Be grateful, even in the little

Be greatful - even in the little

What should have been a very simple in and out at our local store yesterday, turned into a heartwarming lesson for me and my friend once again. I always think to myself that God knows exactly where He wants us to be at a specific time and when we are available vessels He will use us as He needs to.  Reaching out to get an item on the shelf a man walked over to us looking down and appeared extremely nervous/sad - "Mam, he asked, if I take this milk and my baby's food (very small milk and box of baby food), will I have enough money". We immediately saw that he will be short and so he decided to rather leave the bread he had in the basket and just take the food for his baby. Let the baby rather eat and they will go hungry. Well, tears filled up in our eyes and our hearts just could not take the pain.  We at least managed to sort him out in order for them all to have a meal that night.  In South Africa we see this on a daily basis (I am sure many other Countries as well). It really breaks a person's heart. I do believe that is why God wants us to be His vessels and be available to do His work for Him.  We have to make sure we are in touch with our surroundings on a daily basis and we have to be in ministry every second, helping those that are in need. Ministry for me does not mean just to go to church on a Sunday and now work is done. No, ministry means reaching out to those that need us every second as God sends people our way.

My friend gives packets of biscuits out to people with a message on "Jesus loves You" or "You are special in God's eyes" on a daily basis, just randomly as she is lead, and normally people smile from ear to ear. Just somebody who cares, just something so small means so very much to others.

Give thanks in all circumstances

1 Thessalonians 5:18 : "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you". 

It is very difficult to give thanks or to be grateful in difficult situations. We are after all only human.

• The mother/father who lost a child
• A difficult divorce
• Not being able to provide for your family
• People who experience loneliness and no love

But Jesus is such an example to us. He still blessed His enemies and gave thanks during His very difficult times. When He was treated so badly He still gave thanks to God.

Who of us give thanks on a daily basis. Just to say Father thank you for all you do even though I dont even deserve it. This will keep us humble and make sure whatever we receive we give the Glory to God, where it belongs.We don't always understand why certain things happen to us, but when we look back I am sure we can see how far we have come and see how God was still with us during the difficult times. 

So from today let us be grateful each day for one thing (or more) that God puts in our hearts. 

Look around you from today and start to notice different things and say thank you to God for what you have been given.  When you look at your children even if they are a bit mischievous at times, thank God for their health and thank God for the great gift. For our homes, cars, food, finances, work, health so many many things... but even in the little, our hearing, sight, rain, your beautiful rainbow you gave us as an oath; thank God that we can wake up in the mornings and His mercy is new. Thank Him that He sent somebody to you to help out with a bread so they can eat dinner.

God says to us that if we can be faithfull in the little He will make sure that we will be blessed (in abundance), but not so that we can be swamps and keep everything to ourselves, NO, so we can be rivers of blessings to others.

We must remember that what what we take for granted others pray for. So let us not take anything for granted but let us be rivers of blessings to others.

Pray with me ...

Oh Father God, I am so sorry for not saying thank you to you enough, if I have been selfish I humbly ask for forgiveness and I pray that you will renew my heart so that I can be grateful just like Jesus was, our example. We pray that You will send people to us in need so that we can glorify your name in the process. Let us be Your vessels Lord, your hands and feet, so that people don't have to struggle so badly.  We thank you for all that you do for us and we thank you for all that you give us. All for Your glory Father.

My Jesus, Jesus ...

make me a river of blessings

to others, to uplift your Name

The sweetest Name I know

Let us be grateful even in the little

Let us be grateful when You give

Let us be grateful when You take

As life has serious challenges

Lets make it lighter for others

Give us the strength Jesus

And let us always be grateful

Even in the little ....

Soaking my soul in His love

Soaking my soul in your love my Jesus

 Looking at this world of ours and seeing how people struggle to just keep their heads above water and how issues in the world just drain them, I am sure everybody just become so exhausted - emotionally, spiritually as well as physically.  When you have made a choice in your life that no matter what the world dictates and no matter how the world wants you to be, do as God said in James 4:8 that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.  I know it is not always easy to do this, especially if you "sometimes" think that God does not even know your name or God does not even know that you exist (when your life is just a total mess) . But I promise you that God does know. He knows everything. God sees and God knows how difficult life must be. God understands.  The one thing that I do want you to know is no matter what you think or no matter what people would want you to think God loves you and He is not asking for you to be perfect. God loves you just the way you are, with your mess and issues. God is not asking you to first change who you are and then you can come to Him. NO, he wants you NOW with every part of your life.  What God does ask for is for YOU to draw near to Him.  He is a jealous God and He does want you to have an intimate relationship with Him.  No, dont think you are not good enough, because YOU are!!  Jesus himself walked on this earth and He experienced so many difficult issues and He soaked His soul into God's love when it became tough for Him. Jesus is showing us by example what we can do. Try it!! Soak your soul into His love.  Give every part of yourself over to Him. Make that decision today and hand yourself over.  When we let go of every part of our mind, heart, body, spirit and soul, we draw nearer to God. If you cant find anything to say to God as yet or you can speak to Him as yet or pray to Him, dont worry about it.. just call on His name or whisper His name, He understands your heart, He knows. 

I look back at the story of Paul (who first was Saul) in the Bible and just knowing how God loved him enough to accept Him and forgive him, Paul became the front-runner of GRACE, making sure that we know that God loves us unconditionally.  Agape Love: wow... This love that God has for us.. Agape love can only be given to us by God Himself because of His character that releases unconditional love to us, "in spite of" who we are.. God is a supernatural God and just think how much He loved us that He gave us His loving Son on the cross for our sins, so we can live forever... wow ... we will never find greater love than that. Thank you Jesus that you gave yourself on the cross for us..  Jesus himself said that three things remain (1 Cor 13:13) but the greatest of these is love.

Pray with me ...

Jesus, I want to soak my soul in your presence. I want to make the choice today; to want more of you, soak my cares and my worries, that's eating away in my soul, on You. I know You love me and You accept me just the way I am, I dont have to be perfect to be your child.  I want more of you Jesus. I can trust You and I can give my life over to You and I know that You will fold Your arms around me and keep me safe, keep me Yours forever. You know everything about me and You still love me.  When I am brokenhearted I know that You are close to me, You understand me and You understand how difficult this world can be. Thank you for loving me unconditionally my Jesus. 

Letting myself go - blocking out the world

I soak my soul in your incredible love

Feeling the silence all around me

I drink and breathe your Agape love

I hear your voice in my heart.... saying

Child I love you just as you are.

I soak my soul in your marvelous love

I feel your arms around my soul

Keeping me away from hurt

Keeping me away from pain

I know you will never let go.

I soak myself in your love so remarkable

I look forward to your provision for my life

I look forward to your supernatural healing

I will always love you, my choice, my faith.

I soak my soul in your love my God!

All I do is for Your glory.

Falling in love with Jesus .... through His grace

Years ago when I was still a 'baby' Christian, one of my work colleagues tried to convince me that Jesus was just a Prophet and I should definitely not pray to Him or accept Him as my Saviour.  This happened daily and I remember trying to stay strong in my faith.  I must say the devil tried to derail me each time I prayed; tried to damage my relationship with my Saviour.  Looking back I am thankful that He (Jesus) who lived in my heart was stronger than the evil one living in the world. 

Ephesians 2:1-6 (MSG) "It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin.  You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live.  You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.  We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat.  It's a wonder God didn't lose His temper and do away with the whole lot of us.  Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love He embraced us.  He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.  He did all this on His own with no help from us!  Then He picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah".

I am sure God understands us and He knows that sometimes we might feel no matter what we do, we are just not doing enough so that He can be pleased with us, BUT, then God shows us and reminds us that He loves us with our mess and all and we have been saved by Grace, total unconditional love!  We through the cross have been made righteous....... yes through Jesus. 

Jesus I am humbled by your love for me!

No matter how the devil tried to steal, kill and destroy I still fell in love with Jesus daily.  Jesus, through your love and grace for me, I chose to sail my boat into the right direction - Your direction.

Pray with me ... 

Jesus I thank You that you allow us to seek you and fall in love with you.  You chose us the day You said IT IS FINISHED.  Show us more of your truth daily and dont allow us to listen to the enemy ever again but ONLY to you our Saviour.  WE love You Jesus, All the glory and honour belongs to you Jesus. Amen.

My Saviour ....

I soak my thoughts in Your truth

I soak my heart in your love...

Jesus Christ You are the only true vine

see it through my eyes as they shine

shine because I fall in love with you daily

thank you that You chose me

that is all I ever want to be.....

Your daughter forever

Through your grace. 

The perfume of YOUR grace

His GRACE and love for all....

"Rom 10:4 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes"

I grew up in a religious home; went to church every Sunday, my father was a Deacon in church & we had to "graduate" from Sunday school before we could even partake in Holy Communion.  I remember we were not even allowed to whisper in church as kids and we had to be absolutely quiet and respectful.  So growing up in an environment where having a relationship with God was not even a possibility due to strict religion I am not surprised that I was a bit fearful talking to God and I always thought I had to be 100% without sin before I could be called His child.  My religion needed me to be 'perfect' first.  How can Jesus ever make me His if I was still a sinner, I always thought.  Even years later when I finally gave my life to Him I was asked one day: "How can you even think you are a child of God if you are still full of sin". I always thought, oh, I will never truly be good enough or accepted by Him. Then one day HIS word set me free.  I was so overwhelmed when I realised for the first time what GRACE actually meant.  It was as if God Himself whispered the truth in my ear... finally!  I have heard the word many times but never really understood the 'real' meaning.  Oh, I drank grace, ate grace, worked grace and slept grace & just could not get enough when I finally realised how very much God loved me that He gave up His Son Jesus for me.  Wow, not because I am special, no, just because He loves me so much and yes, you too, He loves you unconditionally. Wow Jesus, you came for me -the sinner- and I did not have to become 'perfect' first.  You love me and accept me for the person I am - Just as I am.  Now I understand what unconditional love means.  

Jesus YOU are our new Covenant - GRACE. I once was blind but now I see.

Pray with me..

Jesus, thank You for Your grace.  Thank You that I dont have to be perfect.  You love and accept me just as I am.  I no longer have to listen to the enemy, but only to Your voice.  Thank You that I can just say Jesus Jesus sometimes when I dont have words or battle to pray, You understand my heart.  Jesus You live in my heart as King and WOW, You love me!  Your grace is mine and oh so sufficient for me. I love You Jesus Amen.

Jesus, the perfume of Your grace

opened my blind eyes and entered my heart.

Now You hold the key to my heart

till forever and beyond.

You fill my mouth with a song....

You take my breath away

my lips shout You are Lord ,

strong foundation, my Rock,

precious Cornerstone.

Your Grace - the perfume of my soul

for all my days.

All for YOUR Glory Father, forever!

I am good enough, Christ did not die in vain!

"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain". (Gal 2:21 NKJV)

God whispers grace 3:16

The grace of God is not just for a 'particular people' or for the Church, it is not my grace or her grace, no, it is God's grace and so it is for everybody! 

When I think of grace I am always reminded of the story in Acts 20 - of Sauls conversion to Paul. Saul was guilty of so many sins; he killed Christians and he persecuted Jesus himself. But Wow, Jesus loved Paul from the beginning, forgave him, showed His grace in action. God Himself had a hand in Paul's conversion. God made sure that Paul's life could be a story of grace. God works in such unique ways. If He could forgive Paul for persecuting His own Son and set him free, love him unconditionally and make sure Paul would be the most important person in the Bible preaching the grace of God to us, just think what God can do for you and for me. 

Paul was chosen before he was even born with his mess and all! And you, you were also chosen by God before you were even born. Dont think you are not good enough or that you have not been chosen because of how your life turned out. It does not matter what your past consists of, it does not matter what you have done or what people have told you. When they say you will never be good enough, you will never be forgiven or you will never amount to anything, you know what, you are a child of King Jesus, because just the way He forgave Paul just so God's grace is for you today, Jesus did not die in vain! Just choose to believe that today, accept that today and thank God for sending His Son Jesus for you and for me.

Pray with me .....

Father God, thank you that You can shine a new light in my heart today and thank you that You chose me before I was even born, that no matter what I have done in my past You love me with my mess and all, just as I am ....... You love me. Amen

All for YOUR glory Father!

God Whispers Grace ....

Oh God, how your grace amazes me ..

You love me unconditionally

Even before I was just a thought.

Pure, Unblemish Lamb,

Thank you that You came....

Even when I make a big mess with my life,

You show me GRACE

that is why You came .. for me ...

To show me the doorway

that leads to eternal life.

I can depend on you in all times

You are faithful and trustworthy

'so perfect'

and yet you love me

'so imperfect'

just as I am ......

Yes, yes GRACE

You are worthy Jesus of ALL .... honour and glory .......