God will always be there during your hardships ...

God is always with you during your hardships.  It is a promise that He made and He is not a liar.

When I was a little girl (about 7 years old) we never had exposure to homeless people or poverty where I lived.  We never had squatter camps as we call it these days.  So I remember sleeping and the next moment I was out of my body and someone (could have been Jesus or an angel I am not sure) showed me how people sleep on the streets and eat out of dustbins. I remember ‘moving’ through the air looking down at heart rendering moments. This was a glimpse God showed me into the future, I do believe that with all my heart. I remember waking up and sobbing in my grandmothers’ lap, sobs that came from my inner being. I was so young I did not understand what happened to me. I am much older today,  and yes all the things God showed me when I was younger; poverty and squatter camps and homeless people; I stare into that every single day in the area I live and in our Country. It became a sad reality.  And every time I see people suffer I remember what God wants me to do. What He showed me.  I know God is saying I showed you that, you are My hands and feet and I will equip you to help. Just one at a time.  Little by little.  We all can be His hands and feet. 

Why am I telling you this? I want you to know that yes, there are hardships. We all go through sad and terrible things on a daily basis, but God says that we must not fear. He is with us. And as long as we have Him we have hope. He is our refuge and our strength in times of trouble.  God is your rock during times when your storm clouds blow so wild.  His love is holding you when you feel like giving up. All God is asking for is for you not to give up on Him.  Don't let Him go. Don't blame Him. Just hold tight and He will bring you through it. Be still before Him with your heart and He will give you the answers. Praise and worship Him daily and have a 'real' relationship with Him. He is the ONLY one that will be there for you to guide you and help you. Just never let go.

1 Peter 1:6-7: " In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed".

Father God through our trials and hardships, I pray that our faith will increase so it will prove worth greater than gold. May we know that there will be good coming through our hardships. Help us through our pain and help us to hold onto You and never let go. You are the light Jesus and we will follow You. Fold your arms around us as we face the hurts we go through and the hurts of our loved ones and our neighbours. May Your glory be revealed though all this Father God. Amen.

 

This Beating Heart ....

My heart beats for You and I am Your masterpiece Father God ....

We were all created for a specific reason by God, not accidental.  God chose us for Him.  When life seems not worth it or there is no meaning in your life, I ask you today to sit and ask God what your purpose is. You have a purpose. We all have a beating heart inside of us and yes there is more to life than just getting what we need for our own lives.  My beating heart beats strongly for Jesus like a drum and my soul sings for Him. My soul sings and wants to break out of 'status quo' and I want to live and do for Him what He needs me to do. I want to be His hands and feet.  I want to make a difference to the poor and depressed.  I was made for Him, not for myself.  Our Maker has made us a masterpiece and now we can sing from deep inside and be who He wants us to be. I pray that God will show you what He needs you to do for Him.

 

 

I play this song over and over and meditate on the time I am finally going to be a butterfly and not a caterpillar. 

 

This Beating Heart: +MattRedmanVEVO  

Something inside of me
Knows there is surely more then this
Echoes of eternity all around us

Something inside of me
Knows there is surely more then this
Echoes of eternity all around us

There's music within my soul
I'm more than these flesh and bones I know
Whispers of a destiny deep inside us

This beating heart
Like a drum it will beat for You
This heart like a drum it will beat
My soul, my soul sings for You

This beating heart
I was made I was made for You
My God evermore evermore
My soul, my soul sings for You

We're marked by Your fingerprints
There's evidence running through these veins
That we are a masterpiece with a Maker
Formed in the secret place
A mystery born of a love and grace
You had a name for me and a purpose

This beating heart
Like a drum it will beat for You
This heart like a drum it will beat
My soul, my soul sings for You

This beating heart
I was made I was made for You
My God evermore evermore
My soul, my soul sings for You
My soul sings for You

My life be on Your altar God
My every breath exalting You
My life be on Your altar God
This heart like a drum beating strong for You

This beating heart
Like a drum it will beat for You
This heart like a drum it will beat
My soul, my soul sings for You

This beating heart
I was made I was made for You
My God evermore evermore
My soul, my soul sings for You

Sing my soul sing my soul
My soul sings for You

Break my heart for what breaks Yours ....

Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours ... 

I absolutely love the song by +Hillsong called Hosanna and when I listen to the part where they sing ... "Break my heart for what breaks Yours", I hear my heart saying :"what breaks our Fathers' heart?". When I listen to them singing : "Heal my heart and make it clean, open my eyes to the things unseen, show me how to love like You loved me, break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause ... "  Wow, what a powerful song. I don't think a person can worship God and not feel that you want to make yourself a better person, that you want to become the Ambassador for Christ and help people, love them and have grace for others and change yourself so that you can make a difference in the world.

What would break our Fathers' heart?  What breaks our hearts? When families don't get along and they don't love each other and others with the love of God, when people mistreat the poor, when people suffer (poverty - this breaks my heart), when a loved one dies, when children suffer, when we are disobedient to God, hurtful words, when people turn their backs on God  .... so many things, the list is endless, and yet God loves us so very very much.

God hears our hearts, He hears the songs we sing to Him, He hears our prayers, He hears what breaks our hearts, because it breaks His too! 

We know from Genesis that after each day God looked at His work and said that it was good - "And God saw that it was good".  That teaches me a principal that after each day we live on earth, we have to reflect on our day and  'evaluate' if in fact we have done good according to the will of God and if not, make some changes.  If at some point we did not feel like helping someone where we could or we said hurtful things to someone where we could have turned a situation around, we have to 'evaluate' and make changes and live a life we know we can be happy with and God's heart can smile down at us.  I am never saying we must become perfect, no, we will always be human -  I am just saying let us become better individuals, let us live in the will of our Father.  Lets live out His traits and it will make us happier individuals - love, peace, patience, joy, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, forgiveness, humility, courage, fairness, honesty  & truthfulness, responsibility, generosity, compassion, commitment, determination, grace ...... I can carry on and on as the attributes of God are just so constant, everlasting and endless. How amazing you are Father God!

I pray that God will touch each person's heart to make this world a better place. We all have struggles and pain in our lives and we must love people with the love of Jesus and have grace for them with the grace Jesus has for us.  May God touch our hearts to reach each person He wants us to reach, to be His hands and feet.  Let us make sure we don't hurt our Fathers' heart but we make Him smile down on us.

I ask each person today, what can you do right now to make this world a better place? Remember you are never too young or too old to make a difference.. no time like the present.   

Who am I?

God wants to do a new thing in your life ....... 

Who am I?  This is a simple question but one of the most complex at the same time.  I know I am a breathing, living person, but who am I? Who do I want to be, who does God want me to be? 

Big successful businesses all have mission statements, visions for their business and values that the operate by.  But what do we set for ourselves as individuals.  For us to live in the plan and purpose that God has for us, we also need to set goals for ourselves and even have a mission statement that define who we are. If you have to say what your mission statement is for your life right now or define the purpose of your life, do you first have to sit and think about it or can you stand tall and say this is who I am!  What is your purpose for your life? Who do you want 'you' to be. What do you stand for in life, no matter what? What principals do you stand up for in your life?

So, when you have a moment and you want to make positive changes for your life, go sit and think about it. Don't let your past or your hurts or anything stop you from making these positive changes in your life.  You deserve better than your past so get going! Forgive those that you need to forgive and move on to the person God wants you to be. Set yourself free, with the freedom that Jesus has given us all. Make that decision, now! Stand tall, stand with your head high and walk with faith into new beginnings.  With God's guidance in your life and living in thankfulness, love and grace daily you can do it. 

Always remember when things are good  when things are bad, when we hurt, when we happy, when we win, when we lose  ... we need Jesus ... always. When we live near to God and He fills our hearts with His love, we would not be able to not love others and help others.  1 John 4:8 says :"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love".  

My mission statement for my life is ...... To always love God with all I am, love my family and others with His grace. To be thankful and do my best daily by always striving to do the right thing, to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a hurting world and so make a difference.

Everything I do daily (and I do make so many mistakes) I try and live by my mission statement for my life, hand in hand with Jesus. And I do so encompassing the values I have set for my life and what my parents taught me and what God has taught me, so all I can do is try, try and try again, fail and then try again, but at least I know who I am and I do believe in my heart this is who God wants me to be.  We are all diamonds in the rough!

When I walk in town or drive to work or sit at my desk at work I am conscious to make a difference. I am so thankful to God that He has given me people in my life, my best friend, my children and extended family that have hearts for God and who also want to make a difference. We must not get wrapped up in life so intensely that we only strive to do things for ourselves and worry about ourselves. We have to die to self and follow what God wants in order to be really happy in our own lives.  There is a bigger picture, just let God in and let Him show you.

We are in Jesus Christ, grace He has given us freely, now we can live for His purpose! We are no longer slaves of the law but free in His grace, so let us thank Him and let us walk daily hand in hand with Him and make a difference.

Start today, find your mission statement for your life, let go of the past and start living your life for others.  Follow Jesus!  I know it might not be easy but just start and move into the right direction, trust God and He will lead you.  God wants to do a new thing in your life, He promised you that He will never leave or forsake you!

Isaiah 43: 18-19 :" Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of the old. Behold, I am doing A NEW THING; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert".

Father God I pray that those that are hurting so bad will trust you fully and let go and with you make something new in their lives. Let them know you are there and that you love them and that You will never leave or forsake them. Help them to make a mission statement and begin a new chapter in their lives. Amen.

The GREAT mercy of God

I agree with this picture ... 

"God's mercy is so GREAT that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish THE GREAT MERCY OF GOD"

God does not only give us new mercies every New Year, but every single day, He says in Lamentations 3:22 that His mercy is new every morning and great is His faithfulness to us. His steadfast love for us never ends and His mercies NEVER come to an end.  God has compassion and understanding for us.  He knows what we are going through in this world and that things can get very difficult, but we must continue to trust Him.  His compassion for us will NEVER fail.  He is so absolutely faithful. God's mercy gives us fresh hope, love, joy, comfort and spiritual light every singe day.

God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

As sin became, we were destined for death but because of God's GREAT love for us He had mercy for us and made us alive in Christ.  Wow, when I think about that for a moment it is like receiving a death sentence and then be set free, because of somebody loving us so very much. An incomprehensible gift from God that we don't really deserve. So thinking about that, I can't fathom not praising God daily and worshipping Him at His feet in everlasting love and thankfulness for this great gift He has given to me.  It is like He has given me a new white sheet of paper everyday and I can write my new chapter for my life and He erases all my flaws and sin and He holds nothing against me. Wow, what love He must have for me, for you!  But, this does not mean we can just sin consciously every day, no, God still wants us to live our lives worthy to be His children.  Romans 2:4 tells us:  "You did not think did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?  Or did you think that because He is such a nice God, He'd let you off the hook?  Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but He's not soft. In kindness He takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into radical life-change".

Some of us do strive day in and day out just to do the right thing and to love God. Integrity means doing the right thing when no one is watching, we do it because we are His children, because of the gift He has given us and because we love Him.  We can turn our lives around and make a difference daily and be the hands and feet God wants us to be for Him, for His glory... not for ourselves.

Paul (that was Saul) ... who became the most important fore-runner for us Christians said: "Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life". 

Paul was a murderer and one of the worst enemies to Christians and to Jesus himself. Jesus even asked Paul why he hated Jesus so much.  But God still showed him mercy. So we will get the same mercy from God, because He loves us.  This example always shows me that God will forgive us and will have mercy on us. 

Father God I just want to thank You for having mercy upon us daily. Thank you that you love us so very much. 

Father God .. thank You

Father God .. thank You

Father God, I would like to start 2014 off not by asking You for anything but just thanking you ..

Thank You Father for teaching me day by day about the Grace You have given to us all so freely. Just by me being Your child I can be assured that I will be in heaven one day praising and worshipping You. Thank You that You introduced me to Your grace that is Jesus.  Without Your Power and Grace in my life, without it changing me, I would have died as a person.  You spared little me from being 'dead' to having found a new love for life and a new hope in You.  Daily You show me that I have to hold on to Grace that there is meaning in Jesus and we have a new life because of Him.  You have taught me that we have to accept people and love them as they are, that You have accepted me just the way I am, so in turn I have to accept others just as they are.

Will I ever fully understand the love that You have for me, for us?  You willingly gave up Your life for me, because You love me.  Lord Jesus help me going forward to praise and worship You daily, to go and meet You in Your thrown-room and to worship You at Your feet. Your love amazes me Jesus, though I am not perfect, I am still a sinner, I don't always speak the way or act the way I should - YOU still love me unconditionally. You still allow me to be called your daughter and You allow me to serve You.

Lord Jesus I pray that You will never let me go and You will show me more and more every day that Your Grace is sufficient for me.  Thank You that You give me a life that is full of hope, love, meaning and grace because of Your grace.  Thank you Jesus that Your mercies are new every morning. Wow, that is how much You love me.

YOUR presence dwells within me daily. 

Thank you that You are showing me that You are really part of my life and that I am still on the right path and that You love me unconditionally.  I know that I have come a long way with You and that I still have a long way to go but the beauty is that I have a long way to go with You in my heart.

Thank You Father for saving my life. May I just worship You as You said in Psalm 115:4-8 that the truth is we become like what or who we worship. Help me then to become more and more like You.

Madiba ... may your legacy live on

Tata Madiba, may your legacy live on....

Born July 18, 1918 .... passed away December 5, 2013

Today, Tuesday the 10th of December is the Memorial service of Nelson Mandela or Tata Madiba as people knew him. We also spent the day in prayer and reflection on Sunday, just paying tribute and respect to one of South Africa's greatest men.  A day to reflect what Madiba stood for, what he fought for and what he would like South Africans and other Countries to embrace, live out and put into practice to make this world a better place.  He would not want anyone to digress from his fight against equality.

“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do” – Nelson Mandela

Mandela showed us that hate is out of the question but love is what life should be all about. He did everything with love, especially loving children. Mandela was such a humble man; he loved people, always smiling and exerted friendliness. He off course devoted a lot of his time to children, not only to the less fortunate kids, but all kids.  He always tried to empower kids and made sure their well-being was improved.  That is what one of his organisations stood for, the Mandela Children’s Fund. Mandela supported 22 charities and foundations.... wow, what an example he was to us.

“Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished” – Nelson Mandela.

Mandela was such a good example how forgiveness can make the world whole.  He was described as the most influential and most forgiving person on earth.  We can learn a lot from him about forgiveness.  Need I say more, he never kept any feelings of resentment or bitterness towards anybody, forgave those who wronged him and fought to sow unity in our nation.   That shows the character he had as a person.  He was an upstanding man full of understanding.  He surely made me understand that we can change the world bit by bit by changing our attitudes.

“I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days” – Nelson Mandela.

Mandela was part of "The Elders" (world leaders) promoting peace, women's equality and various other initiatives to promote democracy and address humanitarian crises across the world.

“Those who conduct themselves with morality, integrity and consistency need not fear the forces of inhumanity and cruelty” – Nelson Mandela

What is extremely striking is that in South Africa today we will have 92 Statesmen that will attend his Memorial Service from all over the world. So many statesmen are in battle with each other but for one common cause and a great man they are standing together peacefully. That is so amazing. As Nelson said in one of his quotes “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner”.  I just think it is phenomenal that even in death Nelson can bring peace across the world.

“Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity” – Nelson Mandela

Yes, so true Tata Madiba, you have done your duty across the world, may what you have fought for make an impact across the world forever and may your soul rest in peace. A great man!  We will always remember your warm smile and celebrate your life.  One man that indeed changed the world.

GRACE .... "free" from Jesus to us all...

GRACE ... from Jesus to us : His love, kindness and mercy is phenomenal.

I have been pondering again these last couple of weeks on the grace of God and especially listened as some people judge others.  I have read many articles on the topic of grace and judgement and many says that to judge is not completely wrong but there can be good in it. I off course disagree.  I do believe if we judge others we can take away their spiritual healing and their walk with God and especially if that person is on a path of finding God and finding Christianity we can damage that totally.  Judging only belongs to GOD, that is what I believe.  

Jesus wants us to love, to be kind to one another. We must remember God understands the difficulties we have in this world and He does not judge us but He loves us through our difficulties. Grace from God to us means that despite our sin God saved us. He loves us. It really hurts me when I hear how people carry on saying oh well this one is like that, that one is like this.... she will never go to heaven as she had a baby out of wedlock and she won't go to heaven as she has a relationship with a woman and oh goodness she has tattoos God wont love her. Oh goodness.  All those things don't matter. God accepts us and loves us just the way we are. We don't have to change for Him to love us.  I pray that God will heal those hearts that have been judged harshly and that He will help those Christians that are judging others. I pray that God will show humans on earth that He has already given us Jesus who has taken all our sins upon Himself and who has given His life so that we might live. The grace of God just shows how God loves US ALL unconditionally, well that means WITHOUT conditions.. Wow, yes, no conditions. So if you judge somebody you give them conditions. Jesus has taken all of that away. God has forgiven us all and He loves us.  God's grace is more powerful than sin. 

I remind myself of the scripture in Romans 8 that says NOTHING, yes NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.  Jesus YOU are our precious gift who gave up everything that day on the cross. So yes, YOU did not die in vain. I love you Jesus and I thank you that YOU changed my heart and I pray that You change the hearts of all those Christians that judge others keeping them away from meeting You and experiencing YOUR love for them. I pray this with all my heart.

Jesus I praise and worship You and I thank You that You have loved us enough to give Yourself up for our sins. No greater love have I ever known.  Your goodness Jesus gave new meaning to me in my life and in my heart. May we start loving others the way You love us. May we grasp Your heart.  May we never again judge ourselves, our families, our neighbours, our co-workers or anyone that You have created. May we just love and have mercy for people we are in contact with, the way You showed us to do. All for YOUR glory Jesus our Saviour.

It's a Symphony ... Everything with breath praise God..

Let everything that has breath PRAISE God!

Wow.. God is so powerful - we know that He created EVERYTHING including the universe just by the word of His mouth!

All things were created for the Glory of God, so we know that our Loving God created the universe and He created us... all to praise Him. Psalm 150:6 tells us that everything that has breath praise the Lord. Yes, praise the LORD.

 

It really blows my mind just to think about everything God created. Just looking at a tree that we at times take for granted ... the energy in one tree is said to have enough energy to give us enough electrical power for up to 10 years; wow! So my mind can't even fathom the "unseen" God created that has so much energy and the "seen" that we just look at and think nothing of ... all of it, everything God created praise Him, in a symphony. So God created this awesome powerful universe, imagine how much more powerful God must be. God, the God that knows my name and who loves me, that same God is full of greatness and power, more powerful than everything He created. Oh it makes me so excited to think about that.

 

 

God created everything, but He mostly loves us. He created us to have fellowship with Him.  Is that not awesome! Although we are sinners, He loves us deeply. We are priced far above all of His creation.  He even chose His own Son Jesus to die in our place, wow, we won't find a deeper love than that.

 

Psalm 145:3 : Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and HIS greatness is unsearchable.

 

The heavens declare the glory of God ..... How can anyone ever deny that.  The shapes and brightness of the clouds in the sky takes my breath away and that is only a drop in the ocean. If I can stare at the sky at night and the beauty of the clouds in the day, wow, I have not even seen a 10th of the beauty that God created.  Everything He created praise Him in a symphony. Imagine the beauty we will see one day. The magnificence of God. "I can only imagine, what my eyes will see".

 

I just thank God today that He is so amazing and yet He still loves us! May you just lay in His arms today and feel His powerful love always. When you look at the beautiful nature or the clouds or thunder or animals under the sea or the little insects and that little baby that has not been born as yet, remember that they all praise God in a symphony.  All glory to God forever.

Father God may we realise that you love us mostly, You created us to fellowship with You. It blows my mind how much You love us. Yet sometimes people deny you, but You are the greatest, You are all powerful and all magnificent. Thank you that You love us unconditionally. Father God always keep us humble.  May all that has breath praise You Father God forever. I love you with all my heart, my soul, my mind and my strength, forever!

As long as we breathe ... there will always be HOPE!

God will always give us the strength to keep breathing ...  just hold on!

I just want to encourage people today to just keep breathing in HIS love, keep on pressing on to that goal that you have in front of you, keep on persevering no matter what. God understands and God loves you. The times you don't see Him next to you, just look up as you are sitting in His arms, He is holding you tight and He will never let go. Just keep pressing on!  He loves you, yes you, just as you are! Don't ever forget that. You are special. You are HIS child. You are never alone. Stay in the fight till the final round. Your breakthrough is coming.

 

Such a beautiful song by Plumb : Need You now encouraging us all that we all have a story to tell and we all go through hard times but cry out to God and He will give you strength. Don't ever forget that He will be there for you just keep breathing! I hope you enjoy the song as much as I do.

 

Need You now by Plumb

Well, everybody's got a story to tell
And everybody's got a wound to be healed
I want to believe there's beauty here
So, I guess you're tired of holding on
I can't let go, I can't move on
I want to believe there's meaning here

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Standing on a road I didn't plan
Wondering how I got to where I am
I'm trying to hear that still small voice
I'm trying to hear above the noise

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Though I walk, though I walk through the shadows
And I, I am so afraid
Please stay, please stay right beside me
With every single step I take

How many times have you heard me cry out?
And how many times have you given me strength?

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
I need you now
I need you now

Let me be the proof of YOUR love ....

We must be the proof of HIS love .....

What does God have in mind for our lives? I wonder about that often and I know when I make my life less about me and more about somebody else, giving to the needy and extending a loving hand then I just feel more enriched in my life.

 

So I have been pondering the thought that God wants us to love. After all God Himself is LOVE. His word says in 1 Corinthians 13 - that :"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude".

 

 

So therefore I am REALLY thinking how God wants me to love.  We are all redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and so we have the Holy Spirit living in our hearts and He is that small voice we can listen to.  Everyday God wants us to love, yes, even our enemies. Jesus was the perfect example how to love our enemies as He immediately forgave His enemies that sold Him out.  Jesus wants us to accept each other and have GRACE for one another, be patient with each other and encourage each other. We have to LOVE.

 

So I have been "drinking" the song by ForKingandCountry "The Proof of YOUR love" and it speaks volumes about God wanting us to love and I hope when you read the words and listen to the song that you will be deeply blessed. 

 

 

 

The proof of YOUR love ...

The Monologue Mix – For King & Country

If I sing but don't have love
I waste my breath with every song
I bring an empty voice, a hollow noise.
If I speak with a silver tongue
convince a crowd but don't have love
I leave a bitter taste with every word I say.

So let my life be the proof
the proof of your love.
Let my love look like you
and what you're made of.
How you lived, how you died.

Love is sacrifice.
So let my life be the proof,
the proof of your love.
If I give to a needy soul
but don't have love
then who is poor?

It seems all the poverty
is found in me.

So let my life be the proof
the proof of your love.
Let my love look like you
and what you're made of.
How you lived, how you died.
Love is sacrifice.
So let my life be the proof,
the proof of your love.

When it's all said and done,
When we sing our final song,
Only love remains.
Only love remains.

[Monologue]

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's word with power, revealing all of His mysteries and making everything as plain as day, and if I have faith to say to a mountain jump and it jumps but I don't love I'm nothing. If I give all I earn to the poor or even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, no matter what I believe, no matter what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.  

So let my life be the proof
the proof of your love.
Let my love look like you
and what you're made of.
How you lived, how you died.
Love is sacrifice.
So let my life be the proof,
the proof of your love

 

 

Standing on the promises of God .......

God promised to always take care of us ....

God's promises are life changing and powerful.  2 Peter 1:4 says:" And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises". So that is so wonderful that God who created the universe and is all powerful made us a promise that He will always take care of us.  He knows the plans He has for us.  They are good plans to give us a future and hope.  Just believe that with all your heart, even if the enemy comes knocking, trust and have faith in the ONE that will NEVER let you down.

Nothing, yes nothing can ever separate us from the love of God.

Matthew 6:6:" Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them, are you not of more value than they". 

Our hearts need to be at rest as God is not a lier, He will love us, look after us and keep His promises. No matter the circumstances God is faithful.  God gives us provision for all our needs, healing when we are broken, guidance for our daily walk even during difficult times, comfort through all our trials and daily protection. God just wants us not to worry and to be still during trying times and leave Him to restore our souls and to stand on his promises so mercy and goodness will follow us all the days of our lives.  Even during trying times He will renew our strength so we will soar again on the wings of eagles.  

Thank You Father God that we can rest our souls knowing You will ALWAYS take care of us.  

The Word of God declares,

God is the ONE who cares,

He will restore my soul,

He will make me whole.

Father God there are so many people hurting is this world, people are struggling on so many different levels, but this morning I come to you and say thank you Father that no matter what people go through, You are the only stability, the only faithful,  the only restorer, the only ONE who we can trust in the ONLY one that will never let us down.  Thank you for loving us just as we are.  Thank you Father for taking care of us no matter what we are going through.  Your grace is sufficient for all of us.  

Peace from broken pieces

I have been thinking a lot lately how easy it is to blame God when something bad happens or when our lives fall apart.  I had a conversation with somebody a while back that is blaming God for all the poverty and famine in some countries.  All I can remember is passionately defending God and explaining to him that we are God's hands and feet and we are suppose to do something about it, we do serve a wonderful loving God who cares about us and loves us, we must not blame God for the bad.

Someone then told me to read a phenominal book called "Peace from broken pieces" written by best seller +Iyanla Vanzant I can encourage people who want to get through what they are going through to read a copy. 

She said in one part:" If I have learned nothing else in the last five years of my life, I have learned that I can depend on God.  I now know without a shadow of a doubt, that God can and will always hold me up, sit me down, push me forward, pull me back, turn me around, keep me in line, move me along, teach me what I need to know, and remind me of what I already know".

Wow and wow, that is so well said.  God is a loving Father to us and He is always there even if we cant see it at times.  He loves us and He will carry us when we need him.  We must just have faith and believe it.

Romans 8: 38 tells us that nothing can separate us from the love of God, neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow, not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.

Now that promise is straight from God to us.  Amen and thank you Father God.

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