iMeditate Mondays: A second chance

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  “No one, sir,” she said. "Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

John 8:10-11

'Thank you for giving me a second chance, I wasn't sure you would but I'm glad you did'

Excerpt from an email to ZoeB

I came across a programme on BET a few days ago. There was a beautiful young woman, I can't even remember her name but she was sharing what I considered a testimony. She grew up in church, moved to a different state to further her career and then got pregnant. She was given a choice between her career or her baby and she chose to have her baby. She came back home to a small town to face the disappointment of her parents and the judgement of almost everyone else. 

There is wrong and right and there's nothing wrong with calling someone out on wrong behaviour. But I ask myself what is the point of kicking someone who is already down? My friend from school had a baby out of wedlock and she told me that some of her 'church' friends stopped speaking to her. How does that help? Where is our compassion? Love is both conviction and compassion...not condemnation. We all have done things we're not willing to share with the world. God knows we did it too and yet we are all products of a second chance. He says 'freely we have received, freely we should also give'. We should be the ones teaching the world about love and not the other way around! 

Back to the story, she said she cried every single day she was pregnant. Until her son was born. She said she talked to God and asked for His help. He gave her a second chance, she gave herself a second chance. Today she's walking in her destiny, beautiful and happy. Listening to her touched me deeply. One day we will all need a second chance, an opportunity to right a mistake we have made. To make things right, to get back on track. Will we receive it? Are we giving it?

I'm not advocating remaining in an environment that is detrimental to your sense of security. That's why is an iMeditate to take some time to think it through. I'm asking God to make my heart large enough to be a second chance giver. To see as He sees...beyond labels.

Meditations from ZoeB 4.2.11 on the couch..

Sometimes......Everytime

Sometimes I'm like Adam

I shouldn't eat the fruit but I do anyway

Sometimes I'm like Abraham

I say I believe but I'm holding out on Option B

Sometimes I'm like Sarah

Allowing jealousy to get the better of me

Sometimes I'm like Isaac

I lie to get myself out of a sticky situation

Sometimes I'm like Moses

I react in anger rather than responding in love

Sometimes I'm like David

Carried away in the moment, not thinking about consequences

Sometimes I'm like Elijah

I've seen the fire fall but fear still has a grip on my heart

Sometimes I'm like Peter

I deny, funny how one can deny without saying a word

Sometimes I'm like John Mark

Turning back when the road seems too tough

BUT

EVERYTIME

When I stop and stay still in His presence

He says "I LOVE YOU, COME BACK HOME"

Everytime He loves me

Not because I'm perfect but because He loves me perfectly

Everytime He corrects me

Smacks do hurt, consequences bring pain

Everytime He turns me

In the right direction because He knows it so well

Everytime He reminds me

I am His beloved and He is mine

Everytime

Every single time.....

The Bible says that 'the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is His faithfulness' also ' He has loved us with an everlasting love, He has drawn us to Him by His loving kindness.' We will make mistakes sometimes, we'll fall flat on our faces and wonder how we who know what is right end up getting it so wrong but don't despair, avail yourself of His grace today. Grace is not about making excuses for sin but it is God's arms that lift you out of the ditch, it is giving yourself permission to admit 'I made a mistake, God I'm sorry, help me!'.

Father, I thank you because you are a God of compassion. Thank you for lifting me up. Amen.

Remember the story of your life can never be over until The Storyteller says 'The End.' Remain blessed and highly favoured and have a great week.

GOD...

has been teaching me to love. It is beautiful, it is painful, it should come with a warning that says "attempt at your own risk" but we were created to love. To love Him, to love ourselves and to love others, if I may say in that order. We cannot truly love Him and hate ourselves for we were born of Him, we cannot truly love Him and hate others either. To love is to give up of yourself, it requires depth and maturity, no more "Why me" but "Why not me", sometimes you say yes when you would rather say no and you say no when everything on the inside is screaming yes. Sometimes love requires you to walk away from something or someone that seems so good but you know is not the best.

Love is a feeling and a doing both at the same time but it's hard to go on when the feeling is not there but the truth is when we accept it God gives us the grace and ability to do ALL that He has asked us to do, there is a love that is natural but we do not require praise for this, when we begin to love supernaturally, hmm! I need to love Him, me and you. Who do you need to love today? Is it your mum or your dad, hubby, wifey, daughter/son. So many times, my love is performance oriented, only given to show appreciation, God is teaching me to show love both when it is deserved and when it is undeserved. Possible, yes, easy...no, not by a long mile.

God's love is so pure, I don't know if I'll ever get that far this side of eternity but I'm determined to get as close to it as possible. I had a funny experience on the train a few weeks ago and I just thought about what would happen if it were to blow up and I died (what a thought I know) but my first thought was why, why, why didn't i let my sisters know that i love and appreciate them. Isn't it funny how we behave because we always feel we have time. My dear sisters, I love and appreciate you.

I don't even know why I'm writing this, I thought I was going to write a farewell post! Lol! It is well.

Lazy days

Stole this from my sister's facebook page!

I think it's sweet, dunno how realistic though? I hope it makes you smile!

N.B Sorry, I just realised that my template does not do it justice, please click on the picture so you can read it properly!

Hmm..

Dear Daddy

I love you in a way I cannot always describe with words. I loooooooooooooooooove you or as that guy said. I luuuurrrrrrvve you.

More on this later.....

Just praise

I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a ROCK and gave me a firm place to STAND. He put a NEW SONG in my mouth, a hymn of PRAISE to our God. Psalm 40:1-3a (NIV) Capitals mine

Who can fathom You
O my Lord and my King
Your ways are much higher than my ways
Your thoughts much deeper than mine
O lord indeed You are very great
Yet you choose me
To love me
To cherish me
I love you Lord
Even when I don't understand
what's going on around me
I love you
I love you
because You first loved me
.....................................................................................

You are my Master
You are my King
You are the Lover of my soul
You are my ever present Help in my time of need
You are my shield and my buckler
You are my strong tower in the storm
You are the one who is with me at ALL times
You are all these and MORE, so much more
What else can I do but lie prostrate before your presence
Saying thank you seems hardly enough
.....................................................................................

What can I say O Lord
of your goodness and mercy
of your grace and faithfulness
to me
there isn't enough time
this side of eternity
there aren't enough words
in the dictionary
but i'll start by saying
I love you
with all my heart and soul
with all that is within me
I love you
with everything
No more holding back
I abandon myself to you
I'm not afraid anymore
For I know you're loving me
too

This week I am on a mission. A mission to live without complaining about anything but thanking God for everything. A week of being grateful for all that the Lord has done and all that He is to me. A week of celebrating the good in others and affirming them and not nitpicking on what they do wrong. I'm trusting God that by His grace I will be able to do it because I can do ALL things through Him because He strengthens me. I'm just so expectant. I trust you are as well.

Remain blessed and highly favoured. As always this year continues to remain our year of UNCOMMON TESTIMONY