Being heard

Have you ever had a conversation with someone only to realize that they haven't heard a word you said. Now I know it is possible to get lost in thought, but to willfully ignore someone is not nice.

When we don't listen to what other people have to say, we invalidate them as a human being and I think that is something we need to be aware of and guard against.

Ps 66 v 19 says "But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer." God always takes the time to listen us, I think we need to learn to give others the same respect.

He stomped his foot

I've spoken before about the fact that we shouldn't take vengeance. Does that mean that we must just roll over and let people walk all over us? Certainly not!

Did Jesus ever get mad and stand up for righteousness? He certainly did. People were trading in the temple and he did not agree with what was happening. Jesus quite literally lost it, turning over tables and chasing people out.

This angry face of God has been seen before in the wilderness when the Jews made the golden calf and worshipped it. God stomped his foot and the earth split open and swolled them up.

Now I'm not trying to give you nightmares, but just point out that God does desire us to stand up for righteousness. Stand your ground but don't harm anyone. Allow God to sort out the justice part!

The truth shall make you free

A well known media personality regularly makes use of the phrase "the truth shall make you free". Sadly my opinion is that she uses it incorrectly in many instances, which can lead to people with soft personalities being easily lead astray.

My feeling is that any time somebody has to scream at you that the truth sets you free, chances are it's probably a lie. We are told that the devil loves to masquerade as an "Angel of light". Beware of his tricks.

The Holy Spirit will always speak with a still small voice, even when he is warning you of something. Jesus said, my sheep know my voice. It is in that quiet place that we will find the will of God.

Ssssssh...... Let the Holy Spirit guide you with his still voice.

Welcome Michaela Hope Pohl

Born on the 26^th of March 2011, I welcome into the world Michaela Hope Pohl. What makes this little girl so special? Her Mom, Joanne Pohl.

You see Jo was 28 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It took a year of Chemo and Radio therapy before Jo first went into remission. As Jo's chances of falling pregnant immediately after cancer were almost zero, Jo and husband Mark, after months of fostering two amazing twin boys aged 9 (Aleistar & Christopher), adopted them and they came home in December of 2009.

The thing about Jo's cancer though is that falling pregnant could have meant dissaster as the hormones produced during pregnancy would have acted as fertilizer for the cancer. Thankfully, that didn't happen. I believe God honours us when he know's he can trust us with his precious gifts and in July 2010 Jo fell pregnant.

After a stressful pregnancy and monthly testing, Michaela this child of hope and a reminder of God's grace, has finally been born. I wish Mom and Dad all the best in the years ahead. Enjoy your little bundle :-)

It worked, didn't it?

As a kid in primary school, I remember doing a science project once. You may have done it too. Proving that a smaller wheel can turn a larger one. Like most kids I went to my dad for help. He told me to go and get two empty cotton reels from my mom. To my dissapointment, he hammered them into a plank and popped an elastic band around them and nocked another nail into the smaller wheel to act as the pully. Not very pretty!

I had two choices: go to school with the not so pretty plank or make my own. I went to school with the plank. Guess what happened? Most of my classmates arrived with well designed systems that looked very smart.......but most didn't work, only a few did.

Then my turn to step up..... knees shacking.... I turned the wheel and walla! It worked. Okay so I lost a few marks for presentation, but scored very high on application!

Sometimes we try to get too complicated with our relationship with God. We need to remember to stick to the basics and when we do, we will grow in faith and in our relationship with God. So what are the basics? Read your bible, pray, reach out to others, fellowship with the saints and confess your sins! Keep it short and simple.... K.I.S.S. Mwah!

Are you playing your cards right?

Good card players know the game. They know they are going to get a limited number of cards, they have to play within the rules and they have to outsmart their opponent. If they do, they win the round. It doesn't end there, they have to repeat this feat many times to in order to win the game. To amatuers a game of cards is just luck, but to a professional there is a definite skill in attaining their winning form.

Here's the thing......they have to play the cards they are dealt. They can't say to the dealer, sorry but I think I got the wrong cards, or sorry this just isn't fair. Isn't that what we do with life though. We wake up and say, why did this or that have to happen to me? When it comes right down to it, we all have our own unique problem cards and we need to learn to deal with them and conquer those problems if we are going to succeed in life.

So when you are feeling down and thinking you have the worst lot in life...... go and help someone! Trust me, there is always someone out there who is worse off or hurting more than you are! You'll be surprised at how good it will make you feel just to give out!

He loves to bless us!

Hehehe! Just when I've spoken about the disciplined nature of God, I read a devotional that reminds me of our God who delights in giving and who desires to answer our specific prayers.

God takes great joy in blessing us, especially when the honour goes to him. He desires for us to live full lives, lacking nothing. He is a father who wants the very best for his children.

What God desires is that we truly have a relationship with him and not just come to him when we want something. When we draw close to him, he takes care of all our hearts desires!