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