Trees make all the difference

I've been living in my town house now for just over 10 years.  I had forgotten how stark and raw the area looked like as a newly developed suburb when I first moved in, until the developers started with the new zone last year. 

Now as I drive past the new area and look up the hill to ours, what a difference and it is all because of a few trees.  It sure took them a long time to grow but now as they rise above the buildings they soften the appearance of the landscape and the area feels like any other suburb that is well established. 

Our faith should do the same thing for us, soften our appearance to the rest of the world.  Now personality plays a big part in this, but I don't mean character.  Faith should soften our beliefs so that we do not feel we have to push them on others but rather the maturity that faith produces in us, should draw others to us to gain knowledge and wisdom. 

What does the suburb of your heart look like now?  Is it all bricks and mortar or do the trees welcome visitors to your zone? 

Catch me daddy!

My heart literally skips a beat each time I see it, but it always brings a smile to my face!  A kid diving off any object and straight into their father's arms.  They have no fear, no inhibitions and have absolute faith that dad will catch them.  And why do they have this totally staggering faith in you?  Simply because you are bigger than they are and the thought simply doesn't cross their mind that you would ever drop them. 

Well how about that?  Our faith in God should be just the same!  For our God surely is way bigger than we could ever imagine and His power and might are greater than any other living being.  That is why, when required to do so, we should have absolute faith that God will keep His promises towards us and that He will do what He says in His word he will do!

We should however guard our hearts on this matter as there are times when restraint is important.  A well known preacher once preached on Faith, Foolishness and Presumption.  We must be careful that we do not use our faith to be reckless and negligent. 

One thing is sure though, when we leap in faith with a pure heart and good motives, God sees our courage and honours our faith with the rewards that only faith can bring.  So if you are being led in your heart to make a big change, pray about it and once you have peace.....Go for it!

Hitch a ride on your shoulders

Our local primary school in Nelspruit used to have an annual school 10 kilometer mini walk through the orange orchards of HL Hall and Sons.  My sister is 4 years older than I am so she was obviously in school before I was.  In my toddler years I could not walk the distance, although I'm sure I ran along side them whenever I could, but when I got tired my dad would pick me up over his head and pop me on his shoulders.  There I would ride along sky high while everyone else walked. 

In the toddler years of our faith God does exactly the same thing.  He allows us to walk and run ahead in our faith as often as we can, but when we are tired He picks us up and carries us until we are refreshed enough to continue on by ourselves again. 

God desires for us to walk the path of our faith on our own two feet as much as we can but He sure understands when we can't.  At those times there is nothing wrong with calling out to God for Him to carry you on His shoulders.  All you have to say is "Up daddy, up!"

Peek-a-boo

We all know the game.  You prop baby up and either cover babies eyes or cover your face.  The big reveal and what do you get?  Giggles and smiles and a whole lot of laughter and fun!  And so baby starts to learn about identity, that we have a face and we can recognize each other by it.

Our faith walk with God is very similar.  In our early days we are very aware of God's presence and most importantly it seems as if every prayer is answered and our love affair with God grows stronger by the day. 

Then a time comes when things change.  It seems as if God has disappeared all of a sudden.  We pray with no answer and when we look for His presence it is not found.  No, God has not moved and has not withdraw His presence from us, He has simply covered His face of glory with the veil of His word. 

Now we must seek His face in scripture and when we do, we are drawn to God and His presence is once again tangible.  As we learn about who God is through His word, our walk with Him grows deeper as now we are living and walking not only in the sense of His presence but by the knowledge of the Word. 

Have you felt as though God has withdrawn His face from you?  Probably not!  It's probably just a game of peek-a-boo and time to seek Him in His Word. 

Love struck

We all know that moment when your eyes meet and for the first time you feel that connection!  Your eyes dance and your heart skips a beat and then races and all of a sudden you realize.....you're madly in love!

Well that's what the Holy Spirit does with us when we first come to salvation, He helps us to fall in love with Jesus.  There is no way that we can fully grasp the true depth of Christ's love for us, but in that moment, we see His sacrifice, we see His death and something in our spirit recognizes that we need Him in our lives and we ask for forgiveness and receive Him as Lord for the very first time.  And this is all done, by faith!  We don't understand it all but we believe.  

This will be our first encounter with faith.  In the months after that God woes us with His love and faithfulness, He shows us His might and we learn to trust in Him.  This is the start of our journey of faith and as we grow in God our faith develops and we grow stronger in our relationship with our living God. 

Are you thinking, "What have I missed, why have I not felt love struck by God?"  Well friend then I encourage you today to surrender your heart to Jesus and His love will certainly sweep you away afresh and in a new and living way. 

A world according to Volta

Today marks 270 years since the birth of Alessandro Volta on 18 February 1745. Volta was an Italian physicist credited with the invention of the first electrical battery, the Voltaic pile, which he invented in 1799, proving that electricity could be chemically generated. The SI unit of electrical potential is named in his honour as the volt. He also did extensive studies on methane gas as well as electromotive force.

Interesting, but how does this affect us today? It affects every waking moment of our modern world today and I can bet you one thing, Volta had no idea of how his invention of the battery and his studies of electricity would affect us today.

As I sit tonight in my bedroom I see lights, a television, laptop, cellular phones and tablet, a fan, hairdryer and so many other items I can't think of right now, just in my bedroom that are powered by electricity and batteries. Our entire world today revolves around electricity yet when it was discovered, I'm pretty sure some people would have said, “Now what in the world are we going to be able to do with this!”

Faith can be like that! When we first discover faith, we wonder how it works and what it will be able to do for us, but once we learn more about it, it becomes the centre of our being and doing.

Have you discovered what it means to live by faith yet? If not, then I think it is time we started on a new voyage of discovery to learn more about how we can put faith to use in our everyday world. Are you on board? Let's go!

Proud to be Red

My mom posted a short video on Facebook about red heads and some facts most people don't know. Some of the interesting ones were as follows:

• Red hair and blue eyes is the rarest combination in the world [Yes please, that's me]
• Redheads require larger doses of anesthesia
• Redheads are more resistant to pain blockers [Ouch, yip that's true]
• Red hair is thicker than other hair [Sadly not mine]
• Families can carry the red hair gene for decades without knowing it
• Redheads are better at detecting changes in temperature [Yip]
• Redheads are more efficient at making vitamin D [Nice]
• Red hair is extremely rare 1-2% total population
• Red hair retains pigment longer and does not show grey as quickly

OK, so you think I'm boasting?....No! Not a chance. Truth is, if I have to be honest, throughout my childhood years I absolutely hated being a red head. I got teased and bullied no end about it and unfortunately it wasn't just by class mates, it happened with family too. My mom tried to teach me that people tease you when they like you, but it really didn't help my self esteem.

It took a very important youth camp speaker and many years of God working in my heart for me to overcome the pain the teasing had caused. Today I can say that I am proudly red head and being 40+ without a single grey hair and amazing skin....I am grateful and I love it and most of all I appreciate the true uniqueness and beauty of it and I wouldn't trade hair colour with anyone!

What is it about yourself that you just hate? Be honest, there is always something. I want to encourage you today to see the beauty in who you are, just as you are. God made you a unique and amazing individual and there is no one else in the world who is identical to you (even twins have separators).

Let one thing stay in your mind today:

God loves you

God loves you

God loves you

God loves you....... You get the point! :-)

A short and punchy video

I was really touched by a short but powerful video I watched on Sunday night. The topic centred around the fact that we are not bound by our past. Over the past year or so I've been on a journey to acknowledge and understand certain issues from my past that had plagued me but I found that just understanding these issues does not necessary give you the tools to move past them. Acceptance is important but it does not produce a desired result of walking free from that issue.

The video explored the concept that we not only need to recognise the issues but believe that we have the ability to overcome them. Belief is a key component to opening ourselves up to learning the skills we need to change our behaviours.

I believe this is what the writer of Hebrews 11:6 was communicating with these words, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

If we don't first believe that God exists, then we need proceed no further with our faith, but if we believe that God exists, this gives us a foundation to build our faith on. Second to that we must believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. We cannot have faith to receive anything from God if we don't believe He will provide that which we ask for.

Whatever you are believing God for, be it provision or strength to overcome painful past hurts, know that as you come to God, He definitely hears you and as you place your faith in Him, He will provide for you according to your need.

Purpose of being

This morning I woke up with the annoying thought: my life has no purpose.  Well now firstly we need to acknowledge that nasty serpent who placed that thought there and then remind him that it is an utter lie.  Just because I'm not a celebrity doesn't mean that I'm insignificant!

For me much of my purpose is wrapped up in the work I do in writing, but he's quick to remind me that I'm not a no.1 best selling author.  Well so what!  What I do know is that hundreds of people read my blog from all around the world and I'll never know who they are until I get to heaven because all I see is the number of people who have read it.

My purpose is also to be a daughter who gives her mother's life meaning simply because she gave me life.  Mom I love you and you are my rock!  My purpose is to be an employee who does their job to the best of their ability despite any challenges I may be facing.

My purpose is also to be friend who is willing to listen and be an encouragement when they are feeling down, depressed or broken hearted.  My purpose is to encourage other's in whatever way I can.  My purpose is to be a caregiver to two beautiful cats and to provide for their needs of love, food, companionship and yes lots of brushing. 

Yes I think my life has purpose so I'm not going let the devil get me down!  And yes my friend, your life has purpose too!!

State of the nation

Well well well! What chaos and as South Africans we laugh but in truth how sad. Our Presidents state of the nation address in shambles as one party protests and are then forcibly removed by police and another party walks out. I could spend the next hour writing about all that is wrong with that.

As Christians though we should be asking a more important question? What is the spiritual state of our nation? May I venture to say, not much better! Are those of faith not sometimes the laughing stock of others? May I propose it is because our message has become irrelevant. We preach one thing and do another.

On a personal level I have been challenged this week to ask myself constantly, am I really living by the Spirit? That question has forced me to dig deep and check my responses. Being bold and speaking out against injustice is one thing, but if we aren't careful it can lead to being cynical about all aspects of life.

I want to challenge us today to check the state of our hearts and see where God needs to be most actively at work in us and then ask God to teach us gently by His Spirit how to live more effective lives for Him.

We have lift off!

December 17, 1903 - I can only imagine the thoughts that must have gone through the minds of  Orville and Wilbur Wright, as they set out and tried once again to get an airplane into sustained flight.  On that great day they did it!  There had been others but theirs was the first fixed winged powered flight.  How much trial and error did that take? 

A mere 66 years later man walked on the moon!  What an incredible 66 years that must have been.  Every day and every year, exciting new developments were taking place.  Every aeronautical engineer, ever pilot, every mechanic and who knows who else, played their part in an age of discovery that must have taken courage, tenacity and a boldness to go where no man had gone before! 

The one thing that was constant throughout those 66 years.......change!  Countless changes taking place every day to get 1kg more, 1 meter more, 1 more of anything into those designs to make them bigger, stronger, faster and tougher to reach the goals that they had set out to achieve.

 Life is all about change and the more we learn to embrace that, the easier the ride becomes.  Going with the flow in a positive way can bring about very exciting results.  How do you feel about change?  Afraid?....Don't be.  Jump right in and let God guide you to the destiny He has planned for you! 

At 100%

A few movies have been made asking the question, "What would happen if we could access and use 100% of our available brain power?"  The Sci-Fi answers to that question are quite entertaining.  A thought occurred to me, what if we were truly able to live life being so fully immersed in God that we walked fully in the fruit of the spirit all the time?  Once we are born again we are new spirit beings, so why would this not be possible or what do we need to do to make it possible? 

Well I think the issue for me in living everyday life is that we can get so caught up in our daily affairs that we loose sight of God.  How do we bring God back to our consciousness then and allow ourselves to be lead by the Spirit so that we can live in the Spirit?  

Firstly I think it requires constant reminder.  The Jews used to have a small scroll that was bound around their forehead to remind them that they should keep God's word foremost in their thoughts.  We can do that today by using aids such as audio bibles and audio books, christian music and many other means to keep God within our conscious space.  

 The next part to that process would be repentance.  When we know that we have sinned we should make a conscious decision to repent immediately and if possible verbally, not loud, but out enough for us to hear ourselves.  The reason for this is that repentance sharpens our conscience and makes us more in tuned to God's will for us to live Holy lives.  Practically speaking though you just get plain tired of saying sorry all the time and stop doing the bad behaviour. 

I don't know about you but I am keen to work on this aspect of my life.....and be warned, the devil will be watching!

Much to complain about

As South African's we may feel that we have much to complain about and frankly, yes we do.  I am however going to look at the bright side (excuse the pun).  I saw a post from a friend who said that the power outages gave her time to connect with her children.  I saw that tonight too.  I could actually hear children playing and people talking.

My favourite part, besides enjoying the candle light, is being able to see the stars.  With the city lights down you really can see so many more.  Tonight we are especially blessed to have a full moon and you can even see the the shadow's on the moons surface, it is truly spectacular. 

Again, as I said yesterday it is about our focus, what are you looking at?  Instead of grumbling let us lift up and encourage each other whenever and wherever we can. 

The art of distraction

With all the bad news flying around one really has to work hard sometimes to find something funny or cute to laugh about or just something that make you forget all your troubles for a little while.  Tonight's distraction a hand held mini espresso maker.  Wow! Now for a coffee lover like me.....I mean looooooooover, this is just the biz!  Mmmpf, it's just the $39 price tag that's a bit of an issue, Lol!

Paul gives us some guidelines about the art distraction, that is to focus on something better.  Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

In other words, when we are feeling down and as if life is totally hopeless, we need to remind ourselves about the good things that life does bring across our path.  I can think of nothing better than God's infinite love for us.  I'll be honest, infinite love is a concept I often fail to grasp simply because of the very limited nature of the love shown to us by the world in general.  

We truly have to stretch our minds to conceive that our great and mighty God, made all of the heavens and the earth, simply to display to us how much He loves us!  Yes, that is true, noble, just, pure and lovely and I will meditate on that!  

The unfair box

I am currently reading a book by Joni Earickson Tada called 'A place of healing'.  In case you don't know Joni's story I'll give you the cliff notes.  Joni was in her late teens when she hit her head against a rock in a diving accident and has been a paraplegic ever since.  In 'A place of healing' Joni shares her amazing insights as to her understanding of divine healing and why many people do not get healed through the gifts of miracles.  It has been an amazing eye opener for me as an occassional migraine sufferer but more than just that, it has opened my eyes to so many aspects of our emotional lives. 

Joni certainly did not deserve paraplegia nor the constant pain she feels now from the continuing collapse of her spinal column and she certainly did not commit any sin for which she was being punished, it was simply an accident, a very unfair accident!  She could choose to live with bitterness but has rather chosen the path of destiny and allowing God to use her to minister to other disabled people. 

That is just it though, in life some things are simply unfair.  It does not mean that God caused the incident but rather that He can redeem any situation and use it for His glory if we will allow Him to work in our hearts. 

But what if it is not an accident and someone has deliberately done something to hurt you?  It may be relationally, legally, physically and whatever it was it has caused you a tremendous amount of pain.  Do we have to forgive?  Absolutely, otherwise Christ's unfair death on the cross for our salvation would mean nothing, but we do NOT need to let that situation dominate our lives.  We have the right to draw boundaries. 

I know that I have struggled in certain areas to 'Let go and let God' take care of things but I have realized now it is because I feel in some way that if I let go then the other person has won.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In letting go it does NOT mean that the other person has won and you have lost, it does NOT mean that the other person is right and you are wrong, it simply means that they are too selfish, mean spirited or down right evil to see how much they have hurt you. 

There are times when we will be able to 'make things right' by legal means, intervention or mediation but sometimes there is just nothing that you can do in your power to fix things.  In those cases we need to learn to put those matters in the 'unfair' box, lock it tight and leave it at the feet of Jesus. 

Old world charm

While on holiday in Kimberly we went to the Kimberly club for dinner to celebrate my Step dad's birthday.  This establishment was built and opened in the late 1800's.  Formerly an elite gentleman's club controlled by the likes of the Rhodes and Oppenheimer families, it is rich in history and nostalgia and it was such a privilege to be able to dine in such esteemed location.  The food naturally was to DINE for.....tee hee!

We had positioned ourselves on the outside patio, hoping it would be cooler but alas, the interior dining halls were air conditioned so we would have done better indoors.  What I adored was the period music playing in the background and if you closed your eyes you could almost imagine couples dancing to the Victorian tunes and gentlemen smoking their pipes and cigars in the billiard rooms and lounge (not that I'm a smoking fan). 

Nostalgia is a funny thing, it can take you back to times when life seemed happier, but it can also lock you in to memories of a painful past.  It is hard to accept but both in the good and the bad we have to stop looking back in the rear view mirror and look forward to the road that God has ordained us to walk.  Letting go is hard, but if we don't we will never see the destiny that God has created for us. 

You may be feeling that it is so early in the year and yet already you were wishing we could turn back the clock, but this is the appointed time for you to proceed forward.  Cherish and hold dear what has come and gone and gaze eagerly today upon God's face and let His light of wisdom shine on your path as you forge ahead.