Tuesday 29 July 2008

The daughter's inheritance

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SY, I don't know what is happening to me o, since our last conversation He has been bombarding me with stuff for the girls!! It is well.

This one is for the DIVAs in the house!


in·her·it·ance /ɪnˈhɛrɪtəns/ noun 1. something that is or may be inherited; property passing at the owner's death to the heir or those entitled to succeed; legacy.
2. the genetic characters transmitted from parent to offspring, taken collectively.
3. something, as a quality, characteristic, or other immaterial possession, received from progenitors or predecessors as if by succession: an inheritance of family pride.
4. portion; birthright; heritage: Absolute rule was considered the inheritance of kings. (Dictionary.com)

One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?" She replied, "Do me a special favour. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
Joshua 15:18-19

Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives." So Moses brought their case before the Lord and the Lord said to him, "What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must CERTAINLY give them PROPERTY as an INHERITANCE among their father's relatives and give their father's inheritance over to them". Numbers 27:4-7

The Lord dropped this into my spirit during my quiet time. He said as a daughter there is an inheritance for you. When I read about Joshua's daughter Acsah, I was surprised that she went to her father for property although she was married. I felt the Holy Spirit say..yes you may be married but your Father remains your source. Sisters, please I want to keep it real. Yes, the man may be the provider but He is not our source. Rachel told Jacob "Give me children or I die", Jacob's reply to her was "Am I in the place of God?" (Genesis 30:1). I had to ask myself where I had been going for the things I had required, who or what I had been putting in the place of God! He said, "Never look to a man, job or anyone to be your source or financial security. I am God who never sleeps or slumbers, who knows the end from the beginning, the one to whom the cattle on a thousand hills belongs to, the One who teaches you how to make wealth. It is my desire that you enjoy all that the 'earth' has to offer. It is my desire that you use what I have blessed you with to expand my Kingdom."

These days I get the general idea that quite a number of women refuse to put their financial lives in order because of this idea that when they get married all will be well and good. I know I'm not talking about you! Well, I have decided to be a good thing in the life of my husband not additional debt or financial worries so I'm learning to take money and money matters quite seriously! I recommend all women read Rich Woman by Kim Kiyosaki wife of Robert Kiyosaki author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. It's a great read and is thought provoking. I think it's also interesting that when the Proverbs 31 woman was described, not much reference was made to her husband's contribution to her finances!

An inheritance is never totally about material things however, looking at the definition we see it is a quality or characteristic passed from parent to offspring. God is our father and He has an inheritance for us. When we gave our lives to Him, He reGENErated us. We basically got new genes, our spiritual genetic make up is like our father and that qualifies us for the inheritance. Why did Jesus die? Because, inheritance occurs at death. The great thing about Jesus death was that He died but He rose again so we could enjoy the inheritance together! I believe this inheritance consists of divine health and wealth, peace unspeakable, joy indescribable, the nothing broken, nothing missing blessing of God, that ability to stand through the storms of life.

It is well, these days I'm so glad that I am Woman. I secretly think sometimes that God loves us more o... It is well. Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONIES.

Wednesday 23 July 2008

I am a DIVA!

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Hi all,

I trust that you are all well and standing strong in the Lord. I've been reading The Diva Principle by Michelle Mckinney Hammond. I'm really loving it! The way I see it we are all supposed to be divas because we are daughters of the King of Kings. Although the word is not always used in a positive way, this is my own spin on it from what i am learning from the book.


I am a DIVA. I am DIVINELY INSPIRED to live with a VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE

A DIVA is secure in who God made her to be. She knows that she is fearfully and wonderfully made. She takes time to assess both areas of strengths and weakness in her life. She develops her strengths and is proactive about working on weaknesses even when it stretches her beyond her comfort zone.

A DIVA is gracious, oh yes there are some aggravating people out there but a DIVA knows that between stimulus and response there is the power to choose. She knows that a gentle answer turns away wrath and that it is the glory of the wise to overlook an insult. No unwholesome talk proceeds from her mouth but her speech is always with grace as seasoned with salt.

A DIVA is hospitable, you always feel at home in her prescence. She makes you feel that you are the most important person on earth because she genuinely puts you there.

A DIVA is a woman of integrity. If she says she'll be there she will, at the time she said she said. Sure, life is not always black and white but if she won't be there or will be late she'll let you know so you can make other arrangements.

A DIVA is a servant. Her life's purpose is to serve. To serve her God and humanity. For her, life is not the accumulation of things but the opportunity to be a blessing in service to those God has brought her way.

A DIVA is a woman of vision. She knows that there is more to life than the immeadiate present, that the vision God has given her is for an appointed time and will speak so she waits on the Lord to show her where He wants her to be and asks His guidance in getting there.

A DIVA is a lover. She loves her God, totally without any inhibitions or apologies. She is not ashamed to lie prostrate in His presence irrespective of designer wear..Lol! She is not ashamed to to cry in His prescence or jump up and down giving undignified praise because she knows that He is the ultimate lover of her soul and if it had not been for Him she would be nothing. A DIVA loves others unconditionally and sacrificially from a GENUINE heart.

A DIVA is beautiful both within and without. She realises that her body is a temple of God so she must be careful about both what goes in and what goes out of it. She knows that like a car's engine is only as productive as the quality of petrol and maintenance that it gets, she takes time to eat well, exercise, rest, recharge and restore. She know's she not superwoman so she says no to the good so she can focus on the best.

A DIVA relates. She knows no woman is an island and that life is all about relationships. She maintains a 360 degree relational cycle, mentoring those coming behind her, encouraging and affirming those on the same level as her and being mentored by those that have gone before her.

A DIVA has a VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE. She knows that life is not a bed of roses but she is building her house on the rock so that when the storms of life come, by the grace of God she is able to bear it. She knows that failure is not an event but a mentality and that even though the righteous may fall seven times, the Lord will raise her up. She is able to admit her mistakes and move on because she is humble enough to admit that she is not perfect and it is only by the grace of God that she is who she is!

Wow! I guess there is more..feel free to share your thoughts. Looking at these, I know there are so many areas where growth is needed but I still thank God. By His grace, I know we can get there.

Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONY!

Saturday 12 July 2008

Life: A-Z; I is for Identity

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identity: \ī-ˈden-tə-tē\;the distinguishing character or personality of an individual (Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess but confessed freely, "I AM NOT the Christ." They asked him, "Then WHO ARE YOU? Are you Elijah?"He said "I AM NOT." "Are you the prophet?" He answered "NO." Finally they said, " WHO ARE YOU? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us, WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT YOURSELF?" John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I AM THE VOICE of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" John 1:19-23 (NIV) Capitals mine

Jesus answered, "I AM the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE. No-one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV) Capitals mine

God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites; I AM has sent me to you." Exodus 3:14 (NIV) Capitals mine


I started the Life:A-Z series a wee long time ago, just realised I never finished but as the Spirit leads. I had initially wanted to write on integrity or ice-cream (lol!) but Parakletos had something else in mind.

It's the age old question, when people meet you for the first time they want to know 'who are you?'. I don't know about you but it's a question I always asked myself as a child growing up..'Who am I, who am I, who am I?'. I guess from a young age I knew there had to be more to me than my name or position in the family!

I love the definition of identity, 'the distinguishing character' of an individual. Your identity sets you apart from the mainstream, that is why you are asked to show ID to verify that you are who you say you are. When we are asked about our identity, some people answer with geography, "I'm British or I'm Nigerian" e.t.c or by profession/career, "I'm an engineer, doctor, lawyer" e.t.c or by their roles, "I'm a wife, mother of one, single, married" e.t.c. All these things in of themselves are not wrong answers but they are not the essence of who we are. That is why on our ID it is not enough to put these without something that sets us apart, usually we need a picture, something unique. Who we are is bigger than geography, career or role. This is because these things change, you can change your nationality, change jobs and even roles and if our identity is tied up in these things we feel a great sense of loss because we struggle to understand who we are.

Our true identity can only be found in God. He is the I AM that I AM. He does not change. For sure, as we progress in life and our walk with Him, He reveals more to us about the 'complex phenomenon' known as you and me! and we learn more about ourselves. Our identity is linked to our purpose. John didn't say, "I am John, son of Zechariah, high priest and Elizabeth, cousin of Jesus Christ e.t.c", He said "I am the voice crying in the wilderness" because that was His purpose, his raison d'etre. Even Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, the life."

When you know who you, then you will also know who you are not and will able to say no to others and refuse to allow other people give you an identity or an agenda that does not belong to you. John knew he was not the Christ so he was able to send the people on their way. The Jews wanted a Messiah that would deliver them from Roman oppression but they did not know that He came to deliver them from eternal bondage. They wanted someone to provide bread to quench their physical hunger but they did not know that he came to give Himself up as the bread of life, so they rejected Him.

I am a believer, I believe God made me for a specific purpose and as I walk with Him, He is unravelling more and more to me and I pray to spend my days discovering and walking in the purpose He has called me into. Pray and ask God to discover your purpose, He created you and He knows what for. Walk with Him, one step at a time and you will find yourself doing things that you only dreamt about. 'Rediscover yourself'(thanks FG) and accept who God made you and the calling on your life and learn to say no to distractions.

IT IS WELL. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONIES.

Remain blessed and highly favoured.

Thursday 10 July 2008

What chapter are you on?

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The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in CONFUSION, As the king's order reached every area, there was a great SADNESS and loud CRYING among the Jewish people. They gave up eating and cried out loud, and many of them lay down on rough clothes and ashes to show how SAD they were Esther 3:15b, 4:3 (New Century Version) Capitals mine

It was a time of HAPPINESS, JOY, GLADNESS and HONOUR for the Jewish people. As the king's order went to every state and city, there was joy and gladness among the Jewish people. In every city and state to which the king's order went, they were having feasts and celebrating. Esther 8:16,17a (New Century Version) Capitals mine

They received a letter
An edict from the king
He was a great king
who ruled over 127 provinces
from India to Africa
Sounds of wailing
filled the land
and they were thrown in utter confusion

But they remembered they had a God
who was unlike any other
He ruled from Everlasting to Everlasting
A King over all Kings
They called upon Him
In prayer and fasting
In ashes and sackcloth
He heard their cries
and turned things around

They received a letter
An edict from the king
He was a great king
who ruled over 127 provinces
from India to Africa
but this time
sounds of JOY
filled the land
laughter and celebration

So what chapter are you on? The same people who in chapter 3 were crying and wailing were rejoicing and celebrating in chapter 8 because they served a God who is both Alpha and Omega. He is God at the beginning of the story and He remains God at the end and everything in between. Amen. Be encouraged, whatever 'letter' or 'report' you may have received, no matter how powerful the signature underneath or the letterhead above it may be, God is more powerful. Seek God's face, lay it at His feet, wait and obtain instructions from on High and watch Him turn things around. Don't despair because you are in a chapter 4 season, rejoice because the bestseller called your life aint finished yet! VICTORY is your portion in Jesus name.

Remain blessed and highly favoured. 2008 remains our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONY in Jesus name.

N.B A very big CONGRATULATIONS to Jaycee (and boo) on the announcement of their engagement. My dear sis, this is just the beginning of God's reward to you for your faithfulness. More is to come. You are indeed a blessing! In case you haven't please go and show some love on her page!

Monday 7 July 2008

7/7/08

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You know, I love numbers...well here goes

2: Witness/Confirmation 6:Number of man 7: Perfection/Rest 8:New beginnings

Today is the seventh day of the seventh month. 7 speaks of perfection, completion and rest in God. I pray that today you experience the perfection, completion and rest of God in all areas of your life. Seven appears twice in today's date to serve as a witness and confirmation of that word. I also pray that all the mistakes of yesterday (Day 6), the mistakes that come from man, God turns around to a testimony as you embark into tomorrow (Day 8), a day of new beginnings.

IT IS WELL. Remain blessed. 2008 continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONIES, whether the devil likes it or not.

Friday 4 July 2008

Aha

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When a cheap plastic pen from WHSmith (sorry!) stops working, you throw it in the bin. When your £21,000 Freelander 2, stops working, you just don't take it to any 'ole mechanic. You take it to an expert. Why? Because of it's worth to you, because of how much it cost you, because of the sacrifices that you made to get it, because of how wonderful you feel when you're cruising about town in it.

Sometimes, people hurt us, take us for granted, make us so angry but we need to determine what the relationship is worth to us, a 10p pencil or a £21,000 SUV? So when there are problems, know what to do, whether to ditch or to take to an expert. For the ones that require an expert, may I recommend my ultimate Fixer to you. His name is Jesus Christ.

He can
..wipe every tear
..put a balm over every wound
..make you smile again
..comfort you
..hold you for as long as you need to be held

Most importantly, He can turn around any situation as long as you are willing to act on His advice and like any professional, He sticks to the guidelines in the manufacturer's manual..the Word of God!

Selah! (Think about it)

When I saw the picture of the car, I just had to include it. WOW!