in our spiritual lives as well? We wonder why we struggle through certain situations and its all because we are not getting the right spiritual food. In that sense I don't just mean bible reading, studying and church activities. Our soul is deeply connected with whatever happens in our spiritual realm, so we have to make sure that we are nourishing our souls too.

Oh well, I'm guessing I'm going to have to turn in early tonight so that I can be up early to catch up with work tomorrow. Eish!

Sucked up kitty

Last week while I was vacuuming the house my vacuum just stopped working although it the motor was running.  I realized it needed a clean but did not get round to cleaning it during the week.

I decided to tackle it over the weekend.  To my amazement and amusement what I found inside was enough cat fur to make a whole kitty!  Lol!  I say it amazed me as Honey dearest insists on being brushed daily.

In life we often struggle to work through personal challenges, often of a character nature.  We try our best to deal with them, which I would compare to getting brushed daily, but it is only when we get some help with our cleaning that we realize there is a whole bag of fur we didn't see hiding in our emotional vacuum cleaners.

We should not be shy about asking for help from a councillor.  In all cases and especially if you feel you can't talk to someone about it, talk to God.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you on your journey so that you can reach a place of contentment.

Caste your cares and burdens on God and trust him to lead you!

Waiting for sunset

There have been times when I've had rather negative emotions about sunset, especially on a Sunday evening as this is usually the last few hours of weekend and the time to prepare for the week ahead.  This Saturday evening however I could not wait for sunset as it is the first Saturday I can celebrate the finishing off of the pathway leading to my fairy garden.

At the top of the walkway I placed some of the largest rocks I've dug up so far as a reminder of the hard work it has taken, and boy there are some big ones.  It has been hard work but I can rejoice in a job well done! I give thanks to all the wonderful memories, for the donations of plants, slips, walkway slabs, bricks and more.  I can remember almost all the people who helped me with it and which items I got from where.

It is good for us to have memorials for the good times and the bad, but we should never let those memories hold us back from moving forward and reaching out for God's wonderful plans for our lives.

Thanks be to God who leads us into triumph!

Your Valentine!

He may not send you flowers
Or leaves chocolates at your door
He may not buy you teddy's
But He loves you ever more

He'll be the one to stand by you
When everyone has gone
He'll carry you through thick and thin
He'll be the lover of your soul

So if you're feeling lonely
Don't rush to the telephone
Don't look in social media
For that's not where He has gone

Open your heart and eyes too see
And get down on your knees
Jesus will be by your side
And forever will with you abide

Happy Valentines day everyone!

Between the cherubim

Put a home together and what is one of the main components?  A good couch.  A place where we can relax and unwind, a place to abide.  That is what the atonement cover, or mercy seat was to God, His place to abide with Israel. 

The seat was crafted out of one piece of solid gold and on top of it were two cherubim, symbols of God's presence, kneeling down and facing forward with their wings outstretched and meeting each other.   “There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.” (Exodus 25:22)

Every year the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies on the day of atonement with burning incense to shield his eyes from the direct view of God's glory.  He would sprinkle the blood of a bull to atone for his and his households sin and the blood of a goat for the sin of Israel.  God promised that when He saw the blood it would cover the sin of mankind. 

Jesus death on the cross replaced this sacrifice once, for all of mankind.  No longer do we need to sacrifice the blood of animals to obtain our forgiveness, however what we must do is to receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.  When we do, His sacrifice is appropriated for our sin and when God looks at us He no longer sees our sin, but the sacrificed blood of His Son. 

When we come to a place of worship, let us do so with a grateful heart for Christs sacrifice and the salvation it affords us! 

A treasured failure

The articles kept inside the Ark of the covenant are startling, not for their priceless worth but for their unusual significance. One would expect priceless treasures of precious gems or royal raiment but instead what you would find are a jar of bread; Aaron's staff and the two tablets containing the 10 commandments. Why are these items startling? Because they are a reminder of Israel's failures.

Well the tablet with the 10 commandments probably would be priceless today, but at that time they were a reminder that Israel had not been able to live up to God's standards for them. He therefore gave Moses the 10 commandments as a guide to living a holy life, yet time and time again they broke them.

Aaron's staff is a reminder that Israel has rebelled against Aaron becoming the High Priest and his family line of the tribe of Levi being chosen as the priestly tribe. Aaron's staff had budded after being left outside the Ark of the covenant along with sticks from the other 11 tribe leaders. Of course, only Aaron's staff budded proving his election.

The jar of bread is a reminder that God had provided fresh manna from heaven every day that the Israelite's wondered in the wilderness, yet they grumbled and complained at God's provision.

What these amazing items say to me is that although God hates our sin, He carries our failures close to His heart. Yes God desires for us to grow in maturity as we live our lives for Him, but He will always treasure our failures for with them He displays the remarkable power of His forgiving grace.

Dedicated in memory of Heather Hampton. A dear friend who passed away last week. R.I.P Heather!

What's in a box?

The Ark of the Covenant is such a beautiful symbol that I simply cannot share all the details in one go. Again this beautiful box measuring 3 feet, 9 inches long and 2 feet, 3 inches wide and high was made of Acacia wood and overlaid inside and out in solid gold. It was the symbol of God's presence with Israel.

The three items inside will be discussed next time but the miracles recorded about the Ark are of particular interest to me. The River Jordan split allowing the Israelite's to pass on dry land and the walls of Jericho fell so that the Israelite's could capture it. God would however not tolerate irreverent use of the Ark.

In one battle when Israel fought the Philistines they took the Ark out onto the battlefield, obviously without God's instruction and the Philistines captured the Ark and took it back to their land. When they placed the Ark next to their idol Dagon, it fell to the ground and the people were plagued. Lol! It is no wonder that the Ark was returned.

You see some people feel they can make light of God's presence and treat Him with disrespect. If history is anything to go by, that does not bode well for their future. Yes we are living in a new dispensation with grace as our guide but when we enter into God's presence it should still be done with reverence. Yes music we can relate to should form part of our worship, but it is still that, worship! We are not at a show watching a performer.

When next you enter God's presence, know that His glory is around you and in you and worship God for His holiness, love and grace. Know that as God split the Jordan, he can make a way for you to succeed and that God will remove the obstacles that stand in your way to reaching your promised land.

Enchanted garden

Work on my enchanted garden is gathering momentum.  The herb garden is about 60% full and the sidewalk is about 90% done.  Some of the candles are now in and the artwork and jewels will be added along the way.

It has taken a lot of sweat and work.  Two or three gardening seasons have already gone into the layout of the beds, the paving and plants.  The best part is that it is all very worth it.

Work on our dreams is never easy.  The beginning part of a process is always the hardest and requires the most spade work, excuse the pun.  In the end though we will have a result that endures!

If you've been grafting at something for a while, don't give up!  It may take time before you gather some momentum but when you do, the results will be delightful and bring glory to God for its magnificence.

Trust in God and stick to the work, it is so worth it!

Torn in two

The sight of the blue, purple and scarlet veil, covered with embroidered cherubim must have been spectacular! The veil separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies so that no accidental entry could take place. No one but the High Priest, once a year on the day of atonement could enter the Holy of Holies. Failure to comply with this requirement meant death.

The Holy of Holies was a perfect square measuring 15 feet in length, width and height. The veil was a picture of the barrier between God and man, showing that Holiness was not to be trifled with. The presence of God remained shielded from man throughout Israel's history.

Jesus sacrificial death changed that. When He died the veil in the temple of Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom. This was no easy feat as the veil was 60 feet high, 30 feet wide and 4 inches thick...impossible for man.

Jesus has done the impossible, he opened the way for mankind to have direct access to God the father through the sacrifice of His blood. When next you stand in worship before God, open your heart to Him for His presence longer dwells behind a veil but is openly accessible to us and we can enter His presence spiritually and feel that presence physically.

Sweet smell

I ocassionally love to burn incense sticks and nowadays you get some really stunning scents. The one I'm burning now is strawberry scented and really special. The golden altar of incense sat in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. It was smaller than the brazen altar, but also made from acacia wood and overlaid in pure gold.

The special incense was made from four special spices; stacte, onycha, galbanum and frankincense, and was lit in the morning and evening and left to burn throughout the day and night as a sweet smelling aroma to the Lord.

The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God. God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him. The golden altar, furthermore, is a representation of Christ, who is our intercessor before God the Father. Since we have been forgiven of our sins through the blood of Christ, we also come boldly in prayer in Jesus’ name.

In the same manner we can enter into worship because of Christs sacrifice. When we worship God from a place of forgiveness our worship becomes living incense before God's throne.

Clear intent

No where in the temple design do we see God's heart for mankind displayed more vividly than with the table of Showbread. This small table of acacia wood which was overlaid in pure gold stood on the right side of the Holy Place. On it stood 12 loaves of bread representative of the 12 tribes of Israel. The bread lay before the Lord for a week and then was eaten by the Priests in the Holy Place on the Sabbath.

Showbread was also called bread of presence and represented God's presence and willingness to commune with man. In John 6 Jesus tells us that He is the bread of life. Jesus exemplified this when he ate with tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners, because He came to call sinners so that they could walk in relationship with God.

The most important life that Jesus desires for us to have is eternal life and this is where the beauty in the bread analogy lies. In Matthew 26 when Jesus broke the bread and shared it with His disciples He said, “Take eat, this is my body.” In the table of showbread, started thousands of years before Christs birth, God showed His intent towards man that He would one day send His Son to die for our sins and restore us to ever lasting relationship with Him. Isn't that Awesome!

Jesus broken body gives us access to fellowship with God. We celebrate communion to remember this truth. Let us never forget Jesus wonderful invitation to us:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelations 3:20)

Flaming Boerewors

On Saturday evening I decided to grill some Boerewors (well known South African sausage). It was a rather windy evening, so as I was grilling the flames would occasionally come up around the sides of the grid and then dance across the grid, engulfing the sausage. It was a rather pretty site.

It reminded me of times when we dance in worship. Dancing in worship is especially powerful when our hearts are in pain over an issue in life in which we've been burned emotionally. Fire represents the work of the Holy Spirit.

There are times when the Holy Spirit needs to burn through some issues in our souls and dancing in worship represents a faith that God will heal us as we allow His Spirit to work in us. When we express joy and dance in worship it also represents the fact that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

If there is an issue in your life that is burning inside you. Do not fear. Rejoice and dance before God and know that your salvation is near.