Nearly chocked

I nearly chocked laughing. Picture the sight of a kitty pawing his way through my washing as he tries to climb inside my washing machine. I only JUST managed to get the camera out before his tail slipped inside the machine (granted it was a half load).

Cat's will push their way through anything despite the risk to satisfy their curiosity and desire to be curled up inside a snug little space. Cat's take risks, that's their nature. God wants us to have faith and trust him. Not acting in foolishness, but taking calculated risks with faith believing that God will provide.

God desires to bless us, but so often we miss out on what he has in store for us because we are afraid to take that leap of faith. Don't be! Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Have a plan, take action and have faith that God will meet you when you step out in faith for him!

Opportunity knocks

One thing you can learn from observing cat behaviour is to grab every opportunity as it comes. This behaviour is best observed once prey has been caught.

Whether consumed or not their senses after a catch are highly tuned. Given the opprtunity they will pounce on anything that moves A.S.A.P.

God will bring great opportunities our way. If we are not tuned into his Spirit though we may well miss them. We need to stay tuned into him at all times.

There are other opportunities we shouldn't miss either:

An opportunity to pray, praise and worship.
An opportunity to give kindness and love.
An opportunity to give thanksgiving.
An opportunity to give encouragement and exhort.
And an opportunity to share faith, hope and joy.

Not just for cup cakes

I neeeeeed it! That's what you'll hear from any kid who has decided they really, really want something. Are adults any different though? For the most part I don't think so. I'm not just talking about resisting your favourite cup cakes, chocolate or any other delicacy we enjoy.

I mean really being able to stop, think and make the right choices based on having taken into account the consequences of our choices. This also encompasses the area of our speech and how we deal with situations. That is where self-control comes in. We have to learn to hold back on rushing into decisions. Sadly though, if we haven't started as children to learn this valuable fruit of the spirit, we are in for a very painful time. Learn it though we must.

So how do we achieve that? First we have to recognise the need for development in that area. Then ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you to exercise restraint. Guess what? The only way you are going to learn self-control is by being placed in situations where that can be tested. The good news....... When you do, there are great benefits. Once God sees that he can trust us with a particular area, he will heap up responsibility, blessings and rewards. I think it is worth the rewards, don't you?

Cute little pup

For some strange reason when I think of the word faithfulness, the picture that first comes to mind is a cute labrodor puppy. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that I know a cat will sell it's owners down the river and move in with the neighbors if it got better treatment there. Dogs on the other hand are loyal, faithful creatures that will stand by their owners side, no matter what.

Faithfullness is more than just loyalty though. God's word says that he if faithful to us, even when we are faithless. He waits for us to return to him when we have run away. He never moves from his position but stays steadfast in his commitment to us!

If you have turned away from God and are afraid to come home because you are scared he will scold you, don't be!!! Come home to God, he is faithful and will forgive you.... All he wants is for you to take the first step back his loving arms!

Feathers everywhere

I've learned to live with it! I've learned to live with the parktown prawns, the spiders, the feathers, the dead birds..... but imagine my shock when I arrived home to a house full of feathers. I pulled the curtain back, just to hear wings flutter behind the couch.

Naturally, being a GIRL, I ran out the house screaming and had to rely on the kindness of a neighbour, too once again to rescue me from the bird. Luckily we rescued this one alive and were able to set it free. Now in mommy of kitties language that equals big hidings. However on second thought, realizing that my little fur ball had left his precious birdie catch to come out and say hello to mommy as she arrived home, I had to reconsider. It did take all my strength though not to spank the little rascal!

The bible says the goodness and kindness of God leads us to repentance. In God's book we deserve punishment for our sin, but he gave us his most precious gift to ensure that we no longer have to pay the price for our sin nature, but gave us what we don't deserve, life everlasting!

It's up to the birds and bees

I've been really challenged these past few days as I have meditated on gentleness. I've always associated gentleness just with the way you touch people and animals, but I must admit this viewpoint is wrong.

Gentleness should go down to the core of who we are and eminate in us through everything we do. For me the toughest place to show this is in the workplace. The pace of city and corporate life makes it hard to stop and think before we speak. There is usually an urgency in getting work done which often leads us to be abrupt when we shouldn't be.

An important part of fruit development is pollination, best done by birds and bees. Maybe we have to look outside ourselves at the example of others who have gentler ways to learn the skills requird to be able to show gentleness.

If we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and surround ourselves with people that can positively impact our lives we will soon learn how to adjust our behaviour to display the remarkable fruit of gentleness.

Wait up!

Different translations of Galations 5:22 use the words patience and longsuffering interchangeably. Quite correct! There are times in life when you are going to be in for a looooooong, long wait and it is most likely going to be painful to do so. The trick is, is there purpose in your waiting?

The things in life that are truly worth while are definitely worth the effort. I said yesterday that we shouldn't rush to prophets for a word from God and that is because, in my experience, any time God does give you a prophecy, it means you are in for wait and you are going to need that word to hold on to.

Good things do come to those who wait upon the Lord! When we find our strength in him, our joy will be restored. Dig deep and find the faith to hold onto the promises God has given you for your life.