Cherish my friendships ... equally yoked

Cherish my friendships ....... equally yoked

 

2 Corinthians 6:14

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.  For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

 

When I look at what is happening in the world and I look at peer pressure and who we associate ourselves with in our lives, I totally get what God is trying to teach us.  God is saying that we have to be equally yoked with those that we let into our lives as well.  We have to fellowship with those who will build us and teach us and those who believe as we believe ... being equally yoked. 

 

We are on the border of summer in South Africa and Sunday was particularly humid so my best friend (whom I am equally yoked with - a God sent) saw about 20 kids doing washing with their parents in a stream of water (in squatter camps in South Africa they don't have running water). They were playing and very hot in the sun. So she stopped the car, got out and went to go and count how many people there were, she insisted buying them ice cream (something some of them never get). So we went to KFC and we bought them all soft-serve. Well, between myself, her and my daughter (and her baby in the car chair with me at the back) we had to try and balance all these soft-serve ice creams melting all over us..  Wow, I never realised how fast the hot sun can melt ice cream. We laughed and made a lot of noise... Happy ending ....  the kids came running to get their ice cream. At that moment I thanked God for my equally yoked best friend as she has a heart equally yoked with mine, always in touch with our surroundings and making sure we can extend our hand to others and off course our daughters also see and they will follow suit in their lives. 

 

The point I want to get to is to say, those that God sends into your life that have a heart like yours to extend a helping hand to the world.. cherish them and thank God for them. I thank God for my best friend, she has a heart of gold. Partnerships like this really matter.  After all we are not in this world to see what we can gain out of the world but what can we give .... that is ultimately what will make us happy. Being in touch.

 

 

Mother Teresa said ... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of God's kindness, kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile ...   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having the heart and mind of a child

The greatest Blessing in the entire world is to be

a child of  God

 

Jesus said to be childlike is what God wants. We all know how much Jesus loves children and even in the Bible when the disciples rebuked the adults bringing little children to Him, Jesus welcomed them, loved them and embraced them.  Jesus said in Matthew 18:3 " I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". 

 

Then I often thought what Jesus really meant when He said that and how does He want me to change? When I look at little children I can see the love and faith they have in their fathers (and mothers). I see the great amount of trust they have in their fathers, they are heroes, they adore their fathers.  God wants us to be childlike in the same manner.  He is our Daddy, our Father and He wants us to love just like a child would love. To love God with our whole beings, all our hearts, souls, minds and trust Him fully.  We must remember that just like a child we are not self-sufficient but we need Him to sustain us.  We need our Daddy - God our Father to guide us and to provide for all our needs.

 

We need to openly express our love for our Daddy, have childlike honesty, respect people and especially our elders, love others and even our enemies. Forgive quickly, just like a child would do. God loves it when we have humility and compassion for others. Not pride and egoistic ways. 

 

Jesus said the best example of what God wants in His people is humility. To be humble is the greatest characteristic of Jesus himself as well.  Jesus gave up so much for us and we need to give up privileges to serve others and be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world.

 

Proverbs 8:13 says : " The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth".  Pride makes us turn away from God and towards sin.  God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble according to James 4:6. Pride kills faith.  Many people will never have a relationship with God or accept Jesus as their Saviour because of pride. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will change the hearts of those so they can get to meet this wonderful man and realise that they can't do it on their own. Life will never be the same again.

Jesus said the GREATEST commandment is love and children love without constraint, yes they love unconditionally. A great lesson for adults.

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus YOU rescued me

Today I am just thanking God for rescuing me. Thank you again for showing me HIS unlimited GRACE. When I sing the song of +ThePlainTruthBandTV  I am saying from my heart that yes Jesus, my heart beats for YOU. The only time I will look back at my life is to see how YOU have carried me and I know that no matter what YOU will never let me go. You have never let me down, I don't have to fear for the future. Yes, my life is worthless without YOU Jesus. I thank you today again for giving up YOUR life for me, YOU took all my shame and all my issues with you to the cross and YOU already gave me all the authority as your child so I can have a life worthy as YOUR child, no matter what I go through in life, what I go through today, I know that YOU will never leave me or forsake me.  Yes, my heart cries out for YOU Jesus and beats for YOU Jesus. Thank you for all that YOU have done for me, for us!

 

Rescued Me  ( The Plain Truth)

Can You feel my heart beating
It beats only for You
YOU, YOU

And everything in me
Cries out for Your love

And now I know I’ll never look back

‘Coz I know You gave it all for me
Your life, Your blood
Was shed for me
Jesus You came and set me free
Take my life in Your hands
You rescued me

Save me from falling
Lead me I’m calling
YOU, YOU

My life is worthless
Without You Jesus

And now I know I’ll never look back

‘Coz I know You gave it all for me
Your life, Your blood
Was shed for me
Jesus You came and set me free
Take my life in Your hands
You rescued me

Crucified
YOU delivered me
Took my shame upon the cross
Purified
Cleanse me Lord
I pray

I know You gave it all for me

Your life, Your blood
Was shed for me
Jesus You came and set me free
Take my life in Your hands
You rescued me

I know You gave it all for me

Your life, Your blood
Was shed for me
Jesus You came and set me free
Take my life in Your hands
You rescued me

Put a fresh "Spring" in your step ..........

Put a fresh "Spring" in your step .....  Embrace Change

It is Spring Day today in South Africa, it is the 1st of September. A new Season! The season that is known for renewal, regrowth and rejuvenation. 

 

So, as this new season of renewal starts we need to make a commitment to ourselves to make a positive change (even if it is only one) - start anew.  Just as a dry, seemingly dead tree blossoms into something beautiful, let the same take place in our lives. Let something that feels "dry and dead" become something renewed, changed into something exquisite, something beautiful. Always remember that you are a beautiful person, unique just as our Father God created you.

C.S Lewis said when a thing must be attempted, one must never think about possibility or impossibility.  So when you make a positive change don't think about any impossibilities but make changes with a positive mind-set. Nothing in life is too much or too difficult when we have God to fight with us and for us.

When you think of your own life, think of the things you would like to change.  Choose 1 or 2 things, start small. Once you have decided what you would like to change, COMMIT to it. Daily!  "Keep a journal".  

 

• You might want to start eating healthier
• Abstain from "those" things you know about that is not good for you
• Take your vitamins and medication the way you should
• Complete that degree or diploma that you want to complete
• Start that new hobby you love
• Start talking more about your blessings than your problems
• Start looking after the poor and less fortunate
• Change your self-talk and start loving yourself more

Think for a minute about those happy, joyful, peaceful people you know.  Think of some of their outlooks.  These include:

• Being grateful, even in the little
• They believe in themselves
• They treat others with dignity and respect
• They are kind, gentle and compassionate
• They don't judge and they look for the good in people
• They don't complicate things
• They ignore the negative
• They set realistic goals

Express Gratitude

Always be grateful for what you have and keep in mind those that are going without, don't complain, but say thank you to God for the blessings He has given you.  When you have a job that you don't enjoy, try and change your attitude, be thankful as there are many without a job and cant provide for their families.  Be thankful that you have a car, no matter what car you have, you might not have the best, BUT, be thankful that you have one, so many people wake up at 3 catch a train and taxi's, you don't have to, so be grateful.  Your health, if you are healthy, thank God for your health and always say a prayer for those that are ill. Just start being grateful in life and stop complaining. Always remember that even if you feel like a failure at times (in a relationship or other) that God will let your life blossom if you let Him.  Never look back and let your regrets stop you from growing and changing as a person. Stand up and shake loose and make that change. Embrace Change! Today, don't wait a day longer. If you have faith the size of a mustard seed God says that absolutely anything and everything is possible.  He did not say that only some things are possible ... everything is possible.  If there is something that is not feeding your soul in a positive way, LET IT GO, give it to God.

 

Be the best you can be.  We serve a God where NOTHING is impossible, so as the new season starts let the new season of something beautiful start in your life.  Just look how the trees and flowers will now blossom into something beautiful and let that be the choice you make for your life. TODAY!

 

I close with a quote from C.S Lewis as he said your real, new self will not come as long a you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for HIM. So look up in times when it becomes difficult BUT embrace change, don't give up!

 

As I sing the words of the song of +CarrieUnderwoodAUS when things are tough ......

 

Jesus take the wheel

Take it from my hands

Cause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go

So give me one more chance

Save me from this road I'm on

Oh, Jesus take the wheel .....

 

Make that choice now... embrace change! And always keep Him close to your heart!! We cannot live without God or do it on our own.