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Showing posts from 2016

Facing the storms of life

When you don't understand what is happening in your life, start with what you know for sure Your Heavenly Father loves you Your Heavenly Father is greater than the storm you are facing Your Heavenly Father is with you in the storm Your Heavenly Father will provide the strength you need to face the storm Your Heavenly Father will be a shelter in the storm Your Heavenly Father is able to bless you at every stage in your journey through the storm Your Heavenly Father is always with you Your Heavenly Father will never fail When you don't understand what is going on in your life, your Heavenly Father wants you to walk by faith and trust in him. Indeed He is a God that never fails.

Remembering dad

No one can comprehend what it meant to loose you. You made life bearable when mum died. You were always there for, showering us with so much love to ensure we knew how much you love us. When you died, I lost my dad, my friend and my protector. It hurts me to think that you are no longer with us, daddy. I am so thankful to God for those special memories we shared and thinking of how we cherished each and every moment of our lives together while you were still alive brings a smile to my face. Those we love don't ever go away, they are always in our hearts and walk with us every day. Thinking of you today and forever Happy birthday dad.

In the depth of the valley the Lord is with you

Where are you Lord when everything looks so bleak and dark. Where are you Lord when everything feels so hopeless. Where are you Lord when I feel I am walking blindly in the valley. When will I come out from the depth of this darkness and hopelessness I read your word for encouragement I read your word for hope I read your word to drown out the voice of the enemy I read your word so that I can hear your voice I read your word to strengthen me I read your word to live through each day Lord I pray you fill me with hope when I have no hope Lord I pray you fill me with joy when it seems there is nothing to celebrate Lord I pray you speak to me when I need direction. Lord I pray you see me through

God has not forgotten you

It may look bleak now but be assured that the Lord has not forgotten you. It may look like that promise you are awaiting will not be fulfilled but be assured that the Lord has not forgotten you It may look like the breakthrough you are believing the Lord for is not coming to pass but be assured that the Lord has not forgotten you How can the Lord forget you? You are imprinted on the palms of His hands. How can the Lord forget you? He hears the cries of your heart How can the Lord forget you? His love for you surpasses your understanding Delay does not mean the Lord has forgotten you, the delay is building your character. God is working on you to change who you are, to change your character. Keep trusting and believing that God's plan will be fulfilled at the right time. You can't see the end result but be rest assured that His perfect plan will be fulfilled at the right time because He is never late, He is never early, He is always right on time. You may not be happy wit...

Four reasons we should not fear

God will provide We should be confident in God’s provision. He has promised to supply all our needs - emotionally, spiritually and physically. We should find contentment in His provision. Contentment is not getting what we want but contentment is wanting what we already have. 1 Tim 6:6-8 says “Yet true religion with contentment is greatest wealth. After all we didn’t bring anything with us when we came into this world and we certainly can carry anything with us when we anyway. So why should we fear when we know that God is more than capable to meet our needs or the needs of those we love. The deepest needs of our heart can only be met by Jesus Christ. I will not fear for I know all my needs will be met by God. God is with us We should be confident of his presence. We don’t know what we are going to face from one day to the next but there is one thing we can be sure of; God will never leave us. SWe will not be afraid because we are not going to face anything alone. So why shoul...

In God we find fulfillment

There is a hole in our lives that only God can fill. A man or woman cannot fill the hole because he or she will always disappoint you A job cannot fill the hole because it is only for a while Material possessions cannot fill the hole because it will not give you peace Only God can fill the hole in your heart. He is the only one that can offer us the joy, peace, love and life that we desire. For in Him we live and move and exist [that is, in Him we actually have our being], as even some of [a]your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ (Acts 17:28 Amplified Bible)

I will not be shaken

Lord you alone are my refuge that is what your word says. Lord, I run to you this morning, I run to you for my hope is in you alone. I run to you my rock and my salvation, for you are  my fortress where I will not be shaken. I choose to trust in you, I choose to look beyond my circumstances and look to you. I choose to minimise my problems and maximise your power over my life. Psalm 62:8 - Trust in him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our shelter! (Selah)

Mum I miss you

Mum, you left this world 26 years ago to be with the Lord but to me it seems like yesterday. In my life, there is a wound,  it hurts so bad and it always appears when I am sad. No matter what I do it won't go away it's in my heart where it will always stay. It appeared the day you left this world. The day you left this world there was a big gap in my life, I lost you my mum, who cared for and loved me. The day you left this world, I was no longer your little girl; I had to grow up fast. The day you left this world; I had to grow up without you being there to turn to. The day you left this world; I lost my confidant, my encourager and teacher. The day you left this world; I lost my helper who was always there to help solve my problems. The day you left this world; I had no mum to share and celebrate important milestones in my life with. Mum, I will always remember your strength. You were a pillar of strength even until the end. Fighting all life's battles, knowin...

The dreaded “D” word - Divorce

I was in an unhappy marriage that was plagued by infidelity and emotional abuse. I stayed in it because I read in the bible that God hates divorce. For years I endured the anger, the hurt, the pain and guilt that I was not measuring up to God’s standards. The continued adulterous relation led to the breakdown of my marriage and eventually to the dreaded “D” word – DIVORCE. I didn’t have a plan and I didn’t know how I would recover from the betrayal and the hurt. I felt abandoned by God because I was now a divorcee. I couldn’t walk into a room without feeling like every eyes were on me, without feeling judged. The mistakes of my failed marriage led to guilt and I allowed the labels the world placed on me define me for a long time. Rehearsing the hurt, the betrayal and living with it every day was chipping at my faith and making me skeptical of others even when they were attempting to help. I was trapped in my past and it was holding me captive. I had to make a choice: wallow in the ...

Lord help us to be …..

Someone who loves you with all their heart Someone who makes you the center of their life Someone who trusts you unconditional Someone who is assured of your love regardless of how we are feeling Someone who praises you in the midst of storms Someone who focuses on you and not the issues or problems Someone who finds peace in you in the midst of storms of life

What is Faith

So we don’t spend all our time looking at what we can see. Instead, we look at what we can’t see. That’s because what can be seen lasts only a short time. But what can’t be seen will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIRV) Faith is not denying the reality. It is not pretending you don’t have a problem when you do. It is not saying I am not in pain when you hurt. It is not saying I am happy when you are grieving. Faith is facing the facts without being disheartened by them because you know God is greater than the problem. Faith is facing the reality without being discouraged by it because you know God can change a situation. Faith is looking beyond the circumstances: We fix our eyes not on the seen [the problem], but on what is unseen [God’s power], since what is seen is temporal [the problem] is temporary, but what is unseen [God’s power] is eternal.

When the storms come....

It will not overcome you, for I am with you… Emmanuel Trust me when I say I will never leave I am holding you by the hand and taking each step with you We will walk through it together step by step Trust me when I say I will not give you more than you can bear Don’t believe what you hear or see, believe in what I say It will not overcome you, for I am your banner ….Jehovah Nissi Trust me when I say you will win your battles There is nothing that is impossible for me to do I have already overcome for you Don’t believe what you feel, believe in what I say When the storm comes remember who I am - I am the God that is always with you and I have already overcome for you.

There is nothing special about your circumstances

Don’t let the enemy make you think that your circumstance is different or special. Don’t let the enemy convince you that nobody has been through what you are facing. Don’t let the enemy deceive you into believing that you are alone. You need to know that nothing the enemy raises can destroy you because you have the power to overcome him. Jesus said, "I know. I saw Satan fall, a bolt of lightning out of the sky. See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the enemy. No one can put a hand on you. All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you—that's the agenda for rejoicing." (Luke 10:18-19 The Message). God has already defeated the enemy and all we have to do is believe it and enforce it daily. He says no one has power over us and that He is protecting us from everyt...

God loves us warts and all

David stands forever as a testimony to the fact that God loves us in spite of our failings. David stands forever as a testimony that no matter what we do God will always love us. God’s love for us is constant and it never changes. God’s love for us does not depend on what we do or do not do. Ephesians 1: 4-5 says that long before he made the world, God loved me and chose me in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. We don't have to work for God's love, we already have it. It is such a relief to know that despite the mistakes we make, despite our shortcomings, God will always love us. How comforting is that? To know that God's love for us is irrevocable. God loves us warts and all.

God's love

God's love for me is indescribable God knows me more thoroughly God understands me completely God cares about me more deeply God listens to me attentively God blesses me more richly God is with me more closely God thinks about me more intimately

What we think about

What we think about or focus on determines what we believe in What we think about determines how our day will turn out What we think about determines how joyful or grateful we will be We have to be careful about what we think about or anticipate. Negative expectations become self-fulfilling prophesises Meditating on the negative means we am agreeing to let Satan defeat us We must mediate on God’s word. Meditating on God’s words will fill our mind with all of God’s promises We must allow the transforming power of God’s word to renew our heart and mind We must get into agreement with God’s word. We must focus on His promises and believe what He says. What God says about our lives is more important than what anyone  believes or what we believe. Ps 119:99 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises

You are the Lord's beloved

When you are worried, remember who God is - He is a big, mighty, good, merciful and loving Father who is always watching out for you, who keeps you safe and who fights for you. When you facing hardship, surrender everything to God - He is more than able, He is in control, He can move mountains, He can turn situations around, and He is bigger than anything you are facing. When you are feeling alone, remember how precious you are to God - He loves you, You are imprinted on the palms of His hand, every hair on your head is numbered, You are valuable to God and You are his beloved.

A time of thanksgiving

The day my son was born, the doctors didn't give him much of a chance but God had other plans for his life. Bringing him up has been a journey of learning to trust God in everything. I have learnt that I need to depend on God in every area of my son's life. I didn't know what the future held for him and as a parent I was worried and very fearful. I realised that the root of my fear was based on trying to control everything, doing things my way and in my strength. Once I loosened my grip and gave everything to the Father, once I allowed God to take control, once I let go of all my plans for him, things started falling into place. Abba, Father was working out his plans for his life. I became less fearful and began to trust God to work everything out for his good. Sometimes doubts and worry creeps into my mind especially days when the enemy reminds me of how far behind he is compared to his peers, where he is at, where he ought to be and where his peers are. In this si...

Give everything to God

The Christian life is a journey and you have to decide how you are going to travel through it. Either by focusing on the problems and depending on yourself or focusing on God, his promises and depending on him. During my journey I have found out that focusing on the problems and depending on myself to work it out, never really is the answer. As mothers, we want the best for our children. In my own case, I thought the best thing for my son was to stay in mainstream school even though he had special needs. I have always fought tooth and nail to ensure this was the case and I did everything I could for him to stay in mainstream school. After finishing year six in a mainstream school he moved to another mainstream school for year 7. One day I was called into a meeting with the school and the council to discuss the issues he had been having in the school. At this meeting, I was informed that my son was not coping in mainstream school and the best thing for him is to attend a schoo...

God highly values you

God highly values you and loves you so much. He have up his most valued treasure, his Son, to save you. He have up His son to save you from a lonely life He gave up his son to save you from a loveless life He gave up His son to save you from an unfulfilled life He gave up His son to save you from a directionless life He gave up his son to save you from a joyless life He gave up His son to save you from spending eternity without the joy of heaven See how much God highly values you So why do you keep putting yourself down When will you realise that putting yourself down means you are rejecting God's opinion of you. When will you realise that disagreeing  with God means you are putting your own opinion above His When will you realise that putting yourself down means you know ,more than God. Accept God's opinion above your own opinion - You are highly valuable and loved by God.

The cost

God created us so he could have a relationship with us, He made us in order to enjoy our company. Sin made that relationship impossible but God made that relationship possible by the cross. God sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, to restore the relationship. God desires to have a relationship with us that He was willing to send his son to die on the cross. God desires to have a relationship with us, that was willing to send his Son to suffer on the cross. God desires to have a a relationship with us, that He was willing to put all our sins on His son so that we can be free. God desires a relationship with us that he was willing to give up so much. God gave up so much for us so we could have a relationship with Him so we must be willing to give up things that stand as an obstacle or stops us from developing our relationship with God. Relationships cost time as we must be committed to investing time in our relationship with God.

Don’t look back in regret

Don’t look back with regret on the mistakes you have made, they have shaped you in to the person you are today Don’t wallow in the regrets of your past, they stop you from moving into what God has in store for you Stop dwelling on the injuries and hurts inflicted on you by others, they will keep you stuck in the past Get your eyes of the past and look to the future God has great things in store for you

He is a God of second chances

God can take our brokenness, God can take the mistakes of our past, God an take our weaknesses and do great things through it all. Don't ever doubt that God can create something beautiful out of our mess, His power is great and nothing is impossible with God. I am so thankful and grateful that God is a God of second chances, He takes our ashes and make something beautiful out of it I am so thankful and grateful that God is a God of fresh starts, He gives us new beginnings I am so thankful and grateful that God is a God of hope, He gives us hope for a better future.

Developing a closer relationship with God

I am always thinking about my relationship with God and how I was doing in developing a closer relationship with him. To help me put everything in perspective and determine how my day with God is going, I take time out to ask myself the following questions: How have I been interacting with God throughout my day – I’m I constantly aware of him, I’m I conscious that he is always with me, I’m I talking to him constantly. Am I depending on God – I’m I depending on him and not myself, I’m I asking for him for guidance, I’m I asking him for wisdom in sticky situations. Am I trusting God – I’m I worried or I’m I assured that He will do what He says concerning me, I’m I assured that He has got my back, I’m I focusing on him, his majesty, his greatness or I’m I focusing on my problems, I’m I assured that my God is bigger than any problem I’m facing Am I obeying God in every situation – I’m I doing things my way or God’s way, I’m I doing what he tells me to do in His words or I’m I ...

The Power of Praise

Revelation 7:12  saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” Praise opens doors, praise breaks chains, praise brings the forces of heaven to your aid So shout God's praise when you are against a brick wall. Shout God's praise when you are going round in circles. Shout God's praise when circumstances seem to mock you. The joy of the Lord [the joy that comes from knowing He is present with you and Has gone before you to work things out in your favour] is you strength (Nehemiah 8:10)

God's love

Psalm 89:1-2 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. How amazing it is to be loved by the Lord God Almighty. It is a love that cannot be taken away from us and it is a love that stands firm forever. Nothing can drive a wedge between us and God's love for us. He is at work in every detail of our lives because of His great love for us. Be solidly grounded on the unwavering love of God which is deeper than all our circumstance or feeling. We should never let our circumstances ever cause us to doubt or question God's love for us  - God's love for us is sure, unwavering and it stands firm forever.

Remembering Dad on Father's day

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Every Father's day is a painful reminder of your absence in our lives. It hurts that you are no longer with us anymore. When I think of you, I can't help but smile with tears in my eyes remembering all the cherished moments we shared. It takes someone to be a Daddy ... and you were a great daddy. You gave me the best things in life, you gave me your time, you gave me your care, you gave me your support and you gave me your love. There was never a time I doubted that I was loved and cherished. Dad, you will never be forgotten and I will hold you close within my heart and there you will always remain. We love you and miss you Dad.

Week 6 - What On Earth Am I Here For Journal

PURPOSE #5 – I Was Made For A Mission - MISSION Day 36 - Made for A Mission I was made for mission. God wants me to have a mission in the world. My mission is my service to unbelievers. My mission is being sent into the world as a representative of Jesus Christ and introducing people to Christ. Ignoring my mission will be disobedience and God holds me responsible of other unbelievers who live around me. Ezekiel 3:18 - You must warn them s they may live. If you don't speak out to warn the wicked to stop their evil ways they will die in their sin. But I will hold you responsible for their death Day 37 - Sharing My Life Message When I became a christian, I also became God's messenger. God wants me to bring others into his family using my life message. My life message has four parts My testimony - how I began a relationship with God and how He has made a difference in my life My life lessons - the most important lessons God has taught me My godly passions - ...

Week 5 - What on Earth Am I Here For Journal

PURPOSE #4 – I Was Shaped for Serving God - MINISTRY Day 29 – Accepting My Assignment I was put on earth to make a difference, to make a contribution by serving. I was created to serve God and the only way I can serve God is by serving others. I am not saved by service, but I am saved to serve. Jesus saved me and it cost him his life so I ought to serve him not out of guilt, or fear or even duty but out of deep gratitude for what he has done for me. My call to salvation includes a call to service. Service is not optional, something to be tacked onto my schedule if I can spare the time, service should be at the heart of my life. Note to self - Any difference I make will have an eternal consequence Ephesians 2:10b – God has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has prepared for us to do. Day 30 – Shaped for Serving God I was shaped to serve God. God uniquely designed me to do certain things. Before he created me he decided what role he wanted me to play on ear...

Week 4 - What on Earth Am I Here For Journal

PURPOSE #3 - I Was Created To Become Like Christ - DISCIPLESHIP Day 22 - Created to Become Like Christ From the very beginning, God's plan has been to make me like his son, Jesus. God wants me to develop Christ-like characteristics and it is the Holy Spirit's job to produce this characters in me. To develop Christ-like characteristics I must: Cooperate with the Holy Spirit by doing the right thing in spite of my fears and feelings Change the way I think by adopting how Jesus thinks about me, sin, other people, my life, my future and everything else about how Jesus will deal with things Develop new godly habits Read the word of God that provides the truth I need to grow Realise that it is a long and slow process Romans 8:29 - God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his son. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. Day 23 - Ho...

Week 3 - What on Earth Am I Here For Journal

PURPOSE #2 - I  Was Planned for God's Family - FELLOWSHIP Day 15 - Formed For God's Family God wants a family and He created me to be a part of His family. God's family is the church and this is my spiritual family. My spiritual family is even more important than my physical family because my spiritual family will last forever. As a part of God's family, here on earth, I get to share in the family fortune - the riches of his grace, kindness, patience, glory, wisdom, power, mercies. As part of God's family in eternity, I will get to be with God forever, I will be completely changed to be like Christ, I will be freed from all pain, death and suffering. Ephesians 1:5a - His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Christ. Day 16 - What Matters Most The most important lesson God wants me to learn on earth is how to love - everyone and others in  God's family. Life without love is worthless. Relati...

Week 2 - What on Earth Am I Here For Journal

PURPOSE #1 - I  Was Planned for God's Pleasure - WORSHIP Day 8 - Planned for God's Pleasure Bringing pleasure to God is called Worship. God did not need to create me but He chose to create me for his own enjoyment. I am not insignificant - I am loved and cherished by God. He created me for a reason - I exist for His benefit, I exist to be loved by Him, I exist for His glory, I exist to bring him Pleasure, I exist only for Him. So it is not about who I think I am, where I think I am , what I think I am, it is all about who God says I am, where God say I am, what God says I am. Ephesians 1:5 - Because of His love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ He would make us His children. This was His pleasure and purpose I bring pleasure to God by worshipping Him. Worship is anything that I do that brings pleasure to God. Worship is more than music, it is a lifestyle. Worship is not for my benefit, it is for God's benefit. Worship is  not part of my life, it is m...

Week 1 - What on Earth Am I Here For Journal

Day 1 - It All Starts with God My life begins and ends with God and He created me for a purpose. I was made for God and life is all about letting God use me for his purposes, not using him for my own purpose. I was made by God and for God. Colossians 1:16b - Everything got started in him and finds its purpose in Him. Day 2 - I  Am Not an Accident I am not an accident, I was planned and I was created as a special object of God's love. My personality, my background and physical apperance was all custom made by God. Nothing is a mistake, I am the way I am because God created and made me that way and it is for a purpose. Stop wishing I was like someone else. God made me unique. Ephesians 1:4 - Long before He laid down the earth's foundation, He had me in mind, He settled on me as the focus of His love Day 3 - What Drives My life? Don't allow fear to drive my life. God's purpose is not limited by my circumstances or past memories. I should not let fear which i...

Remembering Mum on Mother's day

I used to believe that people didn't need their mums so much after they grew up but I have realised that is not true. I miss you mum always and wish I still had you here so I could ask your advice, to share my life with you, to share the joys and the pain with you, to laugh together at the good times and cry together in the hard times I just wish you were here but I will forever be thankful and grateful to God for the time you were here with me and the time we shared together. When I was a child I never understood that you were looking out for my best even though it may not have seemed so at the time But now that I am a mum too, I realise how difficult it must have been for you to let go, I realise how difficult it must have been for you to stand back and let someone you love learn from their mistakes. I realise now how fortunate I was to have a mother like you. While it might be too late for a lot of things, it is not too late for me to say I appreciate you, I appreciate th...

I made him unique

In days of doubt and worry I look at my son and wish things could be different I wish he could read better I wish he could learn things easily I wish he could be more independent I wish he could be more confident I wish he could pick up doing new things easily I wish he didn't find things so difficult But God said "Why do you wish he was different? I created him I made him and I knit him in together, I put him together. I knew him before I formed him in your womb Before he was born I set him apart Are you trying to tell me I made a mistake? My daughter, I don’t make mistakes He is unique and wonderfully made He is exactly the way I want him to be He is a good and perfect gift I bestowed upon you. Do you know the plans I have for him? Do you know how special he is to me. You can't begin to understand or fathom my love for him You can't begin to understand or fathom my plans for him. I have equipped him with everything he needs to fulfil my plans f...

I start today…..

I start today praising you Lord I start today in your presence I start today with you by my side guiding me I start today with your strength because I know I can’t face today in my own strength I start today with the assurance that you are with me I start toady with the assurance that you will provide all I need for this day I start today with the assurance that all is well I start today with an expectant heart because I know you have great things in store for me