Songs that inspire: God is able!!

Halleluyah! He is our God who is able to make possibilities out of the impossible. Don't give up! Your miracle is on the way, hold on to God in your season of waiting, in your season of trusting and watch Him make a way for you. This has got to be one of my best D. Haddon songs! Be blessed.

That one talent!

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ABILITY. Then he went on his journey..

Matthew 25:14-15

"As surely as the Lord your God lives," she replied, I don't have any bread-only a handful of flour in a jar and a LITTLE oil in a jug...

1st Kings 17:12a

This post is inspired by Jaycee's Smelling the Vases instead of the Roses and LDP and Naked Sha's 'What you have is Enough'. It really got me thinking about how I Believer was making use of what God had deposited in me. I believe that God has deposited something into each and every one of us as seen in the story above. God entrusted his property (the blessing) to all three people, the Bible records that He gave to each one 'according to His ability.' Today, in my prayer time I asked God for forgiveness because I know I am prone to always compare what I'm doing and how I'm doing it by what others are doing and how they are doing it. Today my prayer was Lord God, with that 1 talent I will do the very best that I can. God is a good God, sometimes we think we can handle more, we want more exposure, more opportunities but God knows what our abilities are. A blessing can rapidly become a curse to the one who does not have sufficient strength of character to handle it. We can be useful in the place of affliction but even more than that we must be useful with what we have, where we are. I remember when I started blogging, God told me never to write for comments or to be a 'popular' blogger but to write to encourage, to share my journey, to write what I heard. I pray for His grace to continue on that path in Jesus name. Zoe Believer, seek the face of God and allow Him to make you sensitive to that one talent that He has given you. If you can't recognise it, you won't use it.

"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and HID your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "You servant has nothing there at all," she said , "except a LITTLE oil"

2nd Kings 4:2

Yeah, so what? You didn't go to Harvard or Oxford, you didn't get a scholarship, you've never been on a plane, you didn't even complete college or get an undergraduate degree, your parents didn't do that much for you. Zoe Believer, I'm in no way making light of the situation that you face for sometimes I get that 'I've been shortchanged feeling' like well others can succeed because they had so much to start with in the first place! The thing is that we can't use that as an excuse for not turning our story around because God has given you the talent, its up to you to invest it in something profitable. God has promised to lead us and show us the way to go but we need to get over ourselves and our excuses and roll up our sleeves and tell God, I may have just the one but I'm going to work it so hard. What is that one talent that you are underestimating, an ability to cook delicious dishes, an ability to get on your knees and intercede, the ability to organise things, writing HTML, singing...A good place to start investing your talent is in the house of God and in the lives of those around you. What have you done in the past 7 days that made someone smile, in the past 3 days, in the last 24 hours? It's in serving that we discover our purpose, don't hide your talent. We can't all have public platforms to showcase our gifts but if you work your one talent, you increase your ability to deal with more.  It's interesting to note that both widows had only a 'little' oil and yet that little combined with the supernatural of God was able to see them through the hard times. You have something and you can make a contribution. Don't hide. I'm talking to myself!

'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Then the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied

Exodus 4:2

That one talent, who knew it could cause so much trouble, thing is that when you are so busy with your one talent, God begins to create other opportunities, if we could just take our eyes off what other people are doing and focus on what God has for us to be doing, we could achieve so much more. This doesn't mean being complacent for the people with 2 and 5 talents are there to inspire us to do so much more. I'm surprised that the guy with the 1 talent never went to ask the other guys for advice concerning what he should do with his, even if nothing they may have given him one talent and he would have had two! We should be learning from each other, those who compare themselves with themselves are not wise. For every Paul, there is Barnabas, the son of encouragement, standing in the background but still contributing to the Kingdom. That one talent, use it well!

iPray

Dear Father, once again I come before your throne and ask forgiveness concerning unhealthy comparisons I have made in my life. I know that you have given me that one talent and that what I have is enough to fulfill the purpose that you designed me for. So many times, my dissatisfaction comes from wanting to run a race that is different from the one you have designed for me. Lord, open my eyes, remove the wax from my ears, let me be sensitive to the areas of need around me, on the job, in your house, in my family. Help me to express my one talent to the best of my ability in Jesus name. Lord, I want to be the very best for you. Thank you Daddy.

The Proverbs 31 Enigma: She is me!

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

Love her, hate her, don't understand her, can't be bothered about her? The Proverbs 31 woman has got to be one of the most talked about and yet still misunderstood characters in the Bible. Men want to marry her, women wonder if they can ever be her. Often regarded as the 'Superwoman' of the Bible, the question is as women, can we ever meet up and match her skills, talents and achievements. I must confess I'd never really seen myself having much in common with her, the opening summary about her starts with the word 'wife' which I'm not. It talks about her artistry with the needle, I prick holes in my fingers. A version of the Bible talks about her gardening skills, I'm a professional weed tender! Lol! So how do I even think of keeping up? I would just gloss over the verses nodding but never really seeing Believer on those pages.

Step in Holy Spirit, the Illuminator of the Word. He asked me why I always focused on what she did as opposed to who she was. The caption above says 'The Wife of Noble Character,' not the 'The Wife of Noble Doings' or 'The Wife of Great Acts' because at the end of the day our character is who we are which then influences what we do. So many times we get it twisted, we want to 'do' differently instead of working on the inside at 'being' different. He also reminded me that God calls those things that be not as though they were, when He created me, He put the anointing of a wife inside of me as well and even though I haven't manifested that area of my life yet, it didn't preclude me from being one anyway! The Holy Spirit is so charming, isn't He? Also, note that no name was ascribed to this woman, so you can conveniently put your name there, the Proverbs 31 woman is me!

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

Proverbs 13: 10-15

Strive to be the best where you are with what you have

If I had to caption the essence of what being a Proverbs 31 woman was, this would be it. It's quite interesting to note that no reference was made to her personal wardrobe, or to her shoe collection, or to her 'always on point' accesories. I know she wasn't a shabby woman, she clothed her household in scarlet but there was much more to her than just being a pretty face or looking good. Woman of God, you are worth far more than rubies. Always remember that no matter what life throws your way. Her husband had full confidence in her, like me you may still be single but do the people in your life have full confidence in you? Do you add value to their lives? Do you bring them good and not harm? That my dears, is the character of a Proverbs 31 woman. Our character is our essence, its our atmosphere, like a signature perfume that lingers on your loved ones long after you've left the room, this is what we should be working on. She is not an idle woman. It's not enough to be, after that we must go out and do something. Also, she really isn't Superwoman, for she had servant girls! She is wise enough to know to enlist help because she can't be everywhere, doing everything at every time. She is a manager, she is a leader. The Proverbs 31 woman is me.

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff  and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 

v 16-19

Show me the money!

Financial independence, yay! Women, we need to wake up and smell the coffee. I personally believe every believer should have a stream of income aside from your JOB and yes this includes women. We must learn to mind our own 'business'. She even tells us how to do it, first she bought a field (asset), out of her profits, she makes her asset even more profitable by planting a vineyard. Vineyard produces wine and she still owned the landed property. I'm not sure every woman should go into real estate but we must acquire assets. There are a number to pick from, just pick something!  Proverbs 31 women aim to increase the size of their asset column and shrink the size of their liabilities! How much of your money is really working for you. Or is it paycheck to Macy's, paycheck to Selfridges and paycheck to The Palms? Women of God, we need to wake up. Sort out your finances.  Don't plunge your husband or yourself into unnecessary debt, we bring good and not harm to the people connected to us. Show me the money! Start small, she started with a field and then made it a vineyard. Trade and God will strengthen your arms to ensure that it is profitable. He is your God and He will teach you how to make wealth. The Proverbs 31 woman is me.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

v.20-22

Making a contribution

"Life is more than the acquisition of stuff, its about what we have done, whom we have served and why we will be remembered when we leave" (ZoeB). Its quite obvious that this woman was adept with the needle, but maybe you're not. Maybe you have been equipped with the voice of encouragement, have been anointed to intercede, maybe you can cook egusi in a way that makes one forget their sorrows or you're good with children. She could sew, yes but what can you do? How can we open our arms to the hurting in our world. How can I share the gifts I have been endowed with. Everyone has something, life is about recognising what that something is and making the best of it. The Proverbs 31 woman is me.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate

v. 25-31

Wadrobe check

Reminds me of the verse, don't let your beauty be merely from outward adornment. Its about what's within. This we cannot do without wisdom. Wisdom we cannot have without the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord we cannot have without a relationshop with Him. Its not about being up from dusk to dawn, rushing from one activity to the other. It's not about being Alpha Mum or a Yummy Mummy, its about being the best you, where you are and with what you have. The grace of God is sufficient to strengthen you for the tasks that He himself has called you to be. Single, married, parent, employee, employer, woman or man, its all the same to Him. He uses those who are available and willing to be used by Him. You don't live to seek the praise of men, your works will bring you praise. So keep stepping. The Proverbs 31 woman is you.

iPray Friday: Becoming a Woman of Noble Character

Dear Lord, I ask for your grace and strength to be that woman you created me to be. Not what Vogue thinks I should be, not what my parents think I should be, not even what my pastor thinks I should be. You created me and you designed me for a specific purpose. Help me on this journey on discovering 'who I be' that I may know 'what I do' in Jesus name. Amen.

Songs that inspire: Covenant Keeping God

Do you live like your God is a Covenant Keeping God? Do you believe in His Promises, If yes, do you believe He is capable of bringing them to pass? Do you believe that it is impossible for God to lie? That He keeps His part of the bargain. Nothing is too hard for him. Be blessed. Thank you Pastor Badu!

iPray Friday: Except by prayer and fasting

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer (and fasting) "

Mark 9:29 (NIV)

WHEN you fast...

Matthew 6:16a

Thank you Heavenly Father for a new day and a new opportunity to share from your Word. You speak, I type. I bless and magnify your name in the mighty name of Jesus.

I love being a believer! If I'm being honest, sometimes more than others but as a whole I wouldn't exchange being one for anything else. This is because I am in a dynamic relationship with my Father and my King. This year I am making a concious decision to draw even closer to God, to know His ways, to seek His paths and after making a specific prayer request, I felt the Lord tell me 'except by prayer and fasting'. It's funny, we pray and ask God for Daniel's wisdom and understanding, Esther's courage, Elijah's fervency in prayer plus the ability to be used as a conduit for miracles, to be able to understand the deep mysteries of the Holy Scriptures like Paul and yet we rarely take the time to study their lives, making observations of the decisions they made, their response to the trials they faced and then 'go and do likewise'.

For the believer, fasting is not an option! In fact, for the 21st century believer, fasting is an essential. We are at war, both within and without. The natural man is daily warring against the spirit, the world is warring against believers and sadly enough believers against believers (Father, forgive me for I know this ought not to be so!). We are in dire need of the anointing which empowers us to go forth and fulfil the Comission given to us by the Father, my dears we need to go back to the principal things.

Why should we fast? We should fast because Jesus said so, because truly there are some things can only be dislodged when you wield the double edged sword of fasting and prayer together. Fasting lets both Heaven and Hell know that you mean business. That it's no longer business as usual, no more Sunday, Sunday tonic. There's something that you feel right in the recesses of your spirit and you're not budging until it comes to manifestation. Jesus said 'when you fast' not 'if you choose to fast' or 'if it's convenient for you to fast' or 'if per chance you may want to fast' but 'when you fast'.

Why should we fast? We should fast because all the Biblical characters we love and admire did so too. Moses fasted for 40 days and when he returned, people could not even bear to look at his face for the glory that emanated from him. Even Jesus fasted for 40 days before he opened any blind eye or healed any lame person. Perchance, it was during Esther's 3 day fast that she received the revelation about how to deal with Haman! There are too many examples to give but I pray over the course of sharing on The 10 day challenge we may be able to share more.

Fasting is not about manipulating God, its not about making you seem 'superspiritual', in short Jesus said when you fast, put some MAC on (guys, I just spoke in tongues there!!). Fasting is about dulling your natural senses and sharpening your spiritual ones. Fasting is more than giving up of food, its about 'replacement therapy', replacing a desire for earthly and human wants and needs with the Father's. In the words of Jentzen Franklin, it's the private discipline that brings about public reward.

I'm getting excited, are you??

To be continued, watch this space!!

"Fasting with a pure heart and motives, I have discovered, brings personal revival and adds power to our prayers. Personal revival occurs because fasting is an act of humility. Fasting gives opportunity for deeper humility as we recognize our sins, repent, receive God's forgiveness, and experience His cleansing of our soul and spirit. Fasting also demonstrates our love for God and our full confidence in His faithfulness."--

Bill Bright

Songs that inspire: Ko le baje!

Ko le baje rara! Halleluyah. Ko le baje simply means 'won't be spoilt 'and what the song is saying is that the work God is going to do in your life can never be spoilt. All things are working together for your good because you love God and are called according to His purpose. Thank you Lara George!