Untitled..

'You are either drawing close to God or away from Him. You can't be stagnant, there is no middle ground.'


I didn't open Google Chrome with the intention of reading my blog or posting a comment. I have a big exam on Monday and I have been composing my apology in my head for the next post to come sometime after that ..'sorry I disappeared without any explanation.' but apparently that wasn't God's plan for me today.


I have excuses but no real reasons for being away. I became tired of a number of things and realised I was running on empty. I also learnt that I need to live what I'm learning through my writing. Always. I did miss being here but I had another writing project and I just couldn't write anything else. 


I hope to be back to regular blogging soon. There are many things written in my journal which I initially didn't want to share but you never know who needs what when and if there's anything I've learnt in the last few months its that most of us believers (myself so included) have become adept make up artists and Photoshoppers. We imagine what Christianity should be like and it's always the 'perfect picture.' The most important image of our faith is a very bloody Christ on a cross..its gruesome and it doesn't end there but that picture exists. A lot of people are struggling in silence unaware that I your sister underneath all my smiles is struggling too.


So I will share..not everything..God is still dealing with me but I pray that you are always drawing closer to God even if its an inch or a fraction of an inch. I've learnt that when I turn towards Him, He has his ways of bringing me close.


Much Love. You are blessed and highly favoured.


ZoeB


N.B If you are on Twitter, please follow me there @ZoeBeliever. I know that has also been a big distraction from here. Microblogging eh?

On 'Christianity'

A good man may not be a Christian but a Christian must always strive to be a good man. Of what point is our 'religion' if it does not lead us to be more charitable...to be more like Christ. Dear Lord in this day I ask not for courage to change the world but courage required to change me. Let prudence, charity, justice and love be my watchwords today dear Lord/ Give me the strength not to take the 'bios' pathway but the Zoe. It is not just the abundant life but a higher form of living. Dear Lord be my strength and guide. Help me to see the place of prayer as a divine appointment between I and my Heavenly Father. It's ok to be nervous when you've been a bad child because a good Father chastises the one He loves. But I'll step into that place remembering that I'm meeting the One who sent His one and only son to die for me while I was still a sinner. I'm just imagining how much more You would receive me into your arms now as a child. A naughty child...but a child nonetheless... : )


N.B. Not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is one either. However Christians do lie, steal and do bad things. Because salvation is instantaneous but maturity is a lifelong process. Jesus Christ lived his life as a model for us and being a Christian is daily depending on His grace to live like that. We should be getting better. I love the way C.S Lewis puts it. "It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird; it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while inside an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."

On 'Wisdom'

'But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?.......God understands its way. And He knows its place.....And to man He said, Behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom and to depart from evil that is understanding.'

Selected verses from Job 28

What can we do without wisdom? We were not designed to trust in our own intelligence, to trust in our own understanding, to rely on ourselves for anything but to depend on God to show us the way. Hmm...O Lord God teach me to put my trust in you once again. The answers to all questions of life can be found in you. Thank you for today. In you is the wisdom required for me to solve the riddles that life throws my way daily. 

N.B There are some days I wish God didn't speak to me...lol!

On 'The Darkness'

'There is unquestionably a grave danger of many becoming spiritually paralysed by depression'

Streams in the desert

To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.

Isaiah 61:3

I love David and I love reading the Psalms. He's one of the Bible characters I relate to because I see a lot of myself in his life and his writings. Christianity is not about perfection but that despite imperfections God still loves us. I do know the feelings that come with being depressed. To be afraid to face a world that seems so full of joy while your own heart seems so full of pain. To not rejoice in the 'day the Lord has made' and all you live for is to go back to bed again and pray for sleep to take you away from reality. But there is hope and there is light. For another beauty of Christianity is the simple truth that light banishes darkness. Jesus is that light. 

It is a process. When Jesus touched the paralysed man, his healing was immediate but he had to pick up his bed and walk. He had to begin to use his legs to go to places. It does take time and a loving friend sometimes. What is a friend if you cannot entrust them with the responsibility to share your burdens with you? It helps to be busy, looking for ways to be a blessing to others. Depression puts the focus on you, service puts the focus on others. Depression is listening and believing 'satanic whispers.' Set your atmosphere aright (preaching to myself right there). The grace of God is sufficient to see you through the darkest moments of life. Weeping may endure for a night....encourage yourself in his word that joy comes in the morning. He is the Lover that is never too busy, never too tired. His love for us is renewed by the day. Lord let your light always shine in my darkness. 

There is a battle to be won, lets receive strength from on high so we can fight the good fight of faith. In Jesus name. Amen.

On....'His silence'

But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.  But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23: 9-10

The absence of the 'feeling' of His presence cannot be concluded as His absence. His 'silence' does not diminish His Omniscience or His Omnipotence. I usually equate those quiet moments as having to do with sin. Its true...sin separates us from God. But its not the whole story. Even when I don't know where He is....He knows where I am. When God does speak to Job at the end of the story, it's obvious that He had been there all along, through the death of the children, the death of the business, the death of everything. Problems are not an indication that God has forgotten us..'Many are the afflictions of the righteous....but the Lord delivers.' Sometimes I think He's always speaking but its me who isn't always listening but its comforting to know that He is always there. 

Lord teach me to trust you in the silent moments and the grace to obey You when You do speak.

On....His goodness?

For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever; his faithfulness continues to all generations. 

Psalms 100:5

Sometimes I can look at my life (I'm sure you do as well, don't worry I won't tell..lol!) and ask God if certain events and circumstances are an indication of His goodness? I hastily conclude from present issues that I can see no evidence of His faithfulness. But then.....my circumstances are not what gives God His characteristics. That is a myopic view. Chimamanda says it well when she talks about the danger of a single story....the danger of a single story is not that it is not true but that it is incomplete. My story about God cannot be based on present events, not even on the story of my life but its about looking at life from a Kingdom perspective. I think there's a reason why God promises that those who wait on Him will soar like the eagles...eagles have a different view from chickens! I'm tired of clucking..it's time to rise. What you see from an altitude you can never see from the ground. 

A Kingdom perspective means seeing it through God's eyes (I rarely get this...its not so much about understanding as it is about trust). I don't like to be prejudged by people but I do it to God all the time. When we hear bad why do we always attribute it to God?..either His nonchalance or impotence...If we truly know God we'll know that He is very interested and He is also very powerful. Knowledge comes with intimacy. If I know Him...I should trust Him.

I wish I had all the answers but I don't. But I know God is good. I see the fire...He sees a purification process.

Forgive me.....

that I still love them. That I'm asking God to teach me about condemning sin and not the sinner. Because sometimes I don't know where one ends and the other starts or when one starts and the other ends. Forgive me for praying for restoration of the wronged for it takes strength and courage to speak against what is wrong, despite what others may think of you. Forgive me for praying for restoration of the guilty and for thinking that they may need God even more. Forgive me for not discussing issues when I don't have the facts. Forgive me for not believing that not everything available on the Internet is true. Forgive me for thinking you should know better. Also for being 'biased' but are we not always biased with respect to those we love? Hmmm? Forgive me for not choosing sides for I wonder which side God is on? For I believe that the same God who is working on healing in one is also working on healing in the other. Forgive me for thinking He has the ability to do so.


Forgive me for believing that when people fall, they fall into the arms of a loving Father who will punish their wrongdoing and yet still have the capacity to have mercy on them. Forgive me because I don't understand how He does this...I'm still working on my own salvation, with fear and trembling, now more than ever. Forgive me for not having the capacity to fully empathise with a situation, true if it had been me..I would shoot first and maybe ask for forgiveness later...Forgive me for accepting the apology of people who looked into my eyes, admitting their error as they told me they had made a mistake. Forgive me for thinking you were not entitled to your opinion about issues and matters for you are. God doesn't love us less or more wherever we stand.


Forgive me for being confused about what to say or do because my Christianity 101 manual didn't prepare me for some things. I am a believer working towards maturity, and some days are harder than others. Sin remains sin, regardless of who commits it. Grace remains grace, regardless of who requires it. In all, God remains God, despite of what people want Him to be. Forgive me for having more questions than answers. Forgive me for not making sense but then who says we should make sense of everything?


Forgive me for believing that despite everything that happened God has the power to work good through it all. 

Please forgive me...

On patience...

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalms 27:14

It takes courage and bravery to be patient..'be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord'....you will need to be strong. I will need to be strong to face each day and keep going on despite the fact that I have not seen any physical evidence of my good change. To keep sending stuff out despite getting a slip that says 'Thanks but no'. To keep keeping at it requires bravery and courage. To believe God and live life at the same time. To obey God when He tells you to make things happen for others with your skills and abilities. Because I believe that God will make life happen for me.


Daddy give me courage to be strong, to take heart and wait for you. Like David, let my wilderness season bring out psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Help me to wait with the right attitude, not in despair but in abundant joy serving others.

On difficulties...

'It is the storm itself that the eagle uses to soar upward into the dark sky, turning the storm clouds into a chariot' 

Streams in the desert

What a suitable word for me today. It's easy to be 'academic' about God working all things together for my good. Truth is that 'all' includes extremely difficult things as well. It includes disappointment and heartbreak. Just like the individual ingredients of a cake can be horrible if consumed alone, insert eggs, butter, flour, sugar, cocoa mix...yet working together and going through the heat of the oven they can give the most scrumptious, yummy chocolate cake! In the same way, I believe God can mix the individual ingredients of our lives, insert rejection, storms, disappointment...allow us to go through the fire and come out looking different and better. Today I am disappointed at my 'rejection' folder (insert job and grant application) but I trust God and choose not to give up.  

Daddy help me remember you in difficult times, that they never last but are character building. That they don't necessarily come from you but you can still use them. Please give me strength.

On being..

'She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said'

Luke 10:39

I always want to do something. I don't know how to be. I'm more a Martha than a Mary...its more important to get table settings right than enjoy the meal..lol! Mary got it right, sitting at the Master's feet. Not because she wasn't going to go and do something later but right at that moment she just needed to sit down and relax, just 'be' with Jesus. Life is about moments, some seemingly insignificant but yet so pivotal. In a whisper, in half a breath they're gone...I'm learning to recognise them. When you love someone, spending time with them is a given. Just being...being a family, being friends, being people. Nothing wrong with doing but being precedes the doing.


Dear Lord, I need to learn to sit at your feet but I need You to help me. While I would rather foxtrot and quick step through life remind me that there should be room for the waltz and somedays its enough to just hold hands. Thank you Lord.

On...'Forgetting yesterday'

Forgetting yesterday and reaching for tomorrow was the message I got from my devotional this morning. Receiving strength for a new day, strength for a New Year. A New Year is lived one day at a time, one decision at a time. I spent yesterday angry, depressed....almost allowing resentment to take root. I woke up this morning remembering that 'Today' was a day the Lord had made for me to rejoice and be glad in. The decision is mine. God has already made the day....it is up to me to rejoice and be glad in it because I'm not God's puppet. Right now I'm smiling....my day is starting right. I don't know what's ahead but I'm going into it with God. He is my King and my lord. I bless and magnify His name. 2011 will definitely be my year of greater achievement in Jesus name. 

On....

It's been a while. Never take for granted anything you do...even writing a blog. Its the little things that make life beautiful. Life has been, well for want of a better word 'interesting'. I thank God that He has been even more 'interesting'. There's this stage where one moves from knowing about God to knowing God. Separating fact from fiction. Separating people's opinions of God from what you know yourself to be true. There's this stage where one is in the wilderness, there are no cell phone signals, no microwaves and worst of all no MAC (lol!). Separating what/who you think you need from what you really need. Learning the basics...of survival. Confronting the difference between what people see and the person you know you are. Realising that if not for the grace of God....


It is so personal....this walk with God. No one knows me like He does. It is so public....this walk with God. For the world is always watching to see if I truly believe what I say I believe. All I'll say is that I'm glad that despite everything, there's someone who will ALWAYS be there. Someone greater, someone bigger, someone more forgiving. Someone who loves me. 


So the 'On' series, sharing bits and pieces from my journal. I don't know what the frequency will be, hopefully it'll be more than one. I'm asking questions, sharing musings, praying...hopefully sharing testimonies. One of the things I love the most about the Bible is that it doesn't read 'PERFECT'. I think a lot of us struggle with living to this ideal that Christianity = Perfection. David....shepherd boy, combination of melancholic and choleric personalities, psalmist, warrior, king. In the course of his life, he showed poor decision making, insert Bathsheba, insert poor parenting skills. How do we know? Because the Bible recorded it. 'But these things were written for our examples..'


Its about growing. Its about learning.


Remain blessed and highly favoured.

Winning Women Wednesdays: 'Call me Mara'

Naomi: Pleasant, beautiful 
Mara: Bitter (definitely not pleasant)

The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. Then Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her two sons. The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later,  both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.

Ruth 1:2-5 (NLT)

Three short verses. Three big changes. I'm always bemused by the story tellers, how they cram our lives into short sentences, short paragraphs, squeezing a life time into a few pages. I doubt if all the journals in the world would be enough for me to pen the pain that came with losing my husband and having to raise two sons on my own. Not only on my own but in a strange land without family support. Who was to teach the sons to be men? To be husbands? To be fathers? But it was ok, life dealt me a terrible hand but I had my boys. Or so I thought. The day we buried Chilion, I didn't cry. All my tears had been spent at Mahlon's funeral. Could it be true that my world had drastically changed in such a short period of time? Were my sons really gone to the land of no return?

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara,for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”

Ruth 1:20-21

Please don't judge me. I had to call it as I saw it. For my life had neither been beautiful or pleasant and at that point in my life all I could see was bitterness. We left for Moab full of dreams, dreams of prosperity, dreams of provision, dreams of seeing our grandchildren and bringing them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And I returned with nothing. But no, not nothing for although at the time I couldn't see it. I came back with Ruth, my daughter and my friend. In her I saw the sermons I had taught about Yahweh, about His provision and His love. I saw her live the messages I had preached about His ability to take you through the changing scenes and seasons of life because He himself was unchanging. 

To you dear woman reading this excerpt, you may have chosen to allow yourself be defined by the curveballs that life has thrown your way. Maybe you haven't verbalised it, maybe you've never told anyone that deep down you call yourself 'Shame' or 'Failure'. And yes, you may have cause to call yourself 'Mara' and turn your back on Him, the One who loves you most. But from someone who has been there and done that I want to encourage. I can because I know. I know what it is to be disillusioned, to be depressed, to ask God why he let you see a new day, to see the house of cards all come tumbling down. 

Listen to me. Hard times are not a sign that God has forgotten about you. He never forgets about you. It takes time to heal from any type of hurt. You're not just going to jump out of bed and be all better. However I need you to focus on the goodness of God to you. Make Him your best friend. Tell Him where and how it hurts. Don't allow life make you bitter. Take it from a widow, He reaches deep down where no husband could. Open your eyes, there's a 'Ruth' somewhere who reminds you of who you used to be. Life isn't about not facing storms. Its about going through them and coming out on the other side. You may never understand why what happened did but don't lose your faith. You need to do something, you can't stay where you are. I had to go back home..to Bethlehem, where the real bread was. Only you knows where your Bethlehem is.

I'm glad no one ever called me Mara, its good to surround yourself with good people. All over the world, people still talking about me. Calling me a model 'mother-in-law' and all. Thing is I never set out to be this great woman of faith and I'm happy my lowest points were recorded for all to see. Its was never about me, always about Him. If He can use me, He can use you too. 

We'll always have 'Mara' situations and circumstances but always remember you are 'Naomi' despite it all.

Keep winning with God.

Your's truly

Naomi

Thinking about.. .

Love, life and other little but big mysteries. Love, a word that falls so easily from our lips and yet the reality of what it means can be mind boggling! Love is everything. It is why I am awake at 5:13 in the morning and why I have to work this body to a sweat in a few hours as well. Love is why I will keep quiet about an issue and yet confront on another one. Love means that even though I don't understand the circumstances I choose to believe what love has shown me of you . 


Love is both the butterflies when you hear that voice and the tears that fall from your eyes when the voice betrays and you must stick to the commitment that you have made. Love is not always a perfect looking picture, I don't know how one would Photoshop Jesus suffering on the cross in a way that would make it look like he was having a nice day!


Love is the heartbeat of life. We were created through it, we were created for it. To love within, vertically and horizontally. Different beats, the same heart. The commitment of it which can also mean letting it go. For until the prodigal realises that the love he is searching for has been at home all along no words can convince him to stay. Love does not prevent the fire from burning but gives grace for an open door, to bandage hands at the inevitable return, for salve and bandages.


Love is doing the right thing you know to do. Love is life. Love, life and other little but big mysteries.


Still pondering on it.

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..

iPray Fridays: Because you prayed

Because you prayed

God touched our weary bodies with His power

And gave us strength for many a trying hour

In which we might have faltered, had not you, 

our intercessors faithful been, and true

Charles B. Bowser

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

James 5:16

Amazing things can happen in the lives because we prayed. Today's iPray is about praying for the needs of others. For standing in the gap and asking God to intervene in someone else's life. Pray for your family members, pray for your church, pray for your nation. Pray for Australia, pray for Egypt.

But I don't know how to pray for someone else? They don't look like they need prayer? Its funny that those who seemingly have everything going on ok are usually the ones who need prayer most. If you don't know what to say, ask God to meet them at their point of need. To remind them of His nearness. To open doors for them and ask the abundant favour of His life upon them. If they are married, pray over their marriages.

Job prayed for his friends and his circumstances turned around. Answers to our own prayers may be linked to us taking the time to commit someone else into the hands of their Heavenly Father. You can always pray for me that God gives me the strength to keep going : ).

Let's pray together. Click Comments!

iWorship Wednesdays: Bro Franklin

My sister shared this video with me sometime last week. I think I must have watched it over 50 times since then because I have watched it at least 5 times every day since then. Oh yes, at first I laughed because I think his dance steps are a bit funny. It wasn't condescending, for me he is a modern day David who is not going to allow people's opinions stop him from worshipping His God who is everything to Him.



Below is his testimony. Its part one of two and is also about ten minutes but if you have time please take time to watch it.





 Before becoming a Christian he danced well in the world. So now he has to dance to the King. We have our definitions of what 'appropriate' worship is. Sometimes we think some behaviour is distracting...and maybe it is. Bro Franklin has encouraged me to worship without abandon...whether in my seat or right in front of the altar. The only appropriate worship is that which is done in spirit and in truth. Sometimes that's the only gap between us and our breakthrough. There's no song today. Worship Him the way you know best.

iPray Fridays: I never expected

"I never expected to see your face and God has allowed me to see your children"

Genesis 48:11

'For surely there is an end, and thine expectation shall not be cut off' 

Proverbs 23:18

/ek-spek-tey-shuhn/ : a thing looked forward to, a prospect of future good or profit


Jacob was shown his son's robe with blood on it. He was told his son must be dead. It was true that it was his son's robe, the blood on it was as real as blood goes. No CSI in those days to test if the blood was human or not...but yet despite his 'good' evidence, his son was not dead. He never expected to see his son's face again...and yet God allowed him not only to see his son but his son's sons. 


Surely, there is an end and our expectation shall not be cut off in Jesus name. We all have expectations. We expect a salary from the boss at the end of the month, we expect service from the utility company when our bills are paid, most single people expect to get married, couples trying for a baby expect to get pregnant, pregnant couples expect to have a baby within a period of time. Its something that hasn't happened yet but we look forward to it happening. 


Jacob expected to see Joseph grow from a boy to a man and yet all he got was a blood stained robe, evidence to him that his expectation had been cut off and short. What is the evidence that you have before you today? The evidence that tells you that your expectation will be or has been cut short? Bring it before the altar in prayer today. Let those dreams live again, God always has a purpose and a plan. Joseph may be 'lost' in a strange man's land for 13 long years but your expectation shall not be cut short in Jesus name. Don't give up, stay praying! This just encouraged me.


Let's pray together! Click Comments!


ZoeB

iWorship Wednesdays: How deeply I need you...

need: a requirement, an obligation, a necessary duty

'Like the desert needs the rain,

Like the ocean needs the stream,

Like the morning needs the sun,'

This is a prayer to need Him. If His presence living in me is the breath I breathe then He is a requirement, an obligation and a necessary duty. Not like a chore but an essential part of survival. Lord, I need You to make sense of the senseless, to have hope in hopelessness, for light in darkness. I need You. I can't make it without You.

iMeditate Mondays: A Father's Love

Our father

We love to call you

By your grace you have adopted

Now we're your children

You now receive us

Joint heirs with Jesus

Our father, our father

Your awesome love

You've shown to us

Goes beyond our wildest dreams

You saturate our lives with grace and mercy

and because you love

You chasten us

If we should go astray

like a Father

our Father

(Fred Hammond; Our Father)

A Father's love we rarely hear or think about. We understand so much about a mother's love....it is unconditional, deep, the bonding experience that starts in her womb and doesn't cease. Society hasn't helped either, such a negative picture of what true fatherhood is all about.

Our Father, Daddy, Abba, Baba, Nna...

the one we should run to and not away from when we have problems

the one who protects us from danger

the one who provides for us

the one who gives us a sense of identity

the one who deals with issues

the one who disciplines us when we go wrong

How many of us have that deep relationship with our fathers? How many of us would use the word intimate? Does he know our secrets? Can we trust him with our secrets? Can we tell him anything and everything?

We should not blame our earthly fathers for they are men who even at their very best are unable to give love perfectly. For they are human and thus imperfect, one can only do their best. At their very best cannot equal the very least of God's love for us. I want to deepen my relationship with my fathers...my earthly one and my Heavenly one. Telling them where it hurts, spending time with them, drawing closer and being a daddy's girl. Aint nothing wrong with that. Because Daddy loves his girls...so very much.

Meditations from ZoeB @ GH 30.1.11

iPray Fridays: 'Ephraim'

The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Genesis 41:52

Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.....Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.

Selected verses from Genesis 26

Fruitfulness- the ability to bear fruit. A picture that comes to mind is a primary school science project where we are given some butter bean seeds and a pot with some good loamy soil in it. Seeds in soil, water it, place it by the sunlight are the instructions given. These are the instructions given so that the seed may germinate and produce even more seed.

This is the way of nature, to produce fruit when the conditions are conducive. I'm beginning to learn the difference between the 'bios' (life) and the 'Zoe' (life in high definition/ 3D!...lol!). We can be fruitful even when all external factors say No. When the 'soil' are hard rocks, when there is no water, when there is no sunshine. When the hand of God is upon you, He will make us successful wherever we go.

This morning I wrote in my journal;

'No more excuses for a lack of achievement. Joseph was a slave and prisoner in a strange land and yet he was fruitful in the place of his affliction. The Lord's hand was upon him to make him successful and he went about his duties with an excellent spirit. This led to his promotion. Its time to wake up!!!! and do the same!'

Be encouraged brothers and sisters if at this moment it seems like you are between a rock and a hard place. Where it seems as if there is no help, no connection. Isaac went where God directed him and God made him fruitful despite a famine. The news all over the world is bleak but yet I will be fruitful. Today's iPray Friday is talking to God about those areas of our lives where we want to bear fruit. Where we want Him to show Himself strong and mighty on our behalf. For strength to keep doing our part, putting the work in, serving others, being relevant. Its time to live life in high definition!

Let's pray together. Click comments!

iWorship Wednesdays; Refiner's Fire

Hmm..


refine /ri-fahyn/

• To bring to a fine or pure state; free from impurities
• To make more fine, subtle or precise

Refine...hmm because its bitter sweet. I like the refined Product but I don't want the Process. This song reminds me that I need to go through the process. His fire purifies me, it burns what isn't like Him and makes better what is. Dear lord, strengthen me to go through the process in Jesus name.

Good medicine!

Found this on Youtube and it made me smile. Hope it makes you smile too. West Africans living in the UK would get this better..sorry! lol! Its really short, come on watch it!

iMeditate Mondays: His embrace!

embrace /em-breys/  to encircle; surround; enclose

Have you ever been caught in God's embrace? Been held by God and felt a love so indescribable? Lost without any knowledge of space or time? In an embrace, hearts touch. He encircles me, surrounds me and encloses me in His presence. Hmm...we serve a God who likes to get personal. I'm craving intimacy with Him.


Have you been held by someone you love in an embrace? An embrace that says 'I'm here, you're safe, I care, I will be here as long as you need me, I love you.' As beautiful as that it, it is but a shadow of what God has in store for us...what I call the 'real deal.' I believe human relationships serve as a guide to teach us about relating with God. God's arms are open to show you the real deal, where are you?


Meditations on Sunday 23.1.11 during worship

iPray Fridays: Lord teach us to pray

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Luke 11:1-2

'Lord, teach us to pray' the disciples made this request of Jesus after he had finished praying. Why did they ask Him this? Why not just ask for the ability to do miracles, to heal the sick and raise the dead. I guess they keyed in to the rev that praying in private was responsible for power in public. (Now that's deep, thank you Holy Spirit). Well, its not only about having power, its about deepening our relationship with God. 


We are always told that the foundation of all good relationships is communication. Prayer is simply that and yet sometimes I don't know what to do or what to say. I am overwhelmed and sometimes I don't even have a desire to pray. So today I'm praying for Jesus to teach me to pray. This post was inspired by a few lines I read in Andrew Murray's 'With Christ in the school of prayer'. Dear Lord, please teach me how to pray and how to pray effectively.


I was just thinking....the saints of old they didn't have personal Bibles or prayer manuals and yet they prayed some 'mean' prayers! Not saying these are not important because they are but I think our prayers should be more powerful and effective in this season. Teach us to pray O lord.


So today's iPray is asking Jesus to teach us to pray, taking time to reflect and meditate on His teaching about prayer in the word and actually praying. Prayer is like running, it doesn't matter how much you know about it if you're not doing it!


Let's pray together....click comments!


N.B Feel free to pray about anything you like. I love reading your prayers, pray some of them too!

The love of God

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

Romans 8:35

Sometimes I make the mistake of thinking that loving God and God loving me is the same thing. I compare the love God has for us to the way a husband loves his wife, a mother her baby, football fans their club, a dedicated worker his job. However, Paul gives us an inclination of how much God loves us;

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Romans 8:38-39

God is not a 'grandfather' in the skies who either nods impotently when we do wrong or send fire and brimstone to judge us. He loves us according to His nature which our human hearts may have an inkling of but never hope to fully understand. His desire is not that we understand but that we accept His love. We can never hope to love anyone as He loves us. God does not love me the way my best friend does multiplied a million times. God is God. He does reveal Himself to us directly and through His Word and that is why it is a journey, a journey of love.

Happy birthday T.O.M. You've taught me about love from a totally different perspective. I pray for God's goodness to always be manifest in your life. Today and every day.

iWorship Wednesdays: Holy Spirit rain down

Yes Holy Spirit, let the rain of your presence fall on me anew. Let your anointing fall upon my life and add the super to my natural. Touch me on the inside. Ignite your fire in my life and renew my passion for life and ministry in Jesus name.

iGot tagged: Stylish and Versatile

Thanks so much to Jhazmyn and Roseofsharon for nominating me for this award. I feel a bit of a fraud accepting is as I seem to have become a part time blogger these days but still it is very much appreciated. The rules of this award are as follows;


1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.

2. Tell us 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 15 other bloggers.

4. Contact these bloggers and let them know that they have won.



7 things about ZoeBeliever


1. I drink one or two cups of coffee per annum. Maybe three but definitely not more than five. I don't hate it particularly just don't want to be one of those people who can't start the day without caffeine coursing through their blood.


2. I keep myself to myself. I'm learning that vulnerability is a strength and not weakness. I love other people but now I'm learning how to allow them love me too. To be open and trusting.


3. I would marry either Ben or Jerry for a lifetime supply of Cookie dough ice cream..lol


4. I'm transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. I've learnt a number of lessons in the process. (a) That I tend to give up to easily, this is my second attempt at this. (b)That having a mentor is important (thanks FG! she always keeps me from doing something drastic) (c) that transition is never easy, you're not where you want to be but neither are you where you used to be but in everything give thanks (d) for my patient sister, I can be very trying when it comes to my hair! (e) there is more to life than hair!....can I hear someone say Amen!


5. My faith is the most important part of my life. There is no perfect Christian, our righteousness are like filthy rags before Him but He clothes us with His righteousness. God is such an amazing God. I've messed up so many times but somehow I always find His door open and His arms open. I don't know everything but I know He is my everything.


6. I immensely dislike a display of discourtesy. Say please and thank you. Teach your children to say please and thank you.  


7. My taste in music is so eclectic. I love all types of music. One of my favourite things is lying down listening to Andrea Bocelli or Il Divo in the background. I love jazz, the saxophone has got to be one of the most beautiful musical instruments created.


So that's it. I'm sorry I'm not tagging anyone because everyone I know has done this. So if you feel like doing this on your blog go ahead.


Remain blessed and highly favoured


ZoeB

iWorship Wednesdays: Never would have made it

This song was ministered in church on Sunday. I could only say Amen. For I agreed with David's word that 'if it had not been for the Lord on my side....' I can put so much stuff in the gaps. I thank God for His unfailing mercy, unfailing grace, unfailing strength. I never would have made it without Him. I know I'm going to keep on 'making it' with Him.

iWorship Wednesday: And that my soul knows very well..

God bless Hillsong for the worship songs they have blessed the Body of Christ. In 2011, I want to draw closer and know Him that I love well. Not what people think about Him, not even what others have said about Him. But to know Him...To know Him.



Remain blessed and highly favoured.

ZoeB.

2011: Our year of greater achievements

a.chieve.ment [uh-cheev-muhnt]: Something accomplished esp. by superior ability, special effort, great courage...a great heroic deed (Dictionary.com)


In KICC, this is the prophecy for this year that 2011 is our year of greater achievement. Personally I call this my dear of double (2+0; 1+1)..double honour, double breakthrough, double responsibility, double achievement, double strength, double abilities. 'Everything na double double'. Declaring what a year will be before it ends requires faith, strength, determination and hard work.


We call 'those things that be not as though they are' like our God who 'declares the end of a thing from the beginning'...Stephen Covey says it well when he says 'beginning with the end in mind'. This is a season where we are inundated with adverts about resolutions...losing weight, giving up smoking, holidays..they all key into you looking at where/who/what you want to be sometime later this year. We all must achieve something this year but it's not just going to happen, we have to actively participate in life. Like John Legend sang 'wake up everybody, no more sleeping in bed'.


At the Watchnight service, Pastor Matthew shared some steps to ensure 2011 would be our best year yet. Definitely worth meditating on.

• Decide to search aggressively for the voice of the Holy Spirit.
• Decide to build a process and reputation in problem solving
• Decide to enter every atmosphere as a learner
• Decide to examine every relationship in your life to discern who is making divine deposits
• Decide to fix specific goals that unlock your dream and energy...I add...decide to write them down
• Decide to sow favour lavishly
• Decide to fully embrace moments to express giant steps (life will bring you those opportunities...don't be afraid Go with God)

A very Happy New Year to you all. I pray that indeed it will be a new beginning for those like me who need one. That it will be a year of furthering your destiny in the right direction. That we walk the path God intended, we be not afraid, we go with God. This is going to be our best year yet.

Keep believing,

ZoeB